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Lowcountry Tale #1
My Magnolia Summer
Escape to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where family bonds and hidden secrets run deep.
In this gripping tale of self-discovery, Victoria Benton Frank introduces us to Maggie, a South Carolina transplant in New York City struggling to find her place in the world. When she receives a phone call from her troubled sister, Violet, Maggie must return to her hometown of Sullivan's Island, where she uncovers shocking secrets about her family's past.
Upon her arrival, Maggie is confronted with a disarrayed situation at The Magic Lantern, the cherished restaurant owned and operated by generations of women in her family. As she rediscovers the roots she left behind, she unexpectedly finds herself drawn to a charismatic farmer. But amidst her sister's impending breakup and their beloved matriarch, Gran, lying comatose due to a car accident caused by Maggie's troubled mother, Lily, the road to true love won't be easy.
When three generations of South Carolina women—the steadfast Gran, the troubled Lily, the impulsive Violet, and the determined Maggie, come together, anything becomes possible. Immerse yourself in the stunning depictions of marsh grasses and dunes, as this novel transports you to a world brimming with cherished family traditions and unforeseen twists of fate.
In this gripping tale of self-discovery, Victoria Benton Frank introduces us to Maggie, a South Carolina transplant in New York City struggling to find her place in the world. When she receives a phone call from her troubled sister, Violet, Maggie must return to her hometown of Sullivan's Island, where she uncovers shocking secrets about her family's past.
Upon her arrival, Maggie is confronted with a disarrayed situation at The Magic Lantern, the cherished restaurant owned and operated by generations of women in her family. As she rediscovers the roots she left behind, she unexpectedly finds herself drawn to a charismatic farmer. But amidst her sister's impending breakup and their beloved matriarch, Gran, lying comatose due to a car accident caused by Maggie's troubled mother, Lily, the road to true love won't be easy.
When three generations of South Carolina women—the steadfast Gran, the troubled Lily, the impulsive Violet, and the determined Maggie, come together, anything becomes possible. Immerse yourself in the stunning depictions of marsh grasses and dunes, as this novel transports you to a world brimming with cherished family traditions and unforeseen twists of fate.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
1272 people are currently reading
37143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,336 reviews
July 18, 2023
Anyone who tells you this book is good is LYING. I highly doubt this author's book writing skills. If she can be a bestselling author, then hell, so can I, because what the heck was going on. DNFed this book 100 pages in, it actually gave me a headache.
1. Author has no idea how to write dialogue.
The dialogue between the characters just seemed so fake and superficial, and I had trouble understanding how a real person could ever speak like this. For example, "No! Of course I do not have any chewing gum! What am I, a cow chewing cud? What you want girl, cinnamon, or winter fresh?" (Page 54). Maybe I'm just not a southerner, but the dialogue felt so off to me.
2. Character interactions are unconvincing.
In a lot of the scenes, the characters seem to be very erratic. One minute they're mad, and the next they feel fine. What? There's no progression. For example, Maggie says she is over a potential love interest, and then right after, backtracks and says she's in love with him. (page 83). WHAT IS GOING ON??? WHERE IS THE CONSISTENCY???
3. No plot.
Not to mention the inconsistency between character interactions, there is also no plot. I am currently 100 pages in and virtually nothing has happened. The author does a good job of TELLING us what happens, but not actually SHOWING us.
4. Superficial Characters.
Other than Maggie or Rose (Gran), I had a difficult time creating realistic images of the characters in my head, obviously with no facilitation from the minimal and shoddy descriptions of the characters.
5. Mentioning COVID one too many times.
Stop talking about COVID so much. I KNOW what it was like- I LIVED THROUGH IT.
6. Juvenile Writing.
I would not be surprised if you told me a 12 year old off Wattpad ghostwrote this.
Anyways, although there were a lot of cons to the book, I still really liked some of the imagery and figurative language. The author most definitely knows how to write a beautiful scene. I also really like the quote, "this place was the landscape of my soul." (page 55)
Either way, I don't care for this book. Feel free to tell me how it ends if you finished it, because I will never be touching it again.
1. Author has no idea how to write dialogue.
The dialogue between the characters just seemed so fake and superficial, and I had trouble understanding how a real person could ever speak like this. For example, "No! Of course I do not have any chewing gum! What am I, a cow chewing cud? What you want girl, cinnamon, or winter fresh?" (Page 54). Maybe I'm just not a southerner, but the dialogue felt so off to me.
2. Character interactions are unconvincing.
In a lot of the scenes, the characters seem to be very erratic. One minute they're mad, and the next they feel fine. What? There's no progression. For example, Maggie says she is over a potential love interest, and then right after, backtracks and says she's in love with him. (page 83). WHAT IS GOING ON??? WHERE IS THE CONSISTENCY???
3. No plot.
Not to mention the inconsistency between character interactions, there is also no plot. I am currently 100 pages in and virtually nothing has happened. The author does a good job of TELLING us what happens, but not actually SHOWING us.
4. Superficial Characters.
Other than Maggie or Rose (Gran), I had a difficult time creating realistic images of the characters in my head, obviously with no facilitation from the minimal and shoddy descriptions of the characters.
5. Mentioning COVID one too many times.
Stop talking about COVID so much. I KNOW what it was like- I LIVED THROUGH IT.
6. Juvenile Writing.
I would not be surprised if you told me a 12 year old off Wattpad ghostwrote this.
Anyways, although there were a lot of cons to the book, I still really liked some of the imagery and figurative language. The author most definitely knows how to write a beautiful scene. I also really like the quote, "this place was the landscape of my soul." (page 55)
Either way, I don't care for this book. Feel free to tell me how it ends if you finished it, because I will never be touching it again.
January 10, 2023
The southern fiction world stood still on September 2, 2019 as it paused to mourn the life, legacy, and just sheer brilliance of iconic southern writer Dorothea Benton Frank, who left this world far too soon following a bout with cancer.
In the time since her passing, her beloved daughter Victoria has promised that she was going to step into her mother's famed manolo blahnik shoes and continue to provide the "Lowcountry Tales" her mother had given the world every summer for 20 years...and this June, MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER will storm into bookstores and provide readers with a touch of that warm ocean breeze of Sullivan's Island and Charleston, SC that readers have been longing for since our beloved Dot left this earth.
MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER is a generational story, telling the story of Magnolia, her sister Violet, their mother Lily, and their grandmother Rose; and believe me, these are all 4 very strong independent southern women...focusing on Magnolia, a culinary chef living in transplant New York City, she's called home to South Carolina after her mother and grandmother have been in a car accident that has left Rose in a medical coma. Magnolia learns that she has been away from home far too long and there are some changes taking place in her family's local owned restaurant the Magic Lantern that she's none too pleased about....and ofcourse there's a handsome farmer man nearby that catches Magnolia's eye..... With laugh out loud wise cracking dialogue, signature southern one-liners, and just all around deep characterization, you fall in love with the cast that Frank has assembled. It all spins into one big beautiful heartfelt web of family, love, secrets, and ofcourse food. I'm warning you all, you best not even touch this book if you're the slightest bit hungry, because some of these chapters taking place with Magnolia in the kitchen will leave your stomach growling....
And ofcourse....she leaves the reader wanting more, because I'm clamoring for the next one....Victoria Benton Frank proves that she is here to take her rightful place in the southern fiction genre, I think her momma's devoted followers are going to welcome her with open arms. My Magnolia Summer publishes June 6, 2023 from William Morrow. 💕🌸
In the time since her passing, her beloved daughter Victoria has promised that she was going to step into her mother's famed manolo blahnik shoes and continue to provide the "Lowcountry Tales" her mother had given the world every summer for 20 years...and this June, MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER will storm into bookstores and provide readers with a touch of that warm ocean breeze of Sullivan's Island and Charleston, SC that readers have been longing for since our beloved Dot left this earth.
MY MAGNOLIA SUMMER is a generational story, telling the story of Magnolia, her sister Violet, their mother Lily, and their grandmother Rose; and believe me, these are all 4 very strong independent southern women...focusing on Magnolia, a culinary chef living in transplant New York City, she's called home to South Carolina after her mother and grandmother have been in a car accident that has left Rose in a medical coma. Magnolia learns that she has been away from home far too long and there are some changes taking place in her family's local owned restaurant the Magic Lantern that she's none too pleased about....and ofcourse there's a handsome farmer man nearby that catches Magnolia's eye..... With laugh out loud wise cracking dialogue, signature southern one-liners, and just all around deep characterization, you fall in love with the cast that Frank has assembled. It all spins into one big beautiful heartfelt web of family, love, secrets, and ofcourse food. I'm warning you all, you best not even touch this book if you're the slightest bit hungry, because some of these chapters taking place with Magnolia in the kitchen will leave your stomach growling....
And ofcourse....she leaves the reader wanting more, because I'm clamoring for the next one....Victoria Benton Frank proves that she is here to take her rightful place in the southern fiction genre, I think her momma's devoted followers are going to welcome her with open arms. My Magnolia Summer publishes June 6, 2023 from William Morrow. 💕🌸
October 17, 2023
What a lovely summer book! When I took The House Swap from a bookstore shelf I noticed a cover that instantly caught my attention and stopped me in my tracks - a number of images flashed by, reminding me of the sunny days of a particular summer. And the very beginning of the book gives me a feeling that it's going to be a fantastic read. 🙂
Marina Moschen
Page 1
"Last night I dreamed of Charleston, as I do almost every night. Far away from my beloved land by day, at night I am there. I dreamed of the marsh grass, the coral sunsets, the smell of plough mud, and the sound of the breeze rustling through the fronds of the palmetto trees. If you were to cut me open, you’d find the water of the Atlantic instead of blood, driftwood instead of bones, and seashells in place of everything else. When I was a little girl, and I couldn’t sleep, my grandmother used to tell me to pretend that my breaths were the ocean waves rolling in and pulling away from the shore."
Page 2
"I was hugging my grandmother then, telling her I loved her. We had wind chimes on our porch that were made of sand dollars. Each dollar was decorated for one of us. They were painted with a flower, representing all our names. Mine was a big magnolia, my grandmother’s a rose, my mother’s a lily, and my sister’s a bright-purple violet. Violet had dipped hers in silver glitter and the sunshine always caught it." :)
12 September '23
"There was something about lighthouses that always made me feel secure. Maybe because their beacons had once led people home."
Oh yay! I hope I would have a chance to read the next enchanting Lowcountry tale.
Yes, this book was really good, as warm as this summer sunshine, making me smile countless times and the splashes of the memories emerge, though there weren't such strict connections with the events of this tale. It once again confirms that some books and their covers, too, are magic! The cover laid out dots of the memories, somehow capturing the emotion of my summer and echoing those beautiful events, and the story connected them.
I liked the way Maggie's dreams were woven into the story, capturing the essence, the reality of a dream fabric. The writing is beautiful!
Marina Moschen
Page 1
"Last night I dreamed of Charleston, as I do almost every night. Far away from my beloved land by day, at night I am there. I dreamed of the marsh grass, the coral sunsets, the smell of plough mud, and the sound of the breeze rustling through the fronds of the palmetto trees. If you were to cut me open, you’d find the water of the Atlantic instead of blood, driftwood instead of bones, and seashells in place of everything else. When I was a little girl, and I couldn’t sleep, my grandmother used to tell me to pretend that my breaths were the ocean waves rolling in and pulling away from the shore."
Page 2
"I was hugging my grandmother then, telling her I loved her. We had wind chimes on our porch that were made of sand dollars. Each dollar was decorated for one of us. They were painted with a flower, representing all our names. Mine was a big magnolia, my grandmother’s a rose, my mother’s a lily, and my sister’s a bright-purple violet. Violet had dipped hers in silver glitter and the sunshine always caught it." :)
12 September '23
"There was something about lighthouses that always made me feel secure. Maybe because their beacons had once led people home."
Oh yay! I hope I would have a chance to read the next enchanting Lowcountry tale.
Yes, this book was really good, as warm as this summer sunshine, making me smile countless times and the splashes of the memories emerge, though there weren't such strict connections with the events of this tale. It once again confirms that some books and their covers, too, are magic! The cover laid out dots of the memories, somehow capturing the emotion of my summer and echoing those beautiful events, and the story connected them.
I liked the way Maggie's dreams were woven into the story, capturing the essence, the reality of a dream fabric. The writing is beautiful!
July 24, 2023
This was actually painful. It was like a bad Hallmark movie- someone moves back home to save the family business and falls in love with the off-limits “perfect” guy (who happens to be a doctor and a carpenter and own a beautiful farm) after meeting him 3 times.
I kept waiting for it to get good and then by the time I knew it, I was over half way through and my ego wouldn’t let me quit so I just toughed it out.
Spoiler alert- it never got good. I should have known with the multiple COVID references in the first pages.
It felt like a book written by a teenager. The characters had zero personality, minus Jim but he felt more like a caricature. His dialogue was actually rough to read.
And speaking of dialogue?! Just yikes. “That’s slap-your-momma good!” 🫠
And the worst part was finishing it and having no closure on the minor details that held the story together, only to find out it’s going to be a series. As if we need ANY more. Let these characters disappear, please.
This gets 1 star only because I love Charleston so some things made me nostalgic but otherwise, cringefest.
I kept waiting for it to get good and then by the time I knew it, I was over half way through and my ego wouldn’t let me quit so I just toughed it out.
Spoiler alert- it never got good. I should have known with the multiple COVID references in the first pages.
It felt like a book written by a teenager. The characters had zero personality, minus Jim but he felt more like a caricature. His dialogue was actually rough to read.
And speaking of dialogue?! Just yikes. “That’s slap-your-momma good!” 🫠
And the worst part was finishing it and having no closure on the minor details that held the story together, only to find out it’s going to be a series. As if we need ANY more. Let these characters disappear, please.
This gets 1 star only because I love Charleston so some things made me nostalgic but otherwise, cringefest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2023
It appears I am writing the dissenting opinion on this one. There was nothing wrong with it, per say, I just found the dialogue to be elementary, the characters to be one dimensional, and the story to be lacking.
I had intended to follow this one through to the end since I brought it on vacation with me, but two things stopped me. First, the references to the author's mother's books. I was not familiar with Dorothea Benton Frank before reading this book, but I've come to learn that she was a beloved author who died too soon. I appreciate that her daughter wanted to honor her in her own book, but she referenced the author twice in the first 130 pages that I actually did read and both references felt forced, rather than an organic tribute. Second, I made the mistake of reading the author's note at the end. I was continuing the book primarily to find out what was going to happen to the Magic Lantern and would Violet ever tell Chris about the pregnancy. Well, turns out if I want these answers, I really have to wait for the second book. I just couldn't bring myself to keep going at this point.
Life is too short to read books that I don't love, and this one was a rare miss for me. I want more depth of characters and conflicts.
I had intended to follow this one through to the end since I brought it on vacation with me, but two things stopped me. First, the references to the author's mother's books. I was not familiar with Dorothea Benton Frank before reading this book, but I've come to learn that she was a beloved author who died too soon. I appreciate that her daughter wanted to honor her in her own book, but she referenced the author twice in the first 130 pages that I actually did read and both references felt forced, rather than an organic tribute. Second, I made the mistake of reading the author's note at the end. I was continuing the book primarily to find out what was going to happen to the Magic Lantern and would Violet ever tell Chris about the pregnancy. Well, turns out if I want these answers, I really have to wait for the second book. I just couldn't bring myself to keep going at this point.
Life is too short to read books that I don't love, and this one was a rare miss for me. I want more depth of characters and conflicts.
June 26, 2023
Poorly written, boring, weird, silly.
June 20, 2023
*Happy Pub Day to this new debut!
I’ve got the perfect beach read to add to your beach bag this Summer!
📖𝙈𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
✍🏻Victoria Benton Frank
🗓️6.6.23
🌸Women’s Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
As a fan of the late Dorothea Benton Frank, reading the Lowcountry Tales each Summer, I was so excited to read her daughter’s brand new debut.
I loved this story of three generations of women that come together in this heartfelt story. It features a woman named Magnolia, her sister Violet, their Mother Lily, and Grandmother Rose.
It was fun to see author Victoria use her culinary background throughout the story, and I really enjoyed the delicious food descriptions that transported me right to my memories of beach vacations in GA and SC.
The dialogue was so funny between sisters, Mother, and Grandmother, and the great cast of characters that make this such a heartwarming read. I teared up reading Victoria’s author’s note at the end, and loved all of the DBF Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout and can’t wait to read more by @victoriabentonfrank 💕🌸
I both read and listened to the audiobook format, and found myself transported to my many trips to South Carolina.
Thank you @williammorrowbooks @harperaudio #gifted
I’ve got the perfect beach read to add to your beach bag this Summer!
📖𝙈𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
✍🏻Victoria Benton Frank
🗓️6.6.23
🌸Women’s Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
As a fan of the late Dorothea Benton Frank, reading the Lowcountry Tales each Summer, I was so excited to read her daughter’s brand new debut.
I loved this story of three generations of women that come together in this heartfelt story. It features a woman named Magnolia, her sister Violet, their Mother Lily, and Grandmother Rose.
It was fun to see author Victoria use her culinary background throughout the story, and I really enjoyed the delicious food descriptions that transported me right to my memories of beach vacations in GA and SC.
The dialogue was so funny between sisters, Mother, and Grandmother, and the great cast of characters that make this such a heartwarming read. I teared up reading Victoria’s author’s note at the end, and loved all of the DBF Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout and can’t wait to read more by @victoriabentonfrank 💕🌸
I both read and listened to the audiobook format, and found myself transported to my many trips to South Carolina.
Thank you @williammorrowbooks @harperaudio #gifted
August 30, 2023
DNF this book at 50% because wooooow. The writing was just.. not it. Extremely juvenile and felt like the author was babbling.. im so bummed cause I really wanted this to be a cute summer read..
October 3, 2023
I am so glad this is over as it was much too long. Imagine the original manuscript was 700 pages. She writes endlessly about food so if you like to read about cooking and receipts then this is the book for you. I can hack it when Stephenie Plum talks about food but not Magnolia as she is a sous chef and her ideas about food are much too sophisticated for me. She also does too much cooking with things that I am allergic to. It was very tiresome. At least the characters got back together and there will be another book but I won't be reading it.
July 13, 2023
I honestly didn’t enjoy this book 😅😅😅 I feel awful saying this, but I could tell it was the writer’s first book. 😅😬 every time I picked it up I was like “ughhh.” It was more of a “let’s get this over with,” vs a “I can’t put this down” feeling. There was nothing pulling me back to the book. However, I did enjoy reading about the main character’s life as a chef bc I’m a foodie. I also thought it was cute the author put the “heartbreak soup” recipe at the end. But those were the only redeeming qualities to me. Everything else was a big fat cringe lol especially with all the exclamation marks sprinkled on every page. ! ! ! !
Cute cover, though, and I love that the main character’s name is Magnolia “Maggie”
Cute cover, though, and I love that the main character’s name is Magnolia “Maggie”
August 11, 2023
I saw this book recommended a few places and I thought it sounded cute. I'm baffled by the positive reviews for this book. This might be the worst book I've ever read. It was absolutely terrible. Forget the inaccuracies, the impossible nonsense, and the parts that made no sense at all. The writing was so juvenile. Save your time.
June 22, 2023
Excellent!! 🩷🌸
October 10, 2023
A fabulous debut that would have made her Mama proud. Filled with southern charm and a homage to family, fine food, and community. I will definitely be watching for her next book.
May 6, 2023
A great summer beach read option about a Southern family, their dwindling restaurant business and the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters.
I really enjoyed this debut from the daughter of the late Dorothea Benton Frank. Her daughter liberally sprinkles references to her mom and her books throughout the story in a touching memorial.
Fans of books about intergenerational family stories and foodies will enjoy this one. Perfect for anyone who loved the Reese Book Club pick, The chicken sisters and good on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: alcoholic parent
I really enjoyed this debut from the daughter of the late Dorothea Benton Frank. Her daughter liberally sprinkles references to her mom and her books throughout the story in a touching memorial.
Fans of books about intergenerational family stories and foodies will enjoy this one. Perfect for anyone who loved the Reese Book Club pick, The chicken sisters and good on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: alcoholic parent
April 20, 2023
My favorite book this year so far. A sweet romance that will make you believe in love again with just enough going on in the story that wraps together well. Very cohesive with some funny moments. I found it to be a joyful, uplifting read.
Read
October 7, 2025I hate to DNF. I really do hate it!
I like giving every book I start a fair chance, and I feel like I haven't done that if I don't finish it.
But, sometimes it has to happen. For my sanity.
I was super excited for this, because it takes place close to home!
I was ready for the vibes, the nostalgia, and that comfort that you can only get from something so familiar.
Sadly- this just wasn't doing it for me. I think I made it to around 30% before I gave up.
I didn't really think it was bad or anything. But I just had that "UGHHHH" feeling every single time I went to read it, and I kept putting it off for other books.
So finally I decided to throw in the towel.
It just isn't something that I found really captivating.
Also, sometimes I hit something in a book that is... too real. But not in an "omg so relatable!" way. More like a "hahahahaha. I really wish you didn't bring that up" way.
I come from where I come from. And I like where I come from.
There’s a lot of culture! But sometimes where I come from comes with a lot of... problems. Unrealistic family expectations, a very particular and unique way of passing judgement to people, a crazy amount of passive aggression etc. And this!
This really brought that back. JUMP SCARE.
and I would really just rather not.
"I gotta put me first Lucian!"
I like giving every book I start a fair chance, and I feel like I haven't done that if I don't finish it.
But, sometimes it has to happen. For my sanity.
I was super excited for this, because it takes place close to home!
I was ready for the vibes, the nostalgia, and that comfort that you can only get from something so familiar.
Sadly- this just wasn't doing it for me. I think I made it to around 30% before I gave up.
I didn't really think it was bad or anything. But I just had that "UGHHHH" feeling every single time I went to read it, and I kept putting it off for other books.
So finally I decided to throw in the towel.
It just isn't something that I found really captivating.
Also, sometimes I hit something in a book that is... too real. But not in an "omg so relatable!" way. More like a "hahahahaha. I really wish you didn't bring that up" way.
I come from where I come from. And I like where I come from.
There’s a lot of culture! But sometimes where I come from comes with a lot of... problems. Unrealistic family expectations, a very particular and unique way of passing judgement to people, a crazy amount of passive aggression etc. And this!
This really brought that back. JUMP SCARE.
and I would really just rather not.
"I gotta put me first Lucian!"
August 17, 2025
Loved this book and about to start the next one. Charming, heartwarming and family. Perfect end to my vacation.
June 4, 2023
Magnolia "Maggie" Adams has left her home and family in South Carolina's Lowcountry for the bright lights an opportunities of New York City. She has been working long hours in strenuous conditions as a chef in the hopes of eventually being promoted to a higher position at a famous NYC eatery. She has an on again/off again relationship with a fellow chef named Ronny, who doesn't seem to view their relationship as exclusive. When she gets a message that her beloved grandmother has been in a serious car accident, she drops everything to rush back home. While her Gran is in the hospital, Maggie learns from her sister Violet that the family restaurant, the Lantern, has been passed to their mother to run. Instead of continuing with the tradition of fresh ingredients and family recipes, their mother Lily and her boyfriend Buster have gone for frozen food that can be microwaved quickly. Maggie visits the restaurant and is horrified at the state of it and the food that's being served there. Maggie has difficult relationships with her alcoholic mother and her prickly sister to navigate, as well as trying to help out at the restaurant when not at the hospital with her grandmother. Thank goodness for the hunky doctor she meets to help keep her mind off of her many problems.
The author's love of food and the Lowcountry shine through the story. There were problems, however. I read an advanced reading copy, so perhaps the issues will be fixed by the time the novel is published, but there were some odd things here. For instance, several things are thrown in at the end of the novel about the history of the family, then they are abruptly dropped without being resolved. Everyone else seems to have very strange emotions and reactions -- one moment they are fighting and suddenly all is well with no real reason why. It's all a bit abrupt. Maggie has job issues in New York that seem to hint at deeper problems but again are not addressed. A character is mentioned as going away long before they announce it to anyone (it's given as a reason why another character is stressed, but this person is unaware of the upcoming trip at the time). The author's mother was also a novelist, and at several points in the novel the characters take time out to gush about how the mother was their favorite writer of all time (it all felt a bit shoehorned in). There is a recipe at the end that sounds tasty, but it's not enough for me to like the book.
I received a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway.
The author's love of food and the Lowcountry shine through the story. There were problems, however. I read an advanced reading copy, so perhaps the issues will be fixed by the time the novel is published, but there were some odd things here. For instance, several things are thrown in at the end of the novel about the history of the family, then they are abruptly dropped without being resolved. Everyone else seems to have very strange emotions and reactions -- one moment they are fighting and suddenly all is well with no real reason why. It's all a bit abrupt. Maggie has job issues in New York that seem to hint at deeper problems but again are not addressed. A character is mentioned as going away long before they announce it to anyone (it's given as a reason why another character is stressed, but this person is unaware of the upcoming trip at the time). The author's mother was also a novelist, and at several points in the novel the characters take time out to gush about how the mother was their favorite writer of all time (it all felt a bit shoehorned in). There is a recipe at the end that sounds tasty, but it's not enough for me to like the book.
I received a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway.
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July 19, 2025I'm so happy to see Victoria Benton Frank step into the writing world, carrying the torch onward in memory of her beloved mother, Dorothea Benton Frank. Add VBF books to your summer reading list!
January 22, 2023
Told mainly in the voices of sisters Magnolia (Maggie) and Violet Adams, My Magnolia Summer is the lyrically told story of two women finding themselves and their futures over the course of a hot South Carolina lowcountry summer. Maggie returns to her childhood home on Sullivans Island when she learns that her beloved grandmother Rose, who raised her, has had a stroke. At first, not much has changed. Her mother Lily is still dealing with bitterness and alcohol abuse and her sister Violet has not yet convinced her boyfriend Chris to marry her…not for any lack of trying. But it is The Magic Lantern, the family restaurant for generations, that has been changed. Lily and her boyfriend Buster have turned the quaint family style dining room into a touristy, pirate themed horror featuring not Maggie’s grandmother’s homestyle cooking but instead fast foods and canned sauces. Maggie is facing problems with her mother, her grandmother’s health issues and money problems at the restaurant. A chance meeting with a doctor/farmer, however, adds interest to what she plans will be a brief stay. And Violet has interesting problems of her own. It takes a lot but the women finally learn the importance of family.
So we all know that Victoria is the daughter of beloved Southern writer Dorothea Benton Frank. What we didn’t know is that she can write! My Magnolia Summer is a beach book, a rainy day book, a curl up by the fire book…you get the picture. This is a story about strong women and the men who love them, about hard work, choices and the beautiful marshes and creeks of the lowcountry or as Maggie says “this place was the landscape of my soul.” Victoria Benton Frank, your mother is so proud of you! I can’t wait to read what comes next! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Victoria benton Frank for this ARC.
So we all know that Victoria is the daughter of beloved Southern writer Dorothea Benton Frank. What we didn’t know is that she can write! My Magnolia Summer is a beach book, a rainy day book, a curl up by the fire book…you get the picture. This is a story about strong women and the men who love them, about hard work, choices and the beautiful marshes and creeks of the lowcountry or as Maggie says “this place was the landscape of my soul.” Victoria Benton Frank, your mother is so proud of you! I can’t wait to read what comes next! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Victoria benton Frank for this ARC.
November 23, 2023
References to her mother made me CRINGE SO HARD
April 29, 2023
When popular Southern author Dorothea Benton Frank died in 2019, her readers knew that we would miss her southern lowcountry stories with quirky characters and feel good endings. I wasn't sure that her daughter would be able to step into her mother's shoes. I was wrong to have any doubts. My Magnolia Summer is a perfect lowcountry book to read on your trip to the beach and if you can't get to the beach, the book will make you feel like you've just vacationed there.
Magnolia - known as Maggie - is a chef in New York City. Even though she misses her South Carolina home and family, she knows that if she keeps working long hours for little pay, she'll be promoted to a higher place in the kitchen and eventually be able to open her own restaurant. Her life is unsettled - the main chef is cruel and uncaring and her on-again/off-again boyfriend doesn't promise much of a future. When her beloved grandmother and her mother are in a car accident, she heads home immediately. When she gets there, she finds that her mother wasn't injured but her grandmother is in a medically induced coma. She also finds out that the family restaurant run by her grandmother has been changed - and not for the better. Instead of French cooking and homemade pastries, it now offers fried fish and cheap entrees from cans. Her alcoholic mother and her new boyfriend have made the changes. Her mother and sister both believe that Maggie thinks she's better than they are because she works in a restaurant in New York and there isn't much apparent love between the three of them but Maggie agrees to stay on Sullivan's Island long enough to work with her sister to get the family restaurant back into being a popular place for home-cooked southern meals. Will the two sisters be successful with their plans for the restaurant and will Maggie accept the offer for a promotion at a new restaurant in New York and leave her family again?
This is a delightful book about family and the love between three generations of strong women. There are some tears, a good helping of romance and some laugh out loud moments. Be sure to toss it in your beach bag when you head to the beach!
Magnolia - known as Maggie - is a chef in New York City. Even though she misses her South Carolina home and family, she knows that if she keeps working long hours for little pay, she'll be promoted to a higher place in the kitchen and eventually be able to open her own restaurant. Her life is unsettled - the main chef is cruel and uncaring and her on-again/off-again boyfriend doesn't promise much of a future. When her beloved grandmother and her mother are in a car accident, she heads home immediately. When she gets there, she finds that her mother wasn't injured but her grandmother is in a medically induced coma. She also finds out that the family restaurant run by her grandmother has been changed - and not for the better. Instead of French cooking and homemade pastries, it now offers fried fish and cheap entrees from cans. Her alcoholic mother and her new boyfriend have made the changes. Her mother and sister both believe that Maggie thinks she's better than they are because she works in a restaurant in New York and there isn't much apparent love between the three of them but Maggie agrees to stay on Sullivan's Island long enough to work with her sister to get the family restaurant back into being a popular place for home-cooked southern meals. Will the two sisters be successful with their plans for the restaurant and will Maggie accept the offer for a promotion at a new restaurant in New York and leave her family again?
This is a delightful book about family and the love between three generations of strong women. There are some tears, a good helping of romance and some laugh out loud moments. Be sure to toss it in your beach bag when you head to the beach!
June 7, 2023
My Magnolia Summer is a debut novel from the daughter of Southern Fiction legend Dorothea Benton Frank.
When I moved to Charleston in August 2011 I started reading Dorothea Benton Frank and fell in love with the Lowcountry while sitting on the beach at Sullivan's Island, so when I saw her daughter was writing a book I knew I had to read it. My Magnolia Summer is an enjoyable summer read that has the nostalgia of a DBF book with new twist.
NYC chef Maggie rushes home to Sullivan's Island when her beloved grandmother is in a car accident and she finds out her family's restaurant has undergone some changes. Maggie struggles to think about her future and goals in NYC when she wants to bring the restaurant back to how she remembers it.
This book is about family, relationships and goals. I loved the restaurant scenes and liked all of the characters. Reading this made me wish I was sitting at the beach by Station 32 or grabbing a burger at Poe's.
If you like Southern Fiction about family or are a DBF fan you'll enjoy this book!
When I moved to Charleston in August 2011 I started reading Dorothea Benton Frank and fell in love with the Lowcountry while sitting on the beach at Sullivan's Island, so when I saw her daughter was writing a book I knew I had to read it. My Magnolia Summer is an enjoyable summer read that has the nostalgia of a DBF book with new twist.
NYC chef Maggie rushes home to Sullivan's Island when her beloved grandmother is in a car accident and she finds out her family's restaurant has undergone some changes. Maggie struggles to think about her future and goals in NYC when she wants to bring the restaurant back to how she remembers it.
This book is about family, relationships and goals. I loved the restaurant scenes and liked all of the characters. Reading this made me wish I was sitting at the beach by Station 32 or grabbing a burger at Poe's.
If you like Southern Fiction about family or are a DBF fan you'll enjoy this book!
June 9, 2023
As a huge fan of DBF I had to read this book by her daughter. the Flower girls' story was not what I expected, I enjoyed the story, and the characters were so much fun. there was very little romance it was more the flowers girls and grandma's story.
I gave this 4 stars and I hope to read Benton Franks next book.
I gave this 4 stars and I hope to read Benton Franks next book.
July 14, 2023
While I enjoyed the descriptions and familiarity of the Lowcountry locations in this book, I struggled to enjoy it fully. I found the storyline predictable, the dialogue cliché and the romance cheesy. I love a good beach read, but I love some depth in the story as well. Indications are that there will be a sequel... I will probably pass.
June 23, 2023
I need someone to explain
the post cards Grandma was looking for. Why was that in there if nothing was to come from it?!?😵💫
the post cards Grandma was looking for. Why was that in there if nothing was to come from it?!?😵💫
October 12, 2024
Such a cozy, warm-hearted story.
July 16, 2023
This was not my favorite.
The writing wasn’t great and sometimes came off as unnatural or corny.
The characters were extremely unlikeable- they were all very mean to each other and seemed to truly hate each other but then acted like everything was fine.
The sisters were swapping men left and right and the family was a disaster.
The “friends” of the family- Alice, Jim, Belle did everything for them and they did absolutely nothing to warrant that type of kindness.
Horrible people treating each other terribly and relying on others to get by.
Not my cup of tea but maybe everyone in the south sucks and this is normal?
The writing wasn’t great and sometimes came off as unnatural or corny.
The characters were extremely unlikeable- they were all very mean to each other and seemed to truly hate each other but then acted like everything was fine.
The sisters were swapping men left and right and the family was a disaster.
The “friends” of the family- Alice, Jim, Belle did everything for them and they did absolutely nothing to warrant that type of kindness.
Horrible people treating each other terribly and relying on others to get by.
Not my cup of tea but maybe everyone in the south sucks and this is normal?
May 17, 2024
DNF.
The dialogue in the book is so cringey. It does not seem like an adult wrote this book. The author is also trying so hard to make it sound “southern” by excessively using the word y’all in sentences where it is not needed. There will also randomly be a lot of detail about something that does not matter to the story line. I wouldn’t recommend this book to a single person.
The dialogue in the book is so cringey. It does not seem like an adult wrote this book. The author is also trying so hard to make it sound “southern” by excessively using the word y’all in sentences where it is not needed. There will also randomly be a lot of detail about something that does not matter to the story line. I wouldn’t recommend this book to a single person.
July 2, 2023
ROSEs are red, VIOLETs are blue
Welcome to South Carolina Lowcountry,
How do ya do?!
Benton Frank teleports readers to Sullivan’s Island and tells the story of a family of strong women, all named after flowers…
Magnolia is an aspiring head chef living in the hustle n’ bustle of NYC and navigating the torrential rapids of romance in the workplace. When tragedy strikes the matriarch (Rose) of the family, Maggie is urged to return home. They say home is where the heart is but what if home consists of an alcoholic mother (Lily), a sister (Violet) whose home life is in absolute turmoil, and a crumbling family business that once was the pride and joy of the family?! GEE WHILLIKERS!
My Magnolia Summer is a CUTE, multigenerational story about redemption that will leave the hearts of readers feeling full of hope, love, and root, root, rootin’ for the home team (aaaaand Dr. Hottie ;) )
A million glimmering, shimmering, bookish thanks to William Morrow for sending me a gifted review copy! I love you more than all the boxes of rotten cabbage that were in the walk in freezer of The Magic Lantern LOL!
Welcome to South Carolina Lowcountry,
How do ya do?!
Benton Frank teleports readers to Sullivan’s Island and tells the story of a family of strong women, all named after flowers…
Magnolia is an aspiring head chef living in the hustle n’ bustle of NYC and navigating the torrential rapids of romance in the workplace. When tragedy strikes the matriarch (Rose) of the family, Maggie is urged to return home. They say home is where the heart is but what if home consists of an alcoholic mother (Lily), a sister (Violet) whose home life is in absolute turmoil, and a crumbling family business that once was the pride and joy of the family?! GEE WHILLIKERS!
My Magnolia Summer is a CUTE, multigenerational story about redemption that will leave the hearts of readers feeling full of hope, love, and root, root, rootin’ for the home team (aaaaand Dr. Hottie ;) )
A million glimmering, shimmering, bookish thanks to William Morrow for sending me a gifted review copy! I love you more than all the boxes of rotten cabbage that were in the walk in freezer of The Magic Lantern LOL!
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