Southern by Design written by Grace Helena Walz and narrated by Amanda Stribling was a cute listen.

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop is a designer and a single mom (thanks to a cheating husband). Mack is trying to find her footing as a project lead, and when a television show is looking for local designers for a home renovation show, Mack jumps at the opportunity. As Mack begins making her dreams a reality, trouble, in the form of a previous love, moves in RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

in this sweet story, Mack is finding her way in both her professional and romantic life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the advance listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the accents through out the narration, however I felt like some of the accents blended too much with the others. at times it was hard to know who was speaking and I had to use context clues to try and figure it out. Overall I think it was a okay book, I'd probably recomend it but I wouldn't rave about it.

Part home makeover/design show, part southern family drama. If you’re a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, you will love this one!

Southern By Design was a fun read with some of my favorite things: HGTV style home design/remodeling, the Carolinas, and all the family and romance drama. It gave me a vibe of Gilmore Girls with the mother/daughter relationship similar to Lorelei and Emily but with a twist. I enjoy the storyline and the narrator did a great job with the voices of the characters. I also loved the way the story went back and forth in time to give depth to the romance and the family drama.

I received a complimentary audiobook copy from HarperCollins Focus and Net Galley - thank you! all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Southern by Design is a perfect combination of southern charm, HGTV vibes and southern family drama. I loved the dual time line, leading the reader through the past to confront the present. The southern lifestyle is so brilliantly portrayed and oozes throughout the book. There were twists and turns as well, and some very heartwarming moments. This is a great read for those who enjoy tv that features housing renovations and such! It's got a little bit of everything, making it hard to classify it in any one drama. It has romance, it has drama, it has suspense and touches of mystery!
I highly recommend Southern by Design for the general adult section of the library, as well as romance or Rom-com. It doesn't have as much comedy as the traditional rom-com, but enough to satisfy those of love the genre!

The narration was wonderful and I will definitely look forward to more from Grace Walz and the narrator Amanda Stribling. Stribling does an amazing job with the southern charm!

This was a very cute book. The end was a little surprising but in the most enjoyable way. I liked Mack but i didn’t like how much she would placate her mom. That was very irritating but by the end mom redeemed herself. I was in love with her partner at the design company. He was a best friend she needed.

What a fantastic debut novel. The writing was deep and drew me in. There were times I adored this story and others when I thought you have got to be kidding me, ahhhhh. It's about family, love and second chances. Mothers and daughters. So complicated even when the love is bone deep or maybe because of it. The author created characters that brought out a lot of emotions for me all along the way. Magnolia has an iron fisted grip on Mack's life and has done and will do anything to keep that control. Manipulation is her go to and the levels of deception are stunning. And yet, she is the only family so Mack has so she sucks it up again and again. Mack is trying to live her life and recover from her divorce from a marriage she felt forced into when she reconnects with her first love. Can she get her second chance? A wonderful story and writing that had me hoping for all the best for Mack and her child.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse and Grace Helena Walz for an audio ARC of this novel. Mack Bishop is the typical southern belle who always follows the rules of Charleston society. Having a cheating husband was definitely not part of her plan. Now she is the single mother of a little girl, her mother is getting more controlling by the day and still refuses to reveal the identity of Mack’s father. Mack is an interior designer and is in the running for a home renovation TV show. This is well written with engaging characters and more twists and turns than I expected. The narrator has the perfect southern voice which really adds to the story. The narration flows smoothly, it is easy to distinguish the different characters and it is well paced. This is the debut book for the author and she has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of the south. The cover is absolutely beautiful. Fans of Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Victoria Benton Frank will enjoy this book.

I had a lukewarm reaction to this book. Perhaps because the narrator of the audiobook did not enunciate clearly and I had to be patient to finally get all the character’s names and details clear in my mind. She pronounced Fitz as « its » and often left off either first or last consonants. This « swallowing of consonants » continued to bother me right up until the end, although I did get used to her Southern accent.

The story itself was mildly interesting but I couldn’t really identify with the main character - a wealthy Southern belle who was trying to succeed in the house renovation business. Her overbearing mother needed a good telling off, her ex-husband was a typical twit and her « handsome neighbour next door » was right out of a romance novel. The novel was lightweight entertainment and I’m sure many people would enjoy the story. I just wasn’t one of them. Sorry!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio arc to review. The auido narration was great! I enjoyed this contemporary novel. It was a little bit family drama and secrets, a little bit romance, and a little bit behind-the-scenes of a home renovation and design business that gets selected to do a TV show. The main character, Mack, is juggling single motherhood after her divorce. Her marriage, built on a foundation of what was expected and proper in her social circles, imploded after her husband's cheating goes viral. Her mother is much too much in so many ways - controlling, a little conniving, and snooty - and definitely up in her grown daughter's business. Her ex is often an unreliable co-parent. Her best friend and co-worker is solid but also dealing with his own issues. And a blast from the past shows up. It's all a great recipe for a fun book. The dual timeline flashes back to Mack's college days and shows us the present-day chaos as well. I loved Fitz, the best friend - everyone needs a friend like him. As intended, I got very exasperated with her mother, Magnolia. The unfolding of the various family secrets kept me listening to find out what would come to light next. I thought the pacing was great. It was light but not fluffy or syrupy - just what I was in the mood for.

I would compare this to Mary Kay Andrews older novels, and I mean this as a compliment. I enjoyed the southern hospitality angle and was very happy with the way the plot wrapped up.

Southern By Design - Book Review
Grace Helena Walz - Author

What can I say about this book besides FANTASTIC. Mack, also Magnolia Bishop is such a relatable character. Her spunky attitude and never give up style keeps you cheering for her with each turning page. The quiet southern town is the perfect backdrop for this book. Who wouldn’t love to renovate a home and have it as the Pilot for a television show! Everything is perfect until the original Magnolia Bishop enters the scene as well as a pesky ex. I loved watching Mack navigate the family dynamics in this cute southern romance. I look forward to other books by Grace Helena Walz.
Grace Helena Walz has truly captured the essence of Southern charm and resilience through her vivid storytelling and well-developed characters. The plot twists and turns keep readers on the edge of their seats, while the romantic undertones provide a heartwarming balance. The dynamics between Mack and the original Magnolia Bishop are intriguing and add depth to the narrative. The element of home renovation as a pilot for a television show adds a unique and refreshing twist to the storyline. Walz’s writing style is engaging, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the world she has created. Overall, Southern By Design is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a dash of southern flair.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job! The story caught my attention from the beginning and was a fun read. I loved the dynamics between the characters. Highly recommend this one!

A delightful southern fiction that made for an easy read. I really did enjoy this book, I just wish it hadn't ended so quickly.
Magnolia (Mack) is starting over after her husband shared some umm, well, indiscrete photos of himself. She is finally divorcing him and focusing on her company and her daughter. She is hopefully that a prestigious award in the Charleston historical design world, all while trying to wrestle her life away from her mother. A mother that has controlled every aspect of Mack's life.
Even though Mack is well past the age of where most books are labeled a "coming of age" book, this one reminded me on that type of book. Mack is learning things about herself and her mother that will shape the rest of her life. That is why I liked this book. It was just an honest view of a woman trying to find her way in a life that isn't always pretty. Oh and it is set in two of my favorite cities in SC, Charleston and Beaufort.
If you like southern fiction or just enjoy an uplifting story, this will fit the bill. You just need to grab a glass of sweet tea and pull up a chair on the front porch.

This was about Southern Women and their lives. They were reconstructing homes in Charleston. In the process the lives of a mother and daughter were also, reconstructed. The characters were presented with Southern charm and conviction.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Southern by Design is the debut by Grace Helena Walz set in Charleston and follows a mother and daughter through a dual timeline narration.
Mack (Magnolia jr) is struggling to keep her footing after separating from her husband after he sent photos of his you-know-what to a woman in their community. Her mother, Magnolia Sr., is a thorn in her side - controlling, overbearing, and unsupportive. When Macks shot at the Historic Preservation Design Fellowship is pulled out from under her feet, Magnolia jumps at the chance to have her daughter back under her thumb working for her.
When Macks one-that-got-away, moves in next door to her it throws her into a spin- he was the summer romance she's never forgotten who left to follow his own dreams fifteen years earlier and whom left her heartbroken - and now he's back and moved in right next door!
This was a fun read perfect for spring and summer. Although the dual timeline did get a little repetitive, I enjoyed the characters and storyline enough to push that aside.

This had the potential to be an amazing book but it fell a little short for me.

I liked Magnolia "Mack" Bishop's character but I didn't love her. The dynamic with her mom and ex husband was a bit much for me. I don't think the scene with Randy forgetting their daughter were really necessary. It could have simply been one or two sentence about having to take her to work with her again or needing Lincoln to have her over.

I did like the relationship between Lincoln and Mack. This was probably my favorite part of the story.

I am sure Southern by Design will be a 5 star read for so many. It just wasn't for me.

Amanda Stribling did an amazing job with the narration. I really liked her voice for Mack.

When I started Southern by Design, I expected it to be like The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews. It was a little of the same feeling with the design and TV show angle, but so much more. Grace Helena Walz delves into the complicated relationships between Mags and her family, which is at the forefront of the story. This is a wonderful blend of complex family dynamics, a little love story, a little mystery, and a whole lot of feels. Southern by Design is a new favorite.

3.5 rounded up, this was a really fun debut. The Sweet Magnolias comparison is dead on, that's just what I got from this, Maddie's character in particular. It makes it read so cozy despite the drama and family tensions. Maybe because it's predictable, it was a comfort to read rather than boring. And I think many women, especially Southerners, are going to see themselves in the Mack vs her mother dynamic. Very Lorelai and Emily, for Gilmore Girls fans out there.

The narrator for the audio was perfect, absolutely nailed the southern accent.

I received a review copy of Grace Helena Walz's debut novel, "Southern by Design," and my opinions are entirely my own. The characters are well-developed, showcasing complex family dynamics and emotional themes like manipulation and personal independence. The narration did a great job of giving life to the characters. While there are romantic threads, the focus really lies on family relationships, which resonated with me personally. The narrative draws you in right from the start with a compelling opening that hints at chaos involving the main character’s mother. Magnolia “Mack” Bishop Jr. struggles to break free from her controlling mother while navigating her own messy life, especially after a past love re-enters the picture. Overall, this engaging Southern women’s fiction is packed with twists, and I found myself really connected to both Mack and the family saga surrounding her.