Young women who grew up in the 1950s and 60s didn't have the same opportunities that is out there for young ladies today. The Women chronicles the journey of a young woman from California growing up with wealth and opportunity who decides to train as a nurse and ultimately enlist in the Army Nurse Corps. Vietnam was raging. She became one of an amazing corps of nurses who worked in front-line hospitals saving lives. She is also one of a Vietnam generation who returns home not to thanks and adulation but to scorn. She must become an overcomer to save herself and the legacy of her family, the men she saved, and a piece of history. Unlucky in love, she buries herself in work post-Vietnam. If you do not read another book in 2024 read this one. It is the story of a generation that had to find its way and learn to live after one of the ugliest, most little-understood conflicts in our history. The Women is a tribute to those ladies who led the way for the current generation, stood strong in support of each other, and bled along with their brothers. Thanks to #NetGalley#TheWomen for the opportunity to read and review this great book

THE WOMEN is an ambitious, tour de force. It's brutal, honest, and powerful. I really respect all that Hannah covers and explores in this novel.

I appreciate the revisionist history of this novel, showing the untold story of women. It's something I'm deeply passionate about. I also respected that Hannah showed an honest portrayal of war and the experiences on returning from war. THE WOMAN was a hard read and brutal at times. Overall, I think it's a powerful book and highly recommend it.

When I first read THE NIGHTINGALE, it haunted me for months, and I believe THE WOMEN will do the same. I adore how Hannah tells stories of strong women surviving desperate situations. THE WOMEN captures the horror of war well: it's pungent and jarring. Along with capturing the desperation for friendship in wartime and the agony of PTSD. Overall, though, I think THE WOMEN was just a bit too brutal for me. I kept grasping for the balance of hope I need to pull me through the story. It's a bleak book that destroys you. So: recommended if you really love that feeling of being destroyed by a book.

I am glad to have read THE WOMEN, and will recommend it, but it was a bit too brutal for me. It's a honest book--and an accurate portray of the hardships of life--I personally just needed a few more glimpses of hope threaded through.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! Another wonderful novel by Kristin Hannah. I have loved every single book of hers and I think this is my new favorites. If you have enjoyed her books in the past I think you will enjoy this one as well! Can’t wait for the hardcopy to come out so I can gift it to a friend. 5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Holy crow has Kristin Hamnah done it again!!! I truly think this one may be in the top 3 of her books that I've read.

The Women tells the story of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a prim and proper girl from Southern California. Until she volunteers to be an Army nurse in Vietnam. The first half of the book details the life of a nurse in country and the second half details the all to real experiences of Vietnam vets returning home to a country hostile to their service. This experience is made harder for the women of the war, often left out of all Vietnam discussion.

This is an important tale to tell. I am grateful to have been a reader and believe this book should be read by everyone!

I knew better than to read this novel, anticipated the difficult and controversial Vietnam war theme. I knew it would break my heart and it did. Though I was quite young, I remember watching Nixon on a bar TV when I was barely old enough to drink. The author did such a wonderful job of reflecting the setting during the seventies era. The white bread with butter and sugar made me nostalgic. I remember the protests, burning draft cards and fleeing to Canada. I had little political knowledge or experience, no such thing as Internet and hadn’t ever read a newspaper. I had uncles who served in Korea, my father was stationed in Germany when I was born, so service to your country was familiar, revered and honorable. As the story unfolds it’s clear that Vietnam war remains polarizing. The story woven around three nurses in the arena of combat is brutally portrayed. There are many gruesome accounts of the wounded and injured. There’s suffering, small measures of relief – even joy. The romantic entanglements are both deep and haunting, to serve a purpose, escape from trauma and reality. This is a story I won’t forget, it will stay with me a long time. I cried and mourned those who gave so much only to be forgotten, mistreated and humiliated upon their return. The author is new to me but she’s earned a spot high on my historical fiction list.
A digital advance reader copy of “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, published by St. Martin’s Press, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

When her brother ships off to Vietnam, nursing student Frankie McGrath impulsively decides to leave her sheltered life on Coronado Island and join the Army Nurse Corps. In Vietnam, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos of war. Yet, even more unsettling is the shock of coming home to a country that has been divided by war and disillusioned by politics.

With a similar feel to The Four Winds, The Women is immersive historical fiction with a more serious tone. I took a little longer to attach to Frankie than usual but, by the time I did, I was desperate for Frankie to get her happily-ever-after. Yet, The Women reminds us that life isn't like a fairytale. War is a messy, traumatizing business even when veterans are fully-supported. And Vietnam was messier than any other war in American history, leaving unheard of struggles for returning soldiers, especially for the women who were often overlooked and forgotten.

How does she do it? How does Hannah write these deeply emotional, amazing stories again and again? The Women is astounding. Women WERE in Vietnam. WOMEN DID see carnage. WOMEN matter, then and now. Women are stronger than are given credit for.

My heart broke every single time Frankie tried. She tried so f-ing hard. The Women is a story of strength and resilience. Of found family. It's about a war that many didn't ask to be in and many more who weren't helped once they came home. Some of whom were told they weren't even there. That they didn't matter.

This is a story of truth. Is it historical fiction? Sure. But there is so much truth in the history of this story.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD and need help, call the National Mental Health Hotline at 866-210-1303 for PTSD hotline support

Another winner from Kristin Hannah! This book about the women of the Vietnam war was excellent.
I did not know much about this war other than the drafts and the protests. I had no idea there were as many women serving as nurses as there were. I found it very interesting to find out more about those women and all the work they did for the soldiers.
As with her other books about wars, she wrote it superbly. You felt like you were there with Frankie. It showed that women were heroes, too, even though they did not get the recognition the men did. The main character suffered with PTSD when she returned stateside and was not offered the same help as the men who came back.
This book shows the strength and tenacity of the ladies who went to Vietnam to serve their country. If you enjoy Kristen Hannah, you should read this book.

This is going to be one of those books that will stick with me for a long time! The time frame of the Vietnam War is not a common historical fiction topic. I was too young at the time to really know the effect it was having on the American society, and this was the eye-opener I needed.. It cleared up many of the skewed representations of what was really happening over there, and explains why there are so many troubled Veterans from that time. Kristin Hannah did it again with a realistic, heart tugging story that only she can tell!

Kristin Hannah has done it again. In her new hit The Women, we follow Frankie, a nurse in The Vietnam War. Frankie starts as a timid individual, but grows into her own throughout the book. The amount of research this book is astounding to me. I am a huge fan of Hannah and her work, but her books keep getting better. This is a must read for 2024.

I read a lot, but can honestly say this is the best book I have ever read..

I was tentative to read another Kristin Hannah book after really not liking The Four Winds, but this book was a pleasant surprise. I honestly didn’t know much about this era outside what I saw in Forrest Gump. This story filled a huge gap in my knowledge, especially about the women in Vietnam, and gave insight to a challenging time in American history. As usual, KH made me cry, challenged what I was hoping would happen, and wrote another powerful story.

After a slight introduction the main story takes place thirty years after Lara Marteinsdottir went missing on the small Icelandic island of Videy, never to be seen or heard from again. There are few crimes in Iceland and one that has remained a cold case for so long has haunted many. The story takes place in the 1980’s and with their painstaking research Jakobsdottir and Jonasson have remained true to the Icelandic history and culture of the times. An intriguing mystery that had me hooked from start to finish and left me wanting to see more of Sunna in the future! Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Kristin Hannah tore my heart out while I read this engrossing novel regarding the nurses who served in the Vietnam War.  From page one all my emotions were pulled through the pages as I read about Frankie's enlistment and service in the war against the wishes of her parents.  

Hannah's very descriptive account of the camp conditions and the injuries that Frankie saw as she worked countless hours trying to save soldiers' lives can be disturbing but she has you feeling as though you are literally in the room as things were happening.  I found myself reading this book into the early morning hours since I just could not put it down.

This novel taught me a great deal about what was going on behind the scenes in the war that tore not only Vietnam apart but also divided the USA homeland as well.  There were many protests and conscientious objectors, as well as so many lies told to the American people during this war.  Frankie's dealing with depression, PTSD, and the upheaval taking place at home due to our involvement was so sad to read.  My heart ached for weeks after finishing it but it is certainly my #1 read of 2023.  


My thanks to #NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this novel for my review.

I liked this book. I always enjoy Kristin Hannah but I will say this is not in my top list of her titles. The book follows Francis “Frankie” McGrath as she goes off to be a nurse in Vietnam and navigates life as a civilian after coming home.

I love when historical fiction teaches me something new. I obviously was aware there was mixed emotions in the country regarding Vietnam, but Hannah showed me. The struggle that Frankie went through on her return home was raw and real. You saw the mental anguish of dealing with the trauma of war and everything Frankie witnessed. You experienced the strained relationships she had with the people around her who disagreed with the war. Frankie also faced constant denial from the world that she was even part of the war, based on being a woman.

I always say Kristin Hannah knows how to break you and this was no different. I did think this book could have been shorter and I have a few criticisms that would be spoilers that I’ll keep to myself, but overall I recommend.

Frankie McGrath is just reaching adulthood at a time in history where women are struggling to make their independent places in the world. When her brother enlists to fight in Vietnam, her parents throw him a going away party to show their pride. When Frankie enlists as an army nurse to do the same her parents are upset and ashamed as it is not something women do. As hard as her time in Vietnam is, it is nothing compared to the way she is treated when she gets back to the States. This was a difficult read because of the accuracy of both the fighting and the way veterans were treated, but it illustrates a time in our history that is too often ignored.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a salute to the women that were nurses in the Vietnam war. She has written a story that acknowledges their courage and commitment, while capturing the fear, love and determination of those women. It follows Frankie McGrath, a combat nurse, during the two terms she was stationed as well as the years following her return home. The Women highlights the significant contributions and challenges faced by volunteer nurses during the war and then their struggles to find peace and help when they return home. It was educational, frustrating and heartbreaking. It was well researched and well written, and such an important story to tell. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

THE WOMEN is one of the best books I've read this year! Kristin Hannah never fails to deliver an emotional novel. The book revolves around the Vietnam War from the perspective of the Army Nurses, and the importance of their role during the war. They sacrificed everything to not get acknowledged as true veterans. A powerful read!

Thanks so much, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, Hannah writes an intense historical fiction novel. This one being set in Vietnam. I have read most of her books and expected some traumatic descriptions. While I greatly admire the women who chose to go to war, this book was a bit much for me. Liked the cultural references to that time period. I'm sure many readers will love this book though. I thank Netgalley for offering me the chance to read the ARC.

Twenty-year-old nursing student Frankie McGrath has always lived up to her rich parents’ expectations for her, but when her brother ships out to Vietnam, she signs up with the Army Nurse Corp to follow him, against her parents’ wishes. Nursing school had not even begun to prepare her for the horrors of war, and when her time in Vietnam ends, she is not prepared for her fellow Americans’ reaction to those who served in Vietnam.

Run – don’t walk – to your nearest bookstore to order this book! Kristin Hannah has so many amazing books, but I believe this will be remembered as one of her best. I couldn’t put the book down and stayed up late to finish it.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I hate to say it but this was not one of my favorite books by Kristin Hannah. The pacing also felt a bit uneven. Some sections of the book moved so quickly (ie. Frankie’s decision to join the military) while other parts moved so slow. The relationships also felt one dimensional and a bit melodramatic. I can understand how war heightens emotions and I also understand that Frankie was immature. However, the way that everyone instantly fell in love with Frankie (ready to drop their significant others) was annoying.

I did not realize how little I knew about the Vietnam War, so I appreciated how much I learned from this book. This book did a great job showing the conflicting feelings that soldiers and stateside Americans felt about the war. I also appreciated that half of the book focused on PTSD and I can truly tell that Hannah did her research. But so many points in this book made me roll my eyes and feel like I was reading a romance rather than historical fiction. I appreciate Kristin Hannah’s writing and the light that she shines on her subject matter but this book was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy.