My Magnolia Summer
A Novel
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4.3 • 179 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“[B]y writing My Magnolia Summer, a novel of low country food, family drama, and just the right amount of romance, Victoria Benton Frank shows that she is the rightful heir to the crown of summertime storytellers. Her mother would be so proud.” — Ann Patchett
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, struggling to find her place in the world when she receives a phone call bringing her back to her hometown of Sullivan's Island.
In New York City winter never seems to loosen its hold and for South Carolina transplant Maggie (born Magnolia after the fairest summer flower) the balmy beach weather of April back home on Sullivan’s Island feels like a distant memory. Until a phone call from her sister, Violet, changes everything.
Gran, the treasured matriarch, has fallen into a coma after a car accident caused by Maggie’s troubled mother, Lily. But once Maggie returns, she finds that her hometown of Sullivan’s Island holds even more secrets. The Magic Lantern, the restaurant owned and run by generations of women in her family, is now rudderless, and her sister seems headed for a savage breakup.
Once she is between the marsh grasses and dunes of South Carolina, she feels herself changing like the Atlantic tides, rediscovering the roots she left behind, and a new and different version of herself—one who can see how a minor crash into the back of a very handsome farmer’s truck may become fortunate. Or perhaps it’s even… fate?
When the three generations of South Carolina women join forces—the family pillar Gran, troubled Lily, impulsive Violet, and redoubtable Maggie—anything is possible.
With stunning descriptions of the magic of the Lowcountry, this novel will transport you to a world of treasured family traditions and unexpected twists of fate.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Frank's evocative debut depicts a young woman's return home from New York City to an island in South Carolina. Aspiring chef Magnolia "Maggie" Adams left remote Sullivan's Island, S.C., for a glamorous big-city life. After her beloved grandmother Rose is put in a coma following a car accident in which her intoxicated mother, Lily, was at the wheel, Maggie comes back to visit Rose in the hospital. She has a crash of her own on the way, rear-ending a car driven by pediatrician and farmer Sam Smart. Moments later, Maggie sees Sam at the hospital, where they collide again and she spills her coffee on his white coat. Soon, Maggie and Sam discover a powerful attraction, though Maggie is distracted by dealing with Lily during her visits to Rose. Maggie's narration is prone to overstatement, particularly in her descriptions of the dreams she's had about Sullivan's Island ("Far away from my beloved land by day, at night I am there"). It's unnecessary, because once Frank gets the reader there, the island comes to life with well-honed details. When Maggie passes familiar houses, she reflects, "It was nice to see them just as they'd always been. Like the people who lived inside them, the houses were old friends.". Readers will savor this skillfully told tale of unexpected love and family drama.
Customer Reviews
See AllDelicious
Victoria has done her Mother proud with her amazing first novel! A fun story about a group of Southern women dealing with life’s challenges. As a Southern woman and a foodie, I seriously enjoyed it! Can’t wait for more Magnolia!
Ending felt rushed
I’m a huge fan of her mother, and love to see her writing, and will read more from her when I can, this one was a great start, but stalled mid way through for me.
My Magnolia Summer
Very simple writing. Good plot and ideas, but written on about a fifth grade level! No character development! Use of simple sentence structure only! Would not recommend