7 Cozy Southern Coffee Table Books

This post about Southern coffee table books has been a long time coming!

It’s no secret that I love the Deep South. Ever since moving from the East Coast a few years ago, I’ve been slowly filling my house with Southern titles. Y’all, I live for Southern gothic literature, especially if it’s written by Flannery O’ Conner (yes, please).

Southern coffee table books are a little different though. They’re bright and bubbly. They’re filled with recipes and oodles of inspiration. Every time I pick up one up, I realize that I have a million hostess-at-home gigs and monogram hunts and honky-tonks to go before I become a true Southerner.

So without further ado, here are my favorite Southern coffee table books.

P.S. I’m officially renouncing my use of y’all for the day.

Whiskey In A Teacup

I’m a huge fan of Reese Witherspoon so unsurprisingly, I ordered Whiskey In A Teacup back when it was first released. I even listened to the audiobook (which she narrated herself in an Elle Woods gone country tone). *insert a bless your heart here* As a Southern coffee table book, it was everything I was looking for! Whiskey In A Teacup is a decent, easy, sweet-tea-on-the-side read. The recipes are good. But what sold me were the personal, heartwarming stories interspersed in between.

And I love the message behind this book: a combo of beauty and strength make Southern women “whiskey in a teacup”, delicate on the outside but fierce within.

The Southerner’s Handbook

The Southerner’s Handbook is fun, quick-to-read, and entertaining. The pages are twisted in wit and cased in deadpan humor.

The book is split into parts. I loved the food bits, but to be honest, I glossed over the hunting portion (not for me).

As a result, I didn’t enjoy the latter half of this book as much as the first half (the attitude shifted from tongue-in-cheek to grazing). But as a Southern coffee table book, it’s a comprehensive (although slightly outdated) look at the traditions, quirks, and stereotypes of the Deep South.

Talk Southern To Me

I LOVE this book! It’s down-to-earth and hilarious. Julia Fowler’s heartfelt love letter to the South is a laugh-out-loud, Southernism filled romp that I probably should keep on my bedstand.

Talk Southern To Me is such a quick read (it’s actually one of the few Southern coffee table books I could read multiple times over). Fowler knows how to write in a manner that immediately draws you in and keeps you hooked.

The book is small (the size of a typical novel) but I love having it on my coffee table nonetheless.

P.S. Dolly Parton loved it too. Enough said.

Southern Women

Southern Women focuses on sharing stories from the powerhouses and groundbreakers of the South. The book follows a (racially and sexually) diverse cast of Southern Women whose stories have gone untold for too long.

There are so many amazing women featured in this book. I loved the interview type format the most because the snippets felt real, raw, and authentic.

This book is a conversation starter. It’s an inspirational and motivational title, perfect for a Southern coffee table.

For The Love Of The South

For The Love Of The South is one of my favorite Southern coffee table books of all time. It’s an offshoot of Amber Wilson’s popular blog of the same name.

This is one of those rare cookbooks where each recipe is practical and easy to prepare (perfect for beginner chefs looking to master Southern classics). Most of the ingredients in Wilson’s recipes were ones that I already had lying around the house, which made whipping up the meals extremely convenient!

One Man’s Folly

One Man’s Folly is the story of Furlow Gatewood, an underrated interior designer and the man behind Americus, Georgia’s most famous carriage house.

Gatewood’s designs look like livable, cozy museums. The color palettes are unique, soft, and luxurious.

Every room in One Man’s Folly is different. Each has its own charm, character, and style. If you’re an interior design lover, this is a must-read.

Magnolia Table

Magnolia Table is one of the most popular Southern coffee table books (I’m convinced it’s sold in every store in Texas).

I’ve been a Fixer Upper fan for a while now. I trekked down to Waco last year to visit Magnolia Silos, ate lots of cupcakes from Silos Baking Co, and stopped by Magnolia Market (but everything was so expensive, I left the store looking like a deer facing headlights). I’ve listened to most of Chip and Joanna’s books on Audible. And I’ve watched every episode of Fixer Upper.

I’m a fan. As a businesswoman, I really like Joanna Gaines. She’s great at hustling. So did I pick up Magnolia Table? (*nods head*) Of course. Do I regret it? Not at all.

Did you enjoy this list of Southern coffee table books? What are your favorite Southern coffee table books? Let me know in the comments below!