I've now read enough Kristin Hannah books that I know how they work. I will experience a roller coaster of emotions that most likely end in tears and I try not to get attached to characters because they will more than likely die. However, I still needed to read this book because I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.

What I loved most about this book was the journey I took with Frankie McGrath. Hannah's writing was so powerful and the narration so captivating that I felt like I was experiencing every emotion along with her. I was angry, i was anxious, I was joyful and I was heartbroken--- and I think all happened within one chapter. I found myself anxious to get to work so I could drown out the noises and escape to the battle field of Vietnam or the beach of Coronado.

And while I found myself crying at the end, they were tears of joy and peace which I was so happy to get to experience.

And spoiler alert--- my favorite character didn't die this time!

Frankie McGrath, a young woman living in Los Angeles, didn’t want to be ordinary; she aspired more for herself. After doing some research and hearing women can be heroes too, Frankie decided to enlist in the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam war.

I know I have said this many times before but KRISTIN HANNAH CAN DO NO WRONG! This story was simultaneously empowering and heartbreaking. Frankie was such a beautifully written character. I was so vividly wrapped in this story that it literally felt like I was right there.

This is a story about courage, hope, heartbreak, sisterhood, and perseverance. So many topics are explored in this book and I have to say the author did such an amazing job.

One thing I love about KH is that she 👏🏼 does 👏🏼 her 👏🏼 damn 👏🏼 research. The way she tackled grief and PTSD (amongst other topics) was absolutely graceful. In addition, the research and time that went into making sure things were told correctly from a history’s POV was amazing. Again, her research is impeccable - this is what makes her a top tier writer.

I loved every second I spent reading/hearing this book. Frankie’s growth during and after the war was so powerful. Indeed, a loving character during any point in her life.

This book was a beautiful tribute to all those wonderful and strong women that served but were not even acknowledged to have been there. They were there. They matter.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Julia Whelan, you bring every book to life and I will listen to anything you narrate. You especially do such a great job with KH’s books.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy. You don’t want to miss reading this one!
Pub date: 02/06/24

Find me on IG: @coffeebreakwithrachel

Rye told Frankie, “I’m afraid I’ll love you until I die”, which when you are serving in Vietnam, is not a good way for someone to profess their feelings.

The depiction of the women serving as nurses in Vietnam in the first half of this novel, was nothing like the comedic portrayal of the military medical team I had watched on the TV series M.A.S.H. Sure, they had some downtime for fun, but it was intense, harrowing, and tragic. The female bonds of friendship formed in the trenches sustained them long after the war ended.

After returning home, Frankie had a hard time adjusting to civilian life and was hurt by the ignorance of the American people who didn’t believe that women could be Veterans of war and said there were no women in Vietnam because they didn’t see combat.

There are plenty of historical tidbits about politicians, peace rallies gone wrong, and organizations such as VVFW that advocated to end the war and the Families of the Prisoners of War who persisted to not forget the soldiers that were left behind. I know a lot of military wives and families and I can’t imagine what it was like for them not knowing where a husband, father, or son was for years and getting little help from our government.

Like other Kristin Hannah books, this novel is compelling, and I could not stop listening to it (finishing over 14 hours of audiobook in just over 2 days). This book quickly grabs the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go. There are surprising twists and romance, but I was glad that it was more than a history lesson or a love story. It tells about how to move forward rather than dwell in the past and how we need to be there for each other with compassion during life’s highs and lows.

Raised in the affluent community of Coronado Island in Southern California and Living right by her conservative family Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a “good girl. She prides herself on always doing the right thing but now Frankie is ready to make an impact. Her brother, fresh out of the naval academy and off to Vietnam, Frankie enlists as a nurse with the army. Once she arrives in Vietnam she has a rude awakening and discovers more about herself than she ever thought possible.
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What a story! I was enthralled from page one. Are we really surprised? Hannah has proven herself to be a wonderful writer and I The Women is nothing short of that. I was so engrossed in this story. I loved Frankie and all of the trials and tribulations she faced. The audio was incredible too. I appreciated how Hannah tackled the tougher subjects that come with military service. Especially as early as the 60s when things like PTSD were not known. In true KH form This was a great book.
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Thank you netgalley and St. Martins Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Looking forward to my physical copy.

Women can be heroes too.

Wow. This one was heavy, but so important. THE WOMEN is a well-researched historical fiction by Kristin Hannah that takes us through a woman's experience in the Vietnam War, and the aftermath of coming home to a country divided. The main character is Frankie McGrath, a sheltered young woman from California who enlists as an army nurse in Vietnam. The first half of the book details her experience on-the-ground in Vietnam in hospital bases, and doesn't hold back from grim, realistic descriptions of wartime casualties. I found this first half interesting, fast-paced, and loved to see the character's growth in her confidence as a nurse. The second half of the book covers her transition home, and trying to find her place as a woman in a charged America where no one wants to acknowledge what she did. There were themes of PTSD, strained familial relationships, betrayal, and substance abuse, and I believe the author did a very good job in conveying all the emotions that accompanied these struggles. Frankie is truly a flawed, yet persistently resilient main character that you can't help but root for.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audio copy. of THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah. I especially enjoyed the narration by Julia Whelan who brought this story to life beautifully.

THIS BOOK. It was absolutely incredible. I adored it. the audiobook reading by Julia Whelan was flawless. I cannot wait for everyone to read this book!!

This will likely be my favorite book of 2024. What an important story this is! It is powerful and important. The Vietnam War Veterans weren't treated well by their own country, and the women who were there in various roles, were forgotten and dismissed. This novel addresses all of the hardships and PTSD of the men and women who served, and gave a glimpse of what civilian life was like for them upon their return and the years after. Kristin Hannah is a master storyteller, and one of my favorite authors. She's not afraid to write about these difficult times in history, and to remind us of our history. I will recommend this book to women and men because I believe it is that important. Bravo! Well done!

Oh my. I knew that Kristin Hannah is my favorite author, but The Women solidified it for me. It was real, hard, and honest. It’s only January of 2024 and I can say that this will be a favorite this year.

The Women is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of young Frankie (from a beautiful, safe home in Coronado Island) who becomes a new nurse in Vietnam. Frankie saves as many as she can, and if she cannot, she holds their hands in their final moments (part 1). It is in Vietnam where she meets friends, Ethel and Barb, who are also nurses.
We then explore Frankie’s life after she comes home from Vietnam (protests and the negative way our military members were treated when they arrived home) and then we go through the years after the war as Frankie continues to suffer through the aftermath of the war (PTSD and addiction). This includes Frankie not receiving the help she needed because “there were no women in Vietnam.”
Audiobook - Honestly, I was nervous before listening to the Audiobook for this one. Would I get the same feelings and emotions I do with other Kristin Hannah books? The answer is YES. I still felt, and was truly drawn in from the start. Bravo to Julia Whelan for truly doing a beautiful job and bringing these characters to life.

This book is such a beautiful tribute to the women who served in Vietnam. Thank you Kristin Hannah, I will leave this story in my heart for years to come.

“Welcome home and thank you”

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my gifted audio copy.

This deserves all the stars!

This emotional and powerful story takes you on a journey through the heartbreak of war. Highlighting the harrowing moments doctors and nurses faced in Vietnam and the shocking mistreatment of veterans and nurses upon their return home. You'll be on the edge of your seat as you experience their struggles and triumphs, and be left with a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices they made.

This is a must-read!

***Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Hannah, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Written by Kristin Hannah AND read by Julia Whalen = perfection. This book breaks your heart again and again. An easy 5 stars.

How I love to read Kristin Hannah's books! This was such a great story and possibly a real true one also. It was during a time that I lived thru also so it made me enjoy it even more. The Vietnam war was a terrible period for people. So many lost their loved ones and went through the same traumatic time. Writing letters was the only way to communicate with those poor souls. I just can't imagine how this book will make people feel that lived in those sad times. It all comes back to you, worrying if they would come home. Seeing the news and waiting for the mailman. The love story in this book and how it affects veterans was amazingly accurate. I am rating it a high 5 and recommend everyone to read it. Thank you!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of this audio in return for my honest opinion. This audio book blew me away! Frances McGrath is an RN who decides to enlist in the army during the time of war that, although it's not said, is comparable to Vietnam. Her parents don't approve of her going because she is a female. Her brother had enlisted only a few months before. She is only 20, and is thrown in the thick of it all. She and two the other women there form a tight-knit bond that continues when they are back home. Women were not allowed in combat but they suffered the same feelings as the men when they returned home. Unfortunately, the VA who helped men returning from war, refused to acknowledge that women may need help as well.

It was just such an heart wrenching story, knowing what in fact took place, and what the poor servicemen went through while in Vietnam. This story is so well written, of course, by Kristen Hannah, and the narrator is great as well. I had to listen to this all the way through. I only stopped for 3 hours, because I fell asleep.

3 1/2

Note: Because I listened to the audiobook, there is a chance that name spellings may be wrong.

Frankie McGrath is fresh out of nursing school when she decides to follow her best friend and brother, Finn, to Vietnam by becoming an Army nurse. Yes, it’s war, but the way Finn’s described it doesn’t make it sound so bad. When Frankie arrives, she realizes that she is completely unready for the experience she’s now jumped into head-first. However, with the help of her hooch-mates and fellow nurses, Ethel and Barb, and doctor, Jamie, Frankie begins to find her place in a horrible situation.

After two successive tours of duty are up, Frankie returns to her home in California forever changed by things that she witnessed in Vietnam. Once again, she finds herself not ready. Not ready to return to civilian life. Not ready for the treatment extended to Vietnam vets. Not ready to no longer know who she is or what her purpose is. And, because of this Frankie falls apart.

First, let me address the audiobook aspect. Julia Whelan is a great narrator who I will seek out in the future. She immerses the listener in the experience, giving believable voices to all of the characters. The only thing that lifted me from the experience was her pronunciation of “corpsmen” in which the “s” should be silent. But that was only in the first quarter of the book. Otherwise, just a stellar performance.

While Frankie was in Vietnam, The Women seemed well-paced, perhaps because something was always happening and Frankie was inundated with new experiences. She did fall in love at the drop of a hat with unavailable men. Is all fair in love and war?

After Frankie’s return home, the novel became predictable. Even a scene in her first nursing job back in the states struck a chord of déjà vu in me because I am certain I encountered such a scene elsewhere with the same repercussions. Back home, Frankie begins a downward progression that quickly became melodramatic. Now, I am not a fan of melodrama although I realize that there are readers who devour it like popcorn, in which case they/you will love the middle of this book. I, however, did not.

There was a good deal of repetition. The same conversation occurred between Frankie and two different men: I was a an eagle scout. You were? No.

And, I whole-heartedly believe that a hundred or more pages could have been excised without the book losing any of its meaning.

I did enjoy the last quarter of the book in which Frankie discovered herself. I enjoyed reading about the veterans coming together at the Vietnam Memorial, about characters recognizing their truths and the truths of others. In fact, I think that this section could have been bulked up as it zoomed by in comparison to the draggy middle bit. Ah, well.

For what it’s worth, I will tell you that my opinions are in the minority on Goodreads where the overall rating for The Women is 4.68 so this may well be a case of your-mileage-may-vary and be better than mine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for sending me this audiobook.

“There were no women in Vietnam.”

In “The Women”, Kristin Hannah does what she does best, weaves compelling stories through historical events.

We see Vietnam through the eyes of a young Army nurse, Frankie McGrath. She volunteers for what she thinks will be a year of changing bandages in a hospital far from battle. However, she finds herself in an Evac Hospital on the front lines. Nothing has prepared her for what she sees and experiences.

She is also unprepared for her return to an America that is unwelcoming to those returning from Vietnam and the denial that women, like her, even served.

This book follows Frankie and the women with whom she served on two decade journey through Vietnam and finding life back in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for allowing me to preview this title on audio.

WOW, what a book!! I finished this audiobook in just 2 days. Julia Whelan can do no wrong, and this was definitely one of my favorite performances by her. This was my first Kristin Hannah book and it certainly won't be my last. This book took me on such an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible. I knew soldiers were not treated well after this war, but I had no idea there were women that served, and I never heard about their story and how they were treated once they got home. I learned so much throughout this book. I really liked that there were additional resources at the end. I have been talking to friends about this book non-stop since I read it, and I will be recommending it to everyone at the library. I haven't read Kristin Hannah before, but I would still say this is an excellent first book to read by her. This will hands down be in my top 5 this year, and this book will be sticking with me for a long time!

I have admittedly only read a couple of Kristin's books, but this was an incredible story to immerse myself into. As a woman, there are many emotions that it evokes: anger, pride, sadness, fear. Frankie's story has a depth that I have not experienced many times in novels, and it is not one that I will soon forget. Julia did an excellent job with the narration, as well, which truly helps bring the book to life in a new way.

Heartbreak and Heroism
Death and Destruction

I listened to the Audiobook version narrated by Julia Whelan. Julia voiced all of the characters, distinguished each with different dialect, switching from male to Female. She did an excellent job.
This is the first Historical Fiction book I’ve read placed during the Vietnam War Era. A significant time in history told from a Combat Nurses point of view.
Frankie was born into a family of Heros. Someone from each generation had served in the military. The wall of heros inside her Fathers office was no place for a Woman. A chance encounter at her Brothers deployment party altered Frankies goals. Women can be heros too he said.
Frankie signed up and found herself in the thick of the war. Saving lives and fearing for hers.
Not only does “The Women” tell the heart breaking story of love and loss it brings light to the mistreatment of Vietnam Vets. Struggling to get help Frankie stumbles through life suffering with war related health issues.
I like that “The Women” not only told the story during the war it showed us the aftermath. Following Frankie well into the 80s we are able to see the world change and embrace these courageous Men and Women who fought for our country. This story seems to be historically accurate even though it is fiction.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It left such an impact on me that it will be a book I recommend for a very long time. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. Have some tissues nearby.

I've read a good number of Kristin Hannah's novels and even though they tend to be a bit more on the melodramatic side, I still enjoy delving into the stories she weaves so expertly. The Women is perhaps my favorite (after The Nightingale and The Great Alone), for a number of reasons. I've always been interested in the history of the Vietnam War and the military vet experience and perspective -- my dad served in Vietnam, as did my father-in-law. When I was a teenager, I loved watching China Beach and Tour of Duty. Mostly, I was intrigued that the protagonist is a nurse, my chosen profession. The references to Coronado and the Navy were also special as I'm married to a Navy vet.

Anyhow, the book was a pleasure to listen to and the main character, Frankie McGrath, was likeable enough. I could relate so much to her initial feelings of being a baby nurse and of being inexperienced and afraid. But I loved seeing how she grew and matured into her role, became confident and competent, found her true self in nursing. The story is set against the backdrop of the late 60's to early 80's, a volatile time in American history. Through Frankie's eyes we see the horrors of being in an unpopular, devastating war, of loving and of losing, of coming home not celebrated but despised. We share in her struggles dealing with unimaginable loss and pain, loneliness, PTSD, alcohol, prescription misuse, and betrayal. Not to mention, facing coldness and disapproval from those who *should* be her biggest supporters.

The message that resonates throughout is that she is not truly alone because she has her best friends ("the women," joined by others in later years) in her corner the whole time. She leaned on them through the most heartbreaking moments (there were a few). Frankie comes of age before our eyes, going from a young, wide-eyed, idealistic girl, to a mature, seasoned, and introspective woman. It's remarkable she overcame her demons and found her passion despite all that she'd been through. The ending does a good job of tying up loose ends nicely and neatly, a "happily ever after" for Frankie that we can expect from Hannah. I didn't mind this; I was rooting for Frankie throughout.

This was my first audiobook and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would; it made my work commute enjoyable. I recommend having tissues nearby -- this book made me not only tear up several times but caused actual crying jags. Even though I experienced this novel as an audiobook, I'm still preordering a hard copy to add to my library.

Frankie's story will stay with me a while. She and all the combat nurses who served in Vietnam are inspiring -- my heroes. For three years in a row, I've made the trip to Arlington National Cemetery to lay wreaths on tombs and visit the Nurses Memorial there. It's the least I can do.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley, for this ARC.

Oh my heart. This book. Beautiful.

I can't even write in proper sentences, that's how much this book affected me! In typical Kristin Hannah fashion, once again, I found myself tearing up multiple times throughout this story. An absolutely fantastic read, I cannot recommend it enough. If you know me then you know I don't read much historical fiction. Kristin Hannah is my exception to the rule and this book will be one I'm going to remember for a long time. Women really can do anything and this book is proof of this.

With huge thanks to @macmillan for the fabulous audiobook. The narration was on point especially with my favourite narrator Julia Whelan at the helm.

I will pick up anything Kristin Hannah writes for the rest of my life. She’s an “auto-buy” for me. I wasn’t thrilled about reading a historical fiction piece based on Vietnam because I know Kristin Hannah, and Kristin Hannah is a heartbreaker! On February 8th, I am going to meet her for a book talk in New York City so I was thrilled to get this audiobook from Netgalley! Julia Whelan as a narrator is flawless. Her narration is a symphony of voices, each character uniquely brought to life with a skillful touch. Her ability to infuse authenticity into the dialogue doesn't just tell the story—it invites me to live it. The diverse voices not only distinguish characters but also create a vivid tapestry that immerses me in the narrative. Whelan's mastery elevates the audiobook experience, making every moment resonate and ensuring that I'm not merely a listener but an active participant in the unfolding tale. Since the main character is a nurse, and I am a huge fan of Grey’s Anatomy 😋, I felt like I could “see” each trauma, which was difficult to listen to at times! I easily became attached to the characters in The Women because they were developed so well; KH immersed me in the scenes - her writing is flawless. Her descriptions put you THERE with these women on every journey and heartbreaking moment, and the narration exacerbates these moments. It’s not an “easy” read, because of the hardship and suffering, but I had to see it through because I was so invested in these strong, powerful, inspirational women being okay! The environment, the characters, the impact this book had on me is bar none. Do not wear mascara when you tackle a Kristin Hannah book! 💙 It should probably come with a disclaimer that it will grab your soul and shake it to make sure it’s there. 😂 Of course, as with all KH novels I read, immediately afterward I had to know everything about the historical details in the book and found myself in a Vietnam worm hole; she definitely makes you smarter. I know it’s her job and everything, but KH’s writing is impeccable to me!