Lorraine Delford is set to be the valedictorian of her class and is looking forward to college. She is in love with Clint and is happy. She makes a mistake that changes everything by getting pregnant. Her parents are mortified as they thought they raised her to be a good girl and want to avoid a scandal so they send her away. Back in the 1960's if you got pregnant you were sent away to a maternity home so you could give birth and have your baby placed with a suitable family.

Finishing school when it came time to fold napkins I almost died laughing. Thankful for the librarian to come along and teach Lorraine.

Allan who listens to Lorraine and sticks by her through it all.

The authors descriptions of the home and how the pregnant women were treated will break your heart. I had no idea about the Baby Scoop Era until reading this book. This was so well written and emotional.

It’s the 1960’s. Lorraine is a senior in high school, and she has it all, an upstanding family, the perfect boyfriend, and she’s on track to be valedictorian. However, right before her boyfriend leaves for college, she and her boyfriend become physical, and Lorraine gets pregnant.

To hide their daughter’s shame, Lorraine’s parents send her to a maternity home for wayward girls. Things aren’t exactly as great as they seem, and the house is full of dark secrets and suffocating rules. As Lorraine works to piece together a new vision for her life, she must decide if she can fight against the powers that aim to take her child or submit to the rules of society.

This book was so good. It hit a little close to home for me because my mom was born in 1965 and my grandma was unwed. Thankfully, she was older and not a teenager, or I might have ended up on an entirely different path, very similar to that portrayed in this story. I just can’t believe that we treated young women this way, well I can but I don’t want to, it’s just hard to fathom. It also doesn’t feel like 1965 was almost 60 years ago, to think that things like this were still happening then is so sad.

This book was so wonderfully written, and it just blew me away. The writing was so captivating and held my interest from start to finish, I needed to know what was going to happen and my heart just broke for Lorraine. She was such a great character, and she was so relatable to me. She was so smart, and worked so hard, and then one moment of pressure her world was turned upside down and her life was forced on an entirely different trajectory than she had imagined. This story just hammers in that some decisions we make in life can have lifelong consequences, and ones we never even thought imaginable.

This book is very gut wrenching and emotional, but it is an important and worthwhile read. It will open your eyes to a part of history that is often overlooked but was very real. The ending on this one was what I saw coming, but it was also bittersweet. I do wish that we had gotten a little more in the end from how Lorraine was doing, but I do understand leaving some things for the reader to imagine.

Lorraine’s character will stick with me a long time and I’ll be thinking of all the countless times versions of her story played out over history.

This was my first book by this author, but I will be going back and reading her debut novel.

This review will be featured on my blog, speedreadstagram.com closer to publication date.

Thank you so much to the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark @bookmarked and Netgalley @netgalley for this wonderful and moving e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book from this author I have read and will definitely not be the last. This is one of those books that I could just not put down. I was pretty sure what was going to happen, however I was so drawn to Lorraine as a character that I had to know what happened after. I could not imagine what these women in the 60's went through. Lorraine was exiled from her family and then finds out that she was not alone in her experience, it was heartbreaking what she went through and I think that this author has really written something true to this time period. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This book blew me away. From page one I was completely captivated by the story. The characters and their heart break leap off the pages. I wanted to squeeze Lorraine and all the other girls tight and tell them they are worthy and it would all be OK. When I finished it I just sat there and cried. It's a heartbreakingly beautiful story. All the stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me an eGalley of this release. This was my first Meagan Church book and I will pick up another because I enjoyed the writing style and it was a quick read.
This is about a teenage girl who finds herself pregnant in the 70s, and her parents insist she go to a home for unwed mothers to live out her pregnancy and then give her baby up for adoption so that she can then return home and continue her life and go to college without social shame on her or her family. The main issue I had with this book is that the synposis talks about horrors and secrets at the home for unwed mothers, and the home was really not that bad. They didn't get traditional education, they instead had classes like a finishing school where they were taught to be homemakers. They walked into town once a week and they had consistent medical care. The book was compared to The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman, but the environment was vastly different. This was not an asylum and girls chose to go there, they were not taken against thier will, and they technically could have left at any time. It was sad that the girls were coerced into thinking they had to give up thier babies for adoption and basically told to sign their rights away, but it was not abusive and there weren't horrors and secrets lurking there. So it left a lot to be desired int he way it was portrayed.

Another poignant novel by Meagan Church! Beautiful writing, well-researched characters, and wonderfully detailed. I highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are mine.

"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 this novel. Church's writing is 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.

Church's eerie opening sent shivers down my spine. A teen girl in a stretched-out swimsuit is working her shift as a lifeguard at her community pool. As the strap to her swimsuit falls, it catches the eye of a father who has forgotten to keep an eye on his child. At this moment, his daughter begins to drown in the middle of the pool, and the fearless lifeguard, Lorraine, dives in to save her. It is as though Church is setting the scene for her reader that girls must protect themselves.

If you haven't heard of The Baby Scoop Era, this period, roughly from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, is when many unmarried pregnant women were often coerced, pressured, or forced to relinquish their babies for adoption. As widespread social stigma was attached to unwed mothers, many saw adoption as a more socially acceptable outcome than single motherhood.

This page-turner story, set in the 1960s, examines this era with fresh eyes as Lorraine, a gifted teen girl, navigates an unexpected pregnancy during her senior year of high school. Curious and bright, she has aspirations to be an astronaut one day. We are reminded in evocative detail of these dreams for her future as she looks to the sky and imagines a different life for herself as a very different story unfolds on the page.

When Lorraine discovers the pregnancy, she receives little information about what is happening in her body or the process. Instead, sent to a maternity home for teen girls, the parents pray that no one will ever know of her shameful secret. Lorraine's shame is palatable, but for the boy involved, this is barely a blip in his promising future.

As societal expectations and familial pressures ground Lorraine, Church examines the underbelly of perfect picket fences and suburban dreams. We then realize everyone has a shameful secret that could have grounded them at some point.

While these women's experiences varied widely during this time, many throughout this era faced isolation, shame, and psychological distress as they navigated the process of pregnancy, childbirth, and relinquishment. Church deeply humanizes this experience like few books have, with a raw and unfiltered lens through the eyes of a teen girl with few choices.

Well-crafted plot twists and shifting narration add to well-timed tension on every page. This historical fiction novel is another tour de force that showcases the author's magnificent lens at, once again, showcasing the harrowing and untold stories of girls that we need to read.

As this book opens Lorraine Delford is all set to achieve her dreams, she is should be her class valedictorian, and then on to college, but her plans are about to take a nose dive.
This is a time that pregnant girls were sent away, and and gave away their babies. This is Lorraine's fate, and we are there with her and meet those that you will come to dislike, but there are also those whom have compassion and love.
There are surprises dropped, and we soon find out whom are really there for you, and those whom leave when things get tense.
I enjoyed this book, and glad that we get a conclusion, even if it wasn't what I wanted!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and was not required to give positive review.

Lorraine is 17 years old, an excelling senior in high school and has high aspirations to become an astronaut. As an only child her parents are fairly controlling and Lorraine pretty much toes the line. But Clint, her boyfriend of two years, is going away to college and plans a romantic evening for the two of them before he leaves. Sadly for this young girl, she finds herself pregnant. This is as far as I’ll take it without giving away the story. Suffice to say, Lorraine is tested to the utmost regarding the choices she has to make in her life.
Sadly, in the ‘60’s, too many girls were taken to homes for unwed girls and the outcomes weren’t always favourable, for the girls or their babies.
When I chose to read this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was drawn in right from the beginning! An excellent read that I couldn’t put down.
Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark Publishers for my digital advanced copy. And to Meagan Church for her poignant read!

Life in the 1960s was much different than today.17-year-old Lorraine is smart, kind, and has big dreams for her future. The boy she thinks loves her will turn his back and walk away from her when she reveals she is pregnant. Her parents are appalled, only seeing her through the eyes of their neighbors. Before anyone finds out, they send her away to home for unwed mothers. Lorraine will give her baby up for adoption and then come home with her reputation and theirs still intact.
Not only is she all alone, but she also has to navigate the changes occurring in her body with no guidance. I won’t say much more since I don’t want to give too much away. This is a super sad story that made me ache for these girls, while wanting karma to rain down on those who treated them so poorly. Did I wish it ended differently? Yes, but realistically, I knew that it wouldn’t.

So excited to have been a part of the ARC for this title!

Meagan Church's sophomore book The Girls We Sent Away is just as good, if not better than The Last Carolina Girl!

Lorraine Delford is a senior in high school and is on top of her game. She is on track to be the first female valedictorian of her school, has a great boyfriend, enjoys her job, and is part of a perfect family.... until she gets pregnant. To protect Lorraine's reputation her parents send her away to home for unwed teens. Lorraine has to learn how to navigate her new life, she struggles with rejection as she expects her boyfriend to support her and a desire to pursue her educational goals.

This book tackles a real emotion suffered by so many in 1960. Highly recommend you pick this one up!

Advanced Reader Copy Review:

This historical fiction novel covers the Baby Scope Era of the 1940s-1970s, set during the early 1960s. The book follows Lorraine, who is everything an all-American girl from the suburbs should be. Intelligent, funny, beautiful, and full of dreams. Once she finds herself pregnant and left alone, her parent decides to hide the family's shame and send her to her unwed mother's home. The book follows the physical and emotional toll these homes created for the girls that told them to bide their time and then move on with their lives as if nothing had happened—a great look at a topic that was not spoken about until recently.

Oh gosh, this book was very interesting and so I open and sad. I really enjoyed the storyline and thought it was well written. Will definitely keep you on your toes from start to finish four stars!

This is such a heartbreaking story of what happens in 1960s when unwed mothers get pregnant!!! This was Def eye opener and powerful read!

Please make sure to look at content before reading!

Good read and I liked the writing style!

Thanks NetGalkey fir allowing me to read snd review

This book was very good! I loved the vibe and the characters! I would definitely recommend and I’m excited to read other titles by this author!

In an era where some secrets were too big to keep hidden, girls were sent to maternity homes to have their children in secret. This book touches on the different impacts a teen pregnancy can have and it was a very interesting read.

This was not the typical genre I read but I was intrigued by the cover and the synopsis so I tried it out and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I felt so much anger for the main character and the situation they were put in because of the lust and carelessness of a teenage boy and the societal views on conceiving out of wedlock. I know it was a different time back then but I am glad that we are more informed and have changed some of our mindsets since. The way she barely had any autonomy over her own body was frustrating and hard to imagine too because it seemed like she was trapped no matter what she did and you knew as the reader that she should be making her own decisions to direct her life's path but everything was decided for her and no thought was given to what she actually wanted. The characters were pretty well rounded and I liked learning a bit about each person's perspective on the situation, I would check out more by this author!

This was an excellent book, which tells the story of a teen who is pregnant out of wedlock. I enjoyed the characters, and the setting was very realistic for the time period being written about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Girls We Sent Away" by Meagan Church is a surprising gem that defied my typical reading preferences. While the subject matter of the 1960s and a young woman's unexpected pregnancy isn't something I'd usually gravitate towards, the allure of Meagan Church's storytelling proved irresistible. And I'm grateful it did, as this novel delivered an unforgettable narrative that kept me engrossed from start to finish.

Lorraine Delford, the central character, emerges as an exceptionally likable protagonist. Church skillfully portrays her vulnerabilities, making it easy for readers to empathize with her plight. As Lorraine grapples with the harsh realities of societal judgment, familial shame, and the oppressive rules of a maternity home, the author weaves a narrative that is both heart-wrenching and compelling.

The depth of Lorraine's experiences is vividly captured, allowing readers to step into her shoes and feel the fear, humiliation, and betrayal she endures. The narrative skillfully navigates the emotional spectrum, from the secrecy of her pregnancy to the ultimate betrayal of those she trusted most. Church's ability to convey these emotions makes Lorraine's journey not only relatable but also a powerful catalyst for self-reflection.

"The Girls We Sent Away" is more than just a historical drama; it's a resonant exploration of the human spirit's resilience in the face of societal expectations. The pacing creates a compelling narrative that transcends its historical context, making it a timeless and relevant exploration of autonomy and belonging.

In conclusion, Meagan Church's novel is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. While I may not have picked up this book under ordinary circumstances, its gripping narrative, well-drawn characters, and exploration of timeless themes have left an indelible mark. "The Girls We Sent Away" is a remarkable read that challenges preconceived notions and engages readers in a thought-provoking journey through a turbulent period in history. I highly recommend that you get it preordered for the March 5, 2024 pub day!