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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Historical fiction fans will enjoy this story set in the 1910's. The author explores subjects like women's rights, class, and freedom. Looking for her older sister, Effie Tildon gets herself committed to the House of Mercy, a home for wayward young women, thinking her father put Luella there after a fight. But after some misunderstandings and with no one knowing where Effie is, she is unable to get herself out of the home. This beautifully written story transports you back to make you feel like you are living in that time in history.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was a surprise. I got it free on Audible and had it sitting for a long time before diving in. I honestly only started it because I was out of credits to buy anything else. I was quickly engrossed and could not wait to see how Effie's story ended. I do wish we'd gotten more on the House of Mercy later in the book - I don't want to give anything away. That's the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5.
**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley.**
Title The Girls with No Names
Author Serena Burdick
Release Date January 7, 2020
Description from Amazon
Growing up in New York City in the 1910s, Luella and Effie Tildon realize that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen elder sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. Her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone.
Effie suspects her father has sent Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s own escape seems impossible—unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on their tenuous friendship to survive.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoy historical fiction and I was really excited when Harper Collins reached out and asked if I’d be interested in reviewing this title. It was not on my radar before that email but I’m so glad I was able to add it to my TBR.
Some Things I Liked
Realism. This story really didn’t pull any punches. It was dark, tragic, and difficult to read at parts. My heart bled for these characters and I have to appreciate the emotions the writing stirred.
Multiple POVs. I loved the points of view this story utilized. We got to hear from multiple generations and multiple walks of life. It gave the story a rich and well rounded feeling.
Gripping storytelling. I couldn’t put this book down. I started and finished it all in one sitting.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Effie’s story. While I applaud the emotional spectrum in this book, I was truly saddened reading Effie’s story. I don’t know if it could have been changed in any way that I would have liked better, but, I just know I didn’t love it.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. It was tragic at parts but overall, it was an empowering story which made me reflect on how lucky I am to be a woman born today, instead of 100 years ago.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – if you enjoyed the setting of a big American city at the turn of the century and you enjoyed the realism of this story, try this mystery by Stephanie Morrill.
Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Antsey – if you like historical fiction, definitely check out anything by Cindy Anstey. There is a Jane Austen feel to Cindy’s work that I definitely appreciate.
Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon – while this story is not a murder mystery, it is another historical fiction with a strong female lead. Set in a similar time period in London (instead of New York), many core themes are shared between these two books.
Title The Girls with No Names
Author Serena Burdick
Release Date January 7, 2020
Description from Amazon
Growing up in New York City in the 1910s, Luella and Effie Tildon realize that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen elder sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. Her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone.
Effie suspects her father has sent Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s own escape seems impossible—unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on their tenuous friendship to survive.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoy historical fiction and I was really excited when Harper Collins reached out and asked if I’d be interested in reviewing this title. It was not on my radar before that email but I’m so glad I was able to add it to my TBR.
Some Things I Liked
Realism. This story really didn’t pull any punches. It was dark, tragic, and difficult to read at parts. My heart bled for these characters and I have to appreciate the emotions the writing stirred.
Multiple POVs. I loved the points of view this story utilized. We got to hear from multiple generations and multiple walks of life. It gave the story a rich and well rounded feeling.
Gripping storytelling. I couldn’t put this book down. I started and finished it all in one sitting.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Effie’s story. While I applaud the emotional spectrum in this book, I was truly saddened reading Effie’s story. I don’t know if it could have been changed in any way that I would have liked better, but, I just know I didn’t love it.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. It was tragic at parts but overall, it was an empowering story which made me reflect on how lucky I am to be a woman born today, instead of 100 years ago.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – if you enjoyed the setting of a big American city at the turn of the century and you enjoyed the realism of this story, try this mystery by Stephanie Morrill.
Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Antsey – if you like historical fiction, definitely check out anything by Cindy Anstey. There is a Jane Austen feel to Cindy’s work that I definitely appreciate.
Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon – while this story is not a murder mystery, it is another historical fiction with a strong female lead. Set in a similar time period in London (instead of New York), many core themes are shared between these two books.
This book was okay, but I found that it did drag at times. Mabel's story was heartbreaking, but Effie was very dumb for getting herself into the situation that she did. I also felt that the mother's point of view was not necessary. But the end was sad and made me realize that I did like the book.
Eh. I enjoyed the story, but it didn’t impact me as much as others that I’ve read with similar settings. My heart aches at the way these young girls were basically thrown away by society, but instead of being loved and educated, they were mistreated and abused by the church.
While this was a challenging read I also found it to be absorbing. The way that the stories of the different characters were i
entwined with the historical setting made for an interesting and informative read.
entwined with the historical setting made for an interesting and informative read.
2.5 rounded up. As much as I wanted to like this book more, it came off as melodramatic and unbelievable. I am also bothered by historical errors such as describing the girls putting fitted sheets on a mattress in 1913 (they were not invented until 1959 a fact I easily found after less than a minute’s search. Historical fiction authors and editors should not let such an error slip by. There are others I found and that makes me think there are many I missed. I also seriously doubt that an elite young woman would be encouraged to dance ballet in public. Or that a wealthy, elite man in the gilded age “went to work” every morning.
If these types of inconsistencies and errors don’t bother you then you will enjoy the book more than me.
If these types of inconsistencies and errors don’t bother you then you will enjoy the book more than me.
I was provided with an ARC of this title from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a meticulously researched historical novel that chronicles the horrors of workhouses that masqueraded as refuge for "wayward girls." The core of the story focuses on the adventures of two sisters struggling to navigate their place in society and reconcile it with their individual hopes and dreams.
The heroine, Effie was born prematurely and suffers from a heart defect that limits her choices in the life she was born to. She has always loved a rip-roaring story of dastardly deeds and loves putting her imagination into words. When her sister goes missing, Effie's imagination is convinced their father has sent her to the House of Mercy. Effie works out a scheme to gain access to the house and rescue her sister.
This was heartbreaking because it told the stories of all of the girls that lived on the fringes of society, whose choices were crippled by the ridiculous limitations placed upon their gender.
This is a meticulously researched historical novel that chronicles the horrors of workhouses that masqueraded as refuge for "wayward girls." The core of the story focuses on the adventures of two sisters struggling to navigate their place in society and reconcile it with their individual hopes and dreams.
The heroine, Effie was born prematurely and suffers from a heart defect that limits her choices in the life she was born to. She has always loved a rip-roaring story of dastardly deeds and loves putting her imagination into words. When her sister goes missing, Effie's imagination is convinced their father has sent her to the House of Mercy. Effie works out a scheme to gain access to the house and rescue her sister.
This was heartbreaking because it told the stories of all of the girls that lived on the fringes of society, whose choices were crippled by the ridiculous limitations placed upon their gender.
This historical fiction novel mostly is told from Effie and Mable's perspectives (with an occasional viewpoint from Effie's mother Jeanne). They both end up in the House of Mercy, a workhouse of sorts monitored by nuns, for wayward girls. I was really intrigued by Effie's viewpoint because the vast majority of novels I read like this involving these "homes" are full of pregnant teens. Effie wasn't pregnant. Her older sister Luella leaves her family, and Effie goes into this workhouse trying to find her sister. Effie is also physically disabled, which is an interesting twist.
I have to admit that Effie's perspective was a little...flat, boring you might say. She is younger and spunky but doesn't have much in the way of intrigue.
Mable had a more interesting story, but her backstory for ending up in the workhouse is a little more "traditional."
The story was compelling because you wanted to find out if Effie reunites with her sister/family and if Mable has a happy ending.
I have to admit that Effie's perspective was a little...flat, boring you might say. She is younger and spunky but doesn't have much in the way of intrigue.
Mable had a more interesting story, but her backstory for ending up in the workhouse is a little more "traditional."
The story was compelling because you wanted to find out if Effie reunites with her sister/family and if Mable has a happy ending.