I enjoyed reading The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

Historical fiction blends with self-actualization in this novel set in Tennessee of the 1920s. Annabel Craig is a young woman growing up in sleepy Dayton Tennessee. She is married to a young, upcoming lawyer George Craig. Their marriage is undergoing a series of upheavals when George becomes part of the panel of defendant lawyers in the famous Scopes Trial. It was a fascinating peek into this little bit of history and the general public reaction of the time. As the trial progresses, Annabel's path crosses with a firecracker journalist called Lottie who forces Annabel to question her own life and aspirations. The author has done a good job of portraying the concept of evolution not just as it relates to the Origin of Species but also to a young woman trying to find her own way to happiness and contentment. Overall an easy entertaining read.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing and Lisa Grunwald for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this work of historical fiction that takes place in Dayton, TN, during the Scopes trial (1925), a test case over the right of the state to ban the teaching of evolution in schools. The main character is Annabel Craig, a young farm girl, orphaned at age 16 when her parents both died of the Spanish flu. At 20, she meets and marries a young lawyer whose career hits the big time when he is lucky enough to be part of the high school teacher John Scopes' defense team under Clarence Darrow.

Annabel is a strong character, pure of heart, but rather naive about the world at large. What she learns during the weeks of the trial, especially about her husband, sets in motion her own 'evolution.'

It's fascinating to see history come to life with all the famous participants, like Williams Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow and H. L. Mencken. But the fictional people, like Annabel and Lottie, the journalist from Chattanooga, TN, are equally enchanting. Loved listening to the arguments involving science and religion, both inside and outside the courtroom.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Dear Fellow Readers,

I am not a student of history. Dates and places for the most part do nothing for me. Perhaps that is my problem with historical fiction. To be honest and embarrass myself simultaneously, I was shocked when I learned that World War II ended in 1945. 1945 was not that long ago. Or more specifically, it wasn’t that long before I was born. When I see things about it, I always thought it was so long ago.

With that in mind, do you know what was happening in Dayton, Tennessee, in 1925? I would not have had any idea. Nor could I have told you much about it even if I knew the answer.


In her new book, The Evolution of Annabel Craig, Lisa Grunwald tells us the story of Annabel Hayes Craig. Annabel was raised by loving parents who died as part of the Spanish flu epidemic. At 16, Annabel was left on her own in her hometown of Dayton, Tennessee. She finished high school and started working. Then she met George Craig, a lawyer who had moved to Dayton from Knoxville. He was so loving and fun; she was completely in love. They married and things were fine for the first year. Yes, he might have had a few little quirks but doesn’t everyone? When they encountered some setbacks, the relationship hit an iceberg of problems.

It was 1925 and Annabell was in the back of the drugstore in Dayton having a soda and looking at the pictures she had developed when she overheard the big shot men of Dayton at one of the tables planning something. It seems there was a new law, the Butler Act, and they wanted there to be a court case to test the Act and they wanted it in Dayton to reap the publicity and any money that could be involved with the trial. They pulled in the new football coach, who had substituted teaching biology a few times. They told him they would pay any fines he received if he went on trial for teaching evolution. He agreed. So, John Scopes was arrested.

And that was how the Scopes Trial started.

The Butler Act prohibited teaching evolution in schools; only the Bible view was allowed. Dayton was a Bible town. For the most part people in town either went to the Baptist church or the Methodist-Episcopalian church. And they went every Sunday and knew their Bible. Wanting to go against the Butler Act was unacceptable.

The effect of this trial on the town and on Annabel’s life was significant. At the end of the trial, Annabel was only 23 years old, but she had learned more about her husband, town, and herself than most people in the town would ever learn.

Knowing just the absolute minimum about the Scopes Trial, I found it interesting. There was truly an evolution for Annabel. She was an interesting character, and I felt the author supplied historical information that was also interesting.

My only problem with the book was several instances where the author would hint about Annabel’s future life, but that future life was not in the book. I don’t know if she was paving the way for the next book, but I found it distracting.

But I did like the book. I would recommend it both for the story and the historical information. Annabel was a likable character. During her personal trials, I never wanted to yell at her for what she thought or did. She was a well-written character.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be published on April 16, 2024.

A fascinating look at a pivotal moment in 1920s America, as seen through the eyes of a woman reevaluating her own place in the world. The main character is wonderful, and the details of the trial and the social upheavals it brings are riveting. Highly recommended.

What a great read this is. Annabel, an orphan with no concept really of married life, is swept off her feet by George, a lawyer and at first is thrilled by their life, especially after he encourages to use her father's camera. But then George defends a man who murdered and things begin to go wrong, only to rebound when John Scopes (yes that Scopes) agrees to be charged with teaching evolution and George gets on the defense team. Grunwald does a terrific job with the characters from that historical trial- William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, HL Mencken- and adds a few, especially Lottie, a reporter who changes Annabel's life. This is as much about faith as it is about law and the conflicts the people in Dayton, Tennessee felt about the whole thing. And about the conflict between Annabel and George as they both begin to see one another differently. I knew the outcome of the Scopes trial but not, obviously, what would happen to Annabel, which made this a page turner for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Terrific storytelling.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald

Dayton, Tennesse. 1925. Science teacher John Scopes will go on trial for teaching Evolution in the classroom. Big wig attorneys Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan will lead the defense and prosecution. The little town of Dayton will be transformed, as will Annabel Craig, by the time the trial is over.

Obedient newlywed Annabel cooks and cleans for her husband. She truly loves him, but things don’t sit so well after George has a personal struggle. Enter journalist on assignment,Lottie Nelson, who hires Annabel to be her photographer. In the process, a new world opens to Annabel, and thus her evolution begins as well.

This story does a great job covering the Scopes trial and the growth of Annabel. It’s historical fiction at its best and I recommend it for any lover of this genre. Five stars from me for a slow start and race to the finish novel.

Let's start with the cover: I love the energy that it brings, from the color to the umbrella and the stride of a woman on a mission. I fell in love with the cover and found a wonderful story inside. The writing is upbeat, fast moving and descriptive of the era. The book is about the Scopes trial which makes interesting reading but is also about Annabel. Annabel has had a rough road. Orphaned as a teenager she became responsible for her own life. Her beliefs came from the Fundamentalist Church which she had belonged to with her parents. She was a good Christian and let that lead her in life. Her faith shines through the pages. The Scopes trial is meant to fight the law that evolution may not be taught in schools. (Similar to what is currently going on in schools.) The small town of Dayton is stretched by all the visitors. The energy in this book! Amazing! I enjoyed Annabel and I was able to picture her, the town and the commotion while reading this book. It felt like I was living it. I obtained a complimentary digital ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This review is in my own words.

Annabel Craig was born and raised in the conservative town of Dayton, TN - after she lost her parents at 16, she lived in a boardinghouse until she meets her much more worldly, sophisticated and modern thinking husband George, who is a lawyer from Knoxville. Their young marriage is already strained when Dayton becomes the epicenter of the 1925 culture wars when the Scopes Monkey Trial is held there. Newspeople, lawyers and famous preachers descend on the town while evolution is debated amongst the citizens. Neighbors are set against each other as fundamental beliefs are questioned - can science and religion co-exist? As Annabel’s narrow world is broadened, her beliefs about herself and what she can accomplish also expands.

I thought the choice to have the Scopes Monkey Trial as a backdrop (and based on our present day culture wars, I thought very appropriate) was interesting and smart. I think the book just didn’t fully grab me for two reasons (1) the characters remained more like 2 dimensional representations of ideas rather than real people (the churchgoer, the sassy independent woman, etc.) and (2) the story just didn’t engage me as much as I wanted it to. In the end I think I wanted to enjoy the book more than I actually did. I will always pick up Grunwald's books because I enjoyed her last two and the Irresistible Henry House is an all-time favorite of mine, but this one fell a bit flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and and Random House for the ARC to review

3.5 stars

THE EVOLUTION OF ANNABEL CRAIG by Lisa Grunwald is a fascinating and moving historical novel set in the small conservative town of Dayton, Tennessee. Annabel Hayes was born and raised in Dayton, and where she also lost both her parents as a young woman. Annabel is later swept off her feet by George Craig, an attorney who has just arrived from Knoxville and they soon marry. But the bliss of their marriage is cut short after a tragic loss, closely followed by George becoming involved in the infamous 1925 Scopes (Monkey) trial. John T. Scopes agrees to be arrested for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution at the high school in defiance of the Butler Act that prohibited teaching the controversial subject matter. Soon the battle of religion vs. science rages in Dayton, causing a media frenzy and open conflicts between neighbors, family and friends. The spectacle of the trial comes to involve renowned politicians, attorneys and preachers on both sides. With George joining the defense team, Annabel is forced to question everything about her beliefs as well as her marriage. I love when a book allows me to learn about an event in history with which I was previously unfamiliar. The author blends fact and fiction perfectly to create an engrossing and timely story. I enjoyed this thought-provoking and compelling book and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. The historical fiction part of the scopes trial, set alongside the changing character of a southern women finding herself, both in a changing world, was a great way to make this an interesting and entertaining novel.

In The Evolution of Annabel Craig, author Lisa Grunwald's title character lives through the Scopes trial in her hometown of Dayton, Tennessee. Raised a Christian, Annabel hardly remembers learning about evolution in her high school biology class. Her lawyer husband is only too happy to work for the defense, causing a rift between Annabel and their Christian neighbors, as well as between Annabel and her husband. But through witnessing the trial (and taking photographs of it for a friendly female reporter), Annabel begins to discover something about her faith, her marriage, and herself.

This novel doesn't take the viewpoint that one way is right and the other is wrong, but instead shows us the importance of thinking for oneself. We are once again in a time when the government wants to control what is being taught in public schools, putting a strain on neighbor relations and turning teachers into the bad guys. The Scopes trial is where it all started.

I remember learning about the Scopes trial in school and watching Inherit the Wind. This historical novel gives even more background into the town where the trial was held and tries to provide more accuracy to the trial than what was reported in the newspapers back in the 1920s. I enjoyed reading the author's afterword, which gave more historical context.

The Evolution of Annabel Craig is published by Random House and will be available to purchase tomorrow! I received a free ARC.

This has a fresh, feminine take on the Scopes trial from the viewpoint of a young woman who lives in Dayton, Tennessee, and it's really well done. Annabel is a great character who is open-minded but is being exposed to a lot of experiences and ideas for the first time in her small town, and while she's not moldable, she is being challenged and changing. The tone of this is so easy to read, despite clear research from the author.

Annabel Craig is the plucky, strong young woman whose foundation is rocked when her small town elects to be the center of the Scopes trial challenging a law forbidding teaching evolution to schoolchildren. Faith challenges science on personal, community, and national levels as the heavyweights in politics, science, and religion face off in this compelling imagining of how it might have been to live through the trial intended to bring attention and money to the tiny Tennessee town of Dayton and its people. Annabel was a fascinating character, with a place at the center of the storm that defies all the people and truths she has known to be reliable fact. My only issue is that I felt there was more to the story, that there were moments of incredible beauty and insight that were never fully developed and shared on the page--so I keenly missed something that might not have been there. This does not diminish the experience of reading the story, but does limit its power and ability to probe deeper for answers, for questions the reader wants to answer. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

It’s been long enough since I requested the galley of The Evolution of Annabel Craig that, by the time I started reading it, I’d forgotten what it was actually about, if I ever knew. While the cover suggests a story about a plucky photographer in the 20s, it was only once I started reading and saw the name “John Scopes” did I remember (or maybe learn for the first time) that it’s a fictionalized retelling of the Scopes monkey trial. The story is told through the perspective of a young woman from Dayton, Tennessee, where the trial takes place, and based on the true history that town leaders cooked up a challenge to Tennessee’s Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools, in order to drum up business for the town. Lisa Grunwald’s book, like the trial itself, features no less a titan of journalism than HL Mencken, alongside conservative hero William Jennings Bryan, as characters interacting with and observing the townspeople of Dayton.

The story is told through the eyes and lens of young Annabel, recently married and struggling to reconcile her strong faith with her husband George’s agnosticism, who is swept up in the trial when she agrees to host Lottie, an enterprising journalist from the Chattanooga Times. Lottie, Mencken, and George, a minor member of Scopes’ defense team, can hardly keep their disdain for Dayton’s population of believers, seeing them as backwards and ignorant. Annabel desperately wants to believe that what she was taught growing up - to take the word of the Bible as true - and fears what will happen to her place in her community as George makes it increasingly clear he sees her and the whole town as beneath him.

The story follows how both Annabel’s beliefs and her marriage are challenged and changed by trial, how a society that relied so much on religion can begin to make room for science and modernity as well. The book is loosely based on, or at least inspired by, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and has strong themes of feminism as it confronts the expectation of Annabel to be an obedient wife and mother, and her growing desire to be independent and have a life of her own choosing.

I applaud Lisa Grunwald’s success in making the historical retelling and the fictional narrative equally compelling. Neither I nor the author may have much in common with Annsbel, but Grunwald writes her with deep empathy that makes her fears and frustrations palpable and her final revelatory decision all the more powerful. Neither the extreme defenders of evolution nor its extreme opponents come off as well, without the same level of nuance Annabel is granted. Still, it’s an interesting and entertaining window into an important and increasingly again relevant moment in American history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a pleasant surprise this book is! I truly enjoyed the character and her growth. I loved how we watched her change, evolve and grow throughout the book. She learned to be true to herself and her opinions. I loved the historical aspect of this book. It was well researched and told in an engaging and fun way. The details of the Scopes Trial and how a town, individuals and a country were impacted. The characters never felt forced or unrealistic- but quite the opposite! They were fascinating, their opinions, challenges and experiences were all incredible to witness. I flew through this book - highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

"Until that summer, I had never questioned a miracle, witnessed a gunfight, or seen a dead body. I had never met an agnostic, a scientist, or a Jew . I had thought I knew exactly what I wanted and what I didn’t. Before the summer was over, all that and much more would change."

Thus begins the fictional account of Annabel Craig, nee Hayes, an eyewitness to the infamous "Scopes monkey trial" in the blazingly hot summer of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee.

Annabel has been married to George Craig for less than a year when they face big losses, which they find unable to share. So when the town leaders of Dayton convince John Snopes to be arrested for teaching evolution at the local high school in direct violation of a new Tennessee law. she happens to be sitting in the drugstore and witnesses the beginning of one of the most famous trials of the early 20th century..

George is excited to be part of the trial and volunteers to defend Scopes, but the newly formed ACLU chooses Clarence Darrow to lead the case and William Jennings Bryan is persuaded to lead the prosecution. Thus begins a long, hot, drawn-out trial, putting two of the most famous men in America in direct contrast. As a prominent local lawyer, George is drafted to the defense team and can hardly contain his excitement at the chance to meet and work with Darrow.

With crowds heading to town to witness this showdown, the local hotels are soon out of space an locals are encouraged to rent out their spare rooms. So an enterprising female reporter Lottie Nelson from the Chattanooga News. Lottie becomes more like a member of the family to such an extent that no one watches what they say in front of her, until she publishes a piece quoting George and he gets thrown off the defense team.

From there, things go downhill for the Craigs and their marriage. Craig has withdrawn and disappeared once before when he faced a tragedy, but Annabel took him back and things seemed normal again. But this is different and Annabel soon realizes that she is different, too, and that George may not be her destiny after all.

This is my first book by Grunwald, and it won't be my last. Historical Fiction at it's best has me reading how much of this is real. In her afterward, Grunwald gives us some idea of how much was taken from articles at the time. The book is about the Scopes trail, so if course I had to Google what would actually happen. It is 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee and Annabelle Craig has lived her whole life there. She wholly believes in the Bible, as do most of the citizens. Her husband George
has had some rough spots,but when his law firm is chosen to represent John Scopes in his trail for teaching evolution, she is confused. Then Clarence Darrow shows up and George must work with him. I never knew the historical set up for this trail, but Grunwald does a great job of showing how Annabelle changes from an innocent wife to a more aware woman. H.L. Mencken and William Jennings Bryan, along with Darrow are really brought to life.
This book is quite timely, as the fight between religion and science is heating up again. To hear the arguments between fundamentalist Bryan, and science supporting Darrow brings to mind the anti science anti-vaxxers of today.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC of this book. This is my honest review and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

If there is one way to get me to enjoy a book it is to make me feel I am at a coffee shop, and the main character is telling me a story about this period in her life.

We follow Annabel Craig who is 25 years old and loses both her parents to the flu epidemic of 1918.

She falls in love with George Craig a lawyer from Louisville, Kentucky who sweeps her off her feet.


This book takes a deep dive into the Scopes Evolution case in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee. When a local professor is accused of teaching Evolution to students after it has been banned by the state, her husband takes on the case.

We see Annabel question her marriage, her beliefs, and her sense of belonging.

Some parts of this book fell short for me other than that, I enjoyed this book. 3.75 stars rounded to 4.

This book grabbed me from the first chapter and I kept turning pages until I had read the whole thing in one day. Great characters, an intriguing premise, and recognizable historical figures made this an enthralling read. The internal and external struggles of the main character personalized both sides of the issues associated with the famous Scopes trials. Like all well written historical fiction it inspired me to take a deeper dive into the Scopes trials to determine what was fact and what was fiction. Most of my knowledge of the Scopes trials had come from watching the "Inherit the Wind" movie in the 1960s. Fortunately, in the afterward, Lisa Grunwald does a great job of delineating between fact and fiction. Highly recommended

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for an advanced reader copy.