Great historical fiction - I really enjoyed! I love historical fiction when the background research is included. The surviving the survival angle is one I never pondered and it really touched me and made me think.

This was a historical fiction book that moved between the past and the present. I loved the two threads of this story. The sinking of the Pulaski is not a story I had heard of which is shocking as someone who has spent a lot of time in Savannah. That part of the book was so realistic and it was hard sometimes to move on to Everly's POV when I wanted to know what happened next.

I love historical fiction, and this had the perfect amount of romance (aka, not overwhelming), but still enough to push the story line forward. With this, Patti Callahan was able to greatly tell the story about the sinking of the Pulaski.

I love visiting Savannah, and so this book has a special place in my heart. I wasn't prepared for all the emotion, the intricate layers, and the fascinating history. So much so I want to do some research on my own!

Note - I didn't care for the slight profanity, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the publisher: It was called "The Titanic of the South." The luxury steamship sank in 1838 with Savannah's elite on board; through time, their fates were forgotten--until the wreck was found, and now their story is finally being told in this breathtaking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis.

At its heart, this story is about how you survive the surviving. This dual timeline novel, switching between 1838 and the present, details the sinking of the Pulaski, the aftermath, and the creation of the exhibit almost 200 years later to mark the discovery of the wreck. While a work of fiction, there are very real details included that show the authors dedication to the research into the ship. At times a devastating read, I loved every page. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book is for you.

This was just the kind of historical fiction I have been craving. I learned something about a historical event I was not familiar with, and the storyline gave me some psychological elements to enjoy. I also really liked the characters, and watching them develop as the story unfolded.

I really struggled to get into Surviving Savannah, and I still haven't quite pinned down exactly why. I think part of it was the dual timelines, which I usually love, but they jolted and separate. I think I would have really liked this story if it was told only in the past, but the present storyline was very flat. I felt like the author went to one of those Titanic experience museum exhibits and wrote a book about it. Overall, this one was just fine for me. Nothing special, and I likely won't read more from this author.

In 1838 a ship named the Steamship Pulaski blew up in the middle of the night and sank to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of North Carolina carrying many prominent members of Savannah Society with it. The author was beginning to write a story around this ship and the people who survived when the shipwreck was discovered. The author was able to use the artifacts discovered and the stories they led to in the novel, and even provides an extensive book club kit on her website to enhance the reader experience.
The novel is a well-written dual timeline and is crafted in a way that the themes of grief, survival, slavery and family are woven between the characters in both times. There is an intriguing part of the story where one character disappeared after surviving, and we find out what happened to them at the end. One of the points that is made in different ways is how different people deal with grief and when they are faced with life-altering circumstances. This is something that will stay with me, both in how "Some people didn't die and some people lived", and how everything important and unimportant becomes clear when faced with tragedy.

This would make a wonderful book club book. I was able to read an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and ended up purchasing a copy for a book club discussion afterwards.

I read Surviving Savannah as a book club ARC with Bookbrowse. I remember reading it avidly and enjoying the mix of history and personal relationships especially as the historical information did not overwhelm the story. I also like how the characters were developed and how the story was driven by them and not them being mere puppets. I would definitely read this author again!

I really enjoyed this book. I was not familiar with the history of the Pulaski and I thought it was fascinating and well researched. The dual timeline and the author's writing style kept me interested throughout. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I loved the book so much, Patti Callahan is a must read author for me, and the book is one of her best.
We meet a young woman, Everly who is doing research on the sunken steamship, the Pulaski. She's dealing with the horrific loss of a friend, and working her way through other feelings.

In a dual time line we meet the people who were on the Pulaski, their backgrounds and the lives they are leading. Privileged lives, but not always happy. The characters of Augusta Longstreet and her niece Lilly Forsyth are detailed and we learn of their lives in Savannah and what was to happen as the boiler exploded and passengers were adrift for days, very few people survived.

The research and telling of this story are excellent, bringing history and fiction together, Callahan gets it just right. The book flows and I wanted to know more about both the story lines. How amazing that the ship was found and artifacts brought up during the writing of this book. Patti has been deeply involved in this exhibit now in Savannah. This is a must read for lovers of historical fiction.

This is the 2nd book I’ve read from this author.. very interesting and enjoyable read!!! Very interesting part of history & a story of great resilience!! Thank you for the ARC!!!

This was a fascinating, riveting story that was clearly meticulously researched. Melding history and story the story of the characters came to life in vivid detail. Rarely do you read dual timeline that integrates the storylines so well. I tore through this book and couldn’t stop reading!

Simply incredible! This story is of tragedy and survival. The Pulaski sunk after a boiler explosion in 1938. Several of Savannah’s elite were on this ship when tragedy struck. The ship was known as “The Titanic of the South”. Everly Winthrop is tasked to find out what really happened.

This story will grab you the instant you pick it up and start reading. Patti Callahan is probably one of my favorite authors and when it comes to historical fiction, she’s simply amazing. This is a don’t miss book for anyone that loves historical fiction with an incredible storyline.

Thank you to #netgalley and #berkleypublishinggroup for allowing me to read this eARC. All opinions expressed above are my own.

The Pulaski Steamship has been called the Titanic of the South, a beautiful new steam ship headed out of the Savannah harbor for a planned one night trip up north to Baltimore, but sadly the ship never made it that far. This book is the story of a family who sailed on the Pulaski and their harrowing journey after the ship's boiler exploded, sending its passengers into the sea. The story alternates between a modern story of a young woman researching what happened that fateful night for a museum exhibit, to the story of those aboard the ship almost 200 years ago and this fight for survival. The characters were interesting, and this fictionalized version of true events helps shed light on a disaster that is not a well known part of our country's history.

I really enjoyed the story and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book..

As noted at the end of this book, the basic story of the ship disaster is historical fact. Using this and other historical documents. The author weaves a compelling narrative of this. Interspersed is the fictional account of modern day curator and her personal tragedy. That part gets overly bogged down with typical sentimentality and complicated feelings about another. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

4 sweeping historical stars

This dual timeline historical fiction story is set in Savannah and features an interesting cast of characters, many of them drawn from real life people.

The older storyline centers around the 1838 boiler explosion and sinking of the luxury steamship Pulaski, sometimes called the “Titanic of the South”. Somewhat luckily for these passengers, there wasn’t freezing cold water, but many ended up scorched by the sun, thirsty, and hungry as they waited to be rescued for days. And sadly, not nearly enough lifeboats or life jackets. Entire families (and their servants/slaves) were lost in the tragedy, many of them from the elite class in Savannah.

The present-day timeline features Everly Winthrop, a history professor who has been tapped to curate an exhibit at the local museum. The shipwreck has been discovered and artifacts recovered. As Everly investigates the artifacts, we get glimpses of what the shipwreck was like for some of the passengers on board.

This is my first read from author Patti Callahan, but I will definitely read some of her earlier books now!

Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkely for the copy of this one to read and discuss.

Surviving Savannah is a captivating read that incorporates mystery, romance and learning into its web. What starts out to be the struggle one goes through with the loss of a dear friend, and the guilt surrounding that loss, evolves into a complex love relationship, and a relentless pursuit of the truth. In the course of the pursuit, the reader learns a lot about Savannah as an enticing city, the challenges and beauty of a deep dive, the determination of survivors, and the power and ties of deep friendship. A worthy read,

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan. Having visited Savannah a few years ago and being particularly interested in this southern city because of the earlier novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, I was pleased to receive an Advance Reader’s Copy of Patti Callahan’s new book which just came out on April 5, 2022. This historical novel is divided into two intermittent parts: Savannah in the year 1838 when the steamship Pulaski, carrying wealthy citizens of Savannah up the East Coast for their summer sojourn in Saratoga Springs, New York, sinks in the Atlantic Ocean; and Savannah in the present day when, with the discovery of the wreckage of the Pulaski and recovery of its artifacts, historian Everly Winthrop is curating the exhibit for the local Museum. Surviving the shipwreck was no mean feat in the 1800’s. Those who were still alive in the water grasped onto whatever floating scrap of the ship they could. Some existed on these makeshift flotation devices for five long days in the heat of the sun and the cold wet nights, with no food or water. At one point, the question was asked: “Oh, how will we survive the surviving?” I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and hope that you will have the same sensation when you read it.

A little slow to start and one of the early characters isn't important at all, which confused me. Otherwise, an average parallel historical/modern fiction. Interesting historical facts.