What an enjoyable and cozy book. Chasing your dreams and even finding some new love. Lots of family secrets and surprises. Very enjoyable and great narration. I would love to listen to more by this author.

I want to give a big thank you to HarperCollins Focus, NetGalley and the author Grace Helena Walz, for allowing me to have an advance listener copy of Southern by Design - which releases on February 11, 2025.

I did not finish this book at 16% I wanted to love it because it sounded so good, but I couldn’t get into the story.

On the surface, this is basic Southern white lady fiction. On a deeper level, though, Southern by Design explores the complexities of family dynamics and how wealth, while seemingly offering freedom, can sometimes become a tool for control. It’s a beautifully layered story about breaking free, chasing dreams, and defining your life on your own terms.

When I saw that this book was being compared to "Sweet Magnolias," I knew I had to read it. Although I haven't read the books, I love the TV show. It captures that sweet, emotional essence of female friendship that really touches my heart.

While this story doesn't center on friendship, it is a charming Southern tale filled with family drama, lost love, and a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Mack, who is newly divorced, is raising her daughter as a co-parent while also trying to secure a job on a reality TV series focused on restoring old houses with her design company.

Amid this chaos, her mother decides to insert herself into the spotlight that the project is gaining. When an unexpected person moves in next door, long-hidden family secrets come to light. The narrative is both sweet and bittersweet, leaving space for hope. Not everything concludes on a happy note, but lessons are learned in wholesome ways. This was an enjoyable debut.

A promising premise in theory was watered down in its execution. This is a debut and I felt there was genuine potential.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is a newly single mother who dreams of making it on her own terms in home renovation particularly historic homes.

A video submission to a renovation show could lead to an incredible opportunity.

Mack’s in for a shock when she gets a peek 👀 at her new neighbor. The guy who walked away with her heart fifteen years prior.

Her controlling mother has been calling the shots for Mack’s entire life, so much so Mack calls her “The Dragon”. 🐉 I kept wondering will this woman ever grow a backbone?

The narration began like a caricature of a southern accent. Quickly the accent was disregarded completely 👍🏻 which was a good call.

A sizable chunk of this novel should be edited out to present a more streamlined version. Beginning with the earlier part of the dual timeline that is unnecessary and in many areas redundant. However the biggest flaw the story has is that a lack of direction. There’s a meandering quality stemming from too many threads. There are so many that they become underdeveloped, rushed, and messy as a result. And what ends up happening is there are sections that have too much tell and not enough show. For example I didn’t feel anyone fall in love. I liked the characters well enough, but I didn’t know them because the plot was zipping around so much there wasn’t time to.

Overall this was underwhelming, but had the author taken a few ideas, dug in, and developed them the book could’ve been fantastic. Trying to cram too many sub-plots into a single story doesn’t work.

If you are a fan of home renovation shows you might want to give this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the Advanced Listening Copy. These are my unbiased opinions.

The narrator was the perfect fit for this book! Was a bit of a slow start but turned out to be fantastic! What a great story of family drama and sometimes how secrets aren’t worth keeping. You won’t be disappointed!

Magnolia "Mack" Bishop has just become a single mother due to her husband sending unsolicited "personal pictures" to another woman and it went viral. While her marriage is over and she is adjusting to being a single parent to a 7 year old girl, her professional life is booming. She is a successful designer that just landed a fellowship with the historical preservation team in Charleston. Her team has also been contacted by a tv network to submit an audition tape for her own design show! Things are looking pretty good for Mack professionally.

The biggest hurtle Mack must overcome currently is her mother, the original Magnolia Bishop. She lives for being the top of the social ladder in Charleston and has been assigned as the project lead for the first project Mack has for the historical preservation team. Can Mack handle working with her mother? To add another drama to the mix, Mack's old flame, Lincoln Kelly, has just bought the house next door to Mack. Fifteen years ago, he up and left for New York, breaking her heart. Now he is back and also a single parent to a little boy. Can they get past their hurtful past?

This book has great characters that are brought to life through the writing. It's a Southern drama mixed with an HGTV home makeover and I enjoyed the journey!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the audiobook for review. Publication date is Feb. 11, 2025.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This is a Southern Delight. Reminiscent of movies like Steel Magnolias and Sweet Home Alabama with a dash of HGTV. The narrator reminds me of Reese Witherspoon and is a joy to listen to. Listening to this book I feel like I have walked into the South. The author does an amazing job of creating characters and environments with words. She makes you feel like you are there. While there is technically a romance included, the story is so much more than that. It is really a story about family dynamics and relationships. How our families are generally trying to do what is best for us from their own perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4⭐️
.5🌶

This was a cute second chance romance! The pacing felt slow at times, but the twist and emotional payoff at the end were wonderful! This book follows Mac, our leading lady, as she navigates through life as a newly single mom who is trying to stand on her own 2 feet and continue making her business a success. While dealing with a helicopter mom and a less than amicable soon to be ex-husband, Mac gets the opportunity of a lifetime to audition for her own tv show featuring homes she designs. Sounds like a lot, right? Then, out of nowhere, her summer love from college moves in NEXT DOOR?! The man who left to chase his dreams in NYC is back in Charleston, and it turns out the spark didn't die out between Mac and Lincoln even after all of these years. This is a sweet second chance romance that left Me with a smile on my face.

Publication Date: February 11th, 2025

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is set near Charleston and follows two storylines—one from Mack’s college years and the other in the present day.

I listened to the audiobook, and it truly brought the story to life, almost like watching a reality TV show with a Southern charm.

It reminds me of Sweet Magnolias in some ways, though it stands out with its unique twists. There’s drama, a mother on a journey to rediscover herself, and a single mom raising her daughter.

The story offers so much more, including themes of personal growth and learning how to navigate life’s challenges. And I enjoyed most of the characters

you just have to read it when it comes out in February

Thank You Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus and Harper Muse
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars. When the description says Sweet Magnolias meets Fixer Upper they weren’t lying. I received an ARC of the audiobook and felt like I was in an episode of Sweet Magnolias the whole time. Cute story.

Mack Bishop is divorcing her husband and business partner after a scandal. Despite this, she's focused on winning a prestigious design fellowship in Charleston. However, a disastrous house tour ruins her chances. Her controlling mother, Magnolia Bishop Sr., swoops in with a project, but with strings attached, including keeping the identity of Mack's estranged father a secret.

Mack sees a chance to prove herself when a TV network calls for local designers, and she pitches a home renovation show with a historic preservation twist. But she has to keep it a secret from her mother.

Things get more complicated when Mack's first love, Lincoln Kelly, moves in next door, bringing up old feelings from their past summer romance. He is the one she never forgot.

Southern by Design is a solid debut novel that combines humor, family dynamics, and personal growth.

While the novel may not deliver the heavy romance some readers might expect, it more than makes up for it with a compelling story about independence, overcoming obstacles, and carving out one's own path. Mack’s journey of professional and personal growth is a key focus, and her determination to succeed in a world that feels set up to keep her down is both inspiring and relatable.

That said, I do wish there had been more interaction with Lincoln and Foster. I feel there was lost potential by not having more interactions with all four of them.

I about died laughing every time Mack's mother was called Magnolia Sr.

Overall, Southern by Design is a promising start for the author. I'm excited to see what comes next and look forward to more from them in the future.

Amanda Stribling narrates the audiobook.

Oh, and I love the bright cover- it is gorgeous!

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel by Grace Helena Walz oozes southern charm. Set in Charleston, SC, SOUTHERN BY DESIGN transports the reader to this vibrant, historic city.

The book has a little bit of everything: a second chance romance, a strained mother-daughter relationship, a soon-to-be divorcee navigating single parenthood, an unexpected redemption arc, and a design based reality tv show. Somehow it’s just right and never too much.

I alternated between the print and audio versions and both delivered. Not once during the reading of or listening to this book did I ever forget it was taking place in the Deep South. There were references to old money, debutante balls, and polite society juxtaposed against the pursuit of dreams and relationships that challenged tradition.

Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is a fully nuanced character. Even as an adult she is torn between seeking her mother’s approval and following her own heart. I was rooting for her to find her voice and her happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperColins Focus, Harper Muse for the advance copies in exchange for my unbiased review.

I loved the southern drama, the family dynamics and the romance. Fun story that kept my interest and made me want to plan a trip somewhere south.

Mack Bishop has spent her entire life trying to appease her mother. Part of keeping her mother happy includes marrying her mother's best friend's son. Years later this marriage has come to its inevitable end. Mack is making the best of things and throwing herself into her business. Mack now has the opportunity to shine on her own. She is given the opportunity to have her own TV show featuring the old houses she restores.

When Mack is starting to settle into her new life, moving trucks show up next door. While trying to get a look at who is moving in, she notices it just isn't a random person next door. Her new neighbor is going to be her first love, the one that got away. As fate has it, they become close and eventually discover the truth behind the decision that pulled them apart so many years ago.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the audiobook ARC

First of all I am usually not a fan of single narrator books but I did love this one. The narrator was great and I felt like she did a wonderful job capturing the main characters voice. I just don’t like when female narrators narrate male character parts. It messes with my head 🤣 but there was more of the female character than the male so it was ok.

A big huge complaint I have is that there was a 16 second pause between each chapter so it was frustrating at yikes to listen to because I kept thinking something was wrong with the book. I hope that gets fixed before it’s published fingers crossed 🤞🏻

As far as the story goes I loved it!!! I am a huge southern charm fan ok ok so a huge reality TV fan 🤫 so I loved this! The main character Magnolia “Mack” Bishop comes from southern elite. She’s trying to navigate that life and a divorce. It’s a beautiful story of growth and I will be buying the hard copy as a trophy when it comes out!

Southern By Design
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I Loved this book. It was a pure Southern delight. It transported me to the streets of Charleston. It was so fun & enjoyable. I loved the ending! It is filled with hope, Southern charm, fun, love, friendship, discovery, & even a horrible character that will drive you crazy.
Thank you NetGalley