I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight Published by Thomas Nelson on September 8, 2026
Genres: Fiction / African American & Black / Women, Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Cultural Heritage, Fiction / Romance / African American & Black, Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome, Fiction / Southern
Pages: 368
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads
From award-winning author Rhonda McKnight comes a new story of faith, history, and the power of legacy that merges the romance of The Bookshop Sisterhood with the rich Lowcountry setting of Mary Alice Monroe.
Alexandra Chambers is a writer who has run out of words. Struggling with writer's block and the pressure to secure a new book deal, she wins a week in a writer-friendly cabin through a drawing held at a Lowcountry literacy center.
What she finds is far more than she expected--a vibrant community brimming with inspiration, a past steeped in history and culture, and a man who both intrigues and unsettles her.
Gabe Scott, a bestselling author and the former writer-in-residence, is everything Alex feels she's not--acclaimed, award-winning, and unshakably confident. When their paths cross at the center, his literary brilliance and dedication to helping struggling Gullah students stir feelings Alex isn't ready to confront. Though undeniably attracted to him, Alex wrestles with the fear that her books pale beside his celebrated work.
When a surprising family connection unearths long-hidden truths about her past, Alex is forced to confront a lie that has shaped her life. Guided by the quiet wisdom of Ms. Kate, an elderly Gullah cleaning woman with losses of her own, Alex finds the strength to forgive truths long withheld, embrace her voice, and write the story only she can tell.
Writer in Residence is a rich and layered choice for book clubs eager to explore themes of identity, family secrets, creative reinvention, and the power of place. McKnight's lush Lowcountry setting and unforgettable cast of characters spark meaningful conversation about Gullah Geechee culture, the stories we inherit, and the courage it takes to tell our own truth. An included discussion guide makes it easy for groups to dig deeper into Alex's journey of rediscovery--and perhaps reflect on the hidden roots in their own lives.
This book was nothing like I thought it would be, but honestly, everything I needed it to be. Unless you are just brand new here, you know that, as a rule, I reward myself to complete chores and tasks with chapters. Dinner cooking, chapter. Floor swept, chapter. You know a book is special when you don’t stop reading. Read while stirring, read while cleaning the bathroom, read during breaks in the daytime, and not just at night. When you can’t stop at one chapter and just keep reading. This is one of those books. It’s a little bit literary, a little bit romance, and a side of mystery hold the suspense. I mean writing about writers, family secrets, learning to fall in love, and spreading the love of words to another generation. Throw in a culture- at least for me, with the Gullah Geechee- that isn’t widely known. That’s just the highest level of info, so let’s dig deeper, and I’ll try not to drop too many spoilers.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to write a review of a book you loved? There’s nothing to complain about, and you want to gush, but you can really only gush with people who get it. So step one: go read this book so we can gush together. Fun fact: when I was young, it was assumed I would grow up and write. Like, for real, not silly little thoughts and reviews. Obviously that never happened. But this book was such a draw, as you have a writer (romance – not my gig) who suddenly finds herself not only unable to write, but her proposals keep getting rejected. Add to that a budding love interest that kinda came out of history and nowhere all at once. I’ll forgive the romance because honestly it just worked. And some family secrets. Queue the great drama.
I bought it all. Yes, there are probably things that could be nitpicked, but that’s not what this is about. This is about a romance writer with no real-life romance to draw from. This is about a young woman who finds out everything she knew about her life is mostly lies. You get immersed in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and the history of the Gullah. You learn about finding yourself, your roots, and just who you are. You learn about trusting yourself enough to put trust into others, for real trust, not just the action of trust. You learn about community, and that family is messing but sometimes worth pushing through, even when it hurts. And yes, it’s a neatly wrapped happily ever after, which I can forgive because the getting there was so worth the investment in the words. If this isn’t made into a movie, I’ll be incredibly disappointed, as it reads like a movie. You can literally see it unfold as you read the words. Yes, please go read this so I can gush with you!
About Rhonda McKnight
Rhonda McKnight is the author of the 2025 Christy Award winning novel, BITTER AND SWEET, and the 2024 Emma Award winner, The Thing About Home. She has also written several other award-winning bestsellers, including Unbreak My Heart and An Inconvenient Friend. She writes book club fiction and romance about complex characters in crisis. Her goal is to touch the hearts of women through the themes of faith, forgiveness, and hope. In addition to penning 28 novels, Rhonda had a 24-year career with Family & Children Services. She teaches fiction writing through her virtual writing workshop and provides developmental editing services. Rhonda is the mother of two adult sons and a very spoiled Jack Russell. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, she writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home.
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