Secrets of Southern Girls: A Novel

(Paperback)

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Description

Ten years ago, Julie Portland accidentally killed her best friend, Reba. What's worse is she got away with it. Consumed by guilt, she left the small town of Lawrence Mill, Mississippi, and swore nothing would ever drag her back. Now, raising her daughter and struggling to make ends meet in Manhattan, Julie still can't forget the ghost of a girl with golden hair and a dangerous secret. When August, Reba's first love, begs Julie to come home to find the diary that Reba kept all those years ago, Julie's past comes creeping back to haunt her. That diary could expose the shameful memories Julie has been running from, but it could also unearth the hidden truths that Reba left buried...and reveal that Julie isn't the only one who feels responsible for Reba's death.

Reviews

"Harrigan's novel, part mystery and part coming-of-age, explores the process of healing from tragedies and misunderstandings." - Publishers Weekly
"Harrigan is a great prose stylist who knows how to sustain the tension and tone required of a Southern Gothic novel. Her writing is evocative and atmospheric, whether the action takes place under the bright lights of Manhattan or in Mississippi's weedy heat. " - ForeWord
"Heartachingly beautiful, SECRETS OF SOUTHERN GIRLS is a compelling tale about lost love and childhood regrets. This is masterfully written, shifting from past to present as the story unfolds to expose the haunting truth of one girl's desire to be loved and the dangerous secret she possesses. Harrigan's debut is a captivating read that won't let you go until the very last page." - Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author
"A twisting, sensuous novel about first love and innocence lost. As mesmerizing as the Mississippi heat, Haley Harrigan's debut weaves two tales together in time as Julie Portland seeks the truth about her childhood friend's mysterious death--a truth Julie has hidden even from herself. Harrigan delves into Greg Iles territory, navigating racial tensions and the secret (and not-so-secret) history of the deep south. In the end, like the "oil streak" river that flows through this story, Secrets of Southern Girls reveals a stain we all would be better off examining." - Jenny Milchman, USA Today bestselling author of Cover of Snow, Ruin Falls, and As Night Falls
"Haley Harrigan's Secrets of Southern Girls is filled with evocative, poetic imagery, relatable characters, and ingenious plot twists that kept me turning pages long into the night! A beautiful, engaging debut by a delightful and talented new author." - Susan Crawford, author of The Pocket Wife and The Other Widow
"A deftly crafted and engaging novel from beginning to end, "Secrets of Southern Girls" showcases author Haley Harrigan's impressive flair for storytelling." - The Midwest Book Review

Author Bio

HALEY HARRIGAN graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in creative writing and public relations. She lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband and their unreasonably cute Yorkshire Terrier. This is her debut.