Under the Magnolias

Written by:
T.I. Lowe
Narrated by:
Susan Bennett

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
390
Narrator
164
Release Date
May 2021
Duration
10 hours 34 minutes
Summary
This night not only marked the end to the drought, but also the end to the long-held secret we’d kept hidden under the magnolias.
Magnolia, South Carolina, 1980
Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.
Scratching out a living on the family’s tobacco farm is as tough as it gets. When a few random acts of kindness help to ease the Fosters’ hardships, Austin finds herself relying upon some of Magnolia’s most colorful citizens for friendship and more. But it’s next to impossible to hide the truth about the goings-on at Nolia Farms, and Austin’s desperate attempts to save face all but break her.
Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her?with the son of a wealthy local family who she’s crushed on for years?her father makes a choice that will crack wide-open the family’s secrets and lead to a public reckoning. There are consequences for loving a boy like Vance Cumberland, but there is also freedom in the truth.
T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart...then heal it in the best possible way.
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Reviews
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Laurie T.

I absolutely LOVED this book! If you are from the South, Lowe describes a memorable landscape, seasons to reminisce and temperatures to match and whole lot more to honor a few of the South’s pleasantries. This was my first TI Lowe novel and I am now looking for my next one. Outstanding! The narrator, incredible!! Really really well done!!

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Stephanie T.

Loved it! I hope it will be a series.

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Jennifer D.

This is 1 of the BEST books I've ever read! And the narrator's voice is so easy to listen to. I hated to hear the story end.

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BMC320

Amazing read. It made me laugh and cry. It’s a feel good book. Loves it!

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Anonymous

A great listen and strong characters. I appreciate how well the mental health problems are described through various actions and emotions. Well done.

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Amy H.

So-so story. Easy listening, but nothing super compelling. Adult themes but nothing graphic (which I appreciated).

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Carolyn

This book is exçellent!

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Betsy H.

I loved this book!!!!

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RuthofCarolina

Amazing story of endurance.

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Abdul Rahman

good luck

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Anonymous

I loved this book! Beautiful writing, and descriptions of the south were amazing. I grew up in the 80s so I loved the references of a more simple time, but still modern. I loved that they addressed topics of mental health, discrimination and the importance of family. The narrator was phenomenal as well..

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Anonymous

Fabulous book. Sensitive and wanting more.

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Sherie P.

Great book! My heart went out to the characters and we can see the effects deep depression can have on all members of a family. It took me awhile to get into it, but then I couldn’t stop listening

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Lorna R.

I loved it! A raw and honest look of what it can look and feel like to live with mental illness and to be the caregiver. I appreciated so much the expression of truth that none of us are just one thing. You can be saved by grace and still struggle and bleed. You can struggle and bleed and still positively impact the world around you. Great read!!

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Jessica MAZICH

great character build

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CHERYL L.

Loved this book. J was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Great story of courage and strength! Unique characters!! Highly recommend!!

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Catherine G.

This was the most wonderful book I have ever read. I didn't want to put it down. I laughed, I cried, I was scared, I was angry. The best book ever.

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Epnav

I loved this book. I experienced all the emotions while reading it and loved the characters, character development, and the story. I loved the ending so much, I listened to it twice. I highly recommend it.

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Savannah M.

Incredible. Absolutely loved it! Captivating from start to finish. I wasn’t ready for it to end.

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Anonymous

Really enjoyable! Great characters, written in such a way that you care about what happens to them!

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Rhonda M.

I loved listening to this book. Touched on a lot of issues and I laughed and cried throughout the book.

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Cindy Lou

A biblical version of Where the Crawdads Sing. A lovely story of redemption, but too closely mirrored another book.

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Carol M.

This was a terrific read. Well written- great plot, character development and kept me wanting more. Paired with excellent narration, I loved it.

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Stacy D.

Wonderful book! Narrator was great too!

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Bianca1976

I’m giving this a 3.5 - it was a very wholesome story. I liked it. But there were so many other side stories that could have been further developed. It was all tied up in a pretty little bow at the end, which I like but it read more like this should be a show or a hallmark movie. Now the narrator was amazing! I’d listen to her read a book any day!

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Anonymous

A very good read…narrated well.

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Anonymous

Wonderful book so true to life. Enjoyed every moment of this beautiful written book.

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Annemarie G.

Loved this book. "healing ever after". Touched some of the deepest parts of my heart.

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Smileykat

I liked this book. It had quirkiness of the characters and hit on the effects of mental health issues and family trying ti work around it. I loved the ending!!

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Tiffany H.

Laughed out loud, and wept silently. Well worth the time.

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Dominique P.

Absolutely love this book!

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Belinda R.

I really had a hard time listening to this narrator so couldn’t finish 5he book

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Hebe P

Loved this book.

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Michelle D.

A great feel-good book. I laughed and cried many times. If you have a loved one with mental health issues you will appreciate this book.

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GUZ

Excellent I laughed and cried.

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Pippi

Loved this feel good story!!

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Tina R.

I really enjoyed the honesty and reality of this read (listen) … beautifully written.

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Leah M.

A favorite read and a moving reminder of why story matters. This account elicited actual tears of joy. Love the raw honesty alongside the hope of redemption. Beautifully executed and the narrator was a brilliant match.

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Latoya L.

This was a feel good story, and it shows that everything isn\'t as clear as things seems. I love that it addresses mental health concerns even within in the church and how no one looks down on them, whether are there to pick/uplift them. Also shows money isn\'t everything.#Book27of2022 #Bookworm #Whatsnext

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Amanda B.

Enjoyed the story line and the life, and courage of this family...

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Kenneth D.

This was a VIP book that was somewhat of a romantic feel-good book that was a pleasant listen during our neighborhood Covid walk. The book also addressed mental illness and the crazy attempts families go through to keep it hidden.

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JK

Wonderful story and a wonderful narrator! It's a story to come back to when you want to experience something uplifting!

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Dru C.

I loved this book and how it intertwined mental illness, family drama and love and compassion. It was a great listen. I also loved the narrator: she was wonderful to listen to.

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Joanne R.

A good story and exploration of how mental illness affects a family. The end with its tidy resolution of all the many problems was a bit much for me but I guess things do resolve sometimes. Excellent narrator.

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Anonymous

Enjoyed this book, which gives great insight to mental conditions.

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Kristen N.

What a wonderful story. The author does an amazing job of character building including persons with mental illness, imperfections and having to grow up too quickly. I loved this book

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Susan M.

I loved listening to this book, it was great.

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Jacquelyn E.

Such a wonderful read. From beginning to end the southern accent, the characters, the love! Oh the love!

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Amber A.

Loved this book!!

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Anonymous

The narrator made me feel like I was listening to the story while sitting on a porch swing of an old farm house passed down through the generation.

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Kyler B.

A tumultuous family weather’s the storms of life— love the heart of the main character and her care for her family. It is a story of true love and devotion. The narrator was so talented!

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Anonymous

Not one of the best books I have read but a decent story showing the hardships of life

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Rita S.

If perhaps I read it instead of listening to it my perception would be better. The humorous parts were deadpan and the sadness was overwhelming. So heavy and long on the characters plight at time. However, The author's writing was without fault and beautifully descriptive.

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Kimberly Keene

I loved this story! One of my favorite books! Anyone who loves anyone or knows anyone who struggles with mental illness, this book is a must read.

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Susan F.

This is a beautiful story. Don’t pass it by.

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Anonymous

I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narrator did such an amazing job. It was so easy to listen to.

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Tracie G.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very well written. Loved all the characters. Goes down as one of my all time fav novels.

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Anonymous

This was such a warm, gentle book - I was sorry to come to the end of it. It was my first T.I. Lowe book but it won’t be my last. I loved her portrayal of Austin and her family and my heart went out to them in their struggles. Each character was rich and complex, Lowe didn’t present any as a cliché. They were all relatable and richly drawn. Bennett is a wonderful narrator, so heartfelt and sincere. Don’t pass this one up!

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Rachel P.

This was a free VIP book for me but I gladly would’ve paid full price for it. Beautiful story about family and resilience. The narration was excellent!

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KSTGER75

Excellent

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Alyssa B.

what an amazing story!!! thank you for bringing up mental health the struggles and making it ok for treatment

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Ashley G.

I enjoyed this book so much. Austin was relatable and the story of her family was interesting, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time.

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Amber F.

I really loved this book! The sweet romance, openly bringing to light the challenges of living with a mental illness or loved one suffering with one, and the overarching theme of faith and Love with a capital L! It’s worth reading or listening to. The narrator was pretty good.

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Anonymous

I really enjoyed this audio. Hope there’s more out there!

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Leslie B.

I Loved this book. The narrator did an EXCELLENT job.... Definitely recommended

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Shar V.

it was so enjoyable! loved the narrator. and i got the happy ending i was hoping for!

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cynthia Lindbom

Loved every single thing about this book! Recommending to my friends. The narrator added so much to my enjoyment of this story.

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Jodie S.

Loved everything about this book - left me wanting to find out about where the characters went. Very heartwarming, touching story

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Joy S.

Austin’s family is bigger than life, but so are their problems and their friends and neighbors. There is much to admire in all the main characters, but they all seem to “hide” their own personal stories. At the core of the story there is a tiny church on a tobacco farm with a wonderful “preacher” with great love and respect for all, but who is struggling with a very large problem. Secrets abound, but love finds a way.

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Jennifer S.

This has been one of my favorites!!! Such a wonderful well written story! My first TI Lowe book and i cant wait for more!!!

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Alicia C.

What an amazing story of a strong, caring woman and her childhood. She’s so real and relatable. HEA made me cry my eyes out. Reminds me that sometimes the hard life moments make you stronger and help you know who your support person(s) are. Must read!

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Anonymous

I lau8ghed, cried, prayed for the Foster family living all the emotions that plagued this family I rejoiced when life gave them a break and God shone his face upon them. The narrator makes you feel a part of the lives of this family and their friends.

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Anonymous

I loved this book, both the story and the narrator! A tender story that grabbed me from the beginning to the end!

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Pam B.

Absolutely loved this story. I’ve listened to 100s of books and this bittersweet story is one of my favorites.

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