Takes place in North Carolina in the 1960’s. Lorraine, an only child to parents who have very high expectations of her in regards to her choices, as well as her academic success. Her long-standing boyfriend looked promising as he declared his love for her… only to completely let her down when she ended up unexpectedly pregnant with his baby. She then found herself alone. Once her parents were made aware of the circumstances, they quickly sought out means of finding her a group home for unwed pregnant girls. That is where she ended up… far away from home, where nobody knew her.

I don’t want to completely give away the story. I found it to be both captivating and heartbreaking. It had my undivided attention from start to finish. The secrets and Lorraine’s steadfast determination made this novel one that I could not put down. I highly recommend it!

I want to thank RB Media for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This is my first book by Meagan Church. I look forward to reading more of her work.

★ 5 Stars ★
I usually stick to reading thrillers, but now and then, I like to explore different genres. Recently, I read "The Girls We Sent Away," which is a powerful and emotional story. It’s a reminder of how much women's rights have improved over the years. However, it's a story that requires a box of tissues by your side!

The book is set in the 1960s and follows the story of Lorraine, who becomes pregnant as a teenager. Her boyfriend abandons her, and her parents are angry and ashamed. They send her to a home for wayward girls, where she is expected to deliver the baby and put it up for adoption. And she is expected to keep all of this a secret.

Before her pregnancy, Lorraine was on track to become the first female valedictorian at her school. She had big dreams and wanted to be the first woman in space. However, the pregnancy changed everything.

The home she is sent to is terrible, but the author's writing is excellent. Meagan Church created authentic and realistic characters that made me feel like I knew them. Although this is a work of fiction, it made me think about all the girls who experienced this in real life. I’ll be reading more by this exceptional author!

Sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and RB Media for providing this book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

#TheGirlsWeSentAway #NetGalley #MeaganChurch #SourcebooksLandmark #RBMedia #HistoricalFiction #WaywardGirls #UnplannedPregnancy #justfinished #ARC #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer

The Girls We Sent Away is not a lighthearted read. It is poignant, well written and explores the reality of life for white women in 1960s in the US.

I really enjoyed how Church didn’t pull punches with the push and pull of emerging feminism. As the librarian tries to offer the main character a different path, it was, nonetheless, another indictment of the either/or dichotomy of feminism at that time.

My only reservation about granting this five full stars is the distant narrative throughout. It kept me from fully engaging at times. So I rate this 4 ⭐️s.

Name of Book: The Girls We Sent Away
Author: Meagan Church
Narrator: Susan Bennett
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: RB Media
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
My Rating: 4.3
Pages: 352

It is the summer of 1964; Lorraine Delford is a lifeguard for the summer- the one only female to claim this position. Story opens with her saving the life a little girl who wandered too far into deep water while her dad hadn’t noticed. Yes our gal proves she is very capable in whatever she decides to do. She will be a senior in High School and on track to be the first female Valedictorian. She wants to study science in college and be an astronaut - the first female to go to the moon.
Her boyfriend Clint is a year older and heading off to college. They have dated for some time and figure they will marry after college. He is well like by her parents until Lorraine get pregnant. At first Clint cannot believe it as they were intimate only once. He then states they will get married however once back on campus he changes his mind.

Story covers Lorraine experience in the unwed Mother’s Home; her relationships with the other girls; meeting a Librarian who turned out to be a life-line.

Lorraine believes she has no choice but to do what everyone tells her what she should do.
Her parents are ashamed and tell her she has only one option.


I have two adopted daughter and thankfully things were different at that time we adopted.
I do know that giving up your baby has always been extreme painful.
I am somewhat familiar with some of the laws regarding adoptions and was surprised that Lorraine didn’t do research on her own and took the word of the adults who weren’t always telling her the truth.

I just love Lorraine and yes her story is an emotional read with heartbreaking moments that kept me in glued.

My first Meagan Church and I definitely will read another!

Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media for this early Audiobook..
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 5, 2024.

A heartbreaking story about unwed mothers in a “Maternity Home”
I listened to the Audiobook version of this story. Wonderfully narrated by Susan Bennett. She executed all of the voices perfectly. I did notice some voice over/editing issue in the last chapter. Hopefully it will be corrected for final release on March 5, 2024.
This book took me by surprise. I couldn’t pull my thoughts from this story. I know this is a work of fiction but it has a real feel to it.
I am glad that we have changed as a society where these types of “mistakes” are no longer viewed as shameful or mistakes.
This story is captivating. TRIGGER WARNING some mention of SA.

Having read several books with the topic of pregnancy and being sent away for the duration, I wasn’t sure how I would feel reading this one. The idea of the girl being well educated and trying to continue was a nice addition t9 her journey. The cover of the book made me think it would be a little darker than it is, so grab this one even if you don’t love the jacket. Partner this one with ‘23 release Looking For Jane. Thanks for the ARC copy from NetGalley.

What a wonderfully written book. I had the opportunity to listen to “The Girls We Sent Away” audiobook. This is a story that takes place in the 1960s.. Lorraine is a senior in high school looking forward to college. She has a great boyfriend and is a member of a highly respected family.
She finds out she is pregnant and we are taken for an emotional roller coaster.

This is an emotional book that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author and narrator did a wonderful job making me feel like I was living in the 1960s along with the characters. I think this is a must read for women’s fiction fans.

I would like to thank RB Media and NetGalley for the audiobook copy and the opportunity to provide N honest review.

The Girls We Sent Away, is a historical fiction book written by Meagan Church set in the 1960’s. Lorraine is an incoming high school senior who seems to have it all. She is working as a lifeguard for the summer, spending time with her boyfriend, and enjoying looking at the stars. But when she becomes pregnant, her dreams of being homecoming queen and valedictorian are shattered. She can no longer attend school, and is sent to a maternity home where she must stay until after having her baby. But the experiences she has at the home make her question herself, her future, and her family.
This was my first book by this author, but definitely won’t be my last! I love how she made this important time in history come to life, and I feel like I learned along with Lorraine through the relationships and friendships she develops throughout the book. Definitely recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Upon reading what this book was about, I instantly knew I wanted to read it. My heart breaks for the girls that went through this time period. My mother was also an unwed teenage mother and I am so thankful that she was not forced to give me away.

That being said, I feel like there could have been so much more depth to this book. Most of it was very slow and predictable from the first mention of some characters.

I would have liked to have seen more about the home and what happened to it following this time period.

Thank you, netgalley, for the arc of this book.

This is a powerful, meaningful and historic novel that begs to be devoured in one sitting. Lorraine is a energetic, vivacious, intelligent 17-year-okd girl who is planning to start her senior year off strong and graduate as the first female valedictorian of her school. Lorraine has been taught to dream and she she also wants to go to college, in this 1950s-1960s era novel where girls rarely get that chance... but that's not all Lorraine aspires for. She wants to travel to the moon and be the first female astronaut. Lorraine has an idyllic life. Loving parents, she's a daddy's girl through and through and she dating a respectable young man that her parents approve of. In August, before her boyfriend, Clint, leaves for college, she saves a drowning young girl at the town pool where she's the lifeguard. The next day still reeling from her close call, her and Clint make a decision that changes Lorraine's life forever.

Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I think this is a story that begs to be told. I really enjoyed it and finished it all within 24 hours. The narrator was perfect and the story is actually very timely because it investigates the concept female autonomy in making decisions about their reproductive health. That's a hot topic these days, but it was delivered beautifully in this throwback that begs the question, is it our right to choose? How old do we have to be to be allowed to choose life? It also hits on issues of abuse, shame, guilt, and remorse that so-called 'wayward' woman endure. And the whims of the adults that get to make the life-altering decisions for these young women. Solid 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Girls We Sent Away
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed the book. It was sad how the times were back then. I loved the characters, except for her parents. LOL
I love her strong spirt & how she doesn't give up!!
Thank you NetGallery!

This was one of those audiobooks I binged in a couple days and will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah and Lessons in Chemistry. The narrator did a great job of differentiating characters and keeping the flow of narration. Lorraine's story was both heartbreaking and compelling, but I did feel like she was shown as naive which didn't necessarily jive with her intelligence. I wasn't too familiar about the plight of young pregnant women during that era and it was equal parts frustrating and fascinating and made me grateful for not living in that era. The author did a great job with the omniscient point of view (heavily focused on Lorraine) and gave it an old fashioned "yarn-spun" vibe. My main issues with this book were I felt the feminist points could have been expanded on more (like Lessons in Chemistry) and Lorraine's story felt too abrupt. The way the story was going, it felt like we'd go further into her future and I ultimately felt unsatisfied.

Oh this story is so beautifully tragic. It’s so heartbreaking and eye opening to hear stories about how pregnancy prior to marriage used to (and still sometimes today) is viewed and how those girls/women get treated by family, friends and society.

Loraine, a high school student on track for Valedictorian, gets pregnant out of wedlock by her boyfriend who is away at college. When he wants nothing to do with her or the baby, her parents send her to a home that will “help her” get back to normal and find a home for the child. She meets many other girls in similar situations while there.

I absolutely hated the head house woman. The manipulation, fear inducing, self righteousness. I hate that young women have had to go through this reality and a decision they weren’t sure of was forced upon them.

Thank you for the ALC for my honest review.

Lorraine is a high school senior who has it all until she finds herself pregnant and at a home for unwed mothers. The book takes us on an emotional journey as Lorraine navigates her new relationships and life with the other girls in the home and her parents after the baby is born. A touching and engaging story about relationships and growth. This is my first Meagan Church book and I am looking forward to reading The Last Carolina Girls.

For Lorraine Delford, growing up in the 1960s is not as easy as others her age think. From the outside, she has it all: a picturesque family, a perfect boyfriend and good grades. But she dreams of more: she wants to be the first female valedictorian of her class and then continue onto college. Lorraine dreams of the stars and exploring outer space. But when she becomes pregnant, her entire world around her is shattered. Her parents force her to stay hidden in their home before eventually sending her to a maternity home for wayward girls. Lorraine is forced to reevaluate her plan for the future and fight against a society that wants to take her baby from her.

I can’t recall ever reading a book that left me SO angry at almost every single character! The way Lorraine was treated by everyone was truly heartbreaking. How her family - especially her mother - could send her away at a time when she needed them more than ever left me feeling so hopeless that I only hope we as a society do better for our daughters now. It’s scary to think that this story took place during a time that my mother was growing up in - that women had nearly no say in their futures and were forced to live in shame over something that they didn’t do alone.

This is the second book I have read by Megan Church and I truly admire how she isn’t afraid to tell these stories and speak for the people who couldn’t speak for themselves. She crafts truly resilient, tenacious, unforgettable characters like Lorraine, who will stay with me for a long time. Susan Bennett narrated this story and perfectly brought Lorraine to life.

Thank you to Netgalley, Megan Church, Sourcebooks Landmark and RB Media for the ARC/ALC. “The Girls We Sent Away” releases March 5, 2024.

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

The Girls We Sent Away is a good book on a difficult topic. Susan Bennett did a great job narrating this book.

Lorraine is about to enter her senior year of high school and she is a girl with a future. Her goals are set high and she is willing to do the work. She seems to have everything going her way including a nice boyfriend that seems crazy about her. Then due to decisions made under pressure one night with her boyfriend, her life is changed forever.

All of the people that seemed to love her, no longer stand by her. Why is that? They disappear and act like she is horrible. What? So Lorraine sets out to do what she has to do alone. Where did all of the love surrounding her go? She needs the people that love her now more then ever.

The sad thing is this story still happens today. And that makes me mad. Why do we not spend more time explaining what can happen in a weak moment to all of our girls and boys. Why do we not raise boys to be responsible for their actions. Why is this still going on? We need to stop this forever. It has amazed me as I age and count up nine months, how often the math does not work. We need to love each other tight when this happens and be understanding..

This author's debut of THE LAST CAROLINA GIRL was one of my favorites. I adored that book and this one is my new favorite by this author. This book will take you through the time when females had very little or no say in what happened to them and their lives if they got pregnant. They had to bear the shame no matter what if they were pregnant outside of marriage. Men could just go right on with their lives and do whatever they choose. No rules. No punishment. No shame.

Lorraine was a typical seventeen year old child back in the early 1960s. She was an only child and seemed to be the apple of her dad's eye. Her mom was a bit stricter in that she would call Lorraine on every little thing dealing with decency. How dare Lorraine let her swimsuit strap fall off her shoulder. Too much skin showing. Good grief.

Lorraine was on track to be valedictorian of her high school that year. She had plans to go to college. She wanted to be someone who left her mark on the world. She loved anything to do with space and wanted to fly to the moon one day. All of that was dashed when she found herself pregnant after just one time with her boyfriend. Her friend for almost her whole life. Lorraine and Clint had known each other forever and been dating for two years. But Clint had other plans and that did not include being a husband or father.

You get to know exactly what Lorraine went through at home and at the home for unwed mothers. All the hurt and pain she feels. All the fears she experiences. How her heart broke because no one seemed to care. Not Clint or her parents. No one at this awful home either. The librarian was nice to her and tried to help her get her GED. She seemed like a good friend who cared. Until it was time. Until Lorraine went into labor. Then she was on her own. The descriptions of what Lorraine felt in the delivery room felt so real. The way she hurt over losing her baby. Not being able to keep that child almost did her in. I felt her pain so deep. It made me weep.

This book is filled with emotions. You feel it. I didn't like Lorraine's parents. I hated Clint. I adored Alan. I hoped that Lorraine's mother was going to be there but I didn't feel it. After all was said and done it was still about appearances for her.

Do not miss the author's notes at the end. They are perfect. They give a lot of insight into this book and how it came to be. Being a mother is a hard job but it's a fulfilling one also. If that is what you're ready for. No woman should ever be forced into having a baby or giving one up. That is just wrong. It should be her choice. Her decision.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MeaganChurch, #SourcebookLandmark, #RBMedia for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

FIVE huge stars and the highest recommendation.

A moving tale of the 60s where things were handled differently when a girl got into trouble. It’s the story of how survival in that time was a struggle, and how the double standards between the sexes, the generations and the circumstances changed the world for the girls. They were absolutely mistreated and the story needs to be read, and then read again. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Utterly heartbreaking, I can already tell this is going to be a book I think about for a long time. Lorraine is faced with an impossible choice when everyone she has trusted and loved her entire life fail her when she needs them most.

We get to watch this protagonist rethink how she defines strength and finds promise in the future. Lorraine is the type of girl you can't help but root for and watching her face these struggles underlined that we are all capable so much more than anyone thinks.

A story filled with love, disappointment, and a resentment of the systems that perpetuate shame culture, The Girls We Sent Away will be a perfect read for anyone who loves historical fiction and complicated heroines.

This was such a heartbreaking story. I kept thinking back to the show Long Lost Family on TLC while listening to this at it reminded me of places often described by mothers who had been separated from their children. I appreciated the inside look into an experience that was almost like a widespread secret during that time.

The narrator does a great job at invoking the emotions of the different characters. I felt the desperation, the confusion, and the hope of the main character as she evolved from naive teen to grieving mother. The scene at the end with Lorraine and her mother was so moving.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for this audio arc in exchange for an honest review!