I really wanted to enjoy this book because it is about Vincent Van Goh’s sister-in-law. However, I did not care for the modern storyline and found it unnecessary. I also thought that it distracted me from Johanna’s story. Therefore, I would have enjoyed it more if the story was solely focused on Johanna.

I really really enjoyed this book. I was a little worried when i started that it would be quite dense in art history references and terminology but it was totally accessible to all readers. Hugely interesting, i loved that it focused not primarily on Vincent Van Gogh but on the figure of his sister-in-law. A great tale of overcoming adversity, hugely rich and very enjoyable. I will definitely recommend this book!

Emsley’s grandmother Violet gave her two things before she died: sunflower earrings and a battered old box full of letters and a small diary. Emsley adored her eccentric, exotic, grandmother, an artist who was once the toast of the New York City art scene. When Violet died, it was Emsley’s charge to clear out the mansion and art studio
Emsley’s life is in turmoil, and the time she spends sorting out Violet’s possessions gives her a respite, a time to regroup and figure out her next move. She gets to know some of Violet’s friends, including her handsome young lawyer, and learns much more about Violet’s fascinating life.
Emsley assumed the letters in the blue box contained her grandmother’s love letters, but when she finally has time to go through them, she is both shocked and intrigued to learn they belonged to Johanna Bonger, wife of Theodore Van Gogh and sister-in-law of the artist Vincent Van Gogh. Why did Violet have this diary? Emsley wonders if Vincent might be her ancestor.
In the parallel storyline, the diary and letters reveal the history of the ill-fated Van Gogh family and the role Johanna played in ensuring that Vincent’s work would not be forgotten. The author conducted extensive research into the family, and she seamlessly intertwines the real and fictional aspects into an immensely enjoyable whole. The writing is lyrical, the characters are fully fleshed out, and the settings, including New York City, Amsterdam, and Paris, add richness to the story. Highly recommended.

Thank you for the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me reading the ARC of this book.

I love how the story is based on Johanna Bonger and focusing on herself and her struggles rather than focusing much on Vincent van Gogh, which actually aligns with how the story evolves throughout the book. That women shouldn't be solely valued by their association but also for their true hard works and passions. And for someone who doesn't indulge in art history, this book is really an easy introduction to how popular paintings and artists have come to the public.

It's an easy read but still a solid book with lots of interesting grips on you. Some endings are good that it hooked me up to the next chapters. And talking about chapters, I do really appreciate how short each chapter is that for someone with a short attention span; it keeps me reading it without feeling boring in the middle of this book.Although the dual narratives of past events and presents sometimes don't work for the story; it doesn't feel so much detached from the whole flow. The romance was okay. Even though I've read similar tropes with this one, it's still enjoyable.

Probably the most interesting part is how the sunflower that is become the main theme of Van Gogh''s painting also becoming the main theme of this book. And how the writer incorporates this is so beautiful.

The historical fiction about Vincent Van Gogh’s sister-in-law is a fascinating read. I especially enjoyed it since I had recently attended The Van Gogh Immersion in Raleigh, NC. The modern romance section lightened up the heaviness of the history. It’s a great read
I give five star rating.

The Secret Life Of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar was a beautiful written book and was extra special as it was based on a true story of Johanna Bonger, who was Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law. It was a wonderful story and I loved the way it weaved from modern day to the rich history of Van Gogh. Johanna who lived in the late 1800’s in Holland and Emsley who is trying to get her new business off the ground in L.A. today. I loved the character Johanna It was extra special as it was a random pick to read and a great holiday read.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction book about Johanna, Vincent Van Gogh's sister-in-law. Her efforts to get Van Gogh's paintings exhibited was very interesting. Without her efforts we might not have his artwork today. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

Highly recommend this one! This was my first book to read by this author but definitely won't be my last. The characters will stay with you long after you finish the book and you will find yourself wishing the story would never end.

I have to say this is a bit of a detour from my normal reading genres but then again, I am not sure what genre this would be called. It is a bit of history, a bit of historical, some contemporary romance, a touch of historical romance and it all combines a riveting story of love, tragedy, devotion along with a touch of comedy inserted in just the right times. The combining the true story of Johanna Bonger, combined with the contemporary story of Emsley Wilson is done exceptionally well and while their stories are not the same the struggle against immense odds is the core of this novel and the endings are near perfect. You will want to laugh, cry and at times just scream for the injustice of their lives but it makes success that must sweeter. 5 Stars for a story I was not sure I would even like that turned out to be a book I could hardly put down.

This book was a random pick for me from NetGalley. It has dual timelines, a familiar style lately. Sometimes it is tiring, but sometimes it works. I think that this is one of the times that it works, and works well.

The main character from the past is Johanna Bonger, the sister-in-law of painter Vincent Van Gogh. She seems like a strange pick for a central character but a very interesting storyline developed around Johanna.

The present day main character is Emsley, a celebrity art auctioneer in Los Angeles. Right away the reader knows that the two paths will cross. Emsley and Johanna seem to be on similar paths.

This book is well written. It's almost as if the part in the present has a different author. The writing style changes to fit the era. Emsley is quick witted. She has a dry sense of humour, even in stressful situations. The past is more sombre but Johanna proves to be a very strong character.

I love the fact that the real historical character, Johanna Bonger Van Gogh, was a determined woman who was solely responsible for presenting the works of Vincent Van Gogh.

So many themes are touched upon in this book. I love the strength of both women. I love the fact that both women are trying to prove themselves in a “man's world”. (Insert sarcasm font) Even though the timelines are one hundred years apart, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”.

The art world is involved in both timelines. While I am able to admire and appreciate a particular piece of artwork, it's not something I have ever learned much about. It was interesting to visit a “world” that I know very little about. And, I learned in the process. Naturally, I was Googling throughout the time I was reading the book to verify facts. It is obvious that the author did an immense amount of research in preparation for writing this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. This book is wonderful in every sense of the word. I'm not usually a fan of dual-narrative past/present stories, but this one sucked me in. Johanna Bonger is exactly the kind of inspiring woman you can't help but root for, and Emsley makes a fantastic 21st century counterpart. Since the book is based on a true story, it is especially remarkable that the author was able to write the perfect character to pair with Johanna, to bind the stories together and give them life in the modern age. I tend to be nitpicky about characters and settings, but I don't have a critique here. The book is not only a beautiful story of two women fighting to succeed despite crushing doubts (their own and others'), but an exploration of grief, identity, and finding yourself.

The research the author conducted for the novel is astonishing. This is hands-down one of my favorite books that I've read this year (80+ and counting) and I am so glad this book came to fruition.

As a fan of historical fiction, I was mesmerized by the beauty of this novel.
Admiring the paintings of Van Gogh and recently returning from a trip to France, I was transported to the dual worlds of his sister in law Johanna and to the present day life of Emsley Wilson, who finds Johanna’s diary amongst her grandmothers possessions.
The marriage of these two stories build as a one paints, with layers of color, broad strokes, finite detail and expression. It evokes emotion, the love and dedication of Vincent’s brother Theo, the determination and strength of Johanna and Emsley and their journey of self-discovery. All of these points are expertly crafted as the author reveals the centuries apart mysterious connection that brings them together. Captivating!
Thank you NetGalley, Marta Milner/Dana Martin for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
5 stars!

WOW. A deeply fascinating story that felt rooted in deep truth and history despite being a fictional novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy.

4.5 stars...Beautifully written. Love the dual timelines here. Both women were equally interesting. After just seeing the Van Gogh immersion exhibit, I really appreciated the descriptions of all his work.

This was a very interesting book. I have not read any other book from this author. It was written from two different perspectives. One was current day, Easley , who co-owned and ran an art auction house. From the 1890’s was Johanna. Johanna was married to Vincent Van Gogh’s brother, Theo. Sometimes when an author writes it book in this manner it is hard to keep up with but I found this one easy to follow. I feel I am almost cheating anymore who might be reading this review by not telling them more about the story but my best advice is to read it and see for yourself. You will not be sorry. The characters were well developed and the story well written. I will recommend this book to family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

A captivating story that is intensely researched and holds onto you until you finish. The storylines between Van Gogh and the modern protagonist were equally fascinating which made for a great read.


I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

The unflagging devotion of Theo Van Gogh to his brother Vincent was known to me from previous reading, but this excellent portrayal of his sister and her support of Vincent is outstanding! An excellent portrait of this troubled artist from another angle and the unfailing support from his sister is so well written and definitely recommended.

A gripping, inspiring novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law is the description I read about The Secret Life Of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar. It is true but it is more. It is a fantastic dual time book concerning Johanna Bonger in the late 1800’s and present day Emsley Wilson. It is a story of self-discovery, a story that shows the strength of women and the ability to continue on with life during challenging times.

To say I was swept away with this story is an understatement. I connected with Emsley and Johanna almost from the beginning until the conclusion. Part of the mystery is how are these two women connected living over a century apart but the author brings it all together beautifully by the end.

Such vividly described scenes, emotions and setting so that it was seeing it happen on a screen in my mind. These women came to life in this story. This compelling read has an incredible amount of research that is so appreciated. A delightful book, not just to be read but to be savored.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book has dual timeline stories. In present day, Emsley is sorting through her grandmother's possessions and reading an old diary that wasn't hears. She tries to piece together some clues and is led to Johanna Bonger who was Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law. Emsley becomes very curious about the past and potential connections...all while straightening out her own life and future plans.

The second story line is that of Johanna's. Johanna married into the van Gogh family and then became the owner of all of Vincent's paintings. She becomes his biggest advocate for his art.
I found this novel to be a very interesting story of a part of history that I wasn't very familiar with.

Loved this book! It delves into the stubborn, caring and dare I say, the early feminism of the sister-in-law, of Vincent Van Gogh. Who struggled with the terrible depression of her husband and brother in-law, the conditions of mental health care during those dark days. Then we spring forward to present day and Emsley, who has fallen into hard times and through the loss of her grandmother, finds strength and redemption in Johanna Bonger’s struggle. Excellent, engrossing read. Do not miss this one.