Kristin Hannah does not disappoint with her latest book; The Women. Set during the Vietnam War we follow a nurse through her time in Vietnam and her challenging years following her return from the war. Told in vivid details and layered characters highly recommend this book.

I’m not sure why, but stories about Vietnam never interested me - - both in print and other media. I was born in the middle of the war, but my parents never spoke about it. I guess so many people wanted to forget about the war that it just wasn’t part of my childhood narrative.

If it weren’t for the fact that Kristin Hannah authored “The Women,” it’s likely that I never would have read the book. I am so happy that I did. The book is well written and well researched. Kristin Hannah gives readers an insider view through the eyes of Army nurse, Frankie McGrath . . . her time serving in Vietnam and Frankie’s transition to "normal" life when she returns stateside. Each and every character in the book felt like a real person and I have a better sense of the war through their stories of heroism, PTSD and profound loss.

The audiobook was fantastic. As always, Julie Whelen brought each character to life through her narration.

I'm honored that this was my last book of 2023. There are some books that you pick up and when you start reading you just know the story is going to mean something. This story was overwhelming and heartbreaking and uplifting and encouraging. I wept, laughed, yelled outloud, and cheered. Not for the faint of heart, but wow is it wonderful. Kristin Hannah has done it again. I can't wait for all the rewards this will win.

Kristin Hannah just undoes me… meticulously researched, lyrically paced, lush imagery, searing empathy for very unstable characters… you can tell this might be the work of Hannah’s life in her carefully structured, unflinchingly realistic portrayal of trauma and PTSD resulting from the Vietnam War. Unearthing a forgotten group of women who were largely
Maligned when they got home is no easy feat and the constant struggle
Of the main character felt so really I could cry. As always, this was a tour de force.

5⭐️ “Life was like that she guessed-it was all wrong until suddenly it was right” quote from the masterpiece of Kristin Hannah’s newest book The women.

When I first read the synopsis, I thought ugh, I’m not very interested in Vietnam. I also thought I was about to go on a very uneventful roller coaster ride.

I am sobbing as I write this review because I was so wrong-I found myself having to stop reading because I was getting so emotional.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I am honored and grateful that my last book of 2023 was this one.

Publication date: February 6, 2024

I am astonished by the detailed historical accuracy of this book! I was a teenager during the Vietnam war, and I was transported back to those years while reading this story. Kristin Hannah nailed it. I cried several times through this book, remembering the heartbreaking stories brought back by those who had served in the war. I had never heard about the service of the women who were there, though! How sad that we just never really heard about this. Thank you, Kristin Hannah, for bringing this forward. This book deserves not only book of the year but book of the century!

Another incredibly moving, meticulously researched historical fiction novel from one of my all time fav authors! This story follows Francis, a young girl who decides to enlist as a nurse to support her brother who is fighting over in Vietnam. Before she can even start training, her family learns that he has been killed, setting in motion grief that will affect them all for years to come.

Spanning decades, we learn what life was like for enlisted women during the Vietnam war, especially the nurses who have often been overlooked. Hannah really brought the decade of the 60s to life in this story and just how harshly divided Americans were about Vietnam. It broke my heart how Frankie was treated by her own parents after she finally came home and they had lied about her involvement, wishing to pretend she hadn't gone to Vietnam.

The mental health struggles with Vets, especially the women, not to mention the PTSD trauma, unrealized infertility problems due to the poisons used in Vietnam, and sooo much more. Frankie has a tumultuous love life, falling for a married man and then another who lies to her and is presumed dead. She has to fight for birth control and her place as a civilian nurse, not to mention battling drug and alcohol addiction (her own mother gives her pills!).

Highly recommended if you want to learn more about this period of American history, enjoy good character studies and excellent narration by Julia Whalen! Perfect for fans of books like Absolution by Alice McDermott. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: miscarriage, drug and alcohol addiction, drunk driving

Beautiful, intelligent, tragic. Everything you expect from a Kristin Hannah novel. This will stay with me forever. Frankie will stay with me forever. My papaw was in the Vietnam war and this puts all of it in a new perspective. Beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early audiobook edition of “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Julia Whelan. Julia always adds a little extra to any book she narrates, she is one of my favorite narrators. This is a story about the atrocities of the Vietnam conflict and how U.S. citizens treated the Vietnam vets like garbage upon their return home. It focuses on the untold story of the women who served in Vietnam, as the country seemed to dismiss their service.
The story is told from Frankie’s point of view. Frankie is a 20-year-old woman living a privileged life in California. The story opens with a celebratory going away party for Frankie’s brother, who is on his way to Vietnam, with the pride of his parents following him. When Frankie is told that women can be heroes too, she immediately signs up to be a nurse in Vietnam.
However, the parents who could not be any prouder of their son, DID NOT want Frankie to go. Frankie leaves her privileged life in California for Vietnam with no support from her parents, no friends, and no idea what she is getting herself into. Frankie thrives in the chaos of Vietnam, she saves lives, develops true friendships, falls in love, witnesses the murder of civilians, provides comfort to numerous soldiers as the last person they saw before passing away, and sees first-hand the effects of Agent Orange on the Vietnam landscape and later to her fellow veterans.

Frankie extends her one-year stay in Vietnam to two years and the first third of the book is about what it was like in Vietnam. The 2nd third of the book describes her return to civilization, where she was met with animosity upon stepping foot on U.S. soil. She was spit at, called a baby killer, and could not get a cab. I was appalled to read this and had to immediately call my mother (~ the same age as Frankie) to see if this happened. She confirmed the disgusting behavior of our country towards soldiers who were only doing what they were told to do, with no support from their country.
The remainder of the story is about how Frankie deals with post-traumatic stress and how little support there was from the country for the women of Vietnam.

Kristin Hannah did a good job pulling this story together—great character development and strong environmental descriptions made you feel like you were there. The first third of the book, was quick, easy to read, and action-packed, however, the story got quite slow when Frankie returned to the U.S. Frankie’s struggle with post-traumatic stress and her attempt to lead a normal life was drawn out in my opinion, it could have been written more succinctly. I did enjoy learning more about Vietnam, realizing that I never paid attention to MASH, First Blood, Platoon, or any of the other Vietnam War movies. I will go back and watch those again, now that I have a slightly stronger understanding of what happened.

Kristin Hannah does it again. It what may be her best yet, "The Women" shines a light on the women of the Vietnam War.

The men of Vietnam suffered coming home, if they even made it home, but what of the women? Outstanding, housing perspective and insight on the experiences of the women.

Hannah has done this story justice, told the women's stories.

The author continues to do what she does best! Character development that has you aching for the plight of the characters along with setting establishment that makes you feel as if you are in the story. Frankie, a young woman fresh out of nursing school wanting to please her parents and be acknowledged for her achievements finds herself in the throws of war in Vietnam. As she encounters things her sheltered self could never have imagined her perspective of the world changes as does her connections to others, especially those of her parents. This part of world history is not my favorite so I was going to skip this book but my love/hate relationship with the author was too strong to not give this one a chance. I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook and got to experience this new emotional journey the author has masterfully guided me on. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the audiobook for a honest review.

Absolutely could not put this down! I have been a fan of Hannah for years, but the passion for this topic she has is undeniable! She has brought to light the women who served, but were neglected and forgotten for their service in Vietnam. She brought the characters to life and their struggles were not disguised!

Five stars with a minor quibble
It’s a fine art to write a story that immediately immerses the reader in a different world. Once again, Hannah has done it with The Women. I felt I was right there with Frankie, a new nurse in Vietnam. My heart was beating just as quickly as hers, feeling just as helpless, questioning the decision that brought her there. She’s quickly forced out of her comfort zone, having to take on responsibilities she never imagined. Hannah gets the immediacy of the relationships, how quickly they become deep. But just as quickly dear friends are gone, hopefully because they’ve fulfilled their obligations. Other times, because they’ve died.
I hadn’t realized how few of the nurses in Vietnam were women. She is one of only nine female nurses at the triage hospital where she’s initially sent. I also hadn’t realized how their very presence in Vietnam was denied. Frankie is repeatedly told “there were no women in Vietnam”.
The second half of the story tackles Frankie’s return to the States. Again, Hannah does a great job presenting the PTSD, the failure to recognize her service, the protests, especially the Veteran protests. My one quibble was that the romance part of the story started coming across as more soap opera than real.
This one grabbed me and never let me go. I was finding all sorts of reasons to continue to read/listen to this. I finished this 15 hour book in two days.
The story is incredibly well researched. Right down to the little things, like nurses not being allowed to wear pantyhose with their dress uniform but forced to wear a girdle and hose. Or how prevalent rats were. I am curious to know if studies back up the idea that the Vietnam vets suffered more PTSD because their service, unlike other war time vets, was not acknowledged - that they weren’t lauded when they returned home, that they were forced to keep silent about their experiences.
The audio book was narrated by Julia Whelan who did a fabulous job. She truly enhanced the story.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book.

The Women blew my heart wide open and left me guilt ridden and utterly shook. This story is nothing short of a revelation. We follow Frankie McGrath on her journey into Vietnam as a naive young military nurse striving to honour her fallen brother and make her father proud. Her impetuous, almost irresponsible decision to join the Army Nurse Corps shapes every moment of her life going forward.

I am deeply touched, embarrassed, and incredibly emotional about how much I did not know about the reality of the aftermath of the Vietnam War. I was born in 1980, long after the war ended but when it was still an often discussed topic. I was of the understanding that it was an immoral and highly controversial war that America had no business entering, which while true, deeply undercuts the fact that 3.1million very young and unprepared men and women sacrificed themselves by choice and by force, during this utterly terrifying war. I can recall hearing opinions that the men who went to Vietnam were "baby killers" and supported genocide, that they were infact not heros. I also never, not once, heard about one woman who went to Vietnam, their treatment upon returning home, or the depths of pain, abandonment, and PTSD those women faced. The betrayal they faced at the hands of their government, and fellow Americans.

What I believe says the most about the high caliber story telling of The Women is that I found myself googling the ANC and mobile hospital nurses in Vietnam while reading this novel. It created a need to know more, to learn about these women and their stories.

I am left equally inspired and very heavy hearted after listening to The Women. But more than anything, I am deeply grateful @kristinhannahauthor

Thank you @netgalley and Kristin Hannah for my advanced reader audio copy of The Women.

There aren’t enough words to describe this book. It’s an extraordinary story of one of the most tumultuous times in U.S. history-the Vietnam War. As a young, naive nurse Frankie McGrath joins the Army Nurse Corp to try to make a real difference and to gain her father’s approval. Readers watch her grow her skills and confidence with the help of the nurses and surgeons that take her under their wing. These people carry her through the chaos and destruction they witness overseas.

U.S. politics and the emotions of the American people about the war made coming home a horrible experience for the soldiers, especially the women. Frankie struggled with night terrors and flash backs but the VA turned her away over and over when she asked for help because “there were no women in Vietnam.” These women didn’t fall through the cracks, they were forced through them. We watch Frankie spiral out of control and then try to claw herself back so many times. Hannah’s writing and characters are the best I’ve read this year. They’re multidimensional and relatable. I developed an attachment to Frankie. I was angry with her, cheered for her, laughed with her, and cried FOR her. I never experienced so many emotions in one book. I believe that the narrator also helped make this audiobook so special. @JustJuliaWhelon did an amazing job of displaying the raw emotions of the characters. This is my first @KristinHannahAuthor book, and you have a new fan forever. I cannot wait to read more of your stories. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you @NetGalley, #KristinHannah, and @macmillian_audio for the opportunity to listen to this advanced copy for an honest review.

"Women can be heroes too"

The Women follows Francis "Frankie" McGrath as she joins the Army Nurse Corps at 20 years old. Almost immediately she is sent to Vietnam, and life as Frankie knows it is forever changed.

This is the third book I've read by Kristin Hannah. I've only ever read her work via audiobook, so I was pleased the find the same narrator (Julia Whelan) for The Women. Julia does a fantastic job bringing these character's voices to life. I always find myself fully immersed and, for me, it elevates the emotional stakes.

I was pleased to find that Kristin Hannah still manages to keep characters fresh. Some plot points I could see unfolding, but I was extremely happy to be wrong several times. In typical Hannah fashion, I found myself crying numerous times as I listened to this book. This story was not for the faint of heart, and it is a devastating reality for many. This story covers the Vietnam War, which I now realize I know embarrassingly little about, but it also deals with trauma, PTSD, and mental health. I would think, after experiencing such trauma, taking the step to ask for help/support would be the hardest thing. Instead she willingly sought out help only to be invalidated at every attempt. The rage Frankie felt was one I easily fell in step with. I appreciated the discussions surrounding mental health and the importance of it.

I'll be thinking about this book for a while!


Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book that I have read by this author and I continue to be impressed by her talents in creating a great story. You can tell that she does her research and doesn't just throw anything together and call it a day. I felt for her main character all the way through as she felt like a real person to me. The audiobook narrator did a great job as well with all the different voices. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this ARC when I saw the author and the narrator- I had no idea what it was about but knew I would love it if I got approved. Imagine my surprise when I was approved and then saw it was a historical fiction- one of my most disliked genres and a genre that I almost always skip. I figured I would give it a try and see if I could at least endure listening to a couple of hours. I listened to the entire 15 hour book in just 27 hours. This is by far, my favorite book that I have read in YEARS!! It is amazing!!! Of course the narrator is wonderful, Julia Whelan is one of my favorites due to her distinct character voices and the thoughtful emotion she puts forth while reading each book. The plot seems so straightforward but there are so many storylines that branch off of it to make the whole book interesting, sad, frustrating, joyful…just everything all wrapped into one! Highly recommend!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Thank you to every Vet, nurse, doctor who served but specifically the nurses and vets from Vietnam, more specifically my Uncle Edd ♥️ He recently passed and though I don’t know much about his time there, this book brought me a lot of heartache knowing that this is how they were treated coming home as well as the illnesses and PTSD that they suffered. Again, thank you to all those who served.

When Frankie McGrath hears the words, “Women can be heroes too”, it lights a fire in her to become a nurse and help during the Vietnam War. She follows in her brother and families footsteps and becomes a nurse in the Army. Frankie finds friends over in Vietnam and her calling, completing 2 tours. Upon returning, she finds out how divided the country is and how Vets are being treated on their return. Trying to navigate her new life, she stumbles and falls, tries to get back up and find her footing. Following Frankie’s life over 20+ years, we follow the good, the bad, the PTSD, love and loss and her triumph. Though it follows, one woman’s journey, this book highlights the women of this war who were often forgotten.

Ugh my heart. This is my first Kristin Hannah novel and won’t be my last. She has a way to make you feel everything- heartache, love, grief, despair, happiness, everything. And… the ending ♥️ I’m so glad she wrote this book and the amount of time she took to write this. What a great first novel of hers to read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @kristinhannah for an arc of the Women in exchange for a review.

When I first heard about Kristin Hannah writing historical fiction about the women in the Vietnam war, I immediately thought about the musical "Miss Saigon" (one of my favorites). Even the cover, once I saw it, reminded me of it. But this novel is not about the Vietnamese women who fell in love with American G.I.'s, and their American wives at home. This is about the American women who served their country in Vietnam. But there were no women, you may say. I didn't know there were women serving in Vietnam, either. In fact, I didn't know much about the Vietnam war to begin with. Yes, I heard about the fight against communism, I heard about Agent Orange and the effect on the health of the Vietnamese and the American soldiers, but that was about it.

Through Frankie, the main character in this novel, a 20-year old nurse, who joins the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam, the reader is quickly hooked into a story of sacrifice, war, love, loss, sisterhood, survival, addiction and hope. The scenes in Vietnam were often times hard to swallow/read, and could be upsetting for some readers (injuries, death). But they were realistic descriptions and needed to be told.
When Frankie returns home after two rounds in Vietnam, she is met with hostility and misunderstanding. "Forget about Vietnam", she is being told, but after what she has seen and experienced, she obviously can't forget,

With this novel Kristin Hannah pays respect to the women (and men) who served their country in Vietnam.
Julia Whelan, the narrator in the audio version of this novel, swept me away. Her voice fit the characters perfectly, and her reading style brings the text to life. I am not sure I would have liked the book as much if I had read the physical book. Julia's performance was so captivating that I was able to ignore a few things about Hannah's writing style, as well as some scenes that were just too cheesy (and coincidental) for me, To me, this book should be categorized as historical fiction for women.

I am glad I have read this powerful story and it inspired me to put a couple of non fiction books Kristin Hannah recommended in her acknowledgements on my to read list,

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