I rarely read historical fiction books but I love a Kristin Hannah book and I thought I would not like this one because of the war topic and history stuff but that was not the case. The storyline was powerful and enjoyable and exciting! I love it when a story does that to me! It’s a long one, but it doesn’t even feel that way. Add it to your TBR. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Lots of memorable dialogue and characters.

I am a long-time fan of Kristin Hannah and always look forward to her next book with great anticipation and this is a book that will blow you away. It is the best I have read of her works. It is the story of the women who went to Vietnam during the war years. They served as nurses in base hospitals and endured all the gruesome side of war without the recognition of being soldiers. Yet they endured all the mistreatment on their return home afterwards. This is an inside look at war from the hospital and not the battlefield and you share her deepest thoughts, pain and suffering as she held the hand of dying young men and was the last person they saw as they slipped away. You experience her family’s rejection of her choice to go to Vietnam and even her family did not consider her a “hero”. I will be telling everyone to read this book and know it will be another huge success for Kristin Hannah. Thank you, for another great story. I now have so much respect for the nurses that serve in our military. I would give this 10 stars if I could do so.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5. I like Kristin Hannah, particularly The Nightingale and The Four Winds. I had initial ups and downs with the book and thought it was pretty predictable, yet in the end, not really. Quite a ride actually and I could not put it down. I found the topic very interesting, on the plight of the nurses who served in the military in the Vietnam War, the lack of respect and acknowledgement of what they dealt with: death, the horrific and often fatal injuries of those who served as well as the local citizens of all ages who were in the line of fire, the traumas both physical and mental, and the working and living conditions, including while under attack as well as the post traumatic stress suffered by many of these women who voluntarily offered to serve in an unpopular war. The writing and character development was excellent along with the very realistic descriptions of what these women faced before they went and even after they returned. A very well researched historical fiction novel. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

This was such an interesting book. I have no read anything about the Vietnam War era and was excited to learn more. The first half covers Frankie’s time in Vietnam as a nurse an I loved the female friendships she made while there. The second half covers her experiences coming home and what she had to come home to made me feel a lot of anger. Frankie’s journey to Vietnam and back, through all the hell there and her coping upon her return felt so real.

This was a little different for me, emotionally, than some of KH’s other books and I am really glad I read it! If you are interested in hist fic with strong female characters, I recommend!

I finished this book over a month ago and I cannot get it out of my head. My only complaint is that I can never read it for the first time again.

Frankie! My goodness her journey took my emotions on quite the ride. I laughed, I cried. I was angry with and for her. I am so glad she had the friends that she did. I don’t want to elaborate too much and spoil anything for people who haven’t read this book yet.

Hannah’s research shined in this book. A friend’s father was a POW with McCain and the things written about their treatment was spot on and written so well.

The musical references were fantastic and reminded me of Forest Gump and Good Morning Vietnam.

The relationships formed among those in the military were written so well and were so authentic.

I loved everything about this book. Thank you Kristin Hannah for writing this book and bringing attention to the women who did in fact serve in Vietnam, contrary to what so many at the time believed.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

This is easily the best historical fiction novel I have ever read. Once I read a few chapters I couldn't put it down. Kristin Hannah touched on so many aspects of the Vietnam war and I learned so much by reading this novel. The Women brought to light so many issues in the US at the time of the Vietnam war and I think Kristin Hannah did a wonderful job of illustrating what was going on in the war and the world at this time. She, also, shed light on what PTSD was like in particular for the soldiers, nurses and doctors of the Vietnam war.

I will recommend this novel to my patrons and any fan of historical fiction!

I literally could not put this book down and then when I forced myself to go to bed, scenes from the book continued to run through my mind. This is a realistically told and emotional novel about the Vietnam War era and how the lives of people were changed because of their involvement in the war, specifically the lives of the women who volunteered to serve. Frankie McGrath is a sympathetic character who wants nothing more than her beloved father’s approval, so when she volunteers to be a nurse in the war zone, she had no idea what she was getting into. Young, innocent and patriotic, Frankie quickly has her eyes opened to the brutality of war and I got to travel back in time to when my friends were being drafted or volunteering and the news reports that were given nightly about how we were “winning the war.” The research in the book is impeccable, transporting my mind completely to that troubled time and the years afterwards when the veterans of the war were ridiculed rather than welcomed. I thoroughly enjoyed the point of view of Frankie and all she suffered as a result of her choice and also how she was ultimately able to overcome and move on in her life. The characters were all dynamic and realistically flawed. The plot moved along quickly, keeping pace with the action on the front lines. This is a remarkable story that needs to be read and is written in such a brilliant way that it held my attention and caused me to cry, cheer and get outraged, sometimes all within the same chapter. With a tight plot and the signature style of a master of historical fiction, this book deserves many kudos for embracing a topic that thought-provoking and complex. I highly recommend this book for all who want to know what the late 60’s and 70’s were like and how the women who served were treated, both on the battlefield and afterwards. There is so much to love about this book, but I must warn readers that it can be disturbing with the realistic details of war and the wounded and dying. I used to say that my all-time favorite book was “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. I have a new favorite, more timely and suited for my generation. Captivating, insightful and well-crafted, this is one that I definitely want to own and read again. An epic novel worth reading and remembering!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Wow!!! This is one of the best books I have read recently. The subject of the book is difficult and heartrending but one that needs to be recognized.

In 1966, Frankie McGrath is a fresh-faced young girl who has just graduated from nursing school. Her brother has joined the Navy to do his part for the Vietnam War effort and she also wants to join the war effort too, not only to do her part but also to be near him. She joins as a nurse in the army, not realizing the profound effect this decision will have on her for the rest of her life.

This story moved me to tears. The returning men and women were not treated with the respect that they deserved. The author has done a phenomenal job of bringing this painful period in history to light. You won't want to miss this book!

Kristin Hannah has become the name for historical fiction, and after breaking our hearts with Vietnam War vet Ernt in The Great Alone, Hannah breaks them all over again with the story of the women who came home from the same war, many damaged in similar ways. Hannah is truly in her tragedy era, and we're all here for it.

Hannah's latest, set to be released in February 2024, centers around young Frankie McGrath as she watches her big brother go off to fight for his country in Vietnam. Inspired by his bravery and selflessness, Frankie decides to join up as well and make her parents proud as a nurse. But tragedy strikes, and *spoiler* her parents are decimated first by Frankie's announcement and soon after by the news that their son is dead.

And so, missing the pride and excitement she was so eager to get from her family, Frankie ships off to Vietnam, where she very quickly realizes exactly what she's gotten herself into. Combat is tough shit, and treating the men fighting — and watching many of them die — is even tougher shit. But in classic Hannah fashion, we're introduced and soon attached to characters battling through alongside Frankie — her best friends Ethel and Barb, surgeon Jamie, and handsome, rugged Rye.

The scenes of mass casualty events and bombings are incredibly well-written, and I felt as though I was there on the floor with Frankie, the smell of blood, soil, and monsoon rain in my nose and the feel of sweat dripping down my neck. But the real story begins when Frankie gets home after two tours to people jeering at her outside the airport and parents who lied to their country club friends about where she was.

I know very little about the Vietnam War that I didn't learn from Forrest Gump or Across the Universe, and I knew the war was widely protested, but I had no idea that there was such shame and stigma around having fought in Vietnam for so many years during and after the war. Hannah mentions in her author's note that she tried to stick to as many historical events as she could in an effort to memorialize and honor the people who were not by their country. And while there may not have been women in combat during that time, there were thousands of women (though the exact number is not known, according to Hannah) who served their country and saved lives, only to come home and be told "there were no women in 'Nam."

Frankie's story is one of staggering tragedy, mired in death, loss, grief, and betrayal, but she is ultimately redeemed, following a similar path to Ernt by moving somewhere remote and quiet (Montana, in her case) to live off the land and try to heal.

Like The Four Winds, The Women is not an uplifting story. Hannah leans on the wide-ranging tragedy of the Great Depression and the Vietnam War and doesn't give her characters the tied-in-a-bow happy ending we may be hoping for. Frankie's two love interests both disappoint her in different ways (more than once), and her dad essentially disowns her, but the narrative feels very real to me. While it's hard to believe so many bad things could happen to one person, Hannah pulls back the curtain on a life steeped in shame, guilt, and PTSD and acknowledges that a person dealing with all those things is going to bring hardship on themselves even after the world does it first.

I'll stick with the words from my Four Winds recommendation for Hannah's newest title: I don’t recommend this one if you’re looking for any sort of uplifting or escapist reading, but I will be placing it firmly in the hands of those hoping to find a story to relate to and find solace in. Another breathtaking, heartbreaking delivery by Kristin Hannah.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a positive review just because of the popular author. This is a review of a book that is outstanding written by a gifted author. Although the first half, at times, reads like a research paper (read this review to the end please), like someone that had been TOLD the facts...somewhat hurried, in fact...that being said, the second part won me over. Having lived during this period, I was around the age of the main character. I remember distinctly what happened and when. I lost friends in Vietnam. I did one of my Master's projects on the Vietnam vets when I got my Master's years and years later. This novel made me chuckle...it made me weep. I have read the last part again to make sure I can write a review. I remember the bracelets. I remember the nurses. I remember the "coming home" of the Vets. If I could give this book more than five stars...I would. I would love to see this novel made into a movie. Please do so. However, so much of the book would be TOO much for the public to see and possibly remember. Do not miss this book. Order it...reserve it at your library. Read it more than once. This book was sent to me by Netgalley.

Kristin Hannah is a must-read author for me. She has not written a book I have not liked. The Women was no exception!

As I did not live through the Vietnam War, I was unfamiliar with life at this time. Hannah has a way of making you feel like you are living life right beside the characters throughout the entire book. Although, life for Frankie, as one of the very few female army nurses stationed in Vietnam was heartbreaking at times, Hannah kept my attention and made me want to continue reading to learn the conclusion of Frankie’s story.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

This is an amazing story about the women nurses who enlisted during the Vietnam war. The story follows Francis “Frankie” McGrath, who was old enough to enlist, but not mature enough to realize the consequences of this decision. This is a beautifully written story describing the friendship, hardship, love and loss experienced in Vietnam, and also back in the states upon their return.

This was my first historical read taking place in Vietnam. Kristin Hannah did an amazing job bringing the horror of that war to life.

Many thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley, and Kristin Hannah for this advanced copy of the bookTo read and review.

The Women” by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of a young nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, who joins the Army Nurse Corps to follow her brother’s path to serve in Vietnam. The novel is set in the 1960s, a turbulent era in America, and is 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. The book is suitable for readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those interested in the Vietnam War era. It is also recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with strong female protagonists

Wow, just WOW! Kristin Hannah writes novels that stay with you! The Women is an extremely moving novel centering around Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse who enlists in the Army and serves in the Vietnam war. This vivid and powerful storyline, which is told through Frankie’s view shows the brutal conditions and unimaginable circumstances that she experiences during and after the war. I was captivated by Frankie’s journey from a wide-eyed, naive 20 year old to a veteran who turned her pain into purpose - truly inspiring! This novel was most definitely not short, but I felt like I could have read about another 500 pages because of Kristin’s brilliant character development— I felt so emotional invested in Frankie and her friends/family! The Women is a 5+++ star novel that should beat the very top of everyone’s reading list! As per usual with any newly read Kristin Hannah novel, I am already thinking about when I am going to re-read it!

Ahhhh, Kristin Hannah. You've done it again with The Women. This book tells the story of Frankie McGrath and her service as a nurse in Vietnam for two years during the peak of the conflict. She sees and experiences horrific things and loses so much of herself and her heart while in Vietnam. When she comes home, one of the first things that happens to her at the airport is being spat upon by a passerby and the atrocities continue. No one wants to talk to her about the war or even admit she was there. Her own father lied about where she was for two years. No one wants to listen to her struggles, including the VA because "There were no women in 'Nam" and "The VA is only for veterans who saw conflict." At every turn, Frankie is continually ripped open and spit out. It takes years before she's finally able to move forward on a path to peace, culminating in a beautiful ending that brought her full circle. Cannot recommend this book enough.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
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Set in the 1960s and on, this is a story about the Vietnam War and the women who served as nurses during it.
Frankie is from a family who honor and respect those who serve so she joins the Army as a nurse to serve her country and make her family proud. Vietnam is nothing like she expects.
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I have to admit that I knew not a whole lot about Vietnam or the war before reading this and it was very interesting. And sad, it was so so sad.
I felt so bad for Frankie throughout most of the book and I was just waiting for things to get better for her. The war was just brutal to her and everyone she knew.
I guessed one thing early on and was so happy to yell out “I was right!” at the end.
Also there was one absolutely despicable person in this story and shame on any true stories that was based on.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed reading this, even though it made me quite mad for a bit and broke my heart. Kristin Hannah is an exceptional storyteller and the way she ended this was perfect for this story.

As a Trauma nurse for adults and pediatrics, I found this read fascinating. It really does get into the mind of a first responder and how you see so much and have to put it aside, but still have a heart for it. It's a blessing and a curse. I cant imagine how it is during a war, but this really put it into perspective. I love how Kristin Hannah somehow perfectly paints the picture in your mind. It's so beautifully written.

Absolutely beautiful. I had no idea about the women nurses during the Vietnam war and what they had to go through. I fell in love with the main character Frankie- she was such a survivor and what a strong woman. I loved her friends and the bond they had. I do not want to give it away, but I did find one part a bit unrealistic (reunion..), but besides that is was such a beautiful story. Must read!

Frances “Frankie” McGrath was 21 when she volunteered to test out her newly-acquired nursing skills in the Vietnam War. Mourning the loss of an older brother in the conflict, Frankie feels connected to him by going to serve. Thrust into the chaos of an evacuation hospital, Frankie feels useless at first. When two experienced nurses take her under their wings, Frankie finds unexpected compassion, friendship, and camaraderie. Based on the experiences of true wartime heroes, this gripping saga relates the horrors of war as well as the struggles in the aftermath. It is inspiring, heart-wrenching, and moving. Another winner from an excellent author!

The Women by Kristin Hannah is the story of a young, nurse who joins the Army Nurse Corps early in her nursing career and is deployed to Viet Nam. Descriptions of traumatic amputations, with all the gory details, life saving surgeries, stolen kisses and romantic interludes make up much of the first part of the book, and the later half expresses the negative mood of the country toward the Viet Nam conflict and the returning service men and women. Having lived through those years, and having served as an Army Nurse (although not in Viet Nam), I thought this book captured the times and 60s culture very well. Yet it wasn’t quite right for me……too much jumping from one drama to the next. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity of an advance read. #KristinHannah. #NetGalley