I haven't read too many books set in the South, but after reading The Magnolia League, I know I want to read more! The ambiance that Crouch conveys through that setting is phenomenal. I could almost feel the humid heat during the sweltering Georgia summer and reading the book made me want to speak with a Georgia drawl. 
 At the beginning of the book, I really liked Alex. She seemed like such a strong character with these unwavering beliefs that made her seem crazy to the new people in her life. When the Magnolia girls start to get to her, I was a little disappointed at how quickly her started to cave to their beliefs and leave behind little parts of herself. As soon as she lost her dreadlocks, it was like little pieces of her personality just flaked off here and there. That was a tad annoying to me, but the story itself kept me involved enough that I didn't put the book down at that point. 
 Things really do turn around though and at the end I was really gunning for Alex. She seems to start to find her roots and realize what's really important...and the only way to get that back. It doesn't end at all the way you think it's going to. A last minute twist in the plot definitely leaves you hanging and begging for more.