Like most books about wayward girls, you follow a group of girls that were sent to a home. Mairin was sent because it was safer than being at home. Angela showed lesbian tendencies. Helen was a Chinese girls who was supposed to be there temporarily. Odessa assaulted a cop and then Denise was an unruly type. What I liked is that it showed more than just pregnant girls were sent to these types of homes. You get to see the girls bond and rise above their conditions. They are all very resilient. What I LOVED about the book is that this story follows them all the way to adulthood. You get to see how they thrived and it ties up some loose ends that other wayward girl books did not.

“People think the church can do no wrong” is a line spoken by one of the characters. If you believe these words, then Wayward Girls is probably not the book for you.

Our story starts in 1969, with a beautiful friendship. Mairin and Fiona are 15, an age where anything and everything seems possible. Neither have an inkling of how drastically their lives are about to change, and not for the better. The Good Shepherd is officially a reform school for girls, run by The Sisters of Charity Nuns. A name which is so ironic, it beggars belief.

The story has a feel of an epic, both in terms of the timescale, and the magnitude of the content. It covers a shameful period of history. A history that continues to have a huge impact on people’s lives today, a history that should shame individuals involved directly; and the many who have lied to protect the guilty, making them equally culpable.

The characters are so well developed. They are fragile, damaged and scared, but also brave, courageous and loyal. None of the characters are vanilla, they all induce strong reactions, both positive and negative. While listening, I felt the full gamut of emotions. From anger and sadness, to empathy and joy. It is quite the rollercoaster. It is hard hitting, but with so much heart too.

I listened to the audiobook, which is capably narrated by Jane Oppenheimer and Cynthia Farrell. The voices of every character felt perfectly pitched, depicting the emotions honestly.

As the book concludes, you will find the author’s note, and a really interesting question and answer session hosted by Susan’s editor. Both are very much worth a listen. I must admit that I had not heard of Susan Wiggs prior to reading this book, but I will definitely have a look through her back catalogue. She tackles emotive issues head on, and brings these dark issues in to the light. Something I admire greatly, and think is so important.

I can’t recommend this 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book highly enough, but please read the synopsis first, from a triggering perspective. I am so glad I read this book, to “see” the women who were victim shamed and invisible for so long.

Wayward Girls, written by Susan Wiggs, narrated by Jane Oppenheimer and Cynthia Farrell, was a completely immersive audiobook set in a 1960s Catholic reform "school." Truly a tragic situation for all the vulnerable young adults forced to live there. Essentially an American Magdalene Laundry and yet another instance of abuse by the Catholic Church. Wiggs' extensive research shines through every page. Though tragic, the stories of friendship and resilience born in that awful place are truly inspiring. Definitely keep tissues handy!!! Highly recommend!!!

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs tells the gut-twisting story of six teens in 1968 who have been sent to the Good Shepard, a reform "school" led by Catholic nuns. Each girl comes from a different background with a different story, but together they must find hope in a dark place. Working together they will find a way to survive, break free and find justice.

This hard but touching story really pulled me in and made me feel for these girls. Each one has such a unique story to tell that really sucks you in and makes them appear real. Wiggs talked to many survivors of similar reform schools and it shows in the realistic nature of the storytelling. Wayward Girls is perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah's The Women.

Wayward Girls is an absolutely gripping and must read novel. Told in two different parts (1960s and current day), Wayward Girls is a historical fiction novel about a Catholic reform school in Buffalo, NY. This book is extremely heavy and tells the horrors young women faced at the hands of the Magdalene laundries. It is heart breaking and deeply emotional. When reading historical fiction I tend to be gripped by the past story versus the current story and that was the case for this book (but didn’t decrease my enjoyment of it). 4.5 stars rounded to 5!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook Wayward Girls.

This was my first book by Susan Wiggs, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What really caught my eye was the cover. It felt very different from her usual style and made me curious enough to request it. The design gave the impression that this might be something deeper or darker than the feel-good chick lit she's known for, which is likely why I hadn’t picked up her work before.

For the first 75% of the book, I was fully engaged. I found the girls’ journeys engrossing and appreciated how effortlessly Wiggs shifted between different perspectives. It felt smooth and helped the story move along in a very natural way.

However, once the story moved past the girls’ ordeal at the Good Shepherd, the tone started to change. Things began to feel a little too neat and sentimental for me. That turn into more traditional women’s fiction wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, and it lost some of the emotional weight it had built earlier.

On the audiobook side, Jane Oppenheimer was fantastic. She has such a skilled voice and did a great job distinguishing each of the girls. I really enjoyed her narration. Cynthia Farrell’s parts didn’t work quite as well for me, although that might be because she was reading the sections I found to be more hokey.

Overall, I’m glad I gave this one a try. It had a strong start and some powerful moments, even if the ending didn’t fully land for me.

Thank you to Susan Wiggs, Jane Oppenheimer, Cynthia Farrell, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

One word review: COMPELLING! Susan Wiggs is a must read author for me and this was a great reminder of why. The story of what these young women went through lit a fire in me. I was heartbroken and angry for them and also extremely proud of these young women that somehow survived unspeakably horrible living conditions implemented by nuns. The bonds they developed during their time of living together were so strong that they were palpable for me and the narrators were perfect for these unique characters. I loved the author’s note about the background for this story and it was an added bonus that she read it personally. I also loved the brief mention of locations from her previous books at one point in the story.

An amazing story that I loved. Based on a true place and terrible trauma that happened at a girls boarding school in Buffalo, New York. The time period is the Vietnam war, although the very end is present day. For lots of reasons, girls were sent online with the nuns and ran a laundry. They didn’t learn anything at all! The main character is Marin who went to escape her creepy stepdad. Angela was sent as conversion therapy since she is gay.

The story is deeply emotional, will make you cry and even laugh a little. It’s a long journey about how resilient young women can be. If you like stories of injustice and historical oppressive systems with a redemption arc, I highly recommend this book!

The audio was interesting, kept my attention, and well acted.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow and Harper Audio for the audiobook. Book to be released July 15, 2025.

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a compelling and heartfelt novel that sheds light on a dark chapter of history with sensitivity and depth. Set against the turbulent backdrop of 1968 Buffalo, New York, the story follows six young women confined in the oppressive environment of the Good Shepherd reform school, each carrying their own struggles and secrets. Wiggs masterfully explores themes of friendship, resilience, and survival as these girls navigate a system designed to punish and control, yet also become a source of strength and solidarity. The characters are vividly drawn, from Mairin’s fierce protectiveness to Angela’s betrayal and Odessa’s unwavering resilience. The addition of Sister Bernadette offers a nuanced perspective on loyalty and morality, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. Based on true stories, the novel is both wrenching and inspiring, shining a light on injustices faced by marginalized girls and women. Despite its heavy subject matter, Wiggs weaves in moments of hope and redemption that leave a lasting impact. I give this book four stars for its powerful storytelling and important message. It’s a thought-provoking read that reminds us of the enduring strength of young women in the face of adversity.

What an incredibly powerful book. This book is based on facts.

1968, at Good Shepard, six girls with different stories must stay here to be reformed. And suffer many unspeakable abuses.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperAudio Adult for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about six teen girls in 1968 that are confined to the Good Shepherd Church because they are either pregnant, gay or unruly. It is run by nuns who are mostly abusive. The girls are so strong and form friendships that help keep them going. You can tell the author really did her research here and put a lot of thought and care into this book. While the story is sad and hard to read at times it is a about people that overcome and that made me enjoy it so much.