A powerful, deeply human story of love, faith, and quiet rebellion in the American South at the turn of the century. 
In Divining Women, Kaye Gibbons delivers a lyrical and intimate portrayal of women finding their voices in a time of change.
 
Set in 1918 North Carolina, Divining Women follows Maureen Riddell, a young woman who moves in with her cousin Mary to help during the influenza epidemic. As the two women confront the harsh realities of illness, isolation, and a world ruled by men, they form a bond that transforms their understanding of strength, independence, and the divine power of compassion.
 
Amid the ravages of war and plague, Gibbons weaves a quiet but resonant story about faith, female friendship, and the courage it takes to challenge injustice in the name of love. Her prose is spare yet vivid, capturing both the beauty and brutality of Southern life.
 
Tender, defiant, and profoundly moving, Divining Women explores how women have always drawn strength from one another — and how belief, in its truest form, is found in human connection.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A moving, character-driven story about resilience and faith.
Lyrical prose from a celebrated Southern storyteller.
Evocative setting amid the 1918 influenza pandemic.
Themes of compassion, independence, and quiet rebellion.
Perfect for fans of historical and feminist Southern fiction.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of The Secret Life of Bees and The Color Purple.
Readers who enjoy reflective, emotionally rich historical fiction.
Book clubs exploring women’s strength and social change.
Anyone drawn to lyrical Southern storytelling.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Divining Women, you might also like:
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons — another classic tale of Southern resilience.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd — friendship and freedom in the antebellum South.
The Last Girls by Lee Smith — sisterhood, secrets, and self-discovery.