I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
I chose this book because it looked like the typical beach book that I normally love. I came pretty close to putting the book down out of frustration for how bratty Caroline and her sisters were, but they grew on me and so did the story. This is a solid 3.5 book, but since I want to know what happens with Adam and Jack and the rest of the characters I bumped it to a 4. Looking forward to the next installment at Peachtree Bluff.

I love reading women’s fiction, particularly those set in the Southern portion of the United States. So when I see a book that is both women’s fiction and Southern fiction, I’m immediately drawn to it in hopes of a good read… and that’s what I got with Slightly South of Simple: a very good read.

Harvey’s story of three sisters who—for various reasons—move back into their mother’s home in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, is simply fantastic. The sisters have vastly different lifestyles and reasons for coming home. Caroline is a pregnant Manhattan socialite whose perfect life has been destroyed by her husband’s (excruciatingly public) affair and, with her daughter in tow, returns to the quaint seaside town seeking solace and distance from the vicious gossip about her marriage. Sloane is an military wife whose husband has been deployed again; she returns home along with her two sons in order to spend time with her mother and sisters. Emerson, the youngest, is an actress who comes home to work on the movie she’s starring in that could be her big break. Their mother, Ansley, is delighted to have them home, but feels overwhelmed when an old love comes back into her life; even more so when her mother moves in, needing Ansley to care for her as she recovers from an injury.

The story is told through Caroline and Ansley’s perspectives, with a fair portion of Ansley’s story being told in her memories of the past that slowly reveal secrets she’s kept from her daughters, and her fears that those secrets will come out. Ansley’s secrets were of particular interest to me, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to know. Honestly, Ansley’s memories could have been an entire novel in itself, in my opinion—I wanted to know every detail of her fascinating past! Caroline’s story—and her memories—were equally fascinating to me, and despite her having some less-than-desirable personality traits, I felt especially moved by the uncertainties she faced in her life. The characters of Sloane and Emerson weren’t quite as fleshed out as I would have liked, but I’m sure that will change as the series progresses and is told (I suspect) through each of their perspectives. This is the beginning of a series, after all… so while I noted that, it’s not something that can be held out as a point of criticism.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and was sad to reach the end. I’m highly anticipating the release of book two, and I am eager to spend more time reading about these fascinating women!

This was such a fun summer read! I am really looking forward to the follow up novels in The Peachtree Bluff series! The characters were so delightful and the writing was just fab! I highly recommend this one for a light and feel good summer read. Perfect for relaxing on the beach!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the charming bits of the South.

A great book that draws you into the story. Unlike some first books of a series, it kept me interested and left enough threads that I would gladly return.

Review will be posted week of 5/15/17

Ansley Murphy was living a charmed life in Manhattan until the untimely death of her husband. Ansley Murphy, mother to three girls, decides to uproot her daughters and move them back to her summertime childhood escape of Peachtree Bluff with the hopes of starting over. Ansley has inherited her grandmother's house and since she is an interior designer, she hopes to transform it as it needs a lot of work. Her eldest daughter, Caroline, is a snob through and through and truly loathes the move back to some hick town. She was a senior in high school and her life was in the city. Sloane and Emerson, the younger two daughters, were able to acclimate much better to their new life. Fast forward many years and the girls are all grown and Ansley is living a happy life in Peachtree Bluff. She owns her own design business and things seem to be going well for her. That is until someone from her past reenters her life nearly making her collapse from the shock of it. To top it off, all three of her daughters and their families are coming back home for one reason or another, so this summer will be anything but quiet for Ansley. Kirsty Woodson Harvey's Slightly South of Simple is southern fiction at its best. There's a coastal small town setting that I fell in love with, there's a lot of family drama, and moments that will truly tug on your heartstrings.

I really enjoyed the character of Ansley in Slightly South of Simple. She is determined, a survivor, and a caring mom all around. I love that she was able to recreate a life for her back in Peachtree Bluff and create a business that she was proud of. When someone reenters her life and turns it upside down, she handled herself with grace. Despite the many secrets she kept for years from her family, I still enjoyed Ansley and could empathize with her.

Ansley's daughters all have aspects of their personalities that I enjoyed in Slightly South of Simple. The points of view switch from Caroline to Ansley only, so readers get to know Caroline a bit more than the other sisters. Her back story is the most complex since she is the oldest daughter and is fleeing her high society life in New York City due to a most upsetting scandal. Caroline is pregnant and is having major marital issues, so she returns home to her mother to get some rest and leave the judging eyes of the city. In fact, she even decides to enroll her daughter in school there, much to her husband's dismay. Then there's Sloane, the middle sister, whose husband is deployed overseas and she is left to raise two very rambunctious boys on her own. Lastly, there's Emerson a successful actress that is filming nearby. She is taking her diet for her role too far and making her entire family worry about her. So, throw all of these different personalities together for the summer, you bound to have some family drama, especially when the women unearth some startling secrets that Ansley has been hiding for years.

I adored the setting of Peachtree Bluff in Slightly South of Simple. I am such a sucker for a charming Southern setting and Harvey did a great job bringing it to life. The nosy neighbors, the coffee shop, the town's parades, and the old homes....loved it all!

I am thrilled that this book will be a part of a series. I look forward to not only following the sister's stories, but also reading more of Harvey's books int the future. Slightly South of Simple is summer reading at its best!

What!!! I can't that this book just ended. Is there going to be another followup? So disappointed!

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2017/04/julies-review-slightly-south-of-simple.html

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I adore Kristy Woodson Harvey. Her Southern books speak to my soul. I adored Dear Carolina and Lies and Other Acts of Love!

When I heard about Slightly South of Simple, I immediately marked it as “to request” and when I was approved for a copy- I shoved all my other books aside and started reading it!

Basically, I want to move to Peachtree Bluff and have Ansley decorate my house and drink wine with Caroline, Emerson and Sloane. I also would hate Caroline when she signed us up for exercise boot camp class, but my arms and thighs would thank her 😉

What I liked:

The cover. Gah, so gorgeous.

Caroline and Ansley. Both are strong women in their own ways!

The sisterly bonds. I don’t have a sister, but I do have a brother who now has 2 daughters and I’m loving books with sister relationships!





Caroline and Ansley both had strong voices in the books and they alternated chapters. I would have enjoyed actually hearing from Emerson and Sloane a bit, though (I think!)



Bottom line: This book is a little slice of Southern heaven. The secrets, sisterly bonds and setting made some cold rainy days feel like a day at the beach. Grab a glass of sweet tea and let Kristy Woodson Harvey talk Southern to you.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

**Slightly South of Simple is an April #FuturisticFriday selection of Traveling With T.**

I enjoyed this book especially the humor and life drama that could happen to any of us. I loved the dynamic between the sisters and their mom and can't wait to hear what's in store for the other sisters and if Adam will make it home.

This is the first book in a series and I could not be happier about that because I need a lot more of this wonderful family!

When 6 month pregnant Caroline’s husband leaves her for a Supermodel, she goes back home to Peachtree Bluff, the Southern town she swore she wouldn’t be going back to again. Her mother moved them there when her father died in 9/11 and Caroline, the oldest, left as soon as she could and built a life in Manhattan. Caroline’s coming home coincides with her sister Sloane and her sons coming home. Her husband has been deployed. And surprise, surprise their sister Emerson, an actress, is filming a movie there too! With three daughters and grandkids coming home, their mother Ansley has her hands full. She has gone from being alone to having a house full. On top of all of this, her first love Jack has returned and she is has been hired to decorate his boat. There are a lot of secrets, they all have them, so can they all coexist?

I absolutely love this family! They are all so different but their love for each other is so very apparent. I think that was one thing I loved the most because so often, we see families in books so mad at each other but this family would be mad for the moment and then know that they were each other’s everything. The story is told in the alternating voices of Caroline and Ansley. There are some lovely things said by Ansley about motherhood. They really touched my heart. Everything about this book touched my heart. Having taken care of my mother who suffered from dementia, it also struck a big chord for me when Ansley brought her mom into the mix too. She hit it all right on the head when she wrote about Ansley’s feeling of being a caretaker. I so look forward to seeing what comes next!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

My thoughts: Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of my favorite southern authors and this is the first book in her first-ever series! I adored her previous two books, Dear Carolina and Lies and Other Acts of Love, which were both stand-alones, so when I heard she was writing a series, I was psyched! I love the characters she creates and the voice she gives to them and love that we get to stay with them for more than one book!!!

This first entry into the Peachtree Bluff series is off to a great start. I loved getting to know Ansley and her daughters and loved how the story was told. While we do get to meet all three girls and Ansley, Kristy has decided to tell the story from Ansley and older daughter Caroline's perspectives, having the chapters alternate back and forth. I loved this!

This story is filled with emotion and the bonds that exist between mothers and daughters, and that of sisters. It appears that Ansley and all three of her daughters are all at crossroads in their lives and while they all had been living separately, each of the daughters decide to come home to Peachtree Bluff at the same time. Of course, they don't come right out with what is really going on - that will take some digging and that is where the secrets come into play! And we all know that the secrets is what really drives a good book!

Even though the story is told from Ansley and Caroline's view points, we do learn quite a bit about the other two sisters, Sloan and Emerson. And each is not without their own story and secrets. Having two sisters myself, I loved seeing the three girls in action - both when they were younger through flashbacks, and in the present. I loved the bond between them - through good and bad and could definitely relate!

This book is so fun to read. It's filled with humorous situations as well as poignant ones, love and loss, happiness and sadness. The characters are so richly developed it felt like they had become real people to me and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series - I have a guess as to who it might focus on and how it might be told, but I can only surmise and will find out only when I have my hands on that book!

Kristy Woodson Harvey's books just keep getting better and better. Slightly South of Simply is now my favorite book of hers. Such a great cast of characters, each one of them I loved. Although I don't have any daughters but do have two grown sons, I could relate in some way to Ansley Murphy as a mother concerned and wanting the best for our children and being in a situation of caring for an elderly parent. I loved the bond and closeness between sisters Caroline, Sloane and Emerson. They had their differences as most siblings do, but they were there for each other during some difficult and exciting circumstances in their lives. There are so many wonderful moments in this book that had me wishing I was a part of this family living in Peachtree Bluff and enjoying a cup of coffee or glass of wine on that big porch. A beautiful story of family, love and....secrets. This was a book that I did not want to put down and did read pretty quickly as I was just pulled into the story right from the very start. I was actually sad to have it end, and I'm so looking forward to book #2. I'm hoping we won't have to wait to long for the next one.

I highly recommend this book. It would make a fabulous Mother's Day gift!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ansley is the mother of three women, who lives alone in the quiet town of Peachtree Bluff. She runs a successful design shop named after her two youngest daughters. When her children converge on her home, they each bring along life’s trials and tribulations. However it is a shipwrecked boat that threatens to bring back a lost love and deep-rooted secrets. How will she keep her past from her girls, while maintaining her perfectly calm and peaceful life that she has finally achieved?

Caroline is a Manhattan socialite who feels her mother’s southern roots, never suited her… that is until the day her life is turned upside down. Pregnant and devastated, she packs up her daughter and heads down to the sanctuary of her mother’s home. She knows she will receive the support she needs from her mom, while her sisters will undoubtedly bring her back to reality.

Kristy Woodson Harvey tells the story of this dynamic family through two different points-of-view. Each character processes the current events, as well as reflecting on the past. The breathtaking prologue will grab readers’ attentions. This book is delightfully emotional, painfully sweet, and proves first loves stay with in one’s heart forever.

This is a very worthy addition to the "Southern beach chick lit" genre, and had some very interesting and unexpected twists and turns along the way. I especially appreciate having Ansley as one of the protagonists, because often older characters outside the desired demographic don't get as much prominence (and certainly not their own romantic drama). I found it harder to relate to Caroline -- she wasn't a very likeable person, and I wish I'd seen a little more growth. But this book kept me engaged to the end and I look forward to future books by this author, who was new to me.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a positive review.

I know when I start a novel by Kristy Woodson Harvey that I am going to be transported to another fabulous world, one that I will not want to leave. Slightly South of Simple is full of interesting characters and that wonderful southern charm that Kristy does so well.

I was hooked from the first paragraph, as I knew I would be, and I loved the story more and more as I turned each page. Slightly South of Simple is a story of family, sisters, and love, all kinds of love; old loves and new loves, deep love and heartbreaking love.

Oh, and secrets. Always secrets. Secrets that need to be revealed so that healing can happen. As each sister heads home to Peachtree Bluff and their mother, their safe place, they realize that there is nothing more important than family.

I am so excited that there will be more stories from Peachtree Bluff. I loved my visit there and I can't wait to go back.

While this is most definitely marketed as, and is, a summer beach read, it's not one I'd necessarily recommend when there are so, so, so many great ones in this category. My main issue with this book is the almost nonstop comments about weight and appearances, none of which are necessary to the storyline. The characters would be much more likable if these comments weren't in the story, and for me, they completely overshadow the positive aspects of the book. I have a major soapbox to stand on regarding body positivity and acceptance, and the characters in this book are not people I would ever allow in my life, Caroline in particular. Ansley also includes comments about weight in her dialogue, and also includes a thought about Caroline's breastfeeding and how she's glad she never needed to do it because it wasn't a think when she had children, and questioning the health benefits to the baby (another soapbox issue of mine). All this put together means I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to like this book as much as I had hoped to, but will be willing to try future books in the series and will hope that all of the snotty fat-shaming has disappeared from the dialogue in those books.

Have you ever experienced love at first sight with a book? Just one look was all it took for me to be intrigued by Slightly South of Simple, I just knew this would be a book that I would connect with and enjoy and I was so right! I follow Kristy on Instagram, (her feed is absolutely stunning and the pictures in this post are hers) she blogs with her mom at Design Chic and when she posted about SSOS I was head over heels based on the cover alone. When I read the blurb, I was even more excited especially when I saw a glowing endorsement for her work from Elin Hilderbrand, she’s one of my favorite authors. All of that to say, this was a book that spoke to me from the minute I laid eyes on it.

It’s told from the alternating perspectives of Ansley and Caroline. Ansley is a 58 year old mom to three grown daughters and she lives a simple life in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia. A peaceful existence until all three of her girls move back home at the same time with their own children in tow. Caroline has left her husband after he cheated on her in a very public way while she’s six months pregnant. Emerson is an actress and her new movie is shooting in Georgia and Sloane’s husband Adam has been deployed again leaving her and her two young sons at home. Having her entire family under one roof is a mixed blessing for Ansley, she adores them, but they are all so different and none of them are easy to live with. Ansley also has some skeletons in her closet that need to stay buried, but with everyone back in town, these secrets may come to light whether she wants them to or not.

SSOS had all the ingredients I love in a book; family drama, a sprinkling of romance, humor, and a beautiful setting. Stories about sisters always appeal to me and with the complicated relationships between Caroline, Sloane and Emerson I was so interested and invested in their lives. I could relate to all four women on some level which is so important to me in terms of my enjoyment of a book. This is character driven and I can honestly say that I really liked every single character, I even cared deeply about them all which speaks volumes about the authors outstanding character development.

Though all three sisters feature heavily in the book, this focused more on Caroline and since it’s the first in a series I’m assuming that the next books will focus on Sloane and Emerson. Woodson Harvey laid the groundwork for so many possibilities as to which direction this series will follow and I can’t wait to see what happens in Peachtree Bluff next. She’s a fresh, strong voice in Southern fiction, SSOS is witty, wise, insightful and funny. There were so many fantastic quotes from the romantic to the poignant, I’ll share a couple of my favorites at the end of this post. I’m so excited about this series and even more thrilled to be offering a copy of this gem of a book to one of my lucky readers! Look below for the Rafflecopter.

Talented Southern storyteller, Kristy Woodson Harvey returns following her debut Dear Carolina and her strong follow-up, Lies and Other Acts of Love landing on my Top 50 Books of 2016 with the first of a new series, Peachtree Bluff: (Top Books of 2017) SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE — a mother and her three grown daughters are all at a crossroad in their lives, and each has choices to make.

Compelling, emotional, full of humor, infused with love, life, tears, and joy with a little romance sprinkled in and some scandalous family secrets! A poignant and heartwarming story of three daughters and their mother determined to help them rediscover their southern roots and family bonds.

Matriarch (mother), Ansley Murphy has made a simple life for herself in the small harbor town of Peachtree Bluff, GA. Her grandmother left her the beautiful and spacious coastal large clapboard home with a guesthouse.

Her husband Carter was killed seventeen years earlier in the 9/11 tragedy, and she has carved out a nice life for herself with a successful waterfront design business. Her own mother lives in Florida. She also has an annoying neighbor next door, Mr. Solomon, with some great local friends and clients.

Ansley has some secrets about her husband. Others about herself. Things the girls do not know. She has put her family first all these years. Will her time finally arrive at long last?

An attractive woman, age fifty-eight, she works out and stays in shape. She does not date and pretty much has thrown herself into her business, her grown daughters (when they allow) and grandchildren. It was difficult being a mother of grown children. They are strong willed and have a mind of their own.

However, living alone with her normal routine will soon change. She may get more than she bargained for. Three grown daughters return to move in with her and soon to be four grandchildren. Man, do they have different personalities!

Caroline was her least favorite daughter, even though she loves her, she could be difficult at times. She even named her interior design shop: Sloane Emerson (after her two younger daughters), since Caroline wanted no part of it, referring to it even today as a camper-trailer design business. She had said if she named the store after her she would die. No one lives up to Caroline’s standards.

Eldest: Caroline, a New Yorker thinks of this small Southern town as hick-hellhole. However, now she may have no choice but to return to the place she tried hard to escape. When she married James (14yrs), she thought they had in all, until she was six months pregnant with her second child and he informs her he is in love with his twenty-one-year-old supermodel, Edie Fitzgerald.

So she decides to take a short sabbatical with her eleven-year-old daughter Vivi and head to Peachtree. Maybe she can take over the guesthouse. She is very picky, high maintenance, and does not like germs. She worries about what others think and say. Only the best of fashion and ultimate fitness will do.

Sloane, the middle child was the selfless one. Of course, she was laid back and could care less about germs or any of the things which mattered to Caroline. She is the timid one, married a local boy had her family and remained in the area. Her military husband is overseas so she decides to crash at the house as well to spend time with her sisters.

Emerson is a successful film star. She is thin, eats healthy and stars in a movie shooting in the Georgia town, so decides to stay at the house to spend time with her sisters and mom.

With all the emotions running high of three different personalities of grown daughters, sisters bickering, grandchildren and an old boyfriend back in town, Ansley has her hands full. In the midst of it all, Ansley fears the secret (s) will come out. Those she has harbored for years to protect everyone.

After Ansley’s pain from losing Carter, and sometimes her daughters hating her (like most girls), hiding Carter’s secrets, and hiding her own. She just could never imagine starting over with anyone new. No one else could possibly understand her life.

Jack was Ansley’s first love. However, back then they decided to go their separate ways because he did not care about having a family. This was important to Ansley. Now, Ansley is shocked to learn Jack is here in Peachtree Bluff and wants her to redo the design for his boat. He has made his money and can travel.

Everyone knows she is the best yacht designer this side of the Mason-Dixon. She cannot let this happen, especially now since her girls were coming home. Is he a threat to her safe family world? Why?

However, as the complexities of these sisters get tense, the family come together, the girls find they want their mom to be happy, and at the same time, they all may just learn something from one another. They may figure it out together. Peachtree Bluff is a town of hidden truths and stolen moments and a family who loves one another. A time of discovery for all of the women.

Crossing generations, Harvey always brings out some dark family secrets which have been securely buried. A poignant journey of healing, bonding, forgiveness, and redemption. Things, people, and places which shape our lives.

Kristy once again delivers a charming Southern story of family, sisters, relationships, motherhood and reinvention. As you are reading you will relate to certain characters. My favorite was Ansley. Such a strong woman and continued to root for her. Hoping she would find some happiness.

She is protecting herself from something she didn’t need to be protected from. She was protecting her daughters from a threat that wasn’t really a threat at all. But she is opening her heart. One that had been closed for so long.

Character-driven, the author has made her way quickly to the top of my favorite author list and one of the best Southern contemporary storytellers of today. (Highly recommend all three books).

As a native NC /GA gal myself, so refreshing to discover an author who breathes life into each of her characters, while transporting you to the beautiful coastal areas of the Southeast we love. She writes about strong women and the challenges of life, both personally and professionally.

From her first debut, I fell in love with the author's richly textured, authentic heartwarming style. You can come to expect strong family bonds, romance, secrets, plus someone will be a little wiser after the journey. If you have not read this author, get busy. SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE should be at the top of your beach bag! Summer doesn't begin without a Kristy book.

Yay! I hear from an online interview we can expect more from these characters with #2 Peachtree Bluff THE SECRET TO SOUTHERN CHARM, featuring the middle sister, Sloane and of course more from Ansley and Grammy.

I will be anxiously awaiting. Cannot wait to see what is in store next for the Murphy women! More Ansley/Jack, please!

A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an early reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks

A great story of how family's interact. Each person has her own story to tell yet they all come together in one town. There is a good feeling of place in this book. You feel that you can smell the sea and feel the sand on your feet. Good expression of how family's help each other through good times and bad.