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The Foursome
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.
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.
560 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Christina Baker Kline
24 books7,278 followersA #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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
December 21, 2025
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.
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.
December 1, 2025
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.
May 12, 2026
THE FOURSOME
By Christina Baker Kline
An Intimate Look at an Unconventional Marriage
Christina Baker Kline’s The Foursome draws on the real-life story of the famous conjoined twins Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker, who first rose to fame touring before eventually settling in North Carolina. It was there that they met and married the Yates sisters, Adelaide and Sallie, going on to build an unconventional life together and raise a combined 21 children.
Told from Sallie’s point of view—the more hesitant sister, shaped by limited choices after a teenage scandal—the novel spans five decades and offers an intimate look at this unusual marriage and the bond between the sisters. It explores what it meant to step into a life that would always draw attention, and how four strong personalities navigated marriage, privacy, and family within such a complicated arrangement.
This is a quiet, character-focused story that finds tension in the everyday. The characters feel nuanced, carrying the weight of their choices in a way that makes an unusual situation feel real and intimate. Sallie often seems alone in her decisions, particularly when it comes to running the household and the plantation. She comes across as more empathetic than the others, who often appear aligned. I also felt that Eng frequently deferred to Chang, rather than standing firm in his own decisions.
I’ve enjoyed other books by Christina Baker Kline, and this one continues to show her strength in exploring complex relationships. Even more interesting—the sisters are distant cousins of the author. If you’re drawn to stories about sisterhood and complicated family dynamics—woven with themes of love, marriage, intimacy, identity, race, and gender inequality—The Foursome is worth reading.
Definitely a great pick for book clubs—it has plenty of layers to spark thoughtful discussion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the eARC.
By Christina Baker Kline
An Intimate Look at an Unconventional Marriage
Christina Baker Kline’s The Foursome draws on the real-life story of the famous conjoined twins Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker, who first rose to fame touring before eventually settling in North Carolina. It was there that they met and married the Yates sisters, Adelaide and Sallie, going on to build an unconventional life together and raise a combined 21 children.
Told from Sallie’s point of view—the more hesitant sister, shaped by limited choices after a teenage scandal—the novel spans five decades and offers an intimate look at this unusual marriage and the bond between the sisters. It explores what it meant to step into a life that would always draw attention, and how four strong personalities navigated marriage, privacy, and family within such a complicated arrangement.
This is a quiet, character-focused story that finds tension in the everyday. The characters feel nuanced, carrying the weight of their choices in a way that makes an unusual situation feel real and intimate. Sallie often seems alone in her decisions, particularly when it comes to running the household and the plantation. She comes across as more empathetic than the others, who often appear aligned. I also felt that Eng frequently deferred to Chang, rather than standing firm in his own decisions.
I’ve enjoyed other books by Christina Baker Kline, and this one continues to show her strength in exploring complex relationships. Even more interesting—the sisters are distant cousins of the author. If you’re drawn to stories about sisterhood and complicated family dynamics—woven with themes of love, marriage, intimacy, identity, race, and gender inequality—The Foursome is worth reading.
Definitely a great pick for book clubs—it has plenty of layers to spark thoughtful discussion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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...
February 6, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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!
#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!
May 15, 2026
5 stars. Excellent! The Foursome is based on a true story about the world-famous conjoined twins from Siam, Chang and Eng — who marry sisters Addie and Sallie Yates, the authors own distant cousins. How neat is that! This phenomenal story begins in 1843 Wilkes County, NC, as told by older sister Sallie, and spans their lives before courtship, to life on their own plantation, while parenting twenty-one children between them.
The community considered Sallie a fallen woman from an earlier tryst resulting in pregnancy, ruining her and her sister’s chance for marriage proposals. Even so she was still very reluctant to marry Eng (Addie talked her into it).. and had a hard time with their sleeping arrangement. Sallie became more assertive, and also openly questioned the morality of slavery (they owned slaves as did her parents). These thoughts/choices is what sets her apart from the three. Marrying Siamese twins shows the immense challenges they faced from a society that didn’t accept them.. prejudice + identity to name a few, just as the brothers had been exposed to their entire lives. Their marriages extraordinary, this fictional insight into their lives gives readers (to what felt true) glimpse into what that entailed in the 1800’s. It’s outstanding. Pub. 5/12/26
Much thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The community considered Sallie a fallen woman from an earlier tryst resulting in pregnancy, ruining her and her sister’s chance for marriage proposals. Even so she was still very reluctant to marry Eng (Addie talked her into it).. and had a hard time with their sleeping arrangement. Sallie became more assertive, and also openly questioned the morality of slavery (they owned slaves as did her parents). These thoughts/choices is what sets her apart from the three. Marrying Siamese twins shows the immense challenges they faced from a society that didn’t accept them.. prejudice + identity to name a few, just as the brothers had been exposed to their entire lives. Their marriages extraordinary, this fictional insight into their lives gives readers (to what felt true) glimpse into what that entailed in the 1800’s. It’s outstanding. Pub. 5/12/26
Much thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2026
A historical novel based on the true story of the author’s distant cousins, Sallie and Addie Yates, who married famous 19th-century conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker in North Carolina. The story spans five decades, from 1839 through the Civil War era.
This is a MUST READ! I’m immediately making it one of my staff picks and will be hand selling it like crazy. I started a few days ago and have alternated between the audiobook (which is fab) & reading (also fab)-- which also means that I've basically been reading it non-stop since I started. Absolutely a 5-star read! I didn’t expect any less from Christina Baker Kline, who also wrote one of my favorite novels,"The Orphan Train."
This is a MUST READ! I’m immediately making it one of my staff picks and will be hand selling it like crazy. I started a few days ago and have alternated between the audiobook (which is fab) & reading (also fab)-- which also means that I've basically been reading it non-stop since I started. Absolutely a 5-star read! I didn’t expect any less from Christina Baker Kline, who also wrote one of my favorite novels,"The Orphan Train."
May 12, 2026
3.5⭐️
I love CBK’s writing. She has a way of bringing historical settings to life. I adored Orphan Train and The Exiles.
In The Foursome, she explores what life may have been like for two sisters who married conjoined twins in antebellum North Carolina.
You can probably imagine a salacious and uncomfortable plot line that would naturally take place. Kline handles it well even though I didn’t particularly enjoy reading about it.
Sallie’s narrative was well developed and I liked her character.
🤷♀️Why not five stars?
I wish this had been more focused. It switched gears around halfway through, and while I had no problem with the subject matter, it seemed like an odd shift.
Plot wise, this was very slow from around 35 percent to 70 percent.
Thank you to @netgalley for my ARC!
⚠️Profanity: 1/5 (mild and infrequent; perhaps 3-4 total)
Sexual: 3/5 (a couple of brief cracked door scenes- not overly descriptive, but not completely closed door)
Also, sexual assault is referenced multiple times.
Other- death of a child
❓This was an unusual piece of American history. What story has enlightened your knowledge of history?
I love CBK’s writing. She has a way of bringing historical settings to life. I adored Orphan Train and The Exiles.
In The Foursome, she explores what life may have been like for two sisters who married conjoined twins in antebellum North Carolina.
You can probably imagine a salacious and uncomfortable plot line that would naturally take place. Kline handles it well even though I didn’t particularly enjoy reading about it.
Sallie’s narrative was well developed and I liked her character.
🤷♀️Why not five stars?
I wish this had been more focused. It switched gears around halfway through, and while I had no problem with the subject matter, it seemed like an odd shift.
Plot wise, this was very slow from around 35 percent to 70 percent.
Thank you to @netgalley for my ARC!
⚠️Profanity: 1/5 (mild and infrequent; perhaps 3-4 total)
Sexual: 3/5 (a couple of brief cracked door scenes- not overly descriptive, but not completely closed door)
Also, sexual assault is referenced multiple times.
Other- death of a child
❓This was an unusual piece of American history. What story has enlightened your knowledge of history?
April 21, 2026
well this was interesting
January 5, 2026
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.
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.
May 14, 2026
Visualizing the Impossible: A Strangely Fascinating, Flawless Risk
First things first, hands down, this is one of my favorite reads of 2026! Christina Baker Kline took a massive risk on this strangely fascinating, yet incredibly captivating story; one that transpired over five decades and landed so f**king well! I was hooked from beginning to end and could not put this book down!
The pacing was perfection and the prose beautifully written; a story of this depth can often feel dense, but this was so easy to digest. Reading this book felt like a summer stroll through the countryside, a nice breeze across the face, eyelashes fluttering in the wind, sipping a cold glass of sweet iced tea...such a delight. 🍹
As a native North Carolinian, I was taken in by the setting. Having visited Wilkesboro in my adolescent years, I could easily visualize the foothills with the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop; I felt a startling connection in a distant way...🏔️
The dynamics between Eng and Sallie, and Addie and Chang, defined The Foursome in every sense, yet the story reached far deeper: a journey into individuality, growth, human judgment, and the harsh realities of slavery. Baker Kline wove every thread together seamlessly, presenting a juxtaposition that proves two truths can exist at once, even when they appear entirely at odds. And no character was left behind, not even the 21 children. I did not have to question, "What happened to this person?" or "What became of that?"
One of the supporting characters that I fell in love with was Auntie Joan. I’m a bit of a rebel who loves a misfit character that challenges the status quo; she was my SHE-RO! ⚡ I loved her grit, determination, and unapologetic audacity to not give a damn about what anybody thinks.
I also loved the author's choice to tell the story through Sallie’s perspective. It allowed for a deeper connection to her internal conflicts and the insurmountable weight she carried; had the narrative shifted to include Addie’s view, I believe it would have diluted the impact in a way that failed to move the story forward.
The Aftermath 🌷:
I am giving this book a RAVING 5 STARS!!! Not only do I need a copy for my personal library, but I am also compelled to share this story with folks near and far; it offers so much for the imagination in the healthiest possible way!
When you read this book, do so with an open heart, a sound mind, and a thirst for a rare glimpse into the not-so-distant past. This is a uniquely weird, yet fulfilling opportunity, to immerse yourself in a "one of one" time in history. Be ready to receive the vast possibilities this "Foursome" has to offer. It’s immersive, provocative, and consequential; a cinematic masterpiece that deserves a movie adaptation. 🎬✨
Publication Date: May 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariner Books, and Christina Baker Kline for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
First things first, hands down, this is one of my favorite reads of 2026! Christina Baker Kline took a massive risk on this strangely fascinating, yet incredibly captivating story; one that transpired over five decades and landed so f**king well! I was hooked from beginning to end and could not put this book down!
The pacing was perfection and the prose beautifully written; a story of this depth can often feel dense, but this was so easy to digest. Reading this book felt like a summer stroll through the countryside, a nice breeze across the face, eyelashes fluttering in the wind, sipping a cold glass of sweet iced tea...such a delight. 🍹
As a native North Carolinian, I was taken in by the setting. Having visited Wilkesboro in my adolescent years, I could easily visualize the foothills with the Blue Ridge Mountains as the backdrop; I felt a startling connection in a distant way...🏔️
The dynamics between Eng and Sallie, and Addie and Chang, defined The Foursome in every sense, yet the story reached far deeper: a journey into individuality, growth, human judgment, and the harsh realities of slavery. Baker Kline wove every thread together seamlessly, presenting a juxtaposition that proves two truths can exist at once, even when they appear entirely at odds. And no character was left behind, not even the 21 children. I did not have to question, "What happened to this person?" or "What became of that?"
One of the supporting characters that I fell in love with was Auntie Joan. I’m a bit of a rebel who loves a misfit character that challenges the status quo; she was my SHE-RO! ⚡ I loved her grit, determination, and unapologetic audacity to not give a damn about what anybody thinks.
I also loved the author's choice to tell the story through Sallie’s perspective. It allowed for a deeper connection to her internal conflicts and the insurmountable weight she carried; had the narrative shifted to include Addie’s view, I believe it would have diluted the impact in a way that failed to move the story forward.
The Aftermath 🌷:
I am giving this book a RAVING 5 STARS!!! Not only do I need a copy for my personal library, but I am also compelled to share this story with folks near and far; it offers so much for the imagination in the healthiest possible way!
When you read this book, do so with an open heart, a sound mind, and a thirst for a rare glimpse into the not-so-distant past. This is a uniquely weird, yet fulfilling opportunity, to immerse yourself in a "one of one" time in history. Be ready to receive the vast possibilities this "Foursome" has to offer. It’s immersive, provocative, and consequential; a cinematic masterpiece that deserves a movie adaptation. 🎬✨
Publication Date: May 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariner Books, and Christina Baker Kline for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 16, 2026
I really enjoyed The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline. Told from the perspective of Sarah Yates, the wife of Eng Bunker, one of the famous Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker, the novel explores marriage, jealousy, loyalty, sacrifice, and the very complicated dynamics of family life in a way that felt very human to me.
As I was reading, I found myself wondering why Kline chose Sarah’s perspective because Adelaide (who was married to Chang) initially seemed like the stronger and more dynamic of the two sisters. By the end of the novel, though, I realized that choosing Sarah was the best choice because she experiences far more growth while Adelaide remains more fixed in who she is.
The book also does not shy away from the realities of the time period. Slavery and the Civil War is a part of the story, and the Bunkers themselves were slave owners, which added another layer to the story for me. There was something especially striking about the fact that Chang and Eng had been bought and brought to the United States as part of a sideshow act, yet later became wealthy Southern slave owners themselves. The book allows those contradictions to exist without trying to simplify them.
This is the kind of historical fiction I enjoy most: immersive, unusual, and filled with characters and moral tensions that stay with you after the final page. It would make for an excellent book club discussion.
As I was reading, I found myself wondering why Kline chose Sarah’s perspective because Adelaide (who was married to Chang) initially seemed like the stronger and more dynamic of the two sisters. By the end of the novel, though, I realized that choosing Sarah was the best choice because she experiences far more growth while Adelaide remains more fixed in who she is.
The book also does not shy away from the realities of the time period. Slavery and the Civil War is a part of the story, and the Bunkers themselves were slave owners, which added another layer to the story for me. There was something especially striking about the fact that Chang and Eng had been bought and brought to the United States as part of a sideshow act, yet later became wealthy Southern slave owners themselves. The book allows those contradictions to exist without trying to simplify them.
This is the kind of historical fiction I enjoy most: immersive, unusual, and filled with characters and moral tensions that stay with you after the final page. It would make for an excellent book club discussion.
May 15, 2026
This was given to me by the author and Goodreads for an honest review. Very absorbing, realistic and even troubling for a historical read about the conjoined twins Eng and Chang in the mid 1800’s. It was also about Sarah or Sallie and her sister Adelaide who married them. Between the couples they had 21 children, perhaps more that were born to slaves. The author had this to say: “ I approached this material with humility, care and a deep sense of responsibility. I hope the novel honors the complexity of these lives, the contradictions they embodied, and the humanity at their core.” Great quote and an enticing read.
May 14, 2026
This book is incredible! I was completely captivated immediately and this author has the most sweeping and beautiful storytelling. I could not put it down!
There is so much to this book; I was fascinated by the lives and logistics of the Bunker conjoined twins and the many turns it took. But like the author I was also fascinated by their wives and how their paths crossed with the twins, what motivated them to start this unconventional life (especially at this time in history) and how things were navigated. This book was a whirlwind of simmering emotions and that was brought beautifully off the page by the author's words. What also really hooked me was seeing Sally's attitude toward slavery changed throughout the book. When she has the realization that her easy days were made on the backs of the slaves' hardest ones was such an important point that is still so relevant today. And seeing how she knows it's wrong, but still goes on because it is so complicated, goes to show that even people who were against slavery were not willing to do the immense work to unravel it from their lives, which is how it was perpetuated in so many ways even after abolition and into today in various ways disguised as something else. I could go on, but the author does a much more elegant job with this.
I love seeing all of this history through Sally's eyes and seeing the juxtaposition of the conjoined twins obviously connected life, at the same time she is figuring out how to sever her own tie and reliance on her sister. I think because of her husband, she is able to see her restrictions and works hard to free herself from them, which shows a lot of personal growth throughout the book. This book looks at not just physical ties to a person, but emotional, economical, hierarchy and oppressive ties between humans as well. I have not read nearly enough about post-civil war times and now I want to change that!
Note: The audiobook narrator was FABULOUS. She had the perfect tone for this very unique story and imbued the story with the right amount of emotion at times of sorrow, exhaustion, as well as the small glimmers of happiness.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.
There is so much to this book; I was fascinated by the lives and logistics of the Bunker conjoined twins and the many turns it took. But like the author I was also fascinated by their wives and how their paths crossed with the twins, what motivated them to start this unconventional life (especially at this time in history) and how things were navigated. This book was a whirlwind of simmering emotions and that was brought beautifully off the page by the author's words. What also really hooked me was seeing Sally's attitude toward slavery changed throughout the book. When she has the realization that her easy days were made on the backs of the slaves' hardest ones was such an important point that is still so relevant today. And seeing how she knows it's wrong, but still goes on because it is so complicated, goes to show that even people who were against slavery were not willing to do the immense work to unravel it from their lives, which is how it was perpetuated in so many ways even after abolition and into today in various ways disguised as something else. I could go on, but the author does a much more elegant job with this.
I love seeing all of this history through Sally's eyes and seeing the juxtaposition of the conjoined twins obviously connected life, at the same time she is figuring out how to sever her own tie and reliance on her sister. I think because of her husband, she is able to see her restrictions and works hard to free herself from them, which shows a lot of personal growth throughout the book. This book looks at not just physical ties to a person, but emotional, economical, hierarchy and oppressive ties between humans as well. I have not read nearly enough about post-civil war times and now I want to change that!
Note: The audiobook narrator was FABULOUS. She had the perfect tone for this very unique story and imbued the story with the right amount of emotion at times of sorrow, exhaustion, as well as the small glimmers of happiness.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.
May 8, 2026
The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline takes the concept of a complicated family drama to the next level. It’s the story of two sisters in nineteenth century North Carolina who marry world-famous conjoined twins from Siam. A decades long saga featuring themes of unconventional love, grief, racism, identity, and the impact of slavery.
I’m already a fan of this author, so I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw the premise. And also, I have 2 sisters and cannot fathom sharing a marital bed with them till death do us part! I was quickly sucked into the story, and fascinated to read it’s loosely based on the lives of the author’s distant relatives. She manages to make this inconceivable choice by the sisters, especially, Sarah “Sallie”, the book’s narrator, sympathetic. “Here’s the truth, even the most extraordinary life feels ordinary when you’re living it.”
The characters are richly drawn and the writing is full of strong, vivid pictures. I especially appreciated how she was able to draw parallels between the parts of this story that her relatives decided to omit and the history of slavery in our country that we choose to ignore. “There are sins of action and sins of inaction. I cannot forgive myself for the times I saw the wrong and turned away.” While the middle takes its time, the overall writing and unforgettable characters make the story absolutely worth it 4/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for a gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I’m already a fan of this author, so I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw the premise. And also, I have 2 sisters and cannot fathom sharing a marital bed with them till death do us part! I was quickly sucked into the story, and fascinated to read it’s loosely based on the lives of the author’s distant relatives. She manages to make this inconceivable choice by the sisters, especially, Sarah “Sallie”, the book’s narrator, sympathetic. “Here’s the truth, even the most extraordinary life feels ordinary when you’re living it.”
The characters are richly drawn and the writing is full of strong, vivid pictures. I especially appreciated how she was able to draw parallels between the parts of this story that her relatives decided to omit and the history of slavery in our country that we choose to ignore. “There are sins of action and sins of inaction. I cannot forgive myself for the times I saw the wrong and turned away.” While the middle takes its time, the overall writing and unforgettable characters make the story absolutely worth it 4/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for a gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 15, 2026
I was not sure what to expect from a historical fiction novel based on the lives of Chang and Eng Bunker, siamese twins who became famous in the mid-1800's, but in the able hands of Christina Baker Kline, I was willing to give this novel a try. What a journey I have been on reading this fantastic tale that is so much more than I imagined!
I always want to learn something about the time period when reading historical fiction, and though I was familiar with the Bunker brothers as a circus novelty, the story of their lives out of the spotlight was fascinating. Told from the point of view of one of their wives, the story goes much deeper into what life is like when you are unable to be alone, and the toll it takes on even your closest relationships.
The novel takes place primarily during the pre-through-post Civil War in the South, with the Bunker families as slave owners. The characters' attitudes toward and treatment of the people who are owned by and serve their households is a theme that is interwoven through the story, and, as explained in the author's note, sparked the choice to use Sallie's POV as the focus. I found this novel's treatment of slaveholding particularly thorough, illuminating many conflicting repercussions of the Civil War, particularly in the South.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC of The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline. The opinions in this review are my own.
I always want to learn something about the time period when reading historical fiction, and though I was familiar with the Bunker brothers as a circus novelty, the story of their lives out of the spotlight was fascinating. Told from the point of view of one of their wives, the story goes much deeper into what life is like when you are unable to be alone, and the toll it takes on even your closest relationships.
The novel takes place primarily during the pre-through-post Civil War in the South, with the Bunker families as slave owners. The characters' attitudes toward and treatment of the people who are owned by and serve their households is a theme that is interwoven through the story, and, as explained in the author's note, sparked the choice to use Sallie's POV as the focus. I found this novel's treatment of slaveholding particularly thorough, illuminating many conflicting repercussions of the Civil War, particularly in the South.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC of The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline. The opinions in this review are my own.
May 11, 2026
I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
When Eng and Chang Bunker arrive in Wilkes County in 1839, they’re not just a curiosity—they’re a sensation. Now, word has it, they’re looking for wives. Sarah and Adelaide Yates, daughters of a once-prominent local family brought low by scandal, are drawn into their orbit. Bold, beautiful Adelaide sees in the twins’ fame a chance to reclaim her future. Sarah, quiet and observant, isn’t so sure.
Y’all have heard me say this in the past, I love a book that has me researching. I was almost immediately researching these twins from the moment I started this book. And yes, I have heard about them, I just never really knew a lot about their lives. But, these two and their wives had me intrigued from start to finish.
Not only is this union and this family unique, the time period of 1830 prior to the Civil War is also very riveting. These twins owned slaves and when the war comes it throws their whole world into chaos.
This is a captivating, emotional and down right unique tale you do not want to miss! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I know you are not supposed to quote an arc but this quote got me!
“Grief does not end. It’s shifts, settling into the crevices of your days.”
When Eng and Chang Bunker arrive in Wilkes County in 1839, they’re not just a curiosity—they’re a sensation. Now, word has it, they’re looking for wives. Sarah and Adelaide Yates, daughters of a once-prominent local family brought low by scandal, are drawn into their orbit. Bold, beautiful Adelaide sees in the twins’ fame a chance to reclaim her future. Sarah, quiet and observant, isn’t so sure.
Y’all have heard me say this in the past, I love a book that has me researching. I was almost immediately researching these twins from the moment I started this book. And yes, I have heard about them, I just never really knew a lot about their lives. But, these two and their wives had me intrigued from start to finish.
Not only is this union and this family unique, the time period of 1830 prior to the Civil War is also very riveting. These twins owned slaves and when the war comes it throws their whole world into chaos.
This is a captivating, emotional and down right unique tale you do not want to miss! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I know you are not supposed to quote an arc but this quote got me!
“Grief does not end. It’s shifts, settling into the crevices of your days.”
May 16, 2026
3.75 stars
In the Author's Note, Ms. Kline mentions that her original plan was to write this book in alternating perspectives from Addie and Sarah. I wonder how this book would have turned out had she made that decision because of their differing personalities. However, doing so would have taken away from the tribulations the reader experiences exclusively through Sarah's eyes.
In the Author's Note, Ms. Kline mentions that her original plan was to write this book in alternating perspectives from Addie and Sarah. I wonder how this book would have turned out had she made that decision because of their differing personalities. However, doing so would have taken away from the tribulations the reader experiences exclusively through Sarah's eyes.
May 10, 2026
The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline
Publishing date - 05/12/26
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for
the opportunity to read this book. This is the story of Chang and Eng Bunker, the conjoined twins from Siam. This story is about their personal lives with their wives and children told from the perspective of one of the wives set before, during, and after the Civil War. Having been a fan of authors’ previous work , I knew this one was going to be an interesting and intriguing read as well. Fun fact - in the Author’s Note at the end, we learn that Kline is related to Sallie and Addie! They are her ancestral cousins. Can’t wait to finally meet @bakerkline at Park Books on her book tour!
Publishing date - 05/12/26
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for
the opportunity to read this book. This is the story of Chang and Eng Bunker, the conjoined twins from Siam. This story is about their personal lives with their wives and children told from the perspective of one of the wives set before, during, and after the Civil War. Having been a fan of authors’ previous work , I knew this one was going to be an interesting and intriguing read as well. Fun fact - in the Author’s Note at the end, we learn that Kline is related to Sallie and Addie! They are her ancestral cousins. Can’t wait to finally meet @bakerkline at Park Books on her book tour!
May 15, 2026
Excellent historical fiction about “Siamese” twins Eng and Chang Bunker and their wives. The author is a distant relative of the wives (who are sisters) and decided to look deeper into their stories.
April 4, 2026
I don’t typically like historical fiction but I really enjoyed this one. It’s well written and the truth of the story mingles nicely with the fiction. I could have been longer, included more details, but it’s good that it left me wanting more. Now I’d like to read more about the original Siamese twins.
January 18, 2026
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.
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.
May 17, 2026
It is known that we come into this world and leave it in the same way: alone. But for Eng and Chang Bunker, the opposite was true. Born conjoined at the midsection by a thin strip of flesh, they were the birth of the label “Siamese twins” and were shown around the world as oddities, adopting a showmen-like nature that allowed them to wow their fans and preserve what little of their privacy they could.
When we meet these men, it is in early-1840s North Carolina, where they have just erected a stately farmhouse full of European treasures from their worldly adventures. Having escaped their poor roots in Siam (now Thailand) and the clutches of exploitative managers, they have a single goal in mind: marriage. But who in the conservative, prejudiced South would get involved with two non-white brothers, often called “beasts” by the media?
Enter Sarah and Adelaide Yates, sisters marred by scandal, now entering their second decade and desperately watching as their prospects for marriage start to dry up.
Eng and Chang begin to court Sarah and Adelaide, despite the warnings from their conservative father, who fears the life of judgment and mockery the girls will face. Commonalities are found quickly. Adelaide (Addie) is notably the more beautiful of the sisters, and her temperament --- bold, brassy and take-charge --- matches that of Chang, the more outspoken brother, whose charm hides a mercurial temper. Sarah (Sallie) is the plainer, stouter of the two, and her looks have relegated her to the sidelines, where she takes pleasure in gardening and reading. In Eng, who is quiet, patient and accustomed to following his brother’s orders, she sees for the first time an opportunity for more.
Acknowledging that the siblings will forever face limited prospects in others, the foursome embarks on a quiet engagement followed by a joint wedding. It is the spectacle of the season, with everyone from gossipy neighbors to religious leaders to op-eds chiming in, either decrying the “bestiality” of the union or lambasting the girls’ parents. The one question on everyone’s mind is: How will the couples consummate their unions? The answer is more simple than you might think: a double-wide bed, a sheet thrown over a brother’s head, and the promise that everyone will dissociate for as long as possible.
The surprising truth is that, despite a few initial obstacles, marriage comes quite easily to both couples. However, our focus is on Sallie, whose early fears and hesitancy begin to fade as she and Eng strike up a quiet, appreciative companionship. Within the year, both women are pregnant. Their babies, who they worry may be born conjoined as well, are set to arrive only weeks apart. Now, with families to care for and children to love, Sallie begins to truly come into her own and enjoy her life.
But as any parent will tell you, adding a third member to your family invites scores of complications, difficult choices and painful prioritizing…and that’s if you’re lucky enough not to share a marital bed with your sister and her husband. Before long, the couples’ careful unions grow fractious, with brothers fighting one day and sisters the next. Sallie, long accustomed to living in her sister’s shadow, begins to grate at the control that Chang and Addie wield over the household. Eng, meanwhile, grows weary of his brother’s drinking problem and subsequent condescension. Though each sibling has never known a life without the other, the couples find that they are diametrically opposed on most everything from child-rearing to religion, slave-owning to fame.
All the while, the South also begins to fracture over debates of slavery and its legality. Curiously to Sallie, who has started to open her eyes to the inequity of the practice that has long sustained her people, Eng and Chang are increasing their own slave count. This forces Sallie to ask: How can two men, who essentially were bought and sold, be so callous in their ownership of others?
As Sallie navigates these myriad rifts and the painful minutiae of life in a foursome, she watches as her life expands and contracts in equal measure. With their growing families (collectively, the brothers and sisters would go on to have 21 children), the couples are able to populate and fill their own self-contained world. They limit the label of “family” just to the four of them and their children, not the wider branches from which they had sprouted.
Sallie grows ever wiser to the ways of the world through her freedom, and she once astutely remarks that their distance from society “echoed a broader pattern. Though Eng and Chang were wealthy and well-connected, their place in society was tenuous, secured only by their willingness to embrace the habits of Southern gentry…. Still, [p]oor whites seethed that these ‘colored’ men had succeeded where they had not.” Surely pained by this knowledge, the brothers become even more quarrelsome, as do the sisters.
The foursome makes the difficult decision to separate, with Addie living in one house, Sallie in another, and the brothers forced to travel back and forth every three days. With this division comes a glorious freedom that Sallie thought was impossible. Left to her own devices for three days, she is able to enjoy her life with her children, indulge in her reading, and sleep alone. When her husband returns, she is more amorous for him and more capable of performing her wifely duties, even as Chang begins to turn ugly and cruel. Her peace, though, is short-lived. Their futures hold tragedies, alliances and rifts, but all that will pale in comparison to what is coming for the South: war.
Pairing the foursome’s journey with that of the South, Christina Baker Kline paints an evocative portrait not just of the conjoined twins and their sister wives, but of marriage and the South itself. It’s an ambitious project but an earned one as well: Kline is a distant cousin of Sarah and Adelaide Yates. She writes tenderly and compassionately about her ancestors, giving them the voice and attention they have never had before. Entwining this depiction with the history and contradictions of the South, she writes honestly about moral blind spots, desperate choices, and very real social repercussions without flattening the people who lived through them.
Kline’s choice to tell this story from Sallie's perspective is a resounding success. Her journey from unquestioning acceptance and forced discomfort to a clearer understanding of her shifting time forms the book’s most deeply compelling throughline. This outstanding novel, which very well could have read like a tabloid in a lesser author’s hands, is expansive in its intimacy and intellectual in its heart as it celebrates the extraordinary gift of an ordinary life.
Reviewed by Rebecca Munro
When we meet these men, it is in early-1840s North Carolina, where they have just erected a stately farmhouse full of European treasures from their worldly adventures. Having escaped their poor roots in Siam (now Thailand) and the clutches of exploitative managers, they have a single goal in mind: marriage. But who in the conservative, prejudiced South would get involved with two non-white brothers, often called “beasts” by the media?
Enter Sarah and Adelaide Yates, sisters marred by scandal, now entering their second decade and desperately watching as their prospects for marriage start to dry up.
Eng and Chang begin to court Sarah and Adelaide, despite the warnings from their conservative father, who fears the life of judgment and mockery the girls will face. Commonalities are found quickly. Adelaide (Addie) is notably the more beautiful of the sisters, and her temperament --- bold, brassy and take-charge --- matches that of Chang, the more outspoken brother, whose charm hides a mercurial temper. Sarah (Sallie) is the plainer, stouter of the two, and her looks have relegated her to the sidelines, where she takes pleasure in gardening and reading. In Eng, who is quiet, patient and accustomed to following his brother’s orders, she sees for the first time an opportunity for more.
Acknowledging that the siblings will forever face limited prospects in others, the foursome embarks on a quiet engagement followed by a joint wedding. It is the spectacle of the season, with everyone from gossipy neighbors to religious leaders to op-eds chiming in, either decrying the “bestiality” of the union or lambasting the girls’ parents. The one question on everyone’s mind is: How will the couples consummate their unions? The answer is more simple than you might think: a double-wide bed, a sheet thrown over a brother’s head, and the promise that everyone will dissociate for as long as possible.
The surprising truth is that, despite a few initial obstacles, marriage comes quite easily to both couples. However, our focus is on Sallie, whose early fears and hesitancy begin to fade as she and Eng strike up a quiet, appreciative companionship. Within the year, both women are pregnant. Their babies, who they worry may be born conjoined as well, are set to arrive only weeks apart. Now, with families to care for and children to love, Sallie begins to truly come into her own and enjoy her life.
But as any parent will tell you, adding a third member to your family invites scores of complications, difficult choices and painful prioritizing…and that’s if you’re lucky enough not to share a marital bed with your sister and her husband. Before long, the couples’ careful unions grow fractious, with brothers fighting one day and sisters the next. Sallie, long accustomed to living in her sister’s shadow, begins to grate at the control that Chang and Addie wield over the household. Eng, meanwhile, grows weary of his brother’s drinking problem and subsequent condescension. Though each sibling has never known a life without the other, the couples find that they are diametrically opposed on most everything from child-rearing to religion, slave-owning to fame.
All the while, the South also begins to fracture over debates of slavery and its legality. Curiously to Sallie, who has started to open her eyes to the inequity of the practice that has long sustained her people, Eng and Chang are increasing their own slave count. This forces Sallie to ask: How can two men, who essentially were bought and sold, be so callous in their ownership of others?
As Sallie navigates these myriad rifts and the painful minutiae of life in a foursome, she watches as her life expands and contracts in equal measure. With their growing families (collectively, the brothers and sisters would go on to have 21 children), the couples are able to populate and fill their own self-contained world. They limit the label of “family” just to the four of them and their children, not the wider branches from which they had sprouted.
Sallie grows ever wiser to the ways of the world through her freedom, and she once astutely remarks that their distance from society “echoed a broader pattern. Though Eng and Chang were wealthy and well-connected, their place in society was tenuous, secured only by their willingness to embrace the habits of Southern gentry…. Still, [p]oor whites seethed that these ‘colored’ men had succeeded where they had not.” Surely pained by this knowledge, the brothers become even more quarrelsome, as do the sisters.
The foursome makes the difficult decision to separate, with Addie living in one house, Sallie in another, and the brothers forced to travel back and forth every three days. With this division comes a glorious freedom that Sallie thought was impossible. Left to her own devices for three days, she is able to enjoy her life with her children, indulge in her reading, and sleep alone. When her husband returns, she is more amorous for him and more capable of performing her wifely duties, even as Chang begins to turn ugly and cruel. Her peace, though, is short-lived. Their futures hold tragedies, alliances and rifts, but all that will pale in comparison to what is coming for the South: war.
Pairing the foursome’s journey with that of the South, Christina Baker Kline paints an evocative portrait not just of the conjoined twins and their sister wives, but of marriage and the South itself. It’s an ambitious project but an earned one as well: Kline is a distant cousin of Sarah and Adelaide Yates. She writes tenderly and compassionately about her ancestors, giving them the voice and attention they have never had before. Entwining this depiction with the history and contradictions of the South, she writes honestly about moral blind spots, desperate choices, and very real social repercussions without flattening the people who lived through them.
Kline’s choice to tell this story from Sallie's perspective is a resounding success. Her journey from unquestioning acceptance and forced discomfort to a clearer understanding of her shifting time forms the book’s most deeply compelling throughline. This outstanding novel, which very well could have read like a tabloid in a lesser author’s hands, is expansive in its intimacy and intellectual in its heart as it celebrates the extraordinary gift of an ordinary life.
Reviewed by Rebecca Munro
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
May 13, 2026
Author of such books as The Orphan Train and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline has now gifted readers with The Foursome, an historical novel based on the marriage of the author’s distant North Carolina cousins to famous Siamese twins Chang and Eng.
Growing up with a strict father and distant mother frequently shut away in her room rather than giving love and attention to her several children, sisters Sarah and Adelaide Yates,. The youngest of the Yates brood, have fallen victim to a scandal limiting their marriage choices to a variety of undesirables, largely to the poor or to aging widowers.
When opportunity arises to meet the much gossiped about Chang and Eng, conjoined twins from Siam (today’s Thailand) originally brought to the U.S. as teens and exploited as a sideshow attraction, the sisters are naturally curious. The brothers are now among the most wealthy men in the county, having broken away from their exploiters years ago and profited from showing themselves to audiences eager to pay to for the chance to gawk at the brothers who gave the name “Siamese twins” to those born conjoined. Now plantation owners striving for social acceptance in the 19th century American South, Chang and Eng crave wives and children. They offer not only financial security but also a beautiful home furnished with imported goods and wardrobes of stylish clothes for their brides. While Adelaide (Addie), the outgoing younger Yates sister by a year, is eager to marry outgoing Chang for what he has to offer, introspective Sarah (Sallie) harbors nagging doubts. With the marriage offer requiring that both sisters become brides to avoid public censure and bigamy laws, Sallie eventually succumbs to her sister’s pressure despite her own concerns about the complications and risks involved with such a marital union.
Readers most likely will imagine what the Yates sisters will face to fulfill their roles as wives of conjoined twins craving large families. In fact, the historical sisters gave birth to a total of 21 children. Although Kline must address this point, far more important than the marriage bed regarded as scandalous by Sally and Addie’s parents and their North Carolina communities are the personality differences between the two sisters and between the two brothers as well as between husbands and wives. Perhaps even more important than personality conflicts and certainly more interesting to my mind is the evolution of Sally’s thinking as the South faces succession and war and the many changes both bring to the family, its workforce, the South, and the nation.
Filled with family and U.S. history, with personal and social change, The Foursome proves a complex look at lives in flux. Readers should not miss Kline’s informative notes at the back of the book, for they help explain not only what she drew from history but also what she necessarily created as fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance reader egalley of this emotionally engrossing and impressive new historical novel. Kline’s many literary references, a couple quite detailed and notably well-chosen, will enhance the experience for those readers most familiar with those books. The references may lead some others to pick up these classics at their local libraries or bookstores.
Growing up with a strict father and distant mother frequently shut away in her room rather than giving love and attention to her several children, sisters Sarah and Adelaide Yates,. The youngest of the Yates brood, have fallen victim to a scandal limiting their marriage choices to a variety of undesirables, largely to the poor or to aging widowers.
When opportunity arises to meet the much gossiped about Chang and Eng, conjoined twins from Siam (today’s Thailand) originally brought to the U.S. as teens and exploited as a sideshow attraction, the sisters are naturally curious. The brothers are now among the most wealthy men in the county, having broken away from their exploiters years ago and profited from showing themselves to audiences eager to pay to for the chance to gawk at the brothers who gave the name “Siamese twins” to those born conjoined. Now plantation owners striving for social acceptance in the 19th century American South, Chang and Eng crave wives and children. They offer not only financial security but also a beautiful home furnished with imported goods and wardrobes of stylish clothes for their brides. While Adelaide (Addie), the outgoing younger Yates sister by a year, is eager to marry outgoing Chang for what he has to offer, introspective Sarah (Sallie) harbors nagging doubts. With the marriage offer requiring that both sisters become brides to avoid public censure and bigamy laws, Sallie eventually succumbs to her sister’s pressure despite her own concerns about the complications and risks involved with such a marital union.
Readers most likely will imagine what the Yates sisters will face to fulfill their roles as wives of conjoined twins craving large families. In fact, the historical sisters gave birth to a total of 21 children. Although Kline must address this point, far more important than the marriage bed regarded as scandalous by Sally and Addie’s parents and their North Carolina communities are the personality differences between the two sisters and between the two brothers as well as between husbands and wives. Perhaps even more important than personality conflicts and certainly more interesting to my mind is the evolution of Sally’s thinking as the South faces succession and war and the many changes both bring to the family, its workforce, the South, and the nation.
Filled with family and U.S. history, with personal and social change, The Foursome proves a complex look at lives in flux. Readers should not miss Kline’s informative notes at the back of the book, for they help explain not only what she drew from history but also what she necessarily created as fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance reader egalley of this emotionally engrossing and impressive new historical novel. Kline’s many literary references, a couple quite detailed and notably well-chosen, will enhance the experience for those readers most familiar with those books. The references may lead some others to pick up these classics at their local libraries or bookstores.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
There are very few things in life that I can confidently say I could *never* do from the onset. After reading this book, I can officially add “marrying a conjoined twin” to that list. That being said, this was such an interesting, remarkable, frustrating, and genuinely unique piece of historical fiction.
I love fictionalized stories about real people because they almost always send me spiraling into research rabbit holes afterward, and this one absolutely did. I had to physically stop myself from Googling things halfway through because I needed to know how much of this story was true.
What surprised me most is that while this novel is about Eng and Chang Bunker, it ultimately feels like Sallie’s story. Christina Baker Kline writes from Sarah “Sallie” Yates’ perspective in a way that feels deeply intimate, almost autobiographical at times, while still grounding the narrative in the social and political realities of the era.
And honestly? Sallie frustrated me for large portions of the novel… but intentionally so. Watching her navigate the expectations placed upon women, marriage, motherhood, public scrutiny, and the impossible dynamics of this family made for such a compelling emotional arc. Her growth over the course of the book ended up being one of the strongest parts for me.
Kline’s writing is beautiful throughout (lyrical without feeling overwritten), and perfectly suited for historical fiction. There’s such care in the research and historical detail, especially surrounding the realities of fame, prejudice, disability, and public fascination during the time period.
But what makes this story especially fascinating is how complicated the Bunker family becomes once you move beyond the “historical curiosity” angle people often associate with Eng and Chang. The logistics of intimacy, privacy, marriage, parenting, and decision-making within this family dynamic are explored in ways that are uncomfortable, emotional, and surprisingly human.
The book also doesn’t shy away from the uglier truths of history. One of the most shocking aspects for me was learning that the Bunker brothers enslaved people and supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. There’s an understandable instinct to assume that people who experienced prejudice themselves would reject systems of oppression, and the novel forces readers to sit with the reality that history (and people) are rarely that simple.
There are sections where the twins themselves almost fade into the background as the story focuses on Sallie’s day-to-day life, marriage, and emotional struggles, but I actually think that choice reinforces the point of the novel. This isn’t just the story of famous conjoined twins. It’s the story of the women and family orbiting that fame too.
Overall, this is a beautifully written and deeply researched historical fiction novel that explores identity, marriage, societal expectations, and the messy contradictions of real people. Fascinating, frustrating, and absolutely memorable.
There are very few things in life that I can confidently say I could *never* do from the onset. After reading this book, I can officially add “marrying a conjoined twin” to that list. That being said, this was such an interesting, remarkable, frustrating, and genuinely unique piece of historical fiction.
I love fictionalized stories about real people because they almost always send me spiraling into research rabbit holes afterward, and this one absolutely did. I had to physically stop myself from Googling things halfway through because I needed to know how much of this story was true.
What surprised me most is that while this novel is about Eng and Chang Bunker, it ultimately feels like Sallie’s story. Christina Baker Kline writes from Sarah “Sallie” Yates’ perspective in a way that feels deeply intimate, almost autobiographical at times, while still grounding the narrative in the social and political realities of the era.
And honestly? Sallie frustrated me for large portions of the novel… but intentionally so. Watching her navigate the expectations placed upon women, marriage, motherhood, public scrutiny, and the impossible dynamics of this family made for such a compelling emotional arc. Her growth over the course of the book ended up being one of the strongest parts for me.
Kline’s writing is beautiful throughout (lyrical without feeling overwritten), and perfectly suited for historical fiction. There’s such care in the research and historical detail, especially surrounding the realities of fame, prejudice, disability, and public fascination during the time period.
But what makes this story especially fascinating is how complicated the Bunker family becomes once you move beyond the “historical curiosity” angle people often associate with Eng and Chang. The logistics of intimacy, privacy, marriage, parenting, and decision-making within this family dynamic are explored in ways that are uncomfortable, emotional, and surprisingly human.
The book also doesn’t shy away from the uglier truths of history. One of the most shocking aspects for me was learning that the Bunker brothers enslaved people and supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. There’s an understandable instinct to assume that people who experienced prejudice themselves would reject systems of oppression, and the novel forces readers to sit with the reality that history (and people) are rarely that simple.
There are sections where the twins themselves almost fade into the background as the story focuses on Sallie’s day-to-day life, marriage, and emotional struggles, but I actually think that choice reinforces the point of the novel. This isn’t just the story of famous conjoined twins. It’s the story of the women and family orbiting that fame too.
Overall, this is a beautifully written and deeply researched historical fiction novel that explores identity, marriage, societal expectations, and the messy contradictions of real people. Fascinating, frustrating, and absolutely memorable.
May 12, 2026
The past changes according to what questions we ask. ~ Nell Irvin Painter
Two men, born as conjoined twins. Chang and Eng Bunker were born in Siam (now Thailand). They were sold by their mother and then later bought their way out of bondage and became US citizens. When they died at the age of 62, they left behind two wives (Adelaide and Sallie) and had fathered 21 children.
Twenty-five people is an entire village. There is comfort, and safety, in numbers.
Christina Baker Kline is a descendant of that union and uses her storytelling skills to give us a glimpse into their world. It is riveting.
Why I loved this new release:
👰Sarah (Sallie) Yates and her sister Adelaide were wooed and wedded the Bunker twins. Christina Baker Kline tells the story from Sallie's perspective. There was much opposition to the match from their family and neighbors. Still, the two young women made a commitment and stuck to it.
4️⃣A marriage between two people is difficult enough. Doubling the number of people involved and you can imagine the potential for conflict. Kline tastefully gives us a glimpse into the marriage bed. We were all wondering, right? As the number of children grew, the wives established separate households with the twins visiting each family for three days at a time.
👨🏼🤝👨🏻Do you remember poring over the pictures in the Guinness Book of World Records 1989? As a kid I distinctly remember reading about the Bunker twins and their marriage to two sisters. When I found out about this book, I knew it was a must read. How fascinating to have that picture from my childhood brought to life in this book.
🔗The Bunkers were plantation owners. They lived near Mt Airy, NC and owning slaves was a way of life they adopted to multiply the working hands without cutting into profits. In the story Sallie contemplates the irony of men once enslaved now doing the same to others. A defense mechanism against the pain of the past? Then the Civil War breaks out and their lives change drastically.
🤔There was not retreating into the comfort of not knowing. My old certainties had dissolved like sugar in water.
This quote and many others contribute to a rewarding experience for the reader. I have loved Christina Baker Kline's writing since I read Orphan Train many years ago. This new title is outstanding and I highly recommend it.
I knew that the tender seeds of a relationship could take root in rocky soil and grow into a sturdy tree with many brances. I had seen it happen. I nurtured them myself.
Happy Publication Day - May 12, 2026! Thank you to Mariner Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two men, born as conjoined twins. Chang and Eng Bunker were born in Siam (now Thailand). They were sold by their mother and then later bought their way out of bondage and became US citizens. When they died at the age of 62, they left behind two wives (Adelaide and Sallie) and had fathered 21 children.
Twenty-five people is an entire village. There is comfort, and safety, in numbers.
Christina Baker Kline is a descendant of that union and uses her storytelling skills to give us a glimpse into their world. It is riveting.
Why I loved this new release:
👰Sarah (Sallie) Yates and her sister Adelaide were wooed and wedded the Bunker twins. Christina Baker Kline tells the story from Sallie's perspective. There was much opposition to the match from their family and neighbors. Still, the two young women made a commitment and stuck to it.
4️⃣A marriage between two people is difficult enough. Doubling the number of people involved and you can imagine the potential for conflict. Kline tastefully gives us a glimpse into the marriage bed. We were all wondering, right? As the number of children grew, the wives established separate households with the twins visiting each family for three days at a time.
👨🏼🤝👨🏻Do you remember poring over the pictures in the Guinness Book of World Records 1989? As a kid I distinctly remember reading about the Bunker twins and their marriage to two sisters. When I found out about this book, I knew it was a must read. How fascinating to have that picture from my childhood brought to life in this book.
🔗The Bunkers were plantation owners. They lived near Mt Airy, NC and owning slaves was a way of life they adopted to multiply the working hands without cutting into profits. In the story Sallie contemplates the irony of men once enslaved now doing the same to others. A defense mechanism against the pain of the past? Then the Civil War breaks out and their lives change drastically.
🤔There was not retreating into the comfort of not knowing. My old certainties had dissolved like sugar in water.
This quote and many others contribute to a rewarding experience for the reader. I have loved Christina Baker Kline's writing since I read Orphan Train many years ago. This new title is outstanding and I highly recommend it.
I knew that the tender seeds of a relationship could take root in rocky soil and grow into a sturdy tree with many brances. I had seen it happen. I nurtured them myself.
Happy Publication Day - May 12, 2026! Thank you to Mariner Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 7, 2026
3-1/2 stars
The Foursome is about the lives of Chang and Eng Bunker, the conjoined twins from Siam (now Thailand) for whom the term “Siamese Twins” was named. They were real people and this novel is about their real lives with their wives, Sallie and Addie, who were sisters from the North Carolina town where the Bunkers settled in the mid-1800s. However, in this novel, their story is made robust with fiction from the creative mind of Christina Baker Kline.
The novel is told from Sallie’s point of view. The first quarter of the novel provides sufficient background to explain how she and her sister met the Bunkers and why they made the unusual decision to marry conjoined twins. This was an extremely necessary part of their story. I thought Kline handled the, undoubtedly, fraught decision for the girls realistically, including the unfavorable opinions of the their parents and their community.
The novel went on to describe how they managed to construct their married days and nights; how the personalities worked, and didn’t work, together; how they set up the house and farm; how their sex lives worked; and how their lives altered as a multitude of children arrived. These are the things that most people probably wonder about when they hear that Chang and Eng were married. Reading this section sometimes felt like intruding on a spectacle, reading between fingers spread across the eyes.
In the back end of the novel, the tone changed as Sallie faced reality regarding troublesome situations about which she’d previously been compliant. She began to see herself as a source of direction in her own life and began making small changes that were within her power. The twins died on the same day and ended up fathering 21 children with their wives. Sallie’s perspective on slavery was enlightening and the book acknowledged the fact that her family, as slave-owners in North Carolina, had to make changes after the Civil War.
I had previously read three of Kline’s novels, one of which—Orphan Train—achieved a 5-star rating from me which is a rare achievement. So when NetGalley offered the chance to read this new novel from her before its release date, I jumped at the chance. In the Author’s Note at the end, I was surprised to learn that Kline is related to Sallie and Addie! They are her ancestral cousins. She did a great job with this story, making it not as much like a soap opera as it could’ve been in another author’s hands.
Thank you to Kline, NetGalley, and Mariner Books for allowing me to read this galley ahead of The Foursome’s release date of May 12, 2026.
The Foursome is about the lives of Chang and Eng Bunker, the conjoined twins from Siam (now Thailand) for whom the term “Siamese Twins” was named. They were real people and this novel is about their real lives with their wives, Sallie and Addie, who were sisters from the North Carolina town where the Bunkers settled in the mid-1800s. However, in this novel, their story is made robust with fiction from the creative mind of Christina Baker Kline.
The novel is told from Sallie’s point of view. The first quarter of the novel provides sufficient background to explain how she and her sister met the Bunkers and why they made the unusual decision to marry conjoined twins. This was an extremely necessary part of their story. I thought Kline handled the, undoubtedly, fraught decision for the girls realistically, including the unfavorable opinions of the their parents and their community.
The novel went on to describe how they managed to construct their married days and nights; how the personalities worked, and didn’t work, together; how they set up the house and farm; how their sex lives worked; and how their lives altered as a multitude of children arrived. These are the things that most people probably wonder about when they hear that Chang and Eng were married. Reading this section sometimes felt like intruding on a spectacle, reading between fingers spread across the eyes.
In the back end of the novel, the tone changed as Sallie faced reality regarding troublesome situations about which she’d previously been compliant. She began to see herself as a source of direction in her own life and began making small changes that were within her power. The twins died on the same day and ended up fathering 21 children with their wives. Sallie’s perspective on slavery was enlightening and the book acknowledged the fact that her family, as slave-owners in North Carolina, had to make changes after the Civil War.
I had previously read three of Kline’s novels, one of which—Orphan Train—achieved a 5-star rating from me which is a rare achievement. So when NetGalley offered the chance to read this new novel from her before its release date, I jumped at the chance. In the Author’s Note at the end, I was surprised to learn that Kline is related to Sallie and Addie! They are her ancestral cousins. She did a great job with this story, making it not as much like a soap opera as it could’ve been in another author’s hands.
Thank you to Kline, NetGalley, and Mariner Books for allowing me to read this galley ahead of The Foursome’s release date of May 12, 2026.
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