History and fantasy blossom in "The Secret of Flowers" Weaving the stories of two characters together is a masterful way to unite history with creativity. I was swept up into the drama of two women's lives and how they were unknowingly linked by the spirit of the Titanic. This is a must read for anyone who is infatuated with flowers and the Titanic. Who knew two things could have so much in common.

This book was a little slow for my taste, the premise was very promising but I feel like the author didn't deliver. Maybe it's a "me" and not "the book" type of situation. I just had another idea of what the book was going to be about. I might try to pick it up later and see if it resonates with me.

Grief can be all encompassing and for Sally the death of her husband rocked her to the core. She quits her job and decides to start over. Her bravery was sweet and the story was beautiful

Thank you NetGalley, Sally Page and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this book. The following opinion is my subjective one.

What a lovely historical novel! Although it started out a wee bit slow, I nevertheless really took to the characters. Especially Betty and Les sneaked straight into my heart. They were described with so much love and with their own quirks, I love when authors do that. I guess it took a little while longer to develop a liking for Emma, a little shorter a while to connect to Violet. Still, I feel like this novel succeeds because of the side characters.

The plot intrigued me. Initially I was convinced it’d be too cheesy, Violet would be a long-lost relative of Emma and there would be family members to meet. I was positively surprised when the story’s focus shifted a bit. Away from the sole focus on Violet and more towards other interpersonal relationships.

One element I really liked was the use of the sense of smell, such an underrepresented sense in most works of fiction. Though I’m not super informed on flowers, I got the scent of the pool, the garden center, the cocktails.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this narrative. And I had to smile when (after having thought there was no connection to Violet whatsoever) Emma finds her grandmother’s letter.

Emma struggles to cope with her grief of losing her husband Will, and takes a part-time job as florist. When a colleague asks her to attend a talk about the Titanic, she embarks on a quest to find out who was responsible for arranging the flowers on the Titanic. The second timeline follows Violet Jessup, a real-life stewardess who survived 3 shipwrecks including the Titanic, and as the story unfolds you see where the 2 stories connect.

The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful, and unfortunately, that is about the extent of my praise. Oh dear, this was a painfully tedious read for me. As much as I enjoy the history of the Titanic, this story was so boring that it took too long to get into. I really wanted to like this, but in the end, it just didn't work for me.

This story was absolutely amazing. I had never really thought about the stewardesses on the Titanic, but after reading this story I kind of want to do my own research and learn more about them.
Emma is having a hard time with life and finds herself working in a garden center. Betty and Les, own the garden center. All kinds of beautiful friendships emerge in this book.

There is so much more I want to say but I am struggling to find the words right now.

*Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Sally Page, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC*

This era is not typically in my wheelhouse for historical fiction, but I ended up loving The Secrets of Flowers. I was drawn more to the present day portions of the book. The main character's struggle with her grieving process was compelling. By the end I was also hooked on the historical portions. I would recommend to any fans of reading about the Titanic or gardeners.

this book was okay. there were sad parts, and some mystery parts in this book, aka the flower arranging girl, that kept you reading to find out what they mystery was about. The writing style of this book was interesting and poetic. It did have some slow moments but with the sad parts there were also some happy parts mixed in

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Secrets of Flowers" and all opinions expressed are my own. Flowers and the Titanic - interesting story. It took a while to get into the story. It did pick up. Overall I liked it.

Well worth the wait—and the time it took for me to read. The Titanic, a woman who feels out of place, and the people she meets in her quest (which isn’t what she thinks it is, as should be expected in all the best plots).

Even though this story is written in In Verse style I chose this book because it's Titanic. I love anything Titanic and to me this was a fantastic story
I found many things enjoyable from this story.
I especially loved the mystery of the flower girl.
She was what kept me turning the pages until the end.
In spots this story is sad but it others it was awesome.
Hats off to Emma who decided to make a change and stick with it. I was very proud of her. Yes, grief can strike at any given moment and time no matter where you are which is why I was glad that Emma had friends to help her along her journey.
Violet was an interesting character as well. She was my second favorite character. She was an amirable lady.
I love this quote because it's true even though people don't realize it until it's almost too late.
"When one door closes another door opens." Sometimes for the better.
Another thing too, it's the small things that matter .most like not having a toothbrush, comb etc

5 stars from me for keeping me engaged all the way through. I highly recommend.
Might be the best Titanic story ever written.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Sally Page writes a beautiful story. While the pace felt slow to me, the unusual plot and characters more than make up for that. The cover is beautiful.

Who arranged the flowers on the Titanic? Finding the answer to that question becomes a lifeline for Emma. After losing her husband suddenly a year ago she has been struggling to move forward with her life. Her new job as a florist has led her to wonder about the flowers on the doomed ship and the unnamed person who would have arranged them.
Definitely more of a slow burn for me, it took me a little bit to get into the rhythm and story but once I did I found a beautiful story about loss, friendship and flowers. The language @bysallypage used around flowers and their significance was beautiful. I loved watching Emma bloom as she explored the past and planned her new future.
Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins for letting me review #thesecretsofflowers
#bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #bookrecommendations #readmorebooks #reader

Sally Page has another hit on her hands! While young widow Emma tries to work through her grief, she finds solace and comfort working with flowers in a small shop. She struggles with making personal connections but through their shared interest in the history of The Titanic, Emma slowly begins to develop a friendship with her co workers. Emma is particularly interested in who was the florist for the Titanic. Through dual timelines we learn about Emma and Violet and their particular stories.
Sally Page writes wonderful stories and creates characters that are so very endearing. I loved the historical connection and learning so many interesting facts about the Titanic along the way. This is a well researched and engaging story.

"The Secrets of Flowers" by Sally Page is a charming and heartwarming tale that seamlessly blends mystery with the beauty of personal growth. The protagonist, a woman named Violet, embarks on an emotional journey that is as much about unraveling the mysteries of the past as it is about finding herself in the present. Page’s writing shines through with its gentle prose and vivid descriptions of nature, especially flowers, which act as a powerful symbol throughout the narrative. The sense of hope and renewal that permeates the novel is uplifting, and readers may find themselves drawn to Violet’s quiet resilience as she uncovers the layers of her own story.

While the novel is rich in atmosphere and emotional depth, it occasionally veers into predictability, especially in its handling of the central mystery. Some readers may feel that the story’s twists and turns are a bit too transparent, making it easy to anticipate the outcome. The pacing, at times, also slows down due to the weight placed on Violet’s introspective moments. While these moments are meaningful, they sometimes seem to stall the progression of the plot. Additionally, while the supporting characters are likable, they lack the complexity that would have added more dimension to the overall narrative.

Nonetheless, "The Secrets of Flowers" offers a lovely reading experience, one that embraces themes of healing, forgiveness, and connection. Sally Page’s ability to create a reflective atmosphere and touch on deeper emotional currents is commendable. Though some elements may feel familiar or expected, the novel’s warmth and uplifting message ensure that it remains a satisfying read, particularly for those who enjoy stories that explore the transformative power of self-discovery and the quiet beauty found in life’s small moments.

A dual-timeline story.

This one took a lot to get into - it starts real slow and it took me a while to warm up to Emma. She's a new widow and doesn't feel like she's moving on, so she quits her job and takes a new position at a garden center - that makes her feel closer to her deceased father. Betty and Les run the garden center. Les is hosting a discussion on the Titanic and invites Emma - but she has a panic attack and doesn't go. However, it makes her wonder about the flowers on the Titanic and who the florist was. This leads her on an adventure of discovery - about herself and the flowers.

The second timeline follows Violet Jessup - a stewardess on the Titanic. And survivor of 3 ship events. Emma finds a photo of Violet and feels a connection to her and she tries to find out why.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I enjoyed this one . It was a different take on the Titanic story and a study in grief but overall very good and readable. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Sally Page has a really digestible writing style. She also has a way of drawing the emotion and human feelings often lurking behind the mundane. I was really invested in the current timeline, but felt like I needed more than a couple of pages insight into Violets story in the past - and much more of the titanic!

It took me quite a while to get into the story but when I did I couldn’t put it down. The stories of Violet, the little girl growing up in Argentina and that of Emma, a young woman working part time in a garden center in England were so disjointed I couldn’t figure out what the point was. It wasn’t until maybe 25% of the way through that the author began pulling the stories together. And she slowly, but methodically pulled me in. A dual timeline story in which the historical part is based on an actual person, Page has crafted a delightful saga of friendship, hope, loss, yearning and forgiveness centered around the cradle to the grave role flowers play in the important moments of our lives. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I tried really, really hard to love this book! I really enjoyed the concept and the historical aspect of it, but had a really difficult time with the writing style. Overall, I really enjoyed the story, the process of grieving, as well as the similarities between the two female main characters.