Debut Novel 'Westward Women' Explores Mysterious Wanderlust Outbreak

Author Alice Martin's female-focused narrative takes readers on a chilling, hypnotic road trip journey.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:52pm

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In her debut novel "Westward Women", author Alice Martin breathes new life into the dystopian genre with a road trip tale that feels like a fever dream. The story follows three young women - Aimee, Eve, and Teenie - who are compelled by a mysterious outbreak to leave everything behind and travel westward towards the Pacific Ocean, driven by an irresistible itch and longing. The hypnotic, character-driven narrative shifts between their perspectives as they each embark on a journey of self-discovery, while also uncovering the unsettling truth behind the strange phenomenon.

Why it matters

"Westward Women" taps into timely themes of wanderlust, female empowerment, and the search for life's meaning, set against the backdrop of a chilling dystopian mystery. The book's unique premise and visual, poetic writing style have drawn comparisons to classic road trip narratives, while also offering a fresh, female-centric take on the dystopian genre.

The details

The story is driven by a mysterious outbreak causing young women across America to develop unusual symptoms like fatigue, restlessness, and an overwhelming desire to travel west. As the women succumb to this "itch", they leave behind their former lives to embark on a road trip adventure, with no known destination in sight. The narrative shifts between the perspectives of three distinct characters - Aimee, who searches for her missing sister Ginny; Eve, a journalist following the story; and Teenie, a young woman whose innocent eyes provide a haunting window into the dystopian world.

  • The novel's events take place in the near future.

The players

Alice Martin

The author of "Westward Women", Alice Martin holds a PhD in Literature from Rutgers University and is an Assistant Professor of English Studies at Western Carolina University, where she teaches fiction writing and American literature. She lives outside of Asheville, North Carolina with her family.

Aimee

One of the three central characters, Aimee embarks on a road trip journey to search for her sister Ginny, who has disappeared after succumbing to the mysterious "itch" that compels young women to travel west.

Eve

A journalist following the story of the strange outbreak, Eve's road trip adventure opens her eyes to a whole new perspective on the world.

Teenie

A young woman whose innocent, first-person perspective provides a haunting window into the dystopian world of "Westward Women".

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What’s next

As Alice Martin's debut novel, "Westward Women" has generated significant buzz and anticipation among readers of dystopian and female-driven fiction. The book's unique premise and poetic, visual writing style have drawn comparisons to classic road trip narratives, while offering a fresh take on the genre. Readers and critics will be eager to see what Martin does next, and how she continues to explore themes of wanderlust, identity, and the human condition.

The takeaway

"Westward Women" is a captivating, female-focused dystopian tale that takes readers on a chilling, hypnotic road trip journey of self-discovery. Author Alice Martin's debut novel blends elements of mystery, wanderlust, and the search for life's meaning, offering a fresh and visually striking perspective on the genre.