I can already say that this book is now on my list of all time favorite books. This story brings such important light to the women in the Vietnam war. Julia Whelan delivered another stellar audiobook narration. I loved this book! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook copy.

This was my first audio book and it was a good listen. Frances "Frankie" McGrath joins the Army Nurse Corps and is sent to Vietnam to work as a nurse. There what she sees/experiences is shocking, traumatizing and heartbreaking. Frankie forms bonds with other nurses that will change her life. Upon returning home, Frankie did not get the greeting she thought she was shocked by getting spit on, yelled at and told that women were not in Vietnam, even her parents did not tell people she was in Vietnam instead she was "away." Another one to add to my favorites by Kristin Hannah she really does know how to write them

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this audio ARC

Kristin Hannah does it again! This is an amazing story with incredible character development. I was hooked from the beginning. This is a heartfelt and heartbreaking novel about a woman in Vietnam, but it’s also so much more than that. KH writes a character that feels so real, you almost think this story was written by Frankie. The narrator was great too. I would probably listen to just about anything she narrates. I couldn’t put this one up!

This book was INCREDIBLE. That being said, I had to be strategic about when I listened to this one because I just can't be bawling at my desk. Tears aside, this book truly blew me away and it is definitely a favorite book this year! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was really excited to read my first Kristin Hannah especially since the amazing Julia Whelan narrates The Women audiobook. This book is mainly about one woman, Frankie, who enlisted to be a nurse in the Vietnam war. I liked the setting as this historical fiction is very transporting and when Frankie returns to America she has to deal with the lasting effects of war. I liked the inclusion of some romance and the lost love scenario but I found this book to be a bit too long. I appreciate the sentiment behind this book and the narration is wonderful but this storyline and character didn’t resonate with me.

Kristin Hannah is such a superb storyteller. She has a distinct voice in her novels that create lead female characters that are so incredibly believable that you can’t help but become fully engrossed in their journey. ⁣⁣
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When I heard that The Women was being published I 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 started trying to find a way to read it. 🤪 Was I slightly obsessed? Yes. But that’s a story for another day. Haha!⁣⁣
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This particular historical fiction followed Frankie who enlisted as a combat nurse, following in her brother’s footsteps as he headed out to serve in the Vietnam War. Frankie’s very privileged life is flipped upside down almost immediately as she deals with the first traumas of war and the isolation from her family who cannot abide by her choice not to find her place in society, marry and support a family. ⁣⁣
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The way that Kristin Hannah was able to depict the incredibly complex emotions surrounding the Vietnam War was just masterful. Both from the people serving their country in the most finite way, but also in the emotion and sentiment surrounding the US participation in the war. I felt Frankie’s fear, her resolve and the hardening of her heart as the war changed the core of her being.⁣⁣
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I also really appreciated the way the novel didn’t shy away from the fact that Vietnam vets had an incredibly hard transition back to their homes. Where previous services were celebrated, these men (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧) were not welcomed back as heroes. I cannot even fathom the culture shock of PTSD (which was an incredibly revolutionary concept of the time) as well as a cold welcome home for these soldiers, doctors and nurses. ⁣⁣
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Of course there was a major journey of self-discovery, loss and heartbreak that we can know and expect from a KH novel. What was refreshing? The sisterhood. Finishing this book, there was no question as to why it was titled The Women. I truly want you to experience every second with these incredible ladies, so I won’t say anything more other than, read this book. ❤️⁣⁣
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Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for access to this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

Book Review: The Women by Kristin Hannah 💔🥺😭

5/5 ⭐️

Thank you @netgalley for this arc 👏🏻

Trigger Warnings: this book is set during the Vietnam War so there are many tough subjects in this book. Please check the content warnings before reading.

This book! Wow! I flew through the 450 page audiobook (over 13 hours) in about 4 days. I could not stop listening and especially because Julia Whalen read it.

Frankie is one of my absolute favorite main characters now. She is a tough, flawed, emotional and such a real character. The friendships and relationships she had really stretch her as a person. This story was set during the war for the first half and then switched to post war life and the struggles and obstacles veterans had to go through.

In true Kristin Hannah fashion, the last 50 pages wrecked me and this is a book that will stick with me for a long time. 🥺

Thank you for writing such an incredible book KH and I’m so glad it was my first book of 2024.

The book I never knew that I needed.

While I like history and love historical fiction, stories of war are not something I gravitate towards. Reading the synopsis (which I didn't before I asked to review an advance copy- it is [author:Kristin Hannah|54493]- I no longer care what the synopsis says. I will read it.)... Anyway, reading the synopsis, this is a book I likely would have passed on if written by most authors. But I am so glad that I didn't pass on this. (I am going to go on a personal rant- the overabundance of WWII fiction has made me shy away from war-time stories even more. There are many great books set in that time, but also many who use the setting to sell books.)

I was born in the 80s, so my knowledge of the Vietnam War is fairly basic. It wasn't talked about. I know why people didn't talk about it, but never stopped to think about the history lost by the silence.

[book:The Women|127305853] sheds light on some of that history. Specifically, the women of the war. I knew the basics and nothing I read about surprised me, but I also never <i>thought</i> about it. [book:The Women|127305853] made me think about it.

The think I love most about [author:Kristin Hannah|54493]'s writing, is that it makes you feel. Sad, angry, hopeful- this book takes you through it all. Anger dominated in this book for the most part. And while I was sad a lot, I was also glad that I did not break out into a hysterical ugly cry like I did while reading [book:The Four Winds|53138081].

This book is not about a war (though I said it was, lol). The war is the backdrop. It is about friendship, healing, mental health, surviving. And I am SO glad that romance is not one of the top tags. I may have really lost it if someone tried shoving this into the romance category. (Because, you know, speaking of women, people love to shove female authors into the romance genre if there is the slightest hint of a romance within a book).

The audiobook is narrated by Julia Whelan. And, like all of her work, it is perfection. I listened at 1.5 speed.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.\

And, I apologize to all who have read this entire rambling review. There are a billion synopses out there to read. And sometimes the overall feeling of a book is too important to sit and mention all the little pieces. Though, I will just say- Rye.... I am still not over that. (Though I saw it coming a mile away- it does not help me have less feelings about the matter.)

This account of women in Vietnam was outstanding. The first 20% was slow, which I find with most historical fiction books, but still kept me engaged. I was heartbroken after reading this book. I wasn’t born yet but know many that have served our country. I feel like this gives both sides of the war from America’s perspective (pro/anti) and the ones caught in the middle.

Wow… this will stay with me for a very long time, as do all KH books. I cried the last 15%. I feel like the story was complete by the end. This is more than 5 stars for me. I’m now on the hunt for more books about this era.

The narrator was 5 stars!

This was a very heavy, but excellent read. It touched on so many serious topics and dug deep into most. The most obvious subject was the horror of the war in Vietnam, but this book also delves into the horrible reception that the military received upon returning home, the lack of understanding around PTSD, the ignorance of the fact that there were women in Vietnam and how the nursing and doctors were exposed to so much trauma without being on the front lines with a gun in hand, and how women were treated so differently from men regarding their service.

This story was so realistic and it was a lot. People fall in love; people die; people have traumatic experiences and life changing injuries. They struggle. Their loved ones struggle.

This story follows our main character, Frankie, from before she decides to enlist in the army as a nurse through her return home and her struggles at reintegrating into her life in the states. There wasn't much lightness in it. At times, I felt almost worn down by the story just because it was so unrelenting, which made it start to feel long. However, this also made the story feel true. Frankie definitely had good moments in the story, but they felt so small amongst everything else. Yet, this helped you to understand how she would cling to those times and the bonds she made with the people she went through so much with.

Although I did think the story started to feel a little long, I don't think I would change anything to make it shorter. I think every part of the story was important and needed to be included. So, so well-written.

I received an audio copy of this book in addition to the ebook. The audio was narrated by Julia Whelan and Kristin Hannah. Julia Whelan is a favorite narrator of mine and as usual she did an excellent job. I would highly recommend the audio. It helps to keep the story moving when it gets too heavy or feels like it's dragging a bit.

Wow, what a heartbreakingly haunting and beautiful story. This is about a young woman named Frankie and her journey into Vietnam while joining the efforts in the war as a nurse, and what transpires in her life during and after. My Grandfather served in the Vietnam War, and committed suicide after coming home, years before I was born, so for me this was more emotional than it may have been in its own right. Kristin Hannah put so much care into every detail of this book, and it is evident in every word. Reading 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 is truly an experience, I felt like I was right there along with Frankie in her tumultuous twenties. After I finished it hit me that the main character lived through everything she did in such a short amount of time. Kristin’s books are always out of my comfort zone, but I never regret the read. What a way to start out the year, I don’t know what could possibly top it. This book is going to stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend reading it, just have your tissues ready! Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC, narrator Julia Whelan put on an amazing performance!

This story will always be a favorite of mine. A story of seldom mentioned hero's, women who served in Vietnam as nurses who not only treated soldiers, but helped saved them.

Best friends, Barb, Ethel and Frankie, started as strangers but war brought them together, life brought them closer, tragedy and happiness anchored them, forever.

Author Kristin Hannah's words were so beautiful. I was hooked from the very beginning.

This was my first of Kristin Hannah story and I'm very thankful that I was allowed a copy from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. Julia Whelan narrated The Women beautifully.

The audio version of Hannah's upcoming novel, The Women, is phenomenal!  While I find some audiobooks to be distracting, this one is very well done and the story comes to life through the narrator. You won't go wrong with either the print or the audio version. I originally had the good fortune of receiving an ARC ebook for this one and loved it. The reviews follows:
The Women, by Kristin Hannah, is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I requested this one simply because of who the author is and later, when I saw it was about Vietnam, I hoped it was not just another war book. It was NOT! Disturbing descriptions of war-torn bodies, the emotional trials of soldiers, and the deep friendships they forged were all brought to life through Hannah's words, making this a powerful, thought-provoking, emotional roller coaster of a novel. Thanks, to NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC to read and review. I highly recommend this one.

Kristin Hannah! You not only did it again, you exceeded what you’ve previously done! This book brought to life an era I only skimmed the surface of. I am in love with the characters, I was intrigued by the storyline, and I was hooked on the well-being of their future! This just might be my favorite Kristin Hannah, book of all time!

This might be one of the best books I’ve ever read. Hannah does a great job portraying females in the military. It’s amazing.

I received an early NetGalley copy of this book and it was a delight. Have I met a Kristin Hannah book that I didn’t like? No. But what a high bar!

I didn’t know much about the Vietnam War in truth, and really loved learning through the few females who were part of that historic time. Seeing how PTSD affected them; to watch such a crazy time for women unfold when they were expected to be traditional (wives and mothers), but were able to expand their roles into certain professions as well as joining the armed forces. As with all things female, this new opportunity was fraught with obstacles and disregard.

Hannah does a beautiful job of telling about this historic time while weaving a wonderfully entertaining narrative throughout. She’s a master at this and I remain a fan.

Wow. Where to begin with this masterpiece?

It is poignant, tragic, inspiring, heart wrenching, beautiful , and so very raw. It will take you through every range of emotions, but will be completely worth it.

The book is very long, and written in two parts: one covering the MC’s time in Vietnam, and the other covering her coming home and everything that happens after.

The main character is Frankie (Francis), a freshly graduated nurse who has lived a very sheltered life and just wants to make her parents proud. She tries to do this by volunteering to be a combat nurse in Vietnam in 1967. Needless to say, when she is dropped into the war zone she has to mature quickly. Frankie is an MC that will make you want to hug her and throw the book at the wall at the same time. Simply put: she is a woman experiencing the trauma and beauty of life, who sometimes makes terrible decisions, and sometimes achieves great things.

The Vietnam War portion of the story is very graphic at times. It is clear to see that the author did her research thoroughly. She also writes it so vividly that the squeamish might struggle to read it. But wow, it is eye-opening.

The second portion of the story covers a wide range of topics as Frankie adjusts to being home and struggles to find who she is now vs. who she was before she left. Many political topics from that era are covered such as marching, riots, protests, laws, etc. There is also a heavy theme of PTSD and what that looked like before people realized what it was and how to treat it.

This description sounds so heavy so far, and it really is. But throughout the entire book there are also beautiful themes of deep friendship, found family, coming of age, love, perseverance, and redemption. It really is worth the read. Or, in my case, worth the listen. I listened to the audiobook version and it was narrated to perfection by Julia Whelan. This author/narrator combo is just fantastic. Absolutely 5 stars.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There was no doubt in my mind that I would absolutely love this one. Julia Whelan can narrate no wrong and Kristin Hannah is well Kristin Hannah! I admire that Hannah has been toying with this idea for years and waited until she was absolutely ready to write it. This was definitely hard to read at times, it's a heavy heavy topic. But i'm really glad this side of history was shared. I absolutely love Kristin Hannah's books on audio. They are structured to be incredible listens.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one.

This book is absolutely fantastic. Hannah writes the story of a group of nurses who serve in Vietnam and how that choice affects the trajectory of their lives. The novel focuses on one nurse, Frankie, who navigates depression, loss, heartbreak, and substance abuse after she returns home from Vietnam as well as how the world around her perceived her and her sacrifice once she returned from Vietnam. This book explores the complicated viewpoints surrounding the war and really makes the reader feel the same conflict of the heart of the US citizens back in that time. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Frankie McGrath has grown-up hearing the support for the troops from the men in her family. Her own father keeps a "hero" wall in his office for all the young-men that serve their country. So when Frankie graduates from nursing school and decides that she is going to use her RN to fight in the Vietnam war, she is confused by the reaction of her father. Once in Vietnam, Frankie is thrown into the thick of it, immediately taking to assisting in the surgeries occurring there. Frankie becomes one of the best trauma nurses in the Army, and along the way makes lifelong friendships. But when she comes back from Vietnam, she struggles to understand why nobody supports her, and her efforts, and struggles with the lasting effects of PTSD.

This book was an eye-opener for me. For some reason I have never taken the time to learn about or try to understand the difficulties that went along with the Vietnam war. Hannah does an amazing job in describing the intensity of the the war itself, and the struggles that the vets had returning back from the war. Especially, but not limited to, the nurses that were in Vietnam. Frankie's story was moving, heart-breaking, and sadly what I would believe to be too relatable for a number of people.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a slight interest in the Vietnam war of those, wanting to see how others can overcome life's difficulties. The audiobook was well produced, and the narrator did a great job in giving the words a relatable quality.