The Sunflower Widows

by Matthew Fults

“Masterful.” “Sophisticated.” “Powerful.” Advance readers are raving!

Where grief runs deep and love lingers long, one woman leads the way from sorrow to strength.

In a quiet Ukrainian village nestled between golden fields and gathering shadows, the echoes of war reach those left behind. Three families, each with a story of love, hardship, loyalty and strength, find themselves on a path borne of necessity.

The Sunflower Widows is a “beautiful, emotionally intelligent novel” that explores the silent suffering of women whose lives are forever changed, not on the battlefield, but in kitchens, nurseries, and empty spaces they once shared.

Kathryna never knew her father. He died a hero in World War II before she took her first breath. Now, as war returns, Kathryna faces a new generation of grief and discovers a quiet calling.

They lost the men they loved, but not the strength to carry on...

Determined not to let others suffer in silence, she begins with a simple cup of tea, a quiet conversation, and an open door.

Her home becomes a quiet refuge for Yulia, a young nurse and newlywed whose world collapsed in a heartbeat. For Ana, the resilient wife who loved through war. And for Natalia, a mother and partner who returned from Berlin to contribute, only to face destruction.

Within Kathryna’s modest home, sorrow finds a voice, strength is shared in silence, and healing begins. As word spreads, her home becomes a haven for the broken-hearted. Together, they carry invisible wounds and begin to plant hope in barren soil. In a land torn by war, it’s in the quiet moments and shared stories that the deepest healing takes root.

Written by critically-acclaimed author Matthew Fults, The Sunflower Widows is a soul-stirring tribute to love, strength, and the unbreakable bonds between women. Inspired by true events, it stands as a powerful testament to love that endures, grief that unites, and the strength that rises when everything else falls away.

Perfect for fans of The Kite Runner and All the Light We Cannot See.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Matthew Fults is the author of five novels, including the award-winning Mathieu James trilogy, and two literary fiction books known as The Ukraine Stories. He is a former newspaper journalist and editor, a celebrated documentary filmmaker and accomplished brand photographer. In addition to his documentary work being selected to international film festivals, his visual storytelling has been praised by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Detroit Free Press, Boston Globe and TV Guide among others.

As a writer, he is known for possessing a cinematic style and crafting scenes so rich with sensory detail that readers feel transported into the story. His thrillers have been compared to Vince Flynn and Frederick Forsyth; his literary fiction to Milan Kundera and Etaf Rum; and his travel essays have been humorously described as "the love child of Hunter S. Thompson and Ernest Hemingway on LSD." Fults's long-form storytelling is known for its poignancy, exceptional realism and literary style of journalism.

His debut novel, The Scotland Project, was named a finalist for best thriller of the year. Its sequel, Messenger for the Dead, was named Action Thriller of the Year for 2025. The final book in the series, The Consequence of Sin, has been called "a superb finale."

Meanwhile, his literary fiction debut, The Sunflower Widows, hit shelves in September 2025 as a multi-category bestseller and Top New Release. Heralded as "A quiet triumph" and "Masterful," Discovery says it's "A must read." The Book Commentary wrote, "Fults’s layered, empathetic portrayal of women living through war will captivate readers immensely."

His next release, a Cold War literary thriller, is a companion novel to The Sunflower Widows. Nikolai's Secret tells the story of an ordinary man raised on Soviet ideals who uncovers a secret powerful enough to destroy an empire. Nikolai's Secret will debut May 12, 2026 in hardcover, paperback and ebook formats.

Reviews

[Alana Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of sorrow, loyalty and love

Lovely writing takes you through the journey of 4 women as they love and lose their loved ones. Heartbreaking and brilliant

[Eddie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to thank the author for including me in the advanced reader copy list.

The Sunflower Widows isn't usually my kind of book. I lean toward thrillers, but was willing to give this a read based on the author's previous work. I'm glad I did.

For anyone who watches what's happening in Ukraine, you've probably become numb to all of it. You shouldn't, and this book will show you why. It was emotionally wrenching, really bringing the war to the front door of regular people.

The characters were like real-life people. Maybe your neighbor or your relative or friend. It could be any one of us. There was a real kinetic connection there.

It's a quick read and worthy of anyone's time, in my opinion. I highly recommend.

[Beanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sunflower Widows tells the intertwined stories of four women whose lives have been forever altered by the war in Ukraine. Through their voices, the novel reveals how grief, love, and resilience coexist in the shadow of conflict, and how ordinary people navigate extraordinary loss.

The book unfolds with the intimacy of a stage play; its structure, rhythm, and dialogue seem almost written for performance. Each new chapter introduces another widow, and I found myself needing to pause, to take a breath, knowing that what lay ahead would be raw and unbridled grief. This is not a book to be read in one sitting.

Fults excels in the art of description, crafting scenes so emotionally tangible that you feel drawn to sit beside these women, to comfort them through their pain. He demonstrates that moments of light and connection can still emerge amid devastation and loss.

If there’s a weakness, it’s in the conclusion, which feels rushed after such a powerful emotional buildup. A more contemplative ending, one reflecting on the futility and enduring wounds of war would have elevated the book even further. Still, this is a beautifully written and deeply human story that lingers long after you finish reading.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpectedly emotional read about the reality of war in Ukraine and those that are left behind to deal with grief and loss. From a young couple just starting out in their life, to an older couple in which the husband had retired years ago from the military, to an older woman who holds regular meet-ups in her farmhouse giving women a place to speak to others who have suffered loss. There are references to the reality of war itself, with the characters hearing weaponry in the near distance, a driver picking up and delivering the remains of the fallen to their villages, the moments of death and the cruel instance of life or death, and the bonds that war brings about. This is a story of something that is affecting people’s lives in Ukraine now and over the last few years, with its people having to fight against a much bigger aggressor, Russia, who has invaded their sovereign country, whilst telling the rest of the world the build-up of soldiers and machines was just all for war games with their nearby ally, and whose leader can’t even call their invasion what it actually is!

It shows the dilemma all the citizens of Ukraine must have had to ponder, whether to stay and fight, return home from abroad to help, or leave and possibly survive, but have to face themselves for their decision for the rest of their life. But is also drawn from the author talking to people on both sides of the fight. Russians who tried to protest were silenced and their ruler refused to allow them any choice or even the truth of what was happening to thousands of their own men. Mothers, wives and children, all left to wonder where their loved ones are and what has happened to them. The storyline is based on real events, happening in the world at this very moment, with the strength of women coming together after suffering such a horrendous loss, and forming a bond that will never break. Each has to deal with what has happened as the world around them gets ever more dangerous and the war comes ever closer.

We have all seen what is happening in Ukraine and this gives this story a reality that is deep hitting and emotional. Events that are happening to real life people, in a conflict none of the Ukrainians ever wanted and which Russia seems determined to continue, no matter what. The men have volunteered to help save their country and those they love, but pay the ultimate price and the women who are left to pick up the pieces of their lives. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Manikya Kodithuwakku · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quiet read and is an important addition to war literature; but not just for it depictions of war but for the focus on its rippling affects. Each widow loses her husband to a war that is not of their making. No matter what ‘patriotic’ feelings catalyse each one’s the decision to join the war, it brings home the fact of ordinary people’s forced participation in violence perpetrated by an egotistical maniac who has manoeuvred himself into a seat of power.

The story is definitely an important one and deserves 5* but I’m giving it 4*s simply because of the style of the telling. The writing is cinematic but the fine balance between description and pov sometimes tips towards the verbose. At the same time, the story feels like a shorter version of a longer one - the widows actually meet only about 90% into the story, and we see only two of their meetings while others are just told about in between. Each widow’s back story plays out over several chapters but almost all of them have a lot of telling instead of showing. I wonder if this is perhaps rooted in the author’s experience in journalism as I haven’t read his previous work. It condenses each story into a manageable chunk but doesn’t draw in the reader to walk beside them - we are looking in almost all the way through. In short, we end up knowing each person’s story but not necessarily the person, if that makes sense. The polemic in the novel seems to take centre-stage instead of the reader being convinced of the polemic as the story progresses.

Overall though, this is a novel I recommend, especially for its portrayal of ordinary peoples’ fate at the hands of powerhungry political forces. I would definitely read the sequel when it’s out next year!

Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for an ARC of this novel!

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books are like a punch to the gut but in the best way possible, The Sunflower Widows by Matthew Fults is one of those. It’s emotional, beautiful, and basically impossible to forget once you start reading.

This isn’t your typical war story. Forget the battlefield, this book zooms in on the women left behind, carrying grief in kitchens, nurseries, and empty homes. And honestly? That’s where the real heartbreak (and strength) lives.

Kathryna stole my heart. She never even met her father, who died in WWII, and now she’s facing a new wave of loss as war creeps back. Instead of letting it break her, she opens her home and creates a safe space for women like Yulia, Ana, and Natalia, each carrying their own scars.

It’s raw, emotional, and yet somehow so full of hope. These women find strength in each other, and Matthew nails that quiet, powerful resilience that doesn’t scream, it whispers, and it sticks with you.

If you’re a fan of The Kite Runner or All the Light We Cannot See, you need this one on your shelf ASAP. Just be warned: it’s one of those books that’ll sit with you long after the last page. 🌻

Forget battlefields, this is where the real strength shows up. 🌻

[Geri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very timely and timeless book focusing on the impact of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia. What follows is an honest and voluntary review of a complimentary ARC. The continuing invasion now in 2025 makes reading this novel very emotional. While the characters are fictitious the context is very real. The novel follows three heterosexual couples in different life circumstances who each make a decision that the male will volunteer to fight for Ukraine against Russian onslaught. The author has clearly researched the conflict and writes with a style that immerses the reader in the sights, sounds, smells and touch of the plot. Descriptions of the minutiae of life such as making a cup of tea, painting toenails or watching a father and baby son's interaction makes the characters very real and ordinary which heightens the impact. I found this a moving and informative read.

[S. Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m torn between a three or four stars. Reading the epilogue kind of helped me? I was analyzing the writing style and then I read all the awards the author won because of said style. I kept trying to decide if I liked the way he built the scene or if I really had to bear the explanation of how stove fans work, how the smoker sucks his cigarette into his body, and how people pull their shirts over their arms one sleeve at a time. It felt pedantic. But the story was riveting, despite a lot of scented candles burning in people’s houses. I love Ukraine, and I wanted to read a book about it. Part of it reminded me of “Women Talking” by Miriam Toews. It was the safe space of the gathering for women to work through trauma and grief together, and there find a measure of healing. That part felt authentic, and was well worth reading.

[Carole Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and beautifully written

I loved this book, such descriptive writings and so moving. It's one of the best books I have read in a long time. I am recommending it to all my friends. Brings the horror of the Ukraine alive but in a way to make you really think about all wars.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could see this being made into a film. The story is ripe for that kind of treatment. While it is a story of grief and loss brought about by war, it’s also about the resilience of women affected by y that loss and grief. And the importance of friendship in processing that loss and grief. Slava Ukraini!

[Charli Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This book was so relatable. At times I felt alone in my life, but after reading this book, I felt like I was understood. I loved it so much. I could hardly put it down. It was so refreshing to read about a family very similar to my own. I felt understood. I loved it so much and I hope there is another book coming soon.

[Scott McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impressive work of literary fiction that shows Fults’ tremendous range. Really terrific. Timely, powerful, beautiful, brutal. I was reminded of both Ken Follett and Milan Kundera.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful writing.

[Mark Figel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a complex, intelligent and emotional novel. It opens with a very dark scene called The Driver, whose responsibility is to deliver the deceased to their hometowns. From there, we meet Kathryna, a village elder who lost her father in WWII. She takes it upon herself to look after the newest widows of Ukraine, just as her mother had done previously.

Then we are introduced to three couples, all in various stages of their lives. We learn their backstories, how they fell in love and built lives together. All three stories are heart-bending. The author adds wonderful detail and a delicate touch to these characters. I was able to connect with each of them in different ways. They all reminded me of people I know, which I believe was the whole point of the book. In Ukraine, you're one degree of separation from someone who has sacrificed the most.

I found the ending both fulfilling and difficult to reconcile. I think you'll understand why! In all, this is a touching tribute to the real cost of war. Skillful storytelling with bright notes of optimism and the dark curtain of war as a backdrop. Highly recommend.

I received an advance copy of this book and I'm freely leaving my own opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but powerful book that centers around three couples and an older woman near the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

[Angela Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat sad but also uplifting story of Ukrainian widows supporting each other through their time of grieving beyond.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Deep inside, though, we lose a piece of ourselves, a part of our dreams, our hope for the future gets ripped from within us."

The Sunflower Widows is a soul-shattering book that vividly highlights the human collateral damage of war. In this case, it's the current Russia-Ukraine War. This isn't a story filled with military strategies or even politics, although it's presented from the Ukrainian point of view. What stood out to me was how these people were just going about their lives, with the same hopes and dreams that most of us have for our own lives — a loving partner, a career, and a home of one's choice. Their lives were fulfilling until Putin decided to invade their homeland because he dreams of an empire.

Matthew Fults' writing is exquisite and heartbreaking. Fear and pain radiate from each page as unprepared men feel compelled to fight against the Russian invaders. The raw emotion of the widows was almost too much for me, but I couldn't stop reading. The Sunflower Widows is a powerful book that bears witness to the ongoing nightmare in Ukraine. I highly recommend it, with a large box of tissues nearby.

[Matthew Fults · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by a real-life widows' support group for Ukrainian women, The Sunflower Widows tells three stories of love and loss, and the woman who provides the bond that holds the village together. Rather than focus on the front lines, this literary fiction novel brings the war to the doorsteps, kitchens and nurseries of a population that didn't ask for war, but has confronted the atrocities with bravery, strength and love of country.

This story spawned a companion novel, due in May 2026. Nikolai's Secret tells the story of Kathryna's lover, who appears in just one chapter in The Sunflower Widows, but has a harrowing life's experience worth sharing amidst the Cold War and the oncoming collapse of communism. Nikolai's Secret is open for pre-order.

Both books are available in hardcover, paperback and ebook. For every hardcover sold, 24 percent of profits are donated to the Ukrainian charity United24, which is raising funds for everything from rebuilding the nation to medical supplies and ammunition. For more information on the charity, please visit https://u24.gov.ua.

[Ruffina Os · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up The Sunflower Widows, I expected a war story, but what I found was a profoundly moving exploration of love, loss, and the bonds that hold us together in our darkest hours. Matthew Fults’s writing transported me straight into the life of a village in Ukraine, where the kitchen table becomes both battleground and sanctuary. I was struck by how Fults captures the textures of daily life, even as distant mortars threaten everything. The narrative’s shift between past and present makes the characters’ pain and struggles feel timeless. The descriptions are terrific, the writing, in itself, is a pleasure — it is like music to the ears. Every detail of the setting is well-imagined and executed to offer a vivid image of time, place, and culture. This one was a great read for me and I enjoyed the characters as much as the well-developed themes of loss, love, and survival, and hope.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I won The Sunflower Widows by Matthew Fults from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. This book was very good - heartbreaking, powerful and incredibly timely. It shows what truly happens in war, not just on the battlefield but in the homes left behind.

Set in a quiet Ukrainian village, the story follows Kathryna, who never knew her father after he died a hero in World War II. Now, as war returns, she opens her home to other women enduring loss. Yulia, a young nurse and newlywed; Ana, a wife who has already lived through one war; and Natalia, a mother trying to rebuild. Together, they share grief, find strength, and plant hope amid devastation.

Fults writes with empathy and emotional intelligence, portraying the silent strength of women who carry on when everything else falls apart.

The Sunflower Widows is a beautifully written and deeply moving story of love, loss and resilience. It lingers long after the final page and feels especially relevant in today’s world.

[Divina Zape · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sunflower Widows by Matthew Fults pulled me into the reality of war and how it affects people. The story introduces a Ukrainian village battered by war and how one woman creates a sanctuary where those affected by the tragedy of war find connection, humanity, and meaning. Kathryna’s home, where these wounded souls gather, is rendered so vividly that I could almost smell the lamplight and hear the hushed voices, and the characters are genuinely flawed, well-written, and relatable. You’ll love the crisp writing, the deftly crafted dialogues, and the intelligent storytelling.

[Kieran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely powerful and engaging. The sensory aspect is outstanding - clearly a strength of the author. Highly recommend this unique piece of literary fiction.