The cover is so pretty! Immediately makes me want to know more. However after 25 percent of the book talking mainly about cremation, this just wasn’t the book for me. Very slow to start and it failed to draw me in. The second half of the book was better and some may really enjoy this novel of loss and growth.

I really liked this book. So much so that I immediately looked up the author's other books to see what else she had written so I could add them to my TBR. The writing was so witty and relatable and really grabbed at my heartstrings. The main character Lori was a fantastic narrator, and her voice was very distinct and created a vivid picture in my mind of who she was. I loved that she was a writer and that we got to hear about all of her ideas and stories in detail- I want to read those too because they sounded so interesting. In fact, all of the characters in this book were real and quirky humans who were all the more likable for their complexities and eccentricities. Their relationships went through a lot following the death of their matriarch, and this book does a good job of showing how grief can affect everyone differently and the pressure that can put on a family. While the plot wasn't super action-packed, it had a perfect mix of heart-wrenching and hilarious scenes to keep me invested in Lori's journey. This story was so sweet and left me with a big smile on my face and warm fuzzies in my heart. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Meredith Goldstein's other books.

Things That Grow follows Lori in the wake of her grandmother Sheryl’s death. After having lived with her grandmother the last few years Lori is forced to deal with the possibility of having to leave the one place that’s felt like home right before senior year and her best friend Chris that she is painfully and secretly in love with. First things first though, Grandma Sheryl asked that she be cremated and her remains be spread in some of her favorite gardens near things that grow. To that end, Lori, her Uncle and Chris take on this weird and important task and have themselves a little adventure along the way.
Requesting to read this book on NetGalley had been a whim but golly am I glad I did. I’m extremely partial to books about recovering from loss but this one just had a certain something to it that endeared me to it right from the start. In addition to being one of the funniest books about death i’ve ever read, Things That Grow wasn’t afraid to show all the messy and weird parts of a family or the growing pains of figuring yourself out as both a teenager and as someone who’s dealing with a death in the family. Meredith Goldstein gave Lori such a unique and interesting voice. I loved that we were given enough grain of salt of Lori being a teenager who’s not got it all figured it out yet to not take everything she said as gospel but still get to enjoy her observations and sarcasm. Her family was an admitted mess but I loved that the book itself didn’t try to shy away from that, it embraced their eccentries and flaws as well as their good bits.
I really loved this book. I had such a good time reading it. It had the rare quality of being earnest and reflective where it needed to be but also being able to just really make me laugh. I loved the cast of characters we met throughout this book like the Garden Girls. I loved that group so much. Goldstein also was so good at being able to capture the essence of someone so simply and quickly like towards the beginning she described the uncle “like a distinguished man in an advertisement for a watch” and i just loved that and it made me be able to see him so fully so eaily (I checked this quote against the audiobook of it that I bought for reference). There were so many great vivid snapshots of places and people and moments that really took me along for the ride.
Things That Grow was a special book that just really hit me in just the right way and I am very glad I was able to read an early copy, it’s definitely going to be one i come back to and think about a lot.

The cover of this book is stunning! I enjoyed the story. It was a touching story about grief and different ways to live with it.

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was pulled into this book because the cover was absolutely gorgeous. While I really liked the premise of these characters learning and growing from the loss that they face, my one nitpicking complaint was that I wish the characters had a bit more depth throughout, still a solid, well written book that I would recommend to others

This book was a really fun and enjoyable read. The characters were relatable and had great depth. I definitely recommend it and will be ordering copies for my library.

‘She was right in the middle of a book. She’d never want to die in the middle of reading a book.’

When Grandma Sheryl passes away, she leaves instructions for the family to share her remains in places with ‘things that grow’. This leads to an adventure of Granddaughter Lori, her mother, uncle and childhood-best-friend/crush, Chris. I really enjoyed this book, it’s a heartwarming story about a family finding their way through grief, loss and love together.

I really appreciated the wonderful depiction of life and death (having the cremains be put back into the earth, where new things will grow). It was really beautifully done and having the descriptions of the gardens was a wonderful touch.

The only thing that didn’t quite sit with me was the almost randomness of some of the thoughts Lori has about Chris (mostly in the beginning). I understand that there is a love interest there and I enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom out, but some of it just felt very misplaced and inappropriate for the situation they were in.

Overall, it was a lovely book with a steady pace. The characters were relatable, the story was very pure and easy to follow. Though it didn’t blow me away, it was an enjoyable read with some quirky, humorous and emotional elements along the way.

Things that grow is a heartbreaking novel about grief and the different ways we learn from it. While Meredith Goldstein has me laughing at times, this book was a real tear jerker and an emotional roller coaster. It felt real and connected to the world and people in a way that most books aren’t.

"Everything is temporary, technically, Lori," Ethan says. "That doesn't mean it's not worth experiencing."
I would like to start off by saying that grief and death of a parental figure are very present in this story so do be aware of that as a trigger.
I think this story was truly beautiful and definitely a story that I can see teens using when processing the loss of a loved one. It was beautiful and heartbreaking in the best ways and was truly a love letter to both literature and gardens equally. Its messy and complicated and the characters do feel like real people.
It is somewhat simplistic and not exactly revolutionary but enjoyable nonetheless. I would reccomend it.

I loved this book so much. It felt like a love letter to everyone who has ever had to grieve someone they love more than life. You could feel the love and the pain that the characters experience. Lori was really real and her quest was so lovely. I think this is a really strong book about loving people and losing people. I also really liked the plot of having to go to all these different places and honour her grandma. This was exactly what I wanted it to be, it was the perfect amount of heartbreak and love. I cried while reading, I laughed, I truly loved this.

If you like hard-hitting contemporaries that deal with more serious topics, then I would highly suggest you pick this book up. It has some really solid writing and story development that I think many people will enjoy.

Having lost my own grandmother, I could relate to some of what this character was going through and that sparked an emotional reaction. I teared up multiple times but I never really cried because not a lot of emotional exploration was happening. I think I would have appreciated a bit more of the grief process being shown, but I also understand that everyone is different and this character didn't choose to grieve in that way.

Ultimately, I think it is one of those bittersweet stories that all readers will find something to relate to. While I didn't absolutely love it, I do think it is a good book and I hope people start talking about it more.

This book was beautiful. As someone who recently lost a grandparent, I really felt a lot of the main characters pain. This was well written and covered grief very well. The characters were relateable and lovable. This really felt like a coming of age and coming to terms with growing up. I really enjoyed this book

Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
Things That Grow is a lovely story about family dynamics and growth (both literal and figurative) after the death of Sheryl, Lori::s grandmother who she lives with. Grandma Sheryl request to be cremated and have her cremains placed in some of her favorite gardens, near things that grow. While the main character, Lori, pines for her best friend Christian, they trek with her Uncle Seth across Massachusetts and then the mid-Atlantic to scatter the "cremains" as requested. I loved the imagery and garden descriptions and thought the story was sweet - and I appreciated the HEA. Recommended for YA fans!

Book review, Things that Grow by Meredith Goldstein

About the book:
The book is about a young woman Lori, coming to terms with the loss of her grandmother, who provided the stability in her life that she so desperately needed. Her death creates chaos for Lori, as now she is faced with the prospect of moving in with her mother who has been an unreliable figure in her life.
Firstly, to honour her grandmother, Lori and her family and her closest friend Chris set off on a journey to visit all of the gardens that grandmother loved and scatter her cremains there. The journey is both humorous and painfully sad in parts.
What I liked:
Lori was a relatable character and I thought the author portrayed the character of a young girl trying to cope with her grief and her future as well. For example, there were a lot of realistic elements to the book, such as the failings of the adults around her, especially the difficult relationship Lori had with her mum, which is explored throughout the novel.
The journey of scattering of the cremains was a clever idea and a different way to look at grief. It brought to the forefront all of the tensions that Lori faced with the people around and exposed hidden truths. The love story progressed well in the book without being too much full of angst and drama.
Would I recommend it:
Overall, I would recommend this book for an older teen/adult. With thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s book group for providing me with this ARC copy, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

At first, the premise of Things That Grow sounds rather depressing, and there are some hard moments, but it’s also filled with light and hope. And Meredith Goldstein’s wry humor is a fantastic juxtaposition, adding emphasis where needed.

Scattering her grandmother’s remains is life changing for Lori. She’s on the cusp of adulthood, and that comes with its own complexities. She’s a bold character who thinks she knows what she wants, thinks she has everything figured out. Following her as she realizes that’s not the case, is a rewarding journey.

Things That Grow caught my attention from the start. Goldstein opens with the family visit to the funeral home, and boy, was that spot on. It reminded me of planning my mother’s funeral. Everything from the shopping for coffins to the description of cremains felt exactly right. The grief mixed with disbelief and the sort of tackiness that comes with putting a price on a loved one’s death was all there. This sort of setup could be difficult reading for someone in the throes of grief, but as someone a few steps removed, I was hooked.

Some of the loveliest moments in Thing That Grow are those that take place in the garden. Watching things grow is often healing. And the settings within each individual garden emulated different feelings and emotional stages.

Things That Grow is a story of love and reflection. There are a number of excellent YA books that deal with grief and this is a strong addition.

I devoured this book really quickly which was a surprise. I really felt for Lori and loved her and Chris’s relationship and partnership as writer and illustrators. I particularly liked the Garden Girls and wish they had been included more! I did feel that Lori’s characterisation was sometimes a bit uneven as she seemed more mature sometimes than others, but I guess that could also be part of the grieving process and growing up. I also loved the details about all the beautiful gardens and writers that Sheryl loved.

“Things That Grow delivers on all levels. A story that will have you laughing and crying from one page to the next. Readers, you need this story in your life.”

Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

Brilliantly written, Goldstein writes a story about loss, love and family in a way that will both charm and delight.

The humor weaved throughout is perfection. There were many belly laugh, tears welling, moments that made the narrative so much more indelible.

Goldstein’s story felt personal. As though she included pieces of herself, her own experiences, like anchor threads to a tapestry beautifully imagined and exquisitely crafted.

Further, Goldstein offers more than one perspective on how we as human beings deal with death. This was a more unconventional approach to death and dear readers, it was refreshing. It was a wonder and joy to see how Goldstein blended humor, like an artist combining colors to create a felicitous hue for their masterpiece, in order to cope with loss and process grief.

Throughout the entire novel it is acknowledged that this loss is a difficult one. Lori’s grandmother made an impact on the lives and people she interacted with, including her neighbors and friends. But it’s the idea cemented in Things That Grow, where we can laugh and cry, to be able to feel multiple emotions when mourning the loss of a loved one, is what stayed with me.

Simply put this novel is W O N D E R F U L!

“When I think of remains now,” I tell my mom, “like what it means to look at someone’s remains after they die I can’t thin of someone’s body. It doesn’t really remain, no matter how you try to preserve it. Like, the stuff that remains is people. We’re Grandma’s remains.”

Meredith Goldstein, Things That Grow
This!

This is the quote that stuck with me. I wrapped these words around my mind like a well loved coat. Taking in its warmth and texture and the feelings it brought after reading. And this quote really encompassed the major theme of the book. Where we discover this surreal beauty in the adventure this family undertakes, the garden tour where Lori’s grandmother wishes to be set to rest and this is what we find in the end.

There is so much joy to be had where these illuminating characters fall apart and come back together, finding themselves and each other in the end.

Rich with humor, and a well devised narrative with swoon worthy moments, wrapped up in true, real moments we can all empathize and relate to, Goldstein’s writing is a wonder to behold.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I hope we can all laugh over Craisins, enjoy the beauty of nature, and fall in love with our best friend.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

Things That Grow by Meredith Goldstein is the story of how a young woman comes to terms with the loss of her Grandmother, the woman who largely raised her. Grandma Sheryl meant everything to Lori , and as if dealing with losing her was not enough, Lori must now deal with the prospect of leaving her school and friends behind to move to another city with her mother and the latest in a string of boyfriends. As part of her final wishes, Sheryl requested that she be cremated and her ashes scattered near things that grow, the perfect send off for a woman who loved gardening as much as Sheryl did. She left a list of potential places and so Lori, her uncles and her best friend set off on an epic journey to fulfil this last request. Along the way they learn a lot about love and loss, family and friendship.
First off, while a book about death sounds like a heavy subject, there was so much humour scattered throughout that it never felt too dark or depressing. There were some more serious moments, especially in the latter part of the book but they were very well handled. Lori is a fun character, spiky and sharp tongued though a little frustrating at times, especially in some of the decisions she made. I also really liked the numerous side characters and thought the author did a wonderful job of really bringing them to life on the page. Unfortunately the same could not really be said of Chris, Lori's best friend /potential love interest, he felt more one dimensional than many of the characters we got to see for only a page or two. That whole plotline felt flat and was my least favourite thing about the book .
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I had to DNF at 4%. I’m still dealing with the grief of losing my own grandma and dad in the same year and just couldn’t push past the beginning in the funeral home to the second chapter explaining how she died. Maybe if I was in a better head space it would have been better. But I just couldn’t handle reading it and it was actually causing me to have a panic attack. I read to escape and this just wasn’t working for me. What I did read was very well written though.

Lori is a seventeen year old girl living with her grandmother, who dies suddenly and unexpectedly. Grandma Sheryl leaves behind a request that she be cremated and her remains left in some of the beautiful gardens she enjoyed visiting, leaving Lori and her family to follow through on her wishes.

While there were some enjoyable bits of witty writing in here, for the most part this book fell flat. It really started to drag in the middle without anything pulling the plot along--it is really just a series of short, mostly obstacle-free day trips to various gardens. Lori's relationships with the adults in her life are interesting--she doesn't live with her mother (who she views as childish and irresponsible) and her feelings about her uncle Seth swing wildly throughout the book--but Lori is more concerned with the extremely dull, tension-less relationship she has with her best friend Chris. Lori is deeply in love with him, but scared to ruin the friendship with an attempt at dating. Chris, for his part, is almost completely devoid of personality so who knows how he feels about the whole thing. Lori is also (legitimately) concerned about having to move away from the home she shared with her grandmother and begin at a new school one week before the beginning of her senior year. All of these things resolve exactly as you would imagine.

Overall, this book was just fine. It was predictable, but in a comforting way. Some of the writing was good, and there were some touching moments and fun descriptions of the gardens. I've read several YA books dealing with loss recently and they are all starting to blend together--I'm not sure if this is a reflection of the genre being stale in this area, or maybe nothing has been over-the-top exceptional enough to woo over a jaded 30-something like me. I didn't dislike the experience of reading this book, but I just can't imagine that I will remember much about it in a few months.

Three stars are rounded up from 2.5.

*eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.