This was unfortunately a 'did not finish" for me. It felt very wholesome to the point where I had a hard time connecting or believing in the characters and their story. I think the cover is beautiful

#AWeddingintheLowcountry #NetGalley

Likes: multicultural author, vivid eye catching cover, descriptions of low country cuisine, buildings, and vistas.

Dislikes: stilted almost simplistic writing style, failure to engage reader as plot plodded along.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an okay read for me because I found myself wanting more when it came to the romance. The slow burn felt too slow and the romance lacked the kind of spice that would have made their connection more compelling. I also wished for more relationship development to really feel their shift from friends to something more. While the story had heart, it didn't fully deliver on the romance for me.

I lived in Charleston, SC for years and when I saw this book was set there I knew I had to read it. This is a great second chance love story which also deals with the loss of a parent and overcoming grief. I really did feel like I was there for Avila's journey and I was routing for her along the way.

If you are a fan of a slow burn, especially once that’s set in the south or the lowcountry in particular, this is a book for you!

Thank you Avon books and NetGalley for this eARC!

3 stars.

"A Wedding in the Lowcountry" by Preslaysa Williams is a short and quickly paced PG-rated second-chance, childhood friends-to-lovers romance that, unfortunately, left me wanting more. I think Williams does a good job with three things. One, Williams explores what it feels like to find what you really want to do in life, especially with no parental support network in place. Two, she explains how childhood trauma and abandonment manifest within adults if left to fester. Avila did not have a relationship with her mother as an adult because of her treatment as a child. Ebony, Avila's daughter, is also going through a similar thing with her own father, who is not in her life because he did not have time to be a young father. Finally, she hones in on the main characters' shared history. Avila and Terence were friends throughout their lives/in high school, but something happened to stop their friendship in its tracks. Years later, at her estranged mother's funeral, Avila and Terence reconnect when she comes back to town with her daughter. But, I think their reconnecting felt a little too convenient. There aren't any stakes with their possible relationship. Everything felt way too easy. There's not a lot of pining or yearning going on between the two of them. The pieces of their relationship puzzle just fall into place with a lot of convincing by Terence and little to no fanfare. Terence is clearly obsessed with Avila, but she couldn't seem to care less about him in return. Avila is used to doing everything in her life as an adult and as a parent by herself because she has *had to,* but in the process, she isolates everyone else around her, including her daughter. After about 37% of the book, the plot gets extremely repetitive and a bit boring. Still, I stuck through it and finished the story, hoping it would get better... it's fine, but I definitely won't remember this book come year's end. It doesn't do enough to set itself apart from the other novels that I got much more invested in. I think that, without the addition of the audiobook narration, I would have DNF'ed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Preslaysa Williams, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams


Adult General Fiction Romance Women’s Fiction
TW: Death of a parent, abandonment of a parent, abandonment of a significant other.
Tropes: Second Chance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Single Mom


Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Avila, a Black woman originally from South Carolina, is the main character in A Wedding in the Lowcountry. As a teen, she moved and went to college to pursue acting. She abandoned her acting dreams following a failed relationship with her child’s father. Years later, she is struggling to pay for her daughter’s education. Ebony is inspiring to be an actor; she is doing well in school and with her acting. While trying to figure out how to pay her bills she receives a message saying her mother has passed away. Avila has not spoken to her mother for years because of the shame Avila felt in her life decisions. She returns to South Carolina to manage her mother’s funeral and estate matters.
When she returns home, she sees an old boyfriend. Trevor shows his kindness by helping Avila repair her mother’s house. Although she rejects his advances, she is still healing from a past relationship and trauma. Ebony is overjoyed by the love she discovers with Trevor. The town also wins her heart. Avila, however, wishes to go back to the city, leaving behind the painful memories and setbacks of her past.
This book was unlike most others I have read. The book does not have steamy love scenes. It was a romance that evolved.
This was my first book by this author, and I would not mind reading something else, but it is one of my top ten books.

This was a quick, sweet read.

Avila returns home to Charleston with her daughter after 12 years away to prepare her late mother’s house to be sold. During that time, she reconnects with her childhood friend, Terence. The two of them have unresolved feelings from the last time they saw each other. As they spend time together working on the house and Terence also gets to know Avila’s daughter, they experience a lot of back and forth to find their way forward.

The concept of this book was intriguing, and while it was an easy read, I had a hard time feeling engaged in it. I think I felt this way because it was very internally focused in the way it was told with Avila and Terence’s prospective being conveyed in their thoughts rather than in depth conversations and interactions together. This meant getting to know them each well as individuals, but I never connected to their relationship. We’re told they have a rich history together from their childhood but were never really shown much to reinforce that.

I did really enjoy Ebony’s role in the story. She and Terence’s bonding was the place I felt the most genuine connection. I think her impact on Avila’s choices and decisions also added a lot to the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC and Avon for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. The premise is great, but this went beyond slow burn to *no* burn. The characters were flat and had no chemistry, and the story moves at snail’s pace.

Preslaysa Williams’ A Wedding in the Lowcountry is a heartfelt and enchanting tale of love, family, and rediscovery set against the lush and vibrant backdrop of the Lowcountry. With beautifully developed characters and a narrative rich in emotion and cultural heritage, this novel masterfully explores themes of second chances, healing, and the bonds that tie us to our roots. A perfect read for romance fans craving warmth, charm, and a touch of Southern magic.

This was a slow burn. I loved the chemistry between Avila and Terence, but it took way too long for her to come around, and then the ending felt rushed. Still, Charleston’s charm and the theme of second chances kept me hooked, and I’m glad we got that happy ending after all!

Preslaysa Williams transports readers to the Lowcountry in her latest novel, *Wedding in the Lowcountry*, a heartfelt exploration of love, healing, and second chances. Following the success of her debut, *A Lowcountry Bride*, Williams continues to shine as a storyteller with this emotionally resonant friends-to-lovers tale.

The story follows Avila Rogers, a resilient single mother confronting her past while preparing her late mother’s house for sale in Myrtle Beach. Avila grapples with complicated emotions stemming from rejection and unresolved grief. The return of her childhood best friend, Trevor, now a local HBCU professor, adds warmth and nostalgia, as their chemistry evolves from tentative reconnection to rekindled feelings.

One of the novel’s strengths is its focus on trust and vulnerability. Avila’s reluctance to rely on others is relatable, as the central question unfolds: can she embrace love with Trevor? Both characters are well-developed, with Trevor’s patience beautifully counterbalancing Avila’s guarded nature.

The evocative Lowcountry setting enhances the narrative, making Myrtle Beach feel like a character in its own right. *Wedding in the Lowcountry* is not just a romance; it’s a story of forgiveness and the courage to confront pain while finding home in the people who hold your heart. Fans of contemporary romance will find much to adore in this uplifting novel.

In brief, Preslaysa Williams delivers an emotional triumph, making *Wedding in the Lowcountry* a must-read for those seeking a romance filled with depth and hope.

I enjoyed this book so much! The setting made me feel like I was there. The characters had me wanting to see what happened next. This book was amazing and enjoyable.

When I read the synopsis for this book it sounded interesting; however, the book was not as engaging as I hoped it would be. While I have no issues with a slow burn, which this was, I didn't care for the back and forth with Avila and how she reacted to Terrance. There were too many times where he expressed his feelings of more than friends with her and she dipped her toe over the friendship line making him think that they were going to be more, just retreat back to her shell and leave him confused as to what was going on with her. I understood that she was dealing with the pain and hurt of what happened with her father which caused her to have trust issues with putting her heart out there; however, since Terrance was her friend first I thought she would have been able to communicate with her better.

Once her daughter was introduced to him and they got along well I just knew she was going to give in to his advances but still she tried her best to keep it as just friends. Terrance was a good friend to her; however, he came off a little too strong for me as well with trying to pick up where the left off at and trying to convince her to get back into theater. I knew he meant well but he could have eased into it better. It all worked out in the end but it took forever to get to that place and then from there I felt it was rushed. I would have liked to see more of them as an official couple before we got to the wedding instead of the back and forth of her debating what she was going to do.

This was my first book by this author and I wouldn't mind reading something else but this one was an okay read for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you for a chance to review this book! I felt that this book had more potential, maybe it was meant to be a slow burn but i didn’t feel like the characters had any development until the end of the book. I’m not really a slow burn reader so maybe that’s why this book took a minute for me to get through it, but if you’re a slow burn lover, this is the book for you !

Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to review this book.
This book was a bit slow paced for me and I didn't fully connect with the characters. The potential is very high for this one. I think many readers will still really enjoy this one!

This one was just kind of meh to me. The two main characters were just too into each other at the begining of the book for me to really want to be that invested in them. I prefer a second chance romance or at least a friends to strangers to lovers where the couple takes a bit of time re-trying to get to know each other before developing feelings to feel more earned. I just didn't feel that with these two. I did like Avila's backstory though, that was the more compelling part for me.

Had great potential to be a wonderful story, but it just didn't get there for me. I couldn't root for the MCs - Availa was annoying and whiny, Terence was better but still couldn't pull it together for me. I've enjoyed her previous books and this one was a bit disappointing.

Avila and her teenage daughter, Ebony, head from NY to Charleston to deal with her mother's funeral and estate - getting her house ready for sale. While there, she runs into past friend/crush Terence and they reconnect. He's divorced, but convinced he's only loved Avila and trying to convince her they're perfect together. It gets tiresome, their back and forth and very repetitive.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I really enjoyed this book. Avila and her daughter had to go back to Charleston because of the death of her mother . She had to have the funeral and get the house ready to sell. She ran into Terrance, her best friend. They still have feelings for each other but Avila tries to ignore them. She needs to face her past and figure things out because her daughter doesn't want to go back home. Ebony really cares for Terrance and resents her mother for always running him away. Follow Avila's journey as she tries to face the past and look to the future.

Beauty for ashes is how I would describe this story. The author has used the beautiful backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina as a place of second chances for Avila should she decide to take it. With the loss of her mother and the inheritance of her childhood home Avila is left with choices that have the potential to change the lives of her and her daughter.

Throughout the book I was begging her to lean in the direction I felt was best for her. The author kept me glued to the story hoping for a satisfactory ending. I recommend this book for readers that don’t mind a slow burn that’s worth the read.

Thank you Avon books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3 ☆
I felt like this story had so much potential, but it wasn't delivered at all. Ávila was a very unlikable character to me! She was just dramatic and over-the-top for no reason. I understand she has abandonment issues, but she needed therapy. Trevor was a likable character, but I didn't like how once he saw Ávila, they picked up whatever they had years ago. I'm like at least try to get the know the older Avila since she has a daughger. The romance just wasn't romantic like I wanted. I feel like this book dragged on as well. This book just wasn't for me. I would still recommend if you want second chance romance.

•Dual POV
•Dual Timeline (Past and Present)
•Second Chance Romance
•Black Love

Thank you, Netgellay, and Harper Publishing for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.