Reviewers from The StoryGraph and All About Romance highlight Wingate's use of real historical newspaper ads as "heart-wrenching" and "illuminating".

Following the Civil War, Hannie Gossett, a formerly enslaved woman, finds herself on a perilous journey to Texas. She is joined by two unlikely companions: Lavinia, the pampered daughter of Hannie's former master, and Juneau Jane, the master's illegitimate Creole daughter. While the half-sisters seek their father to secure a stolen inheritance, Hannie’s deeper mission is to find her mother and siblings, who were sold off years prior.

Some critics, such as those at Colloquium , praise the "authentic and credible" character voices. However, a review from Big Little Literature suggests the dialect used for Black characters can occasionally feel like a "cliché".

The novel has received praise for its emotional depth and historical research, though some reviewers have noted areas for critique:

Benedetta "Benny" Silva, a first-year teacher, arrives in the impoverished town of Augustine, Louisiana. Struggling to engage her apathetic students, she discovers the century-old story of the three women and a "Lost Friends" ledger. This discovery becomes a bridge to help her students connect with their own heritage. Critical Perspectives

“Powerful book about the many people, freed slaves, who were separated from family and community after the end of the Civil War.” The StoryGraph