This story is beautifully told. It reminded me of her mother’s work which shows the incredible relationship they must have had. This book had splashes of everything, but it was a good family story at its heart. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you Gallery Books for my #gifted ARC and thank you Simon Audio for my #gifted listening copy of The Violet Hour! #GalleryInfluencer #gallerybooks #simonaudio #VictoriaBentonFrank #TheVioletHour

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞; 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧-𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰, 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐄𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐳𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The Violet Hour is the second book in the Lowcountry Tale series, but can absolutely be read as a standalone book. This book focuses on Violet Adams, who is the youngest child in the family, living on Sullivan’s Island. After a breakup and a subsequent tragedy, she struggles with who she is after so much change in her life. Her best friend, Aly, is also struggling after losing her mother and adjusting to life in the South. Violet is ready to help Aly find success as a new influencer and even love in South Carolina.

This book reminded me a lot of Kristy Woodson Harvey type book, and I think fans of her books will really love this one (and also My Magnolia Summer). This is the perfect summer read and I loved the focus on friendship, family, and the beach setting. This one was really heartwarming and I would definitely recommend it for a beach/poolside read!

🎧The audiobook was narrated by a full cast of narrators and I love how they brought the audiobook to life. It was easy to follow along with the cast and I while some of the narrators were ones that I have listened to before, some were new to me and I enjoyed listening to some new narrators who I would definitely listen to again! I thought everything about the narration was top-notch and would definitely recommend the audio!

Posted on Goodreads on August 10, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around August 10, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on August 12, 2025
**-will post on designated date

What a fun book, there is a lot of story packed into this. I did read and enjoy the first low country book, but this does stand on its own.

This book has every sort of relationship drama you can imagine: Sisters, father-daughter, and dating as a new widow. It does nicely explore each as a different but intertwining storyline. This leads to great storytelling and a nice pace because you always want to read on to see what happens next. Somehow, to me, the level of drama was believable, but it feels just far enough away that its impact is entertainment, not stress.

The Low-county setting of downtown Charleston is so idyllic and adds to the charm of the story. I enjoyed the characters and breezed through this in about four days.

An engaging Low Country story filled with family and friends as they struggle through doubts, new beginnings, long held secrets and dilemmas. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Family and friends…starting over…relationships. This is book two 8n this series…the characters are trying to make their lives better…some success in this endeavor…enjoy…thanks Netgalley

A large family gets together in the Low Country in South Carolina. And as with most families, there is usually some drama and this family is no exception. A fun, entertaining read

Thanks to Gallery for my advance copy of The Violet Hour by Victoria Benton Frank.

The Violet Hour is a sequel to My Magnolia Summer and I recommend reaching that one first. These are both part of the Lowcountry Tale series.

This book continues the story of the two sisters, but it's Violet's turn, After a stillbirth and her relationship failing, Violet is trying to put her life back together and relies on her family and friends to help her. Her friend Aly also has a point of view in the story and we see these two become closer friends as they both try to figure out their next steps.

I wanted to like this one more, but I found Aly really immature. I get that Joyce was the worst, but she could have dealt with it better and at times it felt very name-droppy to Charleston in a weird way.

This is a book about family, relationships and trusting yourself after tragedy. If you like Southern fiction you'll enjoy this book.
I will read more of VBFs books as they transport me to the year i lived in Charleston and I loved Sullivan's Island and going to Station 32 to sit on the beach.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. This is the second in a series. The first book was entertaining, but the writing in this one seems under par from the first. It seemed to copy Elin Hildebrand in the way it "name-dropped" brands and restaurants, which I find EXTREMELY lazy. It also had a chapter that took place in Nantucket. The timeline seemed off in relation to the first book, and many sentences were repetitive. The believability was a stretch, and the Joyce character was over the top obnoxious. If the father had half a brain, he would have wised up sooner to her. The character of Henry seemed promising, but was never fleshed out. This was a slap-dash sequel.

This was my first time reading a book written by this author. I hadn't read the first book in the series but didn't feel like I was missing anything.

This story was told in dual POVs which I love. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with either of the main characters. The characters and their storylines felt a bit childish especially Aly's character. There were also too many different storylines happening at once that I just didn't connect with it.

“ we just make the best choice at the time with the most information we have, and we try to protect the ones we love.”
This is book two in the series, while book one dealt with Maggie in this book, we get a little Maggie, but we get a lot more of her sister Violet, and Violet’s friend Ally.

Each of these women are at a different point in their life, and going through their own growing pains.

Years ago, Violet and Maggie’s grandmother made a decision that has come to light and will affect Violet and Maggie going forward.

Ally is grieving the loss of her mom and trying to find her place either in her mom’s company or in her own life.

I loved book one and I have to say I really enjoyed returning to lowcountry, sweet tea, porches, beaches, and these three amazing women.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Violet Hour
By: Victoria Benton Frank
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub Date: 8/12/25

This is the second book in the Lowcountry Tale series. I love love love these! Victoria’s writing is so on point and always makes you feel like you're in the deep south! She writes just enough like her mom to fill that void for me!
This book focuses on Violet. She’s the youngest in their family of all strong, passionate and emotional women after a horrible tragedy. Violet is getting her feedback under her and has begun photographing weddings. She’s questioning her life choices and the path she sees ahead for herself. The setting was gorgeous as always, I really love the family connection you feel with these women.
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This was a quick easy book to read.
It’s full of some family drama and some hot romance.
It’s a perfect beach read!

I would like to note that I hadn't read the first book in this series, but I didn't feel like I had to to understand the story.

I think we are at a time when authors aren't writing about real life as much. I know when I was twenty something and living in NYC, I wanted books set there, but the storylines always seemed far fetched and now that I'm older, I want more substance, which this book provided. As a grief coach, I appreciated how grief was handled in this book. It's not a "one size fits all" journey and that was clear. This also tackles compounded grief and the reality that a break up can be just as hard to mourn as a death or other life change.

This was a more difficult book for me to get into, but it is well written and the characters are developed well.

I appreciate netgalley allowing me to read an arc of this book.

This sequel to the author's previous novel features the two sisters, plus a friend who's stepping into the shoes of her late lifestyle influencer mother.
Good story, but I did not find it as enjoyable as the other novel.

The Violet Hour is a sequel to Magnolia Summer but can be read as a stand alone. Many of the characters are the same but this book focuses on Violet and her bestie Aly. They are both going through difficult times but in the end, their strength and friendship see them through.

This book felt like a warm hug with a side of growing pains. Frank’s strength lies in her richly drawn female relationships! Violet’s family is loud, loving, and flawed, while her dynamic with Aly (a standout character!) balances grief with wry humor. The Lowcountry setting is pure magic. You can taste the peach tea and feel the ocean breeze. While the multi-POV/timeline hops took some adjusting, the emotional payoff made it worth it.

The Violet Hour by Victoria Benton Frank was a perfect beach read! It was fun to head back to Low Country and experience it through Victoria's voice. I truly loved the emphasis on female friendships and the inspiring journey of self-discovery following significant change. Violet's growth, supported by Aly, comes across as genuinely authentic, and I appreciate when characters are authentic and relatable. The "loud, passionate women" in her family bring a delightful mix of humor and warmth to the narrative, giving it some levity. Benton Frank clearly possesses a profound love for Low Country, which radiates through her writing, making the setting feel like an essential character in its own right. I did feel as though the ending was kind of rushed and missing something. Overall, a fantastic read!

The Violet Hour is book two in the series from Victoria Benton Frank. The first book was My Magnolia Summer. It is about two friends Aly and Violet. This story is about mostly Violet. It is told in alternate storylines. A wonderful southern fiction set in the low country. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books.

This is book 2 in the series, A Lowcountry Tale. Victoria is carrying on a wonderful tradition of good stories from the Carolina low country that her mother inspired. Returning to Sullivan's Island is like a summer vacation. Violet and Aly help each other navigate a summer of tragedy and unhappiness. Can't wait for a return visit.

I was absolutely thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of "The Violet Hour," the second book in Victoria Benton Frank's Lowcountry Tale series. As someone who lives in the Lowcountry, I was especially eager to see how she would capture the essence of this beautiful area, and let me tell you, she really delivered. The descriptions of the landscape, the vibrant food scene (I work within walking to places like Park & Grove, which is a favorite spot of mine!), and the unique atmosphere of Sullivan's Island were just spot on.

The story centers on Violet Adams, the youngest in a family of strong, passionate Lowcountry women. She's always been the steady, traditional one, but after a sudden breakup and a subsequent tragedy, she finds herself adrift, unsure of who she's supposed to be anymore. Her best friend, Aly Knox, an influencer still grappling with her own loss and adjusting to Southern living, steps in to help Violet navigate this new, uncertain chapter. It's a journey about rediscovering oneself and finding success and meaning, right here in the Lowcountry.

What I really appreciated was the focus on female friendships and the empowering journey of self-discovery after profound change. Violet's evolution, with Aly's support, feels very authentic. The "loud, passionate women" in her family are a wonderful presence, adding humor and warmth. Benton Frank clearly has a deep affection for this region, and it shines through in her writing, making the setting itself almost a character.

"The Violet Hour" is a lovely read that perfectly captures the beauty and flavor of the Lowcountry, making you feel right at home with its characters.

★★★★☆

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