book review: The Women

Five-star book review for The Women by Kristin Hannah!

Kristin Hannah did not disappoint in this compelling read set during the war in Vietnam. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed planning this book review for The Women.

The Women summary:

From Kristin Hannah, the bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, comes The Women. It’s a powerful story that blends history, heart, and courage. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears the words “women can be heroes,” everything shifts. Raised in the safety of 1960s Southern California, she’s always followed the rules. But when her brother leaves for Vietnam, Frankie decides to do the unthinkable for someone like her: she enlists in the Army Nurse Corps. What follows is a journey that takes her from innocence to resilience as she faces the raw realities of war and the deep bonds that form among those who serve.

Coming home proves to be its own kind of battle. Frankie and her fellow veterans return to a divided America that doesn’t understand the war they survived. Through Frankie’s story, Hannah gives voice to the women whose service and sacrifice were often overlooked. The Women is an emotional, beautifully written tribute to friendship, strength, and the quiet heroism of those who answered the call.

I especially love historical fiction.

It’s so great to get lost in a story and experience another time through the characters. Historical fiction teaches us so much, and this book is no exception. I have read very little about the war in Vietnam, and I found this story to be both educational and compelling. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors, and it was an easy decision to write a book review for The Women.

Reflecting on the book

Frankie’s story begins with questions that still resonate today: how does a woman open up her world, and where does courage begin when no one invites you forward? For Frankie, stepping into that unknown meant leaving behind the safe expectations of her upbringing and choosing to serve in a place where few women had gone before. Even her uniform marked the difference: while the men dressed for practicality, she was required to maintain an image of composure and femininity, complete with polished shoes and a girdle. Beneath that polished surface, though, she carried a growing awareness that the world was far bigger and more complicated than she’d ever imagined.

As Frankie learned to care for the broken bodies of soldiers, she also learned to see beyond their pain. To recognize their humanity and the quiet longing for home that still flickered within them. Her tenderness and attention transformed the way she viewed her work; healing became more than a duty, it became an act of connection. In that space between life and death, Frankie began to understand what compassion looks like when hope feels out of reach.

Through the friendships she formed with Barb and Ethel, Frankie discovered that strength doesn’t always come from standing alone. These women, so different from one another, became family in a place where love and loss were daily companions. Together they endured heartbreak and learned resilience. Their sisterhood became a quiet defiance. A reminder that faithfulness and friendship could still flourish in a world torn apart.

Kristin Hannah painted vivid pictures of the devastation and longing experienced by the medical staff and the locals in Vietnam.

I could feel their exhaustion and need for solace. The stark contrast between the perceptions of people back home and the experiences of those in the thick of the conflict was incredible. The suffering of the civilians–and children–is something we should never forget.

Besides the horrors of the war, the book also delves deeply into the aftermath.

You learn about the veterans’ struggles as they return home and about the political upheaval of that time. How experiences in and around the war shaped a generation. Reading about the difficulties was hard. What struck me the most was how important it is that we are careful with each other.

The title The Women is apt. This book celebrates the strength of women.

When I first heard about the book, I had no idea it focused on the war in Vietnam. Ultimately I understood why the title emphasized the characters. It’s a story about strong, resilient, resourceful women and what they mean to each other. Their story is told amid the conflict and struggles of the war. The sentiment that “you could count on the women” was beautifully portrayed throughout the book.

Definitely recommend!

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Fondly,

Crysti