what to read.me
Sample page Before We Were Yours cover 📖 peek inside

Before We Were Yours

by Lisa Wingate

★★★★☆ 4.40 (737 285 ratings)
2017 · 400 pages · ~6h 40m read · Fiction

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals, this novel follows the Foss children, who are kidnapped and taken to the Tennessee Children's Home Society in 1939. Decades later, Avery Stafford, a woman from a wealthy family, discovers a hidden connection to the past that threatens to unravel her family's legacy. This dual-timeline narrative is a heart-wrenching yet ultimately uplifting exploration of the bonds of sisterhood and the enduring power of family, even in the face of systemic corruption.

A popular book with millions of readers worldwide.

Atmosphere: HistoricalVibe: TenderPacing: Fast-paced
historicalfamilymystery

Notable Quotes

"But the love of sisters needs no words. It does not depend on memories, or mementos, or proof. It runs as deep as a heartbeat. It is as ever present as a pulse."
"A woman’s past need not predict her future. She can dance to new music if she chooses. Her own music. To hear the tune, she must only stop talking. To herself, I mean. We’re always trying to persuade ourselves of things."
"Life is not unlike cinema. Each scene has its own music, and the music is created for the scene, woven to it in ways we do not understand. No matter how much we may love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn’t suit the moment."

Built by Dominik. I couldn't find a simple way to pick what to read next - so I've made this.

© 2026 what to read.me