A dark, atmospheric thriller with hints of horror and gothic vibes. The tension builds slowly, and the floral imagery is eerie and stunning. Perfect for fans of dark, lyrical thrillers.

The cover is one of my favorites of all time, I'm a sucker for dark florals. The story was pretty good, the gothic vibes were definitely there and I love plant horror. There were a couple of points where the story lagged for me but it redeemed itself with the last few chapters. I really enjoy this author's writing style and the way she sets up her settings and plots. It's very descriptive writing that's easy to visualize.

This was one of the strangest books I’ve read in recent memory, and if you know me you know I love strange. The mystery starts at the very beginning when Holly’s brother dies by cleaving himself practically in half, she then finds herself embroiled with his girlfriend, Maura, even going so far as becoming roommates with her as a means to find out why her brother would do such a thing. Shenanigans rightly ensue, as something dark and dangerous is at play, and Holly is right smack in the middle of it all.

I love anything and everything to do with plants, flowers, trees, greenery, flora, you name it, I love it. Flowers play a major role in this book as Maura is a florist by trade, but she also has a clientele for herbs and natural remedies. Most of Maura’s plants are harmless, but there are quite a few questionable plants in her greenhouse, which she keeps locked.

Mental health plays a big role in this book, as Dane was grappling with his own, and much of the story focuses on his sharp and rapid decline. From the beginning, Maura is painted in such a suspicious light that it was a guessing game trying to figure out if she was a grieving girlfriend or something else, if she knew more than she was letting on, or even if she was the catalyst behind Dane’s death.

All told, this was a mysterious and creepy read that kept me up way past my bedtime. Pick this one up if you enjoy:

🥀Southern gothic fiction
🥀Thriller with light horror elements
🥀Botanical horror
🥀LGBTQIA+ representation
🥀Compelling characters

In this horror novel by K.L. Cerra, I found myself completely uninterested in the main character and actually thought the villain was a much better character.

I pushed myself to finish, but in the end, this story is just forgettable.

3 stars

Such Pretty Flowers is a mystery/thriller centered around Holly's brother Dane and his mysterious death that was ruled a suicide. Wanting to know the truth she ends up moving in with her brother's now widowed fiancé. I loved the plot of this book however, I feel like it left me enjoying Maura's character more than anything, I could probably read a whole book about Maura and her "healing" journey. I will say the main thing I didn't like was that the mystery wasn't really a mystery, it was rather predictable especially since the red flags were crimson in shade. To Holly though the flags were apparently light gray since she disregarded them pretty quickly and multiple times which could've been possibly more believable had there been another suspect but it was written to be too obvious to me. Also the romance could've just not been included as it took away from the plot.

This was a story about growing dread.
One of my favorite things about this book was the totally relatable way the protagonist was trying to process grief.
This was such a quietly frightening horror novel- the creeping sense of dread set in from almost the first chapter, and the toxic friendship at the center felt alluring in the same way really pretty, but deadly plants might.
Thanks so much @netgalley & Bantam for the eArc!

I do plan to read this - but my goodness that cover. floral queer horror. I must have just read/listened to House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland and hunted a book similar to it down.

Such Pretty Flowers by K. L. Cerra, caught me because of the cover and plot summery but it lost me with the execution of it. I am interested in reading more from this author.

"Such Pretty Flowers" by KL Cerra is a stunning read that’s both haunting and beautiful. This book weaves a captivating tale that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Cerra’s writing is so vivid and evocative—it’s like you’re right there, smelling the flowers and feeling the chill.

The characters are wonderfully crafted, each with their own unique charm and depth. The protagonist is especially intriguing—her journey through the tangled web of mystery and beauty is so compelling. You’ll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way.

The pacing is spot-on, balancing moments of suspense with those of quiet introspection. Cerra’s ability to blend the eerie with the beautiful is simply mesmerizing. It’s a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

If you’re looking for a book that’s both enchanting and chilling, "Such Pretty Flowers" is a perfect pick. It’s a beautiful, thought-provoking read that’s hard to put down.

I was expecting some crazy turns and twists but about halfway through, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. But it definitely is a gothic horror that takes you on a journey that will send chills down your spine. That creepy eerie vibe that settles over a location or town was fully felt during this read.

In Such Pretty Flowers, we meet Holly, a woman whose brother just died. What started as a sudden and strange psychiatric condition became rapid mental deterioration, ending in a gruesome suicide (content warning for body horror). Holly and Dane were always close, but his recent entanglement with his new girlfriend, Maura, put some distance between them. Holly amplified that distance when his mental health made her uncomfortable; she hated seeing what was becoming of him. And then there's the alarming text Holly got from Dane the night he died: he reported that Maura wanted to play a weird game, and he texted his sister so she'd know "just in case."

In the aftermath of Dane's funeral, Holly struggles to believe how all this could have happened. Her parents are each grieving in their own ways, and her best friend/roommate seems more interested in moving her own life forward (quite literally talking to her fiancee about moving out) than being there for Holly. But Holly can't move on without getting to the bottom of what happened to Dane. She's certain there's more to the story, starting with his erstwhile girlfriend. To dig up more on Maura, Holly ends up befriending her and even becoming her new roommate. This perfect opportunity to snoop also brings them closer, leaving Holly confused and at war with herself. This horror/thriller takes the queer concept of "do I want to be her or do I want to date her?" and adds in a third option-- or do I want to investigate her in case she had a role in my brother's death because she's hella creepy and suspicious under the surface? *whew* That was a lot. Holly's battling an attraction to Maura, her guilt about it, and the way Maura's moods swing from vulnerable to controlling to furious.

The florist's magnificent but creepy mansion and her equally mesmerizing but dangerous plants ensure the story plays out with perfect ambiance. The book delivers multiple styles of scary at once-- from the gaslighting and other mind games to the skin-crawling explanation for Dane's death. Was I a bit too scared to function at certain points? Yes. I am a giant baby. But that's part of how I measured the book's success.

I'm not often a horror reader, so take my review in that light. I try to get out of my comfort zone sometimes because even if it doesn't become my new favorite book, I get something unexpected out of the experience. This book ticks that box. I think this is a great queer installment in the horror genre, and I'll just try not to think too hard about what happened here when I'm home alone after dark. Thanks to Bantam for my copy to read and review!

This book took a much darker but overall sort of predictable turn than I had first imagined. When the book began, I was expecting some really crazy turns and by about halfway through, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. That's not to say that it is a bad book ,but simply it isn't in league to be one of the greats, either. It's a mediocre kind of horror meet thriller book for me, and while I'd certainly give this author another try when they've had some time to really hone in on the plot twists, this one won't be making top books for the year.

This cover is amazing and what drew me in to read this one. A gothic horror that takes you on a journey that will send chills down your spine. That creepy eerie vibe that settles over a location or town was fully felt during this read. I would have liked the pacing to pick up a bit in places but honestly enjoyed it still. I didn't see the ending coming as it wasn't what I expected!

This was a lot creepier than I expected though I didn't care much for the protagonist. There were a lot of eyeroll moments for me.

While rather predictable, I did find the spooky and gothic atmosphere to be compelling. I just wish the mystery had been more interesting and the characters more relatable.

I really gotta stop reading debut thrillers. It's not that they're ever bad, it's just that they're also never good. As with most, this is just mediocre. Cerra needs a little more time to hone her craft.

A little slow but it sucks you in about 30% in. It has a similar feel to it as House of Hollow. Just like Holly, you won't be able to stop thinking about Maura! I loved the gothic vibe to the descriptions of the setting and surroundings.

A slow and twisty tale that you will completely forget in an hour of finishing it. Just not enough meat on the bones here to make it worth recommending.

**Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for the eARC**

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

What a dark, twisty ride. I really appreciated Cerra's fresh voice in the genre. I felt I was seeing situations and locations that hadn't been done to death. The intrigue carried me along, and the personal dynamics between the characters felt real (and made me quite uncomfortable...in a good way). My only problem was that I felt the ending happend a little too quickly and felt unclimactic. I was expecting a bigger finish from such a great tense buildup throughout the book.
But I am definitely looking forward to Cerra's next book. Maybe they'll stick the landing a little better on the next one.