Reading Kristin Hannah is literal magic. She's an excellent storyteller and really knows how to get the reader to feel empathy for the characters she creates.

I didn't feel that way this time around. And I've loved every single KH book I've read. Frankly, I was in a deep reading slump after being devastated by a book I HATED. And I know for fact that that book I hated influenced my opinion of this book. Now with that being said, I can't rate this book based on a star scale. (I am forced to rate the book here but please know this rating is rather arbitrary for myself here).

The Women is classic Kristin Hannah. I love the historical fiction. I love the strong female characters she creates. It is a struggle to be a woman, but it is rewarding. The Women is a reflection of the women that "weren't in the Vietnam war". Spoiler alert: they were in the Vietnam war and they were influential. The Women is more than just the story of one woman, it's a collection of multiple experiences, trauma, and disbelief.

The Women is painfully real. It exposes to the reader PTSD before PTSD was a thing. It exposes trauma before our society fully understood mental health. This book can be triggering to some, but understanding to others. Kristin Hannah represents one story that was so real for so many. Welcome to the Vietnam war. Welcome to loss. Welcome to a story of people not believing your truth.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. It's been a dream to read one of my favorite authors so early.

4.5 rounded to 5.

"The Women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite reading to heart it, and their story began with three simple words- we were there."

how in the world does Kristin Hannah always manage to rip my heart out while I read her books?! I loved this one so much. I had never read a book about the Vietnam war before, and it broke my heart hearing about the things that happened over there and how we are still struggling now in 2023 to do the right thing when it comes to war and innocent people (soldiers included) dying at the hands of greedy, power-hungry governments.

I loved the characters in this book!! Frankie, Barb and Ethel were the most perfect, strong women this book needed. I loved how they all dealt with the war differently (and painfully) but were always there for each other at the drop of a hat. They all went through so much, but Frankie, poor girls seemed like she could never catch a break. I loved how she turned her pain and struggles into something amazing in the end. Really amazing story.

The middle was a little slow, but the beginning and the end were amazing, heartbreaking, inspiring, and just perfect in true Kristin Hannah fashion. Highly recommend (with a tissue box of course)!!

Triggers: war, PTSD, death, miscarriage, attempted suicide, addiction.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is the best book I have read this year. Set initially during the Vietnam War, Hannah takes us to the front lines and what it was like for the women at war, the bonds that are formed, and how friendship can save you.
Not since The Nightingale have I loved a book so much. The depth of character, and the description of everything Frankie endures and survives, it feels like the reader is with her on her unbelievable, gut-wrenching journey. I knew this story would gut me and it did, but it was magical, educational and such an amazing journey. I highly recommend it.

I couldn’t put this book down - it was phenomenal. The Nightingale is one of my favorite books, and this one is right up there with it. For context, The Great Alone was a big miss for me (the second half was too emotionally manipulative), and The Four Winds was good but not great. But this one. Oh dear. This was simultaneously an intimate and heartrending portrait of one woman’s experience of the Vietnam War and a sweeping historical survey of the women who went to war and those left behind. Our main character, Frankie, is a flawed but enormously likeable heroine, and I especially loved the evolution of her friendships with her fellow nurses. I also really enjoyed learning about this time in history, which I’m ashamed to admit is not one I’m well-versed in. Even at 480 pages, I didn’t want the chapters to end, and somehow wanted this to be even longer. One of my favorite reads of the year and sure to be a huge hit in 2024.

Kristin Hannah is back! Let me start off by saying I loved this book. Hannah is a master storyteller and this book did not disappoint.

The Women follows the story of Frankie McGrath, a US Army Nurse stationed in an evacuation hospital in Vietnam during the US involvement in the Vietnam War. The first half of the book details Frankie’s experiences as a nurse during the war and the absolute turmoil and trauma she goes through every single day trying to help save the lives of US soldiers and Vietnamese civilians who have been decimated by the conflict. Some of the events described in the book are quite graphic, but the Vietnam War was devastating for all involved. The second half of the book describes Frankie’s return to the US and the subsequent discrimination and PTSD she experiences as the result of the US public’s response to the war efforts and her erasure as a female who served in Vietnam (yes, women served in Vietnam…). While the story centers around Frankie’s experiences, it talks a lot about women’s participation in the Vietnam War, service members returning home from Vietnam and the barriers they faced reintegrating into American society, the political climate surrounding the US’ involvement in Vietnam, the “Summer of Love”, and mental health and PTSD.

This story was impeccably researched, I can’t begin to imagine the extent of the research involved to cover a topic with such little public awareness. Kristin Hannah has such a beautiful writing style too, I really felt every single emotion Frankie went through in the book, her character seemed to leap off the page for me. I’ll say, don’t get caught up in the love story plot, this book is about so much more than that. I actually preferred the relationship between Frankie and her fellow ‘Nam nurses, Ethel and Barb. Truly the definition of “ride or die”.

For fans of Kristin Hannah, this is a MUST read. For fans of historical fiction, women’s fiction, American politics, the 60-70s, I implore you to put it on your list. Such an important story told from a perspective that is often hidden and silenced in the history of the Vietnam War.

A powerhouse of a novel, set during the tumultuous times of Vietnam war, and presenting the unfamiliar perspective of the women that went through it. Absorbing and all consuming!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Woman — long story short, they survived. They said “There were no women in ‘Nam.” And in this powerful story about resilience, strength and
badass women, you will go through a roller coaster of emotions. It has it all. Heart break, romance, loss, mental health. Kristin Hannah did wonderful with this book and I can’t wait for everyone to read this soon.

The Women by Kristin Hannah: I will admit it; I wasn't sure what to expect. I love some of earlier books, but have had a hard time with the last couple. I was unsure how I'd feel about this one, especially as it was such a sensitive subject as the Vietnam War. Let me just tell you: I loved it. I didn't want it to end. I was captivated from the start. It was completely well-done and it touched on all the hard subjects while still being very real and very human. A definite five stars. You won't want to miss this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and the audiobook publisher.

To know Kristin Hannah is to truly know pain. And man, she really brought the pain in this one. Approximately 100 times I thought ‘this girl just cannot catch a break.’ Every time you think Frankie finally hit rock bottom, KH would pull another sorrowful trick out of her sleeve. Completely heartbreaking read.

This book gave me a lot of complicated feelings. Sadness, anger, frustration, and not nearly enough happiness. Obviously a book centered around war and PTSD is obviously going to be sad, but I really wish we got to see Frankie experience more than just brief bouts of happiness. With that said, the sadness made for a very powerful read. Such an important time in history and I love that KH gave the women and their role in the Vietnam War a voice.

Another aspect I loved was the strong female friendships. Frankie truly built a great support system and the lengths they went to come through for each was so nice to read. And what’s a book about women, without the men. Damn did the men suck in this book!

Overall, I don’t think the writing is as strong as some of her other works but this was a great read and will be sure to delight KH fans and lovers of historical fiction. She truly transports you to the time and I think this is a book I’d read again. Highly recommend!

4.5

Thank you @stmartinspress for an ebook and also to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook! I absolutely recommend the audio narrated by the most amazing @justjuliawhelan
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It’s books like these that remind me how lucky and privileged I am to be a bookstagrammer reading an early copy. As an immigrant to the USA, I have very rudimentary knowledge of the Vietnam war and this book was so educational, shocking and baffling about how the women contributed to saving soldiers’ lives and yet were completely ignored and even mistreated by their countrymen upon their return. My husband, a born and raised American, was also not privy to some of the content in this book.

Kudos to the author for accurately portraying the suffering from PTSD, a mental health condition that was not officially a diagnosis until much later. So when the women experienced PTSD, nobody was able to help professionally or even understand their condition. Without disclosing too much, I also enjoyed how the MC, Frankie, defied all types of resistance against women of her era and came out stronger in the end.

Finally, I also want to add how so many aspects of the war such as the government not providing accurate details of the war, is still applicable to this day which also makes the book utterly frightening to read…that so much remains unchanged from the sixties.

I absolutely cannot wait for people to read this book and give their inputs! Five glowing stars from me!

Seriously a fantastic book!! I read this in one day because I couldn’t put it down. Gut wrenching, lovely, thrilling, and so many more words to describe this book.

Breathtaking! This is a book I won’t soon forget as it touched me deeply. Fantastic story telling and well researched.

Kristin Hannah books have a track record for making me cry...so, when I saw this book was about a combat nurse (I'm a former RN) and about the Vietnam War (my late father fought in that war) I knew these connections were a recipe for tears. AND IT WAS.

This story impacted me so deeply on so many levels. I think many readers will feel this way. I appreciated the depth of the characters and the extensive research that Hannah did to create this historical fiction story. The main character was honorable, brave, and all the things that make a strong woman so inspiring. Not only did this book touch on the war, but it also addressed women equality and how society viewed and treated female heroes.

The Vietnam War was brutal and tragic and Hannah handled it with the tenderness a story about it deserves. My father felt the war was not one America should have been fighting and that our soldiers did not belong there, and the author shared this sentiment well through the feelings of her characters and how they reflect on the destruction around them and process the trauma that followed their service.

Also, Hannah really got the abundance of rats right. My dad had many harrowing stories about those critters...among other things as you can imagine a 19 year old boy drafted to fight two tours deep in the jungle would...

Overall, this is a novel I won't forget easily. It was expertly crafted and I have so much respect for Kristin Hannah and her work. I highly recommend this for fans of historical fiction or anyone wanting to learn more about the Vietnam War.

Wow Kristin Hannah. The way she tells stories blows me away. This book was an emotional roller coaster of a journey but I loved it and it got me interested in a topic that I wasn't particularly excited to read about. I appreciate the focus on the WOMEN that served in Vietnam and how they were forever changed by the war. Despite this being a fictional story, the topic was well researched and thoughtfully portrayed. It is hard to fathom the highs and lows of war and what our veterans went through - but I felt like I could glimpse it through Frankie's story. As a heroine Frankie was relatable, compassionate and tenacious. I could not believe how the veterans were treated after returning from war which this book certainly highlighted. SUCH a powerful story- 5 stars.

I also have to recognize the amazing work of Julia Whelan who narrated the audiobook and truly brought all of the characters to life.

The Women
Kristin Hannah

This was without a doubt my most anticipated 2024 release, and I am so grateful to SMP for my physical ARC and my digital ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for my ALC. ❤️ Thank you, #partners.

About: Frances "Frankie" McGrath is a brand new nurse, living on Coronado Island with her wealthy, conservative parents. At her brother Finley's goodbye party, (he's headed to 'Nam), a seed is planted by Finley's friend Rye, that "women can be heroes" too. Working an unsatisfying job changing bed pans and feeling that her life should have more purpose, Frankie makes the compulsive decision to enlist as well. Maybe she'll even get to see her brother! When she's turned away by other arms of the military, she eventually enlists with the Army Nurse Corps.

But things backfire when Frankie receives some devastating news, and much to her surprised disappointment, her parents are against her enlistment. Now she's off to war, illprepared for the atrocities that await her, and feeling completely alone. It's not long before Frankie is thrust into the center of conflict, working in surgery, seeing death and disfigurement around every corner. Forming friendships and companionship with her fellow servicemembers is the one thing that keeps her sane.

When Frankie returns home, she's faced not only with the complete erasure of her experiences by her fellow Americans (most don't even realize women were in Vietnam), but also the trauma she carries with her from what she witnessed. Spanning over a decade, readers take this journey with Frankie as she grapples with the aftermath of Vietnam. Dealing with a myraid of issues, but with a lack of resources (she's a woman, after all), Frankie suffers immensely, struggling to carve out a post-war life.

Thoughts: I remember a conversation with my bookclub a couple years ago about how many WWII books we'd read, and how we wished there were more historical fiction novels about other U.S.-involved wars. I personally mentioned Vietnam, and how much I craved this story. I even went on a deep dive seeking historical fiction set in Vietnam. It's slim pickins, friends. So when I heard that the brilliant Kristin Hannah had written this story, I gasped. This is the book. This is the one I was waiting for. It's just breathtaking.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for Hannah for tackling this topic with nuance, care, and grace. There was a time, while reading, that I doubted the direction she was heading. After all, the U.S.'s role in Vietnam was unethical, with literal war crimes committed, and I was hoping Hannah would touch on this. She does, and I was able to breathe. But in addition to the historical accuracy in which she portrays the Vietnam War itself, I sooo appreciate the way she writes about the aftermath, specifically as it impacted women. I knew very little about women's roles in the war - you just don't hear the stories - so learning that while women may not have been infantry, they were very much in conflict zones and they absolutely saw war. I love the inclusion of friendships and love interests, and the turmoil and growth within the McGrath family. I could go on forever, but I'll stop here, as nothing I say will do this book justice. This is without a doubt one of Hannah's very best and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Another great Kristin Hannah book.

She wrote a story on a subject I know very little about. It angered me throughout t6o see how our government treated veterans, especially women during this time. I'm gonna go out on a limb and says things are still unequal when it comes to the military.

While still historical fiction. Hannah writes with her signature prose, always optimistic, even when turbulent and sad. Frankie McGrath, decides to go to Vietnam to become a GI nurse, where she works endless hours watching people die in a war that should have never taken place to begin with. With no support from her family, who would rather see her stay home and be someone's wife, Frankie comes back a changed person, suffering from PTSD, with no real means of support.

It's a great story, and I already know it's going to be a polarizing 2024 read.

This was my first Kristin Hannah novel. I now understand the appeal. Within these pages I felt like I lived in this novel. I was in Vietnam with Frankie. I saw what she saw, I felt what she felt. I was gutted, wrecked, but I felt the hope that Frankie felt. This atmospheric novel, is the perfect text to grasp just how resilient the human spirit is. Despite all of the atrocities that Frankie witnesses, the loss she endures, and the heartbreak, she finds her way to a place where she can believe in herself and her own capibilities. Frankie is the quintessential feminist. I loved this novel, and though there were times when I audibly moaned, because "how many things can this one woman go through", I didn't want it to end.

A historical fiction masterpiece from Kristin Hannah.

Go ahead and add this one to your book club of February 2024. You’re going to want to read and discuss this one as soon as it comes out.

This story follows Frankie who joins the Army Nurse Corps after her brother ships out to serve in the Vietnam War. She quickly realizes that it may not have been what she expected at all. But she ends up find other women and friends and this story follows their story and their courage. A truly remarkable read.

The Women focuses on the story of Frankie McGrath, a nurse who served in the Vietnam War. Like some of Kristin Hannah’s other books, this story spans over years of the main characters life. The character development is excellent and I was heavily invested in Frankie’s story. Her journey was exciting, surprising, scary, rewarding, full of love, heartbreaking, and beautiful. I also loved the historically accurate timelines, locations, and details that were included. This story fulfills it’s purpose of being a well deserved and moving tribute to the women who served in the Vietnam War,

When Frances "Frankie McGrath's brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path when she hears that women can be heroes too. 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.

Every time I open up a Kristin Hannah novel I get so excited. I have loved all of her books. This story is all about the women, the nurses in the Vietnam War. I think this is the first book that actually is about the women in the Vietnam War. It's about the women who puts themselves in harms way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. It's an emotional story.

Frankie is so brave and strong and has dealt with so much death. Many of the women ended up with PTSD, flashbacks, and nightmares but they couldn't get the help that was needed like the men could.
I loved all of the characters. They were all done so well. I loved the women's friendship. They all had each other's backs. They all were a good support group with each other. This was such a great book.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.