Title : The Women    Author: Kristin Hannah    Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (2024) Categories: Romance, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age     Age Groups: 14 and up (explicit words and scenes, drinking, drug use, and violence) Rating: 4.6/5 Stars

A few hours into reading The Women by Krisitin Hannah, I had to put the book down. When a book is put down, it’s often for unpleasant reasons. Most people put a book down out of anguish or frustration. The Women, however, was not put down as a result of dislike, it was put down because I had finished the recounting of the first of many gut wrenching heartbreaks. For me, at least, the description of the first tragedy was so poignant and emotional that I needed time to process. That is the reality of this book; the story requires much emotional perseverance to read, and is worth every ounce of empathy required.

The Women by Kristin Hannah chronicles the journey of Frankie McGrath, a young woman from Coronado Island, California, during the time before and after the Vietnam War. Frankie is just out of college with a nursing degree and decides to follow her brother into service.  McGrath experiences loss, love, and change while deployed, and comes back a different woman in many ways. The rest of the novel covers her difficult adjustment to home and her internal war with her PTSD. While at home she experiences even more love and loss; it seems as though she can never catch a break.

The first few chapters explore the McGrath family’s complicated dynamic that reflects the misogynistic views of the time. A symbol – the McGrath family’s “honor wall” – is also presented within the first scenes. The writing style stays constant throughout the novel with new symbols and themes being revealed without much deep thinking required to find them. 

Parts of this book would have landed it in the high four star category (maybe 4.75 stars). However, it’s the book’s predictability and simple nature that keep it from receiving that higher accolade. While most of the heartbreaks are necessary to perpetuate the storyline and justify the fact Frankie has had a hard time, not all of them are necessary. After a point, the reader watches Frankie begin a new relationship and thinks: oh well, here we go again. 

Additionally, many have said that they’re bothered by Frankie’s personality and naivety at the beginning of the novel. It’s easy to understand how one can get annoyed by Frankie’s rose-colored-glasses look on the world, but I don’t think it can necessarily be considered a negative. Frankie’s obscene level of naivety is necessary in order to emphasize the change that she undergoes while away at war. It’s also needed to allude to the themes of class and honor that are woven within the story line. Without her initial cluelessness, her loss of innocence wouldn’t be as severe in the eyes of the reader. 

Finally, the book is geared towards women. This book is a popular book-club read and is on many chick-lit best reads lists. The story has multiple scenes discussing things like periods, childbirth, and child loss. Most of the story invites the reader to empathize with Frankie throughout her troubles – many of them related to the sexism and misogyny she encounters –  which may be difficult for those who don’t identify as women to do. That’s not to say that others can’t enjoy this book; however, it just means that one has to approach this book with an open mind. 

Despite its deficits, The Women still has plenty of things going for it that make it a worthwhile read. For starters, the story itself doesn’t boast complicated language. The storyline doesn’t require deep analysis to understand the implications of the author and to feel engaged. Though The Women may appeal mostly to women, it is a fairly accessible story to all reading levels. It also has something for everyone. Though the book is primarily historical fiction, it can also be considered a romance novel and coming of age story. Each genre is given an appropriate amount of time to shine, and none of the three is overpowered by another. 

 The most remarkable part of the story, however, is the way it makes readers feel. The book itself is not overwhelmingly happy. It tests your emotional intelligence and ability to empathize with Frankie during each major event in her story. Yet, somehow, it could still be a beach read. This book is versatile :. It hooks you in so you can’t stop reading yet makes you want to put it down to give yourself time to process – it’s beautifully complicated. 

Kristin Hannah has authored over 20 books, many of them historical fiction. I’ve read a few, and so far this one is my favorite. This book, while simple on the outside, is full of layers, details, and embellishments that make you want to re-read chapters to make sure you didn’t miss anything. I particularly appreciated this book because it chronicles a time not frequently discussed. The Vietnam War was, and still is, a source of much political sensitivity and debate. Despite the overwhelming number of American deaths, the Vietnam War historical fiction section is lacking when compared to the section on the Dust Bowl, World Wars I and II, and the Civil War. Not only did Hannah dare to write about a period of time when the US was defined by political upheaval, she also took it a step further by emphasizing a marginalized group during the war: the women. This book is no doubt powerful, and it’s easy to see why it shot to fame quickly after being published. If it weren’t for the predictability of the story line it could have easily been in the five star territory. If you’re on the fence about joining the likely 20 person waiting list for this book at your local library, let me just say this: read this book not because TikTok told you to, but because you want to hear the stories of the women who have gone unappreciated for decades. Help give them their voice. You won’t regret it.