Mack (real name Magnolia) has a business in Charleston restoring old houses, is married to her high school sweetheart, has a precocious daughter Hallie, and an interfering mother also named Magnolia. From the outside it looks like she is living a dream life, but when her husband sends explicit picture to another woman, her world is rocked. She gets to restore a old home under the oversight of the Historical Society (her mom), gets a chance to be featured in a reality TV show, and her college love moves next door with his son. Mack’s life is full of up’s and downs, but with the help of friends Mack learns about herself, her mom, and what she truly wants out of life.
Southern By Design, by Helena Walz, was a fun read.
FYI: Mack’s friend and business partner is a gay man. There is more in the book than I’d prefer but it was not graphic.

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop lives in Charleston and is in the process of divorcing her cheating husband. Mack owns her own design firm and redoing a house she has hopes the Charleston's prestigious Historic Preservation Design Fellowship like, so she wins. When they come to tour the house, it ends in host of calamities. Macks mother Magnolia controls as much of her life as she can; Mack doesn't have a father, and her mother is a control freak.
Lincoln Kelly has moved back to Charleston with his son; he was glad to be back. He has a seven-year-old son now and glad to be out of NYC. He left town 15 years ago to study under a professional photographer and now he is famous.
Mack spots a new neighbor moving in and decides to walk down to check out who it is moving in. She is in for a big surprise it's her old boyfriend Lincoln.
The story is told in going back 15 years to let us know what is going on then and now. The story is well written and a good first-time writers' book

I requested for an arc of this book because the synopsis portrayed a nice picture and built high anticipation. But book was not really up to my expectation. It started off nice, but started to get boring towards the middle, I skimmed through far too many pages.

Too many things were going on in Mack's life, yet nothing substantial was really happening. I enjoy the drama in books, but the drama here only made an appearance towards the very end.

I would have loved to see more of Lincoln and Mack falling in love, both in the past and the present. I could not buy their romance, it could have been written much better.

I loved reading about Mack's design firm, perhaps because of my own experience in the design industry. Mack as a character was not very strong. She made some choices that left me puzzled. Her actions felt unrealistic.
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Overall, it was an average read. I loved the starting and the ending (teared up once towards the end), but the middle part failed to keep my interest.

I really enjoyed this. It was cute, sweet and full of family drama! This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last.

This is a new author for me and I truly enjoyed this book. Money can be an evil, as we see in some of these scenarios. There are so many feels in this book and some surprises. I don’t always like when books jump from one time frame to another, but it was necessary and well done to give us the complete picture and story. I wouldn’t be mad if there is a sequel with these wonderful characters so I can continue to see how their lives continue on. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Southern by Design is a compelling and heartwarming story centered on Magnolia “Mack” Bishop as she navigates the challenges of a divorce, a fraught relationship with her controlling mother, the discovery of true love, and the search for her biological father—a journey that ultimately leads to healing and self-discovery.

Told through a dual timeline of flashbacks and present-day events, the narrative effortlessly weaves Mack’s past and present, creating a rich, layered story. The cast of characters is as unique as it is endearing—Fritz, Mack’s loyal best friend; Lincoln, her charming beau; and the team of experts helping Mack restore a historic home.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Charleston, the story shines with its vivid descriptions and Southern charm. Fans of home renovation and remodeling will especially enjoy the detailed restoration work woven into the plot.

This heartfelt tale of resilience, family, and love is a perfect pick for readers looking for a story that blends emotional depth with uplifting moments. Southern by Design is a delightful and memorable read.

Was a bit of a slow start but turned out to be fantastic! What a great story of family drama and sometimes how secrets aren’t worth keeping. You won’t be disappointed!

In Southern by Design, Mack (NOT Magnolia, thank you very much) has divorced her now-ex-husband Grady, but they are still working together to try to get a Historic Preservation Design Fellowship through their renovation of a classic Charleston home. When that tour goes wrong and they lose out on the fellowship, Grady decides to leave their firm - not that it sounds like it was too much of a loss though honestly except with the lackluster way that he treats their daughter Hallie. When Magnolia, Mack's mother, gets her another opportunity at a large renovation project, Mack takes it, though she does have some hesitations over the amount of control her mother wants. If that all isn't enough, her new next door neighbor is the man that she met and fell in love with one summer fifteen years ago. Lincoln's back from New York with his son Foster who, of course, becomes Hallie's best friend.

I enjoyed this book! There's a bit of romance but no real spice. I liked the switching between two timelines as well, though I know some don't enjoy that, so just know you get both the present day story and the 15 years ago history. The plot of redoing homes in Charleston resonates with me since I live in the area and enjoy watching these home flip shows just as much as the next woman. The historic homes in this area are gorgeous and I think the author did a pretty good job of capturing some of that magic (though maybe not as much as a Dorothea Benton Frank or a Mary Alice Monroe). I didn't totally see some of the twists at the end and thought they were interesting. Overall, I'd recommend this book to someone that likes the history of old homes with a little family drama and a sprinkle of romance on the side.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Harper Muse and Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. Too sweet, too cliched




Ababababa ababababbabababa ababa babab

Solid 4/5.

Enjoyable read! Great characters all around (loved Hallie!) and loved watching the characters grow over time. It was refreshing that the story didn't focus so much on the normal tropes of a divorce.

Highly recommend!

This debut novel by Grace Helena Walz oozes southern charm. Set in Charleston, SC, SOUTHERN BY DESIGN transports the reader to this vibrant, historic city.

The book has a little bit of everything: a second chance romance, a strained mother-daughter relationship, a soon-to-be divorcee navigating single parenthood, an unexpected redemption arc, and a design based reality tv show. Somehow it’s just right and never too much.

I alternated between the print and audio versions and both delivered. Not once during the reading of or listening to this book did I ever forget it was taking place in the Deep South. There were references to old money, debutante balls, and polite society juxtaposed against the pursuit of dreams and relationships that challenged tradition.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is a fully nuanced character. Even as an adult she is torn between seeking her mother’s approval and following her own heart. I was rooting for her to find her voice and her happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColins Focus, Harper Muse for the advance copies in exchange for my unbiased review.

If you like reading southern fiction as I do, you will enjoy this one, It has a bit of everything southern overbearing mother, second chance, drama and a bit of mystery. Thank you to. NetGalley and HarperCollins/Harper Muse.

If you like Mary Kay Andrews, you're going to love this debut novel by Grace Helena Walz. It's funny and full of historic home renovation and decoration with a quirky cast of southern characters, chock-full of family disfunction and intrigue. The ending is a little too neatly wrapped up to be totally believable, but overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, cozy, southern read from a debut author I will be keeping an eye on in the future. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

This debut novel by Grace Helena Walz is a charming addition to the many books set in Charleston. Magnolia ("Mack") Bishop and her husband have a home design firm and a young child. But, Mack is in the middle of a divorce due to her husband's propensity for sending unsolicited 'personal' photos of himself to some of the PTA moms and she's learning to navigate a new world. And, with an unknown father and a mother who feels free to interfere in every step of her life, Mack is a bit stressed.

She and her firm lose the fellowship sponsored by the Charleston Historical Society due to a series of odd mishaps at the house. Hesitatingly, Mack accepts her mother's offer to redesign another historic house. Her mother can be overbearing and controlling but Mack needs the job. To top off the frustrations of dealing with the divorce, loss of the fellowship, her quest to learn who her her father is, and her mother's interfering with the new project, Mack is amazed when her old college boyfriend,(Lincoln Kelly, complete with a child the same age as her daughter, moves in next door. Linc has become a famous photographer based in New York. But he doesn't have a wife. So that's another mystery to be solved. On the plus side, Mack has a shot at being an HGTV star, which of course, she is pursuing.

In the tradition of Mary Kay Andrews and Dorothea Benton Frank, anyone who enjoys a Southern romance will enjoy this one.

Grace Helena Walz did a fantastic job of bringing Charleston to life, painting vivid pictures of its historic charm. After reading this novel, there’s no questioning why everyone who goes to CofC wants to stay in Charleston afterward. The messy dynamics of Mack's family added complexity to the story and the scenario felt realistic. While the home improvement show plot felt a bit out of place, it did provide moments of humor and light-heartedness and introduce us to some great side characters. The strongest writing was the romance between Mack and Lincoln and I almost wish this had just been a romance. Overall, this debut novel was an engaging and heartfelt read. As someone who went through CofC’s historic preservation program, I'm especially excited to see what this author has in store for us next.

This debut novel is a captivating exploration of the life of a Southern belle in the picturesque towns of Charleston and Beaufort, South Carolina. The protagonist, Mack, navigates significant life changes while delving into the complexities of her relationship with her mother and her romantic entanglements. The author’s vivid characterization and humorous dialogue create an engaging narrative. The setting is meticulously described, capturing the essence of the era’s fashion and social dynamics. Ultimately, this novel presents a compelling family drama intertwined with romantic elements.

My first read of the new year was a delight! Grace Helena Walz has a winner with her debut novel, set in Charleston , SC (one of my favorite cities to visit!)
A fun, easy read with a few surprises, kept me engrossed in this book. Mack is a local interior designer, whose mother, Magnolia, has tried to run her life since the start. Mack has a seven year old daughter, a soon to be ex-husband, and her business associates Fitz and Maya who help her navigate life. It's written with a dual timeline, the present, and her time in college. Mack
The reader is taken along as Mack and her partners work on the design of a showhouse, and also are 'auditioning' for the spot in the most popular home design reality show , Exquisite Interiors. The house is completely restored and if you love home design, you will enjoy this novel. The architecture, the wood salvaging, the wallpaper, landscaping, cabinets, it's all here, along with some great characters.
Of course, there is a love interest for Mack, which connects with the dual timeline.
If you are a fan of MK Andrews and Kristy Woodson Harvey, you will love this book. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel to find out what next project Mack works on.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

In the debut novel by Grace Helena Walz, Magnolia "Mack" Bishop is Southern by Design as she navigates Bishop Builds, her home preservation design firm in Charleston, South Carolina. Mack’s marriage is in a state of dissolution after her husband sent a body part photo of himself to another woman.

Though Mack’s firm misses out on a prestigious fellowship for historic preservation, she does secure a new design job thanks to her mother Magnolia Sr., a force to be reckoned with as she has always tried to control Mack’s life including pushing for a match with the husband Mack is now divorcing. Better than the design project is the opportunity it presents for a shot at a home improvement TV show, something Magnolia Sr. has no control over whatsoever, though she would like to be a co-host.

Her love life might be looking up as Mack takes a chance on an old love who returns to Charleston when she is in the thick of designing a wide Georgian mansion with a double porch. If left to romance on her own terms instead of a push from her mother, Mack would have married Lincoln Kelly 15 years ago before he left Charleston for a career in New York City. He is back in town with a young son, and Mack has some big decisions to make.

This contemporary romance comes out February 11, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Grace Helena Walz received a master’s in social work at the University of Houston and worked with children in foster care, as a medical social worker, and in a mental health capacity. She resides outside of Atlanta with her family.

Grace Helena Walz has been added to my list of must read southern chick lit authors! This debut novel was an easy fun read to start the year. I just wish I was on vacation in Charleston where the novel is based when I was reading it. If you like Dorothea Benton Frank, Mary Kay Andrews, and Kristy Woodson Harvey, then you will love this book.

Thank you Harper Collins Focus | Harper Muse for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Witty dialogue, fun romance, home renovation, and a reconciliation between a mother and daughter. As Mack works through her marital separation and pursues a once in a lifetime career opportunity, she gets a second chance at two important relationships in her life. It’s a fun read with some heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.