Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Book Review: Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris
I absolutely loved Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris. From the very first page, I was immediately drawn into the story, captivated by the depth and complexity of the characters. The narrative is incredibly engaging, weaving a tale that is both heartfelt and thought-provoking.
Harris does an exceptional job of developing her characters, allowing each one to feel fully realized and nuanced. Their emotions, motivations, and struggles are portrayed with such authenticity that it’s impossible not to become invested in their journeys. The relationships between the characters are rich and multilayered, making each interaction meaningful and impactful.
The prose itself is beautiful—evocative without being overly flowery—and the pacing of the plot is just right, holding your attention throughout the entire book. Harris effortlessly tackles themes of identity, love, loss, and the passage of time, making the novel resonate long after you’ve turned the final page.
This is a book that stays with you, not just because of its powerful storytelling, but also because of the way it makes you reflect on life and the connections we make. Long After We Are Gone is a remarkable achievement, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a deeply emotional and enriching reading experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Long After We Are Gone is the first book that I’ve read by Terah Shelton Harris, and it won’t be the last. What a gripping and intense read, that I can’t really put into words right now.

Before this book, I knew nothing about the concept of “heir property.” But it is at the heart of this powerful historical fiction story about the Solomon siblings, of Diggs, North Carolina. The Kingdom, over 200 acres of land has belonged to their family for generations. When its ownership is threatened when the family patriarch, King, dies, it throws their lives into chaos.

This was such a complex, well written, nuanced, intense story. If you’re into gripping historical fiction, this just may be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Four adult children reunite in their hometown after their father and family patriarch’s sudden death in Long After We're Gone.

King Solomon - the man, the myth, and the legend. His pride and joy, also known as The Kingdom, is the two hundred acres of land he owns in North Carolina that’s been passed down in his family for over 200 years. The land is his family’s legacy and he’ll do anything in his power to keep his children on the land for generations to come.

When King suddenly passes, the four adult children learn that he doesn't have a will. The only thing to pass down is the land, and his kids all know they will split it amongst themselves. That is until they receive a letter from these random men, saying that their development company is the rightful owner of the land, and they’re giving them two weeks to pack up and evacuate the premises.

The four estranged siblings have to come together despite their differences and figure out what’s happening and how they can save their inheritance. Along the way, they’ll uncover secrets that have been kept in their family for generations.

This story is told from the perspectives of King Solomon's four grown kids:
-Junior: Closeted gay man, local elementary school principal, married to a woman with two daughters, trying to juggle all of his responsibilities with a new boyfriend while figuring out how to tell his siblings.
-Cece: Struggling attorney in NYC, made some horrible financial decisions with her clients and now needs some cash quickly to cover up her trail. She might have some bad intentions in getting this land back just so she can turn around and sell it for her own gain.
-Mance: Black sheep of the family, has been in and out of jail, has awful anger and self-control issues, wants to settle down with his girlfriend and son, but he has to prove himself trustworthy first. He will do anything to build a life for his family on the inherited land, even if it means committing a few crimes to get there.
-Tokey: As the baby of the family, she has lived with King on their land her entire life. As she begins to pack up his things, she uncovers a collection of letters from the one woman she’s always wanted to know more about: their mysterious mother that her father refused to ever talk about.

The four siblings were the heart of this book and gave the story so many more interesting layers. There were parts of each sibling that resonated with me, and I think every reader will see some of themselves in these broken yet intriguing protagonists. Long After We're Gone is a beautifully written family saga with complex characters and relationships. I was rooting for these siblings so hard, and was locked in until the very end!

I was a big fan of One Summer in Savannah, so I was delighted to receive a copy of Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris. This tale of family and grief and inheritance is one for lovers of contemporary fiction.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was an interesting read about a family coming to terms with their father's death. Each of the siblings join back at their childhood home, the Kingdom, land that has been in their family for over 200 years and that they've been told, they can never sell. They all have secrets, and they each have reasons why they should sell or keep their family's land. But over the course of a few weeks, their secrets start to emerge, and they need to deal with their intergenerational trauma and the things that were never said. I liked the characters, and I really was hoping for the best. This author is a good writer, and I'll continue to read her work.

I just finished reading Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris, and I’m so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is an emotional and deeply moving story that beautifully explores themes of legacy, love, and the ties that bind us to our past. Harris's writing is both lyrical and evocative, making this a truly unforgettable read.

One of my favorite scenes in the book is when the protagonist, Naima, discovers an old box of letters written by her ancestors. The letters are filled with stories of triumph, heartbreak, and resilience, and as Naima reads them, she feels a deep connection to her family’s history. Harris's vivid descriptions and poignant prose make you feel every emotion right along with Naima. This scene perfectly encapsulates the book’s central theme of understanding and embracing one's heritage.

What I love most about Long After We Are Gone is the way it weaves together the past and present, showing how the echoes of history continue to shape our lives. The characters are richly developed, and their journeys are portrayed with such depth and authenticity. Harris's ability to create a sense of place and time is truly remarkable, making the story come alive in the most vivid way.

If you’re looking for a novel that will touch your heart and make you reflect on the power of family and history, Long After We Are Gone is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be deeply moved by Naima’s journey and the beautiful storytelling.

This was my first time reading Terah Shelton Harris, and I received Long After We Are Gone as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents a deeply emotional and engaging narrative that explores the complexities of family, legacy, and personal redemption. The character development is one of the book's strongest aspects. Each of the Solomon siblings is well-drawn and unique, with their own distinct voices and struggles. Junior's internal conflict about his sexuality, Mance's battle with his temper, CeCe's moral dilemmas, and Tokey's search for belonging are all handled with sensitivity and depth. The alternating viewpoints allow readers to fully understand and empathize with each character's journey. The plot is compelling, with the fight to save the family home serving as a backdrop for the characters' personal growth and reconciliation. The themes of intergenerational trauma and the burden of familial expectations are explored thoughtfully, adding layers to the story. Overall, Long After We Are Gone is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel. Despite a few pacing issues, it is a strong debut that showcases Terah Shelton Harris's talent for creating rich, multifaceted characters and emotionally resonant stories. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. #netgalley #longafterwearegone

"Long After We Are Gone" tells a touching story about a family dealing with loss and trying to protect their history. It makes you think about family, what we leave behind, and fairness in society. The writing is beautiful, and the characters feel real with their struggles and mistakes. Sadly the pacing is very slow during the first half of the book and the plot borders on melodramatic at times with abrupt turns or coincidences.

Enjoyed this family drama and there was A LOT. It alternated between slow burn and a steady pace but wasn’t unbearable. The author does a good job of exposing and confronting the issues being presented.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris.

This is one of those instances where I wish I didn't have to give a star rating, because it's so much more nuanced than a 1-5 star rating, I guess that's why we write reviews, lol!

King Solomon has just died, and his dying request was to not let the white man take the house. What started as a plantation that ran off the backs of the enslaved, is now called "The Kingdom" where Solomon single handedly raised his four children. Now those children are back at home after years apart. Despite the mess of their individual lives, they need to somehow figure out how to save this house.

I love me a good dysfunctional family story, and this had the ingredients for just that, I just didn't enjoy the execution as much as I hoped to. The dysfunction almost became the whole personality of the story, to the point that I became exhausted. And yes, I'm completely aware that such is the cost of such dynamics, but I maintain that a book should have some level of enjoyability to the reader. Essentially, I was turned off enough that I started slipping in interest.

Not a terrible book, just not for me. I can completely see why folks love it.

Long After We Are Gone follows the Solomon children as they bury their father and try to save the family land. This is an interesting family drama full of flawed individuals, who are doing the best they can, while keeping secrets from one another.

I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and Terah Shelton Harris for an ARC of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris is a beautifully crafted story that explores family, forgiveness, and resilience in the wake of trauma. The novel centers on the journey of a mother and daughter returning to the mother’s hometown, where past secrets and old wounds resurface. Harris’s writing shines in her nuanced portrayal of complex relationships and her sensitivity to themes of healing and redemption. The narrative is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, with characters that linger in your mind long after reading. It’s a poignant debut, perfect for readers who appreciate emotionally layered family dramas.

I'm giving this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I had a hard time getting into this one, and the characters were all unlikable. They seemed to make endlessly bad decisions that made them difficult to root for.

Overall, though, the storyline was fine. This was my first time learning about heir property and I found all of that very interesting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A beautiful, moving book. The four siblings at the heart of this book are incredibly well drawn and feel like real people, flaws and all.

What an interesting and touching family story! I felt really connected to many of the characters, and it was interesting to see their development after a family tragedy. I will say at the start I struggled to connect with the story and the characters, but once I got into the story, I was in it. I appreciated how different each of the siblings lives and journies were as it added to the story to get the different perspectives and see the different effects of their loss.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an arc of this title.

Terah Shelton Harris is classy and beautiful and it was an honor to meet her at NVNR. Alabama was well represented!

In her new book, Long After We Are Gone, the four Solomon siblings come together after their father's death to save his legacy, the Kingdom. King's last words to them about the old plantation house on 200 acres was not to let the white man take the house.

But these siblings have secrets. Junior is still chasing his father's approval and the chance to love who he wants to. Mance is trying to stay on the straight and narrow now that he has his son with a disability. CeCe is being blackmailed by a coworker who found out she has embezzled money as a fancy NYC attorney. And Tokey is trying to eat her way to happiness. The siblings all need different things from the Kingdom. As they learn to navigate and trust each other, they find out that there are other secrets that the family has kept from them. How far are they willing to go for the Kingdom?

I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫. Terah definitely built strong characters! I didn't love them all the time or agree with their choices, but I understood pieces of them like CeCe's inability to be vulnerable and Tokey's eating away her problems. I love messy families and this is definitely a messy family with a lot of drama! It also taught me about air property which was interesting.

Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris
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King Solomon has died and now his four children must fight to keep their family home.
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This book really drew me in. Each sibling had their own unique situation and problems they struggled with. They each managed to frustrate me by making such awful choices too. 😅
The ultimate problem in this book was the property. This house used to be a plantation that a Solomon ancestor worked as a slave before it came to belong to the family. Since then it has been passed down to the next Solomon son. The people who are claiming ownership are super shady and untrustful. The house situation was a very tense part of the book for me and I LOVED the outcome of that situation. It was perfect.
I wish the character could have been more likeable, but alas I did not really care for any of them. They obviously all improved by the end, but by that point I was mildly happy to say goodbye to them.
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3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Gorgeous characters, fun back and forth, and the worldbuilding is crafted so gorgeously. it is definitely searing and strong.

Family Legacy, Racial Injustice, Resilience

Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris is a gripping family saga set in North Carolina. The story centers around the Solomon family, consisting of four siblings who reunite following the death of their father, King Solomon. His final words to his son were, "Don't let white men get the house," setting the stage for an exploration of family legacy, racial injustice, and personal battles.

Evaluation Long After We Are Gone stands out for its powerful storytelling and deep exploration of complex themes. Its strengths lie in its well-drawn characters and the emotional depth of the narrative. However, some readers may find the intertwining personal battles of the siblings a bit overwhelming. Regardless, Harris's ability to tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and insight makes this novel a worthwhile read.

In conclusion, Terah Shelton Harris's Long After We Are Gone is a beautifully crafted novel that resonates with its exploration of family, legacy, and the enduring struggle for justice and identity.

I am the first to admit that I am not a lit fic girlie, even though I really would like to be. However, this book I really enjoyed so much.

This writing begins as poetic and at a point turns a little less so, but you still get the visceral feeling from each character as they try to navigate life in The Kingdom, without King. Each trying to decipher if they need to appear as he would have wanted them to or as they truly are.

Ms. Shelton Harris gave us a bouquet of personalities in each of these characters and I loved how the hardest of times brings family together.

This book is beautifully written and sheds a light on the happenings all across the US as older generations pass on and their younger generations try and fight for the very land that is rightfully theirs.