Yesteryear

 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026), 400 pages

I was really looking forward to reading this book. As the "Tradwife" trend has hit the social conscious, I was interested in Burke's take on it. The novel centers around Natalie a strong-willed, strong-opinionated woman who orchestrates a marriage to an unmotivated husband that, thankfully, comes from family money. Natalie is a very unlikeable character who pretty much hates everyone who is not her. This is not to say she isn't clever as she manages to secure a family, a farm, and significant online following who love viewing her dream-like country life. Mid-way through the novel, though, she wakes up in the late 1800s. She now has to actually live the rustic live she portrays on Instagram. 

I was very much looking forward to this part of the novel as I loved the PBS series of shows that threw modern day folk back in time. Regrettably, Burke didn't capitalize on this and the novel became a confusion of thoughts and snippets in time that leave the reader lost and bewildered. The supporting characters are lackluster and predictable. There is no growth for Natalie and, in the end, the book is just sad and depressing.