Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodonsharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a Master's in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son.
The Wandering Season (2025) Aimie K Runyan "[An] latest, atmospheric novel about the power of family, the beauty of change, and the transportive magic of finding where you truly belong."
A Home for the Holidays (2024) Taylor Hahn "Taylor Hahn is back with a warm-hearted holiday novel about second chances, found family, and maybe even a Christmas miracle or two. Readers will devour this charming page turner and root for wedding singer Mel Hart to find healing, a fresh start, and, maybe most of all, A Home for the Holidays. This feel-good book packs a big emotional punch - and Taylor Hahn has quickly found a place on my personal list of auto-buy authors."
Until Next Summer (2024) Ali Brady "Ali Brady is back with a can't-miss vacation-in-pages. Two estranged friends come together to celebrate the last season at their favorite place with the best idea of all time: adult summer camp! Whether you're a former camper or could simply use an escape, run don't walk to pick up this charming, fun, and utterly poignant novel about the pieces of our younger selves that are always waiting to be rediscovered. Ali Brady captures the feel of carefree childhood days so vividly that you can practically smell the s'mores. Until Next Summer, like camp itself, brims with summer romance, forever friendship, and, maybe most of all, finding who you're meant to be. As a camp fanatic, I give this one five huge stars - and now I want to go to Camp Chickawah too!"
The Summer of Yes (2024) Courtney Walsh "Two unlikely women come together for a summer that will change their lives in Courtney Walsh's latest perfect page-turner. Full of heart, humor, and, oh yes, a happy ending, The Summer of Yes reaffirms why Walsh is one of my favorite writers. This feel-good novel is her absolute best yet--and the beach read that everyone will be talking about!"
The Summer Club (2024) Hannah McKinnon "Hannah McKinnon returns with her latest juicy, unputdownable read about an exclusive New England enclave - and a summer that will change everything. With unforgettable characters and pitch-perfect prose, THE SUMMER CLUB cements McKinnon's auto-buy status on to-be-read lists everywhere. Don't miss this delectable summer treat that is as enjoyable as, well, a day at the beach!"
A Novel Summer (2024) Jamie Brenner "Jamie Brenner has outdone herself with her latest sun-soaked stunner, a fast-paced, feel-good read that begs the age-old question: Can we ever really go home again? This is summer's BIG book that everyone will be raving about! I'm recommending it to everyone I know!"
The Night the River Wept (2024) Lo Patrick "The Night the River Wept is a page-turning exploration of small-town secrets and the far-reaching effects of tragedy. With wit and wisdom, Lo Patrick weaves an unforgettable story of heartbreak, love, and second chances--and proves herself as a compelling new voice in southern fiction."
Seven Summer Weekends (2024) Jane L Rosen "A charming, feel-good story about the power of love, the saving grace of friendship, and the revelatory nature of time spent by the sea, Jane L. Rosen's latest is the must-read book of the summer! An ode to fresh starts--and meddling relatives--this novel is the perfect reminder that it doesn't take long for life to change in the best possible ways. Sometimes, in fact, it only takes Seven Summer Weekends. Five huge stars!"
The British Booksellers (2024) Kristy Cambron "With pitch-perfect prose and impeccable research, Kristy Cambron brings to life the Forgotten Blitz bombings of World War II--and shines a light on the ways in which we find hope in even the darkest moments. A testament to bravery, loss, and the power story has to unite us, The British Booksellers will steal readers' hearts. This stunning novel is a poignant reminder of the indomitable nature of the human spirit and the enduring power of true love. Five huge stars!"
Recipe for a Charmed Life (2024) Rachel Linden "Rachel Linden, like the characters she breathes into existence, has a special knack for creating a sense of wonder and a spark of joy. In her latest novel, she beautifully shows how people--and dreams--can change, often in the very best ways, and that finding passion just might be what this journey is all about. With humor, heart, and Linden's signature pinch of magic, Recipe for a Charmed Life enchants. Linden has a permanent place on my list of auto-buy authors!"
The Christmas Cafe (2023) Eliza Evans "A frothy, feel-good confection of a novel, The Christmas Cafe is a love letter to new beginnings, tiny hometowns, and, of course, the most wonderful time of the year. An unforgettable debut that will make even the most cynical reader believe in Christmas miracles. Plan to devour this delicious tale in one sitting because once you step inside the world of Silver Bells, you'll never want to leave!"
The River Runs South (2023) Audrey Ingram "Lovers of luscious prose and fans of ecofiction will flock to Audrey Ingram's moving Alabama-set tale. A story of second chances, motherhood, and the fragility of our environment, The River Runs South is a must read for anyone who has ever needed a fresh start. An unforgettable debut by a standout new voice in southern fiction."
The Life She Wanted (2023) Anita Abriel "A compulsively readable coming-of-age story set against a dazzling Roaring Twenties backdrop, The Life She Wanted had me flipping pages late into the night. Full of intricately researched history and characters you'll root for, Anita Abriel's latest proves it might be a long and winding road, but true love always finds a way. Fans of The Gilded Age will devour this treat of a novel!"
Call the Canaries Home (2023) Laura Barrow "With lush prose and vivid description, Laura Barrow paints a picture of three sisters and their grandmother searching to uncover a secret from the past - and heal the wounds that have, in many ways, shaped their lives. Lyrical and lovely, Call the Canaries Home is a stunning debut from a standout new voice in women's fiction. And Laura Barrow is officially on my list of must-read authors!"
Welcome to Beach Town (2023) Susan Wiggs "Readers will savor sunny skies and perfect surf in this stunning new novel, but one thing is for sure: In this Beach Town, there is always more happening than meets the eye. Don't miss this expansive beauty of a summer book!"
A Shadow in Moscow (2023) Katherine Reay "Rich with fascinating historical detail and unforgettable characters, A Shadow in Moscow deftly explores two female spies who will risk everything to change the world. Katherine Reay eloquently portrays the incredible contributions of women in history, the extraordinary depths of love, and, perhaps most important, the true cost of freedom in her latest stunning page-turner. A story that will leave readers examining what they hold most dear and positively brimming with hope, this is an important, timely tour de force--and a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered if just one person can make a difference."
One Southern Summer (2023) Heidi McCahan "A story of reinvention, second chances, and finding love that truly conquers all, An absolute must read by a standout voice."
Ciao For Now (2023) Kate Bromley "Smart, warm, and laugh-out-loud funny, CIAO FOR NOW is a must-read for anyone who could use a taste of la dolce vita. With pitch-perfect prose and razor-sharp wit, Kate Bromley delivers an Italian vacation within the pages of this charming novel. Be warned: CIAO FOR NOW is the book-equivalent of a bowl of fresh Italian pasta. Once you dive in, it's absolutely impossible to put down!"
Summer Stage (2023) Meg Mitchell Moore "Summer Stage is a five-star novel that deserves a standing ovation! And Meg Mitchell Moore has a permanent place on my list of favorite authors."
Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly (2023) Marie Bostwick "Marie Bostwick wows with this wise, warm-hearted novel about taking risks, chasing dreams, and finding solace in the places you love most. Set in an idyllic North Carolina mountain resort, it is a vacation in words that I did not want to leave and absolutely could not put down. Esme Cahill is a protagonist to root for who will ultimately uncover the true meaning of family, the power of ancestral memory, and how, sometimes, failing spectacularly is the only way to begin again. This is Marie Bostwick at her storytelling finest!"
The Golden Doves (2023) Martha Hall Kelly "Literary perfection . . . explores the lengths we'?ll go in the name of redemption - and the risks we'll take for love."
Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl (2023) Renée Rosen "A scintillating, beautifully written peek into the life of one of America's most fascinating women, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is an ode to the singular magic of chasing and catching one's wildest dreams. Through Renee Rosen's well-trained pen, Estee Lauder returns, living and breathing on every page. Rosen is at the height of her storytelling prowess with this glittering novel that shines as brightly as the heroine at its center. I absolutely could not put it down."
The Vibrant Years (2022) Sonali Dev "Sonali Dev has done it again in this sparkling page-turner about the unbreakable bonds of women and the necessity of forging an authentic path. Three generations of women from one dynamic family band together to navigate each chapter of life proving that, with the right people by your side, they can all be vibrant years. Dev's storytelling shines!"
The Sunshine Girls (2022) Molly Fader "A breathtaking story of an extraordinary friendship. Sure to be one of the year's best novels."
In Her Boots (2022) KJ Dell'Antonia "Witty, charming, and utterly unputdownable, In Her Boots is the perfect reminder that living life on our own terms might just be what it's all about. Once again, KJ Dell' Antonia has knocked it out of the park with a story that will work its way right into readers' hearts."
Dog Friendly (2022) Victoria Schade "With huge heart, great tenderness, and plenty of unforgettable moments between dogs and their humans, Victoria Schade reminds readers that sometimes it takes getting away to find out where you are truly meant to be. Dog Friendly is a page-turning, feel-good story that--like a wet nose and a wagging tail--will work its way straight into readers' hearts. Add this literary gem to your TBR immediately!"
On Gin Lane (2022) Brooke Lea Foster "In this atmospheric new novel, Brooke Lea Foster explores the glittering and bohemian world of the Hamptons in the 1950s - and the dark underbelly that her protagonist never could have imagined. A page-turning mix of historical fiction and coming-of-age, readers will devour On Gin Lane, and its lessons of self-discovery and following one's heart will remain long after the final page. An utterly enchanting tale."
The Secret of Rainy Days (2021) Leslie Hooton "In distinctly Southern prose, Leslie Hooton captures the complexity of family dynamics and the difficulty of sudden loss in her sweeping sophomore novel. The Secret of Rainy Days explores what it truly means to come home again, especially when we think we have left forever-and how, sometimes, it’s the most difficult days and the lessons they bring that teach us who we truly are. Fans of coming-of-age stories will find themselves immersed in every page."
Learning to Speak Southern (2021) Lindsey Rogers Cook "Women's fiction lovers won't be able to put down this story of transformation, coming-of-age and the true meaning of family. Lindsey Rogers Cook has hit her stride!"
A Summer to Remember (2021) Erika Montgomery "A Summer To Remember is an unforgettable tale of love, loss and finding your place that glitters as brightly as the golden age of Hollywood."
The Clover Girls (2021) Viola Shipman "Viola Shipman has written a love song to long-lost friends, an ode to the summers that make us who we are. The minute I finished The Clover Girls, I ordered copies for all my friends. It’s that good."
Summertime Guests (2021) Wendy Francis "In prose as glittering as the hotel in which the novel is set, Francis shines as a master storyteller. A must-read for anyone who could use an escape."
Hepburn's Necklace (2021) Jan Moran "Second chances, twists of fate and a glittering Lake Como backdrop combine to create Jan Moran’s latest stunning read. Weaving back and forth through time, Moran creates an epic tale of love and loss that can’t help but make readers question what might have been. With lyrical prose and unforgettable characters, HEPBURN’S NECKLACE proves that Jan Moran is a writer at the top of her game and a storyteller to remember."
If You Must Know (2020) (Potomac Point, book 1) Jamie Beck "In perfect prose, Jamie Beck weaves a story of two sisters at odds, relationships in peril, and lives turned upside down. A testament to the strength of family—and the beauty of forgiveness—If You Must Know is a summer read with staying power and a poignant reminder that what we need most will always find its way back to us."
My Kind of People (2020) Lisa Duffy "My Kind of People is a powerful, endearing story about the life-altering moments that can shatter our reality--and the lengths the people who love us will go to put us back together. This multi-generational tale shows off Lisa Duffy's true talent for capturing voice and making her readers feel every emotion right along with her characters. This is the perfect story for book clubs and best friends to read together. Lisa Duffy's writing positively shines."
Happy and You Know It (2020) Laura Hankin "The perfect mix of frothy fun, twisty mystery and social satire, Happy and Your Know It is a guilty pleasure of a book that is impossible to put down. Laura Hankin creates complex characters with lives that, like their Instagram feeds, are never as they seem. This is the summer read for book clubs, beachgoers and playgroup moms everywhere."
This Won't End Well (2020) Camille Pagán "Witty, wise, and of the moment, This Won’t End Well is a story of unlikely friendships, calculated risks, and taking a stand—even when it’s easier to maintain the status quo. Charmingly flawed and endearingly real characters combine with a unique format to make Camille Pagán’s latest page-turner her best book yet."
True to Me (2019) (By the Sea , book 1) Kay Bratt "Quinn Maguire has grown up believing that she knows the truth about her complicated childhood. But when her mother dies shortly after revealing an earth-shaking family secret, everything changes in an instant. Kay Bratt beautifully draws the story of a daughter returning to Maui—the enchanted land that she believes holds the key to her past—where she unlocks a promising future she never could have imagined. Full of secrets, love and gorgeous settings, True to Me is the ultimate escape."
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (2019) Heather Webber "Full of family secrets, undeniable charm and that particular touch of magic so often found in the South, MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE is a heartfelt and redemptive tale of a daughter looking to move forward in the place her mother couldn't wait to leave behind. Heather Webber creates a town as dynamic and real as her characters--and a story so compelling that it will stay on readers' minds long after the final page. I savored every word."
True Places (2019) Sonja Yoerg "One of Sonja Yoerg’s great strengths as a novelist is her ability to portray women in all their complexity. Suzanne Blakemore is a perfect housewife and mother who has denied herself her own identity for so long that it seems she has forgotten to even look for it. When she picks up a child, dirty, starving, and abandoned, on the side of the highway, and eventually convinces her husband to take her in, it seems like yet another thing to take up space on Suzanne’s relentless to-do list. But it is in opening her heart to Iris that Suzanne begins to find a piece of herself—and the strength to realize that her own needs matter too. Gripping, emotional, and deeply authentic, True Places will have you flipping pages long into the night. This is Yoerg’s most compelling, honest novel yet."
The Curiosities (2019) Susan Gloss "A richly layered tale of the intersection of five very different lives, The Curiosities uniquely depicts how each step in the journey leads us where we’re ultimately meant to be. Page by page, Gloss proves that the beauty of life—like art—is often revealed to us a little at a time. The Curiosities is an absolute must read!"
Dreaming in Chocolate (2018) Susan Bishop Crispell "Dreaming in Chocolate is an endearing and beautifully spun tale of three generations of women and the enchanted chocolate shop that they share. A story of broken hearts, missed opportunities and the sometimes excruciating realities of motherhood, Susan Bishop Crispell teaches us that, even in a life surrounded by the mystical and inexplicable, sometimes, finding true love is the real magic."
By the Book (2018) Julia Sonneborn "Julia Sonneborn’s witty and wise retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is a refreshing tale that had me in its spell from the first page to the last. Spunky, relatable, and adorably flawed, heroine Anne Corey is balancing professorhood, sisterhood, and an aging father—and two irresistible men who love her and hate each other. A good dose of humor and a dash of drama make this a compulsively readable, utterly charming debut."
