Susan Wiggs’ Wayward Girls is a deeply emotional and powerfully written novel that blends heartache and hope in equal measure. Through richly developed characters and a dual timeline narrative, Wiggs explores the complexities of family trauma, survival, and the courage it takes to face a painful past.

The story follows two sisters whose time at a reform school leaves a lasting impact on their lives. Wiggs handles the subject matter with grace and empathy, weaving suspense into a story that is ultimately about healing and reclaiming one’s truth. The pacing is engaging, and the emotional weight of the novel feels earned—not forced.

Wiggs has an exceptional talent for writing women’s voices with honesty and depth. Wayward Girls is not just a compelling novel—it’s an important one. It challenges perceptions, honors resilience, and lingers long after the final page.

5 stars – A must-read for fans of layered, emotionally rich fiction

Five stars hands down for this revealing historical fiction account of the treatment young “wayward” girls received at the hands of Roman Catholic nuns at a reform school in Buffalo NY. I knew from my own Catholic elementary school experience in the 1960’s how the nuns exerted their discipline on bad behavior, but I never heard of the brutality these young girls endured at reform schools, an eye opener for sure. Susan Wiggs has researched this subject thoroughly and told this gut wrenching story in a way that makes the reader not only furious, but also hoping for these girls to come out of their situation victorious. I’ve been a fan of Susan Wiggs for many years, and this is easily her best yet. I highly recommend!
Many thanks to William Morrow publishers and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

I’ve been drawn to stories about wayward girls lately, so when I saw the blurb for Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs, I was immediately interested. The characters sounded vivid, and knowing it was based on real events made me even more curious. And let me tell you, it delivered!

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅
⇾The dual timeline. I loved how the story was broken into two parts, getting to know the girls as teens in the 1960s and then catching up with them decades later in the present and seeing where life took them.
⇾The history behind it all. Wiggs really did her homework on the Magdalene laundries, and it shows. I had minimal knowledge of these places and it was interesting to learn more about them.
⇾How Wiggs handled each character’s personality. She really built on each girl’s personal strengths in a way that felt real and intentional. Their actions stayed true to who they were, and that consistency made their growth feel even more powerful.
⇾Mairin. I was totally drawn to her strength and fire. Her journey pulled me in right from the start. Usually I prefer multiple POVs, but I really enjoyed reading this one through Mairin’s POV. She was a force!
⇾This story was heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. Themes like resilience, friendship, justice, and redemption really stood out, and watching the girls lift each other up through everything had me so invested and tugged at my heart strings.

Wiggs knows how to tell a story. She took such a painful and traumatic topic and handled it with care, honesty, and compassion. The fictional story felt so real, and I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know how it all turned out. This was my first read by Susan Wiggs and I definitely see myself reading more of her work.

This was a beautifully written story of an absolutely tragic set of circumstances for young women in the 60s. I loved the dual timeline and the heart and depth in these pages. It’s obvious the author painstakingly researched her material. I very much enjoyed this one.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs was recommended by another favorite author of mine, so I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I could relate to a lot of the cultural details in the story because I was also a teenager in 1968. However, it was hard for me to comprehend that such horrible situations as Magdalene Laundries still existed during my own lifetime. I do remember having classmates who had to transfer to night classes when they became pregnant and others who "went away" rather than bring shame on their families. Schools were becoming more supportive of pregnant teenagers by the time my own daughters were in high school by providing special classes and even childcare. Thanks so much to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Well written historical fiction inspires me to dive deeper into the period in question. After finishing 𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦 by Susan Wiggs, down the rabbit hole I went. Wiggs shines a light on an ugly and painful period of American history. One where girls had few rights and were subjected to abuse by the very people who should have been protecting them.

Set in the late 1960s in Buffalo, New York, 𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦 takes the reader inside The Good Shepherd, a Catholic reform school where girls were sent against their will and used as forced labor. Society may have been changing, but conditions within the school were as dismal and dire as ever.

Wiggs introduces us to six girls; each confined at Good Shepherd for different reasons. Despite those difference and against school rules, the girls find solace and hope in each other. The only way to survive is to stay strong and the only way to stay strong is to work together.

The first part of the book centers on the atrocities that took place at the hands of the Sisters and staff at Good Shepherd. The second part of the book takes place decades later and finds the now grown women still dealing with the trauma of their confinement.

Wiggs reads the author’s note at the end of the book and details the meticulous research that is the basis of this story. What struck me is this: 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. Let that sink in and then make damn sure we prevent history from repeating itself.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio, and William Morrow for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

WAYWARD GIRLS by Susan Wiggs is a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful, story of friendship, trauma and survival set during the late 1960s in Buffalo, New York. Based on a true place and events, it is the gripping story of six teenaged girls who, for various reasons, are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a brutal Catholic reform school. This tale brings to light the horrible reality of the Catholic-run laundries, where girls were forced into manual labor under the guise of reforming their errant ways. Many were committed by their families or law enforcement agencies who had no idea of the abuse the girls suffered at the hands of the nuns. While difficult to read at times, the strength, resilience and powerful friendships of the girls was uplifting. The book was meticulously researched and the emotional story is presented with compassion and care. The characters and their heartfelt connections will remain on my mind for a long time to come. I highly recommend this beautifully-written and compelling book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

4.5 stars. Susan Wiggs tells the powerful story of a group of young women confined to a Magdalene laundry in Buffalo, NY. Wayward Girls is fiction, but based on one of these homes, is a well-written and gripping novel. The characters 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.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this digital e-arc."

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.

Wayward Girls is the best kind of historical fiction. One that will captivate you with the inability to realize that this type of thing happened not so long ago. I loved these characters, these girls - our girls, and all that they represented.

This book was kind of all over the place for me. By the end, it had sort of worked itself out, but I felt impatient getting to that point as I read.

4.5⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Susan Wiggs and her publisher William Morrow. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the July 2025 release of WAYWARD GIRLS in exchange for my honest review.

This book doesn’t just tell a story—it teaches, enlightens, and lingers long after the last page. It’s about the strong emotional journey of six teenage girls in a reform school based in the 1960s, Buffalo NY.

This is historical fiction, told in a dual timeline that will have you quickly bonding with the characters because the author has written them so vividly and lovable. You’re routing for all of them!

This book would make a wonderful bookclub read and discussion. The details of what happened at these “schools” while horrifying at times to absorb is told alongside a journey of friendship, resilience, strength…. and ultimately…. freedom.

This story will captivate you, educate you and stay with you. This was well researched, heartfelt and written beautifully. Add this to your TBR if you enjoy reading historical fiction— ‘𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨’

Trigger warnings ⚠️ Abuse, unplanned pregnancy, rape ⚠️

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a captivating novel!
I absolutely loved it. I raced through it
With riveting prose the pages fly, well-developed character that pulls you into the story immediately and stirs emotions within you. This book was masterfully narrated.
This really was a powerful story, this book made me feel things I haven't felt in some time.

Wayward Girls tells the story of a group of girls sent to a reform “school” simply because they have fallen by the wayside and strayed from the norm,. They are pregnant, queer, inconvenient, or even too attractive, and they are sent away to be forced into something that conforms with society’s expectations. Decades later, the girls come back together to find justice and closure.

I absolutely loved this book. The story of the girls in the “school” was heartbreaking and sometimes difficult to read. Although it takes place in the 60’s, it seemed timeless—sometimes from an earlier era, and other times much like today. The later part of the novel was more like the Susan Wiggs I am used to, and brought the novel to a satisfying, life-affirming conclusion.

Highly recommended for those who love both historical fiction and contemporary women’s fiction.

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

Susan Wiggs is a masterful storyteller. The story is relevant in any time frame. The shame of being an unmarried pregnant woman in the 60’s and being sent away until the baby was born was common

Wayward Girls is a historical fiction novel centered on six girls sent to institutions run by the Catholic Church. Each was placed there for different reasons, but all endured harsh treatment and systemic abuse. The story explores the injustices they faced within the walls of these homes and traces the lasting impact on their lives in the years that followed.

Living in a suburb near Buffalo and having been adopted this book really hit home. I am also a Catholic. The book takes place in Buffalo, NY. It centers around Mairin who is a fourteen year old girl who adores her brother Liam. Her father was killed heroically trying to save a boat going too near Niagara Falls. He worked there at the power authority. Her mom remarried a horrible guy who drank too much and when he looked at Mairin made her feel very uncomfortable. She had a best Friend Fiona who became pregnant and had to go live with her Aunt. Fiona's older brother Flynn was a handsome guy and very nice to the girls. He was always there to help if there was a problem. Liam got drafted and was stationed in Vietnam after his basic training. Mairin's mother was a devout Catholic and she did not like the way her husband was looking at her daughter. She wanted to keep her safe so she had her enrolled a refuge run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Her mom thought it was a school for wayward girls and she thought it would be a safe place for Mairin. Little did she know the horrible things that went on their. Six girls shared a dorm room and were required to do the laundry from various places. That is how the Sisters made money. They also made money by selling babies of some of the unwed mothers who entered the refuge. Angela, was a beautiful girl who was sent to the refuge because she was caught kissing a girl. Her grandma, who she lived with sent her there to straighten her out. She would have to go see the physician they had who forced himself on her multiple times and she became pregnant. There was Helen who chinese parents were stuck in China. Odessa, who was sentenced there from the court. Denise, sentenced there for an incident at her foster home. Janice the tattle tale and her friend Kay, who was mentally challenged. Those are the girls who were together for about a year and developed a tremendous bond. The story tells of how Mairin was so head strong and always trying to escape but never could and she would end up punished. They would put the girls in a small dark closet for over 24 hours. The nuns were horrible but there was one nice one Sister Bernadette. She was loyal to the Sisters of Charity but always held a special place in her heart for the girls. Most of the story takes place in the early 60's when the girls were at the refuge. Then it goes into the now time. It is such a well written book. You can tell that Susan Wiggs did her research and I loved all the Buffalo places she mentioned. It is a heartbreaking story that is also a feel good novel. Those girls were quite amazing as young girls and as women. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to #netgalley, #williammorrow and @susan_wiggs_ for an ARC of this great read. All opinions are my own.

I was completely captivated by Wayward Girls (publication day July 15, 2025) by Susan Wiggs! It's an epic story of friendship and survival despite the horrific conditions some girls in the United States were subjected to as recently as 50 or 60 years ago.

As the book opens in 2020, we know that a fifty-year old woman cannot get a passport because there are no records of her pre-adoption birth certificate in 1969.

The book then goes back to 1968, in Buffalo, and follows Mairin, a 15-year old Irish Catholic girl who lives with her older brother Liam, mother, and stepfather. Her beloved father died five years before in an accident on the Niagara River when he was participating in a boating rescue. Mairin works picking fruit in the summer and is worried about her best friend, Fiona, who is not feeling well, but she's excited to possibly be able to go on her first date, to a movie, with Kevin Doyle.

But it turns out that Fiona is pregnant, Liam is drafted, and her stepfather Colm is super-creepy, barging in on her while she's changing. Before she realizes what is happening, her mother and stepfather take her to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd girls home, where she is left because her mother is adamant that she will be safe there. It's a Magdalene laundry, and the girls spend all day washing linens for hotels and hospitals, are not allowed to talk unless spoken to, and they are regularly subjected to the cruelties of the nuns who oversee them.

The girls are there for various reasons--some are sent there instead of juvie; some are orphaned and have nowhere else to go; and, some are pregnant. Mairin makes friends with Angela, a girl whose grandmother sent her there because she was caught with another girl, and the nuns were supposed to take care of her "problem". Instead, the school doctor rapes her and gets her pregnant.

Mairin tries to escape over and over and rebels in every way that she can. She is sent to the "closet" and the basement as punishment, over and over as well. But a group of the girls become real friends through the trauma, until they hatch a daring escape using the best vehicle!

The book then follows Mairin's life after the escape, when she hides out at a hippie commune, a few years later when she reunites with her mother and brother, and how she is able to build a life with someone she loves, even though she never finished school and the trauma of her time at the laundry stays with her.

The best part of the book is the last part, taking place in the present day. I don't want to give too much away, but it is hugely satisfying and I cried a lot! Wayward Girls is going to be one of my favorite books of the year, I'm certain, despite the difficult subjects. It's really about survival and the power of women's friendships.

I didn't flag anything as anti-fat, though there might be a description or two of someone as "big" without a negative association.

Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow for an eARC ♥️

Let’s talk about *Wayward Girls*—the kind of book that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. Set in 1960s Buffalo, it dives into the grim reality of the Good Shepherd reform school, a place where "troublesome" girls were sent to be "corrected." And by troublesome, we mean pregnant, queer, rebellious, or just plain unlucky. 💔
Meet Mairin, Angela, Helen, Odessa, Denise, and Janice—six girls thrown together in this so-called sanctuary run by nuns. Mairin’s here because her mom would rather hide her from a dangerous stepfather than protect her. Angela, She liked the wrong person. Helen’s parents are stuck in Communist China, and no one’s coming for her. Odessa got caught up in a racial clash, Denise has a mouth that won’t quit, and Janice is just trying to keep her fragile friend Kay safe. These girls didn’t commit crimes—they just didn’t fit into the world’s narrow idea of what a "good girl" should be.
Susan Wiggs doesn’t sugarcoat things. The Good Shepherd is brutal—hard labor, harsh punishments, and a system designed to break spirits. But here’s the thing: these girls? They refuse to stay broken. Their friendships become lifelines, their small acts of defiance a quiet middle finger to the system. Even Sister Bernadette, a nun with her own painful past, starts questioning whether any of this is really "charity."
The book’s strength is in its characters—they feel real, flawed, and fierce. You’ll rage at the injustice, cheer for their stolen moments of joy, and maybe even shed a tear when they dare to hope for something better. ♥️
If you love historical fiction that exposes hidden cruelty but still leaves room for hope (and a few well-earned victories), *Wayward Girls* is a must-read. ❗️

3.5 stars. Based upon historical events, this novel tells the story of Mairin and other young girls sent to a Catholic reform school in Buffalo, New York in the 1970s. The conditions that the girls undergo are pretty horrifying, so this is not an easy read. Yet, it is a story that reflects many of the important issues of the time, including racism, teen pregnancy, and sexual abuse. Mairin especially bonds with six other girls, and together they form an alliance that lasts for decades and shows the power of true friendship. Susan Wiggs did a great job at researching the background for Wayward Girls, making this a very informative read. My main quibble is that is seemed somewhat repetitious in parts and overall was perhaps 50 or so pages too long. Nonetheless, it held my interest throughout.

this book is a gritty, hard-hitting piece of fiction that is extremely well-written and is very much not for me, but will likely work for most fans of that genre.

i dnfed this book at 33%. wayward girls is undoubtedly well-written and likely historically accurate, but for me, the unrelenting cruelty crossed a line into what felt like torture porn. i understand that this story is meant to reflect the horrific treatment of girls in catholic reform schools during the 1960s, and i don't doubt that much of what's described here really happened. but i reached a point where continuing felt more harmful than illuminating.

the protagonist, mairin, is nearly assaulted by her stepfather, which is an act witnessed by her brother. when she tells her devoutly catholic mother, she's blamed and physically assaulted, then sent to a catholic boarding school "for her own good." the abuse only escalates from there: non-consensual medical exams, beatings, starvation, solitary confinement. one scene involves a nun cutting off a girl’s hair in retaliation for a stolen item. another involves a pet mouse being flushed down a toilet. that was my breaking point.

the violence is constant and deeply disturbing. there's also period-typical homophobia, particularly toward a queer girl sent away to be "reformed," including hatred from the other girls. none of this is surprising for the setting, but it left me exhausted, not enlightened.

this may be an important book. it might even be a powerful one. but for me, it became unbearable to read. if you're sensitive to depictions of institutional abuse, proceed with caution or skip this one entirely.