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Three Flowers
For Caitlin Bailey the past has been far from easy. Living in the shadows of her mother's mental illness, she has been brought up in Dublin by her Aunt Milla. Now aged 22 and with her mother back home, Caitlin is escaping to London with her artist boyfriend Fitz to live life on her own terms. What does she want? Who can she be?
The emerging art scene of early '90s London brings a job as a gallery assistant and exciting new friends but intrusive memories of her childhood haunt Caitlin's nights. And then Fitz leaves to work in Rye — it's temporary but feels like another abandonment. What follows will change everything.
A love story in which past and present reverberate, Three Flowers asks what we need to hold and what we need to let go in order to love and live well.
The emerging art scene of early '90s London brings a job as a gallery assistant and exciting new friends but intrusive memories of her childhood haunt Caitlin's nights. And then Fitz leaves to work in Rye — it's temporary but feels like another abandonment. What follows will change everything.
A love story in which past and present reverberate, Three Flowers asks what we need to hold and what we need to let go in order to love and live well.
308 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2025
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18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2026
Three flowers is a powerful novel full of themes of self discovery, learning to live with things we cannot change, fascinating insights on art and literature. All of this revolving around the bright sun, the main character, Caitlin.
Caitlin is a woman in her early 20’s living in Dublin and finishing her degree. Here she meets Fitz, an artist moonlighting as a medical student. Caitlin finds in him something she has been desperately trying to grab: a chance to escape. The writing describing their first meetings and feelings of falling for one another was so beautiful, it really stays with you and evokes such a friendship of understanding for the reader. The way this author describes moments, both big and small, is done so expertly but is very easy to digest.
The world shrank to that spot where we stood and something started rising in me: pure joy, that he wanted this too, that it was happening finally, that this was him kissing me. The feeling of him all around me like the air on my skin. Like I was caught. And hoping to stay caught. His beat, his smell, his heat, his breath. Every bit of me was awake to him. All my fly-away parts, held in by him
Together they leave behind the things that weigh them down to start again. Two young Irish people in London, living alone for the first time. However, the fragile tether of love between Caitlin and Fitz grows more and more translucent as time ticks by in London.
Caitlin is fighting wisps of memories that come back to her, especially at night. She has had to grow up in an incredibly unstable environment due to her mother's mental illness and her father’s abandonment. This plagues and torments her like the building of a classical song until she is swept up in the madness, lost and having to live with devastating consequences of this. She drinks excessively, does drugs and finds herself in situations where she’ll do any thing to forget.
Caitlin is a frustrating character, complex and interesting. You feel great sympathy for her and want to help her, talk to her but at the same time she can be very unlikeable, selfish and dismissive.
Caitlin, it feels, is always looking for something and trying to be something for others. She acquiesced herself time and time again, be it for Milla, Stephen, Elsa etc this leads to an estrangement almost from Fitz. Both young people struggling deeply with communication when it used to be so easy. It’s similar to them having to move and learn how to renew themselves in a new city, despite finding it easy to navigate the last city they were in, Dublin. The realities of life and expectations we place on ourselves can make us blind to those who comfort us, we can get swept up in ourselves.
The last chapter is so heart crushingly real and honest, I almost wanted to close my eyes as I thought I was intruding. That’s how brilliant this author writes conversations.
And that is the heart and soul of this novel. The dialogue. It is some of the best dialogue I’ve read in a while. The conversations are so real, they flow, blend and burst with texture like paint on a canvas. Never did I find myself wanting to put this down, it is so readable yet will leave a lasting impression on you.
Overall I find myself not able to stop thinking about this brilliant novel, I see it change and grow from different angles. A must read.
Caitlin is a woman in her early 20’s living in Dublin and finishing her degree. Here she meets Fitz, an artist moonlighting as a medical student. Caitlin finds in him something she has been desperately trying to grab: a chance to escape. The writing describing their first meetings and feelings of falling for one another was so beautiful, it really stays with you and evokes such a friendship of understanding for the reader. The way this author describes moments, both big and small, is done so expertly but is very easy to digest.
The world shrank to that spot where we stood and something started rising in me: pure joy, that he wanted this too, that it was happening finally, that this was him kissing me. The feeling of him all around me like the air on my skin. Like I was caught. And hoping to stay caught. His beat, his smell, his heat, his breath. Every bit of me was awake to him. All my fly-away parts, held in by him
Together they leave behind the things that weigh them down to start again. Two young Irish people in London, living alone for the first time. However, the fragile tether of love between Caitlin and Fitz grows more and more translucent as time ticks by in London.
Caitlin is fighting wisps of memories that come back to her, especially at night. She has had to grow up in an incredibly unstable environment due to her mother's mental illness and her father’s abandonment. This plagues and torments her like the building of a classical song until she is swept up in the madness, lost and having to live with devastating consequences of this. She drinks excessively, does drugs and finds herself in situations where she’ll do any thing to forget.
Caitlin is a frustrating character, complex and interesting. You feel great sympathy for her and want to help her, talk to her but at the same time she can be very unlikeable, selfish and dismissive.
Caitlin, it feels, is always looking for something and trying to be something for others. She acquiesced herself time and time again, be it for Milla, Stephen, Elsa etc this leads to an estrangement almost from Fitz. Both young people struggling deeply with communication when it used to be so easy. It’s similar to them having to move and learn how to renew themselves in a new city, despite finding it easy to navigate the last city they were in, Dublin. The realities of life and expectations we place on ourselves can make us blind to those who comfort us, we can get swept up in ourselves.
The last chapter is so heart crushingly real and honest, I almost wanted to close my eyes as I thought I was intruding. That’s how brilliant this author writes conversations.
And that is the heart and soul of this novel. The dialogue. It is some of the best dialogue I’ve read in a while. The conversations are so real, they flow, blend and burst with texture like paint on a canvas. Never did I find myself wanting to put this down, it is so readable yet will leave a lasting impression on you.
Overall I find myself not able to stop thinking about this brilliant novel, I see it change and grow from different angles. A must read.
April 12, 2026
Three Flowers is about an English student named Caitlin who moves to London with her partner, a hopeful artist named Fitz. They’ve met in college and are excited to begin a new life together, but the move to London soon proves to create more distance than anything. Caitlin is offered a job as an art gallery assistant, and Fitz seems to struggle with her professional success as his own flounders. We see the consequences of this divide and as Caitlin realizes that you take your emotional baggage with you no matter where you go, she decides to begin therapy. Her inability to confide in her partner, his growing emotional distance, and her attention—which is increasingly directed on other, more enticing people in the art sphere—eventually leads to its unraveling.
This novel mostly centers on conversations between characters and Caitlin’s day-to-day — very literary fiction-y flavor, and I think if you have an interest in art it would be a great pick for you. What I enjoyed the most about the novel were the descriptions of Caitlin coming back to Dublin after establishing her new life. I think it’d be relatable for anyone who struggles with going home and reverting into a different version of yourself after living an established life away.
Thematically, there’s a lot going on in this work — unresolved childhood trauma, infidelity which stems from this, the desire to create an identity separate from one’s partner, and many reflections on the role of art in representing life. There’s a very satisfying ending (to me, personally!) and I am so grateful to have been able to read this debut that is so full of depth and color.
Thank you so much @edwinabowenauthor for the copy! I highly recommend it
This novel mostly centers on conversations between characters and Caitlin’s day-to-day — very literary fiction-y flavor, and I think if you have an interest in art it would be a great pick for you. What I enjoyed the most about the novel were the descriptions of Caitlin coming back to Dublin after establishing her new life. I think it’d be relatable for anyone who struggles with going home and reverting into a different version of yourself after living an established life away.
Thematically, there’s a lot going on in this work — unresolved childhood trauma, infidelity which stems from this, the desire to create an identity separate from one’s partner, and many reflections on the role of art in representing life. There’s a very satisfying ending (to me, personally!) and I am so grateful to have been able to read this debut that is so full of depth and color.
Thank you so much @edwinabowenauthor for the copy! I highly recommend it
April 17, 2026
I am asked for book recommendations alot (which I love)! However, most folk instantly follow the request with something like "nothing too sad/deep/disturbing/high brow ....etc Clare". This then inevitably leaves me quite restricted as i read alot of disturbing and depressing books 🤷🏼♀️🤣.
However, next time I'm asked for a recommendation (with the usual caveats) this book will be on the list.
Whilst trauma is a central theme this is primarily a character driven story. It follows Caitlin Bailey, a 22 year old Irish woman who leaves Ireland to build a new life in London after a difficult childhood shaped by her mother’s mental illness.
Having endured parental abandonment and childhood trauma Caitlin’s journey is an introspective and emotional one. Bowen presents her trauma as an ongoing force so, whilst Caitlin’s move from Dublin to London represents a desire for reinvention, the novel shows that identity is complex and cannot simply be escaped or remade.
"I've been finding out you don't get to leave stuff behind just because you move away".
The writing is conversational, introspective and emotionally spot on. The structure blends past and present to mirror how memories manifest themselves. And using Caitlin’s relationship with Fitz, Bowen suggests that love alone cannot heal deep psychological wounds.
Lots of references to art, personal reflection and a readiness to reinvent ourselves - i particularly enjoyed these aspects of the book.
A great week was had with this one. Thanks again for the gifted copy Edwina.
However, next time I'm asked for a recommendation (with the usual caveats) this book will be on the list.
Whilst trauma is a central theme this is primarily a character driven story. It follows Caitlin Bailey, a 22 year old Irish woman who leaves Ireland to build a new life in London after a difficult childhood shaped by her mother’s mental illness.
Having endured parental abandonment and childhood trauma Caitlin’s journey is an introspective and emotional one. Bowen presents her trauma as an ongoing force so, whilst Caitlin’s move from Dublin to London represents a desire for reinvention, the novel shows that identity is complex and cannot simply be escaped or remade.
"I've been finding out you don't get to leave stuff behind just because you move away".
The writing is conversational, introspective and emotionally spot on. The structure blends past and present to mirror how memories manifest themselves. And using Caitlin’s relationship with Fitz, Bowen suggests that love alone cannot heal deep psychological wounds.
Lots of references to art, personal reflection and a readiness to reinvent ourselves - i particularly enjoyed these aspects of the book.
A great week was had with this one. Thanks again for the gifted copy Edwina.
March 14, 2026
This was such a wonderful debut!! I read it in a couple of sittings. Stunning writing, SO easy to read, emotive and important.
Full review soon on insta, thanks so much to Edwina for sending me a copy 💜
Full review soon on insta, thanks so much to Edwina for sending me a copy 💜
May 6, 2026
3.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews