If you’re anything like me, you’ve found yourself down a rabbit hole of highly curated, aesthetically pleasing farmhouse kitchens with jars of sourdough starter and fresh flowers on picture-perfect display. If that sounds familiar, you might also find yourself reaching for Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, which puts that family-oriented lifestyle at the forefront of an unsettling story that explores the reality behind the online persona.
The novel follows Natalie, a social media personality with a devoted online following, as she moves between accounts of her present-day life and glimpses of the experiences that brought her there. From the beginning, Natalie’s inner monologue invites readers to question her perspective and, as more pieces of her past are revealed, wonder whether she can be trusted at all. Following the thoughts of such an unreliable narrator — often intensely judgmental and at times, deeply frustrating — made the reading experience even more compelling. As she immerses readers in the world of Yesteryear Ranch, Burke presents a range of perspectives on Natalie and the life she’s built, enticing readers to wrestle with the complexities and motivations of each character.
What stood out to me was the novel’s emphasis on nuance. Yesteryear challenges our instinct to make judgments based on carefully curated snapshots online and reminds us that the person presented on screen might be living an entirely different reality off camera. Whether you finish the book sympathizing with Natalie or simply rethinking your own assumptions, it’s a story that will stay with you long after you finish it.
Laura Eugley West, staff writer
