The ending of this book absolutely WRECKED me. I don’t think I was ready for the emotional journey and the path to forgiveness for both Sara and Jacob.

Alana is like a little star, shining so brightly and leaving an impact on everyone she interacts with.

Although I’m not as knowledgeable about poetry, I can appreciate it and I think it added a layer of depth to the story that is unique and necessary for the emotional complexity of the characters.

Yes, this book is a romance, but it was so much more than that.

I recommend this to anyone who wants to read about second chances, forgiveness, found family, and redemption. 💗

This is a beautifully written book about an extremely tough topic that can be triggering for some people. The author is very straight forward in a letter in the beginning of the book about the difficult topic. The book does not go into specific details of the assault. It just deals with eight years later and some talk of it in an abstract way. Sara is a compelling and strong female lead. Alana is a precocious girl that is a genius. Jacob is a strong male lead with a big heart. Daniel is an example of someone that took a horrific choice and tried to make something positive out of it. Highly recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Heartbreaking, yet, captivating story! There’s emphasis on healing and protecting your peace throughout. The author touched on so many thought provoking topics but handled them with grace. I loved how innocent Alana was and the nurture of Sara and Jacob. The main characters were facing a dilemma that was hard to navigate but time, communication, and boundaries helped them. I enjoyed this one a lot. There is heavy content so definitely take heed to that. But I would recommend this one!

I received an arc from netgalley & the publisher, Sourcebook Landmark, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you for an advance copy of this book. This is a family story of forgiveness. Sarah is a young woman who was raped at the age of 18, and had a child from this horrible night. She has been hiding from this horrible past all her adult life, until her Father falls ill and she must return home. This visit brings back the past and things get complicated quickly. The theme of this book is forgiveness, and how it is necessary to truly move forward, even in the worst of situations. I loved the well developed characters, the complexity of the forgiveness, and the setting. The Father speaking poetry was a little difficult to decipher at times, but I appreciate what the author was trying to do there and it was original. This is a great family fiction story and I recommend it!

One Summer in Savannah
By Tereh Shelton Harris
Pub Date: July 4, 2923
Sourcebooks
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Brilliantly written:
Trigger- aftermath of a sexual assault.
The author takes a tragedy and creates a miracle. I loved this book and its emotional impact.
I highly recommend this one!
5 stars

this was a 4.5 star read for me. make sure you take a weekend to start because you will absorb this one. the author compassion, healing, forgiveness, and love through these pages. i had to sit with this one after the last page for a few days. very impactful story.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and BookSparks for the copy of this book!

"Forgiveness, I've learned, is like a door. You can open yourself up to it or close yourself off from it at any time. We can't rewrite history or change the outcome. Life is a series of choices. And we live in and with those choices we make."

This is a phenomenal narrative on forgiveness and how one decision can make a huge impact. Eight years ago, Sara was raped by Daniel Wyler. She fled town, secretly pregnant from the rape, but now must return to Savannah with her daughter Alana, as her father is nearing the end of his life. Soon after her return, she meets Jacob, Daniel's twin brother, who is nothing like his brother... but comes from a family that has only caused pain for Sara. This is a story of impossible choices, hard conversations, love and forgiveness, and it is really wonderful. I've never read anything like One Summer in Savannah, and highly recommend this debut for a thoughtful and emotional read.

Can you ever truly forgive if you cannot forget?

"Forgiveness I've learned, is like a door. You can open yourself up to it or close yourself off from it at any time. We can't rewrite history or change the outcome. Life is a series of choices. And we live in and with those choices we make."


Two powerful words, "I'm sorry."

This is an absolutely haunting debut novel of love, loss, and forgiveness from Terah Shelton Harris. The characters sucked me in on page one and still haven't let me go. Harris's writing is extremely powerful and takes an incredibly sad circumstance and turns it into a heart-rendering, compassionate, and uplifting book of hope and healing. Be prepared to cry while reading.

There are heavy topics discussed and while readers have to be open to reading about them, I feel like Harris covers these in an incredibly tasteful way. No scenes are overly graphic and none felt unnecessary to the overall plot development.

This may be Harris's first novel, but I hope that it won't be her last. This author is going places!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Terah Shelton Harris for the e-ARC of this novel. I have already pre-ordered my signed edition!

Kudos to Harris for tackling a complex topic in a positive manner.
To what extent is forgiveness necessary? I love complicated plots and this one is a doozy.
Sara has a daughter from sexual assault but then begins a relationship with the brother of her assailant.
Jacob was out into impossible situations but his brother didn’t deserve to know about Alana.
I didn’t agree with the tidy wraps ups because people don’t change. I’m more hardline and it’s all well and good to forgive but one doesn’t have to include those people in your life.
It’s certainly a provocative read!

was lucky enough to see this author in a Zoom meeting with several other authors and her presentation had me immediately requesting a Netgalley ARC. This debut novel blew me away.
The book begins in an isolated town where Sara is raising her little brilliant daughter, Alana, who is eight years old.
The book description gives away a lot of the plot, bit it is the beauty of the writing and the inner thoughts of the characters that are important.
Sara gets a call that her father is ill and she returns to Savannah for the first time since Alana was born. We soon learn that Alana is the child of a rape, and Sara does not want the family to know of her existence, and she fears that they will try to get custody. The reason she has moved to Maine is because a child born of rape cannot be taken from the mother, whereas in Georgia the rapist can sue for custody.
There is so much to unpack in this story rich biracial family, brilliant twins, one of whom is the convicted rapist, the other who testified against him. The white father who committed suicide after his son was convicted and his daughter was killed in an accident.
Sara's father has a brain aneurysm and has just months to live. He owns a bookstore and only speaks in poems. How anyone could have the vast knowledge of poetry to find a proper one to use in each context ( and for the author herself also have this ability) I find amazing.
The story unfolds slowly, with Alana the main catalyst, and I basically sobbed through the entire last chapter.
I highly recommend this book.

Thank you so much for granting me access to the eARC. What an enjoyable book that deals with a difficult subject matter that has so many people divided on the issue. Also thank you for the Author's note at the beginning of the book. A fictional story that deals with a real life matter. Many many wonderful quotes and points of view spoken softly. I loved the character of Hosea that the author incorporated the stanza's of Walt Whitman and others into this personality in the book. Sara and Birdie both mothers in the end just trying to protect their children. Please publish more books with your style of writing and word usages.

This is a story about family, unconditional love and returning home to confront your past. It’s beautifully written and so thought-provoking.

I Received an e-arc copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review!

CW: Sexual assault

You have probably heard the saying that the road to beautiful places are some of the most difficult terrain. If not, this is exactly how I felt about this story as I reflect on the start to the end. It wasn't a tailor made end, it wasn't a perfectly tied bow and it most definitely wasn't a happily ever after ending. It was a journey on life with characters you will not forget and an ending that spoke volumes.

I wanted to say the blurb alone should have been my cue to change course but Terah immediately held my curiosity and interest with the way in which this story was presented and written. I was committed to uncovering how the main character Sara made it all work and found love in such a difficult and hopeless place. I appreciated the characters varying voices that made the story what it was.

Marred by trauma but cloaked in so much love spoken and unspoken it was one of those books that asks us some of life's hardest questions pertaining to love, family, relationships, time, trauma and forgiveness. I believe when you read this one you will ask a lot of questions to no one in particular as you attempt to unpack the many layers presented and explored in this story.

Those last few chapters were thought provoking and pulled at all the heartstrings there were to be pulled.

Happy Reading!

Attention all book clubs, this is the perfect choice!!

There is a lot to unpack with this one - complicated family dynamics, sexual assault resulting in a child, love, and at the core of it all forgiveness.

I am shocked that this is a debut novel. The writing was superb and pulls you in. Highly recommend for everyone looking for a deep emotional read. Watch the triggers before diving in.

Don’t let the length of this book intimidate you, it reads fast!

Short Synopsis:
Sara left her home eight years ago. But when her father is sick, she returns home for the first time with her daughter that she’s hid from the powerful family and man who “fathered” her through assault. But when the man’s twin brother shows up and is seemingly nothing like her brother, Sara doesn’t know how to feel.

My Thoughts:
Sometimes when I can’t decide what bool to read, I pick up a few different ones and read the first chapter to see what sticks. The Author’s Note on this one alone had me hooked.

It’s a story of family and growth and forgiveness and moving on. It’s was beautiful book. With impossible choices. And I really enjoyed it.

Read if You Like:
💫 Emotional Romances
💫 Poetry
💫 Wonderful debuts
💫 Thought-provoking books
💫 Genius children
💫 Science

TW: There’s some hefty trigger warnings in this one. Be sure to look them up or DM me if you have questions.

"𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅, 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆."

I really loved this one and, in fact, changed my rating once I sat and thought on the book more. The plot, the characters, the path taken to tell the story, everything. Although the main subject at hand was a heavy one, there were several pieces to the story. Love, forgiveness (others and self), healing, and grief.

I think how the author presented each character and told the story throughout was great! I feel as though I got a sense and understanding of each of the characters and how they all played a big role in the book. The journey throughout this book made me pause and think, wondering how I would handle certain situations or decisions Sara made. She was such a strong woman, and I loved how she handled most decisions she made throughout as they came her way. I loved Jacob and how he cared, although he was in the middle of both sides. Loved the little genius Alana, too.

One thing that threw me off was Hosea's character and the way in which he spoke. I found myself rereading his words to get a better understanding of the poems he used to express himself. But, by the end, it all made sense, and I loved it!

If this one is not on your radar today, you should add it! This is a great debut novel!

I went into this book not knowing what it was about and thinking based on the title that it was a light summer read. Well…it is not that. This book covers some heavy topics and contains lots of trigger warnings so please make sure to check those out first before picking this up.

At its core, this is a novel about forgiveness. Some of the storyline seems a bit far fetched for me but I think if you can get past that, there are some touching messages this story offers.

If you’re looking for a summer read that doesn’t shy away from hard topics, then this might be the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

A master storyteller, Terah Shelton Harris's dynamic debut, ONE SUMMER IN SAVANNAH, is an exquisite winner out of the gate! A powerful, beautifully rendered, lyrical, thought-provoking, and character-driven bittersweet story of what it means to forgive.

Can you ever truly forgive if you cannot forget?

"Forgiveness I've learned, is like a door. You can open yourself up to it or close yourself off from it at any time. We can't rewrite history or change the outcome. Life is a series of choices. And we live in and with those choices we make."

Two powerful words, "I'm sorry."

Sara Lancaster left her southern home of Savannah, Georgia, for Maine eight years earlier. Her daughter, Alana is a true gift; however, she was conceived following a sexual assault (Daniel). She is highly protective of her daughter. Alana has built her life around TIME.

She has stayed away to keep her daughter from her assailant's powerful family, the Wylers, a broken family.

However, when her father Hosea's health begins declining, she must return home to spend time with her father and allow him to get to know his precious granddaughter. By returning to Savannah, she is forced to face her past demons while protecting her daughter, Alana. Her attacker, Daniel, is in prison, and his identical twin brother, Jacob, left town years ago.

One day, Jacob walks into the bookstore while Sara is helping out her dad at his store. He is back in Savannah as well and sees Alana. Their two worlds collide, and they are drawn together in unexpected ways. Can they trust one another?

"Sometimes the worst thing that happens to us turns out to be the best thing."

Told from POVs— Sarah and Jacob. Sarah knew that every decision she had made led her to the place where she would untether herself from her long and painful past. Both these characters grapple with the idea of forgiveness as Jacob testified against his brother.

What a beauty! The author's writing is lyrical and heart-rendering, told with compassion, an uplifting book of hope, compassion, healing, grief, love, redemption, and forgiveness. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I enjoyed the lyrical prose immensely, especially Hosea (dad), who only communicates in poetry. I adored Alana—a genius obsessed with time— with every wristwatch she attempted to wear stopped working and Jacob as her tutor—also a big fan of Sylvia.

Fully immersive, Terah delves into the circumstances which brought these well-developed, relatable characters together. How something so horrible can be something beautiful? Many symbolisms and metaphors of life with a thought-provoking takeaway. I bookmarked so many gorgeous passages.

When reading, I was reminded of Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him —different, yet the characters are on opposing sides in somewhat similar circumstances (5 stars) on the road to healing and forgiveness. Fans of authors Patti Callahan Henry, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Fredrik Backman, and Elizabeth Berg will enjoy ONE SUMMER IN SAVANNAH.

I enjoyed reading the inspiration behind the book and loved the Acknowledgments and the dedication to dreamers! Aren't we all dreamers who imagine something more? Thank you! Well done—and yes, I could live in Forsyth Park as well—Savannah is rich in place, history, and character, and I also love The Fern Bank in Atlanta. I enjoy revisiting Georgia, where I lived and spent most of my media career before South Florida. The historic B&Bs in Savannah are tops.

"Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be different."
—Oprah Winfrey

I highly recommend ONE SUMMER IN SAVANNAH. Terah has been added to my favorite author list, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next! Her passion for poetry and books shine through Hosea's character—an ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions. Reading Group Guide included and A Conversation with the Author.

My top Southern/literary/upmarket book for July!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for a gifted ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Also purchased the hardcover copy.

Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 4, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +
July 2023 Must-Read Books

This is a novel that is centered on forgiveness. I typically go into books blindly and this was one of those situations. But the book did not disappoint. Sara moves back to Savannah after her father falls ill. She has to face the past and learn how to move toward the future, while loosening the reigns she has on her daughter, Alana. So many times I tried to place myself into Sara’s shoes. As a mom, how would I have handled the choices she had to make.

This was so beautifully written. And the characters were easy to fall in love (or dislike) with.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. Further thanks to the author for this beautiful, bittersweet, and complicated story. I really wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book as it is an incredibly complex and challenging story. I ended up really loving it. Shelton Harris has developed beautiful characters and a plot that just would not quit. I truly loved everything about this book and look forward to reading everything the author writes in the future.