The Girls with No Names: A Novel

Serena Burdick

Jan 2020 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

INSTANT INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

A beautiful tale of hope, courage, and sisterhood—inspired by the real House of Mercy and the girls confined there for daring to break the rules.

Growing up in New York City in the 1910s, Luella and Effie Tildon realize that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen elder sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. Her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone.

Effie suspects her father has sent Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s own escape seems impossible—unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on their tenuous friendship to survive.

Home for Unwanted Girls meets The Dollhouse in this atmospheric, heartwarming story that explores not only the historical House of Mercy, but the lives—and secrets—of the girls who stayed there.


“Burdick has spun a cautionary tale of struggle and survival, love and family — and above all, the strength of the heart, no matter how broken.” — New York Times Book Review

“Burdick reveals the perils of being a woman in 1913 and exposes the truths of their varying social circles.” — Chicago Tribune

Ratings and reviews

The Girls with No Names left me a little conflicted, and looking back over the story, the things I liked and the things I didn't were about even. The book is well written as far as flow, and there's a good mix of details and dialogue. It is atmospheric, and the scenes are described well. However, there were some lags in the story here and there, and while I didn't feel the need to skim past those parts, they did slow the story down for me. The characters were interesting, but the story is quite predictable. That said, one of the things that bothered me the most was the 'inspired by the real House of Mercy' line in the blurb. I really expected more details about the House of Mercy, but felt like it took up very little of the book. Most of the story was more family drama than anything else, which really doesn't bring anything new or thought-provoking to the table. As I mentioned, I did find the characters interesting, particularly Mable. I can't say that I liked her, but she did keep the pages turning. In the end, this one ended up being just an okay read for me. It held my interest enough to finish, but it isn't particularly memorable.

Girls with no names

About the author

Serena Burdick Graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in California before moving to New York City to pursue a degree in English Literature at Brooklyn College. Author of GIRL IN THE AFTERNOON, she lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.