Kristin HannahThe Women: The Bestselling, Unforgettable Novel That Has Captured Millions of Hearts

Frankie’s life is supposed to follow a certain path. Raised by conservative parents, Frankie can be a nurse until she catches the eye of a man who will marry her, then they shall make babies and maybe live happily ever after. But when her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, Frankie decides to diverge from the path her parents have laid out for her, and follow her brother’s instead. She joins the Army Nurses Corps and arrives in Vietnam, as green as green can be.Frankie’s experiences in Vietnam are harrowing for sure. The chaos and destruction is utterly overwhelming. It is remarkably easy to visualise these events in front of your eyes. Men who have lost limbs, who are bleeding from brutal wounds, who are calling out for their mothers while they lie dying in the middle of nowhere. Frankie quite quickly adjusts; she has very little choice; and realises being a nurse is definitely her calling. Along the way she makes friends with Ethel and Barb. Two very different ladies from different backgrounds, but this is a friendship forged in extraordinary circumstances and they will pull one another through on many occasions. In the midst of all this destruction, Frankie will find romance but heartbreak also.As distressing as it is to read about these atrocities, what really angered me was what happened when Frankie returned home. There is no heroes welcome. But more than that, there is no help available to her when she starts to struggle. “There were no women in Vietnam”. Not only were the male veterans forgotten, the female ones apparently didn’t even exist. This story isn’t just about Frankie. It’s about all the women who put their lives in danger, who made sacrifices and did their bit in a war many people were opposed to.‘The Women‘ is engrossing from beginning to end and often highly emotional. There were a few times where I thought I’d need a tissue. It’s naturally completely realistic and believable. Apart from the R & R, which I know happened, but it seems entirely surreal. To think you can go spend a week on a nice beach for a break while you’re supposed to be in the middle of a war. I can’t imagine the research that must have gone into this. Frankie and her friends are memorable characters, and even the romance angle had me hooked.Like with any other novel by Kristin Hannah I’ve read, I can never put into words why I love her stories so much and I’m definitely not doing this latest novel any justice. ‘The Women‘ is really and truly historical fiction from the top shelf. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Kristin Hannah. She’s an amazing storyteller and her beautiful writing is just captivating. This story is powerful, full of insight and immensely compelling. A story of survival, and undoubtedly a story that needed to be told for all the heroic women out there. Past, present and future. Highly recommended!

It's hard to put this heart breaking, heart warming story about Frances, also known as Frank and Frank ie, a nurse who naively travelled to Vietnam to be a hero, like her brother. Not for the faint hearted, you are plunged into war torn medical camps, feel the pain of blown up bodies, gun shot wounds, burns and horrific injuries, but you want the nurses and doctors to pull the soldiers through their traumas. From rocket attacks, Napalm burns, orphaned children, to friendships like no other, follow Frank and her new best friends navigate a man's world, fight for their survival both in country and back home. Feel the outrage as their sacrifices are shunned, spat on, ignored! There are No women in the Vietnam war!This book is a tribute to all who served their country, however they served, from helicopter pilots evacuating wounded soldiers, to men dragging their wounded comrades miles to get treatment, to the physically and mentally exhausted medics, corpse men, doctors and nurses. You are immersed into the horror, the love, the laughter, as well as the tears, the silence, the PTSD, and the addiction. Have your tissues ready......Wow! What a way to bring history to life!

A historical based story about the often forgotten women who served in ‘Nam. Wonderfully written. The enduring thread of friendship and fearlessness between Barb and Frankie stayed with me. I found it very insightful on how veterans were mistreated on their return from the war, and the trauma that continued to haunt them in the context of a world that was still unsure of PTSD and wanted to bury the experiences of so many brave nurses and soldiers. It is a powerful read with so much lightness. Kristin Hannah has a way of telling important tales without being bleak.

The book arrived in perfect condition with no damage. I finished it in just a few days because it was such a gripping read. What struck me most was how honestly it shows not only the war itself, but also the aftermath and the long-lasting effects. I went in expecting more of a romance, but instead found a much deeper and more powerful story. It was moving, emotional, and truly unforgettable.