Genre Fiction
![Adele Myers - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B096WP3152.jpg)
The Tobacco Wives: A Novel
Most anticipated by USA Today, W Magazine, New York Post, Parade, Bustle, Buzzfeed, Reader's Digest, and PopSugar and named one of the best historical fiction books of the year by Cosmopolitan!
"A beautifully rendered portrait of a young woman finding her courage and her voice."-Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author
North Carolina, 1946. One woman. A discovery that could rewrite history.
Maddie Sykes is a burgeoning seamstress who's just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina-the tobacco capital of the South-where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. After years of war rations and shortages, Bright Leaf is a prosperous wonderland in full technicolor bloom, and Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt's glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives.
But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn't quite the carefree paradise that it seems. A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems, and although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise.
Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn't know who she can trust-and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.
Shedding light on the hidden history of women's activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth.
"This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times." -Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author
"A beautifully rendered portrait of a young woman finding her courage and her voice."-Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author
North Carolina, 1946. One woman. A discovery that could rewrite history.
Maddie Sykes is a burgeoning seamstress who's just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina-the tobacco capital of the South-where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. After years of war rations and shortages, Bright Leaf is a prosperous wonderland in full technicolor bloom, and Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt's glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives.
But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn't quite the carefree paradise that it seems. A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems, and although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise.
Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn't know who she can trust-and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.
Shedding light on the hidden history of women's activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth.
"This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times." -Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author
Editorial Reviews
"Fascinating…Myers's novel is as much a coming-of-age story as it is a lesson in the power of the working class to bring about change." - Washington Post
"A vibrant and warm book that feels easy to pick up and hard to put down." - Buzzfeed
"Readers are transported back to 1946 in this fascinatingly rich debut novel…. A vibrant story that sheds light on the lives of women in the post-war period." - Woman's World
"Moving…A winning debut that reveals how our past is always with us." - Toronto Star
"Myers brilliantly seduces us with her setting-a North Carolina town of beautiful socialites, opulent dresses, and elegant soirees-before revealing a terrible secret that threatens the entire community. This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times." - Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
"A sparkling debut… Historical fiction fans will be pleased." - Publishers Weekly
"The Tobacco Wives is a sweep-you-away story with a lush North Carolina setting and a courageous woman at its center. What more do we want from a story than this? Myers's prose is stitched together as beautifully as the fancy dresses her protagonist Maddie Sykes sews for the elite women of this tobacco town. The question at the heart of this novel trembles with power-what happens when what we know is right conflicts with what we are being told is true? Myers's story will resonate long after you turn the last page; powerful and authentic, The Tobacco Wives is unforgettable." - Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah
"Debut novelist Myers sets her activist novel in 1946, but the causes of workers' and women's rights are timeless." - Booklist
"The future in Bright Leaf seems bright for Maddie Sykes and for the local tobacco wives who can't get enough of Maddie's glamorous gowns. But beneath the idyllic surface lie dangerous underpinnin...
"A vibrant and warm book that feels easy to pick up and hard to put down." - Buzzfeed
"Readers are transported back to 1946 in this fascinatingly rich debut novel…. A vibrant story that sheds light on the lives of women in the post-war period." - Woman's World
"Moving…A winning debut that reveals how our past is always with us." - Toronto Star
"Myers brilliantly seduces us with her setting-a North Carolina town of beautiful socialites, opulent dresses, and elegant soirees-before revealing a terrible secret that threatens the entire community. This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times." - Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
"A sparkling debut… Historical fiction fans will be pleased." - Publishers Weekly
"The Tobacco Wives is a sweep-you-away story with a lush North Carolina setting and a courageous woman at its center. What more do we want from a story than this? Myers's prose is stitched together as beautifully as the fancy dresses her protagonist Maddie Sykes sews for the elite women of this tobacco town. The question at the heart of this novel trembles with power-what happens when what we know is right conflicts with what we are being told is true? Myers's story will resonate long after you turn the last page; powerful and authentic, The Tobacco Wives is unforgettable." - Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah
"Debut novelist Myers sets her activist novel in 1946, but the causes of workers' and women's rights are timeless." - Booklist
"The future in Bright Leaf seems bright for Maddie Sykes and for the local tobacco wives who can't get enough of Maddie's glamorous gowns. But beneath the idyllic surface lie dangerous underpinnin...
Readers Top Reviews
Tammy AÉlodie
What would you do if you were in a dilemma like our main character Maddy was? North Carolina, 1946. This is a tender story about seamstress Madeline Sykes-15 years old, coming of age under the care of her great aunt Etta, a renown seamstress among the social elite. As seen through the eyes of women, this story shows tobacco’s impact on the economy and society in a North Carolina town located in the center of tobacco country. The hidden history of tobacco, greed and lies surrounding the industry, and the true heart of the story.. which is Maddy’s secret discovery of the dangers of tobacco use revealed through a disposed letter she finds. This was such a fantastic debut! I enjoyed reading about this young female activist who was a true American trailblazer in her time. Learning about the lives of women surrounding the big tobacco industry back in the 40’s and 50’s was so interesting, and it felt like I was there right in the midst of it all surrounded by acres upon acres of tobacco fields, opulent homes, fine parties and oh so much gossip. What a treat!
Carpool Book Club
I enjoyed this book and appreciated the time (late 1940’s) and place (North Carolina) it brought to life. I felt transported to the "there" and the "then" by the detail and the characters. This was my favorite part of the book. The plot, while well paced and entertaining, felt slightly too predictable. The ending was obvious, rushed and vague…all things an ending shouldn’t be. Despite this, I read the book very quickly and tried to slow down in the last part so I could stay in North Carolina a little longer. Set within the context of history, the story has an apt message about greed, misogyny and the power of public opinion. As a historical fiction lover, I appreciated the thorough research to form an accurate depiction of the time period. I look forward to reading more from Adele Myers in the future. I recommend to lovers of southern fiction.
Chocolate DianaCa
Good story. Historically informative. Speaks of subtle class distinctions and complexities of life when there is no black and white solution.
