There’s one new book you’re about to see everywhere, from coffee shops to the commuter train: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Only adding to the buzz surrounding the debut novel, the movie rights have already been snapped up in an 11-way bidding war, won by Anne Hathaway who will star in the leading role.
Part social satire, part thriller, the story taps into the zeitgeist, tackling everything from influencer culture and trad wives to social media, conservative religion and feminism. The novel is poised to dominate WhatsApp groups, book clubs and office water cooler conversations.
I received an early proof last year and tore through the book in two sittings. It’s gripping, pacy and thought-provoking, with a memorable protagonists I loathed but was fascinated by in equal measure. Yesteryear centers around a “trad wife” influencer called Natalie. If you’ve seen the influencer Hannah Neeleman – aka @ballerinafarm – on Instagram, you’ll be familiar with her lifestyle. Natalie lives on a farm, broadcasting sourdough tutorials to her millions of followers, while home schooling her children, flirting with her handsome husband and preaching the benefits of a traditional, rustic, rural life.
Drawing comparisons with controversies surrounding Neeleman, Natalie’s reality is far more fickle: there are nanny’s, social media assistants and extensive farm staff behind the scenes. And day-to-day, she’s navigating moody daughters, internal battles about feminism and a hapless husband in a cowboy hat. Burke’s clever time traveling twist turns the novel on its head.
With hotly anticipated debuts from Jennette McCurdy (Half His Age) and Madeline Cash (Lost Lambs), alongside new novels from acclaimed authors including Douglas Stuart (John of John) and Maggie O’Farrell (Land), our TBR pile is ever-growing in 2026. But I’m predicting Burke’s Yesteryear to be the book of the summer – here’s everything you need to know.
‘Yesteryear’ by Caro Claire Burke, published by Fourth Estate
Natalie, the “trad wife” influencer and protagonist(think Mormon Wives or Neeleman) projects an idyllic life to her millions of followers. Living in a farmhouse on a ranch, she spends her days home cooking, filming with her cowboy husband and homeschooling her litter of six children. Then, she wakes up one day, transported back in time to 1805, where she’s forced to live the image of a “simple” settler life, just as she curated on Instagram.
Tackling pop culture ideas of trad wives, social media and the curated reality shown on Instagram, while also exploring more serious themes of religious conservatism, the debut is witty, funny and thought-provoking. It's out now, so get ready to see it everywhere this spring and summer.
Buy now £14.97, Amazon.co.uk
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