Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Violet Adams has always been the classic “type A” personality. She had everything planned out – the house, the career, the fiancé with a good job, the pregnancy. But it started to change when her fiancé moved overseas for that “good job” and the dominos began crashing down. It’s been nearly a year and now he’s coming home…but does she want him there? Will they figure out how to put things back together, or is it time to accept their new normal means a very different life than Violet had planned?
Victoria Benton Frank is bringing Violet, Magnolia, their grandmother, and the Sullivan’s Island community back to readers in The Violet Hour. The daughter of famed “beach read” author Dorothea Benton Frank, this author has made a name for herself in the literary world. Her sophomore release continues the story from her debut My Magnolia Summer, while introducing new characters and a more matured storyline. This novel doesn’t shy away the difficult or taboo – adultery, pregnancy/infant loss, and more. Above all, this is a book about the power of friendship and family when live turns upside down.
I give The Violet Hour 4 out of 5 stars. I loved getting to spend more time with these characters after reading the first Lowcountry Tale last year. This book included more risque scenes than the first in the series, but were done in a tasteful way. I appreciate the way the author built off the original cast of characters by focusing on a different sister for this book, but also adding a new friend to the group. The author also relies on her own experience living in the Charleston area to build beautiful imagery that comes to life for the reader. The author still felt it necessary to name drop other authors several times and it felt gratuitous, but this was an easy read with short chapters and familiar vocabulary.
If you loved My Magnolia Summer, you’ll love this continuation of the family’s tale. I would also recommend this series for fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry, or Mary Kay Andrews. This is a perfect beach read or girlfriend getaway book to read with friends. I’d also recommend this as a women’s literature book club selection, too!
I was excited to see The Violet Hour available on Netgalley earlier this month. I met Victoria Benton Frank while she was on her initial book tour in 2023 and fell in love with her personality. She has such a following here in Atlanta that began with her mother’s friends and following, but has developed into her own. This was a fantastic book and I find myself hoping the author will release another book in this series soon!
The Violet Hour will release August 12th – you can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The Goode Girls of Maple Lane, Jacqueline Firkins
- Current audio book: Love, Unscripted, Denise Hunter
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Marrying the Ketchups, Jennifer Close
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