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Bloom: A Novel
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25 copies available
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From the New York Times bestselling
author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.
Morris Warner is withering away. After the sudden death of his husband, Fred, he has shut himself off from the world. No more going to movies with friends, or swims in Lake Michigan, instead preferring the quiet loneliness of his history books and Jeopardy episodes with only the cat to hear his answers.
Morris’s stepdaughter, Sloan, feels like she has nowhere to grow. She’s about to get married to the man of her dreams, if only her mother will let her actually plan her own wedding and trust her to build her own life after her father’s death.
Jade is drying out. Literally. As a plant in Morris’s home, she and her plant housemates have been slowly wasting away, leaf by falling leaf, since Fred’s death and Morris’s lack of care. She needs to come up with a plan to make her new owner come back to life, no matter what it takes.
New York Times bestselling author Robbie Couch’s Bloom is a wondrous novel where family, love, kindness, and yes, Mother Nature, triumph.
Morris Warner is withering away. After the sudden death of his husband, Fred, he has shut himself off from the world. No more going to movies with friends, or swims in Lake Michigan, instead preferring the quiet loneliness of his history books and Jeopardy episodes with only the cat to hear his answers.
Morris’s stepdaughter, Sloan, feels like she has nowhere to grow. She’s about to get married to the man of her dreams, if only her mother will let her actually plan her own wedding and trust her to build her own life after her father’s death.
Jade is drying out. Literally. As a plant in Morris’s home, she and her plant housemates have been slowly wasting away, leaf by falling leaf, since Fred’s death and Morris’s lack of care. She needs to come up with a plan to make her new owner come back to life, no matter what it takes.
New York Times bestselling author Robbie Couch’s Bloom is a wondrous novel where family, love, kindness, and yes, Mother Nature, triumph.
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Expected publication March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 30, 2025
READ THIS ONE!
Think A Man Called Ove with a sprinkle of The Guncle.
It’s a long stretch to go from YA stories to writing about a seventy-something widower, his stepdaughter, and a dying plant—but oh boy, Robbie Couch pulled it off. Honestly, I think this might be his best one yet.
I don’t even know where to start. Sloan, the vape-smoking, soon-to-be bride? Morris, a retired teacher who now only talks to his cat since the love of his life, Fred, passed away? Jade, the poor plant slowly dying because she doesn’t get watered anymore? Or the beautiful flawed family at the heart of it all?
This story about relationships and learning to live again is a gem. I loved Sloan. I loved Jade. But Morris, this sweet, sweet man, completely stole my heart.
Robbie Couch, with this one, you’re right up there with Fredrik Backman. And I need more of these kinds of stories, like, yesterday.
Thank you, Gallery Books and NetGalley, for this fantastic ARC!
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Think A Man Called Ove with a sprinkle of The Guncle.
It’s a long stretch to go from YA stories to writing about a seventy-something widower, his stepdaughter, and a dying plant—but oh boy, Robbie Couch pulled it off. Honestly, I think this might be his best one yet.
I don’t even know where to start. Sloan, the vape-smoking, soon-to-be bride? Morris, a retired teacher who now only talks to his cat since the love of his life, Fred, passed away? Jade, the poor plant slowly dying because she doesn’t get watered anymore? Or the beautiful flawed family at the heart of it all?
This story about relationships and learning to live again is a gem. I loved Sloan. I loved Jade. But Morris, this sweet, sweet man, completely stole my heart.
Robbie Couch, with this one, you’re right up there with Fredrik Backman. And I need more of these kinds of stories, like, yesterday.
Thank you, Gallery Books and NetGalley, for this fantastic ARC!
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September 17, 2025
Actual rating — 4.5 stars, rounded up.
Just … wow.
Robbie Couch‘s first foray into adult fiction is an absolute triumph.
For context — I have read all of Robbie’s work. He is an all-time favorite writer of mine, and an auto-buy author for me. I’m only used to his YA style of writing. The jump from being a YA storyteller to producing a more adult-oriented project seems like it could be a tricky leap, right? Well, he nailed that transition.
The writing is noticeably different. For the first time, Robbie tries his hand at third-person POV, and it worked so well because it gave a lot of room for the writing to breathe and focus on other elements rather than being confined to the “I” format. The prose is more vivid and mature, and it evoked a great deal of emotion.
Interestingly enough, we actually do get some first-person writing — but only from the perspective of Jade, a succulent. A plant narrating part of the story was such a fresh idea that I’ve never come across in a book, and I really enjoyed how innovative that felt.
Bloom is a story about regrowth, self-discovery, grief, and what it means to move from the darkness into the light.
I loved the parallel of the condition of the plants mimicking the emotional state of the characters — it was a great metaphor and plot device that reminded us that without our own sunlight, nourishment, and care, we would also lose our leaves and fall apart.
An incredibly satisfying ending, strong character development (with a focus on relationships), and an engaging plot that elevated the reading experience.
The book is short, but it packs a punch. One that I won’t forget.
A big thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Bloom is out in March 2026!
Just … wow.
Robbie Couch‘s first foray into adult fiction is an absolute triumph.
For context — I have read all of Robbie’s work. He is an all-time favorite writer of mine, and an auto-buy author for me. I’m only used to his YA style of writing. The jump from being a YA storyteller to producing a more adult-oriented project seems like it could be a tricky leap, right? Well, he nailed that transition.
The writing is noticeably different. For the first time, Robbie tries his hand at third-person POV, and it worked so well because it gave a lot of room for the writing to breathe and focus on other elements rather than being confined to the “I” format. The prose is more vivid and mature, and it evoked a great deal of emotion.
Interestingly enough, we actually do get some first-person writing — but only from the perspective of Jade, a succulent. A plant narrating part of the story was such a fresh idea that I’ve never come across in a book, and I really enjoyed how innovative that felt.
Bloom is a story about regrowth, self-discovery, grief, and what it means to move from the darkness into the light.
I loved the parallel of the condition of the plants mimicking the emotional state of the characters — it was a great metaphor and plot device that reminded us that without our own sunlight, nourishment, and care, we would also lose our leaves and fall apart.
An incredibly satisfying ending, strong character development (with a focus on relationships), and an engaging plot that elevated the reading experience.
The book is short, but it packs a punch. One that I won’t forget.
A big thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Bloom is out in March 2026!
September 20, 2025
Absolutely loved this! This novel is a beautifully written exploration of grief, healing, and the messiness that comes with affairs, divorce, and death. I appreciate the unique take on the relationships in this story, There are some unlikeable characters who also grew on me.
I personally didn't love the POV from the plants, but can very much appreciate the way their own plant-health mimicked the mental state of Morris. If you are a fan of Remarkedly Bright Creatures I think you would love this part of the novel.
10/10 would recommend!
I personally didn't love the POV from the plants, but can very much appreciate the way their own plant-health mimicked the mental state of Morris. If you are a fan of Remarkedly Bright Creatures I think you would love this part of the novel.
10/10 would recommend!
September 25, 2025
cry count: llll
December 2, 2025
4 Stars.
It really shouldn’t work to tell part of a story through the eyes (erm…leaves?) of a plant. It’s a risk that could so easily go terribly wrong. But, in this delightful little novel, Robbie Couch has managed to pull it off. It’s due almost entirely to his lovable and relatable characters. Morris (the aging widower), Sloan (the distant stepdaughter), and Jade (the forgotten house plant) are full of heart and very quickly pull you into the story. You can’t help but root for all three of them (no apology for the pun). It’s a quick read, but that doesn’t mean it’s light on emotional connection or deeper ideas.
All three characters are unable to thrive. Morris is hiding himself away from the world, unsure how to go on without his husband. Sloan is constricted by her complicated family and the pressure of her upcoming wedding. And poor Jade is deprived of light and water. Through a series of connected events, each one will attempt to adapt to their new reality, find a way to grow, and fully embrace life.
For readers that aren’t able to grasp the sentient plant idea, this might not be a great experience. There can be a bit of dissonance in the chapters from Jade’s perspective if you begin to think too logically or dissect details. It won’t be for everyone. But, for those of us that are down to let our imaginations wander and to be swept away by adorable characters doing their best to survive in a complex and emotional world, this is a heartwarming story that leaves you feeling like you’ve been wrapped up in a cozy hug.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC.
It really shouldn’t work to tell part of a story through the eyes (erm…leaves?) of a plant. It’s a risk that could so easily go terribly wrong. But, in this delightful little novel, Robbie Couch has managed to pull it off. It’s due almost entirely to his lovable and relatable characters. Morris (the aging widower), Sloan (the distant stepdaughter), and Jade (the forgotten house plant) are full of heart and very quickly pull you into the story. You can’t help but root for all three of them (no apology for the pun). It’s a quick read, but that doesn’t mean it’s light on emotional connection or deeper ideas.
All three characters are unable to thrive. Morris is hiding himself away from the world, unsure how to go on without his husband. Sloan is constricted by her complicated family and the pressure of her upcoming wedding. And poor Jade is deprived of light and water. Through a series of connected events, each one will attempt to adapt to their new reality, find a way to grow, and fully embrace life.
For readers that aren’t able to grasp the sentient plant idea, this might not be a great experience. There can be a bit of dissonance in the chapters from Jade’s perspective if you begin to think too logically or dissect details. It won’t be for everyone. But, for those of us that are down to let our imaginations wander and to be swept away by adorable characters doing their best to survive in a complex and emotional world, this is a heartwarming story that leaves you feeling like you’ve been wrapped up in a cozy hug.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC.
November 10, 2025
5 stars
Since I've really liked and even loved every book I've read by Robbie Couch, I expected to enjoy this. But all of the previous books have been YA. Not everyone can cross over as smoothly as we all hope. This? It's spectacular.
This speedy but deeply impactful novel features three perspectives: Jade, Morris, and Sloan. Jade is a houseplant. I am one of those folks who lives in a jungle (there are more than 200 plants inside of my house, not to mention what's happening in every outdoor nook and cranny). I cannot get enough of the basic premise that a houseplant is a narrator and vital character here. Obsessessed. The sapien characters are also pretty great. Morris is Sloan's stepdad. He and her father had an affair immediately before she became a student in a whole year of Morris's high school history course (a decade ago). But like all of those situations, it's complicated. Also, this one took a different turn when the affair turned into a long and serious relationship. After all, in the present day, Morris has outlived his husband: Sloane's dad. Sloane is about to get married, and she has this sudden desire early in the book to reach out to Morris. This is surprising since she's had no contact with him and she - along with the rest of her family - harbors FEELINGS about Morris's role in breaking up her nuclear family. So how will Jade, Morris, and Sloan connect? That's for you to read and for me to get misty over just thinking about.
I anticipate great books from Robbie Couch, but this is on another level. The characters - plants included - are layered and memorable. The relationships teach so much. There's a lot of loss and sadness here, but there is also overwhelming hope. Like all books by this author, there is also meaningful representation.
This is an innovative and touching read that I will be recommending widely. I was a huge fan of this author's on the way in (and special props to my pal Andrew, who sent me a signed book of Couch's not long ago - a prized possession to be sure - I'll cherish it even more now). Now, I've moved from "I really love Couch's books" to "Couch wrote one of my favorite books of this year."
I recommend this book and proper care of your houseplants and hearts.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this arc, which is exceptional. I received it in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Since I've really liked and even loved every book I've read by Robbie Couch, I expected to enjoy this. But all of the previous books have been YA. Not everyone can cross over as smoothly as we all hope. This? It's spectacular.
This speedy but deeply impactful novel features three perspectives: Jade, Morris, and Sloan. Jade is a houseplant. I am one of those folks who lives in a jungle (there are more than 200 plants inside of my house, not to mention what's happening in every outdoor nook and cranny). I cannot get enough of the basic premise that a houseplant is a narrator and vital character here. Obsessessed. The sapien characters are also pretty great. Morris is Sloan's stepdad. He and her father had an affair immediately before she became a student in a whole year of Morris's high school history course (a decade ago). But like all of those situations, it's complicated. Also, this one took a different turn when the affair turned into a long and serious relationship. After all, in the present day, Morris has outlived his husband: Sloane's dad. Sloane is about to get married, and she has this sudden desire early in the book to reach out to Morris. This is surprising since she's had no contact with him and she - along with the rest of her family - harbors FEELINGS about Morris's role in breaking up her nuclear family. So how will Jade, Morris, and Sloan connect? That's for you to read and for me to get misty over just thinking about.
I anticipate great books from Robbie Couch, but this is on another level. The characters - plants included - are layered and memorable. The relationships teach so much. There's a lot of loss and sadness here, but there is also overwhelming hope. Like all books by this author, there is also meaningful representation.
This is an innovative and touching read that I will be recommending widely. I was a huge fan of this author's on the way in (and special props to my pal Andrew, who sent me a signed book of Couch's not long ago - a prized possession to be sure - I'll cherish it even more now). Now, I've moved from "I really love Couch's books" to "Couch wrote one of my favorite books of this year."
I recommend this book and proper care of your houseplants and hearts.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this arc, which is exceptional. I received it in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
July 23, 2025
If I have ever recommended books to you, I've definitely mentioned Robbie Couch's name- so you can imagine how excited I was to open an envelope and see Robbie's adult debut, Bloom.
A story told, in part, from the point of view of his deceased husband's houseplants withering away in Morris' living room, Bloom is everything I've know Couch's writing to be: tender, funny, and raw.
This is such a heartfelt look at a family grieving and trying to navigate loss and messy dynamics after a loss while putting themselves back together as life moves on. And then there's Morris. Sweet, withdrawn, Morris looking for small ways to start living and enjoying life again with a little help from his step-daughter and the plants in his home.
Bloom is truly such a lovely, heartfelt debut from Couch that you won't regret picking up!
A story told, in part, from the point of view of his deceased husband's houseplants withering away in Morris' living room, Bloom is everything I've know Couch's writing to be: tender, funny, and raw.
This is such a heartfelt look at a family grieving and trying to navigate loss and messy dynamics after a loss while putting themselves back together as life moves on. And then there's Morris. Sweet, withdrawn, Morris looking for small ways to start living and enjoying life again with a little help from his step-daughter and the plants in his home.
Bloom is truly such a lovely, heartfelt debut from Couch that you won't regret picking up!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Much like the house plants he is neglecting, Morris Warner is withering away after the loss of his husband. He’s no longer doing the things he enjoys, and can’t bring himself to water the plants that remind him of his late husband, including his prized jade plant. His stepdaughter, Sloan, also feels like she’s stuck, even though she’s about to get married. Sloan gets a radical idea to ask Morris to walk her down the aisle, much to the chagrin of her mother who resents him.
This is a novel about family and grief, with a touch of magical realism (from the perspective of the houseplants!); and it truly was such a beautiful story. The characters are all flawed in their own ways, mostly dealing with the grief of what was lost (a husband, a father, fidelity); and while the central themes revolve around a character that has passed away, it’s deeply moving to see how each of the characters can grow both separate and together. I really appreciated that the main character was the forgotten and inappropriately villainized stepfather, who was otherwise completely cut off from family support. Queerness is both central and completely irrelevant to the grief, adding layers and complexity to Morris and the stepfather/stepdaughter relationship. Throw in the perspective of the favorite house plants that were neglected during depression, and you’ve got a perfect allegory for life. I’d recommend this to anyone!
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Gallery Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if you:
🏡 like reading about dysfunctional families and healing from grief
🌀 love a touch of magical realism/anthropomorphizing, similar to Remarkably Bright Creatures
🪴 follow The Plant Daddies or listen to the Plant Daddy Podcast, or just love a cute jade plant
Much like the house plants he is neglecting, Morris Warner is withering away after the loss of his husband. He’s no longer doing the things he enjoys, and can’t bring himself to water the plants that remind him of his late husband, including his prized jade plant. His stepdaughter, Sloan, also feels like she’s stuck, even though she’s about to get married. Sloan gets a radical idea to ask Morris to walk her down the aisle, much to the chagrin of her mother who resents him.
This is a novel about family and grief, with a touch of magical realism (from the perspective of the houseplants!); and it truly was such a beautiful story. The characters are all flawed in their own ways, mostly dealing with the grief of what was lost (a husband, a father, fidelity); and while the central themes revolve around a character that has passed away, it’s deeply moving to see how each of the characters can grow both separate and together. I really appreciated that the main character was the forgotten and inappropriately villainized stepfather, who was otherwise completely cut off from family support. Queerness is both central and completely irrelevant to the grief, adding layers and complexity to Morris and the stepfather/stepdaughter relationship. Throw in the perspective of the favorite house plants that were neglected during depression, and you’ve got a perfect allegory for life. I’d recommend this to anyone!
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Gallery Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if you:
🏡 like reading about dysfunctional families and healing from grief
🌀 love a touch of magical realism/anthropomorphizing, similar to Remarkably Bright Creatures
🪴 follow The Plant Daddies or listen to the Plant Daddy Podcast, or just love a cute jade plant
Read
September 13, 2025Morris Warner está apagándose poco a poco tras la muerte repentina de su esposo, Fred. Sus días se han reducido a la soledad de sus libros de historia y a responder en voz baja las preguntas de Jeopardy!, con solo su gato como compañía. Mientras tanto, Sloan, su hijastra, se enfrenta al dolor de haber perdido a su padre y al caos de organizar una boda en la que siente que no tiene voz. Entre la presión de su familia y el vacío que dejó Fred, Sloan busca recuperar un vínculo que la conecte con él.
En medio de este duelo compartido aparece Jade, una planta que Fred cuidaba con tanto cariño y que ahora agoniza en la oscuridad de un rincón. Desde su particular perspectiva, Jade también narra la historia: la de unas raíces que luchan por no secarse, y la de un hogar que necesita volver a florecer. Con ternura, humor y toques de magia, Bloom entrelaza las voces de un hombre roto, una hija perdida y una planta obstinada que se resiste a morir, recordándonos que hasta en la tristeza más profunda siempre hay espacio para la esperanza y la vida.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
En medio de este duelo compartido aparece Jade, una planta que Fred cuidaba con tanto cariño y que ahora agoniza en la oscuridad de un rincón. Desde su particular perspectiva, Jade también narra la historia: la de unas raíces que luchan por no secarse, y la de un hogar que necesita volver a florecer. Con ternura, humor y toques de magia, Bloom entrelaza las voces de un hombre roto, una hija perdida y una planta obstinada que se resiste a morir, recordándonos que hasta en la tristeza más profunda siempre hay espacio para la esperanza y la vida.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 6, 2025
A great read. Loved following the relationship of Warner and Sloan from virtually nonexistent to healing. Particularly Warner, whose visit to Hairy Harry’s is a joyous adventure. The Alumni Lunch also got me particularly weepy.
Couch has such a knack for drawing out the inner lives of characters, in a way that keeps the action moving. One of my favorite writers for works like The Sky Blues and If I See You Again Tomorrow, his sly but compassionate humor for characters is present in this newest read.
At first, Jade’s chapters really threw me for a loop. While I did end appreciating her perspective in the end, her story felt like a distraction from Sloan and Warner to me.
Thanks for the ARC!
Couch has such a knack for drawing out the inner lives of characters, in a way that keeps the action moving. One of my favorite writers for works like The Sky Blues and If I See You Again Tomorrow, his sly but compassionate humor for characters is present in this newest read.
At first, Jade’s chapters really threw me for a loop. While I did end appreciating her perspective in the end, her story felt like a distraction from Sloan and Warner to me.
Thanks for the ARC!
December 23, 2025
Sloan's family baggage is nothing short of complicated-- as she prepares for her wedding, she reconnects with her late father's husband, Morris. The thing that makes it messy? He and Morris were having an affair before he divorced Sloan's mother over a decade ago. Told from both of their perspectives, as well as an observant succulent houseplant named Jade, Bloom is a delightful family dramedy that had me completely invested; I care so much about all of these characters! If you enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures or Big Gay Wedding, you will adore Couch's adult debut novel.
November 14, 2025
I identified with many of the characters in this book, as I was married to my wife for a long time, had two children, came out late in life and now live with my husband. So I appreciated the perspectives of all the family members, both from the former nuclear family and the new gay one.
I enjoyed reading this story, as described by the stepfather (Morris), the daughter (Sloan) and a houseplant (Jade)! I liked the way the relationship between Sloan and Morris developed; Morris is a sweetie.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
I enjoyed reading this story, as described by the stepfather (Morris), the daughter (Sloan) and a houseplant (Jade)! I liked the way the relationship between Sloan and Morris developed; Morris is a sweetie.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
November 16, 2025
It was a quick sweet family read to be sure. He's got a good vibe overall going on here. The two main characters are both likable tho the flower narrations were arguably the weakest part of the book. My only real complaint is that the ending felt too rushed. It almost seemed like it was missing a few chapters towards the end.
*I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
*I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
incredibly lyrical and intensely well-done book about grief, loss, and recovering yourself. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this on a Goodreads giveaway and oh man, such a good quick read. I loved Morris and was so happy the wallflower bloomed.
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