The author did a superb job of describing all aspects of the story. Though this book may not be for the faint of heart it is an excellent historical fiction novel that everyone should read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Another great read from Ms. Wiggs. This one was different from her usual reads I felt. The book starts with Everly (who was adopted as a baby) trying to find out about her birth mother. There are no records she can find. Then we go back to the 1960's and meet Mairin. Mairin is a teenage girl living with her mother, stepfather and brother in New York. Mairin is sent to a Catholic school for wayward girls after an unpleasant incident with her stepfather. From the moment she arrives Mairin tries to find a way to escape from the "school". The "school" is actually a Magdalene laundry and the girls are forced to work in them for no wages and received no schooling of any kind while they are there. Mairin makes friends with several girls during her time there including one girl who becomes pregnant while at the school. The story continues with Mairin and her friends time at the "school". Near the end of the book we switch back to modern times and continue on with Mairin's story and find out what eventually happened to her friends from the "school". Read this interesting book to learn more about what happened to the girls at the "school" and if Mairin ever escapes; how Mairin's friend becomes pregnant while at the school and what happens to her baby and what eventually happens to the "school". Pick this one up in July 2025.

This is definitely an emotionally charged book following Maririn who is sent to The Good Shepherd Institute in Buffalo NY by her mother and step-father because she was a “wayward girl” and needed discipline from the nuns. The girls at the institute were treated like slaves and received extreme punishments for infractions. It was hard to read and learn about the shocking treatment the girls received at the hands of the nuns in charge. The characters in the book are fiction but the Good Shepherd Institutes were real and the atrocities perpetuated there are outlined in court documents. The author did a superb job of describing all aspects of the story. Though this book may not be for the faint of heart it is an excellent historical fiction novel that everyone should read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wayward Girls is a poignant historical fiction novel set in 1968 Buffalo, NY. Free-spirited Mairin O'Hara is unexpectedly sent to Good Shepherd, a Catholic-run institution, to keep her safe from her predatory stepfather. When she arrives, she meets six other girls her age who have been sent away for various reasons.

There’s Angela, a head-turning beauty who was condemned for her attraction to girls; Helen, the daughter of imprisoned Chinese intellectuals; Odessa, who struck a racist cop during a protest; Denise, who grew up in the foster system; and a pair of friends named Janice and Kay. Kay was born with developmental disabilities and is unable to live independently, so Janice looks after her.

This was not an easy read- the situation these girls are in is truly horrifying, At Good Shepherd, they are forced into manual labor for little pay and locked in their rooms at night. Any show of defiance is punished harshly, but Mairin, the protagonist, is especially determined to escape.

Wayward Girls touches upon many societal issues of the 1960s, but these issues are certainly not exclusive to the time period. Racism, homophobia, sexual abuse, teen pregnancy and adoption, the foster system, conversion therapy, and religious abuse are all major themes.

One thing I wasn't expecting was the dual timeline, and to be honest, I wasn't a fan. The second part of the story takes place in the present day. Even though the survivors are now in their late 60s, their voices still came across very young. I can appreciate what the author was trying to do, but it took me out of the story a little.

Before I begin absolutely raving about this book, I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for supplying me with an eARC. I can’t believe I have to wait until July for others to be able to read and discuss this story.
Set in Buffalo in the late 1960s, Wayward Girls is a novel about the power of friendship, the sinister tendrils of complacency by allowing tradition and faith to cloud decisions, what justice can look like for those who have been so utterly wronged by an institution, and about many different kinds of grief.
Mairin O’Hara is a delightful protagonist. After she is sent away to a laundry disguised as a Catholic School for wayward girls, she does everything she can to create a better life for herself and the friends she makes within those prison-like walls.
Each girl is thoughtfully written and you root for all of them. I was on the edge of my seat for several parts of this novel. Some of the subject matter is upsetting, but these stories are based on things that, unfortunately, did happen. Honoring and holding space for the experiences of those who were unlucky enough to be send to the Good Shephard is what we all need to do. The abuse was rampant and horrible. The adoption process akin to human trafficking. The scars, both mental and physical, that these poor women have had to nurse in silence for all these years.
This book was full to the brim with loveable characters, heartbreaking moments, moxie and grit, and people learning to have grace and patience with one another. An absolutely beautiful novel. Highly, highly recommend.

Based on the true story of a Catholic GIrl's Reform School in Buffalo, this story will haunt you for days. Why were these places allow to exist? What happened to all the girls who were placed there? A novel involving several girls and their experiences there and how it affected the rest of their lives is told by one of my favorite authors. Tragedy, frienships and forgiveness are all themes covered in this book that will keep you reading until the end.
Highly recommended.

Well, I don’t know what to say. This book was shocking in many ways to actually find out there were places such as this in existence well into the 1900’s. The treatment these girls went through was cruel and barbaric.

This was different for Wiggs but it was truly good. I didn't want to put it down. The true tale of honest friendship based on trials lived together

I enjoyed this story overall, although I felt that it dragged at times. A really interesting look into some fairly recent times where women’s rights were severely lacking.

I've heard of the horrors of the Magdalene laundries in Ireland, but was very shocked that they existed in the US and as recently as the 1960"s. Susan Wiggs tells the powerful story of a group of young women confined to such a home in Buffalo, NY. Wayward Girls is fiction, but based on one of these homes, is a well-written and gripping novel. The lead character have been committed for a variety of reasons everything from being gay to being poor to just being unwanted. The tales of the home are horrifying, but the story of friendship and strength make this a great read. Wayward Girls is perfect for your next book group read.

thank you netgalley, susan wiggs & publisher for the e arc.

i enjoyed some parts of this story, but felt that certain parts dragged and the book could have been even 50-70 pages shorter while still leaving an impact in regards to the topics covered in here. there are also some trigger warnings that should be made a bit more known at least imo. overall, enjoyed but not my favorite!

"Wayward Girls" is a remarkable work of historical fiction that delves into the troubling reality of Catholic laundries, establishments intended to provide refuge for young girls facing unplanned pregnancies or those deemed uncontrollable by their families. Contrary to their intended purpose, these institutions were characterized by darkness and abuse, predominantly operated under the auspices of the Catholic Church.

The protagonist, Mairin, captivates readers as she navigates her life after being placed in such a facility through no fault of her own. The year she spent there casts a long shadow over her existence, leaving lasting emotional scars. The narrative follows Mairin and several other individuals as they strive to rebuild their lives following their harrowing experiences within those walls. This compelling tale is one that readers will find hard to put down.

2.5
I wanted to like this so much more than I did… the premise and backstory sounded so promising, but the execution just didn’t work for me. The POV bounced around between characters, but none of the voices felt very distinct to me. The time periods felt off too—I get that in the Home they obviously didn’t have amenities etc, but it felt like it was set in the 1940s and then there would be a modern reference that would take me out. I think particularly in the “current” timeline; these women would've been 67/68 years old but their voices still came across as teens.

I also just didn’t feel the emotion behind everything. These girls went through something horrific and it just felt very surface level with throwaway comments about therapy and PTSD but we were just told all of this information instead of shown. The whole story felt entirely too long and more like an in depth outline of a book rather than a full fledged plot.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

4.5 stars
I love everything Susan Wiggs has written and this one was no different. It drew me in from page one and I could not put it down. Mairin's story and that of the other “wayward girls” were heartbreaking, yet I couldn’t stop reading to see what would happen to them—finished it in a day and a half. Highly recommend!

The Wayward Girls are a group of teenagers who are sent to a Catholic home in order to be educated and helped. The home turns out to be a laundry where the girls are forced to work for free and punished for every offense. In Buffalo, NY in the 1960s, Mairin is sent to the home for her "safety" from her stepfather. She spends her year there doing everything she can to get out and makes friends with several of the girls. After a daring escape in a library bookmobile, she returns to regular life, but her past will always affect her future.

Susan Wiggs can do no wrong. Strong characters and a powerful story. A must-read! #WaywardGirls #NetGalley

What a compelling story! This book will give you a look back into the sixties and will enlighten you to the things going on during that time. Things going on within the Catholic church and the girls who endured it.

Mairan O’Hara’s innocence and fierce energy grabs your attention from the beginning of “Wayward Girls”. Her sense of justice and hope for more is so relatable throughout the novel and she serves as a beacon to those around her.
The other wayward girls add layers to the story and help keep the narrative interesting throughout. We learn about Helen, Angela, Odessa and their growth beyond truly terrible circumstances endured as teens. We also see how the wayward girls execute justice for themselves and others in Buffalo.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who want developed characters, developed setting, and a well-paced plot.

This is such an emotionally shattering book sharing the abuse these girls went through in what was an okayed practice by the Catholic Church. The grit, hope, and bravery these girls showed was unbelievable. This is a must read in historical fiction.

Wayward Girls is set in Buffalo, NY, during the 1960s at a Catholic-run reform school for girls, where they were subjected to harsh conditions, forced labor, and strict rules. The six main characters were sent there for various reasons, but their "crimes" certainly did not match their punishment. This book was not an easy read (at times I needed to pause), but the amount of hope and joy that the characters are able to bring to life is a testament to the resilience of girlhood and the community that can be found therein. It's not easy to balance six main characters, and Susan Wiggs does a phenomenal job. I just wish we got more time with each. 4.5 rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.