Petals and Stones

by Joanne Burn

When Uma discovers her husband's infidelity just hours before his untimely death, the carefully woven threads of her life begin to unravel.
Struggling to manage the grief of those around her, she escapes to a remote cottage by the coast where she swims in the winter sea, cooks the forgotten Keralan dishes of her childhood and begins the search for her husband's lover.
It isn't long before Uma realises what she must do to pick up the tattered threads of her life. But will her choices jeopardise the only family she has left?

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2018

About the author

Joanne Burn was born in Northampton in 1973, and now lives in the Peak District where she works as a writing coach. Her first novel, Petals and Stones, was published in 2018. The Hemlock Cure is her second novel.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

After listening to a voicemail message on her phone, Uma discovers Daniel her husband has been having an affair. When he calls her he doesn’t deny it but says he is on his way back from Devon,then they can talk about it. Sadly Daniel is killed on the M1 whilst driving home and his secret dies with him or does it?

The story is told over 2 timelines 2015 and 1997 where Daniel, Pippa ana Aaron are friends. The book shows how Daniel and Uma get together and how they all influence each other’s life’s.

Surprised this is Joanne Burn’s debut novel as it was beautifully written and I loved the friendship and relationship angle. Made me think yes you can love people in different ways and love somebody,but if the timing is wrong then it may never work out .... very thought provoking!!

I have always yearned to run away to a cottage by the sea so I was dead envious!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review and I am eagerly awaiting for Joanne’s next book.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've picked the book up three times so far, although its written really well, I just can't seem to go get into the story.

[M T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. It is a beautifully written tale of love, betrayal and heartbreak. Well rounded believable characters and a well developed plot-line. Look forward to more by this author

[Kayleigh | Welsh Book Fairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Petals and Stones
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Joanne Burn
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Chick Lit
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 6th September 2018
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.25/5

I'm really not sure of how I feel about this. I think I am underwhelmed, and a little confused.

Although written really well, with plenty of insights, contemporary references, and diverse religions/cultures merging together, I think that what it was missing was a good twist.

The plot was okay but it didn't grip me at all. The characters lacked a little something, especially considering the author continuously alternates between the present and the past; which gives the perfect opportunity to bring a character to life and understand their background. Instead, the author decides to explore the relationships between the four friends in the book; Uma, Daniel, Pippa and Aaron, during these throwback episodes.

The entire novel was told in Uma's perspective, although I think it would have been more interesting if the author had discontinued the 'past' point of view, and instead alternated between the four friends' perspectives. I think it would have helped me understand their individual roles in the story.

Uma is married to Daniel. Although she pines constantly after Aaron. Daniel is cheating on Uma with a mystery woman. Pippa doesn't really do a lot except drop hints that she wants Aaron. Aaron travels and comes back now and again to seemingly flirt with both Uma and Pippa and smoke joints. The entire story is a little... simple. There's no grit, no excitement.

My favourite part of this book was the first chapter. Uma finds out Daniel is cheating, and a few hours later Daniel dies in a car accident, leaving loose ends, an emotionally confused wife, and readers uttering a sharp intake of breath as they realised there would be no satisfying conclusion for the wronged spouse.

There's not really a lot that's resolved in the entirety of this debut. However it was written beautifully, and the narrative was really personable, making the entire book easy to read. Perhaps it just wasn't as entertaining as the first chapter hinted it could be.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

🧚🏻‍♀️

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[Christine Poulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story of love, betrayal, and renewal. Beautiful written.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting way to begin a novel – we are with Uma, content, to an extent, enjoying a normal day in a relatively normal life when two horrible things happen in quick succession – she discovers her husband Daniel’s affair, and then he is killed on his way back to explain himself to her.
Her grief is tempered by anger and frustration, and the way she has to keep these things in check in front of his family and friends is so well portrayed. And the dual timelines exploring their relationship, their pasts and that of their friends Aaron and Pippa, make for a really beautifully written and novel about relationships, love, loss and the little decisions we make that affect our lives in huge ways.
The writing is wonderful, almost lyrical in places, without feeling overdone or ‘clever’. It flows so well and the author draws her scenes beautifully, immersing the reader in the different places with some beautiful descriptions and details that never overwhelm, just give a lovely sense of time and place.
Joanne Burn is definitely an author to watch out for. An accomplished and absorbing novel.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about life, it's ups and down, family, friends, and negotiating it all.

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing read just couldn’t get into it picked it up four times and just couldn’t bring myself to finish! This book just wasn’t for me I feel bad but hey what can you do. Written very well but didn’t finish.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual genre of books but I really enjoyed this one. It was a well written easy read with a feel good ending.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written novel that starts with an engaging premise....Uma discovers her husband of many years has been unfaithful, and hours later he dies in a car accident. The cover info would lead you to believe that the rest of the book is focused on her finding the other woman, and although that is there it is a small part of the narrative the alternates between the present and how her relationship with her husband developed. This novel is more of a reflection on the paths chosen and those leading forward. Well written and thoughtful, but missing a strong plotline. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing an advanced copy for review.

[Wendy Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Petals and Stones. It deliciously offers what I look for most in a novel: a story of love - whether of friends, partners or family; passionate or platonic; forbidden or destructive. Joanne Burn writes beautifully and with great emotional understanding and a glorious sensory sensibility. Loved all the delicious scenes around food too! A delight to read.

[Shree Mandal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely and poetic, the language is incredible, you feel the narrator’s pain and get lost with her in the story. Perhaps the ending could have been a little less convenient though. Maybe because the book had a lot of tragedy and angst, I was expecting a far more sour ending.

[bursbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful, easy read which was very moving at points.

Exploring the complexities of marriage, commitment and grief. It has a strong found family element, although no single character did I really love.

[Lynne Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great holiday read. Met the author who is a neighbour of a friend and really glad I bought it after speaking to her. A lovely style.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept, took to long to the end, I was glad for Uma, but she and Aaron could have been together much soon that it. Took.

[Jennifer Turcotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 actually. Nice story.

[Taez McGuigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I expected more searching for the other woman, but it wasn’t around that at all.

[Dee Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is written really well, however it seems to have taken along to read as just couldn’t get into it.

[Chitra Muralikrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok kind of book. I had greater expectations.

[Linda Tilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Uma discovers her husband’s infidelity just hours before his untimely death, the carefully woven threads of her life begin to unravel. She decides she needs to find Daniel's lover and discover the truth of their marriage.

The story is told in 2 time periods 1997 and 2015 and tracks their friendship, relationship and life together and I enjoyed getting to know them both as well as following the search for his mistress.

An intriguing look at different kinds of love and how grief affects people in different ways and I enjoyed it, especially as it was a debut novel.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petals and Stones, the debut novel from Joanne Burn, has been patiently waiting on my NetGalley shelf and as soon as I started it, I realized what a gem it is. Uma and Daniel are married and work together in his family’s deli business, Miller’s. While Daniel is away on business, Uma discovers that he has been having an affair, which they briefly discuss on the phone before he returns home. But when Daniel is killed in a car accident, Uma is left with unanswered questions about his infidelity and questions about their marriage, the life they built together, and what she really wants from life.

I believe I mentioned this recently in a previous review, but there seems to be a trend lately with a spouse dying and then the surviving spouse later uncovering secrets about their lives. I think that’s partially why I waited so long to read this, worried that it would be the same thing. However, I was very pleasantly surprised that this was not like so many other novels lately. First, Uma learned about Daniel’s affair prior to his death. Secondly, the novel switches time periods between the present and earlier years prior to her and Daniel’s marriage, shedding light onto what brought them together and how Uma truly felt.

Prominent characters include Daniel’s mother Mary and his sisters Ruth and Anna, as well as, his best friend Aaron and Uma’s best friend Pippa. With Uma having no living relatives, Daniel’s family very much becomes her own as their friendship and relationship develop, but also feels unsteady to Uma after his death as she fears changes in her life will result in his family turning away from her. While Uma and Pippa appear to be as close as two friends can be at the beginning of the novel, the author slowly reveals a relationship burdened with envy and distrust due to numerous factors and events that have occurred over their lives. Then there is the free-spirited, adventurous Aaron, who, along with Uma, has kept secrets about his feelings while still being an integral part of the friendship between himself, Pippa, Daniel, and Uma.

After first reading the description of this novel, I expected it to be about loss, mourning, and Uma discovering who her husband truly was. Instead, I found a beautifully written novel about a woman acknowledging her longtime dreams, desires, and secrets while simultaneously rebuilding her own life. Uma learned who she really was separate from her life and business shared with Daniel, she found the courage to be honest about her past, and also found the courage to be honest about what she wanted for her future. Joanne Burn has developed an incredible group of characters, all reflecting on what once was while learning to embrace changes and the uncertainty of what will come next in their lives. An outstanding debut that should not be missed!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for providing this novel in exchange for my honest review!

[Kirsty Hutchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Petals and Stones is a book full of beautiful, vivid imagery, using food and nature to symbolise and explore the emotional journey of Uma, the central character at the heart of this story.

On the eve of his sudden death, Uma accidentally finds out her husband Daniel is having an affair. Struggling to manage the grief of the family around her, Uma also wrestles with how she feels about her husband, his death and her marriage. To help her understand this she starts searching for Daniel’s lover.

When I was approached to take part in the blog tour of Petals and Stones, I was under the impression that Uma’s search for Daniel’s lover was the crux of the story; but really this is a sub plot that for me doesn’t really add much to the story.

Petals and Stones is a beautifully written with its author Joanne Burn using Uma rediscovering the foods of her childhood and nature to rediscover her true self. That for me is the true crux of this story.

I found it easy to read but if I’m honest, I also found it a tad lacklustre. For me it was missing something, and I think that something was a good twist. I easily progressed through it but I just wasn’t hooked.

All the way through the novel is told from Uma’s perspective; about how she feels about Daniel, his death and his family and also how she feels about her friends around her, especially Aaron. I did enjoy this novel, but I think if Burn had moved the story along using the point of view of some of the other characters, especially Aaron and Daniel, for me I think this would have grabbed me more.

Thank you Legend Press for sending me an advanced copy of Petals and Stones in return for an honest review. Thank you also for inviting Novel Delights to take part in the blog tour.

[Rachael Critchlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Uma discovers her husband’s infidelity just hours before his untimely death, the carefully woven threads of her life begin to unravel.
Struggling to manage the grief of those around her, she escapes to a remote cottage by the coast where she swims in the winter sea, cooks the forgotten Keralan dishes of her childhood and begins the search for her husbands lover.
It isn’t long before Uma realises what she must do to pick up the tattered threads of her life. But will her choices jeopardise they only family she has left?


I bought this book back in 2018 after reading a recommendation, however never got round to reading it because I was hooked in a triller only reading trance.
Within the last 6 months or so, I’m slowly opening up my genre choice and moving away form thrillers only and as a result, I’ve discovered such beautiful books!

I am so glad I picked this book up to read. It is incredibly beautifully written, almost lyrical, poetic. This book is so thought provoking, making me realise that you can love people in different ways, life is about timing. This book is set in 2 different times: 1997 and 2015 following a small group of friends; Uma, Daniel, Pippa and Aaron and delves into how Uma and Daniel met.
The chapters flow into each other so beautifully making it such an easy read in that I devoured it in just over 24 hours. And Joanne Burn has such a beautiful way with words, her descriptions of places takes you right there
I will certainly be watching for more of Burn’s work.
💗💗

[J_McA 251 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exploration of what happens when two different life-changing events collide into one big maelstrom of emotion is hauntingly beautiful. Joanne Burn has created a story that is both reflective and thought-provoking. As Uma recovers from the one-two punch of events, she is forced to re-evaluate her life choices. Through Uma’s journey, the author explores issues such as the emphasis on image over truth in a marriage, whether something built on a lie is sustainable, and why it sometimes takes a tragedy to recognize the reality of a situation. The author also uses symbolism effectively, specifically the lighting of fires (for cooking or warmth) to illustrate Uma’s inner fire being relit. I especially liked that she used the four elements (air, fire, water, earth) as a basis for Uma’s healing: the way Uma was swept along by the breeze of her marriage (and the winds that signify change as she comes to her realizations), the previously mentioned fires, the ocean that calls to Uma and invigorates her, and the spices, stones, and flower petals that finally give her the answers she has been looking for. An excellent book that should be at the top of anyone’s TBR list! Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Copping · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in dual timelines, 1997 where we learn how Uma and Daniel meet and how Pippa and Aaron, the friends from university fit into their lives.
Jumping onto 2015 and Uma, whose life goes terribly wrong all in one evening, when she not only learns that her husband is having an affair, but he is also killed on that same snowy night in an accident on the M1. She manages to get through the funeral with the help of family and friends but always at the back of her mind is the thought of "who is the other woman"?
To help her get through her grief she is offered the chance to stay in a very old and derelict holiday home on the coast. Only then does Uma start to sort out her life and emotions, finding solace and happiness in cooking traditional Indian cooking. Very soon a neighbour Richard comes into her life.
Will she make a new relationship work with Richard? Will she ever find out the truth about her husband's affair and will her friends stick by her?
A 4☆ read full of emotions and secrets with a couple of threads that run through the book to keep you interested to the last pages.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma discovers that her husband Daniel is having an affair just before he dies, leaving her with unanswered questions and not even knowing who the woman is. The book switches from the present, which is set in 2015, back to 1997 and follows the friendship of Uma, Daniel and their friends Pippa and Aaron. After the funeral Uma retreats to a cottage by the sea whilst trying to piece things together and find out who the woman is. She also starts to analyse her marriage and asks herself ‘was she really happy?’ This is a debut novel and although this subject has been done before this book had a different feel to it. My only slight issue was I felt it had an abrupt ending - or maybe it was just me and I didn’t want it to finish! Thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this - I look forward to Joanne’s next novel.

[Colette Lamberth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timing is everything.

Uma discovers that her husband is having an affair and before they have discussed it fully, he dies leaving her with questions that only he could answer. So when she should be grieving her husband she is consumed with finding his lover. The timeline switches from the present (2015) back to 1997 and charts the friendship of Uma, Daniel, Pippa and Aaron. I’m not sure why I was so gripped by this, maybe I have a secret yearning to run away to a cottage by the sea, but it really held my attention. There’s a great cast of characters and although Uma is central, I feel I need to acknowledge her interfering mother-in-law Mary as someone everyone knows.
A fabulous debut and I hope to read more from Joanne Burn in the future.

[April Forker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and I thought the character development was done well. I liked the back and forth of present day and the past so we could get a feel for how the couple ended up together as well as how the other characters played into everything. I loved the romantic bits that weren't too sappy - just enough sap HA! I loved when I figured out why the title of the book is "Petals and Stones"! This is a great book and I will definitely recommend it to friends.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a thoughtful story of how past decisions can affect our whole loves. It is beautifully written with excellent characterisation. My heart broke for Uma when she accidentally finds out her husband Daniel is having an affair on the eve of his sudden death. I enjoyed how the timeline switched between the present day and then back to 1997 when the lead characters friendships are formed.

I loved the idea of the cottage by the sea - what an idyllic place to escape to.

A gentle read, well paced and kept my interest through to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna Underground Broke The Camel's Back · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mouthwatering, open-hearted book that gets going at 100mph and then becomes something much more contemplative. I reckon it should come with recipes though! My full review here: https://murderundergroundbrokethecame...