“Trauma changes you, hardens you, leaves its scars.”
I have been waiting for a book that I can’t put down, that would take my breath away, One Summer in Savannah is it.
A woman wronged viciously, in turn protects the outcome of that savagery with all she has. Running, hiding, then finally fighting and trusting someone other than herself takes a lot of work.
Don’t let the cover fool you, this is not a trivial piece. (Sorry, a better cover is needed please!) Harris’ novel is heavy then light, with poetry, astrophysics, mathematics and genius, rape, victim shaming, fear and forgiveness, One Summer in Savannah gives you all the feels, in so many ways.
Wholly unique in its plot and delivery, artfully executed and heartbreakingly real, I was not expecting the breadth of this story and that made it all the better.

A woman who was raped and became pregnant as a teen returns to Savannah when she finds out her father is dying. She has spent the 8 years of her daughter's life keeping her a secret from the rapist's (who is in prison) family. There is an uncomfortable love story here and also a story about forgiveness but I just couldn't fully buy into the whole situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for a review.

In the political environment we are in, this book will get people talking and thinking, and then talking again. There are two narrators, the first is Sara who is raped as a teen by Daniel and then finds out she is pregnant and runs away from her hometown of Savannah to avoid the rapist’s powerful (and brilliant) family discovering her daughter’s existence. The second narrator is Jacob (fka David) who is the rapist’s identical twin brother who also escapes the town because he doesn’t want to be associated with his family. After 8 years they both return, Sara’s father and Jacob’s brother are both dying.

Then there is Alana, the gifted genius of a child who is the result of the rape and eerily resembled Jacob and Daniel’s dead sister.

Jacob comes back to Sara’s family for forgiveness and instantly bonds with Alana while Sara slowly grows to trust and love him. It’s a story of forgiveness and how deep family bonds can go.

In the end while I did really enjoy the novel, there are a few holes that left me from being completely engrossed in the book – for example how can a woman fall in love with someone who looks exactly like her rapist? I also just could not get past the one-dimensional character of Birdie who is the mother of Daniel and Jacob – she didn’t ring true to me. Also, I couldn’t get into the father character who spoke only in poetry (and I enjoy poetry). Additionally I felt that there were some issues that the author was trying to tackle that just didn’t go deep enough for me. Because of these and a few more, this remained a bit superficial for me and therefore it’s a 3.5 star review.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel

This book was as good as I’d hoped it would be. I the characters were well developed and the prose well written.
I loved reading the poetry and how the author used it as one of the character’s way of communicating.
A satisfactory ending, too.

3.75 Stars

Though beautifully written, this was a tough book to read, as it tackles some heavy subject matter. Given the circumstances, I think you need to suspend disbelief in order to appreciate the story’s message of forgiveness.

The main character Sara was sexually assaulted at 18, and she gives birth to a daughter as a result, whom she raises in secret, far away from her imprisoned assailant and his wealthy family. Eight years later, Sara and daughter Alana must return to Savannah when her father falls ill.

Here’s where the tricky part comes in: Sara befriends her attacker’s identical twin brother Jacob, and she allows him to tutor her genius daughter, as long as he keeps her existence a secret from the rest of his family. Then Sara and Jacob’s relationship starts to develop into something more. Identical twin? Hmm.

This was a heartbreaking story that’s able to leave readers with a sense of hope. I was in awe of the strength of Sara’s character as she struggled with her trauma and her role as mother to Alana. My heart went out to Jacob as he tried to put the pieces of his broken family together.

One part of the writing I did not care for was how Sara’s father would only speak in poetry. When asked a question he would recite lines of his favorite poems, which unfortunately annoyed me after a while. It slowed down the pace trying to decipher what his answers meant, and there was a lot of poetry in this book.

Aside from the poetry, I found myself easily absorbed in this emotional story. I struggled a bit with the redemption parts, but I feel the author did a beautiful job with this uncomfortable and unique debut novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital review copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

This will be a divisive book but one that makes for great conversation. The main character Sarah is raped as a teen. Her assailant is jailed and she ends up giving birth to his daughter. The daughter turns out to be an incredible genius and when her mom returns to her hometown to tend to her ailing father, she and her daughter form a friendship with her rapists twin brother: whew. Yup. It’s a whopper. The story brings up a lot but the theme of forgiveness is a main centerpiece. And it definitely got me thinking about who and what I would forgive. The writing itself isn’t exactly for me in that I didn’t feel it dove deeply enough into the characters and I felt a bit at arms length. however as this was a debut I’m really impressed and would def pick up this authors next book: if you liked Christine pride/jo Piazza last book I think you’d also like this one.

In One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris, Sara Lancaster returns to Savannah, Georgia, after eight years living in Maine where only her family knew she delivered a baby girl, the result of rape. This Fourth of July offering tells the tale of family, redemption, and unconditional love as Sara faces her fear of Savannah to be with her dying father, a man who speaks only in poems.

Hoping to dodge her child Alana’s paternal family, Sara hides her as best she can as she cares for her father and helps out in his bookstore. Her rapist Daniel Wyler went to trial and is near the end of serving his 10-year sentence. He has a twin named Jacob who has been helping Sara’s father by suggesting updates to the bookstore. In return, Jacob has been receiving poetry lessons from Sara’s father Hosea.

When Jacob enters the bookstore, he recognizes that Alana is part of his family: she looks and acts exactly like his late sister. At first unsure of Jacob’s motives, Sara agrees to let him work with Alana, a mathematical wizard, as long as he does not reveal to his brother and his mother that a child resulted from the assault.

How will Jacob keep his promise to make Alana a secret from his brother whose life is now complicated by cancer and from his mother who worked tirelessly to shame Sara as a whore during the trial? How can Sara make a life for herself in a town that created so much gossip about her when she left Savannah? What will it take for her to protect herself from the rich and influential Wylers who might seek custody of Alana?

This is the first novel by Terah Shelton Harris, a librarian and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in magazines including Catapult, Women’s Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Backpacker, and Minority Nurse. Originally from Illinois, she lives in Alabama.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting June 20, 2023.

I would like to thank Sourcebooks Landmark, an imprint of Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

3.5 Stars

One Summer in Savannah is a daring debut release by Terah Shelton Harris. Daring because she tackles the sensitive topic of what it means to be a rape survivor and the limits of forgiveness, and she takes risk in her writing by adding poetry as dialogue. I truly appreciate the risks she took in writing this novel, but unfortunately, it didn’t land well with me.

Sara was raped at the age of 18 and became pregnant from the rape. She considered ending the pregnancy, but couldn’t go through with it, so she moved far away from her hometown to give birth and raise her child in complete anonymity. Eight years later, when her father becomes terminally ill, she must return to her hometown. When she learns her father has a brain aneurysm that could burst any day, she decides to stay and spend what little time she may have left with him.

Sara’s daughter Alana is an 8-year-old genius. Her father and his twin brother were both geniuses and Alana takes after them in her intellect but looks like the spitting image of their sister Naomi. Alana’s father Daniel, who is dying from cancer, is in jail for the rape of Sara, but his twin brother David, who now goes by Jacob, has returned to town to try to repair his broken familial relationships. One day in the local museum Jacob runs into Alana who reminds him of his sister and demonstrates her genius by telling him one of the math exhibits is incorrect.

Ultimately Jacob learns that Alana is his niece and swears to keep it a secret from Daniel and his bitter mother Birdie. Sara allows Jacob to tutor Alana so she can flourish in her studies. Jacob tries to act as a balancing force for Alana and also let her be a kid and have kid experiences like going to the beach. Not so surprisingly, Jacob falls for Sara. But, I was completely surprised that Sara would reciprocate his affection and the two end up in a passionate intimate relationship.

This is where the story ultimately fell apart for me. It was difficult enough to believe that Sara would let Jacob, the identical twin of her rapist, tutor her daughter. But it was a bridge too far to believe she would end up in an intimate, romantic relationship with him.

The other area of the story that didn’t work for me was that Sara’s father Hosea only spoke in poetry. I didn’t find it endearing or quirky, I just found it annoying. When I’m reading fiction, I’m not interested in trying to decipher the meaning of a poem to understand the dialogue. I applaud the risky choice, but it was a distraction for me.

The dual timeline was written incredibly well. One scene flowed from the last flawlessly and the writing was engaging. One Summer in Savannah was a miss for me as far as the plot, but the writing style is done so well I look forward to reading the next release from Terah Shelton Harris.

Many thanks to Terah Shelton Harris, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for a complimentary advanced copy of this novel.

When I was very young, at night my mother would recite poetry to me instead of bedtime stories; my favorite poem is still "Barter" by Sara Teasdale whose opening line begins, "Life has loveliness to sell...."And in this novel
Harris weaves such a moving and provocative tapestry of emotions that I quite literally cried all the way through it as I processed the elegance of her storytelling and all of its repercussions. Sara was raped at a party when she was 18 and now has 8-yr-old daughter, Alana as proof even as rapist Daniel awaits parole in prison. But when she coincidentally meets his twin, Jacob in her bookstore, her entire world changes! Let the tears begin! There are so many beautifully written themes: grief, bravery, temptation, redemption, and atonement (to name a few). This is my favorite book of the year so far as it will resonate with me forever; I am still tearing up thinking about it. Teasdale ends "Barter" with these graceful thoughts: "
"And for one breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be."
Yes, read this book and "never count the cost" as you will be rewarded with an experience not soon forgotten!

This was such a unique read with well-developed and memorable characters. I would recommend it to those who enjoy poetry as this is woven throughout the story. The storyline prompted excellent discussion on the topic of forgiveness.

The end of this book put a smile on my face and warm fuzzies in my heart. I loved so much about this book… I loved how it explored how actions have consequences and love and forgiveness are always not guaranteed. I loved how it illustrated the depth of a mothers love. I loved how it showed how love and passion can be found even when circumstances make a relationship feel impossible. I loved how it documented multiple people and their journey through pain, struggle, sickness, guilt, anger, forgiveness.

So good! A must read.

One Summer in Savannah
By Terah Shelton Harris


“It’s difficult to pinpoint the moment I started loving my daughter.” The opening line of One Summer in Savannah immediately grabbed my attention. In her debut novel, Terah Shelton Harris challenges the reader’s limits and the meaning of forgiveness.

Sarah is 18 when she is sexually assaulted by Daniel Wyler and becomes pregnant. Freightened and overwhelmed Sarah runs away to Maine. Eight years later, Sarah returns to Savannah with her daughter Alana after a call informing her that her father is in the hospital. Alana and the circumstances of her birth have been kept a secret from almost everyone, including Alana herself. Sarah has lived in terror that the Wyler’s would learn of Alana’s existence and attempt to take her away. While helping in her father’s bookstore, she encounters Jacob and finds herself inexplicably drawn to him. When she discovers he has changed his name and is actually Daniel Wyler’s twin brother, things quickly get complicated. In alternating chapters between Sarah and Jacob, we are privy to how both characters are impacted by their past, how each struggles to rebuild their lives and live for the future.

I have a lot of mixed feelings after reading One Summer in Savannah. I can see how the author has set up a story that is meant to stretch how we think about forgiveness. Is rape really the unforgivable sin? Or is it as Ghandi stated, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Shelton Harris has contrived situations that require you to suspend disbelief in order to follow the bread crumbs to her ultimate destination. This technique isn’t too dissimilar from what Jodi Picoult does in her novels when she plunges you into a moral dilemma and makes you wonder, “What would I do in this situation?” On the other hand, as a mental health professional I think that it is highly unlikely that a healthy rape survivor would purposefully and constantly expose herself to so many trauma triggers. While it may be true that you don’t always pick who you fall in love with, to choose to have an intimate relationship with your rapist’s identical twin is too big a stretch. There are other points I would dispute but I won’t quibble about them here. (Send me a DM if you have questions.)

Nevertheless, One Summer in Savannah held my attention, and references to the rape and it’s aftermath are handled well. This book may not be for everyone, but it will make the reader think. Proceed with caution ⚠️


My thanks to @TerahSHarris, @NetGalley & @Bookmarked for this gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I know that I will be in the minority with this book but it didn't work for me at all.
First off, the speaking in verse/poems was distracting and kinda weird.
I get where the book was heading and I am all for forgiveness and all that but...brothers is one thing, twins might be pushing it but identical twins was just too icky for me.

On the plus side I think the cover is great.

This book begins quickly, drawing the reader right into the life of the female main character. It also held my interest from start to finish as a strong 4 plus star rating that I rounded up to 5 star on Goodreads because this book is too polished to round down to a plain 4. The author's note on the first page of her debut novel emphasizes that this book is about forgiveness, and main character Sara has a lot to forgive when a family crisis requires that she return to the Savannah area after 8 years. In alternating chapters of first-person narration between Sara and Jacob, twin brother of the incarcerated father of Sara’s daughter, readers learn about the trauma that changed Sara’s life. The story develops with the failing health of Sara’s father.
Sara, a high school teacher until the recent closure of her school, has always found comfort in writing poetry, and the book contains some of that original poetry as well as occasional quotations from famous poets. They blend seamlessly. If you don’t like poetry, have no fear; this is not a book of poetry but a novel about real life, albeit not a fairy tale romance. Not at all. Many thanks to @netgalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the opportunity to read it. This plot’s catalyst revolves around a serious subject - a violent act on a woman - but there is no description of that crime as part of this book. This is not a true crime story but a true family relationships and adult life story that moves along smoothly, something that frequent readers expect from literary fiction.

I was interested in this book the minute I saw the cover . I also totally agree with the recommendation from author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom :A gorgeously written, tender examination of love, loss, and the heart-wracking journey toward forgiveness." (Akinmade Akerstrom is the international bestselling author of 'In Every Mirror She's Black.'

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris caught my attention with its intriguing plot: a woman returns to her hometown with her young daughter who was conceived as a result of an assault and then proceeds to form a relationship with the perpetrator's twin brother. I wondered how she could possibly reconcile becoming involved with the family.

All of the characters, including Sara, our protagonist, Jacob the "good" twin, and Alana the precocious daughter were likable but somewhat unbelievable, as I felt they were too perfect. In particularl the father who spoke only in poetry and the multiple mathematical geniuses seemed unconvincing. Everyone was apparently ripe for redemption and forgiveness. The characters definitely grew and changed as the plot played out, so that was a strong point. I appreciated the emotional exploration and the moral dilemmas, and the writing was beautiful, so I am eager to read more from this author.

I will recommend this book to readers who like stories of family drama.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story was so heavy and although I love that Sara found love, did it have to be with her rapists twin brother? Like she is going to be stuck with the people who hurt her forever. I hate that for her. But also I think that’s the point of the book too. You can’t choose who you fall in love with.

Forgiveness. Eight years have passed since Sara experienced SA, which deeply changed her. For eight years, she has vowed never to return to her home until her father falls ill. This is a story about time, family, love, pain, and new beginnings. I really enjoyed the way Harris utilized poetry to give expression to words many of the characters couldn't outright say. This novel also illustrates the importance of revision of federal laws in regard to rap victims.

Trigger Warnings: rape, suicide, death

A story of fear and bravery, loathing and forgiveness. Love.
Sara learns that while maybe she was right to leave home when she did, she couldn't have kept running.
Jacob learns that there are different ways to be a family and you don't always have to choose between the family you are born into and the family you make.
This was a well-laid out story and very realistic. Although there is a seemingly fairytale ending, all the characters took a hard road to get there.
My only criticism is picky - the research. I understand I read an advanced copy that wasn't completely finished, but the author didn't seem to be fully aware of the distance between Atlanta and Savannah. A couple of times she referenced that it was only 2 hours away. Later she said it was 4 hours. So, I know that may seem like quibbling, but the inaccuracies were kind of distracting from the story.

Wow, phenomenal!! With a heavy topic pertaining to sexual assault and trauma this author weaved a beautiful story of love and forgiveness so effortlessly. Hard to believe It was a debut . Extremely well written and inspirational.
Definitely going to be on my top favorite list of 2023.