Cover Image: My Magnolia Summer

My Magnolia Summer

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Member Reviews

Dorothea Benton Frank is one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to receive an ARC of My Magnolia Summer by her daughter, Victoria Benton Frank, from NetGalley. I have always enjoyed books set in the Lowcountry, and this one did not disappoint! It is the story of a family with four strong women finding their way back to each other. Add in some Lowcountry cooking, a family restaurant, the beach, and a little romance, and you have a great book to enjoy. I hope to read many more books from Victoria Benton Frank in the future!

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Watch out - there’s a new force in Southern fiction!
My Magnolia Summer is Ms. Frank’s first adult novel and she brings us back to the familiar territory covered in her mother’s novels, but with her own unique spin. The story is primarily told by Magnolia (Maggie) with occasional chapters by Violet (Maggie’s sister) and Grandmother Rose. As the book opens, she’s living in NYC with her best childhood friend, Jim, as they each pursue their dreams: hers to be a chef in a highly rated restaurant and his in acting. A car accident brings them back to Sullivans Island and that’s where the fun and drama begins.
I loved the inside look of the restaurant world (both the NYC and SC versions), food focus, and description of a chef’s life. It made me want to visit the Magic Lantern, or at least have some fried chicken or slightly spicy Tuscan kale soup with sausage and white beans! She also beautifully transports us to the low Country, humid weather and all. There’s a lot of drama happening in a relatively short period of time and it keeps your attention and interest.
I loved the poignant author acknowledgement at the end of the book, and hope this is the start of a series. Can’t wait to see what Ms. Frank writes next.

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Thank you Victoria Benton Frank, William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. Is it fate? That's a question Maggie (Magnolia) asks herself when she is tossed back to her hometown after an accident in the family. Is she here to help mend the increasing rift between her family members or was she sent here on a journey to discover who she truly is and maybe even find her soulmate... This book has great family dynamics so many can relate to and throw in a love story... well that's just the cherry on top.

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Loved this book. This is about Maggie who is a chef in New York until she gets a call that her Gran is in the hospital back in Sullivan's Island. She and her best friend fly there as soon as they find out. Maggie goes to see Gran that night. It is then she decides to stay for a while.Her Mom Rosie, is an alcoholic. Gran owns a restaurant called the Magic Lantern and while everything is falling apart, Maggie takes over and tweaks some of the recipes and the people of Sullivan's Island love the it is back to normal not. the fried fish place that her Mom made it. . Maggie lost her job where she was but gets a new job that takes and goes back to New York but it is not long until she goes back home .See the reasons why. This is A VERY GOOD READ.

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My Magnolia Summer is a cute summer story. One family filled with strong women navigate the struggles of owning a restaurant, generational drama and second-chances at love. While its not bad story, it was just ok for me. It lost steam mid-way through, and I honestly lost interest.

This book is perfect for the beach.

Thank you William Morrow for the complimentary copy.

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My Magnolia Summer
Author: Victoria Benton Frank
William Morrow
Release Date: June 6, 2023
General Fiction (Adult, Women's Fiction)

Victoria Benton Frank transports her readers to the beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry in her sparkling, multi-generational novel, My Magnolia Summer. From page one, I was captivated with the story of Magnolia "Maggie", a New York chef who returns to Sullivan's Island when her grandmother Rose is hurt in a car accident. Returning to her roots re-connects Maggie to family ties with her mother Lily, and sister Violet, as well as the family's restaurant The Magic Lantern. Frank writes so vividly of the Lowcountry setting, with the food, landscape, and traditions. She really brought Maggie to life. I enjoyed reading about her style of cooking and her love for fresh, local ingredients.

I could not wait to read this debut novel by the daughter of one of my all-time favorite authors, the late Dorothea Benton Frank. Like her mother, Victoria writes of family, love, and all that is the Lowcountry, but in a fresh way and presented in a voice uniquely her own. This is an engaging, impressive debut which was a joy to read. I hope Victoria brings us many more tales set in her beloved Lowcountry.

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

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Benton Frank

#MyMagnoliaSummer #NetGalley

I am among the many readers who delighted in the novels of this author’s mom. Her death was a cause of sorrow on many levels. Dorothea created wonderful stories set in the Low Country. She is missed by many.

That said, it was a delight to get to know another Benton Frank. Not only did I very much enjoy this novel but so did some of my favorite authors including Patti Callahan Henry.

Here is a Southern family story. The setting, character and plot are all quite well done making it hard to believe that this is Victoria’s first novel.

I recommend this one for lovers of women’s/family fiction. It offers just the right kind of summer read; get to know Magnolia (Maggie), Lily and the others in the family. As a bonus, there is a restaurant too!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

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Happy Pub Day to this new debut!

I’ve got the perfect beach read to add to your beach bag this Summer!

📖𝙈𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
✍🏻Victoria Benton Frank
🗓️6.6.23
🌸Women’s Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

As a fan of the late Dorothea Benton Frank, reading the Lowcountry Tales each Summer, I was so excited to read her daughter’s brand new debut!

I loved this story of three generations of women that come together in this heartfelt story. It features a woman named Magnolia, her sister Violet, their Mother Lily, and Grandmother Rose.

It was fun to see author Victoria use her culinary background throughout the story, and I really enjoyed the delicious food descriptions that transported me right to my memories of beach vacations in GA and SC.

The dialogue was so funny between sisters, Mother, and Grandmother, and the great cast of characters that make this such a heartwarming read.
I can’t wait to read more by @victoriabentonfrank 💕🌸

I both read and listened to the audiobook format, and found myself transported to my many trips to South Carolina.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks @harperaudio #gifted

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My Magnolia Summer” had my heart from the first page! A story about a young woman trying to escape her family legacy and chase dreams of her own. Maggie is brought back to her low country life by family tragedy and begins to question if NYC is the only place she can make her dreams come true.

A love letter to the low country, to strong women, and to Dottie, “My Magnolia Summer” is a perfect summer read.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Magnolia Summer
By:Victoria Benton Frank
Pub Date: 6/6/23
Publisher: William Marrow

I was so very excited to see the debut novel from Victoria Benton Frank, the daughter of beloved low country writer Dorothea Benton Frank. Visiting the low country is one of favorite parts of summer.
There is no doubt that Victoria has her mom writing genes but she has her own flare and style too. She delivered a family centered novel that had great characters as well as family relationships.
Magnolia Adams, aka Maggie escaped the low country 10 years ago for the big apple where she honed her chef skills but somebody else’s kitchen. When her grandmother and mother are in a car accident she returns to the low country to help out where she can. A complicated mother, daughter relationship as well as a sister relationship really kept the story moving and interesting. The family restaurant has made some major changes since Maggie was home last, they are shocking to her. When tragedy strikes the family for the second time she really steps up and starts to get things back on track.
The cooking elements were fantastic and kept your mouth watering.
I really enjoyed the way Maggie’s character strives for her career, while trying to keep her family together too.
I can’t wait to see where Victoria’s career goes from here! The bonus recipe for Heartbreak Soup was the perfect added touch.

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Maggie gets a call from her sister Violet letting her know their Gran is in a coma after being in a car accident with their mother, lily. She tells the head chef at the restaurant where she works that she has to go home to Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, to be with her family. Once she arrives, she discovers that everyone in her family has been hiding a bevy of secrets from her.
We may have lost the talented Dorothea Benton Frank in 2019, but her daughter, Victoria Benton Frank has completely blown me away with this debut novel. This was the perfect beach read. There was romance and lots of juicy family drama. You will definitely want to add this one to your beach bag!

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Great summer read! Magnolia was hit or miss in the book for me I liked her in some cases then got frustrated with her at others. I loved Jim as he was the perfect mix in the Flower Family.

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I really enjoyed My Magnolia Summer by Victoria Benton Frank. Yes her name is familiar to readers of Dorothea Benton Frank of happy memory. And Yes, this novel is set in the Carolina Low Country and yes she has her mother's ability to tell a good story. AND Victoria is an author who will speak to younger readers--her main character Maggie (Magnolia) is a chef who is making her way in the food world of NYC when she is called home to deal with her grandmother's illness. While the story also highlights her sister, mother, and grandmother--still the main plot is Maggie's. I appreciated the perspective of younger people and the choices they face as they build a life--what do we change, what do we keep, and what must we let go of to truly build our own future.
My Magnolia Summer is on sale now and I am appreciative to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended for a fun summer read and I will look forward to Victoria's next book!

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The day that Dorothea Benton Frank passed away was the same day that my dad's doctor told me he had three weeks to live. He died six days later. I've always felt some kindred spirit to her daughter, Victoria Benton Frank, because we lost our parents so close together. When I was approved for the ARC, I was overjoyed and honored to be selected.

As an avid DBF fan and reader, I could not wait to read My Magnolia Summer and fans of DBF will not be disappointed.

In My Magnolia Summer, Victoria evokes the same imagery of the Lowcountry as her mom, yet with a voice that is all her own.

Magnolia (Maggie) works in the kitchen of one of NYC's most coveted restaurants striving to be a head chef. She works grueling hours with little to no respect from the head chef. Maggie receives a disturbing call that her cherished grandmother was in an accident and is now in a coma. Maggie leaves NYC (much to the ire of the head chef) and returns to Sullivan’s Island and the trials and tribulations of her family.

Just like most families, My Magnolia Summer features a great cast of characters – everyone needs a Jim in their life. You’ll definitely see one of your family members in one of the characters.

The story focuses on the Magic Lantern, a restaurant that has been in the family for generations. Magnolia has always said she would never return home, but we know what happens when a character says, ‘never’. Will Magnolia take over her family’s restaurant and make it her version of a Lowcountry staple? Will the family unite? Will Magnolia find the love she seeks?

Grab this book, toss it in your beach (or pool) bag and thank me later.

If Victoria is anything in real life like Magnolia, I'd love to visit Sullivan's Island and enjoy a cocktail or two at The Obstinate Daughter with her.

Victoria, your mom is looking down from Heaven with so much love, joy and immense pride for what you have accomplished.

Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC of My Magnolia Summer. I can’t wait to read her next book, based on Magnolia’s sister, Violet.

#MyMagnoliaSummer #NetGalley

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I really wanted to love this one but it just fell flat. I really liked the relationship Magnolia and her sister had. I loved the setting of the Lowcountry and how family oriented the story was. But the writing felt off. Some moments the writing felt full and deep while others it felt rushed and like it was filler words.

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My Magnolia Summer is a perfect beach reach. It has a story that grabbed me and held me close as I got to know the characters.
The story is set in South Carolina on Sullivans Island. The family is held together by Gran -Rose who is the head of the family. Her daughter Lily has two daughters Magnolia known by all as Maggie and Violet.
The story is full of drama, family, and romance that is expertly tied together to make the reader care about each and everyone in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Benton Frank and William Morrow for the ARC of My Magnolia Summer. This is my personal review.

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I loved this author's Mother's books and it seems the apple doesn't fall far! South Carolina low country is the setting. 3 generations of women are the characters. Love that all of their names are flowers and each women is totally different and complicated and fun to get to know. Great beach read of this summer!

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My Magnolia Reads was a fantastic beach read and a must read for the summer. Excited to see what else Victoria Benton Frank has up her sleeve!

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My Magnolia Summer is a debut novel from the daughter of Southern Fiction legend Dorothea Benton Frank.

When I moved to Charleston in August 2011 I started reading Dorothea Benton Frank and fell in love with the Lowcountry while sitting on the beach at Sullivan's Island, so when I saw her daughter was writing a book I knew I had to read it. My Magnolia Summer is an enjoyable summer read that has the nostalgia of a DBF book with new twist.

NYC chef Maggie rushes home to Sullivan's Island when her beloved grandmother is in a car accident and she finds out her family's restaurant has undergone some changes. Maggie struggles to think about her future and goals in NYC when she wants to bring the restaurant back to how she remembers it.

This book is about family, relationships and goals. I loved the restaurant scenes and liked all of the characters. Reading this made me wish I was sitting at the beach by Station 32 or grabbing a burger at Poe's.

If you like Southern Fiction about family or are a DBF fan you'll enjoy this book!

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I enjoyed reading this book by Victoria Benton Frank. Like so many readers, I was a faithful follower of Dorothea Benton Frank, and saddened by the loss of her a few years ago. I am glad her daughter is writing in her honor.

I loved the Sullivan's Island theme of this book, and the adventures in cooking. It is a sweet story of a female chef attempting to make her way in the mostly male dominated professional chef's world of New York City. Maggie leaves her low country home, but the roots remain deep inside her. An accident involving her mother and beloved grandmother sends her back home to South Carolina, and the state of things in the family run restaurant leave Maggie to fill in and try to salvage the legacy. It's a sweet romantic story filled with laughter and sadness.

One minor criticism; local dialect and/or colloquialisms.. As a reader it distracts me. I recognize that people speak differently all over the world, but when I am reading it gives me a false voice in my head that creates an extra tension for me within the story. There are frequent uses of the word "girl" by many of the characters. I respect that is a word often used in casual conversations, but reading it repeatedly did take away some of the dialogue to me. It makes the characters language feel a bit more contrived, and a little more stilted. That said, I truly enjoyed the story line and the setting of the book. I look forward to reading more by Victoria Benton Frank.

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