'Women can be heroes, too'. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California's idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.
First Published: 2024
Pages: 476
Genre: Historical Fiction
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 235,000 reviews
Our review in brief:
| 1. Rating: 5.1 out of 10 The scoring ranged from 4 to 7. One member of the group who did not like the book, said they struggled to finish it. There were very mixed views on how good the book was, so it made for a very interesting discussion. |
| 2. Recommended: Only some of the group said they would recommend the book. One had already done so. |
| 3. Audience: The book would be of more interest to people who could remember the Vietnam war, even if it was only as a child. The book would suit people who like historical fiction with a touch of romance! |
| 4. Type of Read: It was easy to read in terms of language, but the themes of war and post war struggles means some people may find it upsetting. Some felt that the book dragged in the middle. |
| 5. Quality of the Author: The quality of the writing was good, but not outstanding. Most people agreed the first half, which was set in Vietnam was far better than the second. Very few members said they would read another book by this author. |
| 6. Other Observations: In May 2023, the group had read another book by Kristin Hannah, "The Four Winds". This was also an historical fiction with a few love stories thrown in; however this book was far more popular and scored 7.9 out of 10. As aways, the book led to discussions on the underlying themes, specifically the war in Vietnam and the current wars that are raging throughout the world. |