The Women Book Club Questions
The Women by Kirsten Hannah was published on February 6th, 2023 and it is one of the best books I have ever read. The Women book club questions below will be the perfect starting point for your book club discussion.

I know that it can be difficult to think of book club questions that capture themes and major plot points of a book. That is why I made this post. I wanted you to be able to read the book and think about your feelings while I provided you with The Women Book Club questions. I also have a list of Book Club Questions (+PDF). These are universal questions that you can use in addition to the specific ones I have below.
I have tried to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but I knew that The Women Book Club questions would be incomplete without some details.
If you need a recap of the book before your book club, feel free to head over to my post Summary of The Women. There you will find important details to help jog your memory.
The Women Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide
- The book is called The Women and is about the unsung heroes of war. Why do you think women in wartime are so often overlooked?
- Were you surprised that Frankie made such an effort to enlist? (She was rejected twice)
- Why do you think it was so important for her to enlist?
- The “Hero Wall” in Frankie’s parents’ house was a parallel to her journey. (Her picture was not included on the wall, she broke it down, before she was finally put on the wall). Discuss the significance of the McGrath family wall.
- What do you think of the treatment of Vets coming home from Vietnam and do you think it has changed over the years?
- Ethel and Frankie were not together for a long time in Vietnam, yet their friendship spanned decades. What was it about the experience that cemented their friendship?
- Why do you think Frankie’s relationship with Barb and Ethel lasted for so many years after they got home?
- Both men that Frankie fell in love with in Vietnam were in relationships. Why do you think she chose unavailable men?
- If they had been single, do you think their relationships would have lasted when they got home?
- What is it about wartime that makes relationships so intense?
- Do you agree with what Frankie did to save the boy’s life (giving the emergency tracheotomy)? What, if anything, would you have done differently?
- What did you think of Frankie’s parents’ reaction to her war experience? What about their reactions after she got home?
- Let’s discuss the pregnancy. What did the pregnancy symbolize for Frankie? What do you think the grief of seeing Rye caused the miscarriage or was it the effects of Agent Orange?
- Were you surprised by the VA’s refusal to help Frankie?
- Henry had a huge role in saving her life. Why do you think she could not reciprocate his love?
- Ethel, Barb, and Frankie all spent time in Vietnam together. What do you think accounts for their very different reactions when they came home?
- Why do you think Frankie had such severe PTSD and the other two seemed to be able to move on with their lives?
- What did you think about Frankie’s parents coming to the war memorial dedication?
- How do you think their relationship will change moving forward?
- When Frankie overdosed and hallucinated, do you think she was trying to kill herself?
- Do you think Frankie and her father will be able to repair their relationship?
- History shows that the Vietnam War was a huge loss for the United States although the government did not ever state that. What do think about the news coverage of the war at that time and how do you think it would be different today, if at all?
- This is not the first time that Hannah has addressed PTSD (The Great Alone). Ernst’s response to the war is very different from Frankie’s. He was a doomsday prepper. Compare the two responses to surviving the war.
- Do you think that Frankie would have had such severe PTSD if she knew both men she loved were alive?
- If Frankie’s parents had been more accepting when she came home, how do you think her re-entry into society would have been different?
- Frankie creates a safe space for other women to come and heal. How do you think this contributed to her healing?
- Do you think you would have survived if you had been in Frankie’s place?
- How does the ranch parallel what Ethel and Barbara did for her earlier in the book?
- If you could change any part of The Women by Kirstin Hannah, what would it be?
- What do you think will happen in the epilogue of The Women by Kirstin Hannah?
- Did your view of war and veterans change after reading this book?
Expert Tip
If you cannot remember character names or what happened in the plot, head over the my post: Summary of Women by Kristin Hannah. In this post, you will find everything you need to refresh your memory before your The Women Book Club
If you are hosting The Women Book Club at your house, there are some things you can do to elevate the book club
- Consider playing 60’s music. Songs like California Girls by the Beach Boys and Light My Fire by the Doors were mentioned in the book!
- Consider your food choices. 60’s inspired food like Salsbury steak is right for the time period but Hawaiin-inspired drinks (Frankie’s forced time off) would be a delicious addition
Frequently Asked Questions about The Women by Kristin Hannah
Is The Women by Kristin Hannah Being Made into a Movie?
Yes! The Women by Kirstin Hannah was purchased by Warner Brothers. We have information beyond that. But we can tell you how excited we are to see this book on the big screen.
Is The Women by Kristin Hannah a good pick for my book club?
Absolutely. Your “The Women” Book Club will lead to deep and meaningful conversations about family, war, and more. Be sure to check out all 31 of our The Women Book Club Questions
What are other books by Kristin Hannah?
Kristin Hannah has written 25 books, two of which are out of print.
The last four have been powerfully moving historical fiction novels- starting with The Nightingale in 2015.
Related Content
For daily book reviews, author interviews, and reading challenge tracking, follow us on Instagram!
Epilogue
Will you be using The Women Book Club questions for your next book club?