The Blue Iris

"A story of found family, impossible romances, and the ghosts of the past, The Blue Iris is a riveting page turner as stunning as the blooms that fill the shop at the heart of the book. Haunted and haunting, it keeps you guessing even as you cheer for Tessa and the broken but irresistible makeshift family she builds for herself. A story of growing up and deciding who you really are, it’s an unforgettable tale of roots in more ways than one.

-Grace O’Connell, Author of Be Ready for the Lightning

“In Stone’s deeply moving, tender, and original tale, a young woman leaves her big-time career opportunity behind to work in the Blue Iris Flower Market in order to come to terms with her traumatic past. … Stone imbues her characters with such depth and personality that by the time readers turn the last page, they feel like they really know all of them. Heightened emotions, palpable romance, and just the right amount of tension keep the pages flying. Stone delivers an intricate exploration of love and friendship with grace, resulting in a story that’s as heartfelt as it is poignant. Stone is a writer to watch.”

–BookView (Gold Recommend Review)

A gorgeous novel — Stone brilliantly captures the power of optimism, the allure of memory. Readers will fall in love with the Blue Iris Flower Market and the vibrant cast of characters they meet there.

-Stacy Bierlein, Author of A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends

Riveting, soul-searching, and full of heart. A spectacularly told story. … Stone’s layered characters leap off the page: the cast is vividly drawn, and their struggles feel entirely authentic. The no-nonsense approach to both Tessa and Will’s relationship and the former’s struggles with her past trauma is refreshing, while subplots about love, passion, friendship, chosen family, and letting go add nuance and poignancy to the affecting story. Told in multiple characters’ voices, the narrative is riveting, with shocking surprises unraveling at a steady pace. The plot’s top-grade tension grows taut as Tessa works herself up to take the hard decision. Readers won’t want to put this down.”

–The Prairies Book Review

This is a special book. Rachel Stone has crafted a narrative that touches both the mind and the heart, carried along by some of the most memorable characters I have encountered – complex, relatable, and very, very human. She writes honestly and clearly, with a delicate lyricism that lingers well after the final page is closed, and in so doing, she shines a light on our common challenge of finding the place where we truly belong. The Blue Iris merits a place in the company of books to be read, reread, and cherished.

-Greg Fields, Author of Through the Waters and the Wild, '22 Winner of Independent Press Award for Literary Fiction

A fascinating novel that follows a young woman’s story as she faces her past and discovers a new future . . . Rachel Stone has penned an incredible work with complex, unique characters and an absorbing love story. Readers will love its engrossing storyline and unexpected ending.

–Reader’s Favorite (5 Star Review)

In The Blue Iris, Rachel Stone shines as a gifted wordsmith. Her narrative is like walking through a lush garden; our senses explode with the beauty in her vivid descriptions. With each chapter, her rich cast of characters take root, grow, and evolve, Tessa most of all. Hers is a difficult journey–to ground herself in truth, she must peel away the façade that has sustained her. Tessa learns a lesson important to each of us: when we let go of dying things, it frees us to hold fast to that which nurtures us. The Blue Iris is an engaging, unique novel of love and chosen family—the best kind.   

-Carla Damron, Award-Winning Author of the The Orchid Tattoo

The events that both flaw and free the characters and the flower market connections that mean something different to each come to life in a jigsaw puzzle of disparate life choices and influences that proves hard to put down . . . An evocative, compelling read.

– D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

The writing was wonderful and the pace was great . . . I would 100% recommend this book to a friend and could see it making a wonderful book club book with a lot of discussions and perspectives.

– Advance Reader, The Good Book Collective

Author is open to interviews, podcasts, speaking engagements and appearances. Press kit and custom-tailored Book Club kit are available on request (via website contact form)