Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I didn’t think I could possibly like this book as much as I liked Shelton Harris’ debut, but I was dead wrong. No one writes and develops characters like this author. Even when the characters are so unlikeable and making the worst decisions, you still end up loving them. This book was excellent and I would to see this as a limited tv series too.

When I went into this book I knew I was going to read it because I read One Summer in Savanna. This book was so captivating and I couldn’t put the book down. Lies, secrets, sex, addiction and betrayal. I am not one read books over and there is only a few I will read book and this book has been added to the list.

When King Solomon dies, his last words are “don’t let the white man take the house”. Now the Solomon siblings are trying to stop just that, after King died without a will and a developer is after their ancestral home.

I love fiction where you learn facts about society, as disconcerting as they can be. This story is about heir property, which while the story itself is fiction, is the leading cause of involuntary land loss to Black Americans. In my privilege bubble, I had no idea about this concept but I’m glad I was made aware, especially through an entertaining story and family drama. Every sibling was unique and each had their own issues going on. I wish we spent a little bit more time with Tokey, as her backstory was interesting to me.

“There’s an angel and devil in every family and you don’t get to decide which one you are. It chooses you.”

Long After You Are Gone comes out 5/17.

Terah Shelton Harris is a new to me author and one that I will be reading in the future. Prior to starting Long After We Were Gone, I had never heard of heir property nor its impact on Black involuntary land loss, which is at the core of this book and something that should be more widely known.

The story focuses on the four siblings of King Solomon and their quest to save their ancestral home and 200 acres of land after their father’s death. Each of the four siblings are brought to life for the reader through amazing character development and telling of the story through their viewpoints. The siblings demonstrate so many bad life choices from stealing, addiction, anger, violence, lies and secrets. They seem to be continually fighting against each other and failing to see the impact of their behaviors on each other.

The further I read into the story, the more I wanted the Solomon siblings to come together and put aside their differences to save their home and land. I wanted them to use their relationships and connections to help heal each other. I wanted them to be able to keep their home and land and for things to be fair.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

#LongAfterWeAreGone #TerahSheltonHarris

This is a story of injustice and adult siblings figuring out their new world and relationships after the death of their father. They must work together to save the plantation home which their forefathers purchased and which they call The Kingdom. The adult siblings each have their own demons and challenges which appear insurmountable. Readers with siblings will understand the issues of the siblings and their conflicts and readers with no siblings will be able to see the joy, frustration, and sadness that siblings add to family dynamics.

I loved this book from an author new to me and I have put One Summer in Savannah on my To Be Read Soon list. What a wonderful writing style! So easy to read and yet so clever in conveying wonderfully complete characters and a plot that moves along at a good clip. I appreciated the history and cultural lessons provided along the way and mostly related to the messy family and sibling relationships that are so real. Thanks for an enjoyable and fast read. Thanks for the preview copy.

This author is a true storyteller! A family drama with relatable - imperfect characters that grow and learn so much during the story. Well written and unputdownable!

4.5 ⭐️When the patriarch of the family dies, four siblings come together to try to battle their own vices and save the family land. I love Terah Shelton Harris’ gorgeous yet easy to read wiring style. The four sibling characters are complex, well developed, and at times unlikeable. Despite their flaws, I still found myself feeling deeply for them and rooting them on. I also found it enlightening to learn about heir property and its consequences. If you like family drama with strong character development, then you will love Terah’s sophomore novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced reader copy.

Loved this family drama- the hardships of relationships and the rebuilding of a family after a death is something I can relate to. The story talks about what it takes to right the wrongs with the people who mean the most and to hold on to what is the most important. This book about a family's story is a very well-written, relatable story. There were complicated relationships, hardships, acceptance, and above all love throughout the book. I also really loved that I learned something about how history can continue to have an effect on current land ownership. The unfairness of the things that continue to happen to people of color and their communities is heartbreaking but part of the reason why I liked this book so much- Through this beautiful story, I learned something about the reality of our world and have more knowledge of a topic I didn't know anything about. Terah Shelton Harris is a fantastic writer and I can't wait to read more by her.

Every family has secrets. There are three times in life that can really bring out the best and the worst in someone and death is one of them. So, when Junior, Mance, Cece, and Tokey are all forced to come back to their home once their father passes, they bring with them secrets that none of them want exposed. Yet death does crazy things, like forcing you to face your past, and take responsibility for your choices. This story is a crazy ride with a unique family. Each child has something they either don’t want exposed or they are running from. You can only run so far before time runs out. The one thing they all can agree upon though is saving the Kingdom, their home and birth right. Will the secrets exposed though cause them to lose more than just their home?
Thank you to Sourcebook Landmark and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

4.5-ish, definitely over 4. I liked the story but the storytelling and writing are the stars - they pull you in and keep you there. The characters and their relationships are developed just how I like in books too. Will definitely read more from this author

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a good one. The perfect mix of drama within the family dynamic. The characters were well developed. Overall, a good read.

Familial expectations are heavy but the ties that bind these siblings are strong enough to held them. Each of the Solomon siblings has a secret they are struggling to swallow and eventually everything comes to light. This book was enlightening and well researched on the topic of heir land and how it can get murky in the eyes of the law. Great job

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of Long After We’re Gone by Terah Shelton Harris. Other reviews rave about Harris’s previous book, but since I didn't read it, I didn’t have any preconceived notions about this one. It was not a simple read, which took some getting used to for me. It was ultimately rewarding, as the story and personalities unfolded. I liked learning about the complex family dynamics, something most of us know about. There were explicit scenes that I wasn’t expecting, so be aware! If you love epic family dramas, this is the book for you. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I really didn’t know what to expect with this ARC. Bottom line, this book was amazing! It brought to light a historical injustice that many are probably unaware of. The characters are so well developed as well as so very believable. I highly recommend and thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

This book tackles the topic of heirs property, which affects the Black community more than others. The Solomon siblings have to come together to save the Kingdom, despite the fact that each of them are dealing with their own issues. Expectations, communication (or the lack thereof) all are a part of this book. This is a heavy book and I'm glad I read this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for giving me a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

This literary work is exquisitely crafted, evoking a powerful resonance that demands one's utmost attention. Each word bears significant weight, adding depth and meaning to the story. The characters are intricately developed, bearing flaws and harboring secrets that prove impossible to escape. The weight of familial expectations looms heavily, adding an intense layer of complexity. The author masterfully illustrates the strength of familial ties and the tenacity required to defend one's rightful possessions.

“Long After We Are Gone” by Terah Shelton Harris, new author to this reader was an incredible story to read. The story is about four siblings, Junior, Mance, CeCe, and Tokey, who after their father, King Solomon dies, must return to North Carolina. When they return, the baggage they carry soon unloads when they get together. I thought it was a bit slow burn in the beginning, but worth continuing the read the end to uncover the hidden secrets and the drama and dynamics that could rear its ugly head in families. Ms. Harris does a good job at storytelling the lives of siblings and their struggles, i.e. food addition and embezzlement to name a few and also secrets of the past they must come to terms with before there is healing. The plot was good, although the writing could have been better…my only disagreement with the book. Overall, I very much enjoyed this heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Recommend the read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publishing: May 14, 2024
Pages: 432

I found this book very difficult to start and it failed to hold my attention. I had to force myself to finish it- it is so poorly written that staying engaged is impossible.

King Solomon has died. Now his four very different children, Junior, CeCe, Mance, and Tokey, must come together to save the family home. Each of them is carrying some super heavy baggage. It’s quite a story, as each sibling is hiding more than enough secrets to fill the family land.
It’s a slow burn and I didn’t read it straight through. I took several breaks with other books, but always came back to this family. Each of the siblings is living a life based on lies. I’ll admit that at times, it seemed impossible that one family could carry around so many secrets.But what do I know, I’m an only child.
A descriptive read and I learned quite a bit about heir property rights. For me, this wasn’t a treadmill read, but one I picked up when I was curled up on the couch.