Southern By Design
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I Loved this book. It was a pure Southern delight. It transported me to the streets of Charleston. It was so fun & enjoyable. I loved the ending! It is filled with hope, Southern charm, fun, love, friendship, discovery, & even a horrible character that will drive you crazy.
Thank you NetGalley

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.

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!

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.

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.

This contemporary story was a great book to sit back and relax with. It have an adorable storyline with family drama and a relatable main character!

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
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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 spend time in this beautiful historic city. From the events, the history, the restaurants, food, shops, people, the atmosphere, charm, and architecture—it is one of my top Southern cities!

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

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.

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.

Southern By Design is the debut novel from Grace Helena Walz, a fresh new voice in southern women’s literature. Magnolia “Mack” Bishop has lived her life dealing with her controlling mother, Magnolia the first. Magnolia has done everything to keep Mack in line even to the point of keeping the identity of the father she never met a secret.

Now, in the midst of a divorce from the two timing son of Magnolia’s best friend Delta, a union that Magnolia and Delta had orchestrated, and in the running for the prestigious Savannah Historic Preservation Design Fellowship perhaps Mack can finally get out from under her mother’s thumb. But when things go awry in the final round of judging, as consolation Mack’s mother brings her an excellent opportunity, of course with strings attached, to restore the Davis house, a recent endowment to the Savannah Historic Preservation Society.

With this new prospect, Mack and her second in command and best friend Magnus Fitzgerald, are excited to begin both the design and its execution, making Mack feel relieved. That is until Mack spots her new neighbor as the moving truck unloads next door. When she is near enough to tell for sure, she is astounded to find Lincoln Kelly, the one who got away and broke her heart fifteen years before when he left to pursue his own dreams.

This is such an impressive debut work. Ms. Walz has designed a story with well crafted characters, intertwining subplots, and an overarching message of forgiveness. I very much enjoyed this book and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

What does Mack do when her controlling mother goes overboard, wanting to hone in on her new business venture? Mack (i.e., Magnolia "Junior") is a restoration expert who designer who is divorcing her husband (and business partner) while working on a new project. She has a precocious daughter who adds humor to the story. Mack struggles to find balance between making her own decisions and appeasing her mother. And, to complicate things, a man from her past moves in next door. All of this adds to a very complex and fun story to read/hear. I loved the unique characters, who don't necessarily fit the usual stereotypes for this type of story. The narrator is expert at portraying their quirks.

A great listen! I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus and Net Galley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.