WINNER OF THE BAKWIN AWARD

SELECTED FOR THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL BOOK ASSOCIATION'S GREAT GROUP READS 2026

In this gripping debut novel, former abductee Bria Singer must reconcile with her past as she tries to build her life on her own terms.

Winner of the Bakwin Award selected by Tiya Miles, Tara Weinstein tells the riveting story of one woman confronting her history on a journey of growth, exploration, and reclaiming identity. In the town of Vaughan, everyone knows the story of Bria Singer: abducted at age five, and miraculously back ten years later, returning to find a broken family transformed by her disappearance. Now twenty and living in New York City, Bria must figure out who she is and where she belongs after spending her childhood in the wilderness, cut off from the world. Using journal entries, newspaper clippings, and connections with other survivors, Bria pieces together her own story in this thrilling and suspenseful novel.

PRAISE FOR THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH:

“A gripping, layered, and immensely satisfying debut from a powerful new voice.”—Téa Obreht, author of Sunrise and The Tiger’s Wife

“How do you tell your own story when everyone thinks they already know it? This is the difficult but necessary question that a former childhood abductee confronts in Tara Weinstein’s suspenseful novel, The Only Way Out Is Through. This confessional account of one young woman’s journey of escape, self-discovery, and healing reveals a tangled web of family, history, celebrity, tragedy, and, ultimately, acceptance.” —Tiya Miles, author of All That She Carried and final judge for the Bakwin Award

“In her debut novel, The Only Way Out Is Through, Tara Weinstein skillfully presents a mesmerizing weave of past and present as a young woman pieces together the mysterious and disturbing circumstances of her life, leaving the reader to explore the meaning of home and family in ways that are surprising and wholly satisfying.”—Jill McCorkle, author of Old Crimes and Hieroglyphics

“Tara Weinstein’s first novel, The Only Way Out Is Through, engaged me with its opening words and retained its hold on me until the final period, in large part because so much is at stake for her main character. This is an enormously impressive debut—one that portends a bright career ahead. I eagerly await more work from this gifted writer.”—Steve Yarbrough, author of Stay Gone Days

“Weinstein’s strong debut tells the story of a former child abductee struggling with reintegration and unwanted media attention upon returning home... Weinstein offers an alternative version of the happy reunion story, challenges the myth of the perfect family, and provides an interesting take on familial trauma.”—Joelle Egan for Booklist

"The Only Way Out Is Through offers book clubs a compelling exploration of identity, trauma, resilience, and the complicated meaning of family. Bria's journey raises thought-provoking questions about the lasting effects of childhood abduction, the conflicting emotions surrounding her relationships with both families, and the challenges of rebuilding a life after extraordinary circumstances. Her experiences invite discussions about the value of therapy, friendship, and human connection, as well as the often-overlooked impact of trauma on parents and siblings. The novel's inventive narrative structure, weaving together multiple perspectives, timelines, and newspaper accounts, encourages readers to question how stories are told and whose version of events shapes our understanding. Above all, Bria's search for identity and belonging invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of overcoming adversity and consider the novel's central question: Is the only way out truly through?"—Women's National Book Association's Great Group Reads 2026