The unexpected discovery of the newborn baby girl will alter Blue’s and Sarah Grace’s lives forever.
Both women must fight for what they truly want in life and for who they love. In doing so they uncover long held secrets that reveal exactly who they really are. and what they’re willing to sacrifice in the name of family.
A beautiful written story that will melt your heart.
I enjoyed this book so much.

'South of the Buttonwood Tree' is well-written, clever, enchanting and one you won't want to put down. It is the kind of book that has you looking for the magic in your own world!

4 1/2 stars

Have you ever read a book that left you feeling peaceful and happy but at the same time angry for the injustice a character received? South of the Buttonwood Tree has left me with those feelings.

There is so much I want to say but I don't want to ruin a moment of this book by giving too much away. Webber had my attention captivated from the beginning. I made myself slow down in reading so I wouldn't miss a thing by reading too fast.

The moral of the story is perfect right now. Don't judge others as you probably don't know the whole story. Plus a little love and compassion can go a long way in helping someone.

The book is full of magical realism which if you follow my book blog I'm not normally a fan of but when it is done right I love it. This is the second magical realism book this month for me and both have been very good.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Forge Books, through Netgalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

I really liked this book. It was quaint and cozy and magical and full of heart. Really uplifting and tender I love all the characters and I didn't want to let them go when the book ended. It was an easy read I finished it in 2 days but the writing was quality. The only thing I didn't get was how Ginny never found it strange that Twyla suddenly had a tiny newborn right after her own supposedly died. I guess maybe they just never saw each other? But it was a small town 🤷 I also wish that blue had told Oleta why her brothers robbed the bank, maybe that would have released them both from some more of their pain.

First time reading this author and at first wasn't sure I was going to like the book but as it turns out I loved it. It is a fun book with some depth of character,concepts of family, pre conceived notions, with magic and whimsy. Jacket cover gives a good description so I'll not give a book report.
It will make you both laugh and cry. Once I started reading and got into the story I could not put this book down! Enjoy!!
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy of the book and was under no obligation to provide a review.The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Rate 3.5 stars

I enjoyed the touch of magic that was sprinkled in this story from the Buttonwood tree dispensing advice to Blue with her ability to find lost things. The house that locked it's door to keep Sarah Grace safe and the wind that has a mind of its own. When a 3-day old baby is found by the Buttonwood tree with a note to have Blue take care of her some of the town people object because of who her family was. The investigation opens up a pandora box of secrets that pulls in families that have been at odds in this small town for many years.

South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber marks a new high in the writing high of this author. Buttonwood Tree is a masterpiece in women's fiction, detailing just how complicated a family can be...several families actually. Blue Bishop is an anomaly as a kind and true person in a family of seemingly "bad" people. Her mother drank herself to death; her father ran away from home and died under mysterious circumstance; her two brothers died while robbing a bank; and her third brother died in a bar fight. She and her little sister, Persy, seemed to be the ones in the family who didn't do bad things. Persy didn't even return library books late. The result was that Blue had no friends, no life outside of writing and illustrating her own series of children's books. She wanted a family; a baby. She'd tried adoption but they didn't really care for her solitary life. Then one day, when she was out on a walk, she found a newborn baby girl with a button that read: "Give her to Blue Bishop."

South of the Buttonwood Tree is a family saga covering four generations and while reading, the reader gets to know all of them intimately. The plotting is so subtle and so intertwined that the reader almost forgets that these people are strangers. Personality traits and circumstances are uncover so slowly and masterfully that one almost forgets previous assumptions and moved forward continually with a new reality. For some of the characters, this reality is life changing. Webber did an amazing job crafting this wonderful book, a book that ended with me in tears for much of the last quarter of the book. Kudos! I highly recommend South of the Buttonwood Tree!

I was invited to read a free ARC of South of the Buttonwood Tree by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations are solely my own. #netgalley #southofthebuttonwoodtree

This was such a feel-good,full of feelings read, and exactly what I needed! This was my first book by Heather Webber so I had no idea what to expect, and to be honest, she just blew me away with her writing. I love well-developed characters with good history to them and that's exactly what I got.

I'm not usually one who typically runs to grab sugar-coated, charmingly sweet southern stories, but I absolutely adored this book and these characters. I was thrilled with the doses of magic thrown in. If you like magical realism, or stories that are set in the south, I think that you'll really like this one. Or if you just are in the mood for a nice light feel-good book, I recommend this one.

You guys all know I like to tell as little as possible about the story in my reviews for others who prefer to go into books knowing little to nothing, so I'll do my best here. You pretty much have three main characters in this story. You have Blue who's a believer in magic, love, and family and she's a finder of lost things. You have Sarah Grace who's the town's Golden Girl. And then you have the Buttonwood Tree, which is a magic tree. One day blue finds a newborn baby along with a button which reads, "give the baby to blue." And that is where the amazing story starts. It's got secrets, messy family, love, and hope. I am so full of feelings from reading this book, I'm pretty sure this one will give me a book hangover. I'm not gonna say anymore than that, other than it's a 5 star must read!

The prose was beautiful, as I mentioned the characters were incredible. I am now a huge fan of Heather Webber and look forward to her next book.

Many thanks to Tor/Forge and Netgalley for the e-galley and opportunity to share my thoughts.

As you guys all know, these thoughts are my own.

Forgive me. I'm about to toss a bunch of cliched words at you, but they're all true. This book is multi-layered, with a plot and characters full of complexities and subtleties. It's fun, thought-provoking, and poignant.

The southern small town setting is deceptively playful. Beneath the charm, we see the force of small-town politics and gossip. We see how our perceptions are often quite different than the truth.

I loved the sprinkling of magic, which is just enough to make us believe in possibilities.

This is the kind of story you live alongside the characters. It'll trigger emotions, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. And it'll leave behind a little piece of itself for you to ponder long after you're done reading.

Magical Realism
Southern Gothic
What a truly magical story. As the story develops and you get to know each character, you will find them to be intriguing and fascinating.
Truthfully, when I first started reading South of the Buttonwood Tree I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. I ended up loving it!
There is sooo much going on within the story! Family secrets, love, forgiveness, magic. With so many twists and turns, you will be completely mesmerized.
My first novel by Heather Webber and I look forward to reading more from her.
Wonderful read that I highly recommend.

This story felt like a warm hug! I love the small bit of magics that affect every main character, and small town quirk is definitely my thing. Blue and Sarah Grace are both going through major changes in their lives, and through their alternating points of view we run into a bit of a mystery, some romance, and a whole lot of family drama. I laughed and cried a tiny bit, mostly happy. Ultimately, it just made me feel good, which is definitely needed during this crazy, uncertain time. If you like Practical Magic or the awesome books by Sarah Addison Allen, you'll love this one! And Ms Webber's other books, of course!

I love a summer Southern fiction read with magic, romance and great Southern charm. This book has it all. I so enjoyed this story set in the south Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. Heather Webber is a favorite cozy mystery author so I was thrilled to read this new work of fiction and she did not disappoint with a charming family story , long buried secrets and a unique tree at the center of the story.


In this southern town in Alabama folklore of a tree is If you ask this certain tree a question and the tree cares to answer, a button with advice on it appears at the base of the tree . The tree is rumored to hold many secrets. We are introduced to Blue who finds a newborn baby at the tree. Blue is a unique charcter in that she can find lost objects. Blue sees herself as flawed even with her magical gifts. She is not thought of highly by many in town who do not want her to keep the baby. Blue wants to keep the baby . Amid her struggle is her group of equally gifted friends and townspeople . She has a dysfunctional family a the heart of her struggles. She is a well rounded charcter that is likable and you find yourself cheering for her . A wonderful read that I enjoyed reading cover to cover. Well done to the author.

I adored Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe so when I saw that Heather Webber had a new book coming out, I held my breath and put in a request! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read her new book, South of the Buttonwood Tree.
The story opens in Buttonwood, Alabama, a town named after a very special tree in the woods. This is a wonderful story with magical realism and strong female characters. Blue resolutely deals with the prejudices and grudges against her family name as she tries to forge a new path and prove that she is completely different from her family. Sarah Grace struggles to understand her strong pull towards a house and longs for more freedom from the rigid expectations of her family where they must be perfect. As her mother always says, "Do better. Be better."
I miss this place and these people already. A community where some people have gifts they use in service to others, where guidance is found in unexpected places and where family and community are formed one thread at a time.
Go get this book!

Webber’s last book, Midnight at the Blackbird Café, was such a lovely and timely read for me that I was so excited to read South of the Buttonwood Tree.

The two books have a lot in common. Both are set in small Southern towns. Both deal with long-held grudges and secrets. And they are both Magical Realism stories. In South of the Buttonwood Tree, Blue Bishop has the mysterious ability to find lost things. But her life is turned upside down when one day her ability leads her to an abandoned infant. And soon, her life isn’t the only one being turned upside-down.

The story was sweet and endearing but not as poignant to me as Midnight at the Blackbird Café. I simply related to that book more. South of the Buttonwood Tree was entertaining and satisfying, but it didn’t hit that deeper heartstring.

The Buttonwood Tree that magically dispensed advice was an interesting concept, but I wanted a bit more from the magical realism element. It would have helped build the atmosphere and taken some of the focus away from the family drama aspects. The story was still endearing that Hallmark sort of way. The characters were easy to sympathize with, and I easily read the whole book in one day. If you like redemption and romance with a little Magical Realism, then give South of the Buttonwood Tree a try.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. And this book is so outstanding in that realm. Beautiful magic, engaging story, and an all around great group of characters; I was totally charmed by this one.

Blue Bishop is used to being an outcast. What she wants more than anything is a warm family, and the stability she didn't get to grow up with. So when a baby is found in the forest, and she is made her temporary guardian, it seems like Blue's wishes are finally coming true. But the small town has a lot of intrigue and a lot of personalities, and Blue doesn't know how to ask for help.

Blue is a very empathetic character. She seems to be kindness personified, and her gifts just give her that added charm. She's also very easy to empathize with. Anyone who has been judged based not on their merits, but on their families, or who was bullied and outcast in highschool, will find it easy to relate to Blue. And so want to cheer her on. The petty personalities in town aren't all black and white either; this story lives in the grey and its characters are very nuanced. I do have to say that Marlo was my favorite. She was comfort personified.

As I said before, magical realism was the draw to this book. I love when magic is so natural; and there are various elements of different magic in this book (including a side story that I somewhat hope becomes the sequel, if there is to be one). The main magic of course, is the buttonwood tree; not what I expected, and I don't want to give too much away, but it's central to the story and helps guide the characters. Another, secondary type of magic is Blue's ability to find things; a skill that both torments her and also helps bring her and others comfort. It was just so well woven through the tale that the magic belonged there.

A really great book, and I'm definitely going to check out Webber's other books as a result. This should go on your to-read list!

Review by M. Reynard 2020

I just loved this book.

From the moment we meet Blue Bishop, a children’s author, when she discovers a baby girl abandoned by the Magic Buttonwood Tree. It’s funny, because despite Blue being from “those troublemaking Bishops” the town turns to her to find lost things. Yet this baby is something that Blue hadn’t expected to find let alone the buttonwood tree’s note to “Give the Baby to Blue”.

Should Blue be allowed to foster – and adopt – this child? And who is the baby’s mamma?

And then there’s Sarah Grace Landreneau Fulton, the “good girl” in town. The daughter of the Mayor and a mamma who always tells her to Do Good and Do Better, Sarah Grace is at a crossroads. Unhappily married in a failing marriage, Sarah Grace has secrets, too, that when revealed could hurt her Daddy’s bid for Governor.

Blue and Sarah Grace form a bond and friendship, something they both need. And both girls are magic. Blue with her ability to find things and Sarah Grace with her ability to “hear” what a house needs for it to be whole and happy.

We also meet Moe and Marlo, an aging couple dealing with the challenges of Moe’s dementia and the toll it’s taking on them. Especially Marlo who has a healing touch of Moon Magic that is, at times, keeping his dementia at bay. But deep down, she knows she doesn’t have enough magic to heal him completely.

Filling out the cast of characters are Blue’s college aged sister whom Blue has custody of. Sarah Grace’s college aged cousin, her strong-willed Mother, and laid-back Daddy.

Having grown up in a small Southern Town, everything felt familiar and oh so true to life. The gossips and the fact that everyone has an opinion on the lives of others. The stories about legacies of families being “good” or “white trash” or downright troublemakers.

Oh, the secrets! Small southern towns always have secrets and others are hoping to discover. And this book is full of secrets whose time it is to see the light of day.

With touches of magic here and there – because we all know magic exists – especially in the South, South of the Buttonwood Tree is a story I couldn’t wait to finish. And I will confess that I teared up more than once as we dove into the lives of these wonderful characters. It’s a tale of family, friendship, lost loves, found love, and connection. And, of course a mystery as all the secrets come unraveled.

A longtime fan of Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake), I was enchanted. Webber’s books keep getting better and better.

Absolutely wonderful with all the feels. Immerse yourself in this seamlessly written story that will linger long after you finish the last page. An absolute winner and a must read. Belongs in your TBR stack. You will love it. Happy reading!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest voluntary review. This was a wonderfully entertaining book! Full of twists and turns and a little fantasy. Blue is a finder of lost things and one day she finds a baby in the woods. She thinks all of her prayers have been answered but have they.......?? Great story with fantastic characters and the true meaning of friendship. Enjoy! 📚

I finished South Of The Buttonwood Tree with barely a day to spare before publication and oh my heart! This. Book.

I'm not ready to post a review to my Instagram yet, but I wanted to get a brief one down here at NetGalley in time for pub day.

This is a story of forgiveness (of self and others), acceptance (of self and others, imperfections & all), of love (of self and others no matter the risks), of family (born to and made), of coming to terms with the past so you can come to terms with the present, and of destiny (real, imagined, made).

The interwoven stories of Blue, Sarah, and Marlo, and the magic of a place called Buttonwood, will be with me for a very long time.

When Blue finds a baby girl in the woods- complete with the note "give the baby to Blue"- it opens a Pandora's box as well as a lot of hearts. This is a lovely novel about being more than people think. Each chapter opens with someone talking to the judge who will decide who keeps Baby Flora about Blue- one of the notorious Bishop family. She's a sweet and generous woman who works hard as a children's book author and is a good friend to many, including Sarah Grace who is struggling with her marriage. Who is the mother of the baby? Everyone's DNA is taken- Blue knows she's not the mom but is her sister Persey? The DNA results, well, there were a LOT of secrets in that town and you, like me, might be a bit confused as to what exactly happened, at least at first. Blue's terrific, as is Sarah Grace, who you will root for with regard to her rotten husband Fletcher. Love her dad, btw. And then there's Moe and Marlo- a sensitive portrayal of a couple where one partner is struggling with dementia. Yes there's a bit of magical realism (the tree issues buttons that answer questions posed to it) but it's not that much so those who don't like it- please feel free to ignore it and enjoy this wonderful story. It's good small town pulling together fiction. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC>. A very good read.