I really wanted to love this book, but the writing style and the jumps between the past and the present just confused me.

Gothic not really horror but horror-esk, and full of twists turns and so many questions. I really enjoyed reading this, there was a lot of mystery and trying to put the pieces together with th MC which I aways love. If you like darker mysterious adult books this is for you

What a brilliantly written story. This is a genre I normally wouldn’t read but I found myself loving everything about it. High praise!

This story of generational trauma and curses blew my mind! It’s so easy to believe that the past defines us and we are fated to repeat the mistakes from it. It takes bravery and strength to push through and overcome the past. This story highlighted this in such a fresh and powerful way! Susana’s story was also the story of so many others and it was powerful to me. We can break the cycle by banishing silence and move on in healthier ways!

Some books are more than beautiful or masterful. Some stories have the power to break curses.

I don’t even know how to write a review for a book this powerful, this needed for every person. There are so many books that have masterful storytelling or beautiful prose or relatable characters, but there are few books that have true power in their words.

You will just have to take my word when I tell you this book IS a literary masterpiece. I highlighted 50 quotes. That should tell you enough. But if it doesn’t… The prose is absolute perfection. Every word intentional. And the pacing is spot on; this book demanded that I soak in the story, that I read slow and let it seep into my soul.

CURSES & OTHER BURIED THINGS isn’t simply a story of a girl trying to break a curse. It’s a story that many people carry in their hearts and hide in their closets. It’s the dark parts of our pasts—both personal and generational—that we are too scared to even acknowledge. Lies we’ve been told that we think predict our futures.

“A curse is a lie you believe about yourself” and this book is about to break some curses. Because every curse can be broken. Every hurt, hangup, and habit can find recovery. And this book will likely be a stepping stone to healing for those willing to open themselves up and look the past dead in the face.

I especially appreciated how the toxicity of purity culture was woven subtly into the story—a topic that so many fear to approach out of fear. Susana’s struggle against her feelings for Godwin were a very authentic picture of how purity culture can fuel a fear of romance—the lie that if you kiss someone, you might as well be having sex, and to be attracted to someone is no better.

“Free people free other people.”
And after reading this book, I feel a little bit more free.
I feel a little bit more brave.
I feel a little bit more ready to dig up some buried things.

“Blood holds all kinds of curses. I’ve heard those words since I was in diapers.”
Susana Prather has grown up believing she’s cursed. Like all the other Susanas in her family tree she doesn’t believe she’ll make it past her eighteenth birthday. Because of this underlying belief she doesn’t allow herself to love or dream.

A few of my favorite things…
-A dual timeline. This one kept me so intrigued! It bounces between Suzanna in modern times and the original Suzanah near the time of the Civil War.
-A cat named Barney Fife and a mention of the Bonanza show.
-Caroline’s style of writing. It’s so beautiful and really pulls you in. She used a lot of words I didn’t know. I enjoyed looking them up and expanding my vocabulary. Some of it was just Southern culture I wasn’t familiar with.
-The theme of your parent’s sins and what people say about you not determining who you are.
-The theme of learning that love isn't something that has to be earned.

Know that…
-There are several mentions of teens making out, being on drugs, and getting drunk.
-There’s a lot of sadness and some descriptive deaths.
-Some minor crude language.
-Scandals with married men are mentioned.
-Karma is mentioned.
-Suicide, suicidal thoughts, and sexual abuse are mentioned.
-There is some supernatural stuff.

Concluding thoughts...
At times the teen partying, drinking and making out felt like a bit much. But in the end I think it helped tell a really important story. In the town of Berryville it seems everyone is trapped by their parent’s past and what people say of them. If someone says they’re gonna be a drug addict just like their parents they just accept it for the most part. This story overall is about rebelling against that. Rebelling against your “family curses”.

Perfect for…
Older teens and young adults in need of an intriguing story that will make them think.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Curses and Other Burried Things is a POWERFUL work of art. The story is beautifully written and is emotional, intriguing, and thought provoking. Caroline George has done it again, and cemented herself as an auto-buy author in my home library.
I LOVE how this story approaches the problem of generational trauma and fear. We are all too quick to blame our current problems on the past, rather than make changes and live in freedom and forgivness.
This is a 5 star book for me and I would recommend it for young adult and adult readers, who like suspense, mysteries, and thought provoking themes of healing and forgiveness.

Another fantastic book by Caroline George! Honestly, with each new release she has, she's quickly become not only an auto-buy author for me but one of my favorite authors. If you enjoyed either of her other books, you need to read this book!

This southern gothic tale is captivating and deeply moving. I found myself savoring each of her words, rereading lines, and whole paragraphs. This isn't a book you'll read quickly. You'll want to sit and mull it over.

The dual perspective between Susana and Suzanna is eloquently balanced and bewitching. I found myself frustrated when I had to put the book down. There was really no point where I ever wanted to stop reading the story or where it got slow. It was a constant struggle for me wanting to savor the words and take it slowly, and to also just find out what happened!

This book is a "just one more chapter" kind of book you definitely need in your life. And it has an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat and biting your nails! (And possibly screaming, unless it's late at night and you don't want to wake the house like me!)

So well written. Again, George is a fabulous writer and this story is her best yet! Highly, highly recommended!

Caroline George has such a descriptive and soulful style of writing, it pulls you right into the story in a truly immersive and cinematic way.

“Curses and Other Buried Things” is remarkable! I don’t want to spoil anything because it’s a tale that deserves to be experienced freshly. I loved how it was at turns a spooky southern gothic, a riveting historical mystery and a deeply moving family narrative set in a vibrantly realized small town. So many emotions! I felt like I knew the characters, and I cared so much about what would happen to each of them.

By the end of the book (and into the author’s notes), I was completely in tears! I relate so much to growing up in the south (and having a lot of ancestral roots there), being fascinated by family history and wishing so much that there had been more truth and light shown in places that deserved to be unhidden. I have always felt strongly connected to those who came before. The lineage that makes me who I am. Thanks to modern DNA and genealogical research, secrets have been uncovered. My own buried things. And we do indeed have a powerful choice in how we allow the past to impact our present - and future.

I’m so grateful to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing the ARC so that I could share my honest opinion. And I can’t thank Caroline enough for writing this mesmerizing story that will continue to inspire!

“Blood holds all kinds of curses.”

Beautifully written. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys southern gothic horror.

Having spent time in a small town, I can attest to the culture created by the past and the unwillingness to see the truth.

Curses and Other Buried Things is a twisted tale of this very culture and how it created an environment where our main character's odds were set against her from the start.

Angry and upset, Susana makes many mistakes, as to be expected, before setting out on a path to change her future.

Stumbling through the present, we're given a glimpse at the past and torment one family has endeared for generations.

Though an interesting and intriguing story, it didn't speak to me, which makes me a little sad.

Curses and Other Buried Things was an absolute phenomenal book! I loved this story so much. I loved that it was told from different POV's in different time periods and I felt like this helped make the book so impactful. I enjoyed Suzanna Yawn's story based in the 1800's in the Okefenokee Swamp as it followed her troubles and her "curse". This part of the story was so vivid in scenery and so heartbreakingly told that I felt like I was watching Suzanna Yawn's story as if it were a movie, I could feel her emotions the author had written this part of the story so well. It was also fascinating thinking about how someone's words can have such an impact on not only one generation but many generations of families. I also enjoyed Susannah Prather's modern story and how the curse and her ancestors story impacted her but didn't feel as strongly for her story. I loved how the author had Susannah Prather have flashbacks to her ancestors story so she understood what was happening. This was a really beautiful and well written story. A little bit magic, a little bit heartbreaking and a whole lot of finding yourself. This was one of the most memorable stories I have ever read.

4.5 ⭐️

Well, it’s been nearly two weeks & I’m still not over this story. 🥺 It left me speechless & struggling to articulate my thoughts… I’m still not sure I can put all those feelings into words.

Caroline George never fails to leave me spellbound with her lyrical prose, heartfelt themes, and relatable characters. Once again, she absolutely delivered! And the atmosphere… ahh, I had a chilly, crinkly feeling up my spine—so well done!

My poor heart was on the line the entire way through, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been so tempted to flip to the end to see what would happen. 🙈 (Don’t worry, I didn’t but this story had a serious grip on me!)

Yet beyond the gorgeous southern vibes, intriguing characters, & twisty mystery were deep truths—hard truths—and so much heart & hope. It’s a story of learning to live outside the shadows of our pasts. Of guilt & secrets. True belonging & kinship. And finding grace to grow from our mistakes.

In a way, we all have our own Okefenokee Swamps—the past that haunts us no matter how far we run. But alongside Susana, we find that’s where the Hope comes in.

An absolutely stunning tale that did my heart good! 💛


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I enjoyed this book so much I couldn’t put it down and read it in one day. I will definitely read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

You had me at “southern gothic”. Curses and Other Buries Things deals with a lot with trauma and with curses in a family that has spanned generations. The writing is very smooth, I easily this book in a single day. The atmosphere was exactly what I expected and kept me engaged throughout. I took off one star because I actually wanted a bit more development in the curse and characters. Things started going a little too fast that could have been stretched out a bit more. Otherwise, this was a great book that delivered what I wanted from it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The multiple generation curse worked well in this novel, I had a great time going through this universe. Each generation felt like real people and I thought Susana was a great main character. I enjoyed the Southern Gothic elements and it worked in the story. Caroline George has a great writing style and I can’t wait to read more.

It seems that so far everyone else who has read this book loved it, but for some reason I just couldn't get into the story. I kept forgetting which Suzannah/Susanah/Susie was which and I didn't really get pulled into the storyline. Maybe this just wasn't what I expected it to be.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The cover drew me in and the premise 100% sounds up my alley, but the writing style doesn’t jive with my tastes right now. DNF @ pg 47/chapter 4. 100% a personal and not at all a knock on the book or story which is intriguing and I do wanna know what’s going on and how to break the generational curse, so may come back to it at a later date.

On her eighteenth birthday, Susana Prather inherits the curse that’s taken the lives of nearly every first-born daughter in her bloodline. Now it’s her turn to suffer. As prepared as she thinks she is, Susana isn’t ready for the nightmares, the sleepwalking, and the little ways the swamp near her house calls to her. And the deeper she goes, the more she realizes it’s not just her life that’s enmeshed in the past, but also Godwin’s and JC’s—two boys she’s always felt inexplicably drawn to and never knew why.

The three of them are all connected, but how? What about their collective past is still affecting the present? And can they work together to break the curse that’s plagued them once and for all?
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This book was fantastic! It was beautiful and heartbreaking, wholesome and disparaging, and the little bits Southern Gothic vibes really amplified the setting to atmospheric heights. I loved the initial countdown, Susana’s stubbornness, her and Godwin, the feeling of being immersed in a Southern setting, the imaginings/sleepwalking, the flashbacks, and the beautiful wisdom. George did such a great job at not only showing what Southern culture is like but also what happens when families keep secrets buried for too long. Just so wonderfully powerful & thought provoking. I highly recommend this!

This book started slowly for me, but picked up after the first 50 pages or so. I appreciate Southern fiction and although the book sometimes leaned toward stereotype, I felt it captured the spirit of the place well. A haunting story that investigates generational pain. Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.