‘Yesteryear,’ Caro Claire Burke’s dark satire of a tradwife influencer
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel, Yesteryear, and I’ve been counting the days until its April release so I can talk about it more widely.
As a millennial, much of my late 20s and 30s were shaped by following influencers, first on Blogspot and Tumblr, and later Instagram and TikTok. Influencer culture has always fascinated me, and when the term “tradwives” started gaining traction around 2020, my curiosity about that corner of the internet only deepened. If you’re not familiar, just look up Ballerina Farm on Instagram. The account, run by content creator Hannah Neeleman, has more than 10 million followers and is often cited as one of the most visible faces of the tradwife movement, which promotes a return to traditional gender roles. In the summer of 2024, Neeleman was the subject of a controversial profile in the Los Angeles Times. After reading that piece and then quickly devouring “Yesteryear,” it seems clear that the author drew inspiration from real-life tradwife influencers, such as Neeleman and Nara Smith, in crafting this story. 
The premise: “Yesteryear” tells the story of Natalie, a beautiful wife and mother who sells her traditional pioneer lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs, living on a massive ranch with her husband and six children, to her millions of social media followers. But behind the scenes, Natalie’s life is not as it seems. She has multiple nannies, farmhands, and producers all helping her keep things moving smoothly, unbeknownst to her followers. One morning, she wakes up cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of the year 1805. Suddenly, she is forced to experience the brutal old-fashioned lifestyle she’s been faking and promoting for years online. Is this living nightmare an elaborate hoax, some sort of reality show, or something far darker?
The verdict: I saw someone describe “Yesteryear” as “The Stepford Wives” meets “Leave the World Behind,” with a touch of “Black Mirror,” and honestly, that comparison feels pretty spot-on. This debut is a darkly funny satire about traditional gender roles and the performances of modern womanhood in a digital world. After reading the novel, I find myself really questioning the lies these influencers spin on social media and the obsession with perfection. While I loved the book, I suspect it will make for a very divisive book club pick. Some readers will be all in, while others may feel conflicted about the ending, and I’m sure many readers will walk away with plenty of questions. Either way, I predict this will be one of the buzziest book launches when it comes out Tue., April 7.
Fun Fact: The novel’s film rights sparked an 11-way auction (which is wild!), and the film adaptation is moving forward at Amazon MGM Studios, with Anne Hathaway attached to star and produce. Caro Claire Burke also has a podcast, Diabolical Lies, which explores culture and politics. It is definitely worth a listen if you finish the book and want more of her perspective.
Category: Entertainment
