Wow, Under the Southern Sky by author Kristy Woodson Harvey is women’s fiction at its best! I have previously read the authors Peachtree Bluff series and Feels Like Falling so I knew from past experience that I was in for a treat. And believe me, the author did not disappoint. I think that this is going to be a stand-alone novel, however if the author decided to give us more, I certainly wouldn’t complain. This story was filled with characters that were so real and caring that I couldn’t help but feel an emotional bond towards them. There was sadness that led to joy and bliss. I enjoyed reading about the location with the scenes down on the dock, the family’s long history of living at Dogwood, and the close bonds between best friends and neighbors Elizabeth and Olivia. Actually, there was just so much to this story that I loved and enjoyed. I really think out of all her books that I’ve read, that this one is my favorite. And I believe that everyone who reads it will enjoy it as much as I have. I’d like to thank Gallery Books for approving my request and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I’m rating this at 5 stars and am looking forward to reading more of Kristy’s work in the future.

I jumped for joy when I was approved for Harvey’s new book. It is a lovely, sweet, tender read. I loved the plot. I have often wondered what happens to unused frozen embryos and Harvey’s plot is creative. I thought I knew what would happen after reading the synopsis and I was partially right. What I didn’t count on was the twisty road the author would take me on. At times I was crestfallen, impatient, and wondered if the two people who needed to be together would actually end up together. Parker is sweet and I love how he loves deeply. Amelia holds part of herself back until she is sure. I love the scheming of the mothers. Harvey pegs the southern traits very well. I liked how Aunt Tilley was irrepressible. I enjoyed reading this book.

This book checks all the marks with the way it weaves through the lives of two Southern families, united in secrets, love, friendship, and life. Told through multiple points of view, we learn about Amelia and Parker, brought back together as friends because of a story Amelia is writing.

Running the gamut of emotions from heartfelt to heartache, Amelia is starting over as her marriage has ended while Parker is just going through the motions of life, having never moved on after the loss of his wife. The news Amelia brings Parker will change both of their lives, but not in a neat and tidy way. We journey through the ups and downs of their lives, the impact of former spouses, family, and travel from trendy Palm Beach, to flashy NY, and back to the soothing lure of home in North Carolina.

Under the Southern Sky is unputdownable, so grab your sweet tea--this is sure to be the hottest book of summer.

**received an ARC from the publisher**

Amelia is shocked when she walks in on her husband not only cheating on her, but cheating on her with a man. She decides to throw herself fully into her current story and is shocked to find out something that will change her friend Parkers life. Parker hasn’t been able to move on since the loss of his wife, but with this new information from Amelia, could he still have a piece of Greer?

So I was reading this one on Valentines Day and Dave asked what it was about. I started to explain and he goes, I mean we know where this is going right? Do you even need to finish? Obviously he doesn’t understand the pure joy of a beautifully told story! This book was everything I needed and more! I just adored both Parker and Amelia, and I their crazy families too! Kristy Woodson Harvey has a way of weaving a beautiful story, with fantastic characters and a sense of place you can picture as you read. Did I know where the story was going to go almost immediately? Yes. But that didn’t take away from loving every second of my journey through the pages!

In Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Amelia Paxton investigates what becomes of abandoned embryos in fertility clinics in Palm Beach, Florida, as a feature story for her magazine. What she uncovers is so much more: her childhood friend Parker, who lost his wife to cancer three years ago, has forgotten about the embryos that he and his late wife Greer created to implant when she beat her battle with cancer, which never happened.

The fact that Amelia has just lost her husband to his lover does not make delivering the news about the embryos any easier. She finds that a grieving Parker has been stuck for three years, but when she tells him the news that he needs to make a decision about the fate of his four embryos, he becomes unstuck and starts to make plans for the embryos to be implanted in a surrogate as a way to bring his late wife back into his life.

Complicating their lifelong friendship is that unbeknownst to the other, Parker has always loved Amelia, literally the girl next door, and she has admired him ever since she took real notice of him when she was in college. But neither thinks the other could ever possibly fall in love with him or her.

Seeing that Parker’s plan to find a surrogate has brought him back to the living, Amelia decides she could do this for him: she could carry these babies and then get back to her life. What follows are twists, turns, complications, disappointments, then sudden realizations as both Amelia and Parker move forward in their lives.

Under the Southern Sky is more than a romance. It is Southern women’s fiction with multiple subplots, a bit of mystery, a near loss, and a crazy aunt in the attic, er, East wing. Readers who enjoy Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Kay Andrews, and Mary Alice Monroe will find a similar experience with Harvey’s books.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University. She and her mother Beth Woodson write a blog called Design Chic about home decorating. Harvey lives in North Carolina with her family.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting February 13, 2021.

I would like to thank Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

POSTED ONFEBRUARY 9, 2021
Under the Southern Sky
Kristy Woodson Harvey‘s newest book Under the Southern Sky is my first ARC (Advance Reader Copy). An ARC book is given to reviewers before the book hits mass distribution in exchange for an honest opinion.
Right from the first page, I was sucked in. It wasn’t just the story or characters but a freshness and energy in the writing. Originally I was a bit hesitant about the topic, but Harvey brought hope and joy to a tricky, sensitive situation.
When journalist Amelia digs into her research for a story, she discovers that her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have frozen embryos that have been classified as “abandoned.” Bringing it to his attention adds to Parker’s pain of his loss but also gives him new options to consider.
I had to keep turning the pages to see how their friendship would evolve as they dealt with these adult situations. A nice addition to the list of characters included best friend/meddling mother characters that were patient and subtle. I also enjoyed Aunt Tilley’s character. She’s lovable, quirky, and more complex than first meets the eye. Plenty of twists and turns in the story keep readers engaged.
I would highly recommend reading Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It comes out in April 2021, but you can pre-order a copy from your favorite bookstore today. Pre-orders are very helpful to authors so if you think you’ll buy this book, why not pre-order today? If your sweetheart is looking for a special gift to get you for Valentine’s Day, ordering this book would be a great suggestion.

As my first Kristy Woodson Harvey book I was unsure what to expect going in, but I had heard good things about her writing in the past, so I was optimistic and let’s just say I was a more than little disappointed. The entire first half I was bored, wanting more and waiting for something significant to happen. I found Amelias character to be very dry and I had a hard time connecting with her. There was so much back and forth in the book it became more annoying than enchanting and I was over it by the time they finally came together in the end. I would say in total truth I probably only enjoyed the last third of the book unfortunately.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I have only read a few of Kristy Woodson Harvey's books but have been following her on social media since Covid began. This was a great book that keep me entertained. And I love how it wrapped up very tidy. Sometimes that is what you need in life - a story that wants you to know more but then also wraps everything up. Thanks again for letting me read this book!

I could not put this book down! It kept my attention the entire time. Parker & Greer have the perfect marriage until tragedy strikes. His close friend Amelia has been there for him every step of the way. Friendship becomes more as things are learned. Such a good read!

This was my first read by this author and I am very glad I was able to experience it. I will definitely be adding more of her books to my library. I loved so many things about this book. The characters were well thought out and the relationships were believable. The story drew me in and held my attention from start to finish. I definitely recommend this book.

Kristy Woodson Harvey writes the most incredible characters. Amelia and Parker were childhood friends. When Amelia is researching a news story she reconnects with Parker. Parker is having a hard time moving on since his wife died. As Amelia and Parker's lives intertwine, we are taking on an amazing journey of friendship, grief, and moving on. And absolutely beautiful scenery! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Oh how I loved this story! Kristy Woodson Harvey quickly became one of favorite southern writers! Her stories make me want to grab a glass of sweet tea and a chair and head to the beach. This story is about finding your one true love, loss, infertility and coming back around and finding your passion and love for family. I never miss a new book by Kristy! You are always in for a warming story.

Let me tell you this book and it’s characters found their way right to my heart. A friend recommended this author to me and I found this book and I’m so glad I did I enjoyed this read with all its secrets and how they are exposed. The family , friends, loves and past loves makes this one a special read.
I was given an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my review from the publisher through NetGalley and I’m going to let my fingers do the walking to see if I can find another book by this author her writing really rates the five stars and they should be sprinkled with gold glitter.

Wow - a wonderful story about friendship, family, love, and the choices one makes on life's journey. The main setting is Buxton Beach in Cape Carolina. Parker is still mourning his wife's death, three years after she's gone (Greer). Amelia, newly divorcing, is starting her life over. Amelia is pouring herself into her job as a journalist, when her current article's research about frozen embryos brings her across her friends Parker and Greer's names on that list. Immediately she knows she has to let her childhood friend, Parker, know about the embryos, a possible connection he could maybe have to Greer through a future child.

Parker is surprised with this news. Amelia volunteers to be the surrogate for him. But can he accept this generous offer, knowing he has had feelings for her since they were young next door neighbors? What will their relationship develop into, even though Amelia has made it clear this will strictly be a friend doing something for a friend? NO SPOILERS - so I'm stopping here, but there are many twists and turns in the plot.

This book is so heartwarming, not only from a romantic point of view, but in the ways families can stick together and neighbors can become your family. The author has developed the characters so well that you feel you are part of their group. I highly recommend this book.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Gallery Books) and/or author (Kristy Woodson Harvey) via NetGalley, so I could give an honest review of this book. Thank you! This book is scheduled to be released on April 20-2021. #gallerybooks #kristywoodsonharvey #underthesouthernsky

I love this author! I’ve read (I think) everything she has written and wait not so patiently for her next work of art. I know if I start her book it will either be a long night, or during the day nothing will get done until the back cover closes. Her characters have become dear friends who I will think about for weeks. Kristy’s storytelling is like having a conversation with your best friend. I don’t want to keep gushing so I will close by saying run out and buy this woman’s books. You won’t be disappointed

I enjoyed this book and I am a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey's novels. That being said, I thought this one was a bit busy with so many life changing events coming one on top of another. There was a lot of angst and emotion packed into this story but it was all wrapped up neatly at the end. I liked the different viewpoints but adding the mothers was a bit of overkill. Their points of view could have been part of the main characters' story. The subject matter is timely, especially the IVF and frozen embryo storyline which adds interest. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast paced but meaty story of the women's fiction/chick lit variety.

Under the Southern Sky delivers a poignant look at friendship, family and love.

Amelia is an investigative journalist who uncovers that her good friend Parker and his late wife Greer have frozen embryos that are considered abandoned. Amelia knows she must tell Parker about his embryos. What she doesn't expect is that Parker will want to use them.

This book touches on cancer, infertility, loss, grief, love, friendship and family. Woodson Harvey delivers a beautiful and touching description of the frozen embryos that really resonated with me. This book has the quaint Southern small town setting I have become accustomed to in KWH's books. The subject matter of this book really hit home for me. I really loved the story, the dilemma posed by frozen embryos is SO real for many people. This is southern fiction at it's best.

This was my first book by this author, I received a copy from NetGalley for my opinion. I had a hard time connecting to this story, I really didn't care for the style of writing, nor did I care for the main characters. I think I liked Aunt Tilly the best.

“And somehow, if you’re really lucky, you’ll do what I did: you’ll find your way back home.”

Everyone in their families can tell that Amelia and Parker have always loved each other. They grew up next door, their mothers are best friends and they share a passion for their coastal Southern town. But life has separated them. Amelia, a writer, is divorcing her unfaithful husband and Parker, who married into a wealthy publishing family, is still grieving the death of his beautiful wife Greer. When Amelia., who is unable to have children, discovers that Parker and Greer had embryos abandoned after Greer’s death, you think you know what’s coming next. The happy ending, right? It’s not that simple.

Finding their way back home is not easy for Amelia and Parker. There are so many starts, hesitations and stops. Along the way, Kristy Harvey Woodson introduces many vivid supporting characters. There are Amelia’s first husband Thad who is cautiously moving into a new lifestyle, Parker’s long time friends from high school days and both their families, laden with history and long buried secrets. You’ll feel like you a part of their world, part of the little town of Cape Carolina.

This is a story about love and hope. It’s told by Amelia, Parker and Greer in alternating chapters. Be prepared - Greer’s diary, written while she was dying of ovarian cancer, is heartbreaking. Kristy Harvey Woodson has been praised as “a major new voice in Southern fiction” and she is that. However, her novels have universal themes that appeal to all readers. Under the Southern Sky is a gift that will stay with you long after the story ends. 5 stars.

Kristy Woodson Harvey quickly became one. Of my favorite authors when I read her novel. Dear Carolina, in about a day a few years ago. Under the Southern Sky is no different. I quickly became attached to the characters, and cried, laughed and cheered both for them, and along with them. They felt like family, and I hope to hear more about the Thaysden’s, Paxtons and McCanns in the future.