Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber – a Review

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Description:
Joan Sample is not living the life she expected. Now a widow and an empty-nester, she has become by her own admission something of a recluse. But after another birthday spent alone, she is finally inclined to listen to her sister, who has been begging Joan to reengage with the world. With her support, Joan gathers the courage to take some long-awaited steps: hiring someone to tame her overgrown garden, joining a grief support group, and even renting out a room to a local college student. Before long Joan is starting to feel a little like herself again.

Across town, Maggie Herbert works mornings as a barista, tending to impatient customers before rushing to afternoon nursing classes. She’s been living with her alcoholic father, ducking his temperamental outbursts and struggling to pay the household bills. But her circumstances brighten when she finds a room for rent in Joan’s home. In the unexpected warmth of her new situation, Maggie finds a glimmer of hope for a better life. But will Maggie’s budding attraction to one of her favorite customers ruin the harmony she’s only recently found with Joan? Meanwhile, what is Joan to make of the mysterious landscaper who’s been revitalizing her garden–a man who seems to harbor a past loss of his own?

As Maggie and Joan confront unfamiliar life choices, they find themselves leaning on each other in surprising ways–discovering in the process that “family” is often just another word for love in all its forms.

Review:

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber is a wonderful standalone novel. We meet Joan Sample, who has been widowed for 4 years, and has been a recluse, with her sister and two sons trying to pressure her out of her rut.  Joan realizes she is lonely, and decides to listen to some of the suggestions made by her family, such as counseling, taking in a boarder, and when she receives a letter from her HOA that her yard is a disaster, this pushes her to start living again. 

Joan hires a landscaper to fix the yard and bring it back to life.  She meets Phil, who is very helpful and friendly.   Joan goes to a therapist, who encourages her to join a weekly grief support group, and to her surprise, she sees Phil also attends.  Joan also meets Maggie, a college student majoring in nursing.

Maggie Herbert, works long hours as a barista, as well as going school for her nursing classes.  She has been living with her father, who is an alcoholic, and giving her a hard time.  Maggie is trying to find a place to rent, and is thrilled when Joan offers her a room to stay, and they both connect quickly.  Maggie and Joan help support each other, with a strong bond developing between them.

Joan’s two sons are always busy, with one son living locally, and the other in another state.  Maggie accidently meets Joan’s son at her job, and when he discovers she is the new boarder, he becomes belligerent, thinking she is using his mother; but Joan will clear the air, and slowly Maggie and Nick will become attracted to each other.  Joan enjoys meeting those in the support group, making new friends, as well as a slow burn friendship that grows between her and Phil.

What follows is a heartwarming story, with Joan and Maggie always there to help one another, especially when Maggie, Joan, Phil, and even Nick help fix up Maggie’s father’s place; and slowly her father stops drinking and things change for the better.  I loved Joan and Maggie’s close friendship, almost like a mother and daughter. 

Must Love Flowers was so very well written by Debbie Macomber. The story covered many life changing issues, such as grief, support, parents, therapy, friendship and children.  I suggest you read this book, as I could not put the book down.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher