I really enjoyed this book about Emma and Violet. A story of two women from different eras with flowers telling their story. Emma is recently widowed and finds a job in a garden centre as a florist. She then is obsessed with finding out about flowers on the Titanic. Her journey finding out about this helps her come to terms with her grief, a moving story but not heavy. A very good read.

This was such a beautiful book and my first by this author I am definitely going to investigate their back catalogue now.

This was such a moving story of love, grief and making new friends and a fresh start and as a keen gardener I loved the fact that the main character worked in a garden centre and that there was lots of references to flowers in the story. I also liked the way that the history of the titanic was interwoven with the story as found that really interesting.

The characters were engaging and heartwarming and this is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

A calming, thought provoking read with a strong emphasis on flowers. It reminded me of mindfulness and connecting with nature. I especially enjoyed the author's note at the end which gives insight into how the book was researched.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Emma is still recovering from a loss she suffered. She is having a hard time. She decides to make some changes in her life. Her job opens up a whole new world to her. A nice read.

A story of two parts entwined as a whole. Emma is a scientist and a widow who leaves her lab for a garden centre. The book follows Emma as she navigates her new situation and uses her research skills to learn about the flowers on the Titanic and the florist who put them there.
I loved reading about Emma and how she grows to regain her confidence. It was delightful to see how she put her scientific research skills to use in a completely different type of research and her belief in the value of others. The story of the stewardess on the Titanic which unfolds alongside Emma's story, is told well, with neither story overwhelming or interfering with the other. But coming together as a beautiful whole.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it seems Sally Page is becoming a favourite author of mine.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley, however this review is entirely my own thoughts and words.

What an interesting author Sally Page is. She must have put hours of research into the backgrounds of this book. The story is two fold, one part Emma and one Violet. Both the women are beautifully described. I found that I had to keep reading, once or twice having to look back to check who was who, but in general it was a lovely flowing story. So many poignant emotions are dealt with, particularly that of grief, Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy which I very much enjoyed reading. Any book dealing so beautifully with the subject of flowers is always going to be a favourite.

Such an interesting story. I just loved the whole thing and the way that everything connected in surprising and unique ways. The whole read was fun and endearing and heartbreaking and lovely. I just loved it.

I devoured this in a day. I knew this book was going to be a big warm hug and it didn’t disappoint. There are some really tough themes threaded throughout, especially relating to grief, and yet overall it was just overwhelmingly heartwarming.

Emma, a scientist, has quit her job and started working part time as a florist at a garden centre. She hopes this will help her connect with people as she struggles to deal with her grief.

Sally Page truly knows how to write a character, and that’s no different in this book. Betty and Les have my whole heart and I loved seeing the character development of our main character, Emma.

It’s clear that a ton of research has gone into this book and it makes a huge difference. Writing about something like The Titanic is hard because so many people know so much about it already, but this was done brilliantly and I doubt even the keenest enthusiast would be able to pick apart the facts strewn throughout the pages.

Beautifully written and wonderfully touching. Just like The Book of Beginnings, I will be recommending this to all of my friends once it is released.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to review this advance copy. A review will be posted on my Instagram page (@_thats_what_she_read) in the week preceding the release.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and netgalley for an arc of this delightful book. 'The Secrets of Flowers' is an enjoyable and easy read. Sally page has woven a well researched piece of history with the story of Emma and her grief. The characters are well rounded and believable and all add their own 'something' to the book. An excellent choice for a summer read....or anytime really!

The Secret of Flowers by Sally Page is the story of Emma and also Violet and the people who are a part of their lives. One year on from the death of Emma’s husband Will, from an undiagnosed heart condition, Emma feels as if she hasn’t moved on. So she decides to quit her job as a scientific researcher and work in the local garden centre. She becomes friends with Betty and Len and in the year ahead she makes more friends in her search for the florist of the Titanic, which is a piece of research study that she has undertaken.
Violet, is a young woman who works on the big liners and she was possibly one of the florists, as well as a stewardess. Her story is also told and how Violet and Emma could possibly be connected.
This is another fascinating story by the author about a love and knowledge of flowers and also the relationships that we form as we go through life.
Highly recommended

4+

Emma is desperate for a change, a distraction from her overwhelming grief. She resigns her university research job and takes a position as a florist at a local garden centre. A world away from science- maybe! Emma is a closed book but perhaps this change of direction will enable her to open up. When the garden centre owners, Les and Betty, invite her to attend a local history talk on ‘The Secrets of the Titanic’ she surprises herself by agreeing but, will she? Emma’s story works alongside that of Violet, a stewardess on board The Titanic and is interwoven with the secrets of flowers.

What a lovely book which I thoroughly enjoy. It’s beautifully written as Sally Page has a gorgeous way with words and a gift of creating characters you can really like, that is, with the exception of Emma’s mother. Just wait til you meet her! I get immersed in Emma’s life and it’s a joy watching her go on this journey and I love how researching Violet's story helps her get back on her feet and fully engage with life. Betty and Les are adorable with hearts of pure gold.

The flower element is really lovely and as a novice gardener at my ripe old age I find it fascinating. I do have to look up plumbago which is not to be confused with lumbago!

It’s moving, poignant and emotional with grief depicted really well. It’s a read that feels like a warm embrace and makes such a welcome change of reading genre for me. The Titanic element and Violet's story is woven in well with maybe a few coincidences but then, life is full of them. A pleasure to read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.

I only requested this book because I had totally loved Sally Paige’s other books – The Keeper of Stories and The Book of Beginnings. They were both outside my usual choice of books (I’m a crime thriller person) but I really enjoyed them and gave 5 star reviews. Anyway I loved this one too, but not as much as the others and I’m not sure why. I really like the author’s writing style, and the plot was good but it did seem to drag on a bit in places. Descriptions were fantastic and the research needed was very evident. I loved all the characters so I can’t quite put my finger on what didn’t hit the mark for me. The number of errors didn’t help – my hackles rose every time I spotted one – and I will never fail to understand why authors and publishers don’t use a proofreader before they put their product on NetGalley. I offered to send a list to the author and to the publishers last time but my offer went unanswered. I hope they are all sorted before publication day. This author’s books have always made me think about life and relationships. Also, fountain pens – and in this instance flowers. A good read, and I’m looking forward to the next one. Thanks so much for the electronic copy.

The Secret of Flowers by S. Page, published by Harper Collins is a wonderful story. Heartwarming, hearwrenchingly beautiful tells the story of loss, grief, second chances. The story of Emma, Les, Betty and Tamas, a slow burn, complex and literally unputdownable.
Reading the book was like coming home, snuggling up on the couch under a cozy blanket with a mug of cocoa.
Blurb: One year on from the death of her husband, Emma feels no closer to moving forward with her life. Seeking distraction, she quits her job and begins working at the local garden center.
Here, Emma begins to open up and finds herself attending boss Les’ talk on the Titanic. Intrigued, Emma sets out to research who would have arranged the flowers on-board.
Alongside her story unfolds the tale of a stewardess on the Titanic, who Emma can’t help but feel connected to..

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

Hmm, I didn't really enjoy this much. It is a most undemanding read and an OK story although a bit twee and self indulgent and I could have spent the time better reading something else.

There is a lot about the Titanic so anyone who is interested in the Titanic will, I am sure, enjoy this book. I am not interested in it although I did look Violet Jessop up on the internet and read about her and about Millvina Dean which was quite interesting. i like flowers and there is a lot about flowers and smells in the book but I prefer flowers growing rather than cut and slowly dying.

Emma is an OK character, a bit of a drip maybe, The other characters all have some "quirk" or defining feature which is referred to everytime they appear - Betty wears clothing with depictions of plants and cute animals; Les has a beard, speaks in cliches and used to be a punk; and the Tamas character is veering towards being a cultural stereotype of the large, jolly, European man who stomps about comically and speaks broken English. I suppose Emma has some depth but I felt the others were one dimensional, for example, when Clementine was mentioned later in the book, I couldnt remember who she was..

There is a lot of detailed descriptions of even the most minor things and the pace is slow.

Although I wasn't keen, I think this is an accomplished example of its type so let's go for a 3.

Impossible to categorise, this is a truly lovely book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The main characters are wonderfully crafted and interesting. I loved the elements of reality and research relating to the ‘florist on the Titanic’ and how it tied in to the main story. It is a gentle story and a lovely summer read.

"The Secrets of Flowers" by Sally Page
*Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Review:

"The Secrets of Flowers" by Sally Page is a beautifully woven tale that tenderly explores themes of grief, hope, and the unexpected connections that help us heal. One year after the death of her husband, Emma is struggling to move forward with her life. Seeking solace and distraction, she leaves her job and starts working at a local garden center. It is here that Emma begins to slowly open up, finding comfort and companionship in her new environment.

One of the highlights of her new job is attending her boss Les’ fascinating talk on the Titanic. Captivated, Emma embarks on a research journey to uncover who would have arranged the flowers aboard the ill-fated ship. This quest adds an intriguing historical element to the story, weaving in the tale of a stewardess on the Titanic to whom Emma feels an inexplicable connection.

Sally Page excels at creating a cast of inspiring and heartwarming characters. Each character Emma encounters contributes to her healing journey, offering friendship and support in their unique ways. The novel beautifully captures the essence of finding hope and rebuilding one's life after a significant loss.

The dual timelines—Emma's present-day experiences and the historical narrative of the Titanic stewardess—are handled with grace and skill, keeping the reader engaged and emotionally invested in both stories. The garden center setting, with its vibrant flowers and nurturing atmosphere, serves as a perfect backdrop for Emma's personal growth and renewal.

"The Secrets of Flowers" is a novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of resilience and the enduring power of human connection. Sally Page's eloquent prose and the gentle unfolding of Emma's journey make this book a poignant and uplifting read.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this touching and inspiring novel.

I loved this book. It was so unusual in its story and fascinating how Sally has weaved a novel around such a unique piece of historical perspective. The characters are fantastically crafted with depth and interest. I'm glad that Sally chose to not take some of the obvious plot developments although I think the expectation that these were coming did dull the story for me slightly.
This would make a great holiday or rainy weekend read.

The Secrets of Flowers is a beautifully told story about a florist who is researching who the Florist on the Titanic was. Emma is working as a florist following the death of her husband, and is coming to terms with her new life. In the process she is meeting a whole new group of people who help her learn to love life again. Every alternate chapter is about a girl from the past who loves flowers. This is a beautifully written book, and obviously well researched to tie in some facts from history with a beautiful story about research, flowers, friendship and the Titanic.

What a delightful book. Sally Page has done it again. Finished in one hit because I really wanted to know what happened. Lovely characters; honest, caring, and very, very kind. A book to make you feel glad to be human. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

I almost put this on the ‘not going to finish this’ pile but so glad I persevered. It’s a slow burner but I would recommend