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Where the Girls Were
Kate Schatz
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2026
Random House | The Dial Press
368 Pages
Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women’s Fiction
This story is about a teenage girl named Elizabeth Baker. She is smart—so smart she is valedictorian. One night, she makes an impulsive decision that changes her life. What I loved most about this story is the fact that Baker is intelligent, and yet she still made a mistake. She may be book-smart, but she isn’t street-smart; she’s actually quite naive.
There is a scene at the gynecologist’s office that I found heartbreaking. Her doctor was so frosty towards her. A teenage pregnancy is a medical situation; this young lady is still human, for crying out loud. Doctors should put their own beliefs, thoughts, and feelings aside. Teenage pregnancy isn’t a moral failing, especially in this case. I hate the thought of these young ladies being forced to hide away while the boy gets away with it.
Baker is shipped off to a maternity home (I use the word “home” very loosely). While there, she sees the words “Kitty was here, but she didn’t want to be” scrawled into the wall. This is where the story took a different turn. Baker starts to find out some family secrets. The topics of this book are very heavy. I still felt hopeful for Baker, and I think she ended up feeling that way about herself. I liked the way the author focused on that instead of just the trauma.
This would be an excellent choice for a book club or buddy read. There is lots of subject matter to discuss: history, bodily autonomy, women’s rights, the expectations of parents, and teaching young ladies about their bodies. It’s funny how the truth usually finds a way to come out. I did a lot of highlighting while reading this one and managed to learn a few things about myself along the way.
A personal note: I had my oldest son three months shy of my eighteenth birthday. I raised him mostly on my own, with a lot of support from my parents and brother (who was an amazing father figure). My son is 42 this year, happily married, owns his own home, and is the vice president for the company he works for. I couldn’t be prouder of the man he has become, and he is the greatest thing I have ever done. Not bad for a kid born to an unwed teenage mother.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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