Zadie and Finn Wilder lost their mother, Nora, when she drove away never to be heard from again. Finn went into foster care and Zadie was allowed to remain independent due to her age. Five years later Zadie sets out to spend the week with her sister when suddenly Finn tells her that she's had an "echo" - what she calls the moments when she can read other people's memories, and that she wants to search for their mother. As the sisters go on a road trip to find their mother, they learn more about each other and discover more about their mother than they could imagine.

This was a bit of a slow burn for me as there were times I felt myself getting distracted while reading. It is a well-told story of sisters trying to reconnect while searching for the person most missing from their life - Nora, their mother. This would be a good book for someone who loves lost family and wants to get lost in an enjoyable book that scours years.

The Wilderwomen is ultimately a story that encompasses a road trip that two sisters, with special abilities, take to find their mother who disappeared five years earlier. It explores grief, guilt, the reestablishment of broken relationships, and the search for acceptance along with connections to nature.

The plot of The Wilderwomen is primarily a meandering road trip filled with very welcoming strangers, bonding, and a bit of mystery. I prefer plot-driven stories over character-driven ones, and I found this book to be more of the latter. I do enjoy character-driven stories when there is a lot of emotion and still substantive plot. Ultimately, I felt like emotion was ultimately lacking.

The mystery of what happened to Nora Wilder prevented me from putting The Wilderwomen down and not picking it up again. However, I was a bit disappointed with the resolution of the mystery and felt like some of the explanation was reaching. It seemed like there was not enough development and explaining previously in the book to make the ending completely believable.

Despite having Lang’s debut novel on my shelf for many years, this is the first book I have read by her. I found that the characters were well-developed and likeable, albeit a bit quirky. The writing in The Wilderwomen alternated between being very metaphorical and very conversational. I thought that Lang did an excellent job creating vivid imagery.

Overall, I enjoyed The Wilderwomen and would recommend it. However, I do not think it will be a story that I remember a few months from now. If you enjoy books about families reconnecting, like taking road trips, and wonder what it would be like to experiences other people’s memories or have premonitions, The Wilderwomen is for you.

Pub date: 11/15/22
Genre: magical realism, books about family
One sentence summary: Sisters Finn and Zadie have magical gifts - can these help them understand why and how their mother disappeared 5 years ago?

This year has been a golden one for magical realism - and I am here for it! I loved getting to know Finn and Zadie and seeing how their abilities affected their lives - Finn can see the memories of others, while Zadie can see the future. Lang did a great job capturing their visions of past and future in the text, giving a mystical feeling to the text.

The plot moved in two timelines - the present where the sisters search for their mom, and the past immediately before her disappearance. These time jumps were a little confusing at the beginning - but everything became clear by the end (which I did not guess!)

I haven't read Lang's BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE, but I'm adding it to my TBR after this book!

If you like books about family and/or magic, I think you'll enjoy this one! It reminded me of recent magical realism favorite OTHER BIRDS.

An interesting storyline here. Nora abandoned her two daughters five years ago. Zadie (18) was old enough to be on her own, but Finn (12) went to a foster family. The two girls have been drifting away from each other. The girls both have "gifts" if you can call them that - Zadie is psychic and can see the future; Finn has the ability to pick up people's memories just from being in the place something happened. The girls are reunited at Finn's graduation party and Finn convinces Zadie they need to try to find their Mom. Their journey begins and takes them on twisty journey as they follow clues to their Mom's whereabouts.

The characters were well developed and felt real. The plot moved at a good pace in a conversational manner that drew me along. I was very worried about all these women and wondered throughout if I was reading about mental illness or something paranormal. The people Zadie and Finn met on their journey were fun to read about. I especially enjoyed the time they spent with the "Sixes".

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on November 15, 2022.

A mysterious air that will fit your fall TBR, perfect for fans of Katrina Leno’s Summer of Salt and Adrienne Young’s Spells for Forgetting.

The Wilder family is separated. Finn and Zadie were pulled apart after their mother Nora’s sudden disappearance. The only thing that still connects the daughters now are the traces of magic in their veins and the need to know what happened to Nora. Finn and Zadie embark on a mission to figure out just that. Between Finn’s ability to see memory echoes and Zadie’s premonitions they’re certain they can find some answers… without exposing the secrets they’d rather keep hidden from each other.

Plot: 3.5/5
The mysterious air of this plot really drew me in. The beginning was a bit slow and there seemed to be some awfully big coincidences. But overall the plot structure was solid and there weren’t any noticeable plot holes. Once things picked up, it was really hard to put down.

Characters: 4.5/5
I feel like we see most of the book from Zadie’s perspective, or at least I identified with her most. Both her and Finn are keeping secrets from each other that only get worse the longer they don’t tell each other which adds immensely to their tension.

Both sisters are incredibly well developed in both their backstories and their current struggles. Their dynamic did feel genuinely sister like (no calling each other “sis” or any of that nonsense).

The side characters all had really compelling stories though it did feel like too much of a coincidence that they kept meeting other people with “sixth senses”.

Also I didn’t see a purpose to Joel but he was a goofy character.

Writing: 4/5
Lang’s writing is ripe with imagery and drags you into a totally immersive experience. I had chills and was feeling everything the characters felt. There’s a special skill to writing characters that are slowly losing their mind (in a sense) in a way that doesn’t feel totally predictable but is still believable. You get that “wow how did I not see this building the whole time!” Kind of feeling.

Overall: 4/5

Ruth Emmie Lang does an incredible job of balancing magical realism and mystery in this incredible novel. Two sister try to hunt down their missing mom, while learning more about their "abilities" along the way. They meet some incredible people like them and learn more about each other as they go.

This book is about more than just finding a missing person. It's about finding yourself, reconnecting with family and finding your own place in this world and in the future. The writing is stunning. The clues the sisters are following are out of this world creative. And the dynamic between the family members in this book aren't perfect, but they're ever changing and forgiving.

Not only was this book captivating and incredibly easy to get into, but it was was beautiful as well. I really enjoyed reading this book and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for other books by this author.

This was an interesting book and I did enjoy reading it, though it was a slightly different genre than what I typically read. Zadie and Finn's search for their missing mother was an emotional ride and the ending was a real surprise. The relationship between the two sisters was an exploration of familial bonds and a journey of self-discovery for each of them. The author's writing style was engaging and almost lyrical in the construction of her prose.
I haven't had the pleasure of reading this author before, but I certainly will look to read more of her work in future.

Five years ago Nina Wilder walked away from her life, leaving behind her two young teenaged daughters Zadie and Finn. Each girl inherited a special gift from their mother: Zadie premonitions and Finn the ability to feel other people's memories, which the sisters refer to as "echos". A string of strong echos lead the girls onto a journey to find their long lost mother in this tale of family bonds and magical realism.

I found this book to be just okay. The story was interesting and kept me engaged, however there did seem to be some bizzare coincidences and plot gaps that left me feeling like I wasn't as connected to the story as I'd hoped. I found it took me longer to read simply because I kept putting it down. Once it started to get going it felt a bit better but something about it still kept me at an arm's length. I found I didn't really like any of the main characters, which didn't quite help. For a reader who enjoys a bit of magic and natural phenomenon, this would be right up your alley. Overall it was not terrible, just not quite for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this quirky and fun read.

The Wilderwomen is a unique take on magical realism. Zadie & Finn are two polar opposite sisters that slowly find their way back to each other as they try to find their mom. The writing style of this book is very free-spirited and often times mesmerizing as the scenes are described. Toward the middle of the book, I enjoyed the twists and turns, but especially the chapters narrated by Nora, as it pushed you closer to the edge of your seat, wondering where she was. When closing this book, my heart felt warm and fuzzy as everything was tied together in a way I never saw coming.

I really enjoyed this story about two half-sisters searching for the mother who inexplicably left them five years ago, when Zadie was 18 and Finn was 13. Zadie has psychic premonitions, but has disavowed her gift ever since her mother disappeared. Finn can read echos of other people's memories, and when she graduates from high school, she convinces Zadie to set off on a road trip with her to look for their mother. As Finn gets drawn into her mother's memories, she starts losing her own sense of self. The girls meet some unforgettable characters in their quest and the story was sweet and moving without being saccharine. Digital review copy courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Wow.
The Wilderwomen, by Ruth Emmie Lang, weaves together magical realism, a missing person mystery and a life changing journey, all in one spectacular October read.

Two Sisters who have grown apart must work together to solve the mystery of why their mom, Nora, left them 5 years ago. Always considered "unique" because of their ability to see the future and live other people's memories, they realize it's in their best interest to finally tell those around them the truth. Finn is able to find "echos' of her mother's memories, and this is how the adventure begins.

This was such a great read, I loved how the sisters worked together to come to terms with their abilities. It was heartwarming to see Zadie looking out for Finn, who seems to be on the same path as their mother. Heartwarming and magical, their story will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my eArc. All thoughts are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. While magic plays a prominent role, the overlying importance of family provides warmth and brings the story together. Zadie and Finn, polar opposites, use their abilities to search for their mother who disappeared without a trace. while Zadie desires to leave her mother in the past, Finn wants to fill in the gaping hole with answers. Zadie’s hesitance to open her heart back up to the person that left her as a crumpled piece of paper speaks volumes, adding an emotional aspect that travels figuratively and literally with Zadie and Finn. Finn’s enthusiasm is contagious. I wanted nothing more than to get to the bottom of this mystery as much as her. I loved both the characters and the plot, each unique and complex. The ending did leave me wishing for more. Even though there was an epilogue, the truth behind Nora seemed dull compared to the intrigue of the rest of the novel, specifically the climax. The hopeful story touched my heart, portraying a beautiful narrative that many others should read!

My review will be posted to my Instagram on date of publication 11/15/2022.

3 1/2 STARS

This is a paranormal mystery. I liked the characters but the storyline just didn't interest me as much as I thought it would. It's a well-written book and I liked it but I didn't feel like it was a story I would want to reread. I think fans of paranormal mysteries will like it.

I really tried to like this one but it just wasn’t for me. It probably would’ve been a DNF if it wasn’t a NetGalley read because I wanted to give it fair shot. The plot was tedious and in the end I’m not even sure what the point was honestly. Obviously we had to stretch our imagination to believe the sixth sense pieces but other parts also didn’t make a ton of sense. Running into Joel was too happenstance. Why did they keep meeting other sixes? Was the mom drawn to them? What even was Nora’s power/sense? It all felt very disjointed to me. The sister pieces were nice and added to the story. I’m not sure who I would recommend this one too.

I received an arc, ahead of release, through Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.


Content Warnings: Pregnancy, abandonment, dementia, blood, and injury.

This was an interesting story about how the trauma of their mother's disappearance affected two sisters differently. We get to journey with them as they try to find their mother while also finding themselves at the same time.

I really enjoyed reading about these two sisters, who seem only to share the fact that their mother is missing, slowly find their bond, and as they journey to find their mom learn more about themselves as well.

The ending of this book, though happy, left me with more questions and a little disappointed. I really wish the book had been slightly longer so we could have explored the ending a bit more.

Five big fat stars!!
I absolutely adored this book!
I laughed throughout the entire book and cried the last 10%!
I have already posted about it on my Facebook, highly recommending it to everyone!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the awesome author who created this wonderful book!

I read this one early because word has it that it might be a pick of a certain book club for next month.

We first meet Zadie who is in her early 20s, newly pregnant but leaving her relationship, trying to figure out her next move. Zadie has psychic abilities, but she couldn’t stop her mother Nora from leaving Zadie and her younger sister, Finn, five years ago.

After Nora abandoned her girls, Finn was fostered by a loving couple who ant to adopt her. Zadie has to figure things out on her own. Finn also has an ability to receive other people’s memories, that often leave her in a trance-like state.

For Finn’s graduation, the girls plan to leave San Antonio and head for the Gavelston-area beach to relax, reconnect and read romance novels (at last Zadie will). Instead, the end up on a road-trip covering thousands of miles looking for their mom.

On their way, they meet a bunch of other folks who have various supernatural powers. These characters seem random and just thrown into the plot. They are just a stop, in my opinion, but they don’t enhance the story or add in any powerful way.

The ending of the book felt very forced and the overall story fell flat. I was not invested and even when things were explained, I was not moved.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I had to take a step back and digest this one a bit. My eyes were glued to the page (or in this case, kindle) for the entire book. My interest never wavered, so for that, it should get five stars, however I do wish the relationship between the sisters was explored just a tiny bit more. For some reason, I just didn’t really understand where they sat in their relationship with one another. I think this may have just been me and not the book. Sometimes I get a little wary of everything when magical realism is involved. I can’t explain it.

Overall, this book has an interesting plot, good characters, and unique magic. I really liked it and would definitely recommend.

4+ stars
This author is just so good!
I absolutely loved her first novel,
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
So when I found out she had this new book, I was so excited.
As in her first novel there is some magical realism.. but not anything unbelievable.
Two sisters who have been separated for 5 yrs since their mother, Nora wandered off and left them (when Zadie was 18 and her sister Finn was 12) go to search for her.
Finn has just graduated high school and is living with loving foster parents and Zadie has just left her boyfriend and is pregnant.
They go on this journey together to find her and they use their psychic and memory reading abilities in their search. It’s a gift that they both have in different forms as does their mother.
This ended up being a really lovely story
and I hope Ruth Emmie Lang will be writing more stories!

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC!

I utterly adored this captivating magical realism book about sisterhood and family.

Zadie and Finn both have special abilities: Zadie gets psychic premonitions and Finn is able to relive people's memories. Zadie can see the future, Finn can see the past, but neither of them see their mother, Nora, disappearing.In the next five years that follow, they hear nothing from her, and the sisters drift apart as a consequence of Finn being put into foster care while Zadie, then 18, is left to her own devices. Upon Finn's high school graduation, the sisters are supposed to take a beach vacation, but instead end up on a road trip attempting to find their mom.

This is a coming-of-age story set within a psychic roadtrip, a combination that I didn't know that I needed until I read it. Admittedly, I'm generally a big fan of magical realism, but I think even if you aren't, you can still appreciate the care and thought that Ruth Emmie Lang has once again put into crafting a possible world. So much of her magic, both here and in Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, centers around nature. The thought of listening to the songs of the stars or what the trees have to say is my idea of a perfect power.

There is magic here, but there is also magic in the ordinary relationships the characters have with each other. I love the Wilder women's relationships with each other, in all their fragile, tangled glory. I was intrigued by the mystery of Nora's disappearance, but the relationship between Zadie and Finn really drives the story (no pun intended).

At its heart, this is a story about sisterhood and family, and about the dichotomy between growing roots and taking flight. Once again, Ruth Emmie Lang shows that she's a powerful storyteller with evocative, descriptive prose that tugs on your heartstrings.