The Women by Kristen Hannah

I can totally see why this was the 2024 best novel of the year on Goodreads. I think I am about the same age as this author (yes, just looked it up - I am a year older), and the main character is from the beaches of Southern California (I was Manhattan, and she was Coranado Island in Sand Diego). 

I sobbed at the end. It is so well-written and so sad! Vietnam was such a horrible war, and why did we get involved?  

I have also been to the Vietnam War Memorial and sobbed the whole early morning I spent there by myself before the summer crowds came. 

I highly recommend this book. It begs to be made into a movie.