The Tobacco Wives

A Novel

By: Adele Myers

Narrated by: Shannon McManus, Janet Metzger

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Most anticipated by USA Today, W Magazine, New York Post, Parade, Bustle, Buzzfeed, Reader's Digest, and PopSugar and named one of the best historical fiction books of the year by Cosmopolitan!

"A beautifully rendered portrait of a young woman finding her courage and her voice."—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author

North Carolina, 1946. One woman. A discovery that could rewrite history.

Maddie Sykes is a burgeoning seamstress who’s just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina—the tobacco capital of the South—where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. After years of war rations and shortages, Bright Leaf is a prosperous wonderland in full technicolor bloom, and Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt’s glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives.

But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn’t quite the carefree paradise that it seems. A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems, and although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise.

Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn’t know who she can trust—and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.

Shedding light on the hidden history of women’s activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth.

“This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author

©2022 Adele Myers (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Great

This was a very interesting story, I enjoyed every bit of it. It took me back to those days and the life of women in that place and time.

Easy, but engaging read of a historical non-fiction

I absolutely enjoyed Tobacco Wives. Because the book seemed simple and easy in the beginning, I worried there would not be enough substance to keep me engaged. But soon, the other layers of the book’s story emerged and I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion. The epilogue was the icing on the cake. This book serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come regarding transparency in science and medicine, as well as gender equality. The story is told in such a light and easy way, making it just as enjoyable for a beach or vacation read.

From the perspective of a smart hardworking teenager

Interesting story about a 15 year old girl who is unexpectedly dumped by her mother. Wanting to avoid any spoilers, but know that she quickly matures in a long summer.Het eyes are opened to the harsh realities of adult survival strategies. Easy listen

Loved it!

Different, Interesting, entertaining and learned a lot! Would highly recommend this book to one and all.

Simpler yet tougher times

Women endured so much more then men back in these times. Great read that flowed well. Highly recommend it.

Historical Fiction

Sometimes historical fiction can really show an accurate picture of the past. This novel does exactly that. Great story and character development, too.

Nice summer read

The story kept my attention, and the writing was good. But I felt that it lacked depth and character development. All in all, it was worth my time.

Great historical fiction

I enjoyed the story. It was very well written and weaves in the historical journey of the tobacco industry very well. The narration was superb.

Tobacco history.

This is a great historical fiction novel about the era of the 1940s in the influence of tobacco on the area in North Carolina. It discusses the influence of husbands on their wives and how the wives were supposed to behave . The book showed growth of women’s rights. very entertaining very educational.

Bravery and tenacity of the main character.

Entertaining. Easy read. easy to follow plot. Gives an idea of corruption and how it is covered up.