The Lost Girls of Willowbrook: Sneak Peek

by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Be one of the first to read this sneak preview sample edition!


In this powerful novel of survival and resilience, New York Times bestselling author Ellen Marie Wiseman takes readers on a gripping, emotional journey as one brave young woman’s search for the truth about her sister leads her to an infamous institution called Willowbrook . . .
 
Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.
 
Six years after Rosemary’s death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage’s stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking Rosemary didn’t die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.
 
Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It’s always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2022

About the author

Ellen Marie Wiseman is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for writing novels based on real historical injustices, including THE LIES THEY TOLD, THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR, WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND, THE PLUM TREE , COAL RIVER, THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN, and THE LOST GIRLS OF WILLOWBROOK, which was an Indie Next selection, an Amazon Editor's Pick and the B&N “Our Monthly Pick.” Born and raised in Three Mile Bay, a tiny hamlet in northern New York, Ellen is a first-generation German American who discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in New York State. Since then, her novels have been published worldwide, translated into more than twenty languages, and sold nearly two million copies in the United States alone. They have also been named to "best of" lists by Reading Group Choices, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, The Historical Novel Society, Great Group Reads, and more. A mother of two and grandmother to six, Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her Husband.

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this and it gives a sample of what this book is like. It is a terrific read. I did get the book early and am reading that now. It is set in Willowbrook Institution which was a real place that was supposed to help mentally ill and disabled people. This was not the case at all. It was a place where awful things happened and was filthy and the people living there had no say in their lives. It was a big story when reporters got access to Willowbrook. The story is fictionalized but Sage is looking for her twin sister Rosemary, who stays there. Since they look identical, no one believes Sage and locks her up on the ward. They think Sage is delusional and is Rosemary. What will happen to both sisters is an incredible story. Recommend this book. It was just released today! 💖

[Peggy Collister · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stupid attempt at writing.

I disliked the repetiveness of events, the plot and the fact that if anything could go wrong, it did. Then the story ends abrumptly. This is not a writer I will follow.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willowbrook revisited

I have been interested in reading this book ever since it was first announced, and I really look forward to reading the full text. I was a student nurse in NJ when the story of Willowbrook first broke. I remember the reporter and the scandal of mistreatments he unveiled. The secretive poor care of the mentally ill and handicapped persons was appalling. This is an important story to revisit, and Ellen Wiseman is the perfect writer to tell the tale.

[Debbi Daniels Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediately Hooked!

How am I to wait to finish this story until it's release?
This is an interesting premise. Identical Twins with one committed to Willowbrook and the other being told her sister died. When it comes to light that her sister Rosemary is alive, but missing from Willowbrook, Sage decides to investigate. Of course things do not go as planned, we're talking about Willowbrook and the antiquated Mental Health system.
It appears Ellen Marie Wiseman has written an amazing suspenseful historical fiction tale woven with the truths of the horrors of what was Willowbrook. I will be anxiously waiting for the release to learn where Rosemary is, if she and Sage are ever reunited and if Rosemary is truly suffering from a Mental Health issue. I have questions!! Highly recommend.

[Margie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sneak peek of The Lost Girls of Willowbrook was such a teaser for me! I absolutely love all of Ellen Marie Wiseman’s books, I have purchased and read every one. Her book The Life She Was Given is probably my very favorite book of all time but after reading these first 3 chapters, I’m betting this one will be just as good! Why oh why do I have to wait till the end of August to finish reading this? I guess it gives me something to look forward to. I can’t wait to see if Sage gets rescued. It would be amazing if Rosemary was the one to save her. And although I know it’s going to tell about all the inhumane treatments that the patients went through, that’s what makes the story and it’s good to learn about what really happened in places like this. I can’t wait to finish reading this book!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I finished the sneak peak of Ellen Marie Wiseman’s latest book, “The Lost Girls of Willowbrook.” Living in the metropolitan area of New York, I vividly remember Geraldo Rivera’s expose on Willowbrook. Ms. Wiseman has recreated the time and horror in the pages I’ve read so far. I look forward to reading the full book when it comes out in August. As with her other wonderful books, this story will stay with you a very long time. #thelostgirlsofwillowbrook #ellenmariewiseman

[Cindy Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

can’t wait for the rest

This book has everything I expected and more. I’m a fan of Ellen Marie Wiseman and love that she never recycles material.

[Cecily Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had briefly researched the hospital known as "Byberry" near Philadelphia, PA, and also read Nelly Bly's account of her own contrived stay at the mental hospital, so I was not unduly shocked by Ms. Wiseman's depiction of the Staten Island facility for the care of medically and psychologically fragile children locked up in appalling conditions and sometimes killed there. I assumed that the bogeyman called "Cropsey" was her invention. I was wrong.
Her focus is on the late 60s and early 70s, in a story of wrongful imprisonment. Teenager Sage Winters discovers that her identical twin sister didn't die but was abandoned in the institution. She goes in search of the sister she so fondly remembers, and as any reader might guess, she ends up in her missing sister's shoes--or rather treading in her footsteps on bare, filthy feet.
Descriptions of the residents' medical care, nutritional care, and oversight are horrendous but soon become tiresomely repetitive. And sometimes one wishes Sage were a little brighter in terms of getting herself out of her predicament.
Suffice it to say that a young cleaner befriends her in her attempted escape, and the final third of the story is quite the whirlwind of mistakes, gore, fright, and history.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I listened to the book, I did not realize it was a true story. A little too long in the middle. The conditions and treatment of the residents at Willowbrook filled me with disgust, yet I could not stop reading. It could be frustrating at some parts of the story. Some of it just seemed so hard to swallow. Like why the girl wasn’t giving more details of her life outside of the institution so that people knew that she really was not who they thought she was. Why didn’t she ask them to go to her school and prove that she was not who they thought she was.

Spoiler below…



Why in the end when they figured out who the real killer was, why did she not suggest that they use his picture and go ask around to see if he was really getting out and who she said he was…

[C.J. Zahner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think, historically, this is an important topic, however, I thought there was too much repetition and, despite being based on true incidents, the story was rather unbelievable. I read this in my book club and this novel does spark great discussion on the past treatment of the mentally ill. I had high hopes for this novel but I give it a 3.5, 4 for historical significance and a 3 for storyline/writing.

[Mauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this is really a 3.5. It is a difficult book to get through. Based on Willowbrook which is a very tough read. That said the second half was better for me and I am glad I read the book. I will pursue the Willowbrook investigation on my own as well. I could not believe it happened in the US

[Robyn Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book seemed devoted to describing the conditions at Willowbrook in minute detail. Yes, they were appalling, but get on with the story! The story itself was fascinating, though not always plausible. It kept me interested, but I skimmed a lot of it.

[Stacey Tumolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book i loved it is a about a girl who finds out her twin is in.a institution and she goes to find her and they wind up keeping het their they torture her and eventually she finds out the truth ..

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uhg! This story is so depressing! I’m normally okay with books that have a sad storyline, but this one was beyond readable for me. Beware of the horrors of fictional graphic descriptions of how people are treated inside insane asylums.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great twisted ending. And follow-up chapters were hard but realistic for some who went through trauma. Good read

[Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally gripping


This is captivating from start to finish
Heart breaking what a story definitely be looking on reading more from this author

[Lisa Caci · Rating 4 out of 5]

The frustration as the book started made me want to read more and figure out what would happen. Kept my interest the entire time

[Cynthia Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a dark story about young girls put into a very dysfunctional asylum for mentally ill.

[Beth Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chills reading this, I really feel every twist in the story!

[Mary Galin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely an educational historical piece of writing. I googled the history of this place, story by Geraldo, had tears in my eyes at the end. Horror of what happened there......

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild story but it seemed to drag in the middle.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride, wonderful but sad story of abuses at a school for challenged children. It was also a search for a killer which kept me guessing with lots of twists and turns.

[Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.

[janeelizabethdaulton]

so very interesting

[Diane Karvonen]

Another great book

[Amy Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written wonderful story.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this one down. Loved it!

[Debbie Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very shocking book about the horrible conditions at a state institution for the insane. A young girl goes there looking for her twin sister and ends up being committed in her place.

[Stacey Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 4.5 read for me from Wiseman she has been my favorite author of 2026 for sure.