The Women is a novel of my generation, and although I never served in the military, Kristin Hannah brings the Vietnam War to the forefront and brings back my many memories of that era. Perhaps because an aunt had served as a nurse in WWII, I was aware that women served in this war too; it always seemed odd to me that the women who served in Vietnam were overlooked time and again. In her new book, The Women, Hannah changes that through her story of Frankie McGrath, an Army nurse. Hannah highlights the two wars that Frankie waged: the war during the war, trying to save the lives of men who were wounded in the fighting just after their injuries, and the war against the memories that traumatized her after her return stateside. Frankie's brother, who was killed in the war, was honored on her father's "wall of heroes," photos of family members who had died in war. But, just as the man who spat at her in the airport where she had landed on her way home from her two years in-country, her father was ashamed of her, too. He lied to his friends about where she had been (studying art in Florence) and it took the deterioration of her life in the years following her return, to change his mind. Throughout both wars, Frankie was supported by the unquestioning love of her two best friends, fellow nurses Ethel and Barb, even as she bought into lies that men told her, suffered a miscarriage, probably caused by her exposure to Agent Orange, and gave in to addiction. Frankie's mother also provided support as she could and after the realization that Frankie was not the 'good girl' she thought she had raised. As readers of Hannah's work have come to expect, her, writing brings her story and Frankie to life vividly and the extensive research she did for the book is apparent. I both read and listened to this book and am appreciative of Julia Whalen's wonderful narration. Her voice echoed in my ears whenever I read words on the page. Add The Women to your reading lists. Library readers will be eager to read it as will book club members.

Frankie McGrath comes from a long line of war heroes in her family, and when her brother Finley enlists in the Vietnam war she decides she wants to join him as a combat nurse. Newly 21 and just graduating with her nursing degree, she’s inexperienced in life, work, & in love, but she wants to be with her brother and find more purpose in her life than the traditional expectation of women in the 1960s.

Frankie experiences actual hell in Vietnam, as expected, but she also makes incredible life-long friendships, and falls in love. However, war-time is not real life, and with every day feeling like it can be your last… decision making skills can be greatly affected.

With masterful storytelling from KH I learned so much about the Vietnam war I never knew, and my heart is shattered. I didn’t know about so many of these events and that’s just talking about the historical aspect of this book.

The fictional part??? The romance, relationships, friendships + family conflict? Phenomenal. I bawled my eyes out very early on, absolutely fumed, was shocked from the twists (like jaw dropping twists) and eventually felt at peace by the end.The way KH took me through a myriad of emotions, ripped my heart out, shred it into tiny pieces, and then put it back together is nothing short of brilliance.

Julia Whelan absolutely knocked this out of the park with her narration. Her style, tone, ability to alter her voice to sound more masculine, inflection, emotions, and pacing are all top tier. I cannot wait to listen to more of KH’s books on audio now that I see she narrates like all of them!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the ALC & ARC! This publishes on 2/6/24!

There is no doubt that Kristin Hannah knows how to write about war. Her novel, The NIghtingale, has been wildly popular. I enjoyed Winter Garden, another story set in a difficult war time, even more. So, no surprisse that this latest book is an excellent one.

Here Hannah turns her eye to the Vietnam War era. Interestingly, this time period echoes loudly to today when the U.S. is once again experiencing much division, posturing and an inability for people to listen to one another.

Hannah tells her story thorough Frances Grace (Frankie) McGrath. She is the daughter in a family that venerates men and the bravery of the military. While Frankie is expected to be a “good girl” and to marry, the expectations are higher for her brother. 

Readers learn early on that Frankie’s brother died in Vietnam. Following his death, Frankie, who is a trained nurse, wants to make a difference. She somewhat naively works her way through the military branches until the army accepts her and sends her to Vietnam.

Hannah does an outstanding job of bringing the country to life. Readers will feel the scorching heat and drenching rains. They will find that their heart rate rises at the sound of VC attacks. The scent of blood, the anxiety of being an inexperienced medical provider, the hooch, the officer’s club-all of these and more feel so real.

Frankie does not live in a vacuum. She becomes very close to two other nurses. She also is attracted to Jamie, a surgeon. These characters and many others become known to the reader. 

Readers are aware that there were many who protested the war. What happens to Frankie when she returns from the war zone after her service? Slight spoiler…it will not be easy.

Here is a compelling read. I found Hannah’s last few books to be good but I think that this one is so much better. The Women is not an easy read but it will sear itself into its audience’s heart and mind.

I wish that this book had been given a more distinctive title, not because it isn’t apt but because I think that, it could easily come out lower in any kind of search engine request than it should. It is a book that cries out to be read.

It is probably clear by now that I give this novel five stars.

Note: I alternated between listening to the book and reading it, one of my favorite ways to stay connected with a story as I go for a walk. The narration is superb. Whelan gets the tone and emotion of the story just right.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.


I wish I could give this more than 5 stars!! Amazing. I had never read a book that took place during Vietnam War.

I was so invested in the main characters, Frankie, life This was a great story written by a talented storywriter!

LOVED IT!!!!!

I finally read my first Kristin Hannah books in 2023, and immediately asked myself why did I wait so long? When I saw an opportunity to get my hands on her newest book early I jumped at the chance and I am forever grateful for this advanced audio version of The Women.

This book starts off in 1965 and follows Frances (Frankie), 21 years old and full of hope, as she joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam. The story is about women in Vietnam, their sacrifices and experiences, but also about strong female friendships, returning home to a divided America, the general place of women in the 1960s, mental health, heartbreak, and trauma.

I learned a lot while reading (I did not know much about the Vietnam war itself or how Americans felt about it) but mostly I just felt for Frankie and imagined her story being one of many similar tales. I felt hopeful and innocent like her at the beginning, sad, scared and horrified at times, angry and desperate at others. My heart broke alongside hers over and over again. About a month after reading it now, and I still don’t have the proper words to explain it and how it made me feel, but I am still thinking about it all, about Frankie, about Kristin Hannah’s note. This story will stay with me for a long long time.

As usual Julia Whelan does a phenomenal job of narrating and made the experience even better for me. I highly recommend the audio version.
It was also easier to read with my ears while crying with my eyes.

Kristin Hannah has done it again. She has captivated a difficult era in a story following an Army Nurse, Frances McGrath. Frances is a fabulous character with excellent development throughout the story before, during and after the Vietnam War. Great story, beautifully wound. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This is a story that will stay with me.

“We were there.”

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy of this amazing novel.

I am unwell - this might be the easiest five stars I have ever awarded to a historical fiction novel. It is clear that Kristin Hannah invested immense amounts of time and energy researching for the setting, plot, and characters and has created a masterpiece that is not only a historically accurate representation of the time, but a moving and emotional journey through Frankie’s life during and after the Vietnam War.

“Maybe happy now, happy for a moment, is all we really get. Happy forever seems like a shitload to ask in a world on fire.”

While experiencing utter devastation and trauma in Vietnam, Frankie also experiencing some of the greatest moments of her life… including the development of lifelong friendships and deep love.

Upon returning home, Frankie is met with the realization that America isn’t the same patriotic, vet-loving country she left behind and finds herself unsupported and feeling alone.

Without spoiling anything, this book takes you on a gripping emotional journey through war, and the effects of returning from war - including PTSD, alcoholism, drug abuse, loss, mental health, etc. Check your content warnings.

But despite the overwhelming depressing moments, there are also such beautiful moments of friendship, family, recovery, healing, and love. Just trust that Kristin Hannah will tie it all together into the most heart-wrenching, yet gorgeous story.

**As a note on the audiobook - Julia Whelan knocked it out of the park as the narrator for this story!

Some other favorite quotes:

“You’re the hero, aren’t you Frankie?”

“‘He’s here, I feel him.’ ‘I always feel him.’”

“Life was like that, she guessed. It was all wrong, until suddenly it was right-and you didn’t really know how to react in either instance. But she knew love when she saw it, and it filled her.”

“Remembering you got me through”

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook.

Julia Whelan, the narrator, did a superb job on this one. There slow parts in the story but she really keeps you in it.


This book was slow and long. Overall I enjoyed the story however if I would have read a physical book I'm not sure I would have finished.

Frankie goes to Vietnam War as a nurse where every man she meets falls in love with her. How exhausting. Shes a fantastic nurse and when there's action the story is great. The story tells her experiences in war and her life and troubles after the war. I had a hard time getting thru parts of adultery. I don't typically read books with cheating and all that scandal. However, the book had a good ending for Frankie, which she deserved.

Wow, wow, wow! I have never experienced so many emotions as I had with listening to this book. I have always loved the books written by Kristen Hannah and was looking forward to reading her new one. I would give this more than 5 stars. It follows the life of Frankie an army nurse who volunteered to serve in the War of Vietnam. Since the book is historical fiction it is based on the true stories of what happened during that war. The women were not acknowledged as having served in Vietnam since they were not actually in physical combat. It describes the way the soldiers were treated when they returned home and so much more. This story needed to be told. It is filled with courage, fear, sorrow and love. I thank Kristen Hannah for writing it and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook!

Kristin Hannah was phenomenal (yet again)! Not knowing a lot about the Vietnam War, this novel was both a great story with twists and turns and informative about the lives of service men and women during and after the war. It gave a great historical perspective on the war and the little-known, but extremely important, role of thousands of women who served as nurses. Even though we only got the fictional perspective of a few of these women, I now feel extremely knowledgeable about issues faced while in country and even more so of service-members after their tumultuous return home. This is a must read!

Wow! Another powerful read from Kristin Hannah. The Women tells Frankie’s story as she serves as a nurse in the Vietnam War and all of the battles she has to fight as she comes to terms with all that is lost and feels lost when she returns.
I can't say enough to capture all that is in this novel! Highly recommended for all!

* I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review

As much as I’m a Kristin Hannah fan I’m not a big historical reader but I took a chance on this one and damn, was it worth it. I knew very little about the Vietnam War and even less about the women who served during that time and was floored by how informative and eye opening this one was for me. The research and care here was impeccable, (the authors note is a must read for some backstory on just how careful she was in writing this) and I was blown away by how well written this was. The characters are beyond life like and truly leap off of the pages and Frankie’s journey was incredibly touching and raw. I’ll stop rambling because I could go on for days, but this is a must read and the audio version is narrated by queen Julia Whelan so obviously it’s amazing. An easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, unsurprisingly, Kristin Hannah does it again! The Women presents a side of the Vietnam War that many people have never considered. Just as her other historical fiction novels, Hannah writes a story with a badass female main character that represents both the pretty and ugly sides of humanity. I was lucky enough to get to read this book via audio, narrated by the incomparable Julia Whelan and enjoyed it immensely.

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

Another amazing book from Kristin Hannah. Beautiful writing, excellent movement with the plot and character development without being rushed. Julia Whelen's narration was top-notch. Five stars.

As someone who lived during the Viet Nam era and had friends and relatives that served this book was particularly poignant. I would find myself trying to hold back tears as I was listening to it and sometimes had people around me and did not want to explain. Frankie, the main character starts out with stars in her eyes, but then is quickly hardened by what she sees, hears, and smells. Ms. Hannah brings all those impressions to the reader so it as if "you are there". As gruesome as the first half of the book is, the second part was much more difficult to get through--especially the part when the VA hospital refuses to help Frankie when she asks for aid--"there were no women in Viet Nam" was the reply she got--it was truly heartbreaking. The book does contain closure of sort for both Frankie, other Viet Nam vets, and the reader--not exactly a all's well that ends well, but it was satisfying none the less.
**note: one thing that bothered me was in the scenes with Frankie and her parents, sometimes her mother was referred to as "her mother" and sometimes as just "mom". I found it kind of bothersome--I think I might have been more comfortable with either her mother or the woman's name. For some reason I did not notice it as much with her father.

An interesting historical fiction book about a woman, Frankie McGrath, who serves as a nurse in the Vietnam War. The book is plot driven straight away, which some readers likely prefer, though I found myself wanting more characterization of Frankie before the action took off. Julia Whelan's narration was great and suits Kristin Hannah's work well, as usual.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about The Women? It's only January and I already have my favorite book of 2024. This book blows The Nightingale out of the water.

You will feel like you are right there alongside Frankie in Vietnam. You will go through ALL the emotions when she returns home. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy (plus any and all special editions) just so that I can hug it.

The narrator does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. For those listeners with misophonia, there are no gasps or swallows that I noticed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Women
by Kristin Hannah
Narrated by Julia Whelan; Kristin Hannah

Rating: 4.7/5.0 Stars

The Women by Kristin Hannah was absolutely fantastic. I binged it as fast as an audiobook over 14 hours can be binged, while still making sure my kids were fed. ;) This book sucked me in from the very beginning and held on until the very end. Frankie's journey from a privileged, wealthy debutante to a war-torn army nurse who cut her teeth in Vietnam was nonstop action.

I adored the story of Frankie, Ethel, and Barb. Their friendship was everything, not only in-country but afterward, coming back to an America that didn't acknowledge them or want them. My heart broke for Frankie when every loss hit her. Though I wasn't around during the Vietnam War, Kristin Hannah did an amazing job bringing the era to life and Julia Whelan's narration brought everyone to life. It's just a spectacularly written story, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kristin Hannah for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!

Perfection of course this narrator always delivers. The author hands down one of our generation’s best. This story will surely be a movie.

I received a complimentary audiobook for THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah from Macmillan Audio!

THE WOMEN follows Frances (Frankie) McGrath, a young woman and nurse. Her family has a wall of heroes in their home, men who have fought for their country and her brother is the latest McGrath ready to leave Coronado Island and ship out overseas to Vietnam. When her brother’s friend makes a comment that women can be heroes too, Frankie decides to enlist in the Army Nurse Corps. Frankie’s arrival in Vietnam is as chaotic and scary as the rest of her time there will remain. It is a place of fast and close relationships and danger in many forms.

I have been sort of burned out by Historical Fiction, but when Kristin Hannah has a new book, I absolutely pick it up regardless. And something I rarely say about a historical fiction read… I could not put it down! This book put me through the emotional ringer and kept me up way late in the night to finish it because the ‘just one more chapter’ got me every time!

I really loved Frankie and the heart she put into everything. She went through so much between the traumas of life in Vietnam and the return to the real world back home where the traumas continued. I think the author did a fantastic job of showing the good people who were in Vietnam for pure purposes, but also the ways that the war also did wrong. Media and the government withheld truths from the public. Frankie witnesses the trauma of innocent Vietnamese children and people killed for no reason.

This book follows Frankie over the years in the war and the years following it and it took a good look at issues of mental health and addiction and trauma. The friendships formed and the losses felt really pulled at my heart. I think the author also did a great job of covering multiple perspectives even as we were only following one woman throughout the story.

The women who served in Vietnam truly saved lives, but their contributions are largely forgotten by history and I really appreciated reading this book. Frankie is a character who will absolutely stick with me and I have a very strong feeling this will be one of my best reads of the year!

THE WOMEN is out 2/6! The audio narrated by Julia Whelan (with author notes narrated by the author herself) is fantastic so I highly recommend the audio, but really, pick this up in any format as it is well worth the read!