Women's Fiction
![Debbie Macomber - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000AQ451E.jpg)
Must Love Flowers: A Novel
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 Four Winds
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 Emmie's 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 lives 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 difficult life choices, they draw strength from this new friendship in surprising ways-discovering in the process that "found family" is often the very best kind.
"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 Four Winds
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 Emmie's 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 lives 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 difficult life choices, they draw strength from this new friendship in surprising ways-discovering in the process that "found family" is often the very best kind.
Editorial Reviews
"Nobody does heart-happy books better than Debbie Macomber. Readers will adore these characters and cheer for them."-Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Homewreckers
"Uplifting, warm, and hopeful . . . With her signature charm and wit, Debbie Macomber proves that the best relationships, like the perfect blooms, are always worth the wait. This can't-miss novel is Macomber at the height of her storytelling prowess. I absolutely adored it!"-Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds
"Both of-the-moment and timeless, this is truly a story to embrace-and then to share."-Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of Sugar and Salt
"Debbie Macomber never fails to deliver an uplifting, heartwarming story. Must Love Flowers should be at the top of your summer reading list!"-Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers
"Uplifting, warm, and hopeful . . . With her signature charm and wit, Debbie Macomber proves that the best relationships, like the perfect blooms, are always worth the wait. This can't-miss novel is Macomber at the height of her storytelling prowess. I absolutely adored it!"-Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds
"Both of-the-moment and timeless, this is truly a story to embrace-and then to share."-Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of Sugar and Salt
"Debbie Macomber never fails to deliver an uplifting, heartwarming story. Must Love Flowers should be at the top of your summer reading list!"-Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers
Readers Top Reviews
A wonderful book that shows second chances and determination. What I love about reading is that the reader can connect to things within the pages that relate to them at the time they are reading, even if that is not the point of the author. This novel provides for that connection through the characters as well as the story line. Joan has been widowed for 4 years, and she has become a virtual recluse. Her sister urges her to get counseling, and maybe even to take in a boarder. When she gets a letter from the HOA criticizing the state of her yard, which was formerly her pride and joy, she calls a landscaping company, specifying that they must love flowers. Phil is the person who comes to give her an estimate, and she is surprised to see him at a grief support group. She decides to rent a room to nursing student Maggie who is desperate to get away from her alcoholic father. The author provides for well developed characters, story line as well as romance that is believable rather than fairy tale. This novel has a message serving as an example of the important strides people can make if they take proactive action to improve their lives. It examines how adult child relationships can be affected after losing one parent, while the remaining one is wrapped up in grief. Also that each parent can provide an insight to children of all ages to help them through life. If you are looking for a great read pick this one up. Publication Date: July 11, 2023 Thank you to Net Galley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine.BallantineBooks
Madoka Kamimura
Debbie Macomber brings us the story of Joan whose family life changed suddenly four years ago and she is still stuck there and just going through the motions. Even calls from her sister and visits from her sons do nothing to change her lack of enthusiasm for life ever since her husband passed away unexpectedly. Glancing at herself in the mirror and a letter from the HOA after spending another birthday alone motivates her to make a change. Starting small with a cut and color, Joan starts to make the changes that makes her realize that life is not over yet despite having to do it without her husband. We also meet Maggie whose family life is far from ideal and works several jobs just to keep a roof over her and her father's heads. Ever since tragedy struck their family, her dad has been getting progressively worse and Maggie is hoping for a miracle that will help her out. The choices these two women make impact not only their families, but also strangers. Will these two women be able to let go of the past that keeps holding them back, or will they be able to move forward and make new memories and moments? Debbie Macomber gives us the story of these two women whose stories may be familiar to so many and we get to see how they deal with their situations. We get to see the heartache and fear as well as the hope and love. Their stories make you want to turn the page to see what happens next and how do they react when confronted with situations that are both familiar and unfamiliar. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for this privilege.
