I read a lot. It takes a whopper to grab my attention and keep it there….but of how I LOVE the books I can’t put down! I have told so many people to preorder this and buckle up. I have enjoyed several of Kristin Hannah’s other books but this one is my new fave. I went in pretty blind and I would recommend others do also. 5 stars my friends! Enjoy!

This was my first Kristin Hannah book and I fear I may be in the minority of not loving it. This one started in a very promising way and the parts in Vietnam were engaging and clearly well-researched.

The attitude towards the war was nuanced and progressed in a way that felt realistic through that timeline. Later on I felt like it glorified military service a bit much for my taste despite showing the negative sides as well. I agree with other reviewers that it could have been shortened and edited significantly. I was quite surprised that that I was only about 40% in when she returned home from two tours, and I found myself hoping she would return to war just because it was the better part of the book.

The strongest parts for me were in the depiction of female friendships, the dedication to the historical details, and seeing Frankie grow and come into her own as a confident nurse and woman during her time in Vietnam.

My gripes:

Her friendships were often one-sided- Barb and Ethel were gold star friends to Frankie but she rarely reciprocated in helping them.

The romantic drama- while the start of the romantic plot lines were compelling, the endings of all of them were predictable yet unrealistic; and the drama and trauma along the way felt trite and unnecessary. There were several ‘twists’ that I predicted and when they arrived I rolled my eyes and audibly said ‘of course’.


This book was a good listen (especially thanks to narrator Julia Whelan 👑) but could have been stronger if it had removed some romantic tragedy and focused more on Frankie’s growth and friendships throughout her wartime experience.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy

THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah is a poignant exploration of the overlooked heroism of women in the Vietnam War, focusing on Frankie McGrath's journey as an Army nurse. Hannah's narrative beautifully captures the complexities of war, highlighting the sacrifices and commitment of forgotten heroines. Frankie's bravery amid the chaos and her struggles upon returning to a divided America evoke deep emotions. This novel, unique in spotlighting women in Vietnam, resonates with authenticity and emotional depth. Kristin Hannah's storytelling prowess shines, creating a memorable tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of women in the face of trauma. The characters are skillfully portrayed, and the bonds formed among them add a layer of richness to this emotionally charged narrative. "The Women" is another compelling addition to Hannah's impressive body of work.

I can honestly say this is the first book or audiobook I have read concerning the Vietnam War and that era.
This audiobook was one of the best I have listened to! The narrator is phenomenal! And Kristin Hannah’s story is almost too amazing to put into words. I have read every book she has done and feel the same way each time. No emotion is left untouched. No character is underrated. No scene is under done. Frankie is my favorite character, but her friends, Ethel and Barb are right there. Listening to this novel it feels like you are there with them, the jungle, the beach, the river, the operating room.
I will be shouting my recommendation for this book to anyone!! It is absolutely spectacular!!

I voluntarily listened to the audiobook provided by NetGalley.

Kristin Hannah best book by far, and I have read them all. It was an engaging book that I couldn’t turn off. It brought in all the issues of the Vietnam war and made you feel like you were there. I have told everyone I know to read/listen to this book. It should be required reading.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book is absolutely amazing! I did not want to stop reading. I was completely invested in the characters and the storyline. It gave an amazing insight to what women went through during this time. The love, the loss and treatment after coming home was so eye opening, This book was absolutely gripping from the start, a must read!

I absolutely LOVED this book - WOW!!!! Kristin Hannah dug deep for this one retelling the story of a Vietnam War Nurse - the struggles she went through in war - the battles she was dealt when returning home - and the lack of support for women who were at war.

The narrator was so great, and I was hit in the heart hard!

Kristin Hannah does it again! Another amazing historical fiction that enlightens readers of times forgotten or not spoken of. Frances "Frankie" McGrath grew up in a household that prides itself on the family's military service. Upon completing nursing school, Frankie enlists in the Army Nurse Corps and to follow her brother, who enlisted in the Navy, to Vietnam. Kristin Hannah enraptures readers from page one in this novel and provides the reader with what feels like a first-hand view of the chaos, sadness, torment, and love that Frankie and others experienced during Vietnam. Frankie experienced so much during her two years in Vietnam and these experiences caused lasting effects that many veterans experience upon returning home from their time at war. However, the understanding of PTSD and other mental health related issues due to experiences at war are better recognized and treated now. Frankie's return home was tormented, and she continued to experience loss in multiple ways. There was nowhere for her to turn to in order to receive help due to the lack of recognition of being a veteran because she was a woman and did not see combat. Frankie must learn to how to heal and how to become her new self upon her return home.
The audiobook version of this novel was narrated by Kristin Hannah and Julia Whelan. The narrator's voices fit the characters well and the listener is able to differentiate between characters allowing the story to come alive. The pacing was fantastic, and the narrators put appropriate emphasis and emotion into conversations and the storyline to make the listener feel like they were in the moment with them. The flow of the story between chapters was executed perfectly and the pairing of Kristin Hannah and Julia Whelan was a perfect match.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Kristin Hannah for giving me the opportunity to review this advanced reader audiobook.

Kristin Hannah has done it again. The Nightingale and The Great Alone are two of my all-time favorite novels. With high expectations, I was not disappointed as Hannah weaves a poignant narrative around Frankie, an American woman in the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. The first half vividly captures Frankie's challenging wartime experiences in Vietnam, while the second half delves into her struggles to reintegrate into civilian life in the United States. Hannah effectively explores the public's response to Vietnam veterans, offering a nuanced understanding of post-war challenges.
The audiobook, narrated impeccably, enhances the emotional resonance of the story, making The Women a must-read for those seeking a compelling exploration of history and human resilience.

If you are a Kristin Hannah fan you won’t be disappointed in her newest novel, The Women. This was a book that once I started listening to, I thought about it often and found myself looking forward to my next listening session so much that I finished the audiobook in just three days. The narrator was on point, the story was raw and engaging, and I learned a great deal about how women were treated before, during, and after enlistment during Vietnam. While it admittedly isn’t my new favorite by Kristin Hannah, I would still recommend it to fans of her work and historical fiction fans alike.

I love how Kristin Hannah doesn’t shy away from BIG, sometimes sprawling and unwieldy, subjects. In THE WOMEN she digs into the Vietnam War and the Vietnam War era, and given her devoted fans, she’ll reach readers who’ve had extraordinarily little, if any, true exposure it. Her exploration of the women who served in Vietnam – the 10,000 or so whose stories had for a long time been not only overlooked but dismissed – is a revelation.

I love how Hannah gets the music, the fashion, and even the hair right, as she tells Frankie McGrath’s story, capturing the ghastly world of mud, heat, blood and body counts she experienced as a nurse at an evac hospital in Vietnam, and then in its aftermath as she manages the emotional trauma of being home.

For my taste, the story is too long and many of its characters too predictable, but I’m glad I’ve had a chance to listen to THE WOMEN. I’ve learned a lot. Thank you Macmillan Audio.

Thank you, Net Galley and Kristin Hananh for the early audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my most anticipated read for 2024, and I it lived up to every single expectation I had for it- and more. Kristin Hannah is a Queen. I adore her writing, her characters, her stories- this may have just surpassed the Nightingale for my favorite book ever. This will be hard for any other book to come close to this year.

Blown away! I just started this year off reading The Four Winds by this author. The Four Winds is up there as my favorite book of all time. I’ve quickly read through four of her books so far. How lucky was I to be able to read this early! This book is nothing short of absolutely amazing! I loved every part of it! It was intense, heartbreaking and wonderful.

I was very excited to receive an ARC from Macmillan Audio. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and The Women did not disappoint. It was very interesting to show a war veteran from a woman’s perspective. I will be adding this to my purchase list for the library I work for.

Kristin Hannah did it again with a heart wrecking, devastating historical fiction novel. If you want your heart ripped out a million times, this is the book for you. The Women is a coming of age story about love, loss, & finding yourself when all odds are stacked up against you. I love how much I learn about a specific time period/wars while reading her books. Lots of heavy topics so be prepared (look below in comments if you have any triggers).

Loved the audio! Julia Whelan always does an amazing job!

I loved this book. I haven't read many books set during Vietnam. Frankie's story was full of love, bravery, heartbreak, and hope. I will definitely recommend this book. I love Kristin Hannah's work!

Kristin Hannah’s meticulous research shines in The Women, with some scenes reading like nonfiction. I was particularly captivated by the first half, detailing Frankie’s Vietnam tour, while the latter part skillfully explores her post-war life. There are so graphic scenes and multiple triggers so I recommend reading the content warnings on StoryGraph as there’s too many to mention. The author’s captivating storytelling and fresh perspective on a rarely discussed topic were eye-opening, especially in portraying Frankie’s post-Vietnam experiences with her family and friends. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Frankie, Barb, and Ethel supporting each other which truly highlights the value of friendship. The only part of the book I had a difficult grappling with were the romantic connections and some of the twists that related to that, but I understood why these had to be written into the story. Overall, this has to be one of my all-favorite books from Kristin Hannah and is my first 5-star read of the year! As someone who rarely reads historical fiction, I highly recommend this resonant read.

Kristin Hannah has penned another remarkable book! This story is so gripping. You laugh and you cry but most of all you develop a deep respect for the women (mostly nurses) who were brave enough to go to Viet Nam and come home to a country divided. This book holds you captivated from beginning to end. I know this is early to say but authors are going to have to come up with some incredible material to knock this book out of the top spot for me this year!!! If I could I would rate it with ten stars!!! The narrator has an amazing voice and her reading of the story is outstanding.

A beautifully written and narrated book about the resilience and courage of Frankie, a young nurse stationed in Vietnam during the war. Frankie is an unforgettable character, and this book sheds light on a topic many people don't know much about. As for many affected by war, there is no fairy tale ending for Frankie, but in the end she's at peace with her life and helps others to find peace, too.

Stunning! This book took hold of me from beginning to end. It is the story of an idealistic nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath. She grew up on Coronado Island near San Diego and its naval base. Her brother graduates the Naval academy and is off to Vietnam. Frustrated with the nursing work she is doing and hoping to make her father proud, she impulsively enlists as an Army nurse. It is 1966, the war is fully raging and she is unprepared for the scenes she sees while working in a field hospital. The first half of the book covers her time in Vietnam. The second half focuses on her return and the aftermath. As harrowing as the work in Vietnam, Frankie knows she is skilled and has saved lives. But her return is gut wrenching to me. The country is at odds with the war, and little is known about the PTSD in women because as she is told “there are no women in Vietnam”.

This is a powerful story told by a master storyteller. I love the music references and know most of them. I love that her two best friends were there for her over and over. They never judged and stood with her in solidarity. Personally I was a child in the 60s, and have vague memories of the protests and the returning of soldiers from the war. I have been to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC dozens of times, always looking for my father's cousin's name and running my fingers over the engraving. And I remember when they added the beautiful statue to honor the nurses who were there. I will be highly recommending this to my book club and my friends.

I received a copy of the audiobook narrated by the amazingly talented Julia Whalen and a copy of the ARC. Whalen seamlessly brought characters to life. I alternated between listening and reading the book. I can recommend either or both depending on your preferences. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.