Sister stories always draw me, maybe because I have a close sister of my own. This book was no different. Zadie and Finn’s relationship felt so authentic and real. They have unresolved issues but a deep love for each other. Their mother left them but they’ve always kept in touch.

After Finn’s graduation, they go on a journey to use their special abilities (Finn can see the echoes of other people’s memories and Zadie has cryptic premonitions) and try and solve the mystery of why their mother left.

The following road trip is a love letter to sisters and family and being just a bit different. The characters they meet along the way are so interesting and the road trip never feels like it drags. We get pieces of the sister's backstory and our propelled by the clues Finn and Zadie find, the people they meet, and the mystery of what happened to Nora Wilder.

My favorite part of this book was the fact that I spent the whole book guessing and trying to figure out what happened to Nora and was desperate for the answer. It was a rewarding journey that had me turning pages as quickly as I could and hoping against all hope that Finn and Zadie would have some closure.

A disappearance, psychic visions, echos. Two sisters on their own journeys of self discovery and a mystery to be solved. I found myself completely engrossed in this story. It’s written and told beautifully. The characters had so much depth and really came alive for me. This is magical realism at its best.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the complimentary ebook! Pub date 11/15/22.

Okay, going in I had honestly no clue what to expect from this. After reading this, I'm speechless. So many twists and turns I never guessed were coming, the 2 sisters are fun and real that they easily become your favorite characters. I loved that the premise was not like the usual books I always see. The storyline was very interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was so worried about the Mom the entire time as well. Now that I finished reading the ending and the epilogue; it wrapped this book up nicely with a bow on top. I enjoyed this alot! Would recommend to my friends for a quick and interesting read!

I loved everything about this book. Lang expertly wove a tale of family who was torn apart. I loved the magical realism, the relationship of the sisters, the road trip to find their mom, and the writing. ​I have absolutely no complaints about this book. It was fun, heart-wrenching at times, happy at others. I couldn’t put it down. Lang’s writing kept me engrossed in this story the whole time. The only bad part, was that it had to end. This book gets 5 stars from me.

I'm in the minority here, but I just could not get into this one. I'm not sure why as there's nothing I can point to that was wrong with it and the concept appealed, but I just never felt like I caught the thread or connected with the characters. I kept forcing myself to turn pages in the hope that something about it would compel me to keep reading, or allow me to find the magic other readers have, but it never did. This one just wasn't for me.

Nora mysteriously takes off, leaving behind two teenagers, Zadie and Finn. Both girls have a secret: Zadie gets flashes of premonitions and Finn feels “echoes” of other people’s memories. Years after Nora’s disappearance, her daughters set off on a journey to find her.

This is a story about family sprinkled with a healthy dose of magical realism, and it’s really well done! Zadie is full of secrets and distrust while Finn rushes headlong into adventure, and watching them grow closer over their adventure is heartwarming.

I found the first third the most engaging: it read a lot like a Seanan McGuire book. I did think it meandered in the middle and then rushed slightly at the end, but overall, this was a great book, and I’ll definitely read more from this author.

<i>I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</I>

This book was so interesting to read and just think about. I loved Zadie and Finn and felt that they really loved one another so much.
Zadie is a young adult who desperately wants to spend more time with her younger sister. Finn just turned 18 and will soon be leaving her foster family to go off to college. The girls have planned a beach trip together, but plans change when Finn is overwhelmed with the need to search for their mother who has been missing for 5 years. Zadie, who has written their mother off for abandoning them, does not want to go, but also does not want to give up time with Finn. They are fortunate enough to have special gifts that will help them to follow the unseen tracks their mother left for them. Zadie must open herself up to her ability, and Finn needs to stop being so open.
The journey is full of growth and unique experiences for both of the girls. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m going to compare this novel to another novel that isn’t really anything like it, but go with it. There’s a method to my madness. When I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, I found myself smiling the entire time. The same thing happened with The Wilderwomen. This novel bursts with beautiful ideas, incandescent language, and moments that invoke a true sense of wonder. I couldn’t help smiling as I read it, even when the words simultaneously brought tears to my eyes, which happened more than once.

Teenage Finn Wilder and her older sister Zadie were set adrift when their mother Nora disappeared five years ago. Finn lives with a foster family, Zadie is on her own, and they’ve also drifted apart from each, overwhelmed by the pain and hurt caused by Nora walking way. Something was increasingly wrong with her in the months before her leaving, but they don’t know what.

One thing the sisters share besides the loss of their mother is that they both have special talents. Zadie can sometimes see future events, and Finn receives “echos”, of other peoples memories they’ve left behind. When Finn loses herself in an echo from Nora, she convinces Zadie to go on a road trip following that echo in search of their mom.

This road trip becomes a journey that forces Finn and Zadie to confront things that have been left unsaid, brings them together, and shows them a world filled with mysteries and wonderment. Lang has crafted a novel that sings and dances—the quiet, tender moments are balanced with joyful sequences that had me, as I said above, smiling in delight. Her characters, particularly the three Wilder women, are richly drawn and fully realized. I was fully invested in them and their journey from beginning to end. Speaking of the end, Lang nails it. It’s deeply satisfying.

The Wilderwomen will be released on November 15th, 2022. Believe me when I tell you, this is worthy of a pre-order. And one last thing, as a Clevelander, I was happy to discover that Lang is a fellow Ohioan. We’re lucky to have her.

I'll be honest. This just wasn't my cup of tea. i DNF this book around to 40% mark due to lack of interest. I wasn't interested in the plot or characters. Others definitely could appreciate this book though.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: November 15, 2022
Ruth Emmie Lang’s sophomore novel “The Wilderwomen” is perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman’s “Practical Magic” series. Full of magic, emotion and connection, Lang’s story of two estranged sisters, reconnecting to find their missing mother (and maybe using some magical powers or two) is a can’t-miss!
Nora Wilder walked away from her two daughters, Zadie and Finn, five years ago, without reason or explanation. Unable to predict her mother’s leaving, or stop her, Zadie abandoned her psychic abilities on that same day. Trying to reconnect with her estranged sister, Finn, Zadie decides on a beach vacation for the two of them, a few days of sun and sand. Finn, however, has other ideas. Finn can read memories (she calls “echoes”) and recently, she has been having “echoes” of Nora, convincing Finn that their mother is alive. Soon, Finn and Zadie are on a road trip, looking for clues that will lead them to the woman who walked away five years ago. Why did Nora leave her two daughters alone? Does she even want to be found?
Lang’s storyline is creative and completely mesmerizing, and I loved the sisterly relationship between Zadie and Finn, two characters who are so very different, yet connected by a familial (and magical) thread. Right from page one, I connected with Zadie, and rooted for both sisters.
Zadie and Finn both narrate the story, which helps to further cement the bond with the sisters and the reader. There are a few sections of the novel told by Nora, in the time leading up to her disappearance, which I found exceptionally beneficial as it turned Nora into a likable character. Without her side of things, I would have disliked her, or at least not have wanted the girls to seek her out. The addition of Joel (Zadie’s ex-boyfriend) seemed exceptionally random, and I’m still trying to figure out how he played into the story, but he was sweet and dim-witted and served to provide some lightness to the plot.
Scottish American author Lang is new to me, but her debut novel, “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances”, is now on my radar, as well as anything else she chooses to write. I was impressed by the level of skill Lang possesses, and it is remarkable that this novel is only her second. I look forward to enjoying more magical tales from Lang in the future.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and author for providing this book for my honest review. I absolutely adore this book. It is so unique! This book is about two sisters who each have a special magical gift. Their mother had disappeared 5 years before and they decide to use their gifts to find her. I love how this is a bit of a mystery mixed in with magical realism. It’s also a beautiful story about siblings and mothers and daughters. This author is an auto buy author for me! If you enjoy magical realism, mysteries, and family dramas this book is a great choice.

Oh, my heart. This novel was SO BEAUTIFUL. Filled with magical realism, delightful female characters, and so. much. lush. nature. It was the perfect soul escape for my currently very chilly midwestern heart. The symbolism could be heavy-handed at times (there's A LOT of birds and also a trio of sisters who all have tree names...) but instead of distracting, this contributed to the lushness of the novel as a whole. Pick this one up if you're a little bit of a hippie at heart (guilty).

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Despite having heard and read many good things about this book, I unfortunately was unable to get into it at this time. I hope to maybe come back to it at some point. It has all the genre qualities I am interested in - magic realism, family drama...etc.

It is a magic realism mystery that follows two sisters as they look for their mother.

I give it 3 stars despite being unable to get very far. I blame it on my *unfortunate* current disinterest in the plot but I don't feel it deserves anything lower because it is well written & and the world is unique! I just personally couldn't get into it at this time.

Wow, what a unique, beautiful, and moving story!
Part coming of age, part magical, the story is of two sisters, who are planning to take a road trip together to find their relationship again after slowly losing touch after their mother disappeared years before. Both sisters have special abilities (Zadie is a psychic and Finn can see the echoes of other people's memories) and on the night before their trip, Finn sees the echo of one of her mother's memories and talks Zadie into using the trip to find their mother. The girls have no idea where she went; the only clues being echoes of her memories that come to Finn as they head out on the road.
The echoes lead them to interesting places and unusual people - people like themselves-- and they quickly realize theirs more to the world than they ever knew.
It took me a little while to get into the story at first as it was a little slow moving, but once I did I couldn't stop reading this one.

Wilder Women is phenomenal read! It’s mind blowing combination of magical realism meets mystery and women’s fiction!

The Wilderwomen is such a beautiful story of love between sisters who are very different. I love the nuance in the two sisters' personalities and how they were reflected in their special abilities was really well done. I love a story about generational magic and the things that are inherited vs the things that are learned and I loved seeing this reflected in Finn and Zadie and their mother, Nora. There are light moments and tears and afterward, i called my sisters.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.

So I will say that The Wilderwomen is not my normal flavor of magical realism, but it still had compelling magic all the same. I found the book intriguing, bewildering (haha, see what I did there), irritating, beautiful, and hard to put down. I read it in a night actually and probably stayed up far later than I should have.

Sisters Zadie and Finn haven't spent a lot of time together since their mother disappeared. Mainly due to their circumstances and ages; with Zadie having been 18 at the time and Finn a minor. To celebrate Finn's graduation though, they've planned a trip together. A trip that is quickly derailed when Finn's gift leaves her compelled to go search for their mother instead. Zadie too is gifted, but as not eager to find her mother, still haunted by the day she disappeared.

Zadie and Finn were good main characters. I enjoyed their brand of magic and how they did (or didn't use it) and the emotions they elicited from the people around them (and the other gifts they discovered along the way). I do have a major issue with Finn's foster family and the way they treated Zadie though. Just good grief. It was upsetting. And Joel, while he was somewhat a comic relief, I honestly don't think he was really needed for the book. The two main characters stood on their own quite well.

When it comes to magical gifts, they ranged from the known (Zadie's abilities) to stuff a little more obscure (and I LOVED the obscure ideas, especially Ursula. Without giving too much away, the most beautifully described gifts involve nature and its interactions. And if the author writes a book about Ursula and her wife Nic, I will be all over that book.

While the story can feel alternately rushed and stilted at times, it still gives a great narrative on sisters overcoming differences, finding truth, and accepting themselves for what they are. While I will say I'm still unsettled by the ending (and can't really give the reason why for fear of spoilers), it's still a very interesting read and well worth taking the journey into.

Review by M. Reynard 2022

The two main characters in this book, sisters Zadie and Finn, both have special powers. Zadie can sense the future, and Finn can feel memories from the past. These abilities help them on their journey to find their mom, who suddenly walked out of their lives 5 years before. They know something had to be wrong, since she wouldn’t just leave them. Those 5 years kept the sisters separated in different homes, slowly losing their relationship.

The book follows their journey to find their mother, reconnect with each other, and learn to accept themselves.

This is the second book by Ruth Emmie Lang, author of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance (which I feel never got enough attention that it deserved!). While I didn’t love it like I did her first book, I still thought it was an enjoyable read.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗳:
* You like longer books
* You like books with magical realism
* You like slower paced books
* You like more character driven books
* You like books where characters find connection and growth

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱: I loved the abilities they had, and those they met along the way. I mean, hearing stars sounds like the coolest! I also enjoyed the sisters connection and Zadie’s growth.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵: I felt like it was a little too long and slow in some parts. I also felt like I didn’t quite get to know the sister Finn as much. We briefly heard of her history, but I felt like I never really got to know her. When we’d have her POV, it wasn’t her feelings as much but just her powers. I wish we got to know her thoughts more.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱? Yes!

This was a very different story, but in the best possible way.

Two sisters travel across the country searching for their mother after years apart. Add in some reading/feeling the memories of others and psychic abilities, Zadie and Finn work together through their shared painful past.

While the characters’ abilities are important to the plot, the sibling and mother relationship was not cheapened by the supernatural aspect. Really enjoyed it.

Steeped in magical realism, The WIlderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang will transport you to another world. The narrative follows two gifted sisters as they search for their mother who disappeared years ago.

While maybe slow in parts, Lang is a prolific writer that will reel the reader back in through intriguing mystery and drama. The characters are so well developed that you feel like you know them.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.