Book Review – The Women

I should have known better than to start The Women right before bed. “Just one chapter,” I told myself at 9pm. At 3am, I was still wide awake, completely immersed in the jungles of Vietnam alongside our protagonist Frankie McGrath. Kristin Hannah has done it again – crafted a story that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go until the very last page.

In 1960s California, Frances “Frankie” McGrath lives a life of privilege on Coronado Island, where her biggest concerns are which cocktail dress to wear to the next society event. But when her beloved brother enlists to serve in Vietnam, something shifts inside her. Staring at her father’s “hero wall” – filled with photos of the men in her family who served – she starts questioning why women can’t be heroes too. Against her family’s wishes, she joins the Army Nurse Corps, trading her comfortable life for the chaos and brutality of a war zone.

The level of research Hannah put into depicting the Vietnam War through a female perspective is extraordinary. The vivid descriptions of the field hospitals, the constant whir of helicopter blades, and the oppressive jungle heat make you feel like you’re right there alongside Frankie. The medical scenes are intense and graphic without feeling gratuitous – they serve to show the reality these brave women faced daily.

What struck me most was how Hannah captured the stark difference between the treatment of male and female veterans after the war. While the men were at least acknowledged as veterans (even if many were shamefully mistreated), the women who served were largely ignored or forgotten. They carried the same psychological wounds but were expected to simply return home and act like nothing had changed. Frankie’s struggle with PTSD and addiction after returning home is portrayed with devastating honesty.

The story spans twenty years, following Frankie through her time in Vietnam and her difficult journey to heal afterward. While some readers might find the pacing slow in parts, I felt the thoughtful progression allowed us to truly understand the long-lasting impact of trauma and war. This isn’t a book you read for plot twists or action – it’s a deep character study of a woman finding her strength in impossible circumstances.

That said, there were a few elements that didn’t quite work for me. Some of the romance subplots felt forced and unnecessary, taking away from the more compelling aspects of Frankie’s story. There are also several coincidences that stretched credibility, particularly in the latter half of the book.

Additionally, while Frankie is well-developed, I wished we got to know more about some of the secondary characters. Her fellow nurses Barb and Ethel had fascinating stories that felt somewhat unexplored. I would have loved to see more of their perspectives, especially since they came from such different backgrounds than Frankie.

But these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise a powerful and important novel. Hannah has given voice to a group of women whose service and sacrifice have been overlooked for far too long. While this isn’t an easy read – keep the tissues handy – it’s a necessary one that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, or if you loved Hannah’s The Great Alone or The Four Winds, this is absolutely worth picking up. Just maybe don’t start it right before bed unless you’re prepared for a very late night.