The Sound of Glass

Two years after her husband's death, Merritt Heyward leaves her life in Maine when she inherits her mother-in-law's home in Beaufort, South Carolina. Upon arrival, she encounters her young stepmother Loralee and ten-year-old half-brother, who have appeared unexpectedly on her doorstep. The old house contains decades of secrets spanning multiple generations of the Heyward family. As Merritt settles into life in the Lowcountry, she discovers items and stories that reveal truths about her late husband's family history - and about herself. Through alternating timelines between the 1950s and present day, the narrative follows three women as they face challenges and search for healing. The story centers on themes of domestic abuse, family bonds, and the ways trauma can echo through generations.

Readers describe The Sound of Glass as an engaging Southern family drama with elements of mystery. Many appreciate the dual timeline structure and White's descriptions of South Carolina's lowcountry setting. Readers liked: - Complex relationships between female characters - Handling of domestic abuse themes with care - Integration of historical elements about WWII - Details about sea glass and Gullah culture Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Some plot points felt predictable - Too many coincidences in story resolution - Character of Cricket seen as annoying by some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,300+ ratings) BookBub: 4.4/5 (1,100+ ratings) Reader quote: "The story unfolds like a slow-moving tide, revealing layers of family secrets." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted they stayed up late to finish the last chapters, though others mentioned putting the book down multiple times before getting invested.

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🌊 The story takes place in Beaufort, South Carolina, a historic coastal town known for its antebellum architecture and maritime heritage. 💎 The title "The Sound of Glass" refers to wind chimes made from sea glass, which play a significant symbolic role throughout the novel. ✈️ A real-life historical event—the 1955 crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 642 into Lake Michigan—serves as a pivotal element in the book's plot. 📚 Author Karen White has written over 20 novels set in the American South, earning her the nickname "The Queen of Southern Fiction." 🏠 The grand historic home featured in the novel was inspired by the real-life antebellum mansions of Beaufort's Old Point neighborhood, many of which were built by wealthy plantation owners in the early 1800s.