THE WILDERWOMEN
BY: RUTH EMMIE LANG

Ruth Emmie Lang is a new Author to me, but one that wrote a most beautiful literary novel called, "The Wilderwomen". It was written with such vivid prose that it seared my imagination so clearly that I could visualize her exotic imagery with each sentence. In fact, her writing style is so unique I have never once encountered one like hers before. At first I felt unused to this type of writing, but by the conclusion of her book; I knew that I had just read an extraordinary story that was special. It can be said that it in the very least contains the element of magical realism. In my sense it was what appeared to be fantasy, which besides any kind of mythology, I have never ventured into the fantasy genre. I am so happy that I gave this new to me genre a fair chance, because I was rewarded with a most special reward of the most precious of reading experiences.

It is about family and in this case two sisters. The older one is named Zadie and the younger one is named Finn. Their mother named Nora has left them or to be more precise, she has disappeared from their lives five years ago. Anything that I have mentioned in this review is not spoiler content since it all appears within less than five percent of the beginning.

Zadie and Finn both have gifts. Zadie discovered when she was seven years old that she has psychic abilities that come to her as premonitions. She has tried very hard to interfere with her premonitions as they are not something that she likes having. Finn can see other peoples memories which usually come in one of her senses and usually don't just belong to her but pertain to most other random people. Finn calls her gift of seeing other people's memories, which mostly deal with the past "echoes". Zadie is angry with her mother for leaving them and misses her sister Finn who was put into a foster family who live one hour away.

Kathy and Steve are Finn's foster parents and they have one son, but want to adopt Finn who has just turned eighteen. Finn loves her foster parents, but she is unsure about adoption because she feels a profound love of her sister, Zadie and she wants to find her mother who she also loves. The two girls have a week's vacation planned to be spent at the beach to celebrate Finn's High school graduation. They go on a journey instead visiting many places searching for their mother. Zadie is reluctant at first but soon agrees and the two sister's are off on a quirky and zany road trip with many stops along the way which backtracking on my part, because to me the pit stops bring them into quirky and zany experiences.

I am going to be recommending this to everyone that I know since I loved it and it was an unforgettable reading experience. It made me feel reminded of the unbreakable and unprecedented love that we feel for our family. How remarkable and how unmatched that love feels to me towards my own. How it feels when someone we love unintentionally hurts us and how the emotions and reactions to that hurt stirs up inside un-welcomed and unexpected reactions. In this case Nora loves both of her daughters and they love her but both daughters have different feelings as a result of her unexplained and unanticipated disappearance. This is a book that was recommended to me by a very cherished friend and I want to say a huge thank you because it was a tremendous gift.

Be sure to put this fantastic and uncommon novel on your to be read list if you want to escape into a world of all lovable characters trying their best to do good by their actions. I know I will be purchasing it for myself for that special book shelf (of which I am running out of space because there are too many) for the favorites. I feel like re-reading this now--it is that wonderful!

Publication Date: November 15, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Ruth Emmie Lang and St. Martin's Press for most generously providing me with my copy of "The Wilderwomen," for I can't thank you enough. All opinions are my own.

#TheWilderwomen #RuthEmmieLang #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

After Nora Wilder walks away from her two daughters, Zadie and Finn without so much of an explanation, Zadie abandons her psychic abilities as well. In the hopes of reconnecting with her sister Finn five years after, Zadie proposes a beach trip, but Finn has other plans. Finn can read memories she calls echos. And ones from Nora just popped up, leading Finn to believe Nora is still alive. Next thing you know, Zadie and Finn are on a road trip to looking for clue to Nora in hopes to uncover the answers they have been craving.

Loved this! Zadie and Finn are two extremely relatable and lovable characters who continue to grow throughout the book. The writing style is beautiful, a nice mix of magical realism and women’s fiction. The book is written in my favorite, MULTIPLE POVs, yay! The concept of the book feel original and well thought out. I loved how not only was it told from Zadie and Finn’s perspective, but there were some parts from Nora before she disappeared which really helped explain things as well as give her character some development.

This book was full of family, drama and intrigue and I simply couldn't put it down. I loved the suspenseful aspect that kept me coming back for more. The book alternates between past and present, one of my favorite writing styles. Zadie and Finn reconnect and work together so beautifully to investigate their mother's disappearance. I loved seeing them grow together throughout the book.

The Wilderwomen was a book outside of my preferred genres and I'm glad I ventured out of my comfort zone. Ruth Emmie Lang knocked this one out of the park and I can't wait to see this book take off upon publication!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. I will post my review on Goodreads and Instagram closer to the pub date!

A sweet look at family, sixth sense and loss. I love an adventure novel, a mindless wandering in the pursuit of something, and in this case it is mainly identity. Sisters in search of a long lost mother, come to grips with where they are in this world, and what has brought them there.

I’ve heard good things about “Beast of Extraordinary Circumstance”, so I was excited to read this. The synopsis sounded part suspense with some magical realism; Two sisters with magic powers searching for their missing mother. The cover looked magical and whimsical. In all, I was excited to read this!

Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. The writing style felt messy. Some parts were trying to be deep and poetic, but I don’t feel like it worked. The dialogue was bland, like watching a show with bad acting. I didn’t care much about the characters. They lacked personality, or their behavior and thoughts were all over the map. By 50%, I started skimming as there was so much filler information that I don’t think added to scene building or character development. The bird theme was sporadic, and how it wraps into the ending felt anticlimactic. I might still give this author’s other novel a shot, since it seems well loved, but this one didn’t work for me. I’m thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this as my first ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First off I love books about the paranormal, including hints of magic, mystery and suspense.

This book provided everything necessary for one fantastic read.

I highly recomend for anyone who is looking for some of the same.

Would give this 6 stars if that was an option.
I loved everything about this, every character, every magical power, every part of the journey for these sisters to find their mom. I don't even know what else to say I just loved it so much and am so excited to have another world created by this author to live in.

I would like to thank @netgalley for the ARC ebook of Wilderwomen. I enjoyed this book and found it intriguing. It was different than what I was expecting. It was more of a family drama than a mystery. Nora Wilder has two daughters, Finn and Zadie. One day she disappears and the daughters go looking for her. The book alternates between present day and the time leading up to her disappearance. It was an interesting dynamic between the three women.

I enjoyed this story, set in a world where some people have mysterious supernatural gifts. In some cases, like Nora's, the gift looks more like mental illness or dementia. Using a combination of their gifts for clues, sisters Finn and Zadie go in search of their missing mother, who vanished five years ago. At the time, Finn was 12 and subsequently placed in a foster home. Zadie, being freshly 18, is left to her own devices, and does not do nearly as well. I don't really know what motivates people to foster 12 year olds, but I didn't much like Kathy and Steve, who did not also welcome Zadie to be part of Finn's life. The fondness and mature gratitude Finn has for them seems unlikely too, given that they treat her like an eight year old at eighteen. But, Finn and Zadie are very likeable, and their relationship does feel like a real one. The story is loosely driven by the supernatural gifts, and the mysterious draw of a certain campground, but it's mainly about the two girls reconnecting as sisters, and for Zadie, finally working through the trauma of her mother's abandonment. The other characters are presented in a very non-judgmental , accepting way, though most of them are pretty unusual due to their gifts or lifestyles. This is a standalone book with a satisfying, if a bit unlikely, ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an advance copy in exchange for my honest review- all thoughts in this opinion are my own!


Wow. So, I kept passing by “beasts of extraordinary circumstance” for no particular reason- but immediately after reading The Wilderwomen I placed an order for that book because Ruth Emmie Lang DID THAT. She wrote such a beautiful generational story with such deep emotions. I loved how different it was, the symbolism was perfection. Characters, flawed but equals perfection in my book when I read. I loved it, and can’t wait for everyone else to check this one out!

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.

5 years ago, their mother walked out of their lives and they haven’t heard from her since.

Zadie and Finn. Two sisters who have been impacted by the loss of their mother in different ways but are both longing for family.

This story has a bit of the fantastical and magical and a whole lot of family love. Woven through the story of the sisters attempting to solve the disappearance of their mother is depth as we dig into themes of forgiveness, family bonds, coping with loss and self acceptance.

My favourite part was the characters. The two sisters are different but both complicated and beautiful in their own way. Their exploration of their “gifts” and accepting who they are is such a good look at our differences and accepting ourselves. Their relationship is both tender and realistic.

Then there’s their random buddy, Joel, that they found along the way. He’s a bit of a wildcard and doesn’t need to be in the story at all for it to work but he provides a little bit of comic relief and entertainment along the way.

While the writing style alternated between feeling rushed and feeling a little awkward, it was definitely a fun, touching read.

thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summer road trips are some of my favourite memories. So add sisters searching for their missing parent, all while keeping secrets from each other, had me hooked.

Nora Wilder took off one day, leaving behind her two daughters, Zadie and Finn. Except, it wasn't a normal disappearance. Before she left, Zadie noticed her acting oddly, often vacant and losing time. Zadie was 18 when she left, so she was alone, and resents her mother for leaving, and keeping secrets from her. On the other side of things, Finn was young when she left, barely a teen, so when she turns 18 she decides it is time to look for their mom. The plot moved wonderfully and kept my attention, a definite 8/10!

--- SPOILERS AHEAD ---

This book had me dreaming of island vacations with my mom. Driving through forests, on the coasts, every form of adventure. Our, however, seem a wee bit more mundane as compared to Zadie and Finn's.

I really liked the explanation of both girl's powers, and how they weren't actually all alone in it. It made it seem a lot more realistic. The girl's relationship was also very well done, and the parallels between Nora and Finn had me reeling.

The writing in the was amazing, too. The back and forth time periods, as well as how the mystery of their mother unfolded, was incredibly clever. It did seem like a rushed ending though. I don't think I was actually expecting them to find their mom, or be able to forgive their mom for taking off so quickly, even if there was a reason for it. Also, I really was a fan of Joel. I think he and Zadie should have gotten back together and had the baby together.

The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang - pub date November 15, 2022. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC. This is definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2022. Lang’s debut novel Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is one of my all time favorites so I was excited when I was able to read this one early.
Ruth Emmie Lang is such a gifted writer when it comes to characters with extraordinary traits. This is a General Fiction book with a fantasy element throughout.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the story of Finn and Zadie, sisters that are each uniquely gifted with an unusual ability. They decide to search for their mother, Nora, who disappeared five years ago. Along the way they encounter special people who make an impact on them. Lang’s characters are unique yet their relationships are so relatable for the reader. The sisters
are able to see each other in a new light as their quest proceeds.

Lang is definitely an auto buy author for me. I’m already anticipating her next book.
Pre-order The Wilderwomen now and read Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance while you wait for November 15!

Five years after the mysterious disappearance of their mother, sisters Zadie and Finn reunited on a life changing road trip to find her and find themselves along the way.

I didn’t know The Wilderwoman was such an anticipated read for me until I started reading it. Fraught with magical realism, dysfunctional family dynamics and sisters at opposite sides of live, this book was an enormously beautiful constructed concept.


The early book felt hard to put together with all the shifting viewpoints, but once it picked up I was enthralled by the witty sisterhood and journey of Zadie and Finn. My biggest complaint is that the ending felt very sudden given the drawn out length of the journey taken.

Overall, a great read and one I’d highly recommend.

The Wilderwomen took me on an enchanting road trip across America, doggedly chasing memories, dreams, heartbreak, and secrets. The mystery of where the Wilder sisters' mother went was only the first delightful layer in a richly immersive story of family, magic, & coming to terms with oneself as an adult.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy.

This was a really interesting book that blends a lot of different genres into an engaging family drama. I enjoyed the sci-fi aspects and the relationships in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Wilderwomen covers the story of two sisters and their missing mom. Zadie is a young adult struggling to figure out where her place is in the world as she navigates being newly pregnant and single with a mom that has been missing for five years and a sister who seems to have the perfect life with her foster family. Her sister Finn though, doesn't feel like her life is perfect as she is convinced there is more to the story of their mom's disappearance and she is determined to find out. Both girls have unique abilities, though Zadie shuns her ability to have premonitions about the future while Finn embraces her ability to feel echoes of memories other leave behind- even when it starts to become dangerous. Will the two be able to work together to learn about themselves, their abilities, and their mother? You'll have to read to find out!

I appreciated the way that the fantasy in this novel feels real. The author weaves a story that intertwines fantasy with the world as we know it. Sometimes I had a little difficulty finding overall flow with reading, but I found the story enjoyable, and entertaining, and was intrigued by trying to figure out where the story was heading and the for the mysteries to be solved. Overall I would recommend for readers who enjoy fantasy with some realism.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

📖book review — ARC edition📖
the wilderwomen by ruth emmie lang

thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

spoiler-free summary: zadie & finn haven’t seen their mother in 5 years. zadie holds resentment while finn believes her mother’s disappearance wasn’t a choice. after some convincing from finn, the sisters find themselves on an adventure across the country to find their mom. the twist? they have unique psychic abilities to help them👀

what stood out:
• awesome descriptions; i could always clearly picture each setting along zadie and finn’s journey. the sedona part was naturally my favorite as i live in arizona
• the magic✨ i had yet to read a book revolved around psychic abilities, and it never once felt cheesy or unbelievable
• the multi-POV. this was crucial in leaving the reader wanting more
• the people the girls met throughout the journey🥺 there were some really special characters, my favorite being the Van Houten sisters

my only critique is that it could have done without zadie’s old/potential love interests as i felt it didn’t contribute much to the plot.

overall, an enjoyable read and i recommend!

rating: 4/5⭐️

Ruth Emmie Lang's previous work "Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances" is an all time favorite on my list. For so many months I eagerly waited for the release of another book by her, way before I knew there was one coming, before I knew the title of the new one and even before an ARC was an option. I was so excited and thankful when NetGalley had it available for request and then granted me a copy!

The Wilderwomen is a different kind of beast. It is the story of two half sisters and their disappearing mother, the struggles to reestablish broken relationships and seek acceptance. The brilliant storytelling style that Lang so well developed in her previous book is lost in this one. This story progresses without a clear path and it feels fractured in so many ways. Besides the inclusion of a few interesting passages -already quoted in multiple of the reviews I have seen- the plot is discombobulated and it doesn't flow well. The writing, from the short sentences to the constant shifts between dialogue and third person narration are alienating and the style would better serve the YA group. There is a lot of explaining that is missing in order to make the story more coherent. A hybrid between magical realism and fantasy, I feel that Ruth Emmie Lang was inspired by another popular book this year "Migrations" by Charlotte McConaghy, in order to create this novel. The bird theme however, doesn't hold its weight in this case.

As I see that so far the reviews of this book are highly positive, maybe my expectations were unrealistic.

Thank you so much #NetGalley and #stmartinpress for the opportunity to read and review this ARC before the publication of the book.