Our protagonist, nineteen-year-old Avery is one of twelve members living in a secluded survivalist commune, “Clovelite”. Their “Father” is the dominant male in the group. The children are trained in survival skills, harshly disciplined, and “prepped” for doomsday because “Nothing on the outside was going to last. We would last.” However, as the narrative progresses Avery is subject to much abuse and cruelty on the instruction of her Father, apparently in the greater interest of their commune.

When a fire wipes out the whole commune, Avery and her sixteen-year-old brother Cole are known to be the only survivors. They escape the compound and relying on their survival skills manage to fend for themselves “out there” for almost three months before they are arrested for shoplifting. In a shocking turn of events, they are identified as missing children, who were abducted years ago from their respective families presumably by the cult members. Cole’s parents claim him and Avery is left to pick up the pieces and get her life together in a shelter. Her life as she knew it had been a lie – her “parents” were kidnappers, Cole was not her real brother and "Avery" wasn't even her real name. Excessive media attention and the mysterious circumstances that led to the horrific fire also cause concern. The local police harbor suspicions regarding the cause of the fire that caused the death of the cult members as Avery struggles to piece together the events of that fateful night.

Needless to say, this is not an easy read and has some extremely dark and disturbing moments. However, as we follow Avery as she tries to accept and overcome the upheaval in her life and attempt to move forward, we also see moments of hope, friendship, support and above all courage and resilience. Much attention is given to the emotional and psychological aspects of Avery’s efforts to cope with her traumatic past and accept her new reality. The build-up towards the final revelation is very well-executed. With its superb characterizations, well-developed plot structure and progression and powerful writing, After We Were Stolen by Brooke Beyfuss is an impressive debut. The ending did feel a bit abrupt but does not detract from the overall reading experience. I found this to be an absorbing read and finished it in one day.

The Author’s Note at the very beginning of the book includes trigger warnings for the content in the novel - a kind and considerate gesture on the part of the author that I truly appreciate.

I received a digital review copy of this novel from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Avery and Cole live in a survivalist compound in Kansas with their large family. They are constantly reminded by their parents that they are the chosen ones. They are kept separated from the real world and are subjected to harsh survival training, rules and extreme punishments. One night a fire destroys their entire compound, but Avery and Cole manage to make it out alive. Fearful of the outside world, they are forced to use their survivalist skills and instincts to survive on their own.

This book was really hard to read in parts, but was really well-written. The psychological trauma and PTSD were realistically portrayed. I felt so much for Avery and Cole and I just wanted them to be ok. Emotionally heavy, there are lots of trigger warnings, but the author discusses these topics with care at the start of the book in the Author's Note as a heads up for the reader which was thoughtful of her to do.

As is often the case for me, I think that the book synopsis should have left out some of the details. For me, this would have made the book have even more of an impact as I was reading it. My only other issue was that the ending felt abrupt, especially after the build up of the story. Overall, it is a really good debut full of emotion that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit despite facing such hardships. It would also be a good choice for a bookclub discussion. 4 stars.

Avery and "her brother" Cole escape their family's compound in the middle of a fire, only to find out that they are not related. They were stolen as children and raised in a doomsday cult. The book moves swiftly, and my only criticism is that it ends swiftly - almost too abruptly. Otherwise, it was interesting getting to know the characters and their differing reactions to living in our world.

Wow, what great novel! Before We Were Stolen is a powerful read that will definitely stay with me! Centering around 19 year old Avery, and her younger brother, Cole, who were raised in their family cult. When fire engulfs their family compound, they flee, knowing they may never get another opportunity to escape again. The outside world is new and confusing, but to add to even more to chaos, Cole and Avery find out they had been kidnapped by the cult and the people they grew up thinking were their “parents” weren’t related to them at all!! I was glued to my kindle to see where Brooke Beyfuss would take this emotional storyline!

This novel played out like a movie in my mind! Brooke Beyfuss has a real gift for writing so descriptively and realistically that you can picture it like a movie! The storyline is extremely moving and it’s impossible for these characters not worm their way into your heart! After reading this 5 star novel, I am so darn excited to see what Brooke Breyfuss comes out with next!

4 stars and major feels from this heavy read. Trigger warnings include gaslighting, rape, & physical abuse. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you found out your whole existence had been a lie? One that was pushed upon you by those who sought to oppress you and bend you to their will? Avery's world is shattered after a massive fire engulfs her home and her family with it. Escaping with her brother with nothing, Avery and Cole are picked up by the police trying to survive. 15 years earlier a young girl, Celeste, and a baby boy, Noah went missing. Neither were related, and came from states miles apart. Avery, identified as Celeste must now deal with her brother not being related to her at all, a massively changed world, and the traumas she was forced to endure at the hands of her "family". Will she find herself stuck in past traumas, haunted by the possibility of other surviving the fire? Or will Avery find a new fire that will burn her a new path?

Whew, this review is tough to write, not because the story is poor or untasteful, but simply because of the content. This is another book of the cult variety that I've been reading lately and this one felt much less fantasy/paranormal than the others I have read. This one focused on the reality and how much some people just freaking suck. Avery has seen some shit, y'all. And to be told you aren't who you thought you were along with "those people weren't your family"....whew indeed. The traumas in this book are real, raw, and powerful. I commend the author on their handling of delicate situations as well as their character development throughout.

Overall, 4 stars and a heavy content warning. This novel is geared much more towards adults and has very mature themes so I would put the age recommendation at 17+.

Avery and Cole are survivors. They are part of a family that has isolated itself from humanity and lives off the land where they are sustenance farmers, hoarders, and hunters. Their father has taught them that the outside is evil and they are chosen to be the survivors when the time comes. As the story begins Avery is tasked with the delivery of a brother who is born dead. She must take care of his delivery, cleanse him and bury him with the clandestine help of her brother and partner Cole. Avery has been banned from the compound structure and must live on her own in a tent because, according to her parents, she is weak and must gain strength as a chosen survivor. As the story continues Avery must submit to the horrors of perpetuating the cult, survive a horrific fire, and with her brother journey to a world outside the confines where she has spent her remembered life.

The book is entertaining and thought-provoking. It is a journey into the mind of those who dominate others and live on the fringe of madness and society. It is a journey of physical and mental adaptation to survive and thrive and the toll it takes on the overall health of those who must adapt to their life's journey. This is an excellent book. It is entertaining as well as thought-provoking. Thanks to #NetGalley#AfterWeWereStolen for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a story of survival, starting with the day you arrive at the Cult, and soon they remember nothing of the previous family, when a new sibling arrives, it is a if they were always with them, no matter their age.
This is a dark story, so much child abuse, and it is taken as norm! We follow two of these children, Avery and Cole, and what happens as the trudge through the forest and try to survive after the fire. We then wonder how these two can go on and what will happen to them out in the wold?
There are so many twists and surprises between these pages, and in the end, yes, I was surprised!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and was not required to give a positive review.

Avery is around 19 years old and lives in a compound with her parents and siblings. It’s remote because her parents are survivalists who want to keep outsiders from interfering. When the crazy rules and punishments become more than Avery can bear, she wants her brother Cole to escape with her.
Not long after, Avery awakes to the compound in flames and is soon on the run with Cole to avoid capture by her parents. They don’t know if anyone else survived the fire. The pair live on the run for a few months before they are found by the police and discover that they have been lied to their entire lives.
Cole is retuned to his real family and Avery is sent someplace to heal where it’s safe. Avery tries to face the whole new world she is now in without Cole. The police are still trying to piece together what happened and Avery is trying to figure out the truth as well. Who is she and what really happened that night?

This is my first book by this author and I was impressed. It was suspenseful and really hard to read at times but I would recommend it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

How do you move forward after discovering your entire life is a lie?

Buckle your seatbelt, you’re in for an adventure! From the comfort of your favourite reading space, you’ll be following brother and sister, Cole and Avery, as they narrowly escape the clutches of a cult that has kept them hostage for years.

Debut author, Brooke Beyfuss, will keep you on the edge of your seat as she explores the concept of family, the reserve resilience we call upon in times of trauma, and the strength we need to cut ties and forge a new future for ourselves. Be forewarned, it’s a difficult read in parts and an emotional one, indeed.

I wouldn’t say I love reading books like this, but it’s definitely curiosity that drives me to invest in a read such as this one. My mind struggles to understand how something like this can exist today and why people stay. Beyfuss delivers. Curiosity satiated.

The characterization is strong and the plot gallops along. The twists are plentiful and keep readers engaged. Despite wanting to put the book down, I couldn’t. Especially after discovering alongside Cole and Avery that they were stolen as children and brought to the compound. I had to read to find out why and how. Knowing that there was a whole other world out there for them to explore kept me turning pages. What will happen to them next? Did anyone else escape? Do they ever get to experience the love of family?

I was gifted this advance copy by Brooke Beyfuss, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Oh so deeply dark….

Fond of books about cults and doomsday preppers? Then you mustn’t miss out on this latest offering. Heads up though…it’s seriously disturbing.

Avery and Cole are living in a secluded compound with their large family. Their father keeps them separated from the outside world while also developing a method that will ensure that no one leaves either!

But an all-consuming fire is about to change everything, giving the Avery and Cole an opportunity to make their escape. But is Avery even prepared for the outside world?

This book has such potential to be unnerving for some readers that the author added a note at the beginning to warn the reader of what was ahead. I have to say this may be one of the most gut-wrenching, cult themed books I’ve read.

The author did an amazing job of showing what life was like for Avery (and her brother Cole) both inside the cult and life in the real world. Hard to believe this is a debut for this author. Looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark

"After We Were Stolen" by Brooke Beyfuss
Sourcebooks Landmark
July 19, 2022
10-1728248698
Coming of Age Fiction
400 Pages


Nineteen-year-old Avery helps her mother give birth to a baby boy who dies within ten minutes. While her female siblings care for their mother, Avery is given the task of burying the child. This household of 12—ten children and mom and dad exist highly secluded on the property of the Clovelite factory.

Avery's grandfather and twenty followers established this survivalist community, totally sheltered from society. Grandfather prepared his "family" to be self-sufficient, living off the land and ready to be equipped for the end of time. Everyone lived by his rules, but when he passes away, Father takes over, and life becomes more regimented.

Father chooses all the members of their clan, and "Once my father stepped in, everything changed. He didn't see things the way my grandfather had, he didn't trust people from the outside, and in his eyes, if you hadn't been chosen by my father, you weren't chosen at all. My father didn't banish them [the others] to the outside—we were all well-hidden, so it was too much of a risk. They were no less bound by the perimeter than we were. But the adults who remained on the compound had far more rules to live by, firmer boundaries to mind. And if they crossed those lines, there were no second chances. They killed themselves, or my father took care of them, one at a time until, as he told us, his house was clean."

Each of the children, ranging from age 24 down, had responsibilities to perform, or they would face dire consequences. Fully independent, the residents raised their own produce and cattle for food, never needing to leave their area.

After Avery commits a transgression, Father banishes her to the field where she lives in a tent, keeps warm by making fires, and eats fruits and vegetables she gathers for everyone. Isolated and shunned by her parents and siblings, the only companionship she has is her sixteen-year-old sibling, Cole. The two share an absolute bond, and though this is disobedience on Cole's part, nothing stops him from seeing Avery. Discipline and hard work are drummed into everyone.

When Avery is given the chore of burying her baby brother, Cole assists her, so she won't be alone. They dig a grave in a remote section of the farm, and Avery wraps the child and buries him in a wood box. This event rattles her, for no one is allowed to mention this death, which eats away at her. But this is their way of life, and she knows nothing different, her existence of separation from the others causes depression and a sense of hopelessness.

Father decides to enlarge the family, so he and Mother bring Avery into the house for a talk. She is told she will have one of her sister's bedrooms—the best in the house, and she is to take a week to rest and eat plenty of nutritious food.

Father informs her: "'. . . It took your grandfather's group years to create what we have. They had more people, more experience. We are only twelve.' . . .

. . . "'But there are things we can do to change that,' he went one, 'without weakening ourselves with strangers'

"The longer he talked, the less I understood. 'I don't—'

"'And your mother and I think,' he said, with a small smile in my mother's direction, 'that you can help."

As a virgin, he is sure he will have no problem finding a willing participant. His definition of helping the family is electing her to be the bearer of more children. Though Avery wants no part of this, she has no choice, and she is drugged before the act, not knowing what is happening until the following day when she awakes bleeding and in pain. Is this something she must endure to be accepted by the family, especially Father?

Avery is allowed to remain in the house. When a fire rages in the compound, her only chance of survival is to jump from a second-story window. As everything around her explodes, she searches for Cole and sees one of her sisters is sprawled on the ground, deceased. Not caring about the others, she locates Cole, insisting they leave the property immediately.

With no money, food, and only the clothes on their backs, they start their trek to get far away. They sleep in Avery's tent in the woods at night, pick through dumpsters for disposed of groceries for sustenance, and even take part in shoplifting to survive. But they are caught when Cole steals from a pharmacy. Taken to the police station, they are interrogated. Because they have been raised strictly by Father's rules, they cannot answer the detective's questions, so they are placed in cells as the detectives dig for more information about them.

As it turns out, the so-called siblings had been kidnapped as babies and are not biologically related. Cole's parents are ecstatic when they learn the son they lost 15 years ago has been found and returned to them. Still, Avery's single mom cannot be located, so she is sent to live in what would be considered a halfway house.

Avery is terrified, unaware of the "family" members who survived beside them, and now is distraught at losing Cole. With sadness and guilt, she tries to piece her life together, but is there any chance for normalcy? How can she go on?

A debut, this heartbreaking novel depicts a young woman's resilience amid abuse and a life of lies. Avery's voice resonates throughout as she tells the story of her life and the horrors she has had to deal with and try to overcome. Powerful and moving, we wonder who started the fire able to give Avery and Cole a new lease on life. Filled with bewilderment and highly expressive, the conclusion is surprising yet, realized.

After We Were Stolen by Brooke Beyfuss is the story of a survivalist cult. The book was definitely hard to read regarding the subject matter. But the book also offered hope and showed the resilience of some of the characters and hopefully moving past the trauma of their upbringing and how they used their experiences to move forward.

A very good read. I would read more from this author. I also love the book's cover.

@sbkslandmark #NetGalley

I loved this book! I already love cult books, but I have become tired of some of the tropes involved with those books, but this one was really great and refreshing. I was completely surprised by some of the twists, and I would definitely recommend this book.

After We Were Stolen by Brooke Beyfuss captured my heart and flew away with it! The story is so compelling that I read it in one night. I felt immediately connected to the main characters in Beyfuss' writing and cared deeply about their difficult journey.

Avery and Cole grew up in a large family compound. After their home is destroyed by fire, the two siblings escape the abusive situation. Due to their homelessness, they take shelter wherever they can find it and are arrested for theft. Under the care of authorities Avery and Cole soon learn a life-changing secret. They were abducted as children by the cult leaders they knew as their parents. Their entire existence was a lie.

After We Were Stolen is available on July 19th. I highly recommend reading it. You will be touched on the deepest emotional level by this book. After We Were Stolen is one of the most beautifully written and riveting novels of 2022! Kudos Brooke Beyfuss! (5 huge ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for allowing me to review this outstanding book. Your kindness is appreciated!

Avery and Colt have been living in a cult, taught that the rest of the world is ending and they have been chosen to survive. When they escape they discover that they were stolen as children and raised by the cult. This story is definitely a page turner, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The ending was a surprise to me. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

After We Were Stolen was quite the read. Rather than just a straight out thriller this reads as more of a psychological character student. It goes in depth on human resilience. The emotional pay off was well worth it but sadly I didn’t love the pacing.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the e-Arc of After We Were Stolen by Brooke Beyfuss.

I really enjoyed the story of Avery and Cole and their escape from the cult they grew up in. They both end up being not who they thought they were when it's discovered they were actually kidnapped when they were young. I am always fascinated with cult type books and this one did not disappoint though I do wish we could have read more about the cultish lifestyle. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Beyfuss in the future!

Wow! This book was beautifully well written and I enjoyed every bit of it from start to finish. Avery and Colt escape their horrific childhoods to find out they were actually kidnapped by cult leaders. This book kept me interested and engaged and left me wanting more.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. An ax murderer who is connected to one of his victims families. She is not sure what to do with these visions and thoughts. Definitely creepy. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After a fire kills everyone but them, Avery and her brother Cole escape from their abusive parents, only to learn the people they called mom and dad had abducted them as children.

Adjusting to life outside of the cult, and learning the life she knew was a deception, is painful, heart wrenching, and ultimately hopeful for Avery, the narrator of this tale.

This story deals with some serious and sobering topics, but the reader never feels weighed down or emotionally overloaded. The writing is beautiful and efficient, sparing and detailed where needed..

I will be recommending this book to everyone and am eager for the author to write a second novel.