Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of my very favorite authors and I know when I pick up one of her books, I’m in for a cozy, uplifting read. Under the Southern Sky had all the wonderful elements that I love so much in her Southern fiction style. I can’t think of another author guaranteed to make my heart soar.

The characters have such authentic voices and the emotions ring true. I do believe that once you begin reading this multi layered, subtly woven tale, you won’t want to put it down.

Amelia Paxton and Parker Thaysden grew up as next door neighbors in the small town of Cape Carolina. Amelia, always thought of Parker as a little brother. Later, as adults, their paths cross in Palm Beach, Florida where Amelia (now married) has climbed her way up the journalism ladder to the position of managing editor of a prominent lifestyle magazine. Parker manages a huge media publication conglomerate owned by his wife, Greer’s family. Greer is the idol, the inspiration and beloved icon of Southern determination, ambition and style. Their paths continue to cross and blend in ways that are humorous, heartbreaking and hopeful.

YA’LL! Pick this beautiful book up when it publishes next month on April 20th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for my advance reader’s copy. All opinions are mine!

This is my second book by Kristy Woodson Harvey and I just knew I would love it. She writes such wonderful, heart wrenching stories. When you have finished you just feel good about what you have read.

This story follows two adults who have known each other their whole lives. They grew up next to each other and even though a few years separate them they are still close. Then a life changing even happened in both their lives that happen to bring them together again.

This story is about love, true love, loss and then love again. It's about close families, small towns, and good neighbors.

Read this book!!

This was a wonderful story of lifetime friendships, the ups and downs of a marriage, families and grief. I felt so much emotion throughout this southern novel which caused me to hang on every word. I couldn’t wait to read more but didn’t want the story to end.

Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book.

Another great book by Kristy Woodson Harvey! I love the main character Amelia and can empathize with some of her struggles and tribulations. This book was an emotional rollercoaster the whole way though, oh my damn! Loved the cover and setting, and a good beach read. Recommended for beach read season coming soon. Cannot wait for another book from this author and nice break from all the thrillers I have been reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 4/20/21

I enjoyed this story set in the South, and I enjoyed all of the characters' voices (including the dead one, as heard through her journal entries), but the plot was just a little...outlandish. Melodramatic. Virgin River-y? (And I love Virgin River -- theNetflix show, that is; I haven't read the books because honestly I think the plot, in a book, would make me roll my eyes.) I guess I have more tolerance for soapy plots in my visual entertainment.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this heartwarming romantic read. It made me smile at the happy parts, tear up at the sad parts, made me laugh at the funny parts and overall made my my heart fill with warmth as I read what Amelia, Parker, Greer and their families and friends deal with over the years of their lives, what challenges they had to face, and so on. Highly recommend to all readers who love page turning romance reads.

Thank you NetGalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Gallery Books for the ARC of Under the Southern Sky. This is my personal review.
Amelia could not imagine how her life would change in just a split second. She knows she must continue with her life and being a journalist, she is on to a huge story.
Amelia has been friends with Parker since childhood. Parker has recently lost his wife to cancer.
The story Amelia is writing makes a discovery that effects Parker.
The author has written a book that touches on so many aspects of life. She gives everyone who reads this a lot to think about how one small discovery can touch the lives of so many people.
This is a story of family secrets, love, loss, surrogacy, and life changes. As you read be prepared for every emotion you have to come to the surface.

Let me start by saying this novel is complete and utter perfection. I don’t just mean within its genre or for this author, either - I mean across the board, hands down PERFECTION. The characters in this novel are so raw that their emotions seeped through the pages and into my heart. Amelia overcame every obstacle, every heart break, and every let down with extreme southern grace. There was never a point I worried about her failing because there’s no way she would have allowed that of herself. Parker, a grieving widower, can’t move on from losing Greer. When he finds out from Amelia, his childhood neighbor and best friend, that she’s discovered his frozen embryos were deemed abandoned -he knows he has to hold onto what’s left of Greer. The intricacy and delicate manner in which Kristy Woodson Harvey weaves difficult topics, heartbreak, and joy into such a profound story is amazing. If I could give this book one million stars Under the Southern Sky, I would. It’ll be one that stays with me for a very, very long time.

"Under the Southern Sky" was another wonderful book by author Kristy Woodson Harvey. Journalist Amelia is facing a number of losses- the loss of her husband, who she just discovered is gay, and the loss of her job as a journalist for a well-known southern publication. While researching a story at a fertility clinic, she comes across information regarding the frozen embryos of a childhood friend and neighbor, Parker, who lost his wife Greer to cancer several years prior. The clinic has deemed the embryos "abandoned", and Amelia decides to share this information with Parker. As Parker and Amelia become reunited by this information, Parker decides that to have the babies by surrogate is a way for him to keep a part of Greer alive, and Amelia, offers to be a surrogate for him. As Amelia and Parker start become closer, they also start to to question how their pasts impact their ability to have a relationship with each other., and their ability to move on to a new life together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its Southern setting, as well as the characters and story. Another amazing book by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "Under the Southern Sky" is due to be released on April 20, 2021.

{Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this digital ARC!}

Just as her marriage and job unexpectedly implode, Amelia uncovers one of the biggest stories of her career. The embryos of her childhood friend, Parker, and his famous late-wife are about to be labeled abandoned. Amelia takes it upon herself to reconnect with Parker and let him know the news.

Parker has been struggling to move on with his life since losing his beloved wife, Greer. When Amelia reminds him of their stored embryos, the chance to have a little piece of Greer back in the world brings him some much needed hope. Now he just has to find the perfect surrogate.

This story is told from the alternating perspectives of Amelia, Parker, Greer's journal entries and Amelias's mother. Chapters were clearly defined with who was speaking and made it easy to follow along. The timeline jumps around but in a way that maintains the flow of the story. I found all of the characters very endearing. I especially loved the addition of the Southern mothers, Elizabeth and Olivia.

"Southern mothers must meddle. It is in our DNA. We can't help it, and, for heaven's sake, who would want us to? Our meddling makes the world a better place."

This is a lovely story of honoring the loves that have been lost while moving forward towards hope and new love. It is also a sweet reminder that sometimes your closest family is the one that you create for yourself.

This book gave me all the feels, Amelia newly separated is a journalist writing a story about abandoned embryos. While doing research she recognizes two names, Parker and Greer, on the list.

Amelia and Parker grew up as neighbors, she reaches out to Parker and discovers that he is aWidower. His wife passed three years ago while still grieving, he realizes that if he ever wants a family he needs to move on. He embraces Amelia’s company and their newfound connection.

This story is about second chances, relationships, and family. The characters are well developed and like able, the setting and scenery is lush, and her book covers are beautiful. Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

A unique, sweet tale with beautiful settings! I loved the characters and how they developed throughout. The plot, which encompasses embryos left to a widow, was interesting and unique. I loved the setting descriptions and the Southern flair. 3.5 stars. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from me. I have recently discovered this author and am enjoying all of her books! I love that the book takes place in North Carolina which is home to me. The storyline was not predictable which I loved even more!

One of my favorite authors has charmed me again. Amelia and Parker grew up together. Both have suffered a loss. One by death and the other by betrayal. Amelia offers to be a surrogate for Parker's frozen embryos. She can't believe he will ever move on from losing his late wife.. They work their way back to one another. Secrets are revealed. Their families were so interesting and added to the story. I loved the scenes in North Carolina. I could picture them so easily. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this. Great summer read!

4 stars. This was a well written book about friendship, love, and loss. Amelia, a journalist, and her childhood friend Parker both grew up in Cape Carolina. A few years apart in age, they were friends, neighbors and their moms are close friends.

Years later, Parker loses the love of his life to cancer. Meanwhile Amelia's marriage has come to an end and work isn't going well. She's a journalist doing some investigative research on abandoned embryos. Amelia learns that Parker and his late wife, Greer, had her embryos frozen before she passed away. The embryos are considered abandoned and they will soon be destroyed.

Parker and Amelia reconnect and she shares her discovery with him. Parker is still distraught over losing his wife and had forgotten about the embryos. Amelia is also grieving over the loss of her marriage. While they are both dealing with difficult issues, they take comfort in their friendship.

A solid read with wonderful characters. Have some tissues at the ready! This one will have you laughing and crying. A great escape.

Thanks to Gallery Books for this ARC. #NetGalley #UnderTheSouthernSky

Wow, Under the Southern Sky by author Kristy Woodson Harvey is women’s fiction at its best! I have previously read the authors Peachtree Bluff series and Feels Like Falling so I knew from past experience that I was in for a treat. And believe me, the author did not disappoint. I think that this is going to be a stand-alone novel, however if the author decided to give us more, I certainly wouldn’t complain. This story was filled with characters that were so real and caring that I couldn’t help but feel an emotional bond towards them. There was sadness that led to joy and bliss. I enjoyed reading about the location with the scenes down on the dock, the family’s long history of living at Dogwood, and the close bonds between best friends and neighbors Elizabeth and Olivia. Actually, there was just so much to this story that I loved and enjoyed. I really think out of all her books that I’ve read, that this one is my favorite. And I believe that everyone who reads it will enjoy it as much as I have. I’d like to thank Gallery Books for approving my request and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I’m rating this at 5 stars and am looking forward to reading more of Kristy’s work in the future.

I jumped for joy when I was approved for Harvey’s new book. It is a lovely, sweet, tender read. I loved the plot. I have often wondered what happens to unused frozen embryos and Harvey’s plot is creative. I thought I knew what would happen after reading the synopsis and I was partially right. What I didn’t count on was the twisty road the author would take me on. At times I was crestfallen, impatient, and wondered if the two people who needed to be together would actually end up together. Parker is sweet and I love how he loves deeply. Amelia holds part of herself back until she is sure. I love the scheming of the mothers. Harvey pegs the southern traits very well. I liked how Aunt Tilley was irrepressible. I enjoyed reading this book.

This book checks all the marks with the way it weaves through the lives of two Southern families, united in secrets, love, friendship, and life. Told through multiple points of view, we learn about Amelia and Parker, brought back together as friends because of a story Amelia is writing.

Running the gamut of emotions from heartfelt to heartache, Amelia is starting over as her marriage has ended while Parker is just going through the motions of life, having never moved on after the loss of his wife. The news Amelia brings Parker will change both of their lives, but not in a neat and tidy way. We journey through the ups and downs of their lives, the impact of former spouses, family, and travel from trendy Palm Beach, to flashy NY, and back to the soothing lure of home in North Carolina.

Under the Southern Sky is unputdownable, so grab your sweet tea--this is sure to be the hottest book of summer.

**received an ARC from the publisher**

Amelia is shocked when she walks in on her husband not only cheating on her, but cheating on her with a man. She decides to throw herself fully into her current story and is shocked to find out something that will change her friend Parkers life. Parker hasn’t been able to move on since the loss of his wife, but with this new information from Amelia, could he still have a piece of Greer?

So I was reading this one on Valentines Day and Dave asked what it was about. I started to explain and he goes, I mean we know where this is going right? Do you even need to finish? Obviously he doesn’t understand the pure joy of a beautifully told story! This book was everything I needed and more! I just adored both Parker and Amelia, and I their crazy families too! Kristy Woodson Harvey has a way of weaving a beautiful story, with fantastic characters and a sense of place you can picture as you read. Did I know where the story was going to go almost immediately? Yes. But that didn’t take away from loving every second of my journey through the pages!

In Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Amelia Paxton investigates what becomes of abandoned embryos in fertility clinics in Palm Beach, Florida, as a feature story for her magazine. What she uncovers is so much more: her childhood friend Parker, who lost his wife to cancer three years ago, has forgotten about the embryos that he and his late wife Greer created to implant when she beat her battle with cancer, which never happened.

The fact that Amelia has just lost her husband to his lover does not make delivering the news about the embryos any easier. She finds that a grieving Parker has been stuck for three years, but when she tells him the news that he needs to make a decision about the fate of his four embryos, he becomes unstuck and starts to make plans for the embryos to be implanted in a surrogate as a way to bring his late wife back into his life.

Complicating their lifelong friendship is that unbeknownst to the other, Parker has always loved Amelia, literally the girl next door, and she has admired him ever since she took real notice of him when she was in college. But neither thinks the other could ever possibly fall in love with him or her.

Seeing that Parker’s plan to find a surrogate has brought him back to the living, Amelia decides she could do this for him: she could carry these babies and then get back to her life. What follows are twists, turns, complications, disappointments, then sudden realizations as both Amelia and Parker move forward in their lives.

Under the Southern Sky is more than a romance. It is Southern women’s fiction with multiple subplots, a bit of mystery, a near loss, and a crazy aunt in the attic, er, East wing. Readers who enjoy Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Kay Andrews, and Mary Alice Monroe will find a similar experience with Harvey’s books.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University. She and her mother Beth Woodson write a blog called Design Chic about home decorating. Harvey lives in North Carolina with her family.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting February 13, 2021.

I would like to thank Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.