“𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚, 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄, 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏.”

This was my first Kristin Hannah book so I was expecting to experience emotions, and boy did I get 𝙀𝙈𝙊tional many times while reading. The Women follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath as she enlists in the Army Nurse Corps to serve in Vietnam. When Frankie is shipped overseas to care for injured soldiers, she quickly learns of the overwhelming chaos and destruction brought forth through war. The real battle for Frankie begins after coming home to a divided America wanting to forget Vietnam, while struggling to adjust with her new reality after serving her country. 

Julia Whelan delivers a top notch performance in the audiobook, as always! My favorite part of this book was the female friendship at its core. Barb & Ethel were Frankie’s rock time and again. In various stages of her life. The way they all loved each other so completely, dropped anything and everything to show up for each other no matter the choices that were made, was just so beautiful. 

I loved getting to follow a war nurse’s POV. We got to experience all the things alongside Frankie. Her growth as a character was a journey, but I’m happy with how her story ended. The complex family dynamics and relationships being mended & healed felt so realistic. I adored Frankie as a character because she was flawed, yet so resilient for continuing to move forward not only in her years of service, but the events that occurred after her return home. 

I cannot wait to read more from Kristin Hannah! Shout out to my bestie Niki for encouraging me to pick this up alongside her because this is a book I will not soon forget. 

“𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐.”

A humorous yet informative read. I really enjoyed the audiobook as Caitlin herself is the narrator. 

Second Read (May 2025): 5 stars
First off, we’ve all been saying his last name incorrectly when it’s really pronounced “Cleaver”.

In an interview the author stated, “for socially awkward people, the uncomfort is the horror” and I think that is true regarding this book. This was such an unsettling story that leaves you with so many questions, and I think the fact that I still have SO MANY upon a reread is kind of genius.

There are so many things within the story to dissect & I had a great time rereading this. Off I go to explore this rabbit hole even further 🤸🏻‍♀️🕳️


First Read (Sept 2024): 5 stars

What a WILD ride this book was! It’s one thousand percent Jordan Peele coded and creeped me out more times than I can remember. I’ll insert the Morse code message woven into the book so you can bask in the strangeness even more if you have read it and or don’t care to be spoiled!! Five stars babyyy!

"The old man with the scar has lived in the cabin for centuries and goes by many different names."

This was…. a bit strange. I can appreciate how Ibiza helped Matt Haig’s life trajectory but I just didn’t connect to this story, nor did I really get it.

Nonetheless, I really hope this book finds its people. I’ll be cheering this one on from the sidelines.

This is the third book of the 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵 series following the youngest Noughton brother, Emmett, & Gillian’s younger sister, Briar. The will they - won’t they, angsty tension is delectable.

When Briar returns to town after a messy break up, she doesn’t expect to be moving in with her high school crush- whom she has held a grudge against for years. Emmett is a lovable goof that doesn’t understand why his charm isn’t affecting Briar, until he learns of the secret she’s keeping. From then on Emmett becomes the only person Briar can lean on and thus begins the start of a friendship, which blossoms into something more.

I knew I loved Emmett after seeing his silliness in the first two books of the series and I’m so happy to say that he shined even brighter as the leading man! He is such a complex man that doesn’t allow people to fully see him, only the front he puts up for others. That is, until Briar swoops in and knocks those walls down. The banter between these two will have you eating the story up. I really adored their relationship progression and think they suit each other perfectly.

I was lucky enough to listen to an ALC courtesy of ValentinePR. The audiobook features a duet narration style with Jason Clarke & Ava Erickson doing a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I dare you not to fall in love with Emmett & Briar!

✨𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀✨
small town
forced proximity
enemies to friends to lovers
opposites attract
mutual pining
protective mmc