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 read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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.

Just as Mack Bishop is on the verge of a career-defining fellowship, a public scandal and a disastrous house tour derail her plans, forcing her to take a job under her controlling mother. But when an unexpected opportunity for a TV pilot arises—and her long-lost first love moves in next door—Mack must navigate family secrets, professional ambition, and a second chance she never saw coming.

Southern by Design is a perfect vacation read—it’s lighthearted, rich with family drama, and easy to devour in one sitting. While a solid debut, Walz's writing occasionally leans on clichés and oversimplifications, making some characters feel fully realized (like Magnolia, Mack’s mother) while others read as if they stepped straight out of 1960s Mayberry. With that, I did feel as though I was walking down the streets of Charleston through these pages, so it would be a great read if you are a resident of the Holy City or are merely an admirer of this beautiful setting.

3/5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Southern by Design" is a heartfelt, drama-filled debut that dives into the complicated mess of family, second chances, and figuring out who you are when life falls apart. Set in the charming streets of Charleston, the book follows Magnolia “Mack” Bishop—a single mom, designer, and daughter of a seriously controlling Southern matriarch—as she tries to rebuild her life post-divorce. The writing pulled me in right away, and while some parts had me shaking my head (in a "you've got to be kidding me" kind of way), I found myself rooting for Mack the whole way through.

This one’s definitely for fans of Mary Kay Andrews-style Southern fiction, with a mix of romance, family tension, and that sweet tea-soaked charm. The relationship between Mack and her mother is intense—equal parts love and manipulation—and the emotional payoff as secrets come to light is worth the ride. Some scenes felt a little over the top, and a few moments dragged, but the warmth of the setting and Mack’s journey toward self-respect and love really shine. A cozy, satisfying read with heart—and plenty of Southern flair.

What a fantastic debut novel. The writing was deep and drew me in. There were times I adored this story and others when I thought you have got to be kidding me, ahhhhh. It's about family, love and second chances. Mothers and daughters. So complicated even when the love is bone deep or maybe because of it. The author created characters that brought out a lot of emotions for me all along the way. Magnolia has an iron fisted grip on Mack's life and has done and will do anything to keep that control. Manipulation is her go to and the levels of deception are stunning. And yet, she is the only family so Mack has so she sucks it up again and again. Mack is trying to live her life and recover from her divorce from a marriage she felt forced into when she reconnects with her first love. Can she get her second chance? A wonderful story and writing that had me hoping for all the best for Mack.

I would compare this to Mary Kay Andrews older novels, and I mean this as a compliment. I enjoyed the southern hospitality angle and was very happy with the way the plot wrapped up.