I first came across Kristin Hannah’s books while I was in college (2000), and since then, I’ve been hooked. Of her 25 novels, I’ve read 25. She’s one author of who I am a die-hard fan. I read everything she writes. There’s only been one of her novels that I wouldn’t read again and it wasn’t this one. In fact, this Christmas I re-read Comfort and Joy for my 4th time. Kristin Hannah’s stories always draw me in with their heartfelt emotions and relatable characters. Her latest novel, The Women, is no different.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is an emotional story set during the Vietnam War. It shines a light on the courage and sacrifices of the women who served as nurses. What stood out to me in this book were the deep friendships forged in the chaos of war, but I expected that from Kristin Hannah as she writes profound “girlfriend” stories. I bet in real life she has a solid “girlfriend” group. These friendships and bonds became lifelines, helping each other survive and heal in unimaginable circumstances. With that said, I think there was one unrealistic element, another disappointing element, and one large missed opportunity in the story, but I’ll get to that soon.

A Story That Brings Vietnam to Life

Kristin Hannah has a way of pulling you into her settings, and The Women brings Vietnam to life with haunting clarity. The suffocating heat of the jungle, the deafening roar of helicopters, and the chaos of field hospitals. Not to mention, the awful scent—it’s all so vividly described that you feel like you’re right there with Frankie (Frances McGrath), the main character. Her first impression when she arrives is a vivid description that stays with the reader. Then, the descriptions of their trips into the village to administer relief to the Vietnam residents were vivid and poignant. Armed with medical supplies they would set out on their journey with a sense of purpose to administer aide and compassion. The roads were often treacherous, lined with snipers and unspeakable danger. The scenes they would find when they arrived was heartbreaking. Wounded men, women, and children.

Two Worlds: The War and Back Home

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the contrast between life in Vietnam and life back home (United States of America). In Vietnam, Frankie experienced immense fear, loss, and grief. But she also experienced fleeting moments of camaraderie that give her the strength to keep going. But when Frankie returns home, she faces a completely different kind of battle. Protesters confront her, calling her a “baby killer” and spit on her. This stark divide between the reality of the war and the perception of it back home adds so much depth to the story and highlights the struggles faced by so many veterans, especially those who volunteered and were proud of their service as opposed to those who were drafted and did not believe in the war.

Leadership and the Media

Hannah also dives into the political landscape of the time, showing how decisions made by leaders like President Lyndon B. Johnson and the way news was presented to the public shaped opinions about the war. Frankie’s firsthand experiences in Vietnam often clash with what Americans were being told back home. In one powerful scene, she listens to a radio broadcast where the president insists the war is under control, even as she’s surrounded by overwhelming casualties and chaos. It’s a stark reminder of how different the truth can be from the stories we’re told, and it makes you think about the impact of leadership and media on public perception. I know this is an especially hot topic today in our present world and culture.

Final Thoughts and Some Critical Comments About The Women by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah’s The Women isn’t just a story about war—it’s a story about humanity, friendship, and finding strength even in the darkest times. It’s emotional, thought-provoking, and unforgettable. BUT, that does not mean that I thought it was flawless. I have two or three critical points that I want to point out.

First, I think there was one really big missed opportunity. I really, really, really expected, and WANTED Finley to step off the plane as a returned prisoner of war. For heaven’s sake, Kristin Hannah masterfully set that up, telling the McGraths they should bury “Another Man’s Boots” in his coffin. I was so disappointed when Hannah missed that opportunity. It was a way she could have also redeemed the father. Finley could have mentioned a nurse who helped him or a friend. He could have helped their father see that Frankie and the other nurses were important in the war. I know her father apologized to her at the Vietnam Memorial, but what about the family “Hero’s Wall.”

In my opinion, his return could only have added to the story. We could have still had the accidents and suicide attempts. I would have swapped out his struggles for the mother’s stroke.

I can’t stress enough how let down an disappointed I was about him Finley not stepping off that plane, or another one.

Now, for my unrealistic element. Every single time Frankie needed them, Ethel and/or Barb, her two best girlfriends dropped everything and came running to her side. This would be fine if they were closer, but these women crossed the country by plane. They left jobs and family and always had the finances to pay for a plane ticket. Nope, absolutely not, especially considering the life circumstances of a college veterinary student and a minority woman still searching for her purpose. To make this realistic to me the friends would need to have lived closer. No more than a state or two away.

Finally, where my nominal disappointment comes in. We could have still had a great book while not making every man on Earth (except Henry and perfect Finley) a horrible, lying, cheating bastard. (I know that is exaggerated, but seriously, there were still good men.) First Jamie, then Rye. I wasn’t surprised. BUT, I was really rooting for Henry. The redeeming element in this was Henry got his happily ever after. Thank you for giving him that. Henry deserved it.

If you’re looking for a book that will stick with you long after you turn the last page, this is the one. Hannah has once again crafted a masterpiece that reminds us of the sacrifices made by so many and the courage it takes to move forward.

The Women by Kristin Hannah BOOK DESCRIPTION

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.

Book Description from Amazon

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