Yellow September

by Shannon Terry Wiley

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really well researched and I was definitely engrossed in this story. I never read a book about the yellow fever outbreak before and didn't really know much about it. I always love learning while also really enjoying the characters and the plot. Really great debut.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shannon Terry Wiley, the Author of “Yellow September” has written an emotional and heartfelt novel. The Genres for this novel are : Epistolary Fiction, 19th Century Historical Fiction, Southern Fiction and Romance. The first timeline is set in September 1873 in Shreveport, Louisiana, when there is an epidemic of “Yellow Fever”. The timeline goes to the past and future when it pertains to the characters or events The author vividly describes the landscape and dark and dramatic characters. The characters are complex, complicated, and flawed. The story is narrated through some of the characters. I appreciate the amount of research that has gone into this story, and I also was intrigued by many of the historical events that occurred after the Civil War. This is a story of survival, tragic loss, love, the importance of family, friends and neighbors. There is so much death and sickness, that bodies were buried together in the cemetery, and there was a lack of doctors and qualified nurses to help. At this time in history, there was no understanding of how Yellow Fever was spread or could be contained.

People were told to leave for their safety. It is understandable that families couldn’t locate family members. Eugene and George were working for the Army Corp of Engineers to clear a log jamming situation in the Red River. George falls in love with a local farming girl, Katherine, who lives with her family. Katherine keeps their relationship very quiet, because her Grandfather doesn’t like outsiders and is cautious after the Civil War. The tragedy of the epidemic, and the losses of the survivors is heartbreaking. There also is a lack of communication, due to the lack of mailing services. I appreciate how the author discusses the importance of forgiveness, second chances, family , love and hope. I recommend this book to others.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t know much about the 1873 yellow fever outbreak, so this book was really eye-opening for me.

It’s not just tragic—it’s also about survival, hope, love, and community. I kept turning the pages wanting to know more, even when it got a bit devastating.

It felt really well researched, and I loved how it mixed history with personal stories. Definitely a fascinating read.

[Gwendalyn Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🕯️📖☕️
Title: Yellow September
Author: Shannon Terry Wiley
Publisher: Susan Schadt Press
Pub Day: May 12, 2026
Thanks to @susanschadtpress and @suzyaporovedbooktours for the gifted copy!

💭 My Bookish Thoughts:
Yellow fever. Shreveport, Louisiana. 1873. The devastation of this outbreak is not a chapter of history that gets much attention and Wiley does not let you look away from any of it. From the very first pages the dread settles in and it stays with you. This is historical fiction doing exactly what it is supposed to do, pulling you so deep into another time and place that you forget you are reading.

The characters are what truly elevate this one. George and Eugene are brothers working for the Army Corps of Engineers, out on the Red River trying to break apart a massive logjam that has the whole waterway blocked. On the surface it sounds straightforward but underneath both men are being pulled by competing loyalties that have nothing to do with the job. Watching them navigate that while the world around them is unraveling was so compelling. Then there is Katherine, a farm girl living along the Silver Bayou whose family is still raw from losing her father in the war. The decision she is forced to make during the outbreak is the kind that stays with you after you close the book. Dr. Dalzell, a man serving his community as both pastor and physician, felt so vivid and so real. Eleanor and David fleeing the fever with their children brought a quieter, more desperate kind of grief to the story that balanced everything out beautifully.

What impressed me most is how seamlessly Wiley weaves all of these lives together. The research is thorough and obvious but it never once slows the story down. It breathes through the details, the language, the way people talk about illness and death and survival in a time before modern medicine. I learned so much and felt even more. For a debut novel this is a stunning achievement and I will absolutely be watching for whatever she writes next.
🏷️ #yellowseptember #shannonterrywiley #suzyapprovedbooktours

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know about Yellow September until reading this novel, and it was so informative and I also loved the characters she used to tell the true event of this horrible epidemic from 1873 in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was a strange season of weather and when a few visitors to town fell sick and died quickly some feared it was the fever and others thought they were creating panic when it wasn't needed. But within only a few days time, the fever spread like wildfire as the pastor, who was also a doctor had predicted. Some did heed advice and left as soon as possible in hopes to outrun the fever, others felt there was no fear and yet there were those who had no where else to go. Katherine's family is still reeling the loss of their father from the Civil War and have just gotten the farm back up and running, so this epidemic creates new fear in them. When her brother becomes sick, she ultimately makes a rash decision that will not only change her life, but the life of her brother, mother and grandfather. This fever was real, the fear was real and the loss of hundreds of lives in a very short time was also very real. So many of the things that happened during this outbreak was essentially history repeating itself with covid. I felt I really understood the fear of the townspeople and the unknown of this fever that was ravaging their town and taking loved ones every day. I really enjoyed how many different view points this story was told through, as well as that it often was told through letters to each other. I also loved the ending! Thank you to the author for the complementary ebook and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. I am looking forward to more novels by this author!

[Laurie L. Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yellow September is the kind of historical fiction that pulls you into a time and place so completely that you feel you are there in the midst of events. The book is set during the yellow fever epidemic of 1873 in Shreveport, Louisiana (my home town), and Ms. Wiley does an excellent job of showing how ordinary lives were so quickly affected when the devastating fever spread and panic took over the community. While there is a great deal of factual information about yellow fever and the epidemic in 1873, instead of reading like a history lesson, the story focuses on people trying to survive emotionally as well as physically. The characters were very believable and the stories of neighbors helping each other, rumors spreading through town, and families trying to stay hopeful made the story feel so real. Overall, Yellow September is a compelling, heartfelt, and beautifully written historical novel that blends history with human drama and emotion.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read anything pertaining to the outbreak of yellow fever in the latter 1800's and this novel is an education into the experiences of those living in Shreveport, Louisiana at the time. The author uses fictional characters to tell the story of this historical event and creates a well-crafted look at the devastation of the time and the efforts to find the cause and the cure. I enjoyed the sense of community as families came together to work toward the common goal and support one another in their shared fear and grief while also demonstrating the strength of the human spirit.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always difficult to read about real-life tragedies. Shannon Terry Wiley has not only written a well-researched account of the 1873 yellow fever epidemic but also a moving story of hope and survival.

I was not familiar with the outbreak of yellow fever in Shreveport, Louisiana, and just how devastating it was, the overwhelming loss of life. The author makes this incredibly intimate by interweaving personal stories (many real-life people) with the historical narrative.

This is not just a story of a horrible disease that ravaged a town, a disease whose cause at the time was unknown. It is also about the people, the community, that came together, many literally giving their lives to try to help others.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @shannonwileyauthor for this gifted book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never known about this part of the history of the yellow fever and Shreveport, Louisiana and this novel was very moving.

I could not help but feel love for these people (even though this is a fictional account). The community and even those just there for a short time really banded together and held each other as tight as they could as this epidemic raged on.

The most centered family here is the Rafferty's and their story is tender and sad. Even with the sad subject matter, I didn't think I'd ever feel tears in my eyes but the end undid me.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in Shreveport, but had never heard of the Yellow Fever epidemic before reading this book, which seems crazy to me. It took such a huge toll on the community, and so many lives were lost that it’s hard to believe that it wasn’t taught in school, or at least a local legend. This was a heartbreaking story in many ways, but it was fascinating as well. It’s more about the characters than the setting, so I think this would be a compelling and really interesting read for anyone!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve said this many times, but I LOVE a historical fiction where I learn about some history I wasn’t aware of. This book was great! Loved the format of short chapters with different characters which also included some letters and newspaper clips. Love the research that you can tell went into this. Highly recommend if you want a historical read on yellow fever and how it affected a town!

[Lauren Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this to be published historical fiction about a family during the yellow fever epidemic in Shreveport, LA

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Yellow September knowing nothing about the 1873 yellow fever outbreak, and wow, this book completely pulled me in. The letter style made everything feel so personal. It’s heartbreaking at times with all the sickness and loss, but it’s also full of resilience, love, forgiveness, and hope. Eugene and Katherine’s story especially stuck with me. You can tell the author did an incredible amount of research, and it all blends seamlessly into a gripping, emotional historical fiction read that’s hard to put down.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this historical fiction about how the Yellow Fever epidemic effected the town of Shreveport, Louisiana.

The book’s timeframe is mainly 1873-1874 and then briefly skips to 1923.

It is told in multiple points of view and also uses letters to tell the story. The book has fiction and nonfictional characters as the author explains in the afterward.

I loved how the Prologue has us in 1903 with a father, Sean, talking to his daughter, Katie, about Yellow Fever Hill in the Cemetery they regularly visit.

The book tells not only of the devastation of the disease but the resilience of those that remained.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Shannon Wiley is a wonderful storyteller and did such an amazing job bringing the actual yellow fever epidemic to life. The characters and their unimaginable challenges make this book so hard to put down. Yellow September is a powerful story!

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

YELLOW SEPTEMBER was a fantastic work of historical fiction that I will not soon forget! I did not know much about yellow fever before reading this book, but I know feel like I am much more informed on the topic. Great job to the author for creating something educational and entertaining at the same time.

Many thanks to Shannon Terry Wiley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yellow September by Shannon Terry Wiley is an incredible historical fiction novel I really enjoyed learning about an aspect of history I wasn't that familiar with, Yellow Fever.

I absolutely love historical fiction and I was thrilled that the author used Epistolary style writing which really brings the story to life.

The story is set in 1873 in Shreveport, Louisiana where the Yellow Fever has hit the area hard.

I enjoyed reading this timeline set around the Civil War . Honestly, the author did such an amazing job with the research. There was so much sickness, it was hard to read at points, but so spot on.

SO much death and sickness and not enough doctors or nurses to care for them. The bodies were stacked up in the cemeteries.

The characters in this story were so well written, complex and developed.

I really enjoyed Eugene and Katherine's story.

The story is more than just about the Yellow Fever but also about love and loss and forgiveness in a time where things seemed impossible.

I really enjoyed this book so much.