Another incredibly moving, meticulously researched historical fiction novel from one of my all time fav authors! This story follows Francis, a young girl who decides to enlist as a nurse to support her brother who is fighting over in Vietnam. Before she can even start training, her family learns that he has been killed, setting in motion grief that will affect them all for years to come.

Spanning decades, we learn what life was like for enlisted women during the Vietnam war, especially the nurses who have often been overlooked. Hannah really brought the decade of the 60s to life in this story and just how harshly divided Americans were about Vietnam. It broke my heart how Frankie was treated by her own parents after she finally came home and they had lied about her involvement, wishing to pretend she hadn't gone to Vietnam.

The mental health struggles with Vets, especially the women, not to mention the PTSD trauma, unrealized infertility problems due to the poisons used in Vietnam, and sooo much more. Frankie has a tumultuous love life, falling for a married man and then another who lies to her and is presumed dead. She has to fight for birth control and her place as a civilian nurse, not to mention battling drug and alcohol addiction (her own mother gives her pills!).

Highly recommended if you want to learn more about this period of American history, enjoy good character studies and excellent narration by Julia Whalen! Perfect for fans of books like Absolution by Alice McDermott. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: miscarriage, drug and alcohol addiction, drunk driving

1/5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!
I was really hoping to love this book. I liked the idea of a feminist take on history, but unfortunately that’s not what this was. This book was just some glorified white savior take on the war, and I really didn’t enjoy it.

I liked the female friendships, the premise, and the interesting idea that was “focusing on women during the war”. But honestly it didn’t give enough of what it promised. We just follow one woman, which puts a question mark on the title, and the people she meets (who are occasionally women).

I didn’t really love the format of the book with the letters, it dragged a lot and made for a boring read.

Overall, I didn’t like it. But I’ve loved som en of Kristen Hannah’s other books, so I’m going to hold out hope that the next one is better!

Can we just take a second to appreciate an amazing historical fiction set in a different time period than WWII. While I love those stories too, The Women brought an astounding amount of knowledge to Vietnam War that I may have never known about. While also being amazing story telling and highly entertaining with keeping me glued to the pages. This is the first fiction book I’ve read about Vietnam amongst the vast amounts of WWII books. Which also may have me appreciating it so much more.

Hannah is who originally got me into reading many years ago, and she only continues to solidify herself as one of the best when she releases new books. Her writing is so engrossing and transports you through the pages to feelings like you are right there in the midst of her stories. Another amazing release from her and only leaves me impatiently waiting for what she has next for us.

This book was amazing. I love that it brings to light a lesser known piece of women’s history and Vietnam War history. I loved all the female characters in this book and most of the men. I thought the main character Frankie was so well written. She was complicated and nuanced and I really felt for her.

There is a lot of blood and unpleasant medical terminology so just be aware if that sort of thing makes you squeamish.

This was definitely one of my favorite Kristen Hannah books and I’m sure I will be recommending it to a lot of people! Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m so glad I got to read this early.

Wow. This was a sweeping, vividly rendered portrait of a challenging period in US history and of the American women—heroes—whose stories have too often been overlooked. Moving, emotional, and somehow hopeful, too. I finished this in a day.

Kristin Hannah is hit or miss for me, but The Women was a total hit. I was completely transported to the Vietnam War years and really enjoyed hearing about the women who served during that time. Absolutely heartbreaking. I think the author did a great job documenting the horrors that were being committed in Vietnam while also highlighting the absolutely gut wrenching treatment vets received when they got back….not to mention that nobody really believed that women were over there at all. Highly recommend for any historical fiction fans.

Frankie McGrath is one of the women who served in Vietnam, even though few acknowledged during the war that any women were even there. Frankie naively and nobly volunteers to be an Army nurse at the beginning of the war. We learn, along with Frankie, about the horrors of war as well the forces of love and friendship. The description of the Vietnam War was amazingly vivid. Even though I lived through those times, I learned so much more about it from Kristin Hannah’s effective narrative. The story elicits tremendous emotion and even a sense of guilt about the way Americans treated returning veterans. This first part of the book rates a strong 5 stars from me. But the second part, covering Frankie’s return to the U.S. was a bit disappointing. While still emotional and heart-wrenching, the story becomes melodramatic. Frankie, along with many other veterans, is clearly suffering from PTSD. The Veteran’s Administration is no help – they don’t consider the nurses as war veterans. The major hole in the story is Frankie’s evolving affair with a psychiatrist she first met at an anti-war demonstration. He certainly must have observed Frankie’s increasing agitation but while he was in love with her, it seems incredulous that he wouldn’t have observed her mental wounds and tried to help her. He eventually did play a role in steering her to resources helping her to ultimately find some peace. “The Women” is an amazingly vivid and compelling book. The overly dramatic second half of the book, where if something could go wrong it would, keeps my rating from being an enthusiastic 5 star.s. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Wow! Kristin Hannah somehow continues to not just do it again, but do it even better. I absolutely loved The Women. Vietnam was before my time, but I’ve heard bits about it from my parents, who had siblings in the war. I knew it was rough and that it affected the veterans long after coming home, but this book really opened my eyes to the reality. My heart broke and my anger raged at how Frankie was treated, even when trying to get help. This is a book that I will be thinking about for a long long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kristen Hannah for allowing me the chance to review this novel.
It has been quite some time that I have read a book in a 24 hr period, and even more so at the end brought me to tears.
Being part of a military family gives one a sense of pride to know you are of that 1% that keeps our country safe. Sadly Vietnam tarnished that feeling for many, and especially the women who served during this time. In The Women, we follow Frankie a Southern California deb as she enlists fresh out of nursing school to do her duty. What she thought would be an adventure along side her Annapolis grad older brother, this turns out to be one of the most influential choices of her life, and not all for good. We are sucked into Frankie’s life as she learns hands on nursing at an evacuation hospital and then hones her skills at a MASH unit making and losing friends along the way. Then to her horror, finding out how badly Vietnam Vets are treated back home. As Frankie’s journey continues we see how she slowly puts her life back together.
This is a compelling historically accurate story of a Vietnam nurse’s struggle to find her way over her young lifetime and what we can learn from it.. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!

Be bold. No fear.

This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. It broke my heart and restitched it a million times over, but in the best way. It always kept me hooked and I loved how we watched Frankie's entire journey throughout many years.

This was surprisingly my first Kristin Hannah book and I will definitely be reading more. I will be awaiting release day so I can purchase a physical copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Kristin Hannah for an digital ARC of The Women in exchange for my honest review.

Five stars with a minor quibble
It’s a fine art to write a story that immediately immerses the reader in a different world. Once again, Hannah has done it with The Women. I felt I was right there with Frankie, a new nurse in Vietnam. My heart was beating just as quickly as hers, feeling just as helpless, questioning the decision that brought her there. She’s quickly forced out of her comfort zone, having to take on responsibilities she never imagined. Hannah gets the immediacy of the relationships, how quickly they become deep. But just as quickly dear friends are gone, hopefully because they’ve fulfilled their obligations. Other times, because they’ve died.
I hadn’t realized how few of the nurses in Vietnam were women. She is one of only nine female nurses at the triage hospital where she’s initially sent. I also hadn’t realized how their very presence in Vietnam was denied. Frankie is repeatedly told “there were no women in Vietnam”.
The second half of the story tackles Frankie’s return to the States. Again, Hannah does a great job presenting the PTSD, the failure to recognize her service, the protests, especially the Veteran protests. My one quibble was that the romance part of the story started coming across as more soap opera than real.
This one grabbed me and never let me go. I was finding all sorts of reasons to continue to read/listen to this. I finished this 15 hour book in two days.
The story is incredibly well researched. Right down to the little things, like nurses not being allowed to wear pantyhose with their dress uniform but forced to wear a girdle and hose. Or how prevalent rats were. I am curious to know if studies back up the idea that the Vietnam vets suffered more PTSD because their service, unlike other war time vets, was not acknowledged - that they weren’t lauded when they returned home, that they were forced to keep silent about their experiences.
The audio book was narrated by Julia Whelan who did a fabulous job. She truly enhanced the story.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

I loved this book! I’ve never gotten to read about the Vietnam War, especially featuring women. I’m an OR nurse and, while some things seemed a little far fetched to me as far as the OR setting went, she did a great job overall with making it realistic.

This is the third book that I have read by this author and I continue to be impressed by her talents in creating a great story. You can tell that she does her research and doesn't just throw anything together and call it a day. I felt for her main character all the way through as she felt like a real person to me. The audiobook narrator did a great job as well with all the different voices. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 there were no women in Vietnam stars

Kristin Hannah is a winner for me every time! Her characters are realistic and fleshed out; they grow on me, and I almost always cry at some point while I’m reading her books. This time is no exception.

Hannah tackles the 1960s -- the Vietnam War, protests, and the aftermath, especially for women. Frankie (short for Frances) has an older brother who has just gone off to war. In Frankie’s family, only men can be heroes, at least according to her father. Surprising everyone, Frankie decides she wants to do her part as well, and she finds that the Army will take her without years of nursing experience.

The experience of working in a war hospital is like nothing she can imagine. She’s thrown into the action and meets amazing men and women who are saving lives in horrible conditions. She gains so much experience, from every nursing task possible to assisting in surgery. Her roommates are amazing women, and they become friends for life.

The first half of the book deals with Frankie’s time in Vietnam, the men she saves, and the ones that she simply comforts because there’s nothing that can be done.

When Frankie finally returns home, it is a difficult transition. I was shocked at how she was turned away from the Veterans Administration because she hadn’t seen combat in the war and wasn’t really considered a veteran. Many people said that women were not in Vietnam. Those returning were not treated as heroes, which was very different from soldiers returning after WWII. Even Frankie’s parents didn’t treat her well. PTSD wasn’t well understood, and many suffered, often turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.

This is not always an easy book to read, but I’m so glad I’ve read it and have more insight into this important time in our nation’s history. At times, it filled me with emotions, sometimes shock, sometimes anger, and sometimes grief. At the end of the day, it is clear that women are heroes.

After not loving The Four Winds, I was nervous to pick up The Women - I’m genuinely not a huge historical fiction reader, but I love most of Hannah’s books, so I picked up The Women and I was incredibly glad I did. This is one of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. I learned a ton about the Vietnam War and what returning from service was like as well and the characters came off the pages - I was sad to have to say goodbye to them upon finishing this masterpiece.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This historical novel is an amazing tribute to the Vietnam veterans, especially the women who served. Hannah did such an amazing job at developing the characters that I felt personally invested in each one. The entire book was an immersive experience—the sights and smells of Vietnam so vividly portrayed, the culture and politics of the 60’s and 70’s, and the overwhelming emotions. I even had trouble sleeping for thinking about the horrors of the war—maybe not the best bedtime read! Truly unforgettable. I do feel that the last half (Part 2) moved slower and bogged me down a bit with the protests and the struggles of re-entering society after the war, but the ending was perfect. I enjoyed reading the acknowledgements, which showers just how much research had gone into telling this story as accurately as possible. I’m sure this will be another bestseller for Kristin Hannah in 2024…deservedly so. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to recommending it after the publication date in a couple months.

Earlier this year, I went to an author event with Kristin Hannah in Coronado, CA where she teased this book. The excitement when the publisher released galleys in a first-come first-served way let me read this book in advance.

As a Kristin Hannah fan, I put reading this on hold for a while, waiting for the perfect moment. Turns out, Christmas vacation was the right time. I’m newer to her work, starting with The Great Alone, and her research and writing keep bringing me back.

The Women is her historical fiction look at the women who served in the Vietnam War as nurses. It was eye-opening and had me racing through the first part of the book.

The story starts with a 20-something Frankie attending a going-away party for her brother before he ships out to Vietnam and ends with her returning home to Coronado trying to adjust to life in the “other world” following her own deployment.

I don’t read too many novels set in war, but I appreciated this one for the female perspective, though I did wish for more from Frankie and the friends she made in Vietnam. Even a few paragraphs with personal exchanges outside of their time at the bar. I understand the connection of war is grand enough, but I wanted to see their friendship develop beyond collectively experiencing trauma.

Also, I would’ve liked something similar with Frankie and her brother. There were a few anecdotes sprinkled in like how they surfed together as kids, but I wanted something deeper. She was a low-stakes kind of girl in the beginning and made this very drastic, dangerous choice to join the war, and it didn’t feel believable.

The aftermath of her return and her struggle to “normalize” life back in Coronado, especially for a young woman during that era was interesting to read as well. However, I could’ve done without some of the love story angles. For me, it changed the story from being about Frankie and her quest for herself and more about her life revolving around men.

I’ll read anything Kristin Hannah writes. And my cynicism is another person’s romantic, so take for it what you will.

The Missing. The Forgotten. The Brave. The Women…

“The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm's way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation.”

When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, 20 year old nursing student Frankie McGrath impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.

The Nightingale (also by KH) has long been one of my favorite books, but this one will slide in right beside it. The Women is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about a turbulent and transformative time that is often misremembered. Centered around the Vietnam War and the women who served and were forgotten, Kristin Hannah delivers a masterpiece.

Anybody that has read a Kristin Hannah novel before knows that she is a fantastic writer and storyteller. She visually describes everything and uses our senses to depict the war and the lifestyle: we see it, feel it, smell it, touch it, and taste it. The author describes her dramatic and colorful characters as complex, complicated, courageous, and flawed.

Speaking of characters, Frankie McGrath is now one of my favorite fictional women. She is strong, but she is REAL. This woman GOES THROUGH IT. We celebrate her highs and struggle through her lowest of lows right next to her.

I received an advanced readers copy of the book from the author and @stmartinspress through @netgalley.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Thank you to every Vet, nurse, doctor who served but specifically the nurses and vets from Vietnam, more specifically my Uncle Edd ♥️ He recently passed and though I don’t know much about his time there, this book brought me a lot of heartache knowing that this is how they were treated coming home as well as the illnesses and PTSD that they suffered. Again, thank you to all those who served.

When Frankie McGrath hears the words, “Women can be heroes too”, it lights a fire in her to become a nurse and help during the Vietnam War. She follows in her brother and families footsteps and becomes a nurse in the Army. Frankie finds friends over in Vietnam and her calling, completing 2 tours. Upon returning, she finds out how divided the country is and how Vets are being treated on their return. Trying to navigate her new life, she stumbles and falls, tries to get back up and find her footing. Following Frankie’s life over 20+ years, we follow the good, the bad, the PTSD, love and loss and her triumph. Though it follows, one woman’s journey, this book highlights the women of this war who were often forgotten.

Ugh my heart. This is my first Kristin Hannah novel and won’t be my last. She has a way to make you feel everything- heartache, love, grief, despair, happiness, everything. And… the ending ♥️ I’m so glad she wrote this book and the amount of time she took to write this. What a great first novel of hers to read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @kristinhannah for an arc of the Women in exchange for a review.

Kristin Hannah delivers another impactful, dramatic novel in The Women. As the title implies, this book focuses on the women of the Vietnam War and their impact on a historical moment that was fraught with political backlash and a lack of support by many civilians. This novel depicts harrowing realities of war, as well as the psychological impacts many soldiers and enlistees brought back home after their tours.

Lead character Frankie McGrath volunteers for a tour in Vietnam after her brother's death while serving in the war. She is an infantry nurse, and without any practical experience learns the hard way how to treat wounded soldiers or comfort them during their last breaths. The descriptions of the war were so realistic that I felt like I was on the sidelines with Frankie. Upon her return home, there are many times I wanted to shake sense into her, yet I empathized with her trying to return to a life that seemed less meaningful after experiencing such trauma. In addition to shining light on a historical perspective that I was unaware of, this novel had drama and romantic entanglements that kept it interesting.

Any fan of Kristin Hannah will enjoy this novel!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.