Lena's story was heart wrenching. So much unnecessary pain and suffering all because a group of people thought they were better than everybody else. The novel seemed to be well researched and offered us a window into one of the dark periods of time in America's past.

Another great historical fiction by one of my auto-buy authors Ellen Marie Wiseman.

Written with a heavy hand toward character development (as with her other books), this book makes you feel invested in the characters. Her descriptions immerse you in the scenery and makes you feel like you’re a part of the story.
This novel felt a little different from my favorites of hers where she leaned heavily into inspiration from real life events, but it was nonetheless still very relevant and gripping.

I just finished The Lies They Told and I'm speechless. Speechless because of this story. There are few books that I have read that permeates my whole being. This story while dealing with tough but true historical facts made me fall in love with the characters.

Ellen Marie Wiseman creates stories from historical events that have been long forgotten. I can't even imagine how she is feeling while researching these tough topics but she brings to light in such a delicate manner these lesser known events and not only that but she creates her characters as if they were real.

Trust me when I say this is a must read and is going to probably be my favorite book this year.

Thank you Kensington and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

The Lies They Told
by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Pub Date: July 29, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have read several books by this author and have gained something from every reading.
In rural 1930s Virginia, a young immigrant mother fights for her dignity and those she loves against America’s rising eugenics movement – when widespread support for policies of prejudice drove imprisonment and forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin – in this tragic and uplifting novel of social injustice, survival, and hope for readers of Susan Meissner, Kristin Hannah, and Christina Baker Kline.
While the novel occasionally dips into familiar tropes of social injustice, Wiseman's captivating storytelling and faithful recreation of history make for a gripping read. The universal themes of survival, hope, and resistance against oppression are poignant and timely.

Ellen Marie Wiseman is renowned for her conscientious research and talent for resurrecting overlooked historical episodes.

A truly exceptional novel about a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in American history, one that should never be forgotten.

There are books that when they come along, they change you, they make you think deeper, appreciate more, and change the way you look at the world. That is what this author does to me with her books.
These tough subjects are woven into characters that you’ll fall in love with and never forget.

This book sheds a light on the eugenics program in the 1930s in the United States. We watch our young woman Lena go through the immigration process.( I had no idea how brutal that was.) we watch her move in with a distant cousin up in rural Virginia while the government is threatening to take their land. The government also gets to decide who is feeble minded, who belongs in an institution, who is a burden to society, and who must be sterilized as to not bring any further children into the world who could also be a burden.
We follow Lena through it all. As a young mother protecting her child and helping her family fight for their land and their rights.


I absolutely loved this book and the ending was read through many tears!

4.5 Stars. This was such an emotional and heartbreaking book. Weaving together difficult topics such as the stigmatization of immigrants, eugenics, and forced sterilization, Lena’s journey is filled with immense sorrow and tragedy. While the subject matter was tough at times, I was so invested in the characters that it was hard to put this book down!

I was unfamiliar with the eugenics movement in early twentieth-century America, particularly Virginia, and this story was both compelling and extremely infuriating. As the corrupt government aimed to seize control of the land in the Blue Ridge Mountains by any means necessary, countless families’ lives were torn apart in the process of establishing the Shenandoah National Park.

While the subject matter was difficult, this book explores incredibly important issues and I loved learning about the culture of the people in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The tight-knit community was targeted for their land but their determination to survive in a world trying to suppress them was truly inspiring.

If you’re looking for a captivating historical fiction that will open your eyes to a dark period in American history, definitely check this one out!

Another well researched novel from this author! She continues to weave forgetten pieces of American history into her stories with vulnerable, and exposed characters. With each book she delivers, the author provides a voice to those who have suffered. I am now more knowledgeable from reading her books.

Such a hard read. It is about a family that comes to the US for a better life and it’s one tragedy after another. A sad but wonderful book. A solid 5 stars from me!

Ellen Marie Wiseman has done it again! I loved The Lost Girls of Willowbrook and The Life She Was Given, so I was excited to read this new one. And I am so glad I did!

The book looks at two social issues that were prevalent in the 1920s - the mistreatment of immigrants and the forced sterilization of women and girls deemed to be a drain on society. At first I thought this must be part fiction, but after some research, it was unfortunately all too real. The novel does a really good job of keeping to the history and weaving it into the story line.

The characters were well developed and very likable. My heart broke for the suffering inflicted on them, especially for the children. I cried for Lena and for Silas, and cried happy tears for Bonnie and Ella.

This was another 5⭐️ book for me. I’m grateful to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy of this excellent read!

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

The Lies They Told
By: Ellen Marie Wiseman

5 Stars

I have been a fan of this author since the beginning. I believe I have seen her grow in her writing. This one was different, but an amazing story. This story is one that grabs you emotionally from the beginning. Lena is new to America, fresh off a boat at Ellis Island. The great American dream is not what it seems. Seperated from her family, she moves to the Wolfe
farm only to find herself in more danger than she could ever have imagined.

My mind is just blown by this book. Eugenics is not something I know much about, but this book (that authors note) shocked me. This story was mostly sad and heartbreaking. It told a hard story that was normal for so many immigrants, but that told a very ugly truth. It told of horrors and pain, separation and abuse. It also sprinkled in the little moments of hope and light. This story was written so well. It was a great story that told of horrors, but it did it gracefully and with understanding. You can tell a ton of research was done to get it right. I'd say this is a book that NEEDS to be read. The things in this book need to be studied. Needs to be known.

It will shock and break your heart, but the ending is WELL worth the read, BUT tissues are needed.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

The Lies They Told is a solid book, touching on several topics but sometimes falling short of bringing the story together. The author spent a fair amount of time detailing an immigrant's time on Ellis Island, followed by a long chunk following rural farm life in the 1920s. The eugenics aspect of this novel is informative if you're unaware, but seemed secondary to much of the story. I must say that although I've lived adjacent to a southern state all my life, and married someone from that state, I have never once given any thought to the contraction "y'all." However, after reading this book I have had my fill for awhile. I mean no disrespect to those who say that. But it was sooooo overused in this book, that it distracted me from the story. This was a quick read and I find Ellen Marie Wiseman's books to be reliable page turners. I think many will enjoy this more than I did though. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman Lena's story draws you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end. The characters are sympathetic and fascinating; each has their own peculiarities and mannerisms. Most importantly, there is an outpouring of love and hope within the communities. While the plot is emotionally charged, it is a compelling engrossing read. The author, in the notes at the end of the story, sheds light on this moment in history; life in post-war Germany and the suffering its people faced, the difficulties of the immigrant experience, the culture of the mountain people, corruption in local administrations, and the eugenics program. An entertaining and informative read.
Thank you to Ms Wiseman, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

The Lies They Told by new to me author Ellen Marie Wiseman, published by Kensington Publishing is a pageturning, powerful piece of art, literally unputdownable tells it the story of Lena, her family and her community.
Set in tghe early 1930ies in rural Virginia the book paints a sittengemälde of history, society and law.
I read the book, cover to cover in one sitting, 5 stars.

In Ellen Marie Wiseman's latest novel, a young immigrant mother's world teeters on the edge of despair.

The story begins when Lena Conti finds herself alone in rural 1930s Virginia, her family torn from her at Ellis Island. Her new home, a weather-beaten cabin nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, offers both sanctuary and sorrow.

Lena discovers solace in the embrace of a lively community, yet simultaneously faces the festering underbelly of prejudice and inequity. The dark cloud of Virginia's eugenics policies hangs heavy, seeking to label and ostracize those deemed unfit. Lena's vulnerability is exploited when she is falsely accused of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, leading to her imprisonment in a colony for the "feebleminded." With her daughter's future hanging in the balance, Lena must make agonizing decisions to safeguard her loved ones.

A heavy air of dread permeates the narrative, mirroring the grim realities of the eugenics era. Wiseman's prose is vivid and immersive, depicting both the enchanting allure of the mountains and the disfigured face of societal bias.

Her characters are complex, and Lena's unwavering determination strikes a resonant chord. Separated from her family and threatened with forced sterilization, her resilience mirrors that of many immigrants seeking a better life.

Silas Wolfe, a gruff relative, provides shelter and gradually reveals a compassionate side, forming a bond with Lena and her daughter. He serves as a link between Lena's past and present, offering stability in chaos.

The children under Silas's care are portrayed as vulnerable, reflecting society's failures. They are taught to hide from authorities due to systemic prejudice, highlighting its devastating effects on the defenseless.

A social worker from the Eugenics Office embodies oppressive forces, guided by a dehumanizing system that targets those deemed "inferior," adding urgency and tension to the narrative. Each character contributes to the story's emotional depth, highlighting marginalized communities' struggles and resilience.

While the novel occasionally dips into familiar tropes of social injustice, Wiseman's captivating storytelling and faithful recreation of history make for a gripping read. The universal themes of survival, hope, and resistance against oppression are poignant and timely.

Ellen Marie Wiseman is renowned for her conscientious research and talent for resurrecting overlooked historical episodes.

A truly exceptional novel about a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in American history, one that should never be forgotten.

Lena and her family travel to America looking to make a new start in life. When they arrive at Ellis Island, Lena finds her mom and brother are sent back home to Germany while Lena and her daughter Ella are allowed to stay. Lena moves in with her distant relative Silas to help him take care of his home and children, Bonnie and John Henry. Lena makes a home in the mountains of Virginia, while there, she soon learns of the dangers in their community. The government is looking to seize the land of the inhabitants and portray them as unfit and feebleminded, sending them to Eugenics facilities to have them sterilized against their will. All Lena wanted was to seek a better life, but she soon finds herself entwined in a web of lies.

This was such a good read and a look into a horrific part of our history. The whole government scheme of Eugenics, stealing children from their families and deciding who they deem fit to have children is horrifying. You see Lenas struggles to adapt in a new country while forming a bond with her distant relatives. Lenas story is one of survival and a mothers unending love.

Wiseman has written another intense, and at times heartbreaking, well-researched historical novel. This novel is a bit of an emotional roller coaster starting with the terror and confusion of being a new immigrant entering the U.S. through Ellis Island in the early part of the twentieth century. Wiseman does an excellent job depicting the crowds and tension and confusion that her main character Magdalena “Lena” Conti encounters when she first arrives in America with her mother, brother, and daughter. Once Lena has made it past the requirements to enter the country, she takes you along on her journey to fit into a new way of life in a new country. Her depictions of what takes place during Lena’s time in the Blue Ridge Mountain area as the government seized the land to make way for a park to the appalling conditions of a state institution at the time, show Wiseman’s attention to historical detail. Her information on the eugenics movement at the time showed me a part of American history I was unaware of, and I was horrified by some of the details I later looked up. Lena’s story continues past those dark times and comes to a more than satisfying conclusion, leaving the reader with a sense of hope. But getting to that part of the book will take the reader through some chilling representations of what was once done to those who were considered “lesser” humans during a dark time in American history. The Lies They Told will be a great book club read for 2025!

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman’s is a moving and heart wrenching exploration of the eugenics movement in the 1930’s. This is a story of survival, resilience, and hope told through the eyes of a young immigrant mother named Lena. Her journey reveals the cruelty and prejudice of society during this time. The author exposes the horrors of forced sterilization and the stigmatization of immigrants. This novel also celebrates the unyielding power of a mother’s love. I loved that this author has the ability to balance an emotionally tense topic with historical accuracy, and was able to shed light on this period in history.

I have read all of this author's books, and I have enjoyed every one. While I liked this book, I do feel as though the backstory and details were not fully actualized.