This is a well written novel that starts with an engaging premise....Uma discovers her husband of many years has been unfaithful, and hours later he dies in a car accident. The cover info would lead you to believe that the rest of the book is focused on her finding the other woman, and although that is there it is a small part of the narrative the alternates between the present and how her relationship with her husband developed. This novel is more of a reflection on the paths chosen and those leading forward. Well written and thoughtful, but missing a strong plotline. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing an advanced copy for review.

Beautiful debut. I enjoyed this and would recommend to others. Characters are good, believable and varied.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. It is a beautifully written tale of love, betrayal and heartbreak. Well rounded believable characters and a well developed plot-line. Look forward to more by this author

This book was beautifully written. Uma discovers her husband Daniel has been cheating and when she confronts him via phone he tells her he’s on his way home. Sadly while on his way home to her, he’s killed in a car accident. Slowly she finds out the truth about who this other woman was and eventually confronts her. Pippa and Aaron have been friends of Umas for years, and they will help her pull it together.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Legend Press and the author, Joanne Burn, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Petals And Stones in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I thought this book offered a good read but, at times, it dragged a bit. A good debut novel though. Would definitely read another book by this author.

After listening to a voicemail message on her phone, Uma discovers Daniel her husband has been having an affair. When he calls her he doesn’t deny it but says he is on his way back from Devon,then they can talk about it. Sadly Daniel is killed on the M1 whilst driving home and his secret dies with him or does it?

The story is told over 2 timelines 2015 and 1997 where Daniel, Pippa ana Aaron are friends. The book shows how Daniel and Uma get together and how they all influence each other’s life’s.

Surprised this is Joanne Burn’s debut novel as it was beautifully written and I loved the friendship and relationship angle. Made me think yes you can love people in different ways and love somebody,but if the timing is wrong then it may never work out .... very thought provoking!!

I have always yearned to run away to a cottage by the sea so I was dead envious!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review and I am eagerly awaiting for Joanne’s next book.

A nice easy read. The conclusion felt a little disappointing - I kept waiting for something big to happen and it just didn't. Well written but the plot could've been a bit meatier, especially given the premise!

Petals and Stones, the debut novel from Joanne Burn, has been patiently waiting on my NetGalley shelf and as soon as I started it, I realized what a gem it is. Uma and Daniel are married and work together in his family's deli business, Miller's. While Daniel is away on business, Uma discovers that he has been having an affair, which they briefly discuss on the phone before he returns home. But when Daniel is killed in a car accident, Uma is left with unanswered questions about his infidelity and questions about their marriage, the life they built together, and what she really wants from life. 

I believe I mentioned this recently in a previous review, but there seems to be a trend lately with a spouse dying and then the surviving spouse later uncovering secrets about their lives. I think that's partially why I waited so long to read this, worried that it would be the same thing. However, I was very pleasantly surprised that this was not like so many other novels lately. First, Uma learned about Daniel's affair prior to his death. Secondly, the novel switches time periods between the present and earlier years prior to her and Daniel's marriage, shedding light onto what brought them together and how Uma truly felt. 

Prominent characters include Daniel's mother Mary and his sisters Ruth and Anna, as well as, his best friend Aaron and Uma's best friend Pippa. With Uma having no living relatives, Daniel's family very much becomes her own as their friendship and relationship develop, but also feels unsteady to Uma after his death as she fears changes in her life will result in his family turning away from her. While Uma and Pippa appear to be as close as two friends can be at the beginning of the novel, the author slowly reveals a relationship burdened with envy and distrust due to numerous factors and events that have occurred over their lives. Then there is the free-spirited, adventurous Aaron, who, along with Uma, has kept secrets about his feelings while still being an integral part of the friendship between himself, Pippa, Daniel, and Uma. 

After first reading the description of this novel, I expected it to be about loss, mourning, and Uma discovering who her husband truly was. Instead, I found a beautifully written novel about a woman acknowledging her longtime dreams, desires, and secrets while simultaneously rebuilding her own life. Uma learned who she really was separate from her life and business shared with Daniel, she found the courage to be honest about her past, and also found the courage to be honest about what she wanted for her future. Joanne Burn has developed an incredible group of characters, all reflecting on what once was while learning to embrace changes and the uncertainty of what will come next in their lives. An outstanding debut that should not be missed! 

*Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for providing this novel in exchange for my honest review!

Confusing read just couldn’t get into it picked it up four times and just couldn’t bring myself to finish! This book just wasn’t for me I feel bad but hey what can you do. Written very well but didn’t finish.

Interesting book. Worth a read.
Thank you both NetGalley and Legend Press for giving me the opportunity to read ’ Petals and Stones’ in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I kept waiting for something to actually happen after the husband died, but nothing ever did. I wanted a big reveal or a shocking twist, but it was all kind of blah.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a thoughtful story of how past decisions can affect our whole loves. It is beautifully written with excellent characterisation. My heart broke for Uma when she accidentally finds out her husband Daniel is having an affair on the eve of his sudden death. I enjoyed how the timeline switched between the present day and then back to 1997 when the lead characters friendships are formed.

I loved the idea of the cottage by the sea - what an idyllic place to escape to.

A gentle read, well paced and kept my interest through to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was unable to connect with this story, I tried picking it up Several times. I just don’t think it was to my taste

I got this book knowing it wasn't my normal genre(suspense) but didn't know it was a romance either. However, I was immediately hooked. I loved it!

Uma was married to her lifelong friend. They had a business and his family accepted her as their own. No MIL drama there! She hears a voicemail from another woman and confronts him about her. He says hes' coming home but he never makes it home. Uma doesn't know whether to feel anger, hurt, fear, or jealousy. She escapes everything and takes a much needed break to find herself.

While away, she remembers why her and Daniel had married in the first place. Yes, she loved him but was she in love with him? There is a difference. I related a lot to this book because his family gave Uma the love she needed. She didn't just love him but she loved them all which effected her decisions greatly. Sometimes a person just wants to know they belong and that is enough. But is it?

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you for the opportunity.

I'm really not sure of how I feel about this. I think I am underwhelmed, and a little confused.

Although written really well, with plenty of insights, contemporary references, and diverse religions/cultures merging together, I think that what it was missing was a good twist.

The plot was okay but it didn't grip me at all. The characters lacked a little something, especially considering the author continuously alternates between the present and the past; which gives the perfect opportunity to bring a character to life and understand their background. Instead, the author decides to explore the relationships between the four friends in the book; Uma, Daniel, Pippa and Aaron, during these throwback episodes.

The entire novel was told in Uma's perspective, although I think it would have been more interesting if the author had discontinued the 'past' point of view, and instead alternated between the four friends' perspectives. I think it would have helped me understand their individual roles in the story.

Uma is married to Daniel. Although she pines constantly after Aaron. Daniel is cheating on Uma with a mystery woman. Pippa doesn't really do a lot except drop hints that she wants Aaron. Aaron travels and comes back now and again to seemingly flirt with both Uma and Pippa and smoke joints. The entire story is a little... simple. There's no grit, no excitement.

My favourite part of this book was the first chapter. Uma finds out Daniel is cheating, and a few hours later Daniel dies in a car accident, leaving loose ends, an emotionally confused wife, and readers uttering a sharp intake of breath as they realised there would be no satisfying conclusion for the wronged spouse.

There's not really a lot that's resolved in the entirety of this debut. However it was written beautifully, and the narrative was really personable, making the entire book easy to read. Perhaps it just wasn't as entertaining as the first chapter hinted it could be.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A story based around losing a loved one but ultimately discovering many truths that were hidden before. What starts as heartbreak of losing her husband the day after finding out he'd been having an affair soon helps her get closure for tragic events that happened 20 years ago. Took me a while to get hooked but in the end I enjoyed the friendships and relationships and thought it was a great debut novel by Joanne Burn

I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and I thought the character development was done well. I liked the back and forth of present day and the past so we could get a feel for how the couple ended up together as well as how the other characters played into everything. I loved the romantic bits that weren't too sappy - just enough sap HA! I loved when I figured out why the title of the book is "Petals and Stones"! This is a great book and I will definitely recommend it to friends.

This is a debut novel by the author and very well written ! I loved the writing flow and the premises of the story. This is a book I was unable to put down and that I highly recommend.
Uma like many women, finds out her husband has been cheating. She is ready to confront him and wants to know the identity of his mistress. As she plans their conversation before he arrives home, he is killed in a auto accident.
She is left in a tidal pool of grief and anger. Determined to find out who the women was, she proceeds to attempt to find out on her own as she works on healing both from grief and from the betrayal.
This is a book written from the heart of all of us that experienced cheating. Its a story of grief of a wife, of loss of a marriage that was a sham and of moving forward. Uma is a strong character with backbone. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Very well done to the author ! Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my personal opinion.

I found Uma's character really easy to relate to, warm and caring. The characters around her were vivid and well written also. I found the ending slightly predictable but realistic and enjoyable.

I enjoyed this story of love loss and angst. It was an easy read which I was immersed in and held my interest. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it. I would definitely read another book by this author.