Date of Reading: 22/09/2025
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Rating: 5/5
About the book:
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.
Review:
My mind is still reeling from the weight of what I have read. Alright, I knew Kristin Hannah is popular. . . but this? None of the reviews prepared me for all these twists and turns, heartbreaking pain and the strong bond of friendship that feels too unreal. It took some time to get into the story, but after that ten percent mark, there was no turning back. I was bedridden with back pain, and this book was all the solace I needed.
It all begins with a Gone with the Wind style moment. There is the party at the McGrath family celebrating the only son's military initiation; the daughter hiding inside the library looking at the hero's wall devoid of women, and then comes the supposedly playboy character who delivers the punch dialogue that changes the course of the life of a determined young girl: "Women can be heroes". A part of me wished this would develop into another Scarlett - Rhett romance, but sadly, that is not the case here. So dear readers, be ready to be surprised. Keep the tissues close -- this is going to be a roller coaster.
A nurse by profession, Frances signs up for Vietnam War and her one tour turns into two. But Vietnam is not like any other wars. Frances comes back to protesters who condemn the sacrifice and service she made, instead of the heroic welcome she expected. War changes men and women in irreversible ways and Kristin Hannah has perfectly captured the journey of this young woman who moves from the death of her old self to embracing a new one.
I picked up this book after visiting Vietnam, craving something connected to the place I had just left. Well, this doesn't give you a pretty picture, but it definitely is one of the best books I came across this year.
Meet the author:
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
