Very different in its theme, I loved The Women by Kristin Hannah, covering a woman’s time in the Vietnam War as a nurse and the horrendous way she was treated on returning to the U.S., even by her fellow male veterans.

This whole book was just a rollercoaster of emotions. This one will definitely stay long in my memory for a whole range of reasons.

The sections on Vietnam were superbly written and showed the horrors of that particular war and the tenacity and courage needed to be shown by all medical staff treating the injured.

However what hit home even more was the treatment that Frankie received on returning to the US, not least by her parents and her fellow male veterans from the very same war. Alongside the key themes in the book there is a love story within this book which also lead to many poignant moments.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Everyone needs to read this book! But do bring tissues,

An incredible read, my first Hannah and I now need to delve into the backlist. Would recommend to any fans of historical fiction

What a fantastic read. Kristin Hannah is one of my favourite authors and this does not disappoint. The storyline and the characters are so well delivered. Its definitely an emotional and informative read. The wartime narrative is written so well and shows the true pain, just as it always is in her books.

Well deserves the 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley.

Everything from Kristin Hannah is great. Must read. Teaches so much about the Vietnam war and especially the role of women in this war. Beautifully written and good plot full of surprises. Almost feels like a non fiction.

A phenomenal book - thought provoking, educational and emotional. I have recommended this to several friends since reading, and also for discussion in my book club. Love anything by Kristin Hannah, but this one tops the lot!

I can see why so many readers have been moved by this book. Tt’s dramatic, emotional, and puts the spotlight on women’s often-overlooked roles in Vietnam. And yes, there are moments where it really pulled me in. But as a reader, I couldn’t shake the main criticism I’ve seen echoed elsewhere: the story is rooted in a very white, privileged perspective. Frankie is front and centre, but other characters, especially women of colour who felt more like background props than fully realised voices. On top of that, the way race was described sometimes felt jarring, which made it hard for me to stay immersed. So while I appreciated the intent, I found myself wishing for a broader, more authentic range of voices here. In the end, it’s a solid, very readable historical drama, but for me it rang a little hollow.

A beautifully woven story of resilience, friendship, and the unbreakable bonds between women. Hannah’s rich storytelling and vivid characters make this a deeply moving and unforgettable read.

Empowering, emotional, and utterly compelling, five stars without a doubt!

#TheWomen #KristinHannah #FiveStarRead #Women’sFiction #BookstagramUK #EmotionalReads #PowerfulStories

Honestly one of the best most emotional
Books I have read in a very very long time. The story of Frances; a nurse who signs up for Vietnam; this is the most wonderfully researched book that gave a lot of insight into something I don’t know much about. The emotion behind what Frances saw; how the Vets were treated when they returned home; and now she repeatedly couldn’t receive help when she desperately needed it. This was a wonderful read.

✔️vietnam war
✔️tear-jerker
✔️poignant
✔️historical fiction

I have too many feelings and too many thoughts. But to put it simply, this book absolutely destroyed me. It was pain, after pain, after pain. When I thought my heart would break no longer, BAM! more pain.

Even though I’ve never experienced the things Frankie went through, I felt them. Kristin Hannah did such an incredible job conveying the emotions. I mostly liked Frankie, but I didn’t agree with a lot of her choices.

The friendship between Frankie, Ethel, and Barb was everything. I loved them! I just wish we’d gotten a bit more on their PTSD and healing journey after coming back — they added such a necessary, beautiful layer to the story.

As for the writing — it did exactly what it was meant to: made me feel the anguish, devastation, pain, and helplessness. That said, some parts were unnecessarily long or overly detailed. I caught myself skimming a few times. But as someone who isn’t American or Vietnamese and had limited knowledge of this war, it was a huge eye-opener. I really appreciate Hannah’s effort in honouring the women who served.

Now… here’s where I struggled. The pain Frankie endured felt relentless, almost overdone. I can't go into details about other things I didn't enjoy without giving MAJOR spoilers. And I can say that that ending was rather underwhelming.

Even with all that, I’m giving it 4 stars because it truly was a powerful, gut-wrenching read. It made me feel everything. And more importantly, it tackled a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention — and it absolutely should.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this, so many emotions were felt and it provided me a view point that I'd not thought to consider before. A 5 star read

This is really well researched - the author obviopusly has a passion for the subject. While I knew the reception in the US for soldiers who served in Vietnam was hostile, I knew nothing about the women who worked as nurses, and the way their trauma was ignored.
Well-written, on the whole, but it's very long, too long in my opinion. I found myself skipping bits. I wasn't convinced ether that Frankie's best friends who had served witj her would keep rushing to her aid. I didn't really feel a connection with Frankie either. And I feel too that, although the massacre at My Lai was mentioned, the author glossed over alot of the horrors perpetrated by the US in Vietnam. Yes, there was an acknowledgement that these things happened but Frankie didn't really look too deeply into things, which felt disappointing, and like a missed oppotunity.

‘The Women’ is the first novel by Kristin Hannah that I’ve read and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I read it in two days! What an emotional ride, a curious but powerful mixture of wealthy west-coast California 1960s living and ‘in country’ action in the Vietnam War.
Part-romance, part-war story, part-feminist history, ‘The Women’ is about Frankie McGrath, 21-year old nursing student from a privileged California family, who follows her older brother Finley to Vietnam where he is fighting. Inspired by her father’s heroes’ wall honouring the sacrifices made by their family in the service of their country, Frankie wants to make a difference too. Full of enthusiasm she ships out to Vietnam wearing her smart naval uniform, including girdle and stockings, and a bag containing her work fatigues, pyjamas and a pale blue summer dress recommended by her mother for days off. Her first day, ill from drinking unclean water, she lays on the cot in her ‘hooch’ wishing she’d stayed at home. When she meets her room-mates, Ethel and Barb, they’ve just come off shift, are exhausted, covered in blood and unworried about stripping off in front of her.
This book is not just Frankie’s story but that of Ethel and Barb and all the other women who served in the Vietnam War. Unrecognised, ignored and discounted, except by their hospital colleagues and the men whose lives they saved, these heroic women sacrifice everything. Part One is set in Vietnam as Frankie gains experience, learning how to nurse in a war zone, working in indescribable conditions, long hours, filth, blood and bombs. She falls in love for the first time, sees friends finish their tour of duty and return home, and transforms from a ‘turtle’ to a highly-respected surgical nurse.
Part Two is perhaps even more shocking. Frankie returns home as the anti-war feeling in America is gaining a voice. Spat at and ignored as she arrives at the airport, she returns home to Coronado Island to find her mother still living her country-club life while her father is in denial about Frankie’s war service. Adjustment to ordinary life is difficult and when she does reach out for help, Frankie is rejected by the veterans’ support services because she isn’t a Vietnam vet. Repeatedly told ‘there were no women there,’ Frankie falls between the gaps. She finds a nursing job but soon finds her war experience counts for nothing; she is designated a beginner, on probation and put on the night shift.
This is both a difficult novel to read and also compelling. Frankie is a warm-hearted character, determined and loyal. She gives her heart fully. Because, according to official and popular conception at the time, there were no women in Vietnam, she is unable to get a diagnosis of PTSD. So she stumbles and falters towards help, a heartbreaking path to read.
A powerful story of a horrific time in America’s recent history, ‘The Women’ shines a light on the role of women in wartime. An immersive, often brutal read, there are also moments of beauty, love and most of all friendship. These women are still in my thoughts.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

Absolutely amazing book. I could feel the passion and despair of the mc, the horrors she went through and her will to keep pushing forward. My honest recommendation for everyone. Big tnx to the publisher and NG for providing me an e-copy in exchange of my honest review.

Wow. This was my first Kristin Hannah and it absolutely won’t be the last. What a story. The first chapter or two seemed slightly rushed, but once Frankie landed in Vietnam I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. The friendship, the romance and just the pure strength through all the horrors faced blew me away. By far the best book I’ve read this year!

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
It took me a while to get around to reading this, I wanted to but suspected it would be heavy going. It actually isn’t, in a way - it’s incredibly readable and Frankie draws the reader into her life and her story almost immediately - but of course there is some heavy subject matter to contend with. It’s a fantastic book with a satisfying ending, and shines a light on a period of history that has remained dark for many reasons. This is a definite recommend, a powerful read that is sure to stay with you long after the final page.

Well firstly I feel every other 5 star review I’ve ever given has been blown out the water with this book. Yes it is not my usual read but decided to give it a go in the rare sunshine we’ve had this week in the UK. I could not put this book down. Yes I have read the review about the poor romance and yes it may have been predictable at times but there was always a twist I hadn’t seen coming. I also need to say I know very little about the war in Vietnam but will be doing some more reading around it now.
Frankie is a young inexperienced nurse who rightly or wrongly decides to enlist so she can go to Vietnam and help the soldiers. As a nurse myself I found some of the medical dramas hard to read and the images I found myself thinking of will stay with me forever. Frankie finds her feet and becomes one amazing nurse at the age of 21 she is lucky to have the support of the other nurses. Her story is compelling and I was disappointed when part one of the book her time in Nam ended but I didn’t need to be. On her return her family were embarrassed and had lied to people about where she had been. She was spat on by strangers and told there were no women in the war. Through all this she is falling in love for the first time with all the wrong men. Her battles with PTSD are hard reading but so important to read. I so want them to make a film of this book as it would be an award winner. Thank you Hannah for writing this story.

There is no doubt that Kristin Hannah can write an immersive, well-researched pageturner. In The Women, she turns her attention to the Vietnam War, and specifically the women (or one particular fictional woman) who served in the US Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam and whose work went largely unacknowledged at home in the US.

Frankie McGrath is a young, white, wealthy woman from a privileged family in California who, inspired by her brother, impulsively signs up for service in Vietnam, against the wishes of her parents. Her idealism quickly turns to sand when she arrives in Vietnam and is met with the brutality and horrors of war. She meets two friends there, Ethel and Barb, who she goes on to lean on constantly throughout her life, and falls in love twice, with devastating consequences.

While the novel did have me turning pages, it also left me feeling very unsatisfied. This is really a love story wrapped up in a war. Yes, it pays tribute to Vietnam veterans and the manner in which they were treated upon their return home, and yes it goes into gory detail on some of the horrific injuries sustained by those serving, but it skims over the war itself and the devastating impact it had on the Vietnamese people.

While it's called The Women, I couldn't help but think it would have more appropriately named "Frankie", as it's really the story of her life. Her friends are bit-part, one-dimensional characters who we never really get to know but who appear willing to drop everything at the drop of a hat and fly cross-country to help Frankie. The love interests in the novel are also very cliched, and there are overlaps in the story between two of them that felt wholly unnecessary. I felt Rye could have been cut out of the story entirely and it would have been all the better for it.

As I said, Hannah writes a great, sprawling pageturner but this one left a bit to be desired on several fronts I felt. 3/5 stars

Many thanks to the publisher Pan Macmillan for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A must read for anyone interested in Vietnam and the atrocitious war. This tells the forgotten stories of the nurses stationed there, a fictional account on how lives were changed.
Expertly written, its sad, lovely and inspiring.

This book changed my life - not an understatement.

The way that Kirstin Hannah portrays women is hearbreaking and everyone needs to read this.

This book was my book of 2024, I'm still struggling to put my thoughts and feelings into words.

Hannah has this way of taking you back in time, but not just in mind but in body too, like you can feel the wind in your hair and smell the air. 'Women can be heroes'? Ummm... I think we know they are heroes! Just read the acknowledgements and read up on source material from all of Hannah's books. They existed before you and I were born and long may they live on and keep it coming!

I balled my way through this much needed coming of age truth of just what it was like on front lines, friendships cemented for life, love, lust and loss.

I could read Frankie's story again and again, but my heart couldn't take that. This book spoke to my soul. if you haven't read it yet, please pick it up.