The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson is a historical fiction story set in the Ozarks of Missouri in 1928 and 1978. In the story, Daisy is left with her grandmother that she barely knows in the summer of 1978 while her mother travels to California to set up a place with her boyfriend. While there, Daisy starts an internship at the local paper and begins to investigate the dance hall bombing that took place in the town in 1928. During that investigation she uncovers several secrets in the town and her own family.

I enjoyed the premise of this story and that the author is local. However, the first half of the book was very slow for me. The second half picked up once we started getting more into the events of 1928. Overall, an interesting read as the bombing event was actually based on a true event.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. Welcome to the town of Possum Flats, Missouri. All the residents know each other, each other’s parents and in some cases, each other’s grandparents. Thrown into the close-knit group of people is Daisy, a teenager whose Mom dropped her off at her grandmother’s house and took off for parts unknown. Rose Flowers, her grandmother, happens to be the town undertaker. Through the eyes of Daisy, we get to see the town and get to know the inhabitants. When a town tragedy which occurred in 1928 piques Daisy’s curiosity, everything changes. The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson is a great read. The ending of this book is simply beautiful.

The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson is inspired by true events which occurred in 1928 Missouri, namely the Bond Dance Hall explosion. The multiple narrators and dual timelines are written seamlessly. Layer upon layer of secrets are peeled back, exposing old wounds. Most small town locals are desperate to keep them closeted. It takes a young girl, an outsider, to bring them to the surface.

In 1928, tragedy of epic proportions struck and the town hadn't recovered fifty years later. When fifteen-year-old Daisy is hired to write articles at the local news office, she's tasked with an intriguing job. However, digging around causes a cascade of emotions. Her grandmother, Rose, has secrets of her own. As a mortician she's seen more than most and is usually unfazed in life. Daisy had been unceremoniously left at Rose's home by her mother and Daisy holds hopes of reuniting. She isn't exactly enamored with small-town living but her job gives her purpose.

Vivid imagery, wondrous writing and fascinating characters pulled me in immediately. Details such as fashion and food added to the atmosphere. I also really enjoy slow burn stories. The explosion story is remarkably sad.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this engrossing novel.

I’m not the target reader for this book. The multiple viewpoints confused me, and the slow pace failed to engage me.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. That the author wrote this about her own home town fictionalized to create a host of wonderful characters just adds to the impact. A Reading Group Guide completes the book.

Identical twin sisters Violet & Rose Flower are separated when one dies in the 1928 explosion of the local dance hall that killed 39 people. How the town survives the loss of so many young people is a testament to the fortitude of small towns. The survivors lives are changed and the impact is felt but never spoken of until the 50th anniversary approaches and a teenage summer intern at the local paper makes plans that stir up memories.

The characters were fascinating and well developed. I could see ahead to a lot of the outcomes but they were so well dealt with that it made putting this down a challenge. The ending was perfect leaving me feeling happy and hopeful.

Possum Flats, Missouri is a small community with many charms and secrets. When feisty fifteen-year-old Dasiy is left with her grandmother Rose for the summer of 1978, she starts a job as an intern at the newspaper office. The story she writes shakes up the town just as much as the dance hall explosion fifty years ago did. The Flower Sisters is a dramatic novel based on actual events from 1928. This book is a page-turner. Thanks to author Michelle Collins Anderson, Kensington Books, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Anderson's writing is poignant and evocative, capturing the essence of small-town life with depth and authenticity. The characters, from the wild and outgoing Violet to the solitary and reserved Rose, are beautifully drawn and easy to relate to, making their struggles and triumphs all the more compelling. "The Flower Sisters" is a captivating and well-crafted tale that offers a compelling exploration of family, secrets, and the resilience of the human spirit. Anderson's use of a real-life event as inspiration for the story adds depth and authenticity, while her skillful storytelling keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.

Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a book that would make an excellent choice for book clubs, offering rich material for discussion and reflection. As readers turn the final page, they will be left eagerly anticipating what Michelle Collins Anderson will write next, testament to the strength of her storytelling and the enduring power of her characters and themes. My only complaint is that the writing after the plot twist could have been better developed. 4.5/5

For me, this was an easy book to get into. From the beginning, the writing style reminded me of Fannie Flagg along with the quirky characters.

But, the storyline is far from light and quirky. Possum Flats, Missouri is a fictional town. Fifty years before the story, the dance hall blew up, with survivors and many casualties. Daisy, our young main character, is spending the summer with her grandmother and decides to investigate and write a news article about the explosion.

The story is told from many points of view, by different people of the town. There is much flipping back and forth in the timeline but it flows well. We see the same characters in the present day and in the past. The townspeople range from a pastor to a postmistress to a pharmacist to a mortician and more. An interesting cross-section of the population. And interesting personalities. I learn a lot about them.

Daisy had her own backstory happening. I was interested to see how that would play out. She starts out as a moody teenager but soon becomes very vested in researching and presenting her news article.

I really enjoyed this story. There are a lot of secrets, the basis of many good books. The more I got into it, the more I wanted to know how everything worked out. It's a slow burn, but an interesting one. I appreciate historical fiction that is built around actual events. This is a book that I loved even more after I finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

The Flower Sisters is a captivating tale that delves into the factual tragedy of a small Ozarks town, uncovering generational secrets and exploring the themes of searching and belonging. Through vivid and evocative storytelling, Anderson paints a rich tapestry of historical detail and memorable characters that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. This compelling narrative explores the weight of long-held secrets and the insatiable hunger for truth.

Based on true events ,this was a story that captivated me. It is beautifully written and told from two timelines. The tale blends family secrets, split second decisions, and forgiveness. Fantastic.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Flower Sisters" by Michelle Collins Anderson is a captivating novel that earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. From the very first page, I found myself completely engrossed in the lives of the characters and the intricacies of their small-town world. Anderson's writing style is both beautiful and nostalgic, effortlessly drawing readers into the heart of the Ozarks and the secrets that lie hidden beneath its surface.

What struck me most about this novel is the way it seamlessly weaves together past and present, with flashbacks to the 1920s adding depth and richness to the story. The tragedy that unfolds on one fateful night at an Ozarks dance hall reverberates through the decades, shaping the lives of the characters in unexpected ways. Anderson skillfully explores the ripple effects of this event, delving into themes of family, forgiveness, and the power of secrets.

One aspect of the book that particularly stood out to me was the vivid depiction of 1970s fashion. As I read, I could vividly imagine the characters' outfits and hairstyles, and I couldn't help but think that "The Flower Sisters" would make an incredible mini-series just for the fashion alone.

Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that offers a poignant glimpse into small-town life and the enduring legacy of tragedy. Fans of historical fiction and family sagas will find much to love in this heartfelt story.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

RECOMMENDED HIGHLY

I have been reading a lot lately, including old favorites and a number of ARCs. I was a bit unhappy with most of the ARCs lately until I got to this one.

This book was riveting historical fiction. Yes, there really was an explosion that destroyed a nightclub and the surrounding block (in reality, the Bond Dance Hall Explosion). No, it was not in a town called Possum Flats! And no, while the woman who died was a licensed embalmer—the first woman to be such a thing—she was not the woman we came to know.

I could not stop reading this novel, and calling it gripping seems a little cliched, but that is exactly what this book was -gripping. It had twists and turns that I never saw coming, and I loved the book more for that fact.

For those who love truth in their fiction, I highly recommend this book, especially if you like reading about the late 1970s. Learning about the 1920s was also really cool!

If you are intrigued, I would google Bond Dance Hall Explosion -it's worth the extra time.

*ARC supplied by the publisher John Scognamiglio/Kensington, the author, and NetGalley. My sincerest thanks for this wonderful novel.

Dual timelines are common in historical fiction, and The Flowers Sisters does an excellent job of making five different points of view and two decades fly by like they're no big deal. The novel loses some points for predictability, but the storytelling and characters make it all worthwhile.

It's 1928 and the titular Flowers sisters – identical twins Violet and Rose – often hang out at the local dance hall to bop about to some jazz music and, if they’re lucky, land their swain of choice. They’re almost impossible to tell apart and are able to fool their friends and family with ease. Violet is outgoing and flirtatious; Rose, introverted and serious. But they both love jazz and boys. In Possum Flats, Missouri, in those heady pre-Depression days, it’s the ultimate way to have fun.

One night, Violet comes alone to the dance hall to gain the attention of the dissolute but handsome Dash Emmonds, a preacher’s kid cutting loose with little planned for the future, while Rose stays home sick in bed. Violet and Dash are having a good time together when the joy of the night is rent by a sudden explosion. The Lamb’s Dance Hall is flattened, hundreds lie dying and Violet is among the casualties. Dash’s life has been saved, though he doesn’t come away completely unscathed physically or mentally. Live will never be the same for the sisters, for Dash, or for the town in general.

Fifty years later, Rose works as a funeral director and has taken in her teenage granddaughter, Daisy, while her eternally-rebellious daughter Lettie (named after Violet) spends the summer in California with her latest boyfriend. Lettie fled Possum Flats the second she turned sixteen and continues to avoid the conservative home established by Rose and her late husband. Daisy is just as rebellious, hating the smells and sights at the funeral home, but she’s also ambitious and yearns to become a reporter. Trapped in Possum Flats, she lands a spot as an intern at the local paper, the Possum Picayune. After a few up-and-down days at the paper, Daisy becomes intrigued by the story of the Lamb’s Hall Dance explosion and starts to research both it and Rose’s seemingly-minimal role in that night’s events. Rose is opposed to Daisy’s digging, as she harbors a secret about what really went down the night Violet lost her life.

Rose, meanwhile, often sees Dash, who long ago took up his father’s ministry and preaches in the town. Dash, too, has a teenage grandchild – a grandson named Joe – who starts to develop an interest in Daisy after they meet-cute when he runs into her (literally) on his paper route. When Joe and Daisy develop a teen romance, Dash and Rose are aghast, and even more secrets from fifty years past threaten to surface – along with the feelings they have barely been able to suppress for decades.

You can probably guess the twist that’s waiting ahead for you in this one. But the book’s character work and its intelligent portraits of small town life end up captivating the reader anyway.

Of the many PoV characters, Daisy, Dash and Rose interested me the most. As a matter of fact, Anderson could have cut out a few perspectives here, but most of them are necessary.

The Flowers Sisters is a very ambitious tale, what with its many characters and multiple time frames (we also flash back to the 1940s and 1950s while peering at Lettie’s childhood) and its stylistic choices. Yet generally, in spite of these issues, these twists and turns were easy things to follow.

It’s not a novel for the faint of heart, however. The book gives an honest, close-up look at the embalming room and what takes place within it, so those with tender tummies need not apply. It’s also frank about the destruction caused by the explosion, which is based on a real-life event – the explosion of Bond Dance Hall in West Plains, Missouri in 1928.

The ending of The Flowers Sisters leans a little too hard on the cheese and pat conclusions, feeling like it’’s escaped from Touched by An Angel and standing kitty-corner to the honesty that came before it. (You can judge for yourself whether or not the heaven one character finds is the sort you’d enjoy). But in the end, it’s a beautiful, sprawling, smart, enjoyable book that, while delightfully flawed, is certainly worth reading.

Michelle Collins Anderson's "The Flower Sisters" is a captivating exploration of family, tragedy, and the enduring power of secrets. Set against the backdrop of a small Missouri town, this multigenerational masterpiece weaves together the stories of the Flower sisters—Violet and Rose—and their descendants, as they grapple with the aftermath of a devastating event that occurred at a dance hall in 1928.

The novel alternates between two timelines, effortlessly drawing readers into both the past and the present. In 1928, the explosion at Lamb's Dance Hall left one twin dead and the other forever changed, casting a shadow over the lives of the survivors. Fifty years later, Rose's granddaughter, Daisy, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the tragedy, unraveling long-held secrets and confronting the ghosts of the past.

Anderson's prose is haunting, immersing readers in the heartache and resilience of the characters. Through vivid descriptions and authentic dialogue, she brings the small town of Possum Flats to life. The characters are richly drawn and deeply human, each carrying their own burdens and secrets.

"The Flower Sisters" is a story about the complexities of family relationships, the search for identity, and the consequences of past decisions. Anderson explores themes of love, loss, guilt, and redemption.

The novel expertly blends historical fact with fictional storytelling. Drawing on a real-life tragedy, Anderson sensitively portrays the impact of the explosion on the community while also delving into the personal struggles of the characters.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As an ARC reader for "The Flower Sisters" by Michelle Collins Anderson, I found myself utterly engrossed in this captivating tale from start to finish. Anderson's storytelling prowess shines as she transports readers to the quaint yet mysterious town of Possum Flats, Missouri, where secrets abound and history lurks in every corner.

The protagonist, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers, is a vibrant and relatable character whose journey of self-discovery amidst the backdrop of a decades-old tragedy is both compelling and heart-wrenching. From the moment Daisy sets foot in Possum Flats, I found myself rooting for her as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics, small-town politics, and the enigmatic past that haunts the town.

Anderson's vivid descriptions and richly drawn characters bring the story to life, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and emotions of Possum Flats. The mystery surrounding the 1928 Bond Dance Hall explosion is expertly woven into the narrative, keeping me guessing until the very end.

What truly sets "The Flower Sisters" apart is its exploration of themes such as resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of truth. As Daisy delves deeper into the secrets of Possum Flats, she uncovers not only the truth about the past but also the strength within herself to confront it.

Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a masterfully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and coming-of-age stories alike. Michelle Collins Anderson's debut is a testament to her talent as a storyteller, and I eagerly anticipate her future works.

This debut historical fiction novel based on the tragic Bond Dance Hall explosion of 1928 is a multigenerational masterpiece. Anderson populates Possum Flats with a cast of endearing characters living out their lives with painfully deep emotional and physical scars from that fateful night. The devastating, mysterious details of the tragedy are revealed through flashbacks by the twin Flower sisters, Rose and Violet, and other prominent townspeople. Now 1978, Rose’s granddaughter, Daisy, an intern for the town paper, is obsessed with getting the scoop on the dance hall explosion for the 50th anniversary. Through interviews Daisy delves into the compelling backstory on the upbringing and choices of the victims and survivors of the 1928 explosion. The Flower Sisters, a twisting, psychological mystery, is a study of twin connections, the search for identity, and survivor guilt. The tragic lesson is that consequences from split second decisions can ripple for a lifetime. Captivating. Surprising. Haunting.

In 1928, a dance hall explodes in small-town Missouri, changing many in the town. Fifty years later, a young girl discovers an article about the explosion. Her research for the story uncovers hidden truths about the town and her family.

I was drawn to this book because I grew up in Missouri. I liked the personalities of the main character and her grandmother. I enjoyed reading the perspectives of the survivors of the event. It is also a bit of a coming of age story. The ending is almost "too good" though. As a historical fiction fan, I loved the glimpses of life in 1928 and 1978.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I enjoyed the Flower Sisters. I enjoyed the multi generational stories. I like getting to know Daisy and the townsfolk of Possum Flatts. The mystery kept me interested. The story line was interesting and having the main character live above a funeral home was unusual. It's nice to have a historical fiction book that isn't focused on a war. I think there are a lot of things to talk about in this book. People can easily connect to this small town drama. I also appreciate the author's note at the end and the discussion questions provided for book clubs.

A beautifully written coming of age story and not just for the teenager involved in the main storyline but for her family and their entire small town as well. After all, we can come of age anytime in our convoluted lives. Based on an actual event, this retelling is nostalgic, evocative, charming and revealing. The Flower Sisters was one I didn’t want to end…

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Drawing on the little-known true story of one tragic night at an Ozarks dance hall in the author's Missouri hometown, this beautifully written, endearingly nostalgic novel picks up 50 years later for a folksy, character-driven portrayal of small-town life, split second decisions, and the ways family secrets reverberate through generations.

Daisy Flowers is fifteen in 1978 when her free-spirited mother dumps her in Possum Flats, Missouri. It's a town that sounds like roadkill and, in Daisy's eyes, is every bit as dead. Sentenced to spend the summer living with her grandmother, the wry and irreverent town mortician, Daisy draws the line at working for the family business, Flowers Funeral Home. Instead, she maneuvers her way into an internship at the local newspaper where, sorting through the basement archives, she learns of a mysterious tragedy from fifty years earlier...

On a sweltering, terrible night in 1928, an explosion at the local dance hall left dozens of young people dead, shocking and scarring a town that still doesn't know how or why it happened. Listed among the victims is a name that's surprisingly familiar to Daisy, revealing an irresistible family connection to this long-ago accident.

Obsessed with investigating the horrors and heroes of that night, Daisy soon discovers Possum Flats holds a multitude of secrets for a small town. And hardly anyone who remembers the tragedy is happy to have some teenaged hippie asking questions about it - not the fire-and-brimstone preacher who found his calling that tragic night; not the fed-up police chief; not the mayor's widow or his mistress; not even Daisy's own grandmother, a woman who's never been afraid to raise eyebrows in the past, whether it's for something she's worn, sworn, or done for a living.

Some secrets are guarded by the living, while others are kept by the dead, but as buried truths gradually come into the light, they'll force a reckoning at last.

Inspired by the true story of the Bond Dance Hall explosion, a tragedy that took place in the author's hometown of West Plains, Missouri on April 13, 1928.

The cause of the blast has never been determined."

True Crime merged with fiction, how did they know what I wanted to read?