Book Perfume

There’s nothing like the feeling of picking up a brand new book by one of my favorite authors. Before I even crack open the spine, I know that I’m going to fall in love with a whole cast of characters and embark on an emotional journey I won’t soon forget. When I got my hands on Kristy Woodson Harvey’s latest, Under the Southern Sky, I had the distinct feeling that I would devour it, just as I have with her other novels. What I didn’t know was that this would be her best yet.

Under the Southern Sky transports us to the Carolina coast for the story of Amelia and Parker, childhood friends whose lives take an unexpected turn when Amelia makes a discovery that could dramatically alter Parker’s world. As a journalist working on what promises to be the biggest story of her career, Amelia never expects to find the names of Parker and his late wife Greer on a file for frozen embryos marked “abandoned.” For Parker, inert for the past three years since losing Greer, news of the all-but-forgotten embryos brings new hope: the chance to get back a part of his wife, as long as he can find a surrogate and navigate life as a single father. Anchored by the past and surrounded by long-held secrets, Amelia and Parker support each other through the uncharted waters that lie ahead, discovering that life doesn’t always go according to plan and that family is about so much more than a bloodline. Under the Southern Sky is a beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the ties that bind the past with the future, and I loved every moment of it.

What I love most about Kristy Woodson Harvey’s novels is the deep care she puts into every single one of her characters. From the moment I met them, I loved not only Amelia, Parker, and Greer, but the members of their families and the town of Cape Carolina, too. As their stories unfolded and their secrets and flaws came to bear, I adored them even more. Every page of this novel is drenched with emotion, from heartache to hope, grief to gratitude. Within the span of one chapter, I’d find myself laughing, crying, then smiling again—which, if you ask me, captures the poignancy of this crazy thing we call life. All at once, Under the Southern Sky is a warm-hearted beach read, a compelling story of loss, a family saga, and a sweet story about the many ways in which we can love. In short, it’s everything I could have hoped for and more.

If you’re looking to be transported to an idyllic southern beach town and are ready to fall head over heels for a cast of characters you’ll never forget, you can’t miss Under the Southern Sky. This warm and winning novel will have you believing in second chances and clamoring for just one more chapter.

Under the Southern Sky releases on April 20 and is available to order at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Amazon, Target, Books-A-Million, or wherever you buy your books! For more on the always wonderful Kristy Woodson Harvey, visit kristywoodsonharvey.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.