Karen_K

Plant Lady Review June 2026

I was expecting a Cozy Mystery type book but instead discovered myself in a revenge horror story. Once I made the mental adjustment, I really enjoyed it. The descriptive and fine storytelling skills of the author pulled me into this genre I wouldn't otherwise have ventured into. I think the often targeted or casual misogyny in cultures all over the world is a common experience that I (and no doubt others) certainly could relate to. The satisfaction of seeing this revenge carried out so skillfully was a nearly complete pleasure. I say nearly because in real life there would always be some regret in such a path. I appreciate the tongue in cheek social commentary of this book and hope it leads to discussion among readers and families. I believe in the power of books to change culture for the better.

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

This is the 20 plus year story of the friendships of a group of young adult women (January, Monique, Nakia, and sisters Desiree and Danielle) growing into middle age in the early 21st century to 2027. It is a deep dive into the lives of the characters at different times in their journeys. The non-linear chapter timeline was disorienting at first but I got used to it and tried to float on the wave of whatever chapter I was reading. I wished I had taken a few notes while reading because for me, it is tricky to hold on to the different characters at different times and trying to remember what was going on just before this time of the current chapter. That said, I was able to get such a good feel for the realness of each of the characters that I didn't need the names to recognize the person when the narration point of view changed, which it did. The women were not perfect people but I loved that they all seemed to have deeper, bigger goals than just personal success. They all wanted to do good in the world, to help those ill and less advantaged and make connections and meaning in relationships and work. My favorite thing in fiction is to discover new pockets of empathy in myself for people. This book brought me into the lives of people that previously, I only had surface understanding of. It makes me a little jealous of the family that they have crafted. They did not just coast in their relationships with each other, they said the hard things, they questioned each other, all the while showing an unshakable love. The parts of the novel that went into the future were the most terrifying to me. The use of robots or remote control surveillance methods was chilling. (That was the most unexpected part.)The life of these women during this time period in which I also have lived, gave me a new perspective for which I am grateful. I loved the author's previous work (The Turner House) and can see that her character development skills still reign supreme. I cared deeply for the women in their messy, imperfect yet admirable lives. I feel they will live in my head for a long while after I put the book down.

Joy & Grief, Nature & Technological Abuse, Artistry and Cold Calculated Scheming, Love and Hate, Empathy and Cold Closed Doors. All in the otherworldly landscape of Lake Superior.

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend:
Review of ARC e-book June 2025 for the First Impressions Program

The hero of our story is Margaret Finch, a lover of science and nature, plants and birds and a very regulated life. I found Margaret to be a real gem. She is a bit prickly and blunt at times but also tenacious and honest, reliable and loyal. Margaret is not afraid to change her mind and habits if the situation demands it. She is a 54 year old woman who has faced many hardships and disappointments in life but has not become bitter. This book is fast paced and the story kept me interested all along. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a light mystery set in the current era at a small university. The character reminds me of the title character of Sister Boniface (a TV spinoff of the Father Brown series based on GK Chesterton books). Margaret is delightful, funny and inquisitive and not held back by how others perceive her. She is admired by many people and those who work with her but is often called offensive names by others because of her body size and appearance. Margaret's amateur detective skills are often doubted and always underestimated. I hope we see more of this character in the future and it was just the thing for a light summer read.

This book took me on an enjoyable adventure into the lives of a group of women (and a man, George) at various stages of their lives. I loved the idea of a group of women of diverse ages getting together in the real and digital worlds to create art, support each other and combat loneliness in the big world.

The four most dominant characters (30, 27, 17 and George) are developed well enough to make me see them from all sides, they felt real and got my empathy. Nobody is perfect in this story, except maybe the long dead (I LIKE that).

It is a contemporary story, in that there are a few pages of vlog transcripts and a few more of group text messages, but not too much of that to be annoying. The romance felt real; there was real caring and real conflict, not just misunderstandings that get "sorted" on the last page. I loved the older women in the story also, the nun and 69 were a hoot.

The book is light and funny but not predictable and I appreciated the entertainment value of that. It is not gory or too suspenseful, just enough to keep me coming back to find out what happens, but not too much as to keep me awake at night! The very definition of a cozy mystery, but set in modern times.

I hope this mystery solving team gets repeat mysteries to share in a season 2 or 3 of the Sarah Jones Project and we get to know all of the team better.