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Where the Girls Were: A Novel
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25 copies available
U.S. only
They were sent away to be forgotten. This is their story.
In this electrifying historical novel about coming of age in tumultuous 1960s San Francisco, a pregnant teenager reckons with womanhood and agency after being sent to a home for unwed mothers.
"Thrilling, propulsive, breathless, and brimming with a deep understanding of longing and frailty . . . of humanness.”—Catherine Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Sandwich and Wreck
It’s 1968, and the future is bright for seventeen-year-old Elizabeth “Baker” She’s the valedictorian of her high school, with a place at Stanford in the fall and big dreams of becoming a journalist. But the seductive free-spirited San Francisco atmosphere seeps into her carefully planned, strait-laced life in the form of a hippie named Wiley. At first, letting loose and letting herself fall in love for the first time feels incredible. But then, everything changes.
Pregnancy hits Baker with the force of whiplash—in the blink of an eye, she goes from good girl to fallen woman, from her family’s shining star to their embarrassing secret. Without any other options, Baker is sent to a home for unwed mothers, and finds herself trapped in an old Victorian house packed with pregnant girls who share her shame and fear. As she grapples with her changing body, lack of choice, and uncertain future, Baker finds unexpected community and empowerment among the “girls who went away.”
Where the Girls Were is a timely unearthing of a little-known moment in American history, when the sexual revolution and feminist movement collided with the limits of reproductive rights—and society's expectations of women. As Baker finds her strength and her voice, she shows us how to step into your power, even when the world is determined to keep you silent.
In this electrifying historical novel about coming of age in tumultuous 1960s San Francisco, a pregnant teenager reckons with womanhood and agency after being sent to a home for unwed mothers.
"Thrilling, propulsive, breathless, and brimming with a deep understanding of longing and frailty . . . of humanness.”—Catherine Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Sandwich and Wreck
It’s 1968, and the future is bright for seventeen-year-old Elizabeth “Baker” She’s the valedictorian of her high school, with a place at Stanford in the fall and big dreams of becoming a journalist. But the seductive free-spirited San Francisco atmosphere seeps into her carefully planned, strait-laced life in the form of a hippie named Wiley. At first, letting loose and letting herself fall in love for the first time feels incredible. But then, everything changes.
Pregnancy hits Baker with the force of whiplash—in the blink of an eye, she goes from good girl to fallen woman, from her family’s shining star to their embarrassing secret. Without any other options, Baker is sent to a home for unwed mothers, and finds herself trapped in an old Victorian house packed with pregnant girls who share her shame and fear. As she grapples with her changing body, lack of choice, and uncertain future, Baker finds unexpected community and empowerment among the “girls who went away.”
Where the Girls Were is a timely unearthing of a little-known moment in American history, when the sexual revolution and feminist movement collided with the limits of reproductive rights—and society's expectations of women. As Baker finds her strength and her voice, she shows us how to step into your power, even when the world is determined to keep you silent.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
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16584 people want to read
About the author
Kate Schatz
16 books178 followersKate Schatz (pronounced ‘Shots’) is a queer feminist writer, activist, educator, and public speaker. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the "Rad Women" book series, including Rad American Women A-Z (City Lights, 2015), Rad Women Worldwide (Ten Speed Press, 2016), Rad Girls Can (Ten Speed Press, 2018), and Rad American History A-Z (Ten Speed Press, 2020), as well as "Do the Work: An Antiracist Activity Book" co-written with W. Kamau Bell (Workman, 2022). Her novel Where The Girls Were is out on Dial Press in March 2026. Her book of fiction, Rid of Me: A Story, was published in 2006 as part of the acclaimed 33 1/3 series. Her writing has been published in Oxford American, Denver Quarterly, Joyland, and West Branch, among others, and her short story “Folsom, Survivor” was included as a “Notable Short Story” in Best American Short Stories 2011. She has appeared on msnbc, NPR, and Conan O'Brien, among other major media outlets. She received her MFA in Fiction from Brown University, and a double BA in Women’s Studies/Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz. She lives with her wife and children in the Bay Area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 16, 2025
"If men could get pregnant, I bet it would be different.”
“That, my dear, is certainly true.”
Where The Girls Were is a historical fiction novel of a girl unexpectedly pregnant in the 1960's. She goes to a girls home to have the baby and get back to her life. She is a smart and good girl, Baker gave her valedictorian speech then leaves her beloved cousin May and goes to a residential facility.
The overturning of Roe vs Wade has led to many historical fiction books in this very theme-
The Girls Who Grew Big (Panhandle Florida)
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls (Rural Florida)
Wayward Girls (Buffalo, NY)
All books published in 2025, the gem of this theme is that you get multiple strong female characters. Some are more naive than others and there is usually one truly tragic situation.
This book, while still tragic, is perhaps the least tragic of these 4, surprising only because the author is a self described queer feminist- but according to the authors note, she learned that her mother spent time in one of these homes and having a baby that went for adoption. It gives the story a kindness and a hopefulness that is endearing to the reader. This story is more of a characterization and doesn't beat you over the head, this story is the quietest, the least self-righteous.
Baker is our main character, this is her middle name that she goes by. Baker, as in, baking the bun in the oven. The father of her baby, Wiley, is literally just a dude. He is not at all a villain nor a romantic lead. I liked that- the father in this case is simply just not all that important. Baker considers breaking the law to have an illegal abortion but lacks the time and courage. She meets friends and goes through a process to have her baby, not being able to make phone calls or go outside for months.
This story is a breath of fresh air, well written, and very readable. I can hardly believe it's a debut, but the author is a skilled writer, just now publishing a novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC. Book to be published Mar 3, 2025.
“That, my dear, is certainly true.”
Where The Girls Were is a historical fiction novel of a girl unexpectedly pregnant in the 1960's. She goes to a girls home to have the baby and get back to her life. She is a smart and good girl, Baker gave her valedictorian speech then leaves her beloved cousin May and goes to a residential facility.
The overturning of Roe vs Wade has led to many historical fiction books in this very theme-
The Girls Who Grew Big (Panhandle Florida)
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls (Rural Florida)
Wayward Girls (Buffalo, NY)
All books published in 2025, the gem of this theme is that you get multiple strong female characters. Some are more naive than others and there is usually one truly tragic situation.
This book, while still tragic, is perhaps the least tragic of these 4, surprising only because the author is a self described queer feminist- but according to the authors note, she learned that her mother spent time in one of these homes and having a baby that went for adoption. It gives the story a kindness and a hopefulness that is endearing to the reader. This story is more of a characterization and doesn't beat you over the head, this story is the quietest, the least self-righteous.
Baker is our main character, this is her middle name that she goes by. Baker, as in, baking the bun in the oven. The father of her baby, Wiley, is literally just a dude. He is not at all a villain nor a romantic lead. I liked that- the father in this case is simply just not all that important. Baker considers breaking the law to have an illegal abortion but lacks the time and courage. She meets friends and goes through a process to have her baby, not being able to make phone calls or go outside for months.
This story is a breath of fresh air, well written, and very readable. I can hardly believe it's a debut, but the author is a skilled writer, just now publishing a novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC. Book to be published Mar 3, 2025.
October 26, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this digital ARC
It’s rather difficult to accept that this is viewed as historic fiction, as it is a near perfect depiction of my own youth, other than location. Thus, regional differences of the era apply.
Baker, valedictorian of the class of 1968, finds herself pregnant and with few options. To save face and her reputation, Baker’s mother “takes care of everything,” and places her in a home for unwed mothers in San Francisco.
What follows is a near-perfect depiction of being a young woman in the late 60s where the rules were in flux, sexual freedom was on the rise, but young women were amazingly naive and uneducated about their own bodies. The depiction of living in this home where the girls were alternately told how lucky they were to be there, and how shameful and embarrassing it was that they were brought there, broke my heart. Again, being of that same age group, this story brought back memories of all the girls I knew who “got caught,” as well as the naïveté of myself and friends.
Incredibly timely with the ridiculous current political climate that thinks taking women back to this era of illegal back alley procedures, running for the border, and being shamed and hidden away, will make us “great again.”
It’s rather difficult to accept that this is viewed as historic fiction, as it is a near perfect depiction of my own youth, other than location. Thus, regional differences of the era apply.
Baker, valedictorian of the class of 1968, finds herself pregnant and with few options. To save face and her reputation, Baker’s mother “takes care of everything,” and places her in a home for unwed mothers in San Francisco.
What follows is a near-perfect depiction of being a young woman in the late 60s where the rules were in flux, sexual freedom was on the rise, but young women were amazingly naive and uneducated about their own bodies. The depiction of living in this home where the girls were alternately told how lucky they were to be there, and how shameful and embarrassing it was that they were brought there, broke my heart. Again, being of that same age group, this story brought back memories of all the girls I knew who “got caught,” as well as the naïveté of myself and friends.
Incredibly timely with the ridiculous current political climate that thinks taking women back to this era of illegal back alley procedures, running for the border, and being shamed and hidden away, will make us “great again.”
October 27, 2025
I absolutely loved this novel as it encapsulated the 60's so well in terms of motherhood and the secrets we kept. Seventeen-year-old Baker finds herself pregnant and her angry mother still plans a massive graduation party for her as she's unwilling to let anyone know about her daughter's "mistake." But Baker has other plans; she doesn't know what, but she's determined to make it HER choice, not her mother's! It's fast-paced and heartbreaking as well as heartwarming!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher Random House for this advanced copy of “Where the Girls Were”! This is my first ARC & my first review.
I was truly blown away by this book and how well written it was for a debut novel. The author had such a real and true way of describing emotions to the various situations these characters were put through and it made me feel very connected to the story. That is something that is always appreciated as a reader because the more I feel connected to the characters & genuinely care what happens to them, the more I get into a book.
Another quick thing that I liked about the book was the pacing. We were not stuck at one point in time for too long where it can get repetitive which helped the story flow!
“Where the Girls Were” is a historical fiction book set in San Francisco in the late 1960’s. It demonstrates a world in which there was no choice. Although it is fictitious, it is based off of the true events (the authors mother for example) and realities that teenagers & young women had to go through before they had a say.
If you get a chance to read this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I was truly blown away by this book and how well written it was for a debut novel. The author had such a real and true way of describing emotions to the various situations these characters were put through and it made me feel very connected to the story. That is something that is always appreciated as a reader because the more I feel connected to the characters & genuinely care what happens to them, the more I get into a book.
Another quick thing that I liked about the book was the pacing. We were not stuck at one point in time for too long where it can get repetitive which helped the story flow!
“Where the Girls Were” is a historical fiction book set in San Francisco in the late 1960’s. It demonstrates a world in which there was no choice. Although it is fictitious, it is based off of the true events (the authors mother for example) and realities that teenagers & young women had to go through before they had a say.
If you get a chance to read this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
December 9, 2025
Having been a teen myself in the 1960’s, I can recall the strict and unforgiving attitude toward girls who became pregnant. There was no sex education or information about birth control offered in schools and it was usually not talked about at home. Teen pregnancies were a scandal and it ruined a girls reputation.
Where The Girls Were is spot on in describing this time and the cruel treatment these pregnant teens experienced from their families and society.
The main character here is a seventeen year old girl named Baker. She is quite niave and has been sheltered all her life being an only child. Her curiosity and wish to be more like her outgoing and wild cousin leads to a secret new relationship. When she finds herself pregnant, she is ashamed and desperate. When Baker’s parents figure out she is pregnant, they are devastated. Baker is quickly whisked off to a home for unwed mothers before anyone finds out that she is pregnant. This book describes Baker’s heart breaking story.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my own opinion.
I was drawn in immediately to Baker’s emotional turmoil and I could feel her fear and shame. The stress in keeping her pregnancy a secret and her later banishment to the home was an emotional read. I loved how the author, Kate Schatz , explored Baker’s, and her fellow teen housemate’s stress in dealing with their forbidden pregnancies and their future scary event of giving birth. The author was also spot on in describing the social events of the 1960’s. The Vietnam war, and society’s unrest and protests.
Later in the 60’s a cultural movement began that recognized a women’s rights to reproductive freedom. There were some controversial subjects described here, which I felt were a necessary element of this story.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my own opinion.
Where The Girls Were is spot on in describing this time and the cruel treatment these pregnant teens experienced from their families and society.
The main character here is a seventeen year old girl named Baker. She is quite niave and has been sheltered all her life being an only child. Her curiosity and wish to be more like her outgoing and wild cousin leads to a secret new relationship. When she finds herself pregnant, she is ashamed and desperate. When Baker’s parents figure out she is pregnant, they are devastated. Baker is quickly whisked off to a home for unwed mothers before anyone finds out that she is pregnant. This book describes Baker’s heart breaking story.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my own opinion.
I was drawn in immediately to Baker’s emotional turmoil and I could feel her fear and shame. The stress in keeping her pregnancy a secret and her later banishment to the home was an emotional read. I loved how the author, Kate Schatz , explored Baker’s, and her fellow teen housemate’s stress in dealing with their forbidden pregnancies and their future scary event of giving birth. The author was also spot on in describing the social events of the 1960’s. The Vietnam war, and society’s unrest and protests.
Later in the 60’s a cultural movement began that recognized a women’s rights to reproductive freedom. There were some controversial subjects described here, which I felt were a necessary element of this story.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my own opinion.
October 22, 2025
This is a great historical fiction book. It takes place in the Bay Area in the 60s. I was drawn to Baker’s story, a teen who gets pregnant unexpectedly. She’s a smart girl, yet naive. When her parents find out they send her to a home to hide her pregnancy. There, she meets other teens in similar circumstances. It’s tragic and sad, showcasing what can happens when women don’t have a choice over their bodies and future.
November 6, 2025
This is honestly one of the best things I've read in the last few years. Schatz writes so incredibly well. I was whisked back to the 1960s within a few pages, feeling the music and attitude and sense of time. Schatz brought the experience of a young pregnant girl to light, and I could sense the desperation, disappointment and sheer helplessness in her loss of hope and direction; the loss of what she thought her future would be. I absolutely loved the path that this story took the reader on, with caring, humor and deep connection between her characters. I cannot recommend this one highly enough! I am so grateful to NetGalley for sending me this recommendation- spot on!
October 28, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'Where The Girls Were' by Kate Schatz - expected release date of 03/03/2026
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really intense, sad read about how unwed, pregnant, young women were treated in the 1960's. Labeled as historical "fiction," unfortunately, this was a real-life depiction of that time. The writing was real and raw, and the characters were strong and beautifully written. I thought the Kitty storyline could've been amped up to make it more relevant or cut out completely - it wasn't really necessary to the storyline as it was written. Also, the ending should've been given more thought and attention considering how back and forth Baker was in her journey, it kinda left you thinking you know what her decision is but not really...
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really intense, sad read about how unwed, pregnant, young women were treated in the 1960's. Labeled as historical "fiction," unfortunately, this was a real-life depiction of that time. The writing was real and raw, and the characters were strong and beautifully written. I thought the Kitty storyline could've been amped up to make it more relevant or cut out completely - it wasn't really necessary to the storyline as it was written. Also, the ending should've been given more thought and attention considering how back and forth Baker was in her journey, it kinda left you thinking you know what her decision is but not really...
December 23, 2025
I could not stop reading this book. It felt like such a realistic portrayal of what young, pregnant (unmarried) women and girls used to experience. While reading this, I felt so badly about how women/girls used to experience sex, pregnancy, and reproductive health so negatively. There was no education in school, let alone from other women in their lives. The ending is very interesting and I appreciate how it was done.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2025
One of my favorite reads of the year hands down
November 10, 2025
4 stars
This is a fulfilling example of historical fiction that reflects not only authenticity in its time and place but also in its developed characters and their trials. While this is not the only book about pregnant teens in these kinds of facilities to come out recently, it stands out among the group in a positive way.
Elizabeth, who goes by Baker, is absolutely killing it. She's so close to graduating as valedictorian and heading off to Stanford. It's 1968, so she might still be rolling out of there with an added degree (Mrs), but she dominates her English courses and she has big hopes and dreams as a future journalist. These future plans do not include a baby in the immediate future, but that's exactly what happens. Because of the timing, she has fewer options than...oh. Wow, how I would have written this differently not too long ago. [Insert sad face emoji followed by barf emoji]. Baker and her peers do not have many options for how to handle an unwanted pregnancy, and while they attempt to get it, the flow of correct information does not reach them. That's how many of them end up at a home for people just like them, getting disappeared by their mortified families. The circumstances are terrible, and everything that happens here is a great reminder of why we should not be going backward (like we have been).
Though Baker could easily have been painted as a helpless, withering individual, that's not her vibe at all. She questions what is happening to her and others, expresses herself when she is able, and makes choices that reflect more mature decisions than one might expect at first glance. I rooted for her the whole time, and for all of her peers, since I got to see them through her empathetic and (relatively) informed eyes.
I learned at a very young age that a family member in my grandparents' generation went through an experience similar to this. While that happened earlier than this is set, I really enjoyed getting another view into this experience. It's heartbreaking, and it's impossible not to think about the many people who were impacted by this absolutely horrific system. On a related note, I was already a fan of this book on its own, but the author's note is not to be missed. That made me appreciate the effort even more, along with the ending, which I loved.
This is not a light read, but it's an important one, and there are threads of hope and resilience that make it even more palatable.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Lauren Chrisney at Penguin Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is a fulfilling example of historical fiction that reflects not only authenticity in its time and place but also in its developed characters and their trials. While this is not the only book about pregnant teens in these kinds of facilities to come out recently, it stands out among the group in a positive way.
Elizabeth, who goes by Baker, is absolutely killing it. She's so close to graduating as valedictorian and heading off to Stanford. It's 1968, so she might still be rolling out of there with an added degree (Mrs), but she dominates her English courses and she has big hopes and dreams as a future journalist. These future plans do not include a baby in the immediate future, but that's exactly what happens. Because of the timing, she has fewer options than...oh. Wow, how I would have written this differently not too long ago. [Insert sad face emoji followed by barf emoji]. Baker and her peers do not have many options for how to handle an unwanted pregnancy, and while they attempt to get it, the flow of correct information does not reach them. That's how many of them end up at a home for people just like them, getting disappeared by their mortified families. The circumstances are terrible, and everything that happens here is a great reminder of why we should not be going backward (like we have been).
Though Baker could easily have been painted as a helpless, withering individual, that's not her vibe at all. She questions what is happening to her and others, expresses herself when she is able, and makes choices that reflect more mature decisions than one might expect at first glance. I rooted for her the whole time, and for all of her peers, since I got to see them through her empathetic and (relatively) informed eyes.
I learned at a very young age that a family member in my grandparents' generation went through an experience similar to this. While that happened earlier than this is set, I really enjoyed getting another view into this experience. It's heartbreaking, and it's impossible not to think about the many people who were impacted by this absolutely horrific system. On a related note, I was already a fan of this book on its own, but the author's note is not to be missed. That made me appreciate the effort even more, along with the ending, which I loved.
This is not a light read, but it's an important one, and there are threads of hope and resilience that make it even more palatable.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Lauren Chrisney at Penguin Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
November 15, 2025
High school valedictorian Baker finds herself pregnant in 1968, ultimately sent away to a home for unwed mothers. Taking place just before abortion became legal, the events in this book could very well be our own reality soon - if not already. As smart as she is, Baker is naive about sex and pregnancy, among other things , but she comes into her own over the course of the story.
I wish we knew what her decision was in the end. The author's note at the end is powerful.
Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
I wish we knew what her decision was in the end. The author's note at the end is powerful.
Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
January 5, 2026
I have read many historical fiction books surrounding the stories of women, but I do not think any have been so striking to me as this one. Schatz clearly did copious amounts of research to ensure that each story told within these pages was historically accurate, raw, and feels all to real.
Written in a way that explores women’s rights, abortion, and the heated culture of the late 1960s, Schatz takes great care to portray young women in temporary homes for unwed mothers in a way that feels like I’m both learning in the 21st century but also experiencing this story in the year it is set. This quality for me is rare to find in books, but it makes them it the more impactful to have found this story.
Ultimately, this book serves as reminder of how far we have come- and still have to go- for womens rights as well as the generational reminder that women are strong and are the backbone of human civilizations in ways we often forget about in our 21st century lens.
Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press, and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Written in a way that explores women’s rights, abortion, and the heated culture of the late 1960s, Schatz takes great care to portray young women in temporary homes for unwed mothers in a way that feels like I’m both learning in the 21st century but also experiencing this story in the year it is set. This quality for me is rare to find in books, but it makes them it the more impactful to have found this story.
Ultimately, this book serves as reminder of how far we have come- and still have to go- for womens rights as well as the generational reminder that women are strong and are the backbone of human civilizations in ways we often forget about in our 21st century lens.
Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press, and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2026
My first 5-star read of 2026! Set in the late 60's, this book follows 'Baker,' high school valedictorian and only-child overachiever who gets a taste of being carefree when she hooks up with Wiley, an acquaintance of her cousin's. After their brief fling, Baker finds herself pregnant and alone in a time when it is against all social norms to be pregnant and unmarried. She is sent to a home with other young girls who are facing similar shame and embarrassment, and has to face the consequences of her actions when there are no choices or options offered - or allowed - all while learning to find her own voice, power, and strength.
Thank you to #netgalley #thedialpress #kateschatz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to #netgalley #thedialpress #kateschatz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2025
Baker, good girl extraordinaire, class valedictorian, has all her life goals upended when she finds herself pregnant and unwed in the 1960s. Sent to a home for unwed others she bonds with the other residents. Treated as “bad girls” they are given no choice in their future. I enjoyed the story but some of it was a bit farfetched – like the girls wearing fake wedding rings as they went out for walks so they would look “respectable.” I’m sure if I saw a bunch of obviously pregnant girls out for a stroll I would NOT assume they were married even if they were wearing rings. Overall the story was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2025
OUTSTANDING! Wow!
Want to read
October 25, 2025A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 11, 2025
Where the Girls Were captures the late 60’s experience of teenage pregnancy and the homes where girls were sent to finish out their time. It’s so sad that women were subjected to having no choices. I do recommend the book and truly felt for the characters and the struggles they faced.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Baker is the proverbial good girl-soon to be high school class of 1968 valedictorian and already accepted at Stanford University. She has buried her writing aspirations and instead plans to major in accounting to help her parents realize their dreams of wealth. She doesn't have time for a social life or boyfriends, as it's more important to keep those grades up and write for the school newspaper-her eyes have always been on the prize. That is until her older cousin is allowed to take her to a New Year's Eve concert in San Francisco.
May is Baker's opposite-she doesn't live at home with her parents, she is very liberated, and she thinks it time for her drippy cousin to grow up. She tells Baker that she's picking her up in an hour, and Baker gets permission from her strict but distracted mom, who is throwing a big New Year's Eve party. May drives up in a van loaded with college kids and hippies, and Baker starts talking to one of them who she's sharing space with. One thing leads to another (aided with drugs and booze) and they leave the concert and have sex. This continues for a few months as Baker revels in her new sexual freedom, but nausea and sore breasts are eventually linked with lack of period. The party is over and Baker refuses to tell the guy that he's going to be a father.
Baker has six more months of high school. She manages to conceal her pregnancy from her parents for a few weeks, but her mother figures it out. They are devastated-how embarrassing this scandal will be in front of their friends, not to mention the investment they made in her college and future earnings. But her mother came up with a plan-she was to return to high school and conceal her pregnancy until she graduates, then announce that she will be studying overseas until the baby is born, after which she will begin her studies at Stamford. Baker is going to a "home."
Her mother drives her to a large Victorian in San Francisco where she is to stay for the next four months. She meets the administrator, some of the instructors, and eventually the other residents, and becomes good friends with her roommate. The only thing the girls have in common is their condition-all are different ages, different backgrounds and beliefs, and different education levels, but they become closely bonded. Baker finds a community which she never expected nor ever had before. They discuss everything and are very careful not to disobey the house rules-at least in front of the officials, as they know things could get a lot worse for them. But what they are most worried about is what happens during labor and what will become of the babies.
Many historical novels emphasize the history over the novel, regarding the story only as a means of delivering the history lesson. This is not one of them. Schatz places her tale of young girls in trouble right around the time of the sexual revolution, and right before Roe v Wade, when the consequences of free love butt up against the new youth culture. Her characters do the best they can with the prudish values of the older generation, as they learn to make their own decisions and take their power back. Ironically, the reader knows that while things will be changing for the better in the 70’s, today’s loss of abortion rights brings us right back to the book’s dilemma.
May is Baker's opposite-she doesn't live at home with her parents, she is very liberated, and she thinks it time for her drippy cousin to grow up. She tells Baker that she's picking her up in an hour, and Baker gets permission from her strict but distracted mom, who is throwing a big New Year's Eve party. May drives up in a van loaded with college kids and hippies, and Baker starts talking to one of them who she's sharing space with. One thing leads to another (aided with drugs and booze) and they leave the concert and have sex. This continues for a few months as Baker revels in her new sexual freedom, but nausea and sore breasts are eventually linked with lack of period. The party is over and Baker refuses to tell the guy that he's going to be a father.
Baker has six more months of high school. She manages to conceal her pregnancy from her parents for a few weeks, but her mother figures it out. They are devastated-how embarrassing this scandal will be in front of their friends, not to mention the investment they made in her college and future earnings. But her mother came up with a plan-she was to return to high school and conceal her pregnancy until she graduates, then announce that she will be studying overseas until the baby is born, after which she will begin her studies at Stamford. Baker is going to a "home."
Her mother drives her to a large Victorian in San Francisco where she is to stay for the next four months. She meets the administrator, some of the instructors, and eventually the other residents, and becomes good friends with her roommate. The only thing the girls have in common is their condition-all are different ages, different backgrounds and beliefs, and different education levels, but they become closely bonded. Baker finds a community which she never expected nor ever had before. They discuss everything and are very careful not to disobey the house rules-at least in front of the officials, as they know things could get a lot worse for them. But what they are most worried about is what happens during labor and what will become of the babies.
Many historical novels emphasize the history over the novel, regarding the story only as a means of delivering the history lesson. This is not one of them. Schatz places her tale of young girls in trouble right around the time of the sexual revolution, and right before Roe v Wade, when the consequences of free love butt up against the new youth culture. Her characters do the best they can with the prudish values of the older generation, as they learn to make their own decisions and take their power back. Ironically, the reader knows that while things will be changing for the better in the 70’s, today’s loss of abortion rights brings us right back to the book’s dilemma.
December 11, 2025
Where the Girls Were is a historical novel by Kate Schatz, that takes place in 1968 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and focuses on how girls and young women (unmarried) were treated by their families and society when they became pregnant (this was also pre-Roe v. Wade). I was 14 in 1968, and knew a couple of girls that were at school one day and gone the next because of pregnancy, so I was especially interested in how this time would be explored by the author. This story is well-crafted and had clearly been well-researched. And the author also does a terrific job of presenting this story within the backdrop of other events occurring in 1968, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and the Democratic Convention in Chicago.
It’s New Year’s Eve 1967, and the future could not be brighter for 17-year-old Elizabeth Baker Phillips. She’s always been the perfect, obedient daughter and student, poised to graduate high school in June as the class valedictorian, and heading off to Stanford in the fall. On this night, she headed off with her older, wilder cousin May and a group of her friends to a rock concert in San Francisco. She hooks up with one of those friends, Wiley, and begins an affair. A few months later, she discovers she’s pregnant.
At first, Baker doesn’t quite realize what is happening. I found that a little implausible because she is so smart, reads the newspaper every day, and watches the news with her father every night. As the story progressed, I realized she was simply naïve, and it was more likely (based on my own recollections of that time), that she had had no formal sex education in school, nor would her mother or the school nurse have counseled her on birth control. It just wasn’t talked about, much less made easily available!
When her mother discovers her pregnancy, she plans for Baker to go to a maternity home in San Francisco, where she would stay until she gave birth, and then the baby would be adopted out to a “fit” family, while Baker went back go back to her life as if nothing had happened. In those days, that, and sending the girl off to live with relatives in another state, were the two most likely “solutions” to save face and avoid a scandal that could not only ruin the girl’s reputation, but the family’s as well.
The story also explores the relationships Baker forms with the other girls in the home, all of whom, of course, have their own stories. The author has created well-developed and interesting characters and dialogue, and I felt sad and angry at how they were being treated, and the shame, heartbreak, and manipulation they all experienced. They had few reproductive rights, and many resorted to “back alley” abortions. It’s a reminder of how much changed for the better, while also being a cautionary tale of how now, after 50+ years, we are in danger of losing the rights so many of us fought so hard to achieve. I very much appreciated the Author’s Note at the end of the book, which highlights what motivated Ms. Schatz to write this book (and motivated me to keep fighting), and I’m very glad she did. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press for the opportunity to read this beautifully crafted ARC.
It’s New Year’s Eve 1967, and the future could not be brighter for 17-year-old Elizabeth Baker Phillips. She’s always been the perfect, obedient daughter and student, poised to graduate high school in June as the class valedictorian, and heading off to Stanford in the fall. On this night, she headed off with her older, wilder cousin May and a group of her friends to a rock concert in San Francisco. She hooks up with one of those friends, Wiley, and begins an affair. A few months later, she discovers she’s pregnant.
At first, Baker doesn’t quite realize what is happening. I found that a little implausible because she is so smart, reads the newspaper every day, and watches the news with her father every night. As the story progressed, I realized she was simply naïve, and it was more likely (based on my own recollections of that time), that she had had no formal sex education in school, nor would her mother or the school nurse have counseled her on birth control. It just wasn’t talked about, much less made easily available!
When her mother discovers her pregnancy, she plans for Baker to go to a maternity home in San Francisco, where she would stay until she gave birth, and then the baby would be adopted out to a “fit” family, while Baker went back go back to her life as if nothing had happened. In those days, that, and sending the girl off to live with relatives in another state, were the two most likely “solutions” to save face and avoid a scandal that could not only ruin the girl’s reputation, but the family’s as well.
The story also explores the relationships Baker forms with the other girls in the home, all of whom, of course, have their own stories. The author has created well-developed and interesting characters and dialogue, and I felt sad and angry at how they were being treated, and the shame, heartbreak, and manipulation they all experienced. They had few reproductive rights, and many resorted to “back alley” abortions. It’s a reminder of how much changed for the better, while also being a cautionary tale of how now, after 50+ years, we are in danger of losing the rights so many of us fought so hard to achieve. I very much appreciated the Author’s Note at the end of the book, which highlights what motivated Ms. Schatz to write this book (and motivated me to keep fighting), and I’m very glad she did. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press for the opportunity to read this beautifully crafted ARC.
December 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Kate Schatz for an advanced reader copy of Where The Girls Were in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where The Girls Were will live in my head for a very, very long time.
Full disclosure, I applied for this ARC because of the cover (it’s absolutely beautiful, and the font felt really nostalgic, almost like a Judy Blume book). I didn’t read the synopsis fully , and I was expecting a fairly light-hearted read, especially with the bright colors and the Judy Blume-esque font. However, Where The Girls Were was NOT a light-hearted fun time, and it was spectacular.
I have never read anything like this, and I cannot stop thinking about Baker and the other girls. They live in my head rent-free and I worry about them and their futures as though they are real people.
The basis of this story is that Baker is an incredibly promising 17-year-old in the 1960s— graduating as valedictorian, a “good girl”, and about to start school at Stanford. However, she gets caught up with her cousin’s exciting friends, one boy in particular, and finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.
Although she is very bright, she is incredibly uneducated about reproduction and about pregnancy, almost to the point of seeming a little dumb— I think this is intentional though, the first glimpse into how different the 1960s were and how it was standard practice to not teach teenagers about sex, but to villainize them for it when mistakes are made due to the lack of understanding.
Behind the scenes of her first several months of pregnancy, her mom has been silently coordinating for Baker for be sent away to a house for unwed mothers. Baker is sent here without consent and without ever being consulted on what she wants and what she would like to do.
Once in the house, almost all autonomy is lost, and it is planned for each baby born there to be given up for adoption. This is considered one of the “perks” of these homes— hide your daughter from society for several months while lying about her whereabouts, and then arrange without your daughter’s consent for her baby to be given up for adoption while she is put to sleep during labor.
There is a very solid chance that this book hit differently for me because I am currently pregnant, but I found myself crushed during many different moments in this story.
And aside from just this dark underbelly of the 1960s, this was also the time that abortions were illegal, and back-alley, deadly abortions were performed frequently enough for this to be considered a dangerous epidemic, which is mentioned and discussed throughout the book.
Everything this book highlights— from the lack of sexual education to the unfair shame of unwed pregnancies to the inaccessibility of safe abortions to the unjust treatment of young, unwed mothers— has opened my eyes to a large part of our history that I embarrassingly wasn’t aware of.
This book was beautifully written, and not just about the horrors and traumas endured in the 1960s, but about the resilience of young women and the unbelievable strength that love and friendships can provide.
Although moments of this book felt incredibly bleak, I ended the book feeling a little bit changed for the better, and for that I’ll be forever grateful to Kate Schatz.
In case it wasn’t clear, I highly recommend Where The Girls Were. ♥️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where The Girls Were will live in my head for a very, very long time.
Full disclosure, I applied for this ARC because of the cover (it’s absolutely beautiful, and the font felt really nostalgic, almost like a Judy Blume book). I didn’t read the synopsis fully , and I was expecting a fairly light-hearted read, especially with the bright colors and the Judy Blume-esque font. However, Where The Girls Were was NOT a light-hearted fun time, and it was spectacular.
I have never read anything like this, and I cannot stop thinking about Baker and the other girls. They live in my head rent-free and I worry about them and their futures as though they are real people.
The basis of this story is that Baker is an incredibly promising 17-year-old in the 1960s— graduating as valedictorian, a “good girl”, and about to start school at Stanford. However, she gets caught up with her cousin’s exciting friends, one boy in particular, and finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.
Although she is very bright, she is incredibly uneducated about reproduction and about pregnancy, almost to the point of seeming a little dumb— I think this is intentional though, the first glimpse into how different the 1960s were and how it was standard practice to not teach teenagers about sex, but to villainize them for it when mistakes are made due to the lack of understanding.
Behind the scenes of her first several months of pregnancy, her mom has been silently coordinating for Baker for be sent away to a house for unwed mothers. Baker is sent here without consent and without ever being consulted on what she wants and what she would like to do.
Once in the house, almost all autonomy is lost, and it is planned for each baby born there to be given up for adoption. This is considered one of the “perks” of these homes— hide your daughter from society for several months while lying about her whereabouts, and then arrange without your daughter’s consent for her baby to be given up for adoption while she is put to sleep during labor.
There is a very solid chance that this book hit differently for me because I am currently pregnant, but I found myself crushed during many different moments in this story.
And aside from just this dark underbelly of the 1960s, this was also the time that abortions were illegal, and back-alley, deadly abortions were performed frequently enough for this to be considered a dangerous epidemic, which is mentioned and discussed throughout the book.
Everything this book highlights— from the lack of sexual education to the unfair shame of unwed pregnancies to the inaccessibility of safe abortions to the unjust treatment of young, unwed mothers— has opened my eyes to a large part of our history that I embarrassingly wasn’t aware of.
This book was beautifully written, and not just about the horrors and traumas endured in the 1960s, but about the resilience of young women and the unbelievable strength that love and friendships can provide.
Although moments of this book felt incredibly bleak, I ended the book feeling a little bit changed for the better, and for that I’ll be forever grateful to Kate Schatz.
In case it wasn’t clear, I highly recommend Where The Girls Were. ♥️
November 6, 2025
4.5 stars! Where the Girls were follows Baker, a seventeen-year-old who falls pregnant and gets sent away by her parents to a home with girls going through the same experience. Kate Schatz took this historical, coming-of-age story and made the reader completely connect with it. The writing swept me up and didn't let me go. The writing style was both humorous and completely captivating. This is the type of writing style I love to see!
There is a stereotype that teenagers who get pregnant are reckless, irresponsible, and know what they are doing without any regard. I love how Kate Schatz took this stereotype and threw it out the window. She took a whole new approach with the main characters. Baker was valedictorian at her high school, bound for Stanford. She was the perfect daughter in many aspects. She genuinely did not know how her own body worked, and this stood out to me. It shows that not every case is the same. It can truly happen to anyone, even those you least expect it.
The 1960s aspects and how Kate Schatz executed them were everything. We got a taste of this from the legal aspects, the details/descriptions of San Francisco, the gender norms, and the overall way of life. This made the impact of the message hit so much harder.
One of my favorite portions of description was when Baker arrived at the house for the girls. The author took detail to a whole new level. The exterior of the house was described, along with the outside area. When it reached the interior, we received descriptions of the rooms as well. The house was vividly displayed in my imagination.
Jane Eyre being a part of this story made it more enjoyable to me! It is one of my favorite classics, as well as Baker's. Using this classic to teach the young girls was special, and I loved reading these scenes.
The relationships that were built between all of the girls in the house were great to follow. Again, it showed how every single one of these girls was different. Each is their own person, but with the same end result. They were all there for each other in more ways than one.
Thank you NetGalley, The Dial Press, & Kate Schatz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Where the Girls Were is released on March 3, 2026!
There is a stereotype that teenagers who get pregnant are reckless, irresponsible, and know what they are doing without any regard. I love how Kate Schatz took this stereotype and threw it out the window. She took a whole new approach with the main characters. Baker was valedictorian at her high school, bound for Stanford. She was the perfect daughter in many aspects. She genuinely did not know how her own body worked, and this stood out to me. It shows that not every case is the same. It can truly happen to anyone, even those you least expect it.
The 1960s aspects and how Kate Schatz executed them were everything. We got a taste of this from the legal aspects, the details/descriptions of San Francisco, the gender norms, and the overall way of life. This made the impact of the message hit so much harder.
One of my favorite portions of description was when Baker arrived at the house for the girls. The author took detail to a whole new level. The exterior of the house was described, along with the outside area. When it reached the interior, we received descriptions of the rooms as well. The house was vividly displayed in my imagination.
Jane Eyre being a part of this story made it more enjoyable to me! It is one of my favorite classics, as well as Baker's. Using this classic to teach the young girls was special, and I loved reading these scenes.
The relationships that were built between all of the girls in the house were great to follow. Again, it showed how every single one of these girls was different. Each is their own person, but with the same end result. They were all there for each other in more ways than one.
Thank you NetGalley, The Dial Press, & Kate Schatz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Where the Girls Were is released on March 3, 2026!
December 5, 2025
Set in 1968 San Francisco, "Where the Girls Were" centers on the life of young Baker (Elizabeth), who just graduates from high school as valedictorian with a promising acceptance at Stanford University. Even though Baker's life looks picture-perfect on the surface, she's long struggled with the weight of being the perfect daughter for her parents, especially her mother Rose. When she's introduced to Wiley at a party by her cousin May, Baker gets her first chance at freedom - but her brief joy soon comes crashing down when she discovers she's pregnant.
In the weeks that follow, Baker's life is completely upended as first tries to hide the truth from her family for as long as possible - until the inevitable discovery sends forces into a home for unwed mothers where she's forced to hide from her friends and acquaintances as her body changes. It's in this community where Baker befriends her roommate Michelle, a girl completely different from her, and also grows closer to the other young women in the home - all from different backgrounds and areas, but who share a common thread. It's in this environment that Baker comes into her own identity and finds her own voice, and decides to take charge of her own life and story.
This is my first introduction to Kate Schatz as an author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this work. Not only did she create a compelling protagonist and storyline, but the novel highlights a number of issues and themes still prevalent today - including the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the attempts at limiting forms of birth control, and the ongoing threat to freedom of choice for women. While I'd been aware of these types of homes for unwed mothers from centuries ago, I wasn't aware that so many were still in existence just a few decades back, with so many potential issues in how they treated their residents. While I did find the ending a little rushed (and admittedly reckless) I appreciated the evolution of Baker's character and the open-ended conclusion in the final pages.
A recommended read when "Where the Girls Were" is published in March 2026!
In the weeks that follow, Baker's life is completely upended as first tries to hide the truth from her family for as long as possible - until the inevitable discovery sends forces into a home for unwed mothers where she's forced to hide from her friends and acquaintances as her body changes. It's in this community where Baker befriends her roommate Michelle, a girl completely different from her, and also grows closer to the other young women in the home - all from different backgrounds and areas, but who share a common thread. It's in this environment that Baker comes into her own identity and finds her own voice, and decides to take charge of her own life and story.
This is my first introduction to Kate Schatz as an author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this work. Not only did she create a compelling protagonist and storyline, but the novel highlights a number of issues and themes still prevalent today - including the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the attempts at limiting forms of birth control, and the ongoing threat to freedom of choice for women. While I'd been aware of these types of homes for unwed mothers from centuries ago, I wasn't aware that so many were still in existence just a few decades back, with so many potential issues in how they treated their residents. While I did find the ending a little rushed (and admittedly reckless) I appreciated the evolution of Baker's character and the open-ended conclusion in the final pages.
A recommended read when "Where the Girls Were" is published in March 2026!
November 10, 2025
Where the Girls Were
This book about teenage pregnancy and the stigma it meant in the late 1960’s is very appropriate reading now. Baker is the valedictorian of her graduating high school class, the quintessential good girl slated to go to Stanford and become a writer. A few carefree nights with her hippie cousin May and her friends seems like a good idea during the summer after graduation. Baker meets Wiley and she is awed by her sexual feelings and how Wiley makes her feel. What was not in the plan was to get pregnant after a few wild nights. When Rose, Baker’s proper, prim mother finds out, she will “ take care of everything “. That means to send Baker away to a home for pregnant girls and arrange for the baby to be adopted. This is all done in secrecy, “AFTER” it will go back to normal like it never happened. Baker has absolutely no part in the decision. In the home Baker meets other girls in similar circumstances, and makes friends with many of them. None of the girls understand what is happening to their bodies, smart Baker is as naive as any of the other girls. Remember, this was 1968, before abortion became legal, way before the book What to Expect when You Are Expecting was published or the existence of social media. Baker is not allowed to leave the home, lest someone finds out about her situation. This book is extremely well written, the characters are well developed and the story is realistic for the times. Baker’s struggles throughout her pregnancy and how she arrives to take matters into her own hands is what this book is about. I started out this review that it is apt reading for our times, because we are going backwards and once again making difficult for women to make their own decisions about their bodies.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the advanced copy, I wish a lot of success in marketing this novel.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.
This book about teenage pregnancy and the stigma it meant in the late 1960’s is very appropriate reading now. Baker is the valedictorian of her graduating high school class, the quintessential good girl slated to go to Stanford and become a writer. A few carefree nights with her hippie cousin May and her friends seems like a good idea during the summer after graduation. Baker meets Wiley and she is awed by her sexual feelings and how Wiley makes her feel. What was not in the plan was to get pregnant after a few wild nights. When Rose, Baker’s proper, prim mother finds out, she will “ take care of everything “. That means to send Baker away to a home for pregnant girls and arrange for the baby to be adopted. This is all done in secrecy, “AFTER” it will go back to normal like it never happened. Baker has absolutely no part in the decision. In the home Baker meets other girls in similar circumstances, and makes friends with many of them. None of the girls understand what is happening to their bodies, smart Baker is as naive as any of the other girls. Remember, this was 1968, before abortion became legal, way before the book What to Expect when You Are Expecting was published or the existence of social media. Baker is not allowed to leave the home, lest someone finds out about her situation. This book is extremely well written, the characters are well developed and the story is realistic for the times. Baker’s struggles throughout her pregnancy and how she arrives to take matters into her own hands is what this book is about. I started out this review that it is apt reading for our times, because we are going backwards and once again making difficult for women to make their own decisions about their bodies.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the advanced copy, I wish a lot of success in marketing this novel.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In 1968, 17-year-old Elizabeth Baker Phillips has the world waiting for her as she approaches high school graduation. Then she meets a guy and everything changes. When she finds herself pregnant, the guy gone in the wind, she realizes the dire situation she’s in. Her parents step in and take charge, arranging for her to go to a home for pregnant girls. While it’s not a horrible place, Baker begins discovering messages left by an earlier resident, Kitty. As Baker begins to piece together what happened to Kitty, she begins to realize that her safety might be at risk.
Baker is truly a good girl who made a mistake. At the home, she befriends the other girls, most of them younger than she. She encourages them, teaches them, and consoles them. She and her roommate hit it off right away, and between them, the begin to realize that the good work done by the home might have a dark side.
I enjoyed this look back at history. We’ve come a long way since 1968, and I fear that we’re headed back to what was then. Not a good thing. I hope that at the end, Baker makes the decision I was pulling for.
This book deals with out-of-wedlock pregnancy, abortion, and how men can waltz away from their actions without taking any responsibility. The book is also about shame, family, and friendship. It about knowing that when things get difficult, home is usually where you want to be. This book looks back at hippies and communes and the effect that the Vietnam War had on young men.
I enjoyed this book, and its thoughtful approach to looking back on how life became a difficult and scary time young women faced if they give in to their natural urges. I recommend it.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
Baker is truly a good girl who made a mistake. At the home, she befriends the other girls, most of them younger than she. She encourages them, teaches them, and consoles them. She and her roommate hit it off right away, and between them, the begin to realize that the good work done by the home might have a dark side.
I enjoyed this look back at history. We’ve come a long way since 1968, and I fear that we’re headed back to what was then. Not a good thing. I hope that at the end, Baker makes the decision I was pulling for.
This book deals with out-of-wedlock pregnancy, abortion, and how men can waltz away from their actions without taking any responsibility. The book is also about shame, family, and friendship. It about knowing that when things get difficult, home is usually where you want to be. This book looks back at hippies and communes and the effect that the Vietnam War had on young men.
I enjoyed this book, and its thoughtful approach to looking back on how life became a difficult and scary time young women faced if they give in to their natural urges. I recommend it.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
November 7, 2025
A bright senior in high school knows that 1968 will be an amazing year. Baker is ready to step away from the confinement of living at home and spread her wings at college. An invitation to a concert with her cousin leads to a series of life-changing events. Baker meets Wiley, a free-spirited man, and is charmed by his attention. Baker knows that Wiley isn't the sort of person her parents would approve. Sneaking away from home and spending time with Wiley lets Baker feel free. The fun they have had results in pregnancy. Baker doesn't know what to do. Baker's mother intervenes, sending Baker to a home for unwed mothers.
Baker's story is the story of society in the 1960s. Unwed mothers were taboo and disgraced the family. Families would concoct an explanation for their daughter's absence while she went off to have the baby. Abortion was illegal. No other options existed. Each character has a story, a reason she is at the home. Baker is amazed at the variety of reasons the girls are there. Kate Schatz examines the societal norms of the 60's, enlightening us to the untold story of the pregnant teen. Baker's pregnancy forces her to mature quickly, far more than she would have in her sheltered life. Today it seems hard to imagine such actions occurring. This is a cautionary tale against repression.
On a personal note, I was born at a home for unwed mothers in the 60s. This book opened my eyes to the feelings and circumstances my birth mother likely endured. I have always appreciated her sacrifice; reading Baker's story increased my gratitude.
Thank you Dial press for the early review copy!
Baker's story is the story of society in the 1960s. Unwed mothers were taboo and disgraced the family. Families would concoct an explanation for their daughter's absence while she went off to have the baby. Abortion was illegal. No other options existed. Each character has a story, a reason she is at the home. Baker is amazed at the variety of reasons the girls are there. Kate Schatz examines the societal norms of the 60's, enlightening us to the untold story of the pregnant teen. Baker's pregnancy forces her to mature quickly, far more than she would have in her sheltered life. Today it seems hard to imagine such actions occurring. This is a cautionary tale against repression.
On a personal note, I was born at a home for unwed mothers in the 60s. This book opened my eyes to the feelings and circumstances my birth mother likely endured. I have always appreciated her sacrifice; reading Baker's story increased my gratitude.
Thank you Dial press for the early review copy!
November 20, 2025
Baker is the high school valedictorian, on the way to Stanford, who finds herself pregnant. Like some girls during the late 60s have fallen into this situation, she gets sent to a home for unwed mothers. One would think that since Baker is so educated that she’d be aware of sexual education and would know more about this topic. This was a topic that wasn’t discussed back then so she might have been totally naive. I do still find it hard to believe that someone could be that naive about the sex and the pregnancy process. This book is also placed in a time when abortion hasn’t become legal, therefore reproductive autonomy wasn’t considered at all.
This book is character driven especially once Baker makes it to the home. There are many young women who have various backgrounds and varying stages of pregnancy. It’s sad to read that these women are secluded and outcast because of pregnancy. I like to think we’ve come a long way since this, but with how things are going, I’m not so sure. I did like the discussions this book raises about reproductive autonomy.
This book was slow to start and I had a hard time connecting with Baker. Once she got to the home, the book became more interesting. I would’ve liked more backstory on some of the women in the home. The ending was abrupt, which I kind of understand because the book was based on the journey, but at the same time I wanted more. Overall, I recommend this book and I am glad I took the time to read it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press (Random House) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Where the Girls Were offers a timely window into the world of homes for unwed mothers in the 1960s. While the novel's setup—a strait-laced good girl falls for a free-spirited boy—might feel familiar, the story comes alive once the protagonist, Baker, arrives at the titular home.
This is where the book excels. The depiction of life inside the home is nuanced and compelling. Schatz does a fantastic job exploring the residents' varied and often contradictory experiences; some girls find a strange comfort in the structure, while others find it deeply traumatizing. The novel thoughtfully examines how a place supposedly designed with benevolent intentions can inflict profound harm. I found myself most drawn in by the candid discussions between these young women, who form a powerful community in the face of fear and a lack of information or agency.
While there is a secret driving the plot, the story's real strength lies in this exploration of community and the complex emotional landscape of the girls' confinement. The denouement was a bit too much, and the ending was unsatisfying for me in its ambiguity. However, the author's note and acknowledgments at the end powerfully contextualize the history and underscore the importance of this story.
Overall, this is an important book that thoughtfully unearths a generation's hidden experiences with reproductive rights. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a character-driven piece of historical fiction that shines a light on a moment in history that we should not forget.
Where the Girls Were offers a timely window into the world of homes for unwed mothers in the 1960s. While the novel's setup—a strait-laced good girl falls for a free-spirited boy—might feel familiar, the story comes alive once the protagonist, Baker, arrives at the titular home.
This is where the book excels. The depiction of life inside the home is nuanced and compelling. Schatz does a fantastic job exploring the residents' varied and often contradictory experiences; some girls find a strange comfort in the structure, while others find it deeply traumatizing. The novel thoughtfully examines how a place supposedly designed with benevolent intentions can inflict profound harm. I found myself most drawn in by the candid discussions between these young women, who form a powerful community in the face of fear and a lack of information or agency.
While there is a secret driving the plot, the story's real strength lies in this exploration of community and the complex emotional landscape of the girls' confinement. The denouement was a bit too much, and the ending was unsatisfying for me in its ambiguity. However, the author's note and acknowledgments at the end powerfully contextualize the history and underscore the importance of this story.
Overall, this is an important book that thoughtfully unearths a generation's hidden experiences with reproductive rights. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a character-driven piece of historical fiction that shines a light on a moment in history that we should not forget.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wish that everyone who had an opinion about women's bodies and what they can do with them would take the time to read a book like this. Reading is so powerful because you can truly have empathy and understanding of a situation that you might never be in yourself. I don't know how anyone could read this story and not feel for Baker and all that she went through.
Baker has everything going for her. She is the valedictorian of her 1968 class and has big dreams of becoming a writer and living in Paris after she attends Stanford University. Everything is going her way until she goes out to a concert with her cousin and falls in love. Like so many girls during this time, Baker has very little understanding of her own body and received no education about how to prevent pregnancies. Baker becomes pregnant and has very few options of what she can do. Being an unwed mother during this time is pure scandal and will completely destroy her future. Baker 's mother decides her only option is to go away to a home for unwed mothers so that no one will know. Her plan is that Baker will go back to her life after the baby is born like nothing ever happened. However things begin to change when Baker meets the other unwed mothers and her situation becomes very real.
This novel was very well written and kept me reading the entire time as I had to know what happened to Baker and the other girls at the home. There is no way you can read this novel and not be affected by it. I definitely recommend everyone read this book especially in the political climate that we are currently in.
Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Baker has everything going for her. She is the valedictorian of her 1968 class and has big dreams of becoming a writer and living in Paris after she attends Stanford University. Everything is going her way until she goes out to a concert with her cousin and falls in love. Like so many girls during this time, Baker has very little understanding of her own body and received no education about how to prevent pregnancies. Baker becomes pregnant and has very few options of what she can do. Being an unwed mother during this time is pure scandal and will completely destroy her future. Baker 's mother decides her only option is to go away to a home for unwed mothers so that no one will know. Her plan is that Baker will go back to her life after the baby is born like nothing ever happened. However things begin to change when Baker meets the other unwed mothers and her situation becomes very real.
This novel was very well written and kept me reading the entire time as I had to know what happened to Baker and the other girls at the home. There is no way you can read this novel and not be affected by it. I definitely recommend everyone read this book especially in the political climate that we are currently in.
Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 21, 2025
This is the story of Baker, a northern California teenage girl who’s a smart kid with dreams of college and fulfilling the expectations of her parents. However things fall apart when she has an unexpected pregnancy. The year is 1968. The choice is either an illegal backroom abortion or, in this case, hiding away in a home for unwed mothers to avoid the embarrassment of people knowing what happened. Humiliated by her situation and feeling abandoned by her parents, Baker makes the most of her several month stay as she’s comforted by new friendships, while gaining insight and self-discovery.
Every once in awhile you read a book that speaks to your younger self. I lived in San Francisco in the early seventies. I remember the crazy times of hippies, war, political assassinations, and an explosive music scene. All of these experiences were well documented in this book. But, more personally for me, I could relate to the experience of making mistakes when you’re a naive, young girl inexperienced in the world of sexual attraction. I was lucky enough not to have endured a pregnancy, but I can’t imagine how that would have impacted my life. I think we humans all do stupid things when we’re starting out in the world, but unfortunately for we women, the consequences can be long standing and more severe than for guys … especially prior to the Roe v. Wade decision and better access to birth control.
I enjoyed this author’s writing and would love to read more of her work. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.
Every once in awhile you read a book that speaks to your younger self. I lived in San Francisco in the early seventies. I remember the crazy times of hippies, war, political assassinations, and an explosive music scene. All of these experiences were well documented in this book. But, more personally for me, I could relate to the experience of making mistakes when you’re a naive, young girl inexperienced in the world of sexual attraction. I was lucky enough not to have endured a pregnancy, but I can’t imagine how that would have impacted my life. I think we humans all do stupid things when we’re starting out in the world, but unfortunately for we women, the consequences can be long standing and more severe than for guys … especially prior to the Roe v. Wade decision and better access to birth control.
I enjoyed this author’s writing and would love to read more of her work. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.
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