4.5. I can point out plentiful things that annoyed me in this book that make me reluctant to yell I LOVED IT, but the fact remains that I stayed up until after 3 am to finish it, have worked it over in my head all day, and remain warmly reminded of China Beach

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah is an emotional tour de force, with its poignant narrative, lovable characters, and meticulously researched depiction of a tumultuous era.

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the novel introduces Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a twenty-year-old nursing student whose journey from the sun-drenched world of Southern California to the harsh realities of war is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Hannah's writing is rich and evocative, immersing readers in the chaos and destruction of a war that forever alters Frankie's life.

The characters are beautifully rendered, their friendships deep and resilient amidst the challenges of life, death, and betrayal. Hannah explores the complexities of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, shining a light on the forgotten sacrifices of women who served. The novel resonates with bold patriotism and explores the profound impact of war on individuals and a nation divided.

Meticulously researched, "The Women" stands as a testament to Hannah's commitment to historical authenticity. It is a novel that not only tells one woman's war story but also pays tribute to the countless women whose sacrifices have been overlooked. A compelling and emotionally resonant read, "The Women" reaffirms Kristin Hannah's position as a masterful storyteller. In fact, "The Women" is now my favorite Kristin Hannah novel yet!

While I write this review, I’ve got my headphones in, listening to a random playlist when a song called Speechless comes on. It’s the perfect word to describe this story. With Kristin Hannah being one of my favorite authors I went into this book blind. Having had an uncle who died in the Vietnam War, I have been saying for years that I wanted a historical fiction novel that takes place during this time.

The Women tells the story of the women of the Vietnam War, one in particular named Francis who was a nurse during the war. We follow Francis during her time in the Vietnam War and what her life was like when she came back. This story is both heartbreaking, hopeful and beautiful. It sheds light on mental health issues from veterans from war. I haven’t felt this emotionally connected to one of Hannah’s stories since The Great Alone. Having a connection, even if it's a small one, to this time period made this novel that much better. This one will sit with me for a long while.

Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a 20 year old recent graduate of nursing school. We meet her as her family is preparing to send her older brother, a Naval Academy graduate, to Vietnam. In Frankie’s family, the men serve and the women get married. Her father has a wall of heroes in his office – the men are uniform, the women in wedding dresses. While viewing the wall, a friend of her brother’s, Rye, comes in and tells her that “Women can be heroes”. This inspires Frankie to volunteer to serve as a nurse in Vietnam. When the Navy and Air Force won’t send her to Vietnam right away, Frankie joins the Army in the hopes of being able , who will. What follows is the story of Frankie as she initially struggles as a nurse but then finds purpose and meaning for her life. She meets two fellow nurses who become her best friends as they help her navigate life in Vietnam and eventually back home. She connects again with Rye and they fall in love. She loses friends and patients due to the war and learns to find small bits of joy despite all of the horror. Upon her return to the U.S. she is stunned to see all of the hatred directed towards veterans. When she suffers from what we now know was PTSD, she struggles to find help because as we all know, “there were no women in Vietnam”. Most shocking is her parents, who told everyone that Frankie was in Italy studying – no one except her parents knew she had been in Vietnam. As Frankie struggles to find her place at home, a series of events leads her to down a path of depression and drugs.

I’m probably going to be in the minority, but this was just an average book to me. I really enjoyed the first half of the book where we see Frankie grow from a sheltered and naïve girl to an accomplished nurse who was sure of herself. The second half of the book started with the melodrama – I understand that there were a lot of issues that veteran’s faced coming back from Vietnam but it seemed like Frankie dealt with everything – her service not being recognized, being treated as a trainee nurse despite all of wartime experience, her parents not wanting to accept her service in Vietnam, PTSD, depression, drugs, etc. Throwing all of this in and then coming up with a neat conclusion for each seemed a disservice to the character. We only saw glimpses of Frankie’s struggles and progression – not the journey. The full-fledged character in the first half of the book became a bit of a stereotype for all of the issues that women in the 70s faced. In addition there were several plot twists that just didn’t work for me. I applaud the focus on unsung women but the full execution felt rushed at the end.

Another hit from Kristin Hannah, this novel takes place both on the frontlines of medical aid in Vietnam as well as the aftermath of serving in the war back in the United States. We follow young woman Frankie as she joins the Army as a nurse during the Vietnam war, and as she struggles to get back to civilian life following her service. This is a long, hard book, as we are in the front seat of Frankie's many mental health struggles throughout the decades after the war, but if you are familiar with Hannah's historical fiction, you know what you are getting in to. This novel does drag in a few places, but overall it is very engaging and informative and highlights a population of the military not often discussed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this ARC! This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024 and I was so excited to be approved to read it early.

Kristin Hannah does her research so thoroughly, it's hard not to feel immersed in her books. The Vietnam War is a period of time that I don't know a lot about. The Women was not only a great story, it was also a history lesson in some ways. The book is split into two parts - the first half covers nurse Frankie's experience on the ground in Vietnam, and the second half covers her homecoming and transition back into civilian life. The first half was thrilling and captivating, and there were moments my heart was in my throat. The second half was heartbreaking, and I wanted to reach into the pages and give Frankie a hug.

There were some aspects that prevented me from giving a 5 star rating. First is the depiction of the Vietnamese people - they were mostly nameless background characters, and I wish more care had gone into this. Frankie's friends, including Jamie, Barb, and Ethel, all had the potential to be well rounded, vibrant characters, but unfortunately they all felt a little one-dimensional. Barb and Ethel especially were designated as Frankie's helpers, vs. characters that stood on their own. The second half of the book felt like it dragged too long, and at times it felt like trauma for the sake of trauma. What else could this woman endure? Last but not least (SPOILER) I'm generally not a fan of the "comes back to life" trope, and it happened not once in this book but twice. It just felt unrealistic and too convenient.

All that said, I really did enjoy the book. I was moved when reading it and felt like I got something out of it that will stay with me.

"The Women" is, hands down, Kristin Hannah's best book yet. It's a story that desperately needed and wanted to be told, and I am glad that one of the masters of historical fiction decided to tell it. It opened my eyes to the horrors of the Vietnam War (which were untaught in any of the history classes I had in my very conservative high school), as well as to how the veterans were treated when their tours were over. This book does not shy away from hard topics such as sexism, racism, mental health, and addiction issues. Frankie's story as an army nurse in Vietnam and the struggles she faced when she came home was heartbreaking and brought me to tears. The strength of the woman nurses and their bonds of friendship are inspirational. This book packs a serious punch and should be on all of the must-read lists for 2024.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the true privilege of reading an advanced copy of this tremendous book!

This book absolutely consumed me and simultaneously blew me away. I have enjoyed Kristin Hannah's earlier work so picked up this one without realizing the subject matter. I was born after the Vietnam War and what I know is what I learned in school.

Frances (Frankie) is a very young 19 year old at the start of this book. She watches her older brother head off to Vietnam while she is stuck at home going to college to be a nurse all while knowing her family is never going to accept her career choice. Marriage is what is expected.

Frankie graduates with her nursing degree and starts work in a hospital but finds it unfulfilling when the war is going on. She ends up enlisting with the Army Nursing Core, the only branch of the military willing to accept her without years of experience. Frankie ships over and her whole world changes. She learns about life, she learns about love, she learns about loss, she learns what she is capable of and finds her calling. There is so much that happens in the course of this book and I frequently went from joy to sadness to fear to hope. Frankie's journey is a long one and the key theme is the impact Vietnam had on her and how, as a woman, she was not considered a Vet as she didn't fight in combat.

This book was truly amazing and really rocked my world. One of Hannah's best.

This book will go on my list as one of my favorite books ever!! I was totally absorbed right from the start!! This book is so well written and will make you continue to read and not stop for anything!!

Readers will follow Frankie for 20 years…to Vietnam as a nurse to her return to the US and her life after. Frankie goes to Vietnam as a 20 year old nurse and she is not at all prepared for the horrors of war. She will get thru it like we get thru a lot of things in life…with a little help from her friends. She will become lifelong friends with Barb and Ethel. They are there for each other for life.

After Frankie returns home to CA after the war, she is not treated well at all!! People do not agree with the war or agree that women were even there!! Frankie struggles with so many things…ptsds, alcohol addiction, drug addiction, low self esteem. How will we find her way back???

I loved this book so much even though it is tough to read!! I loved THE FOUR WINDS too!! Kristin Hannah is able to make the words jump off the page and stay with you!!

This book releases on Feb 6 and you will want in your tbr pile right away!!!!

A deep dive into the forgotten women of Vietnam. As always, Kristin Hannah tackles a moment in history that isn't often discussed, and handled it with care. The characters are loveable, the usual twists are there, and the story is well researched. I do wish there was a bit less pining for men in what could have been a strong feminist narrative, but that's a personal preference and something that likely wouldn't deter many from the story.

Looking forward to recommending this one!

Wow, just purely incredible! This book tells an important story in such an unforgettable way. Everyone should read this book! Thank you net galley and St. Martins Press for an advance copy.

1966 and America is sending soldiers to fight in Vietnam. For Frances McGrath, aka Frankie, she cannot believe her older brother, Finley, is enlisting. At the family’s home in Del Coronado, CA there is a celebration going on, her father being so proud of his son, Finley, for enlisting. In his office there is a wall, called the “Wall of Heroes” with their pictures hanging there. Frankie, really doesn’t see one picture of a female on that wall and decides to enlist as a nurse, perhaps she could make her father proud too and perhaps she could have her picture on the “Wall of heroes.”

Vietnam

21 year old Frankie having received her nursing degree from San Diego College for Women feels that women can be heroes too. With that in mind, she enlists in the Army Nurses Corp. Along with two other newly registered nurses, Barb and Ethel, they go through their paces in Basic Training. However, the three new nurses were definitely not prepared for what was ahead of them. Between the helicopters coming in at all hours of the day and night there was no time to think. Standing in the OR for hours, assisting surgeons or sitting with dying men and holding their hand, it often made Frankie ask herself “is this what I signed up for?” Far from school and what she had learned in comparison to being in Vietnam amongst the severely wounded, well that was another story. What she sees is traumatizing, heartbreaking and shocking. Along with bonding with others and having formed several unhappy romantic relationships, Frankie was overwhelmed. As her friends, Barb and Ethel had completed their two years, it was also time for Frankie to go home after her two tours of duty.

Coming Home

Life at that time in America was filled with protests against the Vietnam war. As Frankie stepped off the plane, she was spat on, ignored, and forced to see the signs of protests and names called at her. Her own parents never told their friends that went to war, but that she was in Florence studying. Worse yet, nobody believed there were women in Nam, they were never recognized for their contribution.

For Frankie life back home felt different, she suffered from PTSD, Her nightmares kept her up at night; noises made her run for cover. Life was not what she remembered it before she left. Turning to alcohol and drugs, she eventually was put in a psychiatric hospital where she remained for 8 months. With her nursing license taken away, she couldn’t return to any hospital for work. In the meantime, while her friends, Barb and Ethel remained close, they were moving forward while Frankie couldn’t move at all.

The Story Itself

This is a powerful story, one that relates to strong women, friendships and most importantly the horrors of war. It is strong in its telling, honest, accurate and the research is spot on. I was a young mother at that time, but with the the news, the war came into my living room. Newspapers and TV’s concentrated on the protests. “Make love not war,” “Baby killers,” were some of the signs along with Kent State protestors and Hanoi Jane. This was a war where there was no pride given to those who served, no acknowledgment of those who served and worse yet we lost a generation of young people.

A remarkable book written by a remarkable author, Kristen Hannah. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This was a great book about a topic about which I knew very little.

In the first half of the book, Frankie McGrath goes to war, volunteering to become a nurse in Vietnam. This was by far my favorite part of the book. It was believable and heart-wrenching. I felt like I was right there with Frankie as she became immersed in the horrors, the purpose, and even the occasional joys of her days in Vietnam.

The second half, which took place after Frankie returned home, didn’t resonate as much with me. I felt like it tried to represent every woman who went to Vietnam, and in doing so somehow diminished each of their experiences. It was no longer Frankie I was reading about, but a “woman who went to war,” who experienced every possible outcome upon her return. Nonetheless, it was an amazing story—and I cried at the ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

California, 1965. Frances (Frankie) is 20 year old nursing student raised by prominent conservative parents. Her brother Finley signs up to go to Viet Nam and she decides to follow him by joining the Army Nurses Corp. She is an excellent nurse, but not prepared for the experience of working in the battleground of Viet Nam where staff is limited and the number of patients is overwhelming. She knows how important her work is and signs on for a 2nd tour.
When Frankie returns stateside, she has flashbacks of Viet Nam and is suffering PTSD. She is rejected when she seeks help from the Veterans Administration because she’s a woman and not considered a veteran. She sinks deeper into her illness with alcohol and drugs. As time passes, she reaches her breaking point and help does come her way. Then the work begins to try to save her.
My husband served in Viet Nam as a Sea Bee. He was never injured, but cannot say enough good things about nurses and medical staff. The description of Viet Nam from the moment Frankie gets off the plane is exactly how he describes it and other parts of the book also.

Thank you NetGalley

Master storyteller Kristin Hannah returns following The Four Winds with her latest powerful novel, THE WOMEN. A beautiful, searing, coming-of-age historical fiction of a young woman's journey as a nurse in Vietnam set in a dangerous time with a divided nation in a man's world.

WOMEN CAN BE HEROES TOO.

CORONADO ISLAND, CALIFORNIA 1966:
Twenty-year-old Frances "Frankie" McGrath's brother is leaving to serve in Vietnam, and later, she is inspired to enlist as an Army nurse, much to her parent's rejection of this idea and non-supportive. She has always idolized her older brother, Finley.

She grew up in the idyllic world of Southern California (a well-bred young lady) and sheltered by her conservative parents, who put appearances first. She has always prided herself in doing the right thing.

After all, the Army is no place for a woman, or so her parents and community say. Frankie is determined to be a good nurse, make her way, and learn a skill.

At first, Frankie is overwhelmed but soon finds that in war, people respect her and her surgical skill set, and she learns much and finds purpose.

The author takes us inside the hospital wards, the dorm rooms, the gentleman's clubs, the long hours, the devastation, the poor conditions, the sickness, death, the soldiers, their families, and the stories of the war. But soon, this becomes the norm for Frankie.

She is drawn to a man she works with, a doctor, but does not act on the impulses. She thinks he will never be back after a tragic event.

Then, her dead brother's friend shows up and enters into an affair, and he is not honest with her. When it is time to come home, she feels out of place at home, where the usual day-to-day things seem unimportant after what she has seen and experienced.

From life to death, she sees the brave, the broken, the lost, the dying. She hears about the families back home. She does what she can to help save lives.

The world is full of unrest, and America is divided. The lives that were lost in Vietnam, the protestors, and those who lost their families in a war did not matter.

Suffering from PTSD, she ups and enlists again, drawing her back into service. Her parents think she has lost her mind. Her parents are dysfunctional and unsupportive. She feels at a loss; however, she has the support of the two dear friends she met while serving. I loved the women's strong friendship.

When speaking of heroes, no one mentions a woman from the war. But women are heroes, and they are often overlooked and not honored.

THE WOMEN is beautifully written, haunting, and an essential tale of women—their courage, sacrifices, friendships, loss, forgiveness, pride, and bravery, whose service has often been forgotten.

I think for those of us who lived through the Vietnam War, all rings true, and for those of us experiencing the pandemic and all the service workers who gave of our time and their lives to help others.

I appreciated and enjoyed reading the Author's Note, the dedication, and the remarkable women and their stories that were shared from serving in Vietnam during the war and their treatment coming home and postwar struggles.

Thank you, Kristin, for telling this remarkable and inspiring story. Even though the world thinks there were no women in Vietnam, they indeed were, and the services they rendered will not be forgotten.

I loved the three words: WE WERE THERE!

THE WOMEN is a must-read, meticulously researched, emotionally charged, rich in character and place. It is ideal for book clubs and further discussions.

AUDIOBOOK: I enjoyed reading a digital review copy and listening to an audio copy narrated by the fabulous Julia Whelan (a favorite). I highly recommend the audiobook that made the story come alive. It was exceptional!

Top Books of 2024! I have read all of the author's books—a long-time avid fan and this is one of her best!

Much gratitude to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC for honest feedback. #SMPInfluencers

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Feb 6, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Feb 2024 Must-Read Books
Feb Newsletter

“In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women.”

My FIRST TOP read of 2024 is THE WOMEN. 🥹
I shouldn’t have been surprised; my heart strings were pulled right away at 4%. The story is so beautifully gut-wrenching and heartbreaking, but also hopeful. With articulate writing and IMPECCABLE character development that only Kristin Hannah can master. I’m still thinking about these characters. 🫶🏽 There’s nostalgia, music references and true friendships.

The way in which Kristin depicted the struggles of life after war and Frankie’s battle with PTSD was very real and all too accurate. He path through self-destruction, discovery and growth left me feeling so sad but hopeful for her. The shame and guilt she carried. It infuriated me the way Frankie was treated stateside, constantly hearing “there were no women in ‘Nam.” THE WOMEN were silenced. She was every bit the BADASS nurse; courageous, compassionate, highly intelligent + competent, BRAVE. Yet she had to scream for help; help that almost never came. I have an even greater respect for our veterans after reading the experiences of the soldiers and nurses. ❤️‍🩹

In part 2, there’s a chapter that will TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY!! 🥹😭🫶🏽 I was *almost* hoping for it; even messaged my friends saying “imagine if KH did this…” She did. And then, she breaks our hearts AGAIN. I wasn’t ready for that even though I knew heartbreak was coming. Over and over AGAIN.

One thing I’ll say, I can only wish to be as brave a woman + nurse as Frankie was. She may be a fictional character but, oh so REAL in my eyes. I’m forever changed after reading THE WOMEN. Thank you @kristinhannahauthor for capturing that moment in history AND for showcasing one the most empowering and selfless professions we know. ❤️

The audiobook narrated by @justjuliawhelan is pure GOLD. 👌🏽

Another excellent book by Kristin Hannah. Tells a story that is not told enough. Taught me things I would have never known about the Vietnam War. It is clear that an endless amount of research went into this novel. The characters are engaging and the plot is unexpected but exciting. And the plot twists had my jaw on the floor. All of KH's backlist titles have shot up to the top of my TBR as she has emerged as an all time favorite author.

Wow! I cannot quit thinking about what I have just read. This is a beautifully written and very emotionally charged story about the women who served their country during the Vietnam war as nurses and are the real unsung heroes. This book not only tells of the horrors of dealing with the very traumatic injuries and death, but also the problems these women faced when they returned home to a country that wanted to forget about the war and did not want to acknowledge them. Keep the tissues handy because you are going to need them for this very riveting story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very powerful, thought-provoking story that is definitely unputdownable.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kristin Hannah for allowing me to review this masterful novel. I am in awe of Kristin Hannah! The Nightingale was my favorite novel until I read this book. Everyone needs to read this. I knew so little of the Vietnam War let alone the impact and sacrifices women experienced during this time as well. I am so grateful to Kristin Hannah for opening my eyes to this time in our history that is so often just a footnote in a history class. I will never look at war the same after this book. This is such a powerful and important book I believe everyone needs to read. I will be purchasing a physical copy for myself as well as all the readers in my life. Thank you so much for helping me find my new favorite book of all time! I am eternally grateful.

This book is important. It's depressing and complicated and long and made me cry many times. I learned so much about Vietnam, I so appreciate the author writing about a different piece of our history.

Highly recommend