I was given a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper Collins for an honest review. Lovey, age 45, is finding herself at a crossroads in life. She has a successful job and a home in Phoenix as well as a home in Sedona. Lovey travels to Sedona every weekend to replenish her spirit. She is hopeful her latest project at work will give her a big financial payout so she can retire and live full time in Sedona. Her plans are set awry when her father phones and begs her to come home to Mississippi, earlier than her planned visit, to help plan her parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration. At his insistence Lovey returns home, to the place she fled from when she was 18. Once she’s there we learn more about the family dynamics between Lovey, her sister Bitsy, and their parents. There are many old wounds from the girl’s childhood and the sisters still have a volatile relationship with each other. Lovey also reconnects with her high school boyfriend. The longer Lovey is home the more she realizes how much she missed by leaving abruptly all those years ago. She develops a better understanding of her parents and their actions and she continues to try and build a relationship with her sister. Lovey does a lot of soul searching to determine what she really wants out of life. The descriptions in this book are beautiful and vivid. A lot of the story is based around gardening and this is brought to life for us. There are also a lot of historical references in the book that are very detailed and really round out the story. This book deals with love and forgiveness and talks a lot about different forms of spirituality. It is a heart warming book that emphasizes what the important things in life really are.

I was introduced to Julie Cantrell through her first novel, Into the Free. Her debut novel that captivated me from the beginning and will always be a favorite.

Her new book Perennials is beautifully written family saga, that deals with secrets, sibling rivalry, fractured dreams, along with hope, forgiveness, and healing.

With symphonic prose, Ms. Cantrell writes a story that everyone of us can relate to on some level. Whether broken dreams we let go in our life, people the need to forgive, and since most of us have experienced a broken dream, and have someone we need to forgive, even if it is our self. We need to heal, and Ms. Cantrell shows this in a beautiful tangible way.

I loved how Ms. Cantrell used flowers, and gardening symbolism to show both a spiritual and inspirational message. I loved the garden which is a huge part of the story, so I won't say too much, I would love to be able to go there physically to see it.

Every piece of this novel is relevant to all women today in one way or another. This is a must read!

Disclaimer . . . I received a copy of this book from the author, through the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

My blog link will go live on 11/14/2017 - release day.

Eva recently celebrated her 45th birthday and has a successful career at an advertising agency in Arizona. She supports herself, teaches yoga on weekends and is slowly recovering from a bad relationship. She grew up in Mississippi but hasn't been back since leaving for college. Eva is avoiding bad memories of a broken engagement and a volatile relationship with her sister, Bitsy.

Her parents 50th wedding anniversary is nearing and Eva receives a plea from her father to help plan the party. It's an odd request but he is insistent that she return home. Eva is in the midst of landing one of the largest accounts in her career and the timing is poor. She has mixed emotions about going back to Mississippi but she acquiesces to her father's demands. Once home, she faces friction from her sister along with pressure from her parents to reconcile their differences. She also finds time to reconnect with childhood friends and her onetime fiancé. Eva starts to fall back in her old habits and finds that life in Mississippi is better than expected .

Eva’s trip home as an adult enables her to view life from a different perspective. She uncovers truths about her sister, friends, and parents. She also learns a lot about herself and what it takes to be happy. This novel by Julie Cantrell explores family relationships from many different angles.

After woman (Eva/Lovey) returns to her hometown for parent’s (Chief/Jim and Laurel) 50th anniversary party, her life becomes uprooted. -- See what I did there? Uprooted, like a plant? The book made do it! Ha. -- What was it this visit home that caused Eva to feel so unsettled about her current life in Arizona? Will she find what she's been looking for? Will she finally make peace with her older sister (Elizabeth/Bitsy), as well as her childhood perception of herself? These deeps answers, and more, are answered in this beautiful story of family, friends, and flowers.

When 45 year old Eva was summoned to her hometown of Oxford, Mississippi a few weeks before her parent's 50th wedding anniversary party, she wasn't sure how to also balance her job as an advertiser in Phoenix, Arizona. Once home, however, her father insists the family embark on nostalgic and sentimental day trips down memory lane, and Eva finally relaxes and enjoys her time with family.

I read this book while suffering from a cough and cold and found the story to be the perfect escape as instead, I was transported to a lovely garden full of sunshine and familial love. My favorite characters were Eva’s father and Eva's childhood friend and first love, Fisher. I also loved all the flower references and how important they were to the family. Eva's mother, Laurel's, love of gardening reminded me of my own grandma and made me long for just a few more hours with her and her flowers. Lastly, I found the topic of visiting aging parents extremely timely as I will soon be visiting my own aging parents. Several times throughout the story, I became teary eyed while reading about the touching moments between Eva and her parents.

This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I look forward to more. If you enjoyed the information about flowers in The Language of Flowers, then I would recommend you read this one next!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I found Perennials started out very slow and never picked up much speed. I did like the comparison of life with a flower garden. But I felt there was too much New Age incorporated into the story. This just wasn't what I was expecting from this author.

Lovey and her older sister Bitsy can't seem to get along with each other, Lovey returns to her hometown to help her parents prepare for their 50th wedding anniversary. All the old feelings of hurt and disappointment are brought up and Bitsy still blames Lovey for everything that has gone wrong in her life. Lovey helps her father prepare a secret garden for her mother as a gift. Through a series of difficult circumstances, Bitsy and Lovey overcome their feelings of resentment and restore their relationship.

This is a good story of reconciliation and restoring relationships.

I absolutely loved this story. I felt a instant connection with Lovey and her family.

Lovey leaves home to find herself and to get away from her family. When she is called home for her parents 50th anniversary she realizes the truth about her parents, her sister and herself. A phenomal story about love, loss, forgiveness and family.

I loved the flower analogies throughout the story. We all begin as seeds, dig our feet in and grow tall. I highly recommend this book.

Eva, aka Lovey, has not been home in years. She has felt like and outsider in her own family long before she left to get away from the constant scrutiny and oppression caused by her sister’s lies. But when her father asks her to come home early for her parents’ 50th anniversary, she has no choice.
Through a series of road trips, the family lives the memories of Mom and Dad, often through stories of plants and flowers—one of Lovey’s passions.
Julie Cantrell uses the seasons of gardens, the hardiness, harm, and beauty of flowers and plants to paint a metaphor for life. Yet the heart story is about family and the choices made by each member that hurts or uplifts the others. About realizing that perhaps the decision made at one time was not the best one for everyone. And about forgiveness, healing, letting go, and moving on.
There is a heavy dose of New Age/Mysticism/Buddhism in this book and, while Christianity is mentioned, it is more in the southern, Bible belt vein—an expected part of life instead of a personal relationship. But, in truth, the story of this family’s coming together after so much separation is worth the read.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

A beautiful story set in the south with lots of historical references. I especially loved the flowers and gardens and how Ms Cantrell used them to emphasize life choices.

Adored this book on many levels. It will stay with me!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
I loved the botany lessons in this book since I enjoy "digging in the dirt and playing in my flower beds." I liked the Christian elements of the book and the scriptures sited with examples, but I didn't care for the Buddha elements.
A story of a southern family who struggles with when to forgive and start over, who love but learn to let go, who realize when it's time to either go forward or come back (home), and other many lessons and ideas were transposed in this book.
Over all, a good book!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I loved, loved, loved this book! I couldn't read it fast enough! The characters are very likeable. I loved all the gardening symbolism in relation to life. I come from a long line of garden lovers. Eva was a strong woman character, who in the process of this book figures out where she is meant to be. A great story about love, family, gardening references, and life obstacles. I am putting this book on my family book club reading list!!!

Having thoroughly enjoyed Julie Cantrell's Feathered Bone, I thought I'd give her new offering Perennials a go. After Lovey's near-idyllic child-hood, she's faced with a betrayal that separates her from her family and follows her into mid-life. Now home again, Lovey must learn to look at every point of view and love anyway. To be honest, I'm astounded this is the same writer. Cantrell's sharp, spellbinding writing of Feathered Bone has morphed into the sluggish and sentimental. Laced with every new-age belief out there –including the parts of Christianity that don't require personal responsibility- Perennials is a dream-scape of happily-ever-after in the Mississippi whole earth.

Julie Cantrell writes interesting books, but like my last review, faith wasn't an integral part of the book. However, Julie has hit on some tough family dynamics that nearly every family has experienced--sibling rivalry. Bitsy and Lovey have a rivalry that defies explanation, and Bitsy has an irrational jealousy of Lovey that refuses to heal, despite Lovey's attempts.

Julie uses the flashback device throughout the book quite successfully to keep the reader informed of what's going on with the characters and how they are feeling and why.

Lovey has an important job in an ad agency and is trying to bring in an account that will solve a lot of financial problems for her firm when her father calls her and asks her to come home for his fiftieth anniversary with her mother. He is not one to allow no to be the answer to his request, especially this time.

Bitsy resents that Lovey came home and has taken part of the limelight away from her. But Lovey meets Fisher--a childhood friend--again who is able to put some new perspective on Bitsy's irrational attitude.

I was ready to give up on this book, but it hooked me in at just the right time and held onto me until I closed the last page.

Much of the book revolves around perennial flowers and the garden that Bitsy and Lovey's father is having built for their mother. He takes the group around to towns close by Oxford, Mississippi, to collect cuttings for the garden and to keep their mother from guessing what's going on.

This is truly a five star book, two thumbs up, and hydrangea cuttings for your Mary Garden

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.

Cantrell's beautiful writing is a pleasure to read. Combined with her knack for excellent storytelling, this is definitely one not to miss.

A perfect rendition of life in the south, more specifically life in Mississippi. The two sisters could not be more different and what one views as strength is seen as weakness by the other. The book has sorrows and joys and both are very real. You will see the characters in your mind as you read this book.

A book about sisters, flowers and love, set in the South...what could be better? As far as books about sisters go, Perennials by Julie Cantrell is a great one! Every once in a while a new author comes along and I'm intrigued enough to read them. I've been seeing books by Julie Cantrell for a while now, including The Feathered Bone and Into the Free. For some reason I never read any of them. She is a best-selling author, so she must have some magic in her pen! Perennials was a great read, and I'm really glad to have had the opportunity to read it! Let me just start by saying how much I love the characters' names in this book. Can you get any more southern than girls called Lovey and Bitsy? Anyways...



Lovey always looked up to her older sister, Bitsy. But one day a tragic fire in the potting shed left a close friend burned and scarred. Bitsy blamed Lovey, and everyone seemed to believe her. It was just the beginning of a life with Bitsy lying and blaming Lovey for many offenses. No one took Lovey's side. So, when Lovey (who's real name was Eva) graduated high school, she refused the proposal of her sweetheart, didn't attend the college of her dreams, and ran away to Arizona. She built a very successful life for herself there, climbing up the corporate ladder in an advertising company. Her relationship with Bitsy has only grown harder over the years. Now, it's time for Lovey and Bitsy's parents to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. When her dad calls her and asks her to come home three weeks early, she balks. She's in the middle of the biggest deal of her career, and if she leaves now, she could lose it all. But, when her dad says, "Family First," she makes the decision to go. She hopes it might be an opportunity to reconnect with Bitsy, but things aren't good between them. As their whole family spends time together, old wounds are reopened, and truths come to light. When tragedy strikes, it may be the time for healing, and a trip into the past might be the key to their future.

Perennials was hard to put down. It's pretty slow-paced, and doesn't really have any heart-stopping moments (oaky there is that one...). But the story is so heart-wrenching and sad--but beautiful and redemptive in the end! I think if there is a lesson to be learned from Lovey's story, (I can't make myself call her Eva!) it's that it's best to confront issues in our lives, deal with them, and move on before they take over and change our whole future. In Lovey's case, she left behind everything that she loved--the career she dreamed of, the man she loved, the college of her choice, and the town she'd always lived in. She pursued a life she'd never dreamed of, as a way to escape the one she didn't think she deserved. I wanted her to stand up for herself, and take back what she wanted!

But the second, equally important lesson to learn here, is to forge a new path when life doesn't turn out like you plan. Lovey started a brand new life, with a great career, friends and hobbies that she loved. While it wasn't what she hoped and dreamed it would be, she made it work. Her true dreams never died, they just waited until a time came when she could fulfill them. Her desire to fix her relationship with Bitsy was admirable to me, too. If my sister treated me that way, I think I'd just walk away. (sorry, sister) But Lovey was determined, even when Bitsy made it nearly impossible. I guess the love of a sister can't really be stopped!

My favorite part of this novel (other than the actual story) was the beautiful description of the scenery. Of course there were a few descriptions of the buildings in Oxford, Mississippi, but what really got me were the flowers. With a book called Perennials I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything less. But, y'all, I'm telling you, I could almost smell them, the descriptions were so beautiful! I wish I didn't have a black thumb, because this book had me thinking of how I could turn my own backyard into a beautiful flower garden. It was amazing to read about all the different varieties, as well as the sites the family visited, the way that flowers wove into their lives, and what their messages were. And the dream garden sounded just like that--a dream! I'd love to visit some of the places mentioned in this book.

I loved Perennials, and I know you will, too. It's a non-traditional story about sisters, family, lies and love, and it will captivate you from the first page! I highly recommend it!



I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one

Perennials is such a great book, a well written plot with well developed characters. The author has a way of making you feel as if you are in the deep South with her descriptions. This was my first book by the author but I am sure I will be reading more of her work.

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My Review of "Perennials" by Julie Cantrell

Kudos to Julie Cantrell, author of "Perennials" for such an emotional and heartwarming novel. The symbolism in this book, leads to many layers of life. The genres of this novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline of this story as it relates to the characters is the present and as the two sisters in the story were growing up. The story take place mostly in Oxford,Mississippi, where the author shows her characters love for literature, history  and flowers. It also takes place in Arizona.

The blurb from the books says"When two estranged sisters reunite for their parents' 50th anniversary, a family tragedy brings unexpected lessons of hope and healing amid the flowers of their mother's perennial garden." The father wants to give his wife  a "memory garden" as a special present. The mother has a love for all perennials and living things.

The author describes her characters as complicated and complex. She often uses the symbolic example of a garden, seed, roots foundation, care, love and growth  to compare to the characters. The lesson of Judas is brought up and is used to explore the characters flaws, betrayals, secrets, needs, strengths and weaknesses. The author also discusses the concept of "Family First " in this story.  Also discussed is sibling rivalry. Secrets and lies also are in this story.

Lovey has left Mississippi at an early age headed to Arizona, where she is a financial success in advertising, and also teaches Yoga. She is called home to help celebrate her loving parents 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Told it is an emergency, Lovely leaves immediately and sees her estranged sister Bitsy.  Bitsy has two children that Lovely  has longed  to have a relationship with, but  Bitsy has kept them away from her. What has made Bitsy so bitter and angry?  What had made Lovely leave Mississippi, and go to Arizona.? What is so important that her parents want Lovely home?

I appreciate the historical research that Julie Cantrell has done in the literature, flowers, and gardens.  I love that the author discusses sibling rivalry, betrayal and loyalty, lies and the truth. self-worth,  and growth, and positive people and positive things in our lives. The author also talks about the importance of  family, friends, support, encouragement, growth, love and hope. Be warned: there are a few Kleenex moments. I would highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate a loving and memorable story. I received this Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

Perennials by Julie Cantrell  is full and fantastic two f words.  No matter the topic at hand the descriptions are perfection.  Full, as in giving enough to make you feel you have it all. From yoga and cactus in Sedona Arizona to all forms of nature and gardens in Oxford Mississippi.  Ms. Cantrell is a fantastic storyteller so knowledgeable of her locale and subject matter that she is able to make you feel as if you are there or at the least wanting to be. Family plays strongly throughout. Thank you Net Galley for the chance to read this freeing book.