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.

This is a deeply affecting account of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young, newly graduated nurse in 1965. Her brother heads off to fight in Vietnam, and Frankie decides to join the Army Nurse Corps to serve her country as well. What she finds there and what she experiences after she gets home are nothing like she could have anticipated.

Kristin Hannah has done it again. I became emotionally enmeshed with Frankie, Barb, Ethel, and everyone else in this story. This tale is not for the faint of heart. There are many vivid descriptions of war and its aftereffects. Hannah has obviously done a great deal of research to communicate the experiences of these heroic women.

I have no firsthand knowledge of Vietnam, and yet this book touched me deeply, made me angry, and made me very sad. It's not an easy read, but I think it's a vital one if a person wants to know more about what happened during and after the war.

I listened to this book as an audiobook narrated by the wonderful Julia Whelan. She captured every nuance of Frankie's fear, joy, pain, determination, and heartache. From the time Frankie steps foot into Vietnam as a very green new recruit until she visits the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial, her physical and emotional journeys are chronicled.

Again, this is such a fantastically written book. I was captivated from the beginning and now can't wait to recommend it to others looking for a richly detailed novel about a part of history that is often overlooked and ignored.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance Listening copy of The Women. I have already reviewed the ebook of this title so will copy that here and add my opinions for the audiobook.

Julia Whelan is my go-to narrator for great audiobooks, so in the first opening bits of the audio version, I knew she was the perfect choice. Of course I love the pacing of the book and I love her voice for female characters. She needs some work on older male voices, for me, but with all of the books she narrates, I can lay back and immerse myself into the novel. Excellent. Here's what I said for the ebook. 5* again.

August 2, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy of The Women in exchange for a fair review. These opinions stated here are of my own. This review will appear on Goodreads.

The author explained that she came up with this idea in her early days as a writer but she put it on hold so she could mature enough to tackle the subject matter. I am glad she did.

I was a toddler during Vietnam but had a brother old enough to serve. I didn't understand anything going on, but remember the news and the discussions around the dinner table. I knew about Nixon, Jane Fonda, and the Hanoi Hilton. I am old enough now to really read about it and comprehend what America went through in those dark days.
The Women chronicles mainly one woman, trying to find her father's respect, trying to survive a war, and trying to integrate back into society. The book is nearly 500 pages but doesn't feel like it at all. It moves really well. I usually read so fast but wanted to savor this one, as if reading it quickly would somehow disappoint on the other side. I mean, I'd have to wait another 3 years for a first time reading of a Hannah book!
Hannah's books are far from cheery - so pack your emotions and a few tissues. Hannah taps into the emotions of family, friends, longing, love, loss, heartbreak, and hope. You'll learn a few things. You'll laugh and cheer and yell and sob. It's a powerful read.
There are trigger warnings that have to do with war and everything that goes along.
There is language but if I was in a war, I would swear like a sailor too.
The book clubs in my library system will be fighting over this future best seller.
Cue the music from Miss Saigon, the Broadway musical, who's playbill cover resembles this book cover. Dance like it's the last night of the world.
4.5 rounded up to 5*

Another great book from Kristin Hannah. This story is captivating from the start and I really enjoyed listening to it. There were many times I could not find a good place to stop listening to it and managed to finish this book quickly. I love the story and the era (1960's). I would highly recommend to anyone looking to escape into another time/story. Wonderful!

This book is truly eye opening to the younger generation aka millennials of how women were treated and valued after Vietnam.
Being a daughter of a veteran who served in Vietnam, I realized now why everything was kept so quiet and no one wanted to talk what happened.
Following “Frankie” through her journey before, during, and after her service was an honor.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy and the opportunity to review it.
The Women is an easy five stars! Kristin Hannah is a master storyteller, but even for her The Women stands out as an exceptional novel. In 2024, we don't hear much about Vietnam -- most people don't even know why we fought in Vietnam. The vets are often forgotten, the women most of all. Frankie's story is at times terrifying, at times gut wrenching, at times uplifting. I found myself driving to work, listening to the audiobook,and sobbing. Frankie, Barb, and Ethel represent the women who fought in Vietnam, and who struggled with unimaginable deomons when they returned home. A masterpiece!

I'll start this review by admitting that before reading this book, I had never considered the fact that there were indeed women who served in Vietnam. And after reading The Women, I can't stop thinking about it. Kristin Hannah's new book is a must read. It's a beautifully told story, and is matched with the perfect narrator in Julia Whelan. Hannah takes the reader to Vietnam - not just the horrific wartime scenes we're familiar with, but also descriptions of the beaches and other things often left out of movies about this time period. The story of Frances McGrath follows her from being a wide-eyed innocent to a grown woman who's witnessed the horrors of war and survived more loss than most. Her quest for her father's approval is one that will no doubt resonate with many readers. While the story is about war, the real gem in this book is Frankie's relationship with her best friends - two "ride or die" women who always have her back. I've lost count of the people I've told about this book, and will most certainly read it again at some point.

Audiobook: Narrator - Julia Whelan
Ms. Whelan did an amazing job of bringing this story from the pages and straight into my heart. Her narration was such that I failed to recognize her as narrator as she brought each character to life in unique and diverse ways. Her voice coaxed me in and kept me there. Rarely have I experienced a performance such as this.

What an amazing story! This was so much more than I was expecting. I knew this author would keep things authentic, but holy heck, I never realized how it was going to send me on an emotional roller coaster. The scenes written here were so vivid I ached. I felt the agony, the struggle and the complete desolation these characters experienced. And oh my, their strength, not only for themselves but for the women standing next to them. This is a story that will stay with me forever.

Heroine POV
Triggers are as expected in a tale of war, destruction and death
While there are a few elements of romance, this is not a romance

I wanted to get this audiobook because I have listened to the Four Winds by Kristin Hannah in 2021 about the Dust Bowl. I enjoyed that book and was very impressed by her ability to take you into the historical context and have you experience it from the first person narrative. In "the Women," the author takes us to 1960s Vietnam, where the naive and idealistic central character Frankie joins the army following her brother, much to her conservative and affluent family's dismay. This was not what women did back then. Frankie has to grow up fast in an environment completely foreign to her.

Not only the book is skillfully written by Kristin Hannah, it was also narrated by Julia Whalen who is my favorite narrator and does a wonderful job here. The fans of Hannah and Whalen would enjoy this book. If you are going on a long family reunion trip and want to bring one book to remind you that you are not in the worst situation, this may be it.

Because I was so excited about a new Kristin Hannah's book, I didn't pay attention to the subject of the book (Vietnam War) nor the cover that looked recycled from Miss Saigon. It is such a heavy subject matter and I felt it could be interspersed with more humor, or better yet, to include Frankie's mother's story to have the reader understand her situation to give it more dimensions to the story. As is, it was a misery porn, as important it is to be told. It also could be edited down - at 15 hours, it is too long to experience the trauma as a reader - to the point I wanted to put it down. I also felt that the title "the Women" didn't really fit the book. I also wasn't sold on her romantic interest, which made the book less interesting as a whole to me.

If you are sensitive to certain triggers, I would definitely search trigger warnings before picking up the book.
As heavy as it is, this is an important story to be told, and I hope to read more from Hannah in future.

An advanced copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange with my review. My opinion herein is my own.

I would listen to a grocery list if Julia Whelan narrated it. I would listen to a compilation of all my flaws and everything I've ever done wrong in my life if it could be in her soothing voice. So, obviously, her narration of "The Women" was perfection.

Women were in Vietnam. This is a fact that has been overlooked for generations. I, myself, was ignorant of the fact. "The Women" follows Frankie, a nurse, as she navigates the Vietnam war and her return back in the world. She struggles desperately trying to assimilate back to civilian life, including the mental health issues that so many veterans deal with. She struggles with not being taken seriously and having her experience in the war downplayed or dismissed entirely. Hannah did a fantastic job of bringing the reader through Frankie's complicated feelings about the war to her journey from self-destruction to healing.

I was unable to stop listening to this book. I had one headphone in at all times--while making dinner, parenting young children (oops), while commuting. I cannot recommend it enough. This was another dynamite Kristin Hannah/Julia Whelan pairing.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of "The Women" in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest historical fiction novel by Kristin Hannah, perfectly narrated by Julia Whelan - 5 stars!

It's 1965 in sunny California, and Frances "Frankie" was raised by conservative parents to always do the right thing. Military service was always important to their family too, with her dad having a "hero's wall" in their home. Her brother was off to war and an off-hand comment by one of his friends that women could be heroes too spurs Frankie to enlist as an army nurse. In the blink of an eye, she's in Vietnam and totally out of her depth. Her two nurse friends, Barb and Ethel, keep each other going through the daily trauma. We follow Frankie throughout the war and on her return home, where suddenly she is anything but a hero.

I could not stop listening to this audiobook once I started and was totally engrossed in Frankie's story from start to finish. This is a visceral, emotional, thought-provoking, beautifully written and researched story. It's certainly a testament to all the women who served in the Vietnam War who were never acknowledged or supported. It's still so sad to think of all the veterans returning home from war who were ridiculed and hated, forced to battle their demons on their own. I loved the special bonds forged between the women and how they were always there for each other. For those of us growing up in those times (my dad was in Vietnam and I still have my POW bracelet), the book is full of nostalgia and transports you back to those turbulent times. I can't stop thinking about this book - Kristin Hannah has again created a masterpiece. Highly recommended - will be on every top 2024 book list for sure.

Keep the tissues close!

This book wrecked me. We follow Frankie, a spoiled/entitled girl with a family with a hero's wall. One night, she's told, "Women can be heroes too," and decides to join the Army as a nurse. The story follows her hardship, loss, and life at home after the war.

This book focuses on the women of Vietnam and what they went through, how America treated them, and the sacrifices that were made. I appreciate the detail and research that Kristin Hannah did before writing this book - down to noting that women weren't allowed to wear pantyhose.

This has got to be my favorite Kristin Hannah book thus far.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

I heard there is talks about making this into a movie. I can't imagine anything could be better than this as an audiobook!
The narration was perfect! I loved the story. What more can I say?