Historical Fiction · Free kit
The Women
In 1965, Frances 'Frankie' McGrath is a twenty-year-old nursing student from wealthy Coronado, California, raised to be a good girl in a world that tells her women belong at home. When her brother Finley dies in Vietnam, Frankie makes an impulsive decision that will change her life: she joins the Army Nurse Corps and ships out to a war zone. In Vietnam, she discovers her calling, her strength, and friendships that will last a lifetime—but coming home proves far more difficult than she imagined. Facing a country that dismisses her service, nightmares she can't escape, and trauma no one will acknowledge, Frankie must fight for the recognition she and her fellow women veterans deserve. A searing portrait of women at war and the long journey home.
“Women can be heroes, too. They'd told her that, and she'd believed it. She'd gone to war to prove it. But no one wanted to hear her story.”
Complete free book club kit
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Plan your meeting
The Women Hosting Guide
A free, printable-minded plan for hosting The Women.
Invite hook
“Frances 'Frankie' McGrath is twenty years old when she joins the Army Nurse Corps and ships out to Vietnam. She discovers she's capable of extraordinary things—but coming home breaks her in ways war didn't.”
The question you’re arguing about: What happens when you risk everything to prove you matter, and your country tells you it doesn't count?
Shopping list
- □Coffee and tea (strong and comforting, like the friendships in the novel)
- □Fresh fruit and pastries (simple, classic, for a reflective conversation)
- □Cheese, crackers, and vegetables with hummus (easy, shareable food)
- □Sparkling water or lemonade (light and refreshing)
- □Small American flags or red/white/blue napkins (to honor the military setting)
- □Tissues (this book will make people cry)
Day-of timeline
- 0–10 minWelcome & icebreakers about recognition and being seen
- 10–20 minTrivia warm-up
- 20–70 minMain discussion (warm-up + debate + deep-dive questions)
- 70–85 minSpeed debate: Was Frankie's affair justified? Is Rye a villain?
- 85–90 minWrap-up: Rate the book, share one story about a veteran you know
Surprise touch
Bring a photo of a veteran you know—a parent, grandparent, friend, or neighbor—and share one sentence about their service during the wrap-up. It honors the novel's mission: remembering those whose service has been forgotten. You can also research and bring the name of a woman who served in Vietnam to honor.
Wrap-up
- □Group photo with American flags or red/white/blue theme
- □Quick rating round: One word to describe how The Women made you feel.
- □Vote on next month's book and confirm the date