Yesteryear

A traditional American woman, a beautiful wife and mother who sells her pioneer lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs to her millions of social media followers, suddenly awakens cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of 1855. She must unravel whether this is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister.

"My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive."

Natalie lives a carefully curated life. Her rustic farmhouse, charming husband, and six children create the illusion of perfection. But behind the scenes are producers, hidden modern conveniences, and a highly controlled image. Her millions of followers see only what she allows.

Until one morning everything changes. Her home has no electricity, her children are unfamiliar, and her husband is no longer performing a role. Instead, he is a hardened farmer. The world she wakes up in is harsher, darker, and terrifyingly real.

As Natalie struggles to understand what has happened, she questions whether she has been thrust into a reality show, transported through time, or placed in something far more dangerous. When a brutal injury forces her to confront the truth, she realizes she must escape at any cost.

A sharp, unsettling debut, Yesteryear explores identity, fame, faith, and the performance of modern womanhood with dark humor and psychological intensity.

From the Publisher

Knopf | April 7, 2026 | 391 pages | ISBN: 978-0593804223