After reading the synopsis, I knew I had to dive in, especially since it promised a sweet second-chance romance. While I did enjoy the book overall, I found myself more intrigued by the "twist" toward the end. It left me wanting more details, and I honestly think the story would have been stronger had that twist been better developed and elaborated on throughout the book, rather than saved for the last 20%.

One aspect I struggled with was the character of Magnolia. Throughout the story, she’s portrayed as a difficult and unlikable person, and by the end, I couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for her. The way her character was handled felt a bit jarring—she went from being depicted as terrible to suddenly being portrayed as a victim. This shift didn’t feel entirely earned.

The overall situation seemed to be one big miscommunication between all parties involved, and I couldn’t help but feel that no one took responsibility except Delta. I felt genuinely sorry for Delta, as she didn’t deserve the treatment she received, and I wish there had been more resolution for her.

While I would consider this a "clean" read overall, it does include mentions of a homosexual relationship and a few curse words (three to be specific). There was also a lack of separation in the timeline when reflecting on Mack and Lincoln’s past relationship, which made it a bit confusing, especially in the audiobook version. This might be clearer in the physical book, but the audiobook didn’t provide a clear distinction between the present and past.

I did enjoy the narration overall, but I did notice that the Southern accent started strong and then faded quickly, which was a bit distracting at times.

Overall, this was a decent read with an interesting premise, but I think it could have benefited from better pacing, more character development, and clearer timeline transitions. Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus, and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

Grace Helena Walz dazzles with her captivating debut, SOUTHERN BY DESIGN, set in the stunning historic Charleston, South Carolina, where family secrets are unraveled and familial bonds are tested.

“A delightful Southern gem! Full of heart, soul, secrets, humor, and Southern charm. A captivating, impressive debut for fans of Dorothea Benton Frank and Kristy Woodson Harvey.”

We follow a woman who is courageously pursuing her dreams, striving to build a life free from her mother's control and ex-husband while on a quest to find her biological father. As she navigates a new TV design remodel show, a business, and single motherhood, she also grapples with the aftermath of past love and the possibility of a second chance at romance that was once stolen from her years ago.

About...

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop owns Bishop Builds, and they have lost their Charleston fellowship. On top of that, her husband, Grady Edgar Suffolk, III, sent an unsolicited personal photo to a woman that has caused an embarrassing stir in Charleston.

After kicking her unfaithful husband out of her life, Mack is entangled in a web of complex relationships. Her mother, an influential and controlling figure, is best friends with her ex's mother. This intricate network of connections, coupled with past betrayals, adds a layer of tension and drama to the story.

She dreads going to her mom for help with a new historical project, the prestigious Daniel House. At least she has her seven-year-old smart daughter, Hallie, who speaks her mind. She has impeccable taste and is the highlight of her life.

Mack's mother, the original Magnolia Bishop of Beaufort, SC, of privilege, has strings attached to any project. She is all about social status and loves to control Mack's life. Mack does not need someone to micromanage her team. Her mom sits on the Carolina Historical Society Board, and half of her friends are tied up in the Charleston Historic Preservation Board. So there you go.

Mack has never given up trying to find her biological dad, but her mom always brushes her off.

She and her team, Fitz, her right-hand man (love him), an old college friend, and her staff are invited to do a TV series to cover the renovation. This opportunity could be a game-changer for her business, but she must keep this a secret from her mom as long as possible, adding another layer of complexity to her already complicated life.

Amidst the excitement of the new show, Mack finds herself navigating the complexities of being a single mom, dealing with Grady's lack of involvement, and getting distracted by the new neighbor next door.

This new neighbor is Lincoln, her past love who moved to NYC for a photography career, and his young son, now her daughter's best friend. Their unexpected reunion adds a new layer of past feelings and spice to Mack's life.

Mack's life is far from ordinary between her controlling mom, the challenges of renovating a historical home, the TV show, her ex, trying to find her father, and the rekindling of past feelings.

However, when a tragedy strikes, the mystery of the past will resurface, not just for Mack but also for her mom, potentially altering their lives. This unforeseen twist will test their relationships and force them to confront their past, leading to a dramatic and emotional climax.

My thoughts...

Oh, how I loved this book! From the stunning front cover to the allure of the historic Charleson, from design, a home reno TV show- Holy City Flip, heartbreak, new beginnings, Southern sass, family secrets of the past, self-discovery, a new romance, and second chances—SOUTHERN BY DESIGN has it all!

Grace deftly explores the familial ties that bind us — and those that have the power to break us. Walz is a significant new voice in Southern fiction and the real deal, folks.

When the past and present converge, it is explosive, heartbreaking, and compelling. Grace pulls the reader into the hearts and souls of her characters with ample emotions, secrets, privileges (haves and have not), and consequences—showcasing the lengths they go to protect their families and friends.

I loved the mystery, the family secrets, the design elements, the show, the humor, the well-developed characters, and all the things we love about women's Southern fiction. It is an impressive debut, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!

This is a beautiful story for Valentine's and Mother's Day and an ideal choice for book clubs.

Interview...

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A, where we go behind the book's scenes and the author—and Southern storyteller. (pub day, Feb 11)

Audiobook...

I had the honor of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook performed by the talented Amanda Stribling, enhancing the story with her Southern accent and charm. The characters come alive, keeping you glued to your AirPods while engaging and entertaining you with humor, adventure, family drama, mystery, and romance.

Recs...

SOUTHERN BY DESIGN is for fans of Dorothea Benton Frank, Victoria Benton Frank, Anne Rivers Siddons, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Karen White, and Wendy's Wax's Ten Beach Road series (all favorites).

Thanks to Harper Muse and HarperCollins Focus for an ALC and ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Feb 11, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
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On a personal note: With a commercial design & architectural background, and later with website hotel and resort clients in Charleston for many years, I loved traveling there monthly to visit and spend time in this beautiful historic city. From the events, the history, the restaurants, food, shops, people, the atmosphere, charm, and architecture—it is one of my top Southern cities!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

I’m always drawn to stories set in the South, so I was excited for this one—and for the most part, it delivered! The dynamic between Mack (Magnolia II) and her mom, Magnolia, was spot on, though I’ll admit it could be a little frustrating at times.

The story itself was a great mix of Fixer Upper and Sweet Magnolias, with a charming small-town setting, home renovation fun, and a mostly coming-of-age journey post-divorce. The characters were strong, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing them to life with distinct voices and accents.

If you enjoy Southern family drama (with a mama who has no boundaries), some lighthearted humor, and a sweet, closed-door second-chance romance, this is a delightful listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz is a charming Southern women’s fiction debut with a strong, relatable lead in Magnolia “Mack” Bishop. I enjoyed the small-town setting and the mix of personal and professional challenges Mack faces. The family dynamics and romance add depth, but the plot and pacing felt predictable at times, and the romance didn’t fully captivate me. Overall, it was a solid read, but not as impactful as I’d hoped. 3.5 stars.

3.75 stars. I think there was definitely promise for this story description, but I didn't enjoy the execution as much as I thought I would. I feel like the MMC was just a background character although he was definitely important. I did enjoy the southern charm of the setting and the accent of the narrator. I would definitely recommend for fans of Fixer Upper.

This is an enjoyable southern family drama about a newly divorced mother with her dream career. While predictable, this is a story with well loved characters and a happy ending.

Newly divorced, Magnolia ‘Mack’ Bishop was so close to her dream of securing Charleston’s prestigious Historic Preservation Design Fellowship. With the loss of that dream her mother, the original Magnolia Bishop, has secured Mack a new design job with plenty of strings attached. When a home renovation television network reached out to Mack’s design firm about applying for a TV pilot, Mack knows this is her chance to get out from under her mother’s thumb and prove to everyone that she is a success. As her and her team prepare for the pilot – Mack will find herself facing questions and people from her past. Will these end up derailing her newly built life? Or will she finally be able to answer questions she’s had all her life.

I enjoyed this book but found it slightly lacking in execution. There were so many areas that could have been flushed out to really draw a reader in, but overall, I still found myself enjoying the story. As a debut, I think it could have used a bit more editing and focus -as the plot seemed to be stretched and trying to do too many things and felt it didn’t commit to any singular trope or topic. For example, it seemed it could have easily gone down as a romance, but lacked any true chemistry, instead brushing over the opportunity a bit. However, I did find our characters to be charming (minus her ex) and as a big fan of design shows, I loved the concept of Mack’s livelihood.

If you are a big fan of renovation shows, you will love Southern By Design. Filled with plenty of colorful characters, southern charm, and of course home design – this was a cute story perfect for an easy beach read. I’d certainly be interested to see what a sophomore approach looks like for Walz. 3.5 rounded up to 4 for the ‘easy breezy’ atmosphere.


Southern By Design comes out February 11, 2025! Huge thank you to Harper Muse for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my:

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I thought this book was a hug from HGTV. I did think that it was a little hard to get into the first couple chapters, with a bit of confusing texts but it all circled back at the end of the book to make more sense. I did feel it kept my interest the whole time so all in all it was a good book.

I had an audiobook version of this ARC and while I found the story interesting, I couldn't deal with the exaggerated southern accents the narrator used (I understand this could be their natural accent and that other readers probably adore this narrator for the atmosphere it creates. I just found it distracting). I've lived in and around the Charleston area my whole life, so you'd think I wouldn't even notice the accent, but I did. I'd love to pick up a different format of this novel and give the plot the review it really deserves.

Very empowering and cute read! I wish there had been more Lincoln content and more context for Grady’s scandal, but overall I enjoyed it a lot. Full review on Instagram

This contemporary story was a great book to sit back and relax with. It have an adorable storyline with family drama and a relatable main character!

I was obsessed with this book! The narrator's voice was perfect for the role. She emphasized the correct points and demonstrated the sassiness of the main character.

I would definitely recommend this audiobook to my friends and followers. The southern voice fits the character perfectly and the story was really fun and entertaining.

This isn't a book I would have necessarily just picked up and read, but I'm SO GLAD I did. I like the story throughout and it kept me interested, I actually binge listened to it in a few days.

This was a sweet book. I’m glad I got to read it from NetGalley. It’s well worth the read if you haven’t read it it’s definitely a great pallet cleanser

I received an advanced listening copy of this audiobook. This is my own opinion.

It’s probably a little weird that I’m as big a fan of this sort of hgtv with a side of family drama book (A la Mary Kay Andrews and Dorothea Benton) but I guess this is where my inner coastal grandmother comes out to shine in my thirties 😂

Anyway. I feel like this book neatly fits into the genre of hgtv fiction. Mack restores old homes and runs into an old flame, all while dealing with her overbearing society mother. This book is a cute, easy listen, especially if you’re into a lot of family drama while hanging wallpaper.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collin’s for the ALC!

3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

I got very confused very early on who was who and what was going on. I felt like I was missing important information and the story moved too fast to early, that it made me not care about the people in the story.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Southern by Design by Grace Helena Walz. This debut novel is a second-chance romance that also includes an overbearing but well-meaning mother. Charleston is one of my favorite cities (maybe because I lived there for a time) and this book transported me to the city streets with every description of a home or character. The narrator's southern accent was perfect.

4 stars!

Southern by Design tells the heartwarming story of Mack Bishop, a determined and creative woman working to establish her home design business while chasing her dream of landing a reality TV show. Set in the charming backdrop of the South, the novel explores themes of family, love, and second chances.

Mack’s journey becomes more complicated—and unexpectedly exciting—when she discovers her new neighbor is none other than her first love, Lincoln Kelly. Their shared past is marked by heartbreak, but the connection between them rekindles when Lincoln’s son and Mack’s daughter quickly bond, forming a deep friendship. As Mack and Lincoln spend more time together, old wounds begin to heal, and they uncover the truth about why their relationship ended. The influence of “southern traditions,” where families often believe that “like marries like,” had played a major role in their heartbreak.

The story also delves into the dynamics between Mack and her mother, Magnolia. Throughout her life, Magnolia has tried to dictate what she believes is best for Mack, often causing tension. However, as the story unfolds, Magnolia comes to understand that she and Mack aren’t so different after all. This realization brings a sense of closure and reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of letting go of generational expectations in order to allow personal happiness.

The novel’s focus on family relationships and the challenges of blending past and present creates a compelling and emotional narrative. Mac’s determination to follow her dreams, despite obstacles, makes her a relatable and inspiring character. Her journey demonstrates resilience and the importance of staying true to oneself while balancing the influence of family and tradition.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collind for this free audio copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Southern by Design is the debut novel by Grace Helena Walz, and I had the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio version. Narrated by Amanda Stribling, she did an excellent job—her Southern accent was spot-on and really brought the story to life. It was the perfect fit for this book!

Southern by Design is a charming second-chance romance. While it did have some slower moments, particularly in the middle, I still found it enjoyable overall.

Publication date- Feb 11 2025
#SouthernbyDesign #NetGalley

4.5 ⭐️s | What a great debut novel!! This book had so many layers and as the story progressed, the author did a fantastic job of peeling them back like an onion.

The first chapter opens with a preview of a scene the reader revisits in the last few chapters of the book. I was immediately drawn in wanting to know more about the circumstances under which this crazed woman (Magnolia Bishop Sr.) was smashing heirloom china.

From the first page, the reader is immersed in this Southern socialite world and the MC (Magnolia “Mack” Bishop Jr.) who desperately wants to escape it—along with the puppet strings of her controlling mother.

As an interior designer focusing on historical restorations, she’s focused on finding her own footing as she and her husband (the son of her mother’s longtime best friend) go through divorce proceedings. But her world comes undone when her young adult flame moves back to Charleston from New York and their worlds collide. This opens a closet full of skeletons that none of them are prepared for.

This story was so engaging, full of twists and turns. I was invested in Mack and Lincoln’s story as well as Mack and Magnolia’s. This was Southern women’s fiction at its finest.

I received an eALC of this title via NetGalley from Harper Muse. All opinions are my own.

Content considerations: pregnancy out of wedlock; secondary character in same-sex relationship; light language

Loved this book! As a Southerner myself, I see myself and EVERY woman I've ever known in the pages of this title. It was hilarious and poignant and an overall great story that made me want to redecorate something! Can't wait to see more by this author!