The Women

Women can be heroes. For twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hearing these words is nothing short of a revelation. Raised in the sun-soaked, perfect world of Southern California and shielded by her conservative parents, Frankie has always prided herself on doing what’s expected. But in 1965, as the world begins to shift, she dares to imagine a different future. When her brother is sent to Vietnam, she decides to follow in his footsteps and join the Army Nurse Corps.

Green and inexperienced, just like the soldiers sent to fight, Frankie is quickly overwhelmed by the chaos and brutality of war. Each day is a gamble—life and death, hope and betrayal. The bonds she forms with those around her run deep, but in war, even the closest friendships can be shattered in an instant. Frankie becomes one of the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

Yet the battle doesn’t end with the war. The true struggle begins when Frankie and her fellow veterans return home to an America changed, divided, and filled with anger. They face protesters and a country eager to forget the trauma of Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman’s journey through war, but it also honors all the women who have put themselves in harm’s way. Their sacrifice, bravery, and commitment to their country have often been overlooked. This novel is a tribute to deep friendships, bold patriotism, and the idealism and courage of a heroine who, through fire and hardship, comes to define an era.