Julian Whelan is a brilliant narrator. And so the story begins with her alluring voice quality and character voices. So many layers to this novel. It is a history lesson, a study of deep friendships and family members, finding oneself in a world that is often unaccepting and so many layers fall one upon the other. The first part of the book, taking place in Vietnam, was often times hard to listen to. Yet, so wonderfully described with pain, loss, and sorrow. I could go on and on but my suggestion is to read it. Kristin Hannah has evolved from her former style of writing. I always love her books but this one takes her craft to a new and wonderful level of being there. It is life in a bottle. A bottle with cracks and spills that is glued back together only to crack again. Read it.

Kristin Hannah has a way of writing so well, and so poignantly. I always feel like I learn so much from them, and this one is no exception.
I loved this book, and felt so understood reading it.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
Publication date: February 6, 2024

Date read: January 31, 2024

Audiobook read by Julia Whelan



Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

I'm not going to be the first person on the internet to recommend The Women, and I know I won't be the last, but I'll start this review out by saying that this is one of the best books I've read so far this year.

Books about war are nothing new, and books about women serving in war have been popular in the past decade, so it's not like this book is presenting anything unique... on the surface. The thing is, this book presents war in a way that I haven't really seen it portrayed very often, which is the day to day, mundane aspects of war. As a nurse during Vietnam, our main characters see the horrors of war from the sidelines, which means a lot of routine interspersed with horrible death and pain. It very much reminded me of M*A*S*H, one of my favorite television shows (despite being set in Vietnam rather than Korea, the vibe is very much the same).

What this book then did - that I was not expecting - was to take our main character out of the war halfway through the book and send her home, only to deal with the horrible way that Vietnam veterans were treated once they got back to the United States. In many ways, at least for me, this half of the book was harder to stomach than the half set in a war zone. The way that veterans were treated, especially female veterans, was so heartbreaking. It's certainly not an easy book to read, but I can't recommend it enough.

Hannah did an incredible job with her characters as well. The main character was wonderful - she went through so many stages of believable character development throughout the story. I could have read another 200 pages about Frankie. The secondary characters were also very well-written. The likeable characters were deep, realistic, and fun to follow (Frankie's fellow nurses, a few of the doctors and other side characters). And the horrible characters were more than just two-dimensional villains - they had arcs and reasons for doing what they did, even if their reasons were unthinkable to the reader. (I'm not going to say who the unlikable characters are, but they are there, and they are immensely dislikable).

Finally, I'm sure this book is wonderful in any format, but I can't say enough about the narration by Julia Whelan. I've listened to many audiobooks by Whelan, and the thing I love is how versatile she is. She can do everything from romantic comedies to war dramas and anything in between, and it's all believable. She's by far my favorite in the audiobook world.

Overall, this is one of the best - if not the best - books I've read so far this year. It is by no means an easy read, and I had a severe book hangover after I finished. (I also finished reading it just after midnight and had to sit up for about another hour before I relaxed enough to go to sleep.) So I always tell readers that they need to be in the right mindset for this one. But despite the difficult subject matter, it is an amazing read that I would recommend to everyone.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Content warnings (a lot): war, death of a loved one, gore, descriptive medical procedures, alcoholism, PTSD, sexism, negative treatment of veterans, miscarriage, addiction, drunk driving, suicidal ideation, forced incarceration

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed listening to this audio but unfortunately the audio from Netgalley stopped halfway through the book. Thereby, forcing me to wait until the book was released to the public. I was then able to finish the audio via my local library.

Hannah is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always written well with attention to detail. There was much tension and angst between her characters in this story.

The novel portrays the life of female nurses during the Vietnam War and follows the nurses after they left the service. Life was difficult and tremulous for the nurses after their tour ended.. The nurses found that their service to their country was not even recognized upon returning to the states. A very emotional story with all the feels.

I recommend this book most highly. I was gifted an advanced audio version from Netgalley, the publisher and the author. I enjoyed the narrator. I leave this review in exchange for the audio version of the book.

The narrator was engaging and kept me listening.
I love Kristin Hannah's books and this was no exception.
The characters were so well written, I really disliked some of the characters!!!!!
Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

“Women can be heroes.” When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, Frankie impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. What comes next is the chaos of war and the unexpected trauma of coming home, portrayed by beloved author Kristin Hannah. Unlike Hannah's other novels, I found more telling rather than showing in this narrative, which was disappointing from an author of this caliber. However, Julia Whelan's stellar (as always) performance of the story is really impressive. Readers who are captivated by The Women should definitely check out Home Before Morning by Lynda Van Devanter (1947-2002), a memoir of the author’s experiences as a combat nurse in Vietnam. It’s an unforgettable book that really reveals how much of Kristin Hannah’s fiction is rooted in reality.

Absolutely the best book that I have listened to or read in 2024. Having grown up as a child during the Vietnam era, I remember the news report the daily discussion of casualties and the stigma of young men being drafted and going to war. Listening to the main characters point of view her impressions as a nurse as a woman they really had a home for me. I love this book. I love the author Kristen Hanna, and this will be one of the most recommended books that I talk about this year.

This is such an epic audiobook bag Hannah and Whelan. It’s raw and heartbreaking over and over. I loved seeing the women’s side of the war effort

Thank you @Macmillan.Audio for the ARC of The Women, which is out now!

It’s taken me a long time to put my thoughts about The Women into words, but the gist of it is Kristin Hannah’s writing stays with you long after the book is finished. The Women was phenomenal and Julia Whelan was the perfect narrator to bring Frankie’s story to life.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is gruesome in its detail, but imo Hannah would’ve done the women who served a disservice by withholding the unique brutality of Vietnam. The war, the women, their feelings - all of it was so realistic and horrific and moving. It’s hard to think that this part of history was real.

The depiction of PTSD, lack of resources, and confusing transition back to civilian life is so well written. It’s heartbreaking. This book is heartbreaking, but I also learned so much.

I thought I had a decent understanding of the Vietnam war and the political and social climate at the time, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had no idea women served in Vietnam. I had no idea that returning Vets weren’t celebrated especially not the women. I had no idea.

Overall, I loved this book. It is arguably one of the best books I read in 2023.

Kristin Hannah does it again with another thoroughly engaging work of historical fiction. The Women takes place during the tumultuous days of the Vietnam War. My husband and I listened to this on a road trip, and the miles flew by.

This is the first book that I have read by Kristin Hannah, and I was curious about her writing. I was not disappointed. I loved that it was set in San Diego and that it focused on strong women overcoming some pretty awful things. I'm not sue that the main character was consistently believable - I kept asking myself if she would really do some of the things she did - but aside from that, this is a fine story about courage during wartime (Vietnam) and even greater courage coming home after the war. This story also gives a voice to a wonderful group of women - Army Nurses who served along-side the men, but were not recognized for their service until many years later. It is also a marvelous coming-of-age story as we follow restless Frances, from her wealthy entitled life to Vietnam and beyond. It is also a story of enduring friendships forged under impossible circumstances.

KH has outdone herself yet again!!

🩺 REVIEW: THE WOMEN 🩺

By Kristin Hannah

📖 SUMMARY: Frankie has heard stories of her family’s war heroes all her life. So when her older brother heads off to Vietnam, she decides to join him as an Army nurse. This news, which she thought would please her parents, does the opposite. She heads off to Vietnam without much of a support system and no realistic expectations of what she’ll encounter. Her traumatic experiences there shape her as a person, but it’s the way she’s received by the American public upon her return to the states that sends her life down a path she never anticipated.

💭 THOUGHTS: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Kristin can do no wrong in my eyes. I had high expectations for this one, and she did not let me down. The setting, the characters, the plot were all so well done, but the level of care that she took in her research behind this story are what make this my top KH. It was definitely tough to read some of the chapters, especially how Frankie was treated by people, even her fellow veterans, just because she was a woman. I shed a lot of tears because I knew that treatment was real for so many women. I highly, highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction (or even if you don’t think you’re a fan — this might be the book to get you into it)!

I’m just now getting around to posting this review, but I was lucky enough to receive an advanced audio copy, which was amazing because it was narrated by Julia Whelan. Thank you @ netgalley and @ Macmillan audio !!

✨ MADE ME FEEL: sad, scared, and SO ANGRY

🥰 YOU’LL ENJOY IF: you’re a diehard KH fan, love historical fiction, or want to learn more about the Vietnam War and veteran experiences

This might be my favorite Kristin Hannah book so far. I haven’t read them all, but have read enough to catapult this book to the top of my ranking. I was completely engrossed in this story, captivated by the writing because I felt like I was inside the book.

Even though this story falls within the historical fiction genre, it is obvious that Hannah did her research as so many storylines are true. 

For how heavy and sad it is, I wasn’t overly shocked on how many topics Hannah hit on. And they weren’t just thrown in to fill the space, they very much had a purpose which tied everything together. Between the horrors of war, PTSD, women living in a mans world, love, death, and so much more, I think it’ll be hard for me to convince readers just how well done everything was.

I went on an emotional rollercoaster and loved every step of the way.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ALC!

Content warnings: War, death, violence, miscarriage, addiction, Alcoholism, infidelity

This was my first Kristin Hannah and let me tell you I fully understand the hype!! It’s an incredibly impactful and important story about the nurses (women) in the Vietnam War, something the US skipped over and failed to educate us about. I love the main character, Frankie and her story of strength, perseverance, and growth not only during the war, but dealing with the repercussions of coming home afterwards. Also a found family trope will always get me in my feels! This story will live rent free in my head forever. Easy five star read.

I loved this book and adored this audiobook! it kept me wanting more, the narrator did an amazing job with the story I felt every emotion frankie felt it was such an emotional read.

Kristin Hannah does it again with another heart wrenching book! I cried….a lot! I found myself going in and doing more research of my own after reading this one.

The strength of the characters in this book is compelling. The backdrop of American history is a glimpse that is captured through the female experience of war. This perspective is not often taken in history and from writers of fiction. This book is well written and takes you on a journey that is both heart, wrenching, and growth inspired

Absolutely fantastic! Excellent character development and obviously well-researched. Looking at the forgotten women who served as nurses in Vietnam, the story covers many aspects: friendships and bonds formed during war, mass casualties on both sides including civilians, effects of napalm including long-term, death of loved ones, addiction, POW's, returning home, protests, PTSD, and veteran suicide. It's all very emotional, but the reader is immediately drawn into the story and invested in the characters.

Julie Whelan's narration is always excellent, but she outdoes herself on this one! The emotion is spot-on!

I've loved everything I've ever read by Kristin Hannah and this was no different. This story taught me so much about the roles of women, specifically nurses, in Vietnam. The dynamics of what a woman's role should be, even in the confines of her family, remind us how far we've come in our concepts and beliefs of what women can do. It also addresses the trauma, both physical and hidden, that our soldiers suffered and continue to suffer in defense of freedom.

The Women was an absolutely fabulous book, that I adored. It made me laugh, cry, and it legitimately broke my heart. Frankie, the main protagonist, goes through so much! Although I thought this would be impossible to have a happy ending, it ultimately gave a satisfying ending that made me happy.

I especially loved the author's note at the end, discussing the book and all the research and interviews that went into a book with the scope that this one had. Although some literary license was taken with some places and locations, this book worked seamlessly, and I really enjoyed listening to the note, read by the author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.