3.5 stars for this novel of sibling rivalry, family love and living honestly, set in the American South.

In the UK, I have not seen a Christian Fiction category in any library or bookshop aside from, well, Christian bookshops. I was a little wary of what exactly a book in this category might prove to be: sugary sweet or narrowly judgmental; joyless or gushing? Happily, all I got right was that it was unmistakably American. This Christian might just go on to explore this category further.

Yet I almost threw this book aside early on. Lovey's story is one of being unhappily fixated on a relationship that ended three years previously, and she is upset about her toxic relationship with her sister Bitsy. Despite being a kind, loving woman who enjoys some good friendships, Lovey is lost and bitter. Yes, her ex-boyfriend and sister have treated her very badly but Lovey seems to hang on to every wrong done to her - let it go Lovey!

Also I was thrown slightly off-stride by a book labelled as Christian featuring - at length - a medicine wheel, it felt to me like cultural appropriation, I'm afraid.

Yet I am glad I persevered with this book. The further you read, the better and richer and truer the writing is. There are still moments of irritation - Lovey literally fleeing conflict, constantly - and I just can't see a concrete Virgin Mary as any sort of garden ornament, but there is some beautiful writing about families, love and ageing. I really like the way Julie Cantrell writes her extended metaphor of gardening, life and the Garden. The characters blossom; there is growth. And lastly, perfectly, there is a dog named Dolly P.

I received this ebook free from NetGalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson.

By appearance, Lovey has it all together with successful career, hobbies, friends and weekend home. However, Lovey is confused in every aspect--emotionally, relationally, internally and especially spiritually. she is lost and stuck and knows it yet believes that this is the best it will be. An unexpected call from home leads her to difficult and painful past and current interactions with family and the community. She must choose to find healing and her life's purpose through it all.

Perennials
Julie Cantrell
Available: November 14, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com for this Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was drawn to this book because I am a sucker for Southern novels. While I was expecting some cattiness and “Bless Your Hearts” while Lovey made it back to life in Oxford, MS her journey was deeper than that and she is forced to question everything about her life. In fact – there were a few passages where my eyes glazed over (any time she was in Sedona with Marian or about William Faulkner) and I was tempted to put the book aside. While there is no fluffiness in this book, I’m glad I stuck it out. Through tears, sniffles and at least eye roll I may have not gotten the book I wanted, but I read the book I needed.
What I loved: While touted in the Christianity genre book – it wasn’t preachy. God’s message was subtle – Lovey being the Prodigal Son, tales of Judas, and how in order to have good, there must be evil. The messages were not of one particular form of religion, but rather basic tenets of life to inspire the reader to want to go out into the world and make a positive mark – no matter how big or small.
What I didn’t love: Even at the end, I still couldn’t stand Bitsy as a character. While some may think her breakdown at the end of the book signified her growth of a character and coming to terms with her emotions and situations; I only saw a jealous, spiteful bee-yatch who only cared about her outward appearances to everyone, keeping a fake perfect life, and never apologizing for her hurtful actions.

What I Learned:

Overall Grade: B

Eva, or Lovey as she’s called, and her sister Bitsy, grew up in Mississippi. A tragic fire during their girlhood damaged their mother’s prized perennial garden and injured one of Lovey’s friends. Bitsy, who seemed to be the perfect. daughter, the one who married well, blamed Lovey for the fire. By the time she’s 18, Lovey has had enough, she spurns a suitor and hightails it to Arizona, as far away as she can get from the deep South and her painful memories. She forges a good life for herself, with a successful career, but ar 45. she hasn’t met anyone she wants to spend her life with. Then she gets a call that twists her stomach into knots, her father wants her to come home to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary. That means Lovey will have to see Bitsy again and be reminded of all the things she wasn’t. But family comes first, so Lovey journeys back to Oxford to confront her past, little knowing that in doing so, she will find herself.