Emma is looking for a change in life after being widowed and leaves her academic life to work as a florist. This change opens up a perspective tied in with a historical POV during the Titanic era and brings her a lot of perspective and closure. it was a lovely and easy read

Oh what a story. It was one to keep reading so that you could find out more!

When Emma loses her husband, she takes on a new job as a florist at a garden centre. Her boss is a member of a historical society, and following a talk about the Titanic, Emma decides to research who arranged the flowers on the great ship,

Her research about a lost girl encourages Emma to confront her own past and find herself.

beautifully written and brilliantly researched, this was a perfect read from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Secrets Of Flowers is the third novel by British author, Sally Page. Widowed seven months, forty-year-old Emma is finding her grief for Will, the one person who was the antidote to the poison of her mother’s words, overwhelming. All the aphorisms that well-meaning people spout are useless. She quits her job as a genetic scientist and, without any experience or qualifications, applies for a position as a florist in a garden centre.

While not reclusive, she finds large groups intimidating, thus misses the talk her boss, Les, an enthusiastic member of the local historical society, gives on the Secrets of the Titanic. But it does prompt her wonder who might have looked after the massive number of flowers on that luxury liner. Interest piqued, she finds a frustrating dearth of information about who that might have been.

Emma is surprised, when she reveals just who she is looking for, how generous people are with time and ideas and suggestions. At each hurdle, she meets someone who recognises her passion for, what the ebullient flower delivery guy refers to as, this quest. And when other aspects of life bring her down, one of those helping wisely tells her: “You must continue, you know – I have a feeling it is part of your recovery.”

One thing that has her thoroughly intrigued, though, is the photograph of one of the stewardesses on the Titanic: she feels recognition, a connection, even though there’s nothing in her past that could be a link.

Back in the late nineteenth Century, on the plains of Argentina, six-year-old Violet Jessop’s father has already instilled in her a love of flowers; so well-established is it that, when she lies in hospital in a coma, her mother believes the bunch of lovingly-picked honeysuckle brings her daughter back to consciousness. By the time she is twenty-one, working as a stewardess for the White Line, flowers are still bringing her joy and comfort. The Purser on the Titanic couldn’t have picked anyone more suitable to deal with the many floral demands.

Page takes known facts about the Titanic’s passengers and crew, as well as a survivor’s memoir, and fills in the tiny details to build her story. The two narratives over a dual time-line carry echoes of each other and, true to the theme, most chapters begin with the name of a flower.

Page gives some of her characters, often nameless or bestowed only a given name, wise words and insightful observations: “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission,” as she explores grief and loss, infidelity, casual sexism, career change, friendship and loyalty. Heart-warming and hopeful.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

I found this book to be delightful and illuminating, powerful, full of emotion and connection. The depth of research that must have been undertaken about life working onboard cruise liners and the knowledge and quality of a huge range of plants and flowers was totally engaging, a subject I would not have expected to be gripped by as much as I was.
This book had me totally torn, wanting to read on, but not wanting to reach the end. I smiled, had a few tears and was so sad to leave these characters behind, who felt so real to me. A wonderfully, delightful read! Five shiny stars!

Very unique take on the subject of a book. Flowers, the Titanic, recovery from a loss. You could almost smell and see the flowers in the descriptions. Beautifully written, dual timeline story.

For our March Running Club Book Club selection, we selected The Secrets of Flowers by the fabulous Sally Page.

It was a delight to welcome Sally back to our meeting for the second time, and we loved her insights into the story as she shared her experiences as a florist and her fascination with all things Titanic.

This beautifully written story is told through a dual timeline, weaving together the tale of Emma, who is navigating her grief after the death of her husband, leaving her research post and instead finding solace in her work as a florist at a garden center, and Violet, a stewardess aboard the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction or have a passion for the Titanic, then this book is definitely for you! It’s a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the enduring connection between lives across time. Don’t miss it!

Just wonderful. I stayed up late to carry on reading this one. A great mix of flowers, a modern day story, which does not come without it's own pain and problems and a character from the past who is somehow mixed in with the modern day story but just how? A great read for Titanic fans, history fans, flower lovers and modern day fiction. A must read!

Sally Page really knows how to get inside a characters head and heart and display it for all to see or in this case, read. I loved this book. Emma was a strong female lead but vulnerable too. Using the flowers and tying it into the Titanic was fascinating. I had never thought about the regular workers and staff on the boat before. I ended up looking up some of the interesting facts she talked about in the book. What a lovely story about a woman coming back from a very difficult place. Sally Page, I love how your mind works. Please keep writing.

The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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 centre.

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…

My Opinion

I have read a few books by Sally Page and I have to say that I am a fan of the writing style. In The Secrets of Flowers, Sally uses multiple perspectives and timelines to tell the story. This was such an interesting book that I read it over an afternoon. Even though there are some difficult topics within this book it has been written beautifully.

Rating 4/5

Told in a dual timeline, there is a connection of flowers and their meanings between present day Emma and Violet, who was on the Titanic. Interesting from both a historical perspective and yet emotional with the sensitive topics dealt with, this story is one that keeps you reading on and engaged. I enjoyed it a lot. Many thanks to #netgalley #sallypage #thesecretofflowers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed reading this story, I was engaged early on and kept reading and enjoying. The author has done a good job with details and character interactions. Recommended.

A lovely story, perhaps a little slow at first, but gentle and enjoyable. I loved the beautiful descriptions, of flowers and of rooms and countryside, very pleasant.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

A heartwarming journey of healing and discovery that delves into themes of grief and the unexpected connections that can bring peace in times of sorrow. The dual timelines allow the past and the present to coexist in a way that feels both poignant and compelling. A worthwhile read. Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion

I liked the dual timeline between Emma in the present day and Violet in history. The intrigue of finding out who the florist was on the Titanic was a good thread pulled through the story. The author wrote compassionately about bereavement, infertility, and the comfort of others.

The story starts in a quagmire of grief. When Emma’s interest is piqued by a single thought, of who the florist was on the Titanic, her curiosity springs back to life, and we are taken on her journey of discovery meeting new people, finding old photographs and archives.

In addition, the story is woven with the tale of a young girl, who is very sick, falling in love with flowers and the names of flowers at the turn of the twentieth century.

When these two tales converge, the portraits of special people begin to take colour. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page.

A delightful book written once again by Sally Page! I love this author, her writing and the books she crafts. I was fully immersed in this story and got through it very quickly. I really liked the fact that there is some history included within the story (the Titanic) which I enjoyed revisiting the facts about again. Full of emotion and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy.

A beautiful story which I was totally immersed in. Anything about the Titanic interests me and this was told from a different perspective. Dual timeline which I always love. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Gorgeous!! I rooted for Emma to find her happiness and herself the whole way through. I was immersed from page one and fully invested in each of the character’s stories. A lovely, hopeful, charming and realistic telling of love, loss, grief and hope.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a lovely book! Didn’t want to put it down!! An amazing story linking historical events and fiction. I enjoy learning about the Titanic so to read about it from Violets perspective was brilliant. Full of emotion and diverse characters!

A third enjoyable novel from Sally Page with an engaging plot, likeable characters and a dash of history thrown in.