Long After We Are Gone, by Terah Shelton Harris, is a literary novel that explores intergenerational trauma, the destructive power of secrets kept too long, and the redemptive power of love. And then there’s the pages and pages and pages of extremely graphic, completely unnecessary sex scenes. We’ll get to that later.

I understand and applaud the story the author was trying to tell about the injustice of heir property laws. It is an important one that should be screamed from the rooftops again and again until the corrupt ‘loopholes’ are eliminated. However, I don’t feel that Ms. Harris lived up to the task she set herself.

Instead of sympathizing with the characters as I wanted to, I disliked them for their whining, self pity, and refusal to take responsibility for their actions and lives. Every time I put the book down, I dreaded picking it back up. Any larger points the author wanted to make about injustice, trauma, love, etc., were completely lost in the immaturity of her characters.

And then there’s all that sex. So. Much. Sex. So much graphic sex that wasn’t an essential, intrinsic part of the story. I’m sure the author has some explanation as to why this was vital to the development of blah-blah-blah, but it wasn't. The fact is that literary novels, books that are heavier on words and thoughts and characters than on plot, don’t sell as well as plot-heavy books. So the easiest answer is to sex it up in the hopes it will sell better.

Long After We Are Gone had all the hallmarks of a book I’d love, but it failed on all counts. I rate it 2 ½ stars.

This is a completely different book than I normally read and I am so glad I did. This is the story of a family in the grips of the death of their patriarch whose last words are “Don’t let the white man take the house”. The character development was outstanding, All four of the siblings were flawed in their own ways but were likable and you rooted for each of them. When they find out the land and house they grew up in is being taken by a developer, they find out that the land was considered heir property and there was no real deed. They must all work together, through their personal struggles, and try to save the land that means so much to each of them for different reasons. This family is far from perfect, but we learn that family is often greater than the sum of its parts.

Oh how I love a family story - especially one about siblings. The four Solomon siblings each have their own struggles, yet they are woven together to tell one story of the family home and land. Loved loved loved!

Overall Grade: B
Plot: B
Characters: B-
Writing: A
Ending: A
Pacing: B
Setting: B+
Best Aspect: An important topic and the ending was perfect.
Worst Aspect: Too many characters to make the story as deep as rich as One Summer in Savannah by this author. (One of my top books of all time.)
Recommend: Yes.

Their mission: to save their family’s ancestral home from being sold by a development company. The Kingdom, their 200-acre waterfront property, holds secrets and burdens that unravel as the siblings fight to preserve it. Told through alternating viewpoints, the book delves into familial expectations, miscommunication, and the legacies we pass on to our children.

#LongAfterWeAreGone #TerahSheltonHarris #Bookstagram

Alright well dont read this on a plane unless you want to cry in front of everyone…..

Seriously though, what a novel.
I came into this book thinking I wasn’t going to truly love it - i had hit a bit of a rut and had low hopes for this one pulling me out but WOW. Four siblings have to come together once their dad dies to save their 200 acre land, and the beauty that unfolds is just magical. This book touches on sibling relationships, strained family dynamics and the ramifications of keeping secrets.

There were parts of this where looking back I think could be a bit more fleshed out - like ALL of the Mance and Shad drama, but. In the moment it did not take away from the storytelling. BRAVO.

I absolutely loved Harris’s first book One Summer in Savannah so I couldn’t wait to read her sophomore book. She has a way of pulling the reader in and your heart breaks for her characters. Definitely one to add to your list! Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Harris writes with emotion. Her characters feel real. She weaves an interesting story between history and current day. This book illustrates how trauma can be passed down through generations. The ending was very satisfying.

ARC Review! Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the early copy!

"Don't let the white men take the house." - King

Welcome to Diggs, NC and to the Kingdom.

As a North Carolina girl, any story written in and about my home state grabs my attention, especially something written as beautifully as this.

King, owner of 200 acres of land and father of four children has recently passed, leaving a hole in his family's hearts and lots of unanswered questions. The Kingdom is being threatened and it's ownership is questioned while local real estate is chomping at the bit to purchase and commercialize.

Each child battling their own personal battles, now must come together to find a way save the Kingdom and find a way to free themselves of the expectations that have been shadowing them their whole lives. A story of heartache, hard times, racial injustice and family, Long After We are Gone is so beautifully written you feel as if you are living through every emotion of the characters.

I identified with each character, with each of their struggles and was routing for them to overcome.

Five stars. Will read over and over. Will recommend time after time. A beautiful story of family, sacrifice and love.

At first glance at the blurb on the back of the book, I was going to pass this along as it is not my typical genre. After receiving an email from the publisher about the book, I decide to give it a try, and I'm so glad I didn't miss out on this book!
The story of a family, each with their own issues, but also fighting to keep their familial land. I loved the multi POV and thought it really propels the reader through the story, to keep reading to continue with whichever character's story has your attention the most in the previous chapter.
The authors first book has been on my TBR, but will be moving up the list now. Will be recommending to readers widely.

Terah Shelton Harris has grown as a storyteller. The drama is layered and grounded. Reading how the family comes together amidst personal struggles to handle business was excellent. I did not like CeCe’s arc.

This compelling family saga unfolds through the eyes of four siblings, each ensconced in their own world of secrets and isolation. The passing of their father and the looming loss of their ancestral home serve as catalysts, drawing them closer and unveiling the destructive nature of their hidden truths. Richly layered relationships both within and beyond the family circle add depth and poignancy to the narrative. The book's exquisite writing style and the emotional struggles of the siblings, as they band together to protect their legacy, make for a deeply affecting read. An outstanding novel that skillfully explores the complexities of family dynamics and the power of unity.

One Summer in Savannah was one of my favorite books in 2023 and I think Long After We Are Gone will be one of my favorites for 2024.
'Long After We are Gone takes us to a small town in North Carolina, and the ancestral home and property of the Solomon family. The four siblings are relatively close in age but have grown estranged in adulthood. Each has challenges in their lives, and perhaps that contributes to their family dysfunction. Will they be able to face their challenge and come back together with their family?

Ms. Harris so expertly juggles the four points of view of the novel (five if you count Ellis) and created fully dimensional characters that you alternately want to hug or yell at. The book has the emotional weight of the TV series, This is Us, which the author says is one of the best family dramas on TV. Serious topics are tackled in the book, including disordered eating. homophobia, death and violence, and, of course, there are many, many secrets.

As with One Summer in Savannah, I became invested with the characters and want to know what happens to them 5-10 years down the road. It's one of those books where you have to read everything: don't skip the Author's Note, Acknowledgements, or About the Author section. I found this last section especially interesting and learned more about the concept of heir property. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to reading more of what Ms. Shelton Harris characterizes as "upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings."

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read Long After We Are Gone in exchange for an honest review.

After the patriarch dies his children come together to bury him and to settle his estate, which is in danger of being stolen from the family. The adult children all have major personal issues and they do not have a loving or close relationship with each other. The children are the main characters in this book and they are all rather unlikable and are extremely dysfunctional.
The story line did not draw me in as I had hoped. Unfortunately for me this was not an enjoyable or a memorable read.

What an emotional journey for the Solomon siblings! They each face, and eventually, uncover their truth as they process great family loss. I did not know about heir properties and the mass amount of loss in the black community. This is an important reality and wrong that I'm thankful to learn more about. Terah Shelton Harris, thank you for this beautiful and challenging story.

Can we ever really run away from our past? Or our place of origin? The children of daddy ‘King’ will try the best they can to do just that. This book brings out the truths to these questions. Siblings Junior, Mande, CeCe and Tokey trying to find their truths in this world that seems to be out of their control. When their daddy, King, passes away from a fall the siblings converge onto the family’s compound called the Kingdom. King built this from land passed on down from generations. While the children seem worlds apart his death brings them closer no matter how hard they fight it. Junior has a secret life that keeps him happy but he has to hide it from everyone but his wife who is holding onto her marriage no matter what. Mance has a fiery temper that has put him behind bars a few times and a family who is waiting for him to change. CeCe ran away from the kingdom as soon as she was old enough and never looked back but she left someone who has patiently been waiting for her return. Tokey is the baby who has eaten her fears for years, trying to find her identity and answers to what happen to her missing mom. A notice that they have 4 weeks to vacate the kingdom has them searching for answers and finding truths about themselves and where they belong. Very soul wrenching book that makes you think about your own truths and how we complicate our lives needlessly.

To be honest I struggled with this book. I wanted to like it, then I wanted to stop reading, but for whatever reason I persevered and I was rewarded. The characters were complex and I did not like most of them, but the way that Terah Shelton Harris wove them and the story together was masterful. I did not know anything about heir property before reading this book (shame on me) and now understand what a precarious position that places families. The ways that Harris wove together the four siblings' stories (and a few others as well) could at times feel disjointed and confusing, but if you are willing to hang on, the story comes together beautifully and you see the reason she wrote the book the way she did. I highly recommend this book.

Long After We Are Gone
Written By Terah Shelton Harris
Published By Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date May 14, 2024


"Don't let the white man take the house

This book is a complex read that contains family drama, lies, and secrets that bring the stories of how 4 siblings fight to protect and save 200 aces of land that was left to them by their patriarchal father. Each sibling has their own issues and find it hard to keep their lives afloat while trying to keep the secrets and complexities that they so want to keep hidden. The author has done a brilliant job of showing how families can have tragic situations that will make it hard to hold onto secrets as well as relationships between themselves. The characters are well developed and deeply flawed yet while we are made privy to their problems you will feel the need to root for them. I honestly do not feel that I can give this book justice but I can say that this is a beautifully written family drama that follows a family of four that have their own problems but come together to keep what their father fought for so long to remain in his name.

5 beautiful stars

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Wow! I have rarely encountered such strong, rounded, memorable characters. I loved them. Mance. Strong. Angry. Scared for his Deaf son. Absolutely devoted to Lisha but not able to govern his frightening temper. Not above the side hustle of dubious legality. Junior. School principal. Lovely wife and daughters. Just admitting to himself that he is gay. Has lived his whole life splitting into what he thinks of as the straight, socially acceptable Outer Man, and the fearful, uncertain, gay Inner Man he rarely lets out. Cece. Beautiful and sexy New York lawyer living the dream until she begins to dip into the firm’s till and becomes embroiled in extortion sex with a colleague. Tokey. Baby of the family. Secretly fears she is different. Stress-eater. Has a truly unhealthy relationship with Little Debbies.

The four Solomon children come together for the funeral of their father, King, and quickly learn that there is an existential threat to their North Carolina land, the Kingdom, which has been in the family for 200 years. Despite the fact that they seem to have rarely spoken to one another in the past few years, and that although they love each other they don’t really like each other, their family dynamic falls right into its former groove, such that the siblings communicate in half-formed sentences. As siblings do.

I love the secondary characters such as Miss Jessie, who has all the answers and is only waiting to be asked. And even Hazel, the mother the Solomons never knew, is revealed in flashbacks. Uncle Shad. Oh what a villain, but what a rounded, honest villain. He does not pretend otherwise. He tells Mance, You gotta own your shit,” which is a brilliantly true statement I once heard elsewhere. And gorgeous Ellis, who saves the day.

All of the action in this character-driven story are so real and true to themselves that it is such a pleasure to read. Compared to the author’s first book, this one is real and satisfying and unique. So good.

I wasn't sure at first if I would finish this book, but I kept going. It was after the four siblings came back home after the loss of their father that it started to get interesting. Each of the siblings had issues to deal with and the possibility of losing their ancestral home brought out their secrets and their shame. This was a dramatic read involving hardships, secrets, violence, homophobia, addictions, and learning to accept their actions and no longer hiding their secrets. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC.