Natalie has over 8 million Instagram followers who are enthralled by her living a throwback to a "traditional" lifestyle patterned after life in the 1800s. She, her husband, and numerous children live on a farm in Idaho and, as far as her followers know, she has eschewed modern conveniences. That's the first lie. She not only has the latest appliances, which her followers cannot see, but also has two nannies and a producer to help with her online content.
Natalie's whole life is a lie until one morning, when she wakes up in an actual 1800s farmhouse with no electricity or running water. Her husband and children, while similar, are unfamiliar to her. The story then shifts to Natalie's attempts to flee her circumstances and, failing that, to accept her role as a traditional 1800s wife and mother and the hardships that entails.
The story follows two timelines: one of her life in the 1800s and another explaining how she became a social media sensation. It leaves not only Natalie scratching her head about how she ended up in the past, but also the reader. No explanation is given for how her new circumstances occurred until the end. Additionally, Natalie is not a likable character, nor, for that matter, are any of the other characters: her children are whiny, and her marriage is a sham.
There was enough story substance to keep me reading — mostly to find out how Natalie ended up where she did, even though I thought she deserved what she got. The writing and pacing are good, but there was no way to sugarcoat the vapid characters.
3/5 stars.
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