Parker Pixton

I loved the writing capabilities of the author, and I think there was a lot of great story aspects about the Vietnam war and it's repercussions on the individuals involved - particular the women.

That being said I was pretty surprised that for a book titled "The Women" how much of the story was dedicated to "the men". More of the story focuses on Frankie's incredible ability to unintentionally attract every married man she encounters into wanting to sleep with her, and her lamenting on how much she wants to but can't because they are married. Multiple of them die, and then come back to life later down the line, and she is surprised when these mean turn out to be liars when she finally does end up with them.

I do even love the focus on her downward spiral, but felt that she became too intentionally unlikable as a character as the reader has to watch her make the same poor decisions over and over again.

I would have given this a bit higher rating but the ending really turned me off. Much of the book is centered around her relationship with her father who lauds all war veterans with photos on his beloved "Hero's Wall." He refuses to put Frankie there because she is a woman, and they fight about it over and over throughout the book. At the very end it seems for a moment he will finally say he will put her on the wall - but that moment is cut short and instead the book ends with Frankie suddenly finding another willing-to-cheat love interest back from the dead, and its implied she gets ends up with him.

I had never heard of Kristin Hannah before - while she is a great author I think her genre of writing is not well suited for my tastes, so take that how you will.

This book likely wont be everyone's favorite - but it definitely was one of mine. I loved the three main characters and the varied relationships they had amongst one another, and I loved the creative process that was explored as they made the games. I'll admit that what pushed me to five stars was a lot of tug-on-the-heart-strings moments that hit home for me personally and may not for others, but I love a book that gets me emotionally invested in the story and this was certainly that.