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jcblack's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
First book by this author. Absolutely beautiful writing!! I need some time to fully savor this story and decide how I want it to end in my mind.
joey1914's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
trippalli's review against another edition
2.0
It was ok. I didn't really enjoy the story which was about people having affairs and then leaving each other and having more..I mean it could be about refunding oneself but really they lost me when instead of just going to France and teaching at an amazing museum she instead falls in love and gets pregnant at 44 and forgets to renew her visa while her husband ( who she left because she was jealous of his sad teenage past love affair he never went back to but had a son with who he never knew) goes and buys her an Italian villa to apologize. What?
My favorite part was thinking about a color for a week in her art class. That was the best part
My favorite part was thinking about a color for a week in her art class. That was the best part
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual content
ers407's review against another edition
5.0
Straight to the all time favorites list. This is some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read. I devoured the style of it. It so perfectly captures the complexity of life and relationships. I couldn’t recommend more.
eusteph's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I was so sure I was giving this a 3.5 until the very end of the book.
First, I think if you like contemporary books/romance/the like this will be right up your alley. It's not the genre I usually go for hence why I didn't have a ton of faith going into it.
This is the first age-gap relationship I've read in a book where the woman is the older one and I loved how it was done. I could really put myself in Vincent's shoes and empathize with her even though I have never come remotely close to having a conundrum such as hers.
I really liked how this had an open ending and I've got my own theories as to what I think happened next.
First, I think if you like contemporary books/romance/the like this will be right up your alley. It's not the genre I usually go for hence why I didn't have a ton of faith going into it.
This is the first age-gap relationship I've read in a book where the woman is the older one and I loved how it was done. I could really put myself in Vincent's shoes and empathize with her even though I have never come remotely close to having a conundrum such as hers.
I really liked how this had an open ending and I've got my own theories as to what I think happened next.
missashleyann's review against another edition
5.0
Can a fiction inspire like a self-help book?
There are points in Half-Blown Rose that are magical. Those moments are inspiring yet tangible; bits of ah-ha and ponderous oh’s that are enjoyable, applicable and relevant for any age reader. I want to write my memories, I want to muse on weekly colors, I want weekly flowers and friend dinners; I want to live in Paris.
Maybe that last one isn’t as easily attainable as the rest.
The reasons I want to do these things are hidden in the lines of Leesa Cross-Smith’s unique storytelling. It is an organized stream of consciousness so the reader has few questions on backstory but doesn’t get lost in Vincent’s train of thought. I struggle with following scenes drawn out by inner monologue and that never happened with Cross-Smith at the helm; she always brought me back to the right moment so I never missed a thing. Side characters were thusly given the same depth and understanding as the strangers in our own lives versus cursory mentions to fill a plot hole. Mr and Mrs Laurent - one of the greatest love stories barely told! Paris was beautiful and full of character and characters that Cross-Smith effortlessly brought to life.
Vincent and her family are marvelous. Her friends are flawed and wonderful. Loup is too good to be true (perhaps the only flaw, and yet - maybe I’m just suspicious of all the goodness). Vincent is raw and empathetic and powerful and imperfectly human, and I am honored to have gone on this journey with her. I may never forgive you, Leesa Cross-Smith and I’m sure you know why!
I told my mom this book will be staying on the shelf. Treasured, dog eared and ready to be reread again when I need to feel inspired - the first non-fantasy keeper for me! I’ll recommend it, I’ll even buy it as a gift, but my copy will stay with me as comforting as pain au chocolat when I need it most.
There are points in Half-Blown Rose that are magical. Those moments are inspiring yet tangible; bits of ah-ha and ponderous oh’s that are enjoyable, applicable and relevant for any age reader. I want to write my memories, I want to muse on weekly colors, I want weekly flowers and friend dinners; I want to live in Paris.
Maybe that last one isn’t as easily attainable as the rest.
The reasons I want to do these things are hidden in the lines of Leesa Cross-Smith’s unique storytelling. It is an organized stream of consciousness so the reader has few questions on backstory but doesn’t get lost in Vincent’s train of thought. I struggle with following scenes drawn out by inner monologue and that never happened with Cross-Smith at the helm; she always brought me back to the right moment so I never missed a thing. Side characters were thusly given the same depth and understanding as the strangers in our own lives versus cursory mentions to fill a plot hole. Mr and Mrs Laurent - one of the greatest love stories barely told! Paris was beautiful and full of character and characters that Cross-Smith effortlessly brought to life.
Vincent and her family are marvelous. Her friends are flawed and wonderful. Loup is too good to be true (perhaps the only flaw, and yet - maybe I’m just suspicious of all the goodness). Vincent is raw and empathetic and powerful and imperfectly human, and I am honored to have gone on this journey with her. I may never forgive you, Leesa Cross-Smith and I’m sure you know why!
I told my mom this book will be staying on the shelf. Treasured, dog eared and ready to be reread again when I need to feel inspired - the first non-fantasy keeper for me! I’ll recommend it, I’ll even buy it as a gift, but my copy will stay with me as comforting as pain au chocolat when I need it most.
readingintheether's review against another edition
5.0
The beauty of this book was that it was a relatively simple story, but Leesa Cross-Smith made it feel so big. I wish there was more. I wish I could see 10 years into the future of these characters lives and know more.
kenziemick's review against another edition
3.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this style of writing (a mix of narration, journal entries, playlists, script writing, etc.) though the pacing was incredibly slow. I’m not used to a story that’s so drawn out; however, we got to know the characters well, which built the tension and complexity of the story.
Thinking about how Vincent was going to ✨make a decision✨ was causing me heart palpitations and nausea lol. I found myself loving her as a character and also really disliking her (part of that complexity, eh!). The husband and lover are both sweet in their own endearing ways.
If you’re hoping for/expecting a clear ending, don’t! This is about as open-ended as it gets. I think I’ll understand my full thoughts about this book after discussing it with other folks… definitely a solid 3-3.5 star read!
Thinking about how Vincent was going to ✨make a decision✨ was causing me heart palpitations and nausea lol. I found myself loving her as a character and also really disliking her (part of that complexity, eh!). The husband and lover are both sweet in their own endearing ways.
If you’re hoping for/expecting a clear ending, don’t! This is about as open-ended as it gets. I think I’ll understand my full thoughts about this book after discussing it with other folks… definitely a solid 3-3.5 star read!
sunshine608's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked Vincent but I just couldn't get into Loup. I enjoyed the parts of Vincent's past, her marriage to Cillian and her life in Paris, but with scenes where Loup was, I glossed over them. I think part of the disconnect is that I misread the synopsis and thought the wild affair was with Cillian. Anyway, I enjoy some aspects of the book. I did not like the ending. Why such a cliffhanger I would have liked less of Loup and Vincenet and more of what was to come after the last page.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
I really really liked the author's last book, This close to okay, but unfortunately I found this newest novel way too slow-moving to keep my interest! Told from the perspective of Vincent, a mid-40s woman grappling with secrets that were revealed in her husband's latest book. Not sure if she can forgive him for not telling her about a child he fathered as a teen before leaving Ireland, Vincent is taking time away in Paris to regroup. While there she gets embroiled in an affair with a much younger French man, Loup, and has to decide if she wants to reconcile with her husband or see what might happen with Loup. Very character driven, this book might appeal to fans of The idea of you or The perfect find. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC in exchange for an honest review!