Where to begin??? This is a MUST READ, and certainly in my top ten of the year. The setting is the war in Viet Nam and the nurses who served on the front lines. The main character is Frances Grace McGrath-“frankie” - and she is the linchpin around which the novel is related. The first half is the war itself and the trauma scenes are so well depicted that you will feel as if you were there on the front lines of the hospitals.The second half while still focused on her, also depicts the aftermath for those who served and the ambivalence if not outright hatred they were greeted with by their country when they returned home-a country that turned their back on their sacrifice.Their struggles to gain respect, their sanity, their mental and physical health, their battle to overcome their addictions are heart rending. And if you are not moved by the final chapter, with the unveiling of the Viet Nam War memorial,and the emotional scene in which her father tearfully apologizes to his daughter, then you are a better man than I am Gunga Din. For me on a personal level I was a young Navy doctor at a naval hospital during these years, and though I never served in “ Nam”, I became all too familiar with the PTSD these men and women suffered in its aftermath. If you are of my generation I DARE you to read this book without shedding many a tear. It is a great and a must read.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I recommend Kristin Hannah’s book to anyone that will listen, with The Four Winds being one of my all-time favourites, so I was really happy to see she had written a new one.

As always, a real eye-opening & emotional story of love, family, friendship & bravery. I think this is the first book I have read about Vietnam and I always enjoy a story based somewhere new to me.

Kristin Hannah’s book always have me absorbed from the first chapter.

Another absolute 5 star read.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favourite authors and she has yet again written another phenomenal book.
Aged 21, nurse Frankie McGrath enlists into the US army and sets off for Vietnam. She hopes to serve her country, save lives and return a hero.
She is faced with the harsh reality of war as she reports for duty and this is is her story of love, family, friendship, bravery and battling PTSD when she returns.
Hannah’s research is very thorough and her storytelling is just wonderful. I didn’t realise how much truth was withheld from the US citizens by the government and the hostility the returning servicemen and women endured on their return.
One of the best books I’ve read this year and I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Easy 5 stars for me, this was amazing to read. I’ve never actually read anything to do with Vietnam so this was definitely an eye opening story for me and not being funny but this Author is never level with her story telling. I started reading and it sucked me in on the first page and I couldn’t stop reading. The characters were so well thought of and built, i was always rooting the the main character ‘Frankie’ and how she and women back in those days were oppressed and it mad me angry in places. Lots of feelings and thoughts. You cannot go wrong with this author and yet again she’s done amazing, giving these women a voice finally.

In 1965 Frankie’s brother has joined the navy and is going to Vietnam, she decides to volunteer as an Army Nurse and follow him out there.
An incredible story of bravery, dedication and the friends she made along the way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.