The Women by Kristin Hannah

 My Rating: 4.9

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" realizes that women can go off to war, it is a revelation. Raised in the 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.

This tells the story of the women in Vietnam - the grit, the heroics and the friendships. It also encompasses their return to the U.S., their bitter 'welcome' home and their struggle to acclimate after their experiences in the war. Hannah does a wonderful job of developing the characters and bringing us with them into the war scene. It is vivid, real and touching. Highly recommend.