Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of well done historical fiction, and the sections of this book that took place on the Titanic really hit the spot. Her descriptive language is gorgeous, and I felt like I was there. The scenes where the Titanic was sinking were incredibly poignant, and I immediately wanted to rewatch that particular scene from the movie in the 90s. Ava's storyline was incredibly interesting. <spoiler> I did wish that she had suffered the loss of either her father or Caleb on the Titanic. It seemed too fortunate that they both survived. I knew the father was going to survive due to hints earlier in the story, so I was expecting that one. </spoiler>

I felt like having dual narratives caused the overall story to suffer. Taylor's storyline just seemed like a vehicle to tell Ava's story and to connect it so something modern. I'm not sure if this is because the author felt that readers needed someone from our time period to connect with, but I felt that Taylor's storyline was weak as a result. Also, the entire ending felt shoe-horned in with <spoiler> the woman from the photo being a distanced relative who was also the murderess. </spoiler> It was rushed in comparison to all the build-up with Ava's storyline, and I honestly found that ending confusing.

Ava's storyline is lovely, and I wish that it had been the only one in the book. For that story alone it is definitely worth the read.

The Poppy and the Rose is part historical novel, part thriller, and part modern-day family drama. How all three of these things intersect was the part I liked the most about the book. Moving back and forth from Ava's story abord the Titantic in 1912 and Taylor's modern day efforts to uncover her father's secrets was moving and well blended. I spent the entire book trying to figure out what was happening but the characters were smart and adventurous and made dumb choices, but they felt real and their heartbreaks hit me harder than I expected. I genuinely wanted more story when it ended and while the ending was resolved I still wanted more. My only complaint is that there were parts of the 1912 story that felt impossible and ridiculous, but the twists definitely made it entertaining.

2 STARS


Told through two timelines, The Poppy and the Rose explores questions of past, present, future, and fate.


On the one hand, we follow Taylor Romano in her journey to Oxford for a summer journalism program, where she meets an eccentric old woman who knows more about Taylor's family history than she's letting on. On the other hand, we spend the bulk of our time with Ava Knight, a passenger on the Titanic and a young woman on the brink of earth-shattering change. Darting between the two timelines unravels a mystery that spans generations, and with it come many questions about free will versus fate, and the price of knowledge.


Personally, this wasn't the book for me, not by any means.


I'll be absolutely up front about that. The Poppy and the Rose may appeal to more avid readers of historical fiction, but it left me feeling that I wasted my time. I initially requested it via NetGalley because the mystery element jumped out at me, something it didn't do in the book. Sure, Taylor wraps herself up in discovering her father's history without her mother's shadow to hold her back, and Ava is up to her eyeballs in a life-threatening mystery surrounding her father, an apparently psychic woman, and the fate of Europe and beyond. But the elements to keep me guessing? 

Well, I still haven't found them, since the connections that our characters can't make are apparent to the reader from the start.

Within the first fifth of the book or so, I had most of it worked out. It wasn't lucky guesses so much as it was a heavy reliance on cliches that so readily prop up split timelines like the one The Poppy and the Rose utilizes. Nothing about it particularly surprised me, and I truthfully only kept reading it because I'm outrageously stubborn and have yet to DNF a book on purpose in my life.


A mystery should have solutions, too, not just questions.


Possibly my biggest gripe next to the perfectly average plot and characters is the roundabout nature of the ending. As ever, I try to avoid spoilers here, but I can say that it brings me little to no satisfaction. Key items and revelations never reach fruition, and a major plot point remains intentionally unresolved. On the one hand, the book is trying to interrogate fate versus free will, and whether knowledge can change one or the other. It also asks if that greater knowledge is even worth possessing.

On the other hand, it produces an effect that says to me that I wasted my time reading 260 pages for very few answers. It's not a pleasant feeling, as a reader. And I certainly can't give it a recommendation while I feel this way. Poetic justice only works when it's satisfying, rather than vague.

"Well, I guess it's lost forever" really doesn't cut it when I've spent a whole book waiting to see how things pull together on all fronts.


I'll admit I sound critical in this review, so let me be clear: this is not a good book, but neither is it bad.


Frankly, I think The Poppy and the Rose occupies a space of perfectly average. It attempts to ask lofty questions about life, love, and the intertwined nature of fate and time, but it forgets to create characters worth investing in, and presents a mediocre plot. As a light read for historical fiction fans who go in with the bar set low, maybe this will be worth the time. Going in with high expectations of any sort, however, will likely ruin the experience. 

Maybe if this had been a different genre, I would have enjoyed it more despite its flaws. As things stand, however, The Poppy and the Rose did little to stand out in my eyes, and I'm not terribly concerned if it quickly falls into the realm of forgettable.


CW: loss of a loved one, racism, miscarriage, suicide, drug use, addiction, violence

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 2pm EST on 10/7/20.]

I am thrilled by this ARC I was lucky to get through Netgalley.
Looking for a historical fiction filled with intrigue, romance, tragedy, and a bit of spirituality mixed with science? Well, you've found your next read. I could not put this book down, devoured it by staying up past 2 am.
This book merges the timelines with grace and fluidity. There is no jumping back and forth, instead the tale of the pasts flows smoothly with the story from current times. I can't wait for the official release so I can buy a copy for my mother!

I really enjoyed this novel! It read quickly but had such lovely prose, in both Taylor and Ava’s narratives. Though at first seemingly unrelated, their two stories proved to be tangled together in a variety of ways. Dealing with family bonds, with loss and hope, and highlighting how the past influences the future, this is a huge tale to tell and it was told quite well.

Certain revelations -- and there were a lot of them -- seemed to come from nowhere, but with such a large story a few surprises were certainly necessary. As a lover of historical fiction, contemporary mystery, and paranormal books, I appreciate how the author blended the genres together to craft a satisfying tale. The paranormal aspect was unexpected and yet also so lightly touched upon that you question whether its presence is real or simply a figment of your imagination, as do the characters.

Every plot string was wrapped up nice and tight with a little bow on top -- maybe a bit too neatly for my taste. With so many moving parts involved in two simultaneous stories, however linked they may be, I would have found more satisfaction in the ending had there been some mystery still left unsolved.

That being said, I especially loved the glimpse into first-class life on the Titanic, fictional though it may be. It felt real, very believable. I sympathized with both Taylor and Ava’s plights -- though did find myself questioning some of Taylor’s decisions. (But as a young protagonist, that is to be expected.) The connections from past to present were beautifully crafted, the characters relatable and engaging. The Poppy and the Rose is sure to please fans of historical fiction and mystery of all sorts.

This is part suspense novel, part love affair with past Gothic novels, and part Titanic retelling with a supernatural twist. I love books with both historical and modern timelines.

Taylor travels to England to study journalism, but also to find a missing piece of her dead father’s past. He’s left behind a photograph of him on a secret trip to England with his arm around a red-haired woman. Conveniently, the past is looking for Taylor too, in the form of an aristocratic woman demanding to take Taylor to tea with a promise to shed light on her father’s secrets. Unfortunately, she dies just as Taylor arrives for the promised tea, and a rainstorm washes out the bridge, trapping Taylor with the staff - housekeeper, butler and chauffeur- in the crumbling manor.

Back in the past, Lady Ava Knight boards the Titanic and immediately finds trouble in the form of a Serbian officer demanding she spy on a fellow first class passenger, a woman named Galena, who has a secret document he wants. In exchange, he’ll help her get her mother help with her addiction issues.

In true Titanic story fashion, she also meets a cute sailor who turns up everywhere she goes, sometimes getting in the way of her spying.

Complicating things, her father seems to be entangled with Galena in some way, possibly through a deep interest in psychology and the supernatural. And Ava suspects the document she needs may be locked in Galena’s closely guarded jewelry box.

Then, of course, the Titanic hits the iceberg, sending all of the characters scrambling for their lives.

Like most stories with dual narrators, I found one voice to be more captivating than the other. Ava leaps off the page, but I enjoyed Taylor’s sections as well. I loved the bits of romance included in the book. That sailor was downright swoony.

The conclusion of a couple of the mysteries felt a little anticlimactic, but the book delivered one final twist that made up for it. This is one I want to reread.

3.5 stars

I dare you to find anyone who is not interested in the Titanic.

It's one of those events that has captured the world's fascination for years. I have personally researched it for years, devouring both books and movies on the subject. When I saw that The Poppy and The Rose had a Titanic POV, I knew I had to request it.

This book is an absolutely unique read with two perspectives that are full of heartbreak and hope. I really enjoyed how Cowles blended history with the intimate family drama of both Ava and Taylor. That is where the book really succeeds for me. I did find that sometimes, Cowles added too many references or subplots that detracted from what was happening. Thankfully, the overall story is so beautiful that the issue seems incredibly minimal by the last page. I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears throughout!

If you are a Titanic fanatic, I definitely think you should add this to your TBR. I found it to be a worthy addition to the overall canon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Owl Hollow Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

"Only they aren’t roses. They’re poppies. A wilder, more dangerous beauty, but a beauty, nonetheless."

This historical drama was endearing, engaging, enthralling & entertaining. Taylor's connection with Ava is palpable & as a reader I identified very much with a person compelled by a book that felt like it was written for them. The dual time lines criss crossed very well, it was always clear where we were, which I appreciate. The historical elements regarding the Titanic were interesting and well placed without being distracting. This is easily worth a reread & will be my go-to recommendation for friends looking for an enchanting experience.

The Poppy and the Rose appealed to me on so many levels: dual timelines, set on the Titanic, a lovely cover, and a captivating synopsis. I think I actually would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't split up because it felt like the two narrators (Ava and Taylor) don't have a lot in common. The book feels lopsided and is difficult for me to rate because I want to rate Ava's historical Titanic story as a 5 and Taylor's modern story as a 1.5, as there really isn't a lot of action in it--most revelations really happen in Ava's memoirs. I will draw the line in the middle and put it at a 3.

Lately, I have seen a few books that are set around the Titanic. However, I have never read any fiction involving this tragedy. This book was an amazing place to start! In The Poppy and The Rose, we have dual points of view as well as dual timelines. Taylor is our present day point of view. Ava is our character on the Titanic. In the beginning I really preferred Ava's story, but as the story went on I definitely enjoyed both timelines.

From the beginning of this story I was extremely intrigued, and from about half way through I could not put this book down. I really loved the twists and turns in the plot. I think the growth we saw the characters achieve as the story progressed was amazing (especially Ava). I liked the way all of the side characters interacted in the story as I felt most of them had a significant purpose.

The author obviously did her research into Titanic, and as I was reading the Author's note at the end I was surprised to see that some of the character's in the book were based on real people. Obviously with historical fiction the author always has poetic license, but I appreciated that it was still well researched.

When I was approaching the end of the book, I had no idea how things would wrap up, or how Cowels would finish the story. I am very happy with the way she ended things, and I think she did a great job overall. I would highly recommend this book for any mystery/historical fiction lover!

This book was definitely interesting. With a twist of history and unanswered questions, The Poppy & The Rose was perhaps one of the few books I liked that had a hint of history within. The Titanic was one of the world's greatest mysteries with hidden details left unknown and Ashlee Cowles definitely spun a new fantasy tale within that hidden mystery that left you to fill in the spaces she didn't.
This book had a lot to do with the concept of family. The trust and secrets that were buried within Ava and Taylor's family were probably the most thrilling to uncover as the story went on. I don't normally like Historical Fiction books, but The Poppy & The Rose definitely caught my eye when it mentioned historical family secrets and the Titanic. Then again, this book also had a hint of mystery/thriller so that was another thing that made me check the book out.
I gave this book 4/5 stars because I did really enjoy this book but it wasn't like the best book ever type so I thought I would give it 4 stars. I enjoyed uncovering the family secrets about Ava and Taylor's past along with a chilling mystery withing the Titanic. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy mystery novels like I do, and an extra bonus is that The Poppy & The Rose includes a twist of historical magic that would leave the reader turning the pages.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, which is why The Poppy and the Rose jumped out to me. It weaves together the two timelines of Ava (who lives in the past and aboard the Titanic) and Taylor (who lives in the present day and attends a journalism program at Oxford) seamlessly. I found it to be an engaging read, as Taylor comes to Oxford with a picture of her dad and sets out to solve this final mystery after he passes away. I found Ava's storyline to be quite interesting, as she meets mysterious figures on the Titanic and deals with solving her own mysteries. While it was an enjoyable read, it did feel dense at times and I found myself re-reading passages to really cement what had just happened. I did feel like some of the side characters were somewhat underdeveloped, such as Taylor's Indian roommate being painted as an overachiever and a show-off. Overall, I really liked the book and would recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction.

I enjoyed but was not maybe what I was looking for. I enjoy fantasy and YA, but this didn't grab me like other books.

I love stories where the past and present converge.
I couldn’t tell where this book was going for awhile, but I enjoyed the journey. I do, however, wish the big reveal was bigger.
I definitely thought Ava’s story line was much more complete and compelling (and I almost feel it should’ve just been her story), but I was nevertheless somewhat invested in Taylor’s story.
There are some fantastical type elements I kind of wish weren’t apart of the story. There were so many other things happening, it wasn’t really needed.
Overall, it was an enthralling read that I enjoyed.

*special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review!

This was a fun, light read with an interesting family mystery at the center.

Taylor doesn't know what to think when Lady Knight pops into her life unexpectedly. In Oxford for a summer program, Taylor has never heard of Lady Knight or Meadowbrook Manor. When the old woman says she has answers to Taylor's family history and knows information about Taylor's dead father, Taylor finds it hard to resist. When she arrives at Meadowbrook Manor, however, Lady Knight had died leaving Taylor without the promised answers. Inside the manor, Taylor discovers the memoir of Lady Ava Knight whose fascinating memories of sailing on and surviving the Titanic keeps Taylor enthralled. As Ava's family secrets are revealed, eventually so are Taylor's.

Ava is a young woman with aspirations of being a photographer in a world that is not ready for her ambition. She finds herself caught between an imposing soldier and the strange, otherworldly woman he's asked Ava to spy on for him. In return, the soldier will help cure Ava's ill mother. But nothing is as it seems and Ava is left untangling a complicated web.

I really enjoyed reading Ava's story. As a lover of historical fiction, I enjoyed reading another perspective of what a journey on the Titanic may have been like. Ava moves between being a spoiled, entitled rich young woman who is proud but still naïve and a strong, determined person who wants to be seen and heard. This helped to ground her character and felt reflective of how teenagers actually are.

I found it difficult to be as invested in Taylor's story as I was in Ava's. I wanted more about Taylor's past in order to ground me in her emotions and perspectives. Her character felt surface-level. At times, her voice was inconsistent. Some moments the sentences from her perspective felt too flowery and inconsistent with the first-person narrative. As the story continued, I found myself invested in the mystery of the story more than Taylor herself. Some of the plotline felt a little far-fetched and convenient. And Taylor's romance felt unnecessary to me and lacked build-up.

Overall, I did enjoy the storyline and enfolding mystery. If you enjoy lighter, quicker reads with interesting family mysteries or stories that mix the past and present I would recommend this book for you.

When I read the summary of this one I knew I wanted to add it to my TBR stack. It sounded like such an interesting story and it also sounded like it my be unlike anything I have read before. I can say that it is unique but perhaps there are too many ingredients in this stew. The more I read the more I wished I could many things had been edited or parts even rewritten.

There is, or was, a lot of potential here. It just did not fully land for me as reader. I think some of it was because of the many things happening that were not fully streamlined. I think some of it was because there were many, many references written to British literature in a way that felt like fan service and there were characters who felt like stereotypes. The stereotypes were similar to a Dick Van Dyke-in-Mary Poppins-level of stereotype.

Here is the thing though, the Ava story in particular was interesting! I wanted to know what happened and, as I said, I think there was a lot of potential here. I can definitely see this author growing as a writer and putting out some even better reads in the future. This was not it for me, but I could very much see myself enjoying a book with a more focused storyline and with an investment into more fully realized characters.

I hope she writes more because the ideas are definitely here.

Family secrets, treasure hunts, a very suspicious death, creepy old houses, a woman with clairvoyant abilities, the Titanic and a stunning cover. This story had every ingredient for awesomeness but, unfortunately, it didn’t deliver what I expected it to.

We follow Taylor as she arrives in Oxford for a summer journalism program, but the real reason why she’s in England is to find out more about her late father and the secrets he kept. Before she’s had the time to unpack her suitcase, she is invited to tea with Lady Mae Knight, who claims to have the answers she seeks. However, when the old lady is found dead, Taylor is left with a single clue: the story of what really happened aboard the Titanic as told by Ava, a 17 year-old socialite.

The first few chapters hooked me right away but then it didn’t live up to my expectations. The story is told in dual perspective by modern day Taylor and 1912 Ava, but nothing really happens on Taylor’s end other than her reading Ava’s diary in the span of a mere couple of days. Ava’s story at least had something going on. The real problem is that I didn’t connect with Taylor, Ava or any of the characters (except maybe Caleb) and the final reveals left me a little cold, kind of thinking "that’s it?"

My main thought is that this book left me feeling indifferent when it had the potential to be much more than what it was.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Poppy and the Rose! On paper, this book was actually written for me - YA, stories of The Titanic, mystery, and time travel elements. Can we also talk about this amazing cover?!?

I really enjoyed reading the two perspectives - one of Taylor, studying in England in 2010 and one of Ava, who was on board the Titanic. It kept me guessing the entire time how they were connected and I really enjoyed the Titanic elements!

Where I thought this booked lacked was how much was packed into the book. I felt at times I had to write notes to keep track of the characters and intertwined timelines. Other than that, I rate this as a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5! I highly recommend for those who enjoy classic mystery tropes and stories about the Titanic. Keep an eye out for its October 6 publishing date! #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #titanic #bookstagram #mysterybooks

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF3ZbgqAW7v/?igshid=3p4rtrgrhxb3

The Poppy and the Rose by Ashlee Cowles is told from two points of view. One from Ava, whose tale comes from aboard the Titanic, and the other from Taylor in 2010 as a student at Oxford. I liked the idea behind this book but it was a little slow paced and I felt some things could have been moved along faster. At times I also felt there was too much happening that didn’t really advance the plot. All in all it was a nice young adult book that will be enjoyable to most.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

The Poppy & The Rose is a lot, but it never felt like too much or that it was trying too hard. The story is told from 2 POV, one from Taylor in 2010, ready to go study Journalism on Oxford, and one from Ava in 1912, ready to set on the Titanic. At first, it seems like they don’t have anything in common, but as the story goes on, it seems like that isn’t true at all. The story has elements of mysteries that entertained me for sure. Even for someone who hasn’t read a lot of mysteries or historical fiction, I still enjoyed it and the story kept me guessing what was going to happen next. It is simple to follow, though the clues are hidden perfectly, making it almost impossible to put the book down.

Both the main character are believable. Taylor is dealing with the lost of her dad and doesn’t like how her mom is taking it, which felt believable. Emotions can be very mixed and so it is even hard to understand for one what they clearly mean. One can be bitter while also grieving, and I liked that aspect of Taylor. Side character in her storyline felt like they were there with a reason and not just there for the sake of it.

Ava’s character felt also believable, wanting to follow her passion for photography while dealing with her mom’s health state and wanting the best for her, since she believes that will save her dad as well. It is clear the writer did enough research to make sure Ava and the time she is in where believable. It isn’t info-dumping the reading, which I feel like a lot of historical fictions do, unfortunately. Here and there are things revealed from the time, but overall it felt like it added to the story. Here as well, the side characters added something to the story, making it easy to remember who was who.

All by all is it a great story for people who want to dive into both mysteries and historical fictions. Even though both of these genres felt more like sub-genres, it is a great start and tells you what you can expect.