Grief comes in waves. Grief takes time and doesn't come with a set expiration date. Grief is hard, so hard.

Must Love Flowers is a beautifully told story of Joan, a woman who is smack dab in the middle of her life, grown children with lives and homes of their own, and now she is widowed. It's been four years, and she can't get past her grief. The pandemic shutting everything down right after her husband's death didn't help matters. It's only made her more of a recluse. How does she pick up the pieces and move on with her life?

Maggie, a young woman with big dreams of becoming a nurse, is doing all that she can to put herself through school while taking care of her alcoholic father who uses his entire disability check and the rent money he charges Maggie to live under his roof all on his beer. She has already lost her mother and doesn't want to lose her father as well. She knows something has to give soon or she will lose him, but he is a cantankerous old coot that doesn't want help from her or anyone else. He's set in his ways as well as knee deep in his own grief over the loss of his wife.

I appreciate this story as we just never know when it's our season to walk through grief. I appreciate that it's coming from the perspective of a middle-aged woman as I'm not too terribly far behind that age, and life seems to become more fragile with each passing year.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I loved this book! Debbie Macomber did not disappoint me! I read this book in one day. I would definitely recommend this book!

This one was just adorable. You expect cozy and heartwarming stories from Debbie, but the audiobook of this one really brought it to life for me. So good!

Must Love Flowers

by Debbie Macomber

As may know, Debbie Macomber, after forty years of writing, put aside her pen for a well deserved retirement. That lasted for four months before she picked up her pen to compose Must Love Flowers, a sweet romance about a widow who is in her fifties and needs to move on with the grieving process and can’t seem to do so. I’m glad Macomber decided to tell this tale.

I don’t normally read anything about the Covid fiasco, but I could tolerate it in this book because it is not set during the restrictions, but shows the negative effects on someone who maintains feelings of being “safe” and “protected” by continuing to cut herself off from people and activities—life, in short. Family members want to help her, but are at a loss as she is in denial that she has a problem.

This novel tells Joan’s story as she takes a few steps at a time to rejoin the world and find her new place in it. Joan was pushed into these changes by threats from her HOA because in four years she has let the yard she was once proud of become an overgrown mess. Enter Phil Harrison, a former lawyer, who is currently a landscaper and a really nice person. She even decides to take in a boarder, Maggie, who needs to get out from under her alcoholic father. Along the way she joins a grief therapy group, which she had said she would never do. The ramifications of Joan’s decisions reach out to affect the lives of her two grown sons and their relationships with others.

I enjoyed this novel which contains several romantic threads. When one of the twists occurred, I was sad because it potentially meant good things for some characters and bad for others, but Macomber works the situations out for her characters in a way that is both realistic and satisfying for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance

Publication: July 11, 2023—Random House (Ballentine)

Memorable Lines:

It used to be… That was what her life had become: a series of all the things that once were but were no longer.

As silly as it sounded, she recognized deep down with a certainty that she didn’t question that she was meant to help Maggie Herbert. For whatever reason, God had put Maggie in her path.

“It didn’t take me long to realize it didn’t matter how much money I had in the bank, or what my career goals were; if I didn’t have someone to share life with, they meant nothing.

I really enjoyed this book. It feels different than some of Macomber's other work and I just dug into the characters.

It was nice to walk in the shoes of Joan and Maggie. I would absolutely recommend this to others.

I am never disappointed with this author. I am sorry that my previous review was never posted. This is a well written book with the same flavor as the author's previous books. The characters are well developed and the story is deliciously written.

This was a delightful book. I took away so many great lessons and could relate to a few things these characters were also experiencing. I adore Debbie’s writing and how real the people in her books are. Five stars

Joan Sample is a widow. Her husband died shortly before the pandemic, so between grief and isolation she let her old life go. When a letter from the neighborhood HMO and her birthday combine to show Joan that her life needed to change. Maggie Herbert is a nursing student working at a coffee shop. Living with her alcoholic isn’t helpful. Maggie’s busy life doesn’t have time for the cute customer who asked her out. As their lives change Joan and Maggie find that you Must Love Flowers.

Debbie Macomber’s Must Love Flowers be her most recent novel. When widow Joan Sample realizes she’s in a depression and rut, she’s determined to find the woman she once was. Between her grief and a pandemic, it’s been years of loneliness. Determined to change things Joan starts going to a grief support group and hires a landscaper to get her garden in shape. She also decides to take in a border. Maggie Herbert is a busy woman between her job at a coffee shop and nursing glasses there isn’t time for much else. Her alcoholic father only adds to the complications of her life. Maggie wants to find a place of her own. Must Love Flowers take two women on different paths in life and brings them together to become house mates, friends, and companions. As they become friends their lives take a turn for the better. Joan and Maggie are there for each other and the complications that their relationships bring. There’s a surprise connection that neither seen coming. They just find that moving on is a way to find new loves and experiences. Debbie Macomber writes a story of finding yourself after a huge loss and finally moving on with your life. Two women who start as strangers are brought together when they move in together. Add extenuating circumstances as there are neighbors, a dog and love interests as well as family complications. Must Love Flowers take a woman dealing with grief and loss and changes her life with the addition of a hunky landscaper and her two sons and the young border she takes in along with the new friends at her grief support group. Debbie Macomber writes a wonderful story of finding yourself again after a major loss and wanting to change your circumstances to keep your dream alive. Lives are changed, loss is shared, and loneliness is no longer an issue. Must Love Flowers a must read for Debbie Macomber fans. This fan enjoyed the story and am as always looking forward to her next story. This is a wonderful novel by a wonderful storyteller and if you’re looking for a great book to read, I’d highly recommend any of Debbie Macomber’s books.

3.25/5 stars! So this book wasn't bad. It just wasn't what I wanted. It was touted as a contemporary romance, but it felt more like women's lit + romance. I enjoy contemp romance, but disliked this more general, less humorous, romance novel. I appreciated Maggie and Joan getting to know each other and there were some sweet moments, but it overall felt too sweet for my personal tastes. That said, the writing was exceptionally well done.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always say that Debbie’s books would make excellent Hallmark movies and Must Love Flowers is no exception.
Great story of finding love and connection after the death of a loved one. This one does deal with some heavier topics but it’s done in an excellent manner.
Definitely recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this rea. The characters and plot were great. The main character was in a stage of grief and found a way to get out of his and move on with her life. Was a great read I really enjoy Debbie's books!

This was a great book and a interesting read. I loved the characters and the way the story went. I am in a bit of the same situation and it’s inspired me to get on with life.

Debbie Macomber never fails. She writes a very clean enjoyable romance without going into "R" rating. This book had good characters that you could like. I enjoyed this book of life moving on for a widow.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion and has no bearing on a free book.

Thank you so much for the chance to read this. I really enjoyed it. I just love how it shows you that age in not a factor in falling in love. You can start over at any time of your life!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I've been fortunate enough to have read numerous books by Debbie Macomber and they are all absolutely fantastic. She has a way of writing that just resonates with you and digs deep into your emotions. This book tugs at your heartstrings and makes you believe in love and happiness. I'm so appreciative of being given the chance to read this and tell all my friends about it so they can get their hands on it the minute it's published.

Joan is a widow, who has struggled with her grief and trying to keep moving forward; staying inside and keeping to herself became her new way of life, after COVID hit. Maggie is stalled in her life, trying to keep herself afloat and graduate from nursing school while taking care of her alcoholic father. Maggie and Joan connect, and a beautiful friendship flourishes and helps them both. Their friendship is the best part of this book. (Maggie's sons are the worst, if you ask me - especially the way Nick behaves toward Maggie and his mother),

The characters deal with some pretty heavy topics and loss is a constant topic, but I feel like the healing and positivity are worth picking this book up!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

Must Love Flowers is a simple, sweet story. But I found it a bit dull, predictable, and too easily resolved.

This story is loaded with truths and unexpected healing from multiple sources as Joan, the main character, opens her eyes and heart. Would make a cute Hallmark movie.

Debbie Macomber hits it out of the park again. I just love her books! They are well written and great stories.
Joan loses her husband and her way. After 4 years she gets a letter from her HOA that says her yard needs to be fixed up. She had let it go. She hires a landscaper, Phil. She also starts counseling and joins a group. And then she decides to rent one of her older son’s rooms to Maggie. The whole story was very believable and drew me in from the beginning.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Grief, everyone handles it differently. Joan who lost her husband suddenly just before the pandemic pretty much has become a recluse. Four years after her husband is gone on her birthday, she starts making a few changes. A new haircut, dinner out with her son and a funny message left on a landscaper’s voice mail start her life moving forward. Joan takes in a boarder and joins a grief group. She soon finds that there is a whole world waiting for her that she has missed. A very heartwarming story, I throughly enjoyed it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone who knows me really well knows that I love Debbie Macomber books. I am also probably not her target audience as I am only 24 years old. Still, her books are like the book equivalent of a Hallmark movie. While I enjoyed this story, I still believe that some of her favorite books are the Christmas novels she writes every year. I look forward to those so much! I would definitely compare her books to Elin HIlderbrand (another favorite author) or Danielle Steele! I can't wait to get my hands on Debbie's next book. This one was like eating and savoring a bar of delicious chocolate. Loved it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review!

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