Kristin Hannah, an award-winning author known for her deeply emotional and historically rich novels, delivers another powerful story in The Women, a poignant exploration of a forgotten side of the Vietnam War—through the eyes of a female army nurse. Known for books like The Nightingale and The Great Alone, Hannah masterfully intertwines themes of war, trauma, love, and survival in her works, and The Women is no exception.

Kristin Hannah’s The Women explores the compelling story of Frankie McGrath, an Army nurse in Vietnam, facing both the trauma of war and complicated relationships. While the plot is strong, the novel struggles to separate Frankie’s PTSD from her relationship issues, making it difficult for readers to differentiate between the two. The writing doesn’t convey deep emotion, with the most impactful moment coming at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Despite some strong elements, the story lacks emotional intensity and feels rushed, especially in how the ending neatly resolves Frankie’s relationships.

About the Author: Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah is a New York Times bestselling author with over 20 novels to her name. A former lawyer turned full-time author, her works often delve into complex human emotions, relationships, and the resilience of the human spirit. Her notable works, including The Nightingale and Firefly Lane, have received critical acclaim and established her as one of the top contemporary authors in the genre of historical fiction and women’s fiction. With The Women, she continues her tradition of highlighting lesser-told stories in history, this time focusing on the role of female nurses during the Vietnam War, giving readers a raw and emotional look into the untold struggles of women in combat.

Book Synopsis: The Women

The Women tells the story of Frankie McGrath, an army nurse who bravely serves in Vietnam, facing both the physical and emotional tolls of war. Set in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the novel portrays Frankie’s journey through two tours in Vietnam, where she lives in the same harsh conditions as her male counterparts, treating the wounded soldiers brought in from the battlefield. As a nurse, she witnesses unimaginable trauma on a daily basis, and this constant exposure to death and injury begins to take a toll on her mental health.

Frankie falls in love twice during her time in Vietnam—first with a married doctor, a relationship she resists for moral reasons, and later with Rye, a fellow serviceman. Both relationships end in heartbreak, as the doctor is killed in action and Rye’s sudden death crushes her spirit. Upon returning to the United States, Frankie faces a country that is unsympathetic and disconnected from the war, and she struggles to find her place. Her parents even lie about her service to spare themselves shame.

Her life spirals into turmoil, culminating in two mental breakdowns and battles with PTSD, exacerbated by the betrayal and abandonment she experiences in her personal life. Ultimately, the novel explores how Frankie attempts to reclaim her identity and sanity in the face of immense loss, betrayal, and the invisible wounds of war.

Why It’s Similar to Kristin Hannah’s Other Works

Like many of Hannah’s novels, The Women is steeped in emotional depth, with themes of love, loss, trauma, and redemption playing a central role. The story of Frankie’s life after Vietnam shines a spotlight on the personal costs of war, particularly for women whose contributions and sacrifices have historically been overshadowed. Hannah has an exceptional talent for bringing historical settings to life, and with The Women, she humanizes the Vietnam War in a way that few authors have done before.

10 Similar Books to The Women and Why They’re Comparable

1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Why it’s similar: Another Hannah masterpiece, The Nightingale focuses on two sisters in Nazi-occupied France, highlighting the untold stories of women’s contributions to war efforts and their struggles to survive.
2. Home Before Morning by Lynda Van Devanter Why it’s similar: A memoir by a Vietnam nurse, this book shares the real-life experiences of the women who served during the war, offering a candid look at the psychological trauma they faced, much like Frankie in The Women.
3. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien Why it’s similar: Although centered on male soldiers in Vietnam, this novel touches deeply on the emotional weight of war and PTSD, echoing the trauma experienced by Frankie in The Women.
4. A Piece of My Heart by Keith Walker Why it’s similar: This book collects the voices of the women who served in Vietnam, both in combat and in support roles, offering multiple perspectives on the war that reflect Frankie’s own challenges.
5. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah Why it’s similar: In this gripping novel, Hannah explores the themes of survival, trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit through a post-Vietnam War veteran and his family, making it a strong thematic companion to The Women.
6. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris Why it’s similar: Though set during World War II, this story focuses on love, loss, and survival under the most brutal circumstances—similar to Frankie’s story of hope and devastation during Vietnam.
7. The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff Why it’s similar: Like The Women, this historical novel focuses on women’s overlooked roles in war, telling the story of female secret agents in World War II who face personal and physical dangers, similar to Frankie’s narrative.
8. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes Why it’s similar: A gritty, realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War from the perspective of soldiers, Matterhorn delves into the harsh conditions and psychological toll of combat, much like Frankie’s experiences in The Women.
9. When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis Why it’s similar: Set during World War II, this book tells the story of a woman who steps up to coach a football team after all the men leave for war, focusing on themes of female resilience in male-dominated spaces, much like Frankie’s journey in Vietnam.
10. Girl at War by Sara Nović Why it’s similar: This novel follows a young girl’s coming-of-age during the Yugoslavian Civil War, dealing with PTSD and trauma similar to Frankie’s as she tries to rebuild her life after witnessing violence and loss.

Each of these books, like The Women, centers around themes of war, trauma, and the untold stories of women who endure hardship and challenge in historically male-dominated spaces. Whether through personal narratives or fictional accounts, these novels offer a powerful exploration of the human cost of conflict, much like Kristin Hannah’s moving depiction of Frankie McGrath’s life in The Women.