what people say
Book Reviews
“Yankeeland tells a fascinating story of dreams, dislocation, and - above all - humanity. Yankeeland is a tale of hopes raised and eroded, lives lived and suspended, stories told, untold and retold. But Yankeeland brings hope. Brigid's life, with all of its complexity and tragedy, also had magic, beauty, and infinite possibility. A different life was possible for Brigid then, just as it is possible for everyone now, provided we focus on our common humanity. In the end, that is all that matters."
Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin & author of 'in search of madness'
“Fewer’s lyrical prose brings 1900s Ireland and immigrant America vividly to life, but it’s her emotional depth that lingers. One of the strongest elements of Yankeeland is its exploration of female agency in a world where women are expected to endure quietly
Fewer doesn’t offer neat resolutions but rather quiet reckonings. Letters, lost dreams, and family stories become tools of reclamation and remembrance. By the end, Yankeeland reads like a love letter to the women history forgets but whose stories shape generations.
This debut novel is historical fiction at its finest: textured, moving, and quietly radical. Recommended for readers who love strong female protagonists, nuanced family sagas, and stories that honor the complexity of what it means to start over.
San Francisco City Book Review
Lacy Fewer’s remarkable debut novel is both sprawling and intimate, devastating and inspiring, exquisite and suspenseful—seeming contradictions that ignite and energize this deeply moving and shockingly original immigrant story of the early modern age, an epic that spans westward from a village in Ireland to Ellis Island to California. When Brigid Kelly sets sail for America, leaving behind her beloved family and heartbroken father, she believes in a promise that seems like destiny, and we believe in the dream, right along with her, with unceasing hope, through the book’s powerful and revelatory final pages, when the loving bonds of family bring this artfully crafted saga full circle a century later.
Jim Zervanos, author of American Gyro
With rich detail and lyrical prose, Fewer transports the reader to a bygone era with a story that nonetheless echoes of the present. Brigid’s journey of courage and resilience will break your heart, lift your hopes, and beg questions around society’s persistent failings towards women that history would prefer we leave unasked. A layered, compelling read.
Rachel Stone, Author of The Blue Iris
“Fewer’s writing captures the texture of Irish life in the early 20th century with remarkable detail. The quiet desperation of Brigid’s early years and her longing for freedom and beauty are palpable. I loved how Fewer used vivid imagery, like Brigid poring over forbidden magazines or sneaking into the store to gaze at glamorous pictures. These small acts of rebellion made Brigid feel alive and relatable. I’d recommend Yankeeland to readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong, complex female protagonists. Fans of Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn will find much to admire in this heartfelt tale. While it’s not a breezy read, its rich storytelling and poignant themes make it a journey worth taking
Literary titan
"Yankeeland" is a powerful generational story that peeks into the family secrets of mental health and misogyny, so brilliantly told that putting the book down is impossible. Its vivid century-old characters—parents, siblings, cousins, and spouses combine to ask a timely question: Are we doing enough today to address the urgent need for mental health care, and how much has really changed?
David Randal, "Kelsey's Crossing"
With a deft and delicate touch, floating on prose that rings as clearly as a morning church bell, Annmarie Lacy Fewer traces bloodlines and heartlines that reach back generations, and, as she does so, shines a light on the commonalities that bind us. Her characters embody who we are through their aspirations and dreams, loss and resiliency, and that most precious of qualities, hope. This is a book of layers, part history, part exultation, and a quiet examination of the sorrows of the lost who cannot find help. As such, Yankeeland merits multiple readings. A brilliant first novel, and one that speaks of glories to come.
Greg Fields, The Bright Freight of Memory -
PEN/Faulkner Award nominee
“Yankeeland is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. It transports the reader to a bygone era with ease, delighting with classic Irish wit and quintessential manners of speech. But it’s also a tale of loss, of deep grief, shame and stigma. Woven into its chapters are ethical and moral questions that remain relevant, even today, and which linger in the mind long after the final page is reluctantly turned.”
Katie Berry, BA, Grad Dip Journalism, NZ
A lyrical and deep exploration of the immigrant experience. Families torn asunder when the dreams of the young conflict with the traditions and social expectations of their parents and families. YANKEELAND captures both the amazing potential and the pain and frustration of trying to realize your dreams when reality hits hard in the new land. A solid addition to the Irish to America literature.
Dean Cycon, award-winning author of A Quest for God and Spices and Finding Home(Hungary, 1945)
"A beautifully written and deeply evocative novel, this story weaves past and present seamlessly, immersing the reader in both the struggles and triumphs of its unforgettable protagonist. The prose is rich and lyrical, capturing the complexities of family, ambition, and the quiet strength of women who refuse to be erased. With masterful pacing and emotional depth, the author delivers a tale that lingers long after the final page."
Dianne C. Braley, Award-Winning & Bestselling Author of The Silence in the Sound and The Summer Before
Triumph and tragedy
Lacy Fewer’s lovingly researched novel of the Irish diaspora beautifully interweaves the adventure of a new life in America with heartfelt loss and tragedy. Detailed scenes transport the reader to a past age as we explore the sights and sounds of 'Yankeeland' at the beginning of the 20th century. Yet alongside material prosperity runs a darker truth. I felt a deep sympathy for Brigid, who as she enters womanhood eagerly forsakes her old life and her family ties, yet finds that married life in a new country becomes a struggle for her emotional and psychological survival.
Maybelle Wallis 'Daughter of Strangers'
Fewer’s lyrical prose brings 1900s Ireland and immigrant America vividly to life, but it’s her emotional depth that lingers. There’s a recurring theme of erasure: of women’s pain, of mental illness (mainly through the character of Kate), and of personal ambition in the face of societal expectations. When Brigid eventually boards a ship bound for America, we feel her tremble with both fear and anticipation. The reality she faces in the new world is harsher than imagined—a country riddled with class divides, subtle (and not-so-subtle) bigotry, and the ever-present threat of disillusionment.
Fewer doesn’t offer neat resolutions but rather quiet reckonings. Letters, lost dreams, and family stories become tools of reclamation and remembrance. By the end, Yankeeland reads like a love letter to the women history forgets but whose stories shape generations.
This debut novel is historical fiction at its finest: textured, moving, and quietly radical. Recommended for readers who love strong female protagonists, nuanced family sagas, and stories that honor the complexity of what it means to start over.
San francisco city book review