I read one of this author’s earlier books a few months back and really enjoyed it, so I was super excited to receive this ARC for review. Wiseman has such a gift for bringing attention to lesser-known parts of American history and making them feel so tangible and personal. I was riveted by this book, and I knew nothing about the history of eugenics in the 20s before reading. Lena was such a likable main character, and I found her story both touching and heartbreaking.

I thought the narrator also did a fantastic job with the accents and emotion.

Thank you NetGalley! 4.5⭐️ This is a story that is set around the disgraceful history of eugenics in the US. Lena Conti, her daughter, her mother and brother arrive at Ellis Island newly immigrated from Germany. Unprepared for. The bombardment of questions, humiliating testing and assessments from overworked, uninterested medical personnel, finds her mother and younger brother unsuitable for entry and are deported. Nowhere else to go and urged onward by her mother, Kena and her daughter, Ella, make they way to their distant relatives home in Virginia. Silas Wolfe, is a stern, distant man raising his 2 children on his own and Lena is determined to help but he is now being forced off his land by the government. Things take an ugly turn as families are separated, mutilated and incarcerated in the name of appropriate and suitable ways of living and being. Heartbreaking story of our dark history. Narrator did an excellent job presenting this book.

Eugenics is not something I've read a lot about. I suppose that shows my privilege as a cis white woman. While this is fictionalized, it still was helpful to feel the pain, hopelessness, and devastation of those affected by this. How utterly heartbreaking.

Our ancestors have caused so much pain to minorities, or those different than the "status quo". We need to learn from history so that we don't repeat it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a powerful story about a time period in our nation that is an embarrassing stain on this nation. Eugenics is the program that tried to judge who was considered unfit to procreate through forced sterilization. It is such a difficult part of our history to realize happened in our country.

The story of Eugenics is the basis for this story about Lena and her daughter Ella who immigrated from Germany. It sheds light the immigration system and the idea that the process to be admitted into this country was a process that was not entirely fair or humane. Then the idea of the family that Lena is sent to work for is dealing with the aftermath of the death of the mother of two children and a father still grieving. The story weaves around their lives and those that judged whether they were able to keep their land and family in the extreme even keep their children. This was a painful story but historical fiction is sometimes not pretty. Finally, the authors note is very enlightening and important to read.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. She voiced no less than 3 different accents and male and female voices with superb clarity. Very enjoyable to listen to.

I really enjoyed this one. There were so many moments that I got so mad at the injustice. While we followed Magdalena's story, I couldn't help but think that it almost graced over all the actual suffering and injust acts that were happening. Still, I really enjoyed listening to her story and seriously couldn't imagine living what she and a lot of people went through at that time.

A huge thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What an amazing story based on frightening history! There are few fictional writings better than a work of historical fiction that capture a time and event so powerfully that the reader is compelled to do further research. This book did that for me. I listened to part of this book and the narrator was excellent, and then I read the rest. The novel follows a hopeful immigrant family coming to the U. S. in the early 1930's. After a grueling voyage in steerage from Germany, they arrive at Ellis Island. There they suffer multiple indignities and the mother and 14-year-old brother are deemed unfit and sent back to Germany. The sister Lena and her daughter are allowed into the country. Lena's mother and brother were promised a home and work with a distant relative, Silas Wolff, who paid for their passage. Silas is disgruntled to find Ella and her baby as the only help he will have on his farm in the blue Ridge Mountains in return for the money he spent. Ella adjusts to her new life working as Silas's housekeeper and caretaker of his two motherless children. Then outsiders come to the homes of Wolff and the mountain people and declare them uncivilized and degenerate. It is all a push to steal their land to create a national park. Children are stolen from their parents. Lena, her baby and the two children in her care are among those taken. Their horrifying experiences and the story of survival based on those of real people make this book a must read. The author's notes at the end of the book must not be overlooked!

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.75 to 5

I sat stunned after finishing this audiobook and listening to the Author’s note. I love learning pieces of history through fiction based on true events, but this was one I wish hadn’t been true. This was a devastating story, made more so by the fact that the events detailed in this novel of Eugenics truly happened.

I was hooked immediately at the beginning of the book with Lena’s harrowing journey from post World War 1 Germany, where her and her family (including her baby) were starving and impoverished and heading to America with the promise of work and a better life. The first half of this book is slow but beautiful foundational storytelling. The plot truly begins halfway through and I had shivers and goosebumps for the last 20%. The Authors note should not be skipped!

🎧 The narration was excellently executed by Elisabeth Rodger’s, who was tasked with multiple different accents from German to Appalachian (and singing in an Appalachian accent too!). I highly recommend this audiobook.

📖 Lena Conti, a young unwed mother journeys to America from post WW1 Germany with her mother and brother at the promise of her mother’s distant cousin that they will have work on his farm. Upon arrival, her brother and mother are sent back to Germany, after accusations that her brother is mentally unfit and her mother is physically ill. She goes to the farm of Silas to work in her mothers stead, where she learns to love his children and it’s there that she is faced with the growing Eugenics movement, where children are taken from their families, land is stolen, and women who are deemed “feeble-minded” are forcibly sterilized.

I highly recommend this book widely, but especially to those who loved Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate and Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner.

Thank you to RBmedia for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly stating that I received an arc audiobook copy of this from netgalley. it was my very first arc read, and let me tell you I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. I would go as far as saying it's one of my top reads of the year! The Lies They Told follows Lena Conti as she immigrates to America from Germany in search of a better life. I had never heard of the Eugenics movement until reading this book, and let me tell you... I was horrified to read what they did to people. This novel made me laugh, made me angry, made me think, made me cry. it's a story of hope, of loss, and of love. Definitely add this to your TBR!

Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced audio of Ellen Wiseman's THE LIES THEY TOLD. I picked this novel because I wanted to learn more about eugenics and how things happened in the United States. It goes without saying that this novel was very informative. It starts with Lena's arrival from Germany onto American soil and the prejudice she and her family experienced immediately upon their arrival on Ellis Island. After much questioning and physical examination, Lena and her daughter are allowed to stay, her brother, deemed feebleminded and her mother, who must accompany her son on the return voyage, is not. It continues with her arrival in rural Virginia with Silas Wolfe (Lena's distant cousin) to stay and work on his land--which Silas fears the U.S. government is threatening to take--along with his children.

This novel is an excellent read and really tells how bad things can happen. There were parts that made me smile (Bonnie's scenes) but so many more that made me cry.

The Lies They Told is about terrible time in United States history regarding eugenics programs and forced sterilization.

It begins with 19 year old Magdalena (Lena) who is an immigrant from Germany in 1928 arriving at Ellis Island. She soon realizes that the United States is not the land and reprieve she thought it would be. Her mother and brother are sent back to Germany, deemed unfit to enter; and she is alone with her toddler. Lena goes on to live with a distant relative, Silas Wolf, who begrudgingly takes her in to care for his children in Appalachian Virginia.

This was such an emotional read. I found myself crying and devastated, hopeful at times and discouraged at others, and so angry at the injustice of it all

I love how the author tied everything together at the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about this terrible time in history. This is my third book from this author, and I have thought each book was very well done.

As this was an audiobook, I want to mention that in regard to the narration, Elisabeth Rodgers did a fantastic job reading this book. She does the different accents of different characters quite well in my opinion

I received this book as an eALC in exchange for an honest review

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman tore my heart out and stomped on it—in the best way possible. I was craving a good historical fiction read, and this one delivered. It’s an emotional, powerful story that gripped me from the first page. I absolutely loved Isabelle and her strength, resilience, and unwavering determination. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with heart and depth.

Wow. This book is gut wrenching, heartbreaking and so impactful. I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t know much of the American Eugenics movement and the horrors it entailed. I can imagine nothing worse than children being forcibly removed from their parents. My heart shattered for Lena as well as Silas, and their pain was suffocating. The fact that this occurred certainly needs to become more well known. I consider myself well educated and read, but I had no idea things like this had occurred in the United States.

The author did a fantastic job painting a picture of life in the mountains. Bonnie and Jack Henry were amazing characters in this story and I loved the character development of several of the characters as well. The narrator did an excellent job with the varying accents as well.

I received an ARC of this audiobook via NetGalley. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review!

4.5 stars. Set in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the 1930s and into mid‑century America, the novel follows Lena Conti, a young German immigrant and unwed mother who arrives at Ellis Island with her toddler daughter, Ella. In a devastating moment, her mother and teenage brother are denied entry and deported, labeled “unfit” by the immigration officers. Only Lena and Ella are allowed to stay.
Lena is taken in by her distant cousin Silas Wolfe, a widower in need of help caring for his children. Though reluctant at first, he offers Lena sanctuary in his aged cabin. But soon, Lena and those around her find themselves entangled in America’s dark eugenics policy—stigma, forced institutionalization, sterilization, and land forfeitures loom like a nightmare.
The Lies They Told is a profoundly moving and timely novel—immersive historical fiction with real moral urgency. Wiseman offers a tribute to those who suffered under America’s eugenics schemes and uplifts a mother’s relentless fight for dignity, love, and justice.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Digital for this digital audio e-arc.*

In 1928, Lena arrives at Ellis Island with her family. Nothing goes as they hoped. For the next twenty years, Lena fights against injustice and struggles to keep her family close.

This is the kind of book I typically devour. And while I did enjoy it, devour is a bit too strong of a word,

First, it is well researched. I've read various books centered around eugenics and it always infuriates me. This was no different. I also appreciate that this is a real situation I was unaware of- claiming people were feeble minded and/or inbred to steal their land. When I read about these things, I can't help but get so angry. I did some further research after reading this book. I like that the author threw in real people, even if the timeline was slightly altered.

Now, why didn't I love it? It just didn't feel connected. Like, here is a set of facts. It is happening to these people, but I wasn't emotionally invested. Terrible events occur, yet I didn't come close to shedding a tear. I feel like [book:The Four Winds|53138081] is the historical I will always refer back to regarding emotion (different topic, still historical). I was crying so hard that I was glad I listened to the audiobook- I wouldn't have been able to keep reading. I want that kind of depth. This book, while good, isn't that deep. Maybe it is unfair of me to compare, but when I am reading something this unjust, sad, and wrong, I want to at least fight back tears.

Elisabeth Rodgers narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Don't be fooled by the book's GORGEOUS cover, this was an ABSOLUTELY heartbreaking story of America's dark history of Eugenics and forced sterilization and one young Italian German immigrant single mother's experience having her daughter taken away from her when she goes to live with a cousin in Virginia and then later being sent to the Home for the feebleminded and given the horrible ultimatum of 'consenting' to sterilization or being incarcerated for the rest of her life.

Based on real events and history, this harrowing tale is sure to evoke rage, even more so as it's a reminder that these things are STILL happening in America today with the ICE detention centre forced sterilizations of immigrants. Highly recommended especially for fans of authors like Susan Meissner and books like Counting backwards by Jacqueline Friedland. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emotional, haunting, and unforgettable

It’s going to take me a while to emotionally recover from The Lies They Told. I listened to the ARC audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and I’m so glad I experienced it in audio format. The narration adds depth and emotion to the story, and the moments of singing throughout make the listening experience even more immersive. The characters truly come to life.

The story follows Lena, a young teen mother who immigrates to America with her family full of hope, only to be thrown into one of the darkest chapters of American history—the eugenics movement. When her mother and brother are deported upon arrival, Lena and her infant daughter Ella are left to survive on their own. They find refuge in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with a distant cousin, Silas, and his children, Bonnie and Jack Henry. Lena cares for the home and children in exchange for food and shelter, and though she is unpaid, she quickly becomes a part of their lives. Just as things begin to feel safe, tragedy strikes again and Lena is left to navigate even more heartbreak.

This novel is powerful and deeply emotional. It made me heartbroken, outraged, and somehow still hopeful. Ellen Marie Wiseman has crafted a beautifully written, gut-wrenching story that sheds light on a difficult and often overlooked part of history. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one—and one I won’t soon forget.

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Wow, what a ugly part of history that was somehow beautifully written about. I received both an e book and audio book from Netgalley and both versions were incredibly well done. I struggle to stop reading this - despite the tears and anger I felt. The descriptions in this book were so well written - I was easily transported to a different time and place. The emotions were felt on every page of the book. The research that was put into this story was impressive. I enjoyed the characters, I felt for them, I rooted for them and I enjoyed reading about how they grew and changed over time. Lena, an unwed mother, immigrated to the US in the 1930s and finds herself in rural Virginia, living with Silas and his children after he lost his wife. Over time, Lena and her daughter begin to adapt to life in the United States, building relationships at home and in the close knit community. Unfortunately, Lena finds herself taken away due to feeblemindedness, after an interaction with a woman from the Eugenics Program. Lena must make a choice in order to protect her family and those that she loves. A wonderfully well written book about a horrible part of history, yet the story of love, hope and survival are woven throughout the pages.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

In the 1930s, Lenti was an unwed mother, fleeing Germany to seek a better life for herself and her daughter. When reaching Ellis Island, she's separated from her mother and brother, who are deemed unfit to stay and sent home. Lenti tries to better her life, but becomes a victim of the Eugenics movement in America and is sent to a colony for the feebleminded and epileptics. The story then follows Lenti trying to reclaiim her life and her daughter.

This was a fascinating story about a period I knew so little about. It was heartbreaking, but I could not stop listening. I hope we all learn something from our past.

I went between the physical and audiobook for this one. The audiobook, which was narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, was really well done and I really enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of Ellen Marie Wiseman's books. This is the third book I have read by her and it is definitely another winner.

In the 1930’s, Lena Conti, is an unwed mother and immigrant from Germany, who has come to the US to stay with a widowed family relative in Virginia. She wants to give her young daughter the best chance at a better life, free of poverty.

The descriptions of the process these immigrants went through sound so rigorous and tough on them. And then the social injustices that happened like the eugenics program. The state of Virginia paints these people as ignorant , immoral and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.” Lena's daughter is then taken from her by the eugenics office. They accuse Lena of promiscuity and feeble-mindedness and send her to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics. Now, Lena faces impossible choices to try and get her daughter back, and to protect her family and the land she has grown to love.

The author did a fantastic job depicting this time period and showing how hard it was to survive poverty. It made me SO MAD reading about these people in power taking advantage of their position and treating the people so horrible. Such a well written historical fiction book. I have been loving HF lately. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Uplitreads for the gifted copy.

A powerfully emotional story of a young immigrant mother fighting for her dignity and her family amongst America’s eugenics movement. The story takes place in the 1930s, starting at Ellis Island when Lena Conti—a young, unwed mother with a two year old in tow — undergoes a belittling examination. She ends up in rural Virginia with Silas Wolfe, a widowed family relative, caring for his home and children. We soon learn that the State of Virginia's eugenics office has a target on their back, intending to declare them "feebleminded" in order to seize the children and take over their land for the creation of a national park.

The fact that the topics in this novel are so relevant today, nearly a century later, made this an emotionally difficult book to listen to. The mistreatment of immigrants, the prejudice and racism, the government policies that were blatantly harmful to the most vulnerable amongst us, the control that powerful men exert over women's bodies....it's all very recognizable and had my blood boiling. The pseudo-science of eugenics movement and all of the horrific policies and institutions that arose from it were not new to me, but I suspect that the average reader will be absolutely shocked and horrified to discover this little-known chapter of American history.

There were a few instances where the book felt slow with some overly repetitive inner monologues, but ultimately that slow build was worth it. Wiseman nailed the climactic events and wrapped everything up with a strong ending and an enlightening authors note. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy emotional historical fiction novels, including Kristin Hannah fans.