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Hearts and Flowers Border
A visitor from her past jolts Laura Stewart into memories—some funny, some heart-wrenching. Thirteen years ago, Laura buried those memories so deeply she never believed they would resurface. Still, the pain of first love mars Laura’s present life and might even destroy her chance of happiness with the beautiful, yet seemingly unobtainable Emma Jenkins.
Can Laura let go of the past, or will she make the same mistakes all over again?
Hearts and Flowers Border is a simple tale of the uncertainty of youth and the first flush of love—love that may have a chance after all.
Can Laura let go of the past, or will she make the same mistakes all over again?
Hearts and Flowers Border is a simple tale of the uncertainty of youth and the first flush of love—love that may have a chance after all.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
L.T. Smith
25 books64 followersL.T. Smith is a late bloomer when it comes to writing and didn’t begin until 2005 with her first novel Hearts and Flowers Border (first published in 2006). She soon caught the bug and has written numerous tales, usually with a comical slant to reflect, as she calls it, ‘My warped view of the dramatic.’ Although she loves to write, L.T. loves to read, too — being an English teacher seems to demand it. Most of her free time is spent with her furry little men — two fluffy balls of trouble who keep her active and her apologies flowing.
She is also a very popular author at websites such as The Athenaeum and The Academy of Bards under the name of “Fingersmith”. She is the Royal Academy of Bards 2008 Hall of Fame Author.
She is also a very popular author at websites such as The Athenaeum and The Academy of Bards under the name of “Fingersmith”. She is the Royal Academy of Bards 2008 Hall of Fame Author.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 30, 2016
There’s only ever one bad thing about a book by L.T. Smith and that is this: it has to end and the reader must return to reality. But no matter how bad it is that the journey has to end, the good makes it all worth it.
Funny, sweet, smart, beautiful and sigh-inducing, Hearts and Flowers Border comes with its own wonderful interior monologue and may be even more touching and hysterical than See Right Through Me.
L.T. Smith's way with words is what I love most about her novels. They ring true because they are true and they comfort because they are universal thoughts written so uniquely.
When Laura first realizes she is beyond gone over her classmate Emma, she thinks to herself: "Yes, the plague. She was the plague. Emma plagued every thought I had...awake or asleep; she plagued my conscience and my heart. She was a disease; a disease I wouldn’t mind dying from. What an agonisingly beautiful way to die that would be."
She has never felt anything like this before and wonders why it's so affecting. Early on she can't explain why she feels so lonely having met her when she doesn't truly her. So much of what Laura thinks can hit close to home. Sometimes, it's only when we meet someone special we realize how lonely we've been. Their presence comes in so strongly that when they leave, it's almost heartache.
At the same time, that person can inspire us, make us want to be someone worthy of their attention and respect: “I was grieving, grieving for the chance to be someone else, someone else who I could be—someone different who wanted to be different.” Sometimes, it’s with the very people we like most, we mess up the worst. I love that Laura desperately wants to be a better person for both herself and Emma.
Insecurities and doubt can run wild in a L.T. Smith novel, but in Hearts and Flowers Border, it’s even more intense and more complex because there’s a teenage past to their current adult relationship, which makes everything all the more complicated, messy and angsty.
It also makes the novel much more real. Laura’s intensely strong anxieties about being loved back is all too realistic, painful to read at times and yet makes the story stand out. “Who was I kidding?," Laura thinks, always excruciatingly hard on herself, "Emma Jenkins would never go for someone like me, not in a million years. Get over yourself, Stewart. Get it into your thick skull.”
With Laura and Emma both battling their own inner demons, there's really no room or time for any other forces to mess with their love. The stress and the sadness are high at times, but so is the love: "I sighed. I felt like a mother watching over her child, both of us surrounded by the protection of daddy bear. Sickly sweet—I know, but hey—all through our lives, that is the one thing that we search for—the ultimate feeling of belonging."
Coming to the end of one L.T. Smith's books is always bittersweet, but that's why I'm a big believer in reading favorite books over and over. :)
Funny, sweet, smart, beautiful and sigh-inducing, Hearts and Flowers Border comes with its own wonderful interior monologue and may be even more touching and hysterical than See Right Through Me.
L.T. Smith's way with words is what I love most about her novels. They ring true because they are true and they comfort because they are universal thoughts written so uniquely.
When Laura first realizes she is beyond gone over her classmate Emma, she thinks to herself: "Yes, the plague. She was the plague. Emma plagued every thought I had...awake or asleep; she plagued my conscience and my heart. She was a disease; a disease I wouldn’t mind dying from. What an agonisingly beautiful way to die that would be."
She has never felt anything like this before and wonders why it's so affecting. Early on she can't explain why she feels so lonely having met her when she doesn't truly her. So much of what Laura thinks can hit close to home. Sometimes, it's only when we meet someone special we realize how lonely we've been. Their presence comes in so strongly that when they leave, it's almost heartache.
At the same time, that person can inspire us, make us want to be someone worthy of their attention and respect: “I was grieving, grieving for the chance to be someone else, someone else who I could be—someone different who wanted to be different.” Sometimes, it’s with the very people we like most, we mess up the worst. I love that Laura desperately wants to be a better person for both herself and Emma.
Insecurities and doubt can run wild in a L.T. Smith novel, but in Hearts and Flowers Border, it’s even more intense and more complex because there’s a teenage past to their current adult relationship, which makes everything all the more complicated, messy and angsty.
It also makes the novel much more real. Laura’s intensely strong anxieties about being loved back is all too realistic, painful to read at times and yet makes the story stand out. “Who was I kidding?," Laura thinks, always excruciatingly hard on herself, "Emma Jenkins would never go for someone like me, not in a million years. Get over yourself, Stewart. Get it into your thick skull.”
With Laura and Emma both battling their own inner demons, there's really no room or time for any other forces to mess with their love. The stress and the sadness are high at times, but so is the love: "I sighed. I felt like a mother watching over her child, both of us surrounded by the protection of daddy bear. Sickly sweet—I know, but hey—all through our lives, that is the one thing that we search for—the ultimate feeling of belonging."
Coming to the end of one L.T. Smith's books is always bittersweet, but that's why I'm a big believer in reading favorite books over and over. :)
February 6, 2017
Great book! I read the online story a few years ago... and I loved it. So now it was time to read the published and polished edition by Ylva. I don't know if there are significant changes in the story, but it certainly is as captivating as the first time I read it.
September 2, 2019
A great read and an enjoyable one. Story is in first person POV; in this case it's Laura. Laura and Emma met when they were 16 and story took off from there; friends for 3 years but became estranged for 10 years after one hell of a incident. You got the impression both were very much interested in each other (no doubt Laura was into Emma) but things just didn't fall into places. Never assumed and jump to conclusion - that's the underlying message in this story. Get it out in the open and talk about it, no matter how hurtful it may (or may not) get!
Ratings 4.25
Ratings 4.25
March 26, 2018
kinda like her other book beginnings but not..really enjoyed it
May 25, 2015
Great first novel by L.T Smith. She really knows what to give us in terms of romance: lots of chemistry, lots of angst, love, hot sex, jealousy, longing, hoping, deceiving, forgiving, happy ending. It's all there. All the feelings. The butterflies in your belly. The ache in your heart. The throbbing in your groin. Yes, everything.
The first person POV works wonderfully.
I loved the first part of the story. The one that goes back 13 years and tells the story of how they met and fell in love with each other and struggled to deal with loving their best friend. This part was such a touching retelling of first love, first heartbreak, first doubts, first sexual feelings.
However, I can't give it 5 stars because I struggled through the second part, especially the last 10 or so chapters that I found really corny and melodramatic. After 10 years of separation, Laura and Emma meet again. But I found this part to be rushed and at the same time really long. They got back together very quickly and at the same time there were a lot of unnecessary and irrelevant chapters. The last few were (admittedly, incredibly hot) sex, sex, sex, and cheesy declarations of love. It got a bit boring and repetitive.
Though, what really bothers me in this and other L.T Smith's novels is how infuriatingly clueless her protagonists are. Like, always. In hearts and Flowers Border, it reaches new heights. Laura is so naive, I've never in my life known someone who was so lame at reading other people. It's that naivete, mixed with her stubbornness and self-deprecating personality that led to really frustrating things happening.
But the story is so well written and engaging that it's quite easy to get over that. Hence the 4 stars.
The first person POV works wonderfully.
I loved the first part of the story. The one that goes back 13 years and tells the story of how they met and fell in love with each other and struggled to deal with loving their best friend. This part was such a touching retelling of first love, first heartbreak, first doubts, first sexual feelings.
However, I can't give it 5 stars because I struggled through the second part, especially the last 10 or so chapters that I found really corny and melodramatic. After 10 years of separation, Laura and Emma meet again. But I found this part to be rushed and at the same time really long. They got back together very quickly and at the same time there were a lot of unnecessary and irrelevant chapters. The last few were (admittedly, incredibly hot) sex, sex, sex, and cheesy declarations of love. It got a bit boring and repetitive.
Though, what really bothers me in this and other L.T Smith's novels is how infuriatingly clueless her protagonists are. Like, always. In hearts and Flowers Border, it reaches new heights. Laura is so naive, I've never in my life known someone who was so lame at reading other people. It's that naivete, mixed with her stubbornness and self-deprecating personality that led to really frustrating things happening.
But the story is so well written and engaging that it's quite easy to get over that. Hence the 4 stars.
January 14, 2015
Ok, I've got a big soft spot for this book. I also know that lots of other folks would be driven mad by the author's voice and the language but I can't help but love this book. There's plenty of angst and sex, which I sometimes am in the mood for. This book is definitely one of my guilty pleasures, even though I want to shake the hell out of the main character. But that's how angsty romance novels are, right?
There are some typos and some words that didn't get removed in the editing process so I had to take off a bit in my rating for that.
There are some typos and some words that didn't get removed in the editing process so I had to take off a bit in my rating for that.
June 18, 2015
I almost gave it 5 stars, because Emma is so so so dreamy! Like really, she is such a caring, lovable, sweet (aside from being gorgeous as hell) character, of course Laura fell hard for her, who wouldn't?
There were some things that bothered me a little though. First was the fact that they didn't seem to know anyone else besides their own family. I mean, when Laura was an adult didn't she have any friend at all? I don't know about Emma, we never get to follow her life much, the book is always under Laura's perspective, but she never mentions anyone either.
I have said it and I'll say it again, Emma is so so so dreamy! But Laura, oh god, was she annoying! I get that some real shit happened to her in the past, but it doesn't work out in a way that makes you sympathetic, you just see yourself finding her immature, selfish and very insecure through out the whole book. Emma was so good and nice to her and she would still doubt her feelings every damn time. Laura is always thinking how she doesn't deserve Emma and, and quite honestly, I agree with her. In Emma's place I don't know if I would've forgiven Laura for what she did back when they were teenagers. And then, in the end of the book, Laura starts to freak out over nothing. She's very bad at communicating and a big drama queen.
At last, I previously read "Beginnings" by the same author, and sometimes it felt like it was the same book. The character's appearance were exactly the same for instance. All in all I did find "Hearts and Flowers Border" better than "Beginnings", although they're quite alike.
But anyway, the romance itself is nice, specially because Emma is so great, and the book is worth reading if you like sweet romances.
There were some things that bothered me a little though. First was the fact that they didn't seem to know anyone else besides their own family. I mean, when Laura was an adult didn't she have any friend at all? I don't know about Emma, we never get to follow her life much, the book is always under Laura's perspective, but she never mentions anyone either.
I have said it and I'll say it again, Emma is so so so dreamy! But Laura, oh god, was she annoying! I get that some real shit happened to her in the past, but it doesn't work out in a way that makes you sympathetic, you just see yourself finding her immature, selfish and very insecure through out the whole book. Emma was so good and nice to her and she would still doubt her feelings every damn time. Laura is always thinking how she doesn't deserve Emma and, and quite honestly, I agree with her. In Emma's place I don't know if I would've forgiven Laura for what she did back when they were teenagers. And then, in the end of the book, Laura starts to freak out over nothing. She's very bad at communicating and a big drama queen.
At last, I previously read "Beginnings" by the same author, and sometimes it felt like it was the same book. The character's appearance were exactly the same for instance. All in all I did find "Hearts and Flowers Border" better than "Beginnings", although they're quite alike.
But anyway, the romance itself is nice, specially because Emma is so great, and the book is worth reading if you like sweet romances.
August 16, 2015
So I agree that this book is supposed to have many of the ingredients of a good romance: love at first sight, chemistry, angst, longing, hot sex and happy ending but to me they are hardly enough.
I hate books that tell rather than show. To me that's bad writting and bad story telling, and this is exactly what happens in this book and, for me, this is its most important failure.
Secondly, the reader is hardly introduced to one of the characters (Emma) and therefore the behaviour and decisions of the main characters are hardly understandable and/or believable.
So, overall, i found it a mediocre reading, as regards as both the story and the writting.
I hate books that tell rather than show. To me that's bad writting and bad story telling, and this is exactly what happens in this book and, for me, this is its most important failure.
Secondly, the reader is hardly introduced to one of the characters (Emma) and therefore the behaviour and decisions of the main characters are hardly understandable and/or believable.
So, overall, i found it a mediocre reading, as regards as both the story and the writting.
May 4, 2016
I'm a sucker for an L.T Smith book. I love her narratives. I took a star off for all the misunderstanding drama in this book. It's a bit much and can feel like drama for drama's sake. Also, first person is done well, but it does mean Emma remains a bit distant to the reader.
April 15, 2018
Story keeps you guessing and does get dark at times
Heart and Flowers Border is Smith's first book and has all the humor I expect from their work; it also has a fair amount of dark subject matter. Told from main character Laura's perspective, beginning in her teenage years (an entertaining and funny narrative voice), her home life and issues at and around school are divulged along with her attraction to schoolmate Emma.
Without revealing any spoilers about the plot, the darker subject matter might be triggering for some readers and may be disturbing to read. There is romance and heartbreak, shifting family dynamics, and a sense that even when things are going 'right' for the characters that something has to give, that a plot twist shaped like an anvil is about to drop on or around them. It's not my favorite book by LT Smith but it does contain all the plot twists and humor I expect in her stories. If you like to be guessing about how a story will end for the majority of the book then give this one a read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Heart and Flowers Border is Smith's first book and has all the humor I expect from their work; it also has a fair amount of dark subject matter. Told from main character Laura's perspective, beginning in her teenage years (an entertaining and funny narrative voice), her home life and issues at and around school are divulged along with her attraction to schoolmate Emma.
Without revealing any spoilers about the plot, the darker subject matter might be triggering for some readers and may be disturbing to read. There is romance and heartbreak, shifting family dynamics, and a sense that even when things are going 'right' for the characters that something has to give, that a plot twist shaped like an anvil is about to drop on or around them. It's not my favorite book by LT Smith but it does contain all the plot twists and humor I expect in her stories. If you like to be guessing about how a story will end for the majority of the book then give this one a read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2017
There is a lot of humor and funny dialogues packed in a book full of anguish, bullying, confused feelings. The main character. Laura, leaves me with mixed feelings about her - I’m not sure if I like her or not - sometimes I wish I could just shake her and yell at her but other times I felt bad for her. My favorite character is definitely Emma - she is lovable, caring and sweet.
I like the humorous way of LT Smith’s writing and how she puts serious topics in her books but portraits her characters very real and vulnerable. However, i don’t like how vulgar the language is at some points.
I like the humorous way of LT Smith’s writing and how she puts serious topics in her books but portraits her characters very real and vulnerable. However, i don’t like how vulgar the language is at some points.
October 26, 2017
I was expecting a lot more out of the book based on all the good reviews this book received. It was well -written but very angsty and to me, quite melodramatic.
It also only had one person's POV - Laura's and she was in her head most of the time. I would have liked to have seen more of Emma's perspective of their relationship. Perhaps that would have balanced out the book and made it less "draggy".
Thank you ylva for providing this book for review.
It also only had one person's POV - Laura's and she was in her head most of the time. I would have liked to have seen more of Emma's perspective of their relationship. Perhaps that would have balanced out the book and made it less "draggy".
Thank you ylva for providing this book for review.
March 26, 2024
I couldn't finish this book; the writing is very immature, and it felt more like a Wattpad fanfiction than a professionally crafted novel.
January 8, 2025
Great book! My fav trope and it did not disappoint
May 30, 2017
Holy- how I loved this book! Read it twice. I can't recommend this enough, its got just the right amount of angst and heart-wrenching pages, both fun and unfair, yet its so cute and fluffy! It is VERY good. So far this is my favorite romance book, and best of all, it has both young and adult settings.
The emotional tension this book conjures is quite good. It pinched my nerves so bad I was shaking. So its a no brainer that this book has some truly vexing parts, and that vexing part is... A girl... Or two. Lets just say that while reading this book I often found myself wanting to dig my freshly sharpened nails into a certain young miss, or both misses even, sooo frustrating! A some plot points felt like they didn't make sense, I think young Emma is mostly to blame for that, but otherwise she's a real sweetheart, and a tough one at that! There is some drama in the end, however, I felt it served an overabundance of love and sex, which left me all feverishly content. You don't have to be afraid it ends too early in the romance department, to say the least. It wraps up really nicely and, you may call me simple minded, but the narration style is absolutely one of my favorites.
The emotional tension this book conjures is quite good. It pinched my nerves so bad I was shaking. So its a no brainer that this book has some truly vexing parts, and that vexing part is... A girl... Or two. Lets just say that while reading this book I often found myself wanting to dig my freshly sharpened nails into a certain young miss, or both misses even, sooo frustrating! A some plot points felt like they didn't make sense, I think young Emma is mostly to blame for that, but otherwise she's a real sweetheart, and a tough one at that! There is some drama in the end, however, I felt it served an overabundance of love and sex, which left me all feverishly content. You don't have to be afraid it ends too early in the romance department, to say the least. It wraps up really nicely and, you may call me simple minded, but the narration style is absolutely one of my favorites.
May 25, 2014
Once I started reading this book, I really couldn't put it down until I reached to the last page... The story is told from a first person perspective called Laura Stewart. It starts of when Laura is sixteen and telling us about her falling in love with Emma Jenkins. At times I felt for Laura when Emma is 'blind' to Laura's love. A series of misunderstandings later, we see Laura and Emma not seeing each other for ten years..... Than the story is told in the present time. We see Laura and Emma meet again.... Will they or won't they is the question being constantly asked...
January 22, 2009
Really funny book! Laura, the main character, just had me laughing out loud with her remarks and observations. Just cute British humor. This is a story of first love, loss, moving on/growing up, and then facing the past when Emma suddenly comes back into Laura's life
September 3, 2011
I absolutely loved this book. This author has a way of capturing you and drawing you into the story. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a great story, has a sense of humor and enjoys the British style of writing. Overall, this is one that should not be missed.
January 8, 2013
The first half is better than the second half where the main character becomes a bit of a histrionic drama queen, but it's definitely a fun read in the beginning.
July 2, 2014
Loved it
This sums up what I like about this book "Never let the actions of others make you think less of yourself. Life is what you make of it.
This sums up what I like about this book "Never let the actions of others make you think less of yourself. Life is what you make of it.
November 19, 2012
Loved. The story is so much fun and you just want to keep reading. One of my favorites.
September 17, 2017
read it a while back and recently came across it again and still love it still.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews