Wayward Girls

A Novel

By: Susan Wiggs

Narrated by: Susan Wiggs, Jane Oppenheimer, Cynthia Farrell

""After decades of bestsellers, Wayward Girls might be Susan Wiggs' opus. A gut-wrenching story of survival, friendship, and justice. Masterful.""--Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

""The magnificent Susan Wiggs takes a leap into the history of women..a page-turner, replete with mystery and suspense.""—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs, a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship, and redemption. Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school.

In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns—locked away merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angela—denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helen—the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.

Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice.

""Compelling...This powerful and unforgettable novel is a poignant and enlightening look into a sad chapter of recent history.""--Library Journal (starred review)

""Heart-wrenching...sweeping. This one lingers long after the last page.""--Publishers Weekly

""Wayward girls is all about the power of female bonds...this isn't just a moment in time—it's a cautionary tale.""—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

“Susan Wiggs is at the top of her game. Through the skillful weaving of an endearing cast, Wayward Girls displays the power of sisterhood to survive, conquer, and ultimately heal from the most harrowing of times. An evocative tale packed with resilience and secrets that kept me reading late into the night. I loved it.” —Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Girls of Good Fortune

Buffalonians Read This!

This book offers a compelling and heartfelt look into life at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, also known as the Sisters of Charity, in Buffalo, NY, during the height of Catholic education in the city. Susan masterfully captures the atmosphere of the time, vividly describing the streets, neighborhoods, and institutions that shaped so many lives. For anyone who ever attended Catholic school in Buffalo, her storytelling will resonate deeply.

This is a powerful exploration of grief, hardship, and loss; echoing the experiences of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. It’s a stark reminder that these kinds of religious institutions and reform schools were not unique to one region.

The book thoughtfully weaves in themes of coming of age, sexuality, the Vietnam War and draft, pop culture, race relations, politics, adoption, institutional corruption, and the complex legacy of faith-based systems.

A deeply moving and eye-opening read this is a story that stays with you long after the final page.

Shocking events!

So hard to believe that these things happened in my lifetime! The injustice under the guise of religion… and the corruption & coverups!!!

outstanding characters

I highly recommend this story.I couldn't put it down. The storyline, based on truth, should shame the Catholic Church forever. My heart goes out to these girls that endured the torture of their youth living in these "prisons". Their stories should never be forgotten. A very well written book.

A Story Needing to Be Told

As a student in a Catholic high school for girls in the late 1950's, which we students jokingly called a school for wayward girls, I found this story to be totally believable. We absolutely did not endure anything like the abuses described in this book, but the behavior, attitudes, and self-righteousness of the nuns were not a far cry from what Susan Wiggs writes in this book.

i was not sure in the early pages that this book would hold my interest, but it definitely did. The characters are so well drawn I could almost match them to some of my high school friends.

i recommend listening to the author's notes at the end of the audiobook, as they provided the factual basis for the f8ctional novel.

Couldn’t put it down

I love books that you can’t put it down. It was captivating and intriguing, I couldn’t wait to read more and more each day.