Oh this book was just charming!!! It was such an adorable book. I can not wait to recommend this to book club! I absolutely loed the characters and the sweet story. Wonderful writing.

Souther by Design was a great book that had everything that I look for in a book: great story, great characters, and even a great cover!

Magnolia (Mack) Bishop, still reeling over the loss of a impressive design fellowship in her Charleston home town, is offered the chance of a lifetime. Exquisite Interiors, the most popular reality home design show, wants her to audition for their show. Her restoration work for the Carolina Historic Society on the Daniel House will be featured. To succeed, Mack has to rely on her trusted assistant Maya, her college friend and confidant Fitz and her many loyal workman from the city. There are problems. Her untrustworthy, soon to be ex-husband Grady must do his share of child care for their seven year daughter. Her mother, the original Magnolia, must be prevented from interfering with Mack’s work. This will not be easy. And then there’s a complication. The handsome man who just moved in next door is…the man who broke her heart when he chose a photography residency over her.

All of this fills Southern by Design to the brimming. There is heartbreak, romance, anger and a delightful look at the backstage world of creating a reality home show. I’m hoping that Holy City Flip becomes a series! I want to see more of these characters who I would recognize if I saw them walking down the street. If you like Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Kay Andrews or Patti Callahan Henry, you will love Grace Helena Walz and Southern By Design! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollinsFocus and Grace Helena Walz.

This book was so much drama and I was here for it! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! This book was based in my hometown, Charleston SC. I was born and raised here in Charleston and I am still here. It was so neat to read about the college I went to and the others I am very familiar with, the restaurants, the cities near by. The book itself was brilliant and kept me interested from start to finish. The home restoration & HGTV vibe was so fun to read about! I feel like it tied into the story well. The drama was raw and messy but the story drove home that beauty comes from ashes.

Southern by Design is a delightful and charming book written by an exciting new voice in Southern Women’s Fiction.

Mack Bishop has spent much of her life under her mother’s domineering and critical thumb, including marrying the son of her mother’s best friend much to the delight of both families. The one place where Mack feels confident is in her design business where she restores the old, grand homes of Charleston and gives them new life. She loses out on a coveted fellowship but gets another chance to showcase her talents when her mother presents her with an opportunity to restore a hidden gem from the Historical Commission that needs a lot of love to bring it back to glory. Mack’s assistant also encourages her to apply to host a reality show on home design and this new project will give them the content she and her design firm can use to apply.

Mack’s marriage is in its final stages, as the boy chosen for her by her mother has become a man increasingly difficult to live and work with. In a surprise twist, the boy she had fallen in love with during college comes back to town and buys the house next door. A single dad, his son becomes best friends with Mack’s daughter, forcing them together in ways that let them get to know one another all over again. In the end, we learn why Mack’s mother is the way she is, and it leads to a new understanding for Mack and a better relationship with her mother going forward.

This book had it all for me—home renovation and design, second chance at love with the one that got away, a complicated mother issue that gets resolved in the end, and a happy ending for a woman who has grown in her independence. Charleston plays a starring role in the book, and there is a host of secondary characters that provide layers of color and depth. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a sweet story! It did take a bit to get into the meat of the story at least for me personally, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to recommend this one to friends! The southern setting was absolutely charming, and I adored the storyline, the characters, everything about this was so well done!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Absolutely adored every second of this book! Adding Grace as a must read author and can’t wait to see what she writes next!

I loved books about second chance love stories. I always rooted for them get together at the end. The author made a great idea incorporating fashbacks of Mack and Lincolon background. She gave her readers better understanding of the characters. I also am so delighted because my big fan of HGTV, and I savor beautiful scenes of historic downtown Charleston. I recieved a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It was wonderful to discover this debut novel -- here's hoping there are many more to come! It all takes place in scenic Charleston, in the world of interior design and historic preservation, where "Mack" Bishop is striving to prove herself as a designer of note by preserving an older home. Things don't go as planned, and she has to start over again, beholden to her imperious mother and then to a long lost boyfriend. Lots of romance, humor, and happenings here which will definitely keep you turning the pages. I look forward to recommending this title, especially to readers who enjoy books by Mary Kay Andrews, Elin Hilderbrand, Kristan Higgans, and Susan Mallery.

A great story about protagonist, Magnolia “Mack” Bishop, fighting for success in the middle of a divorce; struggling for a relationship with her mother who believes she rules all; finding true love; and finding her biological father in order to heal and thrive in her life’s journey.

The engrossing story is told in flashbacks to fifteen years before, and present time. The cast of characters is unique; especially Fritz, Mack’s best friend; Lincoln, Mack’s beau; and the team of experts Mack works with restoring an old historic home. The Charleston setting is wonderful. If you enjoy home remodeling and renovation TV shows, you should enjoy this story.

Southern by Design is a heartwarming read. Keep a tissue handy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is an absolutely stunning debut. Mack is dealing with divorce, a second chance romance and her overbearing dragon of a mother. I loved all the lough out loud moments that this book had. I was not prepared at all for the twists this story had. I highly recommend this one! Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. I loved it. What a great new voice in women’s fiction. The characters, the setting, even the main character’s career choice went to making this book of second chances at love a warm and appealing story. I can’t wait to read what Grace Helena Walz comes up with next.

Southern by Design is the perfect I need to get lost in a story kind of book. Southern lit is my absolute favorite and Grace Helena Walz does not disappoint. It’s the perfect mix of southern trauma, southern mama and love in two of South Carolina’s most beautiful cities. The way that this written both in the present and the past is beautifully done. Magnolia, her mother Magnolia and the whole cast of characters are people you want to hang out with and get to know. As Magnolia the daughter navigates her way through her new future the past comes to visit. She has to figure out if the past has any place in her life now. This a must read, cannot put down book. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. These are my own opinions..

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2024/11/14/book-review-southern-by-design-by-grace-helena-walz/

Southern by Design was a good southern story. Mack is getting settled after a separation. She is continuing her home renovation business, attempting to land a home renovation show that will document their work! Throughout all this she faces a meddlesome mother who strives to control all aspects of Mack’s life. A recognizable face from her past pops up next door, and we see the sparks begging to rekindle. In between learning to stand up for herself and dig into her past, Mack finds out more than she expected. The conclusion of this book gives us answers to everything we needed, and leaves Mack secure in her place.

This book was delightful!

The book follows Mack, a true southern belle who grew up being the perfect daughter for her Mama. Where did it leave her? With a cheating husband whom her mother still desperately wants her to reconcile with, a career that can't escape her mother's control and searching for the identity of her father whom her mother will not reveal.

But she has had it! Now she has the opportunity to make something of her career on her own and a college fling (or more?) returns to the picture.

You will spend the entirety of the story rooting for Mack, grieving with her and falling for her witty daughter.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley!

I enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. I love the characters and how they interact with each other. I also like the mother-daughter relationship and how it is resolved. I also liked learning about historic preservation and house renovations. I highly recommend this book to those who like a good love story but don't want it to be too sweet and sappy.

This book pulled me out of a reading slump. I love all things house renovation and this book had that. Plus it had characters I liked and characters that made me roll my eyes.

This book was easy to read. I liked the main character, Mack, and her friend Fitz. They had good chemistry and I liked how it came to life in the pages of the story. Magnolia was frustrating but that's good because she was supposed to be. I love it when an author can write characters you love and dislike in the same book. It shows their ability as a writer.

I've never been to Charleston and really want to go. I felt like I was there in this story though and it increased my interest in going. I could feel the heat and humidity and could easily imagine myself there.

I liked the way the story was told in a present and past format. It added to the story and I felt like I got to know the characters better that way.

This is a book I would definitely recommend and an author I would love to read more of. This book was a quick, easy and entertaining read. One for the keeper shelf!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

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 debut novel is a captivating exploration of the life of a Southern belle in the picturesque towns of Charleston and Beaufort, South Carolina. The protagonist, Mack, navigates significant life changes while delving into the complexities of her relationship with her mother and her romantic entanglements. The author’s vivid characterization and humorous dialogue create an engaging narrative. The setting is meticulously described, capturing the essence of the era’s fashion and social dynamics. Ultimately, this novel presents a compelling family drama intertwined with romantic elements.

This was the cutest book! I really enjoyed watching Magnolia come into her own, both in business and in her love life. This was like a tried and true Dorothea Benton Frank book, and I can't recommend more highly! It just zipped right along and I really enjoyed reading it

The daughter of a domineering, forceful, society mother finally has her chance to come out from under the thumb that pressures her into place. Mack loves her mother but bristles under her constant criticism and push to conform to the rules of the upper crust society of Beaufort and Charleston. Magnolia can be unfeeling and driven to control twenty-eight year old Mack.
The story relates the deep struggles between daughter and mother with all the mistakes and outcomes, delving into the impact of upper crust demands.
It is a great book to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The debut novel "Southern By Design" by Grace Helena Walz is a dual timeline novel. Set in wonderful Charleston, SC, Walz is accurate in her descriptions. It showcases the dysfunctional relationship between the main character Mack (Mercedes) and her mother Mercedes. Also, another plot line is love lost and, hopefully, regained. Will Mack finally discover what makes her mom who she is? And, will this knowledge mend their relationship? Although a secular book, Walz keeps the novel clean and real to life.

Releases Feb 11th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Look at how pretty the cover is!! This is what drew me in!

I loved every second I've spent with this book - such a cute story! Mack is a great character. Her mom is a whole another story - quite difficult!

Thank you Netgalley!

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!

This is a new author for me and I truly enjoyed this book. Money can be an evil, as we see in some of these scenarios. There are so many feels in this book and some surprises. I don’t always like when books jump from one time frame to another, but it was necessary and well done to give us the complete picture and story. I wouldn’t be mad if there is a sequel with these wonderful characters so I can continue to see how their lives continue on. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

All you have to tell me is “This book is set in Charleston” and I will read it. “Southern by Design”. Had not only Charleston, but also a design show (think HGTV) AND the boy that got away…mix some southern family drama in the mix and you have a great read.

“Southern by Design” is great romance to be able to escape to the world! I do want more of stories with Mack!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an ARC. #SouthernbyDesign #NetGalley #Charleston

This book gave me Mary Kay Andrews vibes in the best way possible! If southern chick lit is your thing then you will LOVE this book!!

For fans of southern fiction there is so much to love about this debut novel!

Strong Women. Lost Love. Deception. Designing Woman. Cheating Husband. Overbearing Mother. Obedient Daughter. Gay Best Friend. Designing TV.

Set in Charleston with expected and unexpected twists, great characters and clever dialogue, Walz keeps your interest. This is a fun, cozy, romantic tribute to friendship and strong Southern Women.

Thank you to Grace Helena Walz for an enjoyable kickoff to a new year of reading. I cannot wait to read more from you!

Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary eBook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Grace Helena Walz dazzles with her captivating debut, SOUTHERN BY DESIGN, set in the stunning historic Charleston, South Carolina, where family secrets are unraveled and familial bonds are tested.

“A delightful Southern gem! Full of heart, soul, secrets, humor, and Southern charm. A captivating, impressive debut for fans of Dorothea Benton Frank and Kristy Woodson Harvey.”

We follow a woman who is courageously pursuing her dreams, striving to build a life free from her mother's control and ex-husband while on a quest to find her biological father. As she navigates a new TV design remodel show, a business, and single motherhood, she also grapples with the aftermath of past love and the possibility of a second chance at romance that was once stolen from her years ago.

About...

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop owns Bishop Builds, and they have lost their Charleston fellowship. On top of that, her husband, Grady Edgar Suffolk, III, sent an unsolicited personal photo to a woman that has caused an embarrassing stir in Charleston.

After kicking her unfaithful husband out of her life, Mack is entangled in a web of complex relationships. Her mother, an influential and controlling figure, is best friends with her ex's mother. This intricate network of connections, coupled with past betrayals, adds a layer of tension and drama to the story.

She dreads going to her mom for help with a new historical project, the prestigious Daniel House. At least she has her seven-year-old smart daughter, Hallie, who speaks her mind. She has impeccable taste and is the highlight of her life.

Mack's mother, the original Magnolia Bishop of Beaufort, SC, of privilege, has strings attached to any project. She is all about social status and loves to control Mack's life. Mack does not need someone to micromanage her team. Her mom sits on the Carolina Historical Society Board, and half of her friends are tied up in the Charleston Historic Preservation Board. So there you go.

Mack has never given up trying to find her biological dad, but her mom always brushes her off.

She and her team, Fitz, her right-hand man (love him), an old college friend, and her staff are invited to do a TV series to cover the renovation. This opportunity could be a game-changer for her business, but she must keep this a secret from her mom as long as possible, adding another layer of complexity to her already complicated life.

Amidst the excitement of the new show, Mack finds herself navigating the complexities of being a single mom, dealing with Grady's lack of involvement, and getting distracted by the new neighbor next door.

This new neighbor is Lincoln, her past love who moved to NYC for a photography career, and his young son, now her daughter's best friend. Their unexpected reunion adds a new layer of past feelings and spice to Mack's life.

Mack's life is far from ordinary between her controlling mom, the challenges of renovating a historical home, the TV show, her ex, trying to find her father, and the rekindling of past feelings.

However, when a tragedy strikes, the mystery of the past will resurface, not just for Mack but also for her mom, potentially altering their lives. This unforeseen twist will test their relationships and force them to confront their past, leading to a dramatic and emotional climax.

My thoughts...

Oh, how I loved this book! From the stunning front cover to the allure of the historic Charleson, from design, a home reno TV show- Holy City Flip, heartbreak, new beginnings, Southern sass, family secrets of the past, self-discovery, a new romance, and second chances—SOUTHERN BY DESIGN has it all!

Grace deftly explores the familial ties that bind us — and those that have the power to break us. Walz is a significant new voice in Southern fiction and the real deal, folks.

When the past and present converge, it is explosive, heartbreaking, and compelling. Grace pulls the reader into the hearts and souls of her characters with ample emotions, secrets, privileges (haves and have not), and consequences—showcasing the lengths they go to protect their families and friends.

I loved the mystery, the family secrets, the design elements, the show, the humor, the well-developed characters, and all the things we love about women's Southern fiction. It is an impressive debut, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!

This is a beautiful story for Valentine's and Mother's Day and an ideal choice for book clubs.

Interview...

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A, where we go behind the book's scenes and the author—and Southern storyteller. (pub day, Feb 11)

Audiobook...

I had the honor of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook performed by the talented Amanda Stribling, enhancing the story with her Southern accent and charm. The characters come alive, keeping you glued to your AirPods while engaging and entertaining you with humor, adventure, family drama, mystery, and romance.

Recs...

SOUTHERN BY DESIGN is for fans of Dorothea Benton Frank, Victoria Benton Frank, Anne Rivers Siddons, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Karen White, and Wendy's Wax's Ten Beach Road series (all favorites).

Thanks to Harper Muse and HarperCollins Focus for an ALC and ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Feb 11, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Featured Feb Author QA
Feb Newsletter
Feb 2025 Must-Read Books

On a personal note: With a commercial design & architectural background, and later with website hotel and resort clients in Charleston for many years, I loved traveling there monthly to visit and spending time in this beautiful historical city. From the events, the history, the restaurants, food, shops, people, the atmosphere, charm, and architecture—it is one of my top Southern cities!

Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz is a captivating second-chance romance set in the balmy South, filled with long-held secrets that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Just like sipping on a refreshing glass of sweet tea on a scorching summer day, this novel offers vibrant dialogue, vivid characters that practically leap off the page, and a charming Charleston backdrop that will sweep you off your feet. I found myself completely engrossed in the story, unable to tear myself away from its pages.

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, @toomanyfivestarreads, around publication date.

Have you read a book where you connected with the characters? Was it a debut? Southern by Design is the debut novel of Grace Helena Walz.

"Mack Bishop is newly separated after her husband sent pictures of himself to someone in her friend group. (yes - those pics) Mack's design firm is in line for a prestigious Charleston Preservation Design Fellowship until the the final house tour (it's a disaster) Her mother, Magnolia, swoops in with the offer of a project. Mack knows how much Magnolia meddles but she's the only family she has and she needs the work. When a home-improvement TV show puts out a call for designers, Mack knows this is her chance for something that's her own.
Wait...who is that moving in next door?"

Walz has crafted a story about family and forgiveness. About the damage that secrets can cause. Throw in some long-lost romance and put it in Charleston - a city like no other. There are lots of fun moments with Mack and her design team. And some great moments between Mack and Magnolia - some hard moments with a surprising ending.
I could really relate to Lincoln. Glad to see him in there.

This is not a thriller but you will not want to put this down. This is a wonderful debut from Walz with a great story and characters. And if you haven't visited Charleston yet, what are you waiting for?

Going to be a favorite this year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This wonderfully written story had all the things I love, the deep south, family drama, the one that got away romance and interior decorating. A fun and charming read that will tug at your heartstrings and remind you of the power of love and finding yourself. This is an entertaining page turner that does not disappoint.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book! Perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan, it delivers southern drama, home remodels, all the family drama and throw in some swoon-worthy romance. PERFECTION! What more could you ask for? This is my first book by Grace Helena Waltz and it will not be my last. Her style of writing just puts you right there in your mind, with her wonderful descriptions you could picture everything so clearly. Magnolia Bishop is the main female character and her story of going through a divorce and all the emotions involved. This story flashbacks between present day and to 15 years back in the past. The cast of characters is outstanding, you will love them all!