Debbie Macomber is back with a feel good summer read. Although it is somewhat predictable, it is enjoyable enough and like all of her books, leaves you with a smile.

Joan Sample lost her husband four years ago and has been lost and depressed since. The pandemic allowed her to isolate herself from everything she knew, becoming a virtual hermit. Her family has been kindly urging her toward therapy, and her two sons are at a loss on what to do. When a letter from her HOA arrives threatening a fine for the horrible state of her yard, it becomes a wake up call. Joan always took great pride in her lawn and plants and it makes her realize just how much in her life she's let go. She starts to turn things around with a call to a lawn maintenance company, getting a haircut, and taking on a boarder. Suddenly there's hope of a new life, new friends, and possibly a new love.
I love the message of hope in this book and the loving support of new friends and her family to bring her back to life. This author's approach toward grief and healing was like a sunbeam breaking through a cloudy day.I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Debbie Macomber's latest Must Love Flowers is a charming story of people trying to find their way through life and life changes that are challenging to them. Joan is a widow who realizes that she's not yet healed from her husband's death and she decides to take action. Of course it's a small town so every character is linked to one another and while it's predictable , Macomber is a talented writer who make the ride an enjoyable one. All in all an entertaining read for a sunny summer day.
Thanks to NetGalley and and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber is yet another well developed book by a wonderful storyteller.

We have two women at different stages of their lives who help each other move on. Joan is a widow who is not dealing with her loss. She's almost to the point where she doesn't leave the house. When she's forced to admit that changes have to be made, she quickly makes decisions that are out of her norm. They could prove to be the best decisions she's ever made. Maybe joking that you must love flowers is the key to her future happiness. Moving on after loss is an underlying theme of the entire book. The story group dynamics are a nice backdrop on the steps through grief. Everyone grieves differently, so their no wrong way, provided you're taking care of yourself.
Maggie Hebert has suffered through the loss of her mother, and now she's watching her father drink himself into an early grave. She's finally standing up for herself and leaves the untenable situation. This opens up new friends and allows her to focus on her goals. Having the positive support allows her to not crumble when things take a turn for the worse. Showing that hard work pays off and your family can be more than those you're born to.

Purpose and friends....

I didn't know Debbie Macomber was thinking of retiring. I grew up reading her books and to this day, read all her books. So I was surprised that she tried it for four months. It didn't take and boy am I glad! Must Love Flowers was the perfect book at the perfect time for me, mirroring similar things in my own life at the same time I read this book (i even got a similar letter). Joan Sample is a young widow, only fiftyfour, with grown boys and has become a recluse after the sudden death of her husband. Then the pandemic happened (thank you for addressing COVID and how people are reemerging on their own timelines). In the aftermath of such devasting events, Joan has fallen into malaise and is in a kind of limbo until an HOA letter jumpstarts her into action on her yard and flower beds and also on the path to meeting new people, new friends and attending a grief counseling group. She takes in a boarder Maggie, who is a young lady struggling with the weight of life as a new adult. Joan and Maggie are on the opposite ends of the life spectrum but find a kindred soul. Joan also hires the kind Phil to help rehab her yard with the caveat, must love flowers.
Recommend for a timely, emotional and very relevant read.
Excellent.

This story touched my soul. Joan must face life after being unexpectedly widowed and doesn’t realize how far from living she has become. A story about family, love, friendship, trust, helping others and starting over, just to name a few, this is a summer must read.

As always, reading this Debbie Macomber book was like getting a warm hug. There's something about her writing that makes you feel like you've settled in with a good friend for a chat and you leave feeling good. I like that the main characters, Joan and Maggie are from different generations and learn from each other. Joan is a widow of four years that is finally coming out of her fog without her husband. Maggie has been working and going to school to be a nurse all while taking care of her alcoholic father. Maggie decides that she needs to get away from the situation with her dad and Joan decides her house is too lonely and she should take a boarder. Along with these characters, we have Joan's sons, Nick and Steve, and the landscaper, Phil, who has his own story. Highly recommend reading this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I leave my review freely

Great story of grief, renewal, love, growing up and friendship. Having just lost my mom this story hit me hard, but I took comfort in the story, working on healing while Joan does. Great story and as usual lots of life lessons. The story reflects the surprises and unexpected ways family and love can help and support us.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Must Love Flowers is your classic Debbie Macomber story! Full of wonderful characters and a sweet story.

This book is about second chances and finding yourself. A beautiful story about friendship and new beginnings.

Debbie Macomber’s newest story Must Love Flowers is one that I hope Hallmark turns into a made-for-tv movie.

Joan (and Maggie’s) story was one that dealt with the difficult topic of grief and the impact it can not only have on one’s own life, but also the impact it can have (if not worked through) on remaining relationships.

I plan to purchase a physical copy of this story for my grandmother once it is available and am thankful for the ARC from NetGalley.

Debbie Macomber is one of the greatest storytellers of all times and she has another touching and emotional tale in Must Love Flowers. She said that she was ready to retire but had a story of a widow to tell and she did a wonderful job of pulling the reader in to experience all the raw emotions and feelings of the grief that one goes through. Joan lost her husband right before the pandemic and has been shut in her home since. Her sons don't know what to do to help her over her depression. A letter from her HOA opened her eyes to the state of her lawn and flower beds. This started a process that helped her climb out of the hole she had buried herself in and other lives were changed in the process. Lovely, touching story of overcoming, with healing, growth, love, new friends, and romance. Highly recommended. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts and opinions.

Must Love Flowers... sounds like a line from a dating website, but in this case that is far from what this title means. You will have to read the book to find out the true meaning of the phrase. Trust me, you do not want to miss this diamond from the queen of heart stirring romance.

Joan Sample is a widow who suffered a tragic loss. Then the pandemic hit which gave her an excuse to shelter away from the world. Now four years later she is a complete recluse, She wallows in self-pity daily, but the sad thing for her is that she does not really see herself this way. When another birthday comes, her sister challenges her to get back on the horse - not the dating horse - just get back to living. When Joan receives a letter from her HOA cautioning her that her yard must be cleaned up, her first contact with the world is a landscaper. From there she begins to cautiously step out into the world of the living. Her journey will be filled with sadness, frustration, anger and healing, but it will also be a time of self-discovery and healing of the relationships in her life which is how her path crosses with Maggie.

Maggie Herbert works as a barista and is a young nursing student who dreams of being a nurse. Living with her father is making this journey difficult. He is an alcoholic who belittles her and makes her life difficult. She knows she has to get out the house, but money is an issues for her. When Maggie meets Joan for an interview to rent a room from Joan, it is a match made in Heaven. Both of these ladies need each other, and Maggie's infectious personality brings new life into Joan's household. Joan provides counsel to Maggie as well and Joan's hunky son is an added bonus, but he does not trust Maggie.

This book was full of hope and promise for a future where the future looked dim in the beginning for both of these ladies. Debbie Macomber tackles real life issues head on with such grace. and kindness. This makes her characters so real to me, as the reader. I can almost feel their pain. Grief and depression resulting from the loss of a loved one is very real in this book. I got a little teary myself a few times, especially when the people of her support group shared about their personal losses. This was a phenomenal read with a strong and loveable cast of characters. I expect nothing less of Ms. Macomber. Her writing always pulls on my heartstrings. I would give this book ten stars, if that was a possibility. This is another grand slam from the queen of hearts better known as Debbie Macomber.

Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an advanced reader's copy from Random House and NetGalley for the review.
Immediately I related to Joan, who was used to staying home given the circumstances of the last few years. Debbie freely brings up the pandemic and Covid, so readers who don't want that in their literature should consider that. Joan isolated herself and was stuck in her routine, and in her grief. Her husband died in 2019, so she never dealt with his death, instead she kept busy with jigsaw puzzles and word games. All this changes on her birthday, with the help of her sister, her children, and her HOA complaining about the state of her yard. After a series of changes, including trying to find a gardener who "must love flowers", the reader sees the growth and confidence that Joan gets from reaching out of her comfort zone and finding herself again.
Debbie's writing is like a warm blanket, very easy to read and comforting, yet she is also repetitive in her descriptions, which drags the story down a bit.
3.5 start rounded up

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber is a story about grief, starting over, friendship, family, and romance. I always look forward to reading Debbie Macomber’s latest novel. They provide a great escape. The author has a casual writing style that draws the reader in and holds their attention. The characters are friendly, relatable, and realistic. I could certainly understand what Joan was going through. Grief is not something that will go away overnight. Shutting yourself away, though, is not good for you. I like how her family encouraged her to see a therapist and get a boarder. The letter from the HOA about the condition of her yard was actually a good thing. It helped Joan to get interested in gardening again. Must Love Flowers has a couple of intersecting storylines. We get to meet Maggie, a nursing student who is living with her alcoholic father. Her father has not been the same since Maggie’s mother passed. Nick, one of Joan’s sons, worries about his mother. He is not in favor of her taking a boarder. Maggie’s other son is so focused on work, he is missing out on a special woman. Phil, Joan’s landscaper, happens to be in Joan’s grief support group. He knows what Johan is going through. Phil is there to lend a listening ear when Joan needs one and to offer a helping hand. The author captured what it is like to suffer a loss and the long healing process. Must Love Flowers hit all the right notes. I started reading Must Love Flowers and kept going until I turned the last page. Must Love Flowers is more than a romance. We get to see people going outside their comfort zone. They are making changes to their lives and meeting new friends while dealing with their grief. An epilogue nicely wrapped up the character’s storylines. Must Love Flowers is a touching tale with a messy yard, a concerned sister, a nursing student, a workaholic son, a helpful therapist, and a hopeful future.

Grab a box of tissues and enjoy. A wonderful heart-warming tale with many characters, family and new friends. So grateful to the author for writing this book about the loss of one's loved ones and other issues. I hope she never retires completely. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Must Love Flowers
Debbie Macomber
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Ballantine
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The title seemed familiar to me and I was concerned I had read it before. However, this is a new book and I loved it! Two women at different stages in their lives and how they got through their struggles.
I highly recommend this book! It spoke to my heart.
5 stars

Joan Sample is a widow and has struggled with being alone for several years. She has become somewhat of a hermit in her own home. After being alone on her birthday her sister talks her into getting out of the house. She gets a notice from the HOA that her yard is in terrible shape and decides to hire a landscaper. Her husband and her use to take care of the yard together. One friend suggests she rent out a room in her home.
Maggie Herbert needs to find a new place to live her father is an alcoholic and want stop drinking. She ends up renting a room from Joan and they both open up to a new future.
Joan's two sons are not into the idea of a boarder; when her son comes to for a visit, he is not happy.
I just loved the story of Joan finally coming out of her deep grief and learning to live her life again.

Debbie Macomber delivers another pleasant, very readable, mature romance. Joan is a widow who finds herself becoming a lonely recluse until she decides to take her sister's advice and takes in a boarder, Maggie is a nursing student working at a local coffee shop who needs a place to live. They find each other and each of them find friendship, family, and love. This is a feel good story with engaging characters and lots of charm. I always depend on Debbie Macomber for entertaining, clean, sweet stories and this is no exception. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest review.

Must Love Flowers is the book that took Debbie Macomber out of retirement!It is the lovely story of Joan ,a widow of four years who cannot move forward.It is also the story of Maggie,,a barista and hard working nursing student ,with family problems.The twists and turns that their lives take make this book enjoyable to read .Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this advance readers copy!I really enjoyed this book as will any Debbie Macomber fan or anyone who loves cozy fiction!

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another great novel by Debbie, she doesn't disappoint hope you will pre-order your copy today so you have on July 11th, release day.

This wonderful story about how everyone grieves in their own ways and when the time right.
Only when the grieving is done can they heal and move on. Maybe even be given a second chance at love.


I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion. I highly recommend you read this Womens fiction.