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**The No.1 New York Times, million-copy bestseller**
Memphis, Tennessee, 1939
Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge, until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned home – but they quickly realize the dark truth…
Aiken, South Carolina, present day
Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.
Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals, Before We Were Yours is a riveting, wrenching and ultimately uplifting global bestseller. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.
‘A tale of enduring power’ Paula McLain
‘Such a powerful, emotional story’ 5* reader review
‘It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel’ Huffington Post
‘What a great book, you just can’t put it down’ 5* reader review
Memphis, Tennessee, 1939
Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge, until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned home – but they quickly realize the dark truth…
Aiken, South Carolina, present day
Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.
Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals, Before We Were Yours is a riveting, wrenching and ultimately uplifting global bestseller. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.
‘A tale of enduring power’ Paula McLain
‘Such a powerful, emotional story’ 5* reader review
‘It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel’ Huffington Post
‘What a great book, you just can’t put it down’ 5* reader review
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Reviews
One of the year's best books . . . It is almost a cliché to say a book is 'lovingly written' but that phrase applies clearly to Lisa Wingate's latest novel, Before We Were Yours. This story about children taken from their parents through kidnapping or subterfuge and then placed for adoption, for a price, clearly pours out of Wingate's heart. . . . It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel. It invades your heart from the very first pages and stays there long after the book is finished. Few novelists could strike the balance this story requires but Wingate does it with assurance. There are a lot of books that will catch your eye this summer, some from our best storytellers. Make sure this one is on your radar. It should not be missed