What do you think?
Rate this book
Loving Lavender Finch
It isn’t the trauma that almost ruins Lavender, it is the shame she swallows when she keeps it a secret that threatens to choke the life out of her.LAVENDER FINCH NEVER THOUGHT OF HERSELF AS A LIAR. To her former fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Gordon, she’s the reliable babysitter; to her devoted tribe of extended family, she’s the beloved daughter, niece, and cousin; and to her best friend Jana, the muse for fashion advice and gossip. But when trauma shows up by the name of Travis, she begins keeping secrets and telling lies so that no one finds out what happened to her. What she let happen to her.
The truth is, Lavender is terrified of being truly seen, and known, so she hides behind a wall of secrets and lies that she’s convinced will protect her but instead locks her in a lonely place surrounded by shame. As she pushes away all those closest to her, she unexpectedly falls in love with a boy in Cuba she’s never met and a grandmother who doesn’t remember who Lavender is, most of the time.
When her lies begin unraveling in a very public way, will trusting people with her truth confirm her fears or make room for the love she always longed for?
The truth is, Lavender is terrified of being truly seen, and known, so she hides behind a wall of secrets and lies that she’s convinced will protect her but instead locks her in a lonely place surrounded by shame. As she pushes away all those closest to her, she unexpectedly falls in love with a boy in Cuba she’s never met and a grandmother who doesn’t remember who Lavender is, most of the time.
When her lies begin unraveling in a very public way, will trusting people with her truth confirm her fears or make room for the love she always longed for?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Bargabos
5 books3 followersKELLY BARGABOS won a Nautilus book award and was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards for her memoir, Chasing the Merry-Go-Round: Holding on to Hope & Home When the World Moves Too Fast. She is also the author of Here to Lead: Mastering the Art of Leadership in Order to Execute Strategy, Advance Change, and Drive Results. She lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband. Loving Lavender Finch is her first novel but will not be her last. Find out more at kellybargabos.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 19, 2025
We picked Loving Lavender Finch for our book club because it’s written by a local author, and I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous knowing we’d be interviewing her afterward. What if I didn’t like it?
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case at all. The book is beautiful and deeply touching. It is a true coming-of-age story. The teenage voice is written so well, which is not always easy when adults write from a teen perspective. The characters feel real and relatable.
Bonus for Upstate New York readers, the local connections are great - even a Syracuse airport mention. A wonderful read that I recommend for all ages. 📚
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case at all. The book is beautiful and deeply touching. It is a true coming-of-age story. The teenage voice is written so well, which is not always easy when adults write from a teen perspective. The characters feel real and relatable.
Bonus for Upstate New York readers, the local connections are great - even a Syracuse airport mention. A wonderful read that I recommend for all ages. 📚
Displaying 1 of 1 review