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.

This book was average at most. The concept of women in war, and their struggles both in and out of 'Nam was great but I felt the book didn't live up to its potential.

For starters, this was more about one woman who wasn't all that likeable and her specific experience so the book might as well be named "The Woman". Frankie McGrath's story was underwhelming because it was more snippets about her time in Vietnam and more about her romances with men. I didn't understand what made her so special that any man who saw her fell for her.

I struggled with the second part of the book. Most of the characters were underdeveloped and two-dimensional. I would've liked to know more about Barb who interested me the most. Whatever “plot-twists” there were, I could see coming and was dreading them. It would've been better if the story had different POVs with a few women showing us what it was like for them during and after the war than making it about Frankie.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-copy.

2.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

If you're going to read one book this year make it this one. The Women by Kristin Hannah is my first read by this author and I think it will be in one of my top, recommended reads of 2024.

I'm a fan of historical fiction and have read one book about the Vietnam war from a reporters perspective. The Women follows nurses in the Vietnam War and the years afterwards. It's been a while since I've been this absorbed in a book and I was pulled into the story right from the first page. I really liked the authors writing style, it is engaging, eloquent, beautifully descriptive and I felt like I was in Vietnam with Frankie following all she did. The author doesn't hold back with the horrors and brutality of war and in my opinion captures her characters thoughts, feelings and emotions perfectly. This is a sad, poignant and very emotional read at times that really got to me and I think will stay with me for a while after finishing it. I really liked Frankie who is determined, compassionate and comes into her own in Vietnam. Her friendships with Ethel and Barb save her on her return home where no one understood how she was feeling or even believe she was there. Kristin Hannah has captured a war and its aftermath so well in her writing I read this book in under 2 days, and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it and the characters I'd really taken to and was rooting for. Not many books make me feel this way. The second half of the story was slower paced and eloquently reflected the times and society with the protests, how the veterans were treated and ignored and yet still was a read I struggled to put down. I really, really liked the ending, it surprised me and I think gives the best closure to a great read.

5 stars

Kirstin Hannah writes the emotional story of a young woman who follows her brother to Vietnam in order to become a hero in the eyes of her father.

Although, her experiences as an Army Nurse were even more horrendous than she expected, she found her purpose caring for the men injured in war and honing her nursing skills. The first half details her experiences during her tours in Vietnam and the second half is how she struggles to integrate back into a society (including her own family) that not only doesn’t value but doesn’t even acknowledge her service.

I thought the portrayal of the experiences of war in Vietnam for the nurses and the struggle for her and other veterans to deal with the aftermath of war was well done. It details her PTSD in a time before much was known about it. This was particularly difficult for the women as their service was not even recognised.

However, I do wish that the second half had focussed more on the stories of Frankie’s friends’ post war experiences rather than the romance story lines. I found those too predictable and far fetched. The important story of the other women of Vietnam felt like it could have explored more fully. But I flew through the book and did enjoy it so if you are a Kirstin Hannah fan, I would recommend it. Thank you to NetGallery Pan MacMillan for the ARC.

I think I can confidently say that I have just found the best book I will read in 2024! Having been to Vietnam, I was curious to read this book, I know Kristin Hannah is a big author (although haven't read any others) and so expected that this was probably going to be a popular one. I could not have expected how good this was going to be.

The first part of this book, is incredible. The research that the author has done has been so thorough that this part of the book is perfect. It's believable, lifelike, realistic and heart wrenching. The way the author writes, your senses come alive and I cried numerous times. Frankie is a warrior - you cannot help but love her.

The second part of the book - I thought I would hate. BUT it grew and grew and grew on me and by the end I probably liked the second part as much as the first. Especially the end!! I'd forgotten and then it happened and...I cried! Instead of just loving Frankie, you want to fix her in this part. Her struggles and her turmoil, her grief and her trauma! It's heartbreaking.

This is by no means a 'nice' book, BUT it is an incredible book. As I put this down - I sent recommendations to my reader friends. Everyone must read this book!

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Easily a 5 star book!
Having loved the Nightingale and The Four Winds so much I was hesitant as to whether this would match up, but no need to worry. The Women was brilliant.
I felt every inch as frustrated as Frankie throughout the book, hoped and wished that the happy ending would come and enjoyed the ride through Vietnam and back. Such a great book, so grateful for the ARC!

This was a fantastically well researched book covering a subject which I haven’t encountered in fiction before- the women who volunteered in the Vietnam War. It is blunt in its depiction of what being in a mobile field hospital in a terrifying and brutal war was like and is not an easy read.

The book is in two parts- the first during Frankie’s service and her placements in two units, the second as she tries to fit back in to society when she returns.

Frankie’s background is a crucial factor in her joining the military-but also in how difficult she finds it to re-enter a world that denies her any value in what she has achieved. It infuriates you as a reader how often she is blocked in her endeavours to fit back in- or to access any kind of support. It’s a heartbreaking reminder that this was the reality for a generation of men and women returning from a war they shouldn’t have ever been sent to which damaged them immensely, both physically and mentally.

There is horror, trauma, intense friendship and love, addiction, recovery and hope in these pages and this book will stay with me. I would happily have read an even longer book, but it finished on an upswing in Frankie’s world and that worked very well.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion. It was 5 ⭐️for me!

I write this with tears streaming down my face, having just finished reading this incredible piece of work. Believe it or not, this is the first Kristin Hannah book I've ever read. It will absolutely not be the last! I loved the screen adaptation of ‘Firefly Lane’ and I hope, and pray, that ‘The Women’ gets similar treatment. We need a limited series, people! Also, can someone please make a playlist of all the songs? By the time I realised there wasn't one, I was too far into the book to start. There are loads of superb songs referenced throughout, and it really helps to set the scene. And what a scene! The first half of the book takes place in Vietnam during the war. Frankie is a nurse, tending to casualties in extremely challenging circumstances. The latter half follows her return home. Kristin Hannah has done an exemplary job of illustrating that there were, indeed, women in the Vietnam war! She shows us who they were, what their contributions looked like and how it impacted their entire lives. The characters throughout the book are incredibly well-drawn. I really felt immersed in the story, and their lives, whilst reading and I'll miss them now that I've finished the book. An outstanding read and one which I will very highly recommend, far and wide!

This is not an easy read.
It’s a war story, set for a large part in a ‘MASH’ unit so a lot of violence, death and goriness, and you should probably avoid this one if reading about such disturbs you.

Frankie, a sheltered, middle-class girl with a brand new nursing qualification enlists as an army nurse early in the Vietnamese War to ‘make her father proud’.. Hopelessly naive, Frankie faces an incredibly steep learning curve in a world she could never even have imagined.
The first half deals with her experiences in Vietnam, the friendships and relationships made, and often lost in tragic ways.
The second half deals with her life ‘after’- she returns home to an America hostile towards the war, and those who served, where PTSD was not a ‘thing’, and where most people didn’t acknowledge that women even served in the war. Frankie struggles to cope on many levels.
The story is well researched, and well written and drew me in. KH almost tries to fit in too much happening to the one character, but it does convey how overwhelming Frankie’s experiences were. It’s an intense, emotional rollercoaster. A very good book, and gives some fascinating insights into that period of history.

The Women by Kristin Hannah a NetGalley review. Wow, wow, wow, get your tissues at the ready. This book blew me away and I think I felt every emotion for the characters inside. Kristin Hannah had this amazing way of writing, she is without a doubt one talented author and seems to always knock it out if the park; her stories always have this flow and the stories come alive off of the pages, like you are watching a film rather than reading a book. I love the authors eye for detail, another reason why her stories always work with such success and this book is no exception; she also writes with a maturity and confidence, writing about things she could never have experienced. This book is about student Frances McGrath, whose world changes in an instant when her brother dies in Vietnam, which changes her path in life forever. Yet this story is so much more than that, it’s about women, the forgotten women of this war, who although fiction, were forgotten in this war and all wars. Frances is probably one of the best characters have read about in a while, she’s someone I hugely admired and was at time in awe in; her strength is hard to put into words, she has her weakness, which make her feel real and though I say weakness in many ways that isn’t the right word because understandably after the war, she struggles with her mental health. At this time this book is set, there is mental health help for men, as they were in combat and a woman and a nurse her mental health was dismissed twice when Frances sought help. It’s sickening and shocking. Frances is strong, strong willed, confident and unsure of herself outside of Vietnam, she’s grieving her brother and her relationship with her father and those men she lost while at war. Frances is determined, she is kind, an amazing nurse, is scared to ask for help. Frances wants to be loved and to love someone and she’s trusting. The book isn’t just about Frances, it’s about the friends she made and the other woman that fought in this war fiction and non fiction. As an author she reminds me a lot of Jodi Picoult, so if you’ve never read anything by this author but are a fan of Jodi then I have no doubt you will love this book. I have no doubt you will love this book anyway. When the author is in the midst of writing a war scene the pages of the book disappeared and that shows how amazing this authors writing is. Even now we hear about men fighting wars but it’s very rare that we hear if the women. I was sat up at the hospital reading the last few pages of this book and I was nearly in tears, it grabbed my heart, had I been at home I think there would have been tears and for a boom to be able to do that, is something special indeed. I can’t recommend this book enough and I actually recommended it to a doctor at the hospital yesterday. Without this book is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and this has reminded to read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I am a big fan of Kristin Hannah and always look forward to her books. I have just finished reading The Women and I am literally lost for words! Honestly this has got to be one of the best books I’ve ever read! I’ve never felt such a strong range of emotions from a book before. I sobbed my heart out many times and fell in love with the characters. The descriptions of Frankie’s time in nam were so well written and authentic that I felt as though I was there with her. The ending was beautiful and absolutely broke me! Thank you to Kristin Hannah for sharing this wonderful piece of writing with us all. This book will stay with me for a very long time. Absolute perfection.