I received this arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Flowers for dead girls is a queer romance novel, in which the main character Astra meets a ghost named Isla who needs a favor- help her finish her bucket list- in turn, helping Astra break out of her shell.

And then they catch feelings, but unfortunately, Isla's a ghost, further complicating things.

I LOVED the way the novel incorporated discussions of disability and how it contributes to disabled people often thinking of themselves as a burden, and about queerness in general. I adored all the characters and the friendships were so fun to read about. Fun fact, Isla's my fave character.

In conclusion, if you liked The Dead Romantics, you might like this one.

3 stars - a sweet but slow YA paranormal, sapphic romance.

Astra and her mom can see ghosts but Astras mom doesn’t know Astra can see ghosts. Whilst at school Astra is visited by a ghost called Isla who wants Astras help with a “non” bucket list before she passes on. We also get to meet Astras friend Oliver and another ghost George along the way. Astra tries not to get to close to the ghosts but her feelings start to develop as she and Isla spend more time together and secrets come to light.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and if you have watched the movie just like heaven - I found it quite similar to that but YA.

The romance build up was sweet and I really liked the other ghost George and Astras friend Ollie.

I found it really amusing the Isla couldn’t ride in a car and had to fly inside to keep up!

However, I did find it quite slow to begin with and honestly nearly Dnf’ed at the beginning due to Astras fixation on colours and numbers (possibly autism or OCD but never clarified) it was very repetitive and annoying but got less as the book went on. I also found the bucket list outings a bit bland and could have been more adventurous.

Would recommend to those who prefer character development over big plot twists and turns.

First, thank you to Netgalley for this beautiful arc! This book is everything I needed and more. I am obsessed with the way the author described Astra's neurodivergence, and Isla's disability without making either of them seem in need of saving. Although there was some definite angst, no one else in their lives seemed anxious to "fix" them or make them more "normal". As someone who is also disabled I felt that the disability representation in this book was *chefs kiss*. They both help each other accept themselves and become more confident without trying to make the other compensate for their disabilities.

I also ADORED the sapphic longing in this story, I don't usually vibe with teenage stories anymore, they don't often resonate with me as an 30 something year old. But this book was written perfectly and everything I want out of a coming-of-age story. It's very rare for books to make me cry tears of joy, but this book definitely had more tearing up more than once in all the best ways. I will definitely be buying this book when it officially releases.

This is a sweet story that has a makes you feel good ending. Perfect for teenagers, YA and adults. What could be difficult topics are handled perfectly by Abigail Collins’ gentle, and humorous, story telling. I liked all the story’s characters, but especially Astra, the main character. Growing up is hard. Growing up seeing ghosts, being neurodivergent and supporting her chaotic mum is more than hard. Maybe a friend will allow her to see the world, and her future, in a different way. Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Absolutely adored this book! I fell in love with Astra and Isla, they both were written well and had such amazing chemistry- I couldn’t set the book down and read it all in one sitting! Astra just comes out of her shell after being around the ever energetic Isla, it’s truly something wonderful to unfold! The friendship with Oliver was also really wholesome and I felt he was in there an appropriate amount throughout the book, totally the best friend a girl could ask for. Flowers for dead girls really did such a great job encompassing every little detail around our MCs, their world felt as real as our own world and even the things that made them different were shown in a clear way without having to put a label or a name to them. Can’t finish this review without adding Leonard who was a star even in his small role! I’m sad to have finished the book so quickly as now I would love to read it all over again for the first time!

I think this is an incredibly sweet and thought provoking book about life and what it means to truly live our lives to the full, since Isla was never able to.

I think this will resonate with so many young people who will read this book. It definitely makes for a tender coming of age story that I hope will encourage young people to think more carefully about their life choices and learn to appreciate what they have a lot more.

Loved everything about this book, the characters, the story and the amazing ending. Lots of twists and turns and was fast paced through, was a great read and can’t wait to try more from the author!

This book was sweet. Over all, I enjoyed it. The writing is accessible and the characters are likeable. I wish it had been longer, so the backstories could have been fleshed out more. I think this book would have benefited from being dual POV, because we don’t really get to know Isla beyond her obsessive botany hobby. I also thought the reveal of Isla’s disability was lazy. Since Isla spends most of the book as a ghost, her disability has no impact on her, so throwing it in seems like a shock value tactic and a way to get points for diversity without having to do the work of developing it as part of her identity.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this story. The characters are well fleshed and beautifully written. Each scene feels palpable as if you are right there along with the MC. I loved reading about how Astra connects with others and is able to see a more clear version of herself. Although the story isn’t fast paced or sprawling there is still enough action going on to remain interested in Astra and her life. The connection between Astra and Isla is sweet and builds in a way that is believable. This is more of a story about the subtleties in life that reshape us and lead down new and unexpected paths. Definitely a must read book if you like paranormal stories and teens struggling to come to terms with who they are.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc. It was a sweet read.

I was first a little hesitant to try this book at first. The summary and book cover were just to my taste, but I thought that YA novels were not to my taste until I read this book.

Astra is a girl who can see ghosts. Ghosts who come, then leave anyway. One day, a ghost named Isla suddenly appears, and she spends her days as a ghost doing the things she had wanted to do with Astra’s help. And these two grow closer. However, Isla would leave her someday, like the others did. Astra is used to it. However, this time…she doesn’t want this one to leave. But what if...Isla doesn't have to leave?

The book is a little different in its writing style compared to other books. While other books are fast-paced, like watching a movie, this one felt as if I were watching a documentary of Astra’s life, or floating around in Astra's home, observing her and reading her thoughts. Tiny quirks, thoughts, and actions were expressed similarly to the stream of consciousness. Those who may not like such slow writing may find the book a little dull at first (though I found it interesting). However, it would be worth waiting till the last parts of the book. It is like a tsunami, where the book doesn’t have much development in the plot like receding waves, only to rear up in the end and engulf the reader with tides of emotions.

Flowers For Dead Girls presents a cast of lovable characters navigating the complexities of life and death together. It serves as a poignant reminder not to take life for granted, with Astra's unique perspective offering a refreshing insight. Isla's spirited demeanor adds depth to the story.

While the plot may follow familiar paths, it doesn't diminish the overall reading experience. However, the initial pacing feels sluggish, requiring perseverance until the narrative gains momentum. Yet, the latter half of the book blossoms beautifully, with strengthened character bonds and well-crafted ghostly elements. I enjoyed the plot twist, it was unexpected and fit the theme of the story well.

This ARC was kindly provided by NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

i guess i should take a minute to think about everything i just read, just to be able to write a review that does this book justice, but no.
i LOVED this book. seriously.
i'm a sucker for the paranormal so it was exactly the right setting for me, but i still didn't expect to be blown away like this.

astra is just the sweetest protagonist ever, she is super relatable and so well written, her little quirks make her so special and i just... ugh.
and isla? she's the most adorable half-ghost-girl ever. i totally understand astra falling for her. i think i fell a little in love, too.

thank you to netgalley and bold strokes books for the arc!

the central love story was very sweet, i would've been all over this in high school for sure. this would be a strong choice for a high school library's lgbt selection imo. really enjoyed the twist! i'm glad isla and astra could get their happy ending <3

also appreciated the mental health rep! it's never explicitly stated but astra seems to have OCD. the casual depiction of astra's struggles while making it clear it does not stop her from living a good life could be really helpful for some teens to read

a lot of repetition in the descriptions, not sure what the insistence on the "scrambled like eggs" simile was about. could have an editor look over it to catch that as well as any inconsistencies (why are they out of cardamom if astra's mom never cooks? was that just supposed to be snarky teenaged hyperbole? was unclear to me if that was part of astra's unreliable narration). i found it a little heavy on the telling vs showing, particularly at the beginning, so the repetition could be symptomatic of that

was amused by the fact that ghosts cannot ride in cars and must fly in the car's approximate location when it moves

my fav part was probably astra realizing her mom is actually a cool person and not just a walking disaster, the judgmental descriptions were driving me a little crazy so i was relieved when it ended up being an intentional part of astra's character arc lol

This was a delightful novel that was a pleasure to read. I ate it up in a single day which, even though its relatively short, I always take as a really good sign. This was primarily a character driven novel and excelled on that point. The plot was somewhat predictable, but in a good way; it wasn’t trying too hard and didn’t get in its own way by trying to overdo it on details that were not needed. The story was sweet, funny, original, and it alternately warmed-and-wrenched my heart. I would recommend this novel to anyone and I think that they would enjoy it.

Highlights:
-The characters are the main highlight of this novel. The main characters are very well developed and have a clear personality and voice. Astra was particularly well done with a multitude of quirks and compulsions, and I could never confuse her with any other character from any other novel. The side characters were excellent as well; clear and memorable and their inclusion contributed to the story.
-The character arcs were clear and satisfying. Neither of the main characters end up in the same place they started, and the journey is organic, believable, and satisfying.
-I loved the characters relationship development. It was obvious what was going to happen (I read the novel description after all) but it was still satisfying. Despite Astra resisting (for good and well explained reasons) they were clearly always going to get close and they worked SO well together.
-The world building (there are fantasy elements after all!) was very clear and detailed without being overwhelming or slowing down the story. Details that the reader needed were revealed as such, without any annoying infodumping. Every supernatural component was well-incorporated into the story and consistently represented.
-Representation. Sexuality, disability, and mental health, all well done. I particularly liked the underlying message that although the characters may be dealing with different challenges, they still had a shared experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange or an honest review.

This was an adorable sapphic paranormal romance. Astra has the ability to see and interact with ghosts. She meets and befriends Isla, a ghost, and they eventually fall for each other. It’s a bit predictable—you could see the dilemma a mile away, but I didn’t mind for one bit. I adored how the author handled the plot and how it turned out in the end. Highly character-driven as well, which I also loved. The pacing was somehow slow for me at the beginning, but I’d still definitely recommend this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC! :>

🍵 summary

astra, just like her mother, can see ghosts. it has always been that way, and she has never liked it, on the contrary. one day, she meets isla, who is so full of life (well, not really, but you know what i mean), so happy, so… gorgeous. when astra accepts to help isla complete her (anti-)bucket list, her life is changed forever.

tropes:
* friends to lovers
* (f) grumpy x (f) sunshine

🍓 thoughts

ok this was the cutest thing ever. the premise was really interesting, and i was not let down. it went by so quickly, and it made me feel so much. seriously, one minute i was squeeling, the other i was sobbing, and then back to giggling like a crazyperson. i honestly have zero complaint.

the romance was so. freaking. cute!! they had so much chemistry, i was rooting for them all throughout. even before either of them realized they were in love, you could see they cared about each other so much. watching astra realize just how much she loved isla was the best thing.

🍰 characters

the characters were honestly the greatest thing about this novel. there wasn’t a lot of them, but they were really well fleshed out and i loved every single one of them.

astra: ok astra was so relatable. she is very anxious, and at seventeen years old, her social life is inexistent. she has no friends, and her weekends are spent in her room. basically me 🤗 i loved watching her evolve with the story as she got closer to isla and oliver, i wanted her to get her happiness so bad. her character felt very real, and she was trying so hard to be a good daughter

isla: isla is my baby <333 she is probably the happiest ghost ever, but underneath, she is a complex character who hides the worst parts of her life from others. she is also such a plant nerd, and seeing her share fun facts about them was the cutest, partly because i do the exact same with my parents when i get obsessed with something. overall, isla was a ray of sunshine and we all need someone like her in our life. she definitely got a few giggles out of me

supporting characters: first, i want to say oliver was probably one of the best friends ever. he was so understanding with astra, and he did everything he could to support and help her, even when he didn’t really understand what was happening. also, i won’t go into spoilers, but at some points i wanted to give him a hug so bad i almost cried.

i also loved astra’s mom, we didn’t see a lot of her but she was genuinely trying to do her best for her daughter and i found it heartwarming. it kind of reminded me of my own mom, who isn’t perfect and has a lot of personal issues, but i know she does all she can to be the best mom possible, and sometimes that’s all that matters.

🫖 writing

the writing was good! nothing exceptional, but it was easy to read and it painted a pretty good picture of what was happening. i’ve seen way worst, but it wasn’t, like, stephanie garber level

Wow, what a delightful story. It was the perfect one to read today which lifted my spirits.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I knew going in only that it was LGTBQIA+ friendly but had no idea it also have Neurodiverse characters as well as disability positive vibes. The author never names a diagnosis for our protagonist Astra who can see and communicate with ghosts, but she is clearly Neurodiverse as well as displays many symptoms of OCD.

I think this book can be enjoyed by many Teens and adults alike and many different individuals can identify with various aspects of it.

The book is completely predictable but I’m not mad at it for it. It was delightful to have a story that underneath reality with some serious reality of growing up different but in a safe and almost fluffy way.

There were a few pacing issues and repetitiveness but it was an easy read to do in a few hours.

I highly recommend this book for teens to read as well as young adult.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

What a book! this was so incredible, im so in love with it.
Very well written, with some of the best charactors ive read in a while. Truely heartbreaking at heartwarming all at once.
I will never forget this, thank you Netgalley!

Loved the story of this book. The plot was fenomenal! Loved the characters, the plot twists. 4 stars from me

★★★☆☆ (3 stars)

Flowers For Dead Girls gives us loveable characters facing the challenges of both life and death together. It’s all too easy to take life for granted, and this book served as a moving reminder that not everyone’s experience matches our own.

Astra is someone who sees the world a little differently, which offers a refreshing, and at times touching, perspective on navigating the world around us. Isla is stubborn, witty, and captivating, whilst side-character Oliver offers a most welcome extra layer of comfort.

The plot is somewhat predictable; however, I didn’t feel this affected my reading experience - if anything, I was happy the story went in the direction I had expected. That said, I did feel as though the first half of the book was a little too slow in pace, and found myself having to persevere until the plot picked up further into the novel.

The second half of the book is lovely. I found the strengthening of the connection between characters rewarding, and cared deeply for each of them. The ghost elements of the novel are strong and well-written. Collins gives us some delightful interactions between the living and dead, although I felt exploring some additional ghosts may have fleshed out the plot somewhat.

If you’re seeking an endearing, character-driven book with a gratifying ending, I’d recommend Flowers For Dead Girls.