Debbie Macomber fans will rejoice as they read her note at the beginning of this book. Essentially she writes she tried retirement for four months before deciding she was created to write. I’ve only read a few of her more recent holiday books (which I rated highly) as before covid I didn’t read romance as a genre for a few decades.

Must Love Flowers focuses on Joan Sample. She is 54 and has been a widow for four years. Her husband surprisingly died right before covid closed down the world. She sold his dental practice where she ran the office and retreated into her home. She is finally ready to step from her comfort zone. With some prompting she decides to take in a border, start therapy and join a grief support group. It is a lot of change but she feels better with each step.

Maggie Herbert is the nursing student and current barista who is the new border. She is a dutiful daughter but needs to get away from her dad. He drinks too much and she knows she is enabling in by taking care of him. There is also a budding romance between Maggie and Joan’s son. He makes some jerky missteps in the beginning, which I guess shows that everyone isn’t perfect.

This is well written women’s fiction with romances for more than one character. I like that Joan has to learn that her grief effects others especially her sons. Sometimes the story is light on details. Joan is given a puppy and although it is often in scenes you never know the size or possible breed mix. Obviously there is a need for well written, uplifting, wholesome romances. If that is what you want you will not be disappointed in this book.

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.

Classic Macomber! Enjoyable from the first page! I loved Joan and Maggie, they were like old friends. I laughed, cried and sighed!

So glad to read a good story by Debbie Macomber! Did not disappoint and hope for more in this new cast of characters. Once you start reading you feel like you understand the situations of each character. Thank you netgally and Debbie for this wonderful book. Recommend.

I have read EVERY book Debbie Macomber has ever written.
I am not a prude in any way but there doesn't have to be sex and cursing to make a book a winner and Debbie Macomber proves that each and every time.
Must Love Flowers Is now my all time favorite book of hers. It was just a heart warming, feel good kind of book.
There IS life after loss and and this was an amazing book.

I love Debbie Macomber books and get excited when a new one comes out. This one is about two women who learn to find the strength to start living their lives. And of course flowers.

Thank you to NetGalley and random house publishing for giving me this arc . This isn’t a lovey book as the cover might make you think. It deals with a lot of heavy topics and how different people deal with them .
A widow who lost her husband suddenly and has to adjust to life without him and a girl in her twenties who lost her mom and her father turned to alcohol.
There are a few relationships thot do blossom but they are not the focus of the book.
Everyone deals with death differently and it goes through the stages of grief and ways to deal with grief in a productive manner.
I liked seeing how the people grew from being drowned in grief to getting past it and live a life beyond the grief .

When I read The Best Is Yet to Come (good read)
I was heartbroken to think it was the last book I'd read by Debbie Macomber!

I was elated and heart happy to see a new book coming! I have read and loved
EVERY book she writes. I was honored to read the ARC.

A woman living as a hermit since husband's death right before pandemic hit
makes some positive changes which leads to many more changes bringing purpose and meaning to her life.
After losing her identity, new experiences and many more new friends help her find a new one. She finds
inner strength by sharing hope and strength with friends.

You do not want to miss this book!!
You will not want to put it down, I didn't until I read the very last word.
Keep writing Debbie Macomber!!

After four years of living alone and hiding out from the world following her husband’s death, Joan takes her sister’s advice and joins a grief support group. Her hairdresser friend convinces her to take in a struggling nursing student. Renting her extra room fulfills a need for Maggie, the student, and for Joan. She realizes how living alone has turned her into a recluse and cut her off from living her best life.

Since her mother’s death, Maggie had been living with her mentally abusive alcoholic father, working days as a barista and attending nursing school at night. Her father, lost in alcohol, did not support her dream of becoming a nurse. When she finds a room for rent in Joan’s home, she feels that she is closer to realizing her dream of becoming a nurse and escaping the alcoholic nightmare that is her father.

Phil responds to a message left at his landscaping business by Joan. Her HOA has notified her of an impending fine if she doesn’t get her yard cleaned up. He is amused to note that the lady who left the message added, “Must love flowers.”

Family is not always the one you are born into. Sometimes it is the people who come into your life and make a connection.

Ms. Macomber writes clean uplifting stories that reinforce one’s belief in the goodness of humanity. I recommend Must Love Flowers. It is a wholesome read that leaves one with a renewed faith in mankind.

This is the book I have been waiting for. A book that you pick up and can't put down. One where nothing else matters because it is so good such a good read. One of those books you don't want to end.

If you have not already figured it out, I absolutely loved this book. It made me laugh, It made me sad, but most of all it made me happy.


Thank you to Random house marketing for sending me an invite to read this book. Thank you Netgalley for the platform.

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber

As a long-time fan of Debbie Macomber books, I was delighted to see her return after a threatened retirement! Must Love Flowers didn’t disappoint—Macomber’s characters are not the run of the mill twenty-something romance novel heroines and heroes, but fully fleshed people with real problems.
The four main characters, Phil, Joan, Maggie and Nick have all experienced major setbacks in their lives and bond over their individual grief. Phil and Joan are in their 50s, Maggie and Nick are in their twenties. The fact that Maggie boards with Nicks Mother, and Nick works for Phil’s landscaping business, creates interesting situations and tangles that are so delightful to read. I also appreciate the lack of explicit sex in Macomber’s books—she artfully weaves the romance, including physicality, without overwriting it for her reader. It’s a great book, thoughtful and educational, especially where the processing of grief is concerned.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for the advanced copy!

What a breath of fresh air! Debbie Macomber always lifts my spirits and renews my faith in the goodness of life!

Yes, this story is entirely predictable with over-the-top “good” people, but yet rather than feeling like a fairy tale, it is a confirmation of goodness and kindness to be found in this world if we just acknowledge it. I couldn’t help but think about what if her characters reacted to their situations as many moderns do (in literature and in life) instead of accepting kindness graciously. And I guess that was the whole purpose of the “now generation” in the book acting as they did - at first.

Another winner from one of my favorite authors! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Ballentine, for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

📚Book Review 📚
Must Love Flowers
by Debbie Macomber
Pub Date 7/11/23

Widow Joan Sample is lost without her husband, isolating herself from social interaction and becoming a hermit. Her two sons try to help but are at a loss. Joan’s sister, Emmie, has been encouraging her to go to a grief counselor and group. Joan keeps denying she needs the help.

When Joan gets a letter from the HOA saying they will fine her if her lawn doesn’t shape up, this is the incentive to force her to call a lawn maintenance company. Once taking that first step she follows through on calling a grief counselor and eventually trying the group session. She also takes in a boarder, Maggie, and they become close friends.

There’s so much more going on in this novel. The landscape owner, Phil, Maggie’s Dad, Joan’s sons, the grief group and neighborhood kids all come into play as Joan finds her new normal.


Thank you @netgalley @debbiemacomber @randomhouse for an electronic book ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review.

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#fiction #NetGalley
#reviewer #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookreviewer #kindlebook #ebook #arc #books #read #netgalleyreader #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyarc
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Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber involves emotional growth, grief, family dynamics and the success of therapy. After four years, Joan is still grieving the loss of her husband. She doesn't get out much and has let her house and herself go without the care she used to take. She is surprised to discover that her relationship with her two sons has suffered. Honest discussions with her family help her seek the counseling she needs. She also grows stronger as she acquires Maggie as a boarder, who has needs and struggles of her own. Maggie works on building a relationship/obtaining help for her alcoholic father, succeeding in college, and developing relationships with Joan and with Joan's son, Nick. Both of Joan's and Maggie's story lines work nicely, and their interaction with each other is another level of support for these remarkable women. Fans will enjoy this story but might wonder if Nick could have grown up more as the story progressed.

-So interesting was the interaction between Joan and her gardener/friend Phil that I would enjoy reading more about them. -And to think it all started with an HOA letter!

With hopes and dreams offered, Macomber's readers enjoy watching her characters find their inner strength.

Thanks to Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books, NetGalley and Debbie Macomber for this ARC.

Debbie Macomber has done it again. This is a beautiful story that touches on real life issues and pain, while remaining uplifting and enjoyable. The characters felt like old friends I was rooting for, and the plot, while predictable, had great depth and kept me reading all day. This is the ultimate beach read. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber is a heartwarming and uplifting novel that explores themes of grief, healing, friendship, and new beginnings. The story follows Joan Sample, a widow who decides to reengage with the world at the encouragement of her sister. As Joan takes steps towards rebuilding her life, including hiring a landscaper to tame her overgrown garden and renting out a room to a college student named Maggie, the two women navigate their own challenges and find strength and support in their blossoming friendship.

Macomber's writing style is eloquent and captivating, with vivid descriptions that bring the story to life. The well-developed characters and their genuine interactions make the reader feel invested in their journey of growth and self-discovery. Must Love Flowers stands out with its emphasis on character-driven storytelling, particularly through Joan's relatable and inspiring transformation from a withdrawn widow to a woman embracing life again. The book explores the complexities of grief, showcases the power of friendship in healing, and reminds readers of the importance of meaningful connections and support in overcoming life's obstacles. With its optimistic tone, the novel offers a heartwarming and uplifting reading experience that leaves readers feeling hopeful and inspired. Highly recommended!

This is a story with lots of feels. Just about every character is dealing with something. They are portrayed in such a realistic manner that you can feel their emotions and feelings. I loved how they went from one phase in their lives to the next one. Sometimes we just need to accept help. I love the story line and the characters. I was surprised as I was reading on my tablet and I looked down and was already over 95% done. I’m like, no I want the story to continue, but unfortunately it had to end. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

What a great book! Really enjoyed the characters in this book. I appreciate the way they showed their pain and how they healed from it. I like that the support services helped and provided her with a direction. Great book with well developed characters.

First off, welcome back Debbie Macomber. I'm glad you un-retired. You've been missed. And, what a lovely book to make your first post un-retirement. "Must Love Flowers" works on so many levels.

I'm finding myself more and more drawn to books that are character driven. In this one that is so very true. Main character Joan is just emerging from four long years of mourning her late husband and her emergence sweeps not just her but many others into growth and changes, too. I immediately liked Joan and would love to have her as a friend. She opens the story feeling as if she has no incentive to even get out of bed in the morning since her husband's unexpected death. She found comfort in the isolation of the epidemic, using it as both an excuse to shun human contact and simply isolate herself. Then, suddenly, events bring about a change in Joan. Her sister Emmie has repeatedly told her that the key to opening up again is to focus on doing something for someone else and, boy, does she ever.

Of course, it takes more than her sister's increasingly not-so-gentle prods. Would you believe a warning from her HOA? Seems she's allowed her property to go-to-seed, so to speak. Looking outside, particularly at her flower beds that were once her pride, she suddenly decides to hire lawn care. Then she uses her sister's gift, a salon visit, for a haircut. Next thing you know, she's taking in a boarder, Maggie, not to mention a puppy her son more or less forces on her. And then there's the grief support group which, contrary to her fears, provides more laughs and human support than expected. It also brings her back into contact with Phil, the man she hired to bring her neglected lawn back to bloom.

I won't detail the plot further aside to say that it contains everything we've come to expect from Debbie Macomber: family, friends, romance, struggle, hope, and, yes, even a darling puppy. Is it easy? Are all their problems fixed instantly? Of course not.

There's even an alcoholic father whose seemingly combative relationship with Maggie makes you want to hug and encourage Maggie's push to become a nurse. If this makes the book sound depressive, far from it. Despite the realities of life intruding, the tone is largely uplifting, with the hope of a wonderful future for all hovering above as you read. From near recluse to mother-hen to....what? Joan makes strides toward a happy future that, yes, allows others into her world and reminds us to have meaningful conversations, not just idle chit-chat.

Bottom line, I loved every minute of "Must Love Flowers", even the tenser ones. Some may roll their eyes at the idea of happily ever after but as long as Debbie Macomber continues to take us there through her writing, I'm there for it. Thank you so much #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup - #BallantineBooks for allowing me to bask in the virtual warmth of Joan's friends. Welcome back, Debbie Macomber.

Yet another winner for me. Something about the stories Debbie tells, they lift up my soul and take me away from the every day of life. Any time I am feeling blue or need a change of pace, I can pick up a "Debbie" read and it works wonders for me.

This particular story was so heart warming. Everyone was dealing with their own situation, and for them to all meet and form this circle, unknowingly at first, but towards the end, they all became family and were able to help one another thru their individual circumstances. Just further cementing how important it is to have a "circle" and, to be aware that everyone is facing something. Be kind. Be patient and Be supportive.

This book is highly recommended and I appreciate the chance to read and share my opinion!

Debbie Macomber always gives us a wonderful read. I am so glad she came out of retirement to write this delightful book. I hope she continues to write more. We need her great style of writing in the world today.

This is a special, emotional filled book about overcoming grief, dealing with family members who are alcoholics, discovering new love and life.

You will not want to miss this book. You will not want to put it down until you have completed it. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advanced copy from Random House – Ballentine and Netgalley. The opinion expressed is my own.