The hype surrounding Yesteryear has been impossible to ignore. It has been touted as one of the biggest books of the year, and with that level of buzz often comes a lingering question of whether it can truly live up to the noise online. That tension only heightens the intrigue while also placing you on the edge of potential disappointment. News that the film rights were purchased before the book had even been released only added to the sense that this was destined to be a cultural moment.

Yesteryear opens with Natalie, a ‘tradwife’ influencer living on a ranch with a large team around her to keep the operation of her perfect life running smoothly, all while supporting the facade that she does it perfectly by herself. Natalie suddenly finds herself back in time at the same ranch, living in the early 1800s. But these are not her children and this is not her husband. What follows is a flit between Natalie’s backstory and her attempts to work out why she is there and how she might escape.

Immediately I did not like Natalie. She was jealous, bitter and mistrustful of anyone besides herself. As the story unfolds, you begin to understand why. Natalie’s italicised thoughts are scattered throughout the book, showing her two personas, ‘online Natalie’ and ‘offline Natalie’, and demonstrating just how much of a facade her life has become as her online following grows.

The novel offers sharp commentary on social media and the performance of identity, which feels very apt for the present day. I was unfamiliar with the ‘tradwife’ phenomenon beforehand, so it was interesting to learn about it here, even if aspects may be exaggerated for the sake of the story.

Burke’s writing is easy to read, with digestible chapters that keep you turning the pages, always a good sign. It is not overly descriptive, yet this does not hinder her ability to build the worlds of both past and present. In fact, I found it easier to picture the ranch in the historical setting than in the modern one.

The twist at the ending caught me off guard. As the story progressed and the conclusion approached, my predictions became increasingly outlandish and science fiction leaning, so I was pleasantly surprised when they were firmly quashed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Believe the hype. It is a great read and genuinely addictive.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️