I wanted to love this book. My bestie raved about it and I’ve had a fascination with Vietnam since I was little. And the idea of a book that focuses on the women of the Vietnam war was so intriguing. Let’s face it - women’s contributions and bravery in war are usually overlooked. In the end, though, my feelings are complicated.

I greatly enjoyed the first half. It IS flawed. Kristen Hannah had a tendency to be a little redundant (“sad, tired eyes”, “warm TaB”, “sucking chest wound”). For all the research she does, some choices are glaring mistakes (no, combat nurses can’t just jump into a helicopter to take a break with some flyboys whenever they show up). That said, I really felt like I was there with Frankie, Ethel, & Barb. The descriptions were vivid and the life of a combat nurse in Vietnam came to life. It kept me turning pages like mad.

Then came the second half. Once Frankie returns home, it just became a repetitive melodrama. It was not a book about women, but an overwrought romance novel. I don’t get anyone acting like there is some great female empowerment in this book. That’s all glossed over while Frankie falls apart over a guy. While her descent into PTSD was described well, it’s centered more around her relationship trauma, except for the bad dreams about Vietnam. These dreams and problems with her family seem to be thrown in as a way to distract from the fact most of her depression is centered around a guy.  On top of that, the author just kept dumping trauma on Frankie (honestly started in first half, but at least Frankie had more agency). There were also a number of anachronisms and I honestly felt like if one more character said “There were no women in Vietnam” I was gonna send Hannah a bill for a therapy session. Seriously. She couldn’t make the point that women are under appreciated and over looked without the idiocy of making even the veterans seem like dumbasses who had never seen or heard of a combat nurse? The friends (who make this The Women) are really just there to constantly pick up Frankie’s pieces, over & over. This half of the book was also just too damn long. 

As for the romances? Ugh. At least 4 men fall instantly in love with Frankie. Why? Don’t know.

Two are KIA just when they are about to be sent home. And then not one, but both come back from the dead? Too much!!! I felt like Rye was simply a plot device to dump more trauma on Frankie. The Jaime romance was sweet, and I liked his character, except the fact that he’s married (as was Rye). The ending - rushed & felt like a Hallmark movie. Maybe if the author had cut some of the misery she kept pouring on Frankie and had given a bit more to the reunion, I would have appreciated it more.