"Long After We Are Gone" by Terah Shelton Harris is a powerful and emotionally charged story of a family grappling with their personal demons and collective struggles to save their ancestral home, the Kingdom, from being sold to a development company.

King Solomon's dying wish to his children sets the stage for a compelling narrative. His final words, "Don't let the white man take the house," propel his four siblings into action. Each of them must return to North Carolina to defend their family's legacy—200 acres of land and the Kingdom—against a development company with plans to transform the valuable waterfront property into a luxury resort.

The four Solomon siblings are far from perfect, and each carries their own secrets and burdens. Junior, the eldest son, has been concealing his deep love for another man despite being married for 11 years. Mance, the second son, struggles with his temper, which has led to repeated incarcerations. CeCe, the eldest daughter and a lawyer in New York City, has embezzled substantial sums from her firm's clients. Tokey, the youngest daughter, grapples with a sense of not fitting into her family, leaving her with a profound void that she fills through self-destructive behaviors.

As the siblings join forces to save the Kingdom, their individual facades begin to crumble, revealing complex and entangled relationships. The story is narrated from alternating viewpoints, providing insight into each character's struggles and growth. "Long After We Are Gone" is a poignant exploration of the power of family, the weight of familial expectations, the consequences of miscommunication, and the legacies passed down through generations.

This novel delves into the family dynamics and secrets that have strained relationships, while also highlighting the potential for healing and redemption. The Kingdom's fate serves as a metaphor for the family's own salvation, creating a profound and emotionally charged backdrop for the story.

Terah Shelton Harris skillfully weaves together the individual journeys of the Solomon siblings, offering readers a thought-provoking and heartfelt exploration of the ties that bind and the strength required to overcome personal obstacles. "Long After We Are Gone" is a deeply moving and resonant story that will touch the hearts of those who appreciate narratives about the complexities of family, redemption, and self-discovery.

A heart wrenching story of family and coming together in the face of tragedy and injustice.

Solomon King was a force among his children and when he died with his last words to one of them being a warning not to let the white man take the house, four siblings come back to their family home to save it.

Each of these four siblings have secrets and things going on in their lives that are holding them back, but through the genuine love they have for one another they manage to pull together and face the harrowing path ahead of them.

Their ancestral land is being sold out from under them and they need to collectively find a way to save that from happening.

Each of these siblings was so complex. Their personal growth is something I enjoyed so much in reading this. I loved them all. This was a powerful story that floored me, hooking me from the start. There is beauty in chaos. There is strength in family. Each of them are flawed, making dangerous decisions, or giving in to their struggles. But each were strong and I adored them!

I really enjoy the way Terah crafts her characters and stories. They are complex but draw me in. Long After We Are Gone explores one of my favorite genres - family relationships, lies, secrets, difficult situations... this was so well done. Five stars. I will probably read it again for a buddy book read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.