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A review by ijrreads
The Blooms That Broke Us by Ashley Dill
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After the love story when the happy couple ties the knot, what happens if one of them doesn’t know how to hear the heartache of the other? What happens when one doesn’t know how to communicate the feelings that are slowly suffocating them? Life is messy, things happen that we can’t control, and sometimes that magical relationship falls apart. How do you pick up the pieces? But what if life throws you a 2nd chance?
That’s what we have here in this beautiful story.
First, let me say that I was surprised by the emotions that gripped me right from the prologue. I mean, I expected to feel emotions (this isn’t a fluffy read folks!), but I did NOT expect the intensity and the impact. I loved how you felt that desperation right from the start. I think that struck me most - the whole story felt so real! Or maybe I should say - I FELT the story.
I also loved how the characters grew throughout the story. Despite the hurts they had experienced, and their initial hesitations around each other, Miranda and Jack were both still thoughtful and thinking of the other person. (Probably time and distance had helped that to be possible.) They had both reached a point where the hard things were ready to be heard and changes were willing to be undertaken. I absolutely LOVED how this played out!! The flashbacks help you feel the magic of the “falling in love” story, but THIS story was about LIVING happily ever after. What does it take to get to the “ever after”? To LIVE every day? Because we all know it ain’t sunshine and roses all the time. How do you recover after the storm rains down destruction?
I loved the lessons learned and the plant metaphors. (I don’t think that’s a spoiler - given the title?) It really had me thinking about the foundations in my life and the care I’m taking (or not) to nourish those plants…
I highly recommend this story!
If you love Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate - I think you’d like this one as well.
There’s also a note at the beginning of the book on triggers.
Last note - this is the 2nd in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I had not read the first book when I initially read this one.
I will also add that this story felt very different from Hold Back the River. The themes of growth, redemption, forgiveness, patience, and second chances give it a lot of light and hope.
That’s what we have here in this beautiful story.
First, let me say that I was surprised by the emotions that gripped me right from the prologue. I mean, I expected to feel emotions (this isn’t a fluffy read folks!), but I did NOT expect the intensity and the impact. I loved how you felt that desperation right from the start. I think that struck me most - the whole story felt so real! Or maybe I should say - I FELT the story.
I also loved how the characters grew throughout the story. Despite the hurts they had experienced, and their initial hesitations around each other, Miranda and Jack were both still thoughtful and thinking of the other person. (Probably time and distance had helped that to be possible.) They had both reached a point where the hard things were ready to be heard and changes were willing to be undertaken. I absolutely LOVED how this played out!! The flashbacks help you feel the magic of the “falling in love” story, but THIS story was about LIVING happily ever after. What does it take to get to the “ever after”? To LIVE every day? Because we all know it ain’t sunshine and roses all the time. How do you recover after the storm rains down destruction?
I loved the lessons learned and the plant metaphors. (I don’t think that’s a spoiler - given the title?) It really had me thinking about the foundations in my life and the care I’m taking (or not) to nourish those plants…
I highly recommend this story!
If you love Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate - I think you’d like this one as well.
There’s also a note at the beginning of the book on triggers.
Last note - this is the 2nd in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I had not read the first book when I initially read this one.
I will also add that this story felt very different from Hold Back the River. The themes of growth, redemption, forgiveness, patience, and second chances give it a lot of light and hope.