“An absolutely unhinged (in a good way) novel about a lifestyle influencer. . . . When I tell you the ending is off the rails, I am telling you the ending is off the rails.”
—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist
"The canniest fictional dissection of femininity and the panopticon of social media....A rollicking satirical debut."
—Vogue, "The Best Books of 2026"
"Perfect wife, perfect life? Think again. A bold and biting satire, Yesteryear examines the power of social media to spin a lie so deep, it turns 'home sweet home' into a prison. Page-turning and illuminating, this caustic look at the tradwife will have you cackling and gasping right to the final page."
—Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid series
“Yesteryear is the novel I didn’t know I needed. Inventive, addictive, and perfectly funny, this is a dark, biting social commentary on the many performances of modern womanhood and the cultural age we’re living in. A wild, thought-provoking ride, sure to be one of my favorite books of the year.”
—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push
“Wickedly funny, beautifully written, and frighteningly perceptive. Caro Claire Burke doesn't just expose the underbelly of a tradwife's immaculate Instagram, but ideals of motherhood, marriage, and America. It's unforgettable. (How the hell could you forget Natalie?)”
—Abigail Dean, New York Times bestselling author of Girl A
"Shot through with humour and yet laced with darkness, Yesteryear had me turning the pages late into the night."
—Clare Mackintosh, New York Times bestselling author of I Let You Go
"Everyone is going to be talking about this book."
—Bella Mackie, bestselling author of How to Kill Your Family
“Yesteryear is unapologetically political fiction in the tradition of The Stepford Wives or The Handmaid’s Tale. Burke takes us right into the belly of the beast. Enraging, thrilling—often grimly funny in the way of good satire, but still intensely humane. Easily one of my favorites of the year.”
—Hannah Deitch, author of Killer Potential
"I could barely put this book down. Such a clever excavation of motherhood and faith and online fame. Highly original and utterly addictive."
—Louise O’Neill, author of Asking for It
"Intelligent, incisive and insanely readable, Yesteryear had me obsessed from page one. Everyone will be talking about it!"
—Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
"Insanely good, totally fresh, sharp and spiky. It reminded me of Gone Girl, with its unreliable, intensely unlikeable narrator, amazing twist and needlepoint observations. It’s going to be seismic."
—Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars
"Deliciously topical as tradwives and pronatalism dominate the headlines, with a chef’s kiss of a twist. One to gobble in one."
—Pandora Sykes, author of How Do We Know We’re Doing it Right?
"Unpredictable, original and beautifully written. I couldn’t guess the genius ending—my mind was blown!"
—Adele Parks, author of Just Between Us
"A propulsive page turner, impossible to put down. . . . Wickedly entertaining. . . . As it sends up both MAGA and online culture, this deliciously funny, topical, and fiercely intelligent debut also probes deeper questions about authenticity, ambition, kindness, celebrity, consumerism, and what it means to be a woman in America today. . . . In Natalie, Burke has given us an absolutely riveting character. . . . A remarkable debut—both a book for the moment and one that will endure."
—Kirkus (starred review)
"Burke captures much of the zeitgeist in Natalie's increasingly delusional, overall disturbing state of mind in both time periods—and in other characters' collisions with it. The seductive topic, unreliable narrator, and surprisingly creepy vibes are sure to draw readers in and keep them guessing."
—Booklist (starred review)
“Readers won’t be able to look away. . . . Captivating.”
–Library Journal
“Nightmarish, shocking, brilliant.” —Stylist
