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Westward Women
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26It starts with an itch.
In homes across the country, women ages eighteen to thirty-five begin to slow down.
Tired. Blank. Restless.
Drawn to the Pacific Ocean like it’s calling them home. They abandon their lives—jobs, families, their very selves. And once they reach the West, they vanish forever.
At the center of the story are three young women caught in the pull of something unstoppable.
Aimee follows the trail of her missing best friend to a man called the Piper—known for leading infected women West.
Teenie, afflicted and unraveling, clings to a single memory as she looks out the window of the Piper’s van.
And Eve, a former journalist, is chasing the story that might just consume her.
Each on the edge of transformation. Drawn toward the unknown. In search of a way forward.
In homes across the country, women ages eighteen to thirty-five begin to slow down.
Tired. Blank. Restless.
Drawn to the Pacific Ocean like it’s calling them home. They abandon their lives—jobs, families, their very selves. And once they reach the West, they vanish forever.
At the center of the story are three young women caught in the pull of something unstoppable.
Aimee follows the trail of her missing best friend to a man called the Piper—known for leading infected women West.
Teenie, afflicted and unraveling, clings to a single memory as she looks out the window of the Piper’s van.
And Eve, a former journalist, is chasing the story that might just consume her.
Each on the edge of transformation. Drawn toward the unknown. In search of a way forward.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 10, 2026
11966 people want to read
About the author
Alice Martin
1 book49 followersAlice Martin is a writer, reader, and teacher from North Carolina. She holds a PhD in Literature from Rutgers University and works as an Assistant Professor of English Studies at Western Carolina University, where she teaches fiction writing and American literature. She lives outside of Asheville, North Carolina with her husband, her son, and too many typewriters. Westward Women is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
June 18, 2025
A brilliant debut by an exceptionally skilled writer - I'm stunned to learn that this is the author's first novel. This is a wholly original premise executed impeccably: the pacing is just right, the world-building and character development is thorough, and the multi-character POV (rarely something I find is done well) works as each storyline is a complete, standalone story worth telling.
I picked this up one morning with 15 minutes to kill, intending to read the first chapter or two. Hours later, my plans for the day long abandoned, I came to every bibliophile's Sophie's Choice: when a book engrosses you so entirely, do you savour or burn through it? I did the latter, and then went back for the former, discovering new subtleties and nuances along the way.
In short, this is an all-consuming story that will get under your skin like a virus (see what I did there?) and stay with you long after.
Note: It's a mistake to advertise this as "for fans of Emma Cline and Emily St. John Mandel" as this book is far more substantial than that - in fact, I picked this up *despite* my great aversion to the aforementioned authors' forgettable (sorry not sorry) works.
I picked this up one morning with 15 minutes to kill, intending to read the first chapter or two. Hours later, my plans for the day long abandoned, I came to every bibliophile's Sophie's Choice: when a book engrosses you so entirely, do you savour or burn through it? I did the latter, and then went back for the former, discovering new subtleties and nuances along the way.
In short, this is an all-consuming story that will get under your skin like a virus (see what I did there?) and stay with you long after.
Note: It's a mistake to advertise this as "for fans of Emma Cline and Emily St. John Mandel" as this book is far more substantial than that - in fact, I picked this up *despite* my great aversion to the aforementioned authors' forgettable (sorry not sorry) works.
Want to read
October 21, 2025cover is giving Dr. T.J. Eckleburg
June 21, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 10, 2025
3 stars
It’s the 1970s and there’s an epidemic in America. But it only affects women so no one cares, that’s it, the end.
Well, kind of.
First comes the itch, then the women become tired and their memories start to fade. They feel compelled to move westward. No one can find a cure, and while some women are sedated in hospitals, many more are just lost.
The book follows three women: Aimee has no symptoms. The recent college graduate is searching for her best friend, Ginny. She hears about a man called the Piper who is transporting women west.
Eve is a reporter who needs a big story to get back in the game. She, too, hears about the Piper and decides he’s her big break.
Teenie’s symptoms are getting worse. As she moves west she is trying to remember the last time she saw her sister, before she disappeared, years ago.
So, no surprise that the women interact in some way. I didn’t expect what happened, and I can’t say I was crazy about it either.
3 stars
It’s the 1970s and there’s an epidemic in America. But it only affects women so no one cares, that’s it, the end.
Well, kind of.
First comes the itch, then the women become tired and their memories start to fade. They feel compelled to move westward. No one can find a cure, and while some women are sedated in hospitals, many more are just lost.
The book follows three women: Aimee has no symptoms. The recent college graduate is searching for her best friend, Ginny. She hears about a man called the Piper who is transporting women west.
Eve is a reporter who needs a big story to get back in the game. She, too, hears about the Piper and decides he’s her big break.
Teenie’s symptoms are getting worse. As she moves west she is trying to remember the last time she saw her sister, before she disappeared, years ago.
So, no surprise that the women interact in some way. I didn’t expect what happened, and I can’t say I was crazy about it either.
September 17, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
Rounded up for Goodreads!
A captivating, mind-bending and eerie story that you read for the journey knowing the destination will inevitably be an elusive thing that keeps you up thinking at night.
I was sucked into this book immediately. The premise of an invisible illness infecting women all over the country causing them to impulsively and recklessly drop their lives and migrate west? I couldn’t put this book down until I got answers.
⭐️ So many things worked for me in this book
- The writing style was so mesmerizing. Such gorgeous prose and vivid imagery.
- I loved the POV switches. Though the stories were similar in tone, each character had a distinct voice.
- I enjoyed the pace. It was slower in parts, and even a bit repetitive here and there but I think it helped build the tension that had me in a chokehold.
- I’ve never read anything quite like this and that makes it memorable.
- I was terrified for the ending of this story because the build up was so big it almost felt like it couldn’t be wrapped up properly but I think the ending was perfect.
⭐️ What didn’t work?
- I figured out most of the plot about 50-60% through and I wish I was kept guessing for a bit longer
- As much as the story reached out to the “woman experience” I wish I connected with the characters more than I did and maybe had a bigger emotional reaction.
Overall, this was a great read. You have to be in a specific mood for it so pick this up when you want a slow burn, an eerie/speculative vibe and a story that centers the woman experience.
Rounded up for Goodreads!
A captivating, mind-bending and eerie story that you read for the journey knowing the destination will inevitably be an elusive thing that keeps you up thinking at night.
I was sucked into this book immediately. The premise of an invisible illness infecting women all over the country causing them to impulsively and recklessly drop their lives and migrate west? I couldn’t put this book down until I got answers.
⭐️ So many things worked for me in this book
- The writing style was so mesmerizing. Such gorgeous prose and vivid imagery.
- I loved the POV switches. Though the stories were similar in tone, each character had a distinct voice.
- I enjoyed the pace. It was slower in parts, and even a bit repetitive here and there but I think it helped build the tension that had me in a chokehold.
- I’ve never read anything quite like this and that makes it memorable.
- I was terrified for the ending of this story because the build up was so big it almost felt like it couldn’t be wrapped up properly but I think the ending was perfect.
⭐️ What didn’t work?
- I figured out most of the plot about 50-60% through and I wish I was kept guessing for a bit longer
- As much as the story reached out to the “woman experience” I wish I connected with the characters more than I did and maybe had a bigger emotional reaction.
Overall, this was a great read. You have to be in a specific mood for it so pick this up when you want a slow burn, an eerie/speculative vibe and a story that centers the woman experience.
August 9, 2025
I received a free copy of, Westward Women, by Alice Martin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I do not even know what I just read, I just know its not for me.
July 31, 2025
Men ruin everything, including this book.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Westward Women by Alice Martin is a genre blending novel that combines elements of historical fiction, literary fiction, thriller, and horror to paint the story of strange illness that has struck a nation. Women, seemingly at random, are afflicted with a sickness that causes itching, memory loss, and an unyielding desire to leave their lives behind to journey west. The story follows three women- Eve, Teenie, and Aimee. Each interacts with the Westward Women and the mysterious illness in a different way as they are all drawn together by a mysterious figure called the Piper.
I think it’s evident that that author is a very smart person, able to create very nostalgic and evocative settings. There was a pervasive sense of disorientation in a dream-like way. Throughout the text, there’s a semi-spiritual hunger that the various characters find themselves interacting with. In terms of creating an intangible setting-the time, the sense of confusion and yearning, the author does a beautiful job.
However, I did not find that the other elements of the book held up against the very vague and ephemeral elements of the book. I felt like while the author put a lot of effort into the style of the book, the actual substance left something to be desired. I felt like until the last 1/3 of the book, that the named characters were fairly similar and blended together. While we were given the backstories; the journalist, the one with the missing sister, etc. They actually could have merged together into two named characters instead. We see them make choices, speak, and think in ways that are so similar that without the given backstories, they’re not particularly unique.
In general, my main qualm with the book was that the plot was slow and circuitous. When that was combined with some interspersed dream sequences it just became a very tedious read with a large stretch of doldrums in the middle. I think that the action, while compelling when it is happening, is spread so thin as to make reading this feel like a slow crawl at times.
Lastly, I thought the ending was not particularly subtle. The “cure” for the illness and the final hour twist both felt pretty on the nose in a way the rest of the book avoided.
For me, I did not particularly enjoy reading this while I can concede that the writing is very well done in its style. I’m going to rate this a 2.75/5.
Westward Women by Alice Martin is a genre blending novel that combines elements of historical fiction, literary fiction, thriller, and horror to paint the story of strange illness that has struck a nation. Women, seemingly at random, are afflicted with a sickness that causes itching, memory loss, and an unyielding desire to leave their lives behind to journey west. The story follows three women- Eve, Teenie, and Aimee. Each interacts with the Westward Women and the mysterious illness in a different way as they are all drawn together by a mysterious figure called the Piper.
I think it’s evident that that author is a very smart person, able to create very nostalgic and evocative settings. There was a pervasive sense of disorientation in a dream-like way. Throughout the text, there’s a semi-spiritual hunger that the various characters find themselves interacting with. In terms of creating an intangible setting-the time, the sense of confusion and yearning, the author does a beautiful job.
However, I did not find that the other elements of the book held up against the very vague and ephemeral elements of the book. I felt like while the author put a lot of effort into the style of the book, the actual substance left something to be desired. I felt like until the last 1/3 of the book, that the named characters were fairly similar and blended together. While we were given the backstories; the journalist, the one with the missing sister, etc. They actually could have merged together into two named characters instead. We see them make choices, speak, and think in ways that are so similar that without the given backstories, they’re not particularly unique.
In general, my main qualm with the book was that the plot was slow and circuitous. When that was combined with some interspersed dream sequences it just became a very tedious read with a large stretch of doldrums in the middle. I think that the action, while compelling when it is happening, is spread so thin as to make reading this feel like a slow crawl at times.
Lastly, I thought the ending was not particularly subtle. The “cure” for the illness and the final hour twist both felt pretty on the nose in a way the rest of the book avoided.
For me, I did not particularly enjoy reading this while I can concede that the writing is very well done in its style. I’m going to rate this a 2.75/5.
June 16, 2025
Didn't really care for this one. It was trying to be all symbolic and feminist, but it fell flat for me. And let's not even talk about the absurd coincidence at the end. It was so unlikely as to be absurd. Definitely wouldn't recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
September 3, 2025
Rating: 2/5
I love dystopian stories that have something to say - this story, and this author, absolutely has something to say, and it is important. That said, I think that this will definitely be an absolute 'hit' for a lot of readers.
While it wasn't for me, I think that the people who will like it are those who enjoy books that are 'all vibes' (or nearly all vibes)/atmospheric, feel like a fever dream, are ambiguous, and are simultaneously very overt in communicating the intended message. I also think readers who love very, very slow paced stories will enjoy this! Alice Martin's strength in this story was being able to create an atmosphere and feeling in the reader - I did feel like I was starting to feel an 'itch,' too. Martin got her point/message across over and over again, so the reader is very aware of what is being said about the experience of being a woman.
My favorite part of the story were the less overt ways that Martin got the message across, and I wish more of the story were structured in those ways. Namely, there were multiple strong yet subtly integrated metaphors that resonated with me more strongly than the overt 'tells' of the themes; they made me think and make connections more. In dystopian novels, even if I go into it knowing what the story is trying to say overall, I'd like to be 'shown' it rather than 'told' it.
That said, this story unfortunately didn't work for me. I found that I couldn't connect to the story, writing, or characters; like Teenie and Aimee feel in their relationships with others, I felt like an outsider looking in. While I appreciate the messages the story communicates, it became too overt and repetitive for my preferences. I couldn't distinguish between the characters/points of view until around the 70% mark, and I still found myself going to prior chapters to remember the little details about each character because they got lost in my head. I wasn't able to grasp enough depth to the characters to become invested in them or their individual stories, and I didn't find that they developed much.
Rather than being plot or character driven, I felt that, until that latter portion of the book, it was more so a circuitous commentary/messaging rather than a story. Without a plot or characters drawing me in, the pacing was too slow for my preferences, and the ending didn't work for my reading tastes. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief about the coincidences that made it all come together. Further, I wasn't sure that I really understood where some of the characters stood in their thoughts and feelings at the end. While I appreciate stories that leave you with some questions at the end, which this does, I personally found it unsatisfying because the ending didn't give me that 'just enough' feeling in terms of answers; instead, I almost found that the ending counteracted, in some ways, the overall message of the story that was hammered home the whole way.
Overall, I think that this book is going to find it's audience, but it wasn't for me. I was yearning for more distinction and more body to the story and characters beyond the obvious and overtly stated messages. I do appreciate its message, though!
*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of the story for me to review.
I love dystopian stories that have something to say - this story, and this author, absolutely has something to say, and it is important. That said, I think that this will definitely be an absolute 'hit' for a lot of readers.
While it wasn't for me, I think that the people who will like it are those who enjoy books that are 'all vibes' (or nearly all vibes)/atmospheric, feel like a fever dream, are ambiguous, and are simultaneously very overt in communicating the intended message. I also think readers who love very, very slow paced stories will enjoy this! Alice Martin's strength in this story was being able to create an atmosphere and feeling in the reader - I did feel like I was starting to feel an 'itch,' too. Martin got her point/message across over and over again, so the reader is very aware of what is being said about the experience of being a woman.
My favorite part of the story were the less overt ways that Martin got the message across, and I wish more of the story were structured in those ways. Namely, there were multiple strong yet subtly integrated metaphors that resonated with me more strongly than the overt 'tells' of the themes; they made me think and make connections more. In dystopian novels, even if I go into it knowing what the story is trying to say overall, I'd like to be 'shown' it rather than 'told' it.
That said, this story unfortunately didn't work for me. I found that I couldn't connect to the story, writing, or characters; like Teenie and Aimee feel in their relationships with others, I felt like an outsider looking in. While I appreciate the messages the story communicates, it became too overt and repetitive for my preferences. I couldn't distinguish between the characters/points of view until around the 70% mark, and I still found myself going to prior chapters to remember the little details about each character because they got lost in my head. I wasn't able to grasp enough depth to the characters to become invested in them or their individual stories, and I didn't find that they developed much.
Rather than being plot or character driven, I felt that, until that latter portion of the book, it was more so a circuitous commentary/messaging rather than a story. Without a plot or characters drawing me in, the pacing was too slow for my preferences, and the ending didn't work for my reading tastes. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief about the coincidences that made it all come together. Further, I wasn't sure that I really understood where some of the characters stood in their thoughts and feelings at the end. While I appreciate stories that leave you with some questions at the end, which this does, I personally found it unsatisfying because the ending didn't give me that 'just enough' feeling in terms of answers; instead, I almost found that the ending counteracted, in some ways, the overall message of the story that was hammered home the whole way.
Overall, I think that this book is going to find it's audience, but it wasn't for me. I was yearning for more distinction and more body to the story and characters beyond the obvious and overtly stated messages. I do appreciate its message, though!
*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of the story for me to review.
June 23, 2025
This is the book of 2025, y'all!!!!!
Sometimes you pick up a book and immediately know you're in the hands of a writer who gets it. Westward Women is that kind of book. It gets under your skin like the mysterious infection at its center and refuses to let go.
This is Alice Martin's debut, which honestly shocked me because the writing feels so assured. Set in 1973, the novel follows a strange epidemic that affects only women, causing them to develop an irresistible urge to migrate westward toward the Pacific Ocean. But this isn't really a book about a disease. Desire and the particular hunger that lives in women who want more than what they've been given, is at its core. This novel speaks directly to anyone who's ever felt trapped by expectations, who wants something they can't even name. The way Martin captures that particular restlessness, that sense of being called toward something that might destroy you but feels more authentic than staying safe—it's incredibly powerful. And rather than explaining the infection through science or making it purely supernatural, she lets it exist in that liminal space where metaphor and reality blur. It's a disease that affects only women, that makes them want to move, that society doesn't know how to cure or contain. Sound familiar?
The multi-POV structure here is absolutely masterful. It took me a about 10% into the book to start empathizing and being invested in this cast of women, but Martin gives us four distinct voices: Aimee searching for her infected best friend, Eve the ambitious journalist chasing a story, sixteen-year-old Teenie who's infected and grieving her lost sister, and this haunting second-person narrator that speaks for the collective experience of infected women. Each voice feels completely authentic and necessary, which is rare in books that attempt this many perspectives.
What really got me was how spooky this book is without being traditional horror. If you've ever dealt with anything like chronic eczema or hives, the visceral itch that is the true main character can be triggering to read. All in all, it's more like reading The Guest or Our Wives Under the Sea—books that understand how to make the everyday feel strange and full of possibility. There's this atmosphere where you're never quite sure what's real and what's metaphor, and that uncertainty becomes part of the magic.
This debut should absolutely be on your TBR list. It's for readers who like their literary fiction with teeth. I can't wait to see what Alice Martin writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—this one's going straight to my favorites shelf ✨
Sometimes you pick up a book and immediately know you're in the hands of a writer who gets it. Westward Women is that kind of book. It gets under your skin like the mysterious infection at its center and refuses to let go.
This is Alice Martin's debut, which honestly shocked me because the writing feels so assured. Set in 1973, the novel follows a strange epidemic that affects only women, causing them to develop an irresistible urge to migrate westward toward the Pacific Ocean. But this isn't really a book about a disease. Desire and the particular hunger that lives in women who want more than what they've been given, is at its core. This novel speaks directly to anyone who's ever felt trapped by expectations, who wants something they can't even name. The way Martin captures that particular restlessness, that sense of being called toward something that might destroy you but feels more authentic than staying safe—it's incredibly powerful. And rather than explaining the infection through science or making it purely supernatural, she lets it exist in that liminal space where metaphor and reality blur. It's a disease that affects only women, that makes them want to move, that society doesn't know how to cure or contain. Sound familiar?
The multi-POV structure here is absolutely masterful. It took me a about 10% into the book to start empathizing and being invested in this cast of women, but Martin gives us four distinct voices: Aimee searching for her infected best friend, Eve the ambitious journalist chasing a story, sixteen-year-old Teenie who's infected and grieving her lost sister, and this haunting second-person narrator that speaks for the collective experience of infected women. Each voice feels completely authentic and necessary, which is rare in books that attempt this many perspectives.
What really got me was how spooky this book is without being traditional horror. If you've ever dealt with anything like chronic eczema or hives, the visceral itch that is the true main character can be triggering to read. All in all, it's more like reading The Guest or Our Wives Under the Sea—books that understand how to make the everyday feel strange and full of possibility. There's this atmosphere where you're never quite sure what's real and what's metaphor, and that uncertainty becomes part of the magic.
This debut should absolutely be on your TBR list. It's for readers who like their literary fiction with teeth. I can't wait to see what Alice Martin writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—this one's going straight to my favorites shelf ✨
July 9, 2025
4.5 stars. I received this as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily. This book will be published in March 2026. This was a delightful surprise of a debut. I am often hesitant with debuts, but this one blew me away. Martin writes like a seasoned writer, probably because of her PhD in English Lit, and it made this book a joy to read. The only downside to this book is that so much of it took place while driving, but I completely understand that on account of the fact everyone in this book is going, you guessed it, westward. What I gathered from this book is that the itch represents the pressure women feel from the patriarchy. It’s a metaphor come to life under their skin. The itch, in a way, represents female rage and repressed desires. Maybe that’s not what the itch is supposed to represent, but that’s sorta what I got out of it. I can see how some would not like this book, it’s very character driven and is more about the relationships between the POVs than any real plot, but I really enjoyed getting to be with these women throughout their journeys and the length they went to for each other. I feel like each woman stepped away from this knowing themselves and their desires, needs, and wants better, and were better off for having gone on the journey. I enjoyed the twist at 89% and didn’t see it coming. I also work in pandemic preparedness, and the whole time I was reading this book I was thinking about what my organization would have to do to respond to this sort of emergency. I think this is a very interesting take on a pandemic, oppression, and female rage. I even like that it was set in the 70s! Overall, this was an incredibly strong debut, and I think I would read anything this author releases.
June 18, 2025
Although this book is categorized on Goodreads as science fiction, I found it was more in the creepy horror gothic vein. The plot kept kept me hooked, even though some of the twists and turns were far-fetched. You may enjoy this book if you like dystopian fiction and accept the confused thoughts of the Westward Women. .
Set in the 1970s in the USA, this alternate dystopian history is the story of a disease that affects young women, driving them to distraction from itching and for some reason calling them westward to the Pacific Ocean. Within a few weeks, most of the women sink into mental oblivion and death. The book follows three women as they head west: Aimee, who goes in search of her best friend Ginny; Teenie (Christine) infected and holding onto the memory of her sister Kate who disappeared, and Eve, a journalist seeking to rejuvenate her career with a story of westward women and the man (the Piper) who purports to help some of them reach the west coast. As they move west, we hear the ruminations of the women in turn questioning, self-accusing, and circuitous. Because the confusing thoughts it is hard to bond to individual characters, but I imagine that's one of the points the author is trying to make. Almost all of the characters are women except the disgusting Piper and the one nice guy, William.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the 1970s in the USA, this alternate dystopian history is the story of a disease that affects young women, driving them to distraction from itching and for some reason calling them westward to the Pacific Ocean. Within a few weeks, most of the women sink into mental oblivion and death. The book follows three women as they head west: Aimee, who goes in search of her best friend Ginny; Teenie (Christine) infected and holding onto the memory of her sister Kate who disappeared, and Eve, a journalist seeking to rejuvenate her career with a story of westward women and the man (the Piper) who purports to help some of them reach the west coast. As they move west, we hear the ruminations of the women in turn questioning, self-accusing, and circuitous. Because the confusing thoughts it is hard to bond to individual characters, but I imagine that's one of the points the author is trying to make. Almost all of the characters are women except the disgusting Piper and the one nice guy, William.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2025
Ugh, I just didn’t like this. The pace was miserable to me. The story itself was promising, but I felt like this could’ve just been a shorter book and I would’ve liked it a lot better. As always, thank you St. Martin’s Press for the earc.
August 4, 2025
I tend to always gravitate towards stories that talk about the intricate lives of women so naturally this book stuck out to me when I was browsing through available NetGalley ARCs late in the night. The idea of an infection happening in the 1970s that made women want to move westward pulled me in and made me quickly decide it was worth a shot.
Despite my initial hopes this book felt like it had so much potential only for it to fall flat in a lot of ways. The characters are the best thing about this book without a doubt but two of the four main women who frequently get mentioned felt like their stories weren’t completely fleshed out as much as I would have liked. There were so many points in this book where the characters were driving so there was a lot of time for internal reflection but the author never fully focused on the details that I found the most interesting about these characters.
This novel being spread out across three different point of views did make it come across as slow. There were a lot of moments that dragged that could have been shortened in exchange for allowing the ending and the overall plot of the book to be fleshed out a little more.
By far the most frustrating part about this novel is the fact that despite the mystery of the infection that plagues these women being the entire point of this book we never get a true answer. I think the author was intentionally trying to keep it a bit vague so readers could come to their own conclusions but I don’t think the author did a good job of accomplishing that. The idea didn’t feel like it was thought through completely in terms of how it started and how it ended. And the “solution” to it all was clear way before the ending making it feel anti-climactic except for a twist related to the characters at the end.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Despite my initial hopes this book felt like it had so much potential only for it to fall flat in a lot of ways. The characters are the best thing about this book without a doubt but two of the four main women who frequently get mentioned felt like their stories weren’t completely fleshed out as much as I would have liked. There were so many points in this book where the characters were driving so there was a lot of time for internal reflection but the author never fully focused on the details that I found the most interesting about these characters.
This novel being spread out across three different point of views did make it come across as slow. There were a lot of moments that dragged that could have been shortened in exchange for allowing the ending and the overall plot of the book to be fleshed out a little more.
By far the most frustrating part about this novel is the fact that despite the mystery of the infection that plagues these women being the entire point of this book we never get a true answer. I think the author was intentionally trying to keep it a bit vague so readers could come to their own conclusions but I don’t think the author did a good job of accomplishing that. The idea didn’t feel like it was thought through completely in terms of how it started and how it ended. And the “solution” to it all was clear way before the ending making it feel anti-climactic except for a twist related to the characters at the end.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
In personal ways, we become driven by a form of hunger for something different than what we have. The paradox of a sensation that is out of control, but in mysterious ways, our bodies almost decide for us. But how does this manifest for women and their ability to survive?
Martin zealously examines this through the lens of three women's migration in 1973 towards the Pacific Ocean while an infection spreads. As a reader, you discover how the public's speculation casts this unknown condition in a harsh light while the truth unravels through each introspective and shocking chapter.
Dizzying body metaphors and haunting echoes of ghost-like voices, this debut pressed me forward on a winding road's journey past bruised memories and tense futures. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Martin zealously examines this through the lens of three women's migration in 1973 towards the Pacific Ocean while an infection spreads. As a reader, you discover how the public's speculation casts this unknown condition in a harsh light while the truth unravels through each introspective and shocking chapter.
Dizzying body metaphors and haunting echoes of ghost-like voices, this debut pressed me forward on a winding road's journey past bruised memories and tense futures. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
July 29, 2025
I am so impressed this is a debut novel, and look forward to whatever Alice Martin comes up with next. The book follows Aimee (written in third person), Eve (third person), and Teenie (first person) on their westward journeys. Additionally, intermittent second person chapters break up the story and end up connecting later, which I found really interesting and well executed.
This novel is not “hard” science fiction, as the mechanics for the sickness affecting only women and its cure are never fully developed, so if you are not the type to suspend belief for the sake of the story, this is not the novel for you. The book takes place in the real world of the 70s. Women, and not the greater society, are on the brink of collapse. And as the infection spreads to affect hundreds of thousands, society reacts to these restless women by arresting and sedating them.
Westward Women does not deal with the everyday or overt oppression of women front and center, but rather alludes to it through interactions, memories, and news broadcasts. Instead, the book dives into how women have shaped themselves because of and despite familiar and societal pressure and expectations and explores their interpersonal relationships with strangers, family, and other westward women. The characters are impressively complicated and messy. Not everyone gets sick, and not everyone who is sick wants to be cured.
Overall, I found Westward Women to be a captivating and unique novel. I did not expect the horror/thriller aspects when starting, but I think they helped keep the story engaging when it otherwise might have dragged a bit with constant interpersonal relations. I struggled with the conclusion, but in the end I think it makes sense with the story being told.
I received an eARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
“The woman scoffed at her silence. ‘As if you’re the only person who itches,’ she said before she walked away. ‘The rest of us have just learned to live with it.’”
“They didn’t scratch to get it out. They didn’t necessarily want it out at all.”
This novel is not “hard” science fiction, as the mechanics for the sickness affecting only women and its cure are never fully developed, so if you are not the type to suspend belief for the sake of the story, this is not the novel for you. The book takes place in the real world of the 70s. Women, and not the greater society, are on the brink of collapse. And as the infection spreads to affect hundreds of thousands, society reacts to these restless women by arresting and sedating them.
Westward Women does not deal with the everyday or overt oppression of women front and center, but rather alludes to it through interactions, memories, and news broadcasts. Instead, the book dives into how women have shaped themselves because of and despite familiar and societal pressure and expectations and explores their interpersonal relationships with strangers, family, and other westward women. The characters are impressively complicated and messy. Not everyone gets sick, and not everyone who is sick wants to be cured.
Overall, I found Westward Women to be a captivating and unique novel. I did not expect the horror/thriller aspects when starting, but I think they helped keep the story engaging when it otherwise might have dragged a bit with constant interpersonal relations. I struggled with the conclusion, but in the end I think it makes sense with the story being told.
I received an eARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
“The woman scoffed at her silence. ‘As if you’re the only person who itches,’ she said before she walked away. ‘The rest of us have just learned to live with it.’”
“They didn’t scratch to get it out. They didn’t necessarily want it out at all.”
October 14, 2025
Like a lot of other reviewers, I felt that the synopsis was better than the actual story.
There seemed to be quite a lot of descriptive content that did not add to the story, and there are lots of things I’m not sure why they happened as I didn’t really believe the explanations given e.g. why Eve really left.
Perhaps I’m just not into allegories nor zombies, which is what the westward women seemed to have been come. The actual story of The Piper was the best bit and if the whole novel had been about him, instead of e.g. the will they, won’t they, of Eve and the girl she picked up, I would have liked it more. It’s also very American such that I hadn’t a clue to whether they were going west or not, so it might not be such a popular book in the UK.
One star knocked off for the really unbelievable coincidence that brought everyone together at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
There seemed to be quite a lot of descriptive content that did not add to the story, and there are lots of things I’m not sure why they happened as I didn’t really believe the explanations given e.g. why Eve really left.
Perhaps I’m just not into allegories nor zombies, which is what the westward women seemed to have been come. The actual story of The Piper was the best bit and if the whole novel had been about him, instead of e.g. the will they, won’t they, of Eve and the girl she picked up, I would have liked it more. It’s also very American such that I hadn’t a clue to whether they were going west or not, so it might not be such a popular book in the UK.
One star knocked off for the really unbelievable coincidence that brought everyone together at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
November 4, 2025
This novel was very unique and was about women becoming infected in mass with an "itch" that affected women's minds and reactions to all that was going on around them. The infection made the women restless, and the "cure" seemed to be to travel west to the Pacific Ocean (hence the title). The book was set in the 1970s when women's roles were thought about in a very structured way. I wondered if the author was hinting that women that wanted to expand their horizons in those years were viewed by men as deranged or diseased. This was my thought only - the author doesn't hint at this. There are four main characters and how their paths collide is well written. I've seen this book listed as dystopian and if that's your genre, you should check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 18, 2025
Received an e-ARC from NetGalley.
Premise sounded very interesting so I requested an ARC. Unfortunately, the book did not hold my interest. I skimmed the rest.
I love the West and I love books about women, but the writing fell flat for me.
For example: “Since the coastline spread through Olympic National Park, she had to stop driving after a while and get out to walk. When she finally crested a hill and saw the ocean, she thought she would be awed by the enormity of it, might feel the weighted loneliness of standing in front of the wide world of all that water alone. But instead, as she looked out over its hard, crashing waves, all she could think about was how she couldn't remember the last time she showered. She needed to feel that water rushing over her skin, running through her hair, pushing between her toes, the way she needed to breathe. There was no future beyond the ocean. There was no thinking through her decision to go into it. Her body wanted nothing more than to be submerged. As she made her way to the ocean and took off her jeans, she found herself speaking to Ginny in her head. You were right, she'd tell her if she were there. I'm sick after all. She knew the ocean would be cold, but when it smacked her calves, it still shocked her.”
Very bland writing, in my opinion.
Premise sounded very interesting so I requested an ARC. Unfortunately, the book did not hold my interest. I skimmed the rest.
I love the West and I love books about women, but the writing fell flat for me.
For example: “Since the coastline spread through Olympic National Park, she had to stop driving after a while and get out to walk. When she finally crested a hill and saw the ocean, she thought she would be awed by the enormity of it, might feel the weighted loneliness of standing in front of the wide world of all that water alone. But instead, as she looked out over its hard, crashing waves, all she could think about was how she couldn't remember the last time she showered. She needed to feel that water rushing over her skin, running through her hair, pushing between her toes, the way she needed to breathe. There was no future beyond the ocean. There was no thinking through her decision to go into it. Her body wanted nothing more than to be submerged. As she made her way to the ocean and took off her jeans, she found herself speaking to Ginny in her head. You were right, she'd tell her if she were there. I'm sick after all. She knew the ocean would be cold, but when it smacked her calves, it still shocked her.”
Very bland writing, in my opinion.
November 18, 2025
Such an intriguing concept and such incredible pacing. At times, the women blend together, but I feel like that is due to a lot of the shared experience that happens during this infection and during their travels with The Piper (which is honestly heartbreaking in it's own right).
I love speculative fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love speculative fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2025
A Bold and Haunting Debut
This bold debut offers a chilling commentary on misogyny through the lens of a strange epidemic in the 1970s, an affliction that only affects women. The so called Westward Women develop a burning itch, both literal and symbolic, that compels them to run. As they slip further from themselves, the line between illness and awakening begins to blur.
While the opening chapters start at a slower pace, the narrative quickly accelerates, pulling readers into a harrowing journey that’s as emotional as it is surreal. The use of a second person point of view is especially powerful, placing the reader directly in the mind of a narrator as she begins to succumb to the illness. Her descent is intimate and unsettling, made even more haunting as she watches others around her unravel.
At the heart of the novel are three intertwining narratives: a journalist fleeing her past while chasing down the elusive Piper, a mysterious man who gathers the sick and leads them westward; a girl frantically searching for her best friend as she descends into madness; and a woman quietly falling ill herself, caught in the momentum of something far larger and more terrifying than she can fully comprehend.
The story builds to a gripping finale that leaves readers questioning what truly happened, both to the characters and to themselves as they turn the final page. With a narrative voice that lingers and themes that bite deep, this is a debut that marks its territory boldly and beautifully.
Recommended for readers who appreciated the eerie atmosphere and emotional resonance of I Who Have Never Known Men.
This bold debut offers a chilling commentary on misogyny through the lens of a strange epidemic in the 1970s, an affliction that only affects women. The so called Westward Women develop a burning itch, both literal and symbolic, that compels them to run. As they slip further from themselves, the line between illness and awakening begins to blur.
While the opening chapters start at a slower pace, the narrative quickly accelerates, pulling readers into a harrowing journey that’s as emotional as it is surreal. The use of a second person point of view is especially powerful, placing the reader directly in the mind of a narrator as she begins to succumb to the illness. Her descent is intimate and unsettling, made even more haunting as she watches others around her unravel.
At the heart of the novel are three intertwining narratives: a journalist fleeing her past while chasing down the elusive Piper, a mysterious man who gathers the sick and leads them westward; a girl frantically searching for her best friend as she descends into madness; and a woman quietly falling ill herself, caught in the momentum of something far larger and more terrifying than she can fully comprehend.
The story builds to a gripping finale that leaves readers questioning what truly happened, both to the characters and to themselves as they turn the final page. With a narrative voice that lingers and themes that bite deep, this is a debut that marks its territory boldly and beautifully.
Recommended for readers who appreciated the eerie atmosphere and emotional resonance of I Who Have Never Known Men.
August 25, 2025
Westward Women takes place in an imagined version of the 1970s, as women, having become infected with a mysterious illness, find themselves compulsively drawn westward, toward the Pacific Ocean. The book follows a few of these women on their westward trek as it intertwines with the route of The Piper, a man with vague motives who ferries women across the country. I liked the idea of this book and find the premise intriguing. Unfortunately, I found the execution to be a bit less than I’d hoped. Maybe my own analytical skills are lacking, but, while it seemed that the unnamed, unexplained sickness and the ensuing migration were meant to be allegorical, I couldn’t quite figure it what it was meant to represent. The passing descriptions of how the infected women were ignored, shunned, and othered makes sense in consideration of the mid-century fight for women’s rights, but it didn’t really feel like the author had much to say about it.
By the time I eventually made it to the end of the book I was frustrated with how little explanation was given about what the illness was, or how it spread. I can recognize that being an intentional choice, and that not everything should be spoon-fed to a reader, but without understanding anything about what was causing the infection, or much about it’s symptoms beyond vague descriptions of “the women are kind of tired and listless, and they have some kind of itch that can’t be scratched, and maybe they forget stuff sometimes?” it was really difficult to care much about what happened to these women. But I guess that itself is a sort of commentary on how difficult it is for people to care about women's experiences. I don't know, it felt like the book wanted to lead to something big, but honestly it just kind of petered out for me.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
By the time I eventually made it to the end of the book I was frustrated with how little explanation was given about what the illness was, or how it spread. I can recognize that being an intentional choice, and that not everything should be spoon-fed to a reader, but without understanding anything about what was causing the infection, or much about it’s symptoms beyond vague descriptions of “the women are kind of tired and listless, and they have some kind of itch that can’t be scratched, and maybe they forget stuff sometimes?” it was really difficult to care much about what happened to these women. But I guess that itself is a sort of commentary on how difficult it is for people to care about women's experiences. I don't know, it felt like the book wanted to lead to something big, but honestly it just kind of petered out for me.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
July 9, 2025
I was intrigued by the premise of an infection spreading across the world, selectively affecting women, because I love a good dystopian story and exploring the effects on society. Alas, this let me down unfortunately, I struggled through it from beginning to end. The whole book seemed to just be the synopsis slowly spread across 300 pages and left me bored. Despite the urgency the infection elicits, I didn't feel that urgency translated onto the page, and then finally I didn't even get a satisfying conclusion. There were some hints at feminist discussion but they didn't really seem to muster up to anything.
I do think the characters were well described; there were several POVs but not so many as to confuse who is who, and they each felt like distinct people.
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc!
I do think the characters were well described; there were several POVs but not so many as to confuse who is who, and they each felt like distinct people.
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc!
July 8, 2025
An impeccable debut novel—speculative, unsettling, propulsive, and deeply thought-provoking—Alice Martin’s WESTWARD WOMEN will lure you in and not let you go.
Here’s the unique premise: in the early 70s, an epidemic spreads among young women. It starts with an untamable itch and coalesces into lethargy, wooziness, and loss of memory if they aren’t able to do what their body compels them to do: travel westward, to the coast. The coast calls to them and they must go. But as the infection worsens, the harder it is to move. So some women hitch a ride with a myth-like man in a big bus who calls himself The Piper and wants to help Westward Women reach their final destination.
But something’s not quite right with him, and with the infection at large. And a few girls are determined to figure it all out.
This multi-POV novel follows three women who are all traveling westward: one with The Piper, a journalist looking for him (and a story), and a third in search of her infected best friend, desperate to save her before it’s too late. A stylistically unique and very effective fourth POV enters the chat at times, too—a second person narration that makes you feel like YOU are one of the Westward Women.
I could not put this down and now I can’t stop thinking about it. The vibes were vibing and if you’re looking for a twisty, interconnected story that explores women’s desires, what they’ll do to meet them, and how they support each other along the way, definitely pick this up.
Releases March 2026. THANK YOU to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy in exchange for this honest review!!
Here’s the unique premise: in the early 70s, an epidemic spreads among young women. It starts with an untamable itch and coalesces into lethargy, wooziness, and loss of memory if they aren’t able to do what their body compels them to do: travel westward, to the coast. The coast calls to them and they must go. But as the infection worsens, the harder it is to move. So some women hitch a ride with a myth-like man in a big bus who calls himself The Piper and wants to help Westward Women reach their final destination.
But something’s not quite right with him, and with the infection at large. And a few girls are determined to figure it all out.
This multi-POV novel follows three women who are all traveling westward: one with The Piper, a journalist looking for him (and a story), and a third in search of her infected best friend, desperate to save her before it’s too late. A stylistically unique and very effective fourth POV enters the chat at times, too—a second person narration that makes you feel like YOU are one of the Westward Women.
I could not put this down and now I can’t stop thinking about it. The vibes were vibing and if you’re looking for a twisty, interconnected story that explores women’s desires, what they’ll do to meet them, and how they support each other along the way, definitely pick this up.
Releases March 2026. THANK YOU to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy in exchange for this honest review!!
July 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
4/5⭐️. This book is set in a dystopian 1970s era where a disease gives women the “itch” to move Westward. Hence, the title of the book. There are three perspectives that it follows. Aimee, the good girl that does everything right but makes a choice that goes against her perceived personality. Eve, a former disgraced reporter who is trying to earn her reputation back. And Teenie, the afflicted girl with her own trauma she’s trying to deal with.
I am surprised at the lower rating on Goodreads. The story hinges on the characters as it is character driven. There were some POVs I preferred (Eve and Aimee) over others (Teenie). However, this may change for each reader. The author does a good job formulating the aspirations and traits of each character. They do feel like real people without feeling like caricatures.
The dystopian world-building aspect was interesting to me and made me want to learn more about having other POV’s. I understand why the author wanted to contain the story to revolve around specific perspectives as it can become too big. I ended up having some questions about the disease itself.
The book could’ve been 5 stars if the writing was less superfluous. There were times that words were said to fill a word count or pad the book. This could’ve been offset by including more plot points as it does drag in the middle. Everything comes together at the end which may seem divisive to some readers. This may be why it’s rated lower.
This is a novel for people who enjoy character-driven stories over plot. Being a leader of a book club, I found myself wanting to ask members about their thoughts of the book. Cmon Reese and Jenna, asking you to pick this as your book club books. Overall, it was an interesting read. It is not perfect but I did enjoy it as a debut novel.
4/5⭐️. This book is set in a dystopian 1970s era where a disease gives women the “itch” to move Westward. Hence, the title of the book. There are three perspectives that it follows. Aimee, the good girl that does everything right but makes a choice that goes against her perceived personality. Eve, a former disgraced reporter who is trying to earn her reputation back. And Teenie, the afflicted girl with her own trauma she’s trying to deal with.
I am surprised at the lower rating on Goodreads. The story hinges on the characters as it is character driven. There were some POVs I preferred (Eve and Aimee) over others (Teenie). However, this may change for each reader. The author does a good job formulating the aspirations and traits of each character. They do feel like real people without feeling like caricatures.
The dystopian world-building aspect was interesting to me and made me want to learn more about having other POV’s. I understand why the author wanted to contain the story to revolve around specific perspectives as it can become too big. I ended up having some questions about the disease itself.
The book could’ve been 5 stars if the writing was less superfluous. There were times that words were said to fill a word count or pad the book. This could’ve been offset by including more plot points as it does drag in the middle. Everything comes together at the end which may seem divisive to some readers. This may be why it’s rated lower.
This is a novel for people who enjoy character-driven stories over plot. Being a leader of a book club, I found myself wanting to ask members about their thoughts of the book. Cmon Reese and Jenna, asking you to pick this as your book club books. Overall, it was an interesting read. It is not perfect but I did enjoy it as a debut novel.
July 28, 2025
3.5 stars
Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
It starts with an itch that can't be satisfied. Then the infected women go west and most are never seen again. It's spreading like a disease to young women. This story follows the POVs of women who are personally impacted by the infection in various ways.
This is quite the journey and such a unique premise. It brings up so many conversations about being female and having autonomy. This was so well written, especially for a debut novel. The characters were fleshed out and they all had great backstories. You become attached to these women and invested in their wellbeing.
The ending fell a bit flat for me because some of the loose ends were tied together a little too conveniently. I still enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it.
the publisher for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
It starts with an itch that can't be satisfied. Then the infected women go west and most are never seen again. It's spreading like a disease to young women. This story follows the POVs of women who are personally impacted by the infection in various ways.
This is quite the journey and such a unique premise. It brings up so many conversations about being female and having autonomy. This was so well written, especially for a debut novel. The characters were fleshed out and they all had great backstories. You become attached to these women and invested in their wellbeing.
The ending fell a bit flat for me because some of the loose ends were tied together a little too conveniently. I still enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
It starts with an itch that can't be satisfied. Then the infected women go west and most are never seen again. It's spreading like a disease to young women. This story follows the POVs of women who are personally impacted by the infection in various ways.
This is quite the journey and such a unique premise. It brings up so many conversations about being female and having autonomy. This was so well written, especially for a debut novel. The characters were fleshed out and they all had great backstories. You become attached to these women and invested in their wellbeing.
The ending fell a bit flat for me because some of the loose ends were tied together a little too conveniently. I still enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it.
the publisher for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
It starts with an itch that can't be satisfied. Then the infected women go west and most are never seen again. It's spreading like a disease to young women. This story follows the POVs of women who are personally impacted by the infection in various ways.
This is quite the journey and such a unique premise. It brings up so many conversations about being female and having autonomy. This was so well written, especially for a debut novel. The characters were fleshed out and they all had great backstories. You become attached to these women and invested in their wellbeing.
The ending fell a bit flat for me because some of the loose ends were tied together a little too conveniently. I still enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it.
July 31, 2025
Westward Women
What an unexpected surprise.
Following three women’s point of view through a strange epidemic that only affects women between the ages of 16-40 during the 70’s.
Evie is the disgraced journalist attempting to redeem herself by getting to the base of exactly how and why these infected women head west.
Aimee is the concerned best friend of one of the westward women, going above and beyond to bring her friend Ginny home.
Trish is infected and slowly losing her mind, like most of these women.
A man called the Piper who herds the infected, to somewhat their destination.
At first I thought this was a nod to women being sick of only fulfilling the typical care taker roles in society, but as you get past 50% everything changes.
Medical experts and behavioral scientists are trying to cure this strange phenomenon, but can only go so far.
The beginning was a tad bit slow to start, but it got momentum after the first few chapters.
Some moments felt like a fever dream.
Although every now and then one of the characters would just go on and on away from the plot. It annoyed me to a point.
I had a good time with this one for the most part.
Thank you to Saint Martins Press and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
What an unexpected surprise.
Following three women’s point of view through a strange epidemic that only affects women between the ages of 16-40 during the 70’s.
Evie is the disgraced journalist attempting to redeem herself by getting to the base of exactly how and why these infected women head west.
Aimee is the concerned best friend of one of the westward women, going above and beyond to bring her friend Ginny home.
Trish is infected and slowly losing her mind, like most of these women.
A man called the Piper who herds the infected, to somewhat their destination.
At first I thought this was a nod to women being sick of only fulfilling the typical care taker roles in society, but as you get past 50% everything changes.
Medical experts and behavioral scientists are trying to cure this strange phenomenon, but can only go so far.
The beginning was a tad bit slow to start, but it got momentum after the first few chapters.
Some moments felt like a fever dream.
Although every now and then one of the characters would just go on and on away from the plot. It annoyed me to a point.
I had a good time with this one for the most part.
Thank you to Saint Martins Press and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
3.5 stars, but can't quite give 4 stars. It was really hard to pin down a rating for this book.
This book definitely has something to say, but it struggles with itself to say it. Trying not to cross the line into heavy handed, but in the end it leaves the message a bit muddy.
The underlying refrain seems to be: women are struggling. We are struggling under expectations. Struggling with identity. Struggling with traditional roles. Wouldn't it be nice to just... put it all down?
While I do think this is a difficult topic to handle without crossing the line into being heavy handed, I just found myself wanting more out of this story. The prose was exceptionally well done. I liked the four main FMCs and identified with their backstories. But I just can't really see this going down with the greats, such as The Handmaid's Tale that it's being compared to. At the end of the day it's a book I read, I was engaged, but I doubt I'll be thinking about it much again.
Best wishes to Alice Martin and their future publications!
3.5 stars, but can't quite give 4 stars. It was really hard to pin down a rating for this book.
This book definitely has something to say, but it struggles with itself to say it. Trying not to cross the line into heavy handed, but in the end it leaves the message a bit muddy.
The underlying refrain seems to be: women are struggling. We are struggling under expectations. Struggling with identity. Struggling with traditional roles. Wouldn't it be nice to just... put it all down?
While I do think this is a difficult topic to handle without crossing the line into being heavy handed, I just found myself wanting more out of this story. The prose was exceptionally well done. I liked the four main FMCs and identified with their backstories. But I just can't really see this going down with the greats, such as The Handmaid's Tale that it's being compared to. At the end of the day it's a book I read, I was engaged, but I doubt I'll be thinking about it much again.
Best wishes to Alice Martin and their future publications!
August 14, 2025
I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley. The plot was really interesting and overall it was a very cool read. Set in the 70s, it follows women living through a mysterious illness that makes them extremely itchy, gives them strange dreams, and drives them to migrate west toward the Pacific where most eventually disappear. The story is told through different POVs, which I really liked. Two characters are sick, one is searching for her missing friend, and one is a journalist chasing the mysterious “Piper,” a man rumored to be helping women go westward.
I really struggled getting through it because of the wording. There were so many had/would contractions like “she’d,” “Aimee’d,” and “Ginny’d” that it completely distracted me and made it hard to focus on anything else. I did finish it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more as an audiobook. The build up was good and I loved the sense of anticipation, but the climax was rushed and fell flat. The ending also felt underwhelming and I did not find the meaning of the book very clear or impactful.
I really struggled getting through it because of the wording. There were so many had/would contractions like “she’d,” “Aimee’d,” and “Ginny’d” that it completely distracted me and made it hard to focus on anything else. I did finish it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more as an audiobook. The build up was good and I loved the sense of anticipation, but the climax was rushed and fell flat. The ending also felt underwhelming and I did not find the meaning of the book very clear or impactful.
October 20, 2025
my first debut author ARC! 🥰
I wasn't really sure what to expect when going into this novel. Expected it to be part dystopian, part social commentary, part pandemic commentary. I was pleasantly surprised! I thought the multiple POV was done very well and that the individual stories entwined together seamlessly.
✨Would recommend for fans of: The Girls by Emma Cline
For my rating, I docked this point a few stars because:
1. The ending was a bit too coincidental for me and did not really seem plausible (unlike the rest of the story). It felt a bit out of place in this otherwise very realistic story.
2. A piece was missing in the social commentary the author was trying to make about women's rights, pandemics, etc. I feel like the plot got SO close to the point it was trying to make but didn't quite click.
Overall, thought this would have been more effective if it was set in the future (as opposed to 1970s/80s) but was a great debut novel! Don't know if it was quite up my alley but could see this book developing a following once it is released. Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for selecting me to read this debut early!
I wasn't really sure what to expect when going into this novel. Expected it to be part dystopian, part social commentary, part pandemic commentary. I was pleasantly surprised! I thought the multiple POV was done very well and that the individual stories entwined together seamlessly.
✨Would recommend for fans of: The Girls by Emma Cline
For my rating, I docked this point a few stars because:
1. The ending was a bit too coincidental for me and did not really seem plausible (unlike the rest of the story). It felt a bit out of place in this otherwise very realistic story.
2. A piece was missing in the social commentary the author was trying to make about women's rights, pandemics, etc. I feel like the plot got SO close to the point it was trying to make but didn't quite click.
Overall, thought this would have been more effective if it was set in the future (as opposed to 1970s/80s) but was a great debut novel! Don't know if it was quite up my alley but could see this book developing a following once it is released. Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for selecting me to read this debut early!
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