Beautifully written story that deals with a teenager having an unplanned pregnancy in the 1960's. It tells of the ups and downs of Lorraine's life as she comes to terms with being pregnant and alone and sent away to hide the pregnancy and give her child up for adoption. Well researched and sad at times but it is a story that needs to be told. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although I had this book for awhile, I just read it this weekend and WOW! Very well written and sad.

This is my first novel by Meagan Church and I will definitely be back for more!
I liked her writing style and finished this book in 2 days. She really made me want to know what was going to happen with Lorraine next so I flew through it.

This is a sad historical story about a "home for unwed mothers" and Church did a good job helping me feel empathy for what these girls were going through, and some of the awful things that were done during that time period. I liked that she didn't just try to tie up everything with a happy bow at the end but she still gave a little bit of a hopeful ending for our main character.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an important read. Set in 1960s North Carolina, The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church follows seventeen-year-old Lorraine Delford, whose unplanned pregnancy shatters her future. Sent to a maternity home by her ashamed parents, she faces a harsh reality where she is expected to surrender her baby and move on as if nothing happened. Through heartbreak and resilience, Lorraine confronts the societal pressures of the Baby Scoop Era, making impossible choices that will shape her forever.

Beautifully written and deeply moving, this novel is a powerful exploration of loss, strength, and the enduring impact of a silenced past. The audiobook, narrated by Susan Bennett, adds an immersive layer to this unforgettable story.

This was a really interesting read! I haven't read this author before but will check her out now. Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this ARC!

What a story! I appreciated how well written this book was and how heartbreakingly relevant the story is, even now. My heart truly ached for the "wayward" girls, but just about every other character was insufferable (which was by design).

This was a gripping book that kept me rapt from beginning to end. Since it is the author’s second publication but the first of hers I’ve read, I now long to read her debut novel, “The Last Carolina Girl!”

The story essentially is a sad one, filled with disappointment and loss. It occurs during that period of time between the 1940’s and 1970’s when girls pregnant out of wedlock were sent by their families
to live in group homes until their babies were born and then given up for adoption, usually against their wishes. The trauma incurred by being rejected by family and sent away to hide their situations and to avoid social stigma and shame incurred by their families and the frequently forced relinquishments of their parental rights usually left these young women and girls with emotional scars they endured for the remainders of their lives. “The Girls We Sent Away” by Meagan Church focuses on one such girl and the disillusionment, disappointments, frustrations and scars she endured as the result of one moment of “indiscretion.”

I was frustrated by 2 aspects of the novel that were glossed over by the author: the utter lack of consequences for the men and boys equally (or more) responsible for the pregnancies and the hypocrisy and lack of communication of some of the extended families involved. However, the story of the young woman’s hopes, dreams, aspirations and consequences kept me completely enthralled. Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and author Meagan Church for providing me a free reader’s copy of the novel in advance of its publication. I am providing my opinion voluntarily.

This story was absolutely heartbreaking, and I really admire the author for setting it during the Baby Scoop era of the 1960s. So many young women were pressured into giving up their babies, and these are stories that truly deserve to be told. I also loved how the author tied everything together—little details from the beginning ended up having real meaning by the end, which was so satisfying.

That said, I wish the main character had been more compelling. Maybe it’s just personal preference, but I love reading about strong, bold women, and Lorraine—while book smart—wasn’t exactly street smart. At times, I found her frustrating and wanted her to push back more and challenge the world around her.

I enjoyed this one and love how informative it was about teen pregnancy in the 1960’s. In this story we follow Lorraine, a 16 year old set out to graduate as valedictorian and go on to college. She has a boyfriend who adores her until a surprise pregnancy takes place and he decides he wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Lorraine’s parents send her to a maternity home when she signs away rights to her baby in hopes of getting the schooling she desires. However, after months of growing the baby Lorraine begins wondering if she’s making the right choice. Overall, this was really eye opening to what was considered normal during those years. Following along Lorraine’s story is heartbreaking, but seeing the determination she had at such a young age was truly inspiring. Thank you Netgalley for the eARC to read and review.

Very difficult book to read at times because it is such a heartbreaking topic, but Meagan Church did an incredible job.

Lorraine Delford is the picture perfect daughter with incredible ambitions and the perfect boyfriend- but he gets her pregnant. Lorraine now has to live with the shame of her boyfriend not wanting to marry her and having to tell her parents who send her to a maternity home to cover it up from everyone around them. As Lorraine deals with this new reality she realizes that not everything is at it seems.

This book is extremely thought provoking, and all I could do was root for Lorraine and all that she wanted.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I received an ARC of The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and I found the book to be a deeply moving and thought-provoking read that left a lasting impression. Set in the 1960s North Carolina, the story follows seventeen-year-old Lorraine Delford, a bright and ambitious high school senior with dreams of becoming an astronaut. Her life takes a drastic turn when she becomes pregnant after a single encounter with her boyfriend. To avoid scandal, her parents send her to a maternity home for unwed mothers, a place with strict rules and dark secrets. At the home, Lorraine meets other girls in similar situations and begins to understand the harsh realities of her predicament. As she navigates the oppressive environment, she must decide whether to fight for her future and her child or succumb to societal expectations. The Girls We Sent Away is a powerful exploration of autonomy, belonging, and resilience. Meagan Church's writing is evocative and compassionate, capturing the emotional and psychological struggles of young women during the Baby Scoop Era. Lorraine's journey from a sheltered girl to a determined young woman is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The supporting characters, including the other girls at the maternity home, add depth to the narrative, highlighting the shared and individual struggles they face. While some plot points were predictable, the overall execution and emotional depth of the story made it a compelling read. Church's ability to bring historical context to life through her characters' experiences is commendable. I would definitely read more from this author in the future, as her storytelling and character development are both engaging and impactful. Overall, The Girls We Sent Away is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on a dark chapter in history. #netgalley #thegirlswesentaway

I read this one with a book box and it was such a good pick to read and talk about with friends. We all rated it highly and it gave us so much to talk about as some of us had different perspectives. I read this one in two days. Fantastic book.

This story is heartbreaking and I applaud the author for setting her novel in the Baby Scoop era of the 1960s. Most of the girls then were pressured by their families and adoption agencies to give up their babies, and these are truly stories worth telling. The author also neatly tied up the themes in the book - the seemingly insignificant things at the start ended up having meaning at the end and I loved that. I just wished that the main character was more interesting and unique. Maybe It’s just my personal preference, but I like reading about strong women, and I was sometimes annoyed with Lorraine who was book smart but not street smart. I wished she was a more empowered character who pushed the boundaries.

Lorraine Delford’s story is equal parts heartbreaking and enraging. Set in the 1960s, the novel follows Lorraine, a high-achieving teen with dreams of space exploration, whose plans are derailed by an unplanned pregnancy. Her disloyal boyfriend abandons her, and her parents, more concerned with appearances than their daughter’s well-being, whisk her away to a maternity home. Here, Lorraine endures a stifling regimen of “ladylike” lessons, where she’s pressured to give up her baby to restore her family’s “honor.”

The narrative digs into Lorraine's inner turmoil, highlighting her strength and fierce love for her unborn child. The author skillfully immerses readers in Lorraine's despair and determination, illustrating a chilling reality: societal views on teen pregnancy have changed little since then. Fathers often evade responsibility, and young women still face heavy judgment. Lorraine’s struggle against a system built to erase her agency is both gripping and enraging.

This book is thought-provoking and ideal for a book club discussion, as it confronts family, societal pressures, and the heartbreaking sacrifices some parents demand. Readers will root for Lorraine, but the novel doesn’t promise simple answers, only a raw exploration of autonomy and resilience. 4 stars

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this book. The opinions are my own.

The Girls We Sent Away is set in the Baby Scoop Era of the 1960s and pregnant unwed women get sent to maternity homes for the wayward girls. The book was written well and I was turning pages until the very end. All of the characters in this were good and I especially liked Lorrraine. Overall, this was a good read that I enjoyed. I would recommend this one to any reader who likes historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this read in exchange of my honest review of The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church.

Meagan Church’s The Girls We Sent Away is an unforgettable novel that sheds light on a hidden chapter of history while delivering a deeply emotional and resonant story. Set against the backdrop of post-war America, the book follows young women who were sent away during difficult times, and Church masterfully reveals the heartbreak, resilience, and sisterhood that defined their experiences. Her characters are vividly real, and their emotional arcs are beautifully drawn, making it easy to become invested in their fates. This novel is not only a poignant reflection on a society grappling with change, but it also serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and determination of women in the face of adversity. A must-read for fans of historical fiction with depth and heart.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (even though its late).
This story was good. It wasn't phenomenal, but that's ok. I felt like it raised awareness of a topic I did not know much about (or really thought about) and now I am sad knowing what went on... I wish I could give every girl affected by this a hug and tell them they are loved!
I was hoping the story would go a little deeper into the other girls living in the home. I felt like I would've been a little more connected to the story. I thought the main character was strong and I fel her confusion/sadness thru the screen. I liked how the story wrapped up, not perfect but I got some peace.

This story is set in 1960s North Carolina. The primary character, Lorraine, is a high school senior and valedictorian of her class. She plans to go to college and work with the space program. She has aspirations that although common place now, were not so easily achieved in the 60s and 70s. She has lived up to her parents expectations until she becomes pregnant. With few options, her parents send her to a home for unwed Mothers where she is to remain until the baby is born. Afterward, she can return to her life as if nothing ever happened. Lorraine decides she wants to keep her baby but is tricked by the administrator of the home and her baby is put up for adoption. This was a hard read knowing that women had so few choices just a few decades ago. It's important to remember those times and learn from them so that those mistakes are not repeated. Highly recommend this one and look forward to more work by this author.

This is my first book by Meagan Church and I really enjoyed it. It gave me so many emotions, especially as a mom, and I will definitely read more by this author!