The Girls We Sent Away is a book that draws you straight in and is a really easy read. I loved learning about the character Lorraine and a lot of history/how it was to be a teen mother and have a baby out of wedlock in the past. However I don't feel like I was completely blown away this was a decent read,

A very easy read and I wish it would've been longer. I was easily drawn in with this book, and couldn't put it down once I'd started. You really feel for Lorraine throughout the whole book, hoping for a happy ending. I would've liked to see more in depth explorations of the topic of this book, and there felt like a lot of loose ends at the end, however this is also how Lorraine would've felt. Frustrating but it had the right impact.

Lorraine is pregnant. Her boyfriend…don’t ask…her parents…she is sent away. Even the title of this novel set in the 60’s is sad. I grew up during this time. I had no idea what happened to pregnant girls. Those I knew went to school or dropped out and stayed home. Not so for Lorraine. This talented author has written a cannot put down novel. I liked this book. I really liked this book. I hope there will be more stories from the 60’s. It was an intriguing time to grow up. Meagan Church has become a new favorite of mine. I have texted and emailed friends to look for this book. I have read the book two times already. This is a thought provoking story. Thanks Netgalley.

With beautiful prose and delicate precision, Church transports readers to the tumultuous Baby Scoop era of the 1960s, providing a well-crafted and researched look into the struggles of women during this dark period in history, and evokes a lasting impression of empathy for young Lorraine. Heart-wrenching and thought provoking, THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY is a captivating novel, impossible to put down and one which will be remembered long after you turn the last page.

After reading the author’s debut novel, The Last Carolina Girl, I can’t emphasize enough how much I was looking forward to this book. However, after just four chapters, there was a s*x scene which really caught me off guard, and because of that I’m DNFing this book. I’m so disappointed, but I’m not comfortable or willing to compromise my standards to read content I’m not okay with. I will say that the author’s writing style was lovely and the plot had my intrigued, but I won’t be continuing to read the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Girls We Sent Away. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

I couldn’t put The Girls We Left Behind down, I loved Megan Church’s second novel and will be going back to read her first. This is a beautifully written, intimate telling of the Baby Scoop era in the US, told from Lorraine’s perspective.

Lorraine is an only child, about to enter her senior year, be valedictorian and plans to be an astronaut. Her boyfriend is heading to college and Lorraine ends up pregnant, her church going parents can’t cope with the scandal and pack her off to a “home” for unwed mothers.

The story tells of secrets, relationships, friendships, determination and love.

I can’t recommend this highly enough for a read once it’s published in March 2024.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely love books like this. Either be fiction or non fiction. Meagan did such a good job capturing what it would be like to be a girl in these times. This story may be a story to us but real to so many others as during the baby swoop era it was very common for unwed girls to go to these homes.

Spoiler Alert:Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I love historical novels and this one did not disappoint. This book follows Lorraine who is still in high school when she finds herself pregnant after a night with her boyfriend Clint. Things were very different in the early 60's and Lorraine's parents were very disappointed and dismayed by what has happened to their daughter. They are afraid about what others would say and they send her to a home for unwed teenagers who are pregnant. Lorraine is faced with a decision of giving up her baby in order to continue on the path to college and a successful future. The book sheds light on the Baby Scoop Era and how many babies were adopted after being given up, most unwillingly, by unwed young mothers. I was not aware of this and did some research afterwards learning a lot about this time frame. Being a social worker I was not happy with the portrayal of the "social worker" at the home and wonder if she really was a professional. Her actions were awful and her motives just horrific. Sadly Lorraine did not get to keep her daughter but the book ends with her in college and with her friend Allan as her boyfriend with a bright future ahead of her. I don't know how she could ever forgive her parents after what they put her through. Especially after she learned she was conceived before her parents were married given the dates and her birth weight not adding up. I look forward to reading Meagan Church's debut novel as well. I would recommend this book for the historical value and the story of a strong young woman placed in an impossible situation.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to advance read and review.

Overall, I enjoyed The Girls We Sent away. it was a heartbreaking story of a young teen, Lorraine who unexpectedly became pregnant by her boyfriend Clint in the 1960’s. Due to the time period, her parents sent her away while pregnant I found it sad to hear how cold her parents were even though it was the 60’s.

I would have liked if Megan Church expanded on more details as to what went on while the girls were in the home rather than keep it broad. It was an easy read, page turner.

This book caught my attention because I just finished season 4 of the handmaid's tale. From my early teens I have also been watching the Teen Mom shows on MTV. The author greatly captured the thoughts and feelings of Lorraine. In the beginning I was a bit annoyed with the naivety of Lorraine, but in the end it fits perfectly with the society back then, especially the privileges one that Lorraine grew up on. I never wish to become a mother so I kept rooting for Lorraine to get rid of the baby, to get her act together, and live her best life. As a thriller reader I also expected Alan to hurt Clint in some way. It was interesting that the author gave some attention to what teenage boy thinks / does when he finds out he got a girl pregnant. All in all this was a fun, quick, and interesting read. I will definitely read the author's debut novel!

Lorraine is beautiful and brainy. By the looks of it, she has it all. The perfect family, on her way to being valedictorian in her senior year of high school, dating a man in her parents social circle, physically fit as the local life guard.

Her man puts a promise ring on her finger. One mistake later ...

I thought about this book all night. Contrasting and comparing what this would look like in today's world (especially in my state).

This book played on my mind all night. I pre-ordered a copy to be delivered to my local library. (The first time I've ever done this.) I read and review well over 100 advance read copies (in exchange for an honest review) per year and am on target to read approximately 175 books in 2023. For a book to really stick with me to this extent is a rarity. I feel that this is going to be a book that will be discussed among book clubs in the coming years.

Meagan Church is one of my favorite new authors. The Girls We Sent Away is her second novel. I began following her on Good Reads after her first book The Last Carolina Girl.

If you are a Barnes & Nobel member, you can pre-order today (9/8/2023) at a 25% discount.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks for providing the opportunity to read the advance read copy of The Girls We Sent Away in exchange for an honest reveiw. Thank you to Sourcebooks for approving my NetGalley request. Thank you to Meagan Church for writing a book that grabbed my heart. As I was reading this book, I really cared about all these young women. Hurting in many different ways. I really want to reach out and see what I can do to volunteer for young women in similar situations.

The Baby Scoop Era that lasted from late 1940s to the early 1970s, was characterized by many unmarried pregnant women being pressured, or forced to give up their babies for adoption. During that time adoption was considered a more socially acceptable outcome than single parenthood. Told through the eyes of Lorraine, a teenage girl who had limited options due to family and social pressures and expections. This historical fiction novel highlights the harrowing and untold stories of girls who grappled with feelings of sadness, guilt, and solitude during their pregnancies, births, and relinquishments.

Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

"The Girls We Sent Away" by Meagan Church promises to be a poignant and thought-provoking novel set in the tumultuous backdrop of the 1960s. The description introduces readers to Lorraine Delford, a character who seems to have it all but finds herself navigating a challenging and unexpected journey.

The story appears to be a compelling exploration of societal norms and the restrictions placed on women during that era. Lorraine's transformation from the "darling girl-next-door" to a young woman facing the harsh realities of pregnancy and societal expectations adds depth to her character. Her journey from a life of comfort to a maternity home for "wayward girls" sets the stage for a gripping narrative that promises to shed light on the darker aspects of the time.

The description hints at themes of autonomy, belonging, and the quest for agency, all of which are timely and relevant in today's context as well. Readers can expect a powerful and affecting story that delves into the complexities of women's lives, the challenges they faced, and their resilience in the face of adversity.

Overall, "The Girls We Sent Away" appears to be a compelling historical novel that not only transports readers to a different era but also provides a lens through which to view the struggles and triumphs of women during a transformative period in history. Meagan Church's storytelling is likely to resonate with those who appreciate narratives that illuminate the strength and resilience of female protagonists in the face of societal constraints.

all lorraine wants is to go to college. she wants to, one day, be an astronaut and go to space. namely, the moon. when her high school boyfriend goes off to college, lorraine starts to expect that she may be pregnant. in the 1960's, unwed girls in high school who became pregnant were unable to attend high school. meagan church faithfully explores this dynamic in this very emotional, very devastating novel about a young woman, pregnant, who is sent away to be hidden for the world to see and treated like she is dirty, damaged goods.

this book is well-written, clear, and to the point. what i wish it had was more visual description. it's a novel that really makes you think about how god awful the 60's were for every minority and historically discriminated against group. the way these girls were treated is inhumane and cruel. the people who run these facilities are pure evil. ugh, it just makes me sick. i was really hoping for deeper descriptions of the facility itself. i wanted to know what lorraine looks like besides her hair. without these descriptions, it's easy to lose the historical aspect and place the characters in the present day.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Strength isn't in the loud and obvious. Strength is often camouflaged in the quiet, reserved places where most people wouldn't think to look. It's grown in the moments when we give up things along the way."

I am still in a state of awe at this book after finishing it yesterday. Church's writing was beautiful and heartbreaking, as you follow Lorraine's transition from teen to teenage mother. I have a personal connection to someone who was a part of what Church notes as The Baby Scoop Era and this was an extremely visceral description of what a young unwed mother could have experienced during that time. The number of young women finding themselves in this situation is staggering, and is not as rare as some might like to believe.

I could not put this book down. Lorraine is an extremely likeable character and you can imagine yourself in her shoes; scared, humiliated, shamed by her family, secreted away, and then the ultimate betrayal of everyone telling you to just forget about what happened and get back to normal. Trauma is trauma and in this situation, the physical, emotional and mental impact was epic. And the quote above about strength being in the decisions you make that are in many cases behind closed doors, are the ones that make you into who you are. You carry those with you, and if you are lucky, they don't break you. Lorraine is an unfortunate example of what women have had to do for eons - shrink themselves, solely take on the consequences of two people's actions, and feel as though she had no choice but to do the things that would please everyone around her.

I wish my book club had read this so that I could talk about it with other women. I'm going to be recommending it to everyone I know and exploring Church's other book. I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve. I am grateful to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a chance to read this book.

This story line didn’t keep me interested and not a lot was going on through out the story. https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsaNJHgcwl/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In this stunning novel, Meagan Church weaves historical research and compelling narrative into an elegant tapestry that brings 1960s North Carolina to life. Lorraine Delford is an endearing and relatable heroine whose indefatigable spirit is sure to win readers’ hearts. Even as others try to direct the course of Lorraine’s future, she is determined to wrest back what control she can. A memorable portrait of a tumultuous time period, I highly recommend THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY for fans of historical fiction.

The book takes place in the 60's and follows Lorraine through her senior year of high school as she and her family deal with her unplanned pregnancy. The story was well written and an interesting insight into life at the time. I appreciate the advanced reader copy.

Set during the 1960's in North Carolina, THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY, tells the story of a teenage girl named Lorraine whose aspirations of becoming an astronaut in the midst of the Space Race unfortunately become thwarted after she becomes pregnant and is forced to live in a maternity home, as was normal during the Baby Scoop era. Though she is at the top of her class and has high hopes, Lorraine is only encouraged by her parents to do what is expected of her, become a wife and eventually a mother. But when the pregnancy comes unexpectedly during her senior year of high school, both Clint, the father of the baby and her longtime boyfriend, and her parents refuse to support or encourage Lorraine. At first, Lorraine attempts a positive outlook, dreaming that she'll be able to come back and finish her studies after the baby is born. She arrives at the maternity home and develops relationships with a few of the girls, which is a bit of a silver lining for Lorraine. After being let down and left completely alone by everyone in her life she thought she could trust, Lorraine gets to know Mirabelle and Denise, her roommates at the home. Soon, though, Lorraine is fighting another battle as decisions are being made for her and her baby with no regard to her wishes or input. Lucky for Lorraine, a young librarian at the public library offers to help her with GED classes so she can continue her education as she so desperately wishes. The only "education" provided at the maternity home is the type of skills for women who only wish to be wives and mothers, basically finishing school. As Lorraine gets closer to her delivery date, she finds herself reexamining what her future could hold, even if she is not likely to be able to make the decision in the end. Descriptive, beautiful prose allow readers to experience the character's pain and heartache, creating a lasting impression of empathy for young Lorraine. Equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting, THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY is a must-read for fans of historical fiction. Notable in her prior novel as well, Meagan Church thoroughly explains the history, research, and inspiration behind the story she has created, which adds another layer of richness to the novel. Well-crafted and researched, this timely, powerful novel is a tribute to many lives irrevocably changed by the tumultuous Baby Scoop era.

This was an okay read. I thought that the ending left some things to be desired, but overall, the book was good.