Flower

by Cheris Piper

Aly’s a music major, just finishing up her third year of college. And now that exams are done, all she wants to do is pick up some extra shifts at work, write music, and hang out with her best friend. All summer. She doesn’t have time for guys. After her last relationship ended in disaster, she’s definitely not interested. But when a chance encounter at her favorite food truck brings Jake into her life—a guy who shares her passion for music and french fries—she starts to wonder if maybe she’s got her summer plans all wrong.

Jake has one job to do. He and his band have come all the way to California from South Korea to write songs, record music, and film a few videos for their fans. He doesn’t have time for girls. His record label doesn’t want the band to date, besides which, he’s heading home at the end of the summer. There’s no way he should get involved with anyone. But there’s something about Aly. She’s so sweet and kind, and just as passionate about music as he is. Maybe just for the summer…

As Aly and Jake start to open up, they both wonder what the end of summer could bring. But Jake’s work makes it hard to date, and Aly’s past—in the form of an angry ex with a dangerous obsession—keeps coming back to haunt her. When the guy from her past crosses the line, it’s all Jake can do to keep Aly safe and keep his anger in.

With the end of summer closing in, and so much standing in their way, can they find a way to make love last?

258 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2024

Reviews

[Jenée · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart was so full after reading this. It really highlights what a healthy relationship should look like vs a toxic relationship. I appreciated that the author wrote didn’t go into great depth of what Aly went through with her ex. Rather, it reminds us there are good things surrounding us.

[Lynn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slow-burn romance is a beautifully crafted cozy story about two souls who eternally changed each other. This forbidden love faces many different hurdles that would normally make a relationship fizzle out. But these two work through it all as their love blossoms into a beautiful flower. I love the extra layer of love for music and music development that is added to this book. If you're looking for a clean and cozy romance book, this is for you.

[Armando Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flower by Cheris Piper was a cute and enjoyable read; definitely outside of my usual genres, but one I picked up as part of a book club selection. While it’s not something I would typically gravitate toward, I did find myself charmed by parts of the story.That said, the book did feel a bit young. Even though the characters are supposed to be college-aged, their voices and actions often came across more like high school students. The possessive ex-boyfriend storyline grabbed my attention early on and had great potential, but just as the tension began to build, it wrapped up rather tamely. The same goes for the overall ending, it felt oddly subdued. I was hoping for more depth and emotional payoff, yet it concluded almost too neatly, more like Jake was heading off to a normal day instead of the end of an intense journey.Still, I can absolutely see how readers who love this genre will find it delightful. It’s sweet, easy to read, and has an earnest charm. For me, it was an enjoyable detour from my norm, even if it didn’t completely win me over.