One Summer in Savannah

A Novel

By: Terah Shelton Harris

Narrated by: Zuzu Robinson

Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

A compelling debut that glows with bittersweet heart and touching emotion, deeply interrogating questions of family, redemption, and unconditional love in the sweltering summer heat of Savannah, as two people discover what it means to truly forgive.

It's been eight years since Sara Lancaster left her home in Savannah, Georgia. Eight years since her daughter, Alana, came into this world, following a terrifying sexual assault that left deep emotional wounds Sara would do anything to forget. But when Sara's father falls ill, she's forced to return home and face the ghosts of her past.

While caring for her father and running his bookstore, Sara is desperate to protect her curious, outgoing, genius daughter from the Wylers, the family of the man who assaulted her. Sara thinks she can succeed—her attacker is in prison, his identical twin brother, Jacob, left town years ago, and their mother are all unaware Alana exists. But she soon learns that Jacob has also just returned to Savannah to piece together the fragments of his once-great family. And when their two worlds collide—with the type of force Sara explores in her poetry and Jacob in his astrophysics—they are drawn together in unexpected ways.

©2023 Terah Shelton Harris (P)2023 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Readers will be completely swept up and absorbed by Harris's emotionally evocative storytelling, as she exquisitely probes the bittersweet depths of the human condition and the renewable nature of the heart and soul."—Shelf Awareness

Forgiveness

I love this book I own the book I just had to hear it on here. I'm a survivor of rape and her story was so moving it may not have been real but it was real for me. Forgiveness is key to a happier and healthier life.

Forgiveness and Choices

This book drew me in from the start. Beautiful story of forgiveness, the realties of rape and the choices one makes in the face of tragedy. The ending renders me speechless. Lovely.

Sylvia, I loved her personality and her role in facilitating Sarah and j connection

Loved how the story was told. Although there were other characters I enjoyed them keeping the narratives between two characters

Impact of family values and expectations; and maternal influence on emotional development

Enjoyed every aspect of the story generally but would like to have had more character development of the parents, especially Birdie

Enjoyed the story

I really enjoy the story about forgiveness. Sarah had every right to not forgive. All of the characters were interesting especially her father. I didn’t really like the narrators style she was a little breathy.

An Excellent Read!

Wow!!! This was so good and I felt So many emotions. A good mix of Tragedy, Drama, Love and Forgiveness. My only criticism is, there should have been a male Narrator two.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!

Well written. Beautifully narrated. Well defined characters. Thought provoking. Oh my, oh my! I wish this story never ended but the ending was so beautiful.

Protecting mom

I love this book because it show what a mom will do for her children. This also shows what in the heart reaches the heart of

Loved it!

This is a fantastic story and beautifully written. Loved the characters and their development. The narrator did a great job with the women's voices. Men's voices, not so much, but her Sara and Alana were so good, they cancelled out the less than distinctive men's voices.

Forgiveness

This book is good. The narrator is not that great. I think that this is a great book to have conversations around. Not sure how realistic it might be but still a good story and very heartfelt. Overall 3.5 stars.