Book Review: ‘Southern By Design: A Novel’ By Grace Helena Walz

by | Jan 24, 2025 | Books | 0 comments


The book is in stores on Tuesday, Feb. 11th from Harper Muse. Click on the link to buy a copy. https://amzn.to/4h2SlMQ

Magnolia, who likes to be called Mack, is married to Grady and has a young daughter and lives in Charleston. Her overbearing mother is rich and part of society. She has a home renovation company along with Mack, who she’s now divorcing, after finding out he’s been sending dick pics to women. When she loses a fellowship, her mother gets her company hired to renovate a historical home, Then they may be part of a home renovation TV show and a pilot is filmed. On the personal front, Mack, gets a new neighbor, Lincoln and his son, the man she was in love with 15 years ago in college and who loved her back. It ended when he went to New York for his career. When Mack learns a shocking secret about Lincoln and his job all those years ago, it leads to a confrontation with her mother and she also finally learns who her father is, she has never known and it leads to more shocking secrets being revealed. Mack finally figures out what she wants, it leads to a new relationship with her mother, Lincoln and her business. This is a heart-warming, well-written Southern novel, with interesting characters, second chances and new beginnings. A great debut novel.