This one is well-crafted with a dual timeline, told through the perspectives of the three sisters and an unnamed perspective whose speaker isn’t revealed until closer to the end of the novel. The characterization was so well-developed that, even if the sister had not been named at the beginning of each section, I still would have been able to tell which one was speaking. 

 

Their shared experiences at Wild Meadows bond them and they choose to remain family long after their foster care experience has ended. It was interesting to see how their experiences as children shape who they are as adults, and I think their trajectories mapped out by Hepworth are entirely believable. 

 

The way the story is crafted kept me engaged, but as a parent, there were many parts that were difficult to listen to. While the setting of their upbringing appears idyllic, the reality is far from it. 

 

Jessica Clarke’s narration captures the emotion of the characters as well as the icy and abrupt changes in the foster mother’s demeanor. If you pick it up, I highly recommend listening to this one on audio.  

 

I received an advance copy of the book from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.