Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - The Language of Flowers

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

15 reviews

jedore's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

“There was only one way to the other side, and that was through the pain.”

This debut novel is an emotional exploration of resilience, trauma, and the power of human connection. The story is told through the eyes of Victoria, a young woman who spent most of her life in foster care. Her journey is a rollercoaster ride through conflicting emotions and challenging relationships. Her complex character, which is both strong and vulnerable, makes her incredibly relatable. While her actions sometimes frustrated me, her journey of self-discovery was very inspiring.

The novel's exploration of trauma and its lasting effects is raw and honest. Diffenbaugh doesn't shy away from the harsh realities faced by a young woman who grew up in the foster system, but she also offers a glimmer of hope through Victoria's resilience and her connection to flowers.

This is a powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after the final page. It's a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity and find beauty even in the darkest of times.

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betag1013's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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mandi's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ps5517's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I found the depth and complexity of the relationships in this story to be astounding and so different from my personal experience that they sucked me in with fascination. I appreciated the community that quietly knit itself around Victoria, often in spite of her best efforts. Watching Victoria grow and learn that she had the ability to change and heal from her trauma was beautiful.

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bek67's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I didn't know what to expect but I was hopeful as I love flowers and gardening. And I learned something new-In Victorian culture, flowers were used to convey specific messages to encourage or dissuade the sender. Beyond knowing red rose means love, I did not realize tulips mean passion. So I was very drawn to the idea of this book. It does deal with some childhood trauma and how the main character deals with her current life based on problems of her past. I did get annoyed at her (Victoria) as she made some pretty ridiculous decisions but I stuck with it by reminding myself of what she endured as a child and she was still pretty much a child (18-19 years old). Ultimately this book is about forgiveness and second chances. I really enjoyed it.

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