This was a good book, but not my favorite from Kristin Hannah (The Nightingale will never be surpassed for me and The Great Alone and Firefly Lane are other favorites). The premise of this story was really promising and intriguing to me. I appreciate the effort the author put into focusing on the heroism of the women of the Vietnam War and exposing the struggles they faced when returning home after their time in war. I did have a few issues with the book overall:

1) I wish more of the plot was set in Vietnam. I was engrossed in the beginning of the book while Frankie was serving in Vietnam but once she returned home I started to get more distracted from the book.
2) The book would have been stronger to me if Frankie had fewer love interests. It was hard to get connected to this part with so many men in and out.
3) I think the story could have been cut down by about 100 pages for a more impactful read.

Still, this was a great read that I think everyone should pick up when it publishes 2/6/24. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Julia Whalen and she is always fabulous.

I have read Kristen Hannah books for years and she just keeps getting better. This was the best book I have read in a long time. The story is very compelling. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. This book is a well-deserved look at what women who served in Vietnam experienced while in country and back home while they tried to return to their everyday lives.

Kristin Hannah does it again. She has such a craft at real story telling. She brings you in and you feel like you’re there with the MC. She gives you hope, breaks your heart and brings it back full circle. I could see this being a hit series as Firefly was. There’s so many layers to move through in this book. Also, appreciate the insight to the Vietnam war, the women there and what it was like for some when they came back. Thank you KH for writing beautiful stories. Thank you NetGalley for the AlC

This was an incredible and eye-opening story. While I knew Vietnam wasn’t a popular war, I had no idea how poorly those who served were treated upon returning home. Especially the women. Kristin Hannah has, with her usual skill, brought this story to life with a relatable, strong, and most of all HUMAN protagonist. I loved this book.

Quick intro:
The Women follows Frankie McGrath during her service as a nurse in the Vietnam War and the trials she faces as she returns back home.

Quick thoughts:
As we’ve come to expect, Kristin Hannah remains a masterful storyteller. And with any book by Hannah you’re basically signing up for an emotional rollercoaster and heartbreak. The Women is no different. This is a heart wrenching story of the women who served in Vietnam, how it affected them, and the world they came home to after their tours. It’s also a story about loss and love and finding oneself.

I was crying, gasping, muttering to myself, and all around enraged listening to this story. My heart BREAKS for our men and women who served in Vietnam and returned home to parents who were of the generation who told their children to just move on, don’t think on it, let it go, enough is enough, forget it, put the pain away, and carry on.

When Frankie got home from Vietnam, struggled to acclimate, and asked for help she was always dismissed. She and so many others were failed. She was constantly told that there were no women in Vietnam and “that she didn’t see combat.” Every time she cried out for help, was dismissed, and delved deeper into depression and substance abuse I got more and more angry.

I loved the way the book ended and I really was a puddle of tears listening to it while walking around my house. Gah! It was so perfect and it’s been days and I’m still thinking about it.

In her author’s note, Kristin Hannah says how telling this story was decades in the making and honestly you can tell she did decades worth of research. She has spent countless hours reading and listening to first hand accounts and has realized how many women’s stories have been forgotten or overlooked. Approximately 10,000 American military women were stationed in Vietnam during the war, yet unbelievably so many of them were told “there were no women in Vietnam” when they came home. I studied the Vietnam War in college and knew about our country’s response to veterans, but my eyes were opened to the unique experience of women vets through Hannah’s writing.

If you are at all an audiobook person, I cannot recommend the audiobook enough. Julia Whelan breathes so much emotion and depth into Kristin Hannah’s books and is such an incredible narrator. This is the third book of Hannah’s I have listened to and none of them have been misses! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Quick Details:
PUB DATE: Feb 6, 2024
CW: Death, miscarriage, drug use, addiction, depression, suicidal ideation, infidelity, war, PTSD, infant death, surgery/injury/torture depictions

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audiobook! The Women by Kristin Hannah is an emotional rollercoaster. It's the story of three women who went to war and were all but forgotten when they came home. The Vietnam War was an unpopular war and most veterans were tormented, ignored and forgotten upon their return. The women were especially affected given that even the governement and their agencies didn't recognize that they were veterans. There was no help readily available to them and they were at the mercy of their own selves. Many were tormented by nightmares and flashbacks for years and their service was finally recognized decades later. I loved how the story began in Vietnam but circled back and helped the reader understand how life in the real world was for the veterans when they returned from the war. I was astonished at how the veterans were treated and appalled by the lack of empathy from the community. Overall, it was a very poignant read that I will most likely either listen to or read again. I will most definitely be recommending it to others!

I haven’t read any of Kristin Hannah’s other books, so I can’t make comparisons, but I can say that this book was absolutely devastating in the best way possible. I loved the characters, and I went through the emotional ups and downs with them. I found myself crying more than once while I read!

The Women discusses themes of heroism, war, grief, addiction, trauma, friendship, and healing. The Vietnam war is the framework for the book - and the veterans’ experience is central. This book truly felt like it was dedicated to recognizing the service of veterans of the war - women in particular - who were forgotten.

I cannot recommend this enough, and I’m looking forward to reading from the author’s backlist!

kristin hannah has been my favorite author for as long as I can remember and her newest novel didn't disappoint!

the setting: vietnam and america during the mid 60s-70s

the plot: a nurse serving in the vietnam war and how she copes with her life afterwards

the characters: a brave and flawed frankie, and the found family she makes throughout her life

I had no idea the toll that the vietnam war took on everyone involved, including women in service. this novel. the main character, frankie was so strong and I found myself rooting for her happy ending time and time again. the last few pages and authors note at the end had me in tears!

thank you to net galley for the arc!

•Book Review•

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts ⬇️

I was excited to read this one. My goal last year was to read all of her books and I did that! So getting my hands on this one first thing only seemed fitting.

This book was nothing short of incredible. Best Kristin Hannah book yet and I can say that because I’ve read them all!!

A mix of seriousness mixed with romance.

Frankie had a powerful, badass role…which I think us all woman love to see!

Barb is great period.

And Rye if you know you know

•A great reminder that women can be heroes too. •

👉🏼 QOTD: Who is your hero?

Narrator : Julia Whelan - was great
Author: @kristinhannahauthor
Macamillan Audio : @macmillan.audio
Pub date Feb 6, 2024

#bookreview #books #powerful #strongwomen #inspirational

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Frankie comes from a wealthy family and her parents are very concerned about their reputation and what others think. They are attending a party just prior to Frankie's brother shipping off to Vietnam when a gentleman tells Frankie that "women can be heroes too" and that is when this quiet gentle nursing student decides to sign up to serve in Vietnam. Her parents are not happy about it at all but Frankie is 20 yrs old and can make her own decisions. I loved the first part of this book as the story was told while Frankie was in Vietnam experiencing war and saving as many lives as should could and learning lots along the way. Of course there were the lives she could not save as well which was heartbreaking. I wish the story was spent more in Vietnam. However once the story moved back to the USA, it became a little political and I know that is how it was back in those days but I wanted this to be a different kind of story without all the politics. The middle part was slow and a little boring and then the end part started to pick up again. Overall I liked this book and I am a huge Kristin Hannah fan but with all the hype on this one I was expecting a higher rating out of myself. Enjoy!!!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this audiobook of The Women by Kristin Hannah.


Loved this story for many, many reasons! Deep friendships were formed, women were united together, shines a light on war heroes and how women can be heroes too. Also, I appreciated the fact that patriotism was weaved into this novel as well. Uplifting story, courage, bravery and heartbreak were just several words that came to mind after I finished this story.

The character Frankie was by far my favorite, because of her determination, boldness and ability to adapt in less than favorable conditions. It was amazing to see the friendships she formed while at the different hospitals, the heartbreak she had to endure with the loss of her brother and so many other lives taken too early. This character was a well-rounded character to the point I felt as though I was in the hospital with her numerous times. Also, the many times she strived to please her parents, but they never accepted her military decision. 💔 Additionally, I really loved how Frankie was able to move forward with her life after several setbacks, but she didn’t only move on, but she truly gave back to others who had lost themselves.

The layout of this book was well done too. It didn’t time travel, but was divided by parts which was a great way to dedicate enough time to each season of life. Also, it never became confusing to read like some books that like to jump in between eras.

I will definitely be recommending this title to many people, because it encompasses many readers likes. ❤️

Never forget, are my final two words and if you read this title or the synopsis you’ll know why. 🇺🇸

4.5 Stars! This book immediately drew me in. Frankie is a 21 year old that signs up to go to Vietnam as a nurse and she sees her fair share of things during the war. She makes friendships and I could not stop reading the first half with what happens.
The 2nd half of the book was a bit slower for me at a few points as she adjusts to life at home after the war, and the view of other Americans about what she went through. I liked this journey and was rooting for her all along. Having finished the book I understand what the author included all of the details that she did. The title of this book has so much meaning as well and I will be recommending this book to others! Look for this book in February 2024 and thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book! Julia Whalen is a fantastic narrator for the audiobook! I couldn't stop listening!

WOW WOW WOW!!!! A solids 5 stars!!!
Another fantastic book by Kristin Hannah!!! You will have every emotion reading this novel!
This is the story of the WOMEN., a few of them but mostly about a young girl Frankie, who after her brother enlisted. She followed him and was a war nurse in the Army.. The book takes us on a 20-year journey with Frankie, spanning two terms of her life as she struggles to save herself. She risks her life in the process, and upon her return, she realizes that she's not regarded as a war hero like the men who fought in combat. Frankie's painful journey, marked by her substantial losses, her battles with addiction, and her anger toward those who betrayed and disrespected her, is portrayed with remarkable realism. You can feel her emotions!
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Macmillan audio for my gifted copies.

This book has moved me to tears more times than I can say. Kristin Hannah has done it again. This is a five-star read and if I could give it more than five stars I would. It’s such an eye-opening read about Vietnam and those who fought for our country and came home only to be treated with such horrible distain and disgust.
The story revolves around Frances, a.k.a. Frankie, a nurse; a combat nurse who served two tours of duty and saw so much pain and suffering in Vietnam. At the same time she has such a great camaraderie with her colleagues, and two of her very best friends, who she works side-by-side with Barb and Ethel. The friendship is steadfast and they are there for each other for every minute of the hell that they endured and the hell they have endured in coming back home. The hell in which so many people treated them so horrible. Even Frankie‘s own family lied about where she had been. There was no pride of serving your country during that time.

This book will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this incredibly moving story.

This book is a must read. It is the story of a young woman Frankie McGrath who in the 1960's wants to make a positive difference in the world as a combat nurse during the Viet Nam War. A strong theme throughout the book is 'Women can be Heroes too'. What she finds when she finally gets to Viet Nam is shocking, harrowing and not what she expected at all. She is thrown directly into brutal war time and scrambles to keep up using her nursing skills. She makes two very close friends who become lifetime besties, Ethel and Barb. These friends will stick together through thick and thin for the rest of their lives. She also falls in love, but cannot act on this feeling because the surgeon she loves is married. As the war rages on Frankie's eyes are opened to the lies of the American government who keep telling the American people that they are winning the war when clearly as Frankie can see by all the casualties they are not. After two years in Viet Nam she returns to the states to a total lack of welcome from not only her family but society. Frankie along with so many war veterans are tortured by nightmares, visions and terrible memories, what we now call PTSD. When she tries to get help from the Veterans Administration she is told that no women served in Viet Nam and they cannot help her. As Frankie spirals downward we see how horribly America treated veterans returning from this terrible and unfortunate war. The good news if that she does persevere and climbs out of her dire straits with the help of her friends. I loved this book. It has so much to teach us and is incredibly well researched. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, Every American should read it.

A huge thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to listen/read the ARC audio version of this phenomenal book.

At 15 hours, this is a long audiobook. Usually I love long books because I don't want the book to end but this felt a little bit drawn out to me. That isn't to say nothing happens in the story. A LOT happens. Maybe too much? I think some revising would benefit the story and poor Frankie. The narrator, Julia Whelan, is a favorite of mine and she did a good job!

I understand I may be in the minority here but some of this book was so cheesy and predictable that I rolled my eyes several times. But my biggest issue with the book is the title. The Women. Implying more than one woman. So why wasn't this story told in multiple POVs. Such as Frankie, Ethel, and Barbara. You could even have Frankie's mom or someone who didn't go to war to show how things were at home. Also, I think it would have been nice to show a Vietnamese woman's perspective. Instead, we got a very particular view from a rich, white woman. I think this change would've made the book so much more interesting and well rounded. Frankie fell in love and lost her "love" so many times that it felt like a lifetime movie for me. Also, some parts were so repetitive. I don't want to spoil it but the same situations over and over again.

I greatly appreciate the work put into this novel. I love that the author showed a timeline of what was going on in and out of the war. The progression of the soliders/nurses being "heroes" to "baby killers" and how Barb fought to question the war. I think that showed great character growth and relayed what so many people were thinking. War isn't a black and white issue, obviously. I appreciate the respect the author showed for the men and women that served and lost their lives.

I was curious about the narrative that there were no women in Vietnam. How could anyone think that? It is a widely known thing that women were nurses during the war. I had a hard time wrapping my head around that and questioned if it were true. But the author says at the end of the book that she heard from several women that they were told this when returning. The men in this book are mostly horrible except Henry.

I struggle with what rating to give this book. So much work has been put into it but there were things I majorly disliked. And I wish parts were different to make it less "cheesy." But maybe it is hard not to have some cheesy moments when writing something as serious as wartime history. There are stereotypes and tropes that just go with wartime and maybe the author couldn't get away from it. I believe my true rating is 3.5 but I will round up to 4 for all the hard work and time put into writing it.

If you enjoy historical fiction and wartime stories, I think you'll enjoy reading The Women by Kristin Hannah. Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Hannah and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen! I have written this review voluntarily.

This was my first Kristin Hannah novel. Oh, my goodness what an amazing, and powerful story. I felt like I was in Vietnam, experiencing things right along with our protagonist Frankie McGrath. She signed up to serve in Vietnam as a nurse, following a tradition in her family to serve in the military. This book explores the realities of the Vietnam war, and the way vets were treated when they returned home. It spotlights how women's service went unrecognized for a very long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced listener copy. Julia Whelan is an absolutely fabulous narrator as per usual.

I am honored to listen to the advanced audiobook of The Women. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this opportunity. I am a long time fan of Kristin Hannah loving some titles more than others. However, this story of Frankie and the women who went to Vietnam as nurses absolutely swept me up. We read to feel the way I felt at the end of this novel. I sobbed through the last hour of and it is no easy feat for books to make me cry. Queen Julia Whelan narrates this absolutely stunning story. I will re-read this, buy the physical copy, and push it into the hands of those I love. Hannah is back in a big way. 5/5.

This book and the audio were completely and utterly fantastic. I lost count of how many times I cried. I don't know any other author who can create and stir such deep emotions in readers than Kristin Hannah.

The way Kristin Hannah wove the narrative of women's role in the Vietnam War and all destruction, heartbreak, loss, and volatile political climate that came along with it was phenomenal. The time period in American history leaps off the pages and comes alive in the most beautiful and devastating ways.

This book is about devastating loss, strong women, finding hope, being brave, being broken, and always believing in love and the human spirit. This one will stay with you for a long, long time. It's an absolute must read.

This is the first Kristin Hannah book I've ever read. I know, I know, and what a way to start. This was a difficult book to read for a number of reasons. My dad is a veteran of Vietnam and I have a special place in my heart for the men and WOMEN who served. What a story that needs to be told. I learned a lot about the service of women I did not know. It was a beautiful book, one that even though it's the first week of January, I will be talking about all year. I've already sent the title to my friends saying READ IT and it will be one of the best books of the year for me. It was real and raw and painfully honest. I found myself in tears from almost the beginning and had a good cry when it ended. It's a difficult topic, but should be a must read.