The Language of Flowers: Novel Review

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

 Goodreads Summary:A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.
The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.
Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

 This novel probably fits the recently created genre "New Adult" perfectly. Loving flowers and their meanings myself, I loved following the theme of finding meaning within the Victorian language of flowers. 

 This misunderstood and lonely eighteen year old has had to endure a lot within her short lifetime and is struggling just to make it by. It's not until she encounters a florist in need of some help, that she finally has something of her own in life. 

 A beautifully simple yet complex story, Diffenbaugh painted a true and raw story of life. 

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