e Art of Arranging Flowers

What a beautiful bouquet of fiction! I received an advanced copy of this book through First Reads. It looked like a "light" story, and I thought it may be enjoyable. I have to admit that when I first started reading, I thought it was going to be a variation of The Language of Flowers. It was a story about a florist, the meaning of flowers, and one being lonely with her flowers. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this was a different take on the magic of flowers; it wasn't so much about their "meanings", but the effects of flowers on different people, and the ways that a florist, who brings much happiness to others, has to find her own happiness. 

The story begins with Ruby, a lonely florist in a small town, who devotes her life to making sure others are happy. She takes special care to make sure life is "perfect" for all of her friends and clients, but doesn't always look out for her own needs, due to her wounded spirit from a difficult upbringing. A special boy with a past of his own starts hanging around, and Ruby's loving nature is just what he needs. Ruby's self-esteem and sense of self-worth begin to grow as she strengthens those around her. The Art of Arranging Flowers is an appropriate title for one who is trying to arrange her own life. Your value and significance, as well as your own beauty, is greater when you surround yourself with beautiful (inside and out) people.

Rating: 84
Bottom Line: A nice, smooth work of fiction. A good escape from some of the "intense"  books I tend to read.