Synopsis
In One Summer in Savannah, Sara returns to her hometown after eight years away, forced back by her father’s declining health. She brings her daughter Alana, unaware that stepping back into Savannah means confronting the traumatic past she’s spent nearly a decade trying to escape. Alana, a bright and curious child, was conceived through sexual assault, and Sara has worked tirelessly to protect her from that truth—even if it meant evading her questions and isolating her from her paternal family. But Savannah, and fate, have other plans.
Sara’s return leads her to an unexpected encounter with Jacob, the twin brother of her rapist, Daniel. Now an astrophysicist, Jacob has his own wounds—his sister is dead, his father is gone, and his brother remains in prison. As Sara and Jacob grow closer, they must navigate a minefield of past pain, buried secrets, and the question of what it means to forgive. With grace and emotional depth, Terah Shelton Harris explores whether healing is possible when the truth finally surfaces.
My Final Thoughts
Eight years ago, Sara left Savannah, Georgia in the rearview mirror and never planned to look back. But when her father falls seriously ill, she has no choice but to return—with her daughter, Alana, in tow. Coming back means facing the one thing she’s been running from: her past. And her past has a face—one that looks hauntingly familiar.
Sara has spent all of Alana’s life shielding her from the truth. Born from a sexual assault when Sara was only 18, Alana is both a miracle and a painful reminder. For years, when Alana asked questions about her father, Sara would change the subject. But back in Savannah, the truth becomes harder to dodge—especially when she unexpectedly crosses paths with David, the twin brother of her rapist, who now goes by Jacob. A brilliant astrophysicist, Jacob has returned home to pick up the pieces of his broken family—and his own heart.
Jacob and Sara form an unexpected bond that slowly deepens into something more. But how can Sara trust someone whose face mirrors the worst moment of her life? And how can she introduce Alana to the family she never knew she had without unraveling the truth she’s tried so hard to bury?
This story explores big themes: grief, redemption, generational pain, and most of all, forgiveness. Sara must learn that hiding from the truth won’t protect her daughter, and Jacob must decide whether it’s possible to hold love and pain in the same heart. The emotional growth these characters experience—especially Jacob’s gentle presence and his complicated loyalty to his family—made this story feel real and deeply human. Also, can we talk about Sylvia? She’s the MVP of this book. Every single person needs a Sylvia in their corner.
The more I sit with this novel, the more I appreciate it. It’s tender, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful. One Summer in Savannah shows us what can happen when we face our biggest fears and open our hearts anyway.
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