Flowers for Dead Girls

by Abigail Collins

Seventeen-year-old Astra Vaughn isn’t exactly living her best life, with no friends, an absentee father, and a mom everyone thinks is crazy. Plus, one huge she can talk to ghosts.

Astra inherited her mom’s gift, but sometimes it feels more like a curse. Especially when she meets sweet, cheerful, and absolutely gorgeous Isla. She’s just the right kind of girl to bring Astra out of her shell—and maybe more. The only problem? She’s dead.

When Isla enlists Astra’s help with her so-called bucket list, Astra intends to do just enough to help her move on to the afterlife. She doesn’t plan on getting close to her, and she definitely doesn’t plan on falling in love. By the time the list is finished, Astra realizes that her gift might not be such a bad thing after all.

But Isla has secrets of her own. And when the truth behind her death is discovered, even Astra’s love might not be enough to convince her to stay.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBT, Lesbian, Contemporary

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2024

Reviews

[ishi ☆ (exams hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⁀➷ 4 stars ☆
♡︎ magical realism, coming of age, young adult romance 💐

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

okay so this was the sweetest and most heartwarming thing ever. it sounded so interesting and i was not let down !! this book is very character driven so the characters ended up being very well developed and loveable. however, i did feel like the ending was slightly rushed and the beginning part was a bit slow. i struggled a bit at first to get into the story but then it picked up and the pages flew by. still, it was a quick and easy read as a low-stakes book you can read in a couple of hours.

➼ characters
✧ astra. okay i love her <3 it's never explicity stated but she had a lot of traits of ocd(?) and although i haven't been diagnosed so i'm not claiming anything, but as someone who shows a lot of signs of ocd i really related to her. i do wish her backstory was more fleshed out, but i love how she slowly comes out of her shell and her character felt very realistic

✧ isla. she is seriously the sweetest and happiest ghost-girl ever, i love her love for flowers and botany and she is literally the embodiment of sunshine girl. i love her character so much <3

✧ oliver. he is such a good friend, we all need an oliver istg he's so sweet, understanding and funny, i wish we had gotten more of him <3

➼ romance
SO. ADORABLE. OH MY GOD i love isla and astra soso much, they love and care for each other so much they're so precious :( the romance is so soft and sweet and they had such great chemistry, i was rooting for them the whole book and i actually sobbed happy tears at the ending 3

➼ overall
this book was the cutest and sweetest love story ever, and i'd definitely recommend if you want a comforting, slice of life coming of age story 💗

✧ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review! <3

┈┈┈┈┈┈

꒰🌙꒱ ➳ pre-review: stop this was the cutest thing ever :( rtc!

꒰💐꒱ ➳ pre-read: GOT THE ARC LETS GAUR this seems so cute and adorable but i am an idiot who didn't check that the publication date is less than four days so i will be SPEEDING to finish this 🤗🤗

[Ari bookedmybook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astra has a special gift, though she considers it more a curse; she’s inherited her mother’s ability to see and interact with ghosts. She’s friendless, has an absent father and a fragile mother. She wears several layers of sweaters and headphones to block out the cold and static noise the ghosts emit. However Astra’s world is turned upside down when she encounters Isla. The only problem; Isla is dead and want Astra to help her fulfil her bucket list before passing over to the other side.

I can’t say enough how much I loved everything about this novel. The romance, the friendship, the characters, the representation, perfection! Astra is so kind and funny. It’s never confirmed, but she also seems to suffer from OCD. She counts everything and is obsessed with numbers. Isla is the best. She’s sarcastic and attentive and really brings Astra out of her shell. I was a bit weary of Oliver in the beginning, but only because I thought he nurtured romantic feelings for Astra. However he’s the best friend she could get, everyone deserves an Oliver in their life.

The descriptions in this novel are amazing. They’re so original and funny, I caught myself chuckling several times throughout. I learned a lot about flowers as well, different meanings and types, which was interesting.

I was a bit anxious about the end, because of a plot twist I suspected would appear. When it did, I couldn’t see how the author possibly could solve it in so short time, but I felt she did it well and wrapped up everything nicely. Others might see the ending as rushed, but not in my opinion.

The book is short, but everything is so well developed. It packed a punch and was highly enjoyable. If you’re looking for a queer, sapphic love story with great representation and a journey of self-discovery, then I encourage you to pick up Flowers For Dead Girls.


Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange of and honest review

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley in exchange for a review.

I want to preface this review with stating that it will not be spoiler free. Spoilers Ahoy! Particularly the second half of the review is not spoiler free. My spoiler tags do also include some spoilering content, but I mainly used them to flag the parts where I heavily discuss ableism and suicidality. This got incredibly long, but I feel like it is necessary.

Flowers for Dead Girls starts out as a very sweet, sometimes admittedly somewhat repetitive in its depiction of symptoms of OCD and use of certain phrases, but uplifting and interesting story of a girl, who can see ghosts and the teen ghost that asks her for help to finish her anti-bucket list before she can move on. It features a storyline of accepting your mental illness (OCD and what might to outsiders look like schizophrenia/psychosis - due to the seeing ghosts), that I think was really well done. Astra in general has a lovely storyline of accepting the things that make her "weird" (her OCD, her noise & color sensitivity - which read very neurodivergent to me, her general seeing ghost things, the fact that she has to take care of her mother most of the time because she is incapable of doing so herself) as well as dealing with her strained family relationships in ways that felt incredibly interesting and important. The relationship between the two girls is adorable, Isla is an interesting character with so much joy and excitement and it was crystal clear that she was exactly the person Astra needed to meet to be able to grow out of her shell and figure out ways to manage her massive workload of being a student-psychic-caretaker for her mother-making her first real friends without burning out.
But as you can probably tell from my rating unfortunately that's not all there is to it. I'll start out with my minor complaints.
The plot, especially in the first third of the book, is narrated in very repetitive ways at times. Especially the fact that Astra has OCD and gets headaches from noises and bright colors and hears ghosts and gets cold, always cold, just keeps coming up all the time in ways that felt lacking in depth after a while. Yes, she counts things, yes, she has some dangerous numbers and some that comfort her (even if it is a compulsion), but how else does her OCD influence her life? How especially, does it interact with living with a messy mom, who cannot deal with most basic household chores due to her own disability? We don't know. I just really wished for more depth here.
As the main character of the novel Astra got quite a lot of story focus and I think most of her parts (dealing with mental health and familial issues and making friends for the first time) were handled interestingly, especially once the story starts moving, but the world itself was barely fleshed out, sometimes in ways that do not make sense (more on that later though!). I would have liked to be able to imagine the town this is set in better than: There's a school, there's a greenhouse, there's a hospital, there’s a funeral home, there's a library with multiple floors. I just think making it feel more lived in would have been interesting and might have helped alleviate some of my later problems.
And while I liked the mother and Oliver as side characters, I wish Isla as the love interest would have gotten more exploration. She is (understandably for plot & personal reasons) very guarded about her life, but somehow at the same time very social and excited. I would have liked to see her share a bit more about herself to make Astra's investment into her a bit more realistic. We don't really figure out anything about her besides the fact that she loves flowers and has a bucket list until around the 80% mark and I know she's a ghost, but since this is a romance I do not really want the love interest to be the one to haunt the plot in absences.
Now despite my issues up to this point this book was okay. I found the characters sweet, the portrayal of OCD fitting for a YA audience (even if it felt repetitive in its portrayal of counting and number obsessions to the point of sacrificing a more in depth exploration of it at times), was excited to see how this "doomed" relationship was going to be handled, really enjoyed getting to see an anxious teen step out of her shell and the exploration of a mother as loving person, but also quite incompetent as a mother, due to her own (untreated) mental health issues. This story would have most likely been a three star read if the Big Plot Twist at 80% hadn't happened. But now I cannot give it more than 1 star and if less was possible, I’d give it less.

TW for ableism and suicidality from now on as well as a big spoiler warning for the last 20% of this book.
Now if you've read the summary you will have noticed that Isla has a secret and that this secret influences her wish to stay. If you've ever consumed any form of ghost media, there often is the idea that ghosts cannot remain on earth forever without suffering a form of identity loss or going mad. This is the case in this story as well and is used to add some urgency to the plot at first. However, Isla is different. Because we find out that she is not dead. (One of the twists I’m okay with in this book.) Instead, she's in the hospital in a coma after a mysterious infection and somehow managed to still manifest as a ghost visible only to Astra and her mom. (Do we know why they can see her if she’s not a ghost? No. What even is a ghost? Nobody knows. Does it get explained? Also no. But a small plot hole likt that is the least of this book’s concerns). And just after Astra prepares to confess her feelings for Isla and decides to tick another thing of Isla's un-bucket list (going to prom), she is informed that Isla's brainfunction has declined and the doctors at the hospital do not believe she will ever recover and they prepare to take her off life support. When she tells Isla, Isla reacts completely different than Astra expected. Instead of being shocked or upset she simply says: "I'm ready to go. I am. I want to" (page 180). To Astra's confession that she likes her “as more than a friend” she simply replies "You wouldn't if you really knew me" (page 180), continuing her persistent self-devaluation and claims that she does not deserve the care and affection she receives. Now what could make a 16-year-old feel like that? What could make a girl who knows her family misses her, who just had another girl confess her love to her say something that borders on passive suicidality like this? How horrible must her secret be? Finally, the shocking, terrible, truly unimaginable horror will be revealed! Because *drumroll, shocked gasps from the audience, high pitched horror movie screams* "You know that wheelchair, in my hospital room?" [...] It's mine. I-I can't walk. I haven't been able to walk on my own since I was eleven." (page 180). GASP! THE HORROR! THE ABSOLUTE ABJECT TERROR FLOODING MY ENTIRE BODY RIGHT NOW- Huh, wait a minute. What? The big reveal, the reason why Isla is fine existing as a ghost, unable to touch real people or interact with anyone beside Astra, why she's fine knowing there is a literal deadline waiting for her, the reason for her entire un-bucket list is... she's a wheelchair user. (Side note: Using disability as a spoilery plot point? A shameful secret? Shitty!)
If you needed to put your phone down after this, please know you're not alone. At this reveal I was quite close to dnf-ing this book. And looking back it would have been better for my mental health if I had. Because it does not get better. But since I didn't, join me as I explore the even more unimaginable ableism that is to follow (oh btw this reveal happens on page 180 of 214 if you want to experience a fraction of the terror I experienced when I got to the reveal, because how the hell do you deal with something like this in 30 pages? If you think you don’t… Yup.). After the reveal Astra's is so shocked that "everything is tilting just a little to the right" (page 180). Not because Isla's earlier admission that she would be okay with dying and the underlying suicidality apparent in her reaction to the news that she will die if she doesn't return to her body, but by the fact that this girl that she met as an active ghost uses a wheelchair in real life. Yikes. Then her thoughts turn to Isla's un-bucket list. "Climbing a tower. Going to a greenhouse that's only accessible by walking through a grassy field and over a gravel pathway. Checking out a book on the third floor of a library without an elevator. Taking a road trip in the front seat of a car. Dancing at prom. All of them, Astra realizes, are things she couldn't have done in a wheelchair. Not without help, at the very least, and Astra knows how much Isla hates asking for help." (page 181). If you clapped your hands together over your head in disbelief at reading this: Thank you. And same. If you do not understand what's wrong with this let me lay it out for you. Climbing a tower is probably the hardest and even though some wheelchair users can rockclimb this may actually be the one thing on this list that's actually impossible. If this stood on its own, I would not complain about it, but it gets worse. Crossing a grassy field or driving over a gravel pathway in a wheelchair? Not fun, with varying levels of difficulty depending on the wheelchair used and needs of the user, but doable. If you have somebody to push you, especially if you're (like Isla) only disabled because your legs are paralyzed and you don't have added issues of heightened pain sensitivity or an electric wheelchair that could be damaged, it's easier. And now moving on from the things that I could have understood as being listed here since they do pose a difficulty, we turn towards things that require very little support (or should require very little). Being unable to check out a book on the third floor of a library without an elevator should legally not be possible in America. Public institutions (libraries included) are required to provide access through elevators as soon as they have three or more floors according to ADA federal law, which has been in effect since 1991. By now in 2024 I think we can all agree that this has been in effect long enough that some renovations have to have taken place and at least a stair elevator should exist (We don't fully know when this story is set, but they can at least send pictures on their phones. So not 1992.). And while some smaller libraries may struggle with being accessible due to size, a library with at least three floors is not small and should have some way of dealing with problems of lacking access, if not an elevator than at least a library staff that offers help. Of course, Isla would still need to ask for some help, but I feel like its a huge red flat that in 5 years she hasn't asked once (after all we know disabled people should never make any fuss and just suffer silently!). Really makes me feel like she has spent literally any time in the past 5 years doing anything but vague disabled suffering (/s). But the last two points enraged me even more. Sitting in the front seat of a car? Absolutely possible. Assisting her in lifting her onto the front seat or enabling her to pull herself up to it is not more work than wheeling her chair into the back of the van with a ramp, especially since we will be shown that she has good upper body control. Should have been easily possible in her life. Dancing at prom? Really? Dancing in a wheelchair is very possible. This just makes it seem as if the author truly cannot imagine a single moment of happiness for a wheelchair user.
Now while I do not blame Astra for not knowing all of these things (particularly the ADA federal law), it shows a big problem with the way disability is portrayed in this book. There are no other disabled people in the story. George is implied to have used a walker in his life, but as a ghost it only shows through the bent over way he walks. And when Astra finds out Isla is disabled she starts crying and then leaves Isla alone racing away in her car. Completely normal way to finding out somebody is disabled (who knows maybe it's catching?!). While Astra explains a few scenes later that she didn’t leave because of what Isla said, the way it is written just sucks as it is so abruptly cut off and only focused on how horrible and tragic and different it is for Isla to be in a wheelchair instead of doing cartwheels and dancing tango with Old Man George the Ghost. Then we get to enjoy the trope of “disabled person saying their person isn’t worth living because they are such a burden to their loved ones”, but it’s fine because Astra finally managed to say that she loves her and this finally convinces Isla that maybe she should in fact try if she can return to her body. Love cures all <3 How romantic! Then we have some amnesia drama (in literally the last 20 pages…). It did not add anything to the story and I think that could have been replaced to deal with the various questions that actually deserve more narrative time than a “Amnesia for aaaaangst. Don’t worry that it happens at the 92% mark of the book (literally 15 pages before the end…), because it will actually change nothing or add anything to the character development or even just have any scenes where Astra tries to reawaken Isla’s memories of their time together by recreating them and showing her that it is possible for her to do at least some of these things (cliché and still filled with abled savior tropes, but at least it would have included Isla and Astra interacting!). Instead it just feels like a convenient excuse to separate the two so we don’t actually have to deal with the recovery of Isla until she is able to leave the hospital and wheel herself (We can’t see somebody who is too disabled after all. That could be someone who is so sick they might not actually deserve to be loved!).
And now on to the end, which is supposed to be uplifting and joyful and make me sigh and swoon and cry a little tear about the wonderful support this poor disabled girl receives from her girlfriend and her friends, but it just made me feel like I was reading the most cloying disability porn ever written.
10 pages before the ending they finally meet each other again, kiss and we get two final scenes that try to show that accessibility is possible. The first one is set in Astra’s mother’s store that Astra and Oliver rearranged to make it wheelchair accessible. This scene was fine and more accessibility is always important. Small stores often do not consider it, so I liked that scene and that is something everybody can do to make our society a bit more accessible. But immediately afterwards Astra makes another of Isla’s dreams come true: She literally builds a wooden path for her with her own two hands so she can finally visit the greenhouse again even though she’s in a wheelchair. And when they drive there Astra sits in the back of the car again! (To be honest, I get the feeling she is quite literally stuck in her wheelchair... Like glued to it or something, because that is something that should have been portrayed differently if the author is really trying to show the difference that the priviledge of having interpersonal relationships where somebody cares about your access needs makes.) But we can’t have too much accessibility. Or accessibility that does not solely happen because somebody really likes you. Or accessibility that would mean the state has to do literally anything and change the structural issues that this book decided to portray as solvable by sweet teens with a heart of gold, who make it their goal to fix ableism forever! And frankly I find the portrayal of accessibility as something that interpersonal connections can fix instead of something that is a huge structural problem and that needs to be tackled with more than just “we did a fundraiser and built you a ramp” frankly quite offensive and I would describe it as a form of disability porn, because it is supposed to inspire the able-bodied reader to sigh happily and lean back and say: "Another wheelchair user saved by a rickety wood path. Our libraries do not need elevators and we also do not need to worry about that fact that a child wanted to die because she did not consider her life worth living because she is in a wheelchair. Truly, a wonderful story and a great message to young readers!".
This book's portrayal of physical disabilities made me sick. It made me glad that I completely finished it before recommending it to a disabled friend of mine, who is a wheelchair user, and not simply thought: "Oh, a sweet sapphic ghost story about overcoming some issues and learning to accept and love yourself." Because I hate literally every single aspect of the way physical disabilities are portrayed here. I hate that the fact that Isla is a wheelchair user is treated as a spoiler and a plot twist by not only the book, but most reviews I've seen so far. I hate that this book assumes that there is one type of wheelchair and because we all know what a wheelchair is we do not need any more specific descriptions. We get long descriptions of clothes, but the wheelchair is black. I hate that there are no other disabled people in this town that’s big enough to have a library with three floors. I hate that Isla is not the main character and that the fact that she was suicidal because apparently nobody cares that she completely isolated herself ever since she was 11 is just completely ignored. After all she’s better now and that fixes everything! Acceptance and friendship and accessibility (aka social participation) are all important things to improve mental health in marginalized communities, but it is not the end all be all the way this book tries to portray it.. We can and should have stories that focus on how isolating being disabled and chronically sick is! We need stories that show the importance of inclusion and abled solidarity with disabled people. But that is not a topic that can be handled in 40 pages. That is not a topic that should be dealt with swallowly and with ableist abled savior tropes. And with all of these issues I cannot in good faith recommend this book to anybody.

[lillian ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 5 out of 5]

{𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝} : ̗̀➛ 💌 - oh my god i love isla and astra so much! new favorite book, 100%!

[Cheyenne Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot and read it in one day. Intriguing storyline, well drawn characters including the secondary characters. The writing was excellent too, with some good description (although a couple of overused phrases). I didn't figure out the twist, although in hindsight there was clever foreshadowing. A great read.

[Ash Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you to Netgalley for this beautiful arc! This book is everything I needed and more. I am obsessed with the way the author described Astra's neurodivergence, and Isla's disability without making either of them seem in need of saving. Although there was some definite angst, no one else in their lives seemed anxious to "fix" them or make them more "normal". As someone who is also disabled I felt that the disability representation in this book was *chefs kiss*. They both help each other accept themselves and become more confident without trying to make the other compensate for their disabilities.

I also ADORED the sapphic longing in this story, I don't usually vibe with teenage stories anymore, they don't often resonate with me as an 30 something year old. But this book was written perfectly and everything I want out of a coming-of-age story. It's very rare for books to make me cry tears of joy, but this book definitely had more tearing up more than once in all the best ways. I will definitely be buying this book when it officially releases.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Martina Weiß · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks a lot to Netgalley & Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Death, Ableism, Mild Homophobia

4 / 5 Stars

I can't say if the author intended to give the MC huge autistic (or neurodiverse) vibes, but by god, they did - and Astra is - and it's impossible for me to read this book any other way. It's never outright stated in text, but honestly? It might as well have been. This leads to a little bit of Internalized Ableism in some scenes - that get overcome through character development & personal growth - but that help make certain other parts - or part - of the book feel less "savior-vibe-y" & "infantilization-vibe-y". Because both people in the disscussion are disabled and struggling in their own way, turning this into "Yeah, I get it" instead of "My life is so sad, because I'm disabled and that's sad". Neurodiversity and The-Spoiler-Thing aren't the same, but the book does highlight their shared struggles and how they find companionship and understanding within and through each other.
That being said, I wish we could have gotten more insight into a certain someone's POV.
To avoid getting into heavy spoiler stuff, I won't be sayin way more on the topic. Because even though you'll probably figure it out yourself, it's still nice to go back and realise all the hints and forshadowing we had gotten about it from really early on.

Their romance is sweet and soft and beautiful and their connection feels genuine and natural. Some other characters feel a little left out at times, because the book focuses very heavily on them, but it's nothing that bothered me too much, personally. Especially since we got greatly developed and loveable main characters out of it.

Speaking of characters, this book has a great hooker, but it's mostly character driven, contemporary with magical realism/paranormal elements. So, be aware of that. It's not slow per se, because the book isn't too long either, but if you need a book to make turns left, right and left, you might walk away dissapointed.

Final Thoughts
A very pleasant read. Would reccomand.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flowers For Dead Girls presents a cast of lovable characters navigating the complexities of life and death together. It serves as a poignant reminder not to take life for granted, with Astra's unique perspective offering a refreshing insight. Isla's spirited demeanor adds depth to the story.

While the plot may follow familiar paths, it doesn't diminish the overall reading experience. However, the initial pacing feels sluggish, requiring perseverance until the narrative gains momentum. Yet, the latter half of the book blossoms beautifully, with strengthened character bonds and well-crafted ghostly elements. I enjoyed the plot twist, it was unexpected and fit the theme of the story well.

This ARC was kindly provided by NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

Astra is a bit of a loner and her life is just too crazy for normality. Through a gift inherited from her mother, she meets Isla, but Isla’s dead so while they can be friends, it comes with limits. Isla is determined to do the things she couldn’t do when she was alive, and Astra is reluctant at first but soon finds comfort in helping her, until she learns the truth about Isla’s situation.

It was the style in which this story is written that got me intrigued and hooked from the very first chapter. The style just suited the characters, the story, everything, perfectly. It had just enough hint of comedy to make it upbeat and fun for a story where one of the characters is dead, but not too much that it detracted from the beauty of the underlying important story of Astra and Isla being told. Astra’s character was one I instantly empathised with, and I got her and why she felt the way she did about things, but when Isla popped up in her life, I was smiling and eager to find out whether Astra’s initial frustrations would be replaced with an acceptance. I really did hope they’d be friends.

As the story developed and we learned more about Astra and Isla, I adored the connection they had, and the little moments they shared that were so cute. Isla loved flowers, so it wasn’t just Astra who got to learn all about them, and the facts shared were fascinating. For the longest time I was just happy to be sharing in Astra and Isla’s building relationship, but when I realised Astra was getting attached I worried she was going to end up heartbroken. The twists and turns this story took, really did make me emotional, and by the end I was crying and smiling, and I didn’t know what to feel other than that it was lovely and I couldn’t have imagined what actually ended up happening.

I fell completely in love with this story! It was haunting, beautiful, and probably the most romantic story I’ve read in a while. I really can’t do it justice with this review, as it is an experience you just have to have for yourself. It’s definitely unforgettable, and one I’ll be reading again and again because I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flowers for Dead Girls is such a beautiful and unique YA love story. The main characters are all so distinct and lovely in their genuine and quirky personalities. They are young and insecure but so open and accepting. They make mistakes but are willing to learn and grow. The premise is interesting, and the pace is just right. It is a quick and engaging read that gave me some real feels throughout. My heart grew three sizes, then burst, and at this point, I had to force myself not to skip ahead for the ending. I didn't though and I am so satisfied with how it turned out. My heart is full. This novel is overall an unexpected joy.
We had gay and bi rep, a neurodivergent main, a supernatural element, disability rep, a sweet romance, and OCD rep.
The supporting characters like the parents, such as Astra's mom are so important to the story and the immense growth that takes place. Oliver is a wonderful and invaluable friend.
We get a moody cat and Mr. Pierce's mustache is a character on its own.
The writing is great. Easy to follow, kind of poetic in places, very good editing.
I would gladly read more by this author. I highly recommend this book.
I received the ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
#romcom #dramedy #grumpy/sunshine #foundfamily #supportivefamily #youngadult #ghosts #supernatural #HEA #no3rdactbreakup #interracialrelationship #neurodivergent #mentalillness #singleparent

[suzanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc!

3.5
very cute, though i could've sworn they were in grade 10 rather than 12...
thought it had some good twists,, especially isla being in a wheelchair which is why (in my head it is this for sure) she wanted to do more adventure-y bucket list items

the amnesia bit at the end was stupid... just let them be happy it lasted like 5 pages total. useless.

anyways! prob better for the tweens and teens but i had a good time :)

[Siddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astra can see ghosts, everywhere. It seems it’s a family trait, as her mother can too, but Astra tries to hide her ability from her mom so as not to upset her. Also, she has no friends. She finds it difficult to make friends, as she seems weird because of the precautions she has to take to shield herself from the ghosts. Usually the ghosts don’t stick around for long, just for a few days, and so even ghosts are not good candidates for a long term friendship. Until Isla.
Isla is a ghost. Not a vengeful spirit, but a lively, happy and carefree ghost. She is quite happy to play tricks, to surprise people, especially when those people are making Astra upset. Isla slowly learns how to manipulate objects, eventually ending up being able to pick up objects. Because of Isla’s influence, Astra also befriends Oliver, a boy in her class who, like Astra, doesn’t fit in. Even though Oliver can’t see Isla, the three of them make a wonderful friend group.
Astra has feelings for Isla, but she knows she shouldn’t do anything about them, because most ghosts only stay for a few days. But somehow Isla is different, and it takes quite a time for Astra to realise why.
Astra is an unusual character. Totally loveable, a warm person who cares about others. She seems to have some degree of OCD, and possibly synesthesia because of the way she experiences colours.
This was a story I couldn’t wait to read more of. I woke early specially to continue reading. I had spent my time in bed daydreaming where the storyline could possibly go, and some of my possibilities were so close. This has some hilariously funny scenes, especially where Isla is in the passenger seat of Astra’s car, as they turn fast corners, holding on for dear life! Also the scene where Astra visits her father, and an angry Isla goes in to see him. There are also some lovely warm and emotional scenes, thoughts on life, and how it can end so suddenly and unexpectedly. Overall this is a very positive book, concentrating on the life and the fun, but we can also see the difficulties all the characters have to endure in their everyday existences.
A really well planned and thought out story, with many minutiae that connect to bigger points later in the story. Most of the little details have importance somewhere. One of my favourite books this year, and by far the best young adult story I have read in this genre.

[lav · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and bold strokes books for the arc!

the central love story was very sweet, i would've been all over this in high school for sure. this would be a strong choice for a high school library's lgbt selection imo. really enjoyed the twist! i'm glad isla and astra could get their happy ending <3

also appreciated the mental health rep! it's never explicitly stated but astra seems to have OCD. the casual depiction of astra's struggles while making it clear it does not stop her from living a good life could be really helpful for some teens to read

a lot of repetition in the descriptions, not sure what the insistence on the "scrambled like eggs" simile was about. could have an editor look over it to catch that as well as any inconsistencies (why are they out of cardamom if astra's mom never cooks? was that just supposed to be snarky teenaged hyperbole? was unclear to me if that was part of astra's unreliable narration). i found it a little heavy on the telling vs showing, particularly at the beginning, so the repetition could be symptomatic of that

was amused by the fact that ghosts cannot ride in cars and must fly in the car's approximate location when it moves

my fav part was probably astra realizing her mom is actually a cool person and not just a walking disaster, the judgmental descriptions were driving me a little crazy so i was relieved when it ended up being an intentional part of astra's character arc lol

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(rounded down from 4.25)

This was a sweet and sad story about a girl who can see and communicate with ghosts spending time with a ghost girl her age and getting attached to her. As is standard for YA stories, there is a lot of growing up and expanding your boundaries and also dealing with parents along the way but the twist is reasonably unexpected and the ending satisfying. I docked a star because the first half was a bit less interesting to get through but once the plot gets going, I was locked in.

[Sue Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

it was an interesting concept that astra can see ghosts and though at times the book is very slow i would highly recommend it for teenagers

the funniest bit for me was when you realise that ghosts cant ride in cars and more or less have to do superman poses to ride along, theres a lot about this book that i would recommend but its slow going

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astra Vaughn has seen ghosts for as long as she can remember. Her mother can do the same, and has been left by her husband and forced to move town because of it, so Astra knows that this needs to stay a secret. She's a high school senior who speaks more with the dead than her own classmates, but the ghost of a girl her own age challenges her loner ways. Isla Monroe, a cheery girl who died too soon, has an anti-bucket list that she wants Astra to help her fulfill before she passes; a list that makes Astra push her own social boundaries.

'Flowers for Dead Girls' is a cute story about an awkward girl with OCD, sensory issues, and an ability to commune with the dead becoming less guarded with the help of friends. There's a bit of a love story and some mortality-pondering in there two, but the heart of the story is the friendship that blooms between Astra, Isla, and Oliver. It was heartwarming to see Astra, someone who was socially anxious and worried about being seen like her mother, having fun with two people who accepted her and her quirks. For that alone, I'll recommend the book to some patrons, though I think I'd recommend it to younger teens and more reluctant readers than those looking for something more complicated. The paranormal aspects are played rather safe, but I understand the importance of avoiding the 'bury your gays' trope.

One of my biggest issues with 'Flowers' is the setting--or more accurately, the lack of a setting. The town in which our story takes place is unnamed, with few and far between being described. At first I thought it was a bigger city, since Astra lives in a small apartment and counts blocks that she walks and drives and can't park close to where she lives, but to only have one library (which is three floors tall and not ADA accessible!? Listen, I'd understand if the elevator was out, it happens, but to not have one at all seems illegal for a public building), one high school, and to have greenhouses in the middle of fields makes me think it's more suburban or rural. It isn't given any region of the country, either, but I felt like it had to be in the Pacific Northwest for how often it rained. The setting being so thinly drawn doesn't impact the story much, but it does feel odd when Astra mentions that she used to live in another city that she and Isla visit, but the only descriptor we really get for it is that it's 'four hours away'.

At one point, Astra is taking care of a cat in her room, as well as keeping a lily corsage in a box. I panicked when I got to this part, knowing that lily pollen is deadly to cats, but not even cat lover and plant nerd Isla brings this up. I'm happy that cat-death didn't happen, but it feels like a weird detail to not acknowledge when they're Isla's favorite flower, and I feel like a note about making sure the box was nowhere near the cat would be appreciated.

While 'Flowers for Dead Girls' isn't perfect, it's still a cozy and heartwarming story that deserves a place on YA shelves. It can definitely skew younger too, and its short length and easy to understand language could make it a good choice for reluctant readers or tweens who are too old for juvenile fiction but don't know where to start with YA fiction.

[River Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, touching story about not fitting in, finding your people and allowing the people who care about you to get closer to you. It's definitely a teenager/YA story though, and the simplicity of its prose doesn't try to be anything else. It's a pleasant, cozy read and it explores the main character's inner world. In fact, I found that most of the young characters are pretty well fleshed out, especially when seen through Astra's eyes. Not so much the adults, but it's a YA story so I suppose that's to be expected. Kind of like the adults in Cow and Chicken, if you're old enough to have watched those cartoons. However, you do get a good sense of Astra's mom, as seen from her point of view.
The plot felt a bit predictable at one point but I actually love what the author did with it, and it ended up being a refreshing read until the end. I wish they had explored Isla's dilemma a bit more though. The author touches on a VERY important aspect of a certain community (I'm trying to keep this review spoiler free) and it would have been interesting to have explored that in more depth. Preferably after the author had talked to several voices within that community. It lacks a certain context and further development for it to be fully considered "raising awareness", especially to young people going through that same dilemma. I think the author missed a very good opportunity to help improve the mental health of young people going through something similar.
All and all, it's definitely a book I enjoyed (even though I usually don't enjoy YA books and hadn't realised this was one when I chose it) and I'd recommend it to anyone into this genre.
A note to the editor (or whoever was meant to revise the novel): there are a lot of repetitions that should have been cut out and/or replaced. Expressions, sayings, description of actions, sentences... Maybe not everyone will notice it as much as I did, but my reading experience would have been a lot better if the writing hadn't been so repetetive. It's normal for writers to favour certain expressions and it can be difficult for them sometimes to notice they are overusing certain words/expressions. It's the job of whoever is revising (that is, a new fresh set of eyes) to point this out. I feel that a lot of times there could have been suitable alternatives, or that the same thing could have been said in a different way to avoid repetition. Probably not a big deal for most people, I don't know, but it bothered me a bit.

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful novel that was a pleasure to read. I ate it up in a single day which, even though its relatively short, I always take as a really good sign. This was primarily a character driven novel and excelled on that point. The plot was somewhat predictable, but in a good way; it wasn’t trying too hard and didn’t get in its own way by trying to overdo it on details that were not needed. The story was sweet, funny, original, and it alternately warmed-and-wrenched my heart. I would recommend this novel to anyone and I think that they would enjoy it.

Highlights:
-The characters are the main highlight of this novel. The main characters are very well developed and have a clear personality and voice. Astra was particularly well done with a multitude of quirks and compulsions, and I could never confuse her with any other character from any other novel. The side characters were excellent as well; clear and memorable and their inclusion contributed to the story.
-The character arcs were clear and satisfying. Neither of the main characters end up in the same place they started, and the journey is organic, believable, and satisfying.
-I loved the characters relationship development. It was obvious what was going to happen (I read the novel description after all) but it was still satisfying. Despite Astra resisting (for good and well explained reasons) they were clearly always going to get close and they worked SO well together.
-The world building (there are fantasy elements after all!) was very clear and detailed without being overwhelming or slowing down the story. Details that the reader needed were revealed as such, without any annoying infodumping. Every supernatural component was well-incorporated into the story and consistently represented.
-Representation. Sexuality, disability, and mental health, all well done. I particularly liked the underlying message that although the characters may be dealing with different challenges, they still had a shared experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange or an honest review.

[Kathryne Lentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s be up front about something I don’t think I am the target audience for this book. I mean I like paranormal romance as much as the next person , well probably more than the next person, but I usually like a side helping of vampire slaying. In addition, this is geared toward a teen audience, so I hesitated before checking out my review copy. But I am so glad I did.
Flowers for dead girls is a young adult novel about Astra a teenager who has the usual problems of family and fitting in at school but also one unique thing she can see ghosts. Ghosts come to visit her in the time between their death and their passing to the other side. She thinks she has gotten used to her ability when for the first time she is visited by a spirit that is the same age as her. Isla drafts Astra into helping her accomplish her anti-bucket list. Astra at first just wants to get things over with so she can go back to her normal life but over the course of their adventures she finds herself falling for Isla. Her feelings become further complicated as she learns more about what brought Isla to her side.
As I started to read Flowers, I was amazed at the authors ability to fill the text with evocative imagery. As an aspiring writer I struggle with crafting vivid descriptions, and I think Abigail gives a master class into how to seamless weave them into a story. The other thing that seemed effortlessly is how she lets us into Astra’s OCD tendencies without ever having a character call them out. But this is at its heart a coming-of-age romance and that is where it should be judged. The romance between Astra and Isla feels subtle, with all the awkwardness of a queer first relationship while still being charming and comforting. I guess the highest praise I can give is when the twist, which I even saw coming, left me in tears. I can think of a handful of books that has done this. All in all, I think this is a masterful book and deserves all the praise I can heap on it . Go read it now.
https://paperphoenixink.com/2024/05/0...

[Mysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Intrigue: 8.5
Narrative: 8.5
Build-up: 9
Originality: 7.5
Wow Factor: 8

Seventeen-year-old Astra Vaughn can talk to ghosts—a gift she’s inherited from her mom and wishes she could ignore. But when she falls for Isla, a charming ghost with unfinished business, Astra’s world is turned upside down as love, loss, and long-buried secrets collide.

This was such a fun and heartfelt romance. I went in knowing very little beyond the title, so I really appreciated the gradual buildup and the carefully laid clues leading to the big reveal of Isla’s truth. Watching Astra come to terms with Isla’s reality was truly heartbreaking, and I honestly didn’t want the story to end. I felt deeply for Isla and just wanted to reach through the pages to give her a hug by the end.

Astra’s conversation with her mom was a standout moment for me—I loved the message it sends to young readers about the importance of living your truth without fear of the consequences. There are so many people I’d love to share this story with.

That said, I do wish we’d seen more of George—his connection to the story felt underdeveloped. I also found the portrayal of OCD and anxiety to be a bit too literal at times; I would’ve preferred more showing over telling in that area.

Still, the happy ending left me smiling, even if it wasn’t entirely realistic. I loved seeing how Astra and Isla brought joy and growth to each other’s lives, especially how Astra was gently pushed out of her shell. The story offered a refreshing and original experience with strong emotional beats and solid pacing.

My only other critique is that some of the secondary plotlines—especially those involving George and Astra’s dad—felt a bit disjointed. But beyond that, I have very few complaints. This was a wonderful read that I’ll be recommending for a long time.

[Ingrid Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Astra's life hasn't been easy. She has no friends, an absent father, and a mom everyone thinks is crazy. Plus, one huge secret: she can talk to ghosts.

Astra inherited her mom’s gift, but sometimes it feels more like a curse. Especially when she meets Isla, who's sweet, cheerful, and absolutely gorgeous. She’s just the right kind of girl to bring Astra out of her shell—and maybe more. The only problem? She’s dead.

At first I didn't know what to think of this novel. I loved the premise, I love all ghost stories and the idea of falling in love with one? Yes, ok.
But I really do not care for all of my favorite genres becoming teen centric novels. Horror; look in young adult section. Mystery/thriller: young adult. Now LGBTQ...young adult section.
C'mon! Why always one way or another? I want to read about adults.
Anyway, let me move on before I pull out my soapbox.

This novel surprised me. The writing was excellent and the story kept me entertained and interested.
There were moments where I laughed out loud and a few where I even had to wipe a few years away.( Though I may deny that if asked.)

Abigail Collins is a name to watch out for from now on. Any author who can make you fully invested in her characters is one I not only want to read but one I happily will tell everyone I know to read as well.

I can't recommend this enough. It has angst, hope, and love. What more could you want?
Oh and a pretty good ghost story as well.
Go. Read. I promise you will feel all the feels.

Published by Bold Strokes Books, Inc./Soliloquy
Release date August 09, 2024

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Smallbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC! 💐👻

This was such a cute read!!

I loved Astra's character arc, as she learns to be more open and daring. I related to her a lot, with how she's an introvert and struggles to make friends.

When she meets Isla, typical ghost hijinks ensue, i.e. Isla bothering her and Astra begrudgingly going along with what Isla wants. I really appreciated how their relationship progressed so organically, growing from grudging acquaintances to best friends to perhaps something more? 👀

I loved how Astra's and Isla's arcs are intertwined, with Isla helping Astra to come out of her shell and explore new things. I was worried that the story would be just Isla helping Astra, as some romances can be a bit one-sided in that regard, but Astra also helps Isla with [SPOILERS]. I also appreciated that Astra and Isla have to make their hard decisions by themselves.

I wished we could have gotten a dual POV with Isla's perspective. I feel like lot of her character arc happened off page, and we only see parts of what Isla deals with from Astra's perspective. I understand that this is deliberate, to keep things hidden from the reader, but I would trade all the mystery just to know what is going on in Isla's head.

Some other things I want to mention:
- Astra has synesthesia (perceives colours as physical sensations) and seems to have OCD or autism but its not made completely clear (counts things and has to do things in certain orders, also has sensory issues, but its stated that the sensory issues are a side effect of being around ghosts so idk
- I loved Astra and Oliver's friendship so much, but damn, Oliver was third-wheeling hard
- Astra and her mom worked it out by the end, but lowkey if I were in Astra's shoes I would be a little resentful

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (3 stars)

Flowers For Dead Girls gives us loveable characters facing the challenges of both life and death together. It’s all too easy to take life for granted, and this book served as a moving reminder that not everyone’s experience matches our own.

Astra is someone who sees the world a little differently, which offers a refreshing, and at times touching, perspective on navigating the world around us. Isla is stubborn, witty, and captivating, whilst side-character Oliver offers a most welcome extra layer of comfort.

The plot is somewhat predictable; however, I didn’t feel this affected my reading experience - if anything, I was happy the story went in the direction I had expected. That said, I did feel as though the first half of the book was a little too slow in pace, and found myself having to persevere until the plot picked up further into the novel.

The second half of the book is lovely. I found the strengthening of the connection between characters rewarding, and cared deeply for each of them. The ghost elements of the novel are strong and well-written. Collins gives us some delightful interactions between the living and dead, although I felt exploring some additional ghosts may have fleshed out the plot somewhat.

If you’re seeking an endearing, character-driven book with a gratifying ending, I’d recommend Flowers For Dead Girls.

(Huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book! The above opinions are entirely my own.)

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a delightful story. It was the perfect one to read today which lifted my spirits.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I knew going in only that it was LGTBQIA+ friendly but had no idea it also have Neurodiverse characters as well as disability positive vibes. The author never names a diagnosis for our protagonist Astra who can see and communicate with ghosts, but she is clearly Neurodiverse as well as displays many symptoms of OCD.

I think this book can be enjoyed by many Teens and adults alike and many different individuals can identify with various aspects of it.

The book is completely predictable but I’m not mad at it for it. It was delightful to have a story that underneath reality with some serious reality of growing up different but in a safe and almost fluffy way.

There were a few pacing issues and repetitiveness but it was an easy read to do in a few hours.

I highly recommend this book for teens to read as well as young adult.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first a little hesitant to try this book. The summary and book cover was just to my taste, but I thought that YA novels were not to my taste until I read this book.

Astra is a girl who can see ghosts. Ghosts who come, then leave anyway. One day, a ghost named Isla suddenly appears, and she spends her days as a ghost doing the things she had wanted to do with Astra’s help. And these two grow closer. However, Isla would leave her someday, like the others did. Astra is used to it. However, this time…she doesn’t want this one to leave. But what if...Isla doesn't have to leave?

The book is a little different in its writing style compared to other books. While other books are fast-paced, like watching a movie, this one felt as if I were watching a documentary of Astra’s life, or floating around in Astra's home, observing her and reading her thoughts. Tiny quirks, thoughts, and actions were expressed similarly to the stream of consciousness. Those who may not like such slow writing may find the book a little dull at first (though I found it interesting). However, it would be worth waiting till the last parts of the book. It is like a tsunami, where the book doesn’t have much development in the plot like receding waves, only to rear up in the end and engulf the reader with tides of emotions.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
★★★★★

[Tasha Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars - a sweet but slow YA paranormal, sapphic romance.

Astra and her mom can see ghosts but Astras mom doesn’t know Astra can see ghosts. Whilst at school Astra is visited by a ghost called Isla who wants Astras help with a “non” bucket list before she passes on. We also get to meet Astras friend Oliver and another ghost George along the way. Astra tries not to get to close to the ghosts but her feelings start to develop as she and Isla spend more time together and secrets come to light.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and if you have watched the movie just like heaven - I found it quite similar to that but YA.

The romance build up was sweet and I really liked the other ghost George and Astras friend Ollie.

I found it really amusing the Isla couldn’t ride in a car and had to fly inside to keep up!

However, I did find it quite slow to begin with and honestly nearly Dnf’ed at the beginning due to Astras fixation on colours and numbers (possibly autism or OCD but never clarified) it was very repetitive and annoying but got less as the book went on. I also found the bucket list outings a bit bland and could have been more adventurous.

Would recommend to those who prefer character development over big plot twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the ebook.

[Kye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flowers for Dead Girls

This YA novel caught my eye because of the wonderful cover art. Thank you to NetGalley & Bold Strokes Books, Inc for allowing me to read it before its publication date. All opinions are my own.

*Flowers for Dead Girls* is best described as a modern telling of Casper the friendly ghost but with a cute queer twist. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a low-stakes story about friendship, young love or who is obsessed with ghosts. It’s nicely paced, with plenty of meat in each chapter without droning on.

There’s tons of imagery so it’s easy to get a clear picture while reading. I enjoyed Isla’s character the most. She’s light hearted and sweet, particularly for a dead girl. Astra is a complex seventeen year old who is a great neurodivergent representative. She can see, talk to, and even touch ghosts, even though she claims she isn’t a psychic.

Personally, I did not feel the compulsive draw to read this in one sitting. The repetitive nature of Astra’s point of view bored me at times and most chapters start with a long description rather than action. Things picked up in the second half, so I’m glad I pushed through.

The second half of the book and the ending leave your heart filled. I thoroughly enjoyed the resolution in every aspect. This is such a heart warming story. Teens will relate to it for years to come.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars / The premise and the cover of this book? 10/10. However, I wanted to love this story more than I actually did.

One of the strongest things in this story is the way Astra's relationships with those around her are depicted. You got a strong sense of her family and how they interact with each other, right from the get-go. But while Astra's story starts off strong and intriguing, the prose quickly begins to feel repetitive. I think the author intended this to mirror the OCD being depicted, but it didn't seem to have the desired effect. This makes the pacing of the story start to drag after the first act. I was also surprised that we didn't see more about the love interest—it felt like we didn't get to know Isla as well as I would have liked to in order to truly dive into the relationship wholeheartedly. Without spoiling things, the plot twist left something to be desired—there were some elements at the end of the story that remained unexplained, and a frustrating depiction of disabled persons,which left for a slightly frustrating reading experience.

__
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this title! This review contains my honest and voluntary thoughts.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoiler-free*


This is definitely a young adult supernatural/romance I would recommend to anyone who engages with the genre.

Our main character, Astra, is a very interesting young person to get into the mind of. She has strong chemistry with Isla, and I am also particularly fond of Ollie. All around, I did enjoy reading about these characters.

Without spoiling, I do think that some of the more emotional events towards the end of the book could have done with being a little longer and explored in greater depth. Whilst this book is short and never felt like it dragged, I feel like it could have dedicated some more time to certain aspects in its final third. Equally, I would have liked a little more emphasis on Isla's journey at this point in the story - of course we follow Astra, but I definitely found myself wondering more about Isla's internal plight at this stage and would have liked to see it touched on in a little more depth.

I would definitely read more of this author's work following this.

*Copy provided by Netgalley for review*