Best read with the lights on and the doors locked. A chilling, propulsive novel that blends fact with fiction, and transports you to the infamous WIllowbrook State School on Staten Island in the 1970s. A young woman goes looking for her missing sister and ends up in her own worst nightmare, mistakenly locked away in the last place anyone would chose to be. If you’re a fan historical fiction, horror or true crime—or you’re just looking for the next discussion-worthy book club pick, don't miss this shocking mash-up of Girl, Interrupted mixed with American Horror Story.
Instant New York Times Bestseller!
Girl, Interrupted meets American Horror Story in 1970s Staten Island, as the New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Collector blends fact, fiction, and the urban legend of Cropsey for a haunting story about a young woman mistakenly imprisoned at Willowbrook State School – the real state-run institution that Geraldo Rivera would later expose for its horrifying abuses.
An Indie Next Pick | Peruse Book Club Pick | A Room of Your Own Book Club Pick | A Publishers Lunch Buzz Books Selection
Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.
Six years after Rosemary’s death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage’s stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn’t die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.
Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It’s always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined . . .
“A heartbreaking yet insightful read, this novel will open one's eyes to the evil in this world.”—New York Journal of Books
“Unvarnished, painful and startlingly clear.” —Bookreporter.com
Ellen Marie Wiseman is the New York Times bestselling author of the highly acclaimed historical fiction novels The Orphan Collector, What She Left Behind, The Plum Tree, Coal River, The Life She Was Given, and The Lost Girls of Willowbrook. Born and raised in Three Mile Bay, a tiny hamlet in northern New York, she’s a first-generation German American who discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in New York State. Since then, more than one million copies of her books have been sold in the United States. Her novels have been published worldwide, translated into twenty languages, and named to “Best Of” lists by Reading Group Choices, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, The Historical Novel Society, Great Group Reads, and more. A mother of two, Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her husband and dog. Visit her online at EllenMarieWiseman.com
Ahh, what’s that? That’s the smell of change in the air mingling with the faint whiffs of pumpkin spice, of course. Alongside a new month and the beginning of fall on the horizon, we also have new monthly picks coming your way. Embrace September’s start of spooky season with a cat-and-mouse story about a serial killer and a budding DA, a witty, witchy story […]
Shockingly, there’s more to historical fiction than just World War II (hard to believe, I know). We love historical fiction, delving into a different time, historical event, and sometimes even cultures with stories that enrich our minds while taking our hearts on a journey. With plenty of time periods and moments of history to choose […]
August signifies the end of summer, but for the true bibliophiles, we know that this is when the excitement is just starting to ramp up for the most anticipated titles to come this Fall! This month, we’re diving headfirst into brand new books by favorite authors like Ali Hazelwood, Beth Macy, R. F. Kuang as […]
Relive the sensuality, the romance, and the drama of Fifty Shades Freedthe love story that enthralled millions of readers around the worldthrough the thoughts, reflections, and dreams of
Now available as a three-volume paperback boxed set, E L James’s New York Times #1 bestselling trilogy has been hailed by Entertainment Weekly as being “in a class by itself.”
E L James revisits the world of Fifty Shades with a deeper and darker take on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the globe. Look for E L James’ passionate new
Ellen Marie Wiseman, acclaimed author of What She Left Behind and The Life She Was Given, weaves the stories of two very different women into a page-turning novel as suspenseful as it is poignant,
In this vibrant historical novel, the acclaimed author of The Plum Tree and What She Left Behind explores one young woman’s determination to put an end to child labor in a Pennsylvania mining
In this stunning novel, the acclaimed author of The Plum Tree merges the past and present into a haunting story about the nature of love and loyalty—and the lengths we will go to protect those
A deeply moving and masterfully written story of human resilience and enduring love, The Plum Tree follows a young German woman through the chaos of World War II and its aftermath.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars, a sophisticated, page-turning double love story spanning forty years and an unforgettable Brief
A story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances, this is the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars
Una novela sobre la amistad, el amor y la libertad. Una historia tierna y profundamente humana que no podrás olvidar. Por la autora de Yo antes de ti. En un pueblo costero de la Inglaterra de