The Women

Kristin Hannah has done it again, folks. In her new novel, The Women, the reigning queen of American historical fiction takes on the Vietnam War in her inimitable epic style.

The year is 1965. Frances “Frankie” McGrath is young but already knows she wants to make a difference in the world. Then at a party she gets asked a question that spurs her to action: why can’t a woman be a hero as well? Not long after, Frankie enlists in the Army Nurse Corps to serve in Vietnam, following in the footsteps of her recently deployed brother.

While serving, Frankie experiences all the horrors and chaos of war. Boys younger than her brother shot. Psychological traumas and insufficient training rampant. Nonetheless, she does her best to provide care and assistance and avoids buckling with the support of two roommates who become lifelong friends. When Frankie eventually returns home, we watch as she struggles to reintegrate into a society that does not even see her as a hero. But she is resilient and battles onto a new path and outlook.

Prepare to shed at least a few tears. As in 2021 BOTY winner The Four Winds, here Hannah has crafted a potent tale about people defying the odds. In this particular case, she shines needed light on undersung female war heroism and the role it played in shaping our nation in a pivotal moment. The Women will deeply move and inspire you. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy.

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 overwhelmed 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.