A beautiful and powerful story about family and unresolved trauma that centers women and their relationship with one another. I absolutely loved how the mom was represented through bird imagery throughout the story and the sister's relationship was represented through time. Zadie was the future and wanted to move on and Finn was the past and couldn't let go. As they're on their trip they meet other people and we learn their stories, similar to Into The Wild. It had a perfect combination of magical-realism, mystery-thriller, and women's fiction. I felt this could be taught in school and picked apart for it's meanings. There were so many layers to this story and I'm just amazed by how much I loved it.

I want to thank #netgalley for letting me read this amazing eArc of #TheWilderwomen by #RuthEmmieLang.
So what can I say? First off not what I was expecting although I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting but this wasn’t it. My heart ached for Zadie and for Finn. It hurt for their pain especially Zadies with the loss of their mother but to compound that feeling as though she lost Finn as well. Finn seems so resilient like nothing can get to her until all of the echoes begin to overwhelm her. What can I saw about Nora? It was hard living her memories being able to see somewhat what was happening. The bravery it took these girls to do all that they did is amazing. This book is amazing. It’s a great read!

Zadie and Finn are sisters who both have psychic gifts. Their mother Nora has been missing for many years and it’s Finn’s desire to spend their vacation looking for her.
I was excited to read this book just because I find psychics interesting. It was an interesting book full of some magical moments.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

A book about the journey, not the destination. Two half sisters have been abandoned by their mother, and have grown apart. The older sister can see the future, while the younger sister can see echoes of the past in people's memories. She becomes convinced she has tapped into her missing mother's memories and the two girls set off on a road trip to find her. I felt no need to race ahead to find out whether they are ultimately successful, because their journey is so entertaining and wonderful. They bond together and meet a cast of interesting characters along the way.

What a journey! This book was beautiful. I enjoyed every moment that I spent reading this. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I was rooting for these incredible women. If you like adventure, mystery, and magical realism check this one out!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

following description is from the publisher:
Five years ago, Nora Wilder disappeared. The older of her two daughters, Zadie, should have seen it coming, because she can literally see things coming. But not even her psychic abilities were able to prevent their mother from vanishing one morning.

Zadie’s estranged younger sister, Finn, can’t see into the future, but she has an uncannily good memory, so good that she remembers not only her own memories, but the echoes of memories other people have left behind. On the afternoon of her graduation party, Finn is seized by an “echo” more powerful than anything she’s experienced before: a woman singing a song she recognizes, a song about a bird…

When Finn wakes up alone in an aviary with no idea of how she got there, she realizes who the memory belongs to: Nora.

Now, it’s up to Finn to convince her sister that not only is their mom still out there, but that she wants to be found. Against Zadie’s better judgement, she and Finn hit the highway, using Finn’s echoes to retrace Nora’s footsteps and uncover the answer to the question that has been haunting them for years: Why did she leave?

But the more time Finn spends in their mother’s past, the harder it is for her to return to the present, to return to herself. As Zadie feels her sister start to slip away, she will have to decide what lengths she is willing to go to to find their mother, knowing that if she chooses wrong, she could lose them both for good.

this book has mystery in it, girls road trip, magical
It makes me think of an Alice Hoffman book. Very hard to put down as long as you are ok with the big of mysticism in it. I loved the characters, loved the dynamics between the sisters and how they were forced to really get to know each other again
this is a solid 3.5; definitely worth your read. It comes out 11/22
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Hard book to put down

A disappearance, psychic visions, echos. Two sisters on their own journeys of self discovery and a mystery to be solved. I found myself completely engrossed in this story. It’s written and told beautifully. The characters had so much depth and really came alive for me. This is magical realism at its best.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the complimentary ebook! Pub date 11/15/22.

Okay, going in I had honestly no clue what to expect from this. After reading this, I'm speechless. So many twists and turns I never guessed were coming, the 2 sisters are fun and real that they easily become your favorite characters. I loved that the premise was not like the usual books I always see. The storyline was very interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was so worried about the Mom the entire time as well. Now that I finished reading the ending and the epilogue; it wrapped this book up nicely with a bow on top. I enjoyed this alot! Would recommend to my friends for a quick and interesting read!

I loved everything about this book. Lang expertly wove a tale of family who was torn apart. I loved the magical realism, the relationship of the sisters, the road trip to find their mom, and the writing. ​I have absolutely no complaints about this book. It was fun, heart-wrenching at times, happy at others. I couldn’t put it down. Lang’s writing kept me engrossed in this story the whole time. The only bad part, was that it had to end. This book gets 5 stars from me.

I'm in the minority here, but I just could not get into this one. I'm not sure why as there's nothing I can point to that was wrong with it and the concept appealed, but I just never felt like I caught the thread or connected with the characters. I kept forcing myself to turn pages in the hope that something about it would compel me to keep reading, or allow me to find the magic other readers have, but it never did. This one just wasn't for me.

Nora mysteriously takes off, leaving behind two teenagers, Zadie and Finn. Both girls have a secret: Zadie gets flashes of premonitions and Finn feels “echoes” of other people’s memories. Years after Nora’s disappearance, her daughters set off on a journey to find her.

This is a story about family sprinkled with a healthy dose of magical realism, and it’s really well done! Zadie is full of secrets and distrust while Finn rushes headlong into adventure, and watching them grow closer over their adventure is heartwarming.

I found the first third the most engaging: it read a lot like a Seanan McGuire book. I did think it meandered in the middle and then rushed slightly at the end, but overall, this was a great book, and I’ll definitely read more from this author.

<i>I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</I>

This book was so interesting to read and just think about. I loved Zadie and Finn and felt that they really loved one another so much.
Zadie is a young adult who desperately wants to spend more time with her younger sister. Finn just turned 18 and will soon be leaving her foster family to go off to college. The girls have planned a beach trip together, but plans change when Finn is overwhelmed with the need to search for their mother who has been missing for 5 years. Zadie, who has written their mother off for abandoning them, does not want to go, but also does not want to give up time with Finn. They are fortunate enough to have special gifts that will help them to follow the unseen tracks their mother left for them. Zadie must open herself up to her ability, and Finn needs to stop being so open.
The journey is full of growth and unique experiences for both of the girls. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m going to compare this novel to another novel that isn’t really anything like it, but go with it. There’s a method to my madness. When I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, I found myself smiling the entire time. The same thing happened with The Wilderwomen. This novel bursts with beautiful ideas, incandescent language, and moments that invoke a true sense of wonder. I couldn’t help smiling as I read it, even when the words simultaneously brought tears to my eyes, which happened more than once.

Teenage Finn Wilder and her older sister Zadie were set adrift when their mother Nora disappeared five years ago. Finn lives with a foster family, Zadie is on her own, and they’ve also drifted apart from each, overwhelmed by the pain and hurt caused by Nora walking way. Something was increasingly wrong with her in the months before her leaving, but they don’t know what.

One thing the sisters share besides the loss of their mother is that they both have special talents. Zadie can sometimes see future events, and Finn receives “echos”, of other peoples memories they’ve left behind. When Finn loses herself in an echo from Nora, she convinces Zadie to go on a road trip following that echo in search of their mom.

This road trip becomes a journey that forces Finn and Zadie to confront things that have been left unsaid, brings them together, and shows them a world filled with mysteries and wonderment. Lang has crafted a novel that sings and dances—the quiet, tender moments are balanced with joyful sequences that had me, as I said above, smiling in delight. Her characters, particularly the three Wilder women, are richly drawn and fully realized. I was fully invested in them and their journey from beginning to end. Speaking of the end, Lang nails it. It’s deeply satisfying.

The Wilderwomen will be released on November 15th, 2022. Believe me when I tell you, this is worthy of a pre-order. And one last thing, as a Clevelander, I was happy to discover that Lang is a fellow Ohioan. We’re lucky to have her.

I'll be honest. This just wasn't my cup of tea. i DNF this book around to 40% mark due to lack of interest. I wasn't interested in the plot or characters. Others definitely could appreciate this book though.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: November 15, 2022
Ruth Emmie Lang’s sophomore novel “The Wilderwomen” is perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman’s “Practical Magic” series. Full of magic, emotion and connection, Lang’s story of two estranged sisters, reconnecting to find their missing mother (and maybe using some magical powers or two) is a can’t-miss!
Nora Wilder walked away from her two daughters, Zadie and Finn, five years ago, without reason or explanation. Unable to predict her mother’s leaving, or stop her, Zadie abandoned her psychic abilities on that same day. Trying to reconnect with her estranged sister, Finn, Zadie decides on a beach vacation for the two of them, a few days of sun and sand. Finn, however, has other ideas. Finn can read memories (she calls “echoes”) and recently, she has been having “echoes” of Nora, convincing Finn that their mother is alive. Soon, Finn and Zadie are on a road trip, looking for clues that will lead them to the woman who walked away five years ago. Why did Nora leave her two daughters alone? Does she even want to be found?
Lang’s storyline is creative and completely mesmerizing, and I loved the sisterly relationship between Zadie and Finn, two characters who are so very different, yet connected by a familial (and magical) thread. Right from page one, I connected with Zadie, and rooted for both sisters.
Zadie and Finn both narrate the story, which helps to further cement the bond with the sisters and the reader. There are a few sections of the novel told by Nora, in the time leading up to her disappearance, which I found exceptionally beneficial as it turned Nora into a likable character. Without her side of things, I would have disliked her, or at least not have wanted the girls to seek her out. The addition of Joel (Zadie’s ex-boyfriend) seemed exceptionally random, and I’m still trying to figure out how he played into the story, but he was sweet and dim-witted and served to provide some lightness to the plot.
Scottish American author Lang is new to me, but her debut novel, “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances”, is now on my radar, as well as anything else she chooses to write. I was impressed by the level of skill Lang possesses, and it is remarkable that this novel is only her second. I look forward to enjoying more magical tales from Lang in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and author for providing this book for my honest review. I absolutely adore this book. It is so unique! This book is about two sisters who each have a special magical gift. Their mother had disappeared 5 years before and they decide to use their gifts to find her. I love how this is a bit of a mystery mixed in with magical realism. It’s also a beautiful story about siblings and mothers and daughters. This author is an auto buy author for me! If you enjoy magical realism, mysteries, and family dramas this book is a great choice.

Oh, my heart. This novel was SO BEAUTIFUL. Filled with magical realism, delightful female characters, and so. much. lush. nature. It was the perfect soul escape for my currently very chilly midwestern heart. The symbolism could be heavy-handed at times (there's A LOT of birds and also a trio of sisters who all have tree names...) but instead of distracting, this contributed to the lushness of the novel as a whole. Pick this one up if you're a little bit of a hippie at heart (guilty).

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Despite having heard and read many good things about this book, I unfortunately was unable to get into it at this time. I hope to maybe come back to it at some point. It has all the genre qualities I am interested in - magic realism, family drama...etc.

It is a magic realism mystery that follows two sisters as they look for their mother.

I give it 3 stars despite being unable to get very far. I blame it on my *unfortunate* current disinterest in the plot but I don't feel it deserves anything lower because it is well written & and the world is unique! I just personally couldn't get into it at this time.

Wow, what a unique, beautiful, and moving story!
Part coming of age, part magical, the story is of two sisters, who are planning to take a road trip together to find their relationship again after slowly losing touch after their mother disappeared years before. Both sisters have special abilities (Zadie is a psychic and Finn can see the echoes of other people's memories) and on the night before their trip, Finn sees the echo of one of her mother's memories and talks Zadie into using the trip to find their mother. The girls have no idea where she went; the only clues being echoes of her memories that come to Finn as they head out on the road.
The echoes lead them to interesting places and unusual people - people like themselves-- and they quickly realize theirs more to the world than they ever knew.
It took me a little while to get into the story at first as it was a little slow moving, but once I did I couldn't stop reading this one.

The Wilderwomen is such a beautiful story of love between sisters who are very different. I love the nuance in the two sisters' personalities and how they were reflected in their special abilities was really well done. I love a story about generational magic and the things that are inherited vs the things that are learned and I loved seeing this reflected in Finn and Zadie and their mother, Nora. There are light moments and tears and afterward, i called my sisters.