I totally see the resemblance 'Southern by Design' has to the community of Serenity in Sweet Magnolias and the house restoration in Fixer Upper. The story jumps quickly into some intense circumstances, which provides immediate intrigue to the reader. I found Mack's tension with her overbearing mother and slimy ex-husband stressful. I did not choose to continue with the book. However, for those not stressed by those relationships, I see the plot having potential.

This story has plenty of southern charm set in Charleston, SC. It also includes juicy family drama, a second-chance romance with her lost, teenage love, and a mystery surrounding the identity of Mack's father.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is navigating a lot—her divorce, her career as an interior designer, raising her daughter, and dealing with a very complicated relationship with her mother. Southern traditions, social politics, and old money expectations weigh heavily on her, but Mack is determined to live life her terms. And just when she’s starting to find her footing, her first love moves in next door—also a single parent.

The story is told in going back 15 years to let us know what is going on then and now.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I really liked the characters. Mack's mom, Magnolia goes through a transformation throughout the novel.

A good debut novel by Grace Walz. Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

What a delightful debut. Set in Charleston, we follow an interior designer, Mack (Magnolia), as she uncovers her mysterious past and her “love on pause” while going through a divorce and having the career chance of a lifetime. Her life so far has been dictated by her mother and high society, but her passion for design and the love for her daughter has carved her out of their hold on her.

This was highly readable, if at times formulaic, but being a debut it worked well. I could almost feel the Charleston heat on my skin while reading it. It’s also refreshing - like iced tea on a hot, summer’s day (sorry, I want to be in Charleston now!) - to read a romance from the perspective of a woman in her late thirties. The romance had me giddy, and the mystery of Mack’s parentage, plus the excitement of a reality home show were interesting elements. The writing was much better than any episode of ‘Sweet Magnolias’ let me tell you. I’ll definitely read from this author again.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for feedback.
What a beautiful cover, who can resist a great cover, and that the book is set in Charleston! This debut novel reminds me of a cross between Fixer Upper and Designing Women. Magnolia "Mack", newly divorced and a single mother" is trying to kickstart her own career without her mother's influence. She is charged with restoring an old historical house in Charleston, and hopes to make her mother proud.
Meanwhile, an old flame moves back to town. Lincoln broke her heart when he left town over 15 years prior, but Mack soon learns the real reasons he left. Will they be able to rekindle their love?
There are other secrets to come to light, secrets that separated mother and daughter and best friends. Some relationships can be repaired while others cannot.
The book is told through two timelines - when Mack was younger and present day. Great debut!

Southern by Design is a heartfelt and beautifully written story that pulls you right into the charm of the South. Magnolia Mack Bishop is a protagonist you can’t help but root for her journey of resilience, motherhood, and self-discovery is both inspiring and deeply emotional. The author does an amazing job of bringing Charleston to life, making the setting feel just as important as the characters. If you love stories with strong character development, family drama, and a touch of Southern charm, this one is definitely worth reading!

Thank you netgalley for this amazing book.

3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus/Harper Muse for my review copy. These are my thoughts:

This was a charming southern, small town story.

Magnolia “Mack” just wants to make it “big” on her own. She comes from a privileged family and has a very meddling mother - and namesake - Magnolia “senior”.

This was not what I was expecting but I quite liked the twist on the second chance - Mack gets a second chance at love after her divorce and also to mend or redefine her relationship with her mother. Magnolia senior was insufferable for most of the book but I enjoyed her “redemption arc”.

I did not see the plot twist towards the end coming and was not expecting the added drama from the way it was handled - Magnolia “senior” at her best!

I enjoyed the charm of the Southern/Charleston setting and the description of the historical buildings.

[Spice level: closed door/kisses only]

Sweet yet very predictable family drama, with a mother and daughter at odds. Yet, they share the same name and ultimately, readers learn they share similar losses that re-order their lives when they least expect it. SOUTHERN BY DESIGN is filled with everyday details that place it firmly in the current time. Unfortunately, parts of the mother-daughter dynamic don’t feel modern; they feel more like the 1950s. I expected more of a light-hearted tale with Southern charm. Instead, the charm is light and the pathos heavy. The review copy I received was badly formatted and made reading and enjoying the book all that much harder. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

If you tell me a book is set in Charleston and involves a design show, I’m already in. But add in second-chance romance, family secrets, and a single mom fighting to break generational cycles? Hooked.
Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is navigating a lot—her divorce, her career as an interior designer, raising her daughter, and dealing with a very complicated relationship with her mother. Southern traditions, social politics, and old money expectations weigh heavily on her, but Mack is determined to carve out a life on her terms. And just when she’s starting to find her footing, her first love moves in next door—also a single parent.
This story beautifully explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the pressure of Southern high society, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own narrative. Mack’s journey was deeply emotional, and I loved watching her grow into someone who put herself and her daughter first.
The romance? Perfectly paced. The family drama? So well done. And the twists toward the end? Didn’t see them coming.
If you love heartfelt, character-driven stories with depth, this one’s a must-read. Also—can we get more of Mack and her best friend? Because I need it.

SOUTHERN BY DESIGN is perfect for fans of women's fiction. Walz has crafted a charming family saga complete with southern mannerisms, home renovation/design, heartbreak, and family secrets. If you like Kristy Woodson Harvey, you will enjoy this one. A delightful read with a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

This book has everything you could possibly want in a novel; sexting, single parenthood, interfering mother, professional problems and the one that got away. Mack is a great character and her interactions with her mother, child and professional colleagues are on point. Will she succeed despite her mother’s interference? Is there a second chance with Lincoln? Read this one and find out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.75/5)

“I’ve got an overdue temper and an axe to grind.”

This one is described as Sweet Magnolias meets Fixer Upper in this delightfully refreshing debut about a woman bravely chasing her dreams, building a life on her own terms, and maybe even discovering a second chance at love.

When I first started it I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but I changed my mind as the book progressed and secrets came to light, especially in the 2nd half of the book.

I loved seeing the MC Mack grow into her own and fight for what she wanted…mostly ANSWERS.

When secrets are revealed they are devastating and even moreso because sometimes in life it’s too little too late BUT that doesn’t mean the world stops spinning, you have to dust yourself off and get back to it. The MC takes control of her life and puts her best foot forward.

I really thought the ending was well done and everything was brought to a solid conclusion even if certain aspects were sad/unfortunate.

It sort of reminded me of a more serious Homewreckers by MKA but with more focus on family dynamics and big southern design elements. It makes me want to go back to Charleston.

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The writing felt a bit juvenile and did not flow. The formatting also FYI made the book difficult to read and pulled me out of the story with each chapter break. Hopefully this book will work better for other readers!

As soon as I saw the setting was Charleston South Carolina, I just knew I would like it.
The book starting out with heirloom china being smashed it had my attention!
This story had so much in it that it kept my attention and turning the pages. I am all for reading books with second chance romance in it and this one was written perfectly. I am impressed that this is the author’s debut novel. I am looking forward to reading more by Grace Helena Walz.
Thank you NetGalley, Grace Helena Walz and HarperCollins Focus for the ARC of Southern by Design.

A beautiful cover and title - this book is like Fixer Upper meets Sweet Magnolias.

This story sets the scene in beautiful Charleston, SC where we meet newly divorced – interior designer Magnolia “Mack” Bishop. Mack is trying to make a name in the industry (getting out of her overbearing mother’s shadow). We see her navigate her pending divorce and her family drama – but we also get flashbacks to her life 15 years ago when she was younger.

This book has good bones. The writing made it fairly easy to envision where we are. I struggled with the book/story dragging at times and most of it was predictable. There’s a small plot reveal/twist the last 15% but it felt frustrating. The family dynamics definitely had the southern drama.

I’d say this is a 3.25 out of 5.

"Southern By Design" is a debut focusing on a Southern mother-daughter duo, their turbulent relationship, and a second-chance romance. Through flashbacks, we witness Mack's first love, Lincoln, and how they missed their chance the first time, only to be reunited in the present when Lincoln buys the house next to Mack. Walz will undoubtedly win fans with this heartwarming tale of big dreams, stunning design, and genuine love.

The story employs dual timelines, 15 years apart, but the execution feels clunky as details are often repeated across both timelines, unnecessarily inflating the narrative.

For the most part, the language is clean. Romantic scenes are limited to hugs, kisses, and off-page activities, with no physical violence. The primary warning concerns emotional manipulation, which may affect sensitive readers, especially those with challenging mother-daughter relationships.

I enjoyed this book overall, though I felt it lacked in execution. Several areas could have been further developed to fully engage the reader, but despite these shortcomings, I still found the story enjoyable. I look forward to reading more from this author and seeing her growth.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I enjoyed this book in the end. I will say the middle was a bit slow to get through but by the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes. There is an emotional pull that sucks you in. I am not a huge fan of the tense this book was written in but that is of course a personal preference. You honestly feel for Mack for most of the book. There were parts where I wanted to scream on her behalf. Lincoln Kelly is a dream and I loved every single chapter with him. I would definitely recommend this book to friends!

What a great surprise this book has been. Grace Walz is a new author for me, and I absolutely love it when I find little gems like Southern by Design. Loved Mack and Lincoln's story and chemistry. This book definitely had some OMG no way moments in it, some angst in the worst way with Mack's mother, and the end for me was a kleenex moment. The flash backs throughout the book flowed easily with the present, so that made it a very enjoyable read. Fitz was hysterical, and Magpie and Foster were adorable. Truly loved this book, will definitely read more from this author.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

4.5 ⭐️ Strong women, family drama, second chance romance and a sprinkle of reality TV…this was such an enjoyable read, perfect for a snowy northeast day given the southern setting. I really liked the FMC and all of her relationships, especially with her daughter. Wanting to know what happened next in her business, personal and love life kept me reading. I truly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what the author writes next! My only complaint is I didn’t read a physical copy of the book because the cover looks stunning. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Title: Southern by Design
Author: Grace Helena Walz     
Genre: Fiction        
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop is staring down the barrel at single motherhood--thanks to an unsolicited personal picture her husband texted another woman that quickly went viral among every mom group in town. But she's determined to not let it distract her from the professional victory she's inches away securing Charleston's prestigious Historic Preservation Design Fellowship, the apple of every local designer's eye.

But when the final house tour is undone by a host of calamities, Mack's shot at the fellowship goes up in flames. Smelling blood in the water, Mack's mother, the original Magnolia Bishop, breezes in with a project lead--strings attached. If there's one thing Magnolia lives for, aside from maintaining her station atop the Southern social ladder, it's to control Mack's life . . . and that includes keeping the identity of the absentee father Mack never knew in the shadows.

While working for her mother is the professional equivalent of moving into one's parent's basement, Mack spots an opportunity to make it her own when a television network puts a call out for local designers. Pitching the home renovation TV pilot of her dreams--one with a historic preservation twist--might just be the way to finally prove herself. Still, she'll have to do it covertly to avoid her mother's interference.

Just when Mack finds her professional footing, at home she spots an impossibly familiar figure unloading his moving truck into the newly sold house next door. She is furious, floored, and regrettably flustered because Lincoln Kelly is the one who got away. Fifteen years earlier he was a summer romance she inadvertently fell in love with, and when he left, following his dreams to New York, Mack was broken-hearted.

I love Southern fiction, and this fits the bill. Mack’s mom is…terrible. Her ex-husband is terrible. The thought of living in that world with those people made my skin crawl.

I loved the Charleston setting. It felt so vibrant and real, and I wanted to visit immediately! Mack’s friends/coworkers were also fantastic, and her daughter made me want to hang out with a tiny human. Definitely recommend this read!

Grace Helena Walz lives outside of Atlanta. Southern by Design is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/12.)

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for an advanced copy of Southern By Design.

Mack has just recently found out that her husband has been cheating on her with a younger woman, and the job she wanted fell through. In steps her mother to give her a design job. But it always comes with strings attached! Then the love of her young life moves next door. Is this her second chance at happiness?

I wanted to like this book but it was boring. It dragged on way too long with details about things that were not very interesting. But yet lacked description about the young relationship between the main characters. I could not get invested in the characters because they were unlikable. I was not a fan.