This is a fun, fast read that is predictable, but still enjoyable. The prickly main character, who keeps everyone at a distance, is faced with a life-altering event that allows her to open herself to others. Although many reviews have described the main character as "quirky," she actually falls more on the "just mean" side to me...but she does redeem herself a bit by the close of the novel. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital copy for review!

Review uploaded to mellaing.wordpress.com. What a lovely read this was, I recommend it to anyone looking for a lazy day summer read.

This is the story of 45 year old Susan Green and her journey to understanding her life and family when her mother dies and leaves her irresponsible brother in charge of the family estate. She decides to sue him for influencing their mother who could have had dementia. Set in London and Birmingham England, the siblings have had little to do with each other for years. Susan leads a well regimented solitary life while Edward is social and outgoing. Susan always wants to control her life but when she finds herself expecting a baby at the same time her mother dies she has to reevaluate the life she's lived. This was an enjoyable read with a great older character who isn't perfect and has some flaws. The misunderstanding between Susan and her brother shed light on most family relationships about talking and communication. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wonderful read. Beautiful love story. Thank you to the publishers and NerGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Novel about a woman named who is extremely quirky, rigid, and set in her ways (presumably meant to signal to the reader that she iNovel about a woman named who is extremely quirky, rigid, and set in her ways (presumably meant to signal to the reader that she is on the spectrum though this is never stated outright), forced to adapt when her mother dies and she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Susan is prickly but also sympathetic; always interesting to see the world through the eyes of an unusual character. If you enjoyed "The Rosie Project" you would probably enjoy this one too (though not quite as charming).s on the spectrum though this is never stated outright), forced to adapt when her mother dies and she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Susan is prickly but also sympathetic; always interesting to see the world through the eyes of an unusual character. If you enjoyed "The Rosie Project" you would probably enjoy this one too (though not quite as charming).

First of all, how much do you love the cover of the book? Yes, I am guilty of picking books based on their cover. And this was one of them.

This story is about Susan Green. She is extremely meticulous about her life: plans everything and lives a very ordered life. And, we all know how that is going to go, right? Basically everything turns upside down.

The book is written from the first person, Susan's voice. I will admit, I found it a bit odd and jarring at first. But once you kind of get it, you get it and it makes sense why the author chose it.

So basically, Susan is prickly - just like a cactus. And it is evident in her interactions with everyone from her co-workers, to her family and to her 'friends'. Susan is presented with many obstacles to her ordered life, and it is interesting to see how she manages all of them.

I found this book to be very engaging. I really wanted to know what happened to Susan and had a hard time putting the book down. Not wanting to spoil the ending or any of the things that happen...but I was pleasantly surprised at how the loose ends got tied up.

This was a delightful read. I highly recommend it.

I gave it a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads.

Full disclosure: I received this eARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. (Thanks NetGalley!)

I don't often give 5 stars to a book - 4 stars is high praise from me - but this book is brilliant. I expected sort of a chic lit beach read and yes, it does fill that description - but a lot more. Susan isn't easy to like, but I loved her. Her sarcastic wit (without realizing she was being sarcastic which made it all the more delicious) cracked me up time and time again. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the 'doorstop' scene.

The characters are all realistic and the story develops nicely with characters gradually changing while still staying true to their basic selves.

The conclusion is sweet without being sappy. Definitely a feel-good book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for gifting me with an ARC of The Cactus by Sarah Haywood. In exchange I am providing my honest review and opinion.

This book was a joy to read!!! Charming and delightful but not sappy or mushy.Like the surprising sabra, a sweet fruit that grows from the prickly cactus, our protagonist Susan is a bit thorny and sharp on the outside but inside she’s full of pure, satisfying originality. Susan’s voice was reminiscent of another unique protagonist, Eleanor Oliphant and while I’m sure comparisons will be made, Susan deserves to be applauded on her own merits.
Ms. Haywood has written a fabulous book full of memorable characters. I was fully engaged in this story and could not put the book down. (Sorry about cereal for dinner on Tuesday night, family)
I look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommend!!

You might not like Susan at first - she's not really interested in you liking her either- but stick with this and you'll come around to finding yourself rooting for her. She's had some shocks. Not only has her mother died and left her wastrel brother a life interest in their family home, she's also discovered that she's pregnant at age 45. And single. And not interested in marrying Richard, with whom she has had a very regimented relationship for years. Pregnancy, though, opens her up, especially when she becomes friendly (within limits) with her neighbor Kate. Then there's Rob, her brother's mate, who is a vegetarian landscape designer and a guy who is trying to remake his own life. There's also a family secret which will throw everything for a loop. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. It's well written and so carefully plotted that you will see subtle shifts. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Highly recommend for a good read about a woman becoming herself at mid life.

The Cactus is an excellent British novel, set in Birmingham and London, that brings to life a plethora of life lessons; birth and death, greed and generosity, stubbornness and weak-willed. But the most important life lesson I mined from the pages of The Cactus is how to go about defining "family". Sarah Haywood allows us an intimate peek into the lives of the Green Family - Clive and Patricia, Susan and Edward. Sylvia and Frank Mason, Wendy and Chrissie and the grandchildren.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Sarah Haywood, and Two Roads Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

The Cactus
Sarah Haywood
Available: May 1, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I think I may have found my literary twin in Susan..not everything is the exact same but I truly enjoyed her character – more importatnyl, I truly understood her. I could go on and on – but then I would be giving away too much of the book. So for now, our eyes will meet across a crowded room and I’ll nod and smile in acknowledgement – “I get you.”
What I loved: I’ve got love for days for an independent woman. The tough balance is being an independent woman (financially, thinking for yourself, standing up for yourself, etc) but not being a loner. While Susan struggles with the balance throughout most of the book – in the end she realizes that you don’t have to lose yourself when you let others in.
What I didn’t love: Even after a beautiful ending – do I still dislike Edward? Of course and I still think he was a sneaky pete son of an unwed mother.. Do I think Richard is a mama’s boy? Definitely. Do I care? Not at all.
What I learned: Everyone needs to be soaked in order to bloom.
Overall Grade: B+

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