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One Night in Georgia: A Novel
Set in the summer of 1968, a provocative and devastating novel of individual lives caught in the grips of violent history—a timely and poignant story that reverberates with the power of Alice Walker’s Meridian and Ntozake Shange’s Betsey Browne.
At the end of a sweltering summer shaped by the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, race riots, political protests, and the birth of Black power, three coeds from New York City—Zelda Livingston, Veronica Cook, and Daphne Brooks—pack into Veronica’s new Ford Fairlane convertible, bound for Atlanta and their last year at Spelman College. It is the beginning a journey that will change their lives irrevocably.
Unlikely friends from vastly different backgrounds, the trio has been inseparable since freshman year. Zelda, serious and unyielding, the heir of rebellious slaves and freedom riders, sees the world in black versus white. Veronica, the privileged daughter of a refined, wealthy family, strongly believes in integration and racial uplift. Daphne lives with a legacy of loss—when she was five years old, her black mother committed suicide and her white father abandoned her.
Because they will be going their separate ways after graduation, Zelda, Veronica, and Daphne intend to make lasting memories on this special trip. Though they are young and carefree, they aren’t foolish. Joined by Veronica’s family friend Daniel, they rely on the Motorist Green Book to find racially friendly locations for gas, rest, and food. Still, with the sun on their cheeks, the wind in their hair, and Motown on the radio, the girls revel in their freedom. Yet as the miles fly by, taking them closer to the Mason-Dixon line, tension begins to rise and the conversation turns serious when Daphne shares a horrifying secret about her life.
When they hit Washington, D.C., the joyous trip turns dark. In Virginia they barely escape a desperate situation when prison guards mistake Daniel for an escapee. Further south they barely make it through a sundown town. When the car breaks down in Georgia they are caught up in a racially hostile situation that leaves a white person dead and one of the girls holding the gun.
At the end of a sweltering summer shaped by the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, race riots, political protests, and the birth of Black power, three coeds from New York City—Zelda Livingston, Veronica Cook, and Daphne Brooks—pack into Veronica’s new Ford Fairlane convertible, bound for Atlanta and their last year at Spelman College. It is the beginning a journey that will change their lives irrevocably.
Unlikely friends from vastly different backgrounds, the trio has been inseparable since freshman year. Zelda, serious and unyielding, the heir of rebellious slaves and freedom riders, sees the world in black versus white. Veronica, the privileged daughter of a refined, wealthy family, strongly believes in integration and racial uplift. Daphne lives with a legacy of loss—when she was five years old, her black mother committed suicide and her white father abandoned her.
Because they will be going their separate ways after graduation, Zelda, Veronica, and Daphne intend to make lasting memories on this special trip. Though they are young and carefree, they aren’t foolish. Joined by Veronica’s family friend Daniel, they rely on the Motorist Green Book to find racially friendly locations for gas, rest, and food. Still, with the sun on their cheeks, the wind in their hair, and Motown on the radio, the girls revel in their freedom. Yet as the miles fly by, taking them closer to the Mason-Dixon line, tension begins to rise and the conversation turns serious when Daphne shares a horrifying secret about her life.
When they hit Washington, D.C., the joyous trip turns dark. In Virginia they barely escape a desperate situation when prison guards mistake Daniel for an escapee. Further south they barely make it through a sundown town. When the car breaks down in Georgia they are caught up in a racially hostile situation that leaves a white person dead and one of the girls holding the gun.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 18, 2019
79 people are currently reading
2186 people want to read
About the author
Celeste O. Norfleet
37 books187 followersNational best-selling author, Celeste O. Norfleet, was a late bloomer to romance. But as soon as she picked up her first romance novel, she was hooked. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Celeste is a graduate of Moore College of Art & Design. An art director and graphic designer for many years, Celeste now devotes all of her time to writing and creating romance letting her artistic imagination flow through the computer keys. Her romance novels, realistic with a touch of humor, depict strong sexy characters with unpredictable plots and exciting storylines. Her young adult novels delve into dramatic fiction, reflecting current issues facing African-American teens. Celeste currently writes for Harlequin's Kimani Press Arabesque, Kimani Romance and Kimani Press TRU (young adult) lines. Celeste lives in Virginia with her husband and two teenagers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
April 16, 2019
With more time I think the story and chracters could have been fleshed out more. The MC was a wee bit bland as were all the secondary characters. The pacing was a bit uneven and I struggled to get a firm handle on time within this book. However, it was a quick read and one that can easily be finished in one day.
TW self-harm
TW self-harm
June 9, 2019
I rank this more as a 2.5 rather than a flat 2 stars!
I went into this book with the thought it was going to be an in-depth exploration of the types of racism we see in different regions, of colorism, of the HBCU experience, and of the overall experience of Black American in the late 60s; that's at least what I was expecting from the synopsis of this book. However, that's not what I got from this story. This novel ended up being more like a romance set against a setting of racist America in the 60s. Which, to me, isn't necessarily the best way to present the issues of that time period.
The writing quality of the story was fairly decent; it was understandable and the language used was nice. However, one thing about the style did make it hard for me to enjoy the book -- I think the book did not put to use the idea of "showing rather than telling". There were so many details that were just outright stated rather than implied by the actions of the characters (since this seems to be a very character driven story), and that led to some of my other issues with the story. Overall, the lack of showing details with the writing led to many aspects of the story feeling shallow or flat; I wish the story had just a bit less exposition in that regard.
Following that train of thought, the character development felt very shallow and rushed to me. I know this is much easier said as a reader rather than a writer, but I think if the book had been longer, there would have been so much more time to pull everything about the characters and their stories together. The main characters felt surface level and rather static; I'm not sure how much any of them grew by the end of the story. With Zelda specifically, I feel like she was even written a bit out of character after a while in order to speed up the romance with Daniel. I think that pairing would have worked so much better with more time; I definitely see them growing feelings for each other over the course of the trip, maybe even having a one night stand or something of the sort, but having them not even be at the end of the trip and saying heartfelt "I love you"s felt very unrealistic, especially for someone who was as militant and strict as Zelda. Overall, the main characters felt just as fleshed out as the side characters, and that's not necessarily bad; I, personally, had just hoped for more in that regard.
However, an area where I believe this book shines is in originality. Despite my other qualms with the story, one thing that I have to say is that I've never read a story that has this concept before, whether it was well executed or not. The idea of using a road trip as the plot vehicle through which to analyze racism in different regions of America is very cool, for lack of a better word. Though I'm not sure it was executed well here, I did enjoy the concept of it very much!
Another good thing is that even though the story doesn't really dive deep or explore the intricacies of how the characters handle racism, there were many good tidbits of information that I think would benefit a reader who is not extremely aware of the details of this time period. The inclusion of The Green Book for Negro Motorists was fantastic, and the inclusion of sundown towns is a thing that cannot be understated. Sundown towns still exist today, and I think it's important that this story was set in a relatively modern time period and showed that aspect of the Black experience.
Overall, I'd say this story was decent. It grazed over and lightly addressed some rather important issues, and it was a very quick read. The romance, while rushed, was cute enough for me to not hate it. The details really brought the setting of the story to life. My biggest qualm is that this story is not being marketed as a romance novel, even though that ends up becoming the main focus of this story. Due to that, I feel like there were some irresponsible at worst, and inaccurate at best images of the Black experience in this story.
I went into this book with the thought it was going to be an in-depth exploration of the types of racism we see in different regions, of colorism, of the HBCU experience, and of the overall experience of Black American in the late 60s; that's at least what I was expecting from the synopsis of this book. However, that's not what I got from this story. This novel ended up being more like a romance set against a setting of racist America in the 60s. Which, to me, isn't necessarily the best way to present the issues of that time period.
The writing quality of the story was fairly decent; it was understandable and the language used was nice. However, one thing about the style did make it hard for me to enjoy the book -- I think the book did not put to use the idea of "showing rather than telling". There were so many details that were just outright stated rather than implied by the actions of the characters (since this seems to be a very character driven story), and that led to some of my other issues with the story. Overall, the lack of showing details with the writing led to many aspects of the story feeling shallow or flat; I wish the story had just a bit less exposition in that regard.
Following that train of thought, the character development felt very shallow and rushed to me. I know this is much easier said as a reader rather than a writer, but I think if the book had been longer, there would have been so much more time to pull everything about the characters and their stories together. The main characters felt surface level and rather static; I'm not sure how much any of them grew by the end of the story. With Zelda specifically, I feel like she was even written a bit out of character after a while in order to speed up the romance with Daniel. I think that pairing would have worked so much better with more time; I definitely see them growing feelings for each other over the course of the trip, maybe even having a one night stand or something of the sort, but having them not even be at the end of the trip and saying heartfelt "I love you"s felt very unrealistic, especially for someone who was as militant and strict as Zelda. Overall, the main characters felt just as fleshed out as the side characters, and that's not necessarily bad; I, personally, had just hoped for more in that regard.
However, an area where I believe this book shines is in originality. Despite my other qualms with the story, one thing that I have to say is that I've never read a story that has this concept before, whether it was well executed or not. The idea of using a road trip as the plot vehicle through which to analyze racism in different regions of America is very cool, for lack of a better word. Though I'm not sure it was executed well here, I did enjoy the concept of it very much!
Another good thing is that even though the story doesn't really dive deep or explore the intricacies of how the characters handle racism, there were many good tidbits of information that I think would benefit a reader who is not extremely aware of the details of this time period. The inclusion of The Green Book for Negro Motorists was fantastic, and the inclusion of sundown towns is a thing that cannot be understated. Sundown towns still exist today, and I think it's important that this story was set in a relatively modern time period and showed that aspect of the Black experience.
Overall, I'd say this story was decent. It grazed over and lightly addressed some rather important issues, and it was a very quick read. The romance, while rushed, was cute enough for me to not hate it. The details really brought the setting of the story to life. My biggest qualm is that this story is not being marketed as a romance novel, even though that ends up becoming the main focus of this story. Due to that, I feel like there were some irresponsible at worst, and inaccurate at best images of the Black experience in this story.
July 20, 2019
For 300 plus pages this was a quick read. One Night in Georgia by Celeste O. Norfleet is set during the summer of 68' when several friends head off to college. Driving from New York to Atlanta Georgia these young black women & men endure the racism & violence in the south along the way. The twist and turns really had me on the edge of my seat. This read had me biting my nails waiting to see what was going to happen next. This is a must read.
Thank you, NetGalley & Harper Collins/Amistad Publishing, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you, NetGalley & Harper Collins/Amistad Publishing, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5 stars
July 16, 2019
Don’t believe the blurb. This is not at all what I was expecting. It’s a mashup of young adult and women’s fiction tropes. The inane conversation among these three woman drove me crazy, and the book was mostly dialogue. It’s insulting the way the author dropped the names of famous black people and used civil rights as a preachy backdrop.
November 30, 2019
What an emotional read! This story engages you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go, even after leaving you balling in a fetal position.
July 5, 2019
The tumultuous sixties is my favorite era to read about in nonfiction, and I'm always excited when I find a novel set during this period. I was looking forward to a story with depth and insight into the cultural struggles. We are given the insight here, but the depth is lacking.
The cast of characters offers diversity and intrigue. Unfortunately, I felt detached from them as people. Some things just didn't make sense. For instance, a male "chaperone" none of the girls knew shows up to accompany them to Georgia, and all the girls easily accept his intrusion as if having a strange guy join your girls-only adventure isn't the least bit uncomfortable. And then this young man remains silent, almost ghost-like for long passages, when his presence is unnecessary to the story. Also, the girls vacillate between tough and meek, educated and naive, and so none of it feels honest.
The interactions and confrontations are stereotypical and lack depth. The conversations sound unnatural. They are speeches designed to educate readers, rather than normal discussions between young adult friends. The result is a kind of preachy story in which we're told a lot but shown little.
I wanted to love this book, but ultimately I was disappointed.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.*
The cast of characters offers diversity and intrigue. Unfortunately, I felt detached from them as people. Some things just didn't make sense. For instance, a male "chaperone" none of the girls knew shows up to accompany them to Georgia, and all the girls easily accept his intrusion as if having a strange guy join your girls-only adventure isn't the least bit uncomfortable. And then this young man remains silent, almost ghost-like for long passages, when his presence is unnecessary to the story. Also, the girls vacillate between tough and meek, educated and naive, and so none of it feels honest.
The interactions and confrontations are stereotypical and lack depth. The conversations sound unnatural. They are speeches designed to educate readers, rather than normal discussions between young adult friends. The result is a kind of preachy story in which we're told a lot but shown little.
I wanted to love this book, but ultimately I was disappointed.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.*
November 12, 2019
I learned so much from this book.
I don't mean about history . . . the author assumes anyone who reads "One Night in Georgia" knows absolutely nothing about the year in which it is set (1968) so all of her characters sound like Smithsonian Channel documentary narrators -- even after sex ("They're going to put a man on the moon next year," starts the pillow talk).
I don't mean about writing . . . with her stilted dialogue and ridiculous coincidences, Ms. Norfleet writes like granddaughter of Theodore Dreiser and Agatha Christie.
I mean . . . I WILL NEVER AGAIN DOWNLOAD A BOOK WITHOUT DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE AUTHOR. Ms. Norfleet is, per the bio I didn't read until after I finished (survived?) "One Night in Georgia," a successful author of romance novels. Perhaps she's brilliant by the standards of that genre, but now I have a good reason to avoid romance, as opposed to the slightly shameful sexism that has made me reluctant to explore it: the prose is horrendous. I was on the rebound from an overlong horror novel and was scrolling too fast through Kindle looking for something that took place in reality. I thought "One Night in Georgia" might qualify. It did . . . sort of.
in fairness, Ms. Norfleet has a great idea for a book: three young Black female college students take a road trip from New York City to Atlanta in the summer of 1968. Unfortunately, she proceeds to write said book. If Tayari Jones or Jacqueline Woodson had written this novel, there would be talk of Pulitzers and National Book Awards. I'm fairly certain that "One Night in Georgia" won't be making any of those shortlists.
I don't mean about history . . . the author assumes anyone who reads "One Night in Georgia" knows absolutely nothing about the year in which it is set (1968) so all of her characters sound like Smithsonian Channel documentary narrators -- even after sex ("They're going to put a man on the moon next year," starts the pillow talk).
I don't mean about writing . . . with her stilted dialogue and ridiculous coincidences, Ms. Norfleet writes like granddaughter of Theodore Dreiser and Agatha Christie.
I mean . . . I WILL NEVER AGAIN DOWNLOAD A BOOK WITHOUT DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE AUTHOR. Ms. Norfleet is, per the bio I didn't read until after I finished (survived?) "One Night in Georgia," a successful author of romance novels. Perhaps she's brilliant by the standards of that genre, but now I have a good reason to avoid romance, as opposed to the slightly shameful sexism that has made me reluctant to explore it: the prose is horrendous. I was on the rebound from an overlong horror novel and was scrolling too fast through Kindle looking for something that took place in reality. I thought "One Night in Georgia" might qualify. It did . . . sort of.
in fairness, Ms. Norfleet has a great idea for a book: three young Black female college students take a road trip from New York City to Atlanta in the summer of 1968. Unfortunately, she proceeds to write said book. If Tayari Jones or Jacqueline Woodson had written this novel, there would be talk of Pulitzers and National Book Awards. I'm fairly certain that "One Night in Georgia" won't be making any of those shortlists.
November 13, 2019
GoodRead
October 4, 2019
Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime
Shortly after I read One Day in December, I stumbled upon One Night in Georgia and the juxtaposition of the titles made me smile. The synopsis of latter made me want to read it. The novel is set in the late 60s where the black is beautiful and Civil Rights Movements are in full bloom. The main character, Zelda, meets up with her college friends and sorority sisters, Veronica and Daphne, near the end of summer to drive from New York to Georgia where they will resume their college education at Spelman University. They meet up with family friend*, Daniel, who escorts them on this tumultuous trip that includes several episodes of racism, terrifying encounters with the police, and some fun and excitement. However, the tone of the book foreshadows a pivotal event that changes the lives of the college students forever.
At just a little over 300 pages, this book is not overwhelming. It actually reads much faster that one might expect. I enjoyed taking a peek back in history through Norfleet's eyes of this time period. It was an important one for African Americans, and the first part of the novel was spot on in capturing the time period, retelling actual events that occurred, and illustrating similar events through fiction. However, about halfway through the book, it changes from a study of the African American condition to a kind of cheesy love story which later evolved into some 50 shades-type prose, and the ending just fell flat for me.
I was hoping for better character development and resolution of the major issues presented like Zelda's relations with her mother, and the relationship between both of them and her stepfather. I wanted more of a conclusion about how Zelda could begin healing from her father's death. The other friends, who had major roles in the story, had their endings wrapped up much too quickly in a few sentences without really dealing with the heavy issues (arranged marriage, sexual assault, biracial identity) they were tackling. Overall, I felt like Norfleet took the easy way out with the ending and left too many other issues up in the air. What began as a driving and intriguing story quickly lost its power and effect.
Recommendation: Even though this was a quick read, I would not recommend this one. There are other books that deal with some of the major issues in this book in a more effective way. And maybe that was the problem, the author tried to cram too much into one story and didn't know how to synthesize it all. So disappointed!
*The Goodreads synopsis says Daniel is a family friend of Veronica, but I am certain he was a family friend by way of Zelda. I'm not sure if this the publisher's error or an error on the part of Goodreads.
Until next time ... Read on!
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.
Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime
Shortly after I read One Day in December, I stumbled upon One Night in Georgia and the juxtaposition of the titles made me smile. The synopsis of latter made me want to read it. The novel is set in the late 60s where the black is beautiful and Civil Rights Movements are in full bloom. The main character, Zelda, meets up with her college friends and sorority sisters, Veronica and Daphne, near the end of summer to drive from New York to Georgia where they will resume their college education at Spelman University. They meet up with family friend*, Daniel, who escorts them on this tumultuous trip that includes several episodes of racism, terrifying encounters with the police, and some fun and excitement. However, the tone of the book foreshadows a pivotal event that changes the lives of the college students forever.
At just a little over 300 pages, this book is not overwhelming. It actually reads much faster that one might expect. I enjoyed taking a peek back in history through Norfleet's eyes of this time period. It was an important one for African Americans, and the first part of the novel was spot on in capturing the time period, retelling actual events that occurred, and illustrating similar events through fiction. However, about halfway through the book, it changes from a study of the African American condition to a kind of cheesy love story which later evolved into some 50 shades-type prose, and the ending just fell flat for me.
I was hoping for better character development and resolution of the major issues presented like Zelda's relations with her mother, and the relationship between both of them and her stepfather. I wanted more of a conclusion about how Zelda could begin healing from her father's death. The other friends, who had major roles in the story, had their endings wrapped up much too quickly in a few sentences without really dealing with the heavy issues (arranged marriage, sexual assault, biracial identity) they were tackling. Overall, I felt like Norfleet took the easy way out with the ending and left too many other issues up in the air. What began as a driving and intriguing story quickly lost its power and effect.
Recommendation: Even though this was a quick read, I would not recommend this one. There are other books that deal with some of the major issues in this book in a more effective way. And maybe that was the problem, the author tried to cram too much into one story and didn't know how to synthesize it all. So disappointed!
*The Goodreads synopsis says Daniel is a family friend of Veronica, but I am certain he was a family friend by way of Zelda. I'm not sure if this the publisher's error or an error on the part of Goodreads.
Until next time ... Read on!
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.
Read all of my reviews at bit.ly/PageBedtime
June 23, 2019
Book Review: One Night in George by Celeste O. Norfleet - Thank you Harper One books and Amistad Books for sending me a copy of this book, which is out now!
My thoughts: As someone who is half African-American, I have always been incredibly fascinated by the 1950's and 1960's, in particular The Civil Rights Movement. Sometimes it's hard to believe that was our country less than 70 years ago. I thought this book was intriguing, as I haven't read too many fictional accounts of life in post-CRM America. I wasn't expecting this book to impact me quite as much as it did. As I was reading, I found myself angry and heartbroken over the injustice and racism that African-Americans encountered. I thought Norfleet did an excellent job of portraying what life would have been like during that time for African-Americans. She does this through a group of three friends: Zelda Veronica, and Daphne. All three girls have different experiences as African-Americans. Zelda is the daughter of slaves and freedom riders, Veronica comes from a wealthy family, and Daphne is the daughter of a black mother who committed suicide and a white father who abandoned her. Each of their experiences has shaped how they view the "new world," and their characters showcase different aspects of life as an African-American. This story is fast-paced, and quickly moves from one event to the next. It is easy to follow, yet gripping and addictive. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
My thoughts: As someone who is half African-American, I have always been incredibly fascinated by the 1950's and 1960's, in particular The Civil Rights Movement. Sometimes it's hard to believe that was our country less than 70 years ago. I thought this book was intriguing, as I haven't read too many fictional accounts of life in post-CRM America. I wasn't expecting this book to impact me quite as much as it did. As I was reading, I found myself angry and heartbroken over the injustice and racism that African-Americans encountered. I thought Norfleet did an excellent job of portraying what life would have been like during that time for African-Americans. She does this through a group of three friends: Zelda Veronica, and Daphne. All three girls have different experiences as African-Americans. Zelda is the daughter of slaves and freedom riders, Veronica comes from a wealthy family, and Daphne is the daughter of a black mother who committed suicide and a white father who abandoned her. Each of their experiences has shaped how they view the "new world," and their characters showcase different aspects of life as an African-American. This story is fast-paced, and quickly moves from one event to the next. It is easy to follow, yet gripping and addictive. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
August 7, 2025
I'm not gone lie the beginning had me wondering where the drama/shock value was coming in because I read the summary and was like how are we going to get to the plot. Well we got there and it saddened my heart, it's another post civil rights with no rights kinda books and was definitely a good read. It has you questioning what are the right actions and responses this situation. Educated young black men and women that still draw the short end of the stick when it comes to justice.
June 27, 2019
A quick and cute read about three friends taking a road trip to Georgia from Harlem NYC in their return to Spelman College after a short summer in NY. An easy going prose propels this novel as three college aged females make the decision to drive to Georgia in 1968, and driving through the South in that time is fraught with danger and trepidation.
And these ladies come face-to-face with danger and Celeste Norfleet builds drama and worry without going overly dramatic. So, we ride along with Zelda, the stereotypical centered individual with Veronica, the not so serious sidekick along with Daphne who goes along to get along.
Although this is a quick read, Celeste took enough time to build the characters so that we readers get a feel for the different personalities without sacrificing quality. I enjoyed this story and would recommend as a nice summer indulgence. Thanks to Netgalley and Amistad for an advanced DRC. Book is out now!
And these ladies come face-to-face with danger and Celeste Norfleet builds drama and worry without going overly dramatic. So, we ride along with Zelda, the stereotypical centered individual with Veronica, the not so serious sidekick along with Daphne who goes along to get along.
Although this is a quick read, Celeste took enough time to build the characters so that we readers get a feel for the different personalities without sacrificing quality. I enjoyed this story and would recommend as a nice summer indulgence. Thanks to Netgalley and Amistad for an advanced DRC. Book is out now!
February 11, 2020
The book is set in 1968 and we follow the journey of four college students (three Spelman girls, 1 Morehouse man) as they take a road trip from NYC to Atlanta to begin their senior year of college. But, it's 1968 so they encounter racism frequently and repeatedly. There are corrupt police who try to steal their car, places which won't serve them, bathrooms they can't use, etc. The racism is overwhelming and palpable, which basically just places you in the year 1968. An attempt to celebrate the birthday of one of their sorority sisters leads to a shooting that forever changes all of their lives. If you want to get plunged into just how good and bad things can be simultaneously, read this book. 4.5*
did-not-finish
July 4, 2020Unfortunately I couldn't get into this one. The premise sounded great, but the way the book was written felt very YA. Not sure if that was what was intended, but it's not what I was looking for. Would recommend this more to younger readers.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2025
I’m conflicted with how much I liked it even disliked this story. It started off strong and the back of the book was promising. But the middle and the random history facts that seemed to be just thrown in there were a little bit much for me and didn’t cause the story to flow like it should. It did pick back up and catch my interest, but I still feel like the story could’ve flowed better and provided a better gateway to the main plot of the story…. And DANIEL 😭😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2023
literally if i could give it more than 5 stars, which it sorta deserves, i would be giving it. between the pace of the book, the characters & overall plot of being taken place in 1968 really fueled me to get to the end of this book. and i’m— definitely satisfied. hate i borrowed from the library but i def will be owning it soon!
January 10, 2024
Reading this book was a ride on the struggle bus for me. I tried so hard to get into and I just couldn’t. It’s been sitting on my shelf unread for years and I think my subconscious knew I wouldn’t like it and was purposely avoiding it. Just not the book for me!
June 18, 2023
Ummm… what? This book actually upset me in more ways than one. I’m not sure what I read if I’m being honest. One Night in Georgia by Celeste O. Norfleet is a book that I only finished because I was in awe of the sheer audacity of this. I kid you not, this is a romance book that uses racism in the late 60s in the United States as a backdrop. I’m not going to lie, I read the author blurb on Goodreads and I was confused about such a strong romance literature background and how it’ll stack up with a book like the one in the synopsis. I should have taken that as a warning because this was literally Black trauma + everything that I dislike about romance novels. If you’re into romance books then please know that I’m not trying to be shady. As for myself, I’m not into romance books. I expected a book that went into depth about racial tensions and young Black college students who are protesting and going through a lot of social change.
There is an onslaught of traumatic circumstances from the earliest pages. Zelda Livingston, the main character is living in a loveless home with her mother and new stepfather. Zelda’s father was lynched and several other Black men in this book are mentioned to have been lynched in this book but there’s nothing beyond that. We don’t get closure on anything that happens in this book and as the synopsis says, as soon as the group crosses through Washington D.C. the trip takes a dark turn because at that point, they dip into the heavily segregated Southern states. As soon as this book turned romantic and had a pretty steamy sex scene, I was taken out of everything I just read.
I don’t want to spend too much time dumping on this but the writing was not great. The characters were wooden and the dialogue was stilted. I don’t believe this author cared about telling a fully realized story about this period in American history. Something else that I don’t love about narratives like this is the cartoonish way that the racists interact with Black people. I realize that many people were simply unhinged back then with their slurs but I enjoy it when the racism is displayed much more insidiously like it is in real life, even today. For example, I was born in a tiny town in Arkansas in the 90s. Even though I grew up in the 90s and 2000s, there were some parts of Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana that gave me such an awful chill because those were some deeply racist areas that crept up on you. Thinking back on some of the small towns I’ve been in over the years, I get chills at how scary it actually was.
This just wasn’t a good book to me. I almost feel like it was a joke. As I mentioned, romance isn’t the genre for me but this was disrespectful.
There is an onslaught of traumatic circumstances from the earliest pages. Zelda Livingston, the main character is living in a loveless home with her mother and new stepfather. Zelda’s father was lynched and several other Black men in this book are mentioned to have been lynched in this book but there’s nothing beyond that. We don’t get closure on anything that happens in this book and as the synopsis says, as soon as the group crosses through Washington D.C. the trip takes a dark turn because at that point, they dip into the heavily segregated Southern states. As soon as this book turned romantic and had a pretty steamy sex scene, I was taken out of everything I just read.
I don’t want to spend too much time dumping on this but the writing was not great. The characters were wooden and the dialogue was stilted. I don’t believe this author cared about telling a fully realized story about this period in American history. Something else that I don’t love about narratives like this is the cartoonish way that the racists interact with Black people. I realize that many people were simply unhinged back then with their slurs but I enjoy it when the racism is displayed much more insidiously like it is in real life, even today. For example, I was born in a tiny town in Arkansas in the 90s. Even though I grew up in the 90s and 2000s, there were some parts of Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana that gave me such an awful chill because those were some deeply racist areas that crept up on you. Thinking back on some of the small towns I’ve been in over the years, I get chills at how scary it actually was.
This just wasn’t a good book to me. I almost feel like it was a joke. As I mentioned, romance isn’t the genre for me but this was disrespectful.
June 18, 2019
I found the synopsis of this book interesting, but this book was disappointing. The book takes place in 1968. Three young women from the north, Zelda, Veronica and Daphne decide to drive from New York to Georgia where they are attending college in a new convertible. Daniel, who is also attending college near by joins them to serve as a protector or an escort. As one can imagine, young black folks driving in the south during this period was dangerous, and the group found themselves often in situations that put them at great risk. In one such situation, a white an is dead, and the authorities is looking at them.
The naivety of the women in this were too unbelievable for me. Event for people from the north. I find it hard to believe that in the 1960s, a group of young black women would be as naive as the women were in this book. The first issue was that this road trip was a good idea and the second issue was how unprepared they were for any potential trouble that they may run into. It didn’t seem that the characters even anticipated even the smallest trouble. I struggle very much this. These young black college kids riding in a brand new convertible, didn’t think they would catch the attention of racist or racists cops in the south? It was hard for me to buy into this. The characters in their dialogues spoke of the conditions blacks were facing, but yet were not prepared or foresaw the potential conditions they themselves may face on their way to the south. I found the characters naivety too unbelievable given the backdrop for this story.
The naivety of the women in this were too unbelievable for me. Event for people from the north. I find it hard to believe that in the 1960s, a group of young black women would be as naive as the women were in this book. The first issue was that this road trip was a good idea and the second issue was how unprepared they were for any potential trouble that they may run into. It didn’t seem that the characters even anticipated even the smallest trouble. I struggle very much this. These young black college kids riding in a brand new convertible, didn’t think they would catch the attention of racist or racists cops in the south? It was hard for me to buy into this. The characters in their dialogues spoke of the conditions blacks were facing, but yet were not prepared or foresaw the potential conditions they themselves may face on their way to the south. I found the characters naivety too unbelievable given the backdrop for this story.
May 26, 2019
This book is one that will stay with you for a long time. Three friends, driving back to college in Georgia in the 60’s. All are smart and all have something they are running from. When they embark on their journey, they allow us to ride with them. A young man meets them as a favor to one of the ladies stepfather because he is asked to. What they all encounter on this trip will take you through a variety of emotions. The actions of this book will keep you reading until the last page. Another outstanding read from this very talented author. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
October 11, 2024
3.5 Rounded up!
This was not what I expected, but I wasn’t mad at this Civil Rights romance. It’s a beautiful reminder that love was found and cherished during a tumultuous period in American history. I would have loved this to remain a slow burn (literally could have done without all of chapter 20).
Shoutout to C. Norfleet making a character (Maise) that I LOVED TO HATE 🤬🤬 I always admire an author’s ability to manipulate my emotions in this way.
Overall, I really liked this book. And it was a quick read! I was surprised at how quickly I flew through this one.
This was not what I expected, but I wasn’t mad at this Civil Rights romance. It’s a beautiful reminder that love was found and cherished during a tumultuous period in American history. I would have loved this to remain a slow burn (literally could have done without all of chapter 20).
Shoutout to C. Norfleet making a character (Maise) that I LOVED TO HATE 🤬🤬 I always admire an author’s ability to manipulate my emotions in this way.
Overall, I really liked this book. And it was a quick read! I was surprised at how quickly I flew through this one.
June 24, 2019
This could have been a great novel,unfortunately the writing just never grew out of a basic stage. I also feel the book was marketed as a work of fiction,when I feel it should be classified as a NA Romance. I was disappointed overall.
January 15, 2020
Man was this a good book. Very heartbreaking at times and allows a person to see what it was like for African Americans during this time period. I found myself thinking about how terrible it would be to have to think ahead your every move to make sure you don't get killed. If you like historical fiction and reading about the time period of the Civil Rights Movement then you will like this book. It did have a little romance in it in the middle that I kind of felt was a little unnecessarily graphic, but I just skipped over it as I got the gist. Overall a great book!
November 3, 2019
Good concept. Very easy read but missed an opportunity to be great.
August 5, 2025
The story started off strong. The opening scenes with her mom and stepdad really pulled me in. Unfortunately, once the road trip began, it didn’t hold the same energy for me. Still, I might revisit it later and give it another chance.
August 24, 2020
Not my favorite writing style, but good story and compelling characters. It was so easy to see parallels between today and the 1968 of the story. I will never know what it is like to live in that type of fear and not be able to simply live in that type of bigotry.
July 21, 2019
thoughts coming shortly
April 15, 2020
I totally expected to really like this book, considering the historical aspect, but there was just too much jumping from one incident to the other to do any one of them justice.
June 26, 2019
3.5 Stars. Disappointed the characters were not more developed, however I really enjoyed the storyline even thou I considered it more of a romance with the backstory being their trip down south.
June 3, 2019
This book is one that may have more resonance with African Americans, particularly women, yet it is still a book for everyone to read. It's a nail biting novel of three college girls taking a week to drive back to school in a flashy convertible from New York to Atlanta in 1968. The main character, Zelda knows this is a mistake but joins her friends. Of course danger is ahead and they have surprisingly good interactions with some whites, and predictable racist police.
I found it hard to get placed into the novel. Zelda stood out, and though her other two friends had different characters they were difficult to identify at times. Actually several times I would get lost on understanding who was talking with the large group of people in the room.
Somewhat early in the book we find out some disturbing information about one of the friends. One would expect there to be more in the book, but no it seems to be forgotten. I'm not sure why this would be brought up if only to be ignored.
Despite the topic manner it is a quick easy read. There's a bit of romance thrown in that seems to help ease up on some of the tension.
Book rating: 3.5 stars
Thanks to Amistad/HarperCollins and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
I found it hard to get placed into the novel. Zelda stood out, and though her other two friends had different characters they were difficult to identify at times. Actually several times I would get lost on understanding who was talking with the large group of people in the room.
Somewhat early in the book we find out some disturbing information about one of the friends. One would expect there to be more in the book, but no it seems to be forgotten. I'm not sure why this would be brought up if only to be ignored.
Despite the topic manner it is a quick easy read. There's a bit of romance thrown in that seems to help ease up on some of the tension.
Book rating: 3.5 stars
Thanks to Amistad/HarperCollins and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
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