So many twists here! Both bitter and sweet. Such a nicely balanced story. The Girls with No Names was one of the best books I have read in quite some time. I. The characters came to life and emotionally pulled you in to their world. Highly recommended!

This one was an interesting historical read set in the early 1900s. I really enjoyed the sense of family, rights, and politics engaging in a devouring tale. It had that old-timey feel to it that I flew through in just a few sittings. There were a few scenes that dragged a little, but I feel like that was to be expected with the harsh, complex time it was set in. A solid 3 out of 5 stars from me.

An eye opening novel. Things that went on in female retaining homes for troubled girls in the 1900 hundreds were horrific! The author handled this situation very well in her story. Well worth reading.

I was so happy to get a chance to read this book! Now that being said, this is not a very happy tale. It involves a story of two sisters, Luella and Effie who are very close. The girls have adventures in the woods near their home and enjoy their life, depending on each other as sisters and friends.

However, near their home is a "home for girls" called the House of Mercy. Well, if you've read my blogs before, I just love historical fiction that inspires me to look up more information about a topic. I just really enjoy finding out something is true and then learning something new. Unfortunately, this was a true place along with others like it that claimed to be a place to "reform" girls who had strayed from the right path.

Without giving too much away, Luella yearns to leave home and make her own way, especially after finding out something regarding their father that she can't seem to move past. She becomes rebellious enraging her father and then one day she isn't at home, gone to somewhere she feels her parents aren't telling the truth about.

Effie is terrified that her father made good on threat he made and sent Luella to the House of Mercy. She feels like can't go on without her sister and makes plans to get to her. What follows is a story of heartbreak, betrayal and redemption. It's a story about family and the things we do to hold dear to what and who we love.

I was fascinated to read about these characters and about the practice of these homes that I really didn't know anything about. The author did a great job of making these characters, especially Effie, seem very real to me. I almost missed my chance to read this, but I am glad I didn't.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley. I look forward to seeing more from this author. All opinions are my own.

Well-placed twists, heavy emotional beats, and an ever-quickening pace lend this look at the bond of sisterhood in the face of patriarchy the gripping feel of any true page-turner. Full review posted at BookBrowse: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr258368

I was not familiar with Serena Burdick's first book but The Girls with No Names blew me out of the water. This book started a bit slow for me but I think some of that was because the story was so difficult to read because of the circumstances. I felt sick to my stomach reading about Effie.

This is a story of three different girls and a women. The story is told with the point of view switching between the girls and going back and forth in the timeline. Even though chapters are only labeled with the speaker's name, the story is easy to follow and was not confusing at all.

The beginning of the book creates a sense of unease from the very start that I needed to know how it was resolved. The first 1/3 of the book did move a little slowly but once it picked up, I didn't want to put it down. This is a beautiful book about sisters, friends, loyalty, resolve, strength, determination, resiliency, and family.

This story will stay with me for some time. I will be following Burdick for future releases.

I am sad to say I just could not get into this book, I tried twice to get a hold of the story and characters but when the second character Jeanne started to tell her story I decided it was not a book for me. Luella and Effie's POV had me in two different minds about where this story was headed and with the change of POV, I was getting more lost as ever. I was kindly given an ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, in exchange for an honest review.

As I am writing this review I have also read many reviews say it was a slow start. So I would say give this book a go if its the type of story you enjoy reading as al book lovers know sometimes a book is not your fit but others fit perfectly with it.
DNF 21%

From my blog: Always With a Book

Every once in a while I will admit that I am completely drawn to a book by the cover and that was definitely the case with this one - there's something about this cover that just draws me in. But then, once I read that the book was set in New York City during the Gilded Age, I was completely sold...I am completely fascinated by this time period and of course, love any and all books set in New York City.

Right from the beginning I was drawn into this story. I felt it perfectly balances the character development with the historical setting, so you get a pretty balanced picture of what was going on during this time. While it is a little slow in the beginning, I feel this was more to set it all up, because once all the players were introduced, things really get moving and you will be hard-pressed to put the book down.

This book will take you on an emotional journey as you follow along with the sisters, the mother, and Mable. It truly shows just how strong the bond between sisters is as well as how damaging secrets can be. I loved the fortitude and strength that was shown by these characters and was completely invested in all their stories.

As I love with historical fiction, I learned a lot in this book and will certainly be doing my own research into some of the topics brought up in this book, particularly the House of Mercy. I've heard it referenced before, but did not know the extent of it's horrors. Of course, you have to take into account the state of the times, but still, how a family could willingly turn their daughters over to a place like that is beyond me.

This is the first book I've read by Serena Burdick but it definitely won't be the last. Her writing was beautiful and while it is a heavy book, it is so well done that you just can't help but keep reading. This is certainly the type of book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was curious about this book from the cover and the title. I was drawn to it and wanted to know more about these girls. It tells the story of two young sisters, the youngest with heart problems since birth and the elder sister trying to protect her sister while also finding her own way. The sisters sneak off to a nearby gypsy camp after hearing music so unlike what they are allowed in their home. The older sister has grown up following her mother's path in ballet, but much prefers the freedom and fluidity of the dancing and music she encounters at the gypsy camp. The two sisters spend the summer secretly among the gypsy camp until a family secret emerges that changes how they view their father and life together. The eldest runs away with the gypsies to pursue her own dreams and to escape her father's actions which leads the youngest to also run away in hopes of finding her sister at the nearby House for Unwanted girls where she believes her father left her.
The second half of the book is more about the girls she meets at the House of Mercy and their own stories that led them there. It was so frustrating to me to see this young, unhealthy girl locked away from her family who are nearby and searching desperately for her. It made the book hard to enjoy and then the stories of the other "unwanted girls" are so depressing and awful that it just was dark and heavy.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley.**

Title The Girls with No Names

Author Serena Burdick

Release Date January 7, 2020

Description from Amazon

Growing up in New York City in the 1910s, Luella and Effie Tildon realize that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen elder sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. Her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone.

Effie suspects her father has sent Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s own escape seems impossible—unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on their tenuous friendship to survive.

Initial Thoughts

I really enjoy historical fiction and I was really excited when Harper Collins reached out and asked if I’d be interested in reviewing this title. It was not on my radar before that email but I’m so glad I was able to add it to my TBR.

Some Things I Liked

Realism. This story really didn’t pull any punches. It was dark, tragic, and difficult to read at parts. My heart bled for these characters and I have to appreciate the emotions the writing stirred.
Multiple POVs. I loved the points of view this story utilized. We got to hear from multiple generations and multiple walks of life. It gave the story a rich and well rounded feeling.
Gripping storytelling. I couldn’t put this book down. I started and finished it all in one sitting.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

Effie’s story. While I applaud the emotional spectrum in this book, I was truly saddened reading Effie’s story. I don’t know if it could have been changed in any way that I would have liked better, but, I just know I didn’t love it.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. It was tragic at parts but overall, it was an empowering story which made me reflect on how lucky I am to be a woman born today, instead of 100 years ago.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – if you enjoyed the setting of a big American city at the turn of the century and you enjoyed the realism of this story, try this mystery by Stephanie Morrill.
Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Antsey – if you like historical fiction, definitely check out anything by Cindy Anstey. There is a Jane Austen feel to Cindy’s work that I definitely appreciate.
Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon – while this story is not a murder mystery, it is another historical fiction with a strong female lead. Set in a similar time period in London (instead of New York), many core themes are shared between these two books.

The Girls with No Names is a well written historical fiction.
This book is very emotion driven and heavy on the heart.

The telling of the story is about a heartbreaking cruel existence within the walls of the House of Mercy, where this is no Mercy.

This is a story that will stay with me.

The Girls with No Names is a really heartbreaking story. Sisters Effie and Luella are very close sisters who have grown up in a privileged home. After Luella discovers her father's secret, she decides she no longer needs to follow his rules and against her parents wishes, Luella begins visiting a traveling gypsy camp and ends up disappearing with them.. Effie is brokenhearted without her sister and is convinced her parents have sent her sister to The House of Mercy. Effie comes up with a plan to get into The House of Mercy to rescue her sister but when she gets there finds out that Luella is not there and it seems an impossibility for Effie to escape. The characters are well developed and the story is written beautifully.

This fantastic historical fiction takes place in New York City in the 1910s and follows the stories of girls whose families are torn apart. I love the time period of this novel, and I was interested in learning about women's suffrage, poor working conditions, and houses (more like prisons) for disobedient girls. I don't often find historical fictions taking place in the 1910s, and I think this novel deserves a lot of attention and praise for its research as well as its plot, characters, and writing.

I instantly connected to all the characters in this book. They are well-rounded, imperfect, interesting, and even lovable. The story switches among three points of view, and I was surprised that I loved them all equally. The plot moves at just the right pace—slow enough to soak in the historical details and fast enough to keep me reading. In fact, I couldn't put the book down, and I read it all in one sitting.

After I finished the book, I kept thinking about the characters and what they went through. In fact, I'm still thinking about them. This book left an impression on me, and I'm not likely to forget it anytime soon. I highly recommend this book for those who love historical fiction and the 1910s and anyone who enjoys a solid story of sisterly love, hope, and overcoming hardships.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Content Warnings: abuse, stillborn/dead infants, sexual assault, and rape.

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the ARC! This book will be published January 7, 2020.

Wow. Big ole wow. I loved reading this book, and once I got to the afterword and saw more of the background story, its impact just multiplied.

The whole book starts with a family. Not a poor family, but a family with a successful dad, supportive mom, two lovely daughters, a cook, the mom's ladies maid... a normal early 1900s family (I suppose). But that wouldn't be very interesting for the whole book, would it?

Without spoiling anything, the normal family thing doesn't stick well enough, and we learn instead about the dark underbelly of girls with 'sinful natures.' The story really gets going when we hang out with two girls trapped in a Catholic charity house where they are kept and used as unpaid laundry slaves. While the Sisters who run the House of Mercy supposedly work to reform the wayward girls in their care, they also utilize the girls' free labor to scrub and press the laundry the House takes in. Oh, and there's no getting out.

As I said, the attributions in the afterword were what really got me and gave the book even more power. I didn't really know what to expect when I picked up this book, but the story was compelling and flowed beautifully. I don't think I've read a lot of stories from similar times/settings, so it was all fresh to me, and I was unaware of the stories of places like the House of Mercy.

Overall, I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I'm tempted to read it again to notice more details when I have the time. I'd recommend this book to any lovers of strong historical fiction and engaging characters.

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick is the first book I've read that was published in 2020. It's also my first digital review copy from Net Galley of the year. I noticed a similarity to Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate which I liked very much and reviewed here. I was also drawn to Burdick's novel because it takes place in Inwood, a Manhattan neighborhood where I lived for four years in the late 20th century (though I should point out that the book takes place in the early 20th century.) Yet it was the reference to suffragettes and in the Goodreads description and the reference to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in the publisher's publicity which caused me to decide that I needed to review it for this blog. It sounded like this novel could be a locus for intersecting feminist concerns. So I accepted the publisher's request. My honest reactions to The Girls With No Names can be found in this review.

Although the main protagonists are teens, I wouldn't describe The Girls With No Names as a YA novel. This book deals with the girls' coming of age under dire circumstances which involve mature themes that may be disturbing to some readers.

I found thirteen year old Effie remarkably brave when she comes to believe that she needs to rescue her sister from an institution with a rather horrific reputation called the House of Mercy.

I was also impressed with a girl that Effie encounters at the House of Mercy known as Mable. Mable's tragic experiences before her arrival at this home for wayward girls are portrayed movingly in flashback chapters.

The Girls With No Names turned out not to have a primary focus on women's suffrage. Still, the book does include a real suffragette who is a minor character playing a pivotal role. Her name is Inez Milholland. I've linked her Wikipedia article because I think readers might want to know more about this woman activist.

There are Romanii characters in The Girls With No Names. Burdick tells us in her Afterword that they are called gypsies in the first person narratives taking place in 1913 in order to be consistent with usage in that period. She is aware that Romani consider "gypsy" offensive, but Burdick isn't trying to offend. She just wants to be historically accurate. I was fascinated to learn from the Afterword that Burdick had discovered from her research that Romani really had camped in the Inwood area during this period.

I mostly liked the way the Romani were shown, but I did think that one element in their portrayal was anachronistic. Effie got a Tarot reading at their camp which she regarded as significant. The interpretation of the cards that appeared in the reading was similar to current day Neo Pagan Tarot readers. So I considered it doubtful that an early 20th century Romani would approach the cards that way.

Despite the critical comment in the above paragraph, I identified with both Effie and Mable and considered The Girls With No Names a powerful work of fiction.

This book is heavy, and then it got really heavy, and if you can believe it got even heavier at the end. 

You are immediately pulled into the life of little Effie Tildon, you heart breaks for her already broken heart. And when she loses her sister and sets out to find her, you are cheering her on the whole way.

Told through the eyes of Effie, her mother Jeanne and a House of Mercy inmate Mable, The Girls with No Names tells the cruel story of life within the walls of this institution.
A horrible place where women and girls could be sent for simply dancing in public. 

Well written and engaging The Girls with no Names is a story that will stay with you.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Girls With No Names

Author: Serena Burdick

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended Age: 15+ (unwanted feelings, TW abuse, gore, and violence)

Publisher: Park Row

Pages: 336

Amazon Link

Synopsis: The Girls with No Names pulls readers into the gilded age of New York City in the 1910s, when suffragettes marched in the street, unions fought for better work conditions—and girls were confined to the House of Mercy for daring to break the rules.

Not far from Luella and Effie Tildon’s large family mansion in Inwood looms the House of Mercy, a work house for wayward girls. The sisters grow up under its shadow with the understanding that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters accidentally discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen older sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases.

But her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone. Effie suspects her father has made good on his threat to send Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s escape from the House of Mercy seems impossible—unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on each other and their tenuous friendship to survive.

Review: I thought this book was set up well. The world building was amazing, the history behind it great, and well-researched from what I could tell. I really liked the POV switches in the books and the character development was very well done.

However, I thought the book could do more and show the reader more. I also thought it was very slow paced. It was a great read, but I was just left with this feeling that more could have been done in this novel, within the time period and within the House of Mercy. Also, the amount of details in this book was way too much. It really bogs down the read in my opinion.

Verdict: Overall, a good read.

RATING: 2.5 STARS
2020; Park Row/Harlequin

For some reason, I had a notion that this novel was about Suffragettes. It is about women, and their struggles in America during the 1910s. Specifically, this novel takes place in New York and is about the House of Mercy. The House of Mercy is a place where young girls and women are placed for the littlest infraction. Any sexual act could land a girl in this place that punished them with long hard hours in the laundry. The money does not go back into the House of Mercy, and the girls are given enough food to just survive. This is the part of the novel I found most interesting, and now want to learn more about. The story of Effie and mom was okay, but I found myself a bit bored with their stories (along with Effie's older sister, Luella). I did find Mabel's story a bit more intriguing. The stories overall were not as engaging as I hoped. I would have probably DNF if I was reading this book instead of listening to the audiobook. It was not a bad book, it just didn't have a certain oomph to make it stand out and keep you reading.

<i>***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***</i>

The Girls with No Names left me a little conflicted, and looking back over the story, the things I liked and the things I didn't were about even. The book is well written as far as flow, and there's a good mix of details and dialogue. It is atmospheric, and the scenes are described well. However, there were some lags in the story here and there, and while I didn't feel the need to skim past those parts, they did slow the story down for me. The characters were interesting, but the story is quite predictable. That said, one of the things that bothered me the most was the 'inspired by the real House of Mercy' line in the blurb. I really expected more details about the House of Mercy, but felt like it took up very little of the book. Most of the story was more family drama than anything else, which really doesn't bring anything new or thought-provoking to the table. As I mentioned, I did find the characters interesting, particularly Mable. I can't say that I liked her, but she did keep the pages turning. In the end, this one ended up being just an okay read for me. It held my interest enough to finish, but it isn't particularly memorable.

The Girl With No Names gives voice to the voiceless girls of the Mercy Home for Girls in New York at the turn of the century. Burdick explains in her excellent Afterward that homes like these operated essentially as slave labor, making money for the Catholic church by imprisoning "wayward" girls and making them do the city's laundry, Burdick effortlessly weaves in some of the bigger stories of the 1910s, including the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the beginnings of WWI, the immigrant tenements in NYC, and women's suffrage. I appreciate the historical approach but found the characters difficult to connect with. As much as I loved Effie's spirit, her heart condition made her feel doomed from the beginning and I never wanted to get close to her. Mable's story is heartbreaking but could've been given even more detail and nuance. I wanted to spend more time with Luella but she left as soon as I began to get to know her. I was put off by the use of a slur for Romani people but did appreciate the author's justification in the notes. However, if we're going to begin eliminating ethnic slurs from our language, it needs to start with books, regardless of "historical accuracy."