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Peachtree Bluff #1
Slightly South of Simple
From the next “major voice in Southern fiction� (New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand) comes the first in an all-new series chronicling the journeys of three sisters and their mother—and a secret from their past that has the potential to tear them apart and reshape their very definition of what it means to be a family.
Caroline Murphy swore she’d never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father’s death, her mother selfishly forced her to move—during her senior year of high school, no less—back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.
Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she’s harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.
Exploring the powerful bonds between sisters and mothers and daughters, this engaging novel is filled with Southern charm, emotional drama, and plenty of heart.
Caroline Murphy swore she’d never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father’s death, her mother selfishly forced her to move—during her senior year of high school, no less—back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.
Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she’s harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.
Exploring the powerful bonds between sisters and mothers and daughters, this engaging novel is filled with Southern charm, emotional drama, and plenty of heart.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2017
5,211 people are currently reading
17.1k people want to read
About the author
Kristy Woodson Harvey
15books6,155followersKristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of eleven novels including A Happier Life, The Summer of Songbirds, and The Peachtree Bluff Series. Many of her books have been optioned or are in development for television and film and have received numerous accolades, including Good Morning America’s Buzz Pick, Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Reads, Katie Couric’s Featured Books, and Joanna Garcia Swisher’s The Happy Place Read. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize.
A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, and many more. She also holds a master’s in English, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature.
Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction with fellow New York Times Bestselling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry. She is also the co-founder of the interiors site Design Chic, with her mom, Beth Woodson.
She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband, son, and dog, Salt, where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, and many more. She also holds a master’s in English, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature.
Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction with fellow New York Times Bestselling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry. She is also the co-founder of the interiors site Design Chic, with her mom, Beth Woodson.
She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband, son, and dog, Salt, where she is (always!) working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,382 reviews
August 10, 2017
When Kristy Woodson Harvey released her debut novel, Dear Carolina, just over two years ago, I had found a new favorite author. Then, Lies and Other Acts of Love was released in the spring of 2016, and I was even more impressed. I am not one who re-reads books often, but each of these are re-read worthy, and I've given each as gifts to friends many times over. There is an ease and flow to her writing that I adore. Her southern settings are quaint and fun, especially for this North Carolinian. Shortly after the release of LAOAOL, I found out that Kristy would be releasing a trilogy of books about three sisters, and Slightly South of Simple is the first in the series.
In SSOS, our narrators are Ansley, the fifty-something mother of the three sisters, and Caroline, the eldest sister. We learn quickly that the personalities of each sister are starkly different, but somehow there is something relatable within each one. Ansley was easily likeable, and while Caroline was gruff and tough and even condescending at times, by the end of the book, I found her softer vulnerability. Overall, this is one of the best types of beach reads- full of depth, family secrets, entertainment, easy-reading, and characters to love. I will be preordering the next in this series as soon as it's listed.
If you are new to KWH's books, while her books are all favorites of mine, I would suggest starting with Dear Carolina, then reading Lies and Other Acts of Love (which is probably still my favorite- so incredibly good!), and then moving on to this series. I think reading them this way gives a real taste for the flavor of her writing, and all of them are perfect escape reads with added depth. I absolutely love this author!
Summer 2017 Read #19
In SSOS, our narrators are Ansley, the fifty-something mother of the three sisters, and Caroline, the eldest sister. We learn quickly that the personalities of each sister are starkly different, but somehow there is something relatable within each one. Ansley was easily likeable, and while Caroline was gruff and tough and even condescending at times, by the end of the book, I found her softer vulnerability. Overall, this is one of the best types of beach reads- full of depth, family secrets, entertainment, easy-reading, and characters to love. I will be preordering the next in this series as soon as it's listed.
If you are new to KWH's books, while her books are all favorites of mine, I would suggest starting with Dear Carolina, then reading Lies and Other Acts of Love (which is probably still my favorite- so incredibly good!), and then moving on to this series. I think reading them this way gives a real taste for the flavor of her writing, and all of them are perfect escape reads with added depth. I absolutely love this author!
Summer 2017 Read #19
May 27, 2017
Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a 2017 Gallery Books publication.
It’s that time of year. Time to grab the sunscreen, the beach towel, a cold beverage, and a good book and head to the beach - or if you are like me and don't live close to a body of water- lounge by the pool.
I have a nice list of ‘beach read� authors I usually reach for, but Kristy Woodson Harvey is a new and fresh voice in the contemporary/women’s fiction arena, making this a good book to pack for a day at the beach.
This novel has a nice southern flair to it, although it's not necessarily a palpable mood, but is still a nice small town atmosphere.
The story is centered around Ansley, a forty-something widow, with three grown children, a mother she cares for, and a nice career she's managed to carve out over the years. She’s content with her life, enjoying her peace and solitude, although she still mourns for her husband.
But her world is turned upside down when all three daughters converge on her nice quiet routine. But, that’s not all. An old ‘friend� from the past also shows up in town, peeling back long buried secrets, feelings, and complications she had kept locked in her heart for many years.
Caroline is a city girl through and through. New York is her playground. But, pregnant with her second child, she is shocked by her husband's blunt announcement that he has fallen out of love with her, and rumor has it, he is now squiring a stunning supermodel around town.
Devastated, she swallows her pride and returns home to Peachtree Bluff to lick her wounds, prepare for her child's birth, and regroup.
However, when her two sisters invite themselves along, things get complicated.
I confess, I have some mixed feelings about this one. Caroline’s character was perhaps drawn a little too well, because her shallowness, no matter how well intentioned she claims to be, rubbed me the wrong way right from the start, and I had a very hard time moving on from it. Her character does go through a growing process, and her decisions certainly surprised me, although I’m not sure how I felt about it.
Ansley’s backstory is different, to be sure. She's a 9/11 widow, who has some pretty interesting secrets packed away. I didn’t know if I found it all that plausible, but I did like Jack. Their relationship probably would not have worked the first time around, but this just might be their time and place for a second chance at love.
The secondary characters and their backstories add a little more depth and strength to the story and I did enjoy witnessing the mother/daughter dynamics as well as the ever fascinating relationship amongst sisters. Naturally, I love some good juicy rumors, dramas and secrets, and this book has its fair share of those. Forgiveness is also a strong and powerful theme that runs through the story, which gives it a good foundation to build on.
The mother/daughter first person narrative feels new to me. I’ve encountered this approach in the few New Adult novels I’ve read, but not so much in Women’s fiction. I appreciate the fresh approach, but I’m not sure if I liked it better than the traditional third person narrative, or a single first person voice, which would have been equally effective, in my opinion. But, that’s just a matter of taste, I think.
Overall, this is a descent beginning of the trilogy. It had some weak spots, but the stronger moments evened things out. I think my tepid response to this one is a minority opinion, but I am willing to try out the second book, mainly because I think the storyline may be stronger and has a little more potential to propel the trilogy forward.
Not exactly what I was expecting, but enjoyable enough.
3 stars
It’s that time of year. Time to grab the sunscreen, the beach towel, a cold beverage, and a good book and head to the beach - or if you are like me and don't live close to a body of water- lounge by the pool.
I have a nice list of ‘beach read� authors I usually reach for, but Kristy Woodson Harvey is a new and fresh voice in the contemporary/women’s fiction arena, making this a good book to pack for a day at the beach.
This novel has a nice southern flair to it, although it's not necessarily a palpable mood, but is still a nice small town atmosphere.
The story is centered around Ansley, a forty-something widow, with three grown children, a mother she cares for, and a nice career she's managed to carve out over the years. She’s content with her life, enjoying her peace and solitude, although she still mourns for her husband.
But her world is turned upside down when all three daughters converge on her nice quiet routine. But, that’s not all. An old ‘friend� from the past also shows up in town, peeling back long buried secrets, feelings, and complications she had kept locked in her heart for many years.
Caroline is a city girl through and through. New York is her playground. But, pregnant with her second child, she is shocked by her husband's blunt announcement that he has fallen out of love with her, and rumor has it, he is now squiring a stunning supermodel around town.
Devastated, she swallows her pride and returns home to Peachtree Bluff to lick her wounds, prepare for her child's birth, and regroup.
However, when her two sisters invite themselves along, things get complicated.
I confess, I have some mixed feelings about this one. Caroline’s character was perhaps drawn a little too well, because her shallowness, no matter how well intentioned she claims to be, rubbed me the wrong way right from the start, and I had a very hard time moving on from it. Her character does go through a growing process, and her decisions certainly surprised me, although I’m not sure how I felt about it.
Ansley’s backstory is different, to be sure. She's a 9/11 widow, who has some pretty interesting secrets packed away. I didn’t know if I found it all that plausible, but I did like Jack. Their relationship probably would not have worked the first time around, but this just might be their time and place for a second chance at love.
The secondary characters and their backstories add a little more depth and strength to the story and I did enjoy witnessing the mother/daughter dynamics as well as the ever fascinating relationship amongst sisters. Naturally, I love some good juicy rumors, dramas and secrets, and this book has its fair share of those. Forgiveness is also a strong and powerful theme that runs through the story, which gives it a good foundation to build on.
The mother/daughter first person narrative feels new to me. I’ve encountered this approach in the few New Adult novels I’ve read, but not so much in Women’s fiction. I appreciate the fresh approach, but I’m not sure if I liked it better than the traditional third person narrative, or a single first person voice, which would have been equally effective, in my opinion. But, that’s just a matter of taste, I think.
Overall, this is a descent beginning of the trilogy. It had some weak spots, but the stronger moments evened things out. I think my tepid response to this one is a minority opinion, but I am willing to try out the second book, mainly because I think the storyline may be stronger and has a little more potential to propel the trilogy forward.
Not exactly what I was expecting, but enjoyable enough.
3 stars
February 10, 2019
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title for review - all opinions are my own. (Review written April 21, 2017 - spelling error fixed Feb 10, 2019.)
While this is most definitely marketed as, and is, a summer beach read, it's not one I'd necessarily recommend when there are so, so, so many great ones in this category. My main issue with this book is the almost nonstop comments about weight and appearances, none of which are necessary to the storyline. The characters would be much more likable if these comments weren't in the story, and for me, they completely overshadow the positive aspects of the book. I have a major soapbox to stand on regarding body positivity and acceptance, and the characters in this book are not people I would ever allow in my life, Caroline in particular. Ansley also includes comments about weight in her dialogue, and also includes a thought about Caroline's breastfeeding and how she's glad she never needed to do it because it wasn't a thingbwhen she had children, and questioning the health benefits to the baby (another soapbox issue of mine). All this put together means I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to like this book as much as I had hoped to, but will be willing to try future books in the series and will hope that all of the snotty fat-shaming has disappeared from the dialogue in those books.
While this is most definitely marketed as, and is, a summer beach read, it's not one I'd necessarily recommend when there are so, so, so many great ones in this category. My main issue with this book is the almost nonstop comments about weight and appearances, none of which are necessary to the storyline. The characters would be much more likable if these comments weren't in the story, and for me, they completely overshadow the positive aspects of the book. I have a major soapbox to stand on regarding body positivity and acceptance, and the characters in this book are not people I would ever allow in my life, Caroline in particular. Ansley also includes comments about weight in her dialogue, and also includes a thought about Caroline's breastfeeding and how she's glad she never needed to do it because it wasn't a thingbwhen she had children, and questioning the health benefits to the baby (another soapbox issue of mine). All this put together means I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to like this book as much as I had hoped to, but will be willing to try future books in the series and will hope that all of the snotty fat-shaming has disappeared from the dialogue in those books.
April 21, 2019
**Book Giveaway Contest ** Peachtree Bluff Three Book Series Set (paperback/US only) April 22-May 7, 2019. Winner announced May 8 along with my Q&A with Kristy Newsletter.
Talented Southern storyteller, Kristy Woodson Harvey returns following her debut Dear Carolina and her strong follow-up, Lies and Other Acts of Love landing on my with the first of a new series, Peachtree Bluff: (Top Books of 2017) SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE � a mother and her three grown daughters are all at a crossroad in their lives, and each has choices to make.
Compelling, emotional, full of humor, infused with love, life, tears, and joy with a little romance sprinkled in and some scandalous family secrets! A poignant and heartwarming story of three daughters and their mother determined to help them rediscover their southern roots and family bonds.
Matriarch (mother), Ansley Murphy has made a simple life for herself in the small harbor town of Peachtree Bluff, GA. Her grandmother left her the beautiful and spacious coastal large clapboard home with a guesthouse.
Her husband Carter was killed seventeen years earlier in the 9/11 tragedy, and she has carved out a beautiful life for herself with a thriving waterfront design business. Her mother lives in Florida. She also has an annoying neighbor next door, Mr. Solomon, with some great local friends and clients.
Ansley has some secrets about her husband and others about herself. Things the girls do not know. She has put her family first all these years. Will her time finally arrive at long last?
An attractive woman, age fifty-eight, she works out and stays in shape. She does not date and pretty much has thrown herself into her business, her grown daughters (when they allow) and grandchildren. It was difficult being a mother to adult children. They are strong-willed and have a mind of their own.
However, living alone with her routine will soon change. She may get more than she bargained. Three grown daughters return to move in with her and soon to be four grandchildren. Man, do they have different personalities!
Caroline was her least favorite daughter, even though she loves her, she could be difficult at times. She named her interior design shop: Sloane Emerson (after her two younger daughters), since Caroline wanted no part of it, referring to it even today as a camper-trailer design business. She had said if she named the store after her she would die. No one lives up to Caroline’s standards.
Eldest: Caroline, a New Yorker thinks of this small Southern town as hick-hellhole. However, now she may have no choice but to return to the place she tried hard to escape. When she married James (14yrs), she thought they had in all, until she was six months pregnant with her second child and he informs her he is in love with his twenty-one-year-old supermodel, Edie Fitzgerald.
So she decides to take a short sabbatical with her eleven-year-old daughter Vivi and head to Peachtree. Maybe she can take over the guesthouse. She is very picky, high maintenance, and does not like germs. She worries about what others think and say. Only the best of fashion and ultimate fitness will do.
Sloane, the middle child was the selfless one. Of course, she was laid back and could care less about germs or any of the things which mattered to Caroline. She is the timid one, married a local boy had her family and remained in the area. Her military husband is overseas, so she decides to crash at the house as well to spend time with her sisters.
Emerson is a successful film star. She is thin, eats healthy and stars in a movie shooting in the Georgia town, so decides to stay at the house to spend time with her sisters and mom.
With all the emotions running high of three different personalities of grown daughters, sisters bickering, grandchildren and an old boyfriend back in town, Ansley has her hands full. In the midst of it all, Ansley fears the secret (s) will come out. Those she has harbored for years to protect everyone.
After Ansley’s pain from losing Carter, and sometimes her daughters hating her (like most girls), hiding Carter’s secrets, and hiding her own. She just could never imagine starting over with anyone new. No one else could understand her life.
Jack was Ansley’s first love. However, back then they decided to go their separate ways because he did not care about having a family. However, family was important to Ansley. Now, Ansley is shocked to learn Jack is here in Peachtree Bluff and wants her to redo the design for his boat. He has made his money and can travel.
Everyone knows she is the best yacht designer this side of the Mason-Dixon. She cannot let this happen, especially now since her girls were coming home. Is he a threat to her safe family world? Why?
However, as the complexities of these sisters get tense, the family come together, the girls find they want their mom to be happy, and at the same time, they all may just learn something from one another. They may figure it out together. Peachtree Bluff is a town of hidden truths and stolen moments and a family who loves one another. A time of discovery for all of the women.
Crossing generations, Harvey always brings out some dark family secrets. Securely buried. A poignant journey of healing, bonding, forgiveness, and redemption. Things, people, and places which shape our lives.
Kristy once again delivers a charming Southern story of family, sisters, relationships, motherhood, and reinvention. As you are reading, you will relate to individual characters. My favorite was Ansley. Such a strong woman and continued to root for her. Hoping for happiness.
She is protecting herself from something she didn’t need to be. She was protecting her daughters from a threat that wasn’t a threat at all. But she is opening her heart. One that had closed for so long.
Character-driven, the author has made her way quickly to the top of my favorite author list and one of the best Southern contemporary storytellers of today. (Highly recommend all three books).
As a native NC /GA gal myself, so refreshing to discover an author who breathes life into each of her characters, while transporting you to the beautiful coastal areas of the Southeast we love. She writes about strong women and the challenges of life, both personally and professionally.
From her first debut, I fell in love with the author's richly textured, authentic heartwarming style. You can come to expect strong family bonds, romance, secrets, plus someone will be a little wiser after the journey. If you have not read this author, get busy. SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE should be at the top of your beach bag! Summer doesn't begin without a Kristy book.
Yay! I hear from an online interview we can expect more from these characters with #2 Peachtree Bluff featuring the middle sister, Sloane and of course more from Ansley and Grammy.
I will be anxiously awaiting. For more Murphy Women. More Ansley/Jack, please!
A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
Talented Southern storyteller, Kristy Woodson Harvey returns following her debut Dear Carolina and her strong follow-up, Lies and Other Acts of Love landing on my with the first of a new series, Peachtree Bluff: (Top Books of 2017) SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE � a mother and her three grown daughters are all at a crossroad in their lives, and each has choices to make.
Compelling, emotional, full of humor, infused with love, life, tears, and joy with a little romance sprinkled in and some scandalous family secrets! A poignant and heartwarming story of three daughters and their mother determined to help them rediscover their southern roots and family bonds.
Matriarch (mother), Ansley Murphy has made a simple life for herself in the small harbor town of Peachtree Bluff, GA. Her grandmother left her the beautiful and spacious coastal large clapboard home with a guesthouse.
Her husband Carter was killed seventeen years earlier in the 9/11 tragedy, and she has carved out a beautiful life for herself with a thriving waterfront design business. Her mother lives in Florida. She also has an annoying neighbor next door, Mr. Solomon, with some great local friends and clients.
Ansley has some secrets about her husband and others about herself. Things the girls do not know. She has put her family first all these years. Will her time finally arrive at long last?
An attractive woman, age fifty-eight, she works out and stays in shape. She does not date and pretty much has thrown herself into her business, her grown daughters (when they allow) and grandchildren. It was difficult being a mother to adult children. They are strong-willed and have a mind of their own.
However, living alone with her routine will soon change. She may get more than she bargained. Three grown daughters return to move in with her and soon to be four grandchildren. Man, do they have different personalities!
Caroline was her least favorite daughter, even though she loves her, she could be difficult at times. She named her interior design shop: Sloane Emerson (after her two younger daughters), since Caroline wanted no part of it, referring to it even today as a camper-trailer design business. She had said if she named the store after her she would die. No one lives up to Caroline’s standards.
Eldest: Caroline, a New Yorker thinks of this small Southern town as hick-hellhole. However, now she may have no choice but to return to the place she tried hard to escape. When she married James (14yrs), she thought they had in all, until she was six months pregnant with her second child and he informs her he is in love with his twenty-one-year-old supermodel, Edie Fitzgerald.
So she decides to take a short sabbatical with her eleven-year-old daughter Vivi and head to Peachtree. Maybe she can take over the guesthouse. She is very picky, high maintenance, and does not like germs. She worries about what others think and say. Only the best of fashion and ultimate fitness will do.
Sloane, the middle child was the selfless one. Of course, she was laid back and could care less about germs or any of the things which mattered to Caroline. She is the timid one, married a local boy had her family and remained in the area. Her military husband is overseas, so she decides to crash at the house as well to spend time with her sisters.
Emerson is a successful film star. She is thin, eats healthy and stars in a movie shooting in the Georgia town, so decides to stay at the house to spend time with her sisters and mom.
With all the emotions running high of three different personalities of grown daughters, sisters bickering, grandchildren and an old boyfriend back in town, Ansley has her hands full. In the midst of it all, Ansley fears the secret (s) will come out. Those she has harbored for years to protect everyone.
After Ansley’s pain from losing Carter, and sometimes her daughters hating her (like most girls), hiding Carter’s secrets, and hiding her own. She just could never imagine starting over with anyone new. No one else could understand her life.
Jack was Ansley’s first love. However, back then they decided to go their separate ways because he did not care about having a family. However, family was important to Ansley. Now, Ansley is shocked to learn Jack is here in Peachtree Bluff and wants her to redo the design for his boat. He has made his money and can travel.
Everyone knows she is the best yacht designer this side of the Mason-Dixon. She cannot let this happen, especially now since her girls were coming home. Is he a threat to her safe family world? Why?
However, as the complexities of these sisters get tense, the family come together, the girls find they want their mom to be happy, and at the same time, they all may just learn something from one another. They may figure it out together. Peachtree Bluff is a town of hidden truths and stolen moments and a family who loves one another. A time of discovery for all of the women.
Crossing generations, Harvey always brings out some dark family secrets. Securely buried. A poignant journey of healing, bonding, forgiveness, and redemption. Things, people, and places which shape our lives.
Kristy once again delivers a charming Southern story of family, sisters, relationships, motherhood, and reinvention. As you are reading, you will relate to individual characters. My favorite was Ansley. Such a strong woman and continued to root for her. Hoping for happiness.
She is protecting herself from something she didn’t need to be. She was protecting her daughters from a threat that wasn’t a threat at all. But she is opening her heart. One that had closed for so long.
Character-driven, the author has made her way quickly to the top of my favorite author list and one of the best Southern contemporary storytellers of today. (Highly recommend all three books).
As a native NC /GA gal myself, so refreshing to discover an author who breathes life into each of her characters, while transporting you to the beautiful coastal areas of the Southeast we love. She writes about strong women and the challenges of life, both personally and professionally.
From her first debut, I fell in love with the author's richly textured, authentic heartwarming style. You can come to expect strong family bonds, romance, secrets, plus someone will be a little wiser after the journey. If you have not read this author, get busy. SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE should be at the top of your beach bag! Summer doesn't begin without a Kristy book.
Yay! I hear from an online interview we can expect more from these characters with #2 Peachtree Bluff featuring the middle sister, Sloane and of course more from Ansley and Grammy.
I will be anxiously awaiting. For more Murphy Women. More Ansley/Jack, please!
A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
April 10, 2018
Slightly South of Simple
(Peachtree Bluff #1)
Kristy Woodson Harvey
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Gallery Books
PUBLISHED April 25, 2017
A fun and entertaining book that introduces you to a whole new set of friends and a town that you will definitely want to visit.
SUMMARY
Caroline Murphy is married to a New York Manhattanite and living the high life in the greatest city in the world. The problem is her thirteen year marriage has just fallen apart in a very public and embarrassing way. All her friends knew even before she did. Her husband is leaving her for a supermodel. Caroline is six months pregnant, and needs to escape the gossip. She and her nine-year-old daughter, Vivi, head down south to her mother’s house in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, a place she detests, but it’s just until she can figure out what to do about the implosion of her marriage. Isn’t it?
Ansley has always put her three daughters first, but now she has started her own business as a interior designer and she is very successful at it. She welcomes Caroline and Vivi back to Peachtree Bluff with open arms. But soon her second daughter Sloane, whose husband is serving in the military overseas, and her youngest daughter, Emerson, a successful actress also want to come home again. Ansley’s life is soon overwhelmed with the needs and demands of her three daughters, her three and soon to be four grandkids, a grumpy neighbor, and her eighty-three year old mother who has broken her foot. Ansley has no time for herself and has just been asked to take to take on new design project for boat in need of restoration. She is completely gobsmacked when she discovers the boat is owned by Jack, her first love when she was sixteen years old. Jack knows all of Ansley’s family secrets, secrets which Ansley would just as well keep secret.
“But this was the thing about sisters. No matter how much you laughed, no matter how many hours you talked, no matter how much time you got to spend together, it never seem like quite enough.�
REVIEW
Slightly South of Simple explores the unique bonds between sisters, and between mothers and their daughters. It’s about the people that are there for you when times get tough, and the sacrifices we make for family. The setting in Peachtree Bluff is enchanting and delightful. It’s a small harbor town, complete with a boardwalk, marina, and a island mecca perfect for parties. It’s a place where you know everyone, and your specially made coffee concoction is hand delivered to you every morning. Who wouldn’t want that! Kristy Harvey is a great storyteller. Her writing is smooth and easy and the characters soon become your friends. If you are looking for a great beach read, or a fun book by the fire the first two books in the Peachtree Bluff series are it: Slightly South of Simple and The Secret of Southern Charm.
(Peachtree Bluff #1)
Kristy Woodson Harvey
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Gallery Books
PUBLISHED April 25, 2017
A fun and entertaining book that introduces you to a whole new set of friends and a town that you will definitely want to visit.
SUMMARY
Caroline Murphy is married to a New York Manhattanite and living the high life in the greatest city in the world. The problem is her thirteen year marriage has just fallen apart in a very public and embarrassing way. All her friends knew even before she did. Her husband is leaving her for a supermodel. Caroline is six months pregnant, and needs to escape the gossip. She and her nine-year-old daughter, Vivi, head down south to her mother’s house in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, a place she detests, but it’s just until she can figure out what to do about the implosion of her marriage. Isn’t it?
Ansley has always put her three daughters first, but now she has started her own business as a interior designer and she is very successful at it. She welcomes Caroline and Vivi back to Peachtree Bluff with open arms. But soon her second daughter Sloane, whose husband is serving in the military overseas, and her youngest daughter, Emerson, a successful actress also want to come home again. Ansley’s life is soon overwhelmed with the needs and demands of her three daughters, her three and soon to be four grandkids, a grumpy neighbor, and her eighty-three year old mother who has broken her foot. Ansley has no time for herself and has just been asked to take to take on new design project for boat in need of restoration. She is completely gobsmacked when she discovers the boat is owned by Jack, her first love when she was sixteen years old. Jack knows all of Ansley’s family secrets, secrets which Ansley would just as well keep secret.
“But this was the thing about sisters. No matter how much you laughed, no matter how many hours you talked, no matter how much time you got to spend together, it never seem like quite enough.�
REVIEW
Slightly South of Simple explores the unique bonds between sisters, and between mothers and their daughters. It’s about the people that are there for you when times get tough, and the sacrifices we make for family. The setting in Peachtree Bluff is enchanting and delightful. It’s a small harbor town, complete with a boardwalk, marina, and a island mecca perfect for parties. It’s a place where you know everyone, and your specially made coffee concoction is hand delivered to you every morning. Who wouldn’t want that! Kristy Harvey is a great storyteller. Her writing is smooth and easy and the characters soon become your friends. If you are looking for a great beach read, or a fun book by the fire the first two books in the Peachtree Bluff series are it: Slightly South of Simple and The Secret of Southern Charm.
May 7, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on
I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog for a copy of this starting today, 4/21/17!
Have you ever experienced love at first sight with a book? Just one look was all it took for me to be intrigued by Slightly South of Simple, I just knew this would be a book that I would connect with and enjoy and I was so right! I follow Kristy on Instagram, (her feed is absolutely stunning and the pictures in this post are hers) she blogs with her mom at Design Chic and when she posted about SSOS I was head over heels based on the cover alone. When I read the blurb, I was even more excited especially when I saw a glowing endorsement for her work from Elin Hilderbrand, she’s one of my favorite authors. All of that to say, this was a book that spoke to me from the minute I laid eyes on it.
It’s told from the alternating perspectives of Ansley and Caroline. Ansley is a 58 year old mom to three grown daughters and she lives a simple life in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia. A peaceful existence until all three of her girls move back home at the same time with their own children in tow. Caroline has left her husband after he cheated on her in a very public way while she’s six months pregnant. Emerson is an actress and her new movie is shooting in Georgia and Sloane’s husband Adam has been deployed again leaving her and her two young sons at home. Having her entire family under one roof is a mixed blessing for Ansley, she adores them, but they are all so different and none of them are easy to live with. Ansley also has some skeletons in her closet that need to stay buried, but with everyone back in town, these secrets may come to light whether she wants them to or not.
SSOS had all the ingredients I love in a book; family drama, a sprinkling of romance, humor, and a beautiful setting. Stories about sisters always appeal to me and with the complicated relationships between Caroline, Sloane and Emerson I was so interested and invested in their lives. I could relate to all four women on some level which is so important to me in terms of my enjoyment of a book. This is character driven and I can honestly say that I really liked every single character, I even cared deeply about them all which speaks volumes about the authors outstanding character development.
Though all three sisters feature heavily in the book, this focused more on Caroline and since it’s the first in a series I’m assuming that the next books will focus on Sloane and Emerson. Woodson Harvey laid the groundwork for so many possibilities as to which direction this series will follow and I can’t wait to see what happens in Peachtree Bluff next. She’s a fresh, strong voice in Southern fiction, SSOS is witty, wise, insightful and funny. There were so many fantastic quotes from the romantic to the poignant and humorous. I’m so excited about this series and even more thrilled to be offering a copy of this gem of a book to one of my lucky readers!
I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog for a copy of this starting today, 4/21/17!
Have you ever experienced love at first sight with a book? Just one look was all it took for me to be intrigued by Slightly South of Simple, I just knew this would be a book that I would connect with and enjoy and I was so right! I follow Kristy on Instagram, (her feed is absolutely stunning and the pictures in this post are hers) she blogs with her mom at Design Chic and when she posted about SSOS I was head over heels based on the cover alone. When I read the blurb, I was even more excited especially when I saw a glowing endorsement for her work from Elin Hilderbrand, she’s one of my favorite authors. All of that to say, this was a book that spoke to me from the minute I laid eyes on it.
It’s told from the alternating perspectives of Ansley and Caroline. Ansley is a 58 year old mom to three grown daughters and she lives a simple life in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia. A peaceful existence until all three of her girls move back home at the same time with their own children in tow. Caroline has left her husband after he cheated on her in a very public way while she’s six months pregnant. Emerson is an actress and her new movie is shooting in Georgia and Sloane’s husband Adam has been deployed again leaving her and her two young sons at home. Having her entire family under one roof is a mixed blessing for Ansley, she adores them, but they are all so different and none of them are easy to live with. Ansley also has some skeletons in her closet that need to stay buried, but with everyone back in town, these secrets may come to light whether she wants them to or not.
SSOS had all the ingredients I love in a book; family drama, a sprinkling of romance, humor, and a beautiful setting. Stories about sisters always appeal to me and with the complicated relationships between Caroline, Sloane and Emerson I was so interested and invested in their lives. I could relate to all four women on some level which is so important to me in terms of my enjoyment of a book. This is character driven and I can honestly say that I really liked every single character, I even cared deeply about them all which speaks volumes about the authors outstanding character development.
Though all three sisters feature heavily in the book, this focused more on Caroline and since it’s the first in a series I’m assuming that the next books will focus on Sloane and Emerson. Woodson Harvey laid the groundwork for so many possibilities as to which direction this series will follow and I can’t wait to see what happens in Peachtree Bluff next. She’s a fresh, strong voice in Southern fiction, SSOS is witty, wise, insightful and funny. There were so many fantastic quotes from the romantic to the poignant and humorous. I’m so excited about this series and even more thrilled to be offering a copy of this gem of a book to one of my lucky readers!
April 6, 2023
coming back to review one of my favorite series because i'm so excited for Summer of Songbirds this july :) the peachtree bluff books are also the perfect spring / summer reads (except for book 4 😂 which is set during nov / dec but by then you just can't help but finish them)
(literally wrote this before i re-read the book abstract & i'm not even going to change it because i'm so impressed with how spot-on i was...) 4 books follow the lives of 3 sisters and their mom, with an underlying secret that, if exposed, would alter the family dynamic and relationships as they know it.
every family has their own set of challenges, mine certainly has, & i loved reading about how the murphy girls navigate the ones that come their way. i found the characters so relatable, having 2 sisters myself & could tell you which each of us identify with in the book (high-maintenance must be a caroline thing). i also loooved the small coastal town, picturing Beaufort, NC the whole time <3
harvey's writing is so heartfelt, always encouraging me to call my family and remind them how much i love them
pretty sure i have a couple hundred highlights between all the peachtree books & will post those eventually hahah
(literally wrote this before i re-read the book abstract & i'm not even going to change it because i'm so impressed with how spot-on i was...) 4 books follow the lives of 3 sisters and their mom, with an underlying secret that, if exposed, would alter the family dynamic and relationships as they know it.
every family has their own set of challenges, mine certainly has, & i loved reading about how the murphy girls navigate the ones that come their way. i found the characters so relatable, having 2 sisters myself & could tell you which each of us identify with in the book (high-maintenance must be a caroline thing). i also loooved the small coastal town, picturing Beaufort, NC the whole time <3
harvey's writing is so heartfelt, always encouraging me to call my family and remind them how much i love them
pretty sure i have a couple hundred highlights between all the peachtree books & will post those eventually hahah
March 2, 2020
Abandoned after 145 pages. I wanted to like this book so much, but this author is obsessed with weight and I find that so harmful and very disappointing. I won't continue with this book and won't read the other books in the series because I have no doubt they will be just as bad with the weight issue.
April 25, 2017
I was completely entertained by Slightly South of Simple. The three sisters, Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson, are perfectly written � each has her own distinct personality, but they fit together beautifully. Caroline was my favorite sister with her hilarious New York socialite personality and blunt mannerisms. Woodson’s dialogue is spot on, and the plot is appealing and held my attention. I read the entire book in a day because I really wanted to know what was going to happen with the characters. Slightly South of Simple is the first book in a new trilogy, and I am eager to read the second one to learn what happens next. Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
A “maybe you can go home again� trope : )
While I wasn’t a huge fan of Caroline or the backstory of how the girls came to be and REALLY was hoping all three sisters would narrate this story (I see now it's #1 in the series so I assume the other two might get their own books????) what I was looking for was a breezy escape after a real buttkicker of a work week and this 100% gave me the vibes I was hoping for . . . .
3.5 Stars
January 21, 2018
Kristy Woodson Harvey has done it again!! She has written a book that has fantastic characters, wonderful setting and an engaging plot. This is book one of a new trilogy and I can't wait to read the rest of the story.
Three very different type of sisters end up living with their mom at her home in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia for various reasons: Caroline lives in NYC and her husband is having a very public affair, Emerson, an actress, has a new role that is shooting in Georgia and Sloane's husband has been deployed to the Middle East. Ansley, their mom, has spent a lot of years living on her own and having all of her daughters plus three grandchildren (with one on the way) at her home, wrecks havoc with her quiet life. I really don't want to tell you much about the story, I just want to say that this book is Caroline's story and focuses most on her life. What I do want to write about are the best parts of this book:
SETTING - as with Kristy's other books, this one is at the ocean. You can smell the salt air and feel the ocean breezes as you read the book. The setting is practically one of the characters.
PLOT - there is a lot going on in this book but it is well told and so much fun to read. Yes, I will admit that there were several laugh out loud moments as well as a few tears.
CHARACTERS - to me this is the strongest part of this novel. I loved these characters. I feel like they are people that I know and that I could sit down at the table and have a cup of coffee with them. The sisters are so different from each other but the bond between them is unbreakable.
SUMMARY - READ THIS BOOK! It's a wonderful story about growing up and overcoming adversity. It's a story about love and family - the sisters are wonderful and that bond between them and their mother, though tenuous at times, continues to grow. It's a wonderful book about love and family and isn't that what life is all about?
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book.
Three very different type of sisters end up living with their mom at her home in Peachtree Bluff, Georgia for various reasons: Caroline lives in NYC and her husband is having a very public affair, Emerson, an actress, has a new role that is shooting in Georgia and Sloane's husband has been deployed to the Middle East. Ansley, their mom, has spent a lot of years living on her own and having all of her daughters plus three grandchildren (with one on the way) at her home, wrecks havoc with her quiet life. I really don't want to tell you much about the story, I just want to say that this book is Caroline's story and focuses most on her life. What I do want to write about are the best parts of this book:
SETTING - as with Kristy's other books, this one is at the ocean. You can smell the salt air and feel the ocean breezes as you read the book. The setting is practically one of the characters.
PLOT - there is a lot going on in this book but it is well told and so much fun to read. Yes, I will admit that there were several laugh out loud moments as well as a few tears.
CHARACTERS - to me this is the strongest part of this novel. I loved these characters. I feel like they are people that I know and that I could sit down at the table and have a cup of coffee with them. The sisters are so different from each other but the bond between them is unbreakable.
SUMMARY - READ THIS BOOK! It's a wonderful story about growing up and overcoming adversity. It's a story about love and family - the sisters are wonderful and that bond between them and their mother, though tenuous at times, continues to grow. It's a wonderful book about love and family and isn't that what life is all about?
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book.
December 30, 2017
There are no people in the world to make you realize what a spoiled, selfish bitch you've become and put you right back in your place quite like sisters. All I can say is that for the state I was in, thank God I have two.
It might be -17 Celsius tonight, but this book was just the type to make me crave sand between my toes. Usually I am lucky if I like at least one character, but I really loved the whole darn cast of characters!! The perfect "chick lit" for the beach, author Kristy Woodson Harvey introduces readers to mother, Ansley and her three grown daughters-Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson. The narration tasks for this story are alternated between Ansley and Caroline. A beautiful story of the bond between mothers, daughters, and sisters.
I would recommend this series for fans of Luanne Rice, Kristin Hannah, Diane Chamberlain, and Barbara Delinsky.
It might be -17 Celsius tonight, but this book was just the type to make me crave sand between my toes. Usually I am lucky if I like at least one character, but I really loved the whole darn cast of characters!! The perfect "chick lit" for the beach, author Kristy Woodson Harvey introduces readers to mother, Ansley and her three grown daughters-Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson. The narration tasks for this story are alternated between Ansley and Caroline. A beautiful story of the bond between mothers, daughters, and sisters.
I would recommend this series for fans of Luanne Rice, Kristin Hannah, Diane Chamberlain, and Barbara Delinsky.
May 16, 2018
When Caroline Murphy Beaumont's marriage falls apart publicly on television, she, with her daughter, flies back to Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, to her mother. Ansley Murphy welcomes her six-month pregnant daughter and her granddaughter with open arms. Soon Caroline's sisters Sloane, with her two boys, and Emerson, a successful actress, join her at her mother's beach house. Ansley runs into her first love, Jack, when she is hired to redecorate a damaged boat. Jack knows all of her secrets. Secrets which could redefine what family means. To complicate matters, Caroline's cheating husband, James, says he sorry and wants his family back. Will Caroline forgive her husband for throwing their thirteen years of marriage away for a twenty-year-old supermodel? Can Ansley and Jack find true happiness together with the secret hanging between them?
This character-driven novel had a "Wow" factor when the secrets are being revealed. I kind of guessed the big secret and suspected the second. Still, the story kept me engaged through each sisters and their mother's journey. Family -- and family bonds -- is important throughout the novel. The main characters (Caroline and Ansley) are well defined and personable. The pace flows smoothly. The southern atmosphere is charming. One feels right at home in Peachtree Bluff. This is an easy-going, beach read. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.
This character-driven novel had a "Wow" factor when the secrets are being revealed. I kind of guessed the big secret and suspected the second. Still, the story kept me engaged through each sisters and their mother's journey. Family -- and family bonds -- is important throughout the novel. The main characters (Caroline and Ansley) are well defined and personable. The pace flows smoothly. The southern atmosphere is charming. One feels right at home in Peachtree Bluff. This is an easy-going, beach read. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.
April 17, 2017
Kristy Woodson Harvey, Thank You! Thank you for getting me out of my reading funk. Slightly South if Simple is exactly what I needed. While the formula is not new, this book felt fresh. A story of 3 sisters coming home to Mom in Peachtree Bluff,a small coastal town in the South. Each sister is refreshingly real and flawed. As you may have guessed they each have their own set of issues that they are trying to come to terms with. This book is largely about Caroline who has come to lick her wounds after a horrible betrayal. While she tries to figure her future her Mamma (Ansley) is hoping to keep the life she has created and a lie she has hidden from the girls from destroying everything they thought they knew about there past.
My favorite part of the book is the dialogue. Fresh, hilarious, witty, and most importantly never trite. I laughed and cried. I immediately went to Amazon and purchased anything written by Woodson Harvey. If you like Mary Alice Monroe or Dorthea Benton Frank you my friend are in for a treat!
Thank you Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an HONEST review.
My favorite part of the book is the dialogue. Fresh, hilarious, witty, and most importantly never trite. I laughed and cried. I immediately went to Amazon and purchased anything written by Woodson Harvey. If you like Mary Alice Monroe or Dorthea Benton Frank you my friend are in for a treat!
Thank you Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an HONEST review.
February 10, 2019
4.5 stars!
I just finished reading Slight South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey and let me just say that I loved it! Being a southern girl, I love southern fiction, especially about strong, southern women and in this book, we get four although this is mainly the story of a very pregnant Caroline and her mother, Ansley. Sisters, Sloane and Emerson, round out the siblings, and I fell in love with each one. Being an only child, I love reading about sisters, and this captures all the wonderful complexities and dynamics of siblings just beautifully! I teared up more times than I care to admit when Kristy's characters said or did something that was especially wise or moving about marriage, motherhood, or family. There is drama, secrets (so many!), fights, love, warmth, forgiveness, and so much more in SSOS! I'm so glad that I picked up this book when I did because it was exactly what I needed to read right now. It's the perfect start to the Peachtree Bluff trilogy, and I'm off to read book two, The Secret to Southern Charm right now, so I can be ready when book three, The Southern Side of Paradise releases in May! If you haven't read this series yet, then I definitely recommend that you do!
I just finished reading Slight South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey and let me just say that I loved it! Being a southern girl, I love southern fiction, especially about strong, southern women and in this book, we get four although this is mainly the story of a very pregnant Caroline and her mother, Ansley. Sisters, Sloane and Emerson, round out the siblings, and I fell in love with each one. Being an only child, I love reading about sisters, and this captures all the wonderful complexities and dynamics of siblings just beautifully! I teared up more times than I care to admit when Kristy's characters said or did something that was especially wise or moving about marriage, motherhood, or family. There is drama, secrets (so many!), fights, love, warmth, forgiveness, and so much more in SSOS! I'm so glad that I picked up this book when I did because it was exactly what I needed to read right now. It's the perfect start to the Peachtree Bluff trilogy, and I'm off to read book two, The Secret to Southern Charm right now, so I can be ready when book three, The Southern Side of Paradise releases in May! If you haven't read this series yet, then I definitely recommend that you do!
January 15, 2018
I’m not sure why it took me until now to finally read one of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s books, but I’m glad I finally did! The arrival of book #2 in this series, The Secret to Southern Charm, made my way via an ARC on Friday and it reminded me that I’ve had this on my list for quite some time. I absolutely flew through this, totally engaged in the lives of this family - mom Ansley and sisters Caroline, Sloane and Emerson. The viewpoints alternating between Ansley and Caroline were a nice way to tell the story and I’m looking forward to diving into book #2 immediately!!
June 13, 2019
Bought this to read at the beach and deeply regretted it. The body shaming in this novel was deplorable. I was also annoyed that the author felt the need to keep reminding us of the same facts over and over again without increasing the depth of that knowledge at all.
May 15, 2020
Loved this!!
July 20, 2021
Not Good, not bad -just blah. Unfortunately, because it was written with a sort of cliffhanger I had to buy the next book at nearly twice the price. The third book I already have an ARC for (thank goodness).
While these books are supposed to mainly be about three sisters, the mother's life figures in quite (and at great and sometimes repetitive length) prominently and it was not a great life.
In this book, we are dealing mainly with the eldest sister Caroline and I have very mixed feelings about her-I mainly disliked her and her snooty ways. So it kind of gave me a tiny little 'bless my heart' thrill to see her get her comeuppance at the beginning of the book. I was never able to work up a lot of sympathy for her except for my initial reaction.
By the end of this book, I came to realize that each sister is going to suffer some sort of tragedy, while the mother (yes, yes her life is poop at this point in the books) is going to get a HEA.
As I said, it is neither a great book nor is it horrid -if I were you I'd try to get it from the library so you don't have to feel guilty when you don't keep re-reading it. It was good for only one read in my opinion.
While these books are supposed to mainly be about three sisters, the mother's life figures in quite (and at great and sometimes repetitive length) prominently and it was not a great life.
In this book, we are dealing mainly with the eldest sister Caroline and I have very mixed feelings about her-I mainly disliked her and her snooty ways. So it kind of gave me a tiny little 'bless my heart' thrill to see her get her comeuppance at the beginning of the book. I was never able to work up a lot of sympathy for her except for my initial reaction.
By the end of this book, I came to realize that each sister is going to suffer some sort of tragedy, while the mother (yes, yes her life is poop at this point in the books) is going to get a HEA.
As I said, it is neither a great book nor is it horrid -if I were you I'd try to get it from the library so you don't have to feel guilty when you don't keep re-reading it. It was good for only one read in my opinion.
May 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. From start to finish.
September 1, 2021
It’s no secret that I LOVE Hallmark movies (especially the Christmas ones! October let’s goooo). So when I saw this series, I knew I had to read it because it reminded me so much of a Hallmark movie, but it was so much more than that!
Caroline Murphy swore she would never go back to Peachtree Bluff, but when her unfaithful husband came clean about his secret, she was left with no other choice. She packed her bags with her pregnant belly & 11 year old daughter and went back to her mom’s. Ansley has always put her 3 daughters before herself, especially being a widow early on in life. She was just starting to get comfortable with being on her own until all 3 want to move back in with her and secret person comes back into her life. Life will never be the same for the Murphy girls.
I really enjoyed this one a lot. I thought it was going to be a more lighthearted and fun read, but the drama and tough situations the girls were faced with really pulled me in. I was instantly hooked the second I started reading. The story is told from alternating perspectives of Caroline (the oldest Murphy sister) and Ansley (their mom), which I really liked. I could see a lot of myself in Caroline’s personality, as obnoxious as she was at times. Ansley’s character and storyline definitely tugged on my heartstrings. I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read the others in the series! 4 ⭐️s
Caroline Murphy swore she would never go back to Peachtree Bluff, but when her unfaithful husband came clean about his secret, she was left with no other choice. She packed her bags with her pregnant belly & 11 year old daughter and went back to her mom’s. Ansley has always put her 3 daughters before herself, especially being a widow early on in life. She was just starting to get comfortable with being on her own until all 3 want to move back in with her and secret person comes back into her life. Life will never be the same for the Murphy girls.
I really enjoyed this one a lot. I thought it was going to be a more lighthearted and fun read, but the drama and tough situations the girls were faced with really pulled me in. I was instantly hooked the second I started reading. The story is told from alternating perspectives of Caroline (the oldest Murphy sister) and Ansley (their mom), which I really liked. I could see a lot of myself in Caroline’s personality, as obnoxious as she was at times. Ansley’s character and storyline definitely tugged on my heartstrings. I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read the others in the series! 4 ⭐️s
March 11, 2017
"Peachtree's motto is "A place to call home."" This book makes you feel like you are home. You know the town and all the people in it. Peachtree Bluff, Georgia is a small , quaint coastal town where Ansley lives. Her three daughters decide to spend a few months there as they are each dealing with something in their lives. Caroline's husband has left her, Sloane's husband is deployed and Emerson is filming a movie there. This book is exquisitely written and it brought me home again. It brought me to my childhood memories and my siblings. How that love never changes. I have so many wonderful memories of my childhood, as I am sure most of us do. You can go back home, always, it is where our memories are. This is a book about change. It is a book about loss, forgiveness and hope. Mostly it is a book about love. The love of family and of friends. The love of childhood memories. This book made me laugh out loud , but it also, at times, made me cry. It filled me up inside. It spoke to my soul. This book will grab you from the first page and not let you go. You will want to keep reading until you finish. It is that good. But please, savor every page, every single word. The characters are so developed, that they became real to me. I knew each and every person. I felt what they felt. I laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried. This is a wonderful read and I have many quotes that I loved. I would like to share a few, as they pertain to all of us on this journey called life. All of our lives are slightly south of simple, aren't they?
"In my life right now, perfectly imperfect seemed exactly right."
" I realized there were so many if onlys that sometimes it left out any space for the what could bes."
"Life was too short not to live by your own terms, not to make up your own rules."
I loved this book and I know that you will love it as well.
"In my life right now, perfectly imperfect seemed exactly right."
" I realized there were so many if onlys that sometimes it left out any space for the what could bes."
"Life was too short not to live by your own terms, not to make up your own rules."
I loved this book and I know that you will love it as well.
January 29, 2023
I hadn’t read a Southern fiction book in quite a while when I started this one. I follow Friends and Fiction on Instagram and Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of the founders of that group. Since I’d never read one of her books I decided to give it a try. Once I started reading it I also discovered that one of my best friends has read the whole series and loves it!
After losing her husband in one of the towers on 9/11 Ansley is devastated. She loved him and the life they shared with their three daughters. When she learns that he has left her with almost no money and there is debt that has to be paid she’s forced to move her three daughters from their NYC home to the beachside home she inherited from her grandmother in Peachtree Bluff, GA. There she goes back to work and starts a design business which becomes successful. She raises her three daughters in this small, Southern beach town.
Her oldest daughter, Caroline, never adjusted to life in Peachtree Bluff and couldn’t wait to return to New York. She considers herself a quintessential New Yorker and happily returns as an adult and meets and marries the love of her life. They are extremely well-off financially and she has all she wants, except for a second child. She struggled to conceive her first child, who she loves with all her heart, and desperately wants another. She finally gets pregnant and her life is perfect until her husband tells her he’s fallen in love with a model who’s a reality TV show star. Furious and heartbroken she goes back to Peachtree Bluff, a place she never wanted to live again.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Ansley and Caroline. I loved reading each of their views on what was happening, and it also gave me a chance to learn about the other two sisters, Sloane and Emerson, from both Ansley’s and Caroline’s viewpoints.
There are so many secrets in this family, and Ansley has a particularly deep one, but in spite of knowing their secrets, I loved both Ansley and Caroline. I particularly loved how Caroline was not going to let her husband get away with cheating on her. And, even though Ansley, Caroline and the other two sisters are very different I liked how they were always there for each other.
This was a good story about family ties, secrets, love, and forgiveness. By the end it was wrapped up enough to be satisfying but left me dying to read the next book in the series to find out if more secrets would be revealed. This would be a perfect summer beach read for anyone who likes Southern fiction.
After losing her husband in one of the towers on 9/11 Ansley is devastated. She loved him and the life they shared with their three daughters. When she learns that he has left her with almost no money and there is debt that has to be paid she’s forced to move her three daughters from their NYC home to the beachside home she inherited from her grandmother in Peachtree Bluff, GA. There she goes back to work and starts a design business which becomes successful. She raises her three daughters in this small, Southern beach town.
Her oldest daughter, Caroline, never adjusted to life in Peachtree Bluff and couldn’t wait to return to New York. She considers herself a quintessential New Yorker and happily returns as an adult and meets and marries the love of her life. They are extremely well-off financially and she has all she wants, except for a second child. She struggled to conceive her first child, who she loves with all her heart, and desperately wants another. She finally gets pregnant and her life is perfect until her husband tells her he’s fallen in love with a model who’s a reality TV show star. Furious and heartbroken she goes back to Peachtree Bluff, a place she never wanted to live again.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Ansley and Caroline. I loved reading each of their views on what was happening, and it also gave me a chance to learn about the other two sisters, Sloane and Emerson, from both Ansley’s and Caroline’s viewpoints.
There are so many secrets in this family, and Ansley has a particularly deep one, but in spite of knowing their secrets, I loved both Ansley and Caroline. I particularly loved how Caroline was not going to let her husband get away with cheating on her. And, even though Ansley, Caroline and the other two sisters are very different I liked how they were always there for each other.
This was a good story about family ties, secrets, love, and forgiveness. By the end it was wrapped up enough to be satisfying but left me dying to read the next book in the series to find out if more secrets would be revealed. This would be a perfect summer beach read for anyone who likes Southern fiction.
February 11, 2017
Wonderful, southern book about sisters, moms and daughters, and marriage. Not a surprise that I loved it as I love everything Kristy Woodson Harvey writes!
May 16, 2022
I read the second book before this one, so it was nice filling in some of the plot hole I missed. I really enjoyed all three sisters and their mom. Visiting the past and the present shows you what each of them are dealing with. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series which will probably be the conclusion.
June 23, 2019
**2.5/5**
Ehhh.. Pros: Showcases how family truly is at the center of everything. Cons: Infidelity and a crap ton of weight bashing which is not my favorite.
Ehhh.. Pros: Showcases how family truly is at the center of everything. Cons: Infidelity and a crap ton of weight bashing which is not my favorite.
June 30, 2021
Welcome to Peachtree Bluff!
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Small Seaside Town
Pub Date: 4.25.2017
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
“But change is the only thing I've ever been able to count on in this life, the only thing that hasn’t let me down. And I’m quite proud to say that although I may not always have done the right thing, I have survived it all.�
For this summer, I made it my goal to read the entire Peachtree Bluff series - three books and three glorious months off from work. I was half expecting this series to be a light and fluffy read, but it was so much more than that. I laughed out loud, cried, and wanted desperately to transport myself to the beautiful town that this novel was set in.
Slightly South of Simple is a character-driven, heartfelt and entertaining book that I never wanted to end (good thing this is a series). I related to Ainsley and Caroline on multiple occasions but could never decide which woman I liked more. Sure, each character was flawed, but they also inspired me and left me thinking about them long after the book had ended. In a surprising twist, it touched a part of my soul and I can’t wait to pick up book two.
😆 Hilarious & witty dialogue
👱🏽♀️👩🏼� Alternating viewpoints of Ainsley & Caroline
🌊 Small seaside town
🙅🏽♀� Some less than desirable personality traits (I’m looking at you, Caroline)
☀� Perfect summer beach/poolside read
I recommend you read Slightly South of Simple if you enjoy books by Lisa Duffy, Alison Hammer, or Kristan Higgins.
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Genre: Fiction
Trope: Small Seaside Town
Pub Date: 4.25.2017
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
“But change is the only thing I've ever been able to count on in this life, the only thing that hasn’t let me down. And I’m quite proud to say that although I may not always have done the right thing, I have survived it all.�
For this summer, I made it my goal to read the entire Peachtree Bluff series - three books and three glorious months off from work. I was half expecting this series to be a light and fluffy read, but it was so much more than that. I laughed out loud, cried, and wanted desperately to transport myself to the beautiful town that this novel was set in.
Slightly South of Simple is a character-driven, heartfelt and entertaining book that I never wanted to end (good thing this is a series). I related to Ainsley and Caroline on multiple occasions but could never decide which woman I liked more. Sure, each character was flawed, but they also inspired me and left me thinking about them long after the book had ended. In a surprising twist, it touched a part of my soul and I can’t wait to pick up book two.
😆 Hilarious & witty dialogue
👱🏽♀️👩🏼� Alternating viewpoints of Ainsley & Caroline
🌊 Small seaside town
🙅🏽♀� Some less than desirable personality traits (I’m looking at you, Caroline)
☀� Perfect summer beach/poolside read
I recommend you read Slightly South of Simple if you enjoy books by Lisa Duffy, Alison Hammer, or Kristan Higgins.
Follow me on Instagram:
Follow my blog:
February 26, 2017
A cast of beautiful and privileged people (with somewhat entitled ‘tudes), family dynamics fraught with slightly melodramatic angst, and an appealing Georgia seaside setting (with a dash of NYC) make for the perfect read for the coming summer. Despite getting very annoyed with a few of the main characters (one had a snobbish attitude towards body weight), I sailed through this and will read the two sequels I hear are in the works.
This is a perfect read for those who miss the complicated family relationship novels by Anne Rivers Siddons and would also recommend for fans of Nancy Thayer and Elin Hilderbrand.
Thanks to the publisher for the digital review copy.
This is a perfect read for those who miss the complicated family relationship novels by Anne Rivers Siddons and would also recommend for fans of Nancy Thayer and Elin Hilderbrand.
Thanks to the publisher for the digital review copy.
May 20, 2021
This book was charming escapism at its best. Southern town. Mother, sisters. Love, family, and decorating. I can't wait to read the next in the series!
May 25, 2019
A fun story about three sisters and her widow mother. About family and love. Caroline might haven't been easy to like, but she was a damn great character. And while Ansley's pregnancy storyline was completely ridiculous and practically taken from a soap opera, I still thought SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE was touching, comforting, and with an excellent sense of place.
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