Before We Were Yours: A Novel on Family and Resilience

Before We Were Yours is a mesmerizing novel that draws you into the depths of human emotions, familial bonds, and harrowing truths. Authored by the acclaimed Lisa Wingate, this narrative interweaves two gripping stories set decades apart – one in the magical, turbulent world of 1939 Memphis and the other amidst the affluence of present-day Aiken, South Carolina. The book begins on a stormy night, where twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her siblings find their serene life aboard their shantyboat...

Before We Were Yours is a mesmerizing novel that draws you into the depths of human emotions, familial bonds, and harrowing truths. Authored by the acclaimed Lisa Wingate, this narrative interweaves two gripping stories set decades apart – one in the magical, turbulent world of 1939 Memphis and the other amidst the affluence of present-day Aiken, South Carolina. The book begins on a stormy night, where twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her siblings find their serene life aboard their shantyboat shattered as they are forcibly taken from their home and thrust into an orphanage, setting off a series of life-altering events that echo through generations.

This tale is not only riveting but also rooted in a notorious true-life scandal, drawing readers to the shocking realities faced by Rill and her siblings amidst a backdrop of love, desperation, and survival. Lisa Wingate's extraordinary ability to create vivid imagery and unforgettable characters immerses readers in this heartbreaking story about resilience, agency, and the quest for family unity. With each turn of the page, you will feel the love and loss, the pain and hope, as you navigate through the years alongside Rill and Avery, connected by secrets that lie hidden in the past.