Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book by Kristy Woodson Harvey. The Southern Side of Paradise is the book. It’s the 3rd book in the series. No spoilers from me. The series is Peachtree Bluff. Great books. This was a great read and highly recommend any of her book. You should check it out.

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and reveiw this book! I loved the whole Peachtree Bluff series. They were fun summer reads, and the third book was a great ending to this series.

This book tells the point of view of Ansley and the youngest daughter Emerson. It was fun to hear each of the daughter's perspectives in each book, especially with all the drama that happened. This book definitely had its share of family drama, but it ended nicely (which I love a happy ending). All loose ends were tied up, and it definitely ended in a way that I wanted it to.

A fantastic read by a wonderful southern fiction author! I have loved all of Kristy Woodson Harvey's novels that I have read to date and this one did not disappoint! If you are looking for that perfect beach read, then look no further! Four star worthy for sure!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

I think my 2.5 review is a little unfair since I had no idea I was reading a book from a series. It can definitely stand alone, the author does a great job at catching you up (so much has happened! ) to the point where it did get a little repetitive though. I think this novel is really better read as part of the series, otherwise it's nice but the bombshells and revelations don't mean much to you. Having said that, if you're in the mood for a light, predictable, summer, happily-ever-after kind of read this one's for you.

I couldn't wait to read the last book in this series. My reviews can all be found on my GoodReads page here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Oh! Kristy Woodson Harvey did it again! I was blown away by this third installment in her Peachtree Bluff series. I prolonged the ending because I couldn’t bear to finish and say goodbye to these characters I love so much. I feel like I know them and am right there with them. I especially enjoyed seeing the places the books are based on in Beaufort, NC (the real Peachtree Bluff), on the book tour, so I can picture them while reading. I have loved each of the books in this series so much. The Murphy sisters, aka the “Starlite Sisters” have such a wonderful bond and this book focused on the youngest, Emerson, as well as continuing their Mom, Ansley’s story. There are secrets that come out and lots of twists and turns as both daughter and mother figure out what they want most in life. They realize it may not be exactly what they ever thought they needed. I just adore this author’s writing and way to bring me in like I’m a part of her story. I am so grateful she ventured on a series and really hope this isn’t the last I will read of the Murphy family!

I loved the first two books in this series and the third was no exception! I enjoyed Kristy Woodson Harvey's writing style and this series made for perfect beach reads. By book three, I was invested in the lives of the sisters and Ansley and found myself rooting for each character. I think KWH wrapped up all of the story lines well and I was pleased with the outcome!

What a fantastic conclusion to the Peachtree Bluff trilogy! I read the previous when it came out, so I was worried that I wouldn’t remember enough of the storyline or characters, but Kristy Woodson Harvey did a PHENOMENAL job of dropping little reminders without retelling too much for those binge reading.
I wasn’t ready to leave the Murphy girls, but am satisfied with where I left them! This is such the perfect group of summer reads and I highly suggest you throw one (or better all three) into your beach bag!

One of my new favorite books! This author has such a way with words the pages flew by in no time! I can’t wait to see the next work by this author! This was such a joy to read!

Kristy Woodson Harvey's Peachtree Bluff series has great characters, great plot lines, and a large does of Southern Charm. I hope this isn't the final installment in this series.

Okay another book that took me by surprise by how much I enjoyed it! I’m no stranger to family drama, so that’s what sucked me in to the plot. The Southern Side of Paradise is a story of sisterhood and secrets, and mystery.

Told from the point of view by Emerson and Ansley, we see the story unfold between this group of sisters. Book Three, this tells the sacrifices that Ansley must endure as a mother, Emerson appears to be on top, having it all.

This really is the perfect series if you’re looking for a book that has richly developed characters, and it will have you laughing and crying and pulling for these sisters.

*Thank you to netgalley and Gallery Books for this complimentary book. All opinions are my own.

Review will be posted on June 3, 2019

Ansley has all of her daughters home and she's with her first love, but something just isn't right. Her youngest daughter, Emerson, recently got engaged to her high school sweetheart, but things with that relationship aren't exactly what Ansley was hoping for. Plus, Emerson's dealing with some health issues, which terrifies Ansley. Plus, there's secrets from the previous books that are coming to the surface and will challenge the Murphy sisters and Ansley as well. The third and final novel in the Peachtree Bluff series, The Southern Side of Paradise, is a heartwarming beach read that fans of the series will enjoy.

I loved revisiting the Murphy sisters. It was like being reunited with long-lost friends. The Southern Side of Paradise focuses on Emerson the most and I was happy about that as I really enjoy her. I love that she is an actress and is dedicated to her craft. However, in this novel, she is feeling pressure from her fiance to settle down in Peachtree Bluff. That obviously won't happen if she wants to be an actress; plus, she just landed her dream role! Thankfully, she has her sisters, Sloane and Caroline, to lean on, be a sounding board, take her out for drinks, and of course, help plan a gorgeous wedding.

Then there's Ansley whom I also adore in The Southern Side of Paradise. I love her relationship with Jack and I enjoyed their time together in this book. I desperately wanted them to go riding off in the sunset; they are just so darn cute. Things are going so well for Ansley that she keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop and I have to say I don't blame her. The issue surrounding Jack's secret (don't want to give it away if you haven't read the series!) really comes to a head in this book, nonetheless, I am happy with how Harvey ended this delightful series.

For me, the setting of Peachtree Bluff is one of my favorite aspects of the entire series. The big porches, the cocktails, the views, the water, the boats, and the small-town charm all were all so memorable. I seriously want to live there and I am sad that this will be the last time we will visit this adorable coastal town.

If you are looking for a feel-good beach read, try the Peachtree Bluff series, especially if you like novels that highlight complicated families, women's stories, old loves, and charming Southern beach towns. I can't wait to read what Harvey writes next; I just hope it's another Southern beach read for next summer. *fingers crossed*

Have you read the Peachtree Bluff series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

I really enjoyed this series and this book did not disappoint. It was great to reconnect with the characters and see where this book took them. They have come so far since the first book in the series. I sincerely hope this is not the end for the Murphy girls. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cure, predictable novel about a southern woman and her three adult daughters. Issues ensue and are resolved.

Title: The Southern Side of Paradise
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Genre: Southern fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5

Ansley Murphy has everything she’s ever wanted…finally. The man she’s always loved is back in her life. Her three daughters are in town and happy. Her business is taking off. Ansley can’t help but feel like the other shoe is about to drop.

Her youngest daughter, Emerson, and actress and recently engaged, just landed a dream role and got engaged, but her health is worrying her, and she feels like she’s missing something when she should be focused on planning her wedding. When secrets that were never meant to be told come out, the sisters’ bond with their mother turns fragile, as all stand on the brink of life-changing decisions.

I’m just going to be up-front: I could not stand these characters, and that made me dislike this book intensely. This is clearly my own issue. The writing is great, and the small southern town setting is very well done. But…seriously? Ansley spends half her time justifying the fact that she cheated on her husband for years…so they could have children. She knew it was wrong, but she makes excuses to herself anyway. Emerson is whiny and childish, prone to throwing a fit if she doesn’t get her way, and she’s so self-absorbed she can’t even see the person standing right next to her. She’s also pretty heartless, and her morals are highly questionable (Wonder where she learned that from?) Sister Caroline is a controlling witch, who also makes excuses for her bad behavior (Yes, her husband cheated on her very publicly, which was terrible, but that doesn’t mean you get to treat everyone around you badly). Sloane wasn’t enough of a presence for me to actually care about her, but she was the only one who was likable. I’d read this author again, but not these characters.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a bestselling author. The Southern Side of Paradise is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Gallery Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I anxiously awaited the third and final book in the Peachtree Bluff series by Kristy Woodson Harvey and was definitely not disappointed when I finally carved out time to read my ARC. I had it in my stash for awhile but wanted to devote my full attention to it when I read it so it took me awhile to actually get it to my read pile but once I did - I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

True to form, Kristy Woodson Harvey remains my all time favorite female Southern writer with this series. The final in the series, The Southern Side of Paradise, has to be my favorite and while it is the third in the successful series it can also be read as a stand alone as there is just enough detail given to give readers the background of this complicated and lovable family.

This book is written from the viewpoint of daughter Emerson and mother Ansley primarily and is the perfect culmination of the series. I fell in love even more with Jack and of course the entire Murphy family has my heart. Drama, secrets, lies and a bit of angst surround each character but in the end the series ties it all up in a nice little package that every reader will absolutely love.

Author Kristy Woodson Harvey writes with wit and skill - crafting a story that pulls the reader into the lives of each character and makes me feel like one of the family. Definitely a book that will stay on my bookshelf and be read again because it is just that good. Thanks to Kristy for another fabulous Southern read that made me happy to be in the South. I loved it. I was given an ARC for review purposes and thrilled to share my 5 star review with the world

This was my first time meeting the Murphy girls of Peachtree Bluff and it did not disappoint! The novel focuses on the youngest Murphy girl, Emmerson as well as the mother Ansley as they both navigate the waters of their future and their love life. This book was definitely a page turner for me even though I had not read the previous two (which I can't wait to get my hands on). The author incorporated family struggles, personal battles, and humor with just the right amount of depth. I found the characters to be enjoyable and relatable. I am a Kristy Harvey fan for sure now!


Thank you to Gallery for the advanced reader copy via netgalley.

The Southern Side of Paradise is the third book in the Peachtree Bluff Series. I loved returning to the coastal town of Peachtree Bluff. The Murphy sisters, Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson, along with their devoted mother Ansley, feel like family. The characters of Peachtree Bluff are wonderfully written. There are secrets revealed, decisions made, and through all the ups and downs, the Murphy family sticks together. I am hoping this is not the final book with these characters. Kristy Woodson Harvey has become one of the best Southern Fiction writers and I look forward to her next book. Hopefully, the Murphy family will make an appearance. Thank you to Kristy, NetGalley, and Gallery Books for an ARC and this is my honest review.

I discovered Kristy Woodson Harvey by chance…..or maybe she discovered me by chance—and I am so glad that we connected. When she approached me to review one of her books a three years ago, I was skeptical but yet oddly intrigued.

At that time I was just getting into women’s fiction and hadn’t really read a lot of ‘beach reads’ thinking that maybe it wasn’t my genre—at least not yet. But then here came this sweet blonde southern belle who wanted me to read one of her books and I was like well, why not?

What I discovered in the pages of the first book I read by her, Lies and Other Acts of Love, was so beautiful and well written that I knew I had found a new favorite author! Since then I have read all of her books except one, her first—Dear Carolina.

Her Peachtree Bluff series is probably her most well known and loved, and this book is the last installment, but hopefully not the last book that she writes!

Summary

With the man of her dreams back in her life and all three of her daughters happy, Ansley Murphy should be content. But she can’t help but feel like it’s all a little too good to be true.

Meanwhile, youngest daughter and actress Emerson, who is recently engaged and has just landed the role of a lifetime, seemingly has the world by the tail. Only, something she can’t quite put her finger on is worrying her—and it has nothing to do with her recent health scare.

When two new women arrive in Peachtree Bluff—one who has the potential to wreck Ansley’s happiness and one who could tear Emerson’s world apart—everything is put in perspective. And after secrets that were never meant to be told come to light, the powerful bond between the Murphy sisters and their mother comes crumbling down, testing their devotion to each other and forcing them to evaluate the meaning of family (summary from Goodreads)

Review

OK so I have to just get this out right away. This cover makes me so happy. Every time I see it, it looks like summer but it also reminds me of a big bright pink donut and I’m instantly hungry. I love this cover so much and it’s my favorite cover in the series!

Now that that’s settled, the book itself came in strong! I took this book out on my back porch in a warm spring day and relaxing in the sun enjoying every minute of it. I could easily have read it in one sitting, but with a toddler sometimes thats a challenge! While Slightly South of Simple will always be my favorite in the series, this book came in as a solid second. In my opinion each book in this series can stand alone, but I also think reading it from the beginning would be so much more satisfying but, feel free to pick up wherever, but once you discover the series you won’t want it to end!

With Mother’s Day just around the corner this mother/daughter storyline would be a perfect gift for the mom in your life! I loved watching how the dynamic between Ansley and her daughter Emerson grew and evolved–not to mention Ansley’s other 2 daughters. Some of the major themes in this book are forgiveness and honesty and I loved seeing that play out in Ansley’s relationships with her daughters. With this book being Emerson’s story I was so sad that this meant the end of the Peachtree Bluff girls but so happy to be reading more about Emerson.

The women in this book are so real, strong, honest, and relatable. While I might not be in the same boat as Ansley or her daughters, I can relate to all her struggles and fears. She nailed the complexity of the relationships for sure! I especially loved how none of the choices that the characters faced were ‘easily solved’. It made the story and characters feel so much more authentic and real.

Woodson Harvey’s love for the South has so evident in page of her writing. Peachtree Bluff might be a fictional town but I can see it so vividly. Her prose is elegant and refreshing as a cool summer breeze and I adore seeing her characters, charming town, and novel themes come to life under her care.

Many have hailed her as a rising star, not just in Southern lit, but in women’s fiction all together and I wholeheartedly agree! I can’t wait to see what book she cooks up next, but more importantly, I hope we actually get to meet in person one day. I hope her book tours eventually bring her to Portland because I would gladly make the drive to meet her! And one of these days I hope to read Dear Caroline so I can finally officially say I have read all her books!

And finally to Kristy, thank you so much for including me in your acknowledgments, it’s truly a blessing to read well written novels like yours!

If you haven’t read the Peachtree Bluff series, stop what you are doing right now and go read it! And if you need a last minute gift for your mom for Mothers Day, this is it right here!

I read the first two books in The Peachtree Bluff series back to back and then I had to wait for the final book. It seemed like a long wait but oh so worth it! Reading The Southern Side of Paradise was like catching up with old friends and picking up where you last left off. Kristy Woodson Harvey is my number one for southern fiction! This is listed as the final book in the series but I'm hoping for more of Ansley, Caroline, Sloane and Emerson's story!