"The Women" by Kristin Hannah is a gripping narrative that unveils the transformative journey of Frankie McGrath, a young nursing student turned Army nurse during the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War. As she steps into the chaos and heartbreak of war, readers witness her evolution from an idealistic young woman to a resilient hero, navigating the unpredictable landscape of life and death, camaraderie, and betrayal. Hannah skillfully captures the profound impact of war on Frankie and her fellow women warriors, exploring not only the battles fought on the front lines but the equally challenging struggles they face upon returning to a divided America. This novel is a poignant tribute to the often overlooked sacrifices and unwavering courage of women who placed themselves in harm's way, leaving a lasting imprint on history. "The Women" is a testament to deep friendships, bold patriotism, and the enduring spirit of those who define eras with their idealism and courage under fire.

In Vietnam and in the USA in late 1960s and beyond

In vivid details this drama brings to life aspects rarely discussed of the Vietnam War: The experiences of those brave women who joined the Army Nurse Corps and serve their tours of duty in Vietnam, in the public eyes they were never there and their service to the nation never recognzsed.

After her brother’s death, Frankie McGrath enlists as an Army nurse and sets off for Vietnam and this turn of events was just the beginning of a roller coaster ride. The first part of the book is set in gore-drenched hospital wards, terrible housing conditions and boozy officer’s clubs. Frankie fast turns into a crack of a surgical nurse and was highly regarded. Inevitable a lone woman among thousands of men Frankie started a platonic romance with a married man but it was not to be and all ended when his helicopter was shut down and he returned in a body bag. Soon her passion brings her into a wild affair with her brother’s best friend. In the background is a war raging and men returning to camp mangled or dying. In the second part Frankie is home where the population is rioting and war vets are spit and yield at. USA is against the war and wants its men back...forget about the women they were never there. Home is not fun, her father is ashamed of her service, her mother is a pill- popping individual and Frankie’s passion brings various love interests.....But most of all Frankie will discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause....

The is a masterfully constructed story that will trigger memories of the time and place in all its sadness....what were the Americans doing in Vietnam, why were they treated badly on their return and why insist women were never there. Finally in March 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial honored the service members of the US armed forces.

This novel hooked my attention from start to finish. It is well said and the events vividly described. I loved it...

Wow! My first read of 2024 and first Kristin Hannah and I already know it’s going to be one of my top reads of the year. So emotional, brave, empowering, insightful, transformative. From the character development to the heartbreaking twists and turns the story took, I know this story will stay with me for awhile. You can’t miss this one.

THE WOMEN was another outstanding story by Kristin Hannah. I didn't know a lot about the women (nurses) that were serving in the Vietnam War, so this was eye opening for me. Frankie really went through many experiences of death, lost love, and the need for acceptance from her father. You will be taken on an emotional roller coaster throughout her life. I will caution you to have tissues close by, as I cried a lot by the end of this book. I really appreciate all the research that Hannah did while writing this story and the people that helped her along the way. I can't recommend the book enough. It was outstanding! All the stars!!

Many thanks to ST. MARTIN'S PRESS and NetGalley for my gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to the pub date.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is an extraordinary novel about a woman’s experience working as a nurse during the Vietnam War. It’s heart wrenching, impactful, moving and fantastic.

I’m a huge fan of Kristin Hannah’s novels. Some of my favorites include The Nightingale, The Four Winds and Comfort and Joy. She has such a way of words and creating a vivid sense of place. Her novels completely transform me to wherever it is set.

And I think The Women might actually be her best work yet. From page one, I was completely engrossed in this riveting story about a young woman’s experience serving in the Vietnam War and then dealing with the aftermath. I adored the main character Frankie and I felt for her so much.

I was sad to finish it because I wanted the experience of reading it for the first time again. The Women is an ideal book club pick and I’ll be recommending this book all year and for years to come.

This story was set during the Vietnam War, and provided much background and insight into the horrors experienced by the women and men who served. Kristin Hannah is well-known for writing about strong women, so I expected no less from a novel titled The Women. Frankie is a fantastic character who is intelligent and idealistic when we first meet her.
The growth she makes through this book is significant and reading her story was powerful.
There are so many themes explored in this story including family and friendships, sexism and mental health. And of course a central theme is the Vietnam War itself and the way the contributions of women were overlooked, and those who returned home were not supported the way they deserved. It learned quite a bit of history through this well written tale.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Thank you to St.Martins Press for the opportunity to review an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“The Women” is as beautiful and emotional as one would expect from a Kristin Hannah book. A story about war, a story about strength, a story about sisterhood, I wasn’t prepared for the depth of emotions I felt throughout this book.

There are so many things that I want to say about this story, about the journey that Frankie takes before, during and after her time in Vietnam, but my favorite part of this book is the bond between Frankie, Ethel and Barb. Having a life changing shared experience, these women use that connection in war to form a friendship that could outlast anything, and seeing how they step up for each other and support each other was just beautiful. Their relationship is the star of this book by far.

There were so many bonds that Frankie forms in Vietnam that really helped tie the reader to her experiences. From the Vietnamese civilians she encounters, the doctors she works with and the soldiers she treats, KH humanizes events and situations that otherwise horrific.

As someone who wasn’t alive during this time period and only really knows about Vietnam and it’s aftermath by what she’s read in history books, this book was also eye-opening to just how hard it is to be a veteran, battling internal and external battles trying to get back to a normal life after living through something no one should have it. It gave me a new appreciation for how strong the men and women who serve are and how much more respect and help we should give them.

There is so much more that I can mention here, many other characters that captured my heart. I couldn’t put this book down, and dreamed about what I hoped would happen next while reading it, so to say I was utterly captivated would be an understatement. This is a book I won’t forget any time soon.

** A big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kristin Hannah for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was honored to read this book early.**

Wow! 😱
What an amazing read. This book is going to be a huge hit in 2024.
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When I heard that Kristin Hannah was writing a book about the Vietnam war I knew I NEEDED to read it.
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As a daughter of a Vietnam veteran, the war has always been a dark part of my Dad’s past. It’s something he NEVER talks about, but I lived with the effects the war had on his mental health and stability my entire life. Reading this book and following along on Frankie’s journey was a bit healing for me. It’s made me see the need to give my Dad grace, even all these years later.
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The fact the Hannah told the story of the women of Vietnam is what makes this book exceptional in my mind. Frankie is a real hero. The ups and downs of her life are hard to read at times.
*have the tissues on hand*
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This book is heavily researched and as historically accurate as possible and I’m so thankful I was able to read and learn from this novel.
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Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to read this book.
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It’s truly changed me. ♥️

An easy five star read for me. I am not a big historical fiction reader, but Kristin Hannah is always an exception. This almost 500-page book reads so fast. I read the first 60% in one sitting and could have read more. The pacing is so good and had me flipping pages so fast.

The subject matter is one I really didn't know about. I wasn't born yet when the Vietnam War happened. Frankie McGrath, at 21 years old, enrolls in the Army as a nurse. The first part of the book is her life as a nurse for two tours in the Army. The relationships she makes with women were wonderful, but not so much with the men.

The second half is about her life after she returns from Vietnam. It's amazing how it was told that there were no women in the war.

This book is so detailed and the amount of research the author did for this book is probably unreal. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to get a final copy for my bookshelf.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Did I intend to devour this all in one day? Nope. But once I started, I could not stop reading.

The Women centers on Frankie McGrath. We follow her as she makes the decision to volunteer to serve as an Army nurse in Vietnam, through her two tours and how she attempts to life back at home. Frankie was such a wonderfully drawn character. Her journey is not an easy one, but you root for her the entire way. I also loved how Kristin Hannah portrayed her relationship with her fellow nurses (don't we all need a Barb and Ethel in our lives?).

This was just so freaking good. Is it too early to name this as a favorite read of 2024?

My first book of 2024 and it’s a winner!

I can always count on Kristin Hannah for emotionally resonant historical fiction. I am slowly making my way through her books, many I have collected on my shelves to read.

In The Women, Frankie McGrath decides in haste to follow her brother who has been shipped off to serve in Vietnam. She hopes to serve with him in the capacity of a nurse. Newly finished her degree, Frankie is eager to be added to her father’s wall of heroes in his home office. But she could never have imagined what was waiting for her on the other end of her flight. Her letters with her brother had been jovial and light hearted and what she is quickly thrown into is anything but that. Frankie learns to swim quickly in Vietnam, under the guidance of some experienced doctors and with some formidable women nurses who master both the blood and guts of it all but also the compassion the men who come before her require.

Told in two parts, we see Frankie in Vietnam coming into herself and learning to live life as it comes and then travel with her home to California where anti-war protests are ongoing and she is spat at while wearing her uniform. The trauma of serving in war catches up to Frankie and she struggles to get the much needed help as the veterans’ administration services are for men who were in combat. She is told to talk to her girlfriends and to not take up the space needed for men.

Hannah has done a tremendous job of sharing the experience of many women who acted in various occupations in Vietnam. Added in is a little romance, some heartbreak, friendship, personal and societal challenges, and a heartwarming but a little unbelievable ending.

I really enjoyed all of this story and fell into the easy flow of the language. My only quirk, as said, was a plot point that I didn’t feel was necessary or believable at the very end of the tale. The author has kept this novel as historically accurate as she was able to minus small adjustments to time and place to forward the narrative.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netglley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. The Women publishes February 6, 2024.

One thing that I love about Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction books is that she highlights the roles women had during historical events where their contributions have so often been overlooked or forgotten. This is particularly true for “The Women,” where we follow Frankie, who serves as an Army nurse in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. I loved the main characters in this book, Frankie, Barb, and Ethel, the focus on friendships and found family, and I was captivated by this story. This book provides an unflinchingly honest look into both the critical role many military nurses had during the Vietnam War and also the difficulties that they faced—not only in Vietnam but upon returning home. It is evident that this book is well researched and I learned so much. I am giving this book five stars because I know that I will think about it for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Women. This was my very first (and will not be my last) Kristin Hannah read. This beautifully written story of an army nurse’s experience during the rise and throughout the Vietnam war was gut wrenching, turbulent, and beautiful. Frances, our main hero, will go down in history as one of my favorite characters ever written. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

Kristin Hannah's latest book 'The Women' follows a 20 year old nurse named Frankie through her time in the Army during the Vietnam War and her disastrous reentry into civilian society. If you liked the classic tv show M*A*S*H like I did, (depicted a different war but similar comradery) or if you're a historical fiction fan I'd recommend picking this book up.

***Caution Spoilers Follow***

This book affected me so strongly. I dont know of anyone who enjoys reading about the horror that was the Vietnam war but the point of view in 'The Women' is different and valuable. At It's heart it's a story of resilience and friendship. Frankie's character quickly ensnared me. Her innocent outlook on her brother's service sets up one heck of a character arc and it's a unique vantage point to view the war from. I didn't realize the depth of betrayal involved specifically with women being told their service didn't count. Seeing the horror of the Vietnam War through this young naive girls eyes, pulls all the emotion out of you. It's bleak, graphic and heart-wrenching. I cried, laughed and could not stop reading. Parts are so brutal I almost had a panic attack reading about it (and I mean that as a compliment to the prose). I STILL could not stop reading. As is always the case with Kristin Hannah's books, she pulls no punches. I was worried there would be SA thankfully there was not. If that is a hard line for you you're good here. What outstanding writing. TWs: depictions of war, gore and vivid PTSD scenes

Another successful novel by Kristin Hannah.  If you're interested in books with a similar vibe may I suggest 'A Farewell to Arms' by Ernest Hemingway, 'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien or 'The Huntress' by Kate Quinn

The missing. The forgotten. The brave…

I was absolutely blown away by this book and this one will hands down be one of my ultimate favorite books of all time! I am a huge fan of Kristin Hannah and I have loved every book she has written, but this one is the best one yet.

I was not a fan of the historical fiction genre until a few years ago, and though I feel like the genre is getting to be smothered now, I love when I discover and read one that blows me away instead of chasing me away. Not only did I LOVE The Women, I have been talking about it to everyone I know and encouraging everyone to preorder it now before it is even published!

I admit that history was my least favorite subject in school, thus that is likely why that is not one of my go-to genres, but this author not only taught me so much about the time period around the Vietnam War, but also about the important role that women had during that time, and that they were not recognized or appreciated at all, especially back then. I love to read about strong powerful women protagonists, especially from years ago when it was not common to see them in such prominent positions sacrificing their lives along with the men, even on the front lines. This is also a story about friendships, relationships, and commitments.

In the author’s note at the beginning of the book, Kristin tells us that she is using this novel as an opportunity to shine a light on the strength, resilience, and grit of the courageous women who served in Vietnam. She has nailed it and I cannot thank her enough for writing such an absolutely beautiful and important novel that I have no doubt will win award after award after award. Thank you for the awareness it will bring to so many.

I loved it! This story captivated me from the very beginning! I was worried the war plot would be too much for me as I’m not into topics like that but KH has a way of writing these important stories that transport you into a time & place that you know next to nothing about and you can’t help but see everything right in front of your eyes. Can’t wait to reread this story and grieve alongside of Frankie. 🥹

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review!!

Wow! Such a compelling and powerful story!! So well written and thought out. Some tough subject matter but it was handled perfectly! You could not help but love Frankie and her dear friends! Through her ups and downs you were pulling for her. It was amazing to watch her find herself and her strength!

I was so excited to receive an ARC of Kristin Hannah's newest book. I have been a fan of hers for some time.

The Women was a story that I could not put down.

Set in the beginning of the Vietnam War, Frankie McGrath comes from a family that exalts military service. Their family has a wall of pictures of all the men who have served their country. Frankie has just sent off her brother to war and she is adrift in life when a friend of her brother's says that "women can be heroes too".

That simple statement changes the trajectory of Frankie's life and she immediately signs up to serve as an Army nurse in Vietnam.

This is not an easy book to read with all the descriptions of the atrocities of the Vietnam War.
In true Kristin Hannah fashion, Hannah goes for the jugular and stomps on the reader's heart.
The Women is filled with characters that will stay with me for some time. Hannah wrote these characters in such a way that they became real to me and I was sorry to see them go.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Possible triggers: Miscarriage, sibling loss, alcoholism, and drug abuse.

I was only 10 years old when the Vietnam War started. It was on the TV, though, and I remember Walter Cronkite talking about how many troops had died. Kristen Hannah’s novel is a marvel at sharpening my memories of those days and seeing it through the eyes of 3 amazing Army nurses. What a great book!

Oh my gosh this book was so good. No one writes historical fiction like Kristin Hannah. The Nightingale is forever my favorite book, but this one is also up there as one of her best. The amount of research and detail she goes into is extremely impressive - especially considering each of her books is so different from the next and set in a different time. This story was heartbreaking and lovely and an important one to tell.