Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight.

Ms. McKnight is one of m favorite writers. This may be her best. I loved the characters, loved the storyline, the setting and every word on every page.

Rhonda McKnight has found a way to captivate me again. This is a story about rediscovering your voice and healing from your past. I appreciate how she always gives homage to the Gullah Geehee culture. Alex always had a connection to the Lowcountry, but once she takes the position as the writer in residence, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and embracing her past. Her relationship with Ms. Kate helps her deal with many obstacles that were weighing her down. I also love how Gabe challenges and encourages her in subtle ways rather than be aggressive. Their romance developed organically and without judgement. This story is heartfelt and inspiring. It is a reminder that sometimes we must face our past in order to move forward.

A romance writer who is struggling with writer's block accepts as position as a writer in residence at a literacy program and encounters a potential love interest and a family secret. Though the plot was a little light, it was an enjoyable and inspiring story.

Writer in Residence was my first Rhonda McKnight novel, and it certainly will not be my last. This story captured my attention from the very first page. Alex, a writer battling writer’s block, finds herself uncovering long-buried family secrets that threaten to unravel important relationships in her life.
I especially enjoyed Gabe and Mrs. Kate, whose characters brought heart and richness to the story. At its core, this novel is a moving exploration of self-discovery, healing, and the courage it takes to face the truth. This was a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rhonda McKnight is an amazing author and storyteller. She is one of my favorite authors. I always get a good history lesson as well as good food and family. I recommend her to everyone!

A smart, intelligent and intuitive romance which only could have been written by a writer. McKnight's propensity to shine a lens on deft character detail is underscored here by her perfect snapshot of a truly writing life.


A joy to read.

I quite enjoyed this story. Alex's journey, her family history, the parts with the students, and the slow burn romance with Gabe. I've read every book this author has written about the lowcountry and while I've enjoyed all of them, the relationship with Alex and Miss Kate was my favorite. There were so many incredible lines including the ones about "noise" and "sweetgrass" and "trauma." There were so many. I just sank into the story and waited for those beautiful moments to arrive and touch my heart. I hate that it's over, but I look forward to the audiobook.

I hope she never stops giving us these stories. Easily 5 stars.

A little romance. A little family drama/ mystery. A little Gullah culture. This story was so good. I think it can be called a full circle story, everything comes together as it should even though Alex is emotional and annoying and fearful of the future and seeking the past. The characters are complex and flawed and that makes for a good story. If you enjoy a story sprinkled with romance, family drama, and culture then I recommend this book.

Soft, slow, and strangely comforting. A struggling writer, a quiet coastal setting, and a man who tells her to write what she actually feels instead of what the world expects. Low stakes, deep emotions, and the kind of story that reminds you it’s okay to take your time.

This was the book I didn’t even realize I needed until I was already in it. From the very beginning, I felt myself slipping into Alex’s world, and before I knew it, I was completely lost in the story in the best way. The writing was so beautiful and immersive that it honestly felt like I was right there in the South Carolina Lowcountry, surrounded by the atmosphere, the history, and the emotions that filled every page.

I connected deeply with Alex and found myself rooting for her in every possible way as she tried to find her voice again. Her journey felt real and relatable, especially that feeling of being stuck and unsure of what comes next. Ms. Kate completely stole my heart. There was something so grounding and powerful about her presence, and I was truly endeared to her wisdom and quiet strength. Even Beck, with her flaws, felt human and understandable, which made the story feel even more layered and honest.

This book took me on such an emotional ride. There were moments that felt tender, reflective, and even a little heavy, but it was all worth it. I tried to pace myself because I wasn’t ready for the story to end, but it was almost impossible not to devour the pages. Every chapter pulled me in deeper, and I just needed to know how it would all unfold.

What really stayed with me is the message at the heart of the story. Sometimes the story you’re meant to write isn’t just on the page, it’s your own future. That idea felt powerful and personal, and it made Alex’s journey even more meaningful. This was a beautiful story about love, identity, healing, and second chances, and it’s one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Thanks Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

A story wrapped in generational trauma, history and the power of forgiveness. I adored it! The writing was beautifully done without being overly descriptive. I felt like I was watching a movie.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rhonda McKnight is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
I love her stories and this one did not disappoint. Love loved this beautiful novel of 2nd chance romance between two wonderful characters that I enjoyed in getting to know.
I couldn't put this story down! I felt like I was in the book and didn't want to leave after thr story was over.
A great history lesson for historical lovers like me and awesome food to drool over. Yummy.
Family, friendship and relationships are thrown in along the way to keep you turning the pages long into the night.
I'm looking forward to her next novel. I'm telling y'all, you won't be able to put this book down trust me!
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend it
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

As a frequent reader of Rhonda McKnight’s novels I had high expectations for this book. The author has penned another winner.

Writer in Residence had all the elements of books I love. Romance, Suspense, and Inspiration. With all the uncertainties Alexandra was facing, she still found time to pour time into children that needed her.

As always there was a statement made that will stick with readers. “The same way we don’t get to inherit someone’s salvation, we also don’t get their hell.”

I highly recommend this novel. Thank you NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This books was so beautifully written. The way she describes the people, places and everything else is almost poetic. In this novel we get to watch a woman rediscover who she is while also finding love. She has to let go of who she feels she is supposed to be to find her new voice. She also is learning a lot about her past and family. The love she finds in this book was so well written I could feel their connection through the pages. Excellently done.

Warm, reflective, and emotionally rich, *Writer in Residence* explores love, creativity, and second chances in a heartfelt, character-driven contemporary story.

Home. Writer in Residence felt like home. It was a balm to my soul. I could smell the salt marsh from Edisto Island. I could visualize the kids playing in the unkempt yard envisioning a better life.

Alex is a romance author that has lost her passion, her muse to write. Her mother, Beck, encouraged (forced) Alex to attend a literary. event that led to a course of events that will change Alex forever.

Writer In Residence gives insight on the Gullah/Geechee culture. family secrets, cultural grief/betrayal, found family and renewal in self with romance sprinkled in beautifully.

This book is going into my top 10 of the year! A 5 star read!!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for the advanced read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity of an early review.
This book was full of mystery, full of emotions, and truly amazing.
I was entertained from the very beginning and couldn´t stop reading.

In the first place, the story was about a bestselling writer, Alex,l in a writing block that she wasn´t able to get off.
When a former library director and now published author, Gabe, asks her to be his substitute for the summer for classes in the Lowcountry Literacy Center and offers her free accommodation for the time being, she decides to grab the opportunity and possibly lose her writing block.

What she hadn´t counted on was to enjoy teaching like she had before she started her career as a full-time author and help students from low-income families.
Her journey brings her to discover a well-hidden history of her mother´s family, and her slow-growing attraction to Gabe reaches a new level.

The whole story is dedicated to self-healing, forgiveness, and the heritage of Gullah culture.

I immensely enjoyed the writing of this author. If you love clean romance and mystery, you need to pick this one.

I LOVED this book. It is beautifully written. I would love nothing more than to share a meal, sip some sweet tea, sit in the garden, and simply listen at the feet of Ms. Kate as she shares her history and wisdom. The descriptions are so vivid that I could easily imagine myself taking in the beauty and smelling the food.

Alex was really frustrating at the beginning with all the complaining and negativity; though I understood it. Alex needed those kids just as much as they needed Alex. I can’t imagine what it would be like to never get answers, only to be devastated by the truth once it’s known.

Gabe. “Now that’s a good man, Savannah.” I loved their banter and the way the relationship developed, especially how Gabe chose love.

I enjoy continuing to learn more about the history of the Gullah Geechee people, and Ms. McKnight’s books always make me want to visit the Lowcountry.

This is a story about forgiveness, healing, generational trauma, history, and choosing love. One of my favorite quotes from the book perfectly sums it up:

“Love heals wounds and trauma. Love opens the pathway for more love. Love will find forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation if we let it.”

I had already preordered the audiobook when I read description of the upcoming book, and I can’t wait to immerse myself in this book all over again when it’s released.

Writer in Residence was exactly what I needed.
​The Setting: Beautifully descriptive.
​The Journey: Emotional and relatable.
​The Writing: Smooth and engaging.
It’s soulful, it’s cozy, and the character growth is everything. If you love stories about finding your voice and second chances, add this to your TBR immediately. 💓💓

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

Rhonda McKnight’s writing speaks to my soul. Her descriptions of the Gullah Geechie culture and people speak to my need for discovery and exploration of my people. My grandmother was from Manning so this book felt very familiar and comforting to me. The main character was frustrating at times because of her constant comparison of herself with everyone but her background made sense of it.

The complexity of the family secrets, and the budding relationship with her cousin brought such depth to this story. Ms. Kate was such a positive and spiritual presence in Alex’s life. I just LOVED HER! The romance had me kicking and giggling. The way Rhonda wrote such sexy and sensual moments without the explicit description made me so happy! It was a just a beautiful pure romance and in my eyes Gabe is an elite book boyfriend. 😍🥰 He always said the right things and his affirmations to Alex of who she is and what’s she’s capable of made me fall in love with him as well.

This book was not only entertaining but there were so many 💎 gems for life dropped within these pages. I highlighted so much. I cannot wait to get the physical book as a trophy. So many awesome life lessons that made me think. I loved this book and at this point I’ll ready anything Rhonda writes.

Writers in Residence by Rhonda McKnight is the kind of novel that insists you slow down and listen to your voice, your lineage, and the life waiting for you beyond fear. I couldn’t put this book down. Through Alex’s journey as a writer-in-residence, McKnight beautifully explores what it means to be creatively blocked and spiritually disconnected and how both can begin to open through community, culture, and care. As a therapist and school counselor, I was moved by the way Alex pours into young writers in the Gullah Geechee community, advocating for accessibility and making space for their stories to matter.

The romance between Alex and Gabe happens with a sweet steadiness. Gabe’s patience and clarity offer a grounding contrast to Alex’s uncertainty.

Alex’s reckoning with her family history and identity is the core strength of the story for me. As she uncovers the truth about her father, she begins to understand that her healing is not just personal and it’s ancestral. This novel is a reminder that sometimes writing our stories is how we rewrite what was never spoken, and in doing so, we create new possibilities for ourselves and those who come after us.

Whenever I see a book being described as a warm hug, I'll always think of Writer in Residence

This book was a warm hug. The writing, the storytelling, soothing even during the hard parts.

It was comfort for my soul

Its the kind of story that makes you smile, feel hopeful, cant wait to learn more about something new. The history, the life experiences of the characters, their communities and all they survived.

Its a book I wish I was reading while sipping some cool lemonade on a porch on a warm summer day surrounded by a garden..........Gabe, Alex, Ms. Kate, Regina and all the kids at the Lowcountry Literacy Center, we're perfect!

Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight was such a beautiful, heartfelt read. This book felt like a love letter to healing, heritage, second chances, and finding your voice again when life has made you feel like you lost it. Alexandra “Alex” Chambers is a writer who is struggling creatively and emotionally, and watching her step into the Lowcountry and slowly reconnect with herself, her purpose, her family history, and love was so moving.

Rhonda McKnight writes with so much warmth and intention. The setting felt alive, the Gullah Geechee culture was honored beautifully, and every layer of the story felt meaningful. I loved how this wasn’t just a romance, but a journey of identity, grief, courage, and self-discovery. Alex’s growth felt real, and her connection with Gabriel brought such softness and hope to the story.

This book reminded me that sometimes the thing we are running from is exactly what leads us back to ourselves. It was emotional, tender, inspiring, and full of heart. Rhonda McKnight has such a gift for writing stories that feel comforting while still making you reflect deeply. Writer in Residence is the kind of book that stays with you after the last page, and I absolutely loved it.