44 pages • 1 hour read
The Language of Flowers
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Book Brief
334
Novel • Fiction
2010s
2011
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh follows Victoria Jones, a young woman who ages out of the foster care system and navigates life using the Victorian-era language of flowers to communicate. The story unfolds in dual timelines—Victoria's transformative relationship with foster parent Elizabeth in the past and her attempts to build a future in the present. The book contains depictions of child abuse.
Emotional
Heartwarming
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Romantic
Reviews & Readership
243,023 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Vanessa Diffenbaugh's The Language of Flowers intertwines emotional storytelling with botanical symbolism. Reviewers praise its rich character development and engaging plot, but some feel the narrative can be melodramatic and predictable at times. Despite this, the novel's exploration of forgiveness and redemption resonates strongly with many readers.
Who Should Read The Language of Flowers?
A reader with a passion for emotional depth, themes of love, loss, and redemption, and an interest in Victorian flower dictionaries will enjoy The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Fans of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd or The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards will find similar appeal.
243,023 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Victoria’s supportive last foster mother and a wine grape farmer, who shares with Victoria the language of flowers.
Grant
Grant
Lean and muscular with olive skin, he is Elizabeth’s nephew and Victoria’s lover, who also understands and communicates using the language of flowers.
Renata
Renata
The owner of Bloom and Victoria’s first employer, she plays an instrumental role in Victoria’s growth as a florist and offers her support and understanding.
Hazel
Hazel
Victoria and Grant’s baby, who is characterized by her dark, ringleted hair and blue-gray eyes, and serves as a catalyst for change in Victoria’s life.
334
Novel • Fiction
2010s
2011
Adult
18+ years
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