Perennials by Julie Cantrell

This is one of those stories that kept popping up in my feed, my email, and my Amazon recommendations, so I finally just gave in and bought it because I figured it was meant to be. And I’m glad I did.

It’s the story of a girl who lost herself. And it’s a story about sisters. And parents. And it’s a story about flowers that sometimes have to struggle in order to bloom. I love how Cantrell uses the metaphor of flowers throughout this novel. There is so much to learn from the flowers and there is so much about God’s creation that is not only beautiful, but mind-blowing when you realize the object lessons He included in almost everything He made.

The father in this story is full of wisdom, and he likes to share that wisdom with his adult daughters, whether they like it or not. The mother is the master gardener. There is love lost, dreams lost, and time lost, yet there is a wonderful undercurrent of hope. You’ll find a bit of preaching in this one, but it truly fits with the characters who do it. And honestly? We all need a good sermon once in awhile.

For the experienced gardener, there is much detail to love in this novel. For those without a green thumb? You’ll still love it, and you might learn a thing or two. One detail in particular that I must share – the daughter who gets sort of lost runs from her lush homeland of Mississippi, to the Arizona desert, where almost nothing grows. When she returns to her childhood home (her promised land), her senses are overwhelmed by everything that is growing everywhere. The scents, the sights, the blooms, and the seasons. I love this visceral picture, and I love how the author uses the setting as a character.

A solid 4 stars (you know me, I don’t give a 5 unless it hits my all-time favorite list which is not long).

Content: squeaky clean.

Want to grab your own copy? You can find it here.