This month, the book club pick is The Women. It was mentioned repeatedly in a Facebook book club I’m a part of. So many people were reading it or planning to. I decided to see if it was available at the library since everyone complained that it was on hold and hard to get. Lucky for me, it was available. This is where I remind you again that I read books without knowing what they are about.

This one surprised me and drew me in immediately. I could not put it down. The book follows a young woman who, after nursing school, signs up to be a nurse in the Vietnam War. She does this against her parents’ wishes because she misses her brother, and he’s fighting in the war. She comes from a well-off family, and they are frustrated because she has so many other opportunities ahead of her that would never lead to war.

Before she leaves, she finds out her brother has been killed in combat. She can’t back out. She heads over to Vietnam and realizes immediately she has no idea what she is signing up for. It’s RIVETING. The things she experiences while at war and on her return home shed light on the war and veteran status as a woman. This was such a good read! There’s even a heartbreaking love story in the mix. I’m clamoring for more from this author.