Pat Conroy’s “The Prince of Tides” explores the life of Tom Wingo, a man who returns to his South Carolina roots after his sister’s suicide attempt.
Through his conversations with her therapist in New York, Tom confronts family trauma and memories tied to their turbulent upbringing in the Lowcountry. The novel weaves vivid descriptions of the South Carolina coastline with unforgettable family drama.
The novel “South of Broad” by Pat Conroy follows Leo King, a boy haunted by family tragedy, as he grows up in Charleston, South Carolina.
The story weaves through his life, exploring his close-knit group of friends from different backgrounds and the bonds they share over decades. It captures the charm of Charleston while diving into themes of love, loss, and forgiveness.
Throughout the book, Leo’s friendships are tested by secrets, betrayal, and the weight of past mistakes.
“The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd is set in 1960s South Carolina and tells the story of Lily, a young girl searching for answers about her late mother.
She runs away with her caregiver, Rosaleen, after a violent encounter and finds refuge in the home of three beekeeping sisters. The novel weaves themes of love, family, and race, showing how Lily discovers not only truths about her mother but also herself.
Mary Howard Schoolcraft wrote “The Black Gauntlet: A Tale of Plantation Life in South Carolina,” a novel that explores the culture and dynamics of plantation life before the Civil War.
The story examines the relationships between slaves, slave owners, and abolitionists in the South. Through its characters, the book reflects the social and political tensions of the time, offering a portrait of the moral and economic conflicts surrounding slavery.
The novel “Porgy” by DuBose Heyward tells the story of a disabled Black man in Charleston who lives in a poor community by the waterfront. Porgy gets caught up in the struggles of those around him, including love, poverty, and crime.
The book paints a vivid picture of the Gullah culture and the lives of people in the South Carolina Lowcountry during the early 20th century.
“A Son of the Carolinas” by Elisabeth Carpenter Satterthwait is set in the rural South Carolina Lowcountry after the Civil War. The story follows the life of a young man, born to a struggling family, as he navigates personal challenges and shifting societal dynamics.
Themes of family, resilience, and the changing South are central to the narrative. The novel weaves in the beauty of the region’s landscapes, offering glimpses of daily life and cultural traditions in that era.
William Gilmore Simms wrote “The Yemassee,” a historical novel set in South Carolina during the early 18th century. The story unfolds during a conflict between settlers and the Yemassee tribe, exploring the tensions between cultures and the battles over land.
The book follows characters such as Sanutee, a Native American chief, and Gabriel Harrison, a brave colonist, as they navigate loyalty, love, and survival. Simms weaves in vivid descriptions of the Lowcountry, capturing its landscapes and atmosphere.
Dorothy Allison’s “Bastard Out of Carolina” tells the story of Bone, a young girl growing up in poverty in South Carolina. Raised in a family marked by secrets and hardship, Bone faces abuse and struggles to find her own identity.
The book paints a vivid picture of the rural South, showing the pain, resilience, and complex relationships within Bone’s world.
“Cast Two Shadows” by Ann Rinaldi takes place during the American Revolution in South Carolina. The story follows Caroline Whitaker, a young girl grappling with her family’s divided loyalties and her own mixed heritage.
When her brother is imprisoned by the British, Caroline is sent on a dangerous journey to help secure his release. The book paints a vivid picture of the tensions in a war-torn South and the personal struggles of a girl navigating a world of shifting alliances.
Charles W. Chesnutt’s “The House Behind the Cedars” follows the lives of Rena and John Walden, siblings of mixed race who pass as white in the post-Civil War South. John establishes himself in a new town under his new identity and persuades Rena to join him.
The story explores how their decision impacts their lives, relationships, and their sense of belonging in a society divided by race.
The book “I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl” by Joyce Hansen is set in post-Civil War South Carolina. Patsy is a young girl who was formerly enslaved, and the story is written as her diary.
She learns to read and write, documenting her thoughts and experiences in a time of great change. Through her eyes, the struggles and hopes of a newly freed community come to life.
The book “Saints at the River” by Ron Rash tells the story of a small town in South Carolina grappling with the aftermath of a young girl’s tragic drowning in the Tamassee River.
The town becomes divided when the girl’s parents want to recover her body, but environmentalists fight to preserve the untouched river. Rash weaves in local culture, the power of nature, and the tensions that arise when personal loss clashes with larger ideals.
“A Woman Called Fancy” by Frank Yerby tells the story of a young woman named Fancy in rural South Carolina. She rises from poverty to become a prominent figure in the social scene of Charleston.
The book follows her struggles, her relationships, and her determination to create a better life for herself. Through Fancy’s journey, it explores themes of ambition, love, and the challenges of societal expectations in the South.
The book “Break No Bones” by Kathy Reichs takes readers to the South Carolina coast, where forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan uncovers human remains at an archaeological site.
What starts as routine work quickly turns into a deeper investigation as she ties the bones to a web of crime. The story weaves together science, suspense, and the personal challenges Temperance faces while solving the case.
The novel “Carolina Moon” by Nora Roberts follows Tory Bodeen, who returns to her small South Carolina hometown years after the violent death of her childhood best friend, Hope.
Tory has psychic abilities that give her visions connected to the past, and as she reconnects with the town’s people, buried secrets begin to surface. The story unravels layers of mystery while exploring love, loss, and the haunted ties of the community.
The novel “Horse-Shoe Robinson” by John P. Kennedy is set during the American Revolution in South Carolina. It follows the adventures of a bold patriot, Horse-Shoe Robinson, as he becomes entangled in battles, schemes, and romance while fighting for independence.
The story includes his loyalty to his cause and his efforts to protect those he cares about, offering moments of bravery and danger in a historical backdrop.
Grady Hendrix wrote “My Best Friend’s Exorcism,” a story set in 1980s Charleston, South Carolina. It follows two teenage girls, Abby and Gretchen, whose friendship is tested when Gretchen starts acting strangely after a night that goes horribly wrong.
Abby suspects something supernatural is at play and fights to save Gretchen while dealing with the challenges of high school and family conflicts. The book mixes horror and humor, capturing both the eerie atmosphere and the emotional bonds of friendship.
Julia Peterkin’s “Scarlet Sister Mary” tells the story of Mary, a free-spirited woman living in a Gullah community in South Carolina. The novel follows her as she defies tradition, chooses her own path, and faces the consequences of her choices.
Set in the rural South, it paints a vivid picture of community life, personal freedom, and resilience. The story captures the rhythms of daily life and the tensions between individual desires and societal expectations.
The novel “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead tells the story of Cora, a young enslaved woman who escapes from a Georgia plantation using a literal underground railroad. The book reimagines the historical network as a physical set of tunnels and trains.
As Cora flees, she encounters different states with their own twisted realities of slavery and racial oppression. Her persistent fight for freedom makes every stop along the way unforgettable.