South of Somewhere by T.I. Lowe

South of Somewhere by T.I. Lowe
Series: a standalone
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction (March 10, 2026)

REVIEW BY PRISCILLA BETTIS

Junie is a widowed mother in her 20s living on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina. She has lost custody of her two-year-old daughter due to drunk driving and a prison sentence. She’s out on parole and determined to straighten up her act so she can get her daughter back.

Right away, I was pulling for Junie. At the same time, I was turned off by her bitterness and quick-to-surface anger. But that also makes Junie real, her voice raw and vulnerable. Her personality fits especially well for a character who didn’t have proper parenting, who started drugs and alcohol as a young teen.

Over the course of the book, readers come to learn how intense and ever-present Junie’s cravings are. I don’t drink, so I couldn’t relate to her alcohol cravings, but I could easily transfer Junie’s mental state to other aspects of my life: Would I be able to live forevermore without chocolate? Ugh, without COFFEE? (No joke, I broke out in a sweat imagining that. Or maybe it was a hot flash; I’m not sure.) I’m not belittling a dangerous addiction like alcoholism. I just think there are all sorts of addictions that keep us from living the life God would want us to live. How many of us could go even one month without internet/cellphones?

During the story, readers learn much about Sullivan’s Island. Lowe’s descriptions of weather and historic streets and place names sound so authentic that I rushed to the “about the author” section to see where Lowe lived. Sure enough, she lives in coastal South Carolina. I wouldn’t be surprised if readers want to move there after reading South of Somewhere.

With a back-burner love story, family drama, characters who lean on God for strength, and unconventional personalities (like an elderly man who drives a spiffy Corvette and is an alcoholic and is Junie’s parole officer), there is something in this story for everyone. About that parole officer, as he explains it to Junie:

I’ve come out of retirement for the sole purpose of concerning myself with all things Juniper Wilder. So, let’s be clear here, young lady; you are my main priority. If you stumble, just keep in mind I’m an old geezer. I’m liable to break a hip when I go down with you.

-T.I. Lowe, South of Somewhere

South of Somewhere was released yesterday. I predict a whole slew of 5-star ratings are about to descend on this title once readers get ahold of it. I’m easily giving South of Somewhere five fish.

I received an advanced copy of South of Somewhere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.