Before We Were Yours cover art

Before We Were Yours

The heartbreaking novel that has sold over one million copies

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About this listen

 **The No.1 New York Times, million-copy bestseller**

'A tale of enduring power' Paula McLain

Memphis, Tennessee, 1939

Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family's Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge, until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned home - but they quickly realize the dark truth . . .

Aiken, South Carolina, present day

Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals, Before We Were Yours is a riveting, wrenching and ultimately uplifting global bestseller. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.

'It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel' Huffington Post

Readers everywhere have fallen for Before We Were Yours

'Such a powerful, emotional story' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What a great book, you just can't put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A wonderful story' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Breathtaking' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Such a heartwrenching story but full of intrigue and love' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐©2017 Lisa Wingate 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Military Women's Fiction Adoption Emotionally Gripping Feel-Good Heartfelt Tear-jerking Fostering Celebrity American History

Critic reviews

One of the year's best books . . . It is almost a cliché to say a book is 'lovingly written' but that phrase applies clearly to Lisa Wingate's latest novel, Before We Were Yours. This story about children taken from their parents through kidnapping or subterfuge and then placed for adoption, for a price, clearly pours out of Wingate's heart. . . . It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel. It invades your heart from the very first pages and stays there long after the book is finished. Few novelists could strike the balance this story requires but Wingate does it with assurance. There are a lot of books that will catch your eye this summer, some from our best storytellers. Make sure this one is on your radar. It should not be missed
All stars
Most relevant
This is a fabulous book. It is a sad story beautifully told. I loved this book.

I loved this book

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I really enjoyed this book which is about Georgia Tann who was orchestrator of true life scandalous adoptions in America. Though it is fiction, it is based on fact. This book is well written and narrated.

An Interesting Historic Fiction

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A powerful story but sometimes it was hard to listen to, great narrative. Unbelievable what was able to happen in the Tennessee children's home society.

unbelievable

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A fictional saga based on the historical facts pertaining to the notorious Georgia Tang who, in the 1920's ran the Tennessee Childrens' Society. A Memphis based adoption agency where, predominantly, river children were abducted for the sole purpose of being adopted by Politicians, the well to do and movie stars.

Georgia Tang was a relentless, wicked character who enticed release papers from impoverished mothers often still drugged from giving birth. She passed the children off as orphans of mothers of good birth and intellect. The innocent adoptive parents were charged great sums of money for the often beautiful children, completely unaware of the manipulation and abusive treatment they had endured. Some 500 of them were never seen again. Many of their natural parents spent their lives looking for their lost children.

The story crosses between generations in two time zones and centres on 12 year old Rill, responsible for her 4 younger siblings, abducted whilst their mother was giving birth to twins, and the link between them and a modern day high-profile political family is slowly unfolded.

It is a book of two halves - with the modern element being slightly softer and a little predictable - hence the drop to 4 stars for the story content.

In contrast, the unfolding story of the river children and their early magical life together on their beloved boat with their wonderful natural parents, moving into the dreadful change they had to endure, at times had a ring of the wonderful 'Where The Crawdads Sing'.  

That part of this story was strong and heart-rending and moved me on many levels.

It is a beautiful read, with strong narration from a the beautiful voice and diction of the main narrator. The authors notes at the end are of much interest.

It is a book to be recommended and, overall, very much a 5 star rating.

A Wonderful Read

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Very much enjoyed this book. The narrators are well chosen and easy on the ear. The story itself weaves between past and present, drawing the threads into a single tapestry.
Heartbreaking truth behind the children's history, even though they are fictional characters.
At times I wished Avery would get a move on and sort herself out, but not enough to deduct any stars.
I'd recommend this as a good listen.

based on truth, a story to keep you listening

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