I loved this book! I think this is my first ‘Grumpy guy and Sweet girl’ trope and I’m not mad about it 😏. Did it have its cringey moments? Absolutely, a 30 year old and a 19 year old? Cringe. But it had its sweet romantic moments and it was spicy! I definitely did not expect the tragedy at the end but new something was going to get that Grump back. I liked the cliffhanger ending and now i really want to see how this story will end !

This book is devastatingly beautiful, I am generally not a fan of age gap romance books but this one was different for me. Excellent character development. What a journey. I can't wait to read book two.

Salem is 18, Thaler her new neighbour is 31. They shouldn't want each other but they do and can't stop the attraction between them.

I loved reading the way their relationship unfolded. This story was emotional and devastating. Iwill definitely be reading the next book in this series.

There are some themes in this book that may be upsetting for some readers, so I would definitely recommend checking trigger warnings before reading this book.

This book was not for me. There were elements I liked, but overall many plot points and things that happened I had issue with (which weren't clear from the description). I think others will enjoy it! It just wasn't a book for me.

A steamy age-gap between 18 year old Salem and the hot nee next door neighbor, 32 year old single dad Thayer.

This book does contain sexual abuse, cancer and death but it’s also a touching yet steamy love story. It’s a very slow burn and has all those “I want you but i shouldn’t” feels. The anticipation and restraint makes this feel so real.

I didn’t realize it was a series so i wasn’t prepared for the cliffhanger ending. Obvi I need to read the next book to see what happens between Salem and Thayer.

Who gave Micalea Smeltzer permission to write a book so healing and heartbreaking at the same time??! I had an ominous feeling this whole book that something was going to happen, and I kind of figured it would have to do with that character, but I did NOT see that twist. If you are looking for a good cry, please read The Confidence of Wildflowers. The way Thayer took care of Salem and made sure she was safe on her runs/work-outs melted my heart. His care was by far my favorite part of this book. I will say I have never looked for the next book in a series as fast as I did after finishing this because there was no way I could have left it at that ending. I do wish Salem was a bit older in this book just because that type of age gap can be a bit iffy for me. This is definitely a book where you need to check trigger and content warnings before you start because there are strong themes that not everyone may want to read.

I have a love-hate relationship with this book. It had many major flaws, literal red flags. However, it was unputdownable.
.
First things first, I really didn't like the cheating aspect.
Salem had a nice, decent, loving boyfriend, and she didn't even give him the courtesy of breaking up before pursuing another guy.
I don't care how Thayer was the one for her, or whatever they call their relationship status.
Cheating is wrong whatever way you look at it.
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Secondly, I thought the smutty scenes were really awkward, the dialogues and the whole thing overall felt detached from both characters. It felt as if it were other people, not the main couple.
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The last 20% was completely unreasonable, the ending came out of nowhere. It was super obvious the author just wanted an opening for writing more of the story, but I think she missed with the path she chose.
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That being said, the book itself was mostly enjoyable, the writing style was the saving grace. Also, Thayer. He was too sweet for his own good.
Overall, I thought it was an okay read.
*I received a copy of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I loved reading about Salem and Thayer but I didn't like the ending, it wasn't bad but it wasn't happy. But I can see why author kept it that way this being a duology. I ordered the second book and started reading as I wanted to know what happens further in the story as it ended on a cliffhanger. Would have rated it 4 stars if not for ending.

Thank you Netgalley and Micalea Smeltzer and page and vine publishing for the ARC copy.

I didn't dislike this book... It just 100% was nothing like I had expected, or was led to believe it was.

This book ended up ripping my heart out, stomping on it, and throwing it in the bin. My advice: Read the triggers! I don't typically have any triggers, but they definitely give a good indication of what this book leads to.

The writing is great, the characters are well developed, and the story is intense.

It has two of my least favourite tropes (single dad, cheating), as well as some seriously unexpected (unnecessary?) storylines, but it was well written and held my attention.

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of this one!

Book Review 📚
The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer - 4.5/5 ⭐

I'm honestly the worse at remembering book titles. I read this book November 2022, but obviously thought this was a new book to the already 2 out there! I was wrong 😂 but I'm still gonna drop my review beacuse I feel people need to know more about this book.

First thing - triggers. Please check the trigger warnings before going in blind! Thankfully, not much phases me in books (maybe dogs dying, that breaks me every damn time) so I can go in blind and not worry.

Now, it is a slow burn romance, but because of the tension throughout its fast paced. Your kind like "oh c'mon already!!" But at the same time your enjoying the build up of tension. I'm guilty of enjoying books like this. Regardless of the slow burn, it keeps you intrigued and interested, up until the point you want to get to the end so your know what happens. Be warned though, you will NOT see that ending happening. Not in a million years.

There's a variety of emotions in the book. Your happy, your sad. Your giddy, your depressed. Your excited, your heartbroken. You feel them all, on such a deep level! Smeltzer has a way with words and is a phenomenal writer, so much so that after reading this book I went on a binge and ordered ALL of her books 😂 Pretty Little Mistake and Sweet Dandelion are up there with this series.

There's raw emotion, there's fantastic character development and unreal description in the entirety. You will not be disappointed. Not by any of her books really. Introduce yourself to Smeltzer and enjoy her writing along the way!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

tropes:
-one bed trope
-age gap
- babysitter
- they're neighbors
- grumpy x sunshine
- single parent

the angst!! this one was extremely addictive and I finished it in 1 sitting. I didn't typically go for age gap romances but Salem and Thayer's relationship was done really well. you could really sympathize for Salem and what she's been through and currently going through. And Thayer, wow Thayer. I did not see the plot twist coming at all and that just shattered me.

highly recommend if you want an angtsy, age-gap romance read.

I really enjoyed this book. I definitely want to read more from this author after reading this one. It was a really good romance story and had all the tropes I love in a romance.

I loved this book up until the last 10%. I was totally shocked with that ending. So many tears and ugly crying. This book will take you on a journey.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book, but the cover caught my eye and it was recommended by the algorithm, so I decided to give it a try. I was hooked from the first page and I finished it in one sitting, eager to get the next book in the series.

This story is not for everyone, as it involves a huge age gap between the main characters. Salem, our heroine, is 18, and Thayer, our hero, is 31 and a single dad. Some people might find this problematic, and I get it, but once I got into the story I found it captivating. The author did a great job of portraying their chemistry and their struggles.

I love stories with broken characters who find their missing piece in each other, and this one delivered. The love between Salem and Thayer is crazy, forbidden, raw, and powerful. I felt their emotions and their pain.

I had already read this book before, but when I saw it on NetGalley, I requested it again because I wanted to relive this story. It’s rare to find a book that makes you want to read it twice.

Falling for someone almost fifteen years older than me wasn’t part of my plans, but sometimes things happen when you least expect them. When Thayer Holmes moves in next door, the grumpy landscaper both fascinates and amuses me. When he asks me to nanny his kid, it’s a great way to make some extra money. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Thayer and his adorable son. There’s a big problem though. I’m eighteen. He’s thirty-one.

For TW:

Cliffhanger but book two has already been published
Loss of a loved one
Terminal illness
Mention of child seggsual abuse
Mention of physical abuse

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending this book my way in exchange for my honest opinion. Second time here and I loved it all over again.

I semi-enjoyed this until about the 40ish% mark. I’ve decided age gap is NOT for me.

I found the FMC to be unlikeable and extremely naive, which, to be fair, makes sense for an 18 year old. Her trauma also supports her attraction for her 31 year old neighbor in a way. This, I understand. What I do not understand is how a loving father of a young child could reciprocate that. But alas, age gap is not for me.

Additionally, several reviewers alluded to the fact that this book includes basically ALL of my most disliked tropes, so I see no need to finish. I feel uncomfortable, and dissatisfied, unfortunately.

This may be the book for people who are able to withstand the triggering subject matter.

3 Stars The Confidence of Wildflowers is an emotional, age-gap and single-father/nanny romance. The content warnings page should definitely be taken seriously for this one as it deals with pretty heavy topics on page. I read this one so fast, excited to see what was next as the relationship between Salem and Thayer developed. You will definitely cry or at the very least tear up while reading their story. Plus, it ends on a cliffhanger since this is part one of the Wildflower duet. A great read if you like the tropes I mentioned before, but approach with caution for the sensitive nature of the book.

Salem — a freshly graduated 18 year old helping to keep her mothers antique shop and her own candle business running and still figuring out life, and the direction to take off in until one fateful day. Thayer who is 31 moves in next door, followed by an unavoidable gravitational pull.

Over time a friendship blooms into a situation full of deep turmoil and feelings. Thayer and Salem struggle with this in very different ways due to the differences in their age and therefore different life stages and emotional maturity.

The ending is tragic all in itself that rocks all of their worlds and is traumatic as they come and impacts their relationship in a way that puts a chasm between the two of them. Towards the end Salem simply blossoms as a character, finding a grasp on adulthood and the direction she should take, even if it may be fruitless as they deal with the fallout of the trauma involved

This series is hard hitting and heavy and incredibly emotional, and does have some dark themes and triggers within. It is an absolute page turner and addictive with a pacing that it takes off with some serious momentum. I honestly cried through a lot of it and still came back for more.

I feel like I may be in the minority when I say I love this book. I'm not usually a fan of age gap, but it was done nicely here.
Thayer and Salem bring out each others best qualities. I fell in love with their love.
Was the book tragic? Absolutely. Did I see it coming a mile away, 100%. But for me it didn't take away from the story. I still loved and devoured this book.

I read this a while back and still thinking about the story!

18 year old Salem is living her post high school life, working at her mom's antique shop and just being a teen with her petty problems. 31 year old Thayer moves in next door and is a bit of a mystery. He's a construction worker and they slowly become friends. This book is so heavy on emotions, lots of trigger warnings and dark themes!

<spoiler> Death of a child and so absolutely heart-wrenching since becoming a mom.</spoiler> Definitely continue reading the next book in the duet.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SOOOOO MUCH!! I loved Salem and Thayer. They make my heart melt. I flew through this book and I had to read the next one ASAP. Highly recommend. There are some sensitive subjects so please check trigger warnings!