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ceramirezmcfarlin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kaysearae's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amanda1793's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars.
I did have my issues with this book. I can understand that there are foster children who have gone through similar situations as Victoria, and I can understand that it's not the best of systems out there... But the fact that she abandoned her own child on a total of three occasions, and that kind of made me angry...
I'm not sure if we were supposed to feel some sort of pity for Victoria, but I couldn't... I would get a little annoyed with her simply for some of the things she did at times.
I found a lot of the supporting characters very easy to like. I found that they were trying to help Victoria, and in some ways, many of them succeeded. Only to be pushed away...
To find out the the demise of what could've been a good place for her to live was her fault, was even more maddening...
But now, on to the good things I liked about this book!
The language of flowers was amazing to build a story upon! I enjoyed learning the meaning of several flowers and the way Victoria uses them to improve people's lives on one way or another was intriguing. I felt that with the use of the dictionary located at the end of the book, I was able to gain a vast amount of knowledge!
I enjoyed Victoria (despite her many flaws), and watching her grow from a damaged person to a girl who is really trying to get her life together. And the fact that she learned from her mistakes (especially when it came to Elizabeth) to a certain degree was another area that I could enjoy.
I would recommend this book. Happy reading!
I did have my issues with this book. I can understand that there are foster children who have gone through similar situations as Victoria, and I can understand that it's not the best of systems out there... But the fact that she abandoned her own child on a total of three occasions, and that kind of made me angry...
I'm not sure if we were supposed to feel some sort of pity for Victoria, but I couldn't... I would get a little annoyed with her simply for some of the things she did at times.
I found a lot of the supporting characters very easy to like. I found that they were trying to help Victoria, and in some ways, many of them succeeded. Only to be pushed away...
To find out the the demise of what could've been a good place for her to live was her fault, was even more maddening...
But now, on to the good things I liked about this book!
The language of flowers was amazing to build a story upon! I enjoyed learning the meaning of several flowers and the way Victoria uses them to improve people's lives on one way or another was intriguing. I felt that with the use of the dictionary located at the end of the book, I was able to gain a vast amount of knowledge!
I enjoyed Victoria (despite her many flaws), and watching her grow from a damaged person to a girl who is really trying to get her life together. And the fact that she learned from her mistakes (especially when it came to Elizabeth) to a certain degree was another area that I could enjoy.
I would recommend this book. Happy reading!
sararose_cozy's review against another edition
4.0
This would have been a five star read: I was captivated and don’t want to put the book down.
It lost a star because I hate the protagonist, if you can even call her that. I’m torn because I try to empathize with her terrible childhood, but even as a young adult she makes terrible decision. I was constantly angry at the story and would be so infuriated with Victoria. It was the most stressful and traumatic read I have ever read.
Still devoured in mostly one day.
It lost a star because I hate the protagonist, if you can even call her that. I’m torn because I try to empathize with her terrible childhood, but even as a young adult she makes terrible decision. I was constantly angry at the story and would be so infuriated with Victoria. It was the most stressful and traumatic read I have ever read.
Still devoured in mostly one day.
nadinebean's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. I wavered between a 4 and 5 star rating but then I decided I need to start giving more 5's. I liked this one a lot so I figured why not start here?
Victoria's story was both heartbreaking and inspiring. I felt for her in every page of this book. There were times I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her, but knew that at the time that was all she could manage to do.
I loved learning about the language of flowers. Now all I want to do is go through the dictionary in the back and start sending messages with flowers to everyone I know. :)
I was really excited about the dictionary in the back.
Anyways, I highly recommend this book. Loved it.
Excited to hear peoples perspectives about it at book club! :)
Victoria's story was both heartbreaking and inspiring. I felt for her in every page of this book. There were times I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her, but knew that at the time that was all she could manage to do.
I loved learning about the language of flowers. Now all I want to do is go through the dictionary in the back and start sending messages with flowers to everyone I know. :)
I was really excited about the dictionary in the back.
Anyways, I highly recommend this book. Loved it.
Excited to hear peoples perspectives about it at book club! :)
betag1013's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Dementia, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Vomit
chapita4's review against another edition
4.0
“If it was true that moss did not have roots, and maternal love could grow spontaneously, as if from nothing, perhaps I had been wrong to believe myself unfit to raise my daughter. Perhaps the unattached, the unwanted, the unloved, could grow to give love as lushly as anyone else.”
― Vanessa Diffenbaugh
There were many great quotes in this book, but this was my favorite since it sums up the heart of social work. I will never look at flower arrangements in quite the same way. It was a lovely, well written book.
― Vanessa Diffenbaugh
There were many great quotes in this book, but this was my favorite since it sums up the heart of social work. I will never look at flower arrangements in quite the same way. It was a lovely, well written book.
novelette's review against another edition
3.0
This is so not the book you want to be reading when you are pregnant.
crypticghosti's review against another edition
5.0
victoria was a very unlikeable character for most of the book. she made decisions that made her situation worse because she believed “she didn’t deserve it” or “she couldn’t give them what they wanted”. she was constantly setting herself up for failure. i feel like this is also what made her a great main character. she was extremely flawed and the ending was great because she was able to change. the change wasnt unrealistic either, it was a start and she gave herself room to grow. i also really loved the parallel perspective from her current life and the things that happened when she lived with elizabeth as a child. you know something happened but you dont find out what until a very climactic part of the book! built up great suspense and made me want to pick it up again, which is something i have been struggling with recently.