Book Review: The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch


Alex (Alexandria) Lee is way out of her comfort zone. After the tragic death of her mother, she is forced away from the California commune life she always knew and into the world of Savannah, Georgia society. Her grandmother, known as Miss Lee, is the leader of a powerful group of society known as the Magnolia League.

Alex with her retro tie-dye t-shirts, dread locked hair, and self called "pudgy body", sees that she has little in common with the tall, thin and beautiful Madison and Hayes, the current Magnolia it girls. At Miss Lee's insistence the girls are to befriend her, and make her in to the perfect southern belle in time to debut at the winter ball.

There is something strange about the women of the Magnolia League. For starters, they eat whatever they want and are all thin. Also, they all appear to be much younger than they really are. Men fall at their feet, and into line around them, and money is never an object.

The secret to the Magnolia League's success? Hoodoo magic, practiced by Doc Buzzard and his family. Youth, wealth, beauty and love all come to these women through spells and magic. Life on the hippie commune was different, but old society ladies practicing Hoodoo magic is just weird.

There is life beyond the Magnolia's though, Alex befriends fellow outsider Dexter and there is Hayes' older brother Thaddeus, a handsome jock who doesn't get the appeal of the Magnolia League. Will Alex be able to resist the lure of the Magnolias and stay true to her self, or will she turn into just another MG?

Megan describes this book as "hoodoo fudge" and I can not think of a better description. One part Blue Bloods (Melissa De la Cruz) one part Pretty Little Liars (Sara Shepard), this magical mystery tour of the south is a fast pace immersion into debutante politics. Alex is steadfast in her morals, until she sees just what the magic can do for her life. Hayes and Madison are the perfect queen bee girls, who reluctantly take on the Alex as a project.

Fans of magical romance series will enjoy Katie Crouch's The Magnolia League. First in the series, if you enjoy book one, you'll be dying to read the follow up, The White Glove Wars!

I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody)