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I Have This Thing for Flowers: Essays on the Roots of Relationships
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26A story of love, marriage, and flowers from beloved writer and gardening enthusiast Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn
It begins with an ending. Six months before they were to be married, Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn’s fiancée broke off their engagement, leaving her stunned and reeling. Looking for stability — and health insurance — she married a friend instead. Then, while sharing a home and tending to a garden together, the marriage of convenience turned into a marriage of love.
In science, art, and mythology, we cannot help but to see flowers as metaphors for the fleeting nature of youth, vitality, and love. While it’s easy to casually admire something beautiful, it requires a closer look to appreciate the effort that produces that beauty. In I Have This Thing For Flowers, Sawchyn does just that, likening the many flowers she has grown in her garden to a range of relationships and activities from motherhood to ex-boyfriends to Greek mythology.
Cataloguing all of the great romances of her life like an herbarium of flowers preserved from the garden, Sawchyn examines the kinds of love that can't be explained.
It begins with an ending. Six months before they were to be married, Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn’s fiancée broke off their engagement, leaving her stunned and reeling. Looking for stability — and health insurance — she married a friend instead. Then, while sharing a home and tending to a garden together, the marriage of convenience turned into a marriage of love.
In science, art, and mythology, we cannot help but to see flowers as metaphors for the fleeting nature of youth, vitality, and love. While it’s easy to casually admire something beautiful, it requires a closer look to appreciate the effort that produces that beauty. In I Have This Thing For Flowers, Sawchyn does just that, likening the many flowers she has grown in her garden to a range of relationships and activities from motherhood to ex-boyfriends to Greek mythology.
Cataloguing all of the great romances of her life like an herbarium of flowers preserved from the garden, Sawchyn examines the kinds of love that can't be explained.
- GenresNonfictionEssays
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 8, 2026
This book has an identity problem. It’s a story about the author’s various relationships, and it’s a well-researched and interesting non-fiction account of various flower species. Despite the author’s and editor’s attempts to connect the two, it didn’t really work for me.
Nevertheless, the overall impression is one of quirkiness. And I like quirky.
I definitely liked the floral writings more than the relationship stuff. The author has an inquisitive mind that goes down several petal-strewn rabbit holes to share interesting flower lore. I couldn’t bring myself to care as much about her on-again, off-again boyfriend, rehab, etc., other than to be glad she is now healthy and happy (and writing).
Bottom line: it’s worth reading for the botanical sections. 3.75 rounded up.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #IHaveThisThingForFlowers for review purposes. Publication date: 4 August 2026.
Nevertheless, the overall impression is one of quirkiness. And I like quirky.
I definitely liked the floral writings more than the relationship stuff. The author has an inquisitive mind that goes down several petal-strewn rabbit holes to share interesting flower lore. I couldn’t bring myself to care as much about her on-again, off-again boyfriend, rehab, etc., other than to be glad she is now healthy and happy (and writing).
Bottom line: it’s worth reading for the botanical sections. 3.75 rounded up.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #IHaveThisThingForFlowers for review purposes. Publication date: 4 August 2026.
Want to Read
June 7, 2026Did my mom come up with this title? Because she could have.
On a serious note, an essay collection about complicated relationships AND gardening AND Greek mythology sounds so unique and interesting.
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
On a serious note, an essay collection about complicated relationships AND gardening AND Greek mythology sounds so unique and interesting.
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you Flatiron Books for the ARC of I Have This Thing for Flowers: Essays on the Roots of Relationships by Alysia Sawchyn.
This is the kind of book that feels like wandering through someone's garden while they tell you stories about their life. Some of those stories are funny, some are heartbreaking, and some are simply thoughtful reflections on the people who leave their mark on us.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
The strongest part of this collection is the way Sawchyn connects flowers and gardening to relationships. It could have felt gimmicky, but for the most part the metaphor works beautifully. The essays explore romantic love, friendship, family, loss, and personal growth through the lens of cultivating a garden, and there are some genuinely lovely observations throughout.
I also appreciated the honesty in the memoir elements. The story of a broken engagement leading to an unexpected marriage of convenience immediately hooked me, and I found myself most engaged when the author was sharing personal experiences and emotions.
That said, essay collections are always a bit uneven for me. Some pieces resonated deeply, while others didn't leave as much of an impression. I occasionally found myself wishing for a little more depth or emotional connection in certain essays.
What I Loved
• The creative connection between flowers and relationships
• Honest and vulnerable personal storytelling
• Beautiful reflections on love, loss, and growth
• The gardening themes woven throughout the collection
• Several essays that felt especially thoughtful and memorable
What Didn't Work for Me
• Some essays were stronger than others
• A few sections felt a little repetitive in theme
• I wanted more emotional depth in certain places
• The collection occasionally felt more reflective than impactful
Overall, this is a gentle, thoughtful essay collection that will likely appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs, gardening, and reflections on the many forms love can take. While not every essay fully connected with me, there was enough beauty and insight here to make it a worthwhile read. 🌸📖💐
This is the kind of book that feels like wandering through someone's garden while they tell you stories about their life. Some of those stories are funny, some are heartbreaking, and some are simply thoughtful reflections on the people who leave their mark on us.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
The strongest part of this collection is the way Sawchyn connects flowers and gardening to relationships. It could have felt gimmicky, but for the most part the metaphor works beautifully. The essays explore romantic love, friendship, family, loss, and personal growth through the lens of cultivating a garden, and there are some genuinely lovely observations throughout.
I also appreciated the honesty in the memoir elements. The story of a broken engagement leading to an unexpected marriage of convenience immediately hooked me, and I found myself most engaged when the author was sharing personal experiences and emotions.
That said, essay collections are always a bit uneven for me. Some pieces resonated deeply, while others didn't leave as much of an impression. I occasionally found myself wishing for a little more depth or emotional connection in certain essays.
What I Loved
• The creative connection between flowers and relationships
• Honest and vulnerable personal storytelling
• Beautiful reflections on love, loss, and growth
• The gardening themes woven throughout the collection
• Several essays that felt especially thoughtful and memorable
What Didn't Work for Me
• Some essays were stronger than others
• A few sections felt a little repetitive in theme
• I wanted more emotional depth in certain places
• The collection occasionally felt more reflective than impactful
Overall, this is a gentle, thoughtful essay collection that will likely appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs, gardening, and reflections on the many forms love can take. While not every essay fully connected with me, there was enough beauty and insight here to make it a worthwhile read. 🌸📖💐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars
This is an intriguing essay collection, and I enjoyed the audiobook.
I love plants, flowers, and the like, so I was interested to see how this titular motif would be woven throughout the individual essays. For me, there was a bit too much variety in impact. I had a harder time finding the deeper unifying themes and staying engaged in specific entries. I enjoyed this as a casual listen, but it just didn't come together as I'd anticipated for a more profound experience.
I'll definitely give this author more shots, but I wanted a bit more overall here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is an intriguing essay collection, and I enjoyed the audiobook.
I love plants, flowers, and the like, so I was interested to see how this titular motif would be woven throughout the individual essays. For me, there was a bit too much variety in impact. I had a harder time finding the deeper unifying themes and staying engaged in specific entries. I enjoyed this as a casual listen, but it just didn't come together as I'd anticipated for a more profound experience.
I'll definitely give this author more shots, but I wanted a bit more overall here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have this thing for Alysia Sawchyn (and I am excited to interview her this week for The Rumpus!).
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews