Review of the Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams
Adult General Fiction Romance Women’s Fiction
TW: Death of a parent, abandonment of a parent, abandonment of a significant other.
Tropes: Second Chance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Single Mother
Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Brief introduction
The author of A Wedding in the Lowcountry is Preslaysa Williams. She is an award-winning Women's fiction author. She graduated from Columbia University and is an actress.
Avila Rogers, a Black woman from South Carolina, is the main character in A Wedding in the Lowcountry. In her teens, she relocated and started college to study acting. She abandoned her acting dreams following a failed relationship with her child’s father. Avila also is estranged from her mother.
Analysis
At the beginning of the book, you can tell that the main character is having a hard time with her finances. She’s trying to figure out how to pay her bills and her daughter's education. Ebony is inspired to be an actor; she is doing well in school and acting. Avila tries to make sure that Ebony has everything she needs to succeed.
Avila hopes her daughter can make it. I was quite surprised that she wanted Ebony to pursue a career she failed at accomplishing. While trying to manage her finances, she learns that her mother has died.
Avila has not spoken to her mother for years because of the shame Avila felt in her life decisions, such as being an unwed mother. Her mother kicked her out for being pregnant. I wished the author had touched more on how the main female character felt about her mother kicking her out.
The main character also feels ashamed that she did not become an actress. This is the main reason why she has not gone back home or talked to her mother. The author gives great insight into how it feels to be an actress, especially one that does not make it.
She returns to South Carolina to manage her mother’s funeral and estate matters. She finds an old boyfriend who lives in her hometown.
Avila wants to go through the funeral and sell the house. She needs someone to repair her mother’s home. Trevor offers to assist her. He often tries to show his feelings for Avila by showcasing his kindness through acts of service. Although she rejects his advances, she is still healing from a past relationship and trauma. The love Ebony finds with Trevor makes her incredibly happy. The town also wins her heart. However, Avila wishes to return to the city, leaving behind the painful memories and setbacks of her past.
Personal insights:
I found this book quite different from others I’ve read. The book does not have steamy love scenes. It was a romance that developed over time. I believe the reason is that Avila has abandonment issues.
Conclusion: I give it 3 stars because I enjoyed reading the book. This is my first time reading anything from the Williams. I like the book, and I’d read more in the future. This book is good for those who love romance books with more yearning than physical chemistry.
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