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The River Runs South
When Camille Taylor’s husband dies unexpectedly, the carefully constructed life she worked so hard to build in Washington, DC, shatters. After struggling for almost a year, she reaches a breaking point, packs up her daughter, and heads for the Alabama coast where she grew up.
The salt air and slow rhythms of the coast soothe Camille’s spirit, but when she meets local fisherman Mack Phillips, she learns that things have changed in her hometown. Runoff from an abandoned development site is polluting the water, and Mack has brought a suit against the site’s owners—Camille’s father among them.
Battling her own fears for the fragile ecosystem of her beloved Mobile Bay, Camille joins her father’s defense team, but the more she learns, the more she wonders if she’s landed on the right side of the fight. Meanwhile, Camille is slowly drawn to Mack's fearless resolve, his sterling ideals, and finally to the man himself.
Faced with blurred lines between right and wrong, Camille must decide for herself what the next chapter of her life will bring.
With timely commentary on Alabama's fragile ecosystem and exploring themes of grief, love, and community, The River Runs South will appeal to southern fiction readers on the hunt for the nostalgia of Sweet Home Alabama .
The salt air and slow rhythms of the coast soothe Camille’s spirit, but when she meets local fisherman Mack Phillips, she learns that things have changed in her hometown. Runoff from an abandoned development site is polluting the water, and Mack has brought a suit against the site’s owners—Camille’s father among them.
Battling her own fears for the fragile ecosystem of her beloved Mobile Bay, Camille joins her father’s defense team, but the more she learns, the more she wonders if she’s landed on the right side of the fight. Meanwhile, Camille is slowly drawn to Mack's fearless resolve, his sterling ideals, and finally to the man himself.
Faced with blurred lines between right and wrong, Camille must decide for herself what the next chapter of her life will bring.
With timely commentary on Alabama's fragile ecosystem and exploring themes of grief, love, and community, The River Runs South will appeal to southern fiction readers on the hunt for the nostalgia of Sweet Home Alabama .
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2023
242 people are currently reading
26525 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Ingram
3 books358 followersAudrey Ingram is a native of Alabama and a graduate of Middlebury College and Georgetown University Law Center. She practiced law in Washington, DC for fifteen years. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains. Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
September 8, 2023
Thirty-five-year-old lawyer Camille Taylor’s life is upended after the sudden passing of her husband, Ben. In the months that followed, coping with this tragic loss proved harder than she could have imagined. Unable to concentrate on her work and struggling to maintain a work-home balance as a single mother, she is forced to go on leave from her job. When a panic attack lands her in the hospital, she decides to visit her parents in her hometown in the coastal town of Fairhope, Alabama with her six-year-old daughter Willa over the summer for a change in scenario and some much-needed emotional support. Camille had left her hometown at the age of eighteen, leaving her small-town life behind, eventually pursuing her dream to be a lawyer and settling down in Washington,D.C. As Camille and Willa explore Camille’s hometown, Camille is drawn back into the familiarity of the sights and smells and the warm embrace of her family. When she finds out that her father Sam, owner of a landscaping business is being sued for environmental damage on account of his association with a large land development firm whose unethical actions resulted in the spillage of pollutants into the local river, she joins his defense team where she is pitted against the owner of a local fishing business, who has been both kind and considerate to Willa and Camille from their first meeting. Both Sam and Camille love their hometown, and Camille works to find a way to protect her father while bringing the actual culprits to justice. With new friendships, a renewed passion for her profession, and the warmth and comfort of family and home, Camille just might finally be able to make a fresh start.
The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram is a beautifully penned, emotional story that revolves around family, grief, healing and new beginnings. The narrative is fluid, and the characters are well-thought-out, real, and relatable. I loved the Southern setting and the vivid descriptions of the rivers and the locale, not to mention the food! Issues such as environmental damage and ecological concerns are deftly woven into the narrative. Willa is adorable, and I loved her enthusiasm even though I thought she was portrayed as a bit too mature for a six-year-old on certain occasions. The author has done a remarkable job of depicting human emotions, the debilitating effects of grief and the importance of friends and family, and a support system in the healing process. The relationship track evolved gradually and in a mature fashion in keeping with the characters’ personalities and the pacing of the story. I really liked how the author addresses the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships across generations – the bonding, the expectations, the tensions, and the unconditional love. The bond between Willa and Camille was heartwarming, and I also thought the tense and somewhat strained interactions between Camille and Marion were portrayed very realistically. Overall, I found this novel to be an engaging, heartwarming read that I would not hesitate to recommend.
I have to mention that I absolutely love that beautiful cover!
Many thanks to the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program, the author and publisher for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram is a beautifully penned, emotional story that revolves around family, grief, healing and new beginnings. The narrative is fluid, and the characters are well-thought-out, real, and relatable. I loved the Southern setting and the vivid descriptions of the rivers and the locale, not to mention the food! Issues such as environmental damage and ecological concerns are deftly woven into the narrative. Willa is adorable, and I loved her enthusiasm even though I thought she was portrayed as a bit too mature for a six-year-old on certain occasions. The author has done a remarkable job of depicting human emotions, the debilitating effects of grief and the importance of friends and family, and a support system in the healing process. The relationship track evolved gradually and in a mature fashion in keeping with the characters’ personalities and the pacing of the story. I really liked how the author addresses the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships across generations – the bonding, the expectations, the tensions, and the unconditional love. The bond between Willa and Camille was heartwarming, and I also thought the tense and somewhat strained interactions between Camille and Marion were portrayed very realistically. Overall, I found this novel to be an engaging, heartwarming read that I would not hesitate to recommend.
I have to mention that I absolutely love that beautiful cover!
Many thanks to the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program, the author and publisher for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
October 6, 2023
The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram is a Blend of Family and Romance Fiction!
When Camille Taylor's husband dies unexpectedly, it jars her world and puts her into a spin. She continues on for months attempting to balance her D.C lawyer-partner career with being a single parent to her six-year-old daughter, Willa. She can do it all. She'll be fine.
Until she's not.
Camille decides to head back to Alabama, connect with her roots, and visit her parents. She's craving the slower pace of the South, hoping it will soothe her. She once said she'd never go back, but right now with sweet little Willa in tow, it seems like the right thing to do...
The River Runs South is a well-written debut novel about a strong, resilient female main character and a precocious, feisty six-year-old daughter who will steal your heart. The author artfully adds in a secondary storyline that enhances the main story, as everything continues to revolve around and focus on Camille and Willa.
The author richly highlights the beauty of the Alabama coast line, salty air and sea life. The mention of delectable dishes, unique to the South, described as being prepared or served is mouth-watering. All of this adds authenticity to this southern setting and adds the feel of another character to the story.
The River Runs South audiobook is narrated by Megan Tusing, who does an amazing job of voicing, creating a pleasurable listening experience.
The River Runs South is simple fiction that's well-written with great characters, an emotionally driven premise, and an ending that leave room for the reader's imagination to take flight. A little tension here and there, a sprinkle of family drama, and the budding of new relationships makes this a worthwhile read.
I recommend The River Runs South to those who enjoy a blend of Family and Romance Fiction with the flavors of the South!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Audrey Ingram for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
When Camille Taylor's husband dies unexpectedly, it jars her world and puts her into a spin. She continues on for months attempting to balance her D.C lawyer-partner career with being a single parent to her six-year-old daughter, Willa. She can do it all. She'll be fine.
Until she's not.
Camille decides to head back to Alabama, connect with her roots, and visit her parents. She's craving the slower pace of the South, hoping it will soothe her. She once said she'd never go back, but right now with sweet little Willa in tow, it seems like the right thing to do...
The River Runs South is a well-written debut novel about a strong, resilient female main character and a precocious, feisty six-year-old daughter who will steal your heart. The author artfully adds in a secondary storyline that enhances the main story, as everything continues to revolve around and focus on Camille and Willa.
The author richly highlights the beauty of the Alabama coast line, salty air and sea life. The mention of delectable dishes, unique to the South, described as being prepared or served is mouth-watering. All of this adds authenticity to this southern setting and adds the feel of another character to the story.
The River Runs South audiobook is narrated by Megan Tusing, who does an amazing job of voicing, creating a pleasurable listening experience.
The River Runs South is simple fiction that's well-written with great characters, an emotionally driven premise, and an ending that leave room for the reader's imagination to take flight. A little tension here and there, a sprinkle of family drama, and the budding of new relationships makes this a worthwhile read.
I recommend The River Runs South to those who enjoy a blend of Family and Romance Fiction with the flavors of the South!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Audrey Ingram for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
September 13, 2023
Camille is a successful lawyer in Washington, she has a wonderful husband Ben and a six year old daughter Willa. Camille lives a full corporate life, from the power suits to the carefully straightened controlled hair and a rigid timetable to ensure that work and family run to schedule. Not on the schedule is the sudden death of Ben and the chaos and dysfunction that follows.
As hard as she tries, Camille realises that she is juggling far more than she can handle, and the grief that she is trying to squash down is threatening to blow completely.
This book covers loss and heartbreak - but it also provides inspiration in finding the connections in our lives that enable us to heal. This is equally heartbreaking and heartwarming.
I am happy to recommend this book, thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
As hard as she tries, Camille realises that she is juggling far more than she can handle, and the grief that she is trying to squash down is threatening to blow completely.
This book covers loss and heartbreak - but it also provides inspiration in finding the connections in our lives that enable us to heal. This is equally heartbreaking and heartwarming.
I am happy to recommend this book, thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
June 21, 2023
The River Runs South is a sweet, feel-good story of second chances and love in many forms. A perfect beach read, not demanding, with a heroine who is both vulnerable and powerful, a spunky kid, and more than one attractive man in the picture.
Camille is unexpectedly widowed at the start of the story, and after a few months’ floundering, her professional life implodes and she’s put on leave. She takes the opportunity to take her daughter and go home to Alabama, a place she swore she’d never go back to, to lick her wounds. But once she’s there she discovers it’s the same place she loved as a child, and much more than she ever remembers.
Ingram waves a beautiful thread of environmental stewardship through this book, showing a love for the coastal areas in which it is set. You can see the love she has for this setting, and you can’t help feeling it, too. An enjoyable, light read for summer.
Camille is unexpectedly widowed at the start of the story, and after a few months’ floundering, her professional life implodes and she’s put on leave. She takes the opportunity to take her daughter and go home to Alabama, a place she swore she’d never go back to, to lick her wounds. But once she’s there she discovers it’s the same place she loved as a child, and much more than she ever remembers.
Ingram waves a beautiful thread of environmental stewardship through this book, showing a love for the coastal areas in which it is set. You can see the love she has for this setting, and you can’t help feeling it, too. An enjoyable, light read for summer.
August 3, 2023
The River Runs South 💛
Thank you, Alcove Press, for the gifted copy of this beautiful book {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 9.5.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
“It gets easier, you know. To say that someone you loved died and not feel physical pain when you say the words.”
What a phenomenal debut novel! Audio Ingram knows how to tell a story that simultaneously tugs on your heart and motivates you to be more proactive (with relationships and the world). I didn’t anticipate loving this book as much as I did, but it grabbed hold of me from the first page until the end.
Throughout the book, the reader encounters themes of loss, grief, motherhood, family, learning to love again, and environmental stewardship. There were also delicious-sounding meals at every turn of the page and beautiful descriptions of small-town coastal living. It’s the first book, in a while, that’s kept me reading until the late hours - not because I had to know how it ended, but because I lost myself in the story.
🥹 Learning to live after loss
🗣️ One POV
✨ Debut novel
🌊 Small coastal town in Alabama
I can’t recommend The River Runs South enough, and I hope you add it to your reading list. It’s the perfect book to end your summer with. 💛
_____
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Thank you, Alcove Press, for the gifted copy of this beautiful book {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 9.5.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
“It gets easier, you know. To say that someone you loved died and not feel physical pain when you say the words.”
What a phenomenal debut novel! Audio Ingram knows how to tell a story that simultaneously tugs on your heart and motivates you to be more proactive (with relationships and the world). I didn’t anticipate loving this book as much as I did, but it grabbed hold of me from the first page until the end.
Throughout the book, the reader encounters themes of loss, grief, motherhood, family, learning to love again, and environmental stewardship. There were also delicious-sounding meals at every turn of the page and beautiful descriptions of small-town coastal living. It’s the first book, in a while, that’s kept me reading until the late hours - not because I had to know how it ended, but because I lost myself in the story.
🥹 Learning to live after loss
🗣️ One POV
✨ Debut novel
🌊 Small coastal town in Alabama
I can’t recommend The River Runs South enough, and I hope you add it to your reading list. It’s the perfect book to end your summer with. 💛
_____
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookendd...
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
October 21, 2025
3.75 stars.
This book is a much more tame women’s fiction novel. If you’re hungry for some low budget Kristin Hannah, or old school Jennifer Weiner or Katherine Center, this might be the one for you, however it doesn't have quite the spark that these authors have.
I was looking for a women’s fiction book, one with a little bit of loss, family, a new locale, and of course love sprinkled in.
Along my path, I discovered Audrey Ingram, a new author for me. In her debut novel, The River Runs South, we meet Camille, whose husband of only 40, who ran everyday, dies of a heart attack in front of their daughter, Willa.
Camille is a successful lawyer living in DC, decides to take a break from her job and head back to her parents house in Fairhope, Alabama.
Along the way, she meets Mack, who just happens to be suing her father a land developer. We get to explore the beauty of the coast of Alabama and the aftermath of becoming a widow.
While I liked the premise of this short, yet sweet book, I could not handle Willa, the six year old, who somehow manages to take over the entire book. I couldn’t tell if she was six or 35. Along the way, the book starts to fizzle out, as we all know what is going to happen.
I’ve heard the author’s latest The Summer We Ran is a must summer read, so I will be sticking around Ingram’s next books. The writing wasn’t at all bad, and I stayed indebted, I just wish the voice of Willa didn’t overtake then entire book.
This book is a much more tame women’s fiction novel. If you’re hungry for some low budget Kristin Hannah, or old school Jennifer Weiner or Katherine Center, this might be the one for you, however it doesn't have quite the spark that these authors have.
I was looking for a women’s fiction book, one with a little bit of loss, family, a new locale, and of course love sprinkled in.
Along my path, I discovered Audrey Ingram, a new author for me. In her debut novel, The River Runs South, we meet Camille, whose husband of only 40, who ran everyday, dies of a heart attack in front of their daughter, Willa.
Camille is a successful lawyer living in DC, decides to take a break from her job and head back to her parents house in Fairhope, Alabama.
Along the way, she meets Mack, who just happens to be suing her father a land developer. We get to explore the beauty of the coast of Alabama and the aftermath of becoming a widow.
While I liked the premise of this short, yet sweet book, I could not handle Willa, the six year old, who somehow manages to take over the entire book. I couldn’t tell if she was six or 35. Along the way, the book starts to fizzle out, as we all know what is going to happen.
I’ve heard the author’s latest The Summer We Ran is a must summer read, so I will be sticking around Ingram’s next books. The writing wasn’t at all bad, and I stayed indebted, I just wish the voice of Willa didn’t overtake then entire book.
August 18, 2023
I absolutely adored this novel. Beautifully written with the right amount of tension to keep the story moving forward. The conflict of interest was so well done and the love interests kept me asking--who will she choose? The lawsuit was believable, captivating, and the issues/situation kept escalating. This is one of my favorite books of the year. An excellent debut. I can't wait to see what this author writes next.
August 4, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and emotionally sensitive novel from the first page to the last.
Camille Taylor’s temperament never was a fit with the stereotypical expectations of a young woman in the deep South. At age 18 she fled from the constraints of her mother’s criticisms and societal norms in Alabama and never looked back. Years later her life is turned upside down by the untimely death of her 40-year-old husband, and Camille must navigate her grief and her responsibilities as a parent and an attorney with a high-powered position in a DC law firm. When it becomes apparent that she is not coping well, she decides to return to her parents’ home to regroup and reevaluate her life. The story unfolds as Camille reconnects with her roots, realizes the sacrifices she has made in her personal life for her career, and begins to reorder her priorities, namely putting her daughter’s needs first. Along the way she finds a new passion and focus for her law practice and considers the possibility of falling in love again.
Camille is an interesting and likeable protagonist, but my favorite character is her 6-year-old daughter, Willa, who is a delightfully precocious free spirit. The supporting cast of characters add dimension and depth to storyline and keep the pace steadily moving forward.
I appreciated the author’s skill in exploring the emotional, physical and mental impact of grieving for both Camille, as an adult, and Willa, as a child. It was accomplished sensitively and realistically as an abiding influence in Camille’s decisions without becoming maudlin and melodramatic. There is a touch of humor introduced through Willa’s insightful and direct commentary and questions.
Overall, this is an entertaining and engaging read. The author uses a deft hand to weave together themes of love, grief, work/life balance, single parenting, and ecological activism.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Camille Taylor’s temperament never was a fit with the stereotypical expectations of a young woman in the deep South. At age 18 she fled from the constraints of her mother’s criticisms and societal norms in Alabama and never looked back. Years later her life is turned upside down by the untimely death of her 40-year-old husband, and Camille must navigate her grief and her responsibilities as a parent and an attorney with a high-powered position in a DC law firm. When it becomes apparent that she is not coping well, she decides to return to her parents’ home to regroup and reevaluate her life. The story unfolds as Camille reconnects with her roots, realizes the sacrifices she has made in her personal life for her career, and begins to reorder her priorities, namely putting her daughter’s needs first. Along the way she finds a new passion and focus for her law practice and considers the possibility of falling in love again.
Camille is an interesting and likeable protagonist, but my favorite character is her 6-year-old daughter, Willa, who is a delightfully precocious free spirit. The supporting cast of characters add dimension and depth to storyline and keep the pace steadily moving forward.
I appreciated the author’s skill in exploring the emotional, physical and mental impact of grieving for both Camille, as an adult, and Willa, as a child. It was accomplished sensitively and realistically as an abiding influence in Camille’s decisions without becoming maudlin and melodramatic. There is a touch of humor introduced through Willa’s insightful and direct commentary and questions.
Overall, this is an entertaining and engaging read. The author uses a deft hand to weave together themes of love, grief, work/life balance, single parenting, and ecological activism.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 15, 2023
The perfect mix of family, career, community and FOOD—OMG the descriptions of food and summertime in Southern Alabama made me want to plan a visit STAT!
March 18, 2023
The story was fine. I am very familiar with Fairhope Alabama and her descriptions were on point. The story was okay but I found predictable. The little girl Willa had a ridiculous vocabulary for a six year old (having taught Kindergarteners for 25 years). I also am annoyed by the thirty five year old who makes a bigger deal of anything her mother says. I wish she, Camilla, showed a little more maturity and sought out therapy. I'd like to see Willa judge Camilla as harshly when she is an adult in her parenting skills.
August 21, 2023
4.5⭐️
After Camille’s husband dies unexpectedly, and when their life together had only really just begun, she struggles to move forward through her grief, while trying to balance her legal career and caring for her young daughter. Flailing on every front, she finally decides to take a break from her life in D.C. and return to her parents’ home in Alabama.
Returning home is never simple, and there are some unresolved tensions within her family to deal with, but there’s also a great deal of love and support, and a chance to slow down that Camille had previously not allowed herself.
Add in a lawsuit her father has been brought into, an instant connection with the man at its other side, a fragile ecosystem in peril, and the struggle between expectations and heart’s desire, and you have a lovely and complex story- one I enjoyed from start to finish.
Megan Tusing did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
Thank you Audrey Ingram, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
After Camille’s husband dies unexpectedly, and when their life together had only really just begun, she struggles to move forward through her grief, while trying to balance her legal career and caring for her young daughter. Flailing on every front, she finally decides to take a break from her life in D.C. and return to her parents’ home in Alabama.
Returning home is never simple, and there are some unresolved tensions within her family to deal with, but there’s also a great deal of love and support, and a chance to slow down that Camille had previously not allowed herself.
Add in a lawsuit her father has been brought into, an instant connection with the man at its other side, a fragile ecosystem in peril, and the struggle between expectations and heart’s desire, and you have a lovely and complex story- one I enjoyed from start to finish.
Megan Tusing did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
Thank you Audrey Ingram, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this debut women's fiction book about a workaholic lawyer whose husband dies suddenly forcing her to reevaluate what's important in life and deal with her grief.
Suffering from panic attacks and knowing she's not at her best for her six year old daughter, Camille moves back home to Alabama with her parents and finds herself caught up in a lawsuit against her father and his involvement in an environmental scandal.
Great on audio narrated by Megan Tusing and perfect for fans of authors like Kristy Woodson Harvey and Linda Holmes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I will eagerly await more from this author!
Suffering from panic attacks and knowing she's not at her best for her six year old daughter, Camille moves back home to Alabama with her parents and finds herself caught up in a lawsuit against her father and his involvement in an environmental scandal.
Great on audio narrated by Megan Tusing and perfect for fans of authors like Kristy Woodson Harvey and Linda Holmes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I will eagerly await more from this author!
October 18, 2023
Excellent story. Loved the little girl!
March 10, 2024
"Sometimes geography gives you answers to things that you didn't even know were problems."
Me 🤝 reading books where I'm not the target demographic.
2.5 or so. This book fell flat for me. Overall, the whole story seemed so birds-eye and read almost like a SparkNotes summary. It was a short read and I think it being longer with more detail could make it so much better. The plot variables seemed to fully emerge about 50% in, and up until that point it was too linear for me.
The book also lacked that southern charm I find in southern fiction. None of the scenes' imagery did it for me. It was described with such a lack of southern vocabulary, phrases, and vernacular, which is what I was craving, especially from a book that was focused on environmental advocacy! The description of the foods and meals was great, but everything else was missing that bucolic touch.
Positives: Willa was a fun character, the way grief was written about and exemplified through Camille, the environmental awareness, and the economics/politics/legal aspects of the book.
Overall pretty displeased with this novel. I bought it at full price as an e-book because I was so intrigued, but it kind of disappointed 💔
Me 🤝 reading books where I'm not the target demographic.
2.5 or so. This book fell flat for me. Overall, the whole story seemed so birds-eye and read almost like a SparkNotes summary. It was a short read and I think it being longer with more detail could make it so much better. The plot variables seemed to fully emerge about 50% in, and up until that point it was too linear for me.
The book also lacked that southern charm I find in southern fiction. None of the scenes' imagery did it for me. It was described with such a lack of southern vocabulary, phrases, and vernacular, which is what I was craving, especially from a book that was focused on environmental advocacy! The description of the foods and meals was great, but everything else was missing that bucolic touch.
Positives: Willa was a fun character, the way grief was written about and exemplified through Camille, the environmental awareness, and the economics/politics/legal aspects of the book.
Overall pretty displeased with this novel. I bought it at full price as an e-book because I was so intrigued, but it kind of disappointed 💔
September 8, 2023
The River Runs South is a heartwarming story about starting over. This debut novel will tug on your heartstrings as Camille and her precocious daughter Willa learn how to pick up the pieces of their lives following the death of Ben, their husband and father. This is a story of change and growth, as well as loss and grief. The story of filled with many wonderful characters and set in a lovely small town. Congratulations to the author on the publication of a great first novel.
August 8, 2023
A fantastic story about hitting the bottom and climbing back to the top. You can go home again, and sometimes it is the best thing you didn’t know you needed. I fell deep into this book from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down until I knew what Camille was going to do for herself and Willa. I think that Camille is one of the best characters I have read in a long time. She is naturally filled with the conflicts of being a human, a mother, a daughter, and a widow. I absolutely love her, and the fact that she feels so real.
September 18, 2023
3.5. This was fine, but I found myself reading it just to get through it. The premise is good enough: a big shot DC lawyer's life is in pieces after losing her husband, so she takes her daughter home to small town Alabama and finds herself embroiled in a lawsuit regarding the health of the town's river. The thing that bothered me the most about this book was the six-year-old's dialogue. Having a six year old myself, it felt so unrealistic and exaggerated. Overall, a fine but forgettable read.
March 4, 2024
This book’s dialogue was.. so bad..
September 18, 2023
The River Runs South is an absolutely amazing debut. It's full of southern charm and was so atmospheric. It's a beautiful novel about rebuilding and starting over after a tremendous loss. Although dealing with a heartbreaking loss, this is a heartwarming story. One you don't want to miss.
September 19, 2023
Death, family and moving on. The cover of this book seems like it could be the cover of any book really. But this book is about an over worked mom who just lost her husband and is trying to find out what her life looks like without the love of her life. Suddenly she is back in her home town in Alabama and is trying to figure out what “moving on” looks like for her and her daughter. There are love interest but it is very pg. This is such an amazing book and the dual narration really brought it to life.
August 26, 2023
The River Runs South will be one of my favorite books of this summer! I love reading debut novels, and Audrey Ingram is definitely an author that I look forward to seeing more from. I read this book in one day, it was that good!
From the first chapter, I found it easy to become emotionally involved in the characters. Camille and Willa suffer a devastating loss and are struggling immensely. I absolutely fell in love with Willa, and also with Mack and his relationship with the little girl and her mother, too. My heart broke for Camille's dad, and the situation he found himself in.
The novel has a multi-layered plot, looking at the relationship between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and the book has an environmentalist aspect that makes the reader aware of how development can affect the ecosystem. Ms. Ingram does all of this without being preachy about it, which I definitely appreciate.
If you enjoy books by Kristy Woodson Harvey or love a good Hallmark movie, you will enjoy The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram. Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the digital ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
From the first chapter, I found it easy to become emotionally involved in the characters. Camille and Willa suffer a devastating loss and are struggling immensely. I absolutely fell in love with Willa, and also with Mack and his relationship with the little girl and her mother, too. My heart broke for Camille's dad, and the situation he found himself in.
The novel has a multi-layered plot, looking at the relationship between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and the book has an environmentalist aspect that makes the reader aware of how development can affect the ecosystem. Ms. Ingram does all of this without being preachy about it, which I definitely appreciate.
If you enjoy books by Kristy Woodson Harvey or love a good Hallmark movie, you will enjoy The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram. Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the digital ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
August 18, 2023
I would consider this a good beach read. It is quick fast and enjoyable. I loved the banter between Camille and Mack. Her mother was such an unlikeable character. The storyline was completely believable and it has a lot of heart and love. I did find the 6-year-old daughter was quite precocious, but as an only child she probably could have been that way.
I enjoyed it, and would recommend. Coming in with 5 stars.
I received an ARC from Alcove Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review.
I enjoyed it, and would recommend. Coming in with 5 stars.
I received an ARC from Alcove Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review.
April 5, 2023
This book blended some of my favorite aspects of fiction - family drama, motherhood, romance - with an ecological issue, which is something I am interested in.
Camille and her daughter Willa move back to Camille's hometown. Camille's mom is annoying and her daughter is precocious and a little bratty. The family drama was relatable.
Camille discovers that there is an ecological disaster in her hometown and she works with a love interest/local fisherman to shed light on it. Compelling story if a little predictable at times.
Camille and her daughter Willa move back to Camille's hometown. Camille's mom is annoying and her daughter is precocious and a little bratty. The family drama was relatable.
Camille discovers that there is an ecological disaster in her hometown and she works with a love interest/local fisherman to shed light on it. Compelling story if a little predictable at times.
September 16, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
In The River Runs South, Camille Taylor's husband, Ben, appears perfectly healthy when Camille leaves for work but shortly thereafter he suffers a massive heart attack and dies. Camille tries so hard to keep up with the life they had in Washington D.C. while raising their 6-year-old daughter Willa and trying to deal with her grief. After almost a year she finally admits to herself that she has reached a point where she can't do it any longer. So she packs bags for herself and Willa and they head to Alabama and her parents, hoping to get it together and return to work in a couple of weeks.
Back on the Alabama coast, she feels better and the slower lifestyle soothes her mind as well. That lasts until she meets Mack Phillips, a local fisherman. Their first meeting was fun, thanks to Willa, who is quite a little girl. But later she finds out things in Mobile Bay are a little tense. A developer has cleared land for new homes but quickly abandoned the project when a lawsuit is filed. Their clearing of the land messed with an already fragile ecosystem and is now polluting the water. Sadly Camille's father was a partner on the project so he is part of the lawsuit. A lawsuit brought by her new friend Mack Phillips.
Camille joins her father's defense team to try to help him save his business, his reputation, and his home, all while being drawn to Mack. Her parents are livid that they keep running into each other but it isn't always her fault.
Camille is so conflicted about everything happening in Alabama and her boss in Washington wants her back there as soon as possible. She has some big choices to make. She has to help her parents, do what is best for Willa, and try to figure out how to make a new life for herself where she is happy and fulfilled. None of that is easy.
______
My heart just broke for Camille and Willa. Camille is a strong woman, a lawyer with a high-pressure job. Willa is a precocious 6-year-old doing everything a child should do. In a matter of a second both their lives were turned inside out. Grief affects each person differently and I couldn't believe Camille went back to work so soon and that she kept it up for almost a year before crumbling. Willa is a character that is larger than life. I loved that she wanted to visit and do everything her mother did while growing up in Mobile Bay. She innocently pushed her mother into crazy situations after meeting Mack. Willa really liked the man and couldn't understand why her mother didn't want to do everything with him that they could. It was such an emotional ride for Camille. I would love to bottle Willa's enthusiasm for living life.
Mack Phillips was also a very strong character. A man always trying to do the right thing. His dedication to saving the ecosystem was commendable. His passion was fearless. He brought in a big gun law firm to take on a corporate giant and was apologetic that Camille's dad was involved. He could have dropped the lawsuit because of the relationship he was trying to build with Camille but he didn't.
Ms. Ingram did an excellent job of portraying true human emotions in a way that I could feel them in my heart. I have not lost my husband but I did lose an adult son to suicide and my emotions were raw just like Camille's. I forced myself to get back to work just like she did. I didn't last a year though. I didn't have a place to escape to but having the right people around me like Camille finally did is what was needed to get our hearts and heads in the right space. In reality, that is an ongoing condition, no matter how many years have passed.
Camille and her mother had a difficult relationship. I am glad the author let their relationship develop realistically and did not try for a quick fix. That trying relationship made Camille's relationship with Willa stronger. I was really drawn into this story by the multigenerational connections. The expectations and the dramatic tensions that played out really pulled at my heart.
The River Runs South is a moving, passionate story of love, loss, grief, healing, and moving forward. The characters were genuine and realistic. For me, Willa was the star, “and a child shall lead them”. I highly recommend this story. Audrey Ingram is an author to watch.
In The River Runs South, Camille Taylor's husband, Ben, appears perfectly healthy when Camille leaves for work but shortly thereafter he suffers a massive heart attack and dies. Camille tries so hard to keep up with the life they had in Washington D.C. while raising their 6-year-old daughter Willa and trying to deal with her grief. After almost a year she finally admits to herself that she has reached a point where she can't do it any longer. So she packs bags for herself and Willa and they head to Alabama and her parents, hoping to get it together and return to work in a couple of weeks.
Back on the Alabama coast, she feels better and the slower lifestyle soothes her mind as well. That lasts until she meets Mack Phillips, a local fisherman. Their first meeting was fun, thanks to Willa, who is quite a little girl. But later she finds out things in Mobile Bay are a little tense. A developer has cleared land for new homes but quickly abandoned the project when a lawsuit is filed. Their clearing of the land messed with an already fragile ecosystem and is now polluting the water. Sadly Camille's father was a partner on the project so he is part of the lawsuit. A lawsuit brought by her new friend Mack Phillips.
Camille joins her father's defense team to try to help him save his business, his reputation, and his home, all while being drawn to Mack. Her parents are livid that they keep running into each other but it isn't always her fault.
Camille is so conflicted about everything happening in Alabama and her boss in Washington wants her back there as soon as possible. She has some big choices to make. She has to help her parents, do what is best for Willa, and try to figure out how to make a new life for herself where she is happy and fulfilled. None of that is easy.
______
My heart just broke for Camille and Willa. Camille is a strong woman, a lawyer with a high-pressure job. Willa is a precocious 6-year-old doing everything a child should do. In a matter of a second both their lives were turned inside out. Grief affects each person differently and I couldn't believe Camille went back to work so soon and that she kept it up for almost a year before crumbling. Willa is a character that is larger than life. I loved that she wanted to visit and do everything her mother did while growing up in Mobile Bay. She innocently pushed her mother into crazy situations after meeting Mack. Willa really liked the man and couldn't understand why her mother didn't want to do everything with him that they could. It was such an emotional ride for Camille. I would love to bottle Willa's enthusiasm for living life.
Mack Phillips was also a very strong character. A man always trying to do the right thing. His dedication to saving the ecosystem was commendable. His passion was fearless. He brought in a big gun law firm to take on a corporate giant and was apologetic that Camille's dad was involved. He could have dropped the lawsuit because of the relationship he was trying to build with Camille but he didn't.
Ms. Ingram did an excellent job of portraying true human emotions in a way that I could feel them in my heart. I have not lost my husband but I did lose an adult son to suicide and my emotions were raw just like Camille's. I forced myself to get back to work just like she did. I didn't last a year though. I didn't have a place to escape to but having the right people around me like Camille finally did is what was needed to get our hearts and heads in the right space. In reality, that is an ongoing condition, no matter how many years have passed.
Camille and her mother had a difficult relationship. I am glad the author let their relationship develop realistically and did not try for a quick fix. That trying relationship made Camille's relationship with Willa stronger. I was really drawn into this story by the multigenerational connections. The expectations and the dramatic tensions that played out really pulled at my heart.
The River Runs South is a moving, passionate story of love, loss, grief, healing, and moving forward. The characters were genuine and realistic. For me, Willa was the star, “and a child shall lead them”. I highly recommend this story. Audrey Ingram is an author to watch.
September 16, 2023
Loss permeates this absorbing debut novel. Loss of people and of our increasingly fragile environment.
The protagonist, Camille Taylor, is a busy partner at a thriving Washington D.C. law practice. She is married to a man she loves dearly and is the mother of a charming and precocious six-year-old daughter. When Camille's husband dies suddenly, her world spins off its axis. She doesn't know how to live without Ben... When her work, and more importantly her daughter, suffers from her inability to cope, she decides to go back to her home state of Alabama for a temporary visit with her parents. She feels that perhaps she will recover her equilibrium and rekindle her drive while being the supportive mother her daughter needs.
Once back in the balmy southern Alabama town where she grew up, she feels happier than she has for a long time. However, when she learns that her beloved father is caught up in a lawsuit involving the delicate Alabama ecosystem, she feels compelled to step in and fight his corner. Meantime, she falls back into the fraught relationship with her mother that was part of the reason for her leaving Alabama in the first place...
Meanwhile, Camille is spending more quality time with her daughter Willa, and rediscovering her home state through her daughter's eyes. She meets and begins working with her father's legal counsel who just happens to be a divorced, attractive man. She also meets Mack Phillips, the man who brought the lawsuit against her father...
The setting of this novel was enticing and it made me want to visit the state of Alabama. The writing was descriptive and you could almost feel the heat and humidity. You could almost smell the honeysuckle.
The book spoke to the dangers of development and how developers value profits over following environmental regulations.
Essential a romance story, this debut novel has some much deeper themes running throughout. Love, loss, parenting, guilt, work-life balance, starting over, evaluating your priorities, and most importantly environmentalism. As is usual for the genre, I predicted how the end of the novel would play out, yet I thoroughly enjoyed the read nonetheless and would happily read more by this new and talented author.
The protagonist, Camille Taylor, is a busy partner at a thriving Washington D.C. law practice. She is married to a man she loves dearly and is the mother of a charming and precocious six-year-old daughter. When Camille's husband dies suddenly, her world spins off its axis. She doesn't know how to live without Ben... When her work, and more importantly her daughter, suffers from her inability to cope, she decides to go back to her home state of Alabama for a temporary visit with her parents. She feels that perhaps she will recover her equilibrium and rekindle her drive while being the supportive mother her daughter needs.
Once back in the balmy southern Alabama town where she grew up, she feels happier than she has for a long time. However, when she learns that her beloved father is caught up in a lawsuit involving the delicate Alabama ecosystem, she feels compelled to step in and fight his corner. Meantime, she falls back into the fraught relationship with her mother that was part of the reason for her leaving Alabama in the first place...
Meanwhile, Camille is spending more quality time with her daughter Willa, and rediscovering her home state through her daughter's eyes. She meets and begins working with her father's legal counsel who just happens to be a divorced, attractive man. She also meets Mack Phillips, the man who brought the lawsuit against her father...
The setting of this novel was enticing and it made me want to visit the state of Alabama. The writing was descriptive and you could almost feel the heat and humidity. You could almost smell the honeysuckle.
The book spoke to the dangers of development and how developers value profits over following environmental regulations.
Essential a romance story, this debut novel has some much deeper themes running throughout. Love, loss, parenting, guilt, work-life balance, starting over, evaluating your priorities, and most importantly environmentalism. As is usual for the genre, I predicted how the end of the novel would play out, yet I thoroughly enjoyed the read nonetheless and would happily read more by this new and talented author.
September 14, 2023
Audrey Ingram’s debut novel stole my heart!! Set against the backdrop of a small town in coastal Alabama, this beautiful book explores themes of grief, new beginnings, and the love that makes us feel like home.
🐚 Camille Taylor never felt like she fit in where she was raised in Fairhope, Alabama. So she made it her mission to get out and build a new life for herself with a successful career. While living in DC and working as a partner at an elite law firm and juggling the demands of being a wife and mother to her six year old daughter, Willa’s entire carefully constructed world is upended when her husband dies unexpectedly.
After months of suffering through her grief and barely holding on to her job and her sanity, she does the last thing she ever thought she would do and heads back to where she grew up in AL. While the salt-kissed breezes and slower pace are a balm to her soul, she discovers some things have changed - like the new development polluting the waters of Mobile Bay - while other things have remained the same - like her strained relationship with her mother.
When Camille meets a handsome fisherman who is fighting to protect the bay, she learns that he’s on the opposing side of a lawsuit against her father. As Camille puts her legal expertise to use to help her father, she finds her heart being drawn back to the community she left so long ago, and to the man who is fighting to protect it.
🧡 I cannot say enough good things about this beautiful, emotional story which will be one of my favorites of the summer and probably the whole year! All the characters are richly drawn and Camille is so relatable as she struggles with starting over and the impossible decisions along the way. I love the exploration of mother/daughter relationships- it was so refreshing and real. This story is exquisitely written and told with so much grace and love. You can tell the author has a special place in her heart for the place she grew up.
Do not miss this one if you enjoy themes of:
-small town
-second chances
-fish out of water
-Southern food
-𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘮𝘢
-meet cutes
-ecological issues
Thank you @letstalkbookspromo @alcovepress and @audreyingramwrites for the gifted copy for review!
🐚 Camille Taylor never felt like she fit in where she was raised in Fairhope, Alabama. So she made it her mission to get out and build a new life for herself with a successful career. While living in DC and working as a partner at an elite law firm and juggling the demands of being a wife and mother to her six year old daughter, Willa’s entire carefully constructed world is upended when her husband dies unexpectedly.
After months of suffering through her grief and barely holding on to her job and her sanity, she does the last thing she ever thought she would do and heads back to where she grew up in AL. While the salt-kissed breezes and slower pace are a balm to her soul, she discovers some things have changed - like the new development polluting the waters of Mobile Bay - while other things have remained the same - like her strained relationship with her mother.
When Camille meets a handsome fisherman who is fighting to protect the bay, she learns that he’s on the opposing side of a lawsuit against her father. As Camille puts her legal expertise to use to help her father, she finds her heart being drawn back to the community she left so long ago, and to the man who is fighting to protect it.
🧡 I cannot say enough good things about this beautiful, emotional story which will be one of my favorites of the summer and probably the whole year! All the characters are richly drawn and Camille is so relatable as she struggles with starting over and the impossible decisions along the way. I love the exploration of mother/daughter relationships- it was so refreshing and real. This story is exquisitely written and told with so much grace and love. You can tell the author has a special place in her heart for the place she grew up.
Do not miss this one if you enjoy themes of:
-small town
-second chances
-fish out of water
-Southern food
-𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘮𝘢
-meet cutes
-ecological issues
Thank you @letstalkbookspromo @alcovepress and @audreyingramwrites for the gifted copy for review!
February 29, 2024
4.5 stars.
✨This was a deeply felt look at grief, family dynamics, motherhood and starting over.
✨As a coastal Texas girl, I could really relate to the southern US coastal culture of fishing, boat rides, sunning on the dock and seafood boils. I really loved the sense of place in these pages. If you don’t want to visit south Alabama by the time this book is over, I don’t know what to tell you.
✨I enjoyed the cast of characters including the main character, Camille, but it was daughter Willa that stole my heart. She was such a smart, fun and precocious little girl. So endearing.
✨This is Audrey Ingram’s debut novel, and I am eagerly awaiting her next book.
✨I paired the physical book with the audio and really enjoyed this immersive experience. Narrator @megantusing really brought the story and characters to life for me.
✨At its heart, this is a heartfelt story of starting over and second chances, and I definitely recommend.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Beach reads
✨Southern fiction
✨Sweet Home Alabama
✨Environmental stewardship stories
✨Closed door romance
✨This was a deeply felt look at grief, family dynamics, motherhood and starting over.
✨As a coastal Texas girl, I could really relate to the southern US coastal culture of fishing, boat rides, sunning on the dock and seafood boils. I really loved the sense of place in these pages. If you don’t want to visit south Alabama by the time this book is over, I don’t know what to tell you.
✨I enjoyed the cast of characters including the main character, Camille, but it was daughter Willa that stole my heart. She was such a smart, fun and precocious little girl. So endearing.
✨This is Audrey Ingram’s debut novel, and I am eagerly awaiting her next book.
✨I paired the physical book with the audio and really enjoyed this immersive experience. Narrator @megantusing really brought the story and characters to life for me.
✨At its heart, this is a heartfelt story of starting over and second chances, and I definitely recommend.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Beach reads
✨Southern fiction
✨Sweet Home Alabama
✨Environmental stewardship stories
✨Closed door romance
May 15, 2023
This was an unexpected book for me, I wouldn't put it in my top lists but this was a decent read.
Camille is a high efficiency lawyer in DC when her husband expectantly dies leaving her a single mother of 6 year old Willa. When Camille starts sufferings panic attacks she ends up in the ER and has the walkup call that needs to change her pace and focus on healing instead of keeping herself distracted. This leads her back in her hometown in southern Alabama reconnecting to her roots and showing her daughter another way of living away from the crowds.
Some comments that I had which made me wary of this book was Willa vernacular. I understand that she is supposed to be a rather advanced 6 year old however her sentence structure and word choice is too similar to her 30 something year old mother which made reading this had because I couldn't distinguish characters.. It didn't sit quite right with me and made envisioning the characters hard.
Camille is a high efficiency lawyer in DC when her husband expectantly dies leaving her a single mother of 6 year old Willa. When Camille starts sufferings panic attacks she ends up in the ER and has the walkup call that needs to change her pace and focus on healing instead of keeping herself distracted. This leads her back in her hometown in southern Alabama reconnecting to her roots and showing her daughter another way of living away from the crowds.
Some comments that I had which made me wary of this book was Willa vernacular. I understand that she is supposed to be a rather advanced 6 year old however her sentence structure and word choice is too similar to her 30 something year old mother which made reading this had because I couldn't distinguish characters.. It didn't sit quite right with me and made envisioning the characters hard.
August 6, 2025
DNF at 30%. There were so many issues with this book for me that I just couldn’t continue. The dialogue isn’t good, the 6 year old child spoke like a 30 year old and it became annoying and off putting. The mother and child lost their husband/father very suddenly but their grief seemed brief and wasn’t portrayed realistically. It just felt like a cheesy Hallmark movie and wasn’t my cup of tea.
June 19, 2023
These books are some of my favorites to read. I love books set in the south and enjoy even more when the author focuses on slowing down to really enjoy life and being reminded on what's important. This book is a great reminder that life isn't guaranteed and we should all slow down a little bit. This was a great debut novel and I will be on the lookout for more from this author.
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