Above the Flower Shop

by William Still Lodge

Above the Flower shop is a contemporary story of two people who meet and fall in love. It is also the story of the people they meet along the way. It is told through the words and thoughts of Robert, a White teacher, and Shelly, an African American nurse. “The last thing I hear as I fall asleep is a trumpet solo. Old school jazz. My Dad loved classic rock. Mr. Nate loves old school jazz. I wonder, what music I will pass on to my kids? Then I wonder if there will be someone to listen. It’s not often I feel lonely. Tonight, I fall asleep missing someone I haven’t met yet.” This boy met a girl before, but not like this girl. “I worked with someone at Saint James who was more on the plain side. No one bugged her to smile, she didn’t have to convince anyone she was good at her job, people believe she was smart, and she didn’t seem to scare the shit out of the menfolk. All of these happen to me damn near daily. There are positive things for being pretty, but it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.” Two people who have more to them than most people see meet with open eyes and see each other as they really are. The find love is a series of decisions and family is who you love, not who you are born with. Love is a choice. What happens when two people choose each other? Above the Flower Shop talks about love, families, interracial relationships and racism, and what happens when they all collide in the lives of these two people you will grow to love.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2020

Reviews

[Marbeth Skwarczynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Above the Flower Shop has compelling characters and situations that kept me reading to the very end. Robert knows his mother expected him to stay home and care for her, but he also knows that he needs to leave their toxic relationship behind. Robert takes a job as a teacher a few hours away, moves into his own apartment above a flower shop, and begins a life in his new community. He meets Mr. Nate first--a former pro boxer, now gym owner--who teaches Robert not only how to protect himself, but how to protect others. Robert connects with his students and his neighbors but knows someone is absent from his life. Enter Shelley, a nurse missing her family back home, and looking to develop friendships among her coworkers (and failing). Instead, she meets Robert. While there is an instant attraction, I appreciate the long-evolving friendship-turned-romance of the two main characters. I like it when authors allow their characters to get to know each other. William Still Lodge creates easy to picture characters and situations. There are quite a few grammar mistakes in the manuscript that might bother some readers, as well as a few inconsistencies in character behavior that prevent me from giving this book the full five stars, but overall, it's a charming story.

[Kent Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what genre this book was in until I hit it about midway through. I'm not a big fan of romance, so I dropped it after around 60% read. My comments:

The book was well written: diction, narrative, dialog, descriptions were all spot on.

The book, being a romance, was sickenly sweet, syrupy in places making me feel sticky after reading. Nothing wrong with that, if that is what you like, but it is not a fit for me.

The basic plot was a bit cliche, but it worked fairly well.

[Arlene Lomazoff-Marron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story from beginning to end

This was such a delightful story, and I'm happy to know it was written by a man. The author's insight and expression of feelings was remarkable.

[Michelle Jeffreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed everything about this book. It was an easy read, with characters that were relatable and interesting to follow. If you are looking for a comfortable, good mood book, this is the book.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could not finish.