emilycrossett 's review for:

The Women by Kristin Hannah

3.5

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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3.5 ⭐️ Ooh I have complicated feelings about this! I think in the beginning when Frankie is in Vietnam, Hannah dabbles in the grey area and that was the most interesting to me. Seeing Frankie come to terms with the atrocities of war was brutal. Especially knowing what all she wasn’t seeing and as she slowly starts to realize that her country may be in the wrong. I think Hannah appropriately stayed in her lane telling Frankie’s version of the story instead of trying to speak for all those devastated by the conflict. But as interesting as Frankie’s reflections on her morals and what she’s experiencing, this seems to dissipate when she returns home. It was frustrating to see her caught in a loop of self destructive behavior. 

My gripes/spoilers:

I found it ridiculous that from the top, Rye hits her with a “women are heroes too” and Frankie experiences feminism for the first time and says yeah get me to Vietnam stat. What?? It feels like she doesn’t get closure until a man finally recognizes her service at the end of the book. 

Frankie is a crappy friend to Ethel and Barb. They are always showing up cross-country out of the blue to pull her from the depths of herself and she can’t even call Barb on her birthday?? They were there too! They are also hurting!

The gaslighting from her parents was nuts. I would have torn down that hero wall day 2 at home.