Where the Girls Were

“1968 may not feel so very long ago to some, but in terms of attitudes toward women and their rights it may as well have been a century ago. And yet, Schatz’s book feels timely for these difficult times.”—Booklist

“The illuminating latest from Schatz . . . looks back on the impact of the sexual revolution before Roe v. Wade. . . . Schatz convincingly evokes the confusion and conflicting emotions of an unplanned pregnancy at a time when abortion was outlawed across the U.S. This resonates.”—Publishers Weekly

“A timely and important novel, and one of the most heartfelt I have read in years . . . Readers will gain eye-opening insight, empathy, and understanding as Baker struggles to find a voice amid society’s shaming and to discover—and persevere—with what is best for her. . . . A must-read work, especially now.”—Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society

“Not long ago, we might have read Where the Girls Were and remarked on how far we had come. Now, we will read Where the Girls Were and wonder just how much of our future will resemble the darkest periods of our past.”—KQED

“A beautifully told story about an important moment in history, explored with such compassion and heart . . . With gorgeous prose and cinematic scenes, Kate Schatz has given us a remarkable novel.”—Edan Lepucki, author of Time’s Mouth

“With a fierce heart and an unflinching eye, Kate Schatz’s Where the Girls Were portrays the sexual revolution and the fight for women’s reproductive rights at the height of the countercultural movement. It’s a compelling debut, timely as ever, proving that some battles never truly end.”—Vanessa Hua, author of Forbidden City

“Kate Schatz’s Where the Girls Were is a triumph, warm and whip-smart, a total page-turner. I can’t think of another story that portrays with such heart and insight what life was like for American women in the decades before Roe. I turned the last page full of hope and righteous outrage, with a renewed sense of urgency to fight the good fight.”—Molly Wizenberg, author of The Fixed Stars

“Where the Girls Were, like all the best historical fiction, is wide, urgent, and, above all, timely.”—Laurie Frankel, author of Family Family

“With this intimate and visionary novel, Kate Schatz has given us a gorgeous, moving, unforgettable tale of what it means to come of age, claim your power, and defy the forces of injustice against the odds.”—Caro De Robertis, author of The Palace of Eros

“An urgent and nuanced glimpse into the experience of womanhood in America . . . Kate Schatz leads us on a breathtaking journey with these thoughtful, fully realized characters, and I’ll be recommending this book to everyone I know.”—Sarah Damoff, bestselling author of The Bright Years

“In this compulsively readable novel, Kate Schatz creates a world with much to teach our own.”—Domenica Ruta, New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You and All the Mothers

“[Kate Schatz’s] prose is like poetry. It’s like hands in a bowl of candy. Thrilling, propulsive, breathless, and brimming with Schatz’s deep understanding of longing and frailty . . . of humanness.”—Catherine Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Sandwich

“Affecting . . . The stories of all the young women whose choices have been winnowed are important to remember, and Schatz memorably brings one to light. . . . Excellent historical fiction about women’s reproductive choices.”—Kirkus Reviews