Nidhi Shrivastava <shnidhi00@gmail.com>
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💐 Book Feature: A Summer in Savannah - A Novel 💐

⁉️: Have you been to Southern part of the United States?

There are a lot of cultural stereotypes that exist for the Southern United States, especially those that tend to be problematic and represent them with a broad stroke. Personally, I have only been to the urban Georgia around Atlanta and suburbs surrounding the main city. I will be going to North Carolina for a week tomorrow, and am excited to explore the Carolinas having heard so much about them.

In this vein, I would love to share this new book on Savannah, Georgia that wouldn’t have come to my radar without @booksparks introducing it to me. I am adding this to my list, and so should you.

Here is the synopsis below:

A compelling debut that glows with bittersweet heart and touching emotion, deeply interrogating questions of family, redemption, and unconditional love in the sweltering summer heat of Savannah, as two people discover what it means to truly forgive.

It's been eight years since Sara Lancaster left her home in Savannah, Georgia. Eight years since her daughter, Alana, came into this world, following a terrifying sexual assault that left deep emotional wounds Sara would do anything to forget. But when Sara's father falls ill, she's forced to return home and face the ghosts of her past.

While caring for her father and running his bookstore, Sara is desperate to protect her curious, outgoing, genius daughter from the Wylers, the family of the man who assaulted her. Sara thinks she can succeed―her attacker is in prison, his identical twin brother, Jacob, left town years ago, and their mother are all unaware Alana exists. But she soon learns that Jacob has also just returned to Savannah to piece together the fragments of his once-great family. And when their two worlds collide―with the type of force Sara explores in her poetry and Jacob in his astrophysics―they are drawn together in unexpected ways.

Thank you @BookSparks and @terahsharris for the gifted copy, and @bookmarked for the e-copy of the novel!

▪️REVIEW▪️

One Summer in Savannah ~ Terah Shelton Harris

What is a debut that absolutely sold you on an author?

Sara had good reason to leave Savannah. After having her daughter as the result of a sexual assault, she settles in Maine with the hopes of never looking back. But when her father falls ill, she knows she has to go back.

With her attacker in jail and her daughter’s existence a secret, Sara is tentative but open when she runs into Jacob, the twin brother of her rapist. They bond over their desires to escape the past and as they spend more time in the place they never wanted to return back to, their connection grows.

Loved this - I actually surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this book. I didn’t really want to read it but was trying to knock off some of my Netgalley ARCs and I was blown away. Honestly, I’m shocked that this isn’t a book that’s on my feed more - loved the combination of romance, depth, and emotional intelligence.

Despite the tough subject matter, Harris writes in a way that requires you to contemplate your own capacity to forgive and just how far your empathy goes. I love when a book forces me to look within while getting lost in the story at the same time. This ticked every box - romance, thought-provoking, character development, interesting supporting cast, and a satisfying resolution. Undoubtedly, a top 2023 read for me! My only hope is that this review gets this book into the hands of more readers because it’s worth it!

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. Sara was raped during a high school party, and the rapist is sent to prison. She leaves town to get away from the situation and to start over, and plans to never return. But her father gets sick, and she has to come back to take care of him. And she has to face the people she never wanted to see again, and also show her secret-the daughter whose father is the rapist. As much as this premise sounds awful, I loved this book. The relationships she develops, her brilliant daughter, the father who speaks only in poems, the bookstore that her father runs, all of these things make the story draw you in. Great debut novel, can’t wait for her next one. #onesummerinsavannah #terahsheltonharris #familystory #motherdaughter #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday #netgalley #advancedreadercopy

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

DNF at 35 %. Too many things felt unbelievable... the dad who only spoke in poems to his daughter (what kind of silliness is that?), several people dying and had died and Sara falling in love with her rapist's twin brother. I knew about that one though but combined with everything else it felt too exaggerated.

I did enjoy this and found the story to be compelling. However, i was having difficulty relating to the main character. In my mind, she was much older and farther removed from the assault, but since her daughter was only 8, she couldnt have been more than 30. She just seemed very mature for someone at a young age who was raped and raising a single daughter. For that same reason, i had trouble grappling with her ability to build a relationship with her rapist's brother since it really was still so fresh. Overall i liked the book, but i am not sure i would recommend it for these reasons.

An incredibly moving debut family drama about a single mother, her daughter, her dying father and the family of the man who raped her when she was eighteen.

This story covers tough topics but it was so well written and compelling. I loved Sarah and her uniquely gifted genius daughter. She returns to her hometown when she learns her father is dying only to be confronted with the twin brother of her rapist.

A story about the bonds of family, trauma, love and forgiveness and perfect for fans of books like Colleen Hoover's Reminders of him. Good on audio as well narrated by Zuzu Robinson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

"Being a mother is a lesson in impossible love."

By far, one of the best books I've read this year. I loved all the characters. And the poetry. The writing and the heart-touching.

"Genuine is real. It's true and easy. Circumstance is obligation. It's stiff and hard. You'll know the difference."

Oh yes.

Thank you to the glorious folk at NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC of this book. I recommend it with all the pieces of my heart!

Sara is forced to return home years after she'd been SA'd when her father is in bad shape Healthwise. She brings with her the child that was conceived and is desperately trying to keep the assailant's family from finding out. Jacob, twin brother to the assailant, just recently moved back to Savannah as well, and poetry brings them together in an unexpected way, as well as the secret Sara is determined to keep from coming out.

Wow. for it to be the author's first book, she did an astounding job. I did not want to put this book down once I started and it kept me hooked right from the start. It had so many twists and turns, as well as secrets, that once they came out, changed each and every character. This book is definitely going to be one of my notable books of the year. I will be sure to keep a lookout for the next publication from this author.

Sara thinks that keeping her daughter Alana a secret will keep her safe But Alana is different. She is a genius. And she inherited it through a tragic event. She was conceived in a rape from a well born family from Savannah.
When Sara received a call to return to Savannah from her father, who is dying from a brain aneurysm, she panics. But does go home and helps at her father's bookstore. There she meets the rapists twin brother Daniel, she is scared. But grows to care for him. Can she trust someone who looks so much like her enemy? Can she keep the secret of Alana safe? Or is she finally able to face her past and make a future for herself and her family?

This book covers several very difficult and painful topics. The author begins the book with a content/trigger warning, and I would encourage readers to tread lightly if any of the topics listed are triggers, because the entirety of the plot is based on a sexual assault. I think the author did a masterful job of highlighting the emotional struggle of a woman who raises a child that is the product of assault. There are strong familial themes, redemption, and healing.

I did not connect with some aspects of the plot - they just didn't work well for me. Without spoiling, there is a love story that for me did not feel as authentic as I think it could have. I can see a lot of readers enjoying it, because it certainly makes the reader think and feel. Again, the author did a fantastic job of weaving the storylines together and making the reader dig deep inside themselves. What would I do in a similar situation? How would I really feel? Would I have made the same decisions as the characters? I think this book would be great for a book club, as there is a lot to discuss and very polarizing issues.

One Summer in Savannah is the debut novel for Terah Shelton Harris. This is a must read book, it has absolutely catapulted to my top read this year. This story was so heart-achingly beautiful and devastating at the same time and one that will stay with me for a long time, the end has absolutely wrecked me.

One Summer In Savannah explores the theme of forgiveness. Are some things too great to give forgiveness for? How does that change when it's family?

But, it's also a story that explores loss and grief, and not just in the traditional sense of a death of a loved one. But the grief over a life that once was and what could have been. And it's a story about strength, courage, and love.

The sweetest love stories develop in this book, one of first love, but also the love that develops between an uncle and his niece, a niece he didn't know he had. And it's the absolute sweetest thing.

As I said, this story was just so beautifully written. I didn't want to put it down. There was such an interesting element to it where the main characters father spoke in lines of poetry. And so there was quite a bit of poetry quoted throughout the book, and although I'm not a poetry reader, the poetry added so much to the beauty of this story.

Wow, is all I can say. I'm not sure I can write a review that truly captures my feelings for this book. You must read for yourself!!

Reviwed on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvp-t3Agdwf/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Posted to Goodreads and Amazon

Sara must return to Savannah when her father falls ill. She hasn't been back since her beautiful and brilliant daughter Alana was born. This place has too many painful memories.

Alana was conceived when Sara was raped at a party. While Daniel Wyler, her attacker was put in prison, she couldn’t face the people in town and left quickly, leaving most people unaware she was pregnant from the assault.

Jacob Wyler, Daniel’s identical twin has also been called home to Savannah. When he runs into little Alana he immediately knows it must be Daniel’s child. Sara and Jacob connect, and although she cannot believe she would ever fall for a man related to her attacker - Jacob is not Daniel.

I cannot do this book justice in this small space. We are privy to both Sara’s and Jacob’s POVs. We see how Sara had to raise her daughter on her own, sheltering her daughter from the stigma and trauma of the past. But yet we see how Jacob’s family was ripped and torn apart by the action of Daniel - they all suffered because of the one.

The author brilliantly uses poetry like I’ve never experienced before. Sara’s father only speaks in poems. The story is filled with incredibly intelligent people - but hurting people, people who have hurt others, made mistakes - people who need forgiveness.

This is such a powerful story! It shows how we tend to see one side of the story - ours. I’m not a crier, but the ending had me choked up. Bitterness and hatred steal so much from us; forgiveness and love sets us free.

Thank you @bookmarked for a gifted book.

I enjoyed this one. Lots of trauma in the story so trigger warnings abound, but the author handles it well. Sara Lancaster left her home and her family eight years ago after finding out she was pregnant, at age 18, with a baby conceived by a rape. The boy who raped her, Daniel, was from a wealthy family, and she was basically run out of town. She hid the baby from his family and raised her daughter in Maine. Now, her beloved father is ill, and she has to head home to Savannah to help take care of him. She is terrified of running into the family. We also hear from the perspective of Jacob, the twin brother of Daniel. Jacob feels so different from his brother and his own family, who has had a lot of trauma themselves. Jacob meets Sara and her daughter, and slowly, starts falling for both of them. Will it work? Will Sara tell Daniel and his family who her daughter is? I liked this book, and I really liked the characters.

3.5

This a beautiful story about love and forgiveness. While a bit predictable, it was an overall enjoyable read. Definitely heavy subject matter so check trigger warnings.

Thank you to Sourcebooks, Terah Shelton Harris, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Inspired by actual events in a different context, One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris is a powerful story of family and forgiveness. Her debut novel tackles traumatic events with a very readable storytelling style.

At age 18, Sara is sexually assaulted by the son of a prominent family and becomes pregnant. When his trial ends, she leaves her family's home in Savannah to start a new life in Maine, telling only her family about the baby. Eight years later, Sara returns for the first time due to her father's failing health.

While working in her father's bookstore, she encounters Jacob, the twin brother of her attacker who's developed a unique bond with her father. Over time, her feelings toward him move from adversarial to neutral to friendship to more. Will Sara choose to rebuild her life in Savannah, surrounded by the people she loves most?

This contemporary character-driven plot has a lot going on, but that didn't bother me (like in another recent read). In addition to a deep exploration of forgiveness, another theme is motherhood and the lengths mothers will go to to protect their children. Sara's father has a very unique means of communication which led to many classic poems included in the prose. The forward movement of the plot relies on several convenient coincidences, especially at the end. This book is a meaningful illustration of the maxim that withholding forgiveness harms the "forgiver" far more than the "forgivee."

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to a review copy of this novel.

The message, the message, the message.

If someone asked me why I would recommend this book, I would simply say because of the message. This seems like a story about love formed from unimaginable circumstances, but it’s so much more. Loss, love, grief, forgiveness, family, etc.I can admit this was a slow read for me, but it was so worth pushing through for the author’s message about love and forgiveness. I was snotting and crying the entire last half of the book.

Given some of the things mention on the book, I would not recommend trying to read through this in one sitting. To protect your peace, please check the trigger warnings before reading as there are some heavy things discussed.

What an absolutely fabulous debut novel. This is a story about forgiveness and redemption with a touching romance and I loved it. I particularly enjoyed the character of Alana, an 8 year old genius, who while important to the plot, also served to cut through the adult worries and voice what is important. The writing is beautiful and author's trick of having one minor character only speaking in well known poetry was effective in adding to the depth of the story. I look forward to this author's next novel. 5/5

This one was indeed a very timely novel. I couldn't put it down. It was a slow start but it quickly picked up.

This story is beautifully written and you will fall in love with most of the characters, especially Alana and Jacob. The subject matter is incredibly difficult: child conceived by rape and raised in secret by the mother, returning to the hometown where the rape and public trial happened to take care of a dying father, and forming a complicated relationship with the rapist's identical twin brother. This book is ultimately about families and forgiveness and while the story kind of wrapped up in somewhat of a too-tidy bow, it did tackle a lot of incredibly big feelings with some nuance. Was I crying by the end? Oh yes. Did it feel a little bit manipulative in the realm of Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook? Yeah, it did. Did I care? Nope. I couldn't put this book down, despite some of the unrealistic dynamics in the story. That's how much you really appreciate the characters. There is a also a lot of poetry in the book, used as actual dialogue. I'm not a poetry person...at all...but it worked really well with the story and the characters. I'm not about to pick up books by Whitman or Tennyson, but I didn't mind their part in the story. I really loved this book despite its imperfections so the 5-stars are based mostly on emotion and because of the gorgeous writing!

What a thought-provoking, beautifully written story that tackles some heavy subject matter. Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading!

The premise is that Sara (MC) returns to Savannah after being away for 8+ years after being sexually assaulted. In the interim, her attacker’s been in jail and she’s been raising her daughter (the product of this assault) in secret.

I personally had to suspend my disbelief for this next part—Sara befriends her attacker's identical twin brother Jacob and allows him to tutor her genius daughter, as long as he keeps her existence a secret from the rest of his family. Then Sara and Jacob's relationship starts to grow into something more. Identical twin though? Not sure about that.

Kind of ignoring that piece, I still found this story to be equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful and I was rooting for both Jacob and Sara. They’re just such GOOD people you can’t help but want the best for them. Sara's strength as she balanced protecting herself from her trauma while being a good mother to Alana and Jacob’s struggle with his own broken family were very messy, raw, and real.

I found the use poetry in the book interesting and unique (Sara’s dad only speaks in poems) but it ultimately felt like it broke the flow of my reading. 9 times out of 10, i’m not choosing to read poetry just for fun so it just felt like extra work having to slow down and figure out what her Dad meant

All in all, Shelton did a beautiful job with an uncomfortable topic presented in a unique way. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc!