I know that I will be in the minority with this book but it didn't work for me at all.
First off, the speaking in verse/poems was distracting and kinda weird.
I get where the book was heading and I am all for forgiveness and all that but...brothers is one thing, twins might be pushing it but identical twins was just too icky for me.

On the plus side I think the cover is great.

This book begins quickly, drawing the reader right into the life of the female main character. It also held my interest from start to finish as a strong 4 plus star rating that I rounded up to 5 star on Goodreads because this book is too polished to round down to a plain 4. The author's note on the first page of her debut novel emphasizes that this book is about forgiveness, and main character Sara has a lot to forgive when a family crisis requires that she return to the Savannah area after 8 years. In alternating chapters of first-person narration between Sara and Jacob, twin brother of the incarcerated father of Sara’s daughter, readers learn about the trauma that changed Sara’s life. The story develops with the failing health of Sara’s father.
Sara, a high school teacher until the recent closure of her school, has always found comfort in writing poetry, and the book contains some of that original poetry as well as occasional quotations from famous poets. They blend seamlessly. If you don’t like poetry, have no fear; this is not a book of poetry but a novel about real life, albeit not a fairy tale romance. Not at all. Many thanks to @netgalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the opportunity to read it. This plot’s catalyst revolves around a serious subject - a violent act on a woman - but there is no description of that crime as part of this book. This is not a true crime story but a true family relationships and adult life story that moves along smoothly, something that frequent readers expect from literary fiction.

I was interested in this book the minute I saw the cover . I also totally agree with the recommendation from author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom :A gorgeously written, tender examination of love, loss, and the heart-wracking journey toward forgiveness." (Akinmade Akerstrom is the international bestselling author of 'In Every Mirror She's Black.'

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris caught my attention with its intriguing plot: a woman returns to her hometown with her young daughter who was conceived as a result of an assault and then proceeds to form a relationship with the perpetrator's twin brother. I wondered how she could possibly reconcile becoming involved with the family.

All of the characters, including Sara, our protagonist, Jacob the "good" twin, and Alana the precocious daughter were likable but somewhat unbelievable, as I felt they were too perfect. In particularl the father who spoke only in poetry and the multiple mathematical geniuses seemed unconvincing. Everyone was apparently ripe for redemption and forgiveness. The characters definitely grew and changed as the plot played out, so that was a strong point. I appreciated the emotional exploration and the moral dilemmas, and the writing was beautiful, so I am eager to read more from this author.

I will recommend this book to readers who like stories of family drama.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story was so heavy and although I love that Sara found love, did it have to be with her rapists twin brother? Like she is going to be stuck with the people who hurt her forever. I hate that for her. But also I think that’s the point of the book too. You can’t choose who you fall in love with.

Forgiveness. Eight years have passed since Sara experienced SA, which deeply changed her. For eight years, she has vowed never to return to her home until her father falls ill. This is a story about time, family, love, pain, and new beginnings. I really enjoyed the way Harris utilized poetry to give expression to words many of the characters couldn't outright say. This novel also illustrates the importance of revision of federal laws in regard to rap victims.

Trigger Warnings: rape, suicide, death

A story of fear and bravery, loathing and forgiveness. Love.
Sara learns that while maybe she was right to leave home when she did, she couldn't have kept running.
Jacob learns that there are different ways to be a family and you don't always have to choose between the family you are born into and the family you make.
This was a well-laid out story and very realistic. Although there is a seemingly fairytale ending, all the characters took a hard road to get there.
My only criticism is picky - the research. I understand I read an advanced copy that wasn't completely finished, but the author didn't seem to be fully aware of the distance between Atlanta and Savannah. A couple of times she referenced that it was only 2 hours away. Later she said it was 4 hours. So, I know that may seem like quibbling, but the inaccuracies were kind of distracting from the story.

Wow, phenomenal!! With a heavy topic pertaining to sexual assault and trauma this author weaved a beautiful story of love and forgiveness so effortlessly. Hard to believe It was a debut . Extremely well written and inspirational.
Definitely going to be on my top favorite list of 2023.

While the story held my attention enough for me to finish the book, the themes of forgiveness and redemption didn't resonate well, and overall, I found the plot and characters unconvincing.

A poignant story about forgiveness. Sara suffered an assault and left Savannah. She now returns because her father is ill. This brings back many memories of the past. This story will touch your heart and soul. What would you have done under the same circumstances and must you forgive to move on with your life? Facing the source of the trauma is hard. If you were Sara could you do it?

This book is wonderfully laced with poetry. Many of us have not read poetry since we were in high school. The poetry shows how a few words can reveal so much. I have not read any books using the technique but it really added to this story. The story will stay with you and will really make you think about forgiving the people in your life.

What a wonderful book! I would highly recommend it.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #TerahSheltonHarris, and #SourcebooksLandmark for a copy of this book.
#OneSummerinSavannah

One Summer in Savannah is a beautiful novel. I wasn’t crazy about the premise, selecting it based solely on its setting in a Savannah bookshop. But the writing kept pulling me in. The poetry was a nice surprise, and I think there was just a little bit of magic that pulled the strings together. I didn’t want it to end, and am still thinking about the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this novel.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was highly contrived (identical twins? Really?) and I was unable to get past the Ich factor (yes, identical!). It's well written but the father speaking in verse was distracting and unnecessary.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

After a horrific attack when she was 17, Sara fled home after graduation. She has a baby and vows never to return home to Savannah. She keeps the promise for 8 years until her father falls ill. Meanwhile, Jacob Wyler is also on a course that will bring him home to face the demons of what his identical twin had done.

What I love about this book is that it's about forgiveness but it isn't preachy or sanctimonious. It's just a beautifully written, cohesive story that allows you to naturally fall in love with the characters and ask yourself what you'd do in the situations they're placed in. It's a fascinating read with a little romance, a lot of family drama, and dealing with grief in all its forms.

Sara Lancaster was sexually assaulted when she was 18 years old and became pregnant. She gives birth but is not sure if she can handle the situation and really doesn’t want the baby. Until she is born…..That is when she becomes a mother and her instincts kick in. She begins to fiercely protect her child from what happened to her. Sara’s father becomes ill and she mush go to Savanna to be with him. The only problem is, that is where the assault happened. That is where her child’s fathers family lives although he iis in prison and his brother, Jacob has moved away. No one knows she had a child from this terrible act. Two worlds will collide though while back in Savanna as Jacob returns as well. While there is initial fear, Jacob begins to show Sara that there is good in the world and in people. As the book progresses you see a different side of Sara and it allows the reader to understand that acceptance and forgiveness can change how you see yourself and others. I cried a lot during this book as it held issues close to my heart but the author does a great job of giving just enough information to allow the reader to fill in the blanks. I would not say it would be a trigger for anyone.
Honestly, I cannot give a review that would come close to expressing how wonderful this book is.

5 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest reader.

Wow big issues in this book it was beautifully written but man I couldn’t get past some of the plot .. I won’t spoil it but it was a hard one for me. I do feel like a lot of folks will love it so I give it a 3.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This book was well-written, and moved briskly.

As far as the plot, I cannot understand why a story about forgiveness requires a rape victim to fall in love with the rapist's twin brother, AFTER having the rapist's child. Boy that's a lot of forgiveness. Or just torture. The ending was pretty predictable but so, so unbelievable. Anyone with a modicum of mental health who had processed the trauma would NEVER do this.

Absolutely fantastic story of family, trauma, forgiveness, and reclamation of one's own journey in life. The narrative flows beautifully, and there is a distinctive voice given to both Sara and Jacob. The characters are all fantastically believable and flawed, and it was easy to slip into their lives. Overall, I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a bittersweet story with a heavy dose of poetry.

Wow. Just wow. What a wonderful yet thought-provoking story. Please consider the trigger warnings before starting this book.

Sara gives up her life and family at age 18, escaping to a place where she is not defined for what happened to her. She survived, her attacker is in prison and yet she is the one that has to deal with the aftermath. Now she is responsible for herself and her baby. For eight years, Sara and Alana live in anonymity, until Sara realizes her daughter is an actual genious and cannot live in isolation anymore. Around the same time, Sara gets a call that her father is sick, so she is forced to come back to her hometown in Savannah.

When Sara comes back home, she has to face the stares and encounters with the people she used to know. Nobody really knew that she got pregnant, so she tries with her all to hide Alana from everybody, especially from her father's family, the Wylers. They're one of the most influential families in Savannah and Sara is convinced they will try to take Alana away from her. One day, when Sara is working at her father's bookstore, she meets her attacker's identical twin, Jacob. Before she even realizes who he is, she is drawn to him in an inexplicable way, and when Sara puts the pieces of the puzzle together, she knows she is staring at her daughter's features in Jacob.

This story is very layered and interesting, with very heavy topics. I found myself taking breaks often to process it all. It talks about forgiveness, kindness and the value of family. I loved the ending and the little epilogue the author gives on the "Conversation with the Author" section.

One Summer in Savannah is not what I would define as summer read because of the depths it reaches, but I think it's very worth a read. When I first read the plot I thought it was an unthinkable situation, but somehow the author guides you through Sara to give hope on how we can move on from anything. Even from the unthinkable.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

It was truly a privilege to read this debut novel from Terah Shelton Harris. One Summer in Savannah is beautifully written in alternating voices that are so well drawn, I was completely invested in their stories and their futures. Full of heart, compassion, healing, forgiveness, and love, this book is thought-provoking and layered, with unforgettable characters. Sara is a poet who returns to Savannah after many years to visit her ailing father and help run his bookstore. Sara had been living in Maine with her daughter, as a result of leaving Savannah in the aftermath of a sexual assault and her rapists' trial. Alana, is Sara's daughter, an 8 year old lovable genius who can’t wear watches. There's also Sara's father, Hosea, a bookstore owner who only speaks in verse, And finally, there's Jacob, an astrophysicist, with a complicated relationship to Sara. That’s really all I want to say without giving anything away. This is the kind of story that stays with you long after you read the last page- and just so you know, the ending is stunning,. Add it to your TBR immediately!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

One of the genre tags for this book was romance. So I picked it up, thinking it might be a light story however, it wasn’t and I mean that in a good way. This is a deeper story that happens to have a romance in it.
Sara was sexually assaulted by Daniel when she was 18 years old living in Savannah, Georgia. She became pregnant as a result of this rape, and moved to Maine to keep her baby safe from the Wyler family and all their wealth and political ties. When her father falls ill, it is the first time in eight years that she has to return to Savannah.
This book made me think about the impact of rape on a woman who then becomes pregnant as a result of the rape- her attempts to raise her daughter, without learning about her horrible father, and to give her a safe and stable life.
Sarah meets Jacob, Daniel’s twin. He is as different from Daniel as could be. Jacob figures out that Alana is his niece and wants to become part of her life.
This is a really good story- I would like to see this made into a streaming TV show because I think it would be enjoyable to watch and thought-provoking for the audience.

What does forgiveness mean to you? ONE SUMMER IN SAVANNAH challenges what readers believe is or is not forgivable. When she was 18 years old, Sara was raped by a man who was sentenced to jail and knows nothing of the baby she conceived. Seeking safety for her child she flees to Maine but returns to Savannah 8 years later as her father is dying.

With a southern setting and a bookstore to adore, there is so much to appreciate about this novel. This unique love story is as thought-provoking as it is emotional. The writing is poetic writing–literally–as poems are woven throughout the dialogue. The story flows seamlessly and explores a plethora of timely themes including consent, the court of public opinion, and new beginnings. This redemptive and heartfelt story makes for an ideal selection for book clubs.

RATING: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 stars)

READ THIS IF:
-Stories of redemption draw you in
-Emotional themes tug at your heartstrings
-A love story with unique challenges appeals to you
-You adore a bookstore setting

Many thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication date