Send Flowers, Emily Buchanan (Review by Kristin Kurek)

I did not know what to think when I started Send Flowers by Emily Buchanan. This novel follows Fiona, an environmental influencer, who navigates grief after her boyfriend, Ed, is accidentally killed while at a protest. One day, a houseplant shows up on her doorstep. After she pours Ed’s ashes into the plant, the plant begins to thrive, flower, and… talk to her. Fiona begins to believe that Ed has been reincarnated as the plant. She is so convinced that she is willing to lose her job, her friends, and her family in defense of “Ed.”

I really enjoyed this book because it offered a fresh perspective on “influencers.” So often, we see influencers as self-centered, but often their message is diluted in the social media economy. The characters were imperfect but deeply loveable. The novel tackled some very interesting subjects. Fiona must deal with flawed parents and come to terms with their influence on her life. She tackles others’ expectations for being involved in high-visibility, high-risk protesting. And, Fiona tackles what it means to protest against impending climate change and politicians who ignore science. She realizes that each individual has to be true to their own code of ethics and risk-tolerances while protesting. In fact, she realizes that each person needs to be true to their own thoughts and passions in all aspects of life. I felt such deep joy while reading about a community making strides against a corrupt government. I will certainly carry this book in my mind for many years to come.