I think my want to like this was significantly greater than the quality of the story allowed, not a necessary purchase for most libraries.

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and Meagan Church for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book for an honest review.

Readers who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing, The Girls in the Stilt House, and Where the Forest Meets the Stars will absolutely fall in love with The Last Carolina Girl. You’ll be sopping up each and every chapter like the gravy that accompanies your favorite relative’s biscuits.

The main character is Leah Payne, just a child, faced with so much adversity that she was required to grow up and mature way too early. Leah lost both her mother and father at an early age forcing her to go live with a foster family. During this transition, she also lost the love of a best friend, her love of freedom, her wild spirit, and her country life.

Leah’s foster parents did not accept her from day one due to the drastic differences in their upbringing. She tried so hard to please them but never could. She began to wonder if it’s because she was more alike her foster family than they’d originally led on.

Favorite quotes:
“Sometimes family’s not who you’ve been given. It’s who you choose.”

“I chose to walk out of the house, to walk away from this family that I didn’t know I had. But of course I knew they were never meant to be mine.”

“I guess that’s the thing about coming home; it’s not the home that’s changed, it’s the person coming back who has.”

What I loved:
💕 The setting. Two small towns in NC. North Carolina is the state that I was Born and Raised.
💕 Leah’s determination, especially when faced with adversity or a good challenge.
💕 The innate goodness and sunshine that Leah exudes.
💕 How Leah sticks every lesson she was taught from her mother and father into every fiber of her being. She never forgets them!
💕 How much Mary Ann loved Leah.
💕 That true joy for Leah was found outside with nature, in the lush trees, in the garden, with her cat.
💕 The sweet, sincere connection between Leah and Jesse.
💕 Never losing the desire to find family. Being reconnected with those she chose as family.
💕 Seeing Leah’s one true dream come to fruition.

Beautifully written, The Last Carolina Girl is Meagan Church’s debut novel. It takes place in North Carolina in the 1930’s. Fourteen-year-old Leah lives in a ramshackle house with her father on the Barna family’s property. Leah’s mother died in childbirth and Leah’s father is a lumberjack who works for Mr. Barna. Leah and her father live in extreme poverty, but Leah has a happy existence caring for a stray cat, spending time with her father, and exploring the woods near their home. The ocean is not too far away and Leah loves going there. She is the happiest being outside in nature. Leah does not have any friends at school, but at home, there is Jesse Barna, a boy she has known her entire life, and the Barna’s kind and loving maid, Tulla.

Unfortunately, Leah’s happy life is upended when a tragic accident takes her father’s life. Now an orphan, it is up to the state to decide Leah’s fate. She is sent to live with a foster family across the state. Saddened that she will be leaving the only home she has ever known, the Barnas assure her that she will be part of a loving family with three children. Upon arrival at the Griffins, Leah is dismayed to find out that she will be living in a small closet on the back porch, will no longer be attending school, and will be Mrs. Griffin’s “helpmate” or maid. Leah, resolving to make the best of it, tries to please Mrs. Griffin to no avail. However, it gets worse for Leah – much, much worse…

This heartbreaking story was inspired by the life of Meagan Church’s own great-aunt, an orphan who was a victim of eugenics. I had heard of forced sterilizations, but I had no idea that it had been a serious scientific movement in the early twentieth century and that forced sterilization was legal for decades. Church includes a lengthy author’s note which tells of her great-aunt and gives background information on the American eugenics movement. A reading group guide and an interview with the author are also included. I encourage readers to read this supplemental material.

This is a powerful novel focusing on a dark period of American history. It is an emotional read. Told in the first person, the reader really gets to know Leah. The author has a way with words, creating images that put the reader right there at the beach, or in woods, or at the Griffin’s house. Leah’s voice was very authentic and I felt like she was telling me her story.

This is a must-read historical fiction novel. This is a topic that should not be forgotten and that should never be repeated. Book clubs will find much to discuss with The Last Carolina Girl.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced digital copy of The Last Carolina Girl.

This was a quick read for me, and very enjoyable. Taking place in the 1930’s in North Carolina, we follow Leah’s heartbreaking childhood… growing up she did not have much, but had the constant love of her father. But through a heartbreaking loss, her whole world changes. My heart just ached for Leah. And yet, her warmth, hopefulness, and loving nature always shined above all else.

This was an enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend, especially to those who like historical fiction and coming of age. I did also listen to part of this book as the audiobook, and thought that was very well done as well!

I was lucky enough to get to read this while I was down in South Carolina last month and I loved getting to experience the setting while in the setting. One of the things I love about historical fiction is getting to a place of greater understanding of something that you might not have really thought about in history. For me, I didn't even know about eugenics and its role in the United States, had always thought of it as a Nazi idea. Getting to learn about the way this awful "plan" played out in the south hurt my heart but I'm grateful for the way I learned and grew because of it. Incredibly good with setting and character development! Cannot wait for more from this gifted author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC.

You want a good cry? Are you looking to feel emotionally devastated? Here you go.

It took me a long while to compose myself when I finished this one. Phew.

In 1935 in North Carolina, Leah lives with her father in a ramshackle house provided by his boss, Mr. Barna. Her father works a dangerous logging job in the woods. When an accident occurs, Leah is left an orphan. Leah and Jesse Barna are great friends and spend many hours together, but after the death of her father, the Barna’s feel obligated to follow the states directives and Leah is sent to a foster home. One that has children her age. There’s only one problem, she’s not welcomed into the Griffin family, but instead ends up being a helpmate. She tries her hardest to meet Mrs. Griffin’s expectations, but somehow always falls short. When Dr. Foster enters the picture with his new procedure, Mrs. Griffin makes plans. Plans Leah is unaware of. Plans that will change Leah’s life, but Leah has plans of her own. When big secrets are revealed, it only makes things worse for Leah. Will the Griffin’s end up ruining Leah’s life or will Leah end up exactly where she belongs? Church writes a heartbreaking coming of age story, full of injustices with an indomitable character of strength that you can’t help but root for throughout. Thank you to Sourcebooks, Inc. and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was such an unexpected gem of a book. It absolutely broke my heart. Leah was a heartfelt and complex character, struggling to find her place in a lonely world that seems to have no space for her and just wants her swept away out of sight. The setting was outlined in what seemed like relatively sparse language, but I saw everything so clearly in my mind. I was transported into Leah's world, and I felt all her pains and hopes and joys.

This book deals with such a heavy topic, and a very shameful and ugly part of history. I was bracing myself for it but was still filled with so much horror and heartbreak when the author wrote it out. I don't want this review to be a spoiler, but I will say that if you read the author's note at the end first, as I did, you'll know. I'm not sure whether I would have rather gone into this book blind, but I did love the note at the end, which added some much-needed context to a book dealing with a very sensitive topic. I really can't recommend this book enough, especially for book clubs.

Thank you to Netgally and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a quiet story, not a lot happens but it's still manages to move you to sympathy for the main character, and it was inspired by a real event in the author's family. Leah lives with her father, a lumberjack, in a small house in North Carolina, they live a simple life, getting by on what her father earns, just barely. Her neighbours own the house they live in and Leah is friends with Jesse, the son of the owner. Leah's father is killed in an accident and Leah is abruptly taken to live with another family, a long distance from where she lived. At first she thinks she'll be a friend to the children, two daughters and a son, she quickly finds out that it is expected that she will be a helpmate, someone who cooks, cleans, and does whatever else is required, including hairdressing if required. The Mrs of the house, Mrs Griffin, is a demanding person, nothing that Leah does is right but she keeps putting Leah in situations where she can't help but fail, asking her to serve tea to friends when Leah has no idea how to properly serve tea and snacks. This was a good book and the ending was uplifting, I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Sourcebooks for the ARC.

Master storyteller Meagan Church will blow you away with her highly impressive emotional, and compelling debut, THE LAST CAROLINA GIRL —a young girl caught in a tale of dark family secrets and Eugenics—forced to fight for survival, herself, her body, and her future. Southern fiction at its finest!

I loved this book!

At the heart of this novel is a shattering loss that irrevocably changes the lives of many young women. The author expertly unveils the truths and lies that drive this gripping, powerful tale of a dark part of our history.

Set in 1935 in Holden Beach, NC, we meet Leah Payne (age fourteen years old) who lives with her lumberjack father, Harley Payne—he calls her Mouse. She is a smart, vibrant, carefree teen who loves life. Her mom died when she was born, and she loves her dad, a wise man.

She loves living on the coastal shores of NC, surrounded by nature. They are happy in a little shack on Mr. Barna's property and she is dear friends with his son Jesse and their maid, Tulla.

Then a tragedy, her dad is killed in a logging accident. Everything she knows is being taken away from her—her home, her father, and her friends.

She is sent to live with a foster family in Matthews, NC (Mecklenburg County, near Charlotte, NC). She thinks if she is good and works hard, they will like her and be better than living in a group home.

She is supposed to be a helpmate. However, the Griffin family treats her like their slave, especially Mrs. Griffin. She is not a part of this family in any way.

She is mistreated by the woman, embarrassing her in front of everyone. She is a smart girl and this woman is very manipulative.

Mr. Griffin, the daughters, and the son Michael Henry, Eva Jane, and Mary Ann (so sweet) seem to be afraid of their mom. They are nice to Leah. The mom tries to be well-to-do and put on appearances in front of her friends and entertains, but there is something off about her. She is evil, full of hatred and jealousy.

No matter how hard Leah works cooking, cleaning, and serving her master's friends, nothing she does is good enough. She does not even allow her to attend school, so she is stuck in a small bedroom like a closet and treated like a slave.

Mrs. Griffin has a manipulative plan in mind. She goes behind her back with a local Dr. Moses, heading up the Eugenics and sterilization program for young women in North Carolina.

Leah is distraught when she learns what happened to her without her knowledge or consent. Her letters are kept from her, and she cannot communicate with Jesse.

And then, the final family secret is revealed, which is a shocker. Will Leah escape this horrible family and return to the beach and the people she loves? How can anyone ever compensate for the damage to a vibrant young woman.? Forgiveness and forgetting are two different things.

WOW! A haunting tale of how the actions of government agencies ruined the innocent lives of women and their future. A searing and ultimately hopeful novel about the injustices and the importance of learning from history.

Transporting, heartfelt, and atmospheric.

Beautifully rendered, a powerful and unforgettable novel that will linger long after you finish reading. With well-developed characters, I enjoyed the conclusion of Holden Beach, 2006, brimming with hope after tragedy.

What a resilient, strong, and powerful young woman full of heart and love. A spellbinding coming-of-age tale of loss, hope, and perseverance. Leah will steal your heart with strength and courage, gripping you from page one to the end.

Susan Bennett, the audiobook narrator, is utterly captivating, delivering an award-winning performance. You will want to listen more than once. Highly recommend the audiobook!

One of my "TOP Books of 2023" and a contender for debut of the year! As a North Carolina native, I adore novels set in NC with its idyllic coastal and mountain areas—and some of the "best authors" reside in the famous Tarheel state. The author has quickly been added to my favorite author list.

The writing is stunning, and I was utterly captivated by the lush descriptions and the author's lyrical prose. A heart-wrenching page-turner, I read in two sittings. I loved Leah/Jesse. You will be outraged at the devastation of these young women. Thank you for giving these women a voice for often a forgotten untold part of our history.

Meticulously researched, it is heartbreaking the number of useless sterilizations completed - 7,000 in NC and in Mecklenburg county 485, which is 3 times of any other NC county. Very sad when a love of the sea is a reason to question one's sanity.

Inspired by the author's family history, an ideal book club pick. I thoroughly enjoyed the Conversation with the Author and the Reading Group Guide (included). A wealth of information is included.

THE LAST CAROLINA GIRL is perfect for fans of Diane Chamberlain's Necessary Lies, Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Take My Hand(two favorites), Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Girls in the Stilt House.

Thanks to #SourcebooksLandmark #RecordedBooks and #Netgalley for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. Also pre-ordered the hardcover copy.

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Meagan where we go behind the scenes of the book and this talented author, on pub date, March 28, 2023.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 28, 2023
My Rating: 5 STARS ++
March 2023 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2023

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: March 28, 2023

Whew, this was heavy. A historical fiction based off the real life of the author’s aunt, this slow burn read punches you in the gut toward the end. A poor girl loses both her parents at a young age and is sent to be a housemaid with a family hours from where she grew up. She’s treated awfully, but you don’t know the extent of it until the apex of the horror she faces. The topic of eugenics in this book made my skin crawl…and the authors notes will only make it worse, it was difficult to recover after finishing this one.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥
𝐁𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟑.𝟐𝟖.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒮𝑜𝑜𝓃!

Thank you [partner] @bookmarked for this gifted ebook.

This debut is southern fiction, family drama, and historical fiction all wrapped up into a heartbreaking but poignant story.

Leah’s mother died in childbirth, yet she loves her father and their little shack on the Barna family’s rural property in North Carolina. Leah's closest friends are Mr. Barna’s son Jesse and their maid Tullah.

At age 14, Leah’s father is killed in a logging accident. Leah is sent away to the Griffin family: forced to leave the Barna family and the only home she has ever known. The Griffins are a well-to-do family who treat Leah as a servant. Mrs. Griffin is especially cruel to Leah, no matter how hard she tries to do all that is asked of her.

When Mrs. Griffin discovers that Leah suffers from “spells,” she sees it as an opportunity to seek her secret revenge on poor Leah, altering Leah’s body and life forever.

Set in the 1930s South, this starts at an unhurried pace, describing the naivete and delight of growing up with nature and simple things surrounding you. But then it quickly escalates into a heartwrenching read as the story delves into family secrets, abuse and the atrocity of eugenics.

**Don’t skip the Author’s Notes!

𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵.

I have a love-hate relationship with historical fiction, but this one caught my attention, and I have to say I love the emotional roller coaster.

Our courageous main character is being raised by hard-working, single father. He works long hours to provide for the family, but they still do not have any extra. Her father teaches her to be her in person, and to be thankful for what they have.

The story takes place in the time when it is not proper for a girl to sweat. When the only appropriate thing that little girls have to look forward to is how many children they will have.

When Leah goes to live with her foster family, she has determined to show them that she belongs. While the relationship is not what she had hoped for, she works hard to make the best of it. She develops a friendship with Mary Ann, who is probably the smartest, sweetest little girl, and I absolutely loved her.

I highly recommend this book to everyone even if historical fiction is not normally the genre you would reach for. It’s a short book that completely pulls you in.

Thank you to Netgalley, Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark and author, Meagan church for the advanced readers copy.

Leah and her father live a simple life along the Carolina coast. When her father dies, Leah is torn from her home and sent across the state to live with strangers. Instead of welcoming her into the family, she is treated as a maid.

This book was ok. It moved very slow and very little seemed to happen with the plot. The characters were well developed and multi dimensional. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

I loved everything about this book. The author put so much heart and research into this story as it was inspired by her own family history. Seeing the world through a young girl’s eyes was a difficult sight to grasp at times. When young Leah finds herself without her parents, she is forced to live by rules that no child should have to face. All Leah wants is to go “home” where she was content. Learning about the prominence eugenics had in the US and the longevity of this practice is horrifying.

For fans of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, this book is for contemporary fiction lovers everywhere. A bit of a slow start, but it gets interesting early enough that it hooked me the rest of the way through. I really liked Leah, her inner monologue is age-appropriate and her words made me feel something. THE LAST CAROLINA GIRL is one of those stories that makes you think the worst is about to happen around every corner, but there are silver linings that give you hope and that truly makes it a great story. The author's note includes an explanation of the research that went into the book and it just shows the reader how much the author cares. As a reader, I appreciate that!

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for inviting me to read this debut! 3.5 stars.

This book was not really what I expected. With all the tragedy that Leah faces - the death of her mother at birth, the loss of her father and then moving away from everything she has known to be with a foster family is heartbreaking.

I loved the way the author set the scene in North Carolina and did a fantastic job of describing it and bringing it to life. I enjoyed reading of Leah's strength, courage and perseverance through her hardships. I thought her connection to Jesse was heartfelt and real.

The author brought a real issue into this fictional tale and taught me about something that I didn't know a whole lot about. While I had heard of eugenics, I did not fully understand it or the impact that it had in the US.

This was a quick read for me but I felt like I wanted more from the story. The ending felt a bit abrupt for me. This could be seen as a positive as I felt connected to Leah as a character and wanted more from her story.

I liked it, but thought the ending was rushed. It was written well enough that I could lose myself in the time period when I read bigger sections. I think the Crawdads comparison is fair. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, what a story. This book will take you on such an emotional roller coaster, one you have never been on before… It is well researched, well written and you fall in love with Leah from page one.
I felt so many emotions while reading this book and it is when you’ll definitely not want to miss

A good but difficult story to read, “The Last Carolina Girl” is a solid debut from Meagan Church. Leah’s story is a devastating one in a dark chapter of America’s history and I am glad light is being shone on it. For setting alone, this book has been and will be compared to “Where the Crawdads Sing.” And while WTCS more effortlessly weaves the nature elements into the story of the orphan girl, TLCG has a heroine your heart bleeds for *and* a story not only worth telling but also worth recommending. So while the tale is more simply told, don’t neglect reading “The Last Carolina Girl”– it is good, true, and important.