A moving and eloquent novel about love, grief, renewal—and the powerful language of flowers.

The Art of Arranging Flowers by Lynne Branard

About this book: Ruby Jewell knows flowers. In her twenty years as a florist she has stood behind the counter at the Flower Shoppe with her faithful dog, Clementine, resting at her feet. A customer can walk in, and with just a glance or a few words, Ruby can throw together the perfect arrangement for any occasion.

Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a celebration, offer sympathy, or heal a broken heart, her expressive floral designs mark the moments and milestones in the lives of her neighbors. It’s as though she knows just what they want to say, just what they need.

Yet Ruby’s own heart’s desires have gone ignored since the death of her beloved sister. It will take an invitation from a man who’s flown to the moon, the arrival of a unique little boy, and concern from a charming veterinarian to reawaken her wounded spirit. Any life can be derailed, but the healing power of community can put it right again.

About the author: Lynne Branard is the author of sixteen books, including the NY Times Bestseller, Friendship Cake and Pie Town. She also writes mysteries under the pen name, Jackie Lynn. She and her husband live in Albuquerque, New Mexico where Lynne works as a hospice chaplain and continues to write as well as teach classes on writing as a spiritual and healing practice.

Genre: Fiction/Women’s Fiction

Would I read this book, judged on its cover alone? Yes, its beauty captured me. 

If this book were a movie, I would rate it: PG-13. A little profanity.

Reminds me of… Rebecca Wells, Jan Karon; also The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

You’ll want to buy this book if …you enjoy lovely, literary women’s fiction. Will especially appeal to florists, gardeners and flower-lovers.

Why did I read this book? For Berkeley Books for review.

Would I read another by this author? Sure.

My take: This is a story about its characters–a whole town-full of them. Some of them a quirky, a few snarky, all of them lovable for one reason or another. The story unfolds at its leisure, and the narrative often includes more than is strictly necessary to move the story forward. But that’s the way it is with literary fiction. It takes its time and it’s a lot about the language–metaphorical language, at that. 

While all these good things are true, I’ll admit I wasn’t utterly captivated by this novel, much as I desired to be. I wanted more to happen, I guess. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood for a literary novel? Quite possibly. That happens. As a book reviewer, quite often I have to read the next book in line so that I make my deadlines, whether the timing is right for me or not. Just so you know.

On the plus side, The Art of Arranging Flowers is, at its heart, about the art of giving and receiving love. And it is an art. This, perhaps, is what I liked best about this novel: how it reveals this truth so poignantly, and in a unique and beautiful way.

Thanks to Berkeley Books for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

End notes: Despite my mixed feelings about the book itself, I have to rave about the cover. Is it the pink flowers? I am a sucker for those. (I’ve recently come out of the closet regarding my feelings about pink. Pink makes me happy. There. It’s said.) I loved having this lovely novel sitting on my nightstand for the last week, a piece of decoration. It was almost as nice as having an arrangement of flowers itself.