I enjoyed this book. It was quick. It is a story about grief and processing grief. Everyone deals with pain differently and I enjoyed reading the different perspectives. I was sometimes confused because there are many characters in this book and a lot of them tell their perspectives. I didn't connect to anyone really though so sometimes I found it hard to pick up and read. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

I truly enjoyed this story!
Are ghosts real?
Margaret is quite sure that her deceased Aunt Edith is back as a ghost.
She has been "visiting" ever since Margaret's husband has died.
Is there a reason? What exactly is the message that Aunt Edith is trying to give?

It's an emotional, funny, heartbreaking, heartwarming ,journey of a family that is not perfect with secrets and troubles.
I loved it!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for this wonderful ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

A wonderful and heartwarming look at families, secrets and love. Margaret was raised by her aunt, married the live of her life and has 3 wonderful kids. But after her husband dies she begins seeing the ghost of her aunt and long kept secrets surface. A beautiful book!

Ms Terry's distinct cadence in her prose - calm storytelling descriptions of ordinary scenes bring detail and life to the characters on the page
Lively and lilting with acerbic wit, southern euphemisms further clarify and color in the details.
Not a ghost story but more like fate causing a seismic shift to set things right
No hyperbole to fill pages. A big fan- excited to read another story from her

Pamela Terry’s heart-wrenching family drama, “Through an Open Window,” follows Margaret, a recently widowed woman who sees her Aunt Edith’s ghost. Her grown-up kids think she’s losing her mind, but she believes she’s grieving. The story explores family support during loss. An excellent read.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>Through an Open Window</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I love books with Southern messy extended families. Of course, as with any family, there are simmering resentments that flavor their interactions, but there is also absolute familial love. Throw in grief after the death of a loving spouse and father and Terry's snappy dialog, and readers will have a wonderful time.

DNF
After the 2nd chapter, it was hard to keep track of what was going on. it read like a poem rather than narrative. It was not for me.

Set against the evocative backdrop of Wesleyan, Georgia, this story weaves the present and the past together with a gentle, ghostly hand. Recently widowed and deeply grieving, Margaret Elliot finds herself drawn into a mystery that begins with the spectral presence of her Aunt Edith, the formidable woman who once raised her. What unfolds is not just a ghost story but a layered exploration of how the past shapes us—and how even buried secrets find their way to light.

The novel’s strength lies in its deeply human characters. Margaret is a compelling protagonist—elegant, wounded, and brave enough to follow the signs laid before her. Her three adult children, each facing their own reckoning, feel real and raw. From Mouse’s quiet anguish to Lawrie’s inner conflict and Tom’s professional collapse, the family dynamic is authentic and charged with unspoken history.

The writing is atmospheric and poetic without being overwrought. The supernatural elements are delicately handled—never overpowering the narrative but adding just enough shimmer to make the story feel enchanted. Most importantly, the book's emotional core—the way loss ripples through a family, the search for truth, the longing for connection—rings achingly true.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted to see another book by Pamela Terry as I loved The Sweet Taste of Muscadines and I was not disappointed by Through An Open Window. Ms. Terry has a unique way of spinning a story that just draws you into her orbit and makes it impossible to leave. Her characters are engaging, especially Margaret Elliott and her children and Aunt Edith, who even as a ghost, tells her story without saying a word. A delightful novel from one of my favorite authors. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book gave me all the feels. Following Margaret through her journey of life after a death. Her trusting her dreams. They way author brought it all together was beautiful

A woman who doesn’t know much about her parents finds answers to her questions with help from her deceased aunt who raised her. Family lost, family found. It’s all about the importance of knowing your family history. I love the touch of the supernatural. Great story!

Margaret Elliott grew up in the small town of Wesleyan, Georgia. She was raised by her Aunt Edith after her parents died. She married the boy next door and raised a family - daughter and twin boys. Her children are grown and living their own lives. Her daughter Agatha, nicknamed Mouse, lives a few blocks away. One of the twins is a veterinarian in town, and the other son works in Atlanta. Margaret's world begins to change as her husband dies. Margaret begins seeing Aunt Edith. She smells Aunt Edith's perfume. Aunt Edith is holding an envelope. What is she trying to convey to Margaret?

Is this a book about ghosts? Not really. The death of Margaret's husband precipitates the ghost of Aunt Edith. Margaret has some difficult information that will be revealed. Family dynamics will suffer, but the strain strengthens their bonds. This story is interesting and moves well. I enjoyed the ending, which is well written and poignant. Readers who enjoy family drama, surprise, and reunions will enjoy this book. I highly recommend this beautiful story.

Thank you Megan Whalen, Random House, and Pamela Terry for the early reader's copy of this beautiful book!

I greatly enjoyed this book. Pamela Terry sure can write. This is the third book of hers I have read. The two previous ones are: The Sweet Taste of Muscadines and When The Moon Turns Blue - both were very enjoyable but I think she has outdone herself on this one.

The writing is lyrical, moving, atmospheric and laugh out loud funny. The story is about Margaret Elliot, a recently widowed mother of three grown children: Lawrie & Tom who are twins but are not anything alike and Agatha who goes by the name of Mouse. Lawrie is a successful and happy veterinarian with his partner of 8 years, Emlynn who owns a local shop in town & she is adorable in so many ways. Tom is a developer who isn't too happy with his profession anymore and then there is Mouse who owns a successful catering business and her doctor husband Nick. There is also Margaret's friend Harriet and Mouse's friend Kitty -who has a very big and over the top personality.

Margaret is raised by her Aunt Edith because both of her parents died in a car accident. Aunt Edith died many years ago but suddenly Margaret is seeing her Aunt as clear as if she were still alive, she doesn't say a word but she's holding a yellow envelope. Margaret is afraid to tell anyone for fear they think she is losing her sanity.

It is a family drama of secrets held far to long. I love how the writer developed each and everyone of the characters in this novel. You just feel like you know them and that is a unique talent. I wish I could tell you more but I don't want to spoil anything.

A big thank you to: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is my third book by this author, which makes three in a row that I loved.

Her focus seems to be families in the south, and their dynamics across generations, while evoking in graceful, sometimes elegiac language the smells, the tastes, and the feels of that part of the world.

This one begins with a widow, whose beloved spouse has been dead for almost a year, sustaining what she can only call a ghostly vision of the Aunt who brought her up. She resists the ghost idea at first, but the vision is gently insistent, and eventually leads to sharing with her three nearly middle aged kids, who don't communicate very well with her.

The omniscient narrator slides expertly in and out of their POVs as needed, first establishing everyone, then showing how everything changes. It's such a feel good book--something I really appreciated, in these nerve wracking days!

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines. Remember this one? It was one of my favorite books. And the author has given us another gem.

Welcome to Wesleyan, Georgia. Margaret has lived here forever and loves her home. Margaret’s husband has recently died. And suddenly she is seeing her dead Aunt Edith! Standing mysteriously holding out an envelope.

Margaret wonders if she is losing her marbles. She is not. But her grown children think she may be.

As clues to what Edith wants magically appear to not only her but her children! And now everyone is trying to figure out what the big secret is.

These characters were so real and so human, they could have been my neighbors. I cried, I laughed, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this one so much, I read it twice!


NetGalley/ August 19, 2025 Random House Ballentine

Pamela Terry’s book Through an Open Window touches your emotions with unforgettable characters and a heartfelt story line. This gorgeously written book examines the theme of family, loss, and moving on while remembering the past. This was my first book written by this author and I’m looking forward to enjoying many more by her.

Wonderful. Simply terrific writing style, great way with words, lovely use of richly developed language, more than likeable characters. I also like the storyline, it's fun and in a way endearing.

Thank you NetGalley and Pamela Terry for this ARC ! This was a quick heartfelt read. It was my first Pamela Terry book and I enjoyed it. This was very different from my normal reads and I thought it was a great story !

Expected Release August 19, 2025.

Southern fiction writer Pamela Terry aces it again with a beautiful feel good novel. You can identify and empathize with all of the characters. There’s something in this novel for everyone. This is a quick read and one that is easy to enjoy. I great beach read!

This is a delightful, heartfelt story about Margaret Elliott and her family. Margaret has no recollection of her parents, who died when she was a baby; she was ultimately raised by her great-aunt Edith. She married Lawrence, the boy next door, and together they raised twin boys and a girl. After the death of her beloved husband, Margaret begins seeing visions of Aunt Edith and becomes convinced that her aunt has an important message to share.
Margaret's grown children start to grow concerned about her well-being, especially her daughter, nicknamed "Mouse," who is still grappling with the loss of her father. One of the twins, Tom, is facing challenges with his employee and his wife, adding to the ongoing tension with his twin brother, Lawrie. As the siblings observe their mother struggling, they realize they need to pay closer attention to her.
As Margaret's sightings of Aunt Edith continue, she becomes increasingly convinced that a long-buried secret from her past needs to be revealed. This beautifully written story explores the theme of family, illustrating how, despite facing significant loss, the importance of supporting one another through uncertain times is a true victory for all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.