I've wanted to read this book since the Facebook Group, The Friends & Fiction Book Club started during the first lockdown (we are on #3 at the moment). Five authors who get together to chat books with guest authors. I was familiar with some of the authors but those I wasn't, I wanted to read. Which brings me to Kristy Woodson Harvey.

Under the Southern Sky recently released and my big question was was this going to live up to all the hype I've seen on social media. The answer for me is a resounding yes it did. I did a combination read and audiobook. I recommend both. With 2 major POVs and 2 smaller parts, the audio had a different voice for each one - I love that. It sets the tone and gives each character a voice that matched their personality.

The story was unique with characters that were authentic. It had a nice balance between a lighter tone and then more serious for the emotional parts. There are some serious topics - grief and fertility, both of which were handled with respect and heart.

Under the Southern Sky is a story of love and loss, family and friends, and self discovery. Definitely one I recommend.

There is a reason that Kirsty Woodson Harvey’s UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY is on so many “Most Anticipated” lists. With every novel, Harvey’s writing and storytelling keeps getting better. UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY will give you all the feels: from joy to sadness, heartbreak to hope, as you follow Amelia and Parker as they navigate their relationship with each other and their families and try to find what their futures hold. Harvey also explores the question of what makes a family: Is it the family you were born into or the family you create, the family of your heart?
Amelia and Payton grew up next door to each other, their mothers are lifelong best friends. When Amelia’s seemingly perfect life falls apart, she heads home to Cape Carolina, but only after dropping a bombshell on Payton, who’s reeling since the death of his wife three years ago. He also decides a change of locale would be good and heads home, where visiting their families and a different pace, help the friends connect, again, and leads to some interesting decisions.
Told from alternating viewpoints: Amelia, Parker, Greer’s journal entries (Parker’s dead wife), and Elizabeth (Amelia’s mom), we get a story of love, family, secrets, and family secrets in a beautiful Southern backdrop in the uniquely Southern way that Harvey is perfecting because, well, she is Southern and is writing what she knows. If you get a chance to hear her talk about this novel, take it (or google some of her interviews).
Harvey has created a story that will fascinate you with its deep subject matter and keep you enthralled from beginning to end, with characters that will touch your heart and have you, both anxiously turning pages and trying to stop reading so quickly because you do not want it to end. I loved the cast of characters, especially Aunt Tilly. Grab a glass of sweet tea (with a little extra), find a cozy spot on your porch or patio, and settle into this one. You won’t want to miss it!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this novel that gave me a chance to read it before my preorder arrived. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#UndertheSouthernSky #KristyWoodson #GalleryBooks #TallPoppyWriters #BloomReads #TallPoppyBlogger #SouthernFiction

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy

This is the first book that I have read by Kristy Harvey. I was very excited to get approval for this book, as I have heard great things about this author.. I’m also a huge fan of women’s fiction. However, I did not connect to the writing style of this book or the story itself. I wish I could say that I love this but I didn’t unfortunately. Setting in the book was beautiful but it just wasn’t for me.

This book was beautiful and if it wasn't for life and a death I would have finished in a couple hours.
The time it took me to read is no reflection on this story it was wonderful it had all the feels I cried, laughed and cried some more and then that ending Kristy knows how to turn your heart to mush.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Journalist Amelia Buxton is working on a story about what a fertility clinic does with abandoned embryos, when she discovers that one of the names on the list happens to be her childhood best friend, Parker and his late wife Greer. She contacts Parker to see if he is aware that he is on the list, and it sets in motion a string of events that changes not only Parker's life, but hers as well.
This was a really good book. It dealt with some heavy subject matters such as cancer, infertility, and divorce, but it would still make a great beach read. Amelia was the ideal female protagonist . She was witty, and strong, and didn't take crap off of anyone, least of all her ex-husband and his family. I highly recommend this one!

I received an ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley for an honest review. Amelia and Parker have been friends since childhood and as Amelia was doing research for a story, she came across some information that would affect Parker. Parker was still grieving the loss of his wife who lost her battle with cancer. His wife Greer was his whole life and 3 years later he still couldn't move forward. When Amelia told him she had discovered that the embryo's that he and Greer had frozen when she learned she had cancer was considered abandoned, he knew he had to get them back and maybe get a part of Greer back.
We meet Greer, through her journals, Greer's father, Parker's family, and Amelia's family. The story takes us through the decisions of what to do with the embryo's, would Parker and Amelia get together or not, whether Parker would ever be able to move forward. We also learn some shocking secrets that were unexpected but when Amelia's mother told her the story, I knew why she had done what she did and why after always keeping this secret she finally told Amelia. We also learn of the secrets Amelia was keeping. It all makes for a very interesting read.
There are many social issues being discussed in the book, but they all blended very well into the story to make a beautiful story.

If you are looking for your next great summer read, look no further!! Kristy Woodson Harvey is fast becoming one of my favorite go to authors for Southern Chick-Lit and awesome beach reads. And she doesn't disappoint with Under the Southern Sky. I loved the way she structured the book. You get to hear from all of the characters perspectives and read from Greer's journals. Those journal entries are oddly intimate and really help the reader connect with the journey all the characters take and the crossroads that their journey intersects at. It's a beautiful and emotionally charged journey. What do you do when your whole world comes crumbling down around you? How do you put the pieces back together? This book explores that along with the strength of family, long time friendships and love (both old and new). Each chapter is like peeling back the layers of an onion, adding so much flavor and depth to the book. This is a sweet, tender read but yet still takes you down a twisty road. This is a must read book to add to your summer reading list!! I loved this book and love this author!!

My thanks to Kristy Woodson Harvey, Gallery Books and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love absolutely everything about this book. This book is written from multiple points of view, with each chapter a different character. It seems like writing in this style is the latest "in" thing to do, and I'm just not a huge fan of it. In this case, there were at least 5 different characters telling the story. I felt like that was just a bit much. The story also jumps around in time, which also isn't my favorite. However, I do not think that this story would have worked in a linear storyline, so I am willing to look past that. It was the overall storyline that kept me going. The story was brilliant and unique. I have honestly never considered what happens with frozen embryos after being considered "abandoned." This story adds a unique perspective of what happens when one spouse dies. The grief that Parker experiences felt so real and raw throughout as he continues with his life after his beloved wife dies. The progression in the relationship between Parker and Amelia was somewhat predictable, but it was still fun to read. So despite my criticism of the structure and way the book was written, the overall story completely made up for it, and I really did enjoy this book.

This book is chick lit, but slightly heavier chick lit than we normally expect.

Amelia enjoys her life. She has a job she likes, a husband whom she loves, and then it all falls apart. As she continues her investigative reporting on surrogate pregnancy. She discovers a childhood friend and his wife have embryos that are considered abandoned. Parker's wife died from cancer, but they saved the eggs for "later." Later never arrived for them.

Amelia's and Parker's families live in North Carolina, next door to each other and their mothers have been best friends for a lot of years. There is also Amelia's aunt who is an interesting, unique character, and as it turns out, plays a larger role in the story than just the eccentric aunt. Parker's late wife, Greer, kept a journal and it is through the journal entries that we find out a lot of the story. Amelia decides to become the surrogate for Parker, and the story proceeds along, not altogether smoothly, but it moves along. The author tells us about the surrogate pregnancy and issues surrounding the embryos, and has obviously done a great deal of research on this issue.

Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers again. What a wonderful love story surrounded with complex issues and some hidden surprises. This is a definite must read. It isn’t fair to label this chick lit or a beach read.
It is so much more.

I loved this book so much I didn’t want it to end. The characters were lovable. The setting was lovable. I would love a series about these families and Cape Carolina. This as the first book I had read by this author but it will not be the last!

Another great Southern charm story by Kristy Harvey. I enjoyed the story line and the characters. Always ready for her next book. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I have loved everything by Kristy Woodson Harvey and her newest, Under the Southern Sky did not disappoint. This is women’s fiction, Southern fiction at its best. I love the way she weaves the stories of each character together and the sense of place is perfect. Get this on your summer reading list.

I'm a huge, huge fan of Kristy's stories and have been hooked on them ever since I read her very first book. I have loved all of them, and if possible, love each one more than the previous one. She's just that good! Her storytelling is wonderful and enticing from the first words. I immediately fall in love with her characters and feel like they are my friends.

Under the Southern Sky is an emotional, touching story of two people, a man and a women who were childhood friends, who are each now struggling with the current situations of their lives. Amelia and Parker come together again after Amelia discovers the frozen embryos that Parker and his deceased wife had had stored.

This story is a little bit different from Kristy's previous books. It has a more serious tone to it and a little more drama. But it's still full of the beautiful storytelling that she does so well. I quickly became captivated with the lives of Amelia and Parker and struggled right along with them, as they tried to figure out the right thing to do.

Under the Southern Sky will tug on your heartstrings and lovingly wrap itself around your soul. I loved every bit of it and highly recommend it if you are looking for a satisfying, emotional read.

Kristy Woodson Harvey does it again. How she crafts a story that is so heart wrenching and emotional and yet give you hope is astounding. The topics her books center around are never light and she writes about them with such emotion and care that the story carries with you long after you've finished the book; Under the Southern Sky was no different. The roads both Amelia and Parker traveled were not easy but the adage "everything happens for a reason" fits so well for their story. The characters in this story are complex, real and imperfect, but it all makes them that much more endearing. I would be lying if I said there weren't tears in my eyes a few times throughout the book. If you are a fan of Woodson Harvey, Under the Southern Sky is not to be missed.

Instagram Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMR9iX0AHLa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This book follows Parker, widowed and 3 years later not knowing how to move on, and Amelia, his childhood friend who has just caught her husband cheating with her male hair stylist. Amelia discovers that Parker and his late wife Greer still have frozen embryos and now Parker is on a mission to find a surrogate and keep Greer’s memory alive. Without realizing how much they need each other, Parker and Amelia reconnect and find solace in each other.

I started this book and right away, it grabbed me!! Then the middle felt a little bit like it wanted to start dragging (maybe it was just me) but the ending 😭😭
Amelia took longer to grow on me but she came around. Parker was just perfect to me. And their families were so great. This book definitely pulled at my mom heart strings so much. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Amelia works as a reporter for a magazine and while doing research for an article on "abandoned" frozen embryos, she finds her old childhood friend Parker on the list. In a desperate attempt for their future when his wife Greer was diagnosed with cancer, they had their embryos frozen, but now that he has tragically lost her, he's forgotten about them. After reading a journal entry where Greer mourns the death of these potential children along with her, Parker wants to grant her dying wish and attempts to find a surrogate. And as his friend, Amelia steps in to help.
This story was slow moving but truly heart-warming. I loved how close Parker and Amelia were even before her decision to step in and help. And the setting of Cape Carolina was absolutely beautiful.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed are given voluntarily and are completely my own.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Ok, if you know me AT ALL- you know I love me some KWH. Her books are just great and they put me in the summer mood- just looking at her cover has me craving beach time, the smell of sunscreen in the air, the sun on my skin, and toes digging in the sand. (Alternatively, I can also picture this same scenario with a pool instead of the beach.)

Having loved Dear Carolina, Lies and Other Acts of Love, Slightly South of Simple, The Secret To Southern Charm, The Southern Side of Paradise, and Feels Like Falling– my expectations were HIGH for Under The Southern Sky.

And KWH did NOT disappoint. In fact, this may be her best work yet. All of her books have heart and soul in them- but over the years- you can tell her writing has grown, matured- she is a seasoned writer now and her characters (especially in UTSS) have definitely benefitted from her years of writing.

What I Liked:

The cover is GORGEOUS.

Amelia and Greer. While both ladies had their own distinctive personalities- you could tell that each of them had that something that is hard to describe- but could be called gritty determination. And that made each of them fascinating to read and learn about.

The ending. I love a book that when I finish it just gives me ALL THE FEELS and Under The Southern Sky delivered with flying colors.



Bottom line: This book needs to be on your MUST READ list.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

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Happiest of Publication Days to one of my favorite writers @kristywharvey !!! Thank you, Kristy for our gifted review copy. UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY is out now!
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all of Kristy‘s books are five star reads for me. After reading the synopsis, I am intrigued to start this one. While reading it, I feel pretty confident I know which way Kristy is going to go with the story. I was wrong. Halfway through the book I’m going well what’s next for these characters?
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Through several alternating narrators, with detailed history from two families on the Carolina coast and a friends to lovers romance, this book is the ultimate gateway to summer reading!
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I just loved it so much. Kristy kept me guessing and intrigued and I was turning the pages late into the night. A definite 5 star read!!

I have enjoyed every book I have read by this author. My love of her books continues with this one. I didn’t want it to end. I hope you enjoy the journey of Amelia, Parker, and Greer as much as I did. As in our lives there are ups and downs. I love the characters and the story. I think you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.