This novel was an easy read with colorful characters mixed in with family dynamics and drama. Loves the description of the area, the family garden and the family restaurant. Really painted a clear picture of the life she returned to on Sullivans Island. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audio.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator got the Southern charm just right. There are so many reasons to enjoy this summer beach read. Family, lowcountry, southern cooking, and romance just to name a few. I enjoyed the writing style and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Dorothea Benton Frank's daughter, Victoria, learned a lot from her mother. This debut novel is written in the style of her mother's books and is a delight to read.

Maggie (short for Magnolia--all the women in the family are named after flowers) is struggling to make a name for herself as a chef in the cut throat world of New York restaurants but it's an uphill battle for a woman. When Violet, her sister, calls to let her know their grandmother is hospitalized after an automobile accident, Maggie takes what she plans to be a short leave to go check on the rest of the family. After a stormy arrival, including rear ending a cute farmer/doctor, Maggie makes it to the hospital.

Gran is in a coma and has turned the family's well-known eating establishment over to Maggie's mom, Lily. Lily has a new fiancé and the two of them are funning the restaurant, right into the ground as far as Maggie is concerned. Lots of family drama results when Maggie and Violet learn her mother is planning on selling out. Lily is devastated when her fiancé dies unexpectedly. Maggie is devastated to learn his daughters will have a say running the restaurant. Her short stay keeps getting extended until her NY boss tells her that her job has ended. She returns to NY to work at a different restaurant but family ties, their restaurant, The Magic Lantern, and the cute farmer/doctor end up constantly in her thoughts.

A worthy successor to her mother, this book by Victoria Benton Frank is a satisfying beach read. I listened to an ARC of the audiobook, narrated by actress Dorothy Dillinham Blue, who has no problem at all with either NY or southern accents.

Channeling her mother while finding her own voice Victoria Benton Frank is taking her place in Southern Fiction. Run don't walk to get and listen to this book. The narrator was great and I highly recommend for those who are ready for their next southern fiction author! The hurt and growth between the characters is engaging and you feel all that they feel.

Dorothea Benton Frank was known for her women’s fiction set in South Carolina and after her untimely death a few years ago, it would seem that her daughter Victoria has picked up where she left off.
My Magnolia Summer features three generations of women who are reunited when Magnolia comes home from New York City when her mom, Lily, and her grandmother are in accident. Told from the viewpoints of Magnolia and her sister Violet, the story takes us to the family restaurant that is not what it once was after Lily’s boyfriend gets involved and remodels.
I enjoyed all the southern vibes and family dynamics here. There’s romance, food, beaches and snarky family, and enjoyed all of it. It’s a perfect beach read and I’m looking forward to a follow up and seeing what happens with this family next.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Writing in her late mother's footsteps, Victoria Benton Frank's novel follows 3 generations of women from Low Country, South Carolina. This story begins with Maggie, who has moved to NYC to follow her dream of becoming a famous chef one day. That is, until grandma Rose has a stroke and ends up in the hospital. Maggie goes home to low country to be with her, along with her sister and mom. Maggie and her mom have always had a difficult relationship and this visit proves to be no different. Lilly, Maggie's mom, has lost her first husband in a motorcycle accident, and has had issues with drinking off and on since then. The family restaurant, that has become too much for Rose, has been put in the hands of Lilly and her new boyfriend Buster. When Maggie goes to visit it, she sees that it has all changed, and not for the better. Buster and Lilly want to franchise the restaurant and move out of state. The family dynamics are falling apart.

Maggie and her sister Victoria end up trying to save the restaurant while Rose is recovering in the hospital. This is a great story of family, friendship, love and what it it all really means. It is a great beach read. I really hope Victoria Benton Frank continues to write about Low Country, SC, as her mother did. Her writing is just as great.

If you loved reading Dorothy Benton Frank's books, you will love this book as well. I listened to the audio, thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio.

While I found this story to be predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A great light, summer read from Frank!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this title. Maggie is a struggling chef in NYC when she is called home for a family emergence. Her beloved grandmother has had a stroke, and Maggie rushes home to help with the family restaurant. What she finds is not ideal, and she is torn between salvaging it and returning to NYC and her "dream". Along the way, the reader is introduced to a well-drawn cast of characters who bring life and color to the story. Victoria Benton Frank seems to possess a very similar author-voice to her famous mom, and this was a joy to listen to.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This was a pretty nice read, though I think the author will get better as she writes more books. Lots of easily predictable storylines and some farfetched ideas too.

Victoria Benton Frank’s debut novel would make her mother, prolific author Dorothea Benton Frank, proud.

My Magnolia Summer is set in idyllic Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. When Maggie’s grandmother falls ill, she rushes home from New York City to visit the matriarch of the family. Maggie’s erratic mother, Lily, caused the horrible car accident that landed her Gran in the hospital. Now Maggie and her sister, Violet, along with their mother, must work together to keep the family restaurant, The Magic Lantern, running smoothly.

Frank has written a domestic drama full of family secrets.The main character’s journey of self discovery, the deep family bonds and a touch of romance make this novel a heart-warming summer must-read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in return for an honest review.

I was a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, so when I saw this book written by her daughter, I wanted to check it out. My Magnolia Summer is about Magnolia,(Maggie) a chef in NYC who is called home to Sullivan’s Island, SC when her grandma is hospitalized after a car accident. Once home, she is faced with a bevy of issues that need her attention: her family’s failing restaurant, her sister’s pregnancy with a man who is not ready to commit, and her mom’s battle with alcohol. Add to these issues a budding, yet complicated, romance.
My Magnolia Summer was a good summer read but, at times, the writing felt a bit amateurish (eyes as green as sea glass.). All in all, an entertaining read-good to pass the time over the summer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audiobook which is out now!

Happy Pub Day to this new debut!

I’ve got the perfect beach read to add to your beach bag this Summer!

📖𝙈𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
✍🏻Victoria Benton Frank
🗓️6.6.23
🌸Women’s Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

As a fan of the late Dorothea Benton Frank, reading the Lowcountry Tales each Summer, I was so excited to read her daughter’s brand new debut!

I loved this story of three generations of women that come together in this heartfelt story. It features a woman named Magnolia, her sister Violet, their Mother Lily, and Grandmother Rose.

It was fun to see author Victoria use her culinary background throughout the story, and I really enjoyed the delicious food descriptions that transported me right to my memories of beach vacations in GA and SC.

The dialogue was so funny between sisters, Mother, and Grandmother, and the great cast of characters that make this such a heartwarming read.
I can’t wait to read more by @victoriabentonfrank 💕🌸

I both read and listened to the audiobook format, and found myself transported to my many trips to South Carolina.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks @harperaudio #gifted

Debut author, Victoria Benton Frank (daughter of beloved author, Dorothea Benton Frank), has written an adorable summer novel that will take you on vacation to the Lowcountry of Sullivan's Island. Magnolia Adams has a dream of becoming a premier NYC chef. That dream is put on hold, however, when she gets called home to South Carolina. Her mother, Lily and grandmother, Rose, have been in a car accident and it's up to Magnolia and her little sister, Violet to save the family business, The Magic Lantern. It seems that during her absence, Lily and her boyfriend, Buster, have run it into the ground. There's a ton of drama and a little bit of romance and also a whole heaping spoonful of Southern charm.

*Thanks to NetGalley Harper Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Victoria Benson Frank is the daughter of the late best-seller Southern author Dorothea Benson Frank. I absolutely love the backstory of why she began writing this book. Victoria took seven years off and on to complete this book, but she wanted to keep her mother’s legacy intact after her death. This book is a beautiful tribute and testament to her hard work and determination to keep the “Lowcountry Tales” legacy intact by providing more Southern romance stories to readers. My Magnolia Summer will do precisely that with the beachy, touristy scenery and the southern charm of South Carolina with some romance and family drama!

Set in both New York and South Carolina, this story is a generational story between a pair of sisters, Magnolia and Violet, their mother and their grandmother. Magnolia is a chef at a restaurant in New York. She misses her family in South Carolina, but she knows that if she works hard enough, a promotion will come her way soon. She received a phone call saying her grandmother, who raised her, had a stroke and to go home immediately. She finds her grandmother in a medically induced coma and her family restaurant in poor condition. Magnolia’s mother, who is an alcoholic, and her boyfriend took over the restaurant. Magnolia agrees to stay a little longer to help her sister, Violet, return the family restaurant to a popular tourist destination. Torn between her dream job in New York and her struggling family, who needs her help, Magnolia has to decide where her priorities lie and see where the future leads her.

This story is a great beach read. It was easy to imagine the beautiful beach scenery, and I loved the book filled with three generations of strong women. Each woman endured hardships and experienced love and growth. I wish there were more romance, but the family drama kept me interested. I am hoping that this book will become a part of a new series and that we get to see more of Violet in the next book.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Harper Audio for giving me a copy of the audiobook.

A great summer beach read option about a Southern family, their dwindling restaurant business and the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters.

I really enjoyed this debut from the daughter of the late Dorothea Benton Frank. Her daughter liberally sprinkles references to her mom and her books throughout the story in a touching memorial.

Victoria Benton Frank taking southern fiction by storm! I think it’s so wonderful to continue her mothers legacy while also making a big name for herself as an author. My Magnolia Summer was a great first novel that left me wanting more. Beautifully written and full of charm, you won’t want to miss this new summer read!

Oh those summer days gone by that saw me on my back porch or on the beach reading the late great @dorotheabentonfrank’s tales of the Low Country. I think I read 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘴 at least seven summers in a row. I was so sad to read of her passing because she gave me so many years of warm weather reading delight.

When I saw that her daughter @victoriabentonfrank had a debut novel coming out, I was very intrigued. Now that I’ve read it, I can tell you that if you loved her mother’s books, you will also love Victoria’s book. She carries on her mother’s legacy of Low Country tales with many of the same elements but also with her very own captivating voice. I loved the pacing, the colorful cast of characters and the charming setting.

This is book one in a new series, and I can’t wait for the next one. 𝘔𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 will be available June 6, and you’re definitely going to want it for your beach bag.

I alternated between the audio and ebook versions, and really enjoyed both. The narration was lots of fun although some of the southern accents seemed a bit forced in my southern girl opinion.

My thanks to @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

Book Title: My Magnolia Summer
Author: Victoria Benton Frank
Narrator: Dorothy Dillingham Blue
Publisher: Harper Audio
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: June 6, 2023
My Rating: 4
Pages: 352

I am one of those readers who always have two books going on at the same time. One is a book as I have a rather long TBR shelf. The other is an audiobook which is usually one of two. Well I was all caught up with my audio TBR list. When I saw the name of this author, I immediately thought of an author I love.
I remember finishing "Queen Bee" and while writing my comments on Monday September 2, 2019 I nearly fell out my chair as I read that author, Dorothea Benton Frank just died of cancer. Yes the southern fiction world stood still and I thought of all the times she transported me to South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Victoria Benton Frank is her daughter and has promised she would step into her mother’s shoes and continue with Lowcountry tales!
This story is a generational story of four women: two daughters – Magnolia and Violet, mother Lily, and grandmother, Rose. Story is told from their POV; with Maggie aka Magnolia -taking the lead.
Magnolia’s family has a restaurant “the Magic Lantern” where Magnolia got her love of cooking – however she knows in order to advance in the cooking world she needs to train in New York. She is a chef aha Cook in NYC and is called home as her mother and grandmother have been in a car accident that has left Gran Rose in a coma. Magnolia and her sister Violet has been raised by Gran so needless to say, Magnolia rushes home to South Carolina.
Magnolia is greeted by old friend Jim and is anxious to see Gran at the hospital when she no sooner accidently hits a truck driven by a southern hunk. Hmm we immediately know there is going to be more to this!
Since Gran is still in a coma, Magnolia then wants to visit the restaurant and is suggested they get-together for dinner. Well the Magic Lantern is not the place it used to be. It seems her mother Lily and her new boyfriend Buster have made some changes - Out with the old – in with the new!
Aww the family drama begins.
I am excited that the Victoria Benton Frank has stepped up is continuing her mother’s legacy; which has to be tough with two little children under 5!!!
Yes! This story made me smile and I am looking forward to –‘The Magic Lantern Book #2!
Just I love being transported to Sullivan Island. However, I am hoping for less colorful language!
In addition to this story, the “Author’s Note’ as well as the ‘Acknowledgements’ are worth taking the time to read.
BTW: Narrator Dorothy Dillingham Blue did a great job performing the characters..

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio for the pleasure of listening to this Advanced Audio summer read.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 6, 2023.

A great summer beach read option about a Southern family, their dwindling restaurant business and the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters.

I really enjoyed this debut from the daughter of the late Dorothea Benton Frank. Her daughter liberally sprinkles references to her mom and her books throughout the story in a touching memorial.

Fans of books about intergenerational family stories and foodies will enjoy this one. Perfect for anyone who loved the Reese Book Club pick, The chicken sisters and good on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: alcoholic parent