
Member Reviews

I've been an avid fan of the Titanic and everything surrounding it since the movie. I was 8 and I saw it 11 times in theater. And I've seen it again on anniversaries. I've also read accounts from survivors and watched several documentaries. I also love flowers so this book was made for me!
This is my first book by Sally Page and I think I'll check out more! I really enjoyed her writing and the characters. Emma was sweet but also felt real because she had gone through hard things in her life. The narrator, Karen Cass, has a beautiful, soft voice that I enjoyed listening to for hours.
The book poses an interesting question and is very thought provoking when it comes to other aspects of the the Titanic. I would've never thought about the flowers on the ship and how they got there. The cover is very appealing as well for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sally Page, Karen Cass, and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read The Secrets of Flowers. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

I wanted to like this book so much! I made 2 attempts at it. The second attempt, I did listen all the way through. But, because it didn't hold my attention I became lost and kept having to search for clarification. I really wanted to like it!
Many thanks to Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Secrets of Flowers written by Sally Page and narrated by Karen Cass. I enjoyed this unique story immensely! It is a dual narrative story that features a modern day woman who is grieving the unexpected loss of her husband and that of a young woman who lived 100 years ago and eventually served as a stewardess on the Titanic, The story begins when modern Emma quits her research job at a university and accepts a job as a florist assistant. It is there that she is sparked back to the land of the living while researching who might have been the florist on the Titanic. Emma feels a connection to the stewardess from the Titanic and it’s interesting how the author weaves the two stories together. In short, the Secrets of Flowers is a book about healing and finding oneself through friendships after suffering a great loss. It is beautifully written and narrated. Highly recommend!

Life is about living through growth & loss.
Our main character suffers one of life’s toughest loses and through her journey to heal she discovers a curiosity for the past.
The discussion of the flowers makes the reader feel like you are surrounded by them. Beautiful!

This story is a beautifully woven exploration of grief, resilience, and the quiet strength found in uncovering the past. The blend of historical intrigue and personal healing makes for an emotional and immersive experience. The journey of self-discovery unfolds with a delicate balance of sorrow and hope, drawing unexpected connections between past and present. Vivid descriptions bring both the floral world and historical elements to life, creating a sensory-rich narrative that lingers long after the final chapter.
The narration enhances the depth of the story, delivering an expressive and heartfelt performance that captures the emotions of each moment. The warmth and nuance in the delivery make the journey feel even more personal, allowing for a deeper connection to the unfolding mystery and its impact. The audiobook format adds a quiet intimacy, making it a truly moving listen filled with history, beauty, and the power of remembrance.

As a budding gardener, I was drawn to the book cover and title of this book. I also love “finding oneself” stories. This was a very poetic story about a middle aged woman who had her world turned upside down and struggles to find some semblance of peace and a new life after the death of her husband. Emma finds her way into a new job at a flower shop and in an attempt at connecting with her employers, quickly finds a new interest researching the florist who arranged the flowers on the Titanic. What transpires is a discovery of family and how deep some roots can run.
I highly recommend this book and I’m definitely going to be reading her other books soon.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced audio of THE SECRETS OF FLOWERS by Sally Page. This was the first novel that I read by this author and I plan to read more soon. I read this because I find the Titanic and everything that happened with it very interesting. This was a dual-timeline historical fiction about Emma, a university researcher turned florist, who became interested in discovering more about florists who were aboard the Titanic and Violet, the stewardess and florist aboard the Titanic. Emma's research into Violet's history allows Emma's growth out of grief over the loss of her husband to the realization that her life wasn't over.

I dnf the book. It was slow and the main characters were very bland. It is not something I would recommend if you are thinking it as a lot to do with the Titanic.

🎧Audiobook Review 🎧
NETGALLERY FIND- A GEM OF A TALE
WHAT YOU WILL FIMD
🌟 WONDERFULLY DESCRIPTIVE STORYTELLING
🌟 CHARACTERS THAT ARE FULL.OF DEPTH AND CHARM
🌟 BEAUTIFUL SCENE SETTING THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE READER INTO A DIFFERENT TIME PERIOD
🌟 NARRATOR THAT PERFORMED ELEQUENTLY AND WITH WONDERFUL ARTICULATION
🌟 A FEEL GOOD BOOK THAT WILL MOVE YOU
🌟 A HISTORIC FICTION THAT GOES BETWEEN TWO TIME PERIOIDS BEAUTIFULLY
MY OPINION
I LOVED THIS BOOK, SO MUCH SO I AM GOING TO ADD THIS TO MY TO BUY IN JUNE LIST!!
IT IS A WONDERFUL STORY THAT I FOUND ENJOYABLE AND DESCRIPTIVELY WRITTEN IN A MANNER THAT KEPT MY INTEREST AND DREW ME INTO THE CHARACTERS' WORLD.
I LOVED WATCHUNC THE MAIN CHARACTER''S JOURNEY TALE OLACE AND HER MYSTERY UBFOLD.
MY RATING
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#books #bookstagrammers #bookishlove #audiobook #bookdragon #readwithme #masterpiece #Readingchallenge #March #greenchallenge #historicfiction #secretofflowers #titanic #floriata #startingover #driendships #grief #healing
#audiobooksreview #audioreview #bookreviews #bookrecs #audiobookreview

OK...so I started reading this one late last night...and I was a bit confused, to say the least.
I thought maybe today it would make more sense...but I was still lost.
BUT, as time went on, the characters became a bit more familiar and it all started to click together. AND, by the end...well, I was just a bundle of nerves, and a sopping mess!
MFC Emma lost her husband one year ago. She has recently quit her powerful job (that she was not so happy in), and found a job working at a Florist...where she thinks she may be able to find some happiness...again.
She is a very shy, introverted type of woman. And, one who NEVER got any kind of support from her Mom. That seems to still hold true today...
But, while working at the floral shop, she finally seems to be able to open up about some things, and maybe even make a few friends!
Along the way, she is introduced to the idea of the Titanic...and she starts to wonder if there was a florist on board the ship. While doing some research for this, she finds a bunch of other information, and she can't help but feeling that she is related to this one woman!
And in the end....I was in tears!!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me! Beautifully portrayed, with all types of flowers interspersed in the story!
#TheSecretsOfFlowers by #SallyPage and narrated nicely by #KarenCass.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BlackstonePublishing for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
*** Release date was in February, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!! ***
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A little predictable, but this was a cute cozy book about flowers and who on the Titanic arranged them. I was pleasantly surprised to read that Violet Jessop was a real life person and survivor of the Titanic. 3.5 stars rounded up

The Secrets of Flowers had a premise that initially captivated my interest. The idea of unraveling the mystery of who managed the flowers on the Titanic promised a fascinating historical connection, filled with intrigue. Unfortunately, the execution failed to live up to the potential, leaving me with mixed feelings about the book as a whole.
The central focus of the story seems to be discovering who arranged and oversaw the flowers on the Titanic, yet much of the narrative revolves around Emma, and her personal journey. While her story is meant to serve as a vehicle for exploring the mystery, it quickly becomes the dominant plot-line, overshadowing the original mystery. Emma’s struggles, relationships, and internal conflicts, though perhaps well-intentioned, end up distracting from what could have been a more focused exploration of uncovering the truth behind the flowers on the Titanic. By the time the mystery of who was in charge of the flowers was fully revealed, I was left feeling like the story had veered too far from its intriguing starting point.
The pacing also suffers from overdone, repetitive scenes that detract from the narrative momentum. A significant portion of the book is spent with Emma and other characters talking over beverages, discussing information that was already revealed in the plot. These conversations, which often revisit previously uncovered details, add little new insight and slow down the progression of the story. I found myself easily distracted through these repetitive moments, frustrated that the plot wasn’t advancing or deepening.
In conclusion, The Secrets of Flowers had an intriguing concept but faltered in its execution. The book is overly concerned with Emma’s story at the expense of uncovering the mystery, and the repetitive dialogue scenes do little to advance the plot. For readers seeking a deep dive into the history of the who was in charge of the flowers abroad the Titanic this novel may fall short of expectations.

🌷 Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC! 🌷
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Sally Page. The intersecting stories of Emma and Violet were so beautiful and interconnected by their love of flowers. This book offered an interesting perspective of a little element that most people probably would never think of: the flowers and who arranged them on the Titanic. What could notably be a small aspect of the tragic oceanliner, was such a beautiful story of Emma finding a new purpose and drive to keep going as she grieves the losses of her father and husband, and coping/processing of other secrets.
Highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more by Sally Page!

Emma is a widow at a very young age - the aftermath of her husband’s death she realizes she needs a change and is struggling with moving through life. She leaves her University job and starts a job at a green house.
At Emmas new job, a coworker does a talk about the Titanic and Emma can not get past her anxiety and does not attend the lecture. Guilt takes over and to make up for not attending she starts to research the Titanic and becomes hyperfocused on “was there a florist on the titanic” and “what happened to them”.
Violet is introduced into the story and her life is woven into Emma’s story. Violet is a young woman stewardess who survived three shipwrecks including the Titanic.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advance copy of the audio book.

The Secrets of Flowers - Sally Page
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you have read any of @bysallypage books, you would know that her writing is so vivid and captivating, and this one was no different.
This is an ARC that was given to me by @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing.
When Emma, our FMC, embarks on a pilgrimage for answers, not just about herself but about life, she stumbles onto an unexpected story. After losing her husband, she feels like there is something else missing in her life, and so her journey begins. We slip between Emma's point of view, who starts working at a garden centre, and then Violet's point of view, who was a steward on a number of crew ships in the early 1900s.
Flowers are the middle ground that links everything together in more ways than one. We walk with Emma as she learns about life, accepting things you can't change, and standing for what you believe in. The book is full of history, and some characters are based loosely on real-life people. @bysallypage gave an explanation at the end of the audiobook about this. I loved the narrators voice, and her articulation was spot on to cover both the timelines.
#fortheloveofreading📚
#fortheloveofbooks #justonemorepage #bookscapemember #booksarebetterthanpeople #NetGalley #thesecretsofflowers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: Garden Center (modern day); Titanic (past)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sally Page has done it again—The Secrets of Flowers is a beautifully written, deeply moving novel that weaves history, mystery, and healing into an unforgettable story. With lyrical prose and tender insight, Page explores the power of flowers, the resilience of the human spirit, and the way stories—both lost and found—can shape our lives.
At the heart of the novel is Emma, a woman still reeling from the loss of her husband. She has retreated into the quiet solace of her work at a florist shop, surrounding herself with beauty yet unable to fully bloom again. But when a colleague invites her to a talk about the Titanic, she stumbles upon an overlooked piece of history—the story of the girl who arranged flowers aboard the doomed ship. This discovery sets Emma on a journey that is as much about uncovering the past as it is about rediscovering herself.
Page’s ability to intertwine historical intrigue with personal transformation is masterful. The descriptions of flowers—how they speak, comfort, and preserve memories—are breathtaking, and the novel’s dual timelines are seamlessly woven together. The mystery of the Titanic florist is compelling, and as Emma delves deeper, she begins to see echoes of her own struggles, her own need for closure and renewal.
This novel is for anyone who loves historical fiction, gentle mysteries, and stories of women finding strength in unexpected places. It’s a poignant reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is beauty to be found—and that sometimes, the smallest treasures hold the biggest secrets. The Secrets of Flowers is a book to be savored, shared, and cherished. Highly recommended! #netgalley #thesecretsofflowers #booked_this_weekend

I absolutely loved this book! I listened to it in two days! It was such a pleasure to read about Emma’s found family and see her personal growth throughout the book. I also loved the storyline about Violet. I wish that there had been more chapters devoted to her perspective, but I can appreciate that the author was trying to be historically accurate. I can’t wait to read more Sally Page books!

The Secret of Flowers is a story set in the present but also on the cusp of the 20th century. Two stories are told simultaneously in separate chapters, with hints of a connection from the start. Gradually the connections grow tantalisingly closer, or at least we hope they might. Both stories are told with a haunted beauty. Both characters have suffered and both have known both love and sorrow. They are united by flowers, but are they really connected? There are certainly parallels, particularly in their relationships with family, friends and those they love. Their stories unfold slowly, tantalisingly and take the reader through both stories in a way that makes us care for all of the characters, good and bad. Modern-day Emma's is perhaps the 'main' story - she is the one searching and dealing with huge grief and pain. Only as the book unfolds do we get to the heart of Emma and understand the deeper emotional losses she is struggling to heal. As the story unfolds, so does she and we understand the journey her friends have helped her to navigate - reluctant and unable as she has so often been to even take the first step. The story and her journey are captivating and I both couldn't wait to find out what happened to Emma and 20th Century Violet, but also didn't want the book to end. It moved me to tears at times. It's moving and poignant, but the journeys - both physical and emotional - are instructive and ultimately uplifting. Overall the book is about survival and the power of words, beautifully constructed and delicately handled. I loved it.

Not the right book for me at this time. The narrator was pretty good in this book but I just felt the story meandered and didn't really engage me to feel compelled to read the story. Good writing but just didn't pull me in as I felt it could.

This was a really interesting dual timeline story about the mysterious, undocumented woman who arranged flowers on board the Titanic and one widow's determination in the present to discover her identity. If you like good historical fiction, characters with depth and learning more about true facts about the Titanic, this one is definitely one to read. It was also good on audio narrated by Karen Cass. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!