After reading Surviving Savannah, I have a severe book hangover. I can't get over the characters and the descriptions of the sinking of the steamship Pulaski. Even though I finished the novel a few days ago, I can't bring myself to start reading anything new because I just want to stay in Savannah and learn more about these characters and the shipwreck.

Everly Winthrop grew up listening to her Papa tells stories about the Pulaski and its passengers, while she marveled at the painting of the steamship that hung in her family's home. Now as an adult, she has been asked to guest curate a special exhibit on the recently discovered Pulaski and the artifacts that have been found nearly 180 years after its tragic sinking. As Everly's research brings her closer to the truth of what happened to many of the passengers, including the 11 members of the Longstreet family, Everly also begins to reflect on what it means to be a survivor and how in essence you survive the surviving.

I am truly amazed at the level of research that Ms. Callahan did to bring this story to life and I am so grateful that she did. Not only did I learn about the Pulaski, but I also felt immersed in the city of Savannah itself. To realize that in real life, the artifacts and treasures on board the Pulaski are being recovered from the ocean floor just about 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina some 180 years later is amazing. The novel and the true story of what transpired as well as the recovery of the ship's contents are riveting.

Surviving Savannah is a story that will stay with me for a long time. It's a story of determination, grit, perseverance, faith and love. It is a book you will want to discuss with someone so I'd recommend buying your best friend a copy too. Trust me, I've talked to my family about this book so much that my 9 year old son can tell you all about the "Titanic of the South" and they want to plan a trip to Savannah next spring to see the full exhibit of the artifacts.

If you are a historical fiction fan or simply love a great story, you should drop whatever else you are doing and start reading Surviving Savannah today!

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Surviving Savannah, the tale of “the Titanic of the South”, was rich and compelling and one I knew nothing about. This luxury ship with many of what were considered Savannah’s finest aboard met with a terrible demise and altered the lives of Savannah families in unimaginable ways. After the wreckage is discovered, Everly Winthrop, a history professor with a deep love and connection to Savannah, is asked to curate the collection. Unable to resist, Everly is determined to discover and tell the stories of two remarkable women including one who was never found.

Tragic and still uplifting, I was completely absorbed in this story of love, grief, connection, and survival. I will read anything that Patti Callahan writes

I had never heard of the Pulaski but now that I have read Patti Callahan’s Surviving Savannah, I am curious to find out more. The dual timelines are perfect. They each tell the story of Pulaski with the real experience coming in the 1838 timeline and the present timeline tells of the research of the Pulaski.

The persistence of Everly and her research was wonderful. The lengths she went to and how that research was able to push her to start living her life again, a life that she had not been fully living since the loss of her best friend.

Lilly and Augusta are able to tell their story as the ship explodes, they are thrown into the cold waters, and are doing everything they can to just survive. I was in awe of their strength and their will to live. Their lives were at risk and their futures unknown, yet they never stopped hoping to find land and be saved.

Surviving Savannah will be one of the top historical fiction books of 2021 for me.

"How will we survive the surviving?"

I love a book that takes me to a new part of history, and Surviving Savannah certainly does that. The Pulaski was a steamboat designed for a luxury experience for wealthy customers, but when the boiler exploded so many lives were changed forever.

This book follows the journey of 3 women as they experience the wreck. Augusta and Lily as they go down with the ship, and Everly as she pieces together what happened as the ship and the secrets of those aboard are brought back to the surface.

Exploring themes of death, grief, family, and the choices we make in the midst of tragedy, Surviving Savannah will have you contemplating your life and how you are choosing to live.

The author's note and included facts and resources section also just add to the appreciation of this book as you see all the research that went into it.

Content Warning: child death, shipwreck and drownings, domestic abuse, racism

This might be my favorite historical fiction of the year! This book is... profound. It's a meticulously researched novel, with a well-written plot and characters that are thoroughly developed. But more importantly, the book asks deep questions and left me with so much to reflect on. ⁣
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The story is told from the POV of three women. Everly, in present day, and Lilly and Augusta in 1838. Everly is a historian that is curating a museum exhibit of the 1838 sinking of the Pulaski steamboat. As she uncovers the mystery of the boat, we also hear from the other two women in real-time as the boat goes down. Their stories weave together to give us a picture of 1838 and present-day Savannah. ⁣
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We learn the most about Everly, which feels right for this type of novel. Lilly and Augusta remain shrouded in mystery despite their own POVs, but we find out what drives their choices and how they dig deep to survive. Everly is also grappling with the aftermath of her own personal tragedy as she explores the tragedy of 1838. ⁣
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All three characters ask the question - "how do we survive the surviving?" How do you love again, how do you make sense of loss, how do you move on in a world without your loved one? There's no right response to any of these questions, and each of the strong women in this book have to find their own answers.⁣
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Callahan also wove social commentary into this intricate story, including the long-reaching consequences of the slave trade. She didn't sugar coat Savannah's past. This line resonated with me: "The devaluation of humanity was incomprehensible to me and those I loved. And yet it continued even today in new and different ways. ⁣
The intolerance and bias echoed." ⁣
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This book explores the good and bad of family legacies and the importance of understanding and learning from the past. It's an absolute gem of a book! ⁣
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Lovers of historical fiction and multi-generational stories, get this on your list! And when you read this one, make sure to read the very interesting Author's Note! ⁣

A few years ago in the before times I was in London researching London Restoration and my friend Patti was visiting her UK publisher and we met up in Covent Garden. I keep my book worlds close to my heart but trusted her enough with my Wren church idea and she introduced me to this tale long buried and now excavated with her deft, graceful hand and reframed by the haunting portrayal of women past and present harrowed by the loss of humanity and the hope amidst a tragedy that blasted any lines of social affluence. Callahan never writes any subject or place that is not indelibly scratched on her heart. And so it is here. The research here is remarkable. More so because she never takes us out of the story to bludgeon us over the head with it; but immerses us in it and gives us present day access to it--- ushered by a whip smart researcher to whom the contemporary part of the tale is afforded. There are few authors as seamlessly suited to historical time periods and contemporary as Callahan is and here this deft talent shines!! Happy #bookbirthday to one of the most unique historical novels I have met and for its graceful introduction of a near lost history I would know nothing about had this author's talented persistence captured it for us. With thanks to @berkleypub for the arc!


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Exquisite! Ten Stars and Best Historical Fiction of 2021. Movie-worthy. I finished SURVIVING SAVANNAH in two sittings and speechless! EXTRAORDINARY!! Hands down, the BEST historical fiction I have ever had the opportunity to read!

I knew NYT bestselling author, Patti Callahan was a master storyteller but this one is her best and a true gem. The best-kept hidden secret. I have had the opportunity of reading all her books. She was truly meant to tell this mesmerizing story, inspired by true events.

The Pulaski, known as the "Titanic of the South" included Savannah's society, a wealthy family of eleven and some servants, boarded to leave the heat of the South for Maryland. Some with many secrets and shame. The ship was not equipped for a boiler explosion in 1838. How would they survive?

Now, 180 years later the wreckage was discovered off the coast of Wilmington, NC. Now Savannah's history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski remains.

However, Everly has experienced a loss of her own and still grieving. She is obsessed with the lives of those who lost their lives and somehow feels she must seek the answers in order to survive herself. Her answers may be closer than she could have imagined.

From past to present, SURVIVING SAVANNAH is elegantly written, lyrical, emotional, meticulously researched, and a perfect blending of fact and fiction. Rich in detail, character, and history —a captivating tale, intricately woven of survival, love, and loss with three courageous women you will root for.

"How will we survive the surviving?" What happens when tragedy occurs and your loved one is lost? Gone forever. There are no do-overs. How will you, the "survivor" lead your life? How will you go on? Will it change you in a positive or negative way? The author explores eloquently, different outcomes from the tragedies.

If you LOVE strong women (both past and present), you will devour this one. Callahan flawlessly captures the essence of her characters as though you experienced every step of their journey firsthand.

Some highly-charged topics of class, privilege, greed, abuse, and racial injustice —ripped from today's headlines.

Behind the Book with Patti —Interview on my blog. I fell in LOVE with characters: Augusta, Lily, Priscilla, (especially Everly), Oliver, Henry, and Maddox. Timely, absolutely stunning, and thought-provoking.

Normally with historical fiction, I am drawn more to the past story vs. the present; however, her dual timelines are equally as compelling! If you are a fan of historical Savannah, the author offers a wealth of information for additional reading. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions.

In SURVIVING SAVANNAH, Patti Callahan has woven a sweeping, captivating tale; of a contemporary woman lost in a fog of grief who finds solace-- and finally, redemption as she uncovers the long-buried secrets of a nearly forgotten shipwreck—and the courageous women who survived to bear witness to history. Based in fact, steeped in heart-breaking detail, SURVIVING SAVANNAH raises the little-known, 180-year-old story of the Southern Titanic to the forefront of American historical fiction.

There is so much to tell and could go on and on. Get this one on your pre-order list now. It is like nothing you will ever read. A true masterpiece. Highly recommend!

Check out my Elevator Ride with the Author Interview for more behind the scenes of the book and author!

A special thank you to the author, #Berkley, and #Netgalley for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the hardcover and the audiobook.

#JDCMustReadBooks

The Steamship Pulaski disaster is a true historic story. In 1838, there was an explosion on board at eleven pm at night and two-thirds of the lives were lost. The ship was about 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina and the ship sank within 45 minutes after the explosion. Can you image the utter chaos and the fight for survival? The utter fear of the women, men and children experienced was beyond horrific. As the story goes, through time, the fate of the lives lost were forgotten.

The historical story of Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth was fascinating to follow. The plight that was handed to them and having to deal with it in life altering ways was extraordinary and powerful to read about. This story truly explores how life can change in an instance and the outcome is uncertain but one must never give up hope. Lily is a person I would love to read more about. Not only that but what the other families were going through during those fateful hours on the Pulaski and in the ocean.

Divers reported that they are believed to have found the wreckage of Pulaski from recovered items they salvaged from the wreck. Savannah professor Everly Winthrop was asked to study the artifacts and of that fateful period leading up to the disaster and afterwards. While she is working on the project, she was dealing with her own tragedy affecting her life in more ways than one.

This story is told in a dual time-line and I enjoyed many of the history elements throughout the story but felt at times the writing of the modern part was contrived. Also, Everly’s personal tragedy -where she eventually found closure- was too drawn out and I became irritated. I felt that part did not carry the overall modern day story well and it lacked structure and seemed forced, for a lack of better word. I found it hard to empathizes with her, but don’t misunderstand me, I’m fully aware that people grieve in different ways.

I did enjoy reading about Everly’s surroundings in Savannah because the city is known to me and her search for the artifacts, and finding out more about the families on the ship was intriguing.

I do love dual story-lines but I found myself thinking that I would have just preferred reading the historic aspects of the story without the modern part. Both need to be equally strong and it wasn’t which makes it difficult to follow the flow of the story with ease.

Despite a few of my misgivings, it is a good story and I’m confident that many readers will enjoy learning about the Pulaski through Surviving Savannah.

Stephanie Hopkins

Everyone is excited about the maiden voyage of the Pulaski. It will eliminate several days of travel. Unfortunately it sunk and gained the nickname of the second Titanic.

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published March 9th.

The boat was built by a rich family in Savannah and they were all aboard. Several other important families and people were also there. The boat split in two due to a boiler accident and many died. Even the lifeboats had leaks.

This happened years go, but when a history professor is asked to put together an exhibit with the articles and documents found, she agrees. And looks for more information to expand the exhibit. There are still relatives in town.

This is a deep look at an ocean tragedy that some survived. The author makes you care about the ones lost and the ones saved. The ocean is not forgiving and takes women and children as well as men.

She ties history together and creates a story to share with the people of Savannah.

They may be gone but they are no longer forgotten.

Everly has been struggling for quite a while. Her best friend was killed in a hit and run and Everly has been lost ever since. But, she has been recruited to help put together a museum exhibition about the sinking of the steamship Pulaski. As she dives into the research of the tragedy she discovers family ties and history she never expected.

Well! This book is wonderful! I loved the dual timelines and the author wove them together so well. I was hooked from the very first. Everly, in the present time period is heartbroken but she is strong and determined. Then there is Lilly from the past. I was captivated by her plight. You will have to read this to find out!

Oh, and the setting of Savannah! This is one of the prettiest cities in the south. And after reading this book…I am ready to go back!

You do not want to miss this one…really…grab your copy today. You will not be sorry!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I wanted to like this book. I was so looking forward to becoming immersed in 1838 Savannah. I never got a real sense of this time period because most of the 1838 story takes place in a life boat. I wanted more of Lilly's story. The only thing I enjoyed about the modern day storyline was the description of the museum exhibit. Everly was a sorry character who I didn't care about at all. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

The Steamship Pulaski is known as "The Titanic of the South" for sinking at sea in 1838, taking two-thirds of her passengers and crew with her. 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗛 tells the story of her ill-fated voyage through the POVs of three women - Everly, a present-day historian tasked with curating an exhibit on The Pulaski while also wrestling with her own personal tragedy, and Augusta and Lilly, members of Savannah's wealthy Longstreet family who were passengers on the ship, one of whom was a known survivor of the and the other who was never found.

Callahan's research into the wreck is extensive and she provides riveting details that bring 1838 Savannah alive. I much preferred the past storylines to Everly's and wish there had been more about the Longstreet family's lives before and after the sailing (I found the author's note at the end particularly intriguing as so much of their stories were based on real people and events) but the modern story of the retrieval of The Pulaski's artifacts (which actually happened while the author was writing the book!) was extremely interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Savannah's history through the experiences of these three strong women. Overall, this is an interesting look at a little-known catastrophe that questions the role fate plays in our lives and how one's true character comes out when faced with heartbreaking decisions.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and the author for a copy to review.

Surviving Savannah
by: Patti Callahan
Publish Date: March 9, 2021
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is another one of those #berkleybuddyreads that changed my perspective and added yet another historical fiction title to my favorite reads shelf.

In 1838, The Pulaski also dubbed “The Titanic of the South,” a luxury steamship full of Savannah’s elite families sank. Over time this part of history, the people that perished were forgotten, lost to the sea. Most of us in the buddy read had never heard of the Pulaski. Until, the wreckage is finally discovered and now the tragedy and its victims can be memorialized as a part of history.

The story is told in 3 parts. Present day is Everly, tasked with the job of making an exhibit about the ship and its passengers. Unfortunately, Everly is dealing with unresolved grief and trauma around her best friend Mora’s death the year before. The opportunity to work on the exhibit was presented to Everly by Oliver, her best friend’s boyfriend. I enjoyed Everly’s parts of the book, the mystery of what happened to Mora and who was responsible.

The other 2 parts of the book are in the past and told through the voices of Lily and Lily’s aunt Augusta. Lily is a young mother with a child and an abusive husband. Lily thinks this may be her chance to get away from her husband. Ironically, Lily was never found. Augusta lost her fiancé prior to the ill-fated trip and decided to spend her time helping with her nieces and nephews. Augusta is a known survivor of the shipwreck.

It was supposed to be a one night cruise from Savannah to Baltimore, the tragedy struck so quickly. The ship’s boiler exploded 45 mins into the trip. The damage was catastrophic. People scrambled to save themselves and others. The fear and worry was palpable and so well written. The devastation and loss was at times difficult to read yet also fascinating. I really enjoyed this one and recommend to anyone who's a Titanic fan.

Thank you @berkleypub for my digital copy of the book. Thank you to @berittalksbooks for another fun read!!!

#berkleywritesstrongwomen #pattycallahan #survivingsavannah

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Savannah, I know that it is a city built on stories. I was not familiar with this specific one, but boy does it make the list. I thought that the personal way in which Patti Callahan approached the history was very effective. I think I would have liked a little bit more romance before the ending, but it definitely kept my interest and I found the story both compelling and moving. It's shocking that something like this tis not more well-known. I recognized a lot of the local references in the book, but for someone unfamiliar with Savannah, I think there might have been a few too many, or maybe a few that were unnecessary. The story that Callahan wrote was compelling enough that I think she distracted a little but from it by striving to be so detailed about street names, real life buildings, etc. But again, that's really just nitpicking. For anyone who enjoys learning about a pivotal moment in history, this book will engage you and satisfy your curiosity for sure.

I have an epic historical fiction novel for you. Surviving Savannah is Patti Callahan’s newest novel and I absolutely devoured it. I love Savannah, Georgia and I’ve been many times. It was fascinating to learn more of the history surrounding this awful event.

The book is about the sinking of the Pulaski steamship in 1838. Many rich, well to do families were aboard this one night cruise from Savannah to Baltimore when the boiler suddenly exploded and sunk the ship within 45 minutes. Many people drowned and were never found, but several people were able to get into lifeboats and a few even were able to survive by hanging on to debris.

The story is split into three parts, Everly is the present day voice. She is hired to make an exhibit about ship and the families involved, but Everly is also dealing with the trauma of losing her best friend, Mora, in the previous year. She is having a very hard time coping and the opportunity to curate this exhibit is brought to her by Oliver, Mora’s boyfriend. The other two women’s’ voices are from 1838, Lilly is a young mother to a daughter and has an abusive husband. When the tragedy strikes, Lilly hopes to use the opportunity to escape and start over away from her husband. The last voice is Augusta, she is actually Lilly’s aunt. August lost her fiancé before the accident and has now dedicated her life to helping with her nieces and nephews.

The trauma and conditions that these people had to survive and overcome is absolutely incredible. I can’t even imagine the feeling not know if you were going to survive or if your family was ok. But what really make the story for me was Everly. She was clearly still processing the loss of Mora and blaming herself. She didn’t give up until she found who was responsible for Mora’s death. I also just loved reading about her research and where she started trying to find more information.

The book uses true stories as inspiration and the author also put in several of the real names of survivors who helped save others. The author’s notes are not to be missed!

Savannah, shipwreck, historical fiction? YES PLEASE!!! Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for the #giftedcopy of Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan. This book is out on Tuesday, 3/9/21!

With dual timelines and alternating POVs, Surviving Savannah tells the story of the Pulaski, a steamship that sank in 1838. Everly is a history professor in Savannah and is asked to curate an exhibit on the Pulaski, whose wreck has just been discovered 180 years after it sank. She pieces together the story of the fateful night it sank, told to the reader by two women passengers.

I really enjoyed this book and reading about the tragic sinking. The decisions the passengers had to make were heart wrenching and reading it made me wary to travel by sea again. I had no idea the Pulaski existed, so of course I went and researched after I finished reading. The author does give a lot of additional information about the ship and passengers at the end, which was interesting. The last couple chapters were a tad repetitive but overall, I would recommend this book to historical fiction readers!

Patti Callahan Henry delivers another mesmerizing historical fiction novel that will stick with you long after reading it. Patti is masterful with her words, characters and research. This is a story that needed to be told and Patti was the storyteller meant to tell it.

Surviving Savannah is a story of historian Everly Winthrop and her research of the Steamship Pulaski traveling from Savannah to Baltimore for one night at sea. On June 14, 1838 the Steamship Pulaski exploded 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina, claiming two-thirds of the passengers. It was known as the "Titanic of the South" although I hadn't heard this story prior to reading this captivating tale.

Told in a dual timeline from the point of view of three strong women, Everly in 2018 and Augusta & Lilly in 1838. Readers are along for the journey from the moment passengers board the Pulaski to the present day research and finding the ship over 180 years later. This is a story of family, friendship, grief, forgiveness, love, hope and survival.

Surviving Savannah is a beautifully written tribute to those that were lost, those that survived and the city of Savannah that was forever changed. It is the perfect marriage of fact and fiction. Fans of historical fiction will devour this book as I did. This would make a great film!

First sentence: I was born in water. For all of my thirty-two years, my mom, Harriet Winthrop, had told the story over and over to anyone who’d listen. I could recite her words verbatim; I’d been told them since my memory began. A tale worth telling, she would say when I rolled my eyes as she launched into the story.

Premise/plot: Everly Winthrop, one of our heroines, is nervous but excited about the new exhibit she'll be curating at the museum. The Pulaski has just been found and its treasures are being recovered. She grew up hearing stories--bountiful stories--from her grandfather about this tragic shipwreck--the boiler on this steamship blew up. As she unravels the past--the shipwreck, its passengers, the stories as revealed both in artifacts and accounts (letters, diaries, articles, books, family trees, etc.)--she comes to peace (mostly) with her own past. She's no stranger to loss herself. Every day she questions: why did I survive?

Surviving Savannah has THREE heroines. Augusta Longstreet and Lilly Forsyth are our other two heroines--both passengers on the Pulaski. Augusta is traveling with her brother and his family. Lilly is traveling with her young daughter--a nursing infant--her abusive husband (boo, hiss) and Priscilla an enslaved nursemaid. The two women are friends.

My thoughts: Surviving Savannah is historical fiction with a splash of romance. A handful of the fictional characters are loosely based on historical figures. Loosely based. But mainly the characters are fictional. The Pulaski disaster was real enough, tragic enough. The story--even knowing that the characters are fictional--is heartbreaking.

The book celebrates friendship, family, STORIES, legacies, and finding meaning wherever however you can. It is very much a novel about horrifying grief, traumatic experiences, and answering the question NOW WHAT?

It is not a light, fluffy, insubstantial historical soap opera with costumes. It is DARK and substantive. It asks plenty of questions but doesn't answer those questions the same way for all the characters--if that makes sense.

I thought it was well-written.

I would say it's nearly clean--there's one very brief scene with the abusive husband that is NOT clean, but it's also not romanticized or meant to be enjoyed. The story is mainly too focused on life and death and the meaning of it all to focus on throwing in steamy scenes for the fun of it.

Quotes:
The beginning of the tale was always the same, but his stories of the ship’s passengers’ survival changed with his moods—each different but as vivid as the next. Some survived by riding a whale to shore; others swam underwater and grew gills. Occasionally, passengers were rescued by great flying birds that swooped down and carried them home. This time, he used his deepest voice. “When the Kraken heard the explosion from the very bottom of the sea, he rose to the sound and found people thrashing in the water—men, women and children.” “Did he eat them?” Allyn was the most afraid of the wild Norse octopus-creature who terrorized sailors.

“Dad, you scare them, and then they can’t sleep. I’m the one who suffers when they come crawling into my bed and wake me in the middle of the night.” Papa brushed the tobacco from his pants. “It’s good for them to have a large imagination. They’re smart enough to know what’s real and what’s not.” “Dad, they are only six and eight.” “The perfect age to learn about the wildest stories that make us who we are.” Every story Papa told brought my imagination to life, vivid and real. And also yes, he was right—I knew the difference between real and imaginary. A bird couldn’t carry a child to safety, and the Kraken didn’t swim the Carolina shores.

I know this: we’re made of stories, legends and myths just as we are made of water, atoms and flesh. Once you know it, you can’t un-know it; you can’t pretend that everything that happened before you were born doesn’t have something to do with who you are today.

One hundred and eighty years after the steamship Pulaski exploded at sea, history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to curate a museum collection on newly discovered artifacts. As she researches the artifacts and attempts to solve its mysteries, she learns about the Longstreets, a prominent Savannah family who were on the Pulaski, and two known survivors, Augusta Longstreet and her niece Lilly Forsyth. As she delves into their stories she also grapples with the hit and run death of her closest friend over a year ago, which has left her emotionally paralyzed and scarred.

Patti Callahan alternates between the modern-day story about Everly and her search for the clues and information about the Pulaski and the Longstreet family, and the 1838 story, featuring Augusta and Lilly. Of the two, the historical stories win hands down. Both Augusta and Lilly are women of their times, dependent on their family, especially the males, but their struggles at sea after the boiler explosion and amid the fear and heavy loss, reveal courage and a resilience to survive that elevates them and brings on newfound strength. I was especially taken by Lilly’s story and her response to her abusive husband. I could not get into the modern-day story mainly because I didn’t care for Everly or the often-times melodramatic responses and stereotypical characterizations. Whatever personal growth came from Everly’s ultimate awareness, spurred by the knowledge gained about the Pulaski survivors, was outshined by the depth of the historical stories and the women and their development.
Reviewed for the Historical Novel Society

4.5 Stars

Thank you #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary e arc of #SurvivingSavannah upon my request. All opinions are my own.

In 1838, a luxury steamship called the Pulaski (Titanic of the South) on route from Savannah to Baltimore sank off the coast of North Carolina as a result of a boiler explosion. One hundred eighty years later the remains are found and Everly Winthrop, a history professor, is given the task of curating the museum collection of artifacts. This compelling story of “surviving the surviving” is told in dual timelines from multiple perspectives. In 1838, the story follows Lily and Augusta (and their large family) as they board the ship and struggle to survive the blast. In the present day, Everly is especially fascinated by this family of eleven that was on board. As she pieces together the story of the survivors, Everly is also suffering from PTSD from her own heartbreaking story of loss and figuring out how she will “survive the surviving.”

“Survive the surviving” …. probably most of us can relate to dealing with the physical and/or psychological aftermath of a tragic event.

Often in dual timeline stories, one timeline is the more powerful and engrossing. Even though there’s a little mystery to solve between the two timelines, I felt that the timeline of 1838 was the most compelling due to the nature of the first person survival experience. We are onboard ship when the explosion occurs and are thrown into survival mode along with the characters. The desperation, heroics, sacrifice, difficult decisions, and brutal conditions are all described in vivid detail. Meanwhile in the present timeline, the wreck has been found, and Everly attempts to unravel the secrets of the past while curating the museum exhibit. Her survival from a past event is not told with the same immediacy and is more of a psychological surviving. The action in the past timeline was page-turning and I couldn’t wait to get back to it!

The strong and thoughtful theme of “surviving the surviving” is central to the story and is poignantly explored in the two timelines. Other themes include friendship, the treatment of enslaved people, grief, second chances, spousal abuse, family, sacrifice, romance, and life and death choices.

Surviving Savannah includes likable and strong female characters in both timelines. I would have liked to have had more time with Lily, her black nursemaid, and Augusta in the past timeline. Some things about Everly in the present timeline were frustrating (an example is one reckless and poor decision she made). Both timelines include a bit of romance (but this is not romantic histfic). Don’t miss the author’s notes about her extensive research into the history and the real people.

My favorite reads are page turners! I love to become completely carried away by the plot and captivated by characters and then suffer a book hangover when it’s finished. In my opinion, the historical timeline is the most compelling of the two, and I would’ve been satisfied if the story had been built around that one timeline.

I love to learn about an event that I’ve never known about before! I’m enthusiastically recommending Surviving Savannah for fans of historical fiction (especially non WW11), for readers who are looking for an engrossing and page-turning story with strong female leads, for those who might like an atmopheric story set in the South, and for book clubs. My Instagram “buddy read” found a lot to discuss here!

Content Consideration/Trigger Warnings: spousal abuse and rape, death of some passengers, death of a close friend, grief