Book Review for The Lost Girl of Craven County by Emily Matchar

 

The Lost Girl of Craven County by Emily Matchar

Published:  April 14, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Taken from Goodreads:  Brought together by chance, bound together by secrets.

A decade into the Great Depression, Millicent Green is a twenty-five-year-old "old maid" living with her marriage-obsessed mother and domineering older brother in the stiflingly small Jewish community of New Bern, North Carolina. Smart and prickly, she’s struggling to find her place in the world following the loss of her beloved younger brother, and with him, her dreams for the future.

One humid August day, Millie is sent to run an errand and discovers a young woman unconscious on the ground. This mystery woman, mute and without identification, will upend Millie’s life. Together, they set out on a quest that will lay bare some of the twentieth century’s most shameful episodes.

From a historic river town to the hinterlands of rural North Carolina, The Lost Girl of Craven County delves into the impossibility of burying secrets forever. It’s a story of love, loss, and—above all—the indelible, world-moving power of female friendship.

My Thoughts:   I almost did not read this book.   I cannot say what made me change my mind, but I am glad that I did. 

Millicent is a character with so much spunk and belief in herself.  I found myself cheering her on as she looked to help a young woman and as she worked towards her own goals.  I love how she stood up to her family, especially her brother. 

The ending…my heart was singing as I read the ending.   It all came together perfectly.  All my questions were answered.  I felt the ending was so much more than I anticipated. 

Thank you Putnam Books for  a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Author (taken from her website):  I’m a writer and author originally from North Carolina, currently living in Indiana.

My debut novel, IN THE SHADOW OF THE GREENBRIER, a multi-generational saga about a Jewish family living near the iconic Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, was published in 2024 by Putnam at Penguin Random House (order HERE). My next novel, THELOST GIRL OF CRAVEN COUNTY, is a historical mystery set amid the “Little Jerusalem” community of New Bern, North Carolina in the 1930s. It will be released by Putnam in April 2026. You can preorder HERE.

For more about my journalism work and my nonfiction books, see here. I’ve taught writing at the University of North Carolina and the University of Hong Kong. I have a bachelors degree in English from Harvard University and a masters in applied linguistics from the University of Hong Kong.

When I’m not working, I like to hike, cook, garden, try new foods, and travel with my husband and two sons.

Follow me on Instagram at @emilymatcharwriter, send me an email at ematchar@gmail.com, or fill out THISFORM if you’re interested in having me speak with your book club.