SHORT & SWEET REVIEW: THE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

From her florist shop window, Lara, owner of Blossom & Grow, watches those who’ve bought her flowers head off to face all manner of life-changing occasions. Bridal posies, anniversary bouquets, surprise deliveries from secret admirers, new baby bunches – Lara arranges them all. And then there are the sadder occasions – the memorial wreaths, the ‘I’m sorry…’ flowers.

No stranger to heartbreak herself, Lara knows that flowers can say more than words ever can. Beneath the twinkly fairylights, surrounded by buckets filled with cooling water and heaving with flowers, customers spill their secrets, the things they want to say, the things they wished they’d said. And despite the pain in her heart, Lara finds a way to bring their message to life. Behind every flower arrangement, there’s a story to be told…

Ella Griffin bundles together tales of love, loss, forgiveness and joy in The Flower Arrangement, with the smaller stories all connected to one place – Blossom & Grow – and one person – Lara, the florist. A son tries to connect with his troubled mother; a husband tries to reconnect with his wife, a new mother; a grandmother meets her grandson for the first time; and a young woman re-evaluates her long-term relationship. Each story is a flower arrangement, that’s part of a wider story – the universal search for belonging, love, connecting and togetherness.  It’s a delightful book, full of warmth and wisdom, and you just hope that Lara will have her own bouquet of happiness as well.

Available from good bookstores. My copy was courtesy of Hachette Australia.