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bringmybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: One of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah continues to prove that she has an unbelievable way with words. It's unbelievable how quickly she sucks you into a novel and makes you care so much about all of the characters. There are parts of her books (especially her more recent ones) that are a bit melodramatic and require a bit of suspended disbelief, but to be honest I don't know that it bothers me so much.
While there is a bit of heightened drama on the interpersonal side, the research and care that Hannah provides to the historical aspects of her novels is top tier and so welcomed. I feel like I learned a ton about the Vietnam War that I was not aware of before (mostly the women's experience of it), and I was very grateful for this book so that I could do more of my own research.
I did really enjoy the characters in this novel, even when they're making the most piss poor decisions - but my favorite part of the novels, and pretty much all of Hannah's novels, is the way she writes relationships between women. I do think this book is her penultimate example of that, and the relationships between the Frankie and her two best friends will stick with me for a long time.
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ / 4.63
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Graphic: Blood, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Torture, Miscarriage, Murder, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Pregnancy, War, Alcoholism, Cancer, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Self harm, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
jeggert10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: War, Toxic relationship, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Cursing, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Abortion, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Rape
wellreadjen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I found the story about the women in Vietnam engaging and very interesting. I thought the way the sun the or crafted that story as well as the story about their treatment and struggles once home was well done. However the romance aspect of the book I found very poorly done and almost made me put down the book in annoyance. 3 love interests and two are married. The other is a trained psychiatrist who deals with vets and he doesn’t help her get help while they are together even though she is obviously struggling? And the guy it is implied she ends up with was one of the married guys. He did get divorced I guess but he still tried to get together with the main character while he was married. Not a stellar character in my opinion.
It also felt like the author went out of her way to basically say “waiting until marriage to have sex is outdated and stupid” but every time the character had sex with someone people got hurt and things got worse. Ope. Also the random references to abortion even when no character was seeking an abortion was also very odd putting as a prolife woman reader.
Anyway. I felt this had a lot going for it and was dragged down by a poor attempt at adding romantic drama to the book.
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Infertility and Racism
Minor: Abortion
sour_tangent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My Dad was POW in Vietnam, was captured during the Tet Offensive & spent time at the Hanoi Hilton. Both my grandmothers were combat nurses during Vietnam & my Dad's Mom worked for The League of POW/MIA Families after her return. I understand so much more now 😭
My Mom read this book 1st, then my Dad & now I have. My Dad says that Kristin Hannah's descriptions of places he's been were "extraordinarily accurate" & how she wrote the war & the aftermath, when they returned was "excruciatingly well written". He said the book was hard to read at times due to painful memories but also very healing. It was the best of times & the worst of times.
I feel like this book was written for me, but im not narcissist enough to "actually" believe that, but I needed this book more than I will ever realize. Her characters were heartbreakingly real & I felt every word & every painfully real moment. I've never cried so much from a book & even after finishing a book. I know these characters & I've now seen these places because of Kristin's amazing storytelling.
This book is one of the absolute best books I've ever read!! Get a box of tissues... or maybe 3 & strap in for a journey you'll never forget. This book made its spot on my top shelf that I reserved for my favorites & ones I will reread again & again. 👏bravo👏 standing ovation 👏 someone make this into a series because it's too much for a movie & it needs to be told.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexism, Medical trauma, Death, Addiction, Mental illness, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Medical content, Misogyny, Racism, and Self harm
It's a very descriptive telling of Women Nurses in Vietnam Warckozik1017's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Medical content, Gun violence, War, Suicide attempt, Violence, Addiction, Grief, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Infertility
haleybrieanna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Addiction, Body horror, Classism, War, Blood, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Grief, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
kharcourt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Addiction, and Racism
seasonofreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Racism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Miscarriage, and War
clevelandbookgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Self harm, Miscarriage, Medical content, Gaslighting, Child death, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Infertility, Grief, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Gore
Moderate: Torture, Sexism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Blood
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and Drug abuse
kaylamoran's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, War, Addiction, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Genocide, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Racism