Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber Review

 Hello Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so grateful that you chose to start your day by joining me here on The Preppy Book Princess for another book review.

I've have to be honest and state that this last year has been unimaginably tough. So many hardships have hit my family, and if I'm being transparent, it seems like ever since the pandemic, people have generally gotten more unpleasant. The level of selfishness and entitlement in our world continues to astound me, and somedays finding the joy in life seems to be harder than others.

However, I'm thankful without a doubt for Jesus being with me every step of the way, and I'm trying to take my time and find happiness in the little things.

Sometimes something as simple as getting to read your favorite author's new book from the library can be all it takes to spark a little joy, and last year when I had the chance to read one of the titles from my 2023 most anticipated releases post, it brought a bright spot into an otherwise very depressing week.

I hope you'll all keep reading down below for my full review of this wonderful story.

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber:

Source: Library

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publication Date: July 11th, 2023

Genre: Women's Fiction

Synopsis:

Two women at different stages of life find themselves on a journey of renewal after undergoing hardships in this uplifting novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

"Wise, warm, witty, and charmingly full of hope, this story celebrates the surprising and unexpected ways that family, friendship, and love can lift us up."--Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale

Joan Sample is not living the life she expected. Now a widow and an empty-nester, she has become by her own admission something of a recluse. But after another birthday spent alone, she is finally inclined to listen to her sister, who has been begging Joan to reengage with the world. With her support, Joan gathers the courage to take some long-awaited steps: hiring someone to tame her overgrown garden, joining a grief support group, and even renting out a room to a local college student. Before long Joan is starting to feel a little like herself again.

Across town, Maggie Herbert works mornings as a barista, tending to impatient customers before rushing to afternoon nursing classes. She's been living with her alcoholic father, ducking his temperamental outbursts and struggling to pay the household bills. But her circumstances brighten when she finds a room for rent in Joan's home. In the unexpected warmth of her new situation, Maggie finds a glimmer of hope for a better life. But will Maggie's budding attraction to one of her favorite customers ruin the harmony she's only recently found with Joan? Meanwhile, what is Joan to make of the mysterious landscaper who's been revitalizing her garden--a man who seems to harbor a past loss of his own?

As Maggie and Joan confront unfamiliar life choices, they find themselves leaning on each other in surprising ways--discovering in the process that "family" is often just another word for love in all its forms.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

Debbie Macomber is my all time favorite author, and I always look forward to reading her new releases. While I've enjoyed almost every book she's ever written, I loved how Must Love Flowers was a tad different than anything she's written before.

A story of grief, healing, and friendship, this wonderful contemporary novel follows two women at vastly different points in their lives who form a bond when the younger (Maggie) ends up renting a room in the older (Joan)'s house. As Joan mourns the loss of her husband much too soon, and Maggie struggles with the emotional abusive situation she's experiencing with her father, the two build a strong friendship that opens the door to healing, and finding happiness in unexpected places.

While this book was wholesome, light and sweet, it also tackles some hard truths like loss of loved ones and the grieving process, emotional abuse, and substance abuse. The author tackles all these issues in a way that brings awareness to the situations, but also remains respectful in the way the situations are resolved. I know not every reader would feel the same way, but I especially enjoyed the way that the author talks about the loneliness that came about because of the pandemic, and how hard it was for many of us to learn how to reintegrate back into the world. It felt both authentic and realistic, and I appreciated that fact. 

I enjoyed this heartwarming tale even more than I expected to, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a beach read this summer and/or anyone who enjoys cleaner contemporaries.

I only wish the ending had a bit more to it, as I was left feeling like I wanted a bit more resolution from some of the situations. Overall though, another beautiful story from one of the genre's best, and one I'd highly recommend.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day:)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.