Indigo Isle

“Storms show up and there ain’t a thing we can do to stop them.”

Sonny Bates left South Carolina fifteen years ago and never looked back. Now she’s a successful Hollywood location scout who travels the world, finding perfect places for movie shoots. Home is wherever she lands, and between her busy schedule and dealing with her boss’s demands, she has little time to think about the past . . . until her latest gig lands her a stone’s throw from everything she left behind.

Searching off the coast of Charleston for a secluded site to film a key scene, Sonny wanders onto a private barrier island and encounters its reclusive owner, known by locals as the Monster of Indigo Isle. What she finds is a man much more complex than the myth.

Once a successful New York attorney, Hudson Renfrow’s grief has exiled him to his island for several years. He spends his days alone, tending his fields of indigo, then making indigo dye—and he has no interest in serving the intrusive needs of a film company or yielding to Sonny’s determined curiosity. But when a hurricane makes landfall on the Carolina coast, stranding them together, an unlikely friendship forms between the two damaged souls. Soon the gruff exterior Hudson has long hidden behind crumbles—exposing the tender part of him that’s desperate for forgiveness and a second chance.

A story of hanging on and letting go, of redemption and reconciliation, and of a love that heals the deepest wounds, from the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Tyndale House Publishers

Book club questions for Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

As the novel opens, we find Sonny in a graveyard. What do you think is the symbolism of this scene? Did you find reflections of that throughout the story?

For much of the story, Sonny feels adrift without a home because “a home is somewhere you’re welcomed.” In what ways can you relate to her? How do you define home?

Both Hudson and Sonny have erected walls around themselves. Hudson sequesters himself on the island. Sonny hides behind the wall of her social media facade. Compare and contrast their walls. Do you agree with Sonny that most people have some form of walls that need tearing down? What walls might you be hiding behind?

Hudson calls Sonny out on the fakeness of her social media posts. She explains that everyone know social media is fake. Why do you think everyone is so enthralled by it anyway?

The prodigal story in Indigo Isle is told with a focus on mother and daughters instead of father and sons. How did this version change or broaden your perspective on the Prodigal Son story we find in the Bible? Why was it harder for Sonny to accept her mother’s compassion than her sisters’ resentment?

This novel addresses hard issues, specifically sexual harassment and abuse. Did Sonny’s story alter your view about any of these issues? How so?

Hudson is a closed-off man, one of very few words. Was it challenging for you, as a reader, to connect with his character?

Sonny lives with several regrets and wishes she could have a “take two” on life. Which one thing do you think she should consider “reshooting”? Since retakes aren’t possible in life, how can we cope with regret?

“That’s the problem with memories. They can make you a liar, and figuring out who holds the truer version is an absolute mystery.” Do you agree or disagree with Sonny’s thoughts on memories?

Taking indigo leaves and processing them into dye is a fascinating art. It’s also fascinating how we see this transformative art in the lives of our main characters. Discuss their transformations. Are there weedy or damaged parts of your life that have been transformed into something beautiful?

Speaking of indigo, have you ever made any shibori (tie-dye) projects? If not, are you interested in trying it after reading this book?

Indigo Isle Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Indigo Isle discussion questions

“T. I. Lowe mixes serious issues with her own unique sense of humor and style, and her Sonny Bates is a force to reckon with. . . . A terrific read!” —Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and The Lady’s Mine, on Indigo Isle

“Lowe delivers a powerful coming-of-age story set on a Magnolia, S.C., tobacco farm in the 1980s. . . . The many colorful Magnolia characters, particularly the eccentrics of First Riffraff, rise to support Austin and nicely round out the slow-burning romance. Lowe’s fans will be thrilled.” —Publishers Weekly on Under the Magnolias

“Under the Magnolias is a beautifully told tale about loss, mental illness, connection, and finding both yourself and your capacity to heal.” —Grand Strand magazine

“A family’s collapse under the weight of dysfunction and mental illness becomes a luminous testimony to the power of neighbors and the ability of a community’s love and faith to shelter its most vulnerable residents. Readers will close the cover with a smile and a long, satisfied sigh.” —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends, on Under the Magnolias

“With lyrical prose and vivid description, T. I. Lowe masterfully weaves the story of a teenage girl’s quest to protect the ones she loves most in the wake of unthinkable tragedy. Under the Magnolias is a moving portrayal of the power of family—the one we’re born into and the one we create—and the resilience of the human spirit. In this memorable and moving story, T. I. Lowe has hit her stride.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, USA Today bestselling author of Feels Like Falling

“T. I. Lowe has done it again! I loved Lulu’s Café, but I love Under the Magnolias even more. There is so much to admire about this book. T. I. writes with amazing grace and beautifully depicts the cost of keeping secrets when help might be available. This story is filled with rich, lovable characters, each rendered with profound compassion. Austin is an admirable young woman—flawed, but faithful to her family—and Vance Cumberland is another Michael Hosea, offering unconditional, lifelong love. Under the Magnolias is sure to delight and inspire.” —Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author

“On a tobacco farm in 1980s South Carolina, we meet smart and spunky Austin as she struggles to keep the family farm together and raise her six siblings and mentally ill father. With a wide cast of fun, offbeat characters, a mix of heartbreak and humor, and a heaping handful of grit, Under the Magnolias will delight Lowe’s legion of fans!” —Lauren K. Denton, USA Today bestselling author of The Summer House

“What a voice! If you’re looking for your next Southern fiction fix, T. I. Lowe delivers. Readers of all ages will adore the spunky survivor Austin Foster, whose journey delivers both laughter and tears. Set smack-dab in the middle of South Carolina, this story will break your heart and put it back together again. A must-read.” —Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials, on Under the Magnolias

“Plain-speaking and gut-wrenching, T. I. Lowe leaves no detail unturned to deliver a powerful story about a family’s need for healing and their lifelong efforts to run from it. This is no ‘will they or won’t they’ romance. Rather, it’s a thorough exploration of the hidden depths of the heart.” —Robin W. Pearson, Christy Award–winning author of A Long Time Comin’ and ’Til I Want No More, on Under the Magnolias

“I loved Under the Magnolias! . . . Austin Foster is one of the most memorable characters I have ever read.” —Sessalee Hensley, Barnes & Noble fiction buyer, retired