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A review by rereadsromance
The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This review includes spoilers.
I read trigger warnings, so I mostly knew what I was in for, and I did enjoy the first 60-70% of Salem and Thayer's story, but the last 30% of the book was…a lot.
My biggest issue was the extremely tragic event that takes place towards the end of the book and the immediate aftermath.
Excerpt:
<b>"We were going to tell my mom!"
"We were <i>happy</i> and you certainly didn't give a shit before, so what changed?"
"My son died!"
"And that changes everything."
"I know this is devastating. I feel his loss too. But how does this have anything to do with us?"</b>
In my opinion, their actions confirmed that Salem still had some growing up to do and that Thayer was so consumed in his grief that there was no way he could possibly be in a healthy relationship.
I understand that book two takes place six years after the end of The Confidence of Wildflowers and I really hope we get to see Salem gain some life perspective and Thayer being to deal with healing from such an unimaginable loss.
I believe Salem and Thayer deserve a happy ending, but both have a lot of trauma to address. I hope we get to see that in The Resurrection of Wildflowers.
CWs:Childhood Sexual Abuse (non-graphic mentions), Sick Parent (Cancer), Death of a Child (Drowning)
I read trigger warnings, so I mostly knew what I was in for, and I did enjoy the first 60-70% of Salem and Thayer's story, but the last 30% of the book was…a lot.
My biggest issue was the extremely tragic event that takes place towards the end of the book and the immediate aftermath.
Excerpt:
<b>"We were going to tell my mom!"
"We were <i>happy</i> and you certainly didn't give a shit before, so what changed?"
"My son died!"
"And that changes everything."
"I know this is devastating. I feel his loss too. But how does this have anything to do with us?"</b>
In my opinion, their actions confirmed that Salem still had some growing up to do and that Thayer was so consumed in his grief that there was no way he could possibly be in a healthy relationship.
I understand that book two takes place six years after the end of The Confidence of Wildflowers and I really hope we get to see Salem gain some life perspective and Thayer being to deal with healing from such an unimaginable loss.
I believe Salem and Thayer deserve a happy ending, but both have a lot of trauma to address. I hope we get to see that in The Resurrection of Wildflowers.
CWs:
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Cancer, Child abuse, and Infidelity