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One Beautiful Year of Normal
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A must-read for fans of character-driven suspense like Liz Moore’s Long Bright River and A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window, One Beautiful Year of Normal is a gripping psychological thriller about a woman’s dangerous decision to unearth her family’s darkest secrets.
Some memories protect you. Others imprison you.
When August Caine receives a phone call from a Savannah attorney, she is blindsided by the news—her Aunt Helen has passed away. But how can that be, when August’s mother insisted Helen died in a car accident fifteen years ago? Determined to uncover the truth, August returns to the deep South, where the ghosts of her past—both real and imagined—await her.
Plagued by a memory splintered by her father’s unsolved murder when she was a child and further tangled by psychiatric treatments for the debilitating depression she struggles with, August realizes her survival depends on unraveling the mystery surrounding her father’s death. This means returning to the one safe place she remembers from the childhood she has mostly locked away inside her Aunt Helen’s home, and the ghost tours they created together.
A chilling exploration of mental illness, mother-daughter bonds, and generational secrets, One Beautiful Year of Normal follows August as she pieces together the long-buried truths that shaped her family’s tragic past and confronts the question that has haunted her for Can the truth set her free, or will it unravel everything she thought she knew?
Some memories protect you. Others imprison you.
When August Caine receives a phone call from a Savannah attorney, she is blindsided by the news—her Aunt Helen has passed away. But how can that be, when August’s mother insisted Helen died in a car accident fifteen years ago? Determined to uncover the truth, August returns to the deep South, where the ghosts of her past—both real and imagined—await her.
Plagued by a memory splintered by her father’s unsolved murder when she was a child and further tangled by psychiatric treatments for the debilitating depression she struggles with, August realizes her survival depends on unraveling the mystery surrounding her father’s death. This means returning to the one safe place she remembers from the childhood she has mostly locked away inside her Aunt Helen’s home, and the ghost tours they created together.
A chilling exploration of mental illness, mother-daughter bonds, and generational secrets, One Beautiful Year of Normal follows August as she pieces together the long-buried truths that shaped her family’s tragic past and confronts the question that has haunted her for Can the truth set her free, or will it unravel everything she thought she knew?
312 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 2, 2026
Note: I was provided an advance reader copy of the book.
No spoilers since I intend this to be read by those considering pre-ordering or purchasing the book.
The interesting thing about family secrets is that while they’re ostensibly meant to shield the family from public scrutiny, they tend to obfuscate the truth for those within the family. In Sandra K. Griffith’s debut 2026 novel, out February 24th, One Beautiful Year of Normal, family secrets stretch taut from Paris, France to Savannah, Georgia and across 18 years, threatening to unravel the entire edifice.
August is 30 years old and living in Paris as a ghostwriter. She helps other people tell their stories, which is juxtaposed to the fact of knowing so little of her own story. When she’s notified by a lawyer in Savannah that her aunt, Helen, has died, she’s perplexed. After all, her mother told her Helen died 15 years ago. When the lawyer confirms that, no, Helen died 15 minutes ago, that aforementioned edifice of family secrets faces its first threat of teetering over.
When August was 8 years old, still living in New York City, her father was murdered on her birthday, of all days. For the next three years, she became a de facto caregiver for her mother, who had become mute and swallowed whole by her grief. Which again, it’s jarring that August became a ghostwriter, of a kind, for her mother given what her occupation as an adult would be. Then, in turn, clearly, August’s mother became a “ghostwriter” of how August understood her life, and certainly, of Helen’s, since she conjured up her fabricated death for August.
One day, again on August’s birthday as an 11 year old, Aunt Helen comes to NYC to bring August to Savannah, where she is retired after a career in the Navy. August’s mother is going to be institutionalized, at least until she returns exactly one year later to whisk August away yet again, this time back to Paris (and then on to Italy), as paranoid nomads. Hence, then, the namesake of the book, One Beautiful Year of Normal, where August experienced what it was like to have a “normal” childhood with Helen, to be loved and to love, to have fun.
Of course, “normal” is relative and dictated by what we know within the cocoon weaved by our familial structure. In the case of August, the three years spent caretaking for her mother, keeping the façade of life operational, was normal. The year with Helen then became the new, different form of normal. And then once again, becoming a paranoid nomad with her mute mother was a return to a familiar kind of normal. We only have what we know … until we don’t.
Through Griffith’s narrative, alternating between August’s year of normal at 11 years old to her unfurling the family secrets at 30 years old — with a doting, compassionate, and patient childhood crush returning to her life — August comes to understand that what we see through the lens of childhood innocence isn’t always what it seems and that even as adults, we maintain that lens to avoid painful truths. Indeed, to unfurl the secrets of the family is to hold up a mirror reflecting back upon yourself and how you are a composite of those secrets, for better or worse.
Griffith’s debut book presented a great deal of tenderness through August as she reckons with what she thought she knew about her family and her life, but never in an overly maudlin way. If anything, the cerebral moments August has in her head, and especially the conversations she has with Thomas, the boyhood crush, have the quality of being that positive kind of cringe that is endearing and affable. Positive cringe has a way of elucidating truth, too, and engendering well-earned optimism. Cringe has unnecessary connotation in that way, but I digress. I particularly enjoyed the voice Griffith brought to 11 year old August: mature because of needing to be a caregiver foisted upon her while still being a child with plentiful unknowns, but an insatiable curiosity.
I thoroughly enjoyed Griffith’s book, and found myself reading at a feverish pace as more and more secrets of August’s family were divulged and learned. And of course, the Southern setting is always going to add an inherent layer of intrigue to any story. In this case, the feel-good charm comes from Savannah and the “gothic” looms large from the Paris and NYC side of things. For those interested in books about familial drama, you have to add One Beautiful Year of Normal to your 2026 to-be-read list.
No spoilers since I intend this to be read by those considering pre-ordering or purchasing the book.
The interesting thing about family secrets is that while they’re ostensibly meant to shield the family from public scrutiny, they tend to obfuscate the truth for those within the family. In Sandra K. Griffith’s debut 2026 novel, out February 24th, One Beautiful Year of Normal, family secrets stretch taut from Paris, France to Savannah, Georgia and across 18 years, threatening to unravel the entire edifice.
August is 30 years old and living in Paris as a ghostwriter. She helps other people tell their stories, which is juxtaposed to the fact of knowing so little of her own story. When she’s notified by a lawyer in Savannah that her aunt, Helen, has died, she’s perplexed. After all, her mother told her Helen died 15 years ago. When the lawyer confirms that, no, Helen died 15 minutes ago, that aforementioned edifice of family secrets faces its first threat of teetering over.
When August was 8 years old, still living in New York City, her father was murdered on her birthday, of all days. For the next three years, she became a de facto caregiver for her mother, who had become mute and swallowed whole by her grief. Which again, it’s jarring that August became a ghostwriter, of a kind, for her mother given what her occupation as an adult would be. Then, in turn, clearly, August’s mother became a “ghostwriter” of how August understood her life, and certainly, of Helen’s, since she conjured up her fabricated death for August.
One day, again on August’s birthday as an 11 year old, Aunt Helen comes to NYC to bring August to Savannah, where she is retired after a career in the Navy. August’s mother is going to be institutionalized, at least until she returns exactly one year later to whisk August away yet again, this time back to Paris (and then on to Italy), as paranoid nomads. Hence, then, the namesake of the book, One Beautiful Year of Normal, where August experienced what it was like to have a “normal” childhood with Helen, to be loved and to love, to have fun.
Of course, “normal” is relative and dictated by what we know within the cocoon weaved by our familial structure. In the case of August, the three years spent caretaking for her mother, keeping the façade of life operational, was normal. The year with Helen then became the new, different form of normal. And then once again, becoming a paranoid nomad with her mute mother was a return to a familiar kind of normal. We only have what we know … until we don’t.
Through Griffith’s narrative, alternating between August’s year of normal at 11 years old to her unfurling the family secrets at 30 years old — with a doting, compassionate, and patient childhood crush returning to her life — August comes to understand that what we see through the lens of childhood innocence isn’t always what it seems and that even as adults, we maintain that lens to avoid painful truths. Indeed, to unfurl the secrets of the family is to hold up a mirror reflecting back upon yourself and how you are a composite of those secrets, for better or worse.
Griffith’s debut book presented a great deal of tenderness through August as she reckons with what she thought she knew about her family and her life, but never in an overly maudlin way. If anything, the cerebral moments August has in her head, and especially the conversations she has with Thomas, the boyhood crush, have the quality of being that positive kind of cringe that is endearing and affable. Positive cringe has a way of elucidating truth, too, and engendering well-earned optimism. Cringe has unnecessary connotation in that way, but I digress. I particularly enjoyed the voice Griffith brought to 11 year old August: mature because of needing to be a caregiver foisted upon her while still being a child with plentiful unknowns, but an insatiable curiosity.
I thoroughly enjoyed Griffith’s book, and found myself reading at a feverish pace as more and more secrets of August’s family were divulged and learned. And of course, the Southern setting is always going to add an inherent layer of intrigue to any story. In this case, the feel-good charm comes from Savannah and the “gothic” looms large from the Paris and NYC side of things. For those interested in books about familial drama, you have to add One Beautiful Year of Normal to your 2026 to-be-read list.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith is a highly recommended Southern domestic drama, with gothic and soap opera undertones, which focuses on character development while exploring family secrets.
At age eight while living in NYC, August Caine's father was murdered and her French mother retreated into silence and depression. August was caring for her mother and their home until Helen showed up on August's eleventh birthday, getting her mother help and taking August to Savannah. August spent one wonderful year with her Aunt Helen and experienced a real childhood, safety, a social life, and bonding with an adult who cared for her. Then her mentally ill mother arrived, and snatched August away to France and keeping them constantly on the move so they couldn't be found.
Then August, at age thirty, receives a shocking phone call from a Savannah attorney informing her that her Aunt Helen has passed away - but August's mother said she died fifteen years earlier. August, who was living in Paris under a new name, returns to Savannah, Georgia for her aunt Helen's funeral and to settle the estate, which August inherits. Once there she realizes she needs to solve her father's murder, address the complex relationship with her mother, dig into her family history, and even reconnects with an old friend.
This is a well-written, descriptive and atmospheric, but slow-paced, character driven drama written from August’s first-person perspective as she explores her past while dealing with her current situation. Much of her life has been filled with deception, starting with her father's unsolved murder followed closely by her mother's illness and lies, resulting in much of the soul-searching narrative focused on an examination of her life. The plot is really an introspective deep dive into the psychological effects of the trauma and deceit in her life. This exploration makes since based on Griffith’s background in psychology.
The narrative was interesting and held my attention, however, the novel also requires a huge does of disbelief to be accepted. The obvious first doubt raised is that no one questioning/noticed much sooner August, at age eight after her father was murdered, taking care of her mother and moving through the city. This includes the police officer who eventually contacted Helen. The second, which gave the novel a soap opera feeling, was the depiction of everyone seemingly recipients of great generational wealth. Finally, the end felt rushed, like an information dump.
One Beautiful Year of Normal is a great choice for those who enjoy Southern domestic dramas, and enjoy ghost stories. Thanks to She Writes Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
At age eight while living in NYC, August Caine's father was murdered and her French mother retreated into silence and depression. August was caring for her mother and their home until Helen showed up on August's eleventh birthday, getting her mother help and taking August to Savannah. August spent one wonderful year with her Aunt Helen and experienced a real childhood, safety, a social life, and bonding with an adult who cared for her. Then her mentally ill mother arrived, and snatched August away to France and keeping them constantly on the move so they couldn't be found.
Then August, at age thirty, receives a shocking phone call from a Savannah attorney informing her that her Aunt Helen has passed away - but August's mother said she died fifteen years earlier. August, who was living in Paris under a new name, returns to Savannah, Georgia for her aunt Helen's funeral and to settle the estate, which August inherits. Once there she realizes she needs to solve her father's murder, address the complex relationship with her mother, dig into her family history, and even reconnects with an old friend.
This is a well-written, descriptive and atmospheric, but slow-paced, character driven drama written from August’s first-person perspective as she explores her past while dealing with her current situation. Much of her life has been filled with deception, starting with her father's unsolved murder followed closely by her mother's illness and lies, resulting in much of the soul-searching narrative focused on an examination of her life. The plot is really an introspective deep dive into the psychological effects of the trauma and deceit in her life. This exploration makes since based on Griffith’s background in psychology.
The narrative was interesting and held my attention, however, the novel also requires a huge does of disbelief to be accepted. The obvious first doubt raised is that no one questioning/noticed much sooner August, at age eight after her father was murdered, taking care of her mother and moving through the city. This includes the police officer who eventually contacted Helen. The second, which gave the novel a soap opera feeling, was the depiction of everyone seemingly recipients of great generational wealth. Finally, the end felt rushed, like an information dump.
One Beautiful Year of Normal is a great choice for those who enjoy Southern domestic dramas, and enjoy ghost stories. Thanks to She Writes Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When August Caine was eleven, her father was murdered and the crime was never solved. In the aftermath, her mother, Claire, fell into debilitating depression, leaving August largely on her own in New York City until her Aunt Helen intervened and Claire was placed into care. August then spent a single year in Savannah with her aunt, a brief and defining period where life felt safe and ordinary. Years later, August receives a phone call informing her that Aunt Helen has died and that she is the sole heir to her estate. The news is jarring. August had been told her aunt died fifteen years earlier. Returning to Savannah means stepping back into a history shaped by omission, loss, and carefully maintained silence.
This mystery is rooted in mental illness, generational secrecy, and withheld truth. The novel unfolds through alternate timelines that slowly expose the fractures in August’s understanding of her own life. As she moves through Savannah, the family history she was never allowed to know emerges in pieces, each revelation complicating the last. The suspense here is character driven rather than plot heavy, built on what August remembers, what she was protected from, and what was deliberately hidden. Griffith allows tension to grow through emotional recognition instead of shock, creating a quiet unease as August begins to see how survival shaped the version of reality she was given.
I am a sucker for a debut author, and this one earned my trust early. Set in Savannah, the novel immerses the reader in a Southern atmosphere that feels lived in and intimate, where history, old money, and secrets exert quiet pressure all around August. Griffith’s background in psychology is evident in her careful handling of trauma and perception, allowing pain to exist without spectacle. By the end of the book, I found myself longing for normal alongside August, hoping she might reclaim what was taken from her before she understood its value. One Beautiful Year of Normal is thoughtful, restrained, and deeply compassionate. This book had a heart, and it never lost sight of it.
This mystery is rooted in mental illness, generational secrecy, and withheld truth. The novel unfolds through alternate timelines that slowly expose the fractures in August’s understanding of her own life. As she moves through Savannah, the family history she was never allowed to know emerges in pieces, each revelation complicating the last. The suspense here is character driven rather than plot heavy, built on what August remembers, what she was protected from, and what was deliberately hidden. Griffith allows tension to grow through emotional recognition instead of shock, creating a quiet unease as August begins to see how survival shaped the version of reality she was given.
I am a sucker for a debut author, and this one earned my trust early. Set in Savannah, the novel immerses the reader in a Southern atmosphere that feels lived in and intimate, where history, old money, and secrets exert quiet pressure all around August. Griffith’s background in psychology is evident in her careful handling of trauma and perception, allowing pain to exist without spectacle. By the end of the book, I found myself longing for normal alongside August, hoping she might reclaim what was taken from her before she understood its value. One Beautiful Year of Normal is thoughtful, restrained, and deeply compassionate. This book had a heart, and it never lost sight of it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow! Sandra K. Griffith, the Author of “One Beautiful Year of Normal” has written an evocative, captivating, intriguing and thought-provoking novel. The genres of this well- written novel are : Women’s Psychological Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Suspense with a dash of Romance. What would one define “Normal” as? In this unique and provocative novel, the author explores dysfunctional family relationships, devastating secrets, betrayals, estranged mother-daughter relationships, mental illness, and searching for self and the truth. The author vividly describes the landscape and scenery, and the dark, dramatic, colorful, intense, flawed, complex and complicated characters.
August Caine, one of the female protagonists in this story, receives a phone call from an attorney about the death of her Aunt Helen. August has had a traumatic life, her father was murdered, and her mother is in a psychiatric hospital. Her mother had told her that her Aunt passed away 15 years before in an accident, but the attorney informs August that her Aunt passed away 15 minutes ago. August has been living in France, but travels to Savannah to go to the funeral and settle the estate. August also realizes that she has to unravel past memories, lies and secrets, and put the pieces of the puzzle of her family’s past together to understand the truth. August has recollections of a wonderful year with her Aunt, and now has to deal with the ghosts and realities. I highly recommend this intense, memorable and thought-provoking thriller for others.
August Caine, one of the female protagonists in this story, receives a phone call from an attorney about the death of her Aunt Helen. August has had a traumatic life, her father was murdered, and her mother is in a psychiatric hospital. Her mother had told her that her Aunt passed away 15 years before in an accident, but the attorney informs August that her Aunt passed away 15 minutes ago. August has been living in France, but travels to Savannah to go to the funeral and settle the estate. August also realizes that she has to unravel past memories, lies and secrets, and put the pieces of the puzzle of her family’s past together to understand the truth. August has recollections of a wonderful year with her Aunt, and now has to deal with the ghosts and realities. I highly recommend this intense, memorable and thought-provoking thriller for others.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
I love when a story opens with a moment that completely shakes up a character’s sense of their own life, and this one does exactly that—with a premise that’s both emotional and just unsettling enough to pull you right in.
One Beautiful Year of Normal hooked me right away with its premise—August gets a call saying her Aunt Helen just died, even though she was told Helen died fifteen years ago. That alone had me instantly curious. When she heads back to her Southern hometown to finally get answers, all the messy pieces of her past start resurfacing: her father’s unsolved murder, her fractured memories, and the complicated family secrets she’s tried to outrun.
I really liked the emotional depth here. The mix of mystery, trauma, and mental-health threads gives the story a heavier, more introspective feel, and the Southern setting adds this haunting, atmospheric layer that works so well. However, some parts feel slower and more internal than I expected, and it’s definitely more of a psychological unraveling than a twist-packed thriller.
Overall, it’s a moody, character-driven story that digs deep into family and memory—a quieter kind of suspense about returning home and facing the truth, and even without big twists, the emotional unraveling and atmospheric tension make it compelling in a different way.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I love when a story opens with a moment that completely shakes up a character’s sense of their own life, and this one does exactly that—with a premise that’s both emotional and just unsettling enough to pull you right in.
One Beautiful Year of Normal hooked me right away with its premise—August gets a call saying her Aunt Helen just died, even though she was told Helen died fifteen years ago. That alone had me instantly curious. When she heads back to her Southern hometown to finally get answers, all the messy pieces of her past start resurfacing: her father’s unsolved murder, her fractured memories, and the complicated family secrets she’s tried to outrun.
I really liked the emotional depth here. The mix of mystery, trauma, and mental-health threads gives the story a heavier, more introspective feel, and the Southern setting adds this haunting, atmospheric layer that works so well. However, some parts feel slower and more internal than I expected, and it’s definitely more of a psychological unraveling than a twist-packed thriller.
Overall, it’s a moody, character-driven story that digs deep into family and memory—a quieter kind of suspense about returning home and facing the truth, and even without big twists, the emotional unraveling and atmospheric tension make it compelling in a different way.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Read
January 7, 2026One Beautiful Year of Normal is a haunting, character-driven psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense with emotional depth. Sandra K. Griffith delivers a story where memory, mental illness, and long-buried family secrets intertwine, creating an atmosphere that is both unsettling and deeply human.
August Caine is a compelling and vulnerable protagonist, shaped by trauma, loss, and fractured memories stemming from her father’s unsolved murder and years of psychiatric treatment. The mystery surrounding her aunt’s supposed death and the shocking revelation that it may have been a lie pulls readers into a layered narrative where truth is elusive and memory itself becomes suspect. Griffith’s portrayal of depression and survival is handled with sensitivity and authenticity, grounding the suspense in real emotional stakes.
What makes this novel stand out is its emotional intelligence. The exploration of mother daughter bonds, generational secrecy, and the cost of protecting painful truths elevates the story beyond a traditional thriller. One Beautiful Year of Normal is chilling, intimate, and deeply reflective a novel that keeps you turning pages while asking difficult questions about whether uncovering the truth truly sets us free.
August Caine is a compelling and vulnerable protagonist, shaped by trauma, loss, and fractured memories stemming from her father’s unsolved murder and years of psychiatric treatment. The mystery surrounding her aunt’s supposed death and the shocking revelation that it may have been a lie pulls readers into a layered narrative where truth is elusive and memory itself becomes suspect. Griffith’s portrayal of depression and survival is handled with sensitivity and authenticity, grounding the suspense in real emotional stakes.
What makes this novel stand out is its emotional intelligence. The exploration of mother daughter bonds, generational secrecy, and the cost of protecting painful truths elevates the story beyond a traditional thriller. One Beautiful Year of Normal is chilling, intimate, and deeply reflective a novel that keeps you turning pages while asking difficult questions about whether uncovering the truth truly sets us free.
January 22, 2026
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a beautiful book full of love and heart. I absolutely loved August, our main female lead, and I loved Tommy too. Aunt Helen sounded lovely too, on the whole (it was hard to completely love her after the mystery came out).
The story is about August being contacted out of the blue by a lawyer for her Aunt Helen’s estate back in Savannah, Georgia where she lived for one year when she was young following the murder of her father and hospitalisation of her mother. August is most shocked by the call as she’d always been led to believe that Aunt Helen had died 15 years ago so this discovery leads to her returning to Savannah and trying to unravel family mysteries and secrets. I would’ve given it 5/5 but I felt the part of the book where we learn of the mystery was slightly clunky and confusing, and then I felt the last couple of chapters wrapped up a little too quickly. I thought the author dealt with the mental health issues sensitively.
Tw: the book deals with murder, death, grief, mental health issues.
Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley again for this advance copy.
I thought this was a beautiful book full of love and heart. I absolutely loved August, our main female lead, and I loved Tommy too. Aunt Helen sounded lovely too, on the whole (it was hard to completely love her after the mystery came out).
The story is about August being contacted out of the blue by a lawyer for her Aunt Helen’s estate back in Savannah, Georgia where she lived for one year when she was young following the murder of her father and hospitalisation of her mother. August is most shocked by the call as she’d always been led to believe that Aunt Helen had died 15 years ago so this discovery leads to her returning to Savannah and trying to unravel family mysteries and secrets. I would’ve given it 5/5 but I felt the part of the book where we learn of the mystery was slightly clunky and confusing, and then I felt the last couple of chapters wrapped up a little too quickly. I thought the author dealt with the mental health issues sensitively.
Tw: the book deals with murder, death, grief, mental health issues.
Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley again for this advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received an ARC from NetGalley in lieu of an honest review
Technically I'm going to give this book a 4.75
If I had stopped at the first 2/3 this would definitely receive 5 stars from me.
The storyline of August, her mentally ill mother, and her aunt was written with such character complexity and depth that I felt so many emotions reading this book. And don't even get me started on the neighbor's grandson, little Tommy Reese. (fanning self).
The setting was so vividly presented, that haunting Savannah and Tybee Island are now on my "Must Visit Soon" list and I loved the insertion of the ghost stories.
The author managed to intrigue me with enough suspense that I had to continue page turning well into the night, but also provided some of the most beautiful writing I've read in the last year.
The 1/4 star was removed simply because the ending did leave me with more questions than I knew I had to begin with, but just a minor ding because this book will assuredly go down as one of my favorites for the year!
Please please please do yourself a favor and grab this book. It is well worth your time!
Off to find more books by this author!
Technically I'm going to give this book a 4.75
If I had stopped at the first 2/3 this would definitely receive 5 stars from me.
The storyline of August, her mentally ill mother, and her aunt was written with such character complexity and depth that I felt so many emotions reading this book. And don't even get me started on the neighbor's grandson, little Tommy Reese. (fanning self).
The setting was so vividly presented, that haunting Savannah and Tybee Island are now on my "Must Visit Soon" list and I loved the insertion of the ghost stories.
The author managed to intrigue me with enough suspense that I had to continue page turning well into the night, but also provided some of the most beautiful writing I've read in the last year.
The 1/4 star was removed simply because the ending did leave me with more questions than I knew I had to begin with, but just a minor ding because this book will assuredly go down as one of my favorites for the year!
Please please please do yourself a favor and grab this book. It is well worth your time!
Off to find more books by this author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Man, I don't know what expected when I requested to read and review this book from NetGalley, but I am pleasantly surprised.
It has just about every emotion one can have. Love, loss, anger, sadness, happiness....
It is wrapped up nicely even though you are still left with questions. I adore the main character and those that are closest to her (besides her mother... I couldn't find it in me to like her.)
it's a nice mystery combined with loss and love. No spice which was actually nice for a change. It absolutely didn't need it and probably would have taken away from the rest of the novel if it had been there. it left you wanting, but not in a bad way.
I will definitely check out anything else this author puts out.
I'll be thinking about this for a long while. I think this may be my favorite book I'll read all year.
Closure, but no Closure? I'm not mad about it for once.
I just want to hug little August Caine and chastise her mother. We are all a mess though, aren't we?
It has just about every emotion one can have. Love, loss, anger, sadness, happiness....
It is wrapped up nicely even though you are still left with questions. I adore the main character and those that are closest to her (besides her mother... I couldn't find it in me to like her.)
it's a nice mystery combined with loss and love. No spice which was actually nice for a change. It absolutely didn't need it and probably would have taken away from the rest of the novel if it had been there. it left you wanting, but not in a bad way.
I will definitely check out anything else this author puts out.
I'll be thinking about this for a long while. I think this may be my favorite book I'll read all year.
Closure, but no Closure? I'm not mad about it for once.
I just want to hug little August Caine and chastise her mother. We are all a mess though, aren't we?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Man, I don't know what expected when I requested to read and review this book from NetGalley, but I am pleasantly surprised.
It has just about every emotion one can have. Love, loss, anger, sadness, happiness....
It is wrapped up nicely even though you are still left with questions. I adore the main character and those that are closest to her (besides her mother... I couldn't find it in me to like her.)
it's a nice mystery combined with loss and love. No spice which was actually nice for a change. It absolutely didn't need it and probably would have taken away from the rest of the novel if it had been there. it left you wanting, but not in a bad way.
I will definitely check out anything else this author puts out.
I'll be thinking about this for a long while. I think this may be my favorite book I'll read all year.
Closure, but no Closure? I'm not mad about it for once.
It has just about every emotion one can have. Love, loss, anger, sadness, happiness....
It is wrapped up nicely even though you are still left with questions. I adore the main character and those that are closest to her (besides her mother... I couldn't find it in me to like her.)
it's a nice mystery combined with loss and love. No spice which was actually nice for a change. It absolutely didn't need it and probably would have taken away from the rest of the novel if it had been there. it left you wanting, but not in a bad way.
I will definitely check out anything else this author puts out.
I'll be thinking about this for a long while. I think this may be my favorite book I'll read all year.
Closure, but no Closure? I'm not mad about it for once.
February 2, 2026
3.5 rounded up. This is an interesting and fairly well-written story of family, trauma, and mental illness. There is a mystery at the heart of the story, but there’s very little traction on that issue until almost 75% of the way through the book. I did, however, find the resolution of the mystery satisfying.
The author’s descriptions of Savannah conjure realistic images of the American south, and her writing helped capture the wide range of emotions felt by the main character, August. There were times when the author repeated herself (for example, explaining August’s obsession with counting), and these could be tightened up a little to make a better narrative. Overall, it’s an impressive book for a debut.
Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The author’s descriptions of Savannah conjure realistic images of the American south, and her writing helped capture the wide range of emotions felt by the main character, August. There were times when the author repeated herself (for example, explaining August’s obsession with counting), and these could be tightened up a little to make a better narrative. Overall, it’s an impressive book for a debut.
Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you She Writes Press, Netgalley and Sandra for the ARC!
I went into this book thinking it would be a super twisty psychological thriller - it isn’t what you’d expect. What I read instead was a beautiful story about August, her hopes, her sad and tragic story, and her beautiful year of normal. This book took me completely by surprise at how much I enjoyed it, I was completely engrossed in it. I was rooting for August and Thomas the whole time. The reveals in the story are done so well, it’s such a complex story and you do really root for August and you can’t help but not just want the best outcome for her after everything she’s been through. As I write this I was considering 4.5 stars but I just loved it so much, it’s a 5*****. Incredible!
I went into this book thinking it would be a super twisty psychological thriller - it isn’t what you’d expect. What I read instead was a beautiful story about August, her hopes, her sad and tragic story, and her beautiful year of normal. This book took me completely by surprise at how much I enjoyed it, I was completely engrossed in it. I was rooting for August and Thomas the whole time. The reveals in the story are done so well, it’s such a complex story and you do really root for August and you can’t help but not just want the best outcome for her after everything she’s been through. As I write this I was considering 4.5 stars but I just loved it so much, it’s a 5*****. Incredible!
January 17, 2026
This was such a touching read. August was likable from the beginning and I truly felt for her. I enjoyed following her journey to fully understanding her family history. A lot of readers will probably connect with her experiences. My favorite part was the full circle ending 😊
The first half of the book was a bit slow for my liking and despite the genre I wouldn’t consider this a psychological thriller.
Overall a good book. Just not what I would typically go for. Thanks Net Galley for this ARC reading!
The first half of the book was a bit slow for my liking and despite the genre I wouldn’t consider this a psychological thriller.
Overall a good book. Just not what I would typically go for. Thanks Net Galley for this ARC reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One Beautiful Year of Normal immediately grabbed my attention and wouldn't let me stop reading. I was up all night! From the first chapter, I was engrossed in the backstory of August and her family - the murder, mental illness, and mystery. And the story in present-time Savannah, Georgia, was just as dark and twisty. Although the storylines were quite heavy, they were not gratuitously so. Additionally, the ending was hopefully positive. Sandra Griffith's new book has it all: drama, suspense, romance, reflection, etc.
November 16, 2025
A woman (August Caine) receives a phone call from Savannah Georgia that her aunt has passed away and she needs to come there to settle the estate. What makes this so strange is that her mother had told her that this aunt had died years before! A family history of mental illness, kept secrets and August's year that she lived with her aunt all lead to an ending that explains everything. I look forward to reading more from this author.
November 18, 2025
I was totally pulled into August’s story; between the long-buried family secrets, the unsettling memories, and her return to the South, this one kept me guessing the whole way through. I loved following her as she tried to piece together the truth about her past. It is the perfect mix of mystery, emotion, and generational drama! It’s heartbreaking and impossible to put down. Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was surprised by how invested I became in this book and August's story. I didn't fully realize the mystery that would be involved until it was being unraveled. While the piecing together felt forced at times, I truly enjoyed the characters, the depth, and the themes of family, identity, mental illness, grief, trauma, and rebuilding the novel explored. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of this book from netgalley. This book was an excellent debut novel. This book was a combination of family drama and mystery. I found the mystery to be a little bit unbelievable at times. I was satisfied by the ending. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
December 15, 2025
ARC thanks to NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book. Following August as she digs up the truth of her past. All the secrets and who she believes. I liked the little snippets of what happened in the past to help understand what’s happening or Augusts thinking in the present.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fantastically effective book with good vibes and interesting plotting. would recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked this book more at the beginning than I did at the end. I wasn't super thrilled with the answer to the mystery at the center of the book. The romance also didn't do a whole lot for me.
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