Review of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

The premise, structure, and dark humor of this buzzy spring novel were so intriguing that although I was left a little unsatisfied by the ending and resolution, I was so hooked on the story to that point, it didn't ultimately matter.

Yesteryear is Caro Claire Burke's debut novel. The story features main protagonist Natalie, a fundamentalist Christian who subscribes to male-dominated power structures and “traditional” values. When she is quite young and naïve, she marries the somewhat dopey son of a powerful senator. They marry, benefit from his family's wealth and influence in every way, and begin to have children in their privileged bubble of existence.

Eventually Natalie delves so far into trying to achieve (an appearance of) perfection in homemaking and parenting, she becomes a "tradwife" influencer with 8 million followers.

We can see that Natalie believes she is as flawless as her painstakingly curated posts would have others think she is, but we can also see the cracks in her façade. She is smug, self-righteous, and insufferable, and she glosses over anything that doesn't fit the narrative she has created and the fictional perfectionism within which she lives. When she must cope with messy, irritating, inconvenient issues (five children with another on the way, anyone?), she is incapable of doing so without fury and frightening chill.

Natalie has rabid detractors who bristle at her antifeminism, and Yesteryear tracks back and forth in time, alluding to Natalie’s eventual fall from grace as an internet sensation, but for a while we’re not sure exactly what happened--and how much Natalie can accept about her imperfect existence.

Then one day, Natalie wakes up panicked, without her perfectly showcased, support-staff-driven, manicured, and merchandised modern farmhouse. She is living in a true homestead version of her life: she is without electricity, indoor plumbing, heat or air conditioning, or running water. It's terrifying for her, far from anything she ever desired. And no one will explain to her what’s going on or where (or when) she is living.

Caro Claire Burke illustrates how each character is certain that they are acting justly, when we as the reader can see that the opposite is often true, and we can also clearly see the danger of the characters’ greed, lies, concern with appearances, and pride.

Yesteryear is a takedown of social media illusions, perfectionism, rigidity, "traditional" values, and more. It’s satirical and darkly funny.

While the ending and explanation of the reality of events didn’t land for me, I thought the premise, the structure, the tone, and the story were so intriguing, I didn't ultimately mind.

I received a prepublication version of this title courtesy of Knopf and NetGalley.

More Books that Play with Time

I love a novel that uses time travel or playful time devices.

For other stories that play with time, check out the lists and titles here.