I've made a point to read all of Kristin Hannah's books published since The Nightingale. She is a masterful storyteller and this novel about the nurses who served in Vietnam sheds light on a time in American history that I knew very little about. I recently read about PTSD becoming a medical diagnosis in another book, which stemmed from research involving Vietnam War veterans, and did not occur until 1980 - well after the events of this book. The lack of support available to Frankie is shocking by today's standards.

Reading THE WOMEN was one of those experiences that reminded me why I love to read. The story gave me all the feelings I sought when cracking open a new book as a teenager, feelings I still chase to this day. It is propulsive, emotional, and resonant. I stayed up too late reading it, ending some chapters with my jaw on the floor and others with tears in my eyes.

Set in the Vietnam War era, we follow Frankie, a young women who signs up to serve the U.S. army as a nurse. She is completely unaware of the realities awaiting her.

The research Kristin Hannah poured into this novel is evident. She blends historical with the plot seamlessly, using the characters to bring the story to life in a way that made me forget it is a HF novel.

The main character, Frankie, is also a perfect leading lady. She is incredibly real, which is to say at times her actions made me want to pull my hair out and at times made me want to wrap her in a hug or find my glitter glue and craft a “Go Frankie!” sign.

Most importantly, this story is about the American women who served in Vietnam, a story that is tragically missing from history books. It is filled with their heart, loss, trauma, and pain. This war is a complicated era of American and global history and Hannah captures it thoughtfully.

For all these reasons, this is - without a doubt - my new favorite Kristin Hannah novel. It lives up to the hype and I highly recommend you find a spot for it on your TBR. The audio is performed by Julia Whelan so you know it’s great, too 😉

The Women is a thoroughly satisfying page turner. From the start, Kristin Hannah engages the reader with her compelling characters and storylines. Hannah very clearly did her research and I learned a lot from the book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advanced audio copy of The Women via Netgalley! I grew up watching China Beach with my mom and MASH with my dad, so I felt as though I had a small bit of background before starting this book. Kristin Hannah is an expert at evoking emotions, and Frankie McGrath's experiences during and after the Vietnam War evoked them all. As the story of a singular set of experiences, Frankie's time working as a nurse in Vietnam during the war, and then the homecoming where her contributions were either a source of outrage or ignored, this book is excellent.
This is clearly not meant to be a commentary on the conflict itself, nor does it discuss the effects the war had on the people of Vietnam.

What a powerful, difficult read. I learned so much about Vietnam, nursing in Vietnam, and the women of Vietnam. Possibly the best Kristen Hannah book. This left me rocked for days. I highly recommend this book for all. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of the book for my opinions.

I finished this book a few weeks ago now and it is still stuck in my mind in the best way. As a huge Kristin Hannah fan I have been waiting for this one with bated breath. This story absolutely moved me the way her novels always do and I feel like I genuinely learned so much. I had never heard stories of women nurses in Vietnam and not only their experiences during the war but also the welcome they received when they got home. The narration was exquisite and I felt that it added so much to the story. I am so grateful for this new novel and the impact it had on me!

Immersive and compelling. My heart was in my throat for the majority of this book. It was so moving. Brilliant, complex characters, smart plot, satisfying ending. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I had read "The Women" in August, but received the audio version in December which I listened to right away. Narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Julie Whelan, I found this even more compelling, heart wrenching and powerful than when I originally read the book. Whelan brings these characters to life in a way that just reading it myself - and hearing my own voice doesn't do justice to each individual character, especially Frankie. I highly recommend reading this book and then listening to the audio version. And unforgettable experience for sure. Thank you to Neutrally and MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Woooo, not sure if all my thoughts will fit in the space allotted. I will start by saying this audiobook is LONG, perhaps too long.

The narration was …interesting. I thought the narrator’s vocal choice for Barb was….bad, bordering on effecting a “blaccent.”

I think Hannah’s goal of portraying women in Vietnam was well-intentioned, but you take away from the female empowerment of it all when your main character feels overly tied to men she’s encountering. There was opportunity for positive growth - she’s surrounded by other women who are attempting to give her depth - but she only takes it in a half-ass way and the author uses it as another opportunity to introduce another man. I was waiting for some sort of STATEMENT from the main character - an understanding that the Vietnam War was a scam, etc - but Hannah edged around it without actually her character embody it.

This was my first Hannah novel and with all the hubub surrounding this book, I was disappointed to say the least.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Kristin Hannah's book, The Women, is an epic story about women in the Vietnam War. The story follows Frances McGrath, a naive nurse who volunteers for service in Vietnam. Despite the predictable plot points, the book still leaves a powerful impact on the reader. The story is about Frankie's growth and aging, with her friends Barb and Ethel providing support. The story is divided into two parts: returning from Vietnam and living afterwards. Returning veterans face harsh treatment, with many suffering irreparable damage. Hannah also highlights the women who have been erased from history, with female veterans often being told "There were no women in Vietnam." The book is a must-read for fans of Kristin Hannah's powerful and harrowing reads, but may not be suitable for those sensitive to depictions of substance abuse and other lasting effects of war.
Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Kristen Hannah for the ARC for an honest review.

This book was interesting and emotional. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book set in Vietnam. The second half, I also enjoyed, but it dragged a little at times and seemed a little long. All in all though, this was a heartbreaking, but engrossing read. The characters are a real standout in this one. The narrator did an amazing job telling this story.

I really enjoyed listening to the Women. It was a gripping tale of nurses in Vietnam, a side that is not often portrayed or discussed in modern culture. I liked the narration as well.

Summary: After her brother ships off for the Vietnam War, Frankie McGrath decides to join the Army Nurse Corps to follow his footsteps. With very little experience, she is thrust into a very unknown, fast-paced world of being a nurse in the middle of the battle. Unfortunately, surviving the war was not the only battle she would face, as she discovered once she was back in the States. With less than a warm welcome, Frankie discovers what the rest of America truly feels about the war. The rest of the story highlights the highs and lows of being home from a war America never wanted.

Dani’s Thoughts: I knew heading into this book that many tissues would be needed, and yet I was still caught off guard. This book had all the feelings and immersed me right into the mind of a nurse during and after Vietnam. It was a 0 to 60 start in this one and never really seemed to slow down until the second part. There were times I kept thinking about what else could be thrown at Frankie this poor girl. Did Frankie always react to these obstacles in the best way, no, but in the only way she knew how. It was depressing to know that women in that time were not recognized for their time spent in Vietnam, since so many people swore there were no women in the war. I loved the growth of Frankie throughout the book and the way she was able to help other women in the end. Highly suggest reading this book, and be sure to have many tissues ready.

I was able to listen to the audio of this book by Macmillan Audio. Julia Whelan really brought this novel to life. I highly suggest listening to this one!!

I did a review on the book as well but the narrator was amazing this book is INCREDIBLE. If you haven't please do so you will not regret it.

I read The Women in about 1.5 days, I couldn’t put it down. This book was fascinating and also heartbreaking at points.

I like how to book went from Frankie’s tours in Vietnam, to her return home (and her and her fellow Vets disgusting treatment), to her struggles as a result of the war. The author wrote beautifully about the main characters struggles with PTSD and subsequent drug use.

I had never read a story about a combat nurse, so I hadn’t realized that despite being in the Army, many people did not feel that the main character was a Vet. I understand that being a combat nurse is not the same as being on the front lines, however I do think that all members of the military should be given the same access to help and benefits.

Love love loved this book! Soooo good. Audio was amazing. I didnt Know much about the vietnam war, especially women in it. This was done sooooo well. Wish I could Read it for the first time again.

Another amazing book from Kristin Hannah. I loved everything about this. I learned so much, there was a lot I didn’t know about Vietnam, especially to do with america - whether from my own ignorance or perhaps because we tend to learn about history from our own country’s point of view, at least at school. I read another historical fiction book recently – about a different war – and the research was well done and the quality of the writing was there, but the plot wasn’t strong and I didn’t love any of the characters. I’m not meaning to bad talk that book, but it just made this one stand out even more to me – Kristin Hannah blends everything so well, you learn, you love, you laugh, you cry. Heavy and sad, with a mix of lightness and happiness. Narration was perfectly done as always. Highly recommend.

I’m at a loss for how to review this book, even thinking back on it to begin to write leaves me with a pit in my stomach. If you saw or spoke to me within 48 hours of finishing, it will not shock you that I’m giving it the illustrious 5 stars, as I was most likely dry heaving and sobbing. There are so many moments which struck me, and stay with me now as I write this, right in the marrow of my bones, and I do feel I will be thinking back on the story of Frankie McGrath for a long, long time.

Frankie is a 20-year old nursing student coming of age in the 1960’s amidst the turbulent American backdrop of ultimate violence in Vietnam and the hippy-dippy movement of peace and love. She makes the decision to follow her older brother, who has been drafted to Vietnam, and signs up to be a nurse. Frankie begins with a childlike naiveté unburdened by the realities of war and betrayal but no less morally upright for it; she is often ribbed by her compatriots for her “old-world” moral code. Upon arriving in Vietnam, Frankie realizes her vision of war and patriotism was rose-tinted, and so begins her story of surviving the jungle only to come home to an equally inhospitable world.

Listening to the audiobook provided a deeper, more tangible experience as I truly felt like Frankie was a friend of mine recounting every devastating piece of her story. Hearing the emotion in her voice, whether from fear of being bombed in 'Nam to anguish cries of heartbreak back home, stuck with me and left me emotionally wrought.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally impacted by a book before, and in trying to reflect on why this is, I came to this final conclusion. Despite the harrowing external circumstances of Frankie’s life, this book is ultimately centered around her growing up. The Frankie at the end of the book is not, and never will be, the same Frankie as at the beginning of the story, and I could try to create some deep symbolic conclusion out of that, but ultimately it just deeply saddened me. Frankie was battered and betrayed and bludgeoned by those closest to her, and it made her strong and ultimately evolved, but I wish it didn’t have to be that way. I had that strange feeling, as readers often do, that Frankie was my friend, and I wanted to rage and cry at how unfairly life treated her. Maybe I saw her struggles with growing up in a world gone mad reflected in myself, I don’t know, but what I do know is, that if one day I find myself unable to cope with the harsh realities of life, I’ll only have to think of Frankie and remind myself what happens if you just keep pushing.

Gosh, can Kristin Hannah tell a story.

The Women is a novel that will transport you back to the Vietnam War where you meet Frankie McGrath, a young nurse. Frankie’s brother has joined the fight and she decides to follow, because she believes women can be heroes. Despite not being prepared for the injuries, the mass casualties and red alerts, she still manages to make close friendships with fellow nurses. They’re the kind of friends that everyone needs.

She is very unprepared for the battle raging when she returns home. The country is divided, many people believe there were no women in Vietnam, and it feels like she’s betrayed every step of the way. The descriptions of those betrayals can be felt in your soul.

It’s a story of courage, strength, and friendships in a trying time in our history. It’s a true reminder that women can be heroes. It’s well written and touching.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I have a complex relationship with Kristin Hannah's writing. I absolutely loved The Nightingale, but hated The Great Alone, so I was nervous when starting The Women. My interest in this subject ended up pushing me to read this and I'm really glad. I think this might be Hannah's best work. First of all, I loved the focus on the Vietnam War. This is an era that doesn't get much focus in the historical fiction genre. I also loved the focus on women serving and the particular struggles they faced when returning home. This was exceptionally well done. My ex-husband served in the Iraq War, so I have first hand experience at PTSD in soldiers....and I felt the portrayal in this book was very accurate. So much so that I found myself tearing up while reading. This isn't an easy read, but it is a meaningful and important one.