This is what I love about historical fiction. In the hands of master storyteller Kristin Hannah, THE WOMEN follows Frankie as she enlists to serve as a nurse in Vietnam. What starts off as a war story evolves into a thoughtful exploration of PTSD, sexism in the military, and reimagining a new life when old dreams are stripped away.

The women were overlooked, undervalued upon their return, and left to feel ashamed about their service. I appreciated how Hannah shines a light on the women who served and how their experience returning home differed from that of their male counterparts.

When I saw the narration was done by Julia Whelan I got my hands on the audiobook ASAP. As always, Julia truly brings the story to life and makes these characters come alive. I’d highly recommend the audiobook!

You can bet you’ll see this one make an appearance in my Winter Reading Guide out January 11th!

RATING: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 stars)
PUB DATE: February 6, 2024

Many thanks to Saint Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like no other history fiction book I read this year. It was gripping, and I was immediately immersed in Frankie’s world. The first part was about her time in Vietnam, and the second part was about the aftermath of the war and the struggles she went through. The writing was so descriptive that it was easy to imagine the horror Frankie had seen as an Army nurse in Vietnam. My heart went out to Frankie for the entire book. She was a tough, resilient, courageous woman and a true badass. The ending left me wanting a tissue with a few tears in my eyes.

Also, I applaud Kristen Hannah for the intensive research on the Vietnam War for this book. Not only did she feel obligated to tell about the heroic women of the war, but she spent years making sure she did the story justice. She also wanted to educate readers about the war and what veterans go through after coming home. I highly recommend reading for the upcoming year!

I had access to both the Kindle and audiobook versions. I loved reading the Kindle version, but the audiobook version was so good. Julia Whelan did an incredible job as the narrator, and I felt Frankie’s emotions come through as Whelan was narrating. Whelan effortlessly made the story come alive and helped make the story even more compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copy of the book.

WHY WAS RYE SUCH A PIECE OF SHIT TO HIS BEST FRIENDS SISTER AND WHY WAS SHE SUCH A SUCKER!!
Now that I've got that out this was a beautiful and heartbreaking book that I learned alot from, it was a journey that I was happy to go on with Frankie and the narration was perfection.
I found myself taking notes many times during the book to look up the events described so I could learn more and I find that alot of Kristin Hannahs books give the reader a wonderful for story with endearing characters and an amazing well researched learning experience and this was no different!!
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much

Thank you MacMillan audio and St Martin's Press for copies of The Women by Kristin Hannah. My thoughts are my own and heck many people will read this because it's a great theme and a popular author.

And yet my two cents:

Kristin Hannah always does a great job of finding an interesting/women in history topic and delivering a thought provoking set of themes and contexts but... it's the same story, a naive woman finds herself in a space where she has to learn quickly to adapt/becomes stronger than she realizes, encounters a range of challenges and tragedies, complicated romance issues arise, and she has to show resilience in the face of trauma and adversity and comes out some how stronger but damaged for all that she endured. Does this work for many readers? Sure and that's great, it just feels like the settings and real world history, and more diverse identities...., need more that the run through the big and expected themes.

This is book is also LONG, it felt like there were some parts that could have been streamlined more, edited out and the main themes and plot points would not have been lost.

What does work: 100% here for the themes on veterans and mental health and public support, themes on political discord, and of course recognizing all who did serve in the Vietnam war.

Did I still find myself sucked in at times, well yes I did and that's the little magic of the author and a lot of the joy of listening to Julia Whelan make me care about the work she narrates.

5 star plot potential, 3-4 star execution for me, 5 star audio narration

This book already has 82 holds system wide, not including audiobook holds, and for good reason. The approach is similar to Hannah's most recent works, and provides a lens and perspective that offers reminders of what stories get overlooked in history. I would not recommend for readers who are going through a lot in their own lives, as escapism isn't really offered here, but there is a lot on offer for readers.

So, so well done. I learned so much about a time I realized I know so little about, and I empathized with Frankie every step of the way. Julia Whelan is also one of my favorite narrators, and she told this story beautifully. I think because of her distinct voice and the time period in which the book is set, it did take me back to ‘Malibu Rising’ a little bit. This one is going to be a top read of 2024!

WOW! Kristin Hannah really knows how to make the reader feel all the feelings while reading her books. I'm still thinking about this book days later. It was so beautifully written. My only wish was for a tiny bit more happy moments. There was just so much heartbreak. The main character just could not catch a break. Reading is an escape from all the craziness going on in the world so it just seemed too heavy.

I listened to the audiobook version and Julia Whalen did an amazing job. I couldn't stop listening. I highly recommend the audiobook version.

At just twenty years old, nursing student Frankie McGrath makes the brave decision to leave Coronado Island, California, to enlist in the war effort as an Army Nurse. Reaching the raging war zone in Vietnam, Frankie quickly learns just how dire the situation is for American soldiers..... but that isn't the most shocking part of the experience. Arriving back in the United States, Frankie finds a politically torn country with little to no respect (and much misguided anger) towards returning veterans. Entering her thirties and then her forties, Frankie has to navigate readjusting to civilian life.

I really enjoyed this book. I finished the audio in two days and would have finished it sooner if I wasn't working. As always, Kristin Hannah builds the story in such a way that you really feel like you are in it. Your heart breaks for Frankie as she experiences these drastic swings her life takes. I am in my late thirties; I do not have a lot of information about Vietnam outside of the basic blurbs in grammar school history books. For that reason, this book was really fascinating for me and I learned so much about a different part of history.

I also really appreciated the author's notes and recommendations for further reading. It's clear (as it always is) that she does a ton of research and speaks to people with first-hand knowledge when possible which I think really helps to bring her stories to life in an authentic way.

Can't rave about this enough!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio version of this book. I am in no way compensated for my review of this book. Everything I write is of my own thoughts and feelings.
This book is one that when you start reading/listening you do not want to put it down. The details are so beautifully written with such detail you feel like you're actually there in the book. This is a gripping story of what some of the women who served in the Vietnam war experienced when they arrived back home.
The author touches on many hard but real situations such as war-pregnancy/infant loss- PTSD- addiction- that just names a few.
This book is one you will absolutely love.

Kristin Hannah, master storyteller, has done it again! The Women is all at once a coming of age story, a love story, and per her usual a very real feeling historical fiction. The story spans several decades of Frankie McGrath's life and Hannah does it beautifully. Often times when authors try to cover this span of time for a character it can fall flat or leave us lacking in emotion, but not this time. Hannah expertly draws us in to the story and makes us feel every moment right alongside Frankie, and Julie Whalen's narration brings the story to life. The devastation of the Vietnam war, and the horrible way veterans were treated when they returned. I've read my fair share of historical fiction, but this particular era I haven't read much about. Kristin Hannah broke my heart and put it back together again with this story and I cannot say enough good things about it.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. It was an honor and a pleasure to experience this book early!

Wow! I really loved this story. I was able to listen to this on audio and Julia Whelan narrating did not disappoint
This story was a difficult read, but such a needed story and it was done so well. I thought the characters were so well developed, and the story was full of both heartbreak and joy. It was an emotional story. Easy 5 star read that I cannot wait to recommend

Phenomenal!! This is Kristen Hannah's best and this book will haunt me for years. The story she weaves about Frances and her experiences in Vietnam and after are so realistic. I felt like I was walking right beside Frances through her entire story, experiencing heartbreak after heartbreak. This book is a true gem and is already at the top of my list of books to recommend to everyone I know.

I listened to this , but this is probably one of the best books I have read and a return to what makes Kristin Hannah great at what she does. I didn’t like Four Winds but this is a return to her amazing style and ability to capture fully a time and place and people.

Kristin Hannah does it again! knew I was going to love this book as soon as I saw it.

I thought this was going to mostly take place in Vietnam. The first half is action-packed and Kristin Hannah does such a great job of describing the setting and the characters’ experiences. I was immediately sucked in.

The second half is about Frankie starting life back in California. She is struggling with PTSD, relationship problems, health complications from what she was exposed to in Vietnam, and that no one recognized her as a Veteran of the war, because ‘there were no women in Vietnam.’

Frankie is one of my favorite characters. She is determined, strong, and flawed. I loved the beautiful friendship between her and two other nurses she served with, how they ebbed and flowed in each other’s lives but were always there when needed.

I think my heart broke at least three times while reading this. I think the ending was perfect.

I really appreciate the amount of research Kristin Hannah did to make this story authentic. She certainly made me interested in learning more and I will be checking out the books she recommended in the afterword.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read and listened to several books about the Vietnam war but I can say without a doubt that this has been the most powerful. It was heartbreaking and enlightening in many ways and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Julia Whalen is one of my very favorite narrators. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of the rom coms I’ve listened to with her as the narrator so wasn’t surprised that she absolutely nailed this historical fiction novel. She has a knack for bringing stories to life no matter what the genre and I thought she was perfect to share Frankie’s compelling story.

I love everything Kristin Hannah! I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't one of my favorites but still so good and I really enjoyed it! I knew nothing about the Vietnam war so this was so interesting. I loved the chapters during the war on the ground in Vietnam. I struggled with the love interests and those various storylines. They all felt a little clunky to me, but I also think some of that was purposefully because it showed how the war affected relationships.
I flew through this book but then still wanted more once it ended! I enjoyed the ending but I just wanted to stay with the characters a little longer.
As always the audiobook was read by Julia Whelan which is always a treat because she's the best audiobook narrator!

Thanks a bunch to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an advanced copy of the audiobook!

𝗪𝗮𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿? 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.


It's the late 60s, and 20 yr old Frankie McGrath fresh out of nursing school wants to make a difference in the world. The Vietnam War is raging, and her brother has inlisted, so she makes the decision to follow him and inlist as a combat nurse.
She was once told that women could be heroes too and that lit a fire inside her that burned brightly.
Little does know how that one decision will change the course of her whole life


In true Kristin Hannah fashion, this book is an homage to those veterans who were cast aside by the government and disrespected by their fellow Americans over a war everyone wanted to forget.
Especially the women who served time mending broken soldiers, saving their lives so they could go back home to loved ones, all while trying to stay alive themselves in a war-torn country.
They were the forgotten heroes of their era.
No help was available to them when they came home either. They were told repeatedly:

THERE WERE NO WOMEN IN VIETNAM.

Hannah weaves together many historical moments of the 60s and 70s in the US. MLK and President Kennedy's assassination, the peace protests, the summer of love. She captured the anguish and devastation the war had and still has on those who served. And again, those women who had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite ready to hear it. It began with 3 simple words:
WE WERE THERE.

This will definitely be my top read of the year.


Thank you, @justjuliawhelan. You did an incredible job voicing these unforgettable characters.
Also, thank you to Macmillian Audio, Netgally, and Kristin Hannah for allowing me access to this beautiful story. As usual, my opinions are my own.

What can I say about this book? It just had the signature #kristinhannah feeling that I can't seem to get from any other author.

I'm typically not drawn to historical fiction unless it's a super interesting topic because, quite honestly, it usually puts me to sleep. Such is never the case with Kristin Hannah! Her books start strong, grip me right away, and never let go until the VERY. LAST. PAGE. This book just kept delivering plot twist after plot twist and never left me bored for even a second. Do not be intimidated by the length (480 pages), it reads so quickly and easily.

I was so emotionally invested in every single character, but Frankie McGrath is one to remember for sure. I cried and smiled and learned a lot and I don't know what more you can ask from a book.

This book tells the often ignored or untold story of THE WOMEN in the Vietnam War. With that naturally comes a lot of heavy topics such as PTSD, loss of loved ones, drug addiction, suicide, etc. I think KH handled extremely difficult subject matter very knowledgably and delicately. The vast amount of research she put into this story is blatantly obvious throughout the whole book.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC! Julia Whelan is the perfect narrator for Kristin Hannah's books!

This is available for purchase on Feb 6, 2024.

Wow, wow, wow! I am always swept away by @kristinhannahauthor historical fiction novels. Her upcoming release is a must read! The story of the nurses of the Vietnam War, the novel not only covers what they experienced in war, but also in the years following at home. This often forgotten group is getting the remembrance that they deserve in this beautiful, yet haunting, novel. Don’t miss it when it is released on February 6, 2024. Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy. #historicalfiction #vietnamwar #nurses #ptsdrecovery #netgalleyreview

4⭐
Genre ~ historical fiction
Setting ~ California, Vietnam, Virginia, Montana
Publication date ~ February 6, 2024
Est page Count ~ 480 (35 chapters)
Audio length ~ 14 hours 57 minutes
Narrator ~ Julia Whelan
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ nurse, sexism, some graphic scenes, death, miscarriage, PTSD, reckless behavior, substance abuse, suicide attempt, infidelity

Part 1 ~ 1966 ~ California & Vietnam
21 year old Frankie is missing her brother after he heads off to Vietnam with the navy. She enlists with the Army since they're the only branch that will get her over there quickly. This part is full on war and all the chaos that it entails.

Oh Frankie, I salute you for your service, but not for your decision making when it comes to men.

Part 2 ~ 1971 ~ 1982 ~Virginia & California & Montana
She has completed her tours and is understandably having a tough time. It really dives deep into how getting back into civilian life is not easy to do. She joins the protests. She tries to look for support, but gets turned away for being a woman and not having actually been in combat. Her journey to get her mental health in check is a long one, but eventually she gets there and uses her experience perfectly in the end.

It was really hard to listen to her father disrespect her time and time again, but different times I suppose. The friendships she made with Ethel and Barb were ones to last a lifetime as they each know what the other has lived through. They'd drop everything to be by her side when she needed them the most (not sure how they were able to get to her so quickly, cuz it's fiction I guess).

Overall, as expected, it was well researched, but I do think this could have been cut down quite a bit.

Narration notes:
A superb job as usual. She really brought the story to life.