I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a story set in a small town in Georgia and is full of quirky characters. The author has captured small town charm in a superb way. She develops the characters in such a way that the reader is drawn into the story. It addresses the current topic of monument removal and the views from all sides. Throughout the story is an ice storm that causes many of the characters to stay together and discover their differences and in some cases discover themselves. The story drags a bit and I found I had to spend more time reading it than usual but I did like the book, I just did not love it.

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The plot of the novel was compelling. Navigating current issues through a vivd work of fiction, Pamela Terry flawlessly sails through the murky waters to write a wonderful sophomore novel. While the overlying plot focuses on who tore down the statue, the imbedded issues of family, friends, and people’s desires are woven in the tangle of characters. The continuous changing viewpoints can be overwhelming when first introduced, however, Terry writes each character with their own distinguishable voice. The writing was immensely detailed and well written. While I enjoyed the premise of the novel, I had no immense attraction towards it. The slow pace of the novel made it difficult to continue reading at times. I desired to know who pulled down the statue, but overall, the novel fell flat for me.

Four+ stars.
Though current issues run through this piece of fiction vividly, it’s really the story of friendships and relationships. Southern atmosphere is beautifully depicted, as well as the “need” of many small towns, North and South, to take a side. I loved each of the characters, so well drawn. Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this story. I was a little hesitant at first because the initial description made it appear that the story line would focus on the divisiveness caused by a Confederate War statue. But it was so much more than that. The underlying tones of family, friendships, marriage, mistakes, and yet also deep-seated prejudices were woven throughout the story that covered mere days in a Georgian town during a rare ice storm.

This is such a thought provoking book. One of my all time favorites. The author pulled so much emotion out of me. I’m not a crier but I certainly cried while reading this book. It was an honest perspective on human nature and societal behavior. I’ll be thinking about this book for days to come. I was glued to the pages. The writing is phenomenal. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A story that deals with loss and reconnections. Sometimes when we reconnect with family and friends after being a part a while we find that things are truly very different. This book also deals with the issue of a statue and the differences people have toward it an issue our country is dealing with today.
Thanks for an advanced copy

I had read the authors previous book and loved it.
This book is 4 people, all with secrets and desires that not everyone knows about.
An ice storm in Georgia forces them together for an extended stay.
As they navigate the ice storm, each other, and the town's dark history, they begin to reveal secrets that the others and themselves never knew.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very timely with the statute stuff and how people can often overlook their own desires for other people's wishes.

I thought it was a great book with a lot of quirky characters.

Southern charm at its finest!

When the Moon Turns Blue tells of a community with all it's diversity driven by beliefs. There sometimes appears to be a tangle of characters which lost me at times. After delving through the tangles I found a nice read giving meaning to respecting one's neighbors, whoever they may be. The mysteries included where a plus. Thank you NetGalley for this read.

When Marietta loses her husband, Harry, the last thing she wants is company. But when their small town is hit by an ice storm, she suddenly finds herself with 3 surprising houseguests. Little do Marietta, Butter, Gordon, and Glinda know - they all need the company more than they realize, so that they can each find themselves again. Meanwhile, the town is divided over the destruction of a statue honoring a confederate general - will the town ever be able to heal?

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #netgallyreviewer #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #fiction #booklover #bookreviews #whatimreading #whatiread #bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookgram #bookstagrammer #instabooks #bookreviewer #takealookitsinabook #libraryreads #whenthemoonturnsblue #pamelaterry

I very much enjoyed Pamela Terry's first novel "The Sweet Taste of Muscadines" a copy of which, like "When the Moon Turns Blue", I was offered on Netgalley. This second novel does not disappoint at all. Set in the fictitious small town of Wesleyan, Georgia, it begins with the funeral of the much-loved Harry Cline. His widow Marietta suffers from migraines and a doozy hits her before the service is over. Marietta's old, but estranged friend Butter jumps up to help her before she passes out and sees Marietta safely home thus somewhat rekindling their old friendship. Little did she or Marietta know that they'd be spending a lot more time together when that night, an ice storm hits Wesleyan causing a pipe to burst in Butter's condo. With nowhere else to go, Butter drives to Marietta's and asks for lodging. In the meantime, Marietta's old (gay) friend Gordon lost power in his home and has also descended on Marietta's doorstep. Butter and Gordon have always competed for Marietta's attention and the atmosphere is tense with the two under one roof. And then there's Glinda, Marietta's sister-in-law, who has finally had it with her pompous husband Macon. She decides to leave him in the midst of the ice storm and roars up to Marietta's..

The real drama, however, is the controversy concerning a Confederate statue that has the town divided. Mysteriously, it was whacked to pieces during the ice storm, but not by the storm. Many Wesleyans are glad it's gone, but Macon, who is running for mayor, announces that he plans to have it resurrected which further estranges him from his wife.

Told with gentle humor, I found all the characters to be realistic and the subject matter to be relevant to our times. So often, Southern fiction is 'cutesy' and this was not like that. And I found the ending very satisfying.

I also liked that one of the characters was reading a Louise Penny novel, so I'm assuming Ms. Terry is a fan of that author herself.

I have to say this is in the top five novels I've read this year. Keep 'em coming, Pamela Terry!

I absolutely LOVED this book. Too often, when someone writes a Southern novel (or bases one here without BEING FROM here), it falls flat but neither occurred here. The phrasing and cadence of sentences were correct as were the spot on social scenes (especially the funeral related ones). In fact, so much of the novel was phrase-perfect that I wound up highlighting something in most chapters. The story itself was wonderful and the characters were so vibrant I felt I had known them.

I enjoyed this story so much!
I know all about migraines! They're no fun at all! Poor Marietta!
This story made me smile so much and I even giggled in a few places! These characters! Oh my!
I also know all about ice storms. Kentucky is notorious for them! They're beautiful and sometimes spooky. The town definitely looks different.
The cover of this book is what made me want to read it and I'm so glad I did! I absolutely adored it!. I went a whole night without sleep just to see what these characters would do and how they would treat each other. I wasn't disappointed at all! I didn't want to putnthe book down.
The one thing that we could do without was the chapter titles. To me it didn't make sense because the story flowed smoothly without them. In other words I don't think the reader would get lost because of the titles. They could have been done differently though. Each of the characters really didn't need their own titles.
I loved loved the ending of the book. Well done! Wonderful writing! I hope to read more by this author soon! She has potential!
4 stars simply because of the chapter titles.
I highly recommend!
My thanks for this beautiful poignant story!
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Marietta's husband has passed away, and the story begins with his funeral. An ice storm hits this southern community that night, and friends and family rally around. Memories from the past are opened up, and relationships, good and bad, are revealed. A confederate statue is demolished. All of this in sort of slow motion.

I could only manage to get through 41% of this book. There are many characters, and in each chapter, the reader peers into the minds of several different ones, with no real breaks, so it was quite confusing at times. I was looking for some action, and just didn't find much in the first half of this book. I'm assuming that the story picks up speed at some point, but I just lost interest and had to stop reading.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review When the Moon Turns Blue.

Marietta has just lost her husband and now finds that she again needs the friends and family that she has let go over the years. Unfortunately, those folks may be on very different sides over the issue of a Confederate stature in town. As people become more judgemental can we still find love and friendship? A marvelous book.

From the author of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines comes a novel of love, friendship, and community. After a rare ice storm hits a small Georgia town, the citizens awake to find that the statue of a racist town founding father has been destroyed. It is neighbor against neighbor, relative against relative, as people deplore or celebrate the destruction.

Pamela Terry explores the question: what happens when you find you don't like the people you love?

#WhenTheMoonTurnsBlue #Netgalley #SaltMarshAuthors

This contemporary novel, “When the Moon Turns Blue,” will engage anyone immersed in modern society. Whatever your personal convictions, everyone has lost a friend, or their respect for one, through social media rants or politically-divisive memes. Who really are the people we love? How do we, as a world, a nation, and as connected communities, get past the mote in our neighbor’s eye and still love each other? Ms. Terry invites us to examine ourselves through the lens of Wesleyan, GA–and a blue moon.

The writing is adept, descriptive, and engaging–once you get your bearings within the context of all the quickly flipping viewpoints. Honestly, it took a minute to realize who the lead is as the text rotates through multiple POVs—starting with the estranged friend’s, Butter, rather than the main character, Marietta Cline. The cast of characters were great, and honestly, more relatable than the main character. I loved Marietta’s bibliophile best friend (Gordon), her sister-in-law (Glinda), and Butter. It was a house party with great food, dogs, and ravens! Once I grasped relationships, the story became easier to follow. I did find the singular dog POV somewhat random, and that bounced me out of the story, momentarily. Overall, a great story with some unexpected moments that made me laugh out loud.

The monument destroyer’s hidden identity kept me guessing until the end, and I wished that Glinda’s portrait had been included! It was Dorian Gray reversed! I was reminded that we never really see people, unless fate (kismet) gives us a glimpse. I agree with Ms. Terry that there is more to love in our neighbors than meets the eye. Blue Moons only appear in real life every two or three years, let’s pray that one rises soon that allows us the chance to really see the people around us and heal the divisions and rancor and battles in our hearts. It’s been a long pandemic of hurt and anger.

Favorite Quote:
“All we can ever really manage is to love our neighbors with our crocked hearts. It was no small thing to try.”

Pamela Terry “When the Moon Turns blue” (2023) 4.5/5 stars

I received a free e-ARC of this book through Netgalley.
It is set in a small southern town with reminders of the KKK and Confederate statues. The controversy centers around one statue that is pulled down overnight leading to a death. Meanwhile a group of friends and used to be friends converges to console each other during an ice storm brings out a lot of "coming of age" moments for older people as they realize what is really important in life. There is a lot of grief in this book which brought up some of my own grief issues, but it was a soothing book in many ways about it never being too late to change things.

Take strongly developed characters, a setting in the south when bigotry and ugliness were once again proudly and openly allowed due to the then current administration, place wonderful pearls of wisdom and life lessons scattered throughout the book and you have a wise and potent must read novel. I loved this thought provoking book and there’s nothing like a southern author to give it such depth. I plan to read more of Pamela Terry and recommend this book to everyone.

This is a book about friendships and relationships, both lifelong and newly realized and discovered. Funny how we think we know someone for many years and suddenly find out we never really knew that person at all.

It is a contemporary fiction novel and the story line is about a battle over a Confederate statue being removed. I am tired of these subjects and really debated heavily about not reading this book at all but although this is the plot of the story, it just really is not, but rather it is a story of friendships and newly realized relationships with people Marietta and the other cast of characters cut off long ago. It’s about being willing to look at a current situation with open eyes and allow people into our lives.

It starts out with the funeral of Harry Cline, a beloved gentleman, in a historical town within the state of Georgia. His wife, Marietta gets a horrific migraine during the service and steps out for a second when, Butter, her old friend, but certainly not a current one comes to her rescue. From that point on we meet a host of other characters. Truly I thought a few too many characters but I tried to just concentrate on who I thought was important and that seem to work just fine. I love the writing of Pamela Terry, who also wrote, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, which was excellent and you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52674662-the-sweet-taste-of-muscadines

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Besides being a perfect for these times, this is one southern family saga that I could not put down. The characters were wonderfully described and the plot moved right along. And I was surprised by the "culprit," my favorite character.