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The Women

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The Women

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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About this listen

From the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane (a Number One series on Netflix), The Women is a story of devastating loss and epic love. It is both an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and a story of a nation divided by war.

It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .

'Women can be heroes, too'. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California's idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.

The Women is the story of one woman who goes to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm's way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has been all too often forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyrical beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define an era.


SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA INTERNATIONAL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2025

©2024 Kristin Hannah (P)2024 Macmillan Publishers International Limited
Best of 2024 Coming of Age Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War & Military Women's Fiction Women's Voices Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Emotionally Gripping

Critic Reviews

'Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful' - Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing

'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' - Bonnie Garmus, Number One worldwide bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

'Powerful and compelling' Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo

'You would be hard-pressed to find a book club that has not discussed one of her novels' New York Times

'A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival' - Kate Morton

'A masterclass' - Karen Swan

'Powerful' - Matt Haig

All stars
Most relevant
I revelled on the depth of the experience of Vietnam War from the perspective of a nurse in this book. The war description used was coherent detailed, and was like anot h er character on the novel. I loved the fearlesness of the main character Franky and the endearing cast of well developed side characters filled.I was saddened, by the world that did her and fer colleagues wrong. This made me feel for today real women they stood for.

Th novel had compelling engafing narrative that gripped one quickly. Perhaps, all characters were a bit larger than life affluent and beautiful, but, that balanced the grit and depth of the historical basis on which it was set.

I learnt so much more than documentaries and facts and figures, as this book let me walk in their shoes. I got to understand why the impactt Aussie Vietnam Vets was so bad. Congratulated and welcomed back way too late, psychologically untreated for way too long and considered an inconvenient truth for too long. I understand my late uncle-in-law way more now, who served on Vietnam, now. Sadly a bit late, but grateful that I can now.

The Women

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This book brought back memories of my own peripheral involvement in the Vietnam War-of being part of a ‘group of three’ young men, all part of the lottery that was the draft for 18 year old men in Australia. I was the one who didn’t get picked. The other two did. They came home different people-one frustrated by spending their time behind a desk in Saigon. The other traumatised by their role as a ‘tunnel rat’, chosen because they had an interest in electronics & telecommunications. This book brought back memories of a generation who took sides in a war fought, both at home & abroad-and the stark reminder of the forgotten part of that generation-the women-also involved-but overlooked-& unremembered. My thanks to the 250,000 who voted for this book in the 2024 Goodreads Awards- that brought this book to my attention. From a grateful listener. Don’t miss it.

‘Lest we forget’

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I cried and i felt the pain that was described in the novel! Loved this book! Even if it was about Vietnam it is so relevant now …

The description of emotions and setting

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perfection on all fronts. performance, story, reader experience. I was so engaged with the story and of course Julia Whelan captures everything.

stirring

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I am now a new fan of Kristen Hannah, this book has been such a positive experience for me.

The story was riveting.

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A revelation. Uplifting and heartbreaking, so important to hear these stories. Couldn’t stop listening put it on top of your reading list.

Bravery of women in Vietnam

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One of the best books I’ve ever read! Highly recommend, heavy topics, heartbreaking, yet beautifully told, so raw and compelling. Such an incredible way to tell such an important story.

One of the best books I’ve ever read

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loved it such a great story, some plot twists you don't expect. the ending needed a little bit more.

love it could stop listening

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Very sad but beautiful story. Well written and incredibly detailed. Brought back lots of memories of that time during the Vietnam war. How horribly our soldiers were treated upon their return and the women who served.

Powerful reminder of the lasting effects of war.

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Wasn’t sold on this story. I stuck at it and really enjoyed it. How sad that the veterans were treated that way when they returned. Just the right amount of romance and friendship.

Wow! What a story. I’ve learnt so much.

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