I've read a few books centred around the Magdalene laundrettes, the nuns that ran them, and the girls who were forced to live and work there, and the abuse they consequently suffered.
This book will make you angry, it's written so well that you will shake your head in disbelief that this went on only a few decades ago.
Highly recommended.

Let me be completely honest—I almost DNF’d this book more than once. For a good chunk of the story, I just wasn’t connecting with what was happening. The pacing felt slow, and I struggled to stay interested in the characters or plot. But the epilogue? That epilogue hooked me. It dropped just enough of a mystery, wrapped in eerie ambiguity, that I had to know how it all tied together. It wasn’t clear at all what the connection was, and that uncertainty kept gnawing at me until I had no choice but to keep reading.

And thank goodness I did. Slowly but surely, I found myself pulled into the chilling atmosphere of this Catholic institution, the growing unease that clung to the walls, and the unraveling fates of the girls trapped within. There’s a creeping dread threaded through the story that eventually consumed me in the best way. What started off as a potential DNF turned into a haunting and thought-provoking read that lingered with me after the final page. I’m genuinely glad I stuck with it—because in the end, I truly enjoyed the tale that unfolded.

This was a wonderful historical fiction. I have read stories about Wayward Girls in the past, but this one is unique because it takes it much further than their time in the home. A group of young women are sent to a “home” in Buffalo NY for various reasons. Some because they are pregnant, others because their families don’t have enough money to support them or because they were deemed “wild” or because they are gay. What goes on in this home is awful. The story not only followed what happened there, but followed up with a lot of the girls as they became women and how the home affected their lives after. The writing was wonderful; the characters were unique and filled with spunk. The extensive research is shown in the details of the book. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrators. This was a story about facing your trauma, sisterhood and learning to stand up for yourself. This was an emotional story that is worth the read.

Beautifully produced audiobook on the tragic subject of Magdalene Laundries in the US. Told through the stories of individual girls who found themselves in such a "school" near Buffalo, NY in the mid-1970s. Interesting and well told, but entirely too long and involved.

Wow, what a wonderfully well written and well researched book. Not an easy read, by any stretch of the imagination, but detailed, emotional and well developed. This story follows 6 girls who were sent to the "Good Shepard" a catholic reform school for a year (or more) where they were treated pretty horrifically. The hope, resilience, friendship and determination that was portrayed so clearly throughout the pages was incredible. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug these young girls - I felt as if I was reading the diary of a friend at times. It was so real and raw. My biggest complaint is the ending - we were brought to the present day where we got to see what all the girls were doing and how they were able to move on from their difficult past and trauma. Although I was curious as to where these girls were today, I felt as if this part of the book just did not flow as smoothly as the rest. Overall, a wonderful read, just bring the tissues. 
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

Wayward Girls is sadly based on a true story of the Vietnam era here in the U.S. Unlike many novels written about this time period, it does not focus on the war, but instead highlights some of the difficulties going on at home while the nation was maybe looking elsewhere. It's the story of six girls who were forced, for a wide variety of reasons, to live and work in a Catholic reform school where education was nonexistent and discipline and hard work were the daily routine. The abuse that took place within these walls was difficult to read about and will horrify you long after the last page, but the endurance and fortitude of these girls is also inspiring and will remain with you, serving as a reminder that hope makes anything possible.

I don't want to say that this was an enjoyable read because it wasn't, at least not in a lighthearted, fun kind of way. However, having said that, I'm so glad I read about it. It was extremely well written, and even the difficult parts were handled with grace but also with reality. It wasn't supposed to be an easy read, but even in the midst of tragedy and hardship, we get glimpses of humanity and of the power of friendship. The characters were well-drawn and made me ache for them in their struggles and cheer for them in their triumphs. Honestly, this book was a bit of an emotional roller coaster, and that was fitting for the topic. Anything less would not have done justice for those girls who actually lived through similar circumstances at the time.

I highly recommend this book to those who love historical or women's fiction. Again, go in to it knowing that their are hard things within the pages, but also knowing that you'll find resilience and courage that will lift your spirits and make you glad you read this extremely compelling book.

NYT Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs (a favorite) returns with her most moving and compelling book yet, WAYWARD GIRLS. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, and at times haunting, inspired by a true story of survival, friendship, and redemption.

Top Books of 2025!

We follow six girls in a Catholic reform school in 1960s Buffalo, NY, in this powerful and unforgettable, emotionally moving story by a master storyteller. A tale of courage and justice while shedding light on a horrific time in our history.

About...

During the turbulence of the Vietnam Era, in Buffalo, New York, teenage girls were condemned to forced labor at the Good Shepherd, a dark and secret institution controlled by the Sisters of Charity nuns.

In 1968, we meet six teens thrust into confinement (by the hands of others, leaving them no choice) at the Good Shepherd—merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly. Some are just being normal teens and are taken advantage of.

~Mairin, a free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, was committed to keeping her safe from her stepfather.

~Angela, denounced for her attraction to girls, was sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

~Helen, the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

~Odessa, caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

~Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, dared to dream of a better life.

~Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

How will they ever escape this evil?

My thoughts...

Heartbreaking. Your heart will go out to these girls! WAYWARD GIRLS showcases the brutality, abuse, hardships, and horrific treatment of young girls who were placed in Good Shepherd, a Catholic reform school in 1960s Buffalo, NY.

Their families had various reasons for turning over their daughters, such as teenage pregnancy, being too provocative, too unruly, being gay, or catching the eye of a male family member.

Forced to work in a laundry with no pay, and what made it worse was that the parents thought they were doing the right thing, unaware of the abuses. Then once there, they are in prison with little rights.

Powerful and memorable, the author vividly describes the conditions and the fears, courage, and strength of these young women when they have no support or place to turn.

Wiggs offers an extensive Author's Note (even though fictional). WAYWARD GIRLS is inspired by actual events, and the systemic abuses perpetrated by the Magdalene laundries documented in Ireland.

It is sad to think this practice spread to thirty-eight institutions where women and girls from poor homes were regularly confined to these religious-run, state-sanctioned prison systems of slave labor and abuse.

The author brilliantly portrays these characters (victims) as victims of life-like realistic abuse and shaming. The girls were often placed in isolation in dark, small closets.

I loved how the girls stuck together, showcasing their grit, resilience, and determination, as well as their escape using the library van, which will make you smile. So sad how many women and young girls lost their babies, pressured against their will to surrender their parental rights.

Heartwrenching, compelling, powerful, and unforgettable. A moving story of friendship, justice, and survival with characters that will remain with you long after the book ends. An ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions.

Audiobook...

I had the privilege of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook, narrated by Jane Oppenheimer and Cynthia Farrell, who delivered an engaging performance that captures the time, place, evil, injustices, and characters, holding your attention with compelling content, a perfectly paced narrative, and pitch-perfect voices for a dynamic delivery and an immersive connection between the performers and the listener. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Recs...

WAYWARD GIRLS is for historical fiction fans, strong women, and those who enjoy works by Ellen Marie Wiseman, Diane Chamberlain, Megan Church, and Sadeqa Johnson

A special thank you to William Morrow and Harper Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to an advanced reading and listening copy, in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
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Another gripping story that one can’t put down. This book really hit home for me since I was about the same age of the MC, so many of the subjects touched as the Vietnam Era was relatable. The secret horrors of reform schools was unknown to me. I did grow up across the street from a Catholic grade school and some friends did talk about the nuns but I was clueless. This is the journey of six girls and the horrors they endured with the MC and ringleader Mairin. The girls for various reasons were basically imprisoned and became slave laborers. The story is a mix of facts and fiction and is woven into an unbelievable story of the unbreakable spirit and will of Mairin and her friends. I love how 50 years later they manage to reconnect and expose the atrocities they lived through. Excellent must read in my opinion! Thank you so much for this ARC of the book and audiobook. I switched back and forth both were so good. The narrator was excellent! #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #HarperAudio

In 1969, teenager Maren is busy being a young woman, hanging with her friends, having her first date with a boy, etc. But when her stepfather gets creepy and blames it on her, he and her mother send her to a “school” for wayward girls. Disguised as taking care of these women and teaching them, it’s really just forced labor and closed adopting out their babies to “good” families. Maren and her friends mount an eacape, but it goes wrong and they get separated. Years later, they reunite and seek to uncover the truth about the home and others like it.

The first part of this was better for me than the second. In the modern portion, the dialogue and writing felt kind of hokey. Maybe it was that way in the first half, but I didn’t notice. I liked the story of young Maren and the women she formed bonds with in the reform school, and I liked the kdea of all of them coming together as old ladies to right past wrongs, but that part just fell flat for me.

The book felt long, and a lot of things felt glossed over. Kind of like just summing up years in their lives several times in between the action moments.

If you like your historical fiction feminist and appreciate a little bit of rep in supporting characters (queer, brown, black), then you might enjoy this one.

Narrated with grit. Written with soul. Burned into my brain forever.

Let me be clear: if you haven’t hit “download” on Wayward Girls yet, you’re already behind.

This audiobook isn’t just a listen — it’s a reckoning.

It’s a visceral, heartbreaking, and deeply human dive into the hidden, brutal world of the Good Shepherd institution in 1968 — where girls were locked away not for crimes, but for daring to live outside society’s narrow lines. Gay? Too mouthy? Too rebellious? You were “wayward.” And they made you pay.

But Wayward Girls doesn’t wallow — it rises.

It’s about what happens when six girls — each fierce, broken, and brave in their own way — refuse to stay silent.

The narration? Top tier. The voice acting brings each girl to life so vividly, I had to remind myself I wasn’t in the room with them. Every chapter is soaked in urgency, sorrow, defiance — and yeah, a few moments that broke me in the best way.

The characters? Unforgettable. Mairin, Angela, Helen, Odessa, Denise, Janice… each one a punch to the heart, a whisper of strength. You’ll fall for them. You’ll ache for them. You’ll root for their escape with every fiber of your being.

The story? A gut-punch wrapped in hope. Susan Wiggs doesn’t flinch — she tells the truth. And in doing so, she gives these girls the voice they were denied for decades.

5 stars

WAYWARD GIRLS
By Susan Wiggs
Narrated by Susan Wiggs, Jane Oppenheimer, and Cynthia Farrell
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Set in 1968 Buffalo, Wayward Girls explores the heartbreaking reality of girls sent to Catholic reform schools.

We meet 15-year-old Mairin, who is sent to the Good Shepherd reform school, where she befriends other girls who have also been placed there under painful and often unjust circumstances. Mairin is determined to escape and to seek both redemption—and justice.

The narration by Susan Wiggs, Jane Oppenheimer, and Cynthia Farrell is finely done and adds depth to the story and its characters.

Though their time together was brief, the bond between these girls proves lasting. When they reunite years later, they find that no one else understands them the way they understand each other.

Wiggs shines a light on institutions like Catholic reform schools and Magdalene laundries—places meant to “reform” girls labeled as morally deviant. The reality for these girls was heartbreaking—emotional and physical abuse, being cut off from the outside world, and forced to work under the name of faith and discipline. Families, influenced by the Church, often believed they were helping their daughters, even when abuse was reported. As we now know, the Church too often prioritized its reputation over the protection of children. And of course, money played a role.

This was my first book by Susan Wiggs, and I appreciated her storytelling and writing. I’m open to reading more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio for the advanced listening copy.

🎧 Audiobook +📗 E-book: Wayward Girls-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Susan Wiggs-new to me author

📃Page Count: 400

📅Publication date: 7-15-25 | Read: 7-17-25

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 15:47

🌎 Setting: Buffalo, NY 1968

👆🏾POV: multiple, 3rd person

Genre: Women's Fic, LGBTQIA+, Historical

Tropes: sisterhood/female friendship, Vietnam era, Catholic reform school, foster care, adoption, redemption, survival

⚠️TW: S/A, racism, homophobia, misogyny, religious abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion-just mentioned, starvation, suicide ideation

🗣️Narrator: Susan Wiggs, Jane Oppenheimer, and Cynthia Farrell voice all the characters with standouts from Mairin, Angela, and Sister Bernadette. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

Summary: Six girls are confined to the Good Shepherd (GS) institute run by the Sisters of Charity nuns. They are punished by forced labor in the laundry because of their sexual orientation, race, pregnancy, or bad behavior.

👩🏾 Heroines:

Mairin O'Hara— 15, daughter of Irish immigrants + Liam-her older brother drafted to the Vietnam war. Stepfather Colm Davis-an abusive predator. Her biological father Patrick died a hero at his power company job. Her Mam-Deirdra has secrets of her own.

Angela Denny— 17, caught by grandmother making out with a girl Tonya and sent to the nuns but became a S/A victim. Has a disastrous pregnancy and birth.

Helen Mei—her parents were detained in Communist China because of the Cultural Revolution. She was sent by parents to Good Shepherd and was abandoned for years.

Odessa Bailey—She was caught by police and punished for helping someone while she and her church members protested racial inequality. She loves singing and wants to move to CA.

Denise—sentenced for fighting in a foster home. She is the most guarded and cynical who often bullies the other girls.

Janice—deeply insecure, snitched on the other girls, but was protective of Kay.

Kay- would never grow up because she has a mental disability and speech impediment.

Sister Bernadette/Genesee—18, "rescued" at 12 years old by GS from a childhood of hunger and filth. She felt she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even though she knew things weren't right.

🎭 Side Characters:
*Fiona Gallagher-Mairin's BFF, was sent away after she got pregnant
*Flynn-Fiona's older brother
*Liam-Mairin's brother
*The staff at GS: Mother Superior-Sister Rotrude, Sister Gerard, Dr. Gilroy

🤔 My Thoughts: This book was another one that will stay with me awhile. It was a great historical that triggered me a little having attended Catholic school for 8 years. The nuns and priests were creepy to me, they practiced corporal punishment, and who knows what else. I loved how the girls became accomplished women even with so much trauma. A spectacular read!

*Rating:5/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, Harper Audio Adult |Harper Audio, and Susan Wiggs for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio, and Susan Wiggs for allowing me to preview this title.

This was a perfectly, solid okay book. I feel like this review should be written about 2 different books because I would almost swear it was written by 2 different authors. The first part of the book was well written, interesting, with good character development. The story was about a very heavy and difficult topic, but it was done in a respectful way that really illustrates just how life for girls and women were in the 60s when women had little rights. The second part takes place 50 yrs after the first and it was disjointed, repetitive, drawn out, and, to be frank, boring.

The story is about a young girl growing up in a very strict Irish Catholic household who finds herself in a Catholic reform "school," through no fault of her own. While in the reform house, she is subject to abuse from the nuns, difficult labor in their laundry service, and near sexual assault by the house's doctor (several of the girls are assaulted). Six of the girls band together to escape and the second part of the book is their story 50 yrs later with their shared-trauma bond.

Part 2 of the story starts off like the reader had to wait years for the next part to come out. What is explained, sometimes literally the chapter before, is retold in part 2, often more than once. Each time a character meets up with another person from the group, their story is told yet again. Also, all of their stories have perfect endings...success, often wealth, prestige. Statistics say that at least one of them should have had to significantly struggle, and fail, at life, and add to that a very troubled and abused childhood, those statistics climb. But, no. Not one of them has an "okay" life. They are all quite successful by all standards.

I listened to this on audiobook and there was one narrator for part one, and another for part two. The first narrator managed to do each of the voices fluidly, so they could be told apart but not so different that it was jarring. The 2nd part is a whole different story. The characters would have been anywhere from 55-70 yrs old in part 2, but the narrator made them sound in their 90s and beyond. And heavy smokers. Who were losing their faculties. Even at 1.5x speed, the voices were gravelly and slow. It was painful to listen to.

I did not love or hate this book. If this sounds like a topic that is of interest to you (which is was to me, hence me reading it), read it. If not, then pass. I can, however, and without a single doubt, not recommend this on audiobook.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
This was a great book.
I was appalled at some of the things I learned that went on in these places.
My only negative issues with the audio version of this book....
1.the second half went on far too long.
2. I understand why a second narrator was used in the second half. Everyone was much older so an older voice was required. The second narrator was so distracting. She made everyone sound like they'd all been to charm school. She had a beautiful voice but not a wise choice for me. it's almost like I started listening to a different book. I lost all the images I had in my head of each character. I got confused on who was who. I did not enjoy the second half at all. The people weren't the same after the switch

Very nice narration for the most part. In book two the narrator did get a bit on my nerves with her effort to change voices. To low I"m afraid. But over all it was great narration and didn't take from the story.

This was a very compelling story. Based on true events but is fiction. It's very realistic and heartfelt. It's so obvious the author did great research into this. A tough subject matter too. Fiction but based on the truth. Based on what happened way to often by Nuns in the Catholic churches. In the homes they kept for girls who needed love and understanding, not abuse and shame.

I've said it many times after reading this kind of book but will say again: I do not understand how NUNS can be so mean and cruel. So horrible to young girls and teens. For that matter how can priests do the things they have done. It's heartbreaking what happened between the pages of this novel. But it happened and I'm sure it still happens now in many places. We are suppose to protect the innocent but demean and demoralize them. Abuse them.

This is the story of a group of teens in a home run by nuns. Sent there for different reasons they are all treated the same. Not in a good way either. The main character, Mairin, was sent because her stepdad tried to molest her. Her mother it seems sided with the stepdad. That hit me right straight in my heart. I almost could not continue this book while reading that part. If not for Mairin's brother there is no telling what the stepdad would have done. Yes, Mairin was sent to the Good Shepard house because she was an innocent fifteen year old who needed protecting.

There are six girls you read about in this book. Each has a story. Some are worse then others. But they are all bad. The nuns were so abusive. Using these girls like slaves. Locking them in a small closet if they dared so much as speak to each other. No schooling. No exercise. No good food. There was some abuses that happened that made my blood boil. A girl gets pregnant and the nuns accuse her of being a seductress. Of luring a delivery man or a worker into a relationship. They didn't care that she was a child and that it was one of their own, in a way, that caused this. And then took away the baby because she was doomed to hell forever because she was an unwed mother.

There is a lot. A lot of tears. A few chuckles in places when you see some of the antics from Mairin. She was so strong willed. So determined to get away. But also so caring toward her friends at the home. She tried to teach them some things to help them.

These girls were lifelong friends. They agreed to meet again on a certain date but Mairin was the only one to show up year after year. Until she wasn't. When one came along. Then when others emerged. When there was a chance at getting back at the nuns for what they did. There was one nun that some I'm sure liked or felt sorry for. Not me. I despised her as much as the others. Sister Bernadette. She was not so innocent. She wasn't much older than they were so she should have been more understanding. I didn't like her until the end. At the end I finally decided she was ok. But it's because of something she did.

How can a religious group treat human beings this way. There are ways to discipline that does not include abuse. There are things besides slave labor for profit. There are other ways to help girls who are unwanted, abused, pregnant, angry, unruly, and just there because the system has turned on them. Treating them as human beings would be a good start.

This book made me have so many feelings. Anger was a big on. Sadness and horror too. I cried my eyes out in places. I loved the ending though. It was great. This author has a new fan now. I'll be reading more of her books.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺, 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦.

I had never heard of the Magdalene laundries, nor did I know they existed outside Ireland and here in the States. Susan Wiggs has written a historical fiction novel that follows six young girls who are forced into these “reform schools” run by the Catholic Church. It’s not a school, though - these girls are put to work, doing laundry, and are treated horribly. Plus, many of these young girls were pregnant!

Told between two timelines, we see the atrocities these girls had to face, the nuns were cruel, as were others, and those who had babies were never given a choice about what happened to their children.

Later in life, these women, despite the aftereffects of their trauma, displayed remarkable resilience. Some of them continued to fight for justice. While the book is heavy and at times sad, the girls’ unwavering bond of true friendship and love, plus their resilience, was truly uplifting.

4.5⭐️

🎧The audiobook narrators, Jane Oppenheimer and Cynthia Farrell, did a phenomenal job of capturing the girls' emotions and the harshness of the nuns. Their narration added a profound emotional depth to this already powerful and shocking story, making it a truly immersive experience.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the #gifted ebook via #NetGalley. #epictastemakers
Thank you @harperaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.

Wayward Girls was emotional, messy, and all about complicated sisterhood and healing—right up my alley, but a little slow in places. The characters had depth, and I was definitely invested, but the story dragged just enough to make it hard to stay locked in the whole time. Still, Susan Wiggs knows how to write about family and pain in a way that feels real. Not perfect, but a solid read with heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Rated PG-13 for emotional themes and some language.

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.

The audiobook production and narration were fanastic and really brought the story to life for me.

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

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.

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 Harper Audio for this digital audio e-arc."