08/09/2026
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke ($34.99)
Natalie is an internet “tradwife”, or a traditional wife that abides by traditional values that place women as mothers, caregivers, and homemakers. But behind the façade of her social media personality, at her homestead farm, she has a whole team behind her and her husband: two nannies to care for the five, going on six, children; numerous farmhands whose work is attributed to her husband, and a social media manager. Just as the foundations of Natalie’s world begins to crumble, she one day wakes up in the mid-18th century, in a home where she truly is a traditional wife without the many luxuries she has become so reliant on.
I would best describe Yesteryear as almost a psychological thriller. We dive deep into Natalie’s life before and after fame, and the extreme lengths she will go to find success. Natalie is a deeply unlikeable character – jealous, ambitious to the point of cruelty, and manipulative. Hearing her inner thoughts is uncomfortable – yet that was something that I enjoyed most about the book. If you enjoyed thrillers such as Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, this would be perfect for you. I personally have been fascinated about the tradwife movement for quite a few years, so this book was right up my alley. The twists were executed well, and I loved the way Burke was able to bring to life such an eerie and twisted world. This book does include child abuse/neglect, domestic violence and mental illness. I would recommend it to anyone interested in tradwives, societal trends or unlikeable protagonists who find themselves right at the edge of their limits.
Sage
