Wayward Girls by New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs is a poignant and deeply moving novel inspired by true events, set against the backdrop of 1960s Buffalo, New York. Wiggs crafts a dual-timeline narrative that delves into the lives of six young women confined to the notorious Catholic reform school, Good Shepherd. Their stories weave a haunting tapestry of survival, friendship, and redemption in the shadow of systemic oppression.

In 1968, Mairin, Angela, Helen, Odessa, Denise, and Janice find themselves sent to the Good Shepherd, each for reasons that echo the societal injustices of the era. Mairin, spirited and defiant, is placed there by a mother who seeks to protect her from a predatory stepfather. Angela, condemned for her attraction to girls, suffers devastating abuse. Helen, the daughter of intellectuals imprisoned in Communist China, endures an indefinite stay. Odessa’s strength is tested after she’s swept into a racial incident, while Denise dreams of escape and a brighter future. Janice wrestles with insecurity and loyalty, particularly toward her friend Kay, whose childlike dependence defines her.

Through richly developed characters, Wiggs unveils the harsh realities of Good Shepherd—a place where the nuns’ rigid control often masked cruelty. Yet, amid the oppressive environment, these young women forge bonds of solidarity, finding resilience and moments of hope. Their journeys unfold with complexity and depth, capturing the fierce determination to reclaim their lives and demand justice.

Told in dual timelines, Wayward Girls not only follows their harrowing experiences at Good Shepherd but also their futures, as the women confront the scars of their pasts and fight for the truth to come to light. Wiggs’ evocative prose brings the era to life, shedding light on the systemic challenges faced by women deemed “unruly” for simply defying societal norms.

Fans of Before We Were Yours, Orphan Train, and The Berry Pickers will find much to admire in this masterful blend of historical fiction and heartfelt storytelling. Wayward Girls is a celebration of courage, sisterhood, friendship and the unyielding strength of the human spirit.

#WaywardGirls #SusanWiggs #HistoricalFiction #SistersOfCharity #DualTimeline

This was such a powerful story of friendship and survival. The writing was spectacular and really brought out so many emotions as I was reading. I did not want to put this book down and wanted redemption for all of these girls. I highly recommend this book!

Great story! Susan develops her characters from young adults to mature, aged adults. The story follows6 girls during their stay at the Good Shepherd, an institution controlled by Sisters of Charity. The story shows the girls strength, maturity, and hope for their future.

A great read. I loved all of the characters and the dual timeline. The storyline felt very complete and rounded out.

This was a wonderful story; powerful and full of questions you will ask yourself about how women have been treated in history. Susan Wiggs is one of my go to authors and I highly recommend this book.

A powerful must read. In these days of fighting for women’s rights. A look at the horrendous treatment of girls at the hands of the Catholic Church. The terrible treatment of women who had children outside of marriage. Some of this is still going on and we must be ever a where if the need to protect our rights.

When your parents always threatened to send you to the Nuns to straighten you up they weren’t kidding!!
I am not a 5 star reviewer however this is one book I would have given 10 stars to! I found myself cheering for these girls and crying for these girls in the situations they had to endure.
The year is 1968 and for circumstances beyond their control 6 young teens are sent off to the nuns. Unbeknownst to many the nuns not only ran a tight ship they also ran Magdalene Laundries. The Catholic Church ran this laundry service to help “Wayward Girls “. The story is fiction however it’s based on actual events of abuse and forced labor.
Mairin was sent to the nuns to keep her safe from her abusive step- father and their was no stopping the fiery redhead from trying to escape no matter what the abuse was from the Nuns when she got caught over & over again.
Suddenly 50 years later the group discovers that they are survivors and form an alliance to fight for what was taken from them.

When your parents always threatened to send you to the Nuns to straighten you up they weren’t kidding!!
I am not a 5 star reviewer however this is one book I would have given 10 stars to! I found myself cheering for these girls and crying for these girls in the situations they had to endure.
The year is 1968 and for circumstances beyond their control 6 young teens are sent off to the nuns. Unbeknownst to many the nuns not only ran a tight ship they also ran Magdalene Laundries. The Catholic Church ran this laundry service to help “Wayward Girls “. The story is fiction however it’s based on actual events of abuse and forced labor.
Mairin was sent to the nuns to keep her safe from her abusive step- father and their was no stopping the fiery redhead from trying to escape no matter what the abuse was from the Nuns when she got caught over & over again.
Suddenly 50 years later the group discovers that they are survivors and form an alliance to fight for what was taken from them.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

This was a wonderfully done novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from Susan Wiggs the overall feel worked with the genre. I enjoyed the overall feel and thought it worked with the characters being told. I was invested in what was happening and glad I read this.

Susan Wiggs is an auto buy author for me. I just finished her latest book, Wayward Girls, and it was a five star read.

Very satisfying read. I always wanted to know what happened next to the well written characters and I learned a little bit more about the horrifying baby selling scandals that grew out of the Magdalene Laundries. Made me want to delve deeper into the history. Loved the feisty head protagonist.

Wow, what a great book in a topic I was not familiar with—Magdalene Laundries. These Laundries were facilities that were run by the Catholic Church, ostensibly to help “wayward girls.” In reality they were often filled with profound abuses and forced labor to the young women who had done nothing wrong. The practice started in Ireland and spread to the US where nearly 40 were in existence.

Though the characters in Wayward Girls, by Susan Wiggs were fictional, the experiences were based on fact.

When the books begins, the year is 1968 and we are introduced to a handful of young women, but the main narrator is Marion, a fiery redhead who is not afraid to fight back. She is sent to the Good Shepherd to keep her away from her ill intentioned stepfather. Other characters are placed there for the “sin” of being gay, for being involved in a protest, for being bounced around from foster homes and more. The story is fascinating and while the bulk of the plot takes place in the Good Shepherd Laundry, eventually the timeline changes to the present day and we see some of the women currently. A well written, thoughtful story that has left me deep in contemplation about the injustices perpetrated among these young women. A define recommend on Wayward Girls.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Wayward girls is a surprisingly cozy look at the practice of holding so-called delinquent teenage girls in religious-based institutions in the late sixties early seventies. It's a surprisingly cozy read with a very heroic heroine and a solid supporting cast. It would honestly be perfect for anyone looking to start delving into the ways women were wronged in the late 20th century

Susan Wings did not disappoint in writing this book. This was a five star book for me. There were times I wanted to cry, there were times I was angry, and there were times I celebrated. I felt the emotions at times with the characters in this book, the struggles. Some of the things that were portrayed were during a time when I was growing up and I just couldn't imagine this being my life. I recommend this book highly to other readers.,put this in your to read pile, put it in your read next pile. Thank you Susan, it's hard to say I loved it because of the context of the book, but I loved it.

When Patti Callahan Henry suggests a book you jump. And boy am I glad I read this! It was so beautifully written and such a wonderful story.

This was a GREAT book and I so admired the main character for what she went through and her strength and tenacity.

The comradery of the group that tried to escape and the joy you felt when they reunited was palpable. And I loved that not all of them escaped successfully, and the realism of one of the girls going into the order herself.

This book really made me think about what that generation of women were confronted with....the lack of sexual education, what they were led to believe, the hold of the Catholic church on so many of them...it's amazing how far the world has come today and how lucky we are to have access to information that older women just didn't have. I plan to read up on the history of the Magdalene laundries because it fascinated me.

I have read books about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland but had no idea that they also existed in the United States. This book was a real eye-opener for me. Magdalene laundries were institutions to house women who were considered "fallen". The term referred to women who were prostitutes, pregnant outside of marriage, or young women without family support. They were operated by nuns of the Roman Catholic church.

Wayward Girls takes place in Buffalo, NY in the 1960s where girls were sent to help straighten their lives out. It was run by the Catholic church and the girls were forced to do manual labor that they weren't paid for plus there were a lot of rules for them to follow. The six main characters were sent to the reform school for various reasons; Mairin was there so that her mother could keep her safe from the sexual advances of her stepfather; Angela was attracted to women and needed to be 'fixed', Helen's parents were detained in China after a trip to their homeland; Odessa was arrested due to being involved in a racial march; Denise and Janice were also there for help. What these girls went through at this reform school was unbelievable. They worked in a laundry all day, were fed horrible meals and were locked into their rooms at night. Any infringement of the rules would cause them to be put in a closet without food or water. Marian was a feisty young girl and her goal was to get out and she kept trying no matter what punishment she received. She came up with a plan for her and her friends to escape - but would it work? And where would they go if they did escape?

This book is based on a real reform school in Buffalo. The author did extensive research and spent time talking to some of the girls who had been kept there during the 60s. I spent a lot of time reading about the school and the way that the girls were treated.

This was a fantastic book that made me cry and made me hope for the girls and their future. I have read all of the books that this author has written and in my opinion, this was her best book yet. It's one of the few books that I've recently read, that I wish I could give ten stars or more and a book that with characters that I won't soon forget.

Great book. I typically only read current day books, but I am glad I have this a chance. I am so glad for the changes in the system since then.

six girls are sent to live at a catholic girls home, they are treated horribly. this is set in 1968 in Buffalo new York., told in dual timelines

Wow! This is a very interesting, informative read. This book brings to light through historical fiction the abuse that was endured at many catholic run facilities for “wayward girls”. Very enlightening and heartbreaking to read. Recommend strongly. I was given an advanced reader copy of this very well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

Loved this story, the characters each had a voice. The description of the school was so realistic and well thought through. Can’t wait till I hav the book in my hands.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity. This book brings the past reality to life. The shame of premarriage pregnacy whether it was the yound ladies fault or not, making decisions without all the information due to the church, parents and even friends at times not communicating to ladies growing up with simple questions as how do you get pregnant. Wayward Girls takes place in Buffalo, NY in the 1960s where girls were sent to help straighten their lives out. It was run by the Catholic church and the girls were forced to do manual labor that they weren't paid for plus there were a lot of rules for them to follow. This facility not concerned about educating the young minds as using them for free labor in order to make money. Very sad and embarassing situation for the church surpirsingly no reparations for the ladies involved with nuns stealing babies and labor. This book is based on a real reform school in Buffalo. The author did extensive research and spent time talking to some of the girls who had been kept there during the 60s. Suddenly 50 years later the group discovers that they are survivors and form an alliance to fight for what was taken from them.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Wayward Girls is set in Buffalo, NY, during the 1960s at a Catholic-run reform school for girls, where they were subjected to harsh conditions, forced labor, and strict rules. The six main characters were sent there for various reasons, but their "crimes" certainly did not match their punishment. This book was not an easy read (at times I needed to pause), but the amount of hope and joy that the characters are able to bring to life is a testament to the resilience of girlhood and the community that can be found therein. It's not easy to balance six main characters, and Susan Wiggs does a phenomenal job. I just wish we got more time with each. 4.5 rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such an emotionally shattering book sharing the abuse these girls went through in what was an okayed practice by the Catholic Church. The grit, hope, and bravery these girls showed was unbelievable. This is a must read in historical fiction.

Mairan O’Hara’s innocence and fierce energy grabs your attention from the beginning of “Wayward Girls”. Her sense of justice and hope for more is so relatable throughout the novel and she serves as a beacon to those around her.
The other wayward girls add layers to the story and help keep the narrative interesting throughout. We learn about Helen, Angela, Odessa and their growth beyond truly terrible circumstances endured as teens. We also see how the wayward girls execute justice for themselves and others in Buffalo.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who want developed characters, developed setting, and a well-paced plot.

What a compelling story! This book will give you a look back into the sixties and will enlighten you to the things going on during that time. Things going on within the Catholic church and the girls who endured it.

Susan Wiggs can do no wrong. Strong characters and a powerful story. A must-read! #WaywardGirls #NetGalley

The Wayward Girls are a group of teenagers who are sent to a Catholic home in order to be educated and helped. The home turns out to be a laundry where the girls are forced to work for free and punished for every offense. In Buffalo, NY in the 1960s, Mairin is sent to the home for her "safety" from her stepfather. She spends her year there doing everything she can to get out and makes friends with several of the girls. After a daring escape in a library bookmobile, she returns to regular life, but her past will always affect her future.

4.5 stars
I love everything Susan Wiggs has written and this one was no different. It drew me in from page one and I could not put it down. Mairin's story and that of the other “wayward girls” were heartbreaking, yet I couldn’t stop reading to see what would happen to them—finished it in a day and a half. Highly recommend!

This was different for Wiggs but it was truly good. I didn't want to put it down. The true tale of honest friendship based on trials lived together

I've heard of the horrors of the Magdalene laundries in Ireland, but was very shocked that they existed in the US and as recently as the 1960"s. Susan Wiggs tells the powerful story of a group of young women confined to such a home in Buffalo, NY. Wayward Girls is fiction, but based on one of these homes, is a well-written and gripping novel. The lead character have been committed for a variety of reasons everything from being gay to being poor to just being unwanted. The tales of the home are horrifying, but the story of friendship and strength make this a great read. Wayward Girls is perfect for your next book group read.

"Wayward Girls" is a remarkable work of historical fiction that delves into the troubling reality of Catholic laundries, establishments intended to provide refuge for young girls facing unplanned pregnancies or those deemed uncontrollable by their families. Contrary to their intended purpose, these institutions were characterized by darkness and abuse, predominantly operated under the auspices of the Catholic Church.

The protagonist, Mairin, captivates readers as she navigates her life after being placed in such a facility through no fault of her own. The year she spent there casts a long shadow over her existence, leaving lasting emotional scars. The narrative follows Mairin and several other individuals as they strive to rebuild their lives following their harrowing experiences within those walls. This compelling tale is one that readers will find hard to put down.

Based on the true story of a Catholic GIrl's Reform School in Buffalo, this story will haunt you for days. Why were these places allow to exist? What happened to all the girls who were placed there? A novel involving several girls and their experiences there and how it affected the rest of their lives is told by one of my favorite authors. Tragedy, frienships and forgiveness are all themes covered in this book that will keep you reading until the end.
Highly recommended.

This is definitely an emotionally charged book following Maririn who is sent to The Good Shepherd Institute in Buffalo NY by her mother and step-father because she was a “wayward girl” and needed discipline from the nuns. The girls at the institute were treated like slaves and received extreme punishments for infractions. It was hard to read and learn about the shocking treatment the girls received at the hands of the nuns in charge. The characters in the book are fiction but the Good Shepherd Institutes were real and the atrocities perpetuated there are outlined in court documents. The author did a superb job of describing all aspects of the story. Though this book may not be for the faint of heart it is an excellent historical fiction novel that everyone should read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Before I begin absolutely raving about this book, I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for supplying me with an eARC. I can’t believe I have to wait until July for others to be able to read and discuss this story.
Set in Buffalo in the late 1960s, Wayward Girls is a novel about the power of friendship, the sinister tendrils of complacency by allowing tradition and faith to cloud decisions, what justice can look like for those who have been so utterly wronged by an institution, and about many different kinds of grief.
Mairin O’Hara is a delightful protagonist. After she is sent away to a laundry disguised as a Catholic School for wayward girls, she does everything she can to create a better life for herself and the friends she makes within those prison-like walls.
Each girl is thoughtfully written and you root for all of them. I was on the edge of my seat for several parts of this novel. Some of the subject matter is upsetting, but these stories are based on things that, unfortunately, did happen. Honoring and holding space for the experiences of those who were unlucky enough to be send to the Good Shephard is what we all need to do. The abuse was rampant and horrible. The adoption process akin to human trafficking. The scars, both mental and physical, that these poor women have had to nurse in silence for all these years.
This book was full to the brim with loveable characters, heartbreaking moments, moxie and grit, and people learning to have grace and patience with one another. An absolutely beautiful novel. Highly, highly recommend.

Wow! This was incredible. I learned so much about a piece of history I knew nothing about before this. This is a tough read, but it ends in a beautifully hopeful spot. Such an incredible look at trauma and the different, but connected, ways girls and women are belittled, exploited, blamed, and silenced.

Wayward Girls
by Susan Wiggs
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs, a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship, and redemption. Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Orphan Train, and The Berry Pickers.

In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns—locked away merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angela—denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helen—the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.

Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice. Put this at the top of your to be read books! Very powerful!

Growing up in Buffalo, NY which is the setting for the Wayward Girls, by Susan Wiggs, made it an exciting read for me. The streets, places mentioned ,were a reminder of my childhood growing up there. The book has many references to today's events occurring with the Catholic churches there. Many of the churches have had to close due to the bankruptcy of the dioceses due to the scandal of the abuse of the priests to young children. The girls who were forced to go to the Good Shepherd reform school for many reasons- unwed pregnant girls, girls who had been in trouble with the law, families who couldn't afford to raise the girl, and girls from troubled families. A parent didn't realize what their child was subject to during their stay. They were forced to do labor that was abusive; they were not allowed to talk; or go to school, and locked in a closet for punishment with no food. Mairin was one of the pupils who attended the reform school because her mother wanted to protect her daughter from her stepfathers sexual advances. She is determined to escape from there and after many attempts succeeded masterminding an escape with four other girls. The book explains what the girls faced during their stay and their adult lifes. This book made me want to cry. I hope you will find this book powerful and want to address the cruelty of these places.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Another great read from Ms. Wiggs. This one was different from her usual reads I felt. The book starts with Everly (who was adopted as a baby) trying to find out about her birth mother. There are no records she can find. Then we go back to the 1960's and meet Mairin. Mairin is a teenage girl living with her mother, stepfather and brother in New York. Mairin is sent to a Catholic school for wayward girls after an unpleasant incident with her stepfather. From the moment she arrives Mairin tries to find a way to escape from the "school". The "school" is actually a Magdalene laundry and the girls are forced to work in them for no wages and received no schooling of any kind while they are there. Mairin makes friends with several girls during her time there including one girl who becomes pregnant while at the school. The story continues with Mairin and her friends time at the "school". Near the end of the book we switch back to modern times and continue on with Mairin's story and find out what eventually happened to her friends from the "school". Read this interesting book to learn more about what happened to the girls at the "school" and if Mairin ever escapes; how Mairin's friend becomes pregnant while at the school and what happens to her baby and what eventually happens to the "school". Pick this one up in July 2025.

If I could give this 20 stars I would! I have loved everything Susan has written and this one is right there at the top! Susan you have never failed me! If you have never read any of her books you need to start now !!! Thank you Susan for giving us another fantastic book!

I had no idea Magdalene laundries existed in upstate New York. This book is based upon a real facility that existed in Buffalo, NY. This book is about six young girls who forge an unwaivering friendship during their horrendous stay at this barbaric facility. They have been cast aside by their families and the institution is not representative of what it is to the outside world. I went to school at SUNY Buffalo and found all the upstate information fascinating. It is always a good sign when I google a topic of a book while I am reading!

Growing up in Buffalo, this story was poignant. I've traveled down the streets the author penned and while there was sense of foreboding, the 'Wayward Girls' casts light on what happened beyond closed doors.

Ask don't tell is a mindset that haunts victims' lives. On the surface, they are functional or even perceived as thriving but that façade cracks after years of suppressing trauma. The girls were sent to reform school to atone for their crimes. Loving the 'wrong' person or being outspoken in a society that favored obedience were keys to being ushered in to the prison-like fortress, For some, their only crime was being born into poverty and mothers sent children away to be protected. If families knew the truth, it wasn't the 'Best' option.

The harsh existence the girls faced would be seen as abuse by hardened criminals. Banding together to survive while plotting their escape, readers will find themselves engrossed in Susan Wiggs' story.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early addition of the #WaywardGirls in exchange for an honest review. I'm a fan of the author's work and this is by far, her best book!

Tough book to review in that I have to be really careful not to give anything away. If you’ve read Susan Wiggs before you are aware that she doesn’t mince words. If she says it, it’s going to be important and useful. Never more apparent than in her latest page turner WAYWARD GIRLS. The church had an interesting philosophy about dealing with what they defined as troubled girls. The list of attributes was pretty lengthy and somewhat vague so trying to pinpoint who fell into this category was plenty broad. Blurred lines. Plenty of openings falsely determining a girl’s behavioral problem, if indeed there even was one.
So how to manage these girls became quite a challenge and in WAYWARD GIRLS we are tuned into a time, about the 1950s and several decades surrounding 1950 puts us at a home for girls who fit this broad challenge. The church with the help of their nuns and support staff supervised these homes. Literally taking young girls out of school and putting them in institutions that had barb wire around the perimeter. Visions of prison anyone.
In WAYARD GIRLS Susan Wiggs concentrates on a group of girls sent to this home for several reasons. None it would seem to have any basis on actually curing anything. There is truly no outward appearance of clinical behavioral issues with any of this specific group. Most turned in or enrolled in the homes program by family members. Sadly, these were to protect them from some outside safety concern. Or worries about being embarrassed by lack of faith or following the strict dictates of the church over what is proper.
The total lack of contact with these girls for months or years left them at the mercy of the nuns and clerics that ruled the roost. And that is central to the environment of punishment that was abundant in the home.
In the very first chapter Susan Wiggs introduces a woman who is having difficulty getting a passport. Seems you need a certain type of birth certificate, and she didn’t have it. Her attempts to attain a birth certificate that would be valid are met with disappointment. She knew she was adopted and had two wonderful, adopted parents. They too could not provide anything other than what they had received during the adoption process. Basically we leave her with having no way to get the passport she wanted so that she could travel with her husband. Frustrating for sure. But Susan Wiggs is setting us up for something amazing. Just be patient and wait for it. Totally worth the wait.
I’ve read just about everything Susan Wiggs has created, joyously I must say. Well in WAYWARD GIRLS she outdid herself. If you are looking for a great beach read this is it. It’s coming out in July, just in time for taking a day off to read a masterfully created novel. Oh and bring some tissues. You will doubtlessly need them. Destined to be the read of this year.

An absolutely absorbing novel. The topic is a harsh and abusive Catholic nun place for delinquent, court mandated, or abandoned girls in their teens and one group of girls that grow into a friendship in a situation rife with horrible punishment by the nuns.The tenacity of the girls is their outlet for continuing to survive. Not an easy read but an incredible relating the daily ordeal.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is an emotional read that doesn't let you look away. The author writes about a reform school for girls run by the Sisters of Charity that is supposed to transform their pasts and prepare them for the future. The girls were sent there for a variety of reasons such as teenage pregnancy, fighting, etc. Once inside, the nuns took advantage of their "cheap" labor as they forced them to work in the laundry often hiding their profits from the diocese. This is a book about hardship, perseverance and the value of friendship. It was difficult reading at times but the author brought all the characters to life. You couldn't help rooting for all of them. The author brought it all full circle as we discover what happened to all of them. There is a documentary about the Magdalene laundries which I intend on watching soon.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced egalley of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.
#WaywardGirls #NetGalley #SusanWiggs

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the chance to read this book in advance of its publication. The book is set in the late 1960's in Buffalo NY and the majority of the first book takes place in the Good Shepard Home for Wayward Girls, a home run by the Buffalo Diocese of the Catholic Church. The story chronicles the lives of six girls, details their reasons for ending up in such a place, which functions more like something out off Dickens and Oliver Twist than New York State in the free love period of the 1960s. Since I dislike reviews that tell the story, I'll suffice it to say that these girls all end up there for myriad reasons, most of which are not their fault, and, unfortunately their families/guardians give the Catholic Church total power over these girls and their lives. There's no correspondence (all letters are read and if they aren't glowing, they are not sent). The girls are supposed to be receiving their education, but they are in a workhouse instead. These stories are all poignant and I found myself wondering how any family could just turn their child over to a stranger, even the church, and never visit, get letters, etc. But these girls were considered to be uneducable and wayward in satan's ways. This book has flaws as all books do, but it was a very compelling read and I was connected from the beginning. The ongoing discussion about the Catholic church and their baby adoption program that bordered on human trafficking was both upsetting as well as enlightening. This book could have triggers for some people, so I'd suggest reading a summary before jumping in, if there are concerns, but I truly loved the book and would recommend it too everyone.

Another brilliant and well thought out and beautifully written novel by one of my favorite authors! I loved all of the character characters and the historical aspect was very interesting to me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me the ARC of this novel. I have read this author before, and was looking forward to reading this. Wow! Lots of material for a book club meeting! It was a little repetitive, so I didn’t give it 5 stars. But it was close! It will be published in July.

What a powerful historical fiction novel based on America's own version of the Magdelene Laundries of Ireland. The story draws you in, the characters are relatable and some are quite loveable. A real sense if a tine in American history is conveyed. I adored it.

Wayward Girls is poignant, disturbing, and a heavy read about all the injustices done to young women up through the 1960’s (in the name of “goodness” and “helping them”, of course). It’s also a story of the strength of some of those young women, the hope they cling to, the chance for a better tomorrow. This moving and powerful story of friendship, redemption, and acceptance will stay with me for a long time.

Great story about the wayward girls. I felt so sad to hear the stories but was uplifted with the strength and courage the girls had. Great writing that brings the plight to the public's attention. I will forever remember these characters.

Wayward Girls, by Susan Wiggs focuses on teenaged girls who end up in Place called "Good Shephard" in Buffalo NewYork. It starts in 1968. Each of the girls have been placed in the facility for "wrong doing" . They are called "wayward girls' and are supposedly there for the nuns to help them to "reform" of course none of the teenaged girls truly deserve to be placed in this awful institution where they get no education but forced to do labor all day working in laundry it is called the Magdaline laundry. The girls are severely punished starved forced to be locked in closests. when Mairin arrives there being placed there by her disgusting step father { he tried to rape her} and her mother. She meets some of the other girls. Angela, Helen, Odessa, and other girls. Mairin vows to find a way to run away from this horrid institution. Not easy since they are watched like hawks. One girl Angela was raped by the onsite doctor and became pregnant. facing later heartbreak when she loses her baby. Eventually the girls scheme away to escape. this book starts in 1968 but goes to present time.
some of the ladies reunite and want to find a way to get justice for what Happened to them and countless other girls over the years Good Shephard abused the girls. A good read based of real life events.

Wayward Girls is a great story of six "wayward" girls in the 1960s. For various reasons they all wind up at the Catholic home the Good Shepherd. It is there that their bonds are formed over the abusive and demeaning treatment of the nuns who supervise the home. It is rare that I read a book and think "this would make a great movie", but the characters are so well developed and diverse that it could easily be an excellent movie. We see the girls as teenagers and then follow the main character thru her life. We are reunited with most of the characters as elderly women, still dealing with the trauma of their youth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historic fiction or anyone who just enjoys a good story.

Raw, real, and heartbreaking. This book is very emotional. A reminder of where and how far women have come but not at the same time. Great read.

Wayward Girls is a devastating, unforgettable novel that shines a bright light on a dark, largely hidden corner of American history. Set in Buffalo, New York, in the late 1960s, it follows six teenage girls who are confined at the Good Shepherd, a so-called reform institution operated by the Sisters of Charity. In reality, it’s anything but a school—it’s a prison disguised by religious authority, where girls are sent to be silenced, hidden, and exploited.

What makes this novel so effective is how personal it feels from the very first pages. The girls—Mairin, Angela, Helen, Odessa, Denise, and Janice—are not flat archetypes. They are fully realized young women with layered backstories, distinct voices, and different reasons for ending up at Good Shepherd. Whether it’s Angela being punished for her sexuality, Mairin being “protected” from her stepfather, or Odessa caught in a racially charged police sweep, the common thread is that these girls were discarded by the people and systems meant to protect them. And once inside Good Shepherd, they’re subjected to forced labor, physical punishment, emotional abuse, and total isolation.

The author does not sugarcoat what happened at institutions like this. She take inspiration from a real reform school in Buffalo and from first hand interviews with survivors. That foundation in truth adds a layer of gravity that never leaves the page. The abuse these girls suffered—being locked in closets without food or water, forced to work without pay, separated from their babies after forced births, punished for acts as small as speaking out—may seem hard to believe. But it all happened. The novel forces readers to confront the fact that institutions like this existed not just in Ireland or some faraway place, but right here in the United States. And the Catholic Church, which ran these places under the guise of charity and discipline, has never truly been held accountable.

What elevates Wayward Girls is the way it balances this brutality with hope. At the heart of the story is Mairin, a spirited, rebellious girl who refuses to be broken. Her determination to escape and to protect her friends becomes the emotional engine of the story. The friendships formed among the girls—built in secret, in stolen glances, whispered conversations, and acts of solidarity—are deeply moving. These girls are each other’s only lifeline. They aren’t just surviving together; they’re teaching each other what it means to resist, to care, and to dream beyond their prison.

The writing is sharp and emotionally charged, but never sentimental. The author trust the reader to sit with the discomfort, to wrestle with the injustice, and to absorb the full emotional impact without softening the edges. There are moments in this book that will make you furious, that will make you cry, and that will stay with you long after you close the cover.

And the story doesn’t end in the 1960s. One of the most poignant parts of the novel is how it follows the women decades later, as they slowly reconnect and realize they were part of something far bigger than they ever understood at the time. They begin to share their stories, fight for recognition, and work toward healing. It’s a testament to the human spirit and to the idea that even when justice is delayed, it’s still worth fighting for.

This is a book that should be required reading. It forces us to reckon with how society has treated women—especially young, poor, marginalized women—under the guise of morality and order. It asks hard questions about complicity, silence, and institutional power. And it honors the courage of those who endured, who survived, and who are finally being heard.

Wayward Girls is harrowing, honest, and beautifully written. It’s historical fiction at its most urgent—gripping as a novel, and vital as a reflection of our past. If you’ve read about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, this will feel familiar—but perhaps even more shocking when you realize it happened here, too. Read this book.

Greatly enjoyed this historical fiction novel! The story is compelling and while disturbing, it needs to be heard. I loved the main character and her group of Wayward Girls who had to survive a horrible experience at a Catholic girls home in the 1960s/70s. You can't help but root for all of them. My only complaint about the novel was the lack of complexity in the writing. There was a lot of action in the book and the author covered a huge swath of time and I think this detracted from some development in the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is the story of six young girls who were sent to the Good Shepherd in 1968. The Good Shepherd was posing as a school for girls that were pregnant, unruly or just sent there by their families. It was run by a group of Catholic nuns. This place was horrific with unbelievable treatment of the girls. I enjoyed reading about the friendships formed between these girls, even in such harsh living conditions. They only part I had a problem with was near the end. The author skipped a big part of the character's life. They were young girls, and then near the end it jumped to all the characters being older ladies. I understand the author was letting us know what happened with all the girls. It just seemed like an abrupt jump into the future. Other than that, I enjoyed this story.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend checking it out. It was very enjoyable.

In the late 1960s in Buffalo, teenager Mairin is suddenly sent to a "reform school" for wayward girls, despite having done nothing wrong. What follows is the horrific account of her time under rule of abusive Catholic nuns. It also shares the stories of several of the girls she met there and the impact of the trauma they experienced.

What a fascinating book. For some reason, I wasn't aware that Magdalene laundries existed outside of Ireland. Apparently some 38 of them were in the US alone, and of course the Catholic Church likes to pretend they aren't responsible for the horrific abuse and crimes committed at these institutions.

I deducted a star because some of the dialogue just felt cheesy and forced. Otherwise, it's an interesting read.

Recommended for those who love historical fiction and stories about enduring friendships.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Susan Wiggs tells unforgettable stories. Wayward girls was written in a way that pulled you in and you didn't want to stop reading until you finished the book. The fictional characters were woven into a historical event. They became human and the horrors they survived were felt in the stort. Highly recommend.

I have been a fan of Susan Wiggs for many years. In this novel she writes of a time when ‘wayward girls’ be they pregnant from an unprotected sexual encounter, or deemed unable to handle by their parents, are sent to reform school. When we meet these young women, we quickly realize they are at heart good girls, just been dealt a lousy hand in life. A group of teenagers who seemingly have nothing in common, bond together to try and make their life better, and ultimately plan an escape from the cruel ministrations of the nuns who run the home. Well researched w historical accuracy and color commentary, this book is a must for all public libraries.

What an emotionally, captivating story of hope, abuse, survival, and friendship.
When Fiona and Mairin were young, they loved Tiger Beat, walking to school, and sharing their dreams. They had no idea the direction their lives would take, and the consequenses of the decisions the adults in their lives made.
This book focusses on Mairin, and what she endures once her mom and step father send her to live at a reform school. The abuse, fear, endless hours of labor, and cruelty she and the others endured was painful, and hard to read about. Her strength, courage, and determination were inspiring. While the characters were fiction, the book gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for "Wayward Girls" in the 60s and 70s.
Susan Wiggs writes a wonderful story about a horrible time in history. I couldn't put it down once I started.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy learning about things I was unaware of. Author Susan Wiggs tells an amazing story of the Magdalene Laundries which was a prison of sorts for young alleged wayward girls. Several of these girls formed a friendship and were able to find comfort in each other. You will want to put this on your must read list!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I have never felt anything so powerful from a book. This historical fiction had so much truth to it and that definitely came through in the pages. Six girls, and definitely more, were institutionalized in a Catholic prison really. Their stories of torture, survival and waging a friendship that ultimately bonded them as more than just friends. My heart was wrenching tears on more than one occasion. What culminates in the end is nothing short of miraculous. Susan Wiggs shows another side to her writing that just proves masterful.

Wow, this was fantastic! Such important themes, particularly with the current political climate in the US. The characters were so well-written and I loved being able to follow their stories through their lifetimes. I also loved the tiny nod to Sugar and Salt from a prior novel by the same author. I haven't read a lot of her books yet, but be sure I will be soon!

An important read for anyone, but would be especially good for fans of Handmaiden's Tale.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed it. A strong five stars. great book the characters suck you in and make you love some and hate others.

A must read for any woman who grew up during the Viet Nam era. With a cast of diverse characters ( gay, juvenile delinquent, abused, pregnant ) all living together ( confined ) to a home run by nuns. This is a story of friendship and survival.

Thank you to the publisher (HarperCollins) and the author for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy!

Wow. This book was so touching, and so sad, but also I felt so happy for the Wayward Girls. I love when a book can make you feel two things at once.

I loved reading about strong female characters, stuck in a time and place where they were not treated well, listened to, and held accountable for actions not their own. Even though I hated the suffering they endured, I also felt like it created a friendship and bond with each other that helped them become better versions of themselves. I found myself telling them to keep their spirit down sometimes, and other times, cheering on their every indiscretion.

I also love reading historical fiction, and knowing that a version of this story actually happened really helps me root into the characters and what was happening in the world at that time.

I loved the writing; I felt I understood the characters and they each had a piece I could recognize in myself. Truly a masterpiece.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is a book about overcoming obstacles and finding lasting friendships in the least likely places. in 1968 Good Shepard is where they sent the girls that didnt fit into societys view of how they should behave. These 6 teens from different backgrounds and different reasons for being there become lifelong friends.

The Wayward Girls takes place in Buffalo, NewYork in the 1960's. Mairin was sent to a Catholic Reform school where she meets a group of girls. The girls in the reform school are treated horribly by the nuns living there. These girls formed a bond that lasts a lifetime. This book tells of their experiences both in the home and the the aftermath of their lives there. This story will stay with you for a long time.

Huge thank you to William Morrow for providing me with an ARC of this book through Net Galley.
This book was SO GOOD! I am a slow reader but this was one that I stayed up way past my bedtime to read the last 100 pages because I had to know how it ended for these “wayward girls” The main character drew me right in and I found myself laughing,crying,and cheering these characters on.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. Wayward Girls is a powerful story about six teenage girls in the late 1960s that are forced to go to the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is a reform institution ran by the Sisters of Charity. Throughout the story, you will feel every emotion. You will want to keep reading to find out what happens to the girls and how their lives are forever affected.

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