Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
Yesteryear opens with a concept that feels instantly modern and just a little bit sinister. Natalie appears to be living the dream, a curated, picture-perfect traditional life complete with sourdough, a handsome cowboy husband, and a farmhouse straight out of an aesthetic Pinterest board. But behind the scenes, there’s already a crack in the illusion, one that the reader is let in on early.

When Natalie wakes up in a version of her life that looks the same but feels deeply wrong, the story shifts into something much more unsettling. It quickly becomes clear this isn’t just about social media fakery. There’s a psychological edge here that pulls you in, making you question what’s real, what’s constructed, and who Natalie really is beneath it all.

✅ What I Liked:
The premise is absolutely the standout. The idea of a curated online identity colliding with a distorted reality is both timely and genuinely eerie. It taps into that uncomfortable awareness that so much of what we see online is manufactured, then pushes it into something far more extreme.

Natalie is a fascinating character to follow. She’s not entirely likeable, but that’s what makes her compelling. Watching her navigate this warped version of her life, trying to regain control while questioning everything, creates a strong sense of tension throughout.

There’s also a really effective atmosphere running through the book. The horror here isn’t loud or dramatic, it’s quiet, creeping, and psychological. The small details that are “off” do a lot of the heavy lifting, creating a constant sense of unease.

The commentary on performance, identity, and the pressure to maintain a certain image is sharp without feeling heavy-handed. It lets the story do the work rather than spelling everything out.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
At times, the pacing wobbles slightly, particularly in the middle where the tension plateaus before building again. It never becomes boring, but it does lose a bit of momentum.

Some elements of the plot lean more into ambiguity than clarity, which works for the atmosphere but might leave some readers wanting more concrete answers by the end.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a modern edge, this is a great pick. It will especially appeal to readers who like stories that explore identity and perception, particularly in the age of social media.

If you liked unsettling, reality-bending narratives or books that leave you questioning what’s real long after you’ve finished, this will definitely be up your street.

💭 Final Thoughts:
Yesteryear is a clever and unsettling exploration of the gap between who we are and who we pretend to be. It takes a very recognisable, very contemporary idea and twists it into something much darker and more thought-provoking.

It’s the kind of book that makes you slightly suspicious of everything you scroll past afterwards, and that lingering discomfort is exactly what makes it work.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

Final Rating ★★★★ – A glossy illusion unravels into something far darker