The Women by Kristin Hannah ~ 480 pages ~ published on February 6, 2024 by St. Martin’s Press
Goodreads Synopsis:
The story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. The Women is that rarest of novels—at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield.
“Women can be heroes, too.”
When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively 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, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation.
What I Thought:
*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!*
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I’ve come to expect nothing less from Kristin Hannah than to have my heart handed to me after having it kicked around a bit. This was such a beautifully written novel that will tear at your heartstrings.
I’ll be completely transparent here, I know next to nothing about the Vietnam war. I didn’t know exactly when we were over there, and definitely not why. The section of this novel that describes what it was like in country was both horrifying and awe-inspiring. I cannot even imagine how I would have handled all that these women handled over there, and with such grace and gumption.
Frankie went through such an emotional journey, from enlisting through her naivety and grief to dealing with the after effects of the war and being treated like a second-class citizen. I was so glad that Hannah decided to cover all sides of her story, before the war, during the war, and after the war. Frankie is a completely different person from the beginning of the book to the end, and it was heart-wrenching to watch her journey.
I absolutely adored Frankie’s friendships with Ethel and Barb. That bond never broke, even after they came home from the war. Friendships formed in adversity can be as strong as steel. I loved that they all had a different experience with the war, and with the aftermath of it. It was such a realistic portrayal of trauma, as well as friendship and love.
I learned so much about the war itself, but also about how America responded to the war and the veterans upon their return. I truly hope that these brave men and women know how much their sacrifice means to our country. Especially the women, who struggled for recognition even from their own fellow soldiers. What a harrowing time and a long overdue story.
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gave The Women 5 Stars!
Are you interested in learning more about this book? Check out the links below!
Have you read any of Kristin Hannah’s previous books? Check out my reviews for some of them here!
Are you a fan of Kristin Hannah’s books? Which is your favorite? Have you read any other books about the Vietnam war? Are there any you would suggest?
Love and happy reading,
Whitney
Whit Reads Lit 