I have about 20 pages left but I needed to gather my thoughts first, because I just know I will bawl my eyes out once I finish this book. I remember I reading the blurb on Netgalley and thought it intriguing because it said so much but revealed very little as well. That and the pretty cover were enough to pick my interest.

This story is set over the course of a decade during the 70s, in New England, and revolves around Annalisa, a young woman whose one true desire is to live and breathe as an artist. Painting is a craft she has honed her whole life and not even the small town she has grown up in can stop her from soaring. However, on the eve of her taking a new step toward fulfilling her big dreams, she meets Thomas and his unexpected presence (and his family baggage) puts her beautiful but fragile aspirations at risk. I do want to say more, but I believe this book will be appreciated best if you go in mostly blind.

I've never read any Boo Walker story before this one and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to get an ARC of "The Singing Trees." It was just so good. Talk about giving a new meaning to slow burn! Be warned, I felt on the verge of tears most of the time, and though I admit I can be moved more or less easily, to be able to leave me as a wreck page after page is really a feat in itself. Two thirds in, I thought my heart really could not handle the pain any longer (I still did). The author has a way with his words and his characters; everything seems very humble and very touching at the same time, as if you were just taking your time inhaling and exhaling, connecting and contemplating. It looked simple but it really isn't. It's not as spiritual as I make it sound, but the story, the protagonists and their experiences felt so very human in all of their complex glory. I can't quite give it justice with my words here, but it was really beautiful.

This would be a great book for our book club! Loved it! A lovely enchanting read to snuggle up to, I really enjoyed this book from this author and will definitely be reading more from them in the future.
Heartwarming right through with lots of relatable characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a predictable book about families, the decisions we make, the people we love, the betrayals we suffer. It’s about prejudices and the abilities to try and control those we hold dear. It’s also about resilience and forgiveness.

This is a perfect beach read or a good story for a book discussion group.

This is a beautiful story of people intertwined at the heart by the vines of love, hurt forgiveness and finally restoration. It grabbed me at the prologue and pulled me through by need for more. It is well written and flows great moving from one vivid word picture to another. I found myself immersed in the story. The only flaw was a few well placed lines of extreme profanity which were not only totally unnecessary but even felt awkward as if someone else stuck a random sentence into the book. It interrupted the flow momentarily. I am sure I visibly flinched. Overall, a must read. It’s a great book to lose yourself in for a few days.

'The Singing Trees' by Boo Walker is a touching story about the complicated relationship between following your dreams and following your heart. The story centres around Annalisa, an aspiring artist growing up in a small town who dreams of having a successful career as an artist. When she meets and falls in love with a young man named Thomas, both begin to grapple with the potential of their relationship and what that may mean for their dreams. Family secrets, heartbreak, and forgiveness paints a beautiful picture of what the purpose of life really is all about.

The 1970s storyline brought a vintage simplicity to the story which allowed Annalisa and Thomas' relationship to be the focus. The writing was evocative without being wordy or cheesy and while the idea of two people in love from different backgrounds is not new, the self-discovery aspects of this story were refreshing and I wish more female characters like Annalisa (strong yet vulnerable) existed in literature.

This was an emotional story that made me cry at some points because of the pain and passion and that was so beautifully and respectfully written. Sometimes in life, what you think might hold you back, is the very thing that will allow you to soar. When you open up your heart, life can offer so many possibilities which is the wonderful thing about love. We are afraid of getting hurt, of opening up, of taking a risk, but how can you ever discover who you truly are if you are afraid, closed off, and tentative?

There will be times in your life when you will read a book and it will feel as though it was written specifically for you, and it will change you. For me, 'The Singing Trees' is that book. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read this meaningful story.

Its 1969 and Annalisa Mancuso has closed into herself following the tragic loss of her parents. Inspired partially by her mother, Annalisa devotes everything she has left to her painting. She's desperate to find her voice and feels that the best way to do so is to leave her town and everything it represents. Seems simple enough, until Thomas enters the picture and changes the course of our heroines life leading her on a somewhat bumpy journey she never expected. Is risking everything the thing to do?

This is a stunning narrative with well developed characters that tug at your heart strings. From the first page perfectly chosen words draw the reader near, weaving a web that will leave you with an intense desire to crawl in to the story and never return.

Boo Walkers passion and brilliance is once again very evident in this book as with previous novels, anyone who is familiar with Boo Walker will know exactly what I'm talking about, and for those who aren't what are you waiting for? This novel present an excellent start to your love affair with this author.

A very big thankyou to Netgalley and Boo Walker for an advance copy for me to leave my honest response to the book in question. I will be singing praise for The Singing Tree's until everyone I meet is reading this one.

This book! It starts out with a slow build, reeling you in as you follow the story. Annalisa wants to paint more than anything and feels she needs to leave her hometown in order to find her creative voice.
Thomas comes along and with one look things change.
Life gets in the way, family, war and making decisions that
at the time seemed right.
I feel like I rushed through this book, it was so good I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Very few books leave me with tears running down my face.
Thank you Boo Walker for the early copy of this amazing book!

This love story is a real journey, worth every step. It was inspiring to follow the dreams of a young artist as she fought against the loving limits of her family and her small Maine town and made her way to Portland to pursue her dream. The plot twists kept coming, and the author does a great job of taking you back to the 1970s with all the hope and turbulence colliding in the air around every decision. THE SINGING TREES is an emotional investment, but the payoff is worth it. An amazing read for artists of all stripes. Thanks to Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The singing trees had me singing through the memories of my youth. Boo writes his stories in color as he weaves his characters lives in and around each other and I highly recommend this book for the journey of an artfully told story. I always look forward to Boo Walker’s next book.
Thank you Boo for the beautiful journey!