"The Women," a historical fiction book about military nurses during the Vietnam War, is the bestselling book of 2024 authored by Kristin Hannah, a seasoned New York Times bestselling novelist and Forbes 50 Over 50 award honoree. Bill Gates praised "The Women" as a "beautifully written tribute" to forgotten veterans and included the book on his summer reading list.

Bestselling Book in 2024

The book has sold 829,115 print copies, exceeding the combined sales of the following two bestsellers, according to data from Circana BookScan. Sarah J. Maas' fantasy novel "House of Flame and Shadow" is the second bestseller with 536,346 print copies sold. Emily Henry's "Funny Story" follows with 300,289 copies sold. The fourth and fifth bestsellers are "The Teacher," a thriller by Freida McFadden, and "Bride," a paranormal romance by Ali Hazelwood, with 289,949 and 233,955 copies sold.

Circana BookScan's data covers U.S. adult print sales from December 31, 2023, through June 8, 2024. Despite these successes, overall print book sales have declined by nearly 2 million units compared to last year's period, totaling 300 million. Maas accounts for 1.6% of these sales. Fiction novels led the bestseller list, boosting adult fiction sales by 3.6% in early 2024, while nonfiction sales dropped by 5.8%. Featured nonfiction books include Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation" and Erik Larson's "The Demon of Unrest."

Maas, Henry, and McFadden are popular authors in BookTok. Henry and McFadden's books are among 2024 bestsellers. Their total new and old title sales have reached 7.2 million to date, demonstrating their substantial impact on the book market and their influence on the well-known social media site. Hannah's success with "The Women" continues her streak of bestsellers. Hannah has sold over 25 million books in nearly 40 languages, solidifying her place among the top historical fiction authors.

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Bill Gates Reflects on 'The Women'

One of Gates' teachers brought him to his first Vietnam War protest when he was 15. It was an event that would stick with him forever. Gates read and reflected on "The Women," which chronicles the life of Frankie McGrath, an army nurse who served in Vietnam. Gates read the book at Da Nang, where American troops made their first landing in 1965. His brother-in-law, a Vietnam War veteran, suggested the book to him.

"The Women" sheds light on the critical role of women in the war, a perspective often overlooked. Frankie enlists in the army, inspired by the idea that women can be heroes. She faces the harsh realities of war, experiencing trauma and saving lives, yet is met with ignorance and dismissal upon returning home. The VA hospital refuses her treatment for PTSD, claiming women cannot be veterans. The book's dismissal of female veterans' experiences is a recurring theme.

Frankie's realization of the U.S. government's deceit about the war parallels historical events. Initially believing in the U.S.'s success, she soon notices the discrepancy between military reports and the grim reality. This echoes the distorted casualty reports Gates remembers from watching the news during the war. The government's lies profoundly impacted those serving, sending them to the frontlines of an unwinnable conflict and returning to a nation that had turned against them.

"The Women" is a tribute to the often-forgotten female veterans of Vietnam. It emphasizes individual heroism in a widely criticized war. The book is not just a novel but a researched account of the experiences of female Vietnam War veterans, highlighting their sacrifices and the need for their recognition. Its success is a testament to acknowledging these veterans and their contributions.

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