Flowers in Your Hair brings us to the small town of Ivy Ridge, where newcomer florist Josie works her first wedding with the assistance of groomsman Andrew. Despite their chemistry, Andrew fails to get Josie’s number, and their missed connection culminates in a stranger blind date photoshoot with Josie’s new best friend, Marley.
If you’re a fan of sweet romance with a little bit of spice thrown in for good measure, you’ll adore this book. Josie is a heroine we all want to root for, as she grows her business from her garage to her dream of having her own storefront. For me, Josie grows throughout this story far more than Andrew does (and that’s not a flower pun, either). We get to see her tackle her insecurities with her own body image, thanks to her ex Zack and former best friend Tessa, and build up her confidence as her business expands. We love a confident woman in this house! Andrew, on the other hand, feels a little static, though he does win points for being the best supportive partner anyone could ask for.
For me, this story lacked some of the conflict and tension that helps bring a romance together. Throughout the middle of the novel, Zack and Tessa keep calling, and reaching out, and Josie just… ignores them completely, saying she’s not ready to talk. It’s a valid answer in real life, but in fiction, it comes across as boring. When they finally do talk, it’s a quick conversation with some insulting answers, and it comes across as lackluster. Zack and Tessa could have been used to amp that tension – and maybe Andrew could help Josie relax in fun ways.
My favorite part of this novel was probably Andrew’s grandfather, Earl, who reminded me of my own grandfather who passed a few years ago. It made me smile to think of stubborn old men who don’t want to accept help, or the fact that they’re growing old, and how much that relationship means to Andrew.
(I also loved the little cameos to Alice Daniels’ first series! No spoilers, though!)
Overall, I’m happy with this read, and I’m excited to see what comes out of Ivy Ridge next!