Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs, Susan Wiggs

5 reviews

morybaby's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I’m being pedantic but this was an almost 5 star, however I’ve decided on 4.75 stars. Mostly because of the pacing issue in the aftermath of certain things that happened 

I loved this book. This is why we read fiction because it educates us. 

I had previously learnt of reform schools but for boys and indigenous people. I also knew about the whole sketchy history around adoption for unwed mothers. However, with this book I learnt about the laundry child labour. It broke my heart immensely. 

I find it very upsetting when Christians do not exhibit Christ like qualities. The fact that it was people associated with the church doling out these abuses does not surprise me but it is very disturbing. As a Christian, it is a known thing of how churches protect abusers of all kind. Things are changing slowly but surely , there are now opportunities and avenues to tell your story as a survivor. It is extremely difficult and challenges are still being faced. 

As with everything in life, the abusers never got their comeuppance.

One thing I truly adored was the friendship between the wayward girls and Mairin’s friendship with Fiona. When I tell you friendships will save your life!!! 

Mairin was such a force to be reckoned with. I’m glad that my faves got to escape. My heart did hurt for Kay. 

You know who pissed me off? Mairin’s mother, Kevin and Bernadette. I just hate when people a passive. The girls might have forgiven them, I do not. 

The romance between Mairin and Flynn made me so happy. Angela finding the love of a good woman after all she’s been through?!! Spectacular 

I struggled with pacing after the girls escaped.

However this is a very difficult yet beautiful read. I’m glad to have read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting

maggiecarr's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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In the 1960s girls whose families couldn't afford them, felt they were making bad decisions, were pregnant, etc were sometimes sent to the Good Shepherd School in New York under the care of nuns who abused their power in some of the worst possible ways. Based on very real history in America and the evidence of 1.5-4 million women who lost their children to unauthorized, irregular, or forced adoption between 1946-1969, according to NY Times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

devlaluna2's review against another edition

5.0

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let me begin by thanking harper collins, william morrow, and netgalley for both the e-arc, and very unexpectedly, the physical arc of this book! so grateful 

susan wiggs’ wayward girls is a heartbreaking, yet hopeful story of surviving trauma, women’s friendships, solidarity, and the abuse endured in Catholic reform schools during the 60s. alternating between a handful of perspectives, we explore the stories of a number of “wayward girls” including queer, bipoc, and pregnant wayward girls disproportionately affected by these institutions, and the significant role they played in each others survival and growth.

i’m not someone who frequents the historical fiction genre, at least not nearly as much as i did when i was younger, but i found myself consumed with this story. a truly beautiful novel 

make sure to check trigger warnings, these are many heavy and intense scenes 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

booksbydorothea's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own 

Oh. My. Goodness!!

Why, oh why, don't parents believe their daughters when something is wrong? Or teach them to trust their gut? Or how to protect themselves? Or why believe that people of authority always know best? Or why are girls to blame for pregnancy, yet boys face no consequences? Why haven't these things changed ever? 

Well, this book covers it all! We need to trust the survivors! The previously incarcerated survivors of a fictional Magdalene laundry in Buffalo, New York, tell their story. I blindly believed these laundries were only in Ireland, but there were at least thirty-eight, per the author. Seriously?

The writing, characters, and plot are top-notch! This is an important, difficult, but horrible reflection on our history. It also proves how important history is. True history is important - not the whitewashed crap!

For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: 
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/05/review-wayward-girls-earcebook.html

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness

imfixintoread's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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Wayward Girls is a hauntingly devastating novel that follows 4 girls through their experience imprisioned at the Good Shepherd and trauma in the decades that followed. While the story is heartbreaking, the relationships that these women formed as teenagers and reconnected over is heartwarming and there is an incredibly satifsying endning. This is set in Buffalo, and I was fond of the connections given my in-laws living in a surrounding town. This is an incredibly important historical fiction novel that sheds light on a dark, hidden part of American history. Highly recommend though with lots of trigger warnings for abuse, exploitation, rape, and forced adoptions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment

Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting

Minor: War