A heart-wrenching exploration of an under-represented part of history, The Women takes listeners to the front lines of the US war with Vietnam as the futile war destroys a generation of young people and then brings them back home to a country at a crossroads.

Review will be posted on Bookstagram on pub date: https://www.instagram.com/readinginstead/

Every book Kristin Hannah has written has made me cry but this was something else. I either felt close to tears or had them brimming most of the book. Near the end I was just angry and speechless. I Silently screamed in my head about the betrayal. And then I was just sad.
My husband came home to the mess I was from reading this and I made him promise me things about our relationship while I cried about the Vietnam war!
I listened to the audiobook and Julia Whelan did an Oscar winning narration. She is simply the best at this. And Kristin Hannah wrote a beautiful, heartbreaking novel that gave me things I didn’t know I needed. The entire thing was so brilliantly done. Believe the hype!
I had so many God moments I wouldn’t even know where to begin. It was so good and I feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t read this.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

Women can be heroes.

Grab your tissues for this one, y’all. The Women by Kristin Hannah releases on February 6, 2024 and will take you on an epic, heart-wrenching, soul-stirring ride.

Based on the experiences of women, mostly nurses, serving in Vietnam, this book is the historical fiction novel we need. Kristin Hannah shines a light on a dark, controversial, and important era in history with so much grace, empathy, and nuance. The Women tells the story of the often forgotten wartime service of American women and gives them credit where it’s more than due, but it also tells the broader stories of the Vietnamese people who experienced the war. The humanity captured in this book is breathtaking and heartbreaking all at once. Love, friendship, family dynamics, clashes between generations, civil unrest, the fragile domestic state of the US during the era, PTSD, substance use, racism, sexism..it’s all there and laid bare.

If there’s one thing I hope we can all take away from this novel, it’s the ability to look at each other with compassion and grace, and the ability to hold more than one truth at once. It’s the ability to not look away from the pain and suffering, but to sit in it with our fellow men and women & offer a hand.

I learned so much from this book, and it was a difficult read. I thought of the veterans in my life- my grandfathers who served in Vietnam, my brother who is a combat veteran of a more recent war, and my husband who served in the Navy. I thought about the yellow ribbons on the trees in our front yard in the early 2000’s, my nursing clinicals at the VA, and every burn or trauma patient I’ve encountered. I can’t imagine the trauma of caring for them in a field hospital in a war zone.

To all who have served & their families, thank you. ❤️

To @kristinhannahauthor - thank you for this beautiful novel. The world needs it.

Thank you @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for the early copy.

Thank you @justjuliawhelan for bringing these characters to life.

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #books #bookworm #bookreview #goodreads #storygraph #kirbyreads #kirbyreadsandreviews #audiobooks#audiobookreview #kristinhannah #thewomen #historicalfiction

THIS BOOK… 🤯🤯🤯

I received this ARC in audio format in exchange for review and my god I I will definitely be buying this book when it comes out. The way she captured what it was like as a nurse in Vietnam made you feel like you yourself was there.

If I could give a book 10⭐️ this would be the book

This will forever live rent free in my head.

Read this book next!!!! One of the best books I have ever read.

Life is messy. Messy in the best and worst ways possible. This story will have you feeling high, highs, and low, lows.

This is my first Kristin Hannah book & I am so glad I chose THE WOMEN, as my first. Ms. Hannah paints the most realistic story and imagery of what if must have felt like to be not only a woman, but a woman in the military during the time of Vietnam.

When Frankie McGrath decides that she wants to assist those serving in Vietnam, she turns her back on everything she was raised to be, a well behaved lady, mother, and wife. Once Frankie is thrown into the fire of combat as a nurse, the realities of what is happening in the world is a shock to the system.

The woman who served in the military have not been given the proper respect and honor they deserve. Until reading THE WOMEN, I didn’t understand the entire scope of what servicemen and women endured when returning from Vietnam.

The truth of sexism is explained as Frankie is repeatedly advised that “There are no women in Vietnam.” To when Frankie’s mother writes to her that, “The world changes for men, not women.”

The pain and trauma experienced by Frankie depicts what it must be like for all people who have served. The lack of mental health treatment and assistance in transitioning from combat to every day life, was present during Vietnam, and has hopefully improved greatly since.

The friendship forged between Frankie, Ethel, and Barb, serving as nurses in war, forged a lifelong friendship people dream of having. The loyalty, trust, and unending love for one another, is probably the best love story woven during this story.

THE WOMEN, is a heartbreakingly beautiful, tragic, and eye opening story of women who learned to fight to be acknowledged and respected for their assistance in saving the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, while trying to survive themselves.

I didn't even know what this book was about honestly before I requested it on NetGalley. That's how much I love Kristin Hannah's writing. Never before had I read or heard about the Vietnam War from a woman's perspective. Kristin Hannah brilliantly researched and brought to life the story of many women in Vietnam - many of them forgotten or unrecognized. The details within the story are as historically accurate as possible, and while it's really hard to read at times, this book is unbelievably good and so memorable. The character Frankie is one I will think about for a long time. I imagine this will be one of the biggest books of 2024! Thank you NetGalley for the early audiobook copy.

Wow! I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did. Even after the first 100 pages or so, I still didn't think I would like it as much as I did. But once you get attached to the characters, boy does the pace pick up! . I didn't even realize this book was so long because it felt like I could have read it in a day. I've recently just started reading historical fiction so I am not expert on the genre by ANY means. However, I can safely say that this book had me fascinated, in all my feels, and eager to learn more. If this is what I have been missing out on, sign me up for more!

I rotated between the ebook and the audiobook and let it be known that Julia Whelan is a damn queen. I'm so happy I had both options to read because I really couldn't stop reading. I also really appreciated the author's note!

Thank you NetGally, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for my ALC/ARC!

Alright, alright, alright. Only ten days into 2024, and I’ve already finished my most anticipated book of the year. To say that I love Kristin Hannah’s writing is a major understatement. I’ve been a fan of her work for years now, and have read all of her books. (Well, except for a few of her really early ones.) My expectations were extremely high for The Women. Did Hannah meet them? For the most part, yes. I’m going to give The Women a full five stars because it truly deserves it. BUT…I do want to say that it was NOT my favorite from the author.

The novel is broken into two parts. Part one is focused mainly on Frankie, a young nurse and her time serving in the Vietnam War after joining the Army Nurse Corps. By far, this was my favorite part of the novel. I haven’t read a lot historical fiction on the Vietnam War, so I was eager to learn more about it. Especially from a woman’s perspective. This is a war story, so yes, it gets gruesome. There’s blood, guts, gore, and death. But please don’t let that prevent you from reading it. You’ll truly be missing out. In all honesty, part one truly made this novel for me.

The second part focused on the aftermath of the war, and how Frankie’s life changed because of it. Part two is where the novel lost some steam, in my opinion. I had a few minor issues with it. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that I was annoyed by a plot twist that Hannah used not just once, but TWICE. Sure, the first time created some great plot thickening and such, but the second time around was eye-roll worthy. Also, I felt that Hannah gave too much attention to a messy and somewhat toxic relationship that Frankie was involved in. I would have preferred more about her best friends and fellow nurses, Barb and Ethel that she met in Vietnam.

Even with my two small criticisms, this novel still blew me away. Hannah paid tribute to the heroic men and women who served during this dangerous time, and came home to a very politically divided America. The Women is out on February 6th!

I was BLOWN AWAY by this book! You will experience every emotion in this beautifully written story. I didn’t want to put it down, but I also didn’t want it to end. Kristin Hannah absolutely outdid herself with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Holy. Cow!!! This booked wrecked me….in the best way! This was my first ever Kristin Hannah booked and I don’t know why I waited so long. It was beautiful, and heartbreaking, and inspiring, and educational, and so dang emotional. I felt all the feels and with Julia Whelan narrating I felt like I was living in Frankie’s world. I really loved everything about this book….The writing, the characters, the story, the history, the hardships, the victories, the loss and grief, the friendships, the settings…it was all done so perfectly. If you love historical fiction and strong female characters then you need to read this book. And I highly recommend the audiobook!

WOW. Just… WOW. I’ve read a few KH books before, and loved them. But I think this might just be my new favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Kristin Hannah can do no wrong. Her stories just get better and better.

I almost didn't request this one as I feel like stories about wars/conflicts have saturated the market. However, after listening to a friend (who is my book twin) rave about this story I thought I'd give it a go and I am so glad that I did!

I alternated between the ebook version and the audiobook. The audiobook narrator was spot on. It worked so well. As Hannah does with most of her stories she tells them from a perspective that isn't as mainstream.

I loved the bond between the three friends that ended up more like family. They went to hell and back and showed up for each other when others didn't.

This summed it up well:

"The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words -- We were there."

Pick this one up and savor it. You won't go wrong.

The Women AUDIO by Kristin Hannah is a listen that I have almost no words for. I lived through those years, although thankfully not in Viet Nam. Frankie was only 22 years old when she signed up for her first deployment as an army nurse. She chose army because the other branches wouldn’t send her with so little nursing experience. They might have been right. Without the support of her friends, Barb and Ethel, and several surgeons, she might not have survived. The carnage was unbelievable. The lies the government told were beyond fathoming. She did survive, however, and returned home after two years to a world she didn’t recognize. So much happened, it is not possible to recount it all. Listen to the audio or read the book. She did come out fine in the end. That is the important part. So many did not.

This woman lived through things no one should have to. Fortunately she and friends, and her parents, who didn’t really understand, but loved her. Her brother had died in Viet Nam. That colored her decision to deploy and it kept her going through some of the hard times. It was an emotional journey, so well-written that it would make a believer of nearly anyone. Frankie’s character developed over years of heartache and suffering. Subconsciously maybe she felt she should have died over there, too. She was looking for love and for peace. Both were difficult to find. Only the people whose lives she had saved believed there had ever been women in Viet Nam.

The book was narrated by Julia Whelan and Kristin Hannah. Julia did a wonderful job keeping an even keel while she simultaneously imparted the panic and the seriousness of any given situation. There could not have been a better choice to narrate this moving story.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #Netgalley #MacMillanAudio #KristinHannah #TheWomen

Thank you Macmillan Audio!! The only thing better than a Kristin Hannah book is having it narrated by Julia Whelan! I was so happy to receive the ALC and enjoyed experiencing the book all over again. The ebook was awesome but the audiobook was even better!!

2023- I was fortunate enough to score an advance copy of The Women this week. I read it at night, which wasn’t the smartest choice as I kept staying up past my bedtime to read a bit more! I was very excited for this story as it and others like it are exactly what I’ve been hoping to see more of in women’s historical fiction. I know that WW2 is a great backdrop for all the emotions and action a writer could want, and indeed The Nightingale is among the top books in that period, but I’ve been searching out books from different periods and different locations. I’ve read a number of books set in Vietnam from the Vietnamese perspective, both north and south, during this period. I remember watching China Beach as a teen, which was a different experience of women in Vietnam. There are so many stories to tell. Frankie McGrath’s story will stick with me for a long time. I found myself grappling with her choices and behaviors at times- in the beginning she felt almost too idealized, and I realized she didn’t know who she was yet, and later she drifted so far from herself, but wasn’t that a big part of the message in this book?! War does things to the men and women who experience it. Few are left unscathed and unchanged. Through Frankie’s eyes, we witnessed some of the highs and lows for the nurses who served in Vietnam and what their experiences were like when they returned home. It wasn’t easy for any of them, though some had a harder time adjusting than others. I’m sure similar stories will be told about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as more time elapses. The only people who stop experiencing the wars in which they served are the dead. The living will never forget. I’m glad Kristin Hannah wrote this story for The Women who *did* serve in Vietnam, even though it took decades before people would acknowledge their service.
*Thanks to MacMillan and NetGalley for an advance copy for review.

I found The Women, by Kristen Hannah unique and meaningful! I loved learning more about this time period and the amazing women who served their country!

The Women by Kristin Hannah- if you haven't seen this all around Bookstagram and other areas of the bookish internet, are you living under a rock? Assuming you may have been under a rock, I'll give you a little run down. This book is about Frankie McGrath, a young woman who has been raised in privilege by conservative parents. When her brother is drafted to serve in Vietnam, Frankie signs up to join the Army Nurse Corps.

Frankie is soon serving multiple tours of duty in Vietnam, seeing so much devastation and taking care of men who have been wounded. She builds a found family in the nurse corps, and connects with a gentleman despite her best attempts to guard her heart.

This book is kind of a saga, which is totally what we expect from Kristin Hannah. Frankie eventually returns home and has significant trouble reacclimating to civilian life. She is turned away from veteran support groups because "there were no women in Nam" and she struggles with addiction and symptoms of PTSD. And of course, there are all the struggles that go with that. She flounders with her family who can't wrap their mind around her service, she doesn't feel connected to romantic partners, and eventually her addiction comes to a head.

I think this was the best Kristin Hannah I have read. I did appreciate that she incorporated some Black characters and acknowledgements of the additional discrimination faced by Black people who served in Vietnam as well as nods to the racially charged climate back in the states. These aspects were minor, but show progress from her past novels.

Overall, if you like a gut wrenching character driven saga this might be one for you. If you've read past books by the author, this is true to her style.

“There were no women in Vietnam.”

Holy emotional turmoil.

I’d been wanting a book set during the Vietnam War, something deep and complex and real. The Women is exactly that book, and so much more.

This story is a visceral experience. I felt it all at my core.

I want to share my thoughts, but they’re full of spoilers. So I’m just throwing all the stars and all the love at this beautiful book, along with a thank you to Kristin Hannah for being extraordinary.

The audiobook production is fantastic. Julia Whelan brings each character’s unique personality to life, which allowed me to completely lose myself in thae story.

*Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download.*

4.5 stars! My thanks to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to review this audio book.

Excellent book that I would love to see Netflix do like Firefly Lane! This is the story of Frances (Frankie) McGrath who goes off to Vietnam as a combat nurse,along with her brother Finn, a soldier. Tragedy ensues and you see Frankie go thru treating combat soldiers,love, loss and the start of ptsd ,which was not talked about much. I like how the story covers Frankie coming home and not being recognized as a vet. You feel the realism reflected and feel Frankie s growth as a character.

My only negative comments, could have been a little shorter and got a bit annoyed with Frankie and how she treated Henry.

An easy 5 star! I fell in deep with this story, listening any chance I could get. THE WOMEN was an incredible read and will stay with me.

Thinking about this review, I kind of feel a bit of who am I to critique the content of this story and characters. It’s my understanding that while this is fictional, Kristin Hannah researched and took a lot of time in writing this book. I found it humbling and enlightening to read about the Vietnam War and the women that served.

I thought Hannah did a fantastic job bringing the reader into the realities of war. I felt Frankie’s slight naïveté about war, but also her resilience and resolve. The quickness but strength of the relationships and connections she made. The horror and tragedy occurring every day. The little glimmers of light and hope. The fury when women were perceived to not have served in the Vietnam War.

The writing was fantastic and I was easily absorbed from start to finish. The narration was well done and added to the story.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am really torn about this book.

I love historical fiction and am always excited when I find a book that explores a part of history that I don't know much about. Although I vaguely remember the Vietnam Conflict from my childhood, I never knew about the role of women, and more importantly, about the discrimination and recriminations they faced while and after serving. So, I loved that aspect of the book and appreciated all of the research and work that went into making sure of the accuracy of the story and the settings, and the attempt to shine the light on the inclusion of women and their stories.

What I didn't particularly like was the characters - most importantly, the protagonist, Frankie. There just wasn't any development or depth for her, or most of the other characters. She's a rich girl who has different values and thoughts than her parents. [Been there, done that].] Every man she meets falls in love with her [Ummm... really?] Many of the important people in her life, who "died" in the war, suddenly, and conveniently, "come back" at the perfect moment. [Give.Me.A.Break.]

I don't know... for me a "good" book is one that transports you to an alternate reality and lets you live there for a while. That was the case for most of this (too long) novel. However, each time I was really ensconced, a ridiculous plot twist would happen, or a hackneyed plot device would pop up, and pull me right out. Thus, I am torn.

The voice actor, Julia Whelan, also was an enigma. At times, her reading was engaging and appropriate for a character, but too often she just sounded bored, or I felt like she was lecturing a recalcitrant student.

So, part of the “story package” was a 4 and part a 2 or 3, Because I was mostly engaged, I'll settle on a 4 for now with the caveat that I may have to revisit my review and rating at a later time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.