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Send Flowers: A Novel
A heartfelt speculative debut about a “greenfluencer” who’s convinced her late boyfriend has reincarnated as a houseplant.
Fiona, better known as eco-influencer @FoliageFifi, hasn’t left her apartment since her boyfriend, Ed, died. It’s easy to self-isolate when your heart’s shattered and the planet you’ve spent your whole life trying to save is dying right outside your window. But when a houseplant randomly appears on her doorstep with an anonymous note, Fiona feels a flicker of hope—it’s not just any plant; it’s Ed’s favorite. Thinking it’s a sign, Fiona pours Ed’s ashes into the soil, only to wake up to find the plant has vibrantly flowered. And can…talk? There’s only one logical Ed is back. This time as a houseplant.
As Fiona knows all too well, plants have needs—sunlight, water and fresh air—all of which she can’t adequately provide from her dark, stuffy apartment. Intent on keeping Ed alive, Fiona slowly ventures back out into the world, the plant’s voice and budding flowers her guiding compass. But when Ed becomes more demanding in his botanical needs, urging her toward the people and places that left her scarred, Fiona realizes that preserving Ed’s life could mean risking her own. How far will she go to keep him blooming?
Whip-smart and inspiring, Send Flowers is a poignant exploration of the human spirit, the importance of community in weathering life’s storms, and love’s enduring presence, even in the wake of profound loss.
Fiona, better known as eco-influencer @FoliageFifi, hasn’t left her apartment since her boyfriend, Ed, died. It’s easy to self-isolate when your heart’s shattered and the planet you’ve spent your whole life trying to save is dying right outside your window. But when a houseplant randomly appears on her doorstep with an anonymous note, Fiona feels a flicker of hope—it’s not just any plant; it’s Ed’s favorite. Thinking it’s a sign, Fiona pours Ed’s ashes into the soil, only to wake up to find the plant has vibrantly flowered. And can…talk? There’s only one logical Ed is back. This time as a houseplant.
As Fiona knows all too well, plants have needs—sunlight, water and fresh air—all of which she can’t adequately provide from her dark, stuffy apartment. Intent on keeping Ed alive, Fiona slowly ventures back out into the world, the plant’s voice and budding flowers her guiding compass. But when Ed becomes more demanding in his botanical needs, urging her toward the people and places that left her scarred, Fiona realizes that preserving Ed’s life could mean risking her own. How far will she go to keep him blooming?
Whip-smart and inspiring, Send Flowers is a poignant exploration of the human spirit, the importance of community in weathering life’s storms, and love’s enduring presence, even in the wake of profound loss.
Audible Audio
Published July 1, 2025
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About the author
Emily Buchanan
2 books29 followersEmily Buchanan grew up on the Kent coast, where her first reader was her little sister, for whom she wrote bedtime stories. After studying English Literature at the University of East Anglia, she worked as a multidisciplinary creative for environmental NGOs, with a focus on climate and conservation campaigns. She lives in Norwich with her pianist spouse, a small herd of animals, and more houseplants than she cares to admit. Send Flowers is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 21, 2025
In a Nutshell: Partly, a romance-drama about an influencer who thinks that her dead boyfriend has been reincarnated as a plant. Partly, a near-future dystopian climate fiction. (Could you guess the second genre from the cover?) Not a light read. Somewhat unlikeable characters, slow-ish pacing, a bit bizarre and meandering in its plot development. Highlights the perils of social media, but also portrays environmentalists in a slightly lopsided manner. Mixed feelings, not just because the plot didn’t go the way I thought it would.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I usually stay away from any book that even mentions “influencer” in the blurb. However, the whimsical claim about the return of a dead man as a plant was too tempting to ignore. Thanks to the cover and the blurb, I thought this would be a gentle exploration of grief and mental health issues after the loss of a loved one. But that is only a minor part of the plot. The actual story gets quite dark and disturbing.
Bookish Yays:
🌳 The portrayal of the dark side of a career as an influencer and the dangers of social media. Reminded me of all the reasons I dislike this new trend of relying on influencers and of people viewing “influencing” as a career.
🌳 The depiction of the struggles of making people understand your mental health issues – realistic even when the plot isn't so.
🌳 Fiona’s relationship with Ed is more than what is initially conveyed, and this adds much depth to the story. It wasn’t comfortable reading, I can tell you that. But such relationships also exist, and the writing shows it cleverly.
🌳 The complexities of returning towards normalcy after grief. Love how it is not shown as a step-by-step journey through the five stages but the more accurate back-and-forth-and-stagnant emotional path grieving people take towards healing.
🌳 Some of the supporting characters – interesting and morally dicey. Better than the leads.
🌳 The author’s note, which clearly shows her knowledge of certain issues faced by London and its climate activists.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌱 The content about deteriorating environmental conditions and their impact on ordinary citizens, the authoritarian government with its apathy towards everyone except the needs of the wealthy, the extreme activism… Honestly, at times, I found it tough to remember that the book depicted near-future England because many of the scenes reminded me of the present political scenario in another country. The only reason this is a mixed bag is because it depicts only one type of activism for the most part – the extreme protestors. So it feels incomplete.
🌱 The “Ed as a plant” theme begins in an interesting way, but the middle section really drags it out without taking it ahead. The book leaves it unclear whether this was magical realism or not, so you’ll have to read the book to make up your mind,
🌱 The content gets too preachy at times, but given that environmental awareness is the key driver of the events, I guess this is somewhat understandable.
🌱 That cover design by itself is right, but the style is utterly wrong for this novel. For the most part, the book isn't about Fiona’s grief so the cover doesn’t exactly convey the actual tone of the book. Most of the book isn't light reading.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Fiona. I thought I'll be able to root for her as she's a grieving girl struggling with her loss. However, Fiona is mostly self-centred and fake and judgemental. Only a teeny part of her ill-mannered behaviour could be attributed to her grief, so I found it very tough to sympathize with her. This made immersing myself into the book challenging as the story is in Fiona’s first-person POV, and she isn't exactly a reliable or relatable narrator.
🌵 I wish I could say Ed salvaged the book, but he (whether as a man or as a plant) is a jerk. So for the most part, he ended up annoying me despite his tragic death.
🌵 On that note, Ed’s death – yikes! It is a tad too voyeuristic and hence very disturbing to read. I simply didn’t expect such gruesome content given the cover.
🌵 Too much of inner rambling in Fiona’s perspective, quite a lot of which is repetitive and hence even makes the pacing slow. This is more applicable to the first half.
🌵 The plot dives into too many unrelated topics, making the structure messy. The middle is especially meandering. At many points, I wondered where exactly it was trying to go.
Overall, this debut novel does have its ups, but I think I expected a more calming book from the cover. Rather than highlighting the beautiful journey of healing, the plot stresses more on the climate activism part. This, combined with the behaviour of Fiona and Ed (when alive), made me frustrated and irritated with the characters as well as the book. That said, a part of the frustration, the one directed towards the political ignorance related to climate horrors and the call for drastic change, is probably justified.
Recommended, but not to those who want a light or soothing read. This would better suit readers looking for a mildly-dystopian climate fiction with magical realism that may or may not be there.
3 stars.
My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for providing the DRC of “Send Flowers” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Thirty-two-year-old Fiona, popular online as @FoliageFifi, hasn’t left her house ever since her boyfriend Ed died three months ago. All that she had worked for – her role as a green influencer on social media as well as the environmental activism she did jointly with Ed, is now ignored. When a houseplant is left at her doorstep with an anonymous note, Fiona is shocked. It is Ed’s favourite plant, a fact that she alone knew. Fiona puts Ed’s ashes in the soil, only to discover a few hours later that the plant has flowered. And talks to her in Ed’s voice! Fiona reaches the only logical (Ahem!) conclusion: Ed is back. As a plant! She is now stirred into action, not just to keep this “Ed” alive, but also to fight for his legacy as an eco-activist. However, “Ed” seems to be more demanding in his plant avatar. Can Fiona preserve this new Ed without endangering her own life?
The story comes to us in Fiona’s first-person perspective.
I usually stay away from any book that even mentions “influencer” in the blurb. However, the whimsical claim about the return of a dead man as a plant was too tempting to ignore. Thanks to the cover and the blurb, I thought this would be a gentle exploration of grief and mental health issues after the loss of a loved one. But that is only a minor part of the plot. The actual story gets quite dark and disturbing.
Bookish Yays:
🌳 The portrayal of the dark side of a career as an influencer and the dangers of social media. Reminded me of all the reasons I dislike this new trend of relying on influencers and of people viewing “influencing” as a career.
🌳 The depiction of the struggles of making people understand your mental health issues – realistic even when the plot isn't so.
🌳 Fiona’s relationship with Ed is more than what is initially conveyed, and this adds much depth to the story. It wasn’t comfortable reading, I can tell you that. But such relationships also exist, and the writing shows it cleverly.
🌳 The complexities of returning towards normalcy after grief. Love how it is not shown as a step-by-step journey through the five stages but the more accurate back-and-forth-and-stagnant emotional path grieving people take towards healing.
🌳 Some of the supporting characters – interesting and morally dicey. Better than the leads.
🌳 The author’s note, which clearly shows her knowledge of certain issues faced by London and its climate activists.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌱 The content about deteriorating environmental conditions and their impact on ordinary citizens, the authoritarian government with its apathy towards everyone except the needs of the wealthy, the extreme activism… Honestly, at times, I found it tough to remember that the book depicted near-future England because many of the scenes reminded me of the present political scenario in another country. The only reason this is a mixed bag is because it depicts only one type of activism for the most part – the extreme protestors. So it feels incomplete.
🌱 The “Ed as a plant” theme begins in an interesting way, but the middle section really drags it out without taking it ahead. The book leaves it unclear whether this was magical realism or not, so you’ll have to read the book to make up your mind,
🌱 The content gets too preachy at times, but given that environmental awareness is the key driver of the events, I guess this is somewhat understandable.
🌱 That cover design by itself is right, but the style is utterly wrong for this novel. For the most part, the book isn't about Fiona’s grief so the cover doesn’t exactly convey the actual tone of the book. Most of the book isn't light reading.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Fiona. I thought I'll be able to root for her as she's a grieving girl struggling with her loss. However, Fiona is mostly self-centred and fake and judgemental. Only a teeny part of her ill-mannered behaviour could be attributed to her grief, so I found it very tough to sympathize with her. This made immersing myself into the book challenging as the story is in Fiona’s first-person POV, and she isn't exactly a reliable or relatable narrator.
🌵 I wish I could say Ed salvaged the book, but he (whether as a man or as a plant) is a jerk. So for the most part, he ended up annoying me despite his tragic death.
🌵 On that note, Ed’s death – yikes! It is a tad too voyeuristic and hence very disturbing to read. I simply didn’t expect such gruesome content given the cover.
🌵 Too much of inner rambling in Fiona’s perspective, quite a lot of which is repetitive and hence even makes the pacing slow. This is more applicable to the first half.
🌵 The plot dives into too many unrelated topics, making the structure messy. The middle is especially meandering. At many points, I wondered where exactly it was trying to go.
Overall, this debut novel does have its ups, but I think I expected a more calming book from the cover. Rather than highlighting the beautiful journey of healing, the plot stresses more on the climate activism part. This, combined with the behaviour of Fiona and Ed (when alive), made me frustrated and irritated with the characters as well as the book. That said, a part of the frustration, the one directed towards the political ignorance related to climate horrors and the call for drastic change, is probably justified.
Recommended, but not to those who want a light or soothing read. This would better suit readers looking for a mildly-dystopian climate fiction with magical realism that may or may not be there.
3 stars.
My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for providing the DRC of “Send Flowers” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
July 7, 2025
This book may not look like anything I usually read, but as soon as I heard that it's about a woman who believes that her dead boyfriend reincarnated as a houseplant, I needed it. The bright cover hides a heavy story that was challenging to read at times. Eco-influencer Fiona is completely lost after the violent death of her boyfriend Ed. She's pretty much rotting away in her apartment without getting (or accepting) any help, but she finds hope when a little yew tree arrives at her doorstep out of nowhere. Because it was Ed's favorite plant, Fiona sprinkles the soil with his ashes, and soon the plant is impossibly flowering and talking to Fiona. It is more or less left unanswered if this situation borders on magical realism or is a psychotic episode of the main character, and I liked the ambiguity. I think the book is less about why Fiona gets revitalized, and more about that she does at all. It's a book about grief and coping, about letting go and persevering. The plant tells Fiona to go outside again, and so she visits her mother and her father and reconnects with her friends. All the relationships were complex and complicated and it was relatable how Fiona struggled to find a new place between everyone after she lost her closest person. Fiona often reflects on her relationship with Ed, which wasn't without flaws either. They were a plant-loving, climate activist couple, but Fiona was doing questionable influencer stuff and Ed ultimately died being called an eco-terrorist. The book is set in an intense near future where the world is constantly struck by either heat waves and droughts or catastrophic floods. All activism is of course ignored and/or punished, painting a very bleak but very possible scenario for our actual future. I think that the plot was a bit too directionless in the middle portion of the book, but it got better towards the end as a new protest / rescue mission was in the works. It was almost thrilling at the end actually. The whole reincarnated-as-a-plant situation was kinda discarded as the book went on, but at least the interesting eco-influencer theme played a bigger role. The synopsis really doesn't reveal much about the actual plot and I had no idea where the story was going. In the end I got a sad and angry book that still didn't fail to show hope in the bleakest times.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and VERVE Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and VERVE Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Park Row and Emily Buchanan for providing this e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I loved how Emily Buchanan managed to interweave serious considerations of grief, performative activism, social media and climate change with very witty, necessary humor. Not only did it get her message across, but it also allowed for a much needed reprisal from the hopelessness typically associated with these topics.
Fifi is a green influencer who is in active mourning in the beginning of this book. Then, a plant gets delivered to her door and she starts to believe that plant is actually her deceased partner reincarnated, Ed. Ed, who tragically died in a very gruesome way during a protest for climate action. We go through a journey where her PTSD, grief and the rebuilding of her self confidence come together when Fifi starts to flirt with the idea of reclaiming her power in the non-violent protesting space.
Despite the speculative elements--worsened climate consequences, even bigger wealth disparity and lack of empathy, as well as an authoritarian-like approach to governing--the book felt rooted in the present. Climate activism has long been deemed "terrorism" by a lot of factions whose interests do not align with our planet's needs (quite the opposite), and we are actively seeing governments curtailing democratic rights as people turn to social media for escapism/performance. So, this "near future" Buchanan has built out felt a lot more plausible than one would wish for.
My favorite element of this book was by far the main character's struggle with grieving a man who didn't always loved her right and for who she was. I feel like grief is always complex but it is hard to come to terms with the fact one's relationship wasn't as rosey as one would like to believe. I love how she is only able to move forward once she stops self-isolating and finds comfort in friends and family. Her healing arc was executed beautifully.
I loved how Emily Buchanan managed to interweave serious considerations of grief, performative activism, social media and climate change with very witty, necessary humor. Not only did it get her message across, but it also allowed for a much needed reprisal from the hopelessness typically associated with these topics.
Fifi is a green influencer who is in active mourning in the beginning of this book. Then, a plant gets delivered to her door and she starts to believe that plant is actually her deceased partner reincarnated, Ed. Ed, who tragically died in a very gruesome way during a protest for climate action. We go through a journey where her PTSD, grief and the rebuilding of her self confidence come together when Fifi starts to flirt with the idea of reclaiming her power in the non-violent protesting space.
Despite the speculative elements--worsened climate consequences, even bigger wealth disparity and lack of empathy, as well as an authoritarian-like approach to governing--the book felt rooted in the present. Climate activism has long been deemed "terrorism" by a lot of factions whose interests do not align with our planet's needs (quite the opposite), and we are actively seeing governments curtailing democratic rights as people turn to social media for escapism/performance. So, this "near future" Buchanan has built out felt a lot more plausible than one would wish for.
My favorite element of this book was by far the main character's struggle with grieving a man who didn't always loved her right and for who she was. I feel like grief is always complex but it is hard to come to terms with the fact one's relationship wasn't as rosey as one would like to believe. I love how she is only able to move forward once she stops self-isolating and finds comfort in friends and family. Her healing arc was executed beautifully.
July 1, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
Send Flowers is a unique title, set in the present day and speculating on the future of the climate, the novel has its roots firmly planted in a call to action. Greenfluencer, Fi, has lost her partner Ed in a horrific accident at a climate change rally, she is fully submerged in the madness of grief, neglecting her home, her cat, her plants, her work and herself until she finds a plant on her doorstep with a note. Not just any plant, Ed’s favourite plant, Fi fully believes that Ed has returned to her, and in a bid for forgiveness and redemption she listens to the messages that the plant gives her, and with its encouragement she sets out to rejoin the movement and make changes.
Entirely unlike anything I’ve read before, while there is an obvious message about climate change, for me, the author has captured grief perfectly, the fear and the self loathing that comes with it with a stark honesty, but she’s also managed to add humour and highlight the need for a purpose and a community to find your way back, this is really what bumped the rating from the intended 3 to 4 🌟 rating.
Imogen Mackie Walker delivers a full performance in the narration of the title, but before anyone else mentions it I’ll try to be diplomatic and say that the laugh was slightly grating.
Huge thanks to W F Howes Ltd via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Send Flowers is a unique title, set in the present day and speculating on the future of the climate, the novel has its roots firmly planted in a call to action. Greenfluencer, Fi, has lost her partner Ed in a horrific accident at a climate change rally, she is fully submerged in the madness of grief, neglecting her home, her cat, her plants, her work and herself until she finds a plant on her doorstep with a note. Not just any plant, Ed’s favourite plant, Fi fully believes that Ed has returned to her, and in a bid for forgiveness and redemption she listens to the messages that the plant gives her, and with its encouragement she sets out to rejoin the movement and make changes.
Entirely unlike anything I’ve read before, while there is an obvious message about climate change, for me, the author has captured grief perfectly, the fear and the self loathing that comes with it with a stark honesty, but she’s also managed to add humour and highlight the need for a purpose and a community to find your way back, this is really what bumped the rating from the intended 3 to 4 🌟 rating.
Imogen Mackie Walker delivers a full performance in the narration of the title, but before anyone else mentions it I’ll try to be diplomatic and say that the laugh was slightly grating.
Huge thanks to W F Howes Ltd via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
May 15, 2025
Hard to fully capture the range of emotions I went through reading this book, but this was a thought provoking, deeply moving, and incisive exploration of grief, activism, resistance, justice, and finding yourself in a world that feels impossible to navigate. It is also heartfelt and funny, with a great cast of characters, and I laughed and cried reading it. As someone who has slipped more from direct climate activism and campaigning in recent years into more passive action, this book definitely ignited a spark to rediscover that part of myself. Cathartic and a much-needed reminder of the power of action and standing up for what's right.
April 3, 2025
A hard-hitting exhilarating call to action, Send Flowers is a brilliant debut from Emily Buchanan.
Sustainability influencer Fiona is bereft and alone after the sudden death of her beloved partner Ed. Ed was a passionate believer in fighting for what you believe in, founding an influential climate change activist group which spread across the country, Since his death, Fi hasn't been able to face anything or anybody - until one day, a potted plant appears on her doorstep and Fi wonders if it could be a message from Ed, or even Ed himself. She slowly emerges from her isolation, connecting with old friends and family step by step, carrying 'Ed' with her wherever she goes. She finds out about a new direct action group who are planning a huge act in the face of government complacency. Fi wonders if this is where 'Ed' has been directing her all along, and if so, is she up to the challenge?
The story telling is fantastic, it doesn't pull any punches about the challenges ahead and the monumental efforts people have to make in order to fight back. Its also about love and loss and finding out who you really are within all of that. 5 stars
Sustainability influencer Fiona is bereft and alone after the sudden death of her beloved partner Ed. Ed was a passionate believer in fighting for what you believe in, founding an influential climate change activist group which spread across the country, Since his death, Fi hasn't been able to face anything or anybody - until one day, a potted plant appears on her doorstep and Fi wonders if it could be a message from Ed, or even Ed himself. She slowly emerges from her isolation, connecting with old friends and family step by step, carrying 'Ed' with her wherever she goes. She finds out about a new direct action group who are planning a huge act in the face of government complacency. Fi wonders if this is where 'Ed' has been directing her all along, and if so, is she up to the challenge?
The story telling is fantastic, it doesn't pull any punches about the challenges ahead and the monumental efforts people have to make in order to fight back. Its also about love and loss and finding out who you really are within all of that. 5 stars
July 26, 2025
Of note: sometimes you should not judge a book by a cover
I was sent this ARC and I thought it looked like a cute griefy romcom so I said yes and I was wrong very wrong (the book doesn’t have the : magical realism exploration etc on other apps)
This book follows Fiona, an eco influencer, as she processes the recent death of her boyfriend who was killed during a protest. While it does focus on grief and Fiona thinks her boyfriend got reincarnated as a magical talking plant (I’m still unsure if he did or not) - the book takes a turn and actually becomes a story about fighting climate change in London and the importance of platforms, awareness, and community.
I’m so flabbergasted by this book and have no idea what to rate it or how to feel - somehow it kept my attention the entire time though.
I was sent this ARC and I thought it looked like a cute griefy romcom so I said yes and I was wrong very wrong (the book doesn’t have the : magical realism exploration etc on other apps)
This book follows Fiona, an eco influencer, as she processes the recent death of her boyfriend who was killed during a protest. While it does focus on grief and Fiona thinks her boyfriend got reincarnated as a magical talking plant (I’m still unsure if he did or not) - the book takes a turn and actually becomes a story about fighting climate change in London and the importance of platforms, awareness, and community.
I’m so flabbergasted by this book and have no idea what to rate it or how to feel - somehow it kept my attention the entire time though.
June 29, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
June 6, 2025
Eco-influencer Fiona, hasn't left her flat since her boyfriend, Ed, died in a protest died. When Ed's favourite plant appears on her doorstep with an anonymous note, she decides to sprinkle his ashes into the soil, and wakes to find that the plant has flowered, and it can talk, which leads her to believe her boyfriend has reincarnated in the plant.
Truly such moving story, exploring a deep range of topic, with a strong focus on climate change, and never failing in bringing up just so many emotions. It's so heart-warming, keeping such incredible humour, which is so needed at times, and with a great cast of characters. Fiona is such an amazing character to follow, it was so easy to love her, root for her, and want to see her thrive. The writing is very engaging, and the story overall is really easy to get lost into.
Many thanks to VERVE Books & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Truly such moving story, exploring a deep range of topic, with a strong focus on climate change, and never failing in bringing up just so many emotions. It's so heart-warming, keeping such incredible humour, which is so needed at times, and with a great cast of characters. Fiona is such an amazing character to follow, it was so easy to love her, root for her, and want to see her thrive. The writing is very engaging, and the story overall is really easy to get lost into.
Many thanks to VERVE Books & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
June 13, 2025
Oh I loved this one. Unlike anything else I’ve ever read and such a unique and necessary voice at the moment. Funny, heartbreaking, important. Full review will be coming soon on insta, thanks so much to Verve for my copy!
April 29, 2025
Send Flowers, the debut novel by Emily Buchanan, tells the story of influencer Fiona, who has amassed an online following of 500k people through her love of plants and the environment.
We meet our protagonist as she is managing the sudden death of her eco-activist boyfriend Ed who died in a freak accident during a mass protest in London. Fiona is living alone in her London flat with her cat Bruce amid a months long heatwave in the city.
She has let her online account drift and has been uncontactable to friends, family and followers as she deal with her grief. When her mum Tracey turns up unexpectedly and takes her cat, Fiona is left even further adrift.
That’s when Fiona’s already unmoored existence takes an even stranger turn as she finds a houseplant at her front door which she believes to be her reincarnated boyfriend, Ed.
This discovery takes her on an adventure back to her village in Scotland and then to Banmora, a fictional island off the west coast of Scotland.
I don’t want to give too much more of the plot away as I risk giving spoilers! But we witness Fiona dealing with her grief and the challenges between her kind of activism with a huge social following, versus Ed’s more grassroots activism.
This is a special book - it looks at the subject of climate change, protest, freedom of speech, activism, grief and relationships both with ourselves and others.
Climate change can be something too scary to look at, as to do so can feel overwhelming, but the author not only manages to create real empathy for protestors but also shines a light on the fact this is not an ‘us and them’ scenario and we all face the very real threat that changes to our environment are bringing.
I really enjoyed exploring these topics through the voice of Fiona and understanding too, that the act of protest and activism are not plain sailing either for those who take part.
This book is also really very funny, as well as moving and deserves to fly off the shelves on publication!
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review early.
We meet our protagonist as she is managing the sudden death of her eco-activist boyfriend Ed who died in a freak accident during a mass protest in London. Fiona is living alone in her London flat with her cat Bruce amid a months long heatwave in the city.
She has let her online account drift and has been uncontactable to friends, family and followers as she deal with her grief. When her mum Tracey turns up unexpectedly and takes her cat, Fiona is left even further adrift.
That’s when Fiona’s already unmoored existence takes an even stranger turn as she finds a houseplant at her front door which she believes to be her reincarnated boyfriend, Ed.
This discovery takes her on an adventure back to her village in Scotland and then to Banmora, a fictional island off the west coast of Scotland.
I don’t want to give too much more of the plot away as I risk giving spoilers! But we witness Fiona dealing with her grief and the challenges between her kind of activism with a huge social following, versus Ed’s more grassroots activism.
This is a special book - it looks at the subject of climate change, protest, freedom of speech, activism, grief and relationships both with ourselves and others.
Climate change can be something too scary to look at, as to do so can feel overwhelming, but the author not only manages to create real empathy for protestors but also shines a light on the fact this is not an ‘us and them’ scenario and we all face the very real threat that changes to our environment are bringing.
I really enjoyed exploring these topics through the voice of Fiona and understanding too, that the act of protest and activism are not plain sailing either for those who take part.
This book is also really very funny, as well as moving and deserves to fly off the shelves on publication!
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review early.
September 10, 2025
4.75
I want to start this review by saying that I really really liked this book but the reality is not what the cover or synopsis says this book is going to be about.
based on the cover and even the synopsis you think you're getting into a potentially lighthearted to medium heaviness book about a woman going through grief after her boyfriend dies and she thinks he is reincarnated as a house plant. from the synopsis you think she's going to go on a little bit of a healing journey and that's that. and technically that happens in this book but it is much heavier and harsher than I expected it to be. personally I'm not upset about that, but I do think there should be some content warnings about police brutality and death at the hands of police and climate crisis etc.
so what this book is actually about is this woman named Fiona who is an influencer, which I know I normally shy away from the influencer books but I didn't read that far in the synopsis, anyway she is an influencer but she used to be a climate activist. she got tricked into signing this gag order with a talent agency essentially and it really restricted what she was able to post about. this is all during her relationship with a prominent eco activist who was very die hard and upset about her restrictions on social media. her boyfriend's name was Ed and he actually died at a protest. I'll put it at the end with a content warning and a spoiler because I do think that I would have liked to know how brutal his death was but I understand other people might not, just know that it's gruesome and while not intentionally committed at the hands of the police it was a result of the actions of the police and their response to a peaceful protest. I'm sure you can imagine the horror and the harshness in the political climate we live in globally at the moment. (this book takes place in England the the MC is Scottish)
so this book starts 3 months after Ed dies and Fiona is struggling. she has let all of her house plans die, she's neglecting her cat, she's neglecting herself and she really wanted to die herself. One day a plant shows up on her doorstep and Fiona thinks that it is Ed reincarnated. she is hearing his voice and it's not acting like a traditional plant and she starts making her decisions based on what this plant is doing.
she starts to believe that plant ed wants her to go back to her roots and this leads her down a path of former activist friends, alienated personal friends, and eventually her semiestranged father. it all culminates into her working up some courage to start participating in activism again.
I would classify this as a very near future dystopian environmental literary fiction situation. it is not a rom-com it is not a romance at all and it's not a fantasy or anything like that. everything that happens in this book sounds like something that could happen tomorrow. there are things that happen in this that are actively happening in other countries and are really difficult to read us fiction when you know it's happening in real life.
at its core this book is about the climate crisis and how individuals can band together to combat fascist totalitarian governments that seek to protect capitalist mindsets and not the individual or the general population. it really is a good look at the culture of influencing and the pros and cons of that title within social media. another thing I think this book does really well is discuss how social media can share information that 20 years ago would have been just swept under the rug. I'm critical of influencers a lot of the time but it cannot be denied that the reach of social media has changed the way we receive news and information and are able to participate in activism.
now as for the actual characters in this book Fiona is not super likable and Ed, both as a human and a plant was kind of an asshole. it's part of the reason why I say this isn't a rom-com because it's an imperfect relationship and one that you're not really rooting for. it's more something that you're just experiencing.
I liked the secondary characters in this and I do think that the message was well portrayed. some of the fabulism elements weren't as fleshed out and it really is just that she is believing that Ed is reincarnated. there's not really any other magical elements.
part of me thinks there's a little bit of genius in the cover / synopsis being a little misleading because I do think it's going to get people to read this book who wouldn't grab it knowing how strongly activist focused this book is. I 100% can I imagine there will be a reviews calling this book preachy but I also think it's going to get into the hands of people who wouldn't necessarily consume this kind of literature.
overall I did really like it I think it's a great debut and I look forward to reading future books from this author. I especially appreciated the authors note where it explains all of her research she did and you can tell this is such a well researched and documented book and why and how each of the storylines and plot points were included.
now I'm going to be spoilery and tell you how Ed dies so if you don't want to know that just skip.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
TURN BACK IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW HOW ED DIES
so at a political protest the police start kettling and they are trying to push back protesters. this takes place in England where police horses are prevalent. so Ed is one of the organizers of the protest and so he decides he wants to go talk to the police. only a cis white straight man with that kind of privilege would do that but he tries to go up to them and violence ensues. The police lose control of their horses and Ed is literally stomped to death by a police horse. it describes how his head is caved in and it is graphic. it is also manipulated by the media and Ed is called an eco-terrorist. eventually the narrative is shifted but there is no doubt that his death is at the hands of the police and their actions and reactions to a peaceful protest. Police brutality exists in many forms and this is one of them. ACAB forever.
I want to start this review by saying that I really really liked this book but the reality is not what the cover or synopsis says this book is going to be about.
based on the cover and even the synopsis you think you're getting into a potentially lighthearted to medium heaviness book about a woman going through grief after her boyfriend dies and she thinks he is reincarnated as a house plant. from the synopsis you think she's going to go on a little bit of a healing journey and that's that. and technically that happens in this book but it is much heavier and harsher than I expected it to be. personally I'm not upset about that, but I do think there should be some content warnings about police brutality and death at the hands of police and climate crisis etc.
so what this book is actually about is this woman named Fiona who is an influencer, which I know I normally shy away from the influencer books but I didn't read that far in the synopsis, anyway she is an influencer but she used to be a climate activist. she got tricked into signing this gag order with a talent agency essentially and it really restricted what she was able to post about. this is all during her relationship with a prominent eco activist who was very die hard and upset about her restrictions on social media. her boyfriend's name was Ed and he actually died at a protest. I'll put it at the end with a content warning and a spoiler because I do think that I would have liked to know how brutal his death was but I understand other people might not, just know that it's gruesome and while not intentionally committed at the hands of the police it was a result of the actions of the police and their response to a peaceful protest. I'm sure you can imagine the horror and the harshness in the political climate we live in globally at the moment. (this book takes place in England the the MC is Scottish)
so this book starts 3 months after Ed dies and Fiona is struggling. she has let all of her house plans die, she's neglecting her cat, she's neglecting herself and she really wanted to die herself. One day a plant shows up on her doorstep and Fiona thinks that it is Ed reincarnated. she is hearing his voice and it's not acting like a traditional plant and she starts making her decisions based on what this plant is doing.
she starts to believe that plant ed wants her to go back to her roots and this leads her down a path of former activist friends, alienated personal friends, and eventually her semiestranged father. it all culminates into her working up some courage to start participating in activism again.
I would classify this as a very near future dystopian environmental literary fiction situation. it is not a rom-com it is not a romance at all and it's not a fantasy or anything like that. everything that happens in this book sounds like something that could happen tomorrow. there are things that happen in this that are actively happening in other countries and are really difficult to read us fiction when you know it's happening in real life.
at its core this book is about the climate crisis and how individuals can band together to combat fascist totalitarian governments that seek to protect capitalist mindsets and not the individual or the general population. it really is a good look at the culture of influencing and the pros and cons of that title within social media. another thing I think this book does really well is discuss how social media can share information that 20 years ago would have been just swept under the rug. I'm critical of influencers a lot of the time but it cannot be denied that the reach of social media has changed the way we receive news and information and are able to participate in activism.
now as for the actual characters in this book Fiona is not super likable and Ed, both as a human and a plant was kind of an asshole. it's part of the reason why I say this isn't a rom-com because it's an imperfect relationship and one that you're not really rooting for. it's more something that you're just experiencing.
I liked the secondary characters in this and I do think that the message was well portrayed. some of the fabulism elements weren't as fleshed out and it really is just that she is believing that Ed is reincarnated. there's not really any other magical elements.
part of me thinks there's a little bit of genius in the cover / synopsis being a little misleading because I do think it's going to get people to read this book who wouldn't grab it knowing how strongly activist focused this book is. I 100% can I imagine there will be a reviews calling this book preachy but I also think it's going to get into the hands of people who wouldn't necessarily consume this kind of literature.
overall I did really like it I think it's a great debut and I look forward to reading future books from this author. I especially appreciated the authors note where it explains all of her research she did and you can tell this is such a well researched and documented book and why and how each of the storylines and plot points were included.
now I'm going to be spoilery and tell you how Ed dies so if you don't want to know that just skip.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
TURN BACK IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW HOW ED DIES
so at a political protest the police start kettling and they are trying to push back protesters. this takes place in England where police horses are prevalent. so Ed is one of the organizers of the protest and so he decides he wants to go talk to the police. only a cis white straight man with that kind of privilege would do that but he tries to go up to them and violence ensues. The police lose control of their horses and Ed is literally stomped to death by a police horse. it describes how his head is caved in and it is graphic. it is also manipulated by the media and Ed is called an eco-terrorist. eventually the narrative is shifted but there is no doubt that his death is at the hands of the police and their actions and reactions to a peaceful protest. Police brutality exists in many forms and this is one of them. ACAB forever.
August 24, 2025
Wow. I completely devoured this book. Send Flowers took me on such an emotional rollercoaster — by the end, I was a full-on sobbing mess.
Emily’s writing is so raw and honest, it felt like Fi was real. I just wanted to wrap her in a hug and whisper, “I believe you.”
This book is powerful and necessary, especially in the world we’re living in. Things won’t get better unless we speak up — and this story does just that.
Emily, you are incredible. Thank you for bringing Fiona to life 🌾
Emily’s writing is so raw and honest, it felt like Fi was real. I just wanted to wrap her in a hug and whisper, “I believe you.”
This book is powerful and necessary, especially in the world we’re living in. Things won’t get better unless we speak up — and this story does just that.
Emily, you are incredible. Thank you for bringing Fiona to life 🌾
June 29, 2025
Fiona is drowning in a deep pit of grief after her boyfriend Ed dies brutally in what was meant to be a peaceful climate change protest. The UK is in the midst of an almost apocalyptic heatwave, yet Fi is refusing to leave the house she shared with Ed. She’s neglecting their cat Brian and has allowed all of Eds treasured houseplants to die. She absolutely does not know how to go on without him and the PTSD from the events leading up to Eds death is crippling her. Her mother comes and catnaps Brian, taking him back to her home in Scotland until Fi “gets better” and her boss Travis is piling on the pressure for her to return to her job as a social media influencer. An unexpected knock on the door finds a bonsai of Eds favourite plant, a yew tree, left on her doorstep with a not simply saying “I’m sorry.” Fiona becomes convinced that this tree is Ed reincarnated and come to her to get her to sort her life out. He leads her back to Scotland to make amends with lost friends and her estranged father, but also to the heart of a massive climate change movement, where Fi has to decide if she’s brave enough to take a stand for what Ed lost his life for.
This was one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. While the message behind the story quite clearly points us towards the fact that climate change is a real issue that we need to stand up and shout about, the way that the author depicts the grief that Fiona is experiencing is so raw, honest and real that it almost becomes a character in itself. The honesty that it is written with does create some really quite humorous moments that you feel like you can really identify with, which does add some light relief to what is otherwise a pretty intense roller coaster of emotion. Fiona’s journey through isolation at the beginning, to reconnecting with both friends she’s lost touch with since she lost Ed and her estranged father, and finding new friends that form a community around her rips out your heart, stamps all over it and then puts it back together piece by piece.
This was such a beautifully written novel that covered some pretty deep and pertinent topics through a flawed and very human Fi which just serves to make it all the more relatable to the reader, with a steady build up to the nail biting final few chapters. The fact that the dystopic environment it is set in is not actually too far removed from reality adds a slight element of fear that really shakes you up into wanting to do your part to stop climate change and avoid this possible future.
Without a doubt a 5 star read for me and a book I think everyone needs to read!
This was one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. While the message behind the story quite clearly points us towards the fact that climate change is a real issue that we need to stand up and shout about, the way that the author depicts the grief that Fiona is experiencing is so raw, honest and real that it almost becomes a character in itself. The honesty that it is written with does create some really quite humorous moments that you feel like you can really identify with, which does add some light relief to what is otherwise a pretty intense roller coaster of emotion. Fiona’s journey through isolation at the beginning, to reconnecting with both friends she’s lost touch with since she lost Ed and her estranged father, and finding new friends that form a community around her rips out your heart, stamps all over it and then puts it back together piece by piece.
This was such a beautifully written novel that covered some pretty deep and pertinent topics through a flawed and very human Fi which just serves to make it all the more relatable to the reader, with a steady build up to the nail biting final few chapters. The fact that the dystopic environment it is set in is not actually too far removed from reality adds a slight element of fear that really shakes you up into wanting to do your part to stop climate change and avoid this possible future.
Without a doubt a 5 star read for me and a book I think everyone needs to read!
May 28, 2025
Simply put, remarkable.
Fi is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, Ed, an environmental activist tragically killed in the middle of a protest. When a potted plant arrives on her doorstep with an anonymous note, Fi believes it to be Ed reincarnated.
Say Flowers is set on near-future earth when climate change is worse than now, yet the country is full of those who still do not believe it is an issue. Add in a government intent on imprisoning anyone who protests about anything, family members caught up in a web of conspiracy theories and an apparent talking plant guiding Fi on her way, and you have all ingredients for an excellent novel. It doesn't shy away from key issues, acknowledging corrupt governments, climate deniers and the impact global warming is having on the planet.
It is a beautifully written novel, rich in detail and well researched. You can't help but love Fi and want to bundle her up in a hug. Her immense loss is handled well, you truly get a sense of the pain she is in. The characters she comes across - positive and negative - on her journey are well developed and feel like real people. There is a nice, slow build up to the climax of the story until the last few chapters which hit a powerful punch - they were so tense and really detailed. and I sat on the edge of my seat, knuckles white from gripping my tablet so hard. I can see it being adapted for the screen, such is the impact of the story. All too real and not quite dystopian enough to feel 100% fiction.
An extraordinary debut, Emily is an immense talent. My thanks to Verve books for sending me an e-arc and a physical copy, this is truly one I'll treasure.
Fi is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, Ed, an environmental activist tragically killed in the middle of a protest. When a potted plant arrives on her doorstep with an anonymous note, Fi believes it to be Ed reincarnated.
Say Flowers is set on near-future earth when climate change is worse than now, yet the country is full of those who still do not believe it is an issue. Add in a government intent on imprisoning anyone who protests about anything, family members caught up in a web of conspiracy theories and an apparent talking plant guiding Fi on her way, and you have all ingredients for an excellent novel. It doesn't shy away from key issues, acknowledging corrupt governments, climate deniers and the impact global warming is having on the planet.
It is a beautifully written novel, rich in detail and well researched. You can't help but love Fi and want to bundle her up in a hug. Her immense loss is handled well, you truly get a sense of the pain she is in. The characters she comes across - positive and negative - on her journey are well developed and feel like real people. There is a nice, slow build up to the climax of the story until the last few chapters which hit a powerful punch - they were so tense and really detailed. and I sat on the edge of my seat, knuckles white from gripping my tablet so hard. I can see it being adapted for the screen, such is the impact of the story. All too real and not quite dystopian enough to feel 100% fiction.
An extraordinary debut, Emily is an immense talent. My thanks to Verve books for sending me an e-arc and a physical copy, this is truly one I'll treasure.
August 30, 2025
Warning to readers: there is very little magic in this book, which really is virtually entirely about loss and relationships. For people who enjoy reading about loss and relationships, this may be a great book for you. I do not enjoy the genre, so I feel a bit misled.
Similarly, this is not a book of "eco-fiction" like the marketing also promised. The loss and relationship drama takes place in the context of environmental activists, but the book truly makes no comment and adds no new perspective or idea to novels or nonfiction about environmental activism.
For a FANTASTIC and highly thoughtful take on environmental activism, I recommend the MaddAddam trilogy by Margaret Athood, Lagoon (and others) by Nnedi Okorafor, the Broken Earth trilogy (and Emergency Skin) by NK Jemisin, the Earthseed Trilogy by Octavia Butler, the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, and a fantastic stand-alone that left me thinking for days/weeks/years: _Eleutheria_ by Allegra Hyde.
Calling Send Flowers a book about environmentalism feels a lot like greenwashing.
I wish this book would have been marketed more accurately, and on a general level, I wish it would have been better. I almost DNF's a dozen times, but ultimately made my way through.
2.5 stars rounded down. Giving it credit because maybe it is a good example of relationship/loss novels. I would not know, or, admittedly, care.
Similarly, this is not a book of "eco-fiction" like the marketing also promised. The loss and relationship drama takes place in the context of environmental activists, but the book truly makes no comment and adds no new perspective or idea to novels or nonfiction about environmental activism.
For a FANTASTIC and highly thoughtful take on environmental activism, I recommend the MaddAddam trilogy by Margaret Athood, Lagoon (and others) by Nnedi Okorafor, the Broken Earth trilogy (and Emergency Skin) by NK Jemisin, the Earthseed Trilogy by Octavia Butler, the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, and a fantastic stand-alone that left me thinking for days/weeks/years: _Eleutheria_ by Allegra Hyde.
Calling Send Flowers a book about environmentalism feels a lot like greenwashing.
I wish this book would have been marketed more accurately, and on a general level, I wish it would have been better. I almost DNF's a dozen times, but ultimately made my way through.
2.5 stars rounded down. Giving it credit because maybe it is a good example of relationship/loss novels. I would not know, or, admittedly, care.
October 2, 2025
I was expecting this to be a bit quirky - Fiona thinks her dead boyfriend has been reincarnated as a plant. But the book is quite dark - set in a climate dystopian near-future with the British government repressing any activism for climate change policy. If you're already feeling a bit anxious about the current state of the world you may find the anxiety of this book too much. However, there is hope through out the novel and many lines which you could tape to a mirror as self-affirmation that we need to stay hopeful and keeping fighting for good even when the needle doesn't seem to moving towards justice.
"Well the system loves a cynic, doesn't it? They don't challenge the status quo. They're angry and they're lost, but ultimately they're powerless. They believe nothing and everything all at once. But beneath every cynic is a disappointed idealist who used to hope for more. Be disappointed, Fiona. What happened to you was barbaric. But don't give up home. That's the only thing we've got over them" (205).
"Maybe the only way to maintain the will to fight for this life is to love it" (218).
"Because they knew that nothing was lost, not so long as there were people left trying" (272).
"I can show four hundred thousand people that nothing is inevitable--not the atrophy of our civil liberties, not the degradation of truth, not even climate change--so long as there are people left trying" (274).
"Well the system loves a cynic, doesn't it? They don't challenge the status quo. They're angry and they're lost, but ultimately they're powerless. They believe nothing and everything all at once. But beneath every cynic is a disappointed idealist who used to hope for more. Be disappointed, Fiona. What happened to you was barbaric. But don't give up home. That's the only thing we've got over them" (205).
"Maybe the only way to maintain the will to fight for this life is to love it" (218).
"Because they knew that nothing was lost, not so long as there were people left trying" (272).
"I can show four hundred thousand people that nothing is inevitable--not the atrophy of our civil liberties, not the degradation of truth, not even climate change--so long as there are people left trying" (274).
June 28, 2025
Emily Buchanan’s debut novel Send Flowers is a powerful exploration of grief, identity, and the influence of social media, wrapped in a poignant and unsettling narrative.
At the heart of the story is Fiona (“Fi”), a social media influencer who is plunged into a spiral of grief after the tragic loss of her partner Ed during a climate protest. Her grief is raw, visceral, and isolating—she retreats from the world, neglecting her home, her cat, and herself. When a mysterious plant is left on her doorstep, Fi becomes convinced it is a sign from Ed—a form of reincarnation—and begins to believe he is guiding her through her mourning.
As Fi attempts to make sense of her loss and seek forgiveness, the novel delves deeply into themes of family, friendship, justice, and what it means to have a voice. Buchanan skillfully captures the fragility of mental health in the aftermath of trauma, while weaving in sharp commentary on the toxic and contradictory nature of social media. Fi’s identity as an influencer complicates her healing journey—while online platforms offer connection and support, they also expose her to exploitation, superficial validation, and performative activism.
Yet, amidst the chaos, Send Flowers also highlights hope. It doesn’t shy away from the messiness of grief, allowing space for healing, for reckoning, and for redemption. An enjoyable read.
At the heart of the story is Fiona (“Fi”), a social media influencer who is plunged into a spiral of grief after the tragic loss of her partner Ed during a climate protest. Her grief is raw, visceral, and isolating—she retreats from the world, neglecting her home, her cat, and herself. When a mysterious plant is left on her doorstep, Fi becomes convinced it is a sign from Ed—a form of reincarnation—and begins to believe he is guiding her through her mourning.
As Fi attempts to make sense of her loss and seek forgiveness, the novel delves deeply into themes of family, friendship, justice, and what it means to have a voice. Buchanan skillfully captures the fragility of mental health in the aftermath of trauma, while weaving in sharp commentary on the toxic and contradictory nature of social media. Fi’s identity as an influencer complicates her healing journey—while online platforms offer connection and support, they also expose her to exploitation, superficial validation, and performative activism.
Yet, amidst the chaos, Send Flowers also highlights hope. It doesn’t shy away from the messiness of grief, allowing space for healing, for reckoning, and for redemption. An enjoyable read.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to W.F. Howes, Emily Buchanan and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC, it's out now!
Imogen Mackie Walker brings Fiona, better known as eco-influencer @FoliageFifi, to life in this debut novel with a full performance of side characters to the point where I forgot it was the same narrator the entire way through. I'm partial to a Scottish accent, so I was sold from the moment I hit play. It was Imogen's first audiobook, but I'm adding her to my list of auto-listen narrators!
The story itself is a unique take on the climate crisis and said activism, but the feel of the book reminded me of Everyone I Know is Dying and It Might Never Happen, which I devoured!
There is a graphic depiction of injury and death about halfway through the book, which some readers/listeners may find triggering or hard to read/listen to. It's not a jumpscare, but I was not expecting it to go into so much detail. I got a bit weepy after the fact.
What a debut! I'm excited to see what's next for Emily Buchanan!
Imogen Mackie Walker brings Fiona, better known as eco-influencer @FoliageFifi, to life in this debut novel with a full performance of side characters to the point where I forgot it was the same narrator the entire way through. I'm partial to a Scottish accent, so I was sold from the moment I hit play. It was Imogen's first audiobook, but I'm adding her to my list of auto-listen narrators!
The story itself is a unique take on the climate crisis and said activism, but the feel of the book reminded me of Everyone I Know is Dying and It Might Never Happen, which I devoured!
There is a graphic depiction of injury and death about halfway through the book, which some readers/listeners may find triggering or hard to read/listen to. It's not a jumpscare, but I was not expecting it to go into so much detail. I got a bit weepy after the fact.
What a debut! I'm excited to see what's next for Emily Buchanan!
June 20, 2025
I was really wishy washy about this one for a while. There was no sugar coating anything from the start. You meet Fiona, Fi, and she's in the middle of grieving. Full on grieving the death of her boyfriend Ed. Her life is in shambles, full on hot mess. Then one day Fi receives a house plant, a house plant that she believes was sent to her by her dead boyfriend? So Fi puts his ashes in the plant pot, waters and takes care of it and then start believing that Ed has been reincarnated into this plant. I mean he sometimes talks to her, fever dream? Delusions based on extreme grief? Anyway, these conversations they end up having bring Fi back to the life she lived before she became an influencer. The life where Fi was an activist.
The redemption of this book, for me anyway, was Fi coming to the realization that while she felt guilt for what happened to Ed, she didn't have to follow his path. She didn't need to be an activist the way Ed was, the way Ed died being. She could forge her own path with activism in a way that was comfortable for her. All in all, this was a pretty entertaining read. So thank you to the publisher & author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The redemption of this book, for me anyway, was Fi coming to the realization that while she felt guilt for what happened to Ed, she didn't have to follow his path. She didn't need to be an activist the way Ed was, the way Ed died being. She could forge her own path with activism in a way that was comfortable for her. All in all, this was a pretty entertaining read. So thank you to the publisher & author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2025
Send Flowers begins with Fiona, better known online as FoliageFifi, locked away in her apartment, too grief-stricken over the death of her boyfriend Ed to venture outside or face the world. However, that all changes when a mysterious houseplant appears on her doorstep, paired with a note that somehow feels familiar!
Believing it's Ed's favourite plant, Fiona scatters his ashes into the soil as an act of love and wakes up to find the plant not only blooming, but speaking to her! In that moment, she dares to hope that he’s returned, reincarnated into a plant. Suddenly, her grief begins to shift, and she tentatively steps back into life, guided by the plant’s cryptic cues.
Fiona’s connection with the plant is touching and but also delightfully odd! It shows how grief can twist reality and how longing can spark the strangest, most comforting ways to cope.
I found myself really rooting for Fiona to find her way in this new version of reality, to reconnect with her values, her community, and the world she cares so much about.
If you’re drawn to climate fiction, magical realism, or character-driven stories that feel different to your usual read, this one’s for you!
Believing it's Ed's favourite plant, Fiona scatters his ashes into the soil as an act of love and wakes up to find the plant not only blooming, but speaking to her! In that moment, she dares to hope that he’s returned, reincarnated into a plant. Suddenly, her grief begins to shift, and she tentatively steps back into life, guided by the plant’s cryptic cues.
Fiona’s connection with the plant is touching and but also delightfully odd! It shows how grief can twist reality and how longing can spark the strangest, most comforting ways to cope.
I found myself really rooting for Fiona to find her way in this new version of reality, to reconnect with her values, her community, and the world she cares so much about.
If you’re drawn to climate fiction, magical realism, or character-driven stories that feel different to your usual read, this one’s for you!
June 16, 2025
This follows Fi who's boyfriend died during a protest. He was a eco activitist, and while she started off like that she signed a "golden gag" which meant she had to stop, or at least not be seen. Fi gets a plant 3 months after his death, and he starts talking to her, leading her to face her demons as well as getting back to the cause.
There is a constant conflict in Fi over her guilt, her love and grief, and her need to do something to help the people she loves. Leading to many layers of emotion and her as a person, and having to face these emotions, it was a wild ride working through them with her. The descriptions are long and in-depth, and it made me feel like I was living all these things with her, not just her emotions but also the places where she went and the people she visited.
This also highlights the toxicity of social media, the sponsorships signed and what that means about what the person can say online, how the popularity of one person's channel can make things difficult.
There is a constant conflict in Fi over her guilt, her love and grief, and her need to do something to help the people she loves. Leading to many layers of emotion and her as a person, and having to face these emotions, it was a wild ride working through them with her. The descriptions are long and in-depth, and it made me feel like I was living all these things with her, not just her emotions but also the places where she went and the people she visited.
This also highlights the toxicity of social media, the sponsorships signed and what that means about what the person can say online, how the popularity of one person's channel can make things difficult.
June 26, 2025
Send Flowers is one of those rare debuts that manages to be quietly profound while also delightfully odd. Emily Buchanan has written something that’s witty, emotionally layered, with just the right amount of weird thrown into the mix.
This is a story about love and loss, protest and purpose, grief and growth. It explores the complicated process of continuing after heartbreak, all against the backdrop of a world on the brink of climate collapse. And yes, there’s also a talking plant. One that might just be the reincarnation of your dead boyfriend.
We meet Fifi, once an outspoken activist and sustainability influencer, now hollowed out after the death of her boyfriend Ed during a protest. She’s adrift — until Ed’s favourite plant turns up on her doorstep with an anonymous note. On a whim, she scatters his ashes into the soil. The next morning, the plant speaks. Is it grief induced madness or something more miraculous? Either way, it sets Fifi on a slow, strange, and ultimately uplifting path back to meaning. She’s a fantastic protagonist — sharp, flawed, and so relatable. I’ll admit, I really struggled to warm to Ed, but Fifi’s voice and her journey are what give this novel its heart.
Buchanan’s writing is funny, poignant, and full of warmth. She has a knack for handling heavy themes without ever making the book feel heavy. The supporting characters bring depth and humour, and the sense of community that forms around Fifi is one of the novel’s quiet triumphs. While the pacing occasionally feels slow, it seems intentional, reflecting Fifi’s emotional stasis, and it never made the book any less compelling.
What I loved most is how Send Flowers blends the real and the surreal so seamlessly. It never tries to explain away the magic, nor does it lose sight of the very real grief and climate anxiety at its core. And yet, somehow, it remains hopeful.
If you’re drawn to contemporary fiction with a touch of magic, if you care about activism, community, and finding light in strange places — this one’s for you.
[AD/PR] Thank you @verve_books @emilyebuchanan for the advanced copy 💚
This is a story about love and loss, protest and purpose, grief and growth. It explores the complicated process of continuing after heartbreak, all against the backdrop of a world on the brink of climate collapse. And yes, there’s also a talking plant. One that might just be the reincarnation of your dead boyfriend.
We meet Fifi, once an outspoken activist and sustainability influencer, now hollowed out after the death of her boyfriend Ed during a protest. She’s adrift — until Ed’s favourite plant turns up on her doorstep with an anonymous note. On a whim, she scatters his ashes into the soil. The next morning, the plant speaks. Is it grief induced madness or something more miraculous? Either way, it sets Fifi on a slow, strange, and ultimately uplifting path back to meaning. She’s a fantastic protagonist — sharp, flawed, and so relatable. I’ll admit, I really struggled to warm to Ed, but Fifi’s voice and her journey are what give this novel its heart.
Buchanan’s writing is funny, poignant, and full of warmth. She has a knack for handling heavy themes without ever making the book feel heavy. The supporting characters bring depth and humour, and the sense of community that forms around Fifi is one of the novel’s quiet triumphs. While the pacing occasionally feels slow, it seems intentional, reflecting Fifi’s emotional stasis, and it never made the book any less compelling.
What I loved most is how Send Flowers blends the real and the surreal so seamlessly. It never tries to explain away the magic, nor does it lose sight of the very real grief and climate anxiety at its core. And yet, somehow, it remains hopeful.
If you’re drawn to contemporary fiction with a touch of magic, if you care about activism, community, and finding light in strange places — this one’s for you.
[AD/PR] Thank you @verve_books @emilyebuchanan for the advanced copy 💚
June 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest thoughts.
To be honest, I’m struggling to find the right words to fully capture the emotions this book stirred in me. I went into it expecting a story about grief and its toll on a person — but this book is so much more than that.
I have to applaud the author for the way she wove such heavy themes — police brutality, climate change, death, grief, activism, protests, riots, racism — into a story that still feels accessible and readable.
For me, Send Flowers was an eye-opener. Yes, we all want change... but real change doesn’t happen without sacrifice. What are we truly willing to do to bring about the world we desperately hope for?
This book is heavy. It’s raw. It lays grief bare in its most unfiltered form. It shows what people are willing to risk for change. And let me warn you — it might just leave your eyes misty.
To be honest, I’m struggling to find the right words to fully capture the emotions this book stirred in me. I went into it expecting a story about grief and its toll on a person — but this book is so much more than that.
I have to applaud the author for the way she wove such heavy themes — police brutality, climate change, death, grief, activism, protests, riots, racism — into a story that still feels accessible and readable.
For me, Send Flowers was an eye-opener. Yes, we all want change... but real change doesn’t happen without sacrifice. What are we truly willing to do to bring about the world we desperately hope for?
This book is heavy. It’s raw. It lays grief bare in its most unfiltered form. It shows what people are willing to risk for change. And let me warn you — it might just leave your eyes misty.
June 6, 2025
From beginning to end, I was hooked. It's not every day you pick up a book about a reincarnated house plant that is the protagonists boyfriend that is also so strongly tied to relevant world events and sows together a gripping, self reflective and empowering plot. From the character development, to the story line, the literature and the action fuelled last chapters, Send Flowers is flawless. Initially a slow burn that teases the reader with possibilities, Send Flowers captures the need for real-time activism, education on current affairs and reflection of the readers spirituality in a way the reader does not realise is happening before they're signing petitions and letters to warrant safe passage for the Madleen. A beautiful encapsulation of climate fear and salvation. An ending that had me sobbing and a story line that has me questioning my lack of action. Well done Author. Well done.
August 15, 2025
This is an unusual story, with a hint of the paranormal, about a grieving girlfriend (Fiona) who receives a mysterious house plant into which she adds her boyfriend Ed's ashes.
Previously active online as @FoliageFifi, Fiona has become somewhat reclusive since Ed's dead, but she steps out into the world beyond her home again when the plant starts start talking to her and telling her what she needs to do! Or is it all in her head?
Be that as it may, we follow Fiona's journey back into the wider world, which is facing a climate crisis. The story deals with challenging themes, including mental health, racism and police brutality, but is beautiful in it's own way as it taps into emotions that many readers will have experience with. And the narrator does a delightful job. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Previously active online as @FoliageFifi, Fiona has become somewhat reclusive since Ed's dead, but she steps out into the world beyond her home again when the plant starts start talking to her and telling her what she needs to do! Or is it all in her head?
Be that as it may, we follow Fiona's journey back into the wider world, which is facing a climate crisis. The story deals with challenging themes, including mental health, racism and police brutality, but is beautiful in it's own way as it taps into emotions that many readers will have experience with. And the narrator does a delightful job. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 9, 2025
You can’t drown a movement
Set in present time but climate change further forward, Fifi comes to terms with the brutal death of her partner. She also battles with her life as a eco influencer vs what she started out as.
This book was heartbreaking at times but also uplifting take on how group action can come together to enact change. It was even more poignant given the current political climate and changes being made to laws in the US over protesting at the moment making the themes even more believable.
A stark look at society and where climate change can end up if we continue with inaction. Though also heartwarming as Fifi navigates her grief and finds herself again.
Thank you verve books for the pr copy thoughts my own
Set in present time but climate change further forward, Fifi comes to terms with the brutal death of her partner. She also battles with her life as a eco influencer vs what she started out as.
This book was heartbreaking at times but also uplifting take on how group action can come together to enact change. It was even more poignant given the current political climate and changes being made to laws in the US over protesting at the moment making the themes even more believable.
A stark look at society and where climate change can end up if we continue with inaction. Though also heartwarming as Fifi navigates her grief and finds herself again.
Thank you verve books for the pr copy thoughts my own
June 28, 2025
Solid 3 star. This book brings up a multitude of deeper topics. I thought this moving story was very well written and I was very touched. Fiona is such an amazing character to follow, it was so easy to love her, root for her, and want to see her thrive. I feel that this story, with the deeper topics, isn't as widely written about but I enjoyed this one. The writing is very engaging, and the story overall is really easy to get lost into. Solid 3 star read. If you like more lit fic with sad and deeper topics I would grab this one... but make sure you got some tissues for when the sad times come.
The Narrative by Angela Ness was very well done. She was able to display the emotions from paper to narrative.
Thank you NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
The Narrative by Angela Ness was very well done. She was able to display the emotions from paper to narrative.
Thank you NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2025
Fiona lost her partner in a tragic and public way and she hasn’t left her apartment since. She isn’t taking care of herself, she’s neglecting her job as an influencer with half a million followers, and she has let all the wonderful plants she tended to with Ed die. One morning, Fiona finds a plant at her doorstep, along with a note. The plant is Ed’s favorite and Fiona begins to hear his voice, encouraging her to live her life. Fiona begins to reconnect with the world and that might mean taking some risks.
This is a unique and thrilling story about grief, climate change, advocacy, and figuring out what you’d like to make of your life.
Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
This is a unique and thrilling story about grief, climate change, advocacy, and figuring out what you’d like to make of your life.
Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.
July 20, 2025
I think this author knows how to write a book about the potential impacts of climate change. This book felt very well researched and the authors passion shined! I wanted to read this book because I was fascinated by the idea of a person being reincarnated into a plant and a person perceiving the plant to be sentient. While this was a fascinating idea as the book went along it seemed like that idea because more stagnant. I think the beginning 1/4 of this book was strong and the last 1/4 was strong it just got a bit muddled in the middle to me. I would be interested in Emily’s future books because I think each book will be better and better!
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