The Foursome

by Christina Baker Kline

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline comes a boldly original reimagining of an astonishing true two sisters in nineteenth-century North Carolina—Kline’s own distant relatives—who married world-famous conjoined twins from Siam.

When Chang and Eng Bunker arrive in Wilkes County in 1839, they’re not just a curiosity—they’re a sensation. Everyone is eager to learn whether the salacious rumors about them are true. Within months, the twins have opened a general store, bought land, and begun building a plantation. Now, word has it, they’re looking for wives—and in a place that thrives on gossip and legacy, their ambitions set the community on edge.

Sarah and Adelaide Yates, daughters of a once-prominent local family brought low by scandal, are drawn into their orbit. Bold, beautiful Addie sees in the twins’ fame a chance to reclaim her future. Sallie, quiet and observant, isn’t so sure. When the twins’ lives become entangled with theirs, they must navigate loyalty, longing, and identity in a world where everything—including race, class, and gender—is rigidly defined.

Spanning five decades and unfolding against the backdrop of a fractured nation hurtling toward war, The Foursome is both intimate and a story of love and constraint, identity and reinvention. With piercing insight and emotional precision, Kline brings to life a forgotten chapter of American history and the complex, boundary-defying marriages at its center.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Novels

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon.

Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book begins about real-life Siamese Twins, Eng and Chung Baker. They have become a Sensation and People are So Interested in Meeting Them. This has afforded them a life of wealth and privilege. So, when they settle in Wilkes, North Carolina, they meet and want to marry Sarah and Adelaide Yates. So, on the surface this seems just an entertaining and different story, and it is, but there is so much depth beyond the surface of this book.

There is so much nuance and intimacy that Christina Baker Kline brings to this story. It examines an unusual family living life on a Plantation. The Book begins in 1839 and spans five decades. There is the beauty and struggle of family and children woven through the entire story that just was fascinating to read. Yet, always in the background is Sarah’s growing discomfort with slavery. Christina Baker Kline does such a delicate job presenting the characters reactions based on how life would have been at the time, but quietly presents the agony of this way of life.

I really loved this book. It is Excellent. Presenting such a unique story worked so well to explore so many other themes. Christina Baker Kline does a superb job that entertains, brings curiosity, love, heartache, and thinking of the choices that are made. She is in a class by herself. Highly Recommend this Book.

[Sadeqa Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline opened my eyes to a moment in history I knew little about. Centered around conjoined twins married to two sisters, the novel explores the complexities of marriage, sisterhood, and raising children in the American South in 1839—a time and place where conformity was the norm and change was just beginning to stir. Kline weaves a beautiful tapestry of love, doubt, identity, and resilience in a world that left little room for differences.

[Gail Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I was looking for something different... This was definitely different. Found the premise a little inconceivable, but interesting nonetheless. Love her clear, easy writing...

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This novel offers a fascinating and unexpected look at the lives of Eng and Chang, the famous conjoined twins from Siam, set against the backdrop of North Carolina during the Civil War. While the book description suggests a focus on romance or complex familial dynamics—elements that are certainly present—the story takes a surprisingly heavy turn into historical discourse regarding slavery and class. However, despite placing itself firmly in this volatile era, the narrative struggles to meaningfully engage with the moral weight of its setting. The author includes the reality of slavery, specifically through the character of Grace (an enslaved woman), yet fails to take a meaningful stance on it, or explore deeper. Sarah, the central character, notes the class differences between herself and Grace but merely muses on them rather than making a distinct point.

This passive approach to heavy themes becomes particularly glaring toward the end of the book. Once the Civil War ends, Sarah bemoans the difficulty of her life simply because the enslaved workers have left the plantation. The narrative presents this complaining as a matter of fact without critiquing Sarah’s lack of self-awareness or acknowledging the injustice of the institution itself. It feels as though the historical context was included for accuracy rather than to say anything meaningful. Similarly, while the book acknowledges the racism faced by Eng and Chang—including the use of offensive slurs—it depicts these prejudices without exploring why they are wrong or differentiating the narrative voice from the bigotry of the time.

Despite these thematic misses, the technical aspects of the novel are undeniably strong. The writing is polished and the narrative style is engaging, making for a smooth reading experience. Sarah functions as an interesting anchor for the story; as an "outsider" within the unique family dynamic, she provides a compelling lens through which to view the struggles of those around her. Her perspective allows for a degree of empathy that enriches the character work, even if the social commentary falls flat.

A standout portion of the book involves Sarah’s time living with her Aunt Joan, who is delightfully portrayed as something of a gay icon. This section successfully fleshes out Sarah's character, teaching her the value of hard work and self-reliance. These lessons feel earned and result in a satisfying callback toward the end of the novel.

Unfortunately, the book overstays its welcome with an unnecessary epilogue. This final addition failed to establish new information or add value to the story, leaving the impression that the novel would have been stronger had it ended sooner.

Ultimately, this is a well-written historical novel held back by its reluctance to dig deeper into the serious subjects it introduces.

[Holly (hollylovesbooks1519) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Partner @marinerbooks @harpercollins and @netgalley for my gifted copy. Pub date 5/12/26.

#ChristinaBakerKline wrote an extraordinary novel inspired by her own family history. This character-driven coming-of-age novel is about two sisters who marry Siamese Twins in the 1800s. Their marriages are anything but ordinary, but they make the best of it and raise their two families together. This was a great read, especially if you love historical fiction. 4.5 stars!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible read!
Kline deals with delicate topics like intimacy between the sisters and their conjoined husbands with sensitivity and pragmatism, not salaciousness.
This was such a riveting read that I found myself rushing back to it when I had to break away from my reading.
The author captures the voice of Sallie so well and depicts her emotions, struggles, and evolution in a compelling manner.
I kept thinking as I read that I could never have lived with such an arrangement so it was intriguing to read about two women who did.
I’ve only scratched the surface so readers must discover this exquisite read for themselves!
Be sure to check out her website for more info on the family and her research.
Thanks NetGalley, Edelweiss, Mariner Books, and Harper Collins for the advance copy.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Baker Kline has always given us informative, well written novels. Orphan Train and A Piece of the World were 5 ⭐ books for me. I was so excited to read The Foursome.

This novel is a fictionalized account of the true story of Eng and Chang Bunker, conjoined twins who lived in the mid-19th century, their wives Sarah (Sallie) and Adelaide, and their 21 (!!!) children. The twins toured the country as a side show, earning money by people gawking at their differences. They left touring and settled in North Carolina where they bought land, met and married Sarah and Adelaide, and tried to fit into society. The book examines some heavy topics - slavery, systemic racism, the class system, and the southern "way of life" prior to the civil war.

The book was very well written and I learned so much about the lives of Eng and Chang. The author did a great job of researching things about their life, even down to tiny details like the size of their farms, death dates of family members, the slaves they owned, etc. I sympathized with many of the characters, especially Sarah, the real matriarch of the novel. I thought the author did a really nice job covering sensitive topics like marital relations with conjoined twins. The book was a fascinating look at how differences can become normalized over time.

All that said, this wasn't my favorite CBK book. I thought it dragged in places; I found myself skimming parts of the chapters because they were, in some places, pretty repetitive. There were some touching moments in the book, but overall, I did not feel that the novel had the depth of some of her previous work.

3.5 ⭐s rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on May 12, 2026.

[Mainlinebooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christina Baker Kline’s The Foursome illuminates a historical curiosity many have encountered in passing but rarely considered in depth: the married lives of Chang and Eng, the famed conjoined twins. Drawing inspiration from her own family history, Kline imaginatively reconstructs five decades of their intertwined domestic lives, beginning in North Carolina in 1839, and in doing so transforms an unusual historical footnote into a richly human story.

Told through the voice of Sarah—Sallie—one of the sisters who marries the twins, the novel offers an intimate and grounded perspective on an arrangement that might otherwise feel sensationalized. Sallie’s narration brings immediacy and emotional clarity to the pivotal decision to enter such an unconventional union. Her sister, markedly different in temperament, exerts a steady influence over the course of events, echoing the dynamic between the twins themselves. Kline draws a subtle but effective parallel: the more forceful personalities—Sallie’s sister and Chang—often guide decisions, while Eng and Sallie move with quieter acquiescence, bound not only by circumstance but by deep familial loyalty. Marriage, in this context, is not portrayed as a stable refuge but as a crucible. Kline examines the institution with an unflinching eye, illuminating the quiet compromises, misalignments, and pressures that accompany long-term partnership. The expectations placed upon women—to be accommodating, sustaining, and self-effacing—are rendered not as abstractions but as lived tensions that shape each sister’s trajectory.


What is most striking is Kline’s restraint. The question of marital intimacy—so easily rendered voyeuristic—is instead handled with remarkable tenderness and dignity. The novel neither avoids nor exploits the realities of the “marital bed,” but approaches them with a thoughtful honesty that invites reflection rather than discomfort. As a reader, one cannot help but consider the emotional and psychological complexity of such a life, and to wonder how one might navigate similar circumstances.Here, marriage becomes a profoundly complex negotiation of boundaries: where does one self end and another begin, and what does exclusivity mean when individuality itself is shared? The emotional terrain is fraught, raising questions about autonomy, consent, and the possibility of intimacy when privacy is, by definition, impossible.


The narrative also broadens beyond the marriages themselves. The couples’ combined family—21 children in total, though not all survive—becomes a lens through which Kline explores resilience, loss, and shifting fortune. Set against the backdrop of a divided America, the story engages with the moral and economic tensions surrounding slavery, revealing how these divergent views shape both the family’s prosperity and its internal conflicts.

By the novel’s conclusion, as the twins’ lives draw to a close, Kline has so fully realized these characters that their deaths carry genuine emotional weight. The sense of loss feels earned, even personal.

The Foursome is, ultimately, a compelling and deeply absorbing work of historical fiction—one that balances careful research with imaginative empathy. For readers familiar with Kline’s previous novels, this latest work reaffirms her ability to bring overlooked histories vividly to life with grace, intelligence, and emotional resonance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading "The Foursome" by Christina Baker Kline and I am quite sure I will be mulling over this book for some time.

I was loosely familiar with the famous "Siamese" or conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker before reading this book. However, there was so much I didn't know! Even just their last name, Bunker, and how that came about was a surprise!

One thing I needed to do, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this, is realize that how I want a character to respond is based in our current time period. It is really dreadful to realize the many limitations women were under. For example, at one point I was wondering WHY does she keep having CHILDREN with this man she doesn't even LIKE? And then I realized that it was expected that wives would serve their men in all ways, and that there was no birth control. There were so many times that I flinched mentally around that, around the treatment of women in general and their lack of a voice in their own lives, around slavery and the idea of people as literal property, sub-human. I thought my heart might completely shatter when three children were bought and separated from their mother, with no one to care for them. Ugh! But those were the harsh and awful realities of the time, and it is heartbreaking.

I concur with some of the other readers that honestly, these some of these characters were not always very likable and sometimes felt downright detestable. But again, I tried to bring myself back to trying to imagine how it would feel to literally be bound physically to someone else every minute of every day of my life. Literally no ability to be alone at any moment, to have a private conversation, an intimate encounter. To never be able to decide to do a single physical action without it being a joint decision. That would truly be horrible! I can only imagine the anger and resentment I would have about that, and how other people perceived me as well.

So many thoughts about this book, my brain is just swirling. I am very glad I read it, even if it wasn't always comfortable or pleasant, and even if things didn't always go as I wished they would. To find out the author is loosely related was utterly fascinating.

Thank you to Christina Baker Kline for another well researched, fascinating book, and to the Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah K · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique piece of historical fiction! Christina Baker Kline is a must-read author for me because of her lyrical writing and interesting characters, and her latest book, The Foursome, is the perfect example of that. This book tells the story of her distant relatives - conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, and the way they lived and pursued family wholeheartedly through their marriages to sisters Sarah (Sallie) and Adeline. The story was set with the backdrop of slavery in pre-Civil War North Carolina and also takes place during the war, two factors that provide a deep and thoughtful consideration about ownership, property, and the ability to change.

The subject matter of this story is fascinating and lends itself to either a tactful or a tactless approach. How do men like this pursue family and marriage and all that entails? The author writes about this with such care, both from their own (fictionalized) words and the perspective of the sisters they marry. Motivations, desires, and practical considerations are shared carefully and kindly. For instance, the marital bed was described but so was the process of how the couples communicate privately... and how do they cope to always have at least one other adult present in their marriage? So interesting. This makes the relationship between the sisters in this book and their own process of growth and change over the years even more important.

This was a very emotional book to read. The author had a tough task to allow readers to understand the inner lives of individuals, brothers, sisters, and couples, both in their day to day lives and in difficulty with the war. As she reveals in the author's note at the end, it was intentional to only share Sallie's point of view as narrator. I thought this was such a smart choice after reading the novel. I might have liked more points of view, but this did allow me to connect more with Sallie and really feel what this could have been like to experience a life like hers.

I truly enjoyed this book. I think it would be great for a book club discussion, and will be enjoyed by people who like historical fiction, medical/ethical content in fiction, Civil War era fiction, and stories about sibling dynamics.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Amy Sugerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy, fast historical fiction read. I enjoyed her earlier Orphan Train (I rated that one 5 stars on Goodreads which gave it an overall 4.2 rating and was a nominee for the 2013 annual Readers' Choice awards behind some real powerhouses). The Foursome is a very different book from all books I've ever read. That the characters are based on the author's distant relatives is of keen interest.

At its roots, it's quite a creepy (some would more kindly say "astonishing") story from which, admittedly, I couldn't look away. I expect there might be critics who call it provocative or even sensationalist. I would disagree. It's a difficult story to tell, and the writing comes off as a genuine attempt to draw the characters with complexity and compassion. I encourage readers to check out the end Author's Note prior to starting the novel. As I turned away with distaste from some of the unpleasant visuals of the marriage bed and, what I would view as a claustrophobic and oppressive daily life, I thought of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. It and this novel are, at its roots, love stories. Themes of familial love, romantic love, acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness run through the book. Resilience. Humanity. Much of it is heart-wrenching. As Sadeqa Johnson wrote in her blurb, "Kline weaves a beautiful tapestry of love, doubt, identity and resilience in a world that left little room for differences." The themes are universal and clearly reflect our current times.

I would have welcomed additional historical context, but there is enough here, set in North Carolina in the 1850's. The exploitations of Grace, and the growing understanding by Sarah of the inequities of the races, was well told. The novel clearly spoke about those tumultuous times, and while it does not add to the academic literature of the pre-Civil War era, it brings a very unique perspective to it.

Thank you to my local Lewes DE Public Library for an advanced reading copy of this novel, out on May 12, 2026.

[Stephanie (aka WW) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. Going in, I prepared myself for a standard entry into the annuls of female-authored historical fiction. Not that there’s anything wrong with female-authored historical fiction, but it isn’t my usual genre. I HAVE read, and enjoyed, quite a few books in the category, mostly because they were chosen by my book club. So I am familiar with the genre and know well-done from pedestrian. And let me say that “The Foursome” is well-done. As I finished reading, I was struck by just how balanced and nuanced Catherine Baker Kline was in presenting the fascinating history of the conjoined Bunker twins, better known as Chang and Eng. I was interested enough in the twins’ history to request “The Foursome” from NetGalley when it appeared. I found the fact of their marriage to and procreation with, American sisters fascinating. And I wasn’t disappointed in those parts of the book that detailed their livestyles. What I didn’t expect, and what happily surprised me, were the parts of their history that coincided with American history, especially the Civil War, and the subtleties of the twins’ relationships as they aged. Baker Kline has written the book from the POV of the less strong-willed of the two American sisters, who married Eng, the less strong-willed of the two Bunker twins. It is a fascinating angle, as Sallie proves the more thoughtful, intelligent and interesting of the two sisters and her experiences with the twins end up more sympathetic and nuanced.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about Chang and Eng, their wives and their many children (21!). “The Foursome” is a fascinating read and an example of how good female-authored historical fiction can be when done right. This would make an excellent book for book club.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing me with a DARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. “The Foursome” hits shelves on May 12, 2026.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending a copy of The Foursome, a story about the life of conjoined twins, Chang and Eng Butler and the two birth sisters they married. I didn’t know what to expect since I had never seen the twins described as two normal human beings. I had read only about them as a unit - the Siamese Twins - always portrayed as freaks of nature. The picture I held in my mind completely disappeared as I began, through the words of Christina Baker Kline, to see two normal human beings who just happened to be physically connected. The fact that the author was a distant cousin to Chang and Eng encouraged me to read the book because I felt she would more than likely view the twins differently from someone who had no connection at all to Chang and Eng. I really enjoyed exploring the normalcy of Chang and Eng’s life – normalcy for the brothers but behavior that was sometimes barely conceivable for the reader. I also appreciated the author not focusing only on Chang and Eng’s daily activities but weaving history (Civil War, slavery, women’s role in life in the 1800’s) into the story. Telling the story from Sarah’s (Eng’s wife) point of view helped to remind me, when reading about unusual practices, that this story was based on fact, not fiction. I was able to appreciate the period of time that Sarah lived with her unconventional aunt because Sarah was telling the story, and I better understood her struggles with adapting to a lifestyle that was not really private. Often, when I read a book that I really like, I end up saying “WOW!” When I finished this book, which I really liked, I ended up with a feeling of full satisfaction. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a situation that was brand new for me, and I appreciated the sensitivity the author brought to the story. Reading The Foursome subtly changed my perspective on how long the continuum stretches for normalcy. Kudos to Christine Baker Kline!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I finished reading I had to take a moment to really reflect on this novel. I have read many of Christina Baker Kline novels and she does a fantastic job making history come to life through historical fiction. The shear amount of research and detail flows seamlessly through her writing. This was a fascinating reimagining of the real lives of Chang and Eng Bunker and the sisters who married them, Sarah (aka Sallie) and Adelaide Yates (who were also distant relatives of the author as written in the author notes). Chang and Eng Bunker were the most famous conjoined twins of the early-mid 1800s, and in fact the term "Siamese Twins" was coined because of their origins in Siam. The Foursome is a Historical Fiction novel about their marriages to sisters Adelaide and Sarah Yates, in the mid 1800s in Wilkes Co. North Carolina. Sarah, also known as Sallie, is our narrator of this story, spanning from the early days of their relationships to the death of the twins after the Civil War. The first 50% of this book deals with the early days of Chang and Eng courting the sisters, and their early marriage, and delicately deals with the marital bed arrangement they came to that shocked those in their town at the time. I did not know anything about these brothers and their unusual living arrangement prior to reading this book, and I found the book handled their depiction, as well as the thoughts and concerns Sallie had in her marriage with great emotional depth and character development. In the latter half of the book, time seems to start moving more swiftly and the time around the Civil War felt rushed and brushed off almost, minus how Sallie grew and changed her thoughts and perspective on slavery. Wish there was more of the lives and details as the Civil War necessary as it was in the novel seemed a bit out of concept with the rest of the book. Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this opportunity.

[Crystie Rios · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I went into it completely blind.

I did not realize that this book was based on a true story until the very end with the author’s note. My review immediately went up a half star because of that and the amount of research and work that went into this historical fiction novel.

I thought I was getting myself into a very freaky book because of the title, so when the story ended up based in the 1800’s I felt a bit disappointed. That’s on me! The characters were described really well, and the homes/farms/roads I could almost see from how good the writing was. I really enjoyed the writing style honestly.

Unfortunately I did feel bored throughout most of the story. I did not like ANY of the characters at all, and whenever I felt myself bonding with the FMC I knew it would only be short-lived. The twins were terrible people, and I felt tricked at the end with Grace after feeling bad for Eng throughout most of the book. I knew it was coming, but I felt that like a slap in my own face. I kinda wish the author left that unknown instead of leading us to believe Eng was the sole culprit 🤬.

Chang as a character was deplorable. I could not stand him at all for a second. I felt like the book was way too long because I felt dragged through a concrete parking lot every time he said or did anything at all. He was so incredibly selfish and miserable. The author described him really well if that’s the way she wanted to portray him, of course. It just ruined the book for me. I hated the way he got everything he wanted.

The storyline overall was very interesting, and I really enjoyed learning more about their way of life as well as the way of life at that time period. I don’t read many books that discuss slavery, and getting a glimpse into their lives during slavery with a wife who resists it was fascinating. I would potentially read another book by this author in the future. I don’t think I will recommend this book to friends due to my strong dislike of the characters.

Originally I wanted to give this book two stars, but I really enjoyed the history lesson written amongst the pages at the same time. I upped my rating to three solid stars for this book, and I want to say that I did really enjoy the ending.

[Susan Bockus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to win an ARC copy of The Foursome. I have read Orphan Train, The Exiles and A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline and am a big fan of her writing. I loved The Foursome equally. It took great curiosity and courage to write this book, to research and imagine a true and unique situation of two southern sisters marrying conjoined twins from Siam (Thailand) who were sensational “human curiosities” at public exhibitions. Together, the couples raised 21 children. Set in a meticulously drawn world of 19th century North Carolina, the sisters did this in a time of rigid restrictions on all who were not white males.

Readers can imagine the curiosity-propelling questions surrounding these sisters and their conjoined husbands—the why’s, the how’s, the what happened. The author’s imagination draws the reader through these questions with her skillful creation of the interior world of Sarah Yates, the wavering sister who the author discovered was “buried not with her husband, his brother, and her sister in the family cemetery, but alone on their farm, beneath a hard-to-find stone among people the family had enslaved.”

The author’s courage is evident in taking on this story. The sisters are distant relatives of hers. They and their husbands were slave-holders in a time and place where that was normalized. The story delicately probes what this would have been like for a woman with a compassionate heart while navigating marital, familial, gender and social tensions of her situation and time.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. All opinions stated here are my own. I have used Christina Baker Kline's books in two book clubs now so was excited to see another Historical Fiction by the author!
I wasn't sure how I would feel about a HF book about the original Siamese Twins, but was fascinated that there is a true connection to the author and who doesn't love a good genealogical dig? Kline adeptly brings these 4 characters to life both using research and a solid understanding of human beings and how they might react under given circumstances. The book's wheels seemed to slow down a little early on and I was concerned, but the strength of Sally's character propelled the book with a push and pull of one's morals and life's condition. How could Chang and Eng abide by owning slaves? Why would Sarah agree to such a marital arrangement? How did the family function in times of crisis, illness, or bein faced with a dramatic shift in history of the time?
We read so much about slavery and the south in historical fiction format, but that was the part of the book I couldn't let go. The internal struggle between what is right and wrong - relying on slaves for your everyday existence yet wanting them to be free.
I think this book has a lot for a book club to talk about and would gladly choose it as well as recommend it to patrons.
4.5* rounded up.

[Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader 2.0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chang and Eng were the first conjoined twins to come to world attention: the original "Siamese twins," since they were brought to international fame from Thailand. Suave, urbane, multilingual, they further astonished the world by becoming plantation owners and marrying sisters who gave birth to twenty children between them. Christina Baker Kline asks what it would be like to be one of those sisters, and the result is an excellent, unputdownable historical novel of great imagination, research, and thoughtfulness.

Sallie is the plain sister, the quiet, thoughtful one, always in the shadow of her sister Addie. Sallie is the one who made a stumble. impacting both girls' marriage prospects in small-town North Carolina, but it's Addie who comes up with the idea of marrying the brothers, who are buying land and setting up their own plantations. How will this work, marrying men attached by a band of cartilage below their ribs? Kline's compassion for the foursome is obvious, and she channels the creativity necessary to make these marriages work. Sallie becomes a stick in the works with her return to Quakerism and growing criticism of slavery, even though she knows that without that institution she would never be able to wrangle their giant household.

The Foursome is beautifully written and flawlessly researched. Not to be missed. Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Beth Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Set in the 1800s, Siamese (connected) twins Chang and Eng Bunker have been a sideshow for many years, and after they have a tidy sum saved, they want to set down roots in the American South, build a plantation (with slaves) from the ground up, and obtain wives.

Sarah and Adelaide Yates are two sisters that are in their late teens but feel like their marriage options are dwindling, especially for older sister Sarah after an unwed pregnancy. With the Bunker twins, they see lives together with each other and the men (and sharing a bed as four people).

I thought it was interesting to see the challenges of being married to a connected twin (can you ever have any secrets with your spouse when he is literally attached to his brother?, what about alone time?). I thought the hypocrisy of these twins that experienced such racism and “other”ism for their entire lives as well as being owned by others decided to own slaves themselves. This is not your typical Civil War book and was engaging from the first page!

The only downside was that after Sarah and Adelaide had their first few children, time seemed to race by when I would have appreciated learning more about their day-to-day life in their interesting situation (raising so many children and being married to connected twins).

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.

It publishes May 12, 2026.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chang and Eng Bunker were the most famous conjoined twins of the early-mid 1800s, and in fact the term "Siamese Twins" was coined because of their origins in Siam. The Foursome is a Historical Fiction novel about their marriages to sisters Adelaide and Sarah Yates, in the mid 1800s in Wilkes Co. North Carolina. Sarah, also known as Sallie, is our narrator of this story, spanning from the early days of their relationships to the death of the twins after the Civil War.
The first 50% of this book deals with the early days of Chang and Eng courting the sisters, and their early marriage, and delicately deals with the marital bed arrangement they came to that shocked those in their town at the time. I did not know anything about these brothers and their unusual living arrangement prior to reading this book, and I found the book handled their depiction, as well as the thoughts and concerns Sallie had in her marriage with great emotional depth and character development. In the latter half of the book, time seems to start moving more swiftly and the time around the Civil War felt rushed and brushed off almost, minus how Sallie grew and changed her thoughts and perspective on slavery. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, but at times it felt like it lacked a bit of depth.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this book was so intriguing that I couldn’t wait to read it. The author takes the 1800’s and writes a little known part of the history with a most unusual family story. What makes these sisters enter into a marriage with conjoined twins? Christina Baker Kline examines the psyche of Sallie and Adelaide with all the prejudices of the time period. She highlights the differences between the sisters as they enter this most unusual life. The brothers have their own individual personalities and lay down the rules of their marriages and future. She writes of the confines of their marriages and the laws of society and how they are looked upon by society. Of course living in the south during a time when many had slaves added an interesting perspective to the story especially since conjoined twins needed help with tending to their land as well as their home life with all their 21 children. The author also incorporates the Civil War and the freeing of the slaves. She also examines the psyche of freed slaves. I love all the research the author used as well as distant family history to write this most unusual story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an eGalley of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheFoursome #ChristinaBakerKline #NetGalley

[Melissa Stordahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Mariner Books for this gifted ARC!

I loved this reimagining of the real-life marriage between two 1800s North Carolina sisters and conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker of Siam. I was a little obsessed reading about these twins as a child, and the author captures so many historical and possible emotional details of these relationships in a way that seems so real.

Sarah and Adelaide Yates have had their marriage options reduced by scandal. Their story made me think of the scene in Pride and Prejudice when Charlotte explains marrying Mr. Collins, by saying she was a burden to her parents and frightened. Sarah and Adelaide see the intelligent and world-traveled twins with their financial success, comfortable home and resources, and it is probably the best option they will have for their lives.

The emotional aspects of this are so well imagined. What does it mean when you share a home and a bed with three other people? What if you are furious at the brother you are attached to?

The ending of this gave me such a mood boost; I loved how the author imagined life for the girls and the women around them in their elderly years. Highly recommend this one!

[Tamisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fascinating reimagining of the real lives of Chang and Eng Bunker and the sisters who married them, Sarah and Adelaide Yates (who were also distant relatives of the author). So cool!
Set in North Carolina beginning in 1839 and spanning decades through the Civil War, the story explores love, identity, and ambition within a society shaped by rigid rules of race, class, and gender.

Told through Sarah’s point of view, the novel feels intimate and reflective, offering a thoughtful look at marriage, loyalty, and belonging under extraordinary circumstances. I really appreciated how the author brought this lesser-known piece of American history to life with emotional depth and care.

I can’t imagine living the life any of these characters had, and this story really makes you pause and consider what their world must have been like. It’s filled with heartache, happiness, loss, and so many layered emotions. If you enjoy truly fascinating stories that stay with you, this one is worth picking up. I’m still thinking about it weeks after finishing the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Release date May 11, 2026

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for a chance to read an ARC of the
The Foursome
by Christina Baker Kline

My favourite historical fiction for 2026 so far ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

Christina Baker Kline has written something truly special with The Foursome. This book moved me in ways I didn't expect, and I've been thinking about it long after turning the last page.
At the heart of the novel is Sallie, one of the most complex, compelling characters I've encountered in recent fiction. Kline doesn't take the easy route with her: Sallie is thrust into a genuinely complicated situation, and watching her navigate it with all her flaws, strengths, and contradictions intact felt deeply human. I found myself emotionally invested in her in a way that snuck up on me completely.
But what elevates this book beyond its plot is Kline's writing. Her prose is precise and evocative, with an understated elegance that makes even quiet moments feel weighty. She has a masterful ability to reveal character through small details and well-chosen words, and the result is a story that feels both intimate and expansive.

Absolutely essential reading.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
What happens when a famous pair of Siamese twins in pre-Civil War North Carolina decide to put down roots, marry and start a family? Tongues will wag, noses will be upturned but for two sisters it will offer a chance at happiness and freedom. Chang and Eng Bunker fall for sisters Sarah and Adelaide and after a quick courtship they marry. The conjoined twins share everything so marriage means a combined bed, home and family decisions. Delicate topics are handled brilliantly inside the home and outside as well concerning slavery, bigotry and women's rights.
Sarah's voice runs through the full repertoire of emotions as she alone or the group deal with uncertainty, love, intimacy, childrearing, fear and betrayal. What could have read like a Barnum side show became a stunning example of a time period of the split between states with the upcoming war vs. coming together as four individuals who must act as a unit. While this marriage offered freedom for the sisters it did not come without a big cost.
Even better is that the author is a descendant of one of the sisters. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Amy]

When I learned the background history of this book.... and that Ms. Kline is related to the 2 sisters, I was hooked. While I was previously aware of the Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng, I didn't know the story of their family lives. When I learned that Ms. Kline did extensive research on their history, I was fascinated to learn the details that she was able to share.
I appreciated the focus being primarily from the viewpoint of the narrator, Sarah (Sallie) Yates. In her younger years, before she knew the twins, she had already formed opinions about Plantation life and Slavery, and when the family was later faced with the Civil War, Sarah was able to show the impact and reinforcement of her early views.
It was also fascinating to be reminded of the mindset of male domination over females and how that has evolved (to some extent) through history.
I feel very fortunate that I was awarded my copy of this book in the Giveaway!
Thank you so much to Goodreads, and to Christina Baker Kline for sharing the insights of this unique story.

[Libby Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing little about the Siamese twins, Eng and Chang Bunker (and nothing about their wives and children), I was thrilled to read this book. As a big fan of all the books by this author, her newest one did not disappoint. Beginning in 1839. the twins have moved to North Carolina where they buy land and started farming. (also using slaves as labor precivil war) . Meeting two sisters, (one who has faced disgrace due to a rape and pregnancy), they quickly marry and begin their lives as plantation owners. The interactions between the two sisters and their husbands are well written. The story spans several generations covering themes of slavery, precivil war plantation life and the norms for women in that time period. A fascinating book; the author has done her research on these characters and I was thrilled to be allowed access to this book. Highly recommend to readers of Christina Baker Kline.

[Cory Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this ARC. Conjoined twins from Siam - Eng and Chang Bunker have retired from the circus/oddities circuit and want to settle down in North Carolina. Sisters, Sarah "Sallie" and Adeline "Addi" have slim prospects because Sarah became pregnant out of wedlock. The Bunker twins would like to fix all the problems by marrying these sisters. With prejudices from the town and not understanding the reality of the Bunker brothers, they are certainly entering a life that is disgraced from society. This book follows all four of their lives from Sallie's POV from meeting, courting, marriage and family. Based on a true story of the famous Bunker twins, it really opened my eyes to how difficult not only life in the 1830's were but also has an anomaly of life. I love Kline's books. She has a knack for writing about history is such a way that it is fascinating! #TheFoursome #ChristinaBakerKline #MarinerBooks #May2026

[Chelsea (gofetchabook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a ton of historical fiction, but the premise of this one was too good to pass up. Two sisters marry conjoin twins, and the book is about their lives together. Between the two families, they had 21 children. I also thought it was interesting that it was based on a true story, and the sisters in the book are distant cousins of the author.

The book is set in the south in the 1800's and carries on through the Civil War and abolition of slavery. It is always a tough topic to read about, and I am still feeling a little icky about how the main character, although she felt in her heart it was wrong, lived and benefitted from it because she wouldn't defy her husband.

I was kind of just fascinated by this whole story, and it is one that I would recommend people check out. Even if you aren't huge into reading historical fiction, it was super interesting because it was based on real people.

[Stephanie Liberty · Rating 4 out of 5]

***3.5 Stars rounded up***

I flew through this novel! The beginning had me hooked, and as someone who loves a "different" story, this was definitely it.

After the first child was born, however, the story really took a dive. Chapter after chapter of what felt like stepping stones in life, no real detail or emotion behind them. Even when the civil war hits, what should have felt powerful and gripping, read like a grocery list of events happening.

The characters fell flat for me and felt very two-dimensional. All of them were hard to connect with (except for Aunt Joan, whom I loved!).

The truth of the story, and the first 45% of the book are what really shone through and I would recommend to anyone looking for a story rarely told!

Thank you to NetGalley Mariner Books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review! #TheFoursome #NetGalley