Beautiful written, Shelton Harris is a masterful storyteller. From the jarring opening to the hopeful finale, Where the Wildflowers Grow takes readers on a literal ride. I enjoyed the slow burn of Leigh's story and the facts that were revealed as the plot develops. Readers know, from Shelton Harris's ominous writing style, that something terrible has happened to Leigh but the author beautifully and patiently tells her story. The setting of Gee's Bend and the flower farm provide a beautiful sanctuary of healing and rediscovery for the main character and the supporting cast. The book does start out very slowly and abstractly as it is a necessary internal dialogue and set up for the conversations and interactions that come a little later. This book will empower readers to find the kindness, see the genuine good in people, and amplify the ability to be tenacious and persistent. I can't wait for more from Shelton Harris!

I thought this book was beautifully written. I found myself rooting for all the misfit characters of this novel. This is a book of love, self-discovery, and resilience.

This was a beautiful story of growth! I loved the characters and the journey of healing they're on. As someone who's obsessed with flowers and has a small garden myself, I adored the setting and found it very charming, which combined with the beautiful prose and love story, made this an engaging read. The climax/reveal at the end of the book didn't grip me the way I'd hoped, but I still enjoyed it and ultimately do like the way the story concludes. Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

Where the Wildflowers Grow is a soulful, emotionally layered story of healing, grief, and second chances. Terah Shelton Harris writes with quiet strength, guiding us through a love story shaped by trauma, family secrets, and the redemptive power of forgiveness. The Southern setting blooms with tenderness, and the characters feel deeply lived-in. It’s not always easy but it’s worth it.

Where Wildflowers Grow is a heartfelt novel centered on themes of healing, love, and redemption. After a tragic accident upends her life, the protagonist returns to her small hometown in Georgia, where she must confront painful memories and complicated relationships. As she navigates grief and begins to rebuild, she finds unexpected comfort in the natural beauty of flower farming and the strength of a close-knit community. The story also weaves in the historical legacy of women in the town, particularly through the tradition of quilt-making, highlighting the quiet resilience passed down through generations.

It is a thoughtful read about healing, love, and redemption. The book opens with a gripping tragedy that pulls you in right away, creating a strong emotional hook. However, the pacing slows down in parts, and some sections felt repetitive and drawn out. That said, I really enjoyed learning about flower farming and life in a small Georgia town. At times, it read a bit like a textbook, but the historical insights, especially about women’s roles in quilt-making, were interesting and added depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

The writing is beautiful, and the characters are engaging. While it is a bit of a slow burn, it is a page turner. I appreciate how the author speaks directly to the viewer. The story is unique and dynamic and I enjoy how the author arranges her story. Thank you NetGalley!

This is her third novel and just like the first two, it's five stars. All of her characters are so intricately written. So complex and I can never get enough of their stories. I loved this just like all her other work. five stars. Thank you NetGalley!

This book is amazing. Truly. I cried often. It’s a story about survival. About shame. It’s so amazingly written. It’s a tale about human resilience

This was a GREAT story to listen to! AWESOME narration! Great main characters. The plot was easy to find. The story was engaging and easy to follow. Will be purchasing this book. Shout out to Netgalley and publishing for allowing me to listen and review this story.

4 STARS!

I am a huge fan of Terah’s books and was so excited to read another one of her works. This book did not disappoint. The main character, Leigh, gave us first hand accounts of everything that happened to her and you soon realize that she is recounting her story to someone. You don’t find out who that person is until the very end. You also don’t find out what exactly she was incarcerated for until the last few pages. I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery and Leigh’s journey into becoming the woman she is today.

Oh my heart. I loved One Summer in Savannah and when I read the synopsis of this book I knew it would be a homerun! I devoured this book and it was 5 stars for me. Beautiful.

The beginning of this book was a bit slow and, at times, boring. The early chapters dragged, and the main character’s inner monologue became repetitive, which made it harder to stay engaged. However, I’m glad I pushed through, because once the story picked up, it turned into something much more meaningful.

The prose is beautiful and lyrical, yet still easy to read. It tells an effective and emotional story about trauma, survival, healing, self-discovery, and the importance of the people who support you. There’s also a lovely element of romance that develops naturally over time. The flower farm setting felt almost dreamlike and added a gentle, soothing atmosphere to the entire story. The emotional depth was heartfelt and inspiring without feeling forced.

If you can get past the slow start, this book has a lot to offer. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy quiet, reflective stories with emotional growth and poetic writing.

A. Emotional Resonance & Inner Life
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Lyrical, raw, and soul-stirring that delivers a instinctive emotional experience.

B. Exploration of Womanhood & Identity
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Thoughtful, intimate reflection on gender, identity, and self-discovery.

C. Prose & Narrative Voice
⭐⭐⭐: Fluid and expressive, with consistent voice.

D. Character Depth & Personal Growth
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Richly developed characters with compelling arcs.

E. Themes: Relationships, Loss, Growth, Belonging
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Resonates on multiple levels which captures the pain, joy, and nuance of human connection and selfhood.

F. Representation & Inclusivity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Rich, inclusive, and intersectional that gives voice to varied, underrepresented women’s lives.

G. Overall Impact & Lasting Impression
⭐⭐⭐: Thoughtful and engaging, if not groundbreaking.

Leigh is the last of the Wildes. After crashing off a prison transport bus and outliving every member of her family, she stumbles upon a hidden flower farm in rural Alabama. There, amidst blooms and quiet labor, she meets Jackson and a makeshift family discovering their own fragile roots.

This novel is a raw, beautiful unraveling of grief, trauma, and reclamation—where each person’s story is both thorn and blossom. Leigh has always known how to endure. What she’s learning now is how to hope again.
⁠
If you crave storytelling about found families, slow healing, and second chances that feel contradictory and miraculous all at once… put this on your 2026 pre-order list. Trust me, February 17 can’t come soon enough. 🕊️✨

I don't even know where to start with this book it was just wow so much wow. The story, the characters, the ending were all so beautiful. The detail in this book was insane (in a good way) but never felt like too much. You truly feel so immersed while you're reading I could not put it down. Leigh's healing journey is what made this book for me 5 stars. I can not wait till this book is released to get a hard copy! Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

I don’t even have the words to describe how this book moved me and stirred my heart. Legit had tears rolling down my cheeks. WHAT A STORY AND JOURNEY! Leigh’s hardships and trajectory will stay with me for a long time. This was a beautifully crafted piece and by far, my favorite of Ms. Harris’s novels so far.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this story. I definitely encourage people to get this book & read it when it’s released!

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I couldn't get into it. After 50 pages I was bored and uninterested in the main character and her story. This ended up putting this aside, because it just wasn't meant to be.

Holy bananas, this book. From the very first page, I was IN IT. I have read a lot of books, expected those books to change me, to touch me, to impact me in some way, but never have I ever read a book that had such a hold on me and made me want to FEEL in ways that surprised me.

From visiting a flower farm and attending the Airing of the Quilts festival in Alabama to truly uncovering all the layers of myself and the acceptance and love that requires, this book left me wanting. Wanting more of my memories, wanting more of my relationships, wanting more of my dreams, wanting more of my hopes and especially, wanting more of myself.

These words have become part of me. In the book, Leigh talks about her first life and her second, a line drawn in the sand by a significant event. For me, my first life was before reading this book. Turning the final page on it starts the second. There’s such growth, transformation and love in this book and it seeps into your skin as you hold the pages close.

This book doesn’t release until February and I cannot wait to get my hands on a hardcover copy that I’ll truly savor on my bookshelf for years to come. Pre-order it.

Thank you Terah Shelton Harris, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

When Jackson first set eyes on Leigh, his entire world stopped spinning. The gorgeous girl in front of him was looking at his flowers with the same awe and appreciation he held for them – that wasn’t something common to many people in this town. And now here she is, in his field, asking for a job and quite obviously hiding something about her past. Everyone who comes to the flower farm shows up damaged and finds healing here – Jackson included. Will Leigh open up about her past, or will her secrets destroy her future and Jackson’s along with it?

Following the success of her 2024 release Long After We Are Gone, Terah Shelton Harris is back with a story of redemption and community that will enchant readers. Where the Wildflowers Grow champions self-healing elements like yoga and meditation while also showing the value of a strong support network to help pick you up on your worst days. This fantastic novel also showcases the author’s signature head-on approach to taboo subjects with a southern gothic twist, showing why Target chose Terah Shelton Harris as its inaugural Author of the Year. This book will transport you to the Alabama coastline and leave you longing for more time with Jackson and Leigh after the final pages!

I give Where the Wildflowers Grow 5 out of 5 stars. From the first time I heard Terah Shelton Harris speak about her work, I knew there was something special insider her books. This is the third book from the author that has netted a perfect 5.0 rating from me! I am absolutely blown away by these characters and the plot development. One thing that has drawn me in since her first release is the way these stories feel like they were ripped from the headlines – so realistic and genuine. I always connect so deeply with the characters in this author’s novels, and this was no exception – I can understand the motivations, the heartbreak, and the hope of each of them.

I have been anxiously awaiting Where the Wildflowers Grow for months and was very excited to receive the opportunity to read the ARC from the author. With discussions of child molestation and murder, this book may be the best directed to mature audiences over 16. I appreciate the inclusion of book club discussion questions at the back of this novel, making it a great selection for a general fiction or women’s literature club. This book would also be a great selection for readers who have enjoyed the author’s first two releases or love other works like Black Cake by Charmain Wilkerson or Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. You will love this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Where the Wildflowers Grow is a heartfelt story that follows Leandra (Leigh), a young woman whose difficult childhood and a traumatic event lead her to prison. After a prison transport bus crash, Lee escapes and starts a new life in another state. There she slowly begins to heal, forming a found family with Jackson, Tibbs, and Luke. I appreciated the emotional depth of the story. The characters feel real, each dealing with their own pain and growth. It’s a powerful look at how our past shapes us and how connection, compassion, and second chances can lead to healing. A moving and honest read. #wherethewildflowersgrow #netgalley

I appreciate how the author speaks directly to the viewer. The story is unique and dynamic and I enjoy how the author arranges her story.