Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the Last Carolina Girl by this author and this new story did not disappoint!

Its the 1960s when young highschool girls who got pregnant outside of marriage were shipped off to homes for unwed mothers. Lorraine Delford is an only child. She and her boyfriend have dated for two years, with her parent’s approval. Lorraine has plans to graduate high school and go to college to become an astronaut. But on the night that her boyfriend is leaving to go to college, he gives her a promise ring and Lorraine becomes pregnant.

This is such a well written, loss of innocence tale. I loved the characters and hated the spineless boyfriend. This is a well researched story from a time in history when women were punished and hidden away for having sex while their male counterparts were allowed to go on with their lives.

Highly recommend!

What an intriguing, heartbreaking read. I really loved the way Church let us into Lorraine’s life, her teenager emotions and what it is like to be raised with zero knowledge of reproduction. The Girls We Sent Away was a really wonderfully written story based on the Baby Scoop Era (which has always fascinated me) and Lorraine’s story is not unusual to the time period.

This was such a good read for book club, women’s group, even something I would consider reading with my daughter when she is a teen - this book is a yes in so many ways. The characters are deep, the social norms from that time in the south are very well represented and the ending will break your heart. Well done.

Heart-breaking, devastating, yet beautiful—this novel explores the lives of young unwed mothers in the 1960s. Sometimes hard to read, but also impossible to turn away. I wanted to scream at the unfairness, shake the parents, and comfort the young girls and their babies caught in the middle.

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

Many thanks to @bookmarked, @sourcebooks, and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 3/5/24.

Look at that cover! The cover is just as beautiful as Meagan's writing. I was so engrossed in this story I did not want to do anything besides read and see how Lorraine's life was going to turn out. This was such an amazing but sad book, and this story I'm sure has happened to many women in the Baby Scoop Era. I fell in love with most all the characters, and I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Set in the 1960s, Seventeen year old Lorraine has it all: a wonderful boyfriend, two parents that love her, she is on the track for being the first female valedictorian, and going to college with dreams of being an astronaut. That is until she gets pregnant, and she is sent to a home for wayward girls. I definitely recommend picking this one up! 4.5 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Girls We Sent Away" and all opinions expressed are my own. I was approved for both the kindle book and the audio book. I listened to the audio book. This book left me wanting more. I wanted to know what happened to the other girls (although this was not their story). I wanted to believe that what the house mother told Lorraine was not a lie. I was really hoping for a fight from Lorraine. She just believed whatever she was told even though her heart told her differently. Such a heartbreaking time in history when young women had to endure these homes. I am going to check out the authors previous book, The Last Carolina Girl.

Despite enjoying reading this book I felt it needed more development in the characters and general background to the whole story. 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

It’s the 1960’s and Loretta had it all: a boyfriend, a well established family, and great grades leading her to college. Until she gets pregnant and is sent to a home for wayward girls.

While very different than The Last Carolina Girl, it’s also a very fast paced read that’s hard to put down. Knowing the main character’s youth and naïveté, there’s a real sense of dread the entire story. You’re not sure what will happen, but have a feeling it’s not good. It’s a very sad story, but also fairly average story for the Baby Scoop Era. This is definitely one to pick up.

“Strength is often camouflaged in the quiet, reserved places where most people wouldn’t think to look. It’s grown in the moments when we give up things along the way.”

The Girls We Sent Away comes out 3/5.

This is far outside the realm of my usual genre. This was a heartbreaking story to read, and I feel so bad for every girl who went through similar situations over the years.
Something in the writing that I felt was distracting was there were several instances of "but soon she found out just how wrong she was" or similar sounding lines. It felt a bit long-winded at times, but the story was so compelling and emotional that I kept reading.

I felt as though I needed more development of the two supporting characters backgrounds. I was left wanting to know more. I also kept waiting for a twist or development that I didn’t see coming but that never happened. Enjoyed the book, quick read.

👶 W A Y W A R D W E D N E S D A Y 👶 featuring “The Girls We Sent Away” by Meagan Church!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

It is the 1960s in North Carolina and Lorraine Delford is thriving in her life! Lorraine comes from a great family, has a loving boyfriend and is a year away from graduating high school! She has big dreams of attending college and studying in the sciences field … until one night changes EVERYTHING!

The night before her boyfriend Clint leaves for College, they take their relationship physically to the next step. Lorraine finds out that she is pregnant and her parents send her away to a maternity home for wayward girls to hide her pregnancy and protect the family name from SHAME.

Once at the home, Lorraine must sign away her rights to the baby and she is forced to follow the homes’ strict rules. There are A LOT of hush hush secrets that linger around the home and sinister intentions bubbling below the surface! Will Lorraine fight for her rights and her child or give in to the “proper” society rights??

WHO IS THIS thriller girlie reading historical fiction?? It’s been a hot minute since I read this genre … and I finished this book in one afternoon! I loved it!! Meagan Church’s writing style completely captivated me!! This story is beautifully researched, atmospheric, raw, emotional and gut wrenching!

Thank you kindly to @mchurchwriter @bookmarked @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on March 5, 2024!

I really enjoyed this book! A lot of it was expected and the ending was kind of abrupt but I fell in love with all of the characters! I wish we knew more about Mirabelle and the other girls afterwards. I’d love to follow-up with Clint and Susan as well. I’d hope there is some sort of sequel, I’d be the first to read it!

What an absolutely heartbreaking story. I really wanted much more character development and drama, but it was a riveting story without it and still a great read.

I was eager to read The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church, since I am drawn to books about how unwed mothers were treated during the 1960's. While it is completely unfair to blame the young women, since they didn't get in this predicament on their own, I enjoy reading their stories because I usually learn something new.

When Lorraine Delford finds herself pregnant in her senior year of high school, her middle class parents are shocked and ashamed. At their family doctor's urging, they send her off to a maternity home, which was a common option in that era. Families would pay a steep price for their daughters to stay there for a few months until their babies were born and typically placed for adoption. The maternity home in this story used some forceful methods to ensure that the women would relinquish their parental rights. Lorraine faces a lot of adversity and emotional upheaval during her stay. I loved that she befriended the local librarian, who tried to help her get an education. She also develops some friendships along the way. I was satisfied with the resolution and the way Lorraine grew throughout the story.

I will recommend this to readers who like historical fiction featuring women.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I fell in love with Lorraine and her positive outlook on her future. Sadly, her ambitions were halted by her child-like innocence. It’s appalling what authority figures allowed or enabled by removing young pregnant girls from society and believing it was in their best interest. Lorraine quickly learned to navigate her circumstances in an unconventional manner, but her determination would not let her be defeated. The bonds she created in the home for wayward girls are memorable and empowering!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Girls We Sent Away. This is the first book from Meagan Church that I've picked up. As a frequent historical fiction reader, I found the topic of the 1960s Baby Scoop era to be a unique and appealing. I also found the main character being a teenage girl to be appealing.

Unfortunately, this book was not a good fit for me and I chose to put it down after reading the first 1/3. I found the main character to be both written with more modern values and ideas, and also deeply naïve, even for her upbringing and setting. I have recently read so many books with unintended pregnancies, that explored the experience in a less trope-dependent manner, so this one fell flat for me. Since I did not complete the book, I am rating this 3 stars to align with an average rating.

The Girls We Sent Away
By: Meagan Church

5 Stars

Lorraine is a bright girl. On her way to being valedictorian her senior year in high school. She has a good boyfriend, Clint, getting ready to head off to college. She will soon be on her way there, too. Until the one night, her life changes forever. She falls pregnant. Her parents then send her away to a maternity home, ultimately, to hide her "indiscretion." She soon learns that their is so much more to life than appearance and even education.

Wow. This book was an amazing and gripping story. I can only imagine how many types of "homes" were available to girls back then. The storyline behind this book was so real. It really makes you think. Back then, in the 60s, being an unwed mother was looked down on. This book brings to light some of what a family will do to hide their secrets.

I absolutely loved this story. It had pain, but it also presented hope for a brighter, better future. This was a heart-wrenching story. It was full of the drama that you want in a good story, but the story it presented was as real as it could be. Keep that in your head as you read, and you will love this story as much as I did.

I'd be amiss if I didn't add that the ending was a bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

I really loved this book!
As soon as I began reading it I loved the writing style and flow. This was one of those books I could just tell from the very beginning I was going to love.
The characters were very well thought out and completely jumped right off the page.
Every time I picked this book up I felt like I was a true fly on the wall of Loraine’s life.
The storyline was very well thought out and executed. This book takes a really serious subject and walks us through every small detail of it, but also keeps your interest the whole way through. The book was heart wrenching and the whole time I’m routing for Loraine, but also wishing her life could just go back to normal.
I think this author did an amazing job of tackling a very tough subject with class and grace and making it extremely entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat for this whole book and was dying to know what was going to happen and how everything would turn out.
Thank you NetGalley for my arc copy, I am leaving this review on my own.

★ 5 Stars ★
I usually stick to reading thrillers, but now and then, I like to explore different genres. Recently, I read "The Girls We Sent Away," which is a powerful and emotional story. It’s a reminder of how much women's rights have improved over the years. However, it's a story that requires a box of tissues by your side!

The book is set in the 1960s and follows the story of Lorraine, who becomes pregnant as a teenager. Her boyfriend abandons her, and her parents are angry and ashamed. They send her to a home for wayward girls, where she is expected to deliver the baby and put it up for adoption. And she is expected to keep all of this a secret.

Before her pregnancy, Lorraine was on track to become the first female valedictorian at her school. She had big dreams and wanted to be the first woman in space. However, the pregnancy changed everything.

The home she is sent to is terrible, but the author's writing is excellent. Meagan Church created authentic and realistic characters that made me feel like I knew them. Although this is a work of fiction, it made me think about all the girls who experienced this in real life. I’ll be reading more by this exceptional author!

Sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and RB Media for providing this book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

#TheGirlsWeSentAway #NetGalley #MeaganChurch #SourcebooksLandmark #RBMedia #HistoricalFiction #WaywardGirls #UnplannedPregnancy #justfinished #ARC #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer

I loved this book far more than I expected to. Well-written with characters I just fell in love with, I instantly became invested in this story about a young woman on the edge of adulthood who is faced with an impossible choice after she becomes pregnant just prior to entering her senior year of high school. In 1960s America, this was one of the most precarious situations for a girl to find herself in, particularly when she is intelligent, independent, talented, and motivated to go to college and become a successful college graduate. Her alleged shame also promises to bring shame upon her parents as well and soon, Lorraine's seemingly carefree world and big ambitions are suddenly ripped away as she is sent to a home meant for unwed pregnant girls like her. Our heart aches for her as we witness her panic, fear, and then naive optimism that all will work out alright in the end. Lorraine learns many hard truths and lessons about the world in which she lives and we cannot help but feel for her, sympathizing with the lack of communication and honesty which could have prevented so much. Societal standards of taboo subjects and conversations, twisted expectations of girls for the time, and cloaked reality misled, misinformed, and mishandled many young women of the time, leaving them with little to no rights when they ended up in a situation Like Lorraine. While Lorraine's story is fictional, we learn of the dark secrets behind the skyrocketing number of adoptions during the 60s and of the lengths families would go to protect an image over their daughters, regardless of physical, emotional, or mental damage. This is a perfect book for book clubs because there is simply so much to unpack and discuss. Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Meagan Church for an advanced copy of this incredible and important book and for giving me the opportunity to read and review it.

THE LAST CAROLINA GIRL was one of my favorites.and this one is my new favorite by this author. I experienced a wide array of emotions while reading this book. i loved these women, i felt their emotions. I dont think i will forget this story for a long time.
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC! all thoughts are my own