Yesteryear

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

In Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke delivers a sharp, unsettling literary thriller that blends satire, suspense, and speculative fiction into a gripping story about identity, influencer culture, and the illusion of the “perfect” life.

Natalie Heller Mills has built an empire on selling a dream. With her picturesque farmhouse, ruggedly handsome husband, and six idyllic children, she’s amassed millions of devoted followers who believe in her carefully curated vision of traditional womanhood. Behind the scenes, however, the truth is far more manufactured—complete with producers, staff, and a brand built on performance.

Then, overnight, Natalie’s world changes.

She wakes up in a version of her life that looks eerily similar—but operates by entirely different rules. Gone are the modern luxuries and hidden support systems. In their place: a harsh, labor-intensive existence where survival demands physical endurance, submission, and sacrifice. Her influencer fantasy has become a brutal reality.

As Natalie struggles to understand what’s happening—whether it’s time travel, divine judgment, or something far more sinister—she’s forced to confront the gap between the life she sold and the life she’s now living. And when a violent injury leaves her vulnerable, one truth becomes clear: escaping this new reality may be the only way to survive.

Darkly funny, provocative, and deeply thought-provoking, Yesteryear is perfect for readers who love genre-bending fiction that critiques social media culture, gender roles, and the mythology of the “perfect” life. A must-read for fans of literary suspense and speculative fiction with a feminist edge.