George is named the town’s Man of the Year, and Zoe volunteers to help Lavon host a party for him. The party doesn’t go off without a hitch, however: Magnolia pleads with Wade to compose a song for the event, and Zoe delivers a dreadful unplanned speech.

Zoe encourages Rose to enter the annual Miss Cinnamon Cider Pageant even though Lemon’s younger sister, Magnolia Breeland, is a shoo-in to win. Of course, with Zoe coaching Rose and Lemon coaching Magnolia, rivalry takes on a whole new meaning.

Bluebell prepares for “Planksgiving,” while Zoe hopes to return to New York for the holiday, but she must meet her quota before leaving or lose her practice to Brick; George’s dad offers him a job with his firm in Montgomery; and Lavon tells Wade to confess his feelings to Zoe.

Zoe hosts a pre-game homecoming party at Lavon’s request, and she gets help from a New York friend, but her friend’s New York party style clashes with what Bluebell considers a party. Meanwhile, George and Wade plot revenge on a high-school nemesis, and Lemon wants to take part in the plan.

Zoe is asked out on a date by a local veterinarian; there’s an opening for the annual turtle race when race-car driver Brian Vickers (who appears as himself) drops out, and Lemon thinks the mayor is the perfect person to fill in for him; and Wade gets an unexpected visitor

Zoe hits a man while driving, only to find that he’s vanished, and then she’s told he’s been dead for a year; Lemon and George’s hopes of buying the house of their dreams fizzle when Lavon refuses to authorize the purchase because the home’s a historic property; and Zoe’s mom arrives to make amends with [...]

Zoe exposes a scandal when she discovers a secret involving a local minister and his wife; and Lemon tries to raise funds to restore a historic bridge destroyed by Katrina, but she has to persuade Lavon to pick her proposal over other causes.

A heat wave hits Bluebell, and Zoe learns that it lowers inhibitions, including hers, and especially when she’s around Wade. Meanwhile, Lemon prepares to meet George’s parents, but she gets flustered when Lavon shows up at the same restaurant with his beautiful date

Zoe is determined to win Bluebell’s gumbo contest and prove to everyone that she is a part of the community, which will hopefully help her land some patients.

Zoe rides on a float with Mayor Hayes during the Founder’s Day Parade, hoping to charm Bluebell’s residents, but her plan crashes along with the float, which she accidentally wrecks; and George tells her she could lose her half of the practice to Brick if she doesn’t draw at least 30 percent of the business