The Women by Kristin Hannah absolutely blew my mind. This is the history few know about, but much more need to know about. The Women is a masterfully written story that pulls you in the minute you hit play. The protagonist and her friends read like a true story, I found myself so invested in their lives, that I was sad when the audio book ended. As someone who remembers Vietnam as a child, and watching many movies about the war. I never saw, or read anything about the women. The brave nurses who worked on the front lines in horrible conditions (think M.A.S.H. times ten). The narrator Julia Whelan did a superb job bringing the characters to life. This should be 2024s audio book of the year.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook

Narrated by: Julia Whelan and Kristin Hannah reading authors note


I’ve always enjoyed Julia Whelan’s narrations and she does another excellent read once again.

4.5 Stars rounded up to *****

1960’s—turbulent times, Vietnam War, a nation divided by war

Kristina Hannah knows how to pull a reader in from the beginning of a book and keeps the pace running through to the end. Frankie, a young naive unrealistic girl, joins the Army Nurse Corps shortly after her brother was killed in Vietnam.

Frankie sees what war truly is and with the comradeship she forms with other nurses is what helps her survive during her tour in Nam. Frankie becomes a rockstar in the OR in Nam, and then….

Upon coming home and having people cussing and spitting and calling you baby killers is something Frankie most definitely wasn’t prepared for. People not believing women were in Nam and dismissing her. The emotional toll of war, death, and people expecting her to be her old self upon coming home, leaves Frankie alienated and unable to cope with things. Frankie could not pull herself back from despair. The naive unrealistic girl she was before is gone.

This is the first book I’ve read about the women in Nam and what they endured during and after the war. Parts of this story resonated with me, having had family members in Nam; losing some of them to cancer that was most likely due to, Agent Orange.

Vietnam—the war no one wants to remember.

Coming-of-age story of war, death, trauma, love, friendship, PTSD, POW/MIA, Agent Orange, addictions, family, and learning to navigate life after war.

I had very high expectations going into this book and Kristin Hannah definitely delivered! I read it on audio and it was so good. The emotion in this book was incredible. She did a great job educating us on the Vietnam War and highlighting what it was like to be a woman working as a nurse on the front lines. I felt everything the main character felt right along with her. The ending was a little bit different than I expected but I think it was still a great way to end and made sense for what the author was trying to bring light to. Love love love Kristin Hannah!

This book might be my favorite of 2023! It broke my heart and put it back together over and over again. The story of war, love, loss and sisterhood is so beautiful. It made me cry and laugh all at the same time. I felt like I was listening to my grandmother tell her story of her time at war and what that was like for her. I will definitely be picking up more Kristin Hannah and historical fiction in the future. This is a MUST READ for everyone! I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC.

"Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world, that was run by men, you could count on the women.”

This book was an incredible and emotional surprise. While the over-arching plot tells us the story of Frankie and her time serving in the Vietnam war, Kristin Hannah does the important work of giving readers a glimpse into the challenges the women faced upon their return home. Frankie's journey from her privileged roots was inspiring, painful, emotional, and at times difficult to read, but Frankie is an incredible example of the emotional rollercoaster soldiers and nurses experienced during their service and upon return to civilian life. Hannah does an incredible job of surrounding Frankie with beautifully flawed cast of characters and using them to show the different shades of love one experiences in their life (family, friends, and romance). Julia Whelan is a fantastic narrator, beautifully expressing the happiness and pain in Frankie's emotional journey. This audiobook made me laugh, cry, and even made me need to pause to emotionally recover from some of the plot twists. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in learning the hard truth of what these women had to go through before, during, and after their time of service. .

thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for this ALC!

Narration
Julia Whelan does an excellent job of narrating this story. Her voice is calm and fluid during the reading and full of emotion when needed. Additionally, her vocal stylings for the different characters are varied enough that you can tell who’s speaking without much difficulty. I’d definitely listen to other books narrated by Julia.

Overall
This book was all that I expected and more. When the story first started, I thought it was going to be a soft wash of a rich girl going to Vietnam and being coddled. I was so wrong. Frankie’s character development is fully fleshed out as she grows from naive debutant to war-wisened nurse.

While the overarching plot of the story centers around Frankie and her experiences in Vietnam, Hannah doesn’t leave out the experiences of the female veterans {and, ultimately, the male soldiers} when they returned to “the world.” Frankie’s emotional and physical breakdown is written in painful detail {Whelan’s narration was beautifully executed during these scenes}.

Last, but not least, I like that even the secondary and tertiary characters were fully developed and helped to advance the story. The inclusion of the backstories of the side characters gave them a sense of humanity and provided a sense of connection that could have easily been overlooked.

I’d recommend this book for anyone who’s interested in women’s war experiences. While not romance heavy, there are several love stories woven throughout the novel, but the strength of the novel lies in the support and friendship of the women who served.

Favorite Quote
Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world, that was run by men, you could count on the women.”

– Frankie

Another winner from Kristin Hannah! This book about the women of the Vietnam war was excellent.
I did not know much about this war other than the drafts and the protests. I had no idea there were as many women serving as nurses as there were. I found it very interesting to find out more about those women and all the work they did for the soldiers.
As with her other books about wars, she wrote it superbly. You felt like you were there with Frankie. It showed that women were heroes, too, even though they did not get the recognition the men did. The main character suffered with PTSD when she returned stateside and was not offered the same help as the men who came back.
This book shows the strength and tenacity of the ladies who went to Vietnam to serve their country. If you enjoy Kristen Hannah, you should read this book.
This book was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, and she did an excellent job.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Wow, what an incredible book! The Women solidifies my belief that Kristin Hannah is by far the best historical fiction writer of our time. ❤️

The Women is raw, powerful, tragic and beautiful all at the same time. The Women is a tribute to nurses who served in Vietnam and a testament to the horrors they faced. Follow Frankie on her journey from enlistment, to serving in Vietnam, to her return home and her battle with PTSD. If you only read one book in 2024, this should be it!

The Women releases on February 15, 2024.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Wow. I’m incredibly emotional. This book had me tearing up/crying throughout and feeling an array of emotions.

There’s so much sorrow in this book too. Like be mentally and emotionally ready for this one.

I really loved the insight into the time period and what the men and women had to endure during this war is really showcased and i feel was done flawlessly.

My heart broke and ached so many times for the people within and also knowing this really happened. (Maybe not necessarily the events in the book exactly but the war and the casualties and the wreckage of lives & families, etc.. there’s an endless list)

The way that women and minorities were treated. The way that the men and women who served were treated.

I’m married to a veteran so i feel like i already have some insight into what some experience after being a combat veteran and i think this story will give a lot of insight into the mind of someone who had to endure certain things that are unspeakable and how they struggle afterwards. Especially for people who couldn’t possibly understand. How Frankie was treated by everyone (her family, the VA even) ugh. It’s also so disheartening that so many suffered and were turned away. It shows how little was known about mental health and the effects of the war on vets. They really needed so much support and they weren’t given it. It took far too long for them to be honored let alone given proper support. So many veterans even still to this day end up homeless or with addiction or without the medical care they really need all for serving their country. It’s horrible. Their sacrifice is owed more.

I loved Frankie’s story and her character. Her perseverance. Her fight. Her fall. Picking herself up. She felt like such a real person and following her journey was rough. But it felt like knowing someone and rooting for them and also wishing to hold them and be there for them. The emotions that comes with this book 😢

The only thing i didn’t totally love was the situation with Rye. I didn’t love how that turned out.

But the ending was worth it as well. I have heavy emotions about this book that i think will linger for long. But im so glad i picked up this book.

After a slight introduction the main story takes place thirty years after Lara Marteinsdottir went missing on the small Icelandic island of Videy, never to be seen or heard from again. There are few crimes in Iceland and one that has remained a cold case for so long has haunted many. The story takes place in the 1980’s and with their painstaking research Jakobsdottir and Jonasson have remained true to the Icelandic history and culture of the times. An intriguing mystery that had me hooked from start to finish and left me wanting to see more of Sunna in the future! Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I felt like this book dragged on and on. There was nothing really captivating during the book. I have enjoyed Kristin Hannah’s other books. This was just not it.

ʙ ᴏ ᴏ ᴋ • ʀ ᴇ ᴠ ɪ ᴇ ᴡ

📖 The Review
✍🏻 @kristinhannahauthor
⭐️ 5
🌶️ 0
✍🏻 ARC #20
📚178/175

“Just forget Vietnam.” 

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

In this beautiful book, you’ll see the heartbreaking journey Frankie took.

When I got approved for the audio version of this book through @netgalley I screamed! @kristinhannahauthor is one of my favorite authors of all time.

I sometimes feel like my reviews of her books are redundant, because I always write how absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful and amazing they are.

The Women is no different. This story hit home for me. My grandpa is a veteran, my father-in-law is a veteran and other family members and friends are also veterans and in the active military. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than reading the struggle, heartache, and debilitation of any person.…but the detail that Kristin Hannah put in every single book, makes it feel real. But knowing all of the time and effort she put into research into writing this book, is shown and spotlighted on every single page.

This book was phenomenal!

I’ve said it countless times, and I’ll say it again. Her heartbreakingly beautiful way of writing is my absolute favorite.

SO MUCH HAPPENED in this book! I kept thinking it would be over and then BAM. Drama. Plot twist. Surprise 😰 did I think it was alittle drawn out, yes. But I also know that this books details had to have been drawn out to tell the true, whole story.

I was so excited to receive this ARC. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and this is possibly my favorite book by her. I learned, i laughed, i wanted to punch some of the characters a few times. There’s heart ache from romance, addiction, and family members. This book is a chef’s kiss💋

5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy!

I’m so glad this made my 2023 list, because it truly deserves acknowledgement as one of my favorite reads this year.

The Women is, by far, the most well-written and captivating book that Kristin Hannah has published. It’s absolutely devastating, eye-opening, and profound. I’d taken a break from historical fiction and audiobooks prior to this ARC. Between the storyline and Julia Whelan’s (incredible) narration; I cannot recommend this enough for any audience.

Just please, please remember to have tissues on standby 💔

I straight up adored this book. I finished it last week and I’m still thinking about it. My only complaint is I still wanted more when it was over. This book broke me and put me back together in only the way Kristin Hannah can. I know I’m aging myself here but parts of it reminded me of the tv shows #chinabeach and #mash. Hannah perfectly captured this tumultuous time in our history while also showing that some of the hardest days can also be the best. I simply loved this one. Easily five stars for me. Not to mention the audio was perfection thanks to the brilliant Julia Whelan. Get this on your radar (see what I did there Mash friends?) for February 6th!
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Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Kristin Hannah does it again! Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan audio for sharing an advanced copy of this wonderful book. What a beautiful and powerful story about the invisible women of the Vietnam war. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Julia Whalen. It is so well narrated and the flow just adds to the experience making’s you feel all the feels ☺️.
This is definitely my 2023 favorite book!

Another great book from Kristin Hannah! This follows the story of American nurses during the Vietnam War. I love historical fiction and have read a lot of WW1 and WW2-focused books. I appreciated that this was about Vietnam and covered the good and the bad sides of the conflict. I got so drawn into this story from the start. I was so emotionally attached to the characters, including the more minimal side characters. I admit that I cried a few times while listening to this story. Overall it was heartbreaking, inspiring, and hopeful.

I thought the narration was excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an eARC of this book.

Kristin Hannah's THE WOMEN skillfully portrays the forgotten women in Vietnam, weaving a compelling narrative around Frankie McGrath, a young nurse who undergoes two tours and faces struggles upon returning home. The incorporation of news events enhances the depth, providing a powerful glimpse into a changing world.

This is truly a special story—Kristin Hannah’s best yet. It deserves all the accolades! A must-read for its historical resonance. Go ahead and pick this one for your book club.

Having listened to the audiobook, I must commend Julia Whelan for her amazing narration. I'm thrilled she narrated this one!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of the audiobook for The Women by Kristin Hannah from NetGalley. It was narrated by Julia Whelan; Kristin Hannah. I had originally tried to get approved to read the ebook copy, but I did not get approved, so I was so happy to be approved for this! Opinions in this review are completely my own.

Kristin Hannah is an automatic read for me! This book did not disappoint. This book rates right up there with The Nightingale for me (and that is my favourite book of all time!)

Possible Spoilers:
I loved Frankie and her friends Barb and Ethel. I thought that the character growth that Frankie went through created a really rich character. I was invested in her story. I was excited for her when she fell in love and then heartbroken with how things worked out for her. I have read a lot of books about WW1 and WW2 but this was my first book related to the Vietnam War and the first one sharing the story of nurses. I felt frustrated for her that she kept trying to seek help and getting told she didn't qualify since she wasn't in armed combat. I also felt frustrated that her dad was embarrassed about her serving in the army after being so proud of his son for joining the navy.

Overall, I enjoyed the narrator's voice. She did a great job of telling the story and I was able to listen to it for hours. After my first experience with an audiobook narrator, I was feeling a bit pessimistic about listening to another one, but I really enjoyed this one!

This is probably my favourite book that I have read this year! I highly recommend it.

This might be Kristin Hannah’s best book. I listened to the audio version of The Women and the narrator Julia Whelan was amazing. I was born after the Vietnam War so I didn’t get to experience it firsthand, but I learned so much from this book. Frankie and the other women who served during the war are absolute heroes. This was a very emotional book and I’m thankful I read it.