5 stars - Kristin Hannah has done it again!

In her latest novel, Hannah has tackled our nation's least popular war, Vietnam, and used her masterful and emotional storytelling abilities to help us understand this war and the lasting and traumatic effects of PTSD on our veterans.

The reader follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a sheltered recent graduate of nursing school in the 1960s, as she idealistically enlists as an army nurse to join the Vietnam war effort, following the footsteps of her older brother. Without giving too much away, she quickly learns the harsh realities of war, and returns home after 2 years of service to a nation that shows animosity toward Vietnam vets and worse, refuses to believe that there were even any women serving there. This dismissal and denial of her experiences and sacrifices leads Frankie, and many other Vietnam vets, to struggle with substance use, mental illness, and the lasting physical effects of Agent Orange on their bodies.

I found myself rooting for Frankie throughout the novel and hoping for a happy ending for her. The book teaches us, however, that traditional fairy tales endings don't exist for most, but it is still possible to cultivate a life of meaning and resilience in the face of repeated pain and trauma. Most of all, the bravery and sacrifice of The Women of Vietnam should never be forgotten.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook to review!

The term "tour de force" is at times used indiscriminately, but Kristin Hannah's THE WOMEN deserves it wholeheartedly. Frankie McGrath is young, idealistic, and ready to take on the world when she signs up as a nurse to follow her beloved brother to Vietnam. All that enthusiasm is blown to pieces as the reality of the war and its horrors consumes her. THE WOMEN is Frankie's story, but the noun chosen is plural, and Frankie's account chronicles not only the women whose service was often discounted or ignored, but also the pain of the American mothers left without sons (and sometimes daughters), the women and children in country who were collateral damage, and the wives, fiancées, and girlfriends left behind whose lives were turned upside down by forces entirely beyond their control. THE WOMEN is not an easy book to read or listen to (although the narration by Julia Whelan was, as always, magnificent), and there are a few moments when Frankie's romantic entanglements slow down the book's momentum, but the novel is one that jumps out of the time and place constraints of the Vietnam War and the turbulent 60s and serves instead as a reminder of the unintended consequences of war anywhere, anytime and begs us to pay attention to the flesh and blood people behind the statistics. As hard as it was to be immersed in the pathos of THE WOMEN, I was devastated to reach the end and have to say goodbye to Frankie.

I enjoyed this book as an adult, but if referring to young women (high school age), I think that the last third of the book was not moving very quickly. Many of my students would have quit 2/3s of the way through.
The history of the time was accurate and very interesting.
The ending came out of the blue. I felt that the author should have had some forewarning of Jamie being alive. Frankie could have had feelings of Jamie being around her, or talking to her, or some other foreshadowing.
The last third of the book seemed a bit like it was rushed.

📖: The Women
✍️: Kristen Hannah
🎙: Julia Whelan
⭐️: 5 of 5
🎧: 5 of 5

I honestly don't know what to say. Kristen is such a talented story teller and paired with Whelan's phenomenal performance, it was simply perfection. This one left it's mark on my heart. Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

The Women was the most powerful book I have read in a long time. It tore my heart to shreds and built it back again and again. The story of Frankie, a nurse serving in Vietnam, and the aftermath of war from her perspective, was absolutely gut wrenching. I cried multiple times throughout the novel and then again at the end. The story was beautiful and raw, leaving the reader with a deep understanding of just how awful Vietnam was in more ways than one. This book is something that all Americans should read - to better appreciate those who go to war, to help them heal when they return, and to hopefully never have a repeat of something as horrifying as Vietnam. This story has settled into my soul and is not one that I will forget.

The narrator of the audiobook, Julia Whalen, did an amazing job with the voices, intensity, and pacing of the story. She made it easy to get drawn in and not want to stop listening.

-5 stars

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for an advance audiobook copy of #TheWomen by #KristinHannah narrated by #JuliaWhelan
All views expressed are my own.

Wow. Just wow. I am literally the biggest baby when it comes to some emotions. I will literally cry or be holding back tears any time I read and see people working together, standing up for others, being treated badly, anything like that. So this one was an emotional roller coaster.

I honestly went into this one relatively blind. I've been wanting to read a Kristin Hannah book so when I saw this one I immediately requested it. I don't think I actually read the blurb, and I know I didn't look for any trigger warnings either. So be warned it is relatively graphic with some hospital scenes during an active war, alcohol and drug abuse, death and injury, talk of suicide, shame and resentment, miscarriage and more. This was a heavy book. But so, so worth it 💕

This is inspired by true events and experiences of the women in Vietnam. The way the author brings in the reader is just amazing. I felt like I was living Frankie's life with her, through the triumph, the heart ache, the confusion and frustration. I felt it all.

Also, this narrator was the best choice. She portrayed each character perfectly and her emotional change for the amount of tension in a scene was beautiful.

A riveting tale of the complexities and destructive nature of war. The beautiful saving grace of sisterhood, layered nature of family dynamics, realities of mental health struggles, and true love in unexpected places. This book has it all! Kristin Hannah draws you in and keeps you reeled in until the very last word. The characters are rich and deeply relatable on a human level. I absolutely loved this book. I’m only sorry that I’m done reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for advanced listening for my honest review.

This is another amazing work of historical fiction by Kristin Hannah—a five star read without question! Set during and just after the Vietnam War, protagonist Frankie is a nurse whose life is changed while serving as an Army nurse. This book examines the lives of women in the late 1960s and early 1970s through the lens of one woman who struggles mightily, but does not back down from a challenge. The story is compelling and captivating and I could not turn away. I cried more than once, and Hannah’s descriptions of the lives of Frankie and her friends at war was gripping (and often graphic). I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Julia Whelan, and her expressive voice is always a treat. Through Frankie’s story I learned a great deal about a period of history that was not so long ago, but seems so dramatically different than life today. This is a tale of family, female friendship, heroism, and changing attitudes. I loved it and I’m sure that it will be one of the best books coming out this year. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

With her latest, The Women, Kristin Hannah looks at the women who served in the Vietnam War.

"Frankie McGrath finishes nursing school and volunteers to serve as an Army nurse in Vietnam. She is assigned to an evac hospital and thrown into the chaos on her first day. Her new bunkmates, Barb and Ethel, pick her up and teach her what it takes to become a combat surgical nurse. Frankie struggles with the bloodshed and chaos but she survives her tour. Her welcome home is not what she expects. People call her baby killer and spit on her. Her family won't even admit she was there.
Frankie seeks help for her stress and nightmares, but is told over and over "There were no women in "Nam" How will she make people understand what she's going through? How can she find a life?"

This book will rock you emotionally. How does a society fail a group that did nothing but serve their country in a war no one wanted? Frankie is a great character and a great representative of all the women who served in Vietnam. You feel for her and all the times she sought help and ended up banging her head against the system. You admire the grit to be a better nurse and her ability to connect with the soldiers in her care.

There is some incredible tension in the scenes especially when the field hospital is under attack. Julia Whelan, the audiobook narrator, captures the emotion with her performance. And she captures the despair of Frankie when she's desperate for help and her intial fear when she gets to the evac hospital. Superb audio performance from Whelan.

Thank you Kristin Hannah for shining the spotlight on these brave women. This is a book everyone should read. If you haven't visited the memorial in DC, go see it. If you have neighbors that were Vietnam vets give them a hug. And read this book.

Kristin Hannah has done it again - written a novel focused on a strong female protagonist in a very specific time period in U.S history, encountering and overcoming insanely difficult life events with a mixture of failures, grace and grit. I love stepping into a totally different era with each of Hannah's books and this one was so helpful in providing more context for what happened during and after Vietnam (in a fictionalized way). If you love historical fiction, imperfect characters figuring out their way, any other Kristin Hannah book or general dramatic fiction, you need to read this. I also recommend the audiobook version because it's narrated by Julia Whelan, one of the best narrators that exists

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Another amazing historical fiction book by Kristin Hannah. This is a beautifully written story about an army nurse in Vietnam. There’s love, loss, grief, and healing throughout the story. I love how Hannah’s books effortlessly make you feel like you were there in the time period she writes about.

"Women Can Be Heroes"

Another book by Kristin Hannah that takes readers by storm. This book was heartbreaking yet empowering to read as a woman. It is a coming-of-age story about Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old who decides to follow her brother as he ships off to serve in the Vietnam War. She goes from California with dresses and country clubs to the chaos and destruction of Vietnam. She doesn’t know what to expect at war and is unprepared for what’s to come but advances in her career as a combat nurse with the help of her roommates and best friends. During her time at war, she learns the importance of finding family in friendships during difficult times, and she falls in love with the wrong men.

She comes back from war shocked that life in the states has moved on, and her family and the people around her do not make her arrival back home easy. She struggles with PTSD and alcoholism, and we find Frankie spiraling out of control as she tries to adjust to a world where everyone believes that there were no women in the Vietnam War. She is constantly told to just forget her time there. I was shocked to read that veterans returning from war were treated in such horrible ways.

I really enjoyed Frankie as an MFC—especially seeing her grow throughout the years during war and post-war. She has the courage to do the right thing and the heart to be a hero and a survivor.

This story is about friendship, love, loss, and patriotism—all from a woman’s perspective. Our history has been told from a male’s POV, but in this historical fiction, we go through battle from a combat nurse’s perspective, and she’s one of the best!

In the author’s note, Kristin Hannah mentions that she has wanted to share this story for a long time but didn’t feel like her heart was ready for it, and she needed to do some more research. I’m not even sure I can find the words to express how important this story is, and everyone should read it!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC, and a big thank you to Kristin Hannah for writing another difficult but beautiful story.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the advanced copy of this novel. Julia Whalan was the perfect narrator for this story.

This was an informative listen for me. Though I was vaguely familiar with Vietnam War from the brief overview in high school studies. This novel really opened my eyes to the struggle of PTSD during a time when not much was known about it yet. More so for the women involved in the war.

I think this would be a good read for young adult readers.

For all readers I think it would be important to add trigger warnings to the novel due to some very heavy topics.

Excellent story about women nurse in the Vietnam war. How their duty to their country was down played. Struggles with alcohol abuse related to war. Finding your way in life after war and duty. Love and loss.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read a more realistic and emotional book dedicated to sharing the true experiences of what the women went through in Vietnam. They were before my time, but the women, like those portrayed in this book are heroes in every sense of the word. They paved the way for me and other women after them who chose to serve. They changed lives, they saved lives. They exemplified the epitome of service and at a deep emotional cost. I cannot even fathom the weight they carried. Both in the midst of that war and then the inner war itself dealing with the aftermath of Vietnam. The deep loss, the trauma, and just trying to assimilate back into society after seeing and experiencing what they did there. It was so emotional to read. I cried so many times. The Women is honest, it’s raw, it’s touching and it’s so very human.

I feel an even deeper gratitude to those who walked before me and to all of the men and women who have served this country after reading🇺🇸Especially those in Vietnam who didn’t get the care and support of a grateful nation when they returned. This book is humbling. So very humbling. It will move you and it will be in your thoughts long after reading. This novel deserves the highest rating and if there were more stars I would give them. Thank you Kristin Hannah for writing another book I will not forget. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another exceptional read by Kristin Hannah! The Women is an action packed emotional story of friendship, heroism, and historical events that will tear at your heartstrings. Following the path of her brother, Frankie wants to do her part. Despite the challenges she faced in Vietnam, coming home was also a war. The aftermath of surviving a war and then returning to "normal" everyday life is real. And if you're a woman serving in the 60's, you barely stand a chance.

Thank you to Netgalley at St Martin's Press for allowing me to access this book. And thank you to Kristin Hannah for telling this story.

If there was ever a "Wow Factor" of a read, The Women is it.

I am in awe of the riches and depth of this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and to have the opportunity to enjoy the audiobook was totally a bonus. The narration was top-notch. I was on the edge of my seat, hanging on to every word. The Women is a book of honor and tribute to the brave women who served and made a difference with their sacrifices during a time when recognition was not there. The Women is a book that informs and educates while capturing your attention and taking you on the journey. And what a journey it is.

The Women is historical fiction at its finest.

After I finished the book, I literally had to sit with it and take it all in, savoring the greatness of the experience created by listening to the audiobook. I want to tell everybody to read The Women. It is definitely a favorite of 2024 and one that will be high on my list of must-reads and book recommendations.

Kristin Hannah can do no wrong. As always, a poignant and well researched novel. Hannah knows how to capture the many shades of nuance in stories such as these; dealing with eras and periods of time in which the country is torn apart and in upheaval. The soldiers are fighting half a world away, and yet the citizens are in a cultural combat zone all of their own. Kristin Hannah continues to be an author I recommend to everyone, all the time. 5 bright, brilliant starts from me! This will easily be a top book of 2024 for me. As always, this experience was made even more amazing due to the delightful narration experience delivered by Julia Whelan. She brings these characters and their respective emotions to life so tangibly.

I've only delved into a few historical fiction books over the years. The Nightingale has lingered on my "TBR" list for quite some time and has jumped to the top of my list since listening to The Women.

Kristin Hannah weaves a narrative that could resonate with anyone. Having heard the accounts of Vietnam War veterans, including a family member who served without divulging the details, I understand the silence that enveloped that era.

While some were drafted, this story focuses on Frankie McGrath—a young woman who genuinely desires to help others. Raised in a military family in a town steeped in military culture, joining the Army was the path she felt compelled to take.

Frankie's stint in Vietnam left an indelible mark on her, just as it did for all who were there. The book gives a poignant face to the untold stories of women who, like her, did what was right—serving their country, offering solace to soldiers in their final moments, and saving lives. They were often not even recognized, "no women were in Vietnam," often being said.

This book paints a vivid and sorrowful portrait of Frankie's life in Vietnam and upon returning home. The heartbreak extends beyond lost love, delving into the challenges she faced with society, within her family, and even from her own country once she returned and the years that followed.

This tragically beautiful book left me in awe. I listened to the audible, and the narrator skillfully brought Kristin Hannah's eloquent words to life. A resounding 5+ stars for me—a truly exceptional listen.

WOW, this was so good. I have high expectations of Kristin Hannah and this one still blew me away. I've read all her historical fiction titles and this is my favorite so far. It's also not as soul-crushingly sad as The Four Winds or Winter Garden (both of which I loved, for the record).

And the narration by Julia Whelan? FANTASTIC.