A young woman from a privileged background signs up for the war in Vietnam as an army nurse, her eyes quickly opened to its horrors. She is told to beware of the soldiers who “lie and die”. It seems that a pretty nurse is a magnet to them all, and she experiences love and loss, and enduring friendship. Her story when she returns to the US is full of misery, at not being recognised for her contribution, females it seems we’re not seen as part of the suffering;waning support for the war; and personal trauma. However, her friendships go on, and she finds some kind of redemption.
I was very interested in the Vietnam section, full of references and real places, I have actually been in the rooftop bar frequented by wartime journalists she mentions. In that she was very successful. However, the book is too long. Just how much unnecessary detail of what people are wearing, and sixties cultural references and events, do we need to persuade the reader of it’s setting in time and place?
Although the author talks about the world, it is clear that she means the US, American pride takes over, even whilst criticising its wartime policies, over sentimentalising and laying it on with a shovel.

This was so disappointing to me, waited a while and just felt like a whole other author wrote this compared to her other books, I loved the idea of a story from Vietnam but it was awful. Unbelieveable narrative and just could not relate or like any of the characters.
Also why do they persist on this site in only using PDF which renders awful on the Kindle and is all disjointed, with random letters everywhere? It makes it so hard to enjoy the flow of a book!

The Women is yet another hauntingly beautiful book by Kristin Hannah. I didn’t realise I loved historical fiction until I read The Four Winds and The Nightingale - The Women is up there with these masterpieces.

The book immerses you into the dreadful experiences and hardship faced, both in Vietnam and on return to the USA. It also addresses important topics around mental health and the fights for equality.

One thing I personally loved about this book is how it paralleled a time of one of my favourite films, Forest Gump. Born in the 80s, I knew nothing of this time apart from that film so it was really eye-opening to read more about the experiences of those who went through it.

Overall a fabulous read I would recommend!

I’ve never read anything by this author before and consequently had no idea what to expect. What can I say but brilliant! Such a powerful well written book. The descriptions were incredible and so vivid. The story flowed so well and my heart went out to Frankie the main character and her story which is so emotional for so many reasons. The book is split into two parts being the Vietnam years in part 1 and what happened next in path 2 which I didn’t really feel was necessary as it all flowed so well.

The only thing I didn’t particularly like was the title as it doesn’t prepare you for the drama of the book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Pan MacMillan for this ARC

An impressive and powerful story on many levels!

The Women, by Kristin Hannah.

A long awaited novel which enthralled me from the first page on. The author really has the gift of storytelling, shown again in this novel! Vietnam, 1966: not only men are fighting there, but also women fighting for those men's lives. Frankie is a 19 year-old nurse wanting to follow her brother to Vietnam to be closer to him... The reader has travelled with Frankie and can't let go: I felt her terror, helplessness, guilt, pride; I could smell the blood, heard the ratata of the enemy guns; I sweated with her through the vivid descriptions of the weather, countryside. Impressive writing style. I felt the deep and unconditional friendship with her two female friends.
However, the story does not end with the war. Indeed, a more personal war begins for all veterans, male and female. What I also found particularly interesting and deeply shocking are these inner fights: female nurses or soldiers were not considered veterans!!! Their own trauma was not acknowledged; their work was not acknowledged! How did Frankie deal with her new inner-self? Could she talk about it? A very difficult question in those days when women were supposed to be wives and mothers, only, when parents had other expectations for their daughters, when psychiatry was still in its infancy.
I also found the attitude of Americans about the Vietnam war and their veterans rather astounding and also disturbing...
Highly recommended.
I received an advanced copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

While I've enjoyed previous books by Hannah I struggled here.
Maybe it was my own mindset I'm unsure. But I just didn't like Frankie and I would have liked to see more women's stories. Instead we had a lot of characters but little development from them.

The Women
Kristin Hannah

Read and Reviewed: 5th Feb 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kristin Hannah does it again!

Wow, where to even start reviewing this book!

I've read both 'The Nightingale' and 'The Great Alone' previously by this author (with many more of her books on my TBR) so when I got approved an ARC of this one I was chuffed and it moved right to the top of my 'to be read' pile.

It was everything I expected it to be and more.

The Nightingale and The Great Alone were both 5 star reads for me and this one is no exception. It was absolutely fantastic from beginning to end and I was hooked from the very first page.

Kristin's writing is not merely narrative, it is a full on immersive experience. Everything was so descriptive and so vivid - reading it felt like I was watching an action-packed, gut wrenching movie at the cinema - it read so well. The story just flowed. The writing, in typical Kristin style was seamless and the characters were so well developed.

Frankie, the female main character is incredible and her story is so emotional and heart wrenching, I just had to keep reading to hear how her story unfolded. I cried at different parts throughout (particulary part 1) which is always proof of a great book for me.

The book is split into two parts - Part 1 covers Frankies time serving as an army nurse in Vietnam during the war years and part 2 focuses on Frankie's life after returning home to California and trying to pick up her life following on from her time and experience in Vietnam.

Part 1 was my favourite - Her time in Vietnam, meeting her fellow army nurses and the close bond and friendships she made over there as well as her falling in love and learning who she is all while in the middle of a war zone. It was heartwrenching and hard to read at times (as any books centred around war times generally are) but it was so so gripping, I couldnt put it down.

Frankie's time after returning home was perhaps even more troubling than her time in Vietnam. How little people understood, appreciated or even acknowledged the women in Vietnam was shocking to me.

Kristin has such a way with words. She is a fantastic author and I couldnt recommend this book enough. I have been on a lucky streak with books this year so far and have read 4 other 5 star reads (I read ALOT but I dont give out 5 stars easily) but this one has topped them all. I know it's gonna be in my top three books of 2024 at the end of the year....and I know its only February, but I'm 1000% certain.

It is simply a masterpiece.

It comes out on Feb 15th so get
pre-ordering Guys!!!!

I couldnt recommend this one more if I tried!

(I have another Kristin Hannah book 'The Four Winds' lined up to start at the weekend when I have some free time and I cant wait!)

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the author Kristin Hannah for this advanced reading copy prior to the publication date (15th Feb 2024) in exchange for my honest review.

The Women - 5/5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Frankie McGrath is a nursing student and is at a party being thrown for her brother who is off to war in Vietnam. At the party, whilst in her father’s office, a guest asks why there are no pictures on the heroes wall of women at war. When Frankie explains that it is because men go to war she is told that women can be heroes too. This sentence gives her food for thought. Frankie impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows in her brother’s path.

Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, the heartbreak that love can cause and the changed USA she comes home to. Will life ever be the same again.

Kristin Hannah tells a story so beautifully. Her stories never fail to move me as a reader. This book was so well written. It made me gasp at the parts I just didn’t expect and most of all it moved me to tears. The main fmc was such an amazing character from the growth in her at the beginning, to then fall down many times but still be strong enough to get through all the suffering was just so powerful. If you loved The Nightingale then you will absolutely adore this book. In fact I recommend this book to every reader. I just hope that the film adaptation does this book the justice it deserves. A well deserved 5 star book

Kristin Hannah really is the most incredible author. Having read and loved every one of her novels, I was so excited to get an arc for this one. Before reading this I knew nothing about the war in Vietnam, other than brief basic events. Frankie, the main character draws you in and you feel like you are travelling alongside her to work as a nurse in an evac camp in Vietnam, then accompanying her home once discharged. Obviously with the nature of this novel there are parts that make extremely hard and upsetting reading, but Hannah skillfully takes the reader through the stories of the nurses, soldiers and civilians with perfect balance. I’ve had my eyes opened to the treatment of the veteran men and women who came home from this war and the failings of the government on their part.
As always each character is beautifully written and every single one felt complex and real. I loved the detail, the settings and how the story reached its conclusion. It’s a long book and I finished it in 2 nights and will be rereading again in the not too distant future. It will be a book that stays with me for a very long time.
Thank you so much for this arc.

This book is about nurses during the Vietnam War, focusing on the main character Frankie. It is about her time as a nurse and the PTSD se suffers from aftrwards
It is a stunning read, not really for the faint hearted as there are some very upsetting scenes. Definitely recommend. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book

What a powerful book. Not just about Vietnam but PTSD and suffering..
How a country and the world villified returning veterans, ignored women in services contributions.
Public perceptions were not corrected for years making mental and physical war wounds hard to speak of let alone heal.
This should be on American history as compulsory reading lists.

I don't know how Kristin Hannah does it but whether it's the Great Plains of America in the 1930s or
Vietnam in the 1960s a few sentences and I'm immediately there along with the characters. I made a big mistake with this book. I picked it up to start it at bedtime. Two and a half hours later I had to make myself leave Frankie, Ethel, Barb and Co in the heat, mud, rain and carnage and try to sleep.
The Women is the most wonderful, beautiful, heart-rending, sad book...and.....it's a long book. For which I was very glad as it meant I could stay longer in a world Kristin Hannah re-created. Be prepared to be horrified, to laugh and to cry as you read this book but above all be grateful that someone as talented as Kristin Hannah can turn such an horrific time in history into a work of fiction that can be enjoyed by everyone. Definitely the best book I've read in a long, long time!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Interesting setting of the Vietnam War and I found the war parts good. Characterisation a bit predictable, romance a bit inevitable but a nice yarn.

Such a wonderful heartwarming story giving insight into the women who went to war in Vietnam. Gripping as always with this authors book with you really rooting for the characters

Rating - 4.5 stars

Poignant and the most beautiful celebration of heroic women.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan & NetGalley for the ARC.

Synopsis -

Frankie McGrath believes that women can be heroes too. Following her brother’s footsteps, she leaves the safety of her home in 1965 to join the US Army in Vietnam, to serve as a nurse. Shaken by the war and its unimaginable destruction, her life is suddenly uncertain, but the friendship she forges with the other women is her anchor. When she returns home, she is an entirely different person and to her horror so is her country of America – hostile and ignorant.

Review -

Wow! Only Hannah can write historical fiction with such passion and understanding of human history. She is such a masterful storyteller. Her books always focus on strong women who endure extreme adversity, hardships and unfathomable struggles. Needless to say, this book was an eye-opener shedding light on the Vietnam war, the inexplicable level of trauma suffered, the scars it left behind and the devastating effects it had on everyone involved, even years later.

With Frankie’s character, Hannah explores what it was to be a woman who served in this war as a nurse or in any other capacity. Let me tell you, the challenges they faced is simply unbelievable and their struggles is beyond our grasp. How Hannah pictures this all is sure to give you goosebumps.

Amidst the gloom of death and suffering, the friendship and bonding Frankie shares with the other nurses was a beacon of hope. Drawing strength from one other, sharing their grief, loss and the occasional exciting times, these women are a force to reckon with. I loved how these women uplift and rally for each other, their unity and hard-work unparalleled, fortitude and achievements unmatchable.

After getting my heart broken a million times over for what Frankie went through, it was infuriating to witness the indifference, the hostile attitude and disbelief she experienced once back home. It was so agonizingly painful to see what this did to her fragile being, while she is already shattered with grief, numb with trauma, shaken with nightmares, battling addiction and insomnia. I only wished Frankie found her footing and her calling in life a little sooner towards the end.

The author’s note was so enlightening. I was amazed to learn how this book has been a labor of love for many years for Hannah and the amount of research she has undertaken for this book. Kudos to her imagination as she expertly crafts fiction around the real events.

The Women pays tribute to all these unsung, brave female warriors whose commitment, resourcefulness, skills and sacrifice made a difference and saved countless lives.

Highly recommended for historical fiction lovers!

Raised by her conservative parents on the West Coast of America, Frances McGrath aka Frankie prides herself on being a dutiful daughter. Until she makes an unexpected decision that entirely alters the trajectory of her life.

Inspired after hearing the assertion that women can be heroes too, Frankie decides to join the nurse army corps and head out to Vietnam to support the soldiers - one of whom is her own brother.

But many of the boys who are being sent overseas as cannon fodder are just as young and inexperienced as Frankie. And the things that they will all do and see will rob them of their innocence and change them for good.

This is a story about a very particular time in history and in American society, a time of radical change in the 1960s. It is also about the timeless and universal themes of love and war, friendship and fellowship, and all the things that make us human. Kristin Hannah has done it again, writing yet another spellbinding historical novel.

What a way to end my 2023 reading with this powerhouse of a novel from one of my absolute faves Kristin Hannah. Not one to shy away from some tough topics, such as The War or The Dustbowl, now Hannah turns her attention to the harrowing world of The Vietnam War. The novel is told from the perspective of Frankie - a young nurse inspired to follow her brother to war after being told that women can be heroes too.

The first half of the novel follows her time in Vietnam. It is full of death, pain, anguish but there are also some signs of hope for Frankie in the form of love, friendship and the strength of female solidarity. The second part of the novel concentrates of life after and a very much changed USA and a very much changed Frankie.

Quite frankly, this novel is nothing short of breathtaking: it is powerful and heart wrenching whilst shining a light of a section of history that I knew very little about (and now want to know all about!) It explores tough themes: death, addiction, PTSD and is so genuinely written with a protagonist that feels so real she almost jumps from the page.
But it is also about the strength of the female character and friendships and, as the title suggests, very must celebrates ‘The Women’.

Utterly perfect!

I am so excited for this one and I absolutely love Kristin Hannah. I’m thrilled this is going to be a movie. It looks fantastic! What an inspiration story in such a historic moment in time. I absolutely cannot wait t9 read snd share my thoughts in this one! I think this may be my next book club pick.

In the pages of this thought-provoking novel, readers are taken on a poignant journey through the lens of a woman navigating the complexities of life's inherent unfairness. The author's writing is not merely a narrative; it's an immersive experience that intricately weaves together the threads of injustice, resilience, and the relentless fight for what is rightfully deserved.

The detailed prose paints a vivid picture, enveloping readers in the protagonist's world. From the highs to the lows, the author captures the essence of the woman's struggle, making it palpable and relatable. The immersive storytelling allows readers to feel the intensity of her battles and the weight of societal challenges.

Yet, as the narrative unfolds, the sudden shift in the main character's mindset towards the conclusion adds a layer of complexity. The desire for more exploration into her brighter days becomes a lingering thought, a yearning for a deeper understanding of her transformation. The nuanced portrayal of the protagonist's journey creates a sense of empathy, leaving readers contemplating the broader implications of gender-based challenges.

The strength of the book lies not only in its exploration of the harsh realities faced by women but also in its ability to prompt reflection on the resilience required to overcome such adversity. The narrative serves as a mirror, forcing readers to confront the societal norms that perpetuate inequality and the unwavering determination needed to challenge them.

In conclusion, this well-written and detailed novel is a compelling exploration of the struggles faced by women, offering readers a profound reflection on the intricacies of life's inherent unfairness. While the sudden shift in the main character's mindset might leave some wanting more of her good days, the overall impact of the narrative lingers, provoking deeper contemplation on the fight for justice and equality.

So happy to be an early reader of The Women before its publishing in 2024 - I can honestly say: I absolutely LOVED this! I have enjoyed many of Kristin Hannah's novels, but this is so far my favourite.

Hannah shares the story of the feisty Frankie as a Vietnam War nurse. I expected all the story to be set in Vietnam but without giving too much away... it is so much more than that.