Grace Helena Walz’s debut, Southern by Design, is a feel-good Southern women’s fiction novel that blends the charm of Charleston, family secrets, home renovation drama, and second-chance romance into a breezy and engaging read.

♥ Premise & Setting ♥

Set in historic Charleston, South Carolina, the story follows Magnolia “Mack” Bishop, a newly separated mother and interior designer whose career and personal life are both in turmoil. After a humiliating divorce and a lost shot at a prestigious design fellowship, Mack gets a chance to rebuild when a home-renovation TV show comes calling and her old flame, Lincoln, moves in next door with his son, reigniting the past.

♥ Strengths ♥

✔ Atmosphere & Charm: The novel captures Charleston’s Lowcountry setting beautifully, with vivid descriptions that make the city feel alive.

✔ Family & Relationships: It explores the layered, sometimes messy dynamics between mothers and daughters, as well as the process of healing and finding independence after heartbreak.

✔ Second-Chance Romance: The romance is sweet and mostly closed-door, appealing to fans of gentle, heartwarming love stories.

✔ Design & TV Drama: If you enjoy shows like Fixer Upper or Sweet Magnolias, you’ll find the renovation storyline and small-town drama a delight.

♥ Critique ♥

✔ Pacing & Timeline: The dual timelines (spanning 15 years) are sometimes clunky and repetitive, with critics noting some details unnecessarily repeated and a few distracting typographical choices in certain editions.

✔ Subplots: Some found the novel packed with too many subplots, leaving character arcs (especially the male lead) less developed than they could be.

✔ Dialogue: Early on, the use of heavy Southern expressions feels forced but settles into a more natural flow as the book progresses.

♥ Audience & Vibe ♥

This is an “easy breezy” read, perfect for fans of Southern women’s fiction, family sagas, home renovation, and feel-good second-chance stories. While it doesn’t tread much new ground in the genre, its warmth, satisfying setting, and relatable protagonist make it a strong beach or weekend pick.

♥ Final Verdict ♥

Southern by Design is a charming, heartfelt debut mixing Southern sass, second chances, and home renovation drama. If you love stories about strong women navigating messy families and finding fresh starts (with a dash of romance and Southern flavor), Grace Helena Walz’s novel is worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well bless your heart! What a Southern gym this book is! I absolutely loved Southern by Design! This is my first read by Grace Helena Walz and man did she deliver a pitch-perfect blend of humor, heart, and Southern charm in this delightful romantic comedy. Magnolia "Mack" Bishop (absolutely love this name!) is the kind of protagonist you can't help but root for—she is smart, determined, and just navigating all life's curveball getting thrown at her with so much wit and resilience. From the fallout of her husband's viral scandal to the high-stakes world of historic preservation (and the ever-present meddling of her formidable mother, Mack’s journey is a rollercoaster of ambition, emotion, self-discovery, and second chances. And I was here for it ALL!!! I loved every minute of this book and I did not want to put it down. I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did! Happy reading y'all! Thanks to Netgalley, Grace Helena Waltz and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc for my honest review.

Simply beautiful. Great characters, amazing setting, beautiful plot development. While I'm not a mother, I particularly enjoy single parent stories, and this one has absolutely delivered. A great read!!

Mack is facing so many trials in her life that she doesn't need to add another thing to her plate. But, that was before her old love, Lincoln, moved in next door. She could ignore that little blip, but then her daughter becomes his kids best friend and there is NO avoiding it from then on. As her business is growing, begrudgingly because of her mothers connections, her marriage is done, and her ex husband leaves their company, she wants to figure out where things may lead with the company AND her love life. Fun read that you don't want to put down.

I enjoyed the story and the romance between the characters. The story goes from present day to the past and how things came to be. Magnolia is in charge of a design company where her mom gives her a project but is controlling.

Enjoyed this charming story set in Charleston, SC. Loved the characters and storyline. As a frequent visitor to Charleston, I could imagine every detail with the author's description.

Title: Southern By Design
By: Grace Helena Walz
Pub. Day: Feb.11, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Contemporary, Clean Romance

Trigger Warnings:
Unsolicited photo, Infidelity,

Memorable Quote:
"What had been destroyed made what remained that much more precious."

Summary:
Still reeling from the unexpected and deeply embarrassing unsolicited photos of her husband, .Magnolia aka. Mack Bishop struggles to regain her footing. Intent on rebuilding her confidence, Mack immerses herself in a challenging new project, aiming to prove not only to herself, but also to her well-meaning, yet overbearing mother that she possesses the strength and capability to succeed. Along the way, Mack unexpectedly crosses paths with her former flame, Lincoln, who has returned to town, reigniting old sparks and complicating her journey toward healing and self-discovery.

Review:
Southern By Design is a southern narrative, Waltz masterfully intertwines past and present timelines, creating a tapestry that flows effortlessly between the timelines. With her personal skilled writing, the narrative braids southern grace with a touch of sass, infusing romantic charm and crafting deeply layered characters. These characters navigate the complexities of family relationships, unraveling secrets through her southern sweetness. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Grace Helena Walz, Harper Collins Focus, and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my personal review.

#SouthernByDesign
#HarperCollinsFocus
#NetGalley
#GraceHelenaWalz
#advancedreadercopies
#ReluctantReaderReads

I enjoyed this debut novel set in Charleston. Mack is recently divorced and has a mother who is very overbearing. She sends in a video to be on a home improvement show. She also ends up being neighbors with the guy who broke her heart 15 years ago.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this dual timeline book. Usually when I read a dual timeline book I end up really liking one story over the other, but both stories were good in this book. And I loved the added bonus of the home renovation aspect of this book!

A wonderful debut. I got swept up in this HGTV-esque story and I look forward to whatever is next from Grace Helena Walz!

I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting with this book. When I saw many describe it as Sweet Magnolia vibes from Netflix I thought this was the perfect thing for me to read.

Unfortunately I did not resonate at all with the main character Magnolia. I did understand the complexity of her relationship with her mother and my heart did go out to her for that. Magnolia liked to be called Mack since she share the name with her mother.

She was stuck in a marriage that lacked passion and her husband was sending photos of his passion to other women when he got caught. The way both Mack's mother and Grady's mother interfered in their relationship was quite shocking. I could never be the wall flower Mack was through all that.

If you like drama, old deep south roots, and reading about how a story came to be years earlier and see how it ends, this may be the right book for you. I prefer a faster pace and a FMC that is not afraid to speak her mind.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook over just a few days, and the narration really worked for me—the narrator reminded me of Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama, which fit the setting nicely. I liked the characters and the story, even before it got to the more dramatic moments, and I was easily entertained throughout.

That said, the characterizations were a bit flat. I couldn’t quite buy that a woman as successful as Mack would still be blaming her mom for everything in her life multiple times a day, and the lack of growth in any of her relationships made the arc feel a little flat. I think with more development, the story could’ve landed stronger.

I’ll be recommending this book to:
* fans of Southern family dramas
* audiobook listeners looking for a quick, engaging pick

If you like DIY shows, romance and have an affinity for the South--this book is for you. Reminiscent of Mary Kay Andrews, the main character Mack quickly becomes the protagonist you want to root for. This author definitely knows how to whip up a good tale of romance and left me wanting more.

A really great debut novel set in Charleston SC with lots of southern charm thrown in! I think the narrator did an excellent job of keeping me hooked to the story. The pacing of the story was great and ended nicely. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Walz’s Southern by Design is a sparkling debut - an interesting mother-daughter tale set in Charleston and well told. Recommended in particular to those who love Charleston, the restoration of old houses, and southern fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperMuse for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own,

I love a good southern story with wonderful characters and home remodels . This had drama, fun and love , great story .

Southern lit lovers will enjoy Southern by Design set in the beautiful Charleston. A double win is that it is about a home renovation and trope of second chance love.
Magnolia "Mack" Bishop never thought she her marriage would fall apart, especially as it did with her husband sending a private image to their community of women friends. This separation makes her alone in parenting and in business. Add that her mother, the first Magnolia, is controlling, and she has a lot on her plate. But things start looking up with her former flame moves in next door!
I found the book slow at times but did love the setting and know some people will love it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Harper Muse Net Galley, but all opinions are my own.

I was so excited when @gracehelenabooks reached out and offered to send me a copy of her new book, “Southern By Design”! It is EVERYTHING a southern fiction lover wants!! Drama, love, and tons of sassy snippets!

If you love Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Kay Andrews, and Victoria Benton Frank, you’re going to fall in love with Grace Helena Walz!

Charleston setting? Sign me UP! Historic homes in Charleston? I am so so there for this.

I enjoyed seeing Mack’s journey unfold— her search for answers was emotional and relatable for anyone who has dealt with their fair share of family drama and secrets. I felt so much for the hard feelings she had to face throughout this book.

If you’re an HGTV girlie (or human!), you’ll enjoy this. The home design aspect is a fun approach, the hilarious “one who got away” moving in next door is fantastic, and I have seen enough gorgeous Charleston homes to envision this one flawlessly in my mind.

Thanks so much to Harper Muse for the eARC of this fun but reflective read!

Such a fun read. Had me hooked from the start. I love how it brings southern charm to readers. Highly recommend.