Send Flowers, the debut novel by Emily Buchanan, tells the story of influencer Fiona, who has amassed an online following of 500k people through her love of plants and the environment.

We meet our protagonist as she is managing the sudden death of her eco-activist boyfriend Ed who died in a freak accident during a mass protest in London. Fiona is living alone in her London flat with her cat Bruce amid a months long heatwave in the city.



She has let her online account drift and has been uncontactable to friends, family and followers as she deal with her grief. When her mum Tracey turns up unexpectedly and takes her cat, Fiona is left even further adrift.

That’s when Fiona’s already unmoored existence takes an even stranger turn as she finds a houseplant at her front door which she believes to be her reincarnated boyfriend, Ed.

This discovery takes her on an adventure back to her village in Scotland and then to Banmora, a fictional island off the west coast of Scotland.

I don’t want to give too much more of the plot away as I risk giving spoilers! But we witness Fiona dealing with her grief and the challenges between her kind of activism with a huge social following, versus Ed’s more grassroots activism.

This is a special book - it looks at the subject of climate change, protest, freedom of speech, activism, grief and relationships both with ourselves and others.

Climate change can be something too scary to look at, as to do so can feel overwhelming, but the author not only manages to create real empathy for protestors but also shines a light on the fact this is not an ‘us and them’ scenario and we all face the very real threat that changes to our environment are bringing.

I really enjoyed exploring these topics through the voice of Fiona and understanding too, that the act of protest and activism are not plain sailing either for those who take part.

This book is also really very funny, as well as moving and deserves to fly off the shelves on publication!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review early.

Fiona, known online as eco-influencer @FoliageFifi, has retreated into her flat since the death of her boyfriend, Ed. She carries the weight of guilt over his passing and the collapse of their climate activist group. However, when Ed’s favourite plant appears on her doorstep with an anonymous note, Fifi is stirred by a faint sense of hope. After sprinkling Ed's ashes into the soil of the plant, she wakes up to find that it has flowered — and, astonishingly, it can talk. The plant claims to be Ed, now returned to her as a houseplant.

Determined to keep Ed—and the plant—alive, Fifi embarks on a journey, following his mysterious guidance into a world on the edge of climate disaster. But as Ed becomes more insistent, urging Fifi toward places and people that have caused her deep emotional scars, she begins to question if preserving his life is worth risking her own. As she navigates this strange, surreal situation, Fifi must confront her past, her grief, and the growing climate crisis.

In her debut novel, Emily Buchanan offers a warm and witty take on grief, blending the absurd with the deeply emotional. Send Flowers explores the delicate balance between holding on to the past and embracing the future, highlighting the resilience of love, hope, and community in a world teetering on the edge of collapse. Buchanan’s writing brings an original and thought-provoking perspective on environmental activism, the importance of found family, and the personal growth that comes with facing our deepest fears and desires.

Send Flowers is an incredibly unique and heartfelt exploration of grief, love, and climate change. Buchanan has created a character in Fifi who is both relatable and incredibly complex, navigating personal loss while also grappling with the global crisis around her. The surreal twist of Ed returning as a talking houseplant adds a whimsical, yet poignant, layer to the narrative. The novel brilliantly ties together themes of environmental activism and personal redemption, all while keeping the tone surprisingly light and humorous. I found it to be a refreshing and emotionally resonant story that combines wit with a sense of urgency about the state of the planet. It’s a compelling reminder of how interconnected we are to nature—and how even in the face of overwhelming grief, there is always the possibility of growth and healing.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A hard-hitting exhilarating call to action, Send Flowers is a brilliant debut from Emily Buchanan.

Sustainability influencer Fiona is bereft and alone after the sudden death of her beloved partner Ed. Ed was a passionate believer in fighting for what you believe in, founding an influential climate change activist group which spread across the country, Since his death, Fi hasn't been able to face anything or anybody - until one day, a potted plant appears on her doorstep and Fi wonders if it could be a message from Ed, or even Ed himself. She slowly emerges from her isolation, connecting with old friends and family step by step, carrying 'Ed' with her wherever she goes. She finds out about a new direct action group who are planning a huge act in the face of government complacency. Fi wonders if this is where 'Ed' has been directing her all along, and if so, is she up to the challenge?

The story telling is fantastic, it doesn't pull any punches about the challenges ahead and the monumental efforts people have to make in order to fight back. Its also about love and loss and finding out who you really are within all of that. 5 stars

This is a strange sounding concept (dead boyfriend reincarnated as plant) but bear with this. It's actually a nuanced and moving depiction of grief and trauma but written with warmth and humour. It's also a well researched and considered meditation on the effects of activism on a person and on the different forms it can take.

This is a beautiful book that had me up late reading. It's accomplished and well written and shows real talent. I found it hard to believe that this author is a debut writer and look forward to more from her.

Such a beautiful story about love loss and the power to go on and make something of the memories. I highly enjoyed this one as I am going through similar things in my own life at the moment. It was beautifully written and I was tearing up quite a bit throughout the book. Beautiful read.