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Under the Magnolias

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Member Reviews

Loved Under the Magnolias and TI LOWE was a great guest for our book club. This book and the characters stick with you and are so developed! Definitely a 5 star book

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A lovely, slow-burn coming-of-age story that I'd recommend really taking your time with so you can savor it.

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Under the Magnolias by T.I. Lowe just turned out not to be a book for me. The style or I don't know, maybe just me made it a book I just couldn't get into.

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Thank you Netgalley and Tyndall House for the gifted book that I read alongside the audiobook from my library!

Austin is just on the cusp of being a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins which flings her into a world of responsibilities taking care of her six siblings while trying to manage her father and his personal darkness. She lives her life managing her family's image and welfare while barely managing to keep her head above water. But when the wealthy boy she has been crushing on for years takes interest in her just as her father's choices might be becoming more than she can handle, Austin's resilience will be tested in a whole new way.

I'm not sure what I expected from the story, but I was entranced by the character and strength of Austin. She endures horrible hardships and raises herself and her siblings as best she can on what little she has. She deals with her father's mental illness the best she knows how with the limited tools in her tool box. I loved how genuine her struggles were and her determination to overcome the hand she had been dealt. I was rooting for a happy ending and I think the way the story played out was even sweeter than I could have imagined.

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T.I. Lowe always brings a story to the table that brings out the tears, heartbreak, and healing - from cover to cover. Throughout parts of Austin story, I felt a part of my own story being told. That led me to finish this book in one day because I wanted to know how her life developed into adulthood. The amount of responsibility was enough to break any young teenager, but Austin proved to be resilient and tough under the armor of God (even if she didn't realize it at the time).

I adored how each character in Austin's life held some sort of struggle, addiction, adversity, etc. yet together, they were a support system that couldn't be broken. It was a wonderful reminder that even if the things we're experiencing in life are unspoken, we have people in our lives who can see, understand, and support us. We just have to be willing to open our hearts in return.

I would have loved to see a bit more about her life in the future, but it was wrapped up nicely, leaving me with a heart full of love, happiness, and closure. It would also be great to have follow-up books from Austin's siblings. Their perspectives would be interesting to add to this tragic story. From a young age, I have always been reminded that God works in mysterious ways -- and T.I. Lowe did a phenomenal job of weaving this throughout the story.

Along with several other of her books, this earned a permanent place on my bookshelf!

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Under the Magnolias

by T. I. Lowe

Dave Foster is a tobacco farmer and the pastor of the church he fondly refers to as the First Riffraff of Magnolia. He has a large family including two sets of twins, a mentally challenged son, and another who is physically disabled. His wife Edith is a loving mother who somehow manages her husband’s dark times and keeps the family happy. The main character is the oldest daughter Austin, and the story is related from her point of view as she finds herself at the age of fourteen having to become a mother to her six siblings and walk the fine line of respect for her father while acting as a buffer between him and the other children. She works to maintain his standing in the community and keep the tobacco farm running.

Under the Magnolias is very much a character driven story as Austin struggles and sacrifices for others. She is a very intelligent young lady who puts aside her dreams to help her family survive. Unfortunately her father’s dark times become deeper and more frequent and his outbursts more violent. A teenager, Austin doesn’t really know how to deal with her father’s mental issues or get assistance.

Help does come in the form of the mayor’s handsome son. Although Austin won’t let him get close because she is driven to maintain family secrets, he continues to stand by her. Others in their little church and her siblings are important to the story as they all suffer from the occasions when Dave’s mental illness surfaces and bubbles over.

This book is very well-written. In terms of emotional impact, it is hard at times to read. The author, T. I. Lowe, puts the reader right in the middle of the struggles waiting, as Austin does, in the good times for the other shoe to drop. “It was too good. Too shiny. Too normal. No matter how much I wished, prayed, begged, I knew this season wouldn’t last.”

The story takes place from 1980 through 1988. There is a final chapter that relates how life works out for all of the characters. It makes a fitting conclusion because over the course of the book the reader has gotten to know each of them, understanding why they are the way they are. The pacing is excellent with about two chapters per year presenting cumulative snapshots rather than blow-by-blow descriptions. There is an authentic South Carolina flavor in both plot and language. I highly recommend Under the Magnolias as a tale whose characters resonate and linger long after the final page.

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

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction

Notes: Clean—no inappropriate language, sex, or violence

Publication: May 4, 2021—Tyndale House Publishers

Memorable Lines:

Looking through the innocent lens of adolescence, those happier days were perfection. Sadly, they had an expiration date just like those snack cakes. Happiness staled and nothing was pleasing after that. But just like the expired cakes in a meager season, we had no other choice but to stomach whatever life tossed our way next.

I figured it was a blessing that she could pretend something didn’t happen, but we would both learn later in life that pretending something away was no better than constantly dwelling on it. Both produced impactful wounds that tended to fester in other parts of living.

“Honey, the living creep me out. Not the dead.” He picked up a cosmetic brush and touched it to Mrs. Fannie’s pink cheek. “The living can be cruel, judgmental, quick to complain, and slow to please. The dead never yell or cuss you out. Or call you ugly names.” There was such a sadness to his gentle voice.

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I had very high hopes for this book, and it was okay, just not one of those books that has a WOW factor.

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In this story you see a young girl doing her best to hold her family together with little help from the community or the local church. Somewhat surprisingly, she receives assistance from an unexpected quarter, but doesn't know how much to trust that person. Others become involved in the life of the family which show the value of befriending people and the power of community, of depending on others. An excellent read.

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This is a historical fictional tale, a sprawling romance. It has elements of religion and you can feel the struggles the family are going through, especially the lead character, August. It's not a lighthearted read, it is quite a dark dramatic sweeping story and there are alot of hardships being faced by August. I found it a little difficult to read, its a particular style of writing that is not my preference, but if you love a deep, dramatic story about family and the choices we make because of the family we come from, then you may well really enjoy this book! I know alot of people in my book club enjoyed it, just not my cup of tea.

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This book is absolutely amazing. Very raw, filled with authenticity, and so realistic.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but it definitely won’t be my last!
Set in the 80s, this is the story of young Austin Foster and her family. After her mom dies in childbirth, and her dad is….well, let’s just say he’s kind of checked out…Austin, who is still in her teens, is left trying to hold the family together. This means she has to take care of her six siblings. Sigh. Austin is quite frankly, an amazing character. This book does an excellent job of portraying what that must have felt like. What she went through.
As I read, my heart ached for Austin and her family. Living on a tobacco farm, there was always lots of work to do, kids to keep after, a dad to push along, and help get through his deep grieving.
Not only does Austin have to be a mom to the kids, she’s also still in school, and has that to deal with. And then there’s the handsome mayor’s son, Vance, who keeps showing up and wanting to give her attention….
This was a hard book to read. So many dark things were brought into this storyline. Things no young people should have to face. In spite of, or maybe because of, Austin comes through it all like gold tried in the fire.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, but this book is one that I think will resonate with a lot of people, just because of the deep and authentic feelings that are dealt with.
If you like books dealing with nitty gritty issues, then be sure and give this one a chance.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

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Great book that has some sad elements to the story. You will fall a bit in love with the main character and want all the good things for her.

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A great book that shows how mental health affects those around you and the importance of support and seeking help at the first sign of issues.

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This story was absolutely beautiful. Quite honestly, there really is no need for a further review. It is a coming of age wrapped in a story of family. And the sacrifices that go along with it when life deals you hand that you didn't expect. It's also about loyalty. Stubborn loyalty in the what can sometimes be an unbearable weight and also a weight lifted on someone who needed it most. Austin's story is one that likely happens far more often than we as a society care to admit. It is a story of struggle and loss. But also reminds us to love our family "in both the sunshine and the thunderstorms." And sometimes. the thunderstorms threaten to crumble us. But when things crumble, it allows life to start over and grow anew.

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This is my first book by the author, but will certainly not be my last. I think that it truly was an amazing southern coming to age story, that balanced emotions and character development really well. I found myself rooting for the characters, and while I simultaneously felt bad that they were put in these situations to begin with, I also had full faith that they would be able to see it through. I also must take a second to admire the cover of this book. I am usually someone who is not a big fan of humans being on the covers, but I thought that this one was truly beautiful. I thought that the storyline and the this idea that even those who are thought to be closest to god sometimes fall the furthest is one that is so powerful. I thought that this story was overall emotional, hard to read at times, and I found myself hoping Austin would get the happily ever after she deserved. I think it's hard not to read this book and instantly want more from the story and the author. This was unlike anything I've ever read and I truly cannot put into words how good it was,

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Austin barely out of childhood herself becomes a surrogate mother to the twins her mother died while giving birth. Her father experiences great emotional swings . Here is a story of a girl woman of resolve, tenderness a vast capacity of love. Coming to the point where surrender is the only means to survival . It is giving on the grand and small scale. Through it all is the man who knew from the start this girl/ woman was all he would ever need.

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Under The Magnolias by T I Lowe is now my favorite book I've read this year! Beautifully told story about a family of tobacco farmers in South Carolina that unpacks the dynamic and struggles of their family, friends and community in the 1980's. The story is told from the perspective of Austin Foster, a girl who at 13 is thrust into the role of mother to her 6 siblings due to her mothers death in childbirth & her father's struggle with mental health issues. Descriptive, emotional, turbulent & inspiring tale filled with strong faith in God and belief in redemption. Quotes I will not forget from the book are:
“But I do believe God gets blamed for a lot of stuff that he shouldn’t. . . . And I also believe forgiveness and getting over being mad is a gift for ourselves, not for the ones who wronged us.”
I will be looking for more to read by T I Lowe!! Thank you NetGalley & Tyndale House for the pre-published copy to read & review.

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Beautifully written. Thought provoking. Real characters. Nostalgic. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. FIve stars.

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The Fosters made me feel all sorts of emotions as I read their story. I loved the uniqueness of their names, which only seemed to add to their own individualities.

Austin, the oldest daughter, takes on so much in this book in order to keep her family going. This book has a lot of heart in it, and it deals with some very difficult topics. As the story progresses, and the secrets the Fosters have tried to hide for so many years finally is revealed, Austin realizes that she's not alone.

This book deals with mental illness in a way that I feel a lot of other people can relate to.

After a very dramatic book though, I felt that the ending gets wrapped up a little too neatly, but overall it was still a good read.

#NetGalley

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While I have only had the chance to read a handful of books by T.I. Lowe, I have quickly learned that her books are certainly ones that are going to give me all the feels... and this one is certainly no different. Tackling tough topics like the grief of a parent and mental illness, it's certainly far from an easy or lighthearted read, but it is certainly one that will stick with you. I found it to be a bit slower paced than I perhaps tend to prefer, but the story was so beautifully written that I really didn't mind that at all. If you are looking for a thought provoking story that will pull at the heart strings, Under the Magnolias is certainly one worth experiencing. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

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I just LOVED the Fosters! They went through hell in their journey through life but always managed to stick together and find comfort in one another. I was rooting for all of them from the beginning. Heartbreak, triumphs, love, disaster, this family went through it all!, a must read for sure!

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