I would not usually pick up a book with a plot about shipwrecks, but one in the capable hands of Patti Callahan Henry could only be well-researched with an intriguing plot similar to her favorite of mine, Becoming Mrs. Lewis.

Surviving Savannah is about the explosion in 1838 of the luxury steamship Pulaski, called "The Titanic of the South." Callahan Henry fleshes out the tragedy with personal stories of both real and fictional characters.

Told over two timelines – one in 1838 and the other in present day -- the historical fiction novel involves Everly Winthrop of Savannah, a fictional character, who becomes a guest curator of a museum exhibit featuring artifacts that were actually recovered from the steamship in 2018. The 1838 timeline follows the passengers on the Pulaski, some who survive, some who perish.

The main fictional characters, one of whom is based on an actual passenger, relay the bulk of the survival story. Augusta Longstreet, the sister of the steamship’s builder, is sailing with his family to New York, while her niece Lilly is a passenger along with her husband, daughter, and nurse maid. Both Augusta and Lilly will end up in the water and fight to survive, neither knowing of the other’s struggle.

Patti Callahan Henry, a former pediatric nurse, is a co-creator and co-host of the weekly podcast Friends and Fiction on Facebook. A full-time author, wife, and mother of three, she has homes in both Alabama and South Carolina.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting January 4, 2021.

I would like to thank the Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective opinion.

“There is tragedy behind, and it trails us and walks alongside us, but still there is the great mystery of life after.’”

The Steamship Pulaski disaster was dubbed ‘the Titanic of its time’ yet most of us have never heard of it. The fight for survival was remarkable, especially given the time period.

Though I enjoyed learning about this event, I thought the delivery was a bit lacking. The present day story seemed to try to hard to mimic the original tragedy with too much time focused there instead of on the past story. Found myself skimming the last part of the book where the story became very repetitive and ‘harpy’. Again, not sure the dual timeline was needed. 3.5

I did really appreciate this book. It held my interest and i loved the fact that it was a sunken ship and old stories that was the basis for this book.

After joining the Friends and Fiction group of fab five authors for MANY events since the beginning of the pandemic, I was beyond thrilled when I won a copy of this book thanks to Shelf Awareness, Berkley & NetGalley. I had yet to read any of Patti Callahan's books, but had heard amazing things & this book truly did not disappoint.

While historical fiction is not always my go-to genre, after reading gems like Kristin Harmel's The Book of Lost Names, I have been drawn to more and more of these incredible stories like this title that combine history with a present-day story.

I am in awe of this beautiful writing style, Callahan made me want to learn more about everything she mentioned, as she perfectly combined every bit of history with mystery and emotions that made this an absolute joy to read. It takes an incredible author to weave a story with multiple characters into such a flawless masterpiece, I loved every minute of it! Definitely pick up this book my friends!

Everly Winthrop is a history professor who enjoys curating exhibits at a local museum. When the Steamship Pulaski (which sank in 1838) is discovered, she jumps at the chance to curate the exhibit. The second storyline tells of the Longstreet family and their trip aboard the Pulaski as well as their struggles for survival. I eagerly anticipated that storyline. Everly’s present day story felt repetitive. I would have liked more of Lily Forsyth’s story. I appreciated her changed relationship with her enslaved woman and was disappointed not to learn more. The back matter was remarkable. Ms. Callahan certainly did her research!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan alternates between the 1838 story of the luxury steamship, Pulaski, that became known as "The Titanic of the South" and the present day story of Everly Winthrop, a guest-curate of a museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski.. Everly sets out to personalize the shipwreck of the Pulaski by focusing on the Longstreet family, an elite and influential family in Savannah society. The reader uncovers the mystery and fate of the passengers along with Everly. The historical research done by Ms. Callahan is impressive. The author includes notes, resources, a timeline and facts at the conclusion of the novel. I found this historical fiction novel about a lesser know shipwreck in which the wreckage was only recently recovered in 2018 fascinating. Everly's museum exhibit was so interesting that I wish it really existed so I could visit it. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A truly remarkable and memorable story. Historical fiction based on the sinking of the Pulaski, Callahan has researched her story well and has written a beautiful story. The reader will experience the true feel of Savannah and the horror of fighting for your life.

Patti Callahan’s BECOMING MRS. LEWIS was so masterful that I found it a great privilege to review her newest hf novel, SURVIVING SAVANNAH. It covers the 1838 tragic sinking of the steamship Pulaski— The Titanic of the South — after its boiler exploded. Many high society members were aboard, their loss devastating to the city. We learn about a family of 11 left with just two survivors, Augusta Longstreet, and the daughter of her niece, Lilly Forsyth.

In the novel, history professor Everly Winthrop delves into the accounts of survivors for a local museum. She ponders, “Why did they live while 100 others perished? Was it divine intervention or mere chance? How do grief, survivor’s guilt and trauma alter one’s life?”

In real life Callahan was visiting the city when a friend told her details of the Pulaski tragedy. It led to her own impassioned research, ignited when she learned the steamship’s wreck had just been found after 180 years.

She recounts, “When I read the news, the powerful chill of story-excitement ran up my spine. This kind of synchronicity sometimes happens, and each time it does I am led again to the mystical knowing that we are all connected, that stories are our lifeline, and that they want to be told.”

We’re left enthralled, in awe and grateful to the author for this astonishing tale.

5 of 5 Stars

Thanks also to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
#SurvivingSavannah #NetGalley

Surviving Savannah is a historical fiction book about the sinking of the Pulaski in 1838. Called Titanic of the south.

the author did an amazing job with her research on this little known historical event

The author tells a story that alternate between the past and the present. The characters are based on real people. This was a great book. I couldn’t read fast enough and I was dying to know the fate of the characters. This books taught me about a little known part of our history and left me hungry for more.
Thank you for an advanced opportunity to read this amazing book.

Surviving Savannah is a new historical fiction book about the sinking of the Pulaski. I thought the book was well-written overall, and enjoyed learning about this moment in history. Callahan tackles some intense topics in this book, and as a sensitive reader I would say this was about the max of what I could take in some particular scenes. DM me for more details.

A common theme of Surviving Savannah is well, surviving. Surviving a tragedy when others don't make it. What do you do with the guilt? How do you move on? Some of this was handled well, and other bits were really repetitious. Over and over again, Callahan's characters state some of the same sentiments, and I took off a whole star for that...because seriously it was TOO much. Aside from that, Augusta and Everly were both well-developed characters and felt compelled to follow their journeys. I thought the depiction of grief and trauma, and how those things can pervade your entire life was raw and honestly painful to read at times, but very true.

Overall, this book was memorable. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, simply because there is a storyline of ongoing sexual assault, physical abuse and constant death, and I really don't like reading about those things. It's not one I would reread, but objectively speaking it was good aside from the repetition mentioned already.

This is a story of historian and curator Everly Winthrop and her research into the little known steamship accident of the Pulaski in 1838, off the coast of North Carolina. Everly, who descends from a family with a rich Savannah (GA) heritage, is struggling with the recent death of her best friend. Reluctantly, she finds herself working with her deceased friend's fiancé, Oliver. It turns out that divers discovered remnants of wreckage from this steamship, and Everly decides she will curate the exhibit.

The 1838 timeline features Lilly Forsyth and her family, who were passengers on the ill-fated Pulaski when it sunk. Through the chapters that take place in 1838 on the Pulaski, we learn what actually happened to Lilly and her family. We learned who survived and who perished. Present-day characters put the pieces of the past together with the artifacts they discover.

This book was so much more than a fictional retelling of an obscure steamship accident. It's about love and loss, family, and the things that make us who we are. Ms. Callahan's dedicated approach to accuracy is evidenced by her detailed narrative, which made me more and more intrigued as I delved deeper into the story. The characters of both timelines were relatable and strong. I recommend this book to historical fiction fans, especially if you have a personal connection to the American South. Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Callahan, and Berkley for an advance e-reader copy of this book!

An extraordinary story. An extensively researched historical event brought to life in today's world. Another true gem from Patti Callahan.

I've long been a fan of Patti Callahan's novels, but Surviving Savannah may be my all-time favorite. Callahan pivots flawlessly from the character-driven Southern fiction we know and love her for into this wholly engrossing historical tale, based on the real-life sinking of "The Titanic of the South" off the coast of North Carolina. I have a soft spot for stories that take forgotten events and bring them back to life in startling color; Surviving Savannah does all this and more, unearthing buried treasure from the ocean floor both literally and figuratively, and weaving it into the lives of its present-day curators as they struggle to overcome their own more recent tragedies. The past and present timelines and multiple points of view in this novel all feel equally immediate, personal, and heartfelt, and the setting in one of my favorite cities was an extra treat. Highly recommended.

Easily one of the best pieces of historical fiction/women's fiction I've had the pleasure to read this year. Historian Everly Winthrop is doing research into the sinking of the steamship Pulaski for a museum exhibit. That research sends us on a journey through time, back to the 1800's. I loved this dual timeline story based on a real but little known event in history. I found myself wanting to know more about the actual events and people as I was reading. This is a gripping and thought-provoking read with wonderful characters.

Absolutely beautiful descriptions of Savannah. So much history here in a subject little known. Numerous references to fascinating characters.

The description of this book was intriguing to me and I thought I would enjoy it more than I did. It was just okay for me as I found the dual timeline to be more distracting than enjoyable, skipping back and forth in short chapters so I was unable to really enjoy either of the stories, which ended up becoming so repetitive after awhile. At about one third of the way through I started to read every other chapter because I basically wanted to find out what happed to Lilly and the others on the Pulaski. I also skipped to the end to read the Author’s notes which were very interesting and told the entire story of the Pulaski.

Surviving Savannah beautifully weaves the lives of three women- two from the past and one from current times. Everly is a museum curator in present day Savannah, Georgia. Everly is working on an exhibit about the Pulaski, a steamboat that sank off the Carolina coast in 1838. The wreckage of the Pulaski was recently discovered and Everly is researching the lives of the passengers who boarded the steamboat in Savannah. She pieces together the backstories of Lilly Forsyth and her aunt, Augusta Longstreet., wealthy Savannah residents who were heading north to escape the southern summer heat. As Everly envisions the horrors that the women endured as they tried to survive, she is able to face the tragedy in her own life. This work of historical fiction grabs the reader and doesn't let go. I felt gripped by the characters and couldn't wait to learn their fates. I highly recommend this work by Patti Callahan.

I was given an advanced reader copy of Surviving Savannah by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #survivingsavannah #historical fiction #patticallahan

Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can't resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking.

Everly's research leads her to the astounding history of a family of eleven who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who, along with her child, was never found. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah's society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive the surviving. Highly recommended.

When I saw Patti Callahan had a new book on the horizon, I did a happy dance. Becoming Mrs. Lewis was a top 5 read for me in 2019, so I was quick to request an ARC of Becoming Savannah. Thank you, Netgalley and the folks at Berkley for sending this my way.

This was a stunning read!  The same richness in storytelling that I so loved in Callahan's previous book was alive in this one as well.  I'm all about atmosphere... I live for those books in which I'm fully immersed in the setting, and I experienced that with in spades with Surviving Savannah. I was completely enraptured in this story of devastation and survival. As I became so attached to the characters, I found myself reaching for tissues more than once as the heartache and the sheer lengths they had to go to in order to survive leapt off the page. It was all the more moving and fascinating to know this is based upon a true story. Surviving Savannah sealed the deal for me - Patti Callahan is officially an auto-buy author for me. 🙌

My rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley because of the extremely favorable reviews it’s been getting. While I did enjoy the book and thought it was very well-written, I definitely did not think it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I will say that the author did an amazing job with her research on this little known historical event that actually took place in 1838 off the coast of North Carolina - the tragic sinking of the steamboat Pulaski. The story, based on two different time periods, begins in the present day with Everly Winthrop, a Savannah native, being asked to curate a museum display centered on artifacts recovered from the wreck. Part of her research focuses on the survivors of this disaster, and that is where the reader meets Augusta Longstreet and her niece Lilly Forsyth who were passengers as well as survivors of the wreck. All three women are dealing with tremendous emotional baggage, the causes of which the author reveals to the reader as the story progresses. I really enjoyed Augusta’s and Lilly’s story throughout the entire book and their emergence as strong, independent women. While initially I enjoyed Everly’s story, I found myself tiring of this character halfway through the book. I felt like the author focused too much on her inability to move past a tragic event that occurred previously in her life and dragged it on too long in the story. Hence my four star rating instead of five.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.