Caro Claire Burke is a novelist and cultural critic whose work interrogates the influence of media and the evolving narratives of modern womanhood. Her debut novel, Yesteryear, a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, is a singular reading experience that blends satire, psychological suspense, and social commentary. In the novel, a seemingly perfect “tradwife” influencer awakens in a nightmarish version of 1855, forcing her to confront the realities behind the idyllic life she has carefully curated for millions of followers. Praised as “a bold and biting satire” by bestselling author Nita Prose, Yesteryear offers a gripping and darkly funny exploration of fame, faith, and the myths surrounding traditional femininity.

Burke’s work is deeply informed by her presence within the very cultural conversations she critiques. With a rapidly growing social media platform and millions of views on her commentary about “tradwife” culture, she has become a compelling voice in ongoing debates about feminism, media literacy, and online identity. She is also the co-host of Diabolical Lies, a politics and culture podcast that explores the narratives shaping contemporary life, further cementing her role as a sharp and engaging cultural observer.

Burke received her MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars and has been writing fiction for over a decade. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

How to Get Tickets

• Attend ticket distribution at Noah Webster Library on Tuesday, September 15. Line up at the South Main Street entrance of the library starting at 5:00pm. Distribution will begin at 6:00pm.
• Attend a book discussion to be a West Hartford Reads VIP and obtain one (1) ticket! Registration opens Tuesday, September 15 at 6:00pm.
• We expect to run out of in-person tickets quickly! If you are unable to obtain a ticket, join the waitlist or register for the livestream.

Ticket Information

• Each individual may request up to four (4) tickets. Seating is limited, so we kindly ask that you only take the number of tickets you will actually use.
• Tickets are required for entry to the event.
• You do not need a library card or West Hartford residency to obtain tickets.
• Any tickets that remain after this event will be available starting Wednesday, September 16 at all WHPL locations.

Thanks to our friends at WHCi, you can stream this event from anywhere, no ticket required.
Register Here

PLEASE NOTE: This is a live-only event and will NOT be recorded.

From Stepford to Yesteryear Ranch: A Cultural History of Women’s Roles, Choices, and Perceptions

Tuesday, October 13, 6:30pm | Noah Webster Meeting Room | Register Here

The Stepford of yesteryear is the Yesteryear of today. Caro Claire Burke’s best-selling novel Yesteryear (2026) tells the frightening tale of a tradwife influencer forced to live the life of her own making, engaging contemporary issues around social media, women’s roles in American society, and propagandistic politics. With these themes and its slated film adaptation in the works, Yesteryear has become a strong addition to an unexpected trio of mainstream feminist novels being adapted to screens in the 2020s, joining Ira Levin’s The Stepford Wives (1972) and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1985). Join Dr. Vaughn Joy as she traces the history inspiring these works and their adaptations as well as the cultural phenomenon of the tradwife influencer.

Book Discussions: Yesteryear

Monday, October 19, 6:00pm OR Wednesday, October 28, 6:00pm
Noah Webster Magazine Room | Registration opens 9/15 at 6:00pm

Become a West Hartford Reads VIP! Each attendee to a book discussion will receive one (1) ticket to see Caro Claire Burke on 11/5, a reserved seat in the first two rows, and awesome West Hartford Reads swag! Please register for only one book discussion.

The author event will take place on Thursday, November 5 at 6:30pm at Sedgwick Middle School, 128 Sedgwick Rd.

• Doors open at 5:30pm.
• Seating is general admission.
• Tickets are required for entry into the event.
• If you are unable to attend, please call the library at 860-561-6990 or email reference@westhartfordlibrary.org so your ticket(s) can be redistributed.
• River Bend Bookshop will sell books at the event.
• Event parking is available in the parking lots adjacent to Sedgwick Middle School and on Wardwell Road.
• Any individual requiring an accommodation to attend the event should contact the Programs & Publicity Department at pp@westhartfordct.gov at least two (2) weeks prior to the program.

Liz Moore (2025)

Jacqueline Woodson (2024)

Nick Hornby (2023)

Gish Jen (2022)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2019) (watch here)

Billy Collins (2018)

Anna Quindlen (2017)

Richard Russo (2017)

Luis Alberto Urrea (2016)

Amy Bloom (2002/2007/2015)

Wally Lamb (2014)

Sue Miller (2013)

Adriana Trigiani (2012)

Frank Deford (2011)

David Rhodes (2010)

Elizabeth McCracken (2009)

Ralph Nader (2009)

Anne Fadiman (2008)

Alice Mattison (2001/2008)

Mary-Ann Tirone Smith (2008)

Galway Kinnell (2007)

Stewart O’Nan (2007)

Jonathan Franzen (2005)

Anita Shreve (2004)

Elizabeth Berg (2003)

Jennifer Weiner (2002)

Thomas Cahill (2002)

Jill Ker Conway (2001)

Simon Winchester (2001)

Dominick Dunne (2001)

Bill Bryson (2000)