Rating: 4/5 Tags: adult books for young adults, coming of age This debut novel features 18 year old Victoria who has just been released from the system after spending her whole life in foster care. With nowhere to go and sleeping in a public park, she stumbles upon a part time job with an unconventional florist who soon discovers that Victoria has an exceptional gift for helping people through the flowers she arranges for them. Alternating between the present and 9 year Victoria placed in her final foster home where she is truly wanted but unable to accept this love, the novel encompasses the difficult themes of homelessness, unwanted children and dysfunction as well as love, redemption and the fascinating secret meanings of flower names. Diffenbaugh, herself a former foster parent and founder of an advocacy group to help foster children, tells a beautiful story about a not-so-beautiful subject which ultimately shines light and hope in a very dark corner of society. A similar story is White Oleander by Janet Fitch. Reviewed by GF and KH

Victoria Jones, the main character here, was abandoned as an infant and spent her young life in foster care and group homes. Her last foster home, when she was nine still haunts here, and it was there she learned the language of flowers. Victoria has reached the age of 18 and is emancipated, but doesn't know how to begin her life on her own. She plants a small garden in a park and her talent is recognized by a local florist who offers her work. As Victoria grows more secure in her skills with flowers, she also finds herself drawn to the past, unsure if she can find peace with what she left behind. This is a love story, a story of independence, a story of families, and of course a story of the language of flowers. I'd long been aware that flowers had meanings, but hadn't taken the time to investigate them. The author includes a listing of flower language at the end that is an interesting beginning. Diffenbaugh was inspired to write this novel by her own experiences as a foster mother. As a person with two adopted siblings, I found that side of it interesting too.

Beautifully written book. A must-read for anyone who is passionate about flowers. I will be keeping my eyes open for more by this new author!

A very beautiful book! This one teaches you trust, love, and hope. Very unusual and very captivating! I placed it in a category Must Read.

I was sucked in immediately and had to read it all in one sitting!

A lovely debut novel from Vanessa Diffenbaugh, The Language of Flowers handles a relatively common subject (foster homes and related trauma) in a unique way.

Loved this book! Unusual and unique, and I enjoyed learning about the language of flowers. An intelligent romance, not a sickly sweet one.

Beautiful story, even though parts of it breaks your heart. Healing through flowers - I havent read anything similar to this.

This superb debut novel explores the depths of human emotion and family. Victoria is a troubled young woman. Passed from foster home to foster home until finally deemed a lost cause, she finally gains her freedom at age 18. But she is an emotionally damaged person whose only interest is the language of flowers, a Victorian construct where people learned to communicate using the meanings of flowers. Victoria's journey through childhood, and as a young adult on her own is heartbreaking and fulfilling. Vanessa Diffenaugh tells this story with a mastery that is thoroughly rewarding.

This one grabbed me and I had a hard time putting it down. Who knew the gift of a flower could have so much meaning? Was a little frustrated with the heroine as she made life so difficult for herself with dumb choices but had to cut her some slack for the childhood she had.