I really appreciated that this book did not sugar coat the wartime experience of the women and men who served. The author mentions in the notes that all of the places and hospitals are real, and that many of the events in the book are compiled from actual experiences of women who served in Vietnam saving the lives of grievously wounded soldiers and airmen. I also appreciate that the author accurately depicted the very mixed and sometimes cruel treatment that veterans endured upon returning. The PTSD that plagued them but was not in the DSM until years later. WWII veterans were treated as heroes, but Vietnam veterans were treated as pariahs. This book depicts the good and the bad: the camaraderie of those who served, but also the flippant disregard of people who used money or influence to shield themselves from serving. Vietnam, like many wars, was a war largely fought by the poor. There were many people who preferred to pretend that the war didn’t exist. I appreciated that even among the descriptions of people being horribly wounded and dying, there are the stories of hope. Soldiers who save each other. The two who carry their friend for miles through the jungle to get him to a hospital. The nurses who hold soldiers hands and give comfort and help the doctors who save lives on the operating table. The lengths that people will go through to help support their brothers and sisters in arms. My generation didn’t fight in Vietnam, but we did fight (and die) in the longest war in US history - Afghanistan. I pray that we have learned our lesson from Vietnam and that we never ever treat our veterans as abominably after a war as Vietnam veterans were treated. They were asked to serve their country, and they did, and they deserve the appropriate amount of support upon return. To all of those who served, in Vietnam or otherwise, thank you for your service. You are not forgotten.

Kristin Hannah is back, baby!!! In a world where The Nightingale is numero uno I am here to tell you The Women gives it a run for its money! What an emotional rollercoaster ride! In true Hannah fashion, she rips your heart apart and mends it back together but with this one she did it to me several times. In a span of two pages, mine was pieced together just to be shattered again. But the ending. Oh my goodness. That ending. 🥺❤️ Historical fiction has always been a favorite of mine, but the last year or so I haven't really focused on it. I knew when I saw this book releasing I was going to read it and with the high praise I saw right off the bat even before its release, I had a feeling I, too, was going to love it. But I also was hesitant, because Historical Fiction hasn't been my go to lately. It can seem daunting to me at times. They are usually based on true stories and real people, so you know it is going to be an emotional ride. You just don't know if you are ready to embark on that journey or not. If you know what I am talking about or have felt similar, I am here to tell you, do not let that hold you back on reading this book! This book has the emotions of a romance novel, the edge of your seat tension like a thriller, and it is an absolutely must read for everyone! Please don't let this one pass you by. Even if historical fiction is not your normal go to genre, I promise this one is worth it! Hannah's writing is something magical. You are immediately hooked and transported to this world she has created on page one. In our world of reading books, there are good writers, there are bad writers, and then there are phenomenal writers. And Kristin Hannah, my friends, is a phenomenal writer!! When you read her books, you are seeing the words play out inside your head so easily, you feel like you are watching a movie. She is cinematic and that is how I know this book is going to translate so well to screen. How can it not with the foundation she has provided them?? (Yes, Warner Bros. has picked this up for a film! 🙌) So many HF novels focus on WWII. I love those books just as much as the next person, but it is so refreshing to get a different time period, especially from a queen like Hannah. I know nothing of the Vietnam War. I do remember seeing footage of how some people reacted and their opinions of the war, but not to the depths this book takes you on. Or how women were treated that were veterans in this war. That was eye-opening and heart wrenching, but sadly not surprising. Yes, this felt personally for me. As a nurse and a former ICU nurse, I love when we get a protagonist that is also in my field. But this book gutted me and made it feel like Hannah personally dug deep into my soul and stirred up feelings I had buried down deep with this one. I was wrecked. Like sitting in a Mexican restaurant with people all around with tears streaming down my face wrecked while reading this book. I can't tell you the last time a book emotionally wrecked me like this one did. Now I am not saying everyone will have that visceral reaction. In fact most probably won't, but I am just telling you that is the response this book got from me. 😅 As usual, I went in blind not knowing what this book was about. I saw high praise and great feedback so I was excited, but like I said earlier I wasn't expecting this response from reading it. If you'd like to know a short synopsis of the book, it centers around a combat nurse, Frankie, who as recently graduated from nursing school, and despite her parents' protests and disappointment she has joined the Army to assist as a combat nurse in the Vietnam War. You watch Frankie transform from a naive, young girl who is in way over her head into a straight rockstar and that is something I think everyone in our field can relate to despite all of us not being in a similar predicament she is in. It is divided into two parts. Frankie's experience during the war and when she comes home. That was another unique take that I appreciated from the author. So many books stay in the combat part of war. Rarely have I read one where you go with the protagonist when they come back home and deal with the "After" part. There are some triggers, so if you want to know more about those feel free to reach out! I've never read a book centered around the Vietnam War, so I am extremely grateful Hannah chose this time period to write this amazing novel. And if you haven't gathered it already, I highly recommend this book for everyone. You are simply doing yourself a disservice if you skip over it. Period. **Also fun fact and as if i couldn't love this book anymore, my name made an appearance in the book. Granted it was spelled different (Celine), but it was still a pleasant surprise. ☺️

The Women hurt me in all of the best ways. This was my first book by Kristin Hannah, and it will certainly not be my last. Her storytelling is beautiful, effectively capturing all of each character's emotions and sending those feelings straight into your heart. I had to put this book down and take breaks because it made me so emotional, though I enjoyed it very much. It is a top read of 2024, for me. Frankie's naïveté in the beginning makes her a bit awkward, wholly unprepared for what's to come. I enjoyed getting to know her through the events and moments she experienced with Barb, Ethel, Jamie, and everyone she meets. Every place she visits. Everyone she helps. Everyone she saves. The traumatic effects of war on Frankie both in and after Vietnam cannot be understated. We navigate grief, fear, rejection, heartbreak, ignorance, betrayal, and so much more with her, seeing the consequences not only of the decisions she makes, but the ones that were made for her. Through each hurt and every trouble, after all she survives, there's a considerable difference in the woman she was and the woman she becomes, and that woman is an embodiment of resilience. Understanding the reality of what women faced with their military service, the critical roles they played, is so important, and I think Kristin Hannah, while writing a fictional story, highlighted them with care.