Before We Were Yours: A Novel

· Sold by Ballantine Books
4.7
303 reviews
Ebook
368
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

THE BLOCKBUSTER HIT—Over two million copies sold! A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller

“Poignant, engrossing.”—People • “Lisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nation’s history and weaves a tale of enduring power.”—Paula McLain


Memphis, 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 to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. 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—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

Publishers Weekly’s #3 Longest-Running Bestseller of 2017Winner of the Southern Book PrizeIf All Arkansas Read the Same Book Selection

This edition includes a new essay by the author about shantyboat life.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
303 reviews
Brittainy Bostick
May 14, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I learned about some things I'd never heard of. It also took me through a multitude of emotions. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there were a lot of characters; that made it hard to keep up with how each character looked in my head. I also think she was overly descriptive at times. But overall, great read!
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Fredrik Josefsson
October 27, 2017
***May contain spoilers*** I really liked the story, the way it was written and how all the loose ends were tied up in the end. The romance part kinda ruined it for me though. It was too obvious from the moment they met what was going to happen. The moment I read she liked his smile (or something similar), when they first met in his office it was obvious how they'd end up. Apart from that the story had some "ooh of course, why didn't I realise that earlier"-moments and they are the reason I still recommend reading it. But what were the author thinking adding such an obvious cheesy romance into a book where the rest were greatly balanced.
25 people found this review helpful
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Yuni Yustikasari
December 23, 2023
This book successfully describes the horrible situation of Tennessee Children's Home Society ran by Georgia Tann—a real historical figure, but it's a bit slow. The connection between Avery and Trent is forced, they lack chemistry. Also, the mystery of Grandma Judy's past and its intertwining with May Crandall's doesn't delivered smoothly, but it does intriguing to find out and read till the last page.
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About the author

Lisa Wingate is a former journalist, an inspirational speaker, and the bestselling author of more than twenty novels. Her work has won or been nominated for many awards, including the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, the Oklahoma Book Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. Wingate lives in the Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas.

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