Pretty as a Peach: A Novel of Friendship, Courage, and Small-Town Secrets

by Grace Helena Walz

A preschool teacher and her retiree neighbor team up to take on a suspicious multi-level marketing scheme that has a vicelike grip on the women in their suburban Southern community.

Delilah Thomas, beloved preschool teacher to the twos class, has always been the unconventional "black sheep" in the perfectly manicured town of Pearl, Georgia. While the rest of Pearl thrives on perfection and tradition, Delilah's thrift store wardrobe and carefree demeanor set her apart, much to the dismay of her pageant-loving mother and her circle of polished, lifelong friends. Though she loves her quiet life, she can't quite understand why she doesn't feel like she truly belongs in the only hometown she's ever known.

When a new multi-level marketing craze called Peach Pit takes hold of Pearl's high-achieving moms with promises of becoming #girlbosses, Delilah's suspicions are immediately piqued. Promising miracle beauty products made from the "magical" pits of Georgia peaches, the company pressures women to invest in hefty starter packs. To Delilah, it's not just a scam but a direct attack on the women of Pearl, already burdened by the weight of polished perfection.

But when it gets personal, Delilah joins forces with her quirky elderly neighbor Mrs. Chopra and her best friend Jasper to uncover the truth behind Peach Pit's toxic façade. What begins as a battle against shady business practices quickly spirals into revelations about Delilah's own family, her lifelong friendships, and the place she holds in a town desperate to change her.

Full of Southern charm, wit, and heart, this captivating story explores the bonds that hold us together, the courage it takes to resist conformity, and the true meaning of belonging.

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Grace Helena Walz is a former (forever) social worker with a passion for heartfelt, down to earth stories. She resides outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two children. She writes in the moments between covering scraped knees in bandaids and chauffering carpool.

Reviews

[Ava Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Doing the right thing sometimes requires feather ruffling."

3 stars!

This was such a fun southern contemporary novel! Pretty as a Peach follows the story of Delilah, a preschool teacher and soap business owner among a group of friends from Georgia who have stuck together since childhood. When a new, "shiny" body care and cosmetics business opens in the small town, Delilah not only has to face a competitor, but also is forced to watch as this multi-level marketing business consumes the women of the town. Despite the company's claims that their products are all natural, reactions are breaking out all over town--including Delilah's pregnant friend Eliza. Delilah's penpal, Jasper (a journalist), soon visits the town, and together, they plot ways to expose the company before the products can hurt anyone else. However, speaking the truth could ruin, not only her friendships, but also her already messy relationship with her family. But as more reactions are reported, Delilah is certain that something is going on behind the scenes, and she isn't willing to watch another friend fall for the lies about aging and beauty that the new company markets.

I have mixed feelings. It kind of felt like three random tropes were mixed together, and they didn't exactly fit? Each one would have been perfectly fine on its own, but the penpal romance, mystery of the business, and friend troubles were kind of a lot? The characters were great, and there were so many parts that I was fully engaged, but there were also parts that felt like they were just there for the trope, and some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic. Also, the whole The Five concept felt almost cultish? Like I know that was never the intention, but it struck me as a little odd sometimes.

"Isn't that how friendships work? They can endure a little banging up, a bit of a rough ride, and they'll still be standing."

There really were some great themes in this book. Especially the power of friendship and the importance of standing up for what is right. I loved Betsy, especially, and her journey of finding the truth and owning up to her mistakes.

Even though I didn't love the penpal romance trope, I did like Jasper; he was a sweet mmc. And the ending was really good! I enjoyed watching the progression of Delilah's relationship with her family and how she was able to realize that it's okay to walk away from something that isn't fruitful.

That's what I always would've done: kept the peace. But now I've come to realize that their peace isn't the same as real peace.

The last thing that I really wanted to touch on was the content in this book. Being that it's published by Thomas Nelson, I was expecting it to be Christian fiction, but it definitely...wasn't? There was nothing inappropriate, but there was a lot of alcohol and some cursing and mentions of "the universe" rather than God. I was just a little confused on that and thought it would be worth mentioning.

Overall, though, this book is perfect for readers 15+ (though it is written for adults) who enjoy:
- a southern theme
- country club vibes
- redemption arcs
- a penpal romance
- the theme of friendships
- lots and lots of peaches
It reminded me a lot of Katie Ganshert's No One Ever Asked, as well!

"If you can't respectfully tell the truth to a friend without things being ruined, I'm not sure you had a friendship to start with."

Content to note:
- occasional mild cursing
- scenes with alcohol (though it is never abused)
- mentions of "the universe"
- very clean romance

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[kellylikestoread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

Pretty as a Peach follows "The Five" through middle age turbulence. On the surface, this seems like a really intriguing book. And to some extent, it was!

I think my biggest issue is just how... pretty... it all was. From the town name to the street name to the daycare name to the MLM name... everything was written like it was a high schooler's first time creating a setting but making sure that everyone was aged up to entice a different audience than their peers. I found myself rolling my eyes every time another aspect of the setting was mentioned. It was just too perfect a town, too perfect a setting. The grittiest and most realistic thing was the cracked parking lot of the Waffle House. Do places like this exist? Sure! But I don't live there and, honestly, the people who do probably won't read a book like this.

"The Five" also felt rather juvenile. I personally don't know any group of friends who refer to said group by a nickname other than "the girls/boys." Their group chat may have a stupid name, but they're never "The Six" in conversation like what happens constantly throughout the book.

And then there was the dialogue. It was constantly interrupted by Delilah's thoughts, and everyone sounded the same. Sure, they grew up together, so they're likely to sound similar, but the only one who ever said anything different was along the lines of "super dooper" and Delilah made a point to mention how ~different~ that friend was because of Sunday school or something. I don't know. It was an off handed comment that I honestly don't remember at this point. That supposed cleanliness of this particular friend's vocabulary doesn't seem repeated, or even contrasted by any amount of vulgarity. There's no cursing, which is fine, but you can't really mention how especially squeaky clean someone is if you don't have dirt to contrast them to.

Even texting styles should be different! Maybe someone doesn't capitalize, or another drops punctuation, or someone constantly misspells a word as has to correct themselves. They all just felt the same in the end.

Thinking back on it, this book almost feels like if someone took Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, married it to every Hallmark movie ever, but tried to package it up more like Desperate Housewives. Just with less backstabbing.

[carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5 stars - Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This is a fun summertime read about a pre-school teacher, Delilah, who is the owner of her all-natural small cosmetic business. In comes her competitor - Peach Pit - an MLM who claims they are an all-natural, organic beauty brand, that seemingly takes over Pearl, Georgia, The Five - Delilah plus her four childhood friends - suffer from the sudden rising of Peach Pit due to a difference in opinion between Delilah and her friends. Between allergic reactions and shady business schemes, Delilah takes initiative to investigate and learn more about her own family and friendships along the way.

One quick note - I wasn't a fan of the one scene where a mother gets a severe reaction on her face and Delilah says "That can't happen from all-natural organic products." (implying that Peach Pit isn't organic) to the person who was selling Peach Pit. Firstly, people can get reactions like burns from organic, all natural products. All it means is that their body isn't reacting well to a certain ingredient in it. But to be clear, I of course understand the main point of the issue is that Peach Pit is lying to their consumers about being all-natural and organic. If you don't properly disclose the ingredients in the formulation, people are being misled about what they are consuming which isn't okay.

Moving on from that point, I enjoyed how they portrayed the MLM and its unhingedness. I don't believe I've ever read a story centered around an MLM so this made it enjoyable for me to read about (i.e. the inner workings of an MLM, what it feels like to be forced to fit in, the financial struggles, etc). Especially in a setting where it disrupts a tight-knit friend group. The author gave an interesting premise on how to navigate tough periods in a friend group, no matter what the circumstance may be (MLM-related or not).

The cherry on top was Delilah and Jasper's relationship! I was a little close to giving up on the plot, but between The Five and Jasper - they managed to lure me back in and I was excited to find out what happened next.

If you like a feel-good, cozy novel about friendships, family drama, and falling in love with a childhood crush - this book is for you!

[mimi ౨ৎ]

DNF

Pretty as a Peach is a southern, women’s fiction contemporary novel. Delilah is trying her best to embrace her unique personality, unlike the rest of her strict town of Pearl, Georgia. When her cosmetics line is threatened by a new shiny business, Peach Pit, she sets out to investigate what is really going on behind the scenes.

From the very start of this book, it just didn’t hook me. I think it’s probably because I wasn’t in the age demographic that the author was targeting, which is totally fine. The themes and characters just weren’t connecting with me, and I felt like I lacked attachment to them.

The characters, “the five” especially lacked real depth, I felt like they were very basic and shallow.

Delilah was a bit of an insufferable character, at least to read about. Other dialogue kept getting interrupted by her thoughts!!

Honestly, the book wasn’t very realistic either. I’m not quite too sure how similar this book would’ve been to a real southern town, but everything was so “pretty”, to put it that way, not realistic enough for me, which is really what I look for in women’s fiction. It lacks real depth, and otherwise, it kind of just becomes a drama catastrophe.

Wasn’t something that I would read particularly because the themes and writing style aren’t as interesting as I would’ve thought, but cute cover (which is what drew me in the first place so credits to the illustrator!)

Thank you to Grace Helena Walz, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for this ARC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since readers are initially presented with three seemingly unrelated clichés that are skillfully blended together, I am somewhat conflicted. Each of these stories would have been wonderful on its own. But after I sorted out who was who and where they were going, it was easier to connect with the cadence of the story. I liked the intrigue, the romance between pen friends, and the way they handled business situations.

I soon found myself absorbed in several moments, right from the start, and hanging out with the characters themselves was delightful. I enjoyed how this author explored the power and importance of healthy friendships, how important it is to stand up for yourself, and how powerful it is to find the truth and own up to your mistakes can be life-changing.

Note to readers: There is some cursing in the mix. I’ve enjoyed other books by this author; this one wasn’t my cup of tea.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

[Anne Wolters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delilah Thomas has grown up alongside her four closest friends—now all in their late thirties—who affectionately call themselves The Five. All are married with families of their own, except Delilah. Since the fifth grade, she and Jasper have been devoted pen pals, and over the years Delilah has perfected the art of keeping the peace, especially within her prominent family where she has never quite felt she belongs.
When Peach Pit, a new multi-level marketing company, sweeps into her small Southern hometown promising “all-natural” beauty products that can turn back the clock, nearly every woman—including some of The Five—gets caught up in the excitement. But when customers begin reporting alarming side effects and one of The Five is hospitalized, the glossy façade quickly cracks.
With Jasper—now a travel journalist visiting town—Delilah begins digging into the truth behind Peach Pit. As the two spend more time together, their lifelong friendship, built through years of letters and postcards, starts to shift into something deeper. What they uncover is shocking, and Delilah must decide whether to expose the truth or continue maintaining the fragile peace she’s always protected.
This engaging Southern drama highlights the strength of steadfast friendships and the courage it takes to stand up for those you love, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Mikayla Wakelam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

This fun summer read follows Delilah, a small town preschool teacher who dreams of having her own cosmetics line called Bubbles and Suds, and what’s known as “The Five” (Delilah and her four childhood bestfriends), Until her competitor, Peach Pit, comes to town.

Amid the excitement there is chaos brewing. Allergic reactions, unhappy customers, and tension between The Five. Delilah sets out to investigate Peach Pit with the help of her elderly neighbor and her childhood pen pal Jasper who finally comes to town to meet her face to face.

At times the story felt a little long winded but there was a lot of ground to cover in terms of world and character building. I love the showcasing of an MLM and the inner workings. I’ve never read another story centred around an MLM so this was a refreshing read.

Between the Five and the Jasper/Delilah story line his book kept me interested. I found myself constantly thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and needing to know what happened next.

If you like cute summertime feel-good books surrounded with unbreakable friendships, family drama, and falling in love then this book is definitely for you!

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty as a Peach was absolutely hilarious and such a good time! The MLM scheme plot was so well done, and honestly, it’s painfully relatable because I feel like we’ve all either been approached, known someone involved, or witnessed just how wild those MLM worlds can get. Grace Helena Walz nailed the satire while still keeping the story grounded and meaningful.

I loved the plot and especially the romance between Delilah and Jasper. It was sweet, charming, and the perfect complement to the bigger story. But my favorite part might have been all the women and their friendships with Delilah. The female relationships felt real, messy, supportive, and full of heart.

This book is full of Southern charm, humor, and warmth, with just the right amount of romance woven in. It’s funny, thoughtful, and incredibly relatable, especially for anyone who’s ever struggled with speaking up or keeping the peace and of course, those darn MLMs we all know well.

A great read if you love Southern fiction, strong female friendships, and need a laugh with a solid plot and some romance too! 🍑✨

Thank you to NetGalley, Grace Helena Walz, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC of this book.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty as a Peach is one of those books that sneaks up on you with its heart. Delilah Thomas is easy to adore, she’s the friend who always shows up, even when she’s unsure of her own place in the world. When a too‑good‑to‑be‑true beauty MLM takes over her small town and starts causing real trouble, she finally decides she’s had enough. Watching her team up with her sassy older neighbor and Jasper, her long‑time pen pal who suddenly appears in the flesh, is honestly just delightful.
What really makes the story shine is the bond between Delilah and “The Five,” her childhood crew who feel more like chosen family. Their ups, downs, and messy moments feel real, and the book balances humor, sweetness, and small-town drama in a really charming way. The MLM storyline adds a fresh twist I wasn’t expecting, and even though a few sections run a little long, the warmth and character growth more than make up for it.
Overall, it’s a cozy, heartfelt read, perfect for anyone who loves stories about friendship, second chances, and finding the courage to finally speak up.
I love women's fiction!!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this e-arc <3

[charlotte ✩ i’m back!! (i think?) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately I can’t say I did…

The premise of the novel seems great: Women from a suburban town take on a multi-level marketing scheme. But the execution was not at all what I was expecting.

I went into it expecting an intriguing story, but it felt like the author lost her initial idea halfway through the book, and proceeded to throw in a bunch of other ones to keep the book interesting.

Too many tropes often means none of them get developed to their full potential, and I feel like this was the case.

And I feel like it wasn’t only the plot that was underdeveloped, the characters felt pretty one dimensional as well. I didn’t feel connected to any of them, and with the plot feeling so hectic, there wasn’t much pulling me in to finish this one.

I still enjoyed some of the characters dynamics, like the found family aspect, but it wasn’t enough to make me truly like this one.

I can see some people enjoying this one, but it definitely wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

[Lisa M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the boom of MLM companies during and following Covid 2020-2021, this book really will hit home with a lot of female readers. I snickered though it as I thought of all the "first contact" messages I've gotten over the years.

As the novel said, this story explores the power of friendship, finding our "worth" in this world, and standing up for what is right--even when it may cost you everything.

The POV will jump between a couple characters and is written in 3rd person. But each character definitely has their own voice.

Delilah's neighbor was definitely my favorite character. :)

There is great growth in the characters in this book as they each find their own place and realize their identity isn't defined by others.

To be honest, if you ARE part of a MLM company--well, some of this is going to rub you the wrong way. But that doesn't mean that it is wrong. I also feel like the author CLEARLY has experience with it to be so accurate.

4 Stars--
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are mine alone. ;)

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books throughout the years, and I have to say that I don't think I've ever read one that really took on the MLM culture quite like this one... and as someone who has been intrigued by the cult like and often predatory nature of some of these companies, I found that really interesting aspect of this story. And I think it's one that anyone who has had that type of negative experience will certainly relate to as well. While that played a huge part of the story, I also enjoyed this story of friendship among these women... there's just something about a long-lasting friendship like this one that is refreshing to read. While the friendship and drama were really at the heart of this story, there was a bit of a romance between Jasper and Delilah that I really enjoyed as well. This is the first book that I have read from this author, but it has me looking forward to more in the future. If you love stories of women's friendship, this is certainly one to check out.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty as a Peach, by Grace Helena Walz, is a contemporary Christian story that focuses on Delilah and her best friends while they navigate their lives around the Peach Pit business. I really enjoyed reading this story, it is so good and realistic. The relationship Delilah and her friends have is so realistic. Having been friends since a very young age, these five women still find their friendship to be a very important part of their lives. I enjoyed the mild mystery behind the Peach Pit businesses the women took part in and was surprised by the background story. This story has so much substance in it. With the family dynamics within the Thomas family. I especially enjoyed how Delilah was so independent from them and how responsible she is. This is an easy-to-read story that is very well written. This is a new author for me, and I hope to read many more of her stories.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

[Beth Gerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This cozy romance was sweet and moved along well. Between the MLM terrorizing their town and the family dynamics terrorizing Delilah, it was nice that the main character had her friend group and a long-time pen-pal turned romantic partner to lean on, and the relationships felt mostly real. I thought the next-door neighbor was slightly underwritten, and I'm not sure if her involvement really mattered to the storyline, but aside from that, the players in the story all made sense. I would've loved a deeper dive into why her sister was so horrendous to her for no apparent reason, but I'm willing to just accept it since it was otherwise pretty tightly written.

I would read more by this author and enjoyed this cute palate cleanser of a book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty as a Peach
By: Grace Helena Walz
Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

I adored this novel full of small town, southern charm.
It’s a story of friendship and family.

Delilah has always wanted to run her own company using all natural products. She is currently a pre-school teacher and uses the farmers market to sell soaps.

She has found childhood friends she has spent years together even as they each have busy lives and they have always supported each other in good and bad times.

One day at the farmers market a new competitor arrives pedaling similar products.

As some of her friends start using the competitor’s product, things change as an allergic reaction of one of their own puts them in the hospital.

At in family and friendship drama and some romance its time to grab your favorite drink and settle in.

[Zoe Lipman]

MLM mess and drama and chaos!

Love me a good book about a messy MLM.

This follows the infiltration of an MLM in our main character's small town. All of her friends are joining...but all of the products are starting to have not-so-good side effects. And now they must investigate.

This has friendships (many of which are complicated), MLM drama and brainwashing, an investigation, and all set in a small Southern town with lots of small Southern town drama.

I had a lot of fun with this book. I definitely want to find more MLM-gone-wrong books and more from this author.

I absolutely SPED through this!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Rachel Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Helena Walz’s Pretty as a Peach was such a relatable and heartwarming read. I found myself connecting with Delilah and her people-pleasing ways, especially her genuine love and care for children. Betsy’s experience with an MLM also felt very real to me—the excitement can be contagious, but the pressure to sell and recruit can be uncomfortable.

One of my favorite parts of the story was The Fives and their rock-solid friendship. Their loyalty and support for one another added so much warmth to the book. Grace Helena Walz is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I loved the way she brings relatable characters and meaningful friendships to life.

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

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty as a Peach by Grace Helena Walz is a pure southern delight. Similar to her previous novels the theme of true friendship resonates throughout. Delilah Thomas has a made a nice little life for herself. She has a house, a job she loves, a side hustle she believes in and a group of friends that would go to the ends of the earth for one another. When the town gets caught up in a MLM scheme can she stand by and watch it grab hold of those she holds most dear? This charming novel is written beautifully and wraps you up in the small town feels. Coming to bookstores July 14, 2026!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[rebecca doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of ARC copy received on Net galley

Pretty as a Peach is an easy, pleasant but pretty unmemorable read. Coming out in July, it’s definitely a perfect easy beachside read.

It follows the main character Delilah and her group of friends who refer to themselves as ‘The Five’. Set in a small town called Pearl it covers some interesting concepts. Pearl is being influenced by a MLM and this impacts The Five as well as Delilah’s relationship with her family which is already quite complex. There is of course an interwoven love story.

I enjoyed reading Pretty as a Peach but honestly I’ll probably have forgotten it within a few weeks.

[Rebecca Guthrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've all been victim, or at least know someone who has fallen, to a multi-level marketing scheme. Pretty as a Peach is the story of Delilah, a preschool teacher, working to take down the latest craze in friend-to-friend selling. As she uncovers the business, she finds that its secrets go even deeper than she could imagine.

This one was just okay for me. While I loved the premise, the actual story seemed to fall a bit flat. Maybe it just needed to be a bit shorter?

I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty as a Peach by Grace Helena Walz. Relateable and engaging characters. The story focuses on the close friendship between the group of childhood friends, (The Five) and how they all come together when crisis strikes.
Entertaining story about friendships, conflict within families, and falling in love.

Thank you to the author, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic southern writing but with a relatable modern twist! This author is truly so talented at writing beautiful touching stories with an authentic signature style. I loved each of the characters for their own reasons & thought they worked off eachother perfectly. This would be such a fun summer read for a book club with so much to discuss!

Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.

[Stephanie Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lovely. It was such an important read, especially in these current times we are living in, about the power of being brave, standing up and speaking out when it's hard to. I loved how this story progressed, it was the perfect pace. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs that reminder or help with being brave when it's difficult!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Such a fun read about five friends who are more like family than they're real families. Lots of humor with a sweet romance too. I've never read anything by this author and I think she did a wonderful job with this.

[Ellie Beaver]

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC of this novel.

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. I really wanted to enjoy it. I was excited to read it… but ultimately I am having to DNF.
Therefore, I am not giving a rated review as I do not want this to negatively impact the books review score.

I would like to revisit this book at another time.

[Aida ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Went in expecting cozy litfic. But no, no cozy, just dumb.