Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters had good complexity to their storylines and didnt want to put the book down. It was emotional, engaging, historical, and as a nurse myself, enjoyed the connection. Have recommended to my friends.

Totally blew me away. Ambitious and unflinching, it opened up a time in history I knew very little about. Kristin Hannah just gets better. It’s not an easy read, but it was completely absorbing. Highly recommend.

3.5

I've read and loved previous works by this author, however this one didn't meet my expectations. But I'll start with the positives.

I found the storyline interesting and it kept me engaged. I finished it in two sittings and genuinely enjoyed the listen.
The subject matter was well researched and shed light onto the forgotten women that served in Vietnam, and the struggles that they faced.
The atmosphere was well done, making the book feel immersive. Which is something I've come to expect of Kristin Hannah's writing.

However, where it fell a little flat for me was that it at times felt really predictable. There was too much foreshadowing.
Also, and from this point on there will be some Spoilers, so don't read more if you don't want to have the book spoiled...

I didn't like the romanced plot or I should say plots.
Especially the jump from Jamie to Ry felt really fast, and none of the relationships felt like they had any depth to them. It never felt like she got to know them very much at all, before she was struggling with her feelings for a man she knows she shouldn't fall for.
However, the thing that I disliked the most was the ending.

Overall this was a very fast paced book, with a lot of positives too it. But certain aspects fell flat for me. But I will definitely still pick up books by Kristin Hannah in the future.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kristin Hannah. It was a great read . Set during the Vietnam war and it’s an emotional and gripping read .

I'm actually slightly embarrassed to say that The Women was my first Kristin Hannah read and wow have I been missing out.

The Women was an incredible read and one of my favorite's of the year, it was moving, emotion filled and truly beautiful. I felt all the emotions while reading this and the writing was so amazing. I'm now off to read all of Kristin's others books.

I received an ARC of his book via netglley. I have read several of this author's works and generally find them a good read. This book starts off at pace in developing a narrative about a war that raised as much Conflict in the country fighting it as in the arena of war itself. The idea of crafting the storyline around a small, often forgotten flank of female nurses was i thought unusual.. The initial unfolding of events in Vietnam, the development of the female characters both in their work and recreation was i thought generally well done.

The book itself is edging towards the lengthy side and at times lt had a certain amount of predictability to it - I felt I could see where it was going well before the next events in the book were unfolded.

I loved the characterisation of Frankie, Ethel and Barb and I do feel the author truly captured the enormity of what they faced in Vietnam. I don't know whether I truly didn't like the way it developed in the aftermath or whether I just wished that things could have been different

The Women tells a story about the Vietnam War, but from the perspective of the women who diligently served but were forgotten for too many years.

Our protagonist is Frankie, and what a character she is. Coming from a privileged American family, she is expected to be demure and to expect little more than marriage and motherhood. But as Frankie sees her beloved brother off to war, she makes a bold decision. Against her parents wishes she signs up and as she starts her first shift as a nurse in Vietnam, she realises just how sheltered a life she had led.

She becomes a hero and finds her purpose. But life and loss take their toll. She falls in love and experiences overwhelming grief.

This book doesn't pull any punches when recounting the horror of war and it was most certainly a difficult read.

Upon returning to the U.S. life becomes perhaps even more difficult for Frankie, and so many others returning from a war that was opposed by so many. Women weren't acknowledged and certainly offered no help.

Alongside the story of war, there is love and grief and healing. This is an epic story that enthralls from the beginning and thankfully leaves the reader with a glimpse of hope which was a welcome conclusion to a book that by necessity has darkness running throughout.

Wow! Powerful, mesmerizing, educational - just read it. Capturing the unappreciated part women played in the Vietnam war. Naive Frankie joins the war effort to make her family proud. Instead she begins a complex journey of self-discovery, while dealing with the post trauma of war and falling deeply in love. Too many facets to even describe, this book rolls effortless from one thought-provoking theme to another in an epic journey. As always, beautifully written, captivating characters, and an attention to details that puts you in the scene itself. Love this writer!

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah is a powerful and poignant novel that beautifully captures the strength, resilience, and spirit of women. Hannah's storytelling is masterful, drawing readers into a vivid portrayal of the challenges and triumphs faced by her characters. The novel's exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds between women is both inspiring and deeply moving. With richly developed characters and a compelling narrative, Hannah delivers a story that stays with you long after the last page. "The Women" is a testament to the courage and determination that define the human spirit, making it a must-read.

What a stunning read! Emotional, powerful, impactful, beautiful and tragic. This is one to really immerse yourself in, lose yourself to the journey and prepare to weep!

I loved this book. It was everything I expected and more. I love Kristin Hannah and all books I've read so far. 5 stars from me

We are taken to the smell, feel, sound of the Vietnam War. It all feels very real and vivid. We hear about Frankie in Vietnam, and then returning to America afterwards.

The author has written authoritatively and cleverly, I would recommend this book.

Kristin Hannah does it again! The Women is another fantastic, compelling, emotional read.

First and foremost, Frankie is such a well-developed main character. Kristin Hannah is known for creating honest, tough and resilient heroines and Frankie is no different. She definitely had her flaws but I felt her naivety and questionable choices made her feel more authentic. I really admired her journey from sheltered rich girl to tenacious and courageous hero.

While Frankie is definitely the central character, the supporting cast is strong too. Barb and Ethel, her friends and fellow nurses, were fantastic. I would have loved to delve deeper into their backstories but I appreciate this was Frankie's story.

The Women beautifully captures the setting of the Vietnam War. Kristin Hannah's vivid descriptions had me feeling like I was right there with Frankie – the roar of helicopters, the oppressive heat, the dampness of the jungle all felt so real.

The story unfolds in two parts. The first half is filled with the drama and intensity of war, while the second half deals with the frustration Frankie faces upon returning home. She struggles with a changed America, deep political divides, and a society that simply doesn't understand the trauma she's experienced.

The pacing of the book was really well done. I found myself flying through it, equally engrossed in both halves of the story. The drama and intensity of the first half had me on the edge of my seat, while the frustration of the second half as nobody would listen to Frankie kept me turning pages.

Kristin Hannah mentions in the author's note that she waited to write this book until she felt she could do it justice. She certainly delivered! The level of research that went into this book, not just about the Vietnam War but also about PTSD, was evident on every page.

The book isn't absolutely perfect. There were moments when I felt like there was too much emphasis on Frankie's outfits, and I would have loved to explore the backstories of other characters like Barb and Ethel in more depth.

Additionally, while Frankie's perspective was undeniably compelling, I couldn't help but wonder what the story would have been like from other viewpoints. However, these are minor quibbles and I'd still rate The Women as one of the best books I've read in a while.

Frankie has lived a sheltered life and lives by the rules. As a young naive and idealistic woman she becomes a nurse and volunteers to serve in Vietnam to try and make a difference. What she discovers there will change her forever. The horrors of war bring about the truest of friendships, whilst she finds her skills as a nurse really do help so many people. When she comes home she finds the opposite of a heroes welcome, and even the Veterans won't acknowledge her service. There were no women in Vietnam is another lie that everyone believes. This story highlights the challenges of the women who did serve, both in Vietnam and when they did return home. Written with honesty, passion and no holds barred, this is so engrossing that it will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

This is a story that had to be told. And in what better hands than those of Kristin Hannah, whose meticulous research, attention to detail and luminous evocation of time and place combine here to deliver an enlightening and unforgettable read.

I’ve read several works of fiction and watched numerous films set in the time of the Vietnam War, but not once have I come across the story of the courageous women nurses, who served alongside men in the very heat of battle, and who returned to their homes in the United States to be discover that there were no Veteran services available to them because “no women served in Vietnam.”

Hannah exposes this travesty through the story of Frankie, a young woman more used to Californian country clubs and cocktail parties than the cauldron of war. But she’s a patriot and an idealist. She’s also a trainee nurse. So, when the call comes for volunteers to join the Army Nurses Corps, Frankie, inspired by her serving brother, signs up.

What follows is an extraordinary tale of bravery, commitment and sisterhood, told against the chaos and destruction that was Vietnam of 1965.

It’s a potent, riveting read. But where it hits hardest is in the aftermath. When Frankie and her fellow nurses return Stateside to have their duty and sacrifice not just ignored but erased from record, leaving them to deal alone with their debilitating PTSD and its impact on their future health and happiness.

There can be no denying that this is a shameful stain on America’s history. It has since been rectified, but I’m grateful to Hannah for bringing it out into the light. Frankie’s story, representative as it is of hundreds of others, is one I’ll never forget.

Epic love, history, power and tension, this was such a good book and one of Kristin Hannah's finest. This needs to come to the big screen immediately. Compelling, addictive, inspiring, heart-breaking, uplifting, all at once.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for my copy - 3/5

Conservative Catholic republican rich girl follows her brother to Vietnam to nurse and make her way to the family military heroes wall - but the path is not smooth.

Frankie McGrath volunteers for the army nursing corps and, after her brother’s death in Vietnam, is still bound to ship out and serve. Frankie sees the horror of war first hand, but also meets the best friends she’ll ever have and falls in love - twice. After her tour is over Frankie comes back to the good ol’ US of A and finds that her service is not appreciated - protests are raging all over the country and the prevailing narrative is that women did not serve. The rest of the book follows her journey to heal from PTSD in a climate where veterans are not heroes.

What was good: the descriptions of Vietnam and of PTSD were vivid and stirring and evocative. The character was believable and her family and friends were well drawn.

What was bad: the endless soapy coincidences. Frankie has 2 lovers come back from the dead! And any bad thing that could happen to her did, with everything coming right in the end of course.

Ultimately I would recommend - the Vietnam war is not something I’ve seen novelised before and certainly not from the perspective of women, and, while this was Meredith Grey levels of an unlucky woman, Kristin Hannah does know how to write a page turner.

This was such a powerful read for me & up there as one of my books of the year. I felt like I had been on a real journey with the main character by the end and had my eyes totally opened to the horrors of the Vietnam war and the treatment of the vets when they returned home.

Kristin Hannah had me so invested in Frankie McGrath, I did something I never do. I skipped to the end. I couldn't bear the idea of continuing to read this book, if Frankie didn't have some sort of hopeful life at the end. Not necessarily the romantic happy-ever-after, but something. You'll have to read it yourself to see how Hannah ties up this vivid account of the women who served as nurses during the Vietnam war, and the way they were received when they returned.

The book is full of vivid characters and has the friendship of three women at its heart. The scenes in Vietnam are particularly strong and reflect the research the author did with women who had served.

This book was fantastic and will stay with me for a very long time.

I absolutely adored the character of frankie and loved seeing her develop as a character throughout the book. I went into this story not knowing much about the Vietnam war but I felt like I was there whilst reading this book due to the beautiful and raw descriptive writing.
A fantastic book and definetly one that I would recommend.