Before We Were Yours

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate was a book club reading choice.  And it was a really good pick!

Avery Stafford was the descendent of two prominent Southern families.  She was called home when her fifty-seven year old father became weaker and sicker with his cancer.  Her father was a Senator and he expected Avery to take his place and serve, as all his family had.  Avery had graduated from law school and she wanted to be practising law. When Avery went with her family to a local nursing home for a celebration/political meet and greet, she was approached by an elderly woman asking if she was "Fern".  A nurse came to get the woman and called her "May".

May had mistaken Avery for May's sister. May was taken back to her room, where she began reminiscing about her childhood. She had lived on the river, with her parents, and siblings.  Her mother went into labor and had to be taken to the hospital. And May's life changed forever more.

Each chapter of this book is narrated by one of the two main characters of the book: Avery and May/Rill.  It is based on the true story of the Tennessee Children's Home Society.  It's a riveting story, I thought, and made for great book group discussion.