Would you want to have psychic abilities? No, thank you. I have enough going on in my own head. The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen had me wondering whether knowing things you shouldn’t be able to know would really be a gift or a curse.
I’ve read and loved Sarah Pekkanen’s books for a while now, especially The Wife Between Us, so I went into this book with high expectations. I wasn’t disappointed. This one wasn’t her typical thriller, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed it.
From the publisher: The next thriller from #1 bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen combines a decades-old mystery with spine-tingling paranormal elements in this twisty novel of the seen and unseen.
Extrasensory perception.
The Gift.
A Sixth Sense.
Or something else….
Click to read the full summary or to buy it on Amazon!
Genre: Mystery / Thriller, Women’s Fiction
Pages: 304
Published on: August 4, 2026
📚 Judi’s Report Card of The Women in White
👩 Characters: A
Pekkanen did a great job with the characterization. I loved the relationship between Riley and Betty in the present day, but I was especially drawn to the four women from the 1960s. Each woman had her own interesting story, and I loved getting to know them.
💕 Relationships: A
The relationship between Riley and Betty was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their connection added so much heart to the story. I hope that I have a Riley in my life when I’m in my 80s. The four women from the 1960s brought back so many memories of my college friends and me. I also enjoyed reading about their relationships with their husbands.
⏳ Dual Timelines: A-
I liked both the present-day story line and the sections set in the 1960s. Sometimes I strongly prefer one timeline over the other in books like this, but that wasn’t the case here. I was invested in each one.
📖 Pacing: A-
The pacing kept me interested the entire time. Even though this wasn’t a fast, twisty thriller, I never felt bored or like I was waiting for something to happen. There was enough mystery in the present-day story line to keep me curious, and I was excited to see how everything would come together in the end.
🕰️ Historical Setting: A
I loved reading about the 1960s and found myself picturing my own mom throughout those chapters. Pekkanen did a great job showing what was expected of women during that time without over explaining it. Making sure dinner was on the table each night, fixing a cocktail when her husband walked in the door, keeping the house clean while taking care of the kids…it was exactly how I picture life for so many women of my mom’s generation.
🔮 Originality: A-
Since each chapter begins with a quote connected to Pekkanen’s research, I learned a lot about how these experiments were conducted and how people viewed paranormal abilities at the time. It was fun to read how it was used in real-life crime investigations too. I haven’t read many books about that subject, so the story line was original to me. I did wonder if they used men for these kinds of experiments as well?
😮 Mystery & Suspense: B
There was enough mystery to keep me curious, but I wouldn’t describe this as a traditional thriller. Readers expecting something like The Wife Between Us may be surprised by the slower, more historical feel.
❤️ Emotional Connection: B
The relationships between the women gave the story more emotional depth than I expected. You could feel how much they cared about one another and how those friendships made them stronger.
🎧 Audiobook Narration: A+
I read half of the book and listened to the other half. I liked to switch back and forth. Saskia Maarleveld did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. She made each character’s voice believable and distinct, which isn’t always easy when moving between younger and older characters. Her pacing was perfect, and I never felt like the narration was too fast or too slow. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing.
⭐ Overall Grade: A- / 4 Stars
The Women in White was an enjoyable and different read from Sarah Pekkanen. I loved the five main characters, the dual timelines, and especially the relationship between Riley and Betty. It wasn’t quite suspenseful enough to be a five-star read for me, but it held my interest from beginning to end and was an easy four stars. I would definitely recommend it. This would be an interesting book for book club discussions.
Where to Buy The Women in White and More:
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📝 Extra Credit Reading:
If The Women in White earned a passing grade from you, add these three books to your extra-credit reading list:
1. Liberty Street by Heather Marshall
Why? Both books use dual timelines to explore the lives of women in the 1960s. If you enjoyed learning about the women in The Women in White and the expectations placed on them during that time, Liberty Street has a similar historical feel with a mystery woven throughout.
2. Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer
Why? If the relationship between Riley and Betty was one of your favorite parts of The Women in White, try this one. Good Joy, Bad Joy also celebrates older women, friendship, and the relationships that become especially important later in life.
3. Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
Why? Betty was one of my favorite characters in The Women in White, and Mabel is another older female character you can’t help but love. Mabel is funny and misunderstood. Both Betty and Mabel can get away with saying and doing things that younger women probably couldn’t, which is part of their charm. Both books also use the past to help us understand who these women have become in the present.
Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, Sarah Pekkanen, and Saskia Maarleveld for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Click here to learn more about Sarah Pekkanen.
💬 Let’s Chat
Would you want to have psychic abilities? I definitely wouldn’t! And if you grew up in the 1960s or heard stories from your mom or grandmother, did the expectations placed on women in this book feel familiar to you? I’d also love to know which woman you connected with the most.
I would love for you to leave a comment!