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The Moonflowers: A Novel
In a powerful and poignant novel, an artist unravels her mysterious family history and its generations of women who depended on each other to survive.
Tig Costello has arrived in Darren, Kentucky, commissioned to paint a portrait honoring her grandfather Benjamin. His contributions to the rural Appalachian town and his unimpeachable war service have made him a local hero. But to Tig, he’s a relative stranger. To find out more about him, Tig wants to talk to the person who knew her grandfather Eloise Price, the woman who murdered him fifty years ago.
Still confined to a state institution, Eloise has a lifetime of stories to tell. She agrees to share them all—about herself, about Tig’s enigmatic grandmother, and about the other brave and desperate women who passed through Benjamin’s orbit. Most revealing of all is the truth about Whitmore Halls, the mansion on the hill that was home to triage, rescue, death, and one inevitable day that changed Eloise’s life forever.
As Tig begins to piece together the puzzle of her mysterious family tree, it sends her spiraling toward a confrontation with her own painful past—and a reconciliation with all its heartrending secrets.
Tig Costello has arrived in Darren, Kentucky, commissioned to paint a portrait honoring her grandfather Benjamin. His contributions to the rural Appalachian town and his unimpeachable war service have made him a local hero. But to Tig, he’s a relative stranger. To find out more about him, Tig wants to talk to the person who knew her grandfather Eloise Price, the woman who murdered him fifty years ago.
Still confined to a state institution, Eloise has a lifetime of stories to tell. She agrees to share them all—about herself, about Tig’s enigmatic grandmother, and about the other brave and desperate women who passed through Benjamin’s orbit. Most revealing of all is the truth about Whitmore Halls, the mansion on the hill that was home to triage, rescue, death, and one inevitable day that changed Eloise’s life forever.
As Tig begins to piece together the puzzle of her mysterious family tree, it sends her spiraling toward a confrontation with her own painful past—and a reconciliation with all its heartrending secrets.
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First published August 24, 2024
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About the author
Abigail Rose-Marie
2 books170 followersAbigail Rose-Marie is a writer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds a Ph.D. in creative writing from Ohio University and an MFA from Bowling Green State University. She currently lives with her wife and their very spoiled pets in Utah. The Moonflowers is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,407 reviews
September 26, 2024
(I am sorry this is so long)
Wow. What a debut. This is such an important story about strong, brave women. Though it’s a historical fiction story set in the 1940s and 1990s, it still so very relevant today. I felt every emotion while I was reading it: anger, sadness, disappointment, anxiety, pride, love, strength.
I was hooked from start to finish. The mystery part of the story kept me so intrigued and engaged. I loved the writing style because it was beautifully descriptive and helped me visualize everything in the small rural town. I could see the forest of Red Oak trees and every building the main Narrator, Tig, entered.
I can agree with other readers who said it sometimes felt disjointed going back and forth so much (dual timelines and multi POV), but I was still able to easily follow the story.
I couldn’t help but check the 1⭐️ and DNF reviews when I finished. To those reviewers who found this book to be “problematic” because of your opposing views, some things in life will make you uncomfortable because they are telling you a truth you don’t want to hear. This is a work of fiction that provided some very real life examples of what women truly experienced 70+ years ago (and even still today).
I loved this book even though I don’t agree with every choice made by the characters. It’s important to read books that challenge your point of view, help you grow, and make you feel!
I will absolutely read Abigail Rose-Marie’s next novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for access to the audio ARC.
••Side note (cause I can’t shut up): the audio was so well done! I loved the narrator. I also had a copy of the kindle unlimited ebook and loved that it included photos (of something I don’t wanna mention cause of spoilers 😂). I will be picking up a physical copy of this book asap!
Content warning below (don’t read if you feel content warnings are spoilers):
.
.
.
(There are very heavy topics of domestic abuse, abortion, and suicide so please consider that before reading.)
Wow. What a debut. This is such an important story about strong, brave women. Though it’s a historical fiction story set in the 1940s and 1990s, it still so very relevant today. I felt every emotion while I was reading it: anger, sadness, disappointment, anxiety, pride, love, strength.
I was hooked from start to finish. The mystery part of the story kept me so intrigued and engaged. I loved the writing style because it was beautifully descriptive and helped me visualize everything in the small rural town. I could see the forest of Red Oak trees and every building the main Narrator, Tig, entered.
I can agree with other readers who said it sometimes felt disjointed going back and forth so much (dual timelines and multi POV), but I was still able to easily follow the story.
I couldn’t help but check the 1⭐️ and DNF reviews when I finished. To those reviewers who found this book to be “problematic” because of your opposing views, some things in life will make you uncomfortable because they are telling you a truth you don’t want to hear. This is a work of fiction that provided some very real life examples of what women truly experienced 70+ years ago (and even still today).
I loved this book even though I don’t agree with every choice made by the characters. It’s important to read books that challenge your point of view, help you grow, and make you feel!
I will absolutely read Abigail Rose-Marie’s next novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for access to the audio ARC.
••Side note (cause I can’t shut up): the audio was so well done! I loved the narrator. I also had a copy of the kindle unlimited ebook and loved that it included photos (of something I don’t wanna mention cause of spoilers 😂). I will be picking up a physical copy of this book asap!
Content warning below (don’t read if you feel content warnings are spoilers):
.
.
.
(There are very heavy topics of domestic abuse, abortion, and suicide so please consider that before reading.)
August 22, 2024
This book was all about abortions and the justification for all the abortions was the idea that women were abused by husbands, relatives, and sometimes strangers. The viewpoint was very one-sided and made almost all the men in the town most of the book was set in look like they were abusive. There was a mention that not all men were bad. I would not recommend because in the end the story was not worth my time.
May 29, 2024
Thank you to the author and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me this ARC. This debut novel will be published on September 1, 2024.
I was instantly drawn to the cover and title of this book. Although I didn't feel connected with the overarching plotline, the story itself is well-written. This book is filled with unique characters, all with troubling secrets awaiting to be uncovered. There are decent twists along the way and a good level of depth.
Overall, it is an average book. I found myself relieved to be done with it. This one was tough to get through - I hate to say it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
I seem like the outlier, so don't let my review deter you from picking this one up in September 2024!
I was instantly drawn to the cover and title of this book. Although I didn't feel connected with the overarching plotline, the story itself is well-written. This book is filled with unique characters, all with troubling secrets awaiting to be uncovered. There are decent twists along the way and a good level of depth.
Overall, it is an average book. I found myself relieved to be done with it. This one was tough to get through - I hate to say it, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
I seem like the outlier, so don't let my review deter you from picking this one up in September 2024!
August 27, 2024
This was a monthly Amazon prime member free book. It is one of the best of the Amazon prime free books that I have read.
Tig Costello is a young woman whose dad sent her to her family's historical home in Darren Kentucky. She is supposed to paint a portrait of her grandfather as a companion to the statue that was made of him. Her grandfather had been poisoned years ago and a local woman, Eloise, confessed that she had poisoned him.
When Tig arrives, she wants to learn more about her grandfather's history in order to better understand him before she paints his portrait. As she investigates, she talks to Eloise and others in the town. Soon the mayor and others in the town are unhappy that Tig is investigating the past. There are clearly things that they want to keep hidden. It is clearly a very patriarchal society.
A very good book and a strong 4 stars.
August 11, 2024
One of the best books I've read this year. I love historical fiction and when the subject is women's healthcare, especially with everything going on now in 2024, I'm all in. Well written account of strong, brave women risking their own safety and lives to help other women who need them desperately. At the same time presenting the horrors of life as a woman back in the day when you were a second-class citizen and your husband's property. The chapters fly by, in fact I could have read another 100 pages it was that good. Highly recommend! Happy Reading!
April 1, 2024
The Moonflowers is a stunning first novel - a brilliantly told story that kept me hooked. Tig travels to Darren to paint a portrait of Benjamin, her grandfather and local hero. To find out more about him, Tig meets many Darren residents including Eloise, the woman who murdered Benjamin. This is a novel about family ties, secrets and the power and strength of women in the face of abuse and violence.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to netgalley for this ARC
#TheMoonflowers #NetGalley
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to netgalley for this ARC
#TheMoonflowers #NetGalley
January 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Abigail Rose Marie for my copy of The Moonflowers. This was heartbreaking as much as it was frustrating. I really enjoyed the concept and the imagery throughout the story, but I wish some things were researched a little bit more. Some things were so extreme and over the top that it became almost unbelievable. I wanted to love it so much more than I did. I will still try more from this author as this was a debut novel.
August 13, 2024
I was extremely disappointed! I read every day and this is the first fiction book that I can ever remember not finishing. I never would have started it if there had been a meention that it was about glorifying abortion.
September 18, 2024
With the 2024 election just 50 days out, and women’s healthcare on the line, this book really struck a cord with me. The underlying theme of this story is abortion access and domestic violence in the 40’s. How are we right back where we started??
September 6, 2024
Oh my gosh! What a debut for a new author! Strong female characters. Story of family and friendships. You know a book is amazing when you will honestly miss having the characters in your life while reading about them. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for another from Abigail Rose-Marie!
March 15, 2024
Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this wonderful story!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - any story that centers around women always has me hooked. This was a poignant story about Antigone (“Tig”) Costello trying to uncover the roots of her family’s past. Along the way in her journey of finding the truth, she uncovers stories of the strong and courageous women who fought for themselves and other women during a time where they had no voice and no right to choose. Oftentimes in these stories, the characters meet such dreary ends, so it was so nice to see the women in this book find solace.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - any story that centers around women always has me hooked. This was a poignant story about Antigone (“Tig”) Costello trying to uncover the roots of her family’s past. Along the way in her journey of finding the truth, she uncovers stories of the strong and courageous women who fought for themselves and other women during a time where they had no voice and no right to choose. Oftentimes in these stories, the characters meet such dreary ends, so it was so nice to see the women in this book find solace.
September 30, 2024
You know that feeling when you stumble upon an old photo album in your grandma's attic? The one filled with faded snapshots of people you've never met, yet somehow feel connected to? Reading Abigail Rose-Marie's debut novel The Moonflowers evokes that same sense of unearthing long-buried family secrets and piecing together a puzzle you didn't even know existed.
Set against the backdrop of rural Appalachia, this atmospheric historical mystery unravels the knotted threads of one family's painful past, revealing how the courage of a few determined women can echo through generations. Fair warning though - once you crack open this book, you'll find yourself transported to the shadowy halls of Whitmore Manor and the muddy banks of a slow-moving Kentucky river. Don't be surprised if you look up hours later, blinking in confusion at your suddenly unfamiliar surroundings.
A Portrait of the Past
The story follows Tig Costello, a young artist commissioned to paint a portrait honoring her grandfather Benjamin, a local war hero in the small town of Darren, Kentucky. There's just one tiny snag - Tig barely knew the man. Oh, and the person who knew him best? That would be Eloise Price, the woman who murdered him 50 years ago.
As Tig delves into her family's murky history, she uncovers a web of secrets involving her grandmother Valerie, a mysterious woman named Ruth, and the true purpose of Whitmore Halls - a crumbling mansion that once served as a refuge for women in desperate circumstances. Through a series of conversations with the institutionalized Eloise, Tig pieces together a portrait far more complex and haunting than anything she could capture on canvas.
Voices from the Shadows
Rose-Marie's prose has a lyrical, almost dreamy quality that perfectly captures the hazy nature of long-buried memories and half-truths. The novel's structure, weaving between past and present, mirrors Tig's own journey of discovery. As layers of deception are slowly peeled away, both Tig and the reader are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about the lengths people will go to protect those they love.
The author excels at creating richly-drawn characters, each with their own distinct voice. Eloise, in particular, practically leaps off the page with her sharp wit and unapologetic demeanor. You can almost hear the gravel in her voice as she recounts tales of midnight escapades and secret medical procedures.
A Time Capsule of Women's History
While ostensibly a family drama, The Moonflowers also serves as a poignant exploration of women's rights and reproductive healthcare in mid-20th century America. Rose-Marie doesn't shy away from difficult topics, treating them with nuance and compassion. The struggles faced by the women of Whitmore Halls feel painfully relevant, even decades later.
Some standout elements:
• The vivid descriptions of the Kentucky landscape, from the mist-shrouded hills to the muddy, ever-present river
• The gradual reveal of how seemingly unconnected characters' lives intersect in unexpected ways
• The exploration of how trauma and secrets ripple through generations of a family
• A subtle thread of magical realism woven throughout, hinting at deeper mysteries
A Few Stumbles Along the Way
No debut novel is without its flaws, and The Moonflowers occasionally loses its footing. The pacing in the middle section drags a bit as Tig's investigations hit several dead ends. A subplot involving the current mayor of Darren feels underdeveloped and could have been trimmed without losing much.
Additionally, while Rose-Marie's prose is generally strong, she occasionally overwrites, piling on metaphors where a simpler description would suffice. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise assured debut.
The Verdict
The Moonflowers is a haunting, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page. Rose-Marie has crafted a story that feels both intimately personal and universally resonant. It's the kind of book that makes you want to call your grandmother and ask about all those family stories you never thought to question before.
If you enjoy authors like Diane Setterfield or Kate Morton, who excel at untangling family secrets across generations, you'll find a lot to love here. Just be prepared to lose a weekend as you get sucked into the mysteries of Whitmore Halls.
Set against the backdrop of rural Appalachia, this atmospheric historical mystery unravels the knotted threads of one family's painful past, revealing how the courage of a few determined women can echo through generations. Fair warning though - once you crack open this book, you'll find yourself transported to the shadowy halls of Whitmore Manor and the muddy banks of a slow-moving Kentucky river. Don't be surprised if you look up hours later, blinking in confusion at your suddenly unfamiliar surroundings.
A Portrait of the Past
The story follows Tig Costello, a young artist commissioned to paint a portrait honoring her grandfather Benjamin, a local war hero in the small town of Darren, Kentucky. There's just one tiny snag - Tig barely knew the man. Oh, and the person who knew him best? That would be Eloise Price, the woman who murdered him 50 years ago.
As Tig delves into her family's murky history, she uncovers a web of secrets involving her grandmother Valerie, a mysterious woman named Ruth, and the true purpose of Whitmore Halls - a crumbling mansion that once served as a refuge for women in desperate circumstances. Through a series of conversations with the institutionalized Eloise, Tig pieces together a portrait far more complex and haunting than anything she could capture on canvas.
Voices from the Shadows
Rose-Marie's prose has a lyrical, almost dreamy quality that perfectly captures the hazy nature of long-buried memories and half-truths. The novel's structure, weaving between past and present, mirrors Tig's own journey of discovery. As layers of deception are slowly peeled away, both Tig and the reader are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about the lengths people will go to protect those they love.
The author excels at creating richly-drawn characters, each with their own distinct voice. Eloise, in particular, practically leaps off the page with her sharp wit and unapologetic demeanor. You can almost hear the gravel in her voice as she recounts tales of midnight escapades and secret medical procedures.
A Time Capsule of Women's History
While ostensibly a family drama, The Moonflowers also serves as a poignant exploration of women's rights and reproductive healthcare in mid-20th century America. Rose-Marie doesn't shy away from difficult topics, treating them with nuance and compassion. The struggles faced by the women of Whitmore Halls feel painfully relevant, even decades later.
Some standout elements:
• The vivid descriptions of the Kentucky landscape, from the mist-shrouded hills to the muddy, ever-present river
• The gradual reveal of how seemingly unconnected characters' lives intersect in unexpected ways
• The exploration of how trauma and secrets ripple through generations of a family
• A subtle thread of magical realism woven throughout, hinting at deeper mysteries
A Few Stumbles Along the Way
No debut novel is without its flaws, and The Moonflowers occasionally loses its footing. The pacing in the middle section drags a bit as Tig's investigations hit several dead ends. A subplot involving the current mayor of Darren feels underdeveloped and could have been trimmed without losing much.
Additionally, while Rose-Marie's prose is generally strong, she occasionally overwrites, piling on metaphors where a simpler description would suffice. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise assured debut.
The Verdict
The Moonflowers is a haunting, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page. Rose-Marie has crafted a story that feels both intimately personal and universally resonant. It's the kind of book that makes you want to call your grandmother and ask about all those family stories you never thought to question before.
If you enjoy authors like Diane Setterfield or Kate Morton, who excel at untangling family secrets across generations, you'll find a lot to love here. Just be prepared to lose a weekend as you get sucked into the mysteries of Whitmore Halls.
September 3, 2024
I would never have read this book had I known it was going to be about abortion. It came recommended in a Kindle Unlimited email with absolutely no indication this was the book’s focus. It’s also pretty graphic. There is also graphic domestic abuse and rape.
I could not resolve the evolution of Eloise’s character. The way she was depicted as a child and teen, she truly came across as a sociopath. She is mean-spirited and seems incapable of empathy. She’s not even kind to animals and mocks those who weep for them. It seemed like the focus was going to be on her being raised by a rural healer in a small Kentucky community and being basically feral.
But we’re supposed to buy in that she is so concerned about other women that she devotes her life to rescuing them? It just seems completely incompatible with her character.
I don’t know what literary device this is called, but it was overused and got on my nerves. For example, Tig and Jason are enjoying “the best Reuben sandwich ever made.” But then we jump back to a conversation they had in the truck on their way to have this sandwich, and then we are back at the lunch table with the sandwich. They weren’t even flashbacks per
se, just telling the story mildly out of order for no reason. It happened over and over.
And I generally love a good description, but sometimes the smallest things were told in so much detail that didn’t seem to add much to the story. I felt like we could have picked up the pace a little bit and skipped some of that.
Whatever the big symbolism is for the red oaks, I don’t get it. They were mentioned over and over, so I’m sure they are supposed to be important.
And the “current” time line is set in the late 1990s. But the mayor is going to “run Tig out of town”? How is that even possible in modern society? She’s a grown woman!
I would have liked more of Tig’s dad’s reaction at the end. I am not going to give spoilers, but how much did he know? Why did he send his daughter on this assignment? That didn’t seem compatible with his character, either.
I don’t know. It was a troubling book. People seem to either love it or hate it. One day I’m going to learn to put down a book I’m not enjoying.
I could not resolve the evolution of Eloise’s character. The way she was depicted as a child and teen, she truly came across as a sociopath. She is mean-spirited and seems incapable of empathy. She’s not even kind to animals and mocks those who weep for them. It seemed like the focus was going to be on her being raised by a rural healer in a small Kentucky community and being basically feral.
But we’re supposed to buy in that she is so concerned about other women that she devotes her life to rescuing them? It just seems completely incompatible with her character.
I don’t know what literary device this is called, but it was overused and got on my nerves. For example, Tig and Jason are enjoying “the best Reuben sandwich ever made.” But then we jump back to a conversation they had in the truck on their way to have this sandwich, and then we are back at the lunch table with the sandwich. They weren’t even flashbacks per
se, just telling the story mildly out of order for no reason. It happened over and over.
And I generally love a good description, but sometimes the smallest things were told in so much detail that didn’t seem to add much to the story. I felt like we could have picked up the pace a little bit and skipped some of that.
Whatever the big symbolism is for the red oaks, I don’t get it. They were mentioned over and over, so I’m sure they are supposed to be important.
And the “current” time line is set in the late 1990s. But the mayor is going to “run Tig out of town”? How is that even possible in modern society? She’s a grown woman!
I would have liked more of Tig’s dad’s reaction at the end. I am not going to give spoilers, but how much did he know? Why did he send his daughter on this assignment? That didn’t seem compatible with his character, either.
I don’t know. It was a troubling book. People seem to either love it or hate it. One day I’m going to learn to put down a book I’m not enjoying.
August 27, 2024
The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-Marie is a story about one woman’s journey to unravel her mysterious family history and the dark hidden history in one small town. Tig Costello arrives in Darren, Kentucky as part of the celebration honoring her late grandfather, Benjamin. His contributions to the town and his honorable war service has made him a local hero. As an artist, Tig is commissioned to paint his portrait but he is relatively unknown to her. In order to discover more about him, Tig seeks out the one person still alive who knew him. Eloise Price, the woman who murdered him fifty years ago and confined to a state mental institution. Eloise agrees to tell her stories. About herself, Tig’s grandmother, and the other brave women through Benjamin’s orbit. She reveals secrets of Whitmore Halls, the silent mansion on the hill, that lead to the day that would change Eloise’s life forever.
With its beautiful cover and its premise of a “powerful and poignant novel,” I was ready to read a story of past and present coming together for healing. What I got was a very slow moving story which seemed to be all over the place with no direction. The story was very hard to get into and I could not connect with Tig, Eloise or any of the other characters of this small town. By the end, it became a heavy handed discourse on the importance of abortion and how it saves lives. Even with the topic of abortion, which is hidden and revealed as if a plot twist, the story dragged that I did not care why Eloise killed Benjamin or what painful past Tig is running from. I was just glad the book was over. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and I do not recommend The Moonflowers.
The Moonflowers is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
With its beautiful cover and its premise of a “powerful and poignant novel,” I was ready to read a story of past and present coming together for healing. What I got was a very slow moving story which seemed to be all over the place with no direction. The story was very hard to get into and I could not connect with Tig, Eloise or any of the other characters of this small town. By the end, it became a heavy handed discourse on the importance of abortion and how it saves lives. Even with the topic of abortion, which is hidden and revealed as if a plot twist, the story dragged that I did not care why Eloise killed Benjamin or what painful past Tig is running from. I was just glad the book was over. Overall, I did not enjoy this story and I do not recommend The Moonflowers.
The Moonflowers is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
September 16, 2024
Story was captivating but I was dismayed as I started to see the pro-abortion bias take shape. I will not be recommending this book to anyone. If you are a survivor of abortion who has deep regrets/guilt, I would caution you not to pick up this book. I'm very thankful I received this book for free and did not have to pay for it.
August 6, 2024
profoundly extraordinary
This is one of the most beautifully executed pieces of work I have read in a long time. It should be on every mandatory reading list for students HS and onward and every male who’s job is in a position to make decisions regarding women and their bodies and their wellbeing and reproductive health need to have read and written their reviews on this incredibly powerful and misinformed subject and the oppression and abuse that has been allowed to continue and the neglect that’s been inflicted upon the females who bring them their life and are the nurturing and life givers and she is the one who is responsible to make the decisions if she is capable to bring a child into this world and overpopulated poorly structured institutional failure that has been blatantly ignored abused and taken their agency of their own lives by passing unintelligent fatally flawed and harmful laws and policies and punish even further the desperation they have shown by having to sought out an illegal or fatal consequence of their termination of this unintended consequence of males having selfish and oppressive policies and systemic racist policies against females the very MOTHERS who’ve sacrificed her entire life each and every time she proceeds to bring a child and life into existence hers is dangerously in perils way. Because no male could ever and will never have to know what a pregnancy full term is like and worse the LABOR and inarguably the most painful process including dying is while also putting her own fate in the fate and mercy of their own lives because ask any educated unbiased physician and they will tell you what birth and pregnancy does to the body and it isn’t as simple and dismissive as “women in other countries give birth standing up and go back to working in their fields” or “women have been doing it since beginning of time it’s what they DO” that is the wrong rheutoric and incredibly stupid for lack of a better or more explicit definition of the mentality that has become repeated and actually thought of as facts and decided by men not ever will you hear a women dismiss the process of pregnancy or the labor and birth not to mention all the other ways in which her body is not hers for rest of her life once she is responsible for this child and it’s survival. It’s emotionally physically and mentally daunting and it’s one of the most rewarding and horrifically stressful decisions she will ever make and the lifetime of that bond and her lifetime of ensuring it’s survival and wellbeing is unspoken and unacknowledged in fact it’s expected of females to be birthing children even when they have made the choice right for them not to do so knowing it isn’t in their inclination to do. The pressure and the oppression as well as the blatant disregard for her safety security and welfare after the fact is left unchecked grossly negligent practices and laws against her safety security and welfare in the future is nonexistent. She has no monetary support but that of which she is expected to raise kids full time as well as work full time and be responsible for several other humans lives and her own while supporting them all in every aspect with absolutely no help or assistance or assurance she will be able to safely shelter feed and support her kids without the dependency of their “fathers” and her retirement should be monetarily equipped to give her thanks for those years and for that life that without every single mum out there couldn’t have been possible or sustainable for the race if those men who ignore oppression and refuse to elevate the care and support and assistance of the females they have legally made responsible to give and protect that life the male has an orgasm in his contribution and somehow that is deemed fair enough to give him RIGHTS to his children and that women forever indebted financially towards him no matter how poorly he neglects or how violently he abuses her? It’s absolutely deplorable and this country and rest of the world still practicing in anarchic and antiquated practices radically need to change.
This and other themes like this need to be the repeated rhetoric the information recitated and reverence for this perspective and respect and gratitude for females especially women who have brought life into the world should be shown and given the praise and security in her and her children’s lives and futures that are ensured to be protected and sustained on the monetary and assistive institutions that are made available to all women to have access to and should be legally and financially entitled to. Indentured servitude is as racist and bigoted as it is antiquated and known to be WRONG and harmful. When a society knows better they need to DO BETTER IN ORDER TO GET BETTER. Let women make their own decisions about women business you males in leadership stick to your gun laws and protections let the women do their jobs and stay in your lanes
This is one of the most beautifully executed pieces of work I have read in a long time. It should be on every mandatory reading list for students HS and onward and every male who’s job is in a position to make decisions regarding women and their bodies and their wellbeing and reproductive health need to have read and written their reviews on this incredibly powerful and misinformed subject and the oppression and abuse that has been allowed to continue and the neglect that’s been inflicted upon the females who bring them their life and are the nurturing and life givers and she is the one who is responsible to make the decisions if she is capable to bring a child into this world and overpopulated poorly structured institutional failure that has been blatantly ignored abused and taken their agency of their own lives by passing unintelligent fatally flawed and harmful laws and policies and punish even further the desperation they have shown by having to sought out an illegal or fatal consequence of their termination of this unintended consequence of males having selfish and oppressive policies and systemic racist policies against females the very MOTHERS who’ve sacrificed her entire life each and every time she proceeds to bring a child and life into existence hers is dangerously in perils way. Because no male could ever and will never have to know what a pregnancy full term is like and worse the LABOR and inarguably the most painful process including dying is while also putting her own fate in the fate and mercy of their own lives because ask any educated unbiased physician and they will tell you what birth and pregnancy does to the body and it isn’t as simple and dismissive as “women in other countries give birth standing up and go back to working in their fields” or “women have been doing it since beginning of time it’s what they DO” that is the wrong rheutoric and incredibly stupid for lack of a better or more explicit definition of the mentality that has become repeated and actually thought of as facts and decided by men not ever will you hear a women dismiss the process of pregnancy or the labor and birth not to mention all the other ways in which her body is not hers for rest of her life once she is responsible for this child and it’s survival. It’s emotionally physically and mentally daunting and it’s one of the most rewarding and horrifically stressful decisions she will ever make and the lifetime of that bond and her lifetime of ensuring it’s survival and wellbeing is unspoken and unacknowledged in fact it’s expected of females to be birthing children even when they have made the choice right for them not to do so knowing it isn’t in their inclination to do. The pressure and the oppression as well as the blatant disregard for her safety security and welfare after the fact is left unchecked grossly negligent practices and laws against her safety security and welfare in the future is nonexistent. She has no monetary support but that of which she is expected to raise kids full time as well as work full time and be responsible for several other humans lives and her own while supporting them all in every aspect with absolutely no help or assistance or assurance she will be able to safely shelter feed and support her kids without the dependency of their “fathers” and her retirement should be monetarily equipped to give her thanks for those years and for that life that without every single mum out there couldn’t have been possible or sustainable for the race if those men who ignore oppression and refuse to elevate the care and support and assistance of the females they have legally made responsible to give and protect that life the male has an orgasm in his contribution and somehow that is deemed fair enough to give him RIGHTS to his children and that women forever indebted financially towards him no matter how poorly he neglects or how violently he abuses her? It’s absolutely deplorable and this country and rest of the world still practicing in anarchic and antiquated practices radically need to change.
This and other themes like this need to be the repeated rhetoric the information recitated and reverence for this perspective and respect and gratitude for females especially women who have brought life into the world should be shown and given the praise and security in her and her children’s lives and futures that are ensured to be protected and sustained on the monetary and assistive institutions that are made available to all women to have access to and should be legally and financially entitled to. Indentured servitude is as racist and bigoted as it is antiquated and known to be WRONG and harmful. When a society knows better they need to DO BETTER IN ORDER TO GET BETTER. Let women make their own decisions about women business you males in leadership stick to your gun laws and protections let the women do their jobs and stay in your lanes
May 20, 2024
What a wonderful debut novel! This story connects the past with the present perfectly.
Tig has had something happen to her while in art school and returns home to live with her dad. He’s received a letter to paint a portrait of his deceased dad that he’s never met. He opts to send Tig instead. The story has family connections to the past. Tig continuously learns more about her grandfather and everything that happened in the past.
There are many characters that you will love or hate, but some you will change your mind about as new discoveries are made. The characters are powerfully written, and you learn a little more in each chapter.
You’ll have to read it to discover the ways the past and present connect. The author did a beautiful job with this book. I look forward to seeing more.
Tig has had something happen to her while in art school and returns home to live with her dad. He’s received a letter to paint a portrait of his deceased dad that he’s never met. He opts to send Tig instead. The story has family connections to the past. Tig continuously learns more about her grandfather and everything that happened in the past.
There are many characters that you will love or hate, but some you will change your mind about as new discoveries are made. The characters are powerfully written, and you learn a little more in each chapter.
You’ll have to read it to discover the ways the past and present connect. The author did a beautiful job with this book. I look forward to seeing more.
August 28, 2024
Where to begin…
Pros - the book was an August freebie. So happy I didn’t pay for it. The book is an easy read. The author actually does have a nice writing style. The concept of the book could have been good but the author had an agenda that diminished the story.
Cons **and spoilers**
Ultimately the story is about backroom abortions and an underground system of removing women from abusive situations in the 1940's-70's. Because, afterall, every woman in Darren County is either a rape survivor, abuse survivor or general victim of men (all of whom are horrible)
This is the author’s agenda: men are abusers/rapists/misogynistic pigs. Abortion is the only answer to an unwanted pregnancy. Adoption is really never a choice.
Two women in the book elect to carry their unwanted pregnancies to term and we are to believe their lives are summarily ruined by this choice. They become incapable of love and vacant shells of life. One child suffers horribly for this lack of maternal attention, and that is our “lesson.” The women in the book are supposed to be the “brave, honorable heroes.” However, in the current day story, our protagonist melts into a blithering mess if she has to confront the town mayor. In what town in the US can the mayor actually run someone out of town??? This is not 1920.
The author completely fails to address the present day antagonist’s (mayor) past and what horrifying effect it has on him; being abandoned by his mother who is skirted off in the middle of the night by our “heroes” and leaving him to be brutalized by his father. Well, I guess that’s OK, because after all, he’s a worthless male and deserves it. The author kind of tries to resolve that, but frankly she doesn’t - she just reveals her opinion of men.
Maybe I should change my score to a 1.
Do not recommend.
Pros - the book was an August freebie. So happy I didn’t pay for it. The book is an easy read. The author actually does have a nice writing style. The concept of the book could have been good but the author had an agenda that diminished the story.
Cons **and spoilers**
Ultimately the story is about backroom abortions and an underground system of removing women from abusive situations in the 1940's-70's. Because, afterall, every woman in Darren County is either a rape survivor, abuse survivor or general victim of men (all of whom are horrible)
This is the author’s agenda: men are abusers/rapists/misogynistic pigs. Abortion is the only answer to an unwanted pregnancy. Adoption is really never a choice.
Two women in the book elect to carry their unwanted pregnancies to term and we are to believe their lives are summarily ruined by this choice. They become incapable of love and vacant shells of life. One child suffers horribly for this lack of maternal attention, and that is our “lesson.” The women in the book are supposed to be the “brave, honorable heroes.” However, in the current day story, our protagonist melts into a blithering mess if she has to confront the town mayor. In what town in the US can the mayor actually run someone out of town??? This is not 1920.
The author completely fails to address the present day antagonist’s (mayor) past and what horrifying effect it has on him; being abandoned by his mother who is skirted off in the middle of the night by our “heroes” and leaving him to be brutalized by his father. Well, I guess that’s OK, because after all, he’s a worthless male and deserves it. The author kind of tries to resolve that, but frankly she doesn’t - she just reveals her opinion of men.
Maybe I should change my score to a 1.
Do not recommend.
May 28, 2024
There are lots of things I loved about this book. The setting, the characters, the vibes, the storytelling… Overall I think it was very memorable. Unfortunately, it took a while to fully pull me in and it made the book feel really long. I think most of my “negatives” could have been saved by a more clear timeline and less repetition. In saying this, the second half of this book was easily 5 stars and after debating, I’ve decided to give this 5 stars because of the way I felt upon finishing this book. Read this if you’re looking for a historical mystery in a small town with strong female characters!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Abigail Rose-Marie for this ARC ebook. The Moonflowers will be published September 1, 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Abigail Rose-Marie for this ARC ebook. The Moonflowers will be published September 1, 2024.
September 7, 2024
The main plot of the book is that abortion is a "reproductive right" and pushes that agenda. I think the summary is very deceptive and does not mention this. When researching one could find that "In fact, according to a study from the pro-abortion-rights Guttmacher Institute, only about 1 percent of abortions are sought for reasons of rape, and less than 0.5 percent of abortions are sought for reasons of incest. https://www.heritage.org/life/comment..." The book does show compassion for women who are struggling -- which is commendable. But I believe there are other ways to help women rather than through abortion, which could have made for a good book.
November 9, 2025
It took me a little while to get into The Moonflowers, but once I did, I really liked it. The story unfolds beautifully, with heartfelt writing and a quiet depth. By the end, I was completely invested and glad I stuck with it.
August 21, 2024
Every year I tell myself this is the year I actually **will** add a review to each of the books I read and every year I find myself dropping that goal pretty quickly in favor of just making sure I’ve marked down that I’ve completed them. This one seemed worth renewing my effort.
First things first, one of the main themes of this book is abortion. I know that I have friends and family on this app (and of course elsewhere) on both ends of the spectrum of opinion on abortion. I am not sure that this is a book that will change anyone’s mind, especially as I scan other Goodreads reviews for this book which seem to largely be five stars, five stars, five stars, one star – “abortion bad!” But as a sliver of a discussion of why abortion has always and will always be a part of the history of womanhood, I think this book has some value for those who are against it. I will have to strongly disagree with one Goodreads reviewer who spoke of the book “glorifying” abortion. Demonstrating the necessity of a thing does not glorify it.
The story is told from two points of view. The first is Tig, a young woman in the modern day who is working through a recent trauma and has found herself in the town where her grandparents were from. Looking to understand who her grandfather was, she spends her time with Eloise, who provides the second narrative point of view. Eloise happens to be the woman who was convicted of murdering Tig’s grandfather fifty years ago. In the process, the history of a family and a town are revealed. It is a wandering and poetic process.
The writing in this book was sometimes a stumbling block for me. I love a good simile as much as anyone who spent a childhood thinking they could write poetry. But I’m not sure I have ever read a novel so drenched in them. The author’s descriptions of gestures and emotional states and settings were at times for me an unwelcome interruption in the story that felt forced and even emotionally mismatched with the characters. At other points they gave the narration a dreamlike feeling that worked well for the emotional state of the characters and the purposes of the story. I ended the book hesitantly on the side of the flowery prose, but only just barely.
The other frustration I had was with side characters who flipped so crazily from inexplicable hostility directly to nurturing with the tiniest motivation. Or even held with their initial hostility. It felt emotionally unearned.
Overall, the story came together with some satisfying surprises and a somewhat tidy wrap up at the end. It is emphatically a story about women, even with the life of Tig’s grandfather serving as a kind of scaffolding. Still, I may have audibly groaned when one of the characters told a man that he was “one of the good ones.” Both because that phrase feels inherently patronizing and because the character who said it had not spent enough time with the man in question to know whether it might be true.
Overall I’d like to give this 3.5 stars. Not quite to the point of saying I loved it. But for what it’s worth when I finished the book I immediately texted 3 women I thought might appreciate it.
What form did I read this book in? Kindle bedtime reading
Am I glad I read it? Yes
Do I recommend you read it? Yes, with a heads up about the themes that include SA, domestic violence, abortion and suicide
My ratings system
⭐️ Did not like
⭐️⭐️ Meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyed it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved it!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Life-changing
First things first, one of the main themes of this book is abortion. I know that I have friends and family on this app (and of course elsewhere) on both ends of the spectrum of opinion on abortion. I am not sure that this is a book that will change anyone’s mind, especially as I scan other Goodreads reviews for this book which seem to largely be five stars, five stars, five stars, one star – “abortion bad!” But as a sliver of a discussion of why abortion has always and will always be a part of the history of womanhood, I think this book has some value for those who are against it. I will have to strongly disagree with one Goodreads reviewer who spoke of the book “glorifying” abortion. Demonstrating the necessity of a thing does not glorify it.
The story is told from two points of view. The first is Tig, a young woman in the modern day who is working through a recent trauma and has found herself in the town where her grandparents were from. Looking to understand who her grandfather was, she spends her time with Eloise, who provides the second narrative point of view. Eloise happens to be the woman who was convicted of murdering Tig’s grandfather fifty years ago. In the process, the history of a family and a town are revealed. It is a wandering and poetic process.
The writing in this book was sometimes a stumbling block for me. I love a good simile as much as anyone who spent a childhood thinking they could write poetry. But I’m not sure I have ever read a novel so drenched in them. The author’s descriptions of gestures and emotional states and settings were at times for me an unwelcome interruption in the story that felt forced and even emotionally mismatched with the characters. At other points they gave the narration a dreamlike feeling that worked well for the emotional state of the characters and the purposes of the story. I ended the book hesitantly on the side of the flowery prose, but only just barely.
The other frustration I had was with side characters who flipped so crazily from inexplicable hostility directly to nurturing with the tiniest motivation. Or even held with their initial hostility. It felt emotionally unearned.
Overall, the story came together with some satisfying surprises and a somewhat tidy wrap up at the end. It is emphatically a story about women, even with the life of Tig’s grandfather serving as a kind of scaffolding. Still, I may have audibly groaned when one of the characters told a man that he was “one of the good ones.” Both because that phrase feels inherently patronizing and because the character who said it had not spent enough time with the man in question to know whether it might be true.
Overall I’d like to give this 3.5 stars. Not quite to the point of saying I loved it. But for what it’s worth when I finished the book I immediately texted 3 women I thought might appreciate it.
What form did I read this book in? Kindle bedtime reading
Am I glad I read it? Yes
Do I recommend you read it? Yes, with a heads up about the themes that include SA, domestic violence, abortion and suicide
My ratings system
⭐️ Did not like
⭐️⭐️ Meh
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoyed it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved it!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Life-changing
December 26, 2024
A book about extraordinary women, and the men who get held up as heroes who are anything but. All of the negative reviews for this book basically are because one of the central themes is abortion. The fact that people will give one star to a well-written, engaging book because they don't agree with abortion tells you all that is wrong with the US right now, and people's unwillingness to ever learn or see other's points of view makes me think that is never going to change.
October 11, 2024
so,so,good, everyone
Everyone, male and female should read this book. It will open their eyes to real life as it was, and
Everyone, male and female should read this book. It will open their eyes to real life as it was, and
October 3, 2024
First book club book I didn’t hate!! Slayyyyy
August 28, 2024
Quitting at 30%. Started out strong but began committing the cardinal sin of using “for” for dramatic effect when a simple comma, semi-colon, or even an em dash would have sufficed.
Semi-spoilers (but obviously not spoiling too much because I didn’t even get a third of the way through):
Although it started off strong, the writing fell off very quickly for me. It was apparent early on that this story would not look favorably upon men in general. Throw in a healthy dose of championing abortion rights and it seems that that alone ensures scores of 5 star reviews these days (one reviewer said it was the best thing she’s read since To Kill a Mockingbird?? Hopefully that was the last book she read 😒).
Despite what it sounds like those factors alone would not have made me quit reading had the writing been better. But realizing I was less than a third of the way through and had already ceased to care about any of the characters made me remember that life is too short to force myself to slog through books I have lost any desire to read.
Semi-spoilers (but obviously not spoiling too much because I didn’t even get a third of the way through):
Although it started off strong, the writing fell off very quickly for me. It was apparent early on that this story would not look favorably upon men in general. Throw in a healthy dose of championing abortion rights and it seems that that alone ensures scores of 5 star reviews these days (one reviewer said it was the best thing she’s read since To Kill a Mockingbird?? Hopefully that was the last book she read 😒).
Despite what it sounds like those factors alone would not have made me quit reading had the writing been better. But realizing I was less than a third of the way through and had already ceased to care about any of the characters made me remember that life is too short to force myself to slog through books I have lost any desire to read.
March 18, 2024
I received an advanced readers copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that I never read historical fiction but this book has turned me in the direction of trying some more. It was such a good read.
What I liked:
- The way the story was told. No heavy amounts of talking, just when into telling the story of the time and coming out of it with scene breaks
- How it handled talk around rape and abortion. Showing the importance of the need to have an escape plan when in a terrible situation
- It shows the even though some people do great things (like going to war) it doesn’t mean they are a good person deep down.
What I disliked:
- It felt a little description heavy at points but that’s more a personal preference
5 out of 5 stars, I loved everything about this book. It was eye opening and starts a great conversation around the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
I have to say that I never read historical fiction but this book has turned me in the direction of trying some more. It was such a good read.
What I liked:
- The way the story was told. No heavy amounts of talking, just when into telling the story of the time and coming out of it with scene breaks
- How it handled talk around rape and abortion. Showing the importance of the need to have an escape plan when in a terrible situation
- It shows the even though some people do great things (like going to war) it doesn’t mean they are a good person deep down.
What I disliked:
- It felt a little description heavy at points but that’s more a personal preference
5 out of 5 stars, I loved everything about this book. It was eye opening and starts a great conversation around the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
September 6, 2024
This book started out being very intriguing. Tig goes to her father’s hometown to paint a portrait of her deceased grandfather who is being honored in the little town. In so doing she starts learning about all sorts of twists and secrets abounding there.
The writing style was very confusing at times, jumping around in time and also in character viewpoint. The excessive descriptions were also off-putting.
That being said, it kept my interest for the most part.
HOWEVER, if you like a one sided viewpoint of men and of abortion, then this is the book for you. The irony in this whole story is that if Tigs actual grandmother, Ruth, the great heroine of this book, had subjected herself to an abortion (as she had handed out to so many women ‘in trouble’) then there would be no Tig and no book.
The writing style was very confusing at times, jumping around in time and also in character viewpoint. The excessive descriptions were also off-putting.
That being said, it kept my interest for the most part.
HOWEVER, if you like a one sided viewpoint of men and of abortion, then this is the book for you. The irony in this whole story is that if Tigs actual grandmother, Ruth, the great heroine of this book, had subjected herself to an abortion (as she had handed out to so many women ‘in trouble’) then there would be no Tig and no book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
Amazing heartfelt Story
I loved this book. I wasn’t sure where the story was going in beginning but it was difficult to put down as all of the stories weaved together. It touched my heart!!
I look forward to further books by this author. 5 stars for me.
I loved this book. I wasn’t sure where the story was going in beginning but it was difficult to put down as all of the stories weaved together. It touched my heart!!
I look forward to further books by this author. 5 stars for me.
October 22, 2024
I went into this thinking I was getting a silly, fun murder mystery. Instead I got a stunning story of the bravery and courageousness of women who stand up for each other and fight when everyone else says they’re doing something wrong.
and I hope that predatory men rot in the depths of hell🫶🏼
and I hope that predatory men rot in the depths of hell🫶🏼
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