I read and enjoyed many novels by Victoria Benton Frank’s mother, Dorothea Benton Frank. Were she still alive, I think that this parent would be very proud of her child.
Like Dorothea BF, Victoria writes stories that are set in the Low Country. The settings are beautifully described and offer a virtual trip South for her readers. She also writes women’s fiction as did her mother. That said, Victoria is an author in her own right and she tells a good story here.
Readers will care about these characters as they watch them grow. They will leave this story eager for the author’s next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 12 August 2025
Post first published on 7 February 2026
Description:
from the publisher
A heartwarming and empowering novel about thriving after tragedy, from the author of the “enchanting, hilarious, and insightful” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times author) My Magnolia Summer.
Violet Adams is the perfect, youngest child in a family of loud, passionate women on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. As the sweet, traditional one, she’s always been the steady hand in her family but after a sudden breakup and subsequent tragedy, she doesn’t know who she is anymore.
Aly Knox, Violet’s best friend, is a young influencer still struggling with the loss of her mother and adjusting to joining Violet in Southern living. With her best friend’s help, Violet is determined to break out of her shell—and who she thought she was—no matter what. And what better place to look for success, meaning, and possibly love than the Lowcountry of South Carolina?
From the Publisher:
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 