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Perennials
When two estranged sisters reunite for their parents fiftieth anniversary, a family tragedy brings unexpected lessons of hope and healing amid the flowers of their mothers perennial garden.Evaknown to all as Loveygrew up in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by literary history and her mothers stunning perennial gardens. But a garden shed fire and the burns suffered by one of her best friends seemed to change everything. Her older sister Bitsy blamed her for the fireand no one spoke up on her behalf. Bitsy the cheerleader, Bitsy the homecoming queen, Bitsy married to a wealthy investor. And all the while, Lovey blamed for everything that goes wrong.At eighteen, Lovey turns down a marriage proposal, flees from Oxford and the expectations of attending Ole Miss, and instead goes to Arizonathe farthest thing from the South she can imagine. She becomes a successful advertising executive, a weekend yoga instructor, and seems to have it all together. But shes alone. And on her forty-fifth birthday, she cant help but wonder whats wrong.When she gets a call from her fatherstill known to everyone as Chief from his Ole Miss football daysinsisting that she come home three weeks early for her parents fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration, shes at wits end. Shes about to close the biggest contract of her career, the one that will secure her financial goals and set her up for retirement. But his words, family first, hit too close to home. Is there hope for her estranged relationship with Bitsy after all this time?Evas journey home, to the memory garden her father has planned as an anniversary surprise for her mother, becomes one of discovering roots, and truth, and love, and what living perennially in spite of disappointments and tragedy really means. Eva thought she wanted to leave her family and the South far behind but shes realizing she h
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First published November 14, 2017
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About the author
Julie Cantrell
19 books754 followersJulie Cantrell is a multiple award-winning, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, editor, story coach, TEDx speaker, and ghostwriter. She served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and has received the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Arts Fellowship, the Rivendell Writer’s Colony Mary Elizabeth Nelson Fellowship, and the Pat Conroy Writer’s Residency Fellowship.
Her novels have earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been featured in Top Reads lists by LitHub, Redbook, Southern Living Magazine, REAL SIMPLE, BookBub, HuffPost, USA TODAY, and more.
As a novelist, she’s received two Christy Awards, two Carol Awards, and the Mississippi Library Association Fiction Award. She was named a short-list finalist twice for the Mississippi Arts & Letters Fiction Award as well as a two-time short-list finalist for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize.
In addition to her work with survivors of abuse and her service as a literacy advocate, she’s a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and Her Novel Collective, two organizations that promote the power of story and elevate female voices.
With published works across a diverse range of genres and numerous languages, Julie currently writes, coaches, and edits fulltime from her home in Houston, Texas where she finds great pleasure in helping to shepherd other people’s stories to shelves.
She also teaches creative writing students through the MFA program at Drexel University.
Learn more at www.juliecantrell.com and www.bluesparked.com or follow on Instagram for all things story.
Or find all her links: https://linktr.ee/juliecantrell
Her novels have earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been featured in Top Reads lists by LitHub, Redbook, Southern Living Magazine, REAL SIMPLE, BookBub, HuffPost, USA TODAY, and more.
As a novelist, she’s received two Christy Awards, two Carol Awards, and the Mississippi Library Association Fiction Award. She was named a short-list finalist twice for the Mississippi Arts & Letters Fiction Award as well as a two-time short-list finalist for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize.
In addition to her work with survivors of abuse and her service as a literacy advocate, she’s a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and Her Novel Collective, two organizations that promote the power of story and elevate female voices.
With published works across a diverse range of genres and numerous languages, Julie currently writes, coaches, and edits fulltime from her home in Houston, Texas where she finds great pleasure in helping to shepherd other people’s stories to shelves.
She also teaches creative writing students through the MFA program at Drexel University.
Learn more at www.juliecantrell.com and www.bluesparked.com or follow on Instagram for all things story.
Or find all her links: https://linktr.ee/juliecantrell
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November 12, 2017
Eva recently celebrated her 45th birthday and has a successful career at an advertising agency in Arizona. She supports herself, teaches yoga on weekends and is slowly recovering from a bad relationship. She grew up in Mississippi but hasn't been back since leaving for college. Eva is avoiding bad memories of a broken engagement and a volatile relationship with her sister, Bitsy.
Her parents 50th wedding anniversary is nearing and Eva receives a plea from her father to help plan the party. It's an odd request but he is insistent that she return home. Eva is in the midst of landing one of the largest accounts in her career and the timing is poor. She has mixed emotions about going back to Mississippi but she acquiesces to her father's demands. Once home, she faces friction from her sister along with pressure from her parents to reconcile their differences. She also finds time to reconnect with childhood friends and her onetime fiancé. Eva starts to fall back in her old habits and finds that life in Mississippi is better than expected .
Eva’s trip home as an adult enables her to view life from a different perspective. She uncovers truths about her sister, friends, and parents. She also learns a lot about herself and what it takes to be happy. This novel by Julie Cantrell explores family relationships from many different angles.
Her parents 50th wedding anniversary is nearing and Eva receives a plea from her father to help plan the party. It's an odd request but he is insistent that she return home. Eva is in the midst of landing one of the largest accounts in her career and the timing is poor. She has mixed emotions about going back to Mississippi but she acquiesces to her father's demands. Once home, she faces friction from her sister along with pressure from her parents to reconcile their differences. She also finds time to reconnect with childhood friends and her onetime fiancé. Eva starts to fall back in her old habits and finds that life in Mississippi is better than expected .
Eva’s trip home as an adult enables her to view life from a different perspective. She uncovers truths about her sister, friends, and parents. She also learns a lot about herself and what it takes to be happy. This novel by Julie Cantrell explores family relationships from many different angles.
July 16, 2019
PERENNIALS
Julie Cantrell
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Thomas Nelson
PUBLISHED November 14, 2017
A poignant and moving Southern family saga of an errant daughter that returns home again.
SUMMARY
Lovey and Bitsey Sutherland were the closest of sisters when they were young and catching fireflies on the farm. But that was a long time ago and a lot has changed. At eighteen, after years of her beauty queen sister’s hostile attitude, Lovey fled the farm, leaving behind one of her favorite things, her mother’s beloved perennial garden. The sisters rarely speak to each other anymore, and now Lovey, an advertising executive in Arizona is excited about closing the biggest contract of her career. But her father, Chief calls on her 45th birthday demanding that she come home three weeks early to help him prepare a memory garden for her parents 50th wedding anniversary. Upon arrival back in Oxford, Mississippi, Lovey realizes that despite the passage of time, Bitsey’s immense hostility has not changed. What was the cause of such long lasting bitterness? Can it ever be resolved? Can Lovely ever truly come home again to a place she loves?
REVIEW
She had me at the fireflies! One of my favorite memories as a child was catching fireflies in a large pickle jar with holes punch into the lid, right alongside my big brother. PERENNIALS is a beautiful story about family relationships, and is stocked full of engaging characters.
Julie Cantrell writes exquisitely about family love, facing difficulties and returning to our roots. Cantrell’s writing is both descriptive and inspirational. The memory garden, where every bloom is tied to a past memory is a charming idea, complete with hydrangeas, gardenias, black-eyed-susans and a labyrinth. You can practically see the fireflies and smell the fragrances in the air at the anniversary party big reveal.
Those facing family adversity will truly appreciate this poignant story. Other books by award winning Cantrell include: The Feathered Bone (2015), When Mountains Move (2012) and Into the Free (2011).
“No matter how bad life gets, we must always, always, always continue to grow, preparing ourselves for our next big bloom.”
—Perennials
Julie Cantrell
Julie Cantrell
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Thomas Nelson
PUBLISHED November 14, 2017
A poignant and moving Southern family saga of an errant daughter that returns home again.
SUMMARY
Lovey and Bitsey Sutherland were the closest of sisters when they were young and catching fireflies on the farm. But that was a long time ago and a lot has changed. At eighteen, after years of her beauty queen sister’s hostile attitude, Lovey fled the farm, leaving behind one of her favorite things, her mother’s beloved perennial garden. The sisters rarely speak to each other anymore, and now Lovey, an advertising executive in Arizona is excited about closing the biggest contract of her career. But her father, Chief calls on her 45th birthday demanding that she come home three weeks early to help him prepare a memory garden for her parents 50th wedding anniversary. Upon arrival back in Oxford, Mississippi, Lovey realizes that despite the passage of time, Bitsey’s immense hostility has not changed. What was the cause of such long lasting bitterness? Can it ever be resolved? Can Lovely ever truly come home again to a place she loves?
REVIEW
She had me at the fireflies! One of my favorite memories as a child was catching fireflies in a large pickle jar with holes punch into the lid, right alongside my big brother. PERENNIALS is a beautiful story about family relationships, and is stocked full of engaging characters.
Julie Cantrell writes exquisitely about family love, facing difficulties and returning to our roots. Cantrell’s writing is both descriptive and inspirational. The memory garden, where every bloom is tied to a past memory is a charming idea, complete with hydrangeas, gardenias, black-eyed-susans and a labyrinth. You can practically see the fireflies and smell the fragrances in the air at the anniversary party big reveal.
Those facing family adversity will truly appreciate this poignant story. Other books by award winning Cantrell include: The Feathered Bone (2015), When Mountains Move (2012) and Into the Free (2011).
“No matter how bad life gets, we must always, always, always continue to grow, preparing ourselves for our next big bloom.”
—Perennials
Julie Cantrell
November 17, 2019
4.5 stars Top Pick
Cantrell has penned another quietly contemplative, thought-provoking novel. Her prose is so meaningful that every phrase begs to be mulled over. Hearts will break for Lovey, a somewhat prodigal daughter who never really knows the depth of her parents' love until it is almost too late. Anger bubbles up against Bitsy and her actions, yet the author's ability to pull out these deep emotions is what makes this novel so very touching and nuanced. This is a book that begs to be re-read and discussed.
Eva "Lovey" Sutherland grew up adoring her older sister Bitsy and basking in the love of her parents in Oxford, Mississippi. One day a horrific incident occurs, and that changes the course of all of their lives. Yanked from her feelings of safety and security, Lovey eventually moves to Arizona and establishes a comfortable, steady life for herself. When her father calls and convinces her to return home to help her sister plan their parents' anniversary party, Lovey has to confront the painful emotions she has stuffed deep inside for most of her life. As the truth about things past and present begins to surface, Lovey examines her beliefs and understanding about what love and family really mean.
Cantrell has penned another quietly contemplative, thought-provoking novel. Her prose is so meaningful that every phrase begs to be mulled over. Hearts will break for Lovey, a somewhat prodigal daughter who never really knows the depth of her parents' love until it is almost too late. Anger bubbles up against Bitsy and her actions, yet the author's ability to pull out these deep emotions is what makes this novel so very touching and nuanced. This is a book that begs to be re-read and discussed.
Eva "Lovey" Sutherland grew up adoring her older sister Bitsy and basking in the love of her parents in Oxford, Mississippi. One day a horrific incident occurs, and that changes the course of all of their lives. Yanked from her feelings of safety and security, Lovey eventually moves to Arizona and establishes a comfortable, steady life for herself. When her father calls and convinces her to return home to help her sister plan their parents' anniversary party, Lovey has to confront the painful emotions she has stuffed deep inside for most of her life. As the truth about things past and present begins to surface, Lovey examines her beliefs and understanding about what love and family really mean.
August 5, 2017
A moving story filled with life lessons told in a lyrical Southern style.
Loved all the lovely garden metaphors used to express a spiritual or inspirational message. They were fitting for the situations, and a perfect way to drop a bit of truth in the moments. Family dynamics, sibling tension, and emotional/psychological struggles made this a story to perfectly illustrate grace and forgiveness, the choice to let go and move on in life, overcoming the past. It had me reaching for the tissues more than once, especially towards the end. The beautiful historical setting of Oxford, Mississippi with its literary fame sounded like a perfect place for a road trip too.
Recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary women's fiction with some romance and a spiritual message.
(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)
Loved all the lovely garden metaphors used to express a spiritual or inspirational message. They were fitting for the situations, and a perfect way to drop a bit of truth in the moments. Family dynamics, sibling tension, and emotional/psychological struggles made this a story to perfectly illustrate grace and forgiveness, the choice to let go and move on in life, overcoming the past. It had me reaching for the tissues more than once, especially towards the end. The beautiful historical setting of Oxford, Mississippi with its literary fame sounded like a perfect place for a road trip too.
Recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary women's fiction with some romance and a spiritual message.
(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)
December 12, 2017
I don't usually read reviews before reading a book I've asked to review, because I don't want to be influenced (in contrast, I do read reviews before buying a book. Call me weird, but I find it easier to ignore a book's faults if I know them before I start reading page one).
Anyway, if the review I read was accurate, this book had a lot of faults. The chief fault appeared to be that it was from a Christian publisher, yet was not Christian fiction.
Well, sold.
Okay, not sold. But I requested a review copy from NetGalley, because I wanted to find out for myself.
The writing was brilliant.
Julie Cantrell has a gift with words, with emotion. The plot was generally strong. I thought the plot device used to get Eva home to her family was contrived almost to the point of being unbelievable, but the writing was outstanding and the characterisation was solid enough that I was prepared to let a less-than-believable plot point pass.
Perennials is the story of a middle-aged professional woman who learns the hard way success isn't defined by your salary or your job title (or your ability to life a Pinterest-worthy life), but by being true to yourself. She also learns that we can't judge and resent others for their Pinterest-perfect lives, because we don't know what they're hiding.
These are powerful lessons.
Eva, the main character, wasn't the most likeable person to begin with. She has a chip on her shoulder the size of a small planet, and even at forty-five years of age, it's never occurred to her that her outlook on life and on her family (especially on her family) is anything but right. Being home again forces her to review and rethink some of her perceptions. The more I saw of her in her home town, the more I was able to sympathise and empathise with her situation.
Overall, I'd classify this as an inspirational women's fiction version of Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh. It definitely doesn't fit in the narrow echo chamber of Christian fiction. If it was a romance, I'd say it was angling for a RITA nomination for Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements, because it had plenty of spiritual elements—but most of them weren't Christian:
Namaste. The light in me sees the light in you.
The ancestors have a lot to teach us.
Kachina Woman, Hera, Kuan Yin, Mary. Whoever she is, she is timeless and omnipotent, representing all things feminine and calming and wise.
Definitely not Christian—and that last quote is in direct contradiction to the Gospel of John, which makes clear that Jesus is the way. Not one of many. Yet there were also lines like this:
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
And:
Jesus experienced the worst. Betrayed by someone he trusted, destroyed by the people he loved. Public shame, humiliation ... but despite it all, he chose to love.
No, Perennials doesn't fit into the shiny bucket that is CBA fiction.
If you're looking for a typical Christian fiction novel, then I wouldn't recommend Perennials. But if you're looking for something that doesn't fit the Christian norm—perhaps as a gift for a non-Christian friend who appreciates good writing and enjoys books such as Eat, Pray, Love—then Perennials may be a good option.
Perhaps Perennials does present Jesus as an option to be considered rather than as the answer. But in doing that, it may attract readers who wouldn't ever pick up a 'Christian' novel. And if those readers are true to themselves, they will consider Jesus. And I believe we need more books written by Christians for a general market audience, books that address real-world problems and present Jesus as an option.
As Perennials does.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Anyway, if the review I read was accurate, this book had a lot of faults. The chief fault appeared to be that it was from a Christian publisher, yet was not Christian fiction.
Well, sold.
Okay, not sold. But I requested a review copy from NetGalley, because I wanted to find out for myself.
The writing was brilliant.
Julie Cantrell has a gift with words, with emotion. The plot was generally strong. I thought the plot device used to get Eva home to her family was contrived almost to the point of being unbelievable, but the writing was outstanding and the characterisation was solid enough that I was prepared to let a less-than-believable plot point pass.
Perennials is the story of a middle-aged professional woman who learns the hard way success isn't defined by your salary or your job title (or your ability to life a Pinterest-worthy life), but by being true to yourself. She also learns that we can't judge and resent others for their Pinterest-perfect lives, because we don't know what they're hiding.
These are powerful lessons.
Eva, the main character, wasn't the most likeable person to begin with. She has a chip on her shoulder the size of a small planet, and even at forty-five years of age, it's never occurred to her that her outlook on life and on her family (especially on her family) is anything but right. Being home again forces her to review and rethink some of her perceptions. The more I saw of her in her home town, the more I was able to sympathise and empathise with her situation.
Overall, I'd classify this as an inspirational women's fiction version of Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh. It definitely doesn't fit in the narrow echo chamber of Christian fiction. If it was a romance, I'd say it was angling for a RITA nomination for Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements, because it had plenty of spiritual elements—but most of them weren't Christian:
Namaste. The light in me sees the light in you.
The ancestors have a lot to teach us.
Kachina Woman, Hera, Kuan Yin, Mary. Whoever she is, she is timeless and omnipotent, representing all things feminine and calming and wise.
Definitely not Christian—and that last quote is in direct contradiction to the Gospel of John, which makes clear that Jesus is the way. Not one of many. Yet there were also lines like this:
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
And:
Jesus experienced the worst. Betrayed by someone he trusted, destroyed by the people he loved. Public shame, humiliation ... but despite it all, he chose to love.
No, Perennials doesn't fit into the shiny bucket that is CBA fiction.
If you're looking for a typical Christian fiction novel, then I wouldn't recommend Perennials. But if you're looking for something that doesn't fit the Christian norm—perhaps as a gift for a non-Christian friend who appreciates good writing and enjoys books such as Eat, Pray, Love—then Perennials may be a good option.
Perhaps Perennials does present Jesus as an option to be considered rather than as the answer. But in doing that, it may attract readers who wouldn't ever pick up a 'Christian' novel. And if those readers are true to themselves, they will consider Jesus. And I believe we need more books written by Christians for a general market audience, books that address real-world problems and present Jesus as an option.
As Perennials does.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
October 5, 2017
Perennials is a beautiful novel. The writing style, the cover and the flower touches on beginning of chapter pages are elegant.
In this novel, we get a window into the soul of main character Eva "Lovey". I suspect there are aspects of Eva's world we can relate to...ambition, struggles, successes. Perennials gives readers a look at human behavior and why people behave the way we do. And how we choose to react.
While there was much to love about Eva, my favorite character was Fischer. Fischer delivers southern gentleman throughout the novel. Another main character was Bitsy. Bitsy is an easy person to dislike and the author does a nice job of helping us see why she is the way she is. Do we love her anyway? That's a rather tough question.
The setting in both Sedona (Arizona) and Oxford (Mississippi) were remarkably described. I could visualize, smell and feel the scenery. The symbolism and visual of flowers throughout the novel was well done.
Julie Cantrell is a talented author with both historical and contemporary novels. Perennials is her fourth novel. I've enjoyed all of them.
My gratitude to the author for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
In this novel, we get a window into the soul of main character Eva "Lovey". I suspect there are aspects of Eva's world we can relate to...ambition, struggles, successes. Perennials gives readers a look at human behavior and why people behave the way we do. And how we choose to react.
While there was much to love about Eva, my favorite character was Fischer. Fischer delivers southern gentleman throughout the novel. Another main character was Bitsy. Bitsy is an easy person to dislike and the author does a nice job of helping us see why she is the way she is. Do we love her anyway? That's a rather tough question.
The setting in both Sedona (Arizona) and Oxford (Mississippi) were remarkably described. I could visualize, smell and feel the scenery. The symbolism and visual of flowers throughout the novel was well done.
Julie Cantrell is a talented author with both historical and contemporary novels. Perennials is her fourth novel. I've enjoyed all of them.
My gratitude to the author for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 6, 2017
A mesmerizing Southern coming of age story.Lovey and her three years older sister,Bitsy grew up in Oxford, MS. Theirs was a typical childhood catching fireflies and getting dirty with the neighborhood boys,brothers Finn and Fischer. That all changes the day elegant Blaire moves into the neighborhood. That's the day Bitsy's childhood was over she wanted to be just like Blaire,fancy,wearing nail polish and showing interest in boys. Lovey isn't interested in all that though she wants to still get dirt under her nails and help her mother in the perennial garden. I love the research the author has done in reference to the flowers and it's mentioned throughout the book. The cover is gorgeous and very eye catching! Leaving MS at age 18 Lovely moves to Arizona and settles in . Making a life for herself she is a yoga instructor and has successful career at an advertising agency in Arizona. After recently celebrating her 45th birthday she is summoned home to help celebrate her parents 5oth wedding anniversary. She is hesitant to return home because is estranged from her sister. Her sister blames her for a shed fire that happened during their childhood and won't stop bad mouthing her and telling lies about her. Once home her parents are so happy to see her Chief her father and her mother. Her mother has always been thin but she notices her picking at her food and getting thinner,her energy lags also. She wants to make a new start with Bitsy but Bitsy has the perfect husband,big house and lots of money,she just doesn't seem to need her sister or want to reconcile with her. After having a heart to heart talk with her father she feels better and sees things with a new perspective. After going back home and talking to her family she sees things with a new perspective through adult eyes now. Her eyes are opened as she realizes things about herself,her sister and her parents she hadn't known before.
Pub Date 14 Nov 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date 14 Nov 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2024
After woman (Eva/Lovey) returns to her hometown for parent’s (Chief/Jim and Laurel) 50th anniversary party, her life becomes uprooted. -- See what I did there? Uprooted, like a plant? The book made do it! Ha. -- What was it about this visit home that caused Eva to feel so unsettled about her current life in Arizona? Will she find what she's been looking for? Will she finally make peace with her older sister (Elizabeth/Bitsy), as well as her childhood perception of herself? These deep questions, and more, are answered in this beautiful story of family, friends, and flowers.
When 45 year old Eva was summoned to her hometown of Oxford, Mississippi a few weeks before her parent's 50th wedding anniversary party, she wasn't sure how to also balance her job as an advertiser in Phoenix, Arizona. Once home, however, her father insists the family embark on nostalgic and sentimental day trips down memory lane, and Eva finally relaxes and enjoys her time with family.
I read this book while suffering from a cough and cold and found the story to be the perfect escape as instead, I was transported to a lovely garden full of sunshine and familial love. My favorite characters were Eva’s father and Eva's childhood friend and first love, Fisher. I also loved all the flower references and how important they were to the family. Eva's mother, Laurel's, love of gardening reminded me of my own grandma and made me long for just a few more hours with her and her flowers. Lastly, I found the topic of visiting aging parents extremely timely as I will soon be visiting my own aging parents over the holidays. Several times throughout the story, I became teary eyed while reading about the touching moments between Eva and her parents.
This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I look forward to more. If you enjoyed the information about flowers in The Language of Flowers, then I would recommend you read this one next!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
"Every one of us is a messy combination of all that has happened in our lives, all the hurts and heartaches, mishaps and mistakes. But there's one big difference. Some of us choose to love in spite of it all. And some of us don't." - Eva/Lovey
When 45 year old Eva was summoned to her hometown of Oxford, Mississippi a few weeks before her parent's 50th wedding anniversary party, she wasn't sure how to also balance her job as an advertiser in Phoenix, Arizona. Once home, however, her father insists the family embark on nostalgic and sentimental day trips down memory lane, and Eva finally relaxes and enjoys her time with family.
I read this book while suffering from a cough and cold and found the story to be the perfect escape as instead, I was transported to a lovely garden full of sunshine and familial love. My favorite characters were Eva’s father and Eva's childhood friend and first love, Fisher. I also loved all the flower references and how important they were to the family. Eva's mother, Laurel's, love of gardening reminded me of my own grandma and made me long for just a few more hours with her and her flowers. Lastly, I found the topic of visiting aging parents extremely timely as I will soon be visiting my own aging parents over the holidays. Several times throughout the story, I became teary eyed while reading about the touching moments between Eva and her parents.
This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I look forward to more. If you enjoyed the information about flowers in The Language of Flowers, then I would recommend you read this one next!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
"Every one of us is a messy combination of all that has happened in our lives, all the hurts and heartaches, mishaps and mistakes. But there's one big difference. Some of us choose to love in spite of it all. And some of us don't." - Eva/Lovey
January 4, 2018
I had a difficult time rating this book. From the standpoint of plot and writing style, it's very good.. easily a 4 or 5. I was intrigued by the cover and the synopsis. It is set in my home state (where the author lives) and in a town I know very well and love. It's Southern... about family...and Christian... that all appeals to me. But I found it not to be all that. Again.. Cantrell's writing style is excellent and her characters have depth, but I am greatly bothered that this is labeled as Christian Fiction. A main story line is one of the character dealing with spiritual issues and her main influence is a Buddhist. I hoped she would come to see that this mindset was contrary to Scripture, but that never happened. In fact, "Christian" characters in the book encouraged her to keep seeking and listening to all the voices knowing that they would lead her to the truth. Jesus makes it clear in Scripture.. "I am THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. NO ONE Comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME." (John 14:6).
If you are looking for a Christian read, this is not the book for you.
If you are looking for a Christian read, this is not the book for you.
January 11, 2021
Just two F words for this book: Finally Finished
August 27, 2017
Every part has a purpose. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
3.5 stars. I loved The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell, and was very happy that Netgalley approved my request for Perennials, to be released later this year. The author has a beautiful, straightforward and emphatic writing style. I enjoyed all the historical information about the South, it's museums and famous authors. The botany references was interesting and well-integrated. Lastly I liked that the christian element was never preachy and was beautifully balanced with a more spiritual, almost buddhist, outlook. The reason I did not rate this book higher is that the jumping from then to now sometimes felt a bit forced, and I would have liked Lovey to have more character flaws. All in all Perennials is a welcome escape from our rushed and stressful lives.
The Story: When Lovey is enlisted to help her father create a memory garden for her parents’ 50th anniversary, she learns about herself, her roots, her mother’s perennial garden, and the importance of family bonds that can never be broken.
January 1, 2021
Ugh. Contrived. Saccharine. Too much gardening detail (and I love flowers!). Annoying characters who make no sense. Parents who are cloyingly sweet and loving, while supposedly brooking no nonsense from their two daughters, yet they continually let one sister treat the other like dirt and they don’t say a word. Two sisters who are so immature as to be beyond belief. One is full of self-pity, the other full of envy, both of whom behave like middle-schoolers instead of middle-age women. I love a good southern novel, but this one falls flat. I give it two stars only because I somehow wanted to finish it to see how the storyline played out.
February 9, 2018
A Perennial kind of love...
Southern style, Life lesson with the greatest being love, all in one book. Why yes, I think I will devour this book in one sitting thank you.
I was hooked from the very first chapter.
I think all of you readers that are fans of southern fiction are going to agree with me on this one.
I will warn you there is mention of Buddhist in this book and those of us that are secure in our Christian walk with be fine with this.
If you are a new Christian and have a lot of questions and your just not sure yet, this may not be a book for you!
I gave this book 4 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
Southern style, Life lesson with the greatest being love, all in one book. Why yes, I think I will devour this book in one sitting thank you.
I was hooked from the very first chapter.
I think all of you readers that are fans of southern fiction are going to agree with me on this one.
I will warn you there is mention of Buddhist in this book and those of us that are secure in our Christian walk with be fine with this.
If you are a new Christian and have a lot of questions and your just not sure yet, this may not be a book for you!
I gave this book 4 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
February 18, 2022
In Perennials, Julie Cantrell has written a love letter to her home state of Mississippi, Deep South summers, and flower blooms that can heal the soul. Through main character Lovey's return trip home, we see what it means to keep "Family First" no matter what. And her journey home is much more than just miles traveled--it's a glimpse into a life full of heartache and longing, the illuminating light of truth, and the redemptive power of love.
February 16, 2018
The author has written a relatively good book revolving around happy and unhappy family life, relationships well loved and others lost, jealousy and cruel behavior, lies, forgiveness. It also describes the love and beauty of gardens and flowers which was present all througout the family’s life. I always enjoy a book that contains a storyline with flora and fauna since I am am an avid gardener.
I liked all the characters except for Bitsy, Eva’s sister who they were so close growing up but there was a tipping point on Bitsy’s side and to this day things have been ice cold between the two. Bitsy really got away with constant bad behavior to her sister and no one called her out on it and so like a runaway train, it continued and accelerated dysfunctionally into their adult lives. This split between sisters also had an influence on each of their educational and professional choices, relationships, and whether they stayed local or moved away.
What i really did not like with this story was the parents constantly - I mean constantly - almost throughout the entire book - trying to one sidedly mend the sisters relationship. It was rather pathetic and I was tired of reading these redundant, lame, weak attempts. They encouraged Eva to look past her sisters slights. They would say Bitsy is difficult as if that was an excuse for her ultra bad behavior. I know the parents were being selfish because of an incident left to be told later in book, however, they were doing no good for either of the sisters to attempt to forgive or make amends until yet another tipping point showed it’s hand. In the end I still did not like Bitsy’s character, for all the snottiness, pain and suffering she caused even though she had her own problems, but then that’s just me. You don’t do that and you don’t do that to family. Shame on her and some of the others too!
The second thing I did not like were, once again, constant drawn out references that there was “something?” going on with the health of the mother but no one is asking the question - she’s not eating, experienced weight loss, the mother saying things about “time”, recalling past fond family memories, revisiting old haunts, the husband planning a surprise memory garden for their wedding anniversary, blaming old age for body changes, and again, that constant pushing for the sisters to make amends once and for all. The reader knows something big is coming and I just wanted to shout “out with it already and quit tiptoeing around the elephant in the room” do the reveal and let’s propel the story forward!!
I would have given four stars to this book however, because of the above two paragraphs on “what I did not like about this book”, it only earns a three star review from me.
I liked all the characters except for Bitsy, Eva’s sister who they were so close growing up but there was a tipping point on Bitsy’s side and to this day things have been ice cold between the two. Bitsy really got away with constant bad behavior to her sister and no one called her out on it and so like a runaway train, it continued and accelerated dysfunctionally into their adult lives. This split between sisters also had an influence on each of their educational and professional choices, relationships, and whether they stayed local or moved away.
What i really did not like with this story was the parents constantly - I mean constantly - almost throughout the entire book - trying to one sidedly mend the sisters relationship. It was rather pathetic and I was tired of reading these redundant, lame, weak attempts. They encouraged Eva to look past her sisters slights. They would say Bitsy is difficult as if that was an excuse for her ultra bad behavior. I know the parents were being selfish because of an incident left to be told later in book, however, they were doing no good for either of the sisters to attempt to forgive or make amends until yet another tipping point showed it’s hand. In the end I still did not like Bitsy’s character, for all the snottiness, pain and suffering she caused even though she had her own problems, but then that’s just me. You don’t do that and you don’t do that to family. Shame on her and some of the others too!
The second thing I did not like were, once again, constant drawn out references that there was “something?” going on with the health of the mother but no one is asking the question - she’s not eating, experienced weight loss, the mother saying things about “time”, recalling past fond family memories, revisiting old haunts, the husband planning a surprise memory garden for their wedding anniversary, blaming old age for body changes, and again, that constant pushing for the sisters to make amends once and for all. The reader knows something big is coming and I just wanted to shout “out with it already and quit tiptoeing around the elephant in the room” do the reveal and let’s propel the story forward!!
I would have given four stars to this book however, because of the above two paragraphs on “what I did not like about this book”, it only earns a three star review from me.
October 14, 2017
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My Review of "Perennials" by Julie Cantrell
Kudos to Julie Cantrell, author of "Perennials" for such an emotional and heartwarming novel. The symbolism in this book, leads to many layers of life. The genres of this novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline of this story as it relates to the characters is the present and as the two sisters in the story were growing up. The story take place mostly in Oxford,Mississippi, where the author shows her characters love for literature, history and flowers. It also takes place in Arizona.
The blurb from the books says"When two estranged sisters reunite for their parents' 50th anniversary, a family tragedy brings unexpected lessons of hope and healing amid the flowers of their mother's perennial garden." The father wants to give his wife a "memory garden" as a special present. The mother has a love for all perennials and living things.
The author describes her characters as complicated and complex. She often uses the symbolic example of a garden, seed, roots foundation, care, love and growth to compare to the characters. The lesson of Judas is brought up and is used to explore the characters flaws, betrayals, secrets, needs, strengths and weaknesses. The author also discusses the concept of "Family First " in this story. Also discussed is sibling rivalry. Secrets and lies also are in this story.
Lovey has left Mississippi at an early age headed to Arizona, where she is a financial success in advertising, and also teaches Yoga. She is called home to help celebrate her loving parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. Told it is an emergency, Lovely leaves immediately and sees her estranged sister Bitsy. Bitsy has two children that Lovely has longed to have a relationship with, but Bitsy has kept them away from her. What has made Bitsy so bitter and angry? What had made Lovely leave Mississippi, and go to Arizona.? What is so important that her parents want Lovely home?
I appreciate the historical research that Julie Cantrell has done in the literature, flowers, and gardens. I love that the author discusses sibling rivalry, betrayal and loyalty, lies and the truth. self-worth, and growth, and positive people and positive things in our lives. The author also talks about the importance of family, friends, support, encouragement, growth, love and hope. Be warned: there are a few Kleenex moments. I would highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate a loving and memorable story. I received this Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.
October 30, 2017
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I loved, loved, loved this book! I couldn't read it fast enough! The characters are very likeable. I loved all the gardening symbolism in relation to life. I come from a long line of garden lovers. Eva was a strong woman character, who in the process of this book figures out where she is meant to be. A great story about love, family, gardening references, and life obstacles. I am putting this book on my family book club reading list!!!
May 28, 2021
Bunch of F-words.
F - no.
F - please.
F - why.
F - :(
F - stop.
F - no.
F - please.
F - why.
F - :(
F - stop.
October 11, 2017
Julie Cantrell does it again with her latest book that touches on estranged sisters, the ties not only to family but to your roots, and the damages done as we grow up by ourselves and relationships and how to find a way to heal again. The beautiful thing about Cantrell's writing is the simplicity of it while somehow enthralling you into her world. Now this world was a bit easier for me to dive into with its ties to the town I live in (Oxford) but also as someone who transplanted herself here from somewhere else but found it to be the home she always needed, I related to the main character greatly. Cantrell simply states the things I think many of us sometimes need to hear and gives us that gentle nudge to remind ourselves that family and our loved ones greatly outweigh our jobs and hobbies. Sometimes we need to slow down and smell the perennials to remember that. I would go more in-depth with beautiful lines I loved or plot but don't want to spoil it for someone else. Just know this, Cantrell always finds a way to make you laugh, remember your own past, cry and eventually heal alongside her characters. Such a lovely piece.
August 26, 2017
Ah, returning to a childhood home. You may discover nothing has changed and feel smug for having escaped, or return to find an altered landscape and realize you've been missing your true home after all? In this beautifully rendered story, Eva (Lovey) is called home--to her family, to tragedy, to abandoned love, to the shadows of closely-held secrets--and has no choice but to face what she believed she'd left behind.
With gorgeous descriptions of gardening and nature, Cantrell expertly weaves the theme of rebirth and renewal through this tale of family loyalty, sibling rivalry, heartbreaking loss, and the salvation of forgiveness. Readers in search of a lush and moving story of healing and family need look no further. And if, like me, you have a penchant for flowers, all the better!
With gorgeous descriptions of gardening and nature, Cantrell expertly weaves the theme of rebirth and renewal through this tale of family loyalty, sibling rivalry, heartbreaking loss, and the salvation of forgiveness. Readers in search of a lush and moving story of healing and family need look no further. And if, like me, you have a penchant for flowers, all the better!
August 16, 2017
Julie Cantrell's beautiful literary prose and compassionate wisdom come through in her latest novel, PERENNIALS. As in all of her novels, there are strong women recovering from difficult things that happen to them, and "blooming" into the selves they are meant to be. There's lots of good "therapy" in this book, and also a good helping of spirituality. I loved it.
November 6, 2017
With languid prose and vivid description Julie Cantrell’s novel unfolds as beautifully as one of her protagonist's favorite flowers. Cantrell weaves moving and inspirational stories that make her one of today’s most beloved storytellers. Perennials may be her most breathtaking yet.
November 28, 2017
Such a heartwarming and frustrating read. Loved every minute of it. Fisher, Finn, Bitsy, Chief, Laurel and Lovey were all great characters. The main characters were the flowers and the bits of literary references. I learned a lot. I hope I can visit those places in Mississippi one day.
October 1, 2020
In general, this was a beautifully told relational story. The strong good bad men though, sigh, reminded me of Disney, the parts I don't like.
November 13, 2017
I was given a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper Collins for an honest review. Lovey, age 45, is finding herself at a crossroads in life. She has a successful job and a home in Phoenix as well as a home in Sedona. Lovey travels to Sedona every weekend to replenish her spirit. She is hopeful her latest project at work will give her a big financial payout so she can retire and live full time in Sedona. Her plans are set awry when her father phones and begs her to come home to Mississippi, earlier than her planned visit, to help plan her parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration. At his insistence Lovey returns home, to the place she fled from when she was 18. Once she’s there we learn more about the family dynamics between Lovey, her sister Bitsy, and their parents. There are many old wounds from the girl’s childhood and the sisters still have a volatile relationship with each other. Lovey also reconnects with her high school boyfriend. The longer Lovey is home the more she realizes how much she missed by leaving abruptly all those years ago. She develops a better understanding of her parents and their actions and she continues to try and build a relationship with her sister. Lovey does a lot of soul searching to determine what she really wants out of life. The descriptions in this book are beautiful and vivid. A lot of the story is based around gardening and this is brought to life for us. There are also a lot of historical references in the book that are very detailed and really round out the story. This book deals with love and forgiveness and talks a lot about different forms of spirituality. It is a heart warming book that emphasizes what the important things in life really are.
August 13, 2021
Beautiful writing, evocative imagery. This story of sisters is powerful to break & help heal any who have lived through similar sibling dynamics. An uplifting reading experience. Top pick!
September 15, 2017
This family drama really sucked me in from the very beginning. I love Julie Cantrell's writing style. Her writing is lyrical and deep without weighing down the story with too many details. Her characters are introspective and flawed. Sometimes I found them to be immature. I had a lot of sympathy for them, but they really needed to grow up. Still, by the end of the book they had come a long way. I enjoy the Oxford, Mississippi setting and the Faulkner references. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy southern contemporary fiction.
I received this book for free for the purpose of review.
November 10, 2017
Perennials is a new novel by Julie Cantrell. Eva “Lovely” Sutherland grew up in Oxford, Mississippi. Thanks to her sister, Bitsy and her lies, Eva was quick to move to Phoenix when she turned eighteen. Laurel and Chief Sutherland will be celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary soon and they would like Eva to return home early. Eva just landed the account of her career with a tight deadline, but she agrees to return home. Unfortunately, Bitsy has not changed and is antagonistic (bitter, nasty, jealous). Eva helps her father plan a special memory garden as a surprise for her mother. It gives Eva a chance to work with her friend and former boyfriend, Fisher Oaklen as well as remember her dream of becoming a flower farmer. Eva is given an opportunity to look back on her life and decide what she wants for her future. Is it possible to go home again? Can Bitsy and Eva get past their differences?
Perennials is a spiritual novel (not Christian) with focus on Buddhism. Yoga and Buddhism are frequently mentioned throughout the story (Buddhist prayer wheel, yoga poses, etc.). The one Christian thing mentioned repeatedly is “Judas has a story” (two sides to every story). Julie Cantrell is a descriptive writer. She paints a picture with words. Ms. Cantrell describes nature (flowers, trees, birds) and the town in detail. Some of the flower descriptions are lovely (people who enjoy gardening will appreciate it). I found Perennials to be a slow-paced story that failed to capture and hold my attention (it actually put me to sleep which is hard to do since I suffer from insomnia). It is basically a story of sibling rivalry (I could go down the street to my sisters to experience this type of behavior) with a predictable ending (it turned out exactly as I predicted when I started reading it).
Perennials is a spiritual novel (not Christian) with focus on Buddhism. Yoga and Buddhism are frequently mentioned throughout the story (Buddhist prayer wheel, yoga poses, etc.). The one Christian thing mentioned repeatedly is “Judas has a story” (two sides to every story). Julie Cantrell is a descriptive writer. She paints a picture with words. Ms. Cantrell describes nature (flowers, trees, birds) and the town in detail. Some of the flower descriptions are lovely (people who enjoy gardening will appreciate it). I found Perennials to be a slow-paced story that failed to capture and hold my attention (it actually put me to sleep which is hard to do since I suffer from insomnia). It is basically a story of sibling rivalry (I could go down the street to my sisters to experience this type of behavior) with a predictable ending (it turned out exactly as I predicted when I started reading it).
September 2, 2018
I’ve been reading this book off and on for awhile, it was free or on sale for very little awhile ago and it looked ok. The score on Goodreads was good so gave it a chance. But then library books that had to be read by their due dates would get in the way.
Finally caught up with them and decided to dive in.
The writing is good and the plot ok but jeez Louise, Lovey needs to grow up and grow a pair. She’s 45 years old and acting like she’s 19, with little hurt feelings all the time bc her sister is a bitch? Really? Tell that bitch what’s what, tell your parents what a liar and trouble maker she is, stand up for yourself. Visit your parents whom you love, don’t ignore them bc your sister is mean to you. Really unbelievable story here.
I read some of the reviews complaining that it was supposed to be Christian fiction and they didn’t think it was.
I don’t know what that is as I’ve never read Christian fiction and don’t know what that even means? No swearing? So sex scenes? So I’m glad I didn’t know about that.
I just thought the story was juvenile, not something that would go on between middle aged women. All that angst and sadness and they have wonderful parents, wealthy parents who are celebrating 50 years of marriage and gave them a great childhood and her whole life is bad bc her sister is mean to her? Ignore the bitch and enjoy your parents. It’s a white bread mess of a book,
Finally caught up with them and decided to dive in.
The writing is good and the plot ok but jeez Louise, Lovey needs to grow up and grow a pair. She’s 45 years old and acting like she’s 19, with little hurt feelings all the time bc her sister is a bitch? Really? Tell that bitch what’s what, tell your parents what a liar and trouble maker she is, stand up for yourself. Visit your parents whom you love, don’t ignore them bc your sister is mean to you. Really unbelievable story here.
I read some of the reviews complaining that it was supposed to be Christian fiction and they didn’t think it was.
I don’t know what that is as I’ve never read Christian fiction and don’t know what that even means? No swearing? So sex scenes? So I’m glad I didn’t know about that.
I just thought the story was juvenile, not something that would go on between middle aged women. All that angst and sadness and they have wonderful parents, wealthy parents who are celebrating 50 years of marriage and gave them a great childhood and her whole life is bad bc her sister is mean to her? Ignore the bitch and enjoy your parents. It’s a white bread mess of a book,
October 6, 2017
Perennials is such a heart-warming book about love and loss, betrayal and forgiveness, weakness and strength, especially woman's strength. Cantrell's writing is straight-forward and easy to read, yet there's plenty here for champions of literary fiction to love. An hourglass charm symbolizes the passage of time and illustrates one of the book's themes: that you never know how much time you have, that you have to seize the moment, live now. I loved the list of "f" words--no, not the infamous f-bomb! Friends, family, faith, forgiveness. And fireflies are used to great effect near the end.
As a gardener, I love this line: Everything in life can be explained by a garden." With all the emphasis on gardening, it would be a fantastic book for garden clubs to read. Yoga groups too! And with its interwoven Christian themes, many church book clubs will love it too.
Eva, called Lovey by those who truly know her, is a heroine who will win your heart. She finds herself torn between a high-powered career and a second chance at finding love and meaningful connection. Abusive relationships drive the plot and character development in this book, but not in a way that is depressing. Instead, the story is all about survival and recovery, blooming and new beginnings. This is serious women's fiction at its finest.
As a gardener, I love this line: Everything in life can be explained by a garden." With all the emphasis on gardening, it would be a fantastic book for garden clubs to read. Yoga groups too! And with its interwoven Christian themes, many church book clubs will love it too.
Eva, called Lovey by those who truly know her, is a heroine who will win your heart. She finds herself torn between a high-powered career and a second chance at finding love and meaningful connection. Abusive relationships drive the plot and character development in this book, but not in a way that is depressing. Instead, the story is all about survival and recovery, blooming and new beginnings. This is serious women's fiction at its finest.
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