Ms. Hannah never disappoints and has delivered another solid read featuring well developed characters and a tightly woven plot that will tug at your heartstrings.

This is my first Kristin Hannah read and it definitely will not be my last. I was drawn to this one because of the Vietnam war. A strong woman in a time period I am fascinated with. It was a no brainer for me.

Once I started reading I fell in love with Frankie McGrath. She’d be a spitfire today, but as a woman in the 1960s, she really was all that. I loved her ideals. I really loved the friends she ended up with and that this was such a strong theme of the book. Not love and a husband, but how friends know and love us. The longer I read, the more my love of Frankie grew.

What I know of the war was really front and center through the first third of the book. How really terrible it is. Even for the women who could not be on the front line. And what they endured when they came home, broke my heart. The book then shifted to how the war ended up shaping Frankie’s life. All she learned and all she endured.

This one is definitely in the top echelon of books I’ve read this year. Go run right now and put it on hold at your library or preorder it. It is special and you need to read it.

Having read all of Kristin Hannah's books and regularly handselling her books, I've already started telling anyone who will listen that comes into the bookstore that they NEED to preorder this one! I believe it's Hannah's best book ever.

Between the strong women, the oppressive setting, and the nuance of being a female in a man's war The Women will be THE novel to read in 2024.

I do recommend that readers NOT do as I did which is read The Women from cover to cover on a flight from East Coast to West Coast. I was in the window seat in the last row of the plane with 2 big burly men beside me. Those poor gentlemen will never be the same again as I sobbed from probably the 2nd chapter all the way through. Hannah evokes intense emotion from the reader and though I was born right at the end of the Vietnam War, my father was profoundly altered from serving 3 tours.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read The Women and to nominate it for an Indie Next Pick. I'm awed by The Women and how Kristin Hannah has evolved as an author.

Exquisite! Hannah literally makes you feel like you are there in certain pivotal times in history. This book is no exception, with her masterful way of connecting you to the heart of the time, and in this book she tackles Vietnam. A truly intimate portrait of a young woman who proudly tries to serve her country in Vietnam and the the after effects that haunts her mentally, emotionally, and physically. Hannah's characterization is so in depth that you feel as though a family member or friend is battling these dark valleys and struggling to rise. Highly Recommend. A huge book for 2024! #thewomen #kristinhannah #netgalley #goodreads

I had high expectations coming into this book and it met every single one of those expectations. Kristin Hannah does it again.

This book takes place in the sixties shortly after the time of the JFK assassination while the United States enters the Vietnam War to fight communism. At the time, women were not allowed to serve. The story follows Frances aka Frankie in her journey as a war nurse during the Vietnam War. Frankie also befriends other female nurses and forms a strong friendship with them. However, upon returning home from the war, the women are never recognized for their service to their country unlike their male counterparts.

Frankie’s story was sad but very real. The struggle with PTSD from experiencing combat is real. It’s unfortunate that heroes like this ever had to experience this and some still do in today’s society. Be prepared for an emotional journey when reading this one. This book was completely engrossing and held my attention the entire time.

When Frankie McGrath's brother enlists to serve in the Vietnam war, their father considers him a hero. When newly graduated nurse Frankie shares with her family that she has enlisted to be an Army nurse, she is not given the same respect. The Women starts with Frankie's initial journey overseas and the trauma and tragedy she could never have prepared for, and continues with Frankie's return home with PTSD and spiraling mental health due to a lack of support for female veterans.

I've never been disappointed by a Kristin Hannah book, and the streak continues. From Frankie's multiple traumas as a novice nurse to her suffering after her return, her experiences are so raw and heartbreaking. Even through her depression and struggles over the years, her strength and resilience were remarkable. The scenes Hannah sets in Vietnam were gripping and difficult to read at times, and you can truly feel the fear and sorrow of the characters. What Frankie went through, the shame and the hate, and the lack of resources to help her because she was a woman was unbelievable. Her decades long journey of recovery after the war is courageous and inspiring. Reading the author's note and acknowledgement at the end message me appreciate the work even more.
This was definitely my most anticipated read of 2024 and I'm so grateful I got to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Most definitely add this to your TBR shelf.

I am not someone that loves war movies or books. I usually give these a wide berth. However, reading the bio of The Women and loving Kristin Hannah’s previous books had me curious to read and I’m so glad I did. The Women is a haunting story of a young woman who served in the Army during the Vietnam War and about her post-war life in returning home. Hannah has created such vivid characters in this novel and captures what I imagine it was like to be a nurse in the Vietnam War and the aftermath of coming home to a country that either didn’t believe women were in Vietnam or treated you as the enemy. I feel like I’ve was transported back to late 1960s in America through her storytelling which broke my heart multiple times during the book. There are important themes through the entire book; female friendship, PTSD, depression, alcoholism, and even family dynamics. The story moves quickly and while this is a longer book, I wouldn’t have wanted to miss anything due to a cut. Hannah wrote a moving novel and I highly recommend to anyone, even if you are like me and avoid war books. This book was so much more than war, but of finding a way to remember The Women.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah is an emotionally gripping masterpiece. With vivid character development and a rich historical backdrop, the novel explores the power of women's friendships amidst the challenges of World War II. Hannah's evocative prose and poignant storytelling make this a must-read for those who appreciate compelling narratives and the enduring strength of female bonds. A captivating and beautifully written tale.

Another wonderful 4-star read!

Once again, Kristin Hannah has proven why she is one of my very favorite authors! Knowing her work, I thought I knew what would happen between Frankie and the other characters all throughout the book, only to be surprised at each turn (and then to be happy/sad as well-lol)! I will be adding this to my library as soon as it is available in print! Thank you so much for the ARC!!

"Women can be heroes, too."

Thank you to St. Martins and Netgalley for a digital copy of Kristin Hannah's new book that will be published on February 6, 2024.

Frances "Frankie" McGrath is a wonderful character who goes to the Vietnam War to serve as a nurse wanting to be a hero as the men in her family have been called after serving their country. I have never read a book set during the Vietnam War and feel like I have learned much about the time period and how women weren't recognized as having a part in the war, as well as the opposition to the war, and the mistreatment of soldiers on their return home.

I am thrilled to be given early access to the book as Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. She has definitely hit the ball out of the park with this book! I cannot recommend it highly enough. This is definitely a book to look forward to in 2024!

"The missing. The forgotten. The brave… The women." "Women can be heroes too"

From master storyteller Kristin Hannah comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. This story is at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield. This emotional tale builds toward the goal of recognizing the women that served, unrecognized, in the Vietnam war. The main character, Frankie McGrath, is only 20 when she decides to become a nurse in the Vietnam conflict, going against her parent's wishes, especially after her brother is killed over there, and also those of the Navy and Air Force -- women don't go to war.. Only the Army let her join up. She quickly finds herself in way over her head, working in field hospitals, patching up severely mangled soldiers, and trying to stay alive. Through friendships and a pair of love interests, she survives and returns home to idyllic Coronado, California -- to a world that spits on returning soldiers. Then, her survival struggles truly begin. She suffers from PTSD, and a drug and alcohol addiction. Frankie shortly spirals into a life of gut-wrenching ups and downs.

“Women can be heroes, too.” This is one of the most impressive books I've read in a while; even though I "lived" through the Vietnam era, I never knew anyone who'd served then; this story really brought the veterans' issues to the forefront. This story is so well-written and engaging I could not put it down. This is another of Ms. Hannah's masterpieces that everyone should read.. I wish I could put this book in the hands of everyone I know.

*Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of "The Women" by Kristin Hannah.

As a huge Kristin Hannah fan, I couldn't believe my luck at getting my hands on an early copy of her latest novel. As someone who doesn't have much practical knowledge of war/wartime experiences, "The Women" was not only another example of Hannah's brilliance, but also a wonderful learning opportunity for me. In my mind, the book is easily split in half — the main character's (Frances “Frankie” McGrath) time spent in the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam and the time after she arrives back in the U.S. Both parts are intense and traumatic, albeit in different but related ways. The book gives such good insight into what it's really like to be in the day-to-day of an army nurse in the ER in an active war zone, as well as the PTSD, societal gaslighting, and political turmoil soldiers were dealing with once back home.

That's all I can comfortably say without spoiling anything, but if you have never read a Kristin Hannah book, you'll want to read this one // and if you're already a fan, don't hesitate to get a copy of this one as soon as it comes out ᵕ̈

I enjoyed learning about the experiences of women during the Vietnam War. The love story fell flat for me and I felt that it took away from the female bonding storyline that I really enjoyed. I did walk away from this book feeling like I understood the experiences of Vietnam Veterans better and would be interested in learning more about this period in time.

My favorite Kristin Hannah book to date! I absolutely loved this book. It's a wonderful story about the women's role in Vietnam. You will laugh, and cry and fall in love with these ladies!

“The Women” by Kristin Hannah is the first of her books that I’ve read. Frankie McGrath leaves her privileged existence to become a nurse in the jungles of Vietnam. I enjoyed the historical descriptions in this book, but it veered plot wise into a soap opera.

Wow. All the stars. Kristin Hannah has done it again. This book will stick with me for years. This amazing storyline follows Frankie before the Vietnam War, during the Vietnam War and life after the Vietnam War. I cried more times than I can count. Such a heartbreaking story told in only the way Kristin Hannah could write it. She is incredible with her descriptions and making the reader feel everything. I learned so much about the Vietnam War and the atrocities that occurred there. But I learned even more about the atrocities that happened at home to our veterans. Such a great book. It’s going to be the hit of 2024.

This is the story of Frankie McGrath, whom as a young adult enlists to serve in the Army as a nurse during the Vietnam War. The first half of the book focuses on Frankie's service in Vietnam dealing with the harrows of war as a surgical nurse. The second half of the book focuses on Frankie's return to civilian life and the difficulty of adjusting to it along with dealing with how Americans treated returning vets with contempt. In addition, there was a perception that women did not serve in Vietnam.

I loved this book. I learned a lot about what is must have been like to be a nurse in Vietnam and how difficult it was for veterans, particularly women, returning from the war. The book was an emotional rollercoaster for me and had me teary eyed in many places. I had a 10 hour flight and read this in one sitting on the plane. Made for a fast flight. Definitely one of the best books I have read this year.

“How did a woman go about opening up her world? How did one begin a journey when no invitation had been issued?”

If Kristin Hannah writes it, I’ll read it. This book was no exception. After flying through this almost 500-page historical fiction, it took me weeks to full digest this incredible, heart-breaking story.

In this novel, we are introduced to a young nurse named Frankie, who is passionate about caring for others, looks up to her older brother, and respects her high-society parents. When her brother lives up to the family tradition of joining the military, Frankie decides to follow suit. We then spend the rest of the story following her to Vietnam, watching her struggle, fail, grow, and thrive in an unforgiving environment. Soldiers and nurses alike face the brutal realization that they might be fighting a war they no longer morally agree with and that their country might have lied to them about. And lastly, like we now well know; half of the struggle of surviving the war is the transition back to civilian life; and Kristin Hannah does an amazing job portraying this part of the tale as well.

In standard Kristin Hannah fashion, this book will introduce you to characters you will grow to love, and will then put them through a lifetime of tragedy that will rip you apart. While this is my 4th Hannah novel and I should be prepared for this, I believe some events were laid on a bit thick, even for the genre. SPOILER: <spoiler> for example, there was not just one romantic partner that died and then came back to life years later, but two. </spoiler> I’m all for a series of unfortunate events but wow.

All that being said, I still give this book a solid 4.75 stars and will buy it as soon as it’s published, no hesitation. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big fan of Kristin Hannah and loved seeing her cover a time period that isn’t often the focus of historical fiction. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. Frankie’s time as a nurse in Viet Nam was hard to put down. I didn’t love the instant friendship instant love that everyone had with Frankie. I expected the twists, and I thought the love story aspect was weak. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would recommend to others.

Kristin Hannah does it again! I have loved every one of Hannah’s historical fiction novels and The Women is a new favorite. A major plus is that I haven’t read many books dealing with the Vietnam War, especially with female characters at the center. I don’t want to give any spoilers but if you have read any of Kristin Hannah’s other works you know to expect exceptional writing, amazing characters, and heartbreaking storylines. The Women is no different.