The Last Carolina Girl is a moving account of a young girl, Leah, living with her beloved father near Holden Beach, NC. They are quite poor and their home is a one-room shack, but they are very happy. Leah has a dream of living in a house right on the water in Holden Beach, which her teacher says is “not realistic.” She also has what she calls “flashes,” which are short periods of time when she freezes almost like a statue before coming back to reality. But she lives a beautiful life with her father and cherished friends. When tragedy suddenly strikes, she finds herself serving a coldhearted family as a “helpmate,” or basically a maid.
This is a well-written story, which at the core of it exposes the way the poor were exploited and used by the rich back in the early 20th Century. The rich have always had power, but back then they could pretty much do whatever they wanted, body and soul, to a person. As Leah says, “…the ghosts of the real world were scarier than the imagined ones.” Based on a true story from within the author’s own family, this novel will shock, anger, and break the heart. But the beautiful imagery of the North Carolina coast and the love of true family also shines through.
I read both the ebook and audiobook versions. The audiobook is narrated by Susan Bennett, who does a great job. The Southern accents are true to the area and not overdone. The emotion of the book is well conveyed.
I received a free ebook from Sourcebooks and a free audiobook from RB Media. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
The Last Carolina Girl will be released on March 28, 2023.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meagan Church is an author, wordsmith, and storyteller by trade. She received a B.A. in English from Indiana University, and her work has appeared in various print and online publications. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets. To follow her storytelling, visit MeaganChurch.com.
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
BUY LINKS
Bonnie Reads and Writes 
Beautifully written review. This book sounds great and so emotional. I think I’ll check it out. Thank you for your review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do. It’s well written and a sad reminder of another shocking part of our history and the awful things people can do to each other. Historical fiction is so important because it brings these parts of history to life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This why I love historical fiction from what I learn about it and others learn about things they weren’t aware of. So many things in history should not be forgotten.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So True!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a good book. I like books that take place in the Carolinas, like Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that it was set partly at or near Holden Beach. We’ve been there several times so I could picture the area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent review of a compelling story, Bonnie! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks. This is one tough but talks about real issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person