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BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Women: A Novel

A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times!

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

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 over-whelmed 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.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Feb 6, 2024

480 pages

Average rating: 8.7

9,748 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Mmarostegui
May 20, 2025
10/10 stars
Frances “Frankie” McGrath joins the army to be a nurse in 1965 in Vietnam. Her brother dies in the war, and Frankie has to navigate her conservative parents' disagreement with her "service" as well as her father's opinions that women aren't heros for his "hero wall" in his office. She falls in love over there with a married man, and as he is returning home, he's shot down. She then falls in love with another man, who broke off his engagement to be with her, and she finds out that he's also been killed in action. (Turns out he was captured of a prisoner of war, and when he comes home years later, she discovers he was actually married and has a child). Frankie comes home to a nation that calls her a "baby killer" and angry protests, and a denial, even by the VA, that women went to war. She sacrificed so much, and now, when addicted to alcohol, and suffering from PTSD, no one is there for her, including her parents. Finally, Frankie finds herself in helping other women of war, building a ranch to help those like her, and in the end, at the Vietnam memorial, meets the original man she fell in love with, who is now divorced, and they end up together at the end.
Staci W
May 19, 2025
10/10 stars
Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre to read however I highly suggested this book because even those who do not enjoy historical fiction will LOVE this author. She has a way of pulling you into the history through the stories of the fictional characters. Her writing is beautiful and this book tells not only a realistic portrayal of the Vietnam war and the suffering of veterans both during war and after return home, many of whom a lot of us have known in our own lives, but from the perspective of the the women, the Vietnam war nurses. It has all the feels! If you enjoy this book by Kristin Hannah, I highly recommend reading also by her “Winter Garden” WWII and Holocaust and “Nightengale”
A.rub.reads
May 18, 2025
9/10 stars
This is not a book I would have put on my TBR if I’m being honest. The story held me and then I couldn’t put it down. This tragic story of endurance through heart aches and suffering and loss, as the main character searches for hope in a world turned upside down. The end brought me to tears and only left me slightly wanting to know the rest. I will be reading more of Kristin Hannah’s work!
Dramaqueen65
May 15, 2025
Generally very well received, with some of us liking it more than others. It did make for great discussion.
Aly H.
May 12, 2025
10/10 stars
10/10

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