The Women

A Novel

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah

A 2025 Audie Award winner for Best Fiction Narrator!

"Kristin Hannah’s potent storytelling skills are brilliantly served by narrator Julia Whelan, whose limber, low-pitched voice moves nimbly from person to person, capturing personality and mood, her empathy palpable." —The Washington Post

"A moving, skillfully narrated story about women’s friendships and the ongoing physical and mental consequences of war.”—Library Journal

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2024 Kristin Hannah (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Kristin Hannah Knocked it Out of the Park

Kristin Hannah Knocked it Out of the Park with this one. It is evident the amount of research she put into this book. The emotional swings in this book sure pulled at my heart strings. I cried happy and sad tears. Vietnam was such a difficult time for the men & women that served. Coming home was not what it should have been, especially for the women nurses over there. I remember my POW bracelet from grade school and the upheaval that was happening in our country. She captured both what was happening in Vietnam and here in the US splendidly. I am a reader and not a writer, I am struggling to find the words with how this book left impacted me. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! For anyone from or with connections to Missoula, MT there is a small portion about my hometown were I am proud to live.

Goosebumps

I rarely write reviews, but this was amazing and I have to. For someone who was very young during the Vietnam war I don’t remember much, but I do remember young men who I know serving. I also remember going to a friends house. I’ll need to see her two fallen brothers pictures on the wall in their living room. This book made me cry and I’m not a crier and I highly recommend it. Thank you for writing this story, and for never forgetting.

I’ve got you

I have read a lot of Kristin Hannah earlier work.
I listened to this book in three days. The narrator was wonderful.
My reading likes are all across the board in many genres.
From the start I enjoyed the “ stay tough” writing of the nurses and soldiers that gave so much in the Vietnam War.
As Kristin was, I was in elementary school when “the War” hit its heights.
I remember it well. The growing number of casualties, the protesting, the journalists capturing the atrocities and finally the long overdue acknowledgement of a war lost.
Of lives lost. Of the living lives lost.
And lastly the images of the last choppers taking off from Saigon.

If you are of this time. You will enjoy remember, and honor all who lived, died, and honor their
Sacrifice, resilience and grit.. of pushing through. Thank you.

Thank you Kristin for taking the time to do the deep research to construct a beautiful story.
Your forward says it all.

heart wrenching

This book is both sad and anger inducing. There is so much I didn't know about the Vietnam war or the people who were in it, Once I started it I couldn't stop listening to it. Another good book from Kristin Hannah

Recommendation: Read It

Hardest listen, difficult topic, strong voice

I struggled with the never ending trauma this woman endured. When possible it goes wrong. Yet I listened intently, did my own research and was enamored by what I never knew. Though it feels like trauma is romanticized in her books, I still come back to them. The sheer truth to this story will stay with me forever. I'm thankful for this raw look at life.

Riveting and Important Story told by one of the greatest writers

I am an avid reader. I read so many books, but I look forward to reading any book by Kristin Hannah. The Women did not let me down. I was born in 1975, I had an Uncle that served in Vietnam, he sadly took his own life. I have a better understanding of what life was like for Vietnam veterans but more importantly the women who served as well after reading this book. Bravery and sacrifice are reflected in the lives of the people in this book, thank you Kristin Hannah for telling their stories in such a profound way.

Setting the bar for 2024!

Page turner, Vietnam Vets, "from patriots to pariahs". Kristin has set the bar for 2024

Kristen Hannah never disappoints!

I have read a lot of KHs books, I am a huge fan. This book does not disappoint, what does disappoint is the way some Americans treated Vets from the Vietnam war, especially the way the women were treated. It’s shameful, and KH brings it to light. Remembering.

Fantastic story!

Thank you Kristin Hannah for another amazing story! The Vietnam War was the war of my generation and I’m an Army Brat, I thought I knew a lot about this war but I learned so much more from your story. It brought back so many memories of our lives in America during those times, both good and bad. Your wonderful descriptions of Vietnam made me feel like I was there and I so love Frankie and her friends, I’m sad the story had to end!

Must Listen

This was my first KH book and I loved every second of it . I couldn’t put it down. My first 5 star read of 2024 ! Easily one of the best historical fictions I have read