I got very confused very early on who was who and what was going on. I felt like I was missing important information and the story moved too fast to early, that it made me not care about the people in the story.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz. This debut novel is a second-chance romance that also includes an overbearing but well-meaning mother. Charleston is one of my favorite cities (maybe because I lived there for a time) and this book transported me to the city streets with every description of a home or character. The narrator's southern accent was perfect.

4 stars!

Southern by Design tells the heartwarming story of Mack Bishop, a determined and creative woman working to establish her home design business while chasing her dream of landing a reality TV show. Set in the charming backdrop of the South, the novel explores themes of family, love, and second chances.

Mack’s journey becomes more complicated—and unexpectedly exciting—when she discovers her new neighbor is none other than her first love, Lincoln Kelly. Their shared past is marked by heartbreak, but the connection between them rekindles when Lincoln’s son and Mack’s daughter quickly bond, forming a deep friendship. As Mack and Lincoln spend more time together, old wounds begin to heal, and they uncover the truth about why their relationship ended. The influence of “southern traditions,” where families often believe that “like marries like,” had played a major role in their heartbreak.

The story also delves into the dynamics between Mack and her mother, Magnolia. Throughout her life, Magnolia has tried to dictate what she believes is best for Mack, often causing tension. However, as the story unfolds, Magnolia comes to understand that she and Mack aren’t so different after all. This realization brings a sense of closure and reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of letting go of generational expectations in order to allow personal happiness.

The novel’s focus on family relationships and the challenges of blending past and present creates a compelling and emotional narrative. Mac’s determination to follow her dreams, despite obstacles, makes her a relatable and inspiring character. Her journey demonstrates resilience and the importance of staying true to oneself while balancing the influence of family and tradition.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collind for this free audio copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Southern by Design is the debut novel by Grace Helena Walz, and I had the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio version. Narrated by Amanda Stribling, she did an excellent job—her Southern accent was spot-on and really brought the story to life. It was the perfect fit for this book!

Southern by Design is a charming second-chance romance. While it did have some slower moments, particularly in the middle, I still found it enjoyable overall.

Publication date- Feb 11 2025
#SouthernbyDesign #NetGalley

4.5 ⭐️s | What a great debut novel!! This book had so many layers and as the story progressed, the author did a fantastic job of peeling them back like an onion.

The first chapter opens with a preview of a scene the reader revisits in the last few chapters of the book. I was immediately drawn in wanting to know more about the circumstances under which this crazed woman (Magnolia Bishop Sr.) was smashing heirloom china.

From the first page, the reader is immersed in this Southern socialite world and the MC (Magnolia “Mack” Bishop Jr.) who desperately wants to escape it—along with the puppet strings of her controlling mother.

As an interior designer focusing on historical restorations, she’s focused on finding her own footing as she and her husband (the son of her mother’s longtime best friend) go through divorce proceedings. But her world comes undone when her young adult flame moves back to Charleston from New York and their worlds collide. This opens a closet full of skeletons that none of them are prepared for.

This story was so engaging, full of twists and turns. I was invested in Mack and Lincoln’s story as well as Mack and Magnolia’s. This was Southern women’s fiction at its finest.

I received an eALC of this title via NetGalley from Harper Muse. All opinions are my own.

Content considerations: pregnancy out of wedlock; secondary character in same-sex relationship; light language

Loved this book! As a Southerner myself, I see myself and EVERY woman I've ever known in the pages of this title. It was hilarious and poignant and an overall great story that made me want to redecorate something! Can't wait to see more by this author!

Southern by Design is a nice, cozy read. I found the premise of the book to be very interesting, but the book fell a bit short for me. Though the characters are likeable and there’s plenty of story, I found myself struggling to focus, especially in the middle. I would consider this an enjoyable, easy read.

This is a second chance romance with some meddling in-laws! I really loved this. I loved Mack's character. The author did a fabulous job writing her, making me root for her the whole way through. The narrator was great too. 5 stars!

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
No 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and the author for allowing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This book was so cute. I laughed, I cried. I had all the feels. It has drama, romance. All the things to keep you captivated. The narrator did a great job separating the characters so it was easy to listen to. I will definitely be recommending this book. I can’t wait to see what else the author has available.

What an enjoyable and cozy book. Chasing your dreams and even finding some new love. Lots of family secrets and surprises. Very enjoyable and great narration. I would love to listen to more by this author.

I want to give a big thank you to HarperCollins Focus, NetGalley and the author Grace Helena Walz, for allowing me to have an advance listener copy of Southern by Design - which releases on February 11, 2025.

I did not finish this book at 16% I wanted to love it because it sounded so good, but I couldn’t get into the story.

On the surface, this is basic Southern white lady fiction. On a deeper level, though, Southern by Design explores the complexities of family dynamics and how wealth, while seemingly offering freedom, can sometimes become a tool for control. It’s a beautifully layered story about breaking free, chasing dreams, and defining your life on your own terms.

When I saw that this book was being compared to "Sweet Magnolias," I knew I had to read it. Although I haven't read the books, I love the TV show. It captures that sweet, emotional essence of female friendship that really touches my heart.

While this story doesn't center on friendship, it is a charming Southern tale filled with family drama, lost love, and a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Mack, who is newly divorced, is raising her daughter as a co-parent while also trying to secure a job on a reality TV series focused on restoring old houses with her design company.

Amid this chaos, her mother decides to insert herself into the spotlight that the project is gaining. When an unexpected person moves in next door, long-hidden family secrets come to light. The narrative is both sweet and bittersweet, leaving space for hope. Not everything concludes on a happy note, but lessons are learned in wholesome ways. This was an enjoyable debut.

A promising premise in theory was watered down in its execution. This is a debut and I felt there was genuine potential.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is a newly single mother who dreams of making it on her own terms in home renovation particularly historic homes.

A video submission to a renovation show could lead to an incredible opportunity.

Mack’s in for a shock when she gets a peek 👀 at her new neighbor. The guy who walked away with her heart fifteen years prior.

Her controlling mother has been calling the shots for Mack’s entire life, so much so Mack calls her “The Dragon”. 🐉 I kept wondering will this woman ever grow a backbone?

The narration began like a caricature of a southern accent. Quickly the accent was disregarded completely 👍🏻 which was a good call.

A sizable chunk of this novel should be edited out to present a more streamlined version. Beginning with the earlier part of the dual timeline that is unnecessary and in many areas redundant. However the biggest flaw the story has is that a lack of direction. There’s a meandering quality stemming from too many threads. There are so many that they become underdeveloped, rushed, and messy as a result. And what ends up happening is there are sections that have too much tell and not enough show. For example I didn’t feel anyone fall in love. I liked the characters well enough, but I didn’t know them because the plot was zipping around so much there wasn’t time to.

Overall this was underwhelming, but had the author taken a few ideas, dug in, and developed them the book could’ve been fantastic. Trying to cram too many sub-plots into a single story doesn’t work.

If you are a fan of home renovation shows you might want to give this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the Advanced Listening Copy. These are my unbiased opinions.

The narrator was the perfect fit for this book! 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!

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop has just become a single mother due to her husband sending unsolicited "personal pictures" to another woman and it went viral. While her marriage is over and she is adjusting to being a single parent to a 7 year old girl, her professional life is booming. She is a successful designer that just landed a fellowship with the historical preservation team in Charleston. Her team has also been contacted by a tv network to submit an audition tape for her own design show! Things are looking pretty good for Mack professionally.

The biggest hurtle Mack must overcome currently is her mother, the original Magnolia Bishop. She lives for being the top of the social ladder in Charleston and has been assigned as the project lead for the first project Mack has for the historical preservation team. Can Mack handle working with her mother? To add another drama to the mix, Mack's old flame, Lincoln Kelly, has just bought the house next door to Mack. Fifteen years ago, he up and left for New York, breaking her heart. Now he is back and also a single parent to a little boy. Can they get past their hurtful past?

This book has great characters that are brought to life through the writing. It's a Southern drama mixed with an HGTV home makeover and I enjoyed the journey!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the audiobook for review. Publication date is Feb. 11, 2025.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This is a Southern Delight. Reminiscent of movies like Steel Magnolias and Sweet Home Alabama with a dash of HGTV. The narrator reminds me of Reese Witherspoon and is a joy to listen to. Listening to this book I feel like I have walked into the South. The author does an amazing job of creating characters and environments with words. She makes you feel like you are there. While there is technically a romance included, the story is so much more than that. It is really a story about family dynamics and relationships. How our families are generally trying to do what is best for us from their own perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4⭐️
.5🌶

This was a cute second chance romance! The pacing felt slow at times, but the twist and emotional payoff at the end were wonderful! This book follows Mac, our leading lady, as she navigates through life as a newly single mom who is trying to stand on her own 2 feet and continue making her business a success. While dealing with a helicopter mom and a less than amicable soon to be ex-husband, Mac gets the opportunity of a lifetime to audition for her own tv show featuring homes she designs. Sounds like a lot, right? Then, out of nowhere, her summer love from college moves in NEXT DOOR?! The man who left to chase his dreams in NYC is back in Charleston, and it turns out the spark didn't die out between Mac and Lincoln even after all of these years. This is a sweet second chance romance that left Me with a smile on my face.

Publication Date: February 11th, 2025

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is set near Charleston and follows two storylines—one from Mack’s college years and the other in the present day.

I listened to the audiobook, and it truly brought the story to life, almost like watching a reality TV show with a Southern charm.

It reminds me of Sweet Magnolias in some ways, though it stands out with its unique twists. There’s drama, a mother on a journey to rediscover herself, and a single mom raising her daughter.

The story offers so much more, including themes of personal growth and learning how to navigate life’s challenges. And I enjoyed most of the characters

you just have to read it when it comes out in February

Thank You Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus and Harper Muse
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.