Butterflies

by Samantha Roman

Seventeen-year-old Candy dreams of singing country music on Nashville stages. But when her father dies in a car accident and her mom drowns her pain in alcohol, Candy's world crumbles. Told through both Candy's and her mother Leslie's perspectives, Butterflies is a heartfelt Christian YA novel about grief, brokenness, and the healing power of faith. As Candy fights for her dreams and her family, she learns that hope can rise even from the ashes and God’s plan is always more beautiful than we ever imagined.

Perfect for fans of emotional coming-of-age stories, Butterflies explores faith under fire and the redemptive journey toward grace, healing, and happily ever after.




Note from the author
"Butterflies is the book for teen girls looking for a touch romance, but a good hard story. They want to be inspired, touched, and changed after reading the Honeybrook High series. Butterflies is innocent, sweet, yet compassionate book for the teens who have had addiction brush over their lives, whether through family or observed through a friend. Butterflies is a great book for teens who love dual POVs, a school crush, and the message of how faith in Jesus wins every time." As a former homeschooled girl and an educator, Butterflies is your Christian teen's beach read.

Genres: Contemporary, Christian Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2025

Reviews

[Allyson]

Samantha Roman's debut Christian YA novel tackles the tough topics of grief, alcoholism, and forgiveness with grace. Christian teens and adults alike will be able to relate to the struggles Candy and her mother go through in Butterflies.

[Wendy Andrus]

The title captured my attention first off. My father loved butterflies, and had a collection of butterfly figurines. This summer I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the butterflies flutter around the lantana in our yard.

The second thing that attracted me to this story is that the author is/was homeschooled, as was Candy, the teen in this story. I am a retired homeschool mom, myself.

I can relate to Candy to some extent, in that many years I was the new kid in school. My parents were church school teachers, and we moved frequently. It's tough being a teenager, but add on the grief of tragic loss of loved ones, a parent who spirals into alcoholism, and being the new kid in school? That's unimaginably tough.

That's when one has to really learn to trust in God, and rely on Him for strength.

Butterflies is told from two points of view: Candy's, and her mother, Leslie's. Both views are poignant and soul-searching.

If you enjoy contemporary Christian YA novel which touches on some deep topics, you will want to add Butterflies to your TBR list.

[Avyn Munshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always on the hunt for strong, clean Christian reads, especially ones written for teens. Lately, I’ve noticed there just aren’t very many books in the 15–18 age range that stay rooted in faith without being saturated in romance or other content I personally don’t want to read. So picking up Butterflies felt like a breath of fresh air.

Samantha Roman wrote this story with so much heart and intention. I deeply appreciated the way faith was taught and revealed throughout the novel, in a way that felt real, lived-in, and natural to the characters. As an author myself, currently editing my soon-to-be debut novel, I know firsthand how difficult it is to portray a full, meaningful faith journey without sounding preachy or forced. The author handled this balance beautifully, which I truly admire.

I was also grateful for the cleanliness of the writing. There was no profanity, and the story was refreshingly clean. In terms of romance, there was some hand-holding and one kiss shared between two dating teenagers, but it wasn’t graphic or overly detailed.

There were only a couple things that gave me pause, and of course, readers should use their own judgment here:

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD

Candy isn’t a Christian at the start of the book, and after her father’s death, she transitions from homeschooling to the Christian school in town. Very early into being there, she spills her water bottle in a fluster, and a boy immediately notices her and offers his sweater so she can warm up. She accepts, and even wears it home. This moment becomes the spark of a romantic subplot.

What bothered me somewhat slightly wasn’t the subplot itself, but the timing and lack of foundation. This boy is written to be a strong Christian character with admirable values — kind, principled, and genuine. Yet, he asks to date Candy without really knowing her, and without asking where she stands in her faith, or what she believes about God at all. That initial question of spiritual alignment is never truly addressed in the moment, which made the start of their relationship feel a bit incomplete. Even though they grow beautifully together later on, and Candy does eventually come to faith, that early gap still lingered for me.

Another important element to note is Candy’s mother, who is portrayed as an alcoholic and a smoker. She makes several poor decisions tied to her grief, which could be difficult for some readers. However, I feel this storyline was handled realistically and sensitively. Her choices lead to real consequences, and her struggle becomes a significant and necessary part of the emotional and spiritual development of the book.

*End of spoilers*

One of the things this book does exceptionally well is wrestle with the hard questions, about God, suffering, forgiveness, and faith in the midst of pain. These themes were treated with the gentleness, honesty, and sensitivity they deserved.

Overall, this novel reminded me why I love this genre so much. And more importantly, it reminded me how grateful I am for authors who choose to write clean, meaningful faith stories for teens. Stories that uplift without adding unnecessary or uncomfortable content. Books like this are rare, and I’m thankful for them!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butterflies is a great book by Samantha Roman and is the first book in Ms. Roman’s Honeybrook High Series. Candy Chancellor is living the life as a 15 year-old with her Parents and being homeschooled. Candy’s life is upended when her Dad, Rob, dies in a car accident, making both Candy and her Mom, Leslie’s, worlds come crashing down. Told from both the vantage point of Candy and Leslie, the Reader gets a first hand account to what both are going through and how they are handling Rob’s death. Leslie is faced with the reality of running a multi-million dollar company and raising Candy all alone. Leslie turns to alcohol and puts Candy in a private Christian school to cope. Candy is trying to keep it all together–handling a new school, her Mom’s alcohol addiction, mourning her Dad, and being in a band called The Chozen Band with the sister of the teen that caused her Dad’s wreck and death. Candy and Leslie have their own struggles with a God who would allow the Patriarch of their Family to die and their own painful road to walk to get to Peace.

Samantha Roman’s Butterflies is a poignant read for me. Butterflies took me on a rollercoaster unlike anything I have read thus far in the Teen Christian Fiction Market. I like how Butterflies was told from both Candy’s and Leslie’s perspectives. I like how Candy and Leslie were portrayed in the book as what I would call “surface Christians”–people who called themselves Christians because they were good and believed in God–not because of Jesus and being Saved. I like how the book portrayed the issues of death, alcohol, and smoking. I appreciated how Candy was portrayed in the book of having struggles about even Believing in God and and asking the various questions of why things happen and why God allows them, allowing Candy to learn about God in the process. I love that when Candy did learn of God and His Character, she did her best to apply it to her life. I love how Ms. Roman allowed Candy and Leslie to be authentically raw and real with their issues and towards God in the storyline because it shows and reminds Readers that they are allowed to be raw and real–especially with God. I love that Ms. Roman wrote Godly people into Leslie and Candy’s lives to help them along the way. I also love the meaning and symbolism of butterflies that was in the book and where it was place within the storyline. (Read Butterflies to find out!) I also loved how what is going on in the lives of Candy and Leslie wasn’t wrapped up in a bow in Butterflies, but allowed their story to continue on, in hopes of heading towards more healing. I highly recommend Butterflies by Samantha Roman! I’m looking forward to seeing where Ms. Roman takes the Honeybrook High Series!

Have you read Butterflies? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank the Publisher and Celebrate Lit Blogging Tours for giving me a copy of Butterflies to review, for letting me be a part of the Butterflies Celebration Tour, and for providing the information needed for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a truly tragic and heartbreaking introduction to this story! We get a small slice of perfection, and then it abruptly ends in the most horrific, life-altering moment. An unimaginable accident, and sadly, this is a real reality many have to face every day. My heart instantly went out to our narrators’ mother/daughter duo, Leslie and Candy Chancellor, and anyone who has had to suffer a similar fate.

Butterflies has such a beautiful message of forgiveness that truly spoke to my heart. It was not an accident that I read this at this point in my life, and it gave me a lot to ponder as I read. Death and addiction are tough subjects to tackle, but Samantha Rowan did a wonderful job of showing the darkness while also being sensitive to the situation. As a daughter of a former addict myself, I bonded with Candy so much as I was around her age when my own parent went through an even larger spiral into substance abuse. I appreciate her showing not only the addict’s point of view but also that of someone close to them, as it gives a multifaceted view to a tougher subject and makes many feel seen.

Chris was an amazing presence and a rock through the whole story. I admired his strength when everything was spiraling and heading straight for rock bottom. He really did show Jesus and personified all that makes our Savior so incredible. The scene with the butterflies is a standout moment, physically showing the freedom from the burden of resentment and unforgiveness that Candy feels in a beautiful visual of what it looks like to truly be free of that burden. It was a joy to experience with her and I loved seeing her have that moment.

Despite the darker subject matter, I enjoyed this novel a lot more than I had anticipated. While there are heavier subjects there are also moments of levity and hope as mother and daughter figure out their way. This is an incredible start to a series that is sure to touch many.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Young Adult books are a genre that I have grown to enjoy in the last couple of years. Butterflies by Samantha Roman is the latest in this genre that I have read. It is Book 1 in the Honeybrook High series.

I began reading the book and right away my heart was breaking for the family. The 2 main characters in this book are Candy Chancellor and her mom, Leslie. Candy is loving life as a 15year old teenager. She is looking forward to being a BIG Sister to her unborn baby brother. Life changes in an instant when her Dad is tragically killed in a Car Accident. Candy is grieving and adjusting to life without her Dad. She is really shocked when her mom enrolls her in the local Christian School, as Candy had been Homeschooled until now. Leslie has turned to Alcohol as she grieves and has let her Real Estate Business slide. I feel this story is a much needed storyline for Young Adults as it seems like it is a true to life story. Teens struggle through so much in life and many times they are lost. The author shows how both Candy and Leslie turn to friends, colleagues and others, to help them make decisions and choices for moving forward. They also find that God is still there and they begin to rely on God throughout their grieving and life choices also. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series. GREAT BOOK!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butterflies, by Smantha Roman is the first book in the Honeybrook High series. This is a Christian series for young adults that can easily be enjoyed by older readers as well. This is such a powerful story that gives a look in the way Candy and her mother handled the grieving process with the loss of her father and unborn brother. The story does deal with the topics of death, depression, grieving and alcoholism. The story also focuses on the process of forgiving others for wrongs done.

This is such a good story. It is so realistic in how Candy struggles with the loss of her father and the changes that take place in her life. Her pain has her blaming others for his death. I enjoyed this story in so many ways. Candy is now in school for the first time in her life and turn to the school band for enjoyment. She becomes friends with a boy in the band and his family, who help lead her to God. Meanwhile, her mother struggles with wanting to do what is right but just can't. She is now a single mother running a highly successful business by herself. This book is so good, I look forward to reading the rest in the series.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review.

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that has a lot of emotion, in a good way. The characters aren't always happy, and you can see so many raw parts of their journey. I appreciated that Roman brought us the POV from both mother and daughter, because you can see the way they grieve differently. She brings truth to her story, and doesn't shy away from difficult topics (such as alcoholism). But amidst all the darkness, the grief, the emotion, Roman also provides hope. And that's what I hope readers see when they read this book.

I think older teens, young adults, and adults could benefit from reading this. It shows what someone else may be going through, and how that can affect their actions. It also reminds you that when you're interacting with people, you have simply no idea what they are or have gone through. It is full of wisdom. I think it would make a great book club read as well, or teen/adult read as it has to much to bring up conversation about.

3.5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching story told from both the teen girl’s and the mother’s points of view in alternating chapters. The novel deals with tough issues like sudden death, bereavement, alcoholism, and forgiveness. It’s a coming of age and a faith journey for the main character, a rich girl named Candy, who had life going well before her dad died. The writing comes across as a young person who experienced such painful trials ,so fits the YA audience as a clean tale with a budding romance. I think the writing and editing could be stronger in places, such as eliminating wordy details in order to move the story along a bit faster and enhance the plot—but some may like all the daily details. Warning: This could be a tough read, so prepare yourself in case you may be triggered by some of the topics covered. Yet it contains sweet elements too. I received a copy from the author through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quote from the book broke my heart " Candy, I want you to know that the more time Tommy spends in jail won't bring back Dad or the baby." The reason it broke my heart is because that is the same thing I told my grandson (except the part about the baby) when he was upset about the time that the person who hit his daddy and killed him in a hit and run got. (It was 1 year).

As you can probably tell from the above quote "Butterflies" by Samantha Roman deals with subjects like death and grief, forgiveness and alcoholism and growth in Jesus. This book is intended for young adults I think adults could learn from it. Yes, it is fiction, but I am sure this story takes place in "Real Life" every day which is really sad.

Butterflies is a perfect title and if you get a copy and read it, you will think so also.

I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this set.

I received a compliment to copy from the author and celebrate Lit, and these opinions are my own.

[Cheryl Wanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butterflies is a young adult novel of love, loss, and rising above it all through the power of faith and forgiveness. Told from the dual perspective of budding teen singer Candy Chancellor and her wealthy, CEO mother Leslie, Butterflies navigates the world of a family rocked by tragedy, addictions, and the struggle to forgive the seemingly unforgivable.

Despite her parents’ prominent position in the community, Candy is an everyday girl thrown into a tough situation while her mom fights to hold herself, her relationships, and her business together. Candy’s journey to faith and the power of the Gospel to change her life and perspective is an unmistakable force in this book. The beauty of the story is what faith rising from devastation, fear, and hopelessness can look like, showcasing God’s power to work through weakness and what He can to do in lives yielded to Him. The title is fitting and ties well into the growth and development of the characters.

[Yoyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really sweet read! Both main characters have beautiful storylines. I love how the author includes the Christian faith, it’s not preachy for the most part and anytime it was it fit the story perfectly and works in context. I recommend!

I truly believe I would’ve loved this book and possibly given it at 5/5 at a different point in my life, and that’s not at all to say it’s immature or for younger readers, as I did enjoy it now, but I do feel that I would’ve appreciated it more when I was younger.

Either way I recommend reading it if you want a sweet Christian story about growth. Though i wouldn’t say the book has changed my life it was a pleasant read, and all the main characters are lovely (lovely in the sense that they bring what they’re supposed to, to the book).

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

With emotion, tragedy and forgiveness this story illustrates how life can change in an instant. There are a few subjects in the story that can be a trigger for some but is handled by the author with grace. Even though this is young adult book, it definitely is one that adults can learn from as well.

Candy grapples with the tragic loss of her father while trying to forgive the person who was responsible for the accident. It was so hard to see how Candy was alone in her grief many nights. Grief hits people in different ways and Candy’s mom chose a path that brings nothing but pain and addiction. I wanted Candy to be able to go to her mom for comfort but her mom was so buried in her own grief that she became a shell of herself.

The story is emotional and the author delivers a realistic look at how we choose different paths to heal from grief. I liked how Candy tried to fit in at school even though it was hard to be around certain people. It is easy to understand how anger can grow as we struggle with forgiveness.

The story is told in a way where we see both Candy and her mom struggle through a heartbreaking loss. I grew to have grace for Candy’s mom because I could feel her pain as she gets deeper into her addiction. Oh how I wanted to tell her that the answer to healing was Jesus.

As we journey with our main characters we see hope, faith , forgiveness and healing that only God can give. This has been a wonderful book that teaches that without forgiveness, our life becomes bitter. I would like encourage readers to soak in the many lessons the author demonstrates. God can heal our broken hearts.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butterflies by Samantha Roman is a Christian YA novel. Fifteen-year-old Candy Chancellor, a homeschooled student, loves her family. But when her father is tragically killed weeks before her baby brother is due to be born, she finds her life turned upside down.

Leslie Chancellor, a Real Estate tycoon, avoids dealing with the deaths of husband and their baby son who is born prematurely. She turns to alcohol as a means of escape. Her daughter Candy winds up attending a private Christian school with her new best enemy sitting behind her in one class. Leslie spirals deeper and deeper into a darkness she cannot escape. But Candy and a family friend refuse to lose her to the darkness.

Candy finds herself forced to decide between anger and rage or turning to God with the support and encouragement of her two newfound best friends and an old family friend. Themes of faith, family, forgiveness, music and more fill this first book in a new series.

The emotional journey will keep you reading. For anyone who has lost someone they loved or dealt with someone spiraling into darkness, this book provides the perfect outlet. I highly recommend this emotionally-packed story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

So if you want a Christian YA novel, check out Butterflies by Samantha Roman.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel for young adults explores some serious issues, including the sudden death of a parent. Candy deals with long term grief, anger and resentment. Her mother becomes an alcoholic, another serious issue. One of the major questions the plot touches upon is why God allows tragedy. It was good to see how Candy is confronted with a clear presentation of the gospel and the need to grow into a place of forgiveness.

Roman's writing style is straight forward and not sophisticated, good for young readers. Candy's family is very wealthy. The high end gifts given and catered meals might represent a level of living most young people would not be able to appreciate. That wealthy lifestyle did lead into an exploration of prejudice toward the poor, by others, not by Candy nor her mother.

The novel is written in a dual point of view, Candy and her mother. That is not a favorite style of mine. While the person is identified at the beginning of each chapter, it can be confusing when reading an ebook as I did.

This is a young adult novel that may contain trigger situations. I liked the clear presentation of the gospel and the character growth shown in Candy. The novel ends with unfinished business so I will be looking for the sequel.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.