While this is an important trial in our nation’s history, the writing did not grab me and I ultimately did not finish this book. I can understand why the author wrote the book in the way that she did but the first part of the book was filled with such depressing topics – miscarriage, suicide, murder – that it was a chore to get through. Then the lead up to the trial begins and I thought it might get more interesting and pick up. Alas, it did not. The story itself has promise and I was fascinated by the discussions between the townspeople regarding evolution vs. creationism. There’s so much information thrown in that it’s difficult to connect to any one character. This was just not for me.

In Dayton, Tennessee in 1925, Annabel finds herself with a front row seat to a landmark court case of The State of Tennessee vs Scopes. This case about the teaching of evolution in schools (so creation vs. evolution) is staged by some leaders of the town to draw attention and tourism to their fledgling village. But the media storm they get is more than they'd bargained for. Annabel's husband, George, is a lawyer for the defense, and as the trial goes on and Annabel offers to house a female journalist, Lottie. Annabel and George will find out if they are on the same side of the case, and other topics, or not.

The author describes this in the end notes as "The Awakening set during the Scopes monkey trial". I was so glad that this interesting premise turned out to be more than I'd hoped, and I ended up loving this book. Don't let the subpar title and cover put you off- this book is about an everyday Southern woman who becomes involved in an evolving time and her own growth from it. It is feminist historical fiction but also more than that. I loved (and hated) the characters but mostly after a slower start, I found this book unputdownable. This one is for lovers of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek or Susan Meissner books like The Nature of Fragile Things.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Author Lisa Grunwald weaves the story of fictional heroine Annabel Craig against the backdrop of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. Set in small-town Dayton, Tennessee, local high school teacher John Scopes was put on trial for violating Tennessee state law by teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Set against the trial with its big-name lawyers (William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow) is Annabel's story as a local woman who during the trial starts to question her Southern upbringing, the role of women, and her own marriage. In essence, readers are seeing Annabel's own evolution as the Scopes Trial continues to move forward.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig is a fascinating read into a part of history that many of us are not familiar. And while Annabel is a fictional character, I am sure that her thoughts and actions might have been reflective of women of that period as religion and social mores are put to a test.

A thank you to #NetGalley and #Random House for this ARC of #TheEvolutionofAnnabelCraig.

Though the premise intrigued me, I wish this book was marketed as literary fiction as that’s how it reads. Based on the cover, I was assuming I picked up a more lighthearted historical fiction novel, when in fact Annabel’s “evolution” lines up with the famous 1925 Scopes trial that debated traditional vs. modern American values of the time.

Annabel’s journey of self discovery that tests her faith coincides with an infamous trial in her hometown of Dayton, Tennessee, which questioned whether or not public schools should be teaching evolution in their science classrooms. Though the genesis of the trial was a farce to bring publicity and hopefully a monetary boon to the small town, it did the job as the ACLU financed the legal proceedings and William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow faced off to debate the topic. Annabel’s husband, who attended church only at the bequest of his wife, served as counsel on the defense with Darrow. His convictions that the Fundamentalists in town were “ignorant fools” only spurned the growing divide between the couple.

Annabel, the voice of reason in this tale, proves that most issues are not simply black and white, and approaching them as so will only cause further divide. Lisa Grunwald serves up a healthy debate seen through the eyes of the court and a community. Though it dragged a big through the middle, I was invested and needed to see how Annabel “evolved”.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and the author Lisa Grunwald for the advanced copy of the book. The Evolution of Annabel Craig is out now. All opinions are my own.

Annabel Craig lives in the small Tennessee town of Dayton where the John Scopes trial took place in 1925. Scopes was on trial for teaching evolution in his high school class rather than following the Biblical story. The trial was basically created to draw national attention to Dayton. Annabel Craig lived her whole life in Dayton even after tragically both parents died before she was 16. She met and fell in love with George who was a lawyer and she was thrilled by how intelligent he was. When the trial was coming to town, many people came to town to prepare for the trial including many reporters. Annabel had not been around people who thought differently than her and it opened up her mind to new views. The town became uprooted by the different people and views that came for the trial. The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald brought to life a story that may not be well known and her lovely writing enhanced the setting and the people. I thoroughly enjoyed the Evolution of Annabel Craig as I was transported to the town of Dayton in 1925.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Evolution of Annabel Craig.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald,
Lisa Grunwald has the unique skill of bringing historical periods to life as though they are the current events. The Evolution of Annabel Craig is no exception. Annabel is a happy, observant Methodist who prays on her knees every night. Born in 1910 and raised amid Prohibition and the infancy of the Women’s Movement, Annabel lives on a strawberry farm. While her family works the farm, her father runs it. As soon as the season is over, her mother travels the countryside teaching women how to preserver tomatoes. Annabel, her only child, goes along, and learns important lessons at her mother’s side. But Annabel’s parents succumb to the Spanish flu in 1918 and Annabel must leave her bucolic countryside. She moves to Dayton Tennessee, with the camera she inherited from her father. Along with a budding career in photography, she also meets and marries John Craig, a local lawyer who will go on to be part of the defense team, led by Clarence Darrow, of John Scopes.

The “Scopes Monkey Trial” didn’t put on trial the details of evolution, but the battle of science and faith. As I read, the parallels to the struggles of America in 2024 echo the struggle of 100 years earlier. We have had our pandemic and now we have polarized belief again centralized around science and reality against constructionists who believe that veering away from the literal interpretation of the Bible will be our ruin.
As a lawyer, I felt the lows and highs of the defense team, but I don’t think I needed that background to appreciate the complexity and fear Grunwald was able to instill in her wonderfully drawn characters. I cheered for Annabel along the way, as she more closely resembles the “liberal” that is so often eschewed today. She wants to understand, and she wants to make room for her beliefs. I hope you read it to see how she does.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House, for this review copy. The Evolution of Annabel Craig publishes on April. ,2024.

that background to appreciate the complexity and fear Grunwald was able to instill in

Perfect read for fans of historical fiction or women’s fiction. Lisa Grunwald tells a story of Annabel, a woman of faith, growing up and evolving.. This was my first novel read from Lisa Grunwald and I look forward to reading more.

The book takes place during the 1925 Scopes trial, pitting faith and science at odds. Although in the backdrop, the trial doesn’t overshadow the characters and their stories.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House publishing for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Annabel is a church going young woman who grows up in rural Tennessee on her family farm. When the Spanish flu epidemic leaves her orphaned at age 16, she figures out how to continue on her own… until she meets the charming lawyer George Craig and is protected again.

And then John Scopes is arrested in for teaching evolution and the chaos of the trial hit close to home. As George is part of the defense team, Annabel reckons with her faith and how she views science, but also realizes that there might be more to life than domestic duties. As the Scopes trial proceeds, so begins the “evolution” of Annabel and her hopes, dreams and desires.

This was such a lovely novel! I loved how the Scopes trial was the catalyst for a young woman to question her role in society and think progressively. Lottie, the childless single reporter was the perfect character to force Annabel to challenge her own beliefs. Sadly, a lot of what is explored in this novel is still relevant today, almost 100 years later, from book banning to censorship to restricting curriculum.

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse @atrandombooks for an early review copy.

I enjoyed the first part of this book but the middle got very religious heavy for me. I loved the author's first book but this was a miss for me.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald is certainly not what I expected. It is the story of a young woman coming of age. Granted, it was a little later than might be expected, but it happened. And it happened during the trial of John Scopes in one of the most notorious spectacles in the history of the United States. Her husband, George, was the first attorney hired as they were both from the same town. He got pushed and pushed further down as famous lawyers and orators from around the nation arrived to be involved. Then, through his own naivete, he was fired. For the second time he was destroyed and did he turn to his wife? No. He did not. This all precipitated her becoming a fully formed adult who could think for herself and not simply parrot her husband. Meanwhile, the trial is going on and it is a spectacle. She learns so much and meets so many people that think differently. It was a revelation.

Annabel had become an orphan when she was 16, her parents dying within weeks of one another of the Spanish flu. With help, she sold their things and moved into a boarding house in town and got a job. Things were not exciting but they were safe. Several years later she met George and it was all so romantic. She fell in love, too young to know any better. He was an up and rising lawyer. They were happy. His first big case was a murder case wherein a man came home and found his wife and her lover and killed her lover. George got him off with the excuse he was defending his property. He was elated and celebrated, as was she as his wife. Then things went horribly wrong and he took off, leaving her pregnant and alone. She lost the baby. Eventually he came back but he was different. The man she loved was gone. She was in the store when the Scopes idea was first formed by local men. She watched it happen and then watched it balloon. She took it all in. What a great character Grunwald has created, surrounded by the trial of the century, marginally involved. It was not at all what I expected from this book. We all know about the trial, it is Annabel we learn about. Grunwald has written a masterpiece here. She should be celebrated as much as Annabel. Thanks for a great read!

I was invited to read The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Random House Publishing-Random House. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingRandomHouse #LisaGrunwald #TheEvolutionOfAnnabelCraig

Excellent! This novel tells the story of the famous Scopes trial in Dayton, Tennessee through the lens of the wife of one of the defense lawyers. I learned a lot from this book, and it had much to say about the current political and social divisions plaguing America. The protagonist, Annabel, has grown up in East Tennessee and lost her parents at an early age. She falls in love and marries, George Craig, a lawyer who is asked to join the defense team of John Scopes. The combination of the story of the trial and of the Craig's relationship made for a powerful novel.

As a native East Tennesseean, I was impressed by the author's portrayal of the people of Dayton. (In fact, I was stunned to learn she was from New York/Connecticut at the end of the book.) The townspeople of Dayton are portrayed respectfully and in my opinion, accurately.. The author did a particularly good job of showing the innate welcoming, hospitable nature of this part of the country. One character, Mercy, demonstrated how East Tennesseans can disagree with everything someone else says and thinks...but still invite them over for dinner when they're going through a bad time. The author did a good job of showing how the movers and shakers of Dayton recruited John Scopes to let himself be charged with the "crime" of teaching evolution, just to bring attention and business to the town. This part of the story is not well known (or at least I didn't know this).

Annabels's story stood on its own. Her relationship with her husband devolves as he makes mistakes and struggles to recover. More interesting was her relationship with a female reporter, Lottie, who boarded with the Craigs during the trial. Scenes between them showed the beginnings of the feminist movement in America and what it meant in the real life world of small town women.

I enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.

Annabel, a very naive farm girl marries a young lawyer who gets involved in the Scopes trial in 1925. Very interesting time in American history and a subject that I knew nothing about. I learned so much and read as Annabel evolved along with the story! Definitely a 5 star read!

Set in 1925 during the Scopes Trial, this story gives a vivid account of what took place in Dayton, TN when teacher John Scopes pleaded guilty of teaching evolution to his high school class. This American legal case which pitted the Fundamentalists who believed everything was explained through the Bible against the Modernists who believed in the explanations of science brought national fame to Clarence Darrow, one of America’s most controversial defense attorneys and William Jennings Bryan, a popular Southern politician.

The story is told through the eyes of Annabel and George Craig, a fictional newly married young couple who maintained traditional roles in their marriage. When attorney George is selected to serve on the team with Mr. Darrow, the strains in their relationship begin to grow. While Annabel supports her husbands efforts, she starts to evaluate her happiness in their marriage and in her life in general.

Ms. Grunwald did incredible research for this book and I learned a lot about the events surrounding this historic trial. There was much detail about the religious aspect of the event which weighed me down a bit. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A stunning book….great characters, setting and story..inspired by actual testimony and events surrounding 1925 Scopes Evolution Trial. So impressed with this story, I checked out the library book A Photographic History of the Scopes Trial. Author notes at end were particularly interesting and informative. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheEvolutionaOfAnnabelCraig for advanced digital copy.

BOOK REVIEW: The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald
2024 Publication Date: April 16

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Best Women's Fiction Books
T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Best Historical Fiction
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
In the stirring tapestry of Lisa Grunwald's The Evolution of Annabel Craig, women readers are invited to weave through the complex emotional threads of Annabel Hayes' life as she grapples with the seismic shifts of love, loss, and belief against the backdrop of the electrifying 1925 Scopes Trial...

This compelling book earns a place on my Best Women Fiction Books, Best Historical Fiction Books and Best Book Club Book lists, as it masterfully entwines the personal and the political, prompting us to ponder the perennial struggle between tradition and progress... And navigating spiritual faith and science.

There is no doubt that the story elements and the primary characters will foster meaningful discussions in your book club.

From the traditional and simple conservative community of Dayton, Tennessee, the courtroom becomes tumultuous as local and national personalities clash ideologies with a fervor that echoes into our modern culture wars. Grunwald escorts us through a rich narrative that challenges both her heroine and her audience to re-examine the convictions we hold dear.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig is not just another book to add to your must read books list... It's an invitation — to witness the transformation of a woman who undertakes the arduous odyssey of self-discovery and emerges enlightened, empowered, and entirely unexpected.

In Annabel Hayes, Grunwald has created a heroine who is at once familiar and fresh... A woman of her time, yes — but also a woman for our time. As we journey with Annabel through the trials that shape her pilgrimage to personal truth, we are compelled by her struggles and internal conflicts... while being inspired by her resilience. Ultimately, we see ourselves in her humanity...

The writing is vivid with characters who are richly drawn and compelling. Be prepared... Lisa Grunwald does not shy away from writing fully dimensional characters who embrace and bring an expansive diversity of perspectives to the central story. I loved the courage in her writing... And was grateful to have the opportunity to walk in the shoes of each character's point of view.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig is both sweeping and intimate in its' storytelling... For Grunwald weaves a masterful tapestry amongst women's fiction novels that tells of one woman's quest to reconcile her desires with her beliefs... A journey that resonates well beyond its historical setting... Easefully building a bridge between the past and the present... ✨😎✨

Pages: 301
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-Genre: Women's Fiction Novels
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ N/A
Time Period: 1925
Location: Dayton, TN (US)
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
Movie: Inherit The Wind

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The Struggle Between Tradition and Progress... One of the central themes in this book is the tension between traditional beliefs and modern ideas. As Annabel navigates her own personal growth, she also grapples with the changing views of her community during the Scopes Trial... Explore the universal challenge of balancing tradition with progress in our own lives.
• The Power of Personal Evolution... Through Annabel's journey, we see the transformative power of self-discovery and growth. As she questions her beliefs and learns to think for herself, we witness her becoming empowered and enlightened... Explore what it means to embrace change and continuous growth in our own lives... And what consequences may unfold if we do or do not.
• The Complexities of Faith... This book reviews the complexities of faith and how it can be tested by real-life events and conflicting beliefs. Annabel's journey forces her to confront her own religious convictions and grapple with what she truly believes in... Explore the relationships between spirituality, religion, science and our personal beliefs.

BOOK QUOTE:
"God is big enough for your questions... " — The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

For the first three fourth’s of THE EVOLUTION OF ANNABEL CRAIG, I could not turn the pages fast enough! I became totally involved in Annabel’s story. Set in the town of Dayton, Tennassee, Annabel is left on her own after the death of both of her parents. I thought Grunwald did an excellent job of making this reader feel like I was “in the room” with Annabel as she finds a job at the Aqua Hotel, a love story with a young lawyer, George Craig, and Annabel’s worth as a woman with her friendship with reporter, Lottie and her next door neighbor.

I enjoyed both storylines about the trial and Annabel's growth as a photographer during the Scope’s trial. The polarizing of the community during the trial and after made me think about the polarizing in today’s political scene. I definitely saw this book as a book club possibility. I also liked the author’s references to Kate Chopin’s THE AWAKENING. I loved that small book about Edna’s journey. For me, the weak part of the story was after the trial. It seemed to drag. My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

This book is a well written and very interesting historical fiction that takes place in Dayton Tennessee in 1925. We follow Annabel Craig who grew up in this small town, she was educated and attended church here. Her parents died when she was 16 leaving her an orphan. Annabel meets George Craig and the two are married. He is a lawyer so he looks down on her and her small town way of thinking. As we will see as the book continues. The crux of the book follows the historical trial of John Scopes and religion verses education. Dayton being a town that takes pride in having strong faith in God is opposed to having evolution taught in school.
We meet some interesting characters and we learn a lot about how journalism can be informative but also can ruin a person. Annabel meets a female journalist that comes to town to cover this trial and Annabel is fascinated by Lottie's ambition and drive. It was not common for women of that time to want to have careers outside of the home and she sees Lottie in a unfamiliar role. She soon sees that Lottie is only concerned about her career even at the expense of others.
Annabel is also introduced to many scientists that make their way to town to defend science and the need for it to be taught in schools. She is interested in what they have to say and while it does not negate what she firmly believes about God it does open her eyes to another way of viewing the world.
I really appreciated the way this historical trial was written with respect to both sides without pushing any agenda. This is something that could have been very biased toward one side or the other and I felt it was very accurate for the time it was taking place and also tells a lot about how we are where we are today. There are a lot of hot topics that could bring about a lot of feelings but it was written so well that it doesn't point fingers of right or wrong.
In the end, Annabel must make a very difficult decision in her life and by examining her life as a child and her life during this trial with her husband, she finds the courage to do difficult things that most likely wouldn't have been looked on favorably at that time. It shows how her thinking evolved and she came out stronger for making decisions for herself not based on what other's felt was right.

I am so glad to have received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. These are my opinions alone.

Annabel Hayes grew up in a small conservative town in Tennessee. Her parents died when she was a teenager and she lived in a boarding house afterwards. She met, fell in love with and married George Craig, a local attorney. Someone is shot and a trial ensues. George is involved with the defense team. Both the defense and prosecution are lead by nationally known attorneys, creating quite a spectacle. A reporter comes to stay with Annabel and George while the trial is taking place, that is, until she writes a scathing article about George!
The female reporter encourages Annabel to demonstrate independence in her relationship with George. Keep in mind this is 1925 and the woman's role is very different than it is today.
This is an aspect of history that I was not aware of. It was an interesting story and I'm glad I read it. While we woman are not equal to men in many aspects, including pay, we have come a long way baby!

The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald was very well written. I loved Annabel’s writing style.
Her descriptions were so vivid that I felt as though I were in the scenes with her characters.
This was a complete journey of self-discovery.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is my second book by Lisa Grunwald. I enjoyed both of them. The Evolution of Annabel Craig tells the story of how a young wife in Tennessee finds her voice during the Scopes Trial of 1925. I like reading about this era very much. This book tells the story of a lawsuit over teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in the classroom. As I always do through reading historical fiction, I learned a great deal. After finishing, I wonder what events in today's news will seem old hat and even silly by future generations.