HGTV addicts and romance readers will enjoy following this historical renovation project and personal discovery journey set in Charleston. Complete with unforeseen complications in every story line, this was hopeful, funny, and truly Southern.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (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.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the advanced audio of SOUTHERN BY DESIGN by Grace Helena Walz. I enjoyed this dual-timeline novel that focused on a mother-daughter relationship as well as the relationship between two exes and their child. I liked the relationship between the mother and daughter, although I found it to be predictable. I think the relationship between the exes was too stereotypical. I generally like dual timeline novels but found this one (though it may have been me) a bit confusing. Overall, I liked the book.

Absolute southern delight!

This was a fun little listen and I totally felt the southern vibes while reading/listening.

3.5 stars. This one had lots of potential, but Walz didn't capitalize on some potential plot points or character arcs like she could have.

What I enjoyed:
* Who doesn't love a Charleston setting
* lots of small town dynamics
* second chance romance
* backdrop of a home improvement show

What I didn't love:
* the lack of depth to highly charged, emotionally wrought relationships - everything just worked out too easily for the amount of baggage present
* two dimensional characters that did not really grow or change much throughout the book.

I didn't hate this book, but I do think there are better books out there that can scratch the same itch.

Cute story, great accent.
The story is good and entertaining. But at the same like it feels kind of long and it's quite predictable

I love a good Southern-set book, and Southern By Design did not disappoint! Set in Charleston—one of my favorite cities—it had everything I adore about Southern fiction: charm, humor, and heart. The second-chance romance between Mack and Lincoln was sweet and satisfying, with just the right mix of tension and warmth. Grace Helena Walz captured the essence of the South so well, giving me the same feel-good vibes as Dorothea Benton Frank and Mary Kay Andrews. If you love a cozy, funny, and heartfelt Southern story, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColins Focus for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this great audiobook.

this audiobook was pretty good. It was okay, it was decent but felt like it had dragged on a bit at points. Overall the story was good, and the themes were good. The pacing was a little slow and it kept me entertained other than that!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Just coming here to write my review, and I see that this is a DEBUT NOVEL for this author! Color me impressed!!

Mack (Magnolia Bishop,Jr) is a historical home renovator extraordinaire!! Based in Charleston, SC, she’s also a southern Belle with lots of spunk and flair! Her soon to be ex-husband worked beside her, but after a huge foul up on his part, she’s shooing him out of the picture, and her life! However, she’ll still need to see him because of their 7 year old daughter….

Magnolia Sr, is her Mom. And what a piece of work she is! Set in her ways…. Always right, even when she’s wrong. And always giving her thoughts and opinions….

And, she wants nothing more than to get her daughter, and ex son-in-law law back together again!! 😮😮

On top of all else, the house next door is sold, and who moves in? No one other than the one who got away…all those years ago!

This one kept me on my toes, smiling and then sad... Happy and then mad…

Wanting so much to hate her Mom, and then melting down towards the end when you realize what actually happened…. And why…

Beautifully written with nice character development, making you feel like a part of the fabric of the story! Looking forward to what lies ahead for this new author!

#SouthernByDesign by #GraceHelenaWalz and narrated beautifully by #AmandaStribling.

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperMuse and #HarperCollinsFocua for an ARC of the audiobook. This is due to be released tomorrow, February 11, 2025!
So, look 👀 for it then!

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Thanks to Harper Muse for this ARC and ALC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First of all, the cover is stunning! The description is correct--this is the best cross between Sweet Magnolias (Netflix show) and Fixer Upper (HGTV show)! Charleston is my favorite city, so I loved the setting. As a southerner myself, I appreciated the Southern culture representation. The southern accent of the narrator was perfect. I was happy to see my favorite restaurant, Fleet Landing, mentioned!

It was wild to see the main character having the same name as her mother, Magnolia. Senior Magnolia was seen as your typical southern insufferable mother for most of the book. I keep thinking in my head, "She is the worstttt (in Jean Ralphio voice)".

This book alternated between present day and 15 years ago. We get to see second chance romance of a lost love.

The ending had me sobbing! This was a wonderful book.

I will post a review to my bookstagram account, @toomanyfivestarreads, around publication date.

This was a solid debut about a Southern mother-daughter pair, their contentious relationship plus a second chance romance. Told with flashbacks to the past, we get to see Mack's first love, Lincoln and how they lost out the first time around but get reunited again in the present when Lincoln buys the house next to Mack. With strong HGTV crossed with The notebook vibes and an Emily Gilmore esque mother, this book had plenty of drama plus a mystery involving the identity of Mack's birth father. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Kristy Woodson Harvey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

Thank you for the advanced audiobook.

Can’t believe this is a debut novel. The. Characters were relatable m, fun and witty. I’ve never listened to a book. Narrated by Amanda Stribling. I enjoy the book however, the voice of the narrator wasn’t so pleasant.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to give this audiobook an advance listen. I really loved the narration and personality of each character. The plot wasn’t as dramatic as I was hoping for but it was still enjoyable.

I didn’t know Southern Fiction was a thing until recently but I feel like this is the perfect example of what’s so good about it (says the Canadian who is clueless about all things Southern.) Maybe it was the subtle Southern twang Amanda Stribling brought to her narration (I listened to the audio book) that added to the charm. In any case, both words and performance drew me in and kept me riveted.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is an intriguing character. Spunky and tenacious in some ways and infuriatingly submissive to her mama in other ways. Are all Southern Mamas like Magnolia Sr.? I shudder to thinks so! I spent a large part of the read fuming over that woman! Gah! I so wanted Mack to grow a backbone and stand up to her mother once and for all. I wanted a colossal ‘take that!’ moment and instead, Walz humbled me with the surprising twist towards the end. Sigh. My righteous indignation bubble was burst…but only somewhat. I’m still angsting over lots and lots of Magnolia Sr. moments because, no matter what happened in her past, she still made choices that, well…you need to read the book and angst right along with me!

There’s a rocky second chance romance that plays out in two timelines which was really interesting. We get to see the summer romance of fifteen years ago unfolding oh so sweetly until the train wreck happens all while watching Mack and Lincoln warily reconnecting as single parents in present day. I really enjoyed their journey to reconciliation, angst and all!

Loved the interior design/house flipping backdrop to the story — and the clever title that fits it to perfection. If you are an HGTV fan, this is definitely the book for you. Great details on design and historical restoration and the thrill of reality TV as well.

My thanks to Harper Muse Audibooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

I was so excited when Grace reached out and asked me to read her debut novel, Southern By Design! Fixer Upper and Sweet Magnolias vibes are right up my alley so this was a no brainer for me! Mack is a single mother after her husband sent an unsolicited picture to another woman. Mack also battles her mom, Magnolia, who tries to control Mack’s life by giving her opportunities but with strings attached. An opportunity comes along for a tv show that Mack jumps at and tries to hide form her mom so she doesn’t force her way on the show as well. As she is adjusting to this working relationship with her mom and the tv opportunity, her new neighbor moves in and it happens to be her high school boyfriend who left her for New York City. Their children become best friends and they end up spending so much time together that old feelings start to resurface. Will Mack finally get the love that she wants and the career?

Loveddd this one and it should be a must read for this summer. Perfect summer vibes in Charleston mixed with Fixer Upper and home renovations. It reminds me of Kristy Woodson Harvey books and I love her😍 I am now big Grace Helena Walz fan and look forward to whatever she writes next. Thank you @gracehelenabooks for this advanced copy! Southern By Design is out tomorrow, February 11!

The audiobook was excellent as well and I loved the narrator.

This book was good, but it could have been great. The chapters set in the past try to push what should have been a solid Lit Fic over into the Romance genre where it did not want to be. This is clearly a story about Mack and her mother Magnolia, not a story about Mack and the one that got away. If the past timeline chapters had told the story of Magnolia's past romance, it could have taken this from a book that was mediocre to one that was incredible. As a romance, it was an average 3 star read. As a story about 3 generations of southern women, it should have been a 5 star read. I'm falling in the middle and giving it a 4 here, but it's getting a 3.5 on most of my rating apps.

Mack is a young woman who is becoming a divorcee and a single mother while trying to save her Design business and win the Historic Preservation Design Fellowship. She had hoped winning would be a huge boost for her business. Her affluent Mother then comes in and tells her of a job she heard about and she wants to help with it. It seems the only thing her mom knows how to do is be a socialite that constantly criticizes her daughters choice in both business and her personal life. However she is keeping a secret. I felt bad that Mack has had to deal with a parent like that her whole life and was happy to see that is not how she treated her young daughter. A great heartfelt southern book that will make you smile and root for the underdog.

I was approved for the advanced reader copies of both the e-book and the audiobook(the narrator was great) of Southern by Design. I always love this because I can listen as much as I can and read the book at bedtime.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arcs.

What a fabulous debut! ALL the stars for this one - the setting, the characters, the dynamic…I loved it ALL!

If you enjoy home improvement reality shows that target restoring historic southern homes, this book may appeal to you. It's similar to Homewreckers, by Mary Kay Andrews, but without MK's humor.

There is the traditional southern family drama with a wealthy mother trying to control her daughter's life and make sure she marries into a prestigious family. When that marriage goes South, she is surprised that an old college summer fling conveniently moves in next door. There is not a whole lot of action but there is a conflict at the end that adds a bit of intrigue.

Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz is a heartwarming and charming debut that effortlessly blends Southern charm with personal growth, second chances, and a dash of romance. The story follows Magnolia "Mack" Bishop, a woman navigating the messy aftermath of her husband's betrayal and the pressures of single motherhood, all while trying to carve out her own identity in the competitive world of historic preservation design in Charleston.

Mack’s journey is a blend of ambition, humor, and personal resilience, especially when she’s forced to work under the thumb of her overbearing mother. As she strives to prove herself professionally, Mack also grapples with a past romance when Lincoln Kelly, the man she once loved and lost, unexpectedly moves back into town. Their reconnection is both frustrating and magnetic, adding a delightful layer of emotional depth to the story.

The book beautifully captures the tension between family expectations and personal aspirations, all set against the backdrop of a rich Southern community. Walz’s writing is full of humor, heart, and relatable characters, making this a perfect read for fans of Sweet Magnolias and Fixer Upper. The themes of love, forgiveness, and finding your true calling will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to rebuild their life or chase their dreams on their own terms. A delightful debut that’s as refreshing as a sweet tea on a hot Southern day.