The Women

This was one of the most gripping historical fiction books I’ve read. Kristin Hannah blends contemporary fiction with the backdrop of historical for a full immersive experience

There were times I could feel the setting in my bones and I loved Frankie. This book should be taught in schools

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the opportunity to read Kristin Hannah's The Women.

I wish I could put this book in the hands of everyone I know.

"The missing. The forgotten. The brave… The women.

From master storyteller Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. The Women is that rarest of novels—at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield.

“Women can be heroes, too.”

This is, I believe, one of the most important books I have ever read.

Frances McGrath is unforgettable. This character is written with such heart you feel for her every step in life.
Reminiscent of M.A.S.H, without the humor. The setting is well researched and believable. It also brings to
mind Forest Gump with references to music of the period, This emotional tale builds toward the goal of recognizing the women that served, unrecognized, in the View Nam war. Highly recommended.

Kristin Hannah is a wonderful writer, and storyteller. She proved that with the amazing THE NIGHTINGALE. Now with THE WOMEN she might have topped that. It’s the 1960s and the Viet Nam War in raging. Frankie McGrath has finished her nursing degree and impulsively joins the US ARMY to follow her brother to Viet Nam. Even before her arrival ‘in country,’ her brother is killed and Frankie finds herself in way over her head, working in field hospitals, patching up severely mangled soldiers, and trying to stay alive. Through friendships and a pair of love interests, she survives and returns home to idyllic Coronado, California. But, everything has changed. Her baggage includes a duffle full of smelly clothes, PTSD, and a drug and alcohol addiction. Then, her survival struggles truly begin. Faced with backlash from her family—“women don’t go to war”—and from a public fed up with all things Viet Nam, Frankie spirals into a life of gut-wrenching ups and downs. This story is so well-written and engaging I could not put it down. A true masterpiece that everyone should read.


DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

I couldn’t wait to dive in to The Women by Kristin Hannah. Even at close to 500 pages I couldn’t put it down and read it in under twenty-four hours! It was absolutely the best book I’ve read all year.

I loved Frankie’s story and learning about the women who served in Vietnam as nurses. The Women was so well researched and true to Kristin Hannah style the story was broke your heart and put it back together again and again.

I was a history major in undergrad and spent a lot of time studying the 1960s and Hannah weaved together history, music, pop culture and the terrors of war so seamlessly it made this time period come alive.

My only complaint is that the book ended. I could have kept reading Frankie’s story. I cannot wait to recommend The Women to anyone who will listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

What another stunning book written by Kristin Hannah. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day.

There were so many topics that this story covered that I just can't sing enough praise for them. The main focus is on Frankie, a young nurse from an upper-class California beach-town and her experience in the Vietnam War. It had such well described scenes of what it actually was like to live and work in the horrible and rank conditions in Vietnam. Hannah clearly did a lot of research before writing this story. Her descriptions of the villages and hospitals were so vividly detailed that it made me feel like I was watching a movie instead of reading about it.
Hannah also goes into great details about the struggles and experiences of what happened to the war heroes when they came back to America. How they were spit on and how everyone thought that there were "No Women in Vietnam". The hospitals discredited her time in Vietnam and didn't consider it real nursing experience. She also details the PTSD and emotional and psychological effects that the war had on Frankie and her fellow soldiers and how many of the soldiers experienced nightmares and struggled with addictions. You watch as Frankie goes from a young, timid nurse to a combat nurse and then a damaged soldier whose support comes from her 2 best friends from Vietnam. These friends are like sisters to her, and I loved seeing them have her back at every turn and every joyous milestone in each other's lives. The strength in these women was incredible.

#KristinHannah #NetGalley

The Women by Kristen Hannah is a historical fiction story. It is a very difficult book to read as I remember the Vietnam War and how the returning soldiers were treated. It was especially upsetting to find that many people didn’t realize that women were over in Vietnam and were the nurses that took care or operated on those that were wounded. This was a very sad time in our country’s history.
Francis “Frankie” McGrath is an Army nurse stationed in some of the worst fighting areas of Vietnam. What she sees and what she has to endure is just terrible. This is the story of Frankie and the two women who become her best friends when they are in Vietnam and the years following. This is a very powerful novel and at times very upsetting to realize what war does to the people that were there.

Must have tissues at the ready for this inspirational and highly emotional read! Words cannot even begin to express the feelings and emotions I experienced while reading this story. I must have cried at least ten times within the first 100 pages. Thirty times by the end. This story was important and powerful and I'm so proud to be a woman. Vietnam was before my time, but I remember as a little girl in the 80s, that no one wanted to talk about it. As an adult, I can now easily realize how horrible this was for those who served our country. Frankie's story is broken into two parts. Part One portrays her time of active duty as an Army nurse and the horrors that she experienced during her stay in Vietnam as well as the love that she found and life-long friendships that were made. Part Two is her life after. Living with PTSD, being shamed by her fellow countrymen, not being recognized as a veteran because she was a woman, not being able to get the help that she needed due to this lack of recognition, and most importantly, not being recognized by her own father. How horrible! I don't want to say much more. I do not want to ruin the story for anyone, but the ending made my heart so happy. Frankie is definitely a hero in my eyes. And women can be heroes, too!

I will say it again. This book made me very emotional. It needs to be read and felt and devoured. It is going to linger with me for a long time and I can see it being the #1 book of 2024.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

I was hooked on this book from the first couple of sentences. Growing up after Vietnam I really knew nothing about what happened and people's experiences, so this book was eye opening to say the least. The first half of the book while Frankie was in Vietnam as a nurse was enthralling and a quick read. The second half of the book was a bit slower, but not in a bad way, if felt like everything was just slower than war. Frankie's struggles were heartbreaking, but her friends were everything! I wish these friends for every woman. This book was action, love story, coming of age and everything in between. I did cry through most of the second half, but it was because I wanted so badly to see Frankie succeed. Remember the women!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and Kristin Hannah for this absolutely stunning book. It was incredible. It was heartbreaking and glorious and everything you want in a book. After I turned the last page, I immediately began to read it again. I just couldn't put it down. I thought that she would never be able to write a book as wonderful as 'The Nightingale.' She did. This book will be the best book of the year and win numerous awards. This story and the characters within will forever be imprinted on my soul. That is the type of book this is. It was amazing. I can't thank Kristin Hannah enough for having the heart and mind and gift to write a book such as this one. Please read it. You won't be sorry. If I could give it 100 stars, I would.

I’ve read every Kristin Hannah book and was offered the opportunity to read The Women synopsis unread. While I am not generally a fan of historical fiction, I felt this story in my soul. I have very little recollection of the Vietnam War. I never considered or gave much thought to the nurses who treated the wounded soldiers. Their experience was horrifying and riveting all at once. The story was a page turner and the character development of Frankie was exceptional. From a naïve nurse starting her career to a hardened and haunted veteran. I found myself rooting for her a feeling every set back and blow as she rejoined society. A must read for anyone looking for a story that will expose you to every emotion from loss to redemption. 5 stars

OMG, what a book. I read this in about 2 1/2 days, only putting it down when adult responsibilities called. I’m sure I’ll have a book hangover for days.

Apparently enough time has passed that someone my age, someone who was a teenager in the 60s, can read, endure, and appreciate this story. Told from the perspective of Frankie, a young woman who volunteers as a nurse in Vietnam, nothing is held back outlining the horror of the war, the political issues, and the aftermath on lives of those who returned.

Highly readable, this isn’t just a story of the past, it’s a reminder of what we should not forget in the present.

5/5 Another well written, heart breaking, painstakingly researched novel by Kristin Hannah. This story gives a voice to the female nurses of the Vietnam war, and both told me their untold stories and broke my heart into pieces.

Oh my stars. This book is a blockbuster. Another homerun from the author.

I cried more then I will ever admit while reading this book.
I felt all of the emotions as I was reading along with Barb, Ethel, and Frankie. Their journey in Vietnam as nurses and then coming home is the purpose of the book.

I learned about how the nurses, while not technically seeing combat, were just as affected as their male counter parts. How the women tried to get help for their PTSD and their struggles.

The author did a fantastic job portraying their personalities and how they each tried to get back into society after their tours in Vietnam.

The last 20 pages of the book, I bawled like a baby. THis book is an emotional roller coaster and I think that the author handled it with grace and grit. This book needed to be told.

This ARC had me often in tears but also at times smiling. What an amazing novel about a virtually forgotten part of those who served in Vietnam. Having gone to college with a woman who was a nurse there and came back to be an ER nurse I thought of her often thru this book & wonder what happened to her after she dropped out of the BS nursing program & moved to Chicago where after a few years we lost touch. Thank you for letting me read this ARC. Everyone should read this

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a salute to the women that were nurses in the Vietnam war.
She has written a a story in acknowledgement of their courage and commitment, While capturing the fear, love, courage and determination those women. Where coming home from over there was a constant struggle to find and keep their sanity at times. Especially when they were told by the government that no women served in Vietnam.
This novel makes me appreciative and grateful to these wonderful Women.

#TheWomen
#KristinHannah
#NetGalley

“ There are no women in Vietnam’

The Vietnam era, I remember the tail end of this when I was a child, not fully grasping all that was… However, this book opened my eyes, educated me, brought back some memories,
What a time for women, it was the beginning of a huge shift in women!

Francis McGrath a.k.a. Frankie has grown up with her family, supporting the military… Her father had a wall of heroes with pictures of every member of the family that had served, so it was no surprise when her brother enlisted, but it was a huge surprise when Nurse Frankie McGrath enlisted, at a time when it wasn’t “ the accepted female life path”, this was a time when women were supposed to marry, and have babies, and a career was only until they got their Mrs degree.

Vietnam changes Frankie, it strengthens her and it gives her purpose, when it’s told through her eyes, we the reader, get to learn so much about what went on there
Of course, Frankie goes through more when she returns home to a nation who regrets being in Vietnam, has no idea about what really goes on at Vietnam, and so
shuns the military who served. And Frankie is not the same, will never be the same.
We get the pre-war, Frankie, the war, Frankie, and the postwar Frankie

I’m a huge fan of this author, I always learn from her books, they are well researched, well developed, and definitely stories that stay with you forever.
Her books are always epic and this one is absolutely no exception!

Kristin Hannah is one of my all time favorite authors so I was EXTREMELY EXCITED to be approved for this advanced reader copy from NetGalley. 'The Women' is an absolute MUST READ! This book is released in February 2024 so pre-order it or get your library loan ready because this one is going to be big!! WOW!!!!

Kristin Hannah does it again! She has such a unique ability to combine historical events with character development that makes the characters come alive and all the human ways. She has the ability to evoke the complete range of emotions in her readers.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC! I was prepared to sell my first born to get a hold of this book early.

The Women is a Kristin Hannah book through and through. She knew what her readers wanted and she DELIVERED. If you've read one of her books before, then you know the drill.. this book had me crying by chapter four. I was laughing, crying, heartbroken, pissed off, and empowered all at the same time.

Frances McGrath watches her brother go to war and sees how proud her family is of her brother. At his going away party, Frances meets a young man, Rye, who is the first to tell her that "women can be heroes too", which changes her perspective on life forever. Determined to get more out of her life and her career as a nurse, Frances enlists in the army. However, her prideful father shames her because "women have no place in the war". Her fathers views were not uncommon among the American people during the 60s. The shame is exacerbated by the American peoples resistance toward the war.

The Women follows Frances and her fellow female soldiers as they navigate through life in war and the powerful emotions brought about by the trauma they experience.

The amount of twists in this book had me spiraling. If you think you know what's going to happen, you don't! Several times I had to put the book down to gather my thoughts. As always, 5 stars!

A moving and riveting story about a young girls journey after experiencing and dealing with war and its aftermath. It was a journey of self discovery and selflove, with constant heartbreak that play on your heartstrings. Truly loved every moment and appreciated the story and journey shared.

The Women is another prime example of why Kristin Hannah is, and always will be, my favorite author. My father-in-law served in Vietnam, so I’ve heard numerous stories over the past 30 years of the horrors he faced during the war. Reading Kristin’s account of a woman’s Vietnam experience gave me a whole new and different perspective on this tragic time in America’s history. As always, Kristin’s extensive research is evident in her work, and her vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was there, seeing the devastation through Frankie’s eyes. I felt so many different emotions while reading this book - sadness, anger, disbelief, and hope are just a few that come to mind. There were many times I caught myself crying over the injustice and despair Frankie encountered during and after the war. Her moments with Barb and Ethel were some of my favorite scenes in the story, and I truly loved their closeness and loyalty to each other. I also enjoyed the many layers of Frankie’s relationship with her parents and how it evolved over time. I can’t recommend this book enough. It will certainly open your eyes and broaden your view of the Vietnam War as you discover a part of it that is rarely talked about. I was hooked from the first page, and I know The Women will remain in my heart and mind a very long time.

5 stars! Kristin Hannah has written another incredibly moving thought-provoking novel and I highly recommend it!

Francis “Frankie” McGrath is tired of towing the line and doing only what is expected of women in similar circumstances. She must smile, always look pretty and wear stylish yet modest clothing. She is a reflection of her family after all. It’s expected that she will go to college only until she gets her MRS degree. Her nursing diploma merely checks a box.

Her family’s world is turned upside down when her older brother, Finley is killed in Vietnam. It was a family tradition for the men to serve in the military. Her dad has a hero’s wall dedicated to those family members in his office; the women only adorn the wall in their wedding attire.

Frankie decides to use her nursing skills to help those serving and joins the army so she too can go to Vietnam. Frankie quickly realizes her naivety and the extreme horrors of war. She draws strength from the other nurses and doctors around her.

This is a story that needs to be told and it’s about much more than Vietnam. It’s about navigating and surviving the aftermath with PTSD and the lack of appreciation that the veterans received, particularly the women. There are moments that I cringed and moments that I cried. It’s a story that I have continued to think about, and I’m reminded of some childhood memories pertaining to the Vietnam war. Kristen Hannah is an incredible storyteller and I always learn something whenever I read one of her novels. This story is one that will stay with me for a long time.

I received an advance digital review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.

Kristin Hannah has the gift of transporting readers to a new place and time. In her latest book, THE WOMEN, we meet Frankie McGrath, who enlists in the Army as a combat nurse in Vietnam. She’s following in the footsteps of her brother, as well as generations of her family before her.

THE WOMEN shines a light on the brutal Vietnam war - specifically the women who served - and a period in history that isn’t often discussed. Frankie isn’t a perfect person and I enjoyed seeing her character evolve from an idealistic 21-year-old who just wants to serve her country, to a gifted combat nurse, to a fragile veteran who returns to a country where she’s reviled and everyone (even the VA) insists that women didn’t serve in Vietnam. Frankie has the same issues with PTSD as many men, but she never seems to fit in anywhere. She makes mistakes but remains true to herself through the hardships life throws at her.

Hannah places special emphasis on friendship, family and healing. The romances are touching and there are some unexpected twists that I appreciated.

Hannah really captures life in the sixties, seventies and eighties, from the music, clothes and cars mentioned to the political atmosphere. I couldn’t stop reading THE WOMEN and I bet you won’t, either.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of THE WOMEN and the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

Wow! What a fantastic story! The Women is my favorite book this year and my favorite Kristin Hannah book. What a great way to highlight and tell the story of the women of the Vietnam War. It was so well researched and constructed, I felt totally immersed. I have been a nurse for 30 years, but I cannot imagine the challenges faced by the nurses in Vietnam. I can't wait until everyone else can read it, so I will have others to talk to. Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the eARC.

Wow! My heart is shredded after reading this book!

This book takes off immediately and you feel like you landed in ‘Nam right along with Frankie. Kristin Hannah has a way of painting a vivid picture to where you feel like you are watching the events unfold right alongside the characters.

The pain, fear, turmoil, are all felt while reading this book. The characters are likable and you root for them along the journey. This is Kristin Hannah’s masterpiece!

#KristinHannah #Netgalley