I must admit, this is my first Kristin Hannah book. I know I am in the minority, especially for readers that enjoy historical fiction. I may not be a complete convert, but I will definitely be looking into her previously published works. What I loved the most about The Women is the exploration into gender bias and discrimination during the Vietnam War era. Beyond the fact that the military and government did nothing to support the women who served, society as a whole failed them. Women of this generation were at a crossroads. Do they become the radical visionaries of the second wave of feminism or do they quietly accept their mother’s silent generation standard of femininity.

I had high hopes Frankie would fall into the first, but she was a bit hard to love as the MC. My annoyance increased as she failed to recognize the extreme amount of privilege she had. Minor characters dealt with far more societal discrimination and ostracization and yet they not only thrived, but continually showed up to uplift and support Frankie. I do want to temper this personal bias as there is no architype for PTSD and due to this Frankie was not capable of handling her post-war experience in the same manner.

The Women is a coming-of-age story told in two parts. Part one focuses on Frankie’s decision to enlist as an army nurse in Vietnam. Her naivete and rose-tinted idealism of the war and what makes someone a “hero” are the main reasons for her decision. Her parents, especially her father, do not support this decision nor do they accept the changing role of women in America. During her two tours in Vietnam, Frankie makes lifetime friendships, becomes and incredible trauma nurse, and has two ill-fated affairs of the heart.

Part two is a doozy…Frankie comes home to a world that doesn’t support servicemen, let alone servicewomen. Beyond this she finds her own parents do not support her service and her father lied to all their country club friends about her whereabouts for the last two years. One bad thing after another enfolds in Frankie’s life, becoming so excessive that the poor girl just can’t catch a break. Her parents were complete enablers, her mother setting her up for abusing prescription pills instead of having the difficult conversation about mental health. Her father enables her by helping her avoid an arrest, for a very serious crime, and later paying to have her record expunged. Finally, her parents step up and she is admitted to inpatient care in order to get the support she needs.

Thinking about the book as a whole, I believe this is an important story and very worth reading. Frankie’s story is one of strength and fortitude to survive systemic gender bias during this era. I support her and all of the women that faced this discrimination and no longer silently accepted it. Due to the groundwork they set, women today are no longer silent nor do they feel they have to accept a predetermined role in society.

The audio production of this book was outstanding. Julia Whelan is one of my favorite narrators and she does a superb job with all of the characters.

For me **in my opinion** this is a 1 star, but, I guess, this book wasn’t for me since the beginning. So, I am giving it 3 stars because there’s nothing wrong with the writing per se.

Who is this book for? If you like Mexican soap operas, or soap operas in general, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!

A good way to summarize this book is that anything that can go wrong WILL MOST DEFINITELY GO WRONG. I am surprised her best friends didn’t die too, to be honest.

It is exactly like watching La Usurpadora. When she is happy someone dies, someone cheats, or someone says her experience is not valid. When you think people are dead, they come back from the dead! THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE 'LA USURPADORA'. It was a torture to finish this book, but hey if you like to read about people suffering non-stop this is for you.

In sum, I HATED THIS BOOK, but I can see that there’s an audience for this type of novel and maybe it is you! The writing is fine, I just don’t like the plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy is exchange for my honest review.

The Women by Kristin Hannah. This book has a release date of February 6th and if you love Historical Fiction -preorder it now. This is the 13th Hannah book I have read and she is the queen of Historical Fiction in my opinion. Her books have broken me on many occasions!! (The Nightingale 😭) This book was no different. Sobs throughout the final pages. When her brother Fin leaves to serve in Vietnam, Frankie impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows him. The first half follows her years in Vietnam and the second half when she returns.
Female friendships ❤️ PTSD, addiction, heartbreak
The authors note is important and shows you how much time and thought went into this book. Huge thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

“The Women” was a cinematic story featuring Frances, aka Frankie, who served as a nurse during the Vietnam War. Along with two close nurse friends, she faced some horrific experiences and also had some good times during her service. Frankie also dealt with a lot of loss and couldn’t understand the dismissive attitude of Americans when she returned home. After the war, she had a tumultuous journey with her parents, relationships, and career. I’m so glad that Kristin Hannah shared this story to help readers today recognize the sacrifices of earlier generations. This was well researched and well written. Julia Whelan’s narration of the audiobook made it a fabulous reading experience. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I read The Nightingale. I loved it. So I was eager to read The Women. And I tried. I tried so very hard. But I cannot make it past the first 100 pages. I applaud the author for trying something different, but what is this book? Has she never heard of China Beach? The only thing saving the audiobook is the narrator — Julia Whelan — who brings the book to life, cause Hannah sure ain’t.

If this book isn’t on your radar, it should be. It releases February 6, and will undoubtedly soar to the top of the bestseller list, and for good reason. This book reinforces Kristin Hannah’s role as one of the queens of telling the stories of 20th century women.

Frances (Frankie) McGrath comes from an American family with a strong history of military men, but she believes women can be heroes too, and so she enlists as a combat nurse in the Vietnam War. And while the experience of war is more violent and emotional than Frankie could ever have imagined, the real challenge is waiting for her when she comes home to a family who won’t acknowledge her service, a country divided over the war, and Army supports that won’t recognize her as a veteran because of her gender.

Kristin Hannah never shies away from hard topics, and this book is no exception. It needs to come with a long list of trigger warnings, from war violence to PTSD, miscarriage, attempted suicide, substance abuse, this one runs the gamut of heart-wrenching topics. If you can handle it, this one is worth the heartache and every tear you will undoubtedly shed.

I listened to this one on audiobook, and @justjuliawhelan does a phenomenal job with the narration.

A huge thanks to @netgalley for the advanced listener copy.

This story beautifully covers Frankies life first as a Vietnam nurse and second through the trials and tribulations of returning home after war. The story covers PTSD, found family, rocky friendship, family relationships and fighting for your country… and that’s not even half of it! It is a lot packed in a novel.

The relationship between Frankie, Barb and Ethel through their time in Vietnam and after returning home was beautiful and powerful. They could be actually one of my favorite trio of characters that I’ve read in a long time.

Kristin Hannah has such a beautiful way of making you feel all of the feels. Every book I’ve read by her is so different, but makes me feel the same and has moved me in such a drastic way… The Women is no different. She is a masterful storyteller!

Thank you so much Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this ARC. Friends, get your hands on this book when it is released February 6!!!

This is the historical fiction story of Frankie, a well-to-do, fresh out of nursing school, naive young woman who enlists with the Army during the Vietnam War. It takes you through her experiences and relationships during the war as well as when she returns, trying to adjust back into civilian life and cope with society's misconstrued views towards her involvement in Vietnam.

The story broaches subjects that may be triggers for some including familial issues, love and loss, wartime monstrosities, alcoholism, substance abuse, civil unrest, tactical herbicides and miscarriages, PTSD, treatment of combat veterans, and women deployed to combat zones, but not recognized as veterans.

This has been my ABSOLUTE favorite story so far this year! It took me on an emotional roller coaster and I had to stop a couple of times to process those feelings before I could continue with the story. The plot twists left me yelling at some of the characters and screaming out loud! I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I could not have been more excited to get my hands on this audiobook! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

The narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job. I did not want to stop listening! Kristin Hannah has a way with weaving stories that are dark and yet compelling. I don't think I have ever been as emotional reading a book. I can't wait to bring this title to my book club's attention.

I was so grateful to listen to this audiobook of The Women. Kristin Hannah is quickly becoming my favorite historical fiction writer.

This journey back in time to The Vietnam war and the sacrifices these women made will really stick with you. Frankie has served 2 tours in Vietnam as a nurse but when she comes home, nobody will recognize her service. This book will definitely take you on an emotional roller coaster and shows how our veterans paid the price not just in Vietnam but when they came home as well.

Kristin Hannah has done it again with her newest historical fiction novel. This book has it all! Love, heartbreak, strong female characters and friendships, and a happy ending for our girl Frankie who overcomes so much. This book was easily a 5 star read for me.

This is one of those books that irrevocably changes you. I laughed, I cried (I mostly cried), I felt joy, and I felt immense pain and sorrow. Hannah transported me to a world in our not-so-distant past where women and veterans were disregarded, if not disdained, and where women veterans "didn't exist." I've never had such raw and real emotions to a book before, and though there were times I felt like I needed to set it aside to emotionally heal, I could never step away for long.

The Women is broken up into two parts. The first part was my favorite (though take that with a grain of salt because the entire book was flawless) and absolutely wrecked me emotionally. I truly don't think any work of fiction has brought me to tears more. If you need an ugly cry, pick this book up stat.

Frankie - our protagonist - volunteers as an Army nurse and is almost immediately shipped to Vietnam to serve. Underprepared, over-privileged, and completely out of her depth, Frankie quickly realizes that not only is Vietnam is a sink or swim and literally do or die environment, but also that the American people are being lied to about the war. The horrors and atrocities she sees are unfathomable and the brutal honesty with which Hannah conveys wartime is commendable.

Interlaced with the agony that is the first part is so much joy, love, friendship, and hope. And while I could've used more of this at times, the novel feels authentic and genuine and likely speaks to too many vets' experiences overseas.

The second part was agonizing to read in a different way. Returning from war a different person, Frankie is faced with horrific discrimination and disdain for her service. When people aren't actively hostile toward her, they are minimizing her experience - first telling her "there were no women in 'Nam" and then saying "but you didn't see combat."

The perspective Hannah brings to the Vietnam War is both eye opening and heart shattering. I love that she is finally shedding some light on the heroic women that served in Vietnam and made such an impact on so many lives. I also love that Hannah didn't shy away. She didn't shy away from the brutality, the gore, the horrors, the cruelty, the mistakes. She didn't shy away from the truth. And in that hard truth, she validated thousands and will educate so many more.

Julia Whelan is the narrator of The Women on audio and if you haven't had the pleasure of listening to Whelan narrate, this is an exceptional place to start. She is transportive. Her voice is perfection, her acting is perfection, and she elevates any and every role she plays. Every character's voice was flawless and unique and never overdone.

Again, this is a book that has changed me. Even emotionally gutted, I needed it and craved more time with it. It's a book I was ready to start again as soon as I finished and though I'm not big on re-reading, may actually do so just so I can experience it all again!

There are a lot of trigger warnings in this book but they are all relevant and necessary to the story. Please do not be dissuaded by ugly tears or by the trigger warnings! I promise it's so worth it!

A huge thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the copy. This is one I'll definitely be buying for my shelves as well.

I’m wrecked by this book but I’d gladly read it again after I’m done picking up the pieces. Kristin Hannah knocked this out of the park. She handled the topic(s) so well. It’s more than just about the Vietnam war. It has loss, friendship, POW’s, orphanages, the effects of coming home, PTSD, America’s stance on the war, the wars media treatment, love, family, and so much more. I could not stop listening to the audiobook and I will be purchasing the hard copy to share with anyone who questions my reading choices, because this is Hannah’s best yet.

THE WOMEN review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“Women can be heroes too.”

🩺This. Book. Omg 🥹😭 I put off reading this one for a couple of weeks because I had a feeling it would emotionally devastate me and it sure did. 🥲 As a huge fan of both historical fiction and books that make me sob, I looooove Kristin Hannah’s books. This might be my new fave from her?! Definitely in the top 3!!

🩺Here is a summary of the plot:👇
Frankie’s family has always admired the bravery of soldiers who fight to defend the US. Her dad even has a “hero wall” in their house of pictures of their family members who have served in the military. Frankie wants to be a hero too, so she enlists in the Army as a nurse during the Vietnam War. But she soon realizes that most people, even her fellow soldiers, don’t think that the work these women are doing is heroic. They’re not on the front lines, so are they even making a difference? But the treatment she receives from her fellow soldiers is nothing compared to the way the rest of America is treating the Vietnam vets.

🩺I was sobbing not even 5% into this book. As someone who has a brother in the navy (just like Frankie) I was not emotionally prepared for the beginning of this book. I cried so many time throughout this story but especially at the end. There were also so many moments where I had to sit the book down and stare at the wall because I wasn’t expecting the plot twists?! I looooove books with a strong female lead and Frankie is one of the best main characters in a historical fiction book that I’ve read!

🩺This will definitely make my top reads of 2024! I will read anything Kristin Hannah writes and need another book from her asap. 🥹

🩺Huge thank you to @macmillan.audio for my advanced copy of this one! It publishes February 6th and I highly recommend picking this one up!

I was so excited to receive the audiobook arc for this story. I love Kristin Hannah and this one did not dissapoint. It struck a nice balance between drama, saddest and hopeful. There were parts of the story that were pretty depressing, particularly the second half when our main character returns home from the Vietnam war, but she did a good job of maintaining a glimmer of hope. I loved the relationship between the women, how strong their friendship and support were for each other. There were moments I gasped in shock, and one moment in particularly where I am pretty sure I cursed out loud. My only complaint was the book was pretty long but the end seemed to wrap up so quickly. I suppose it is a good sign when you feel like a book could have been longer and you wanted more story/details

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
I have been sitting with this review for a few days now because I don't know how I am going to adequately explain how much I loved this book and how important it is. Hannah tackles the topic of the Vietnam war, and the aftermath - especially on the women in this book. I was drawn into Frankie's story right away - from her sheltered upbringing, to having no idea what war meant, to struggling to reacclimatize to civilian life while everyone around her wouldn't acknowledge what she'd been through. I was never taught about the Vietnam War, so I applauded Hannah in her ability to capture such history that made me dig deeper into the horrors that were going on during this time. There's always such depth when it comes to her writing, and I felt it in every aspect of this story. I think this is such an important story to be told, and I hope it gets into the hands of so many readers because this is history that needs examined, especially when it feels like some of it is running parallel to current events. This is also a book about the power of female friendship, familial issues, and longing for love. There is a lot going on but each thing is balanced beautifully. It's a story I know I will come back to in the future.
Julia Whelan is the perfect narrator for this kind of story - and she performed this story so well.

This was my first Kristin Hannah book, and it was good. It would have been great if it had been less predictable and had ended sooner. The plot seemed never to end. Every bad thing that could happen just kept happening to our main character, Frankie.

Speaking of Frankie, she was just an okay character. I liked her in the beginning until she just kept making terrible choices. I guess it makes sense that she was this way because of her PTSD and the trauma she experienced from the war.

I loved Frankie's friendships with Ethel and Barb. They were great characters; I wish we could have spent more of the book with them. A not-so-great character was... spoiler?... Rye. I hated him. But he left a good quote in this book: "Women can be heroes too."

This book's best part was its first half, when Frankie was still in Vietnam. The story started to drag on once she returned home. She just kept getting sucked into different romantic situations that I didn't always like. The author did a great job describing the events that took place in Vietnam, and it was full of action. The book was also really good at making me feel so many different emotions. All I know is that Frankie belonged on that hero's wall.

Narration Notes: I love this narrator (Julia Whelan), and she helped make the story more enjoyable.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press, for my first-ever arc!

Good book overall but a little too much politics for my taste. Really enjoyed parts of it though.
I usually enjoy Hannah’s books. I was hoping for another epic journey, it was good just not fantastic.

Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a nursing student when her brother goes off to Vietnam. The words of her brother’s friend, “Women can be heroes, too” resonates with her. Frankie’s conservative parents have expectations; however, the expectations for their daughter are different than the expectations for their son. Frankie’s parents are blindsided when she suddenly joins the Army Nurse Corps to follow her brother.

Frankie quickly realizes that the realities of Vietnam are very different than the life she left behind on Coronado Island. She’s thrust into a very different kind of nursing than she is used to. She makes fast friends with Ethel and Barb, other nurses who will continue to support each other long after they are back on American soil.

The role of women in times of war are not something we hear a great deal about, especially wars where women were not active on the frontlines. The continuous comment of “there were no women in Vietnam” speaks to the ignorance of many, but if that is what people are told, that is what they believe. We learn through Frankie that trauma comes in all shapes and sizes and affects everyone differently.

I knew very little about the war in Vietnam prior to reading this book since I’m Canadian, although I wrote a paper on Maya Lin in university and how she designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

I will definitely recommend this book to others. I also enjoyed Julia Whelan as the voice of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an ALC of this novel. #NetGalley #TheWomen

Frances “Frankie” McGrath was raised Coronado Island, California by her conservative parents. In the beginning of the book, she is a twenty-year-old nursing student living at home with her conservative, country club member parents. After her older brother goes to Vietnam, Frankie recalls the words of one of his friends “Women can be heroes, too.” , Frankie joins the Army Nurse Corps and after training, she is sent to Vietnam to work as a nurse. What she sees and experiences is shocking, traumatizing, heartbreaking and ultimately life changing. When not treating the horrifically injured soldiers, Frankie has formed close bonds with her fellow nurses. Bonds that will also change her life. Upon coming home, Frankie is shocked by being spit on, yelled at, and told repeatedly that women were not in Vietnam.

I was shocked to learn that the Nurses who provide medical care to soldiers were not considered Veterans even though they signed up with the Army. That they could not go to the VA for help with PTSD. It was appalling and heartbreaking.

Besides the beautiful writing, I loved how Hannah showed the strength of female friendship. How the women supported each other and formed a family unit amongst themselves. This was one of the highlights for me. They lifted each other up, loved each other, accepted each other’s faults, celebrated their strengths, and when everyone else was letting them down, they knew they could count on each other.

This book also shows how PTSD affected nurses, doctors, and soldiers. How many self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. This book also depicts scenes of great bravery, political upheaval, war protests, the effects of PTSD, self-medication with drugs, friendships, family dynamics, sexism, and growth.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.