I love a good Southern-set book, and Southern By Design did not disappoint! Set in Charleston—one of my favorite cities—it had everything I adore about Southern fiction: charm, humor, and heart. The second-chance romance between Mack and Lincoln was sweet and satisfying, with just the right mix of tension and warmth. Grace Helena Walz captured the essence of the South so well, giving me the same feel-good vibes as Dorothea Benton Frank and Mary Kay Andrews. If you love a cozy, funny, and heartfelt Southern story, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColins Focus for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this great audiobook.

this audiobook was pretty good. It was okay, it was decent but felt like it had dragged on a bit at points. Overall the story was good, and the themes were good. The pacing was a little slow and it kept me entertained other than that!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Just coming here to write my review, and I see that this is a DEBUT NOVEL for this author! Color me impressed!!

Mack (Magnolia Bishop,Jr) is a historical home renovator extraordinaire!! Based in Charleston, SC, she’s also a southern Belle with lots of spunk and flair! Her soon to be ex-husband worked beside her, but after a huge foul up on his part, she’s shooing him out of the picture, and her life! However, she’ll still need to see him because of their 7 year old daughter….

Magnolia Sr, is her Mom. And what a piece of work she is! Set in her ways…. Always right, even when she’s wrong. And always giving her thoughts and opinions….

And, she wants nothing more than to get her daughter, and ex son-in-law law back together again!! 😮😮

On top of all else, the house next door is sold, and who moves in? No one other than the one who got away…all those years ago!

This one kept me on my toes, smiling and then sad... Happy and then mad…

Wanting so much to hate her Mom, and then melting down towards the end when you realize what actually happened…. And why…

Beautifully written with nice character development, making you feel like a part of the fabric of the story! Looking forward to what lies ahead for this new author!

#SouthernByDesign by #GraceHelenaWalz and narrated beautifully by #AmandaStribling.

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperMuse and #HarperCollinsFocua for an ARC of the audiobook. This is due to be released tomorrow, February 11, 2025!
So, look 👀 for it then!

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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.

This was a solid debut about a Southern mother-daughter pair, their contentious relationship plus a second chance romance. Told with flashbacks to the past, we get to see Mack's first love, Lincoln and how they lost out the first time around but get reunited again in the present when Lincoln buys the house next to Mack. With strong HGTV crossed with The notebook vibes and an Emily Gilmore esque mother, this book had plenty of drama plus a mystery involving the identity of Mack's birth father. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Kristy Woodson Harvey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

Thank you for the advanced audiobook.

Can’t believe this is a debut novel. The. Characters were relatable m, fun and witty. I’ve never listened to a book. Narrated by Amanda Stribling. I enjoy the book however, the voice of the narrator wasn’t so pleasant.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to give this audiobook an advance listen. I really loved the narration and personality of each character. The plot wasn’t as dramatic as I was hoping for but it was still enjoyable.

I didn’t know Southern Fiction was a thing until recently but I feel like this is the perfect example of what’s so good about it (says the Canadian who is clueless about all things Southern.) Maybe it was the subtle Southern twang Amanda Stribling brought to her narration (I listened to the audio book) that added to the charm. In any case, both words and performance drew me in and kept me riveted.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is an intriguing character. Spunky and tenacious in some ways and infuriatingly submissive to her mama in other ways. Are all Southern Mamas like Magnolia Sr.? I shudder to thinks so! I spent a large part of the read fuming over that woman! Gah! I so wanted Mack to grow a backbone and stand up to her mother once and for all. I wanted a colossal ‘take that!’ moment and instead, Walz humbled me with the surprising twist towards the end. Sigh. My righteous indignation bubble was burst…but only somewhat. I’m still angsting over lots and lots of Magnolia Sr. moments because, no matter what happened in her past, she still made choices that, well…you need to read the book and angst right along with me!

There’s a rocky second chance romance that plays out in two timelines which was really interesting. We get to see the summer romance of fifteen years ago unfolding oh so sweetly until the train wreck happens all while watching Mack and Lincoln warily reconnecting as single parents in present day. I really enjoyed their journey to reconciliation, angst and all!

Loved the interior design/house flipping backdrop to the story — and the clever title that fits it to perfection. If you are an HGTV fan, this is definitely the book for you. Great details on design and historical restoration and the thrill of reality TV as well.

My thanks to Harper Muse Audibooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

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.

This book was good, but it could have been great. The chapters set in the past try to push what should have been a solid Lit Fic over into the Romance genre where it did not want to be. This is clearly a story about Mack and her mother Magnolia, not a story about Mack and the one that got away. If the past timeline chapters had told the story of Magnolia's past romance, it could have taken this from a book that was mediocre to one that was incredible. As a romance, it was an average 3 star read. As a story about 3 generations of southern women, it should have been a 5 star read. I'm falling in the middle and giving it a 4 here, but it's getting a 3.5 on most of my rating apps.

Mack is a young woman who is becoming a divorcee and a single mother while trying to save her Design business and win the Historic Preservation Design Fellowship. She had hoped winning would be a huge boost for her business. Her affluent Mother then comes in and tells her of a job she heard about and she wants to help with it. It seems the only thing her mom knows how to do is be a socialite that constantly criticizes her daughters choice in both business and her personal life. However she is keeping a secret. I felt bad that Mack has had to deal with a parent like that her whole life and was happy to see that is not how she treated her young daughter. A great heartfelt southern book that will make you smile and root for the underdog.

I was approved for the advanced reader copies of both the e-book and the audiobook(the narrator was great) of Southern by Design. I always love this because I can listen as much as I can and read the book at bedtime.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arcs.

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

If you enjoy home improvement reality shows that target restoring historic southern homes, this book may appeal to you. It's similar to Homewreckers, by Mary Kay Andrews, but without MK's humor.

There is the traditional southern family drama with a wealthy mother trying to control her daughter's life and make sure she marries into a prestigious family. When that marriage goes South, she is surprised that an old college summer fling conveniently moves in next door. There is not a whole lot of action but there is a conflict at the end that adds a bit of intrigue.

Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz is a heartwarming and charming debut that effortlessly blends Southern charm with personal growth, second chances, and a dash of romance. The story follows Magnolia "Mack" Bishop, a woman navigating the messy aftermath of her husband's betrayal and the pressures of single motherhood, all while trying to carve out her own identity in the competitive world of historic preservation design in Charleston.

Mack’s journey is a blend of ambition, humor, and personal resilience, especially when she’s forced to work under the thumb of her overbearing mother. As she strives to prove herself professionally, Mack also grapples with a past romance when Lincoln Kelly, the man she once loved and lost, unexpectedly moves back into town. Their reconnection is both frustrating and magnetic, adding a delightful layer of emotional depth to the story.

The book beautifully captures the tension between family expectations and personal aspirations, all set against the backdrop of a rich Southern community. Walz’s writing is full of humor, heart, and relatable characters, making this a perfect read for fans of Sweet Magnolias and Fixer Upper. The themes of love, forgiveness, and finding your true calling will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to rebuild their life or chase their dreams on their own terms. A delightful debut that’s as refreshing as a sweet tea on a hot Southern day.

This southern story is so engrossing with interesting characters, and I soaked up every moment of it! Loved the twists and turns of how the plot unfolded, and definitely felt all the emotions of the main character. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good story!

Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz – 4.5 ⭐

This book was so lovely! There was just so much to love and connect with—complex mother-daughter relationships (plus the absolute sweetest granddaughter), a slow burn second-chance romance, an interior design show (HGTV fans, this one's for you!!), and a then-and-now timeline that kept things interesting.

Oh, and let’s talk about the twists—there was another storyline that had some major surprises at the end, and I was fully invested! 😱.

The setting? Charleston, SC—a fave of mine for book settings. No spice in this one, but plenty of raw, real-life drama that felt so relatable. The writing was solid, and the audiobook narration? Chef’s kiss. 😘

I can't wait for this book to release so I can pick up a copy for my shelves.

Disclaimer: ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! If you love Hallmark movies and home renovation shows, this is the book for you. I loved the audiobook narrator, too, and felt that she gave an authentic Southern flair to the story.

I’m also a fan of books with flashbacks, which this book has and does well! A great debut!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Amanda Stribling does a wonderful job narrating this one and giving the audiobook a warm southern setting!

In Charleston, we meet Mack and her family. The story alternates between her present day career as a home restoration and designer and her former days in college. We meet her divorced husband and her daughter who they co-parent. This is a solid domestic drama that follows a single mom on a journey to rediscover herself while raising her daughter.

This is a fast paced, easy read that is enjoyable as well as entertaining.

The audiobook cover is absolutely gorgeous. I love the lowcountry setting where this novel takes place.

The plot was well thought out and well written. I love the interior design aspect of the show. The friendships and familial relationships in this novel are sweet. However, about halfway through the novel storyline of southern girl with southern overbearing controlling mom got a little old. The author wrapped it up nicely at the end, though.

The narrator for the audiobook had a perfect southern drawl- not too thick but just right.

This book was a breath of fresh air! Magnolia is an interior designer/historic renovation worker in the south. She gets her name from her mother who she has a strained relationship with and it’s only gotten worse since her divorce due to old money reputation and social politics debutants are taught. Magnolia is working hard as a newly single mother to break the generational trauma while also making a name for herself as a designer. There’s always been the question of who her father is haunting her all her life though since her mother has kept her lips sealed tight on it. When her one that got away moves in next door as a single father she knows it’s time to dig up the past with him and her mother and finally get some answers so she can move forward. This book displayed the social aspects of older generations of southern women well. Whether you come from money or not, the reputation of southern women and families are a big deal full of intricacies and social faux pas. This book did a wonderful job of addressing them and showing that causes the strain between Magnolia and her mother. It also does a beautiful job giving you the butterflies over a second chance romance with the one who got away while not making the pacing too drawn out or quick. Each character was interesting and had great written out personalities even if you didn’t like the character due to it. I would highly recommend this book for people looking for a reflective not spicy romance.