You can’t choose your family. Just like you can’t stop the whispers of your heart. When Fflur’s parents’ divorce, she has to find her place in not only her new family, but also the world. Her mother’s deception and secret life cuts deep. Deep enough for Fflur to taste the bitterness of hate. But her connection to a boy that may or may not become her new stepbrother could well cause the deepest … cause the deepest hurt of all. I’m Fflur—Flower to everyone who knows me—and this is the story of broken homes, shattered hearts, and stolen dreams.
It’s the story of weeds and wishes, and the definition of a flower.
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This book is about a girl.
Family. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Life. Finding your place, and belonging.
This book is about Love.
There are all sorts of love, but that one love, the one that seeps into your soul and makes you complete, that endures despite everything—that is what this book is about.
Emotional.
Special.
Beautiful.
That is what this book is.
“”Do you regret it?” I ask him. His forehead rolls against mine. “No, I could never regret anything with you.””
While writing this review, I’m still shaken and thinking about this book my gut still wrenches and my heart still aches. It’s only a few ours between finishing the book and writing this review. And I know, no matter how hard I try, I probably can’t do this great book justice with my review. But I try.
“He holds onto me so tight that it hurts. I can feel it all; his pain, his fear, and gives it over to me willingly. I am Galen’s flower.”
The Definition of Fflur has all the feels, stirs all feelings you can possible think of. Right from the beginning I got caught in its delicate woven webs of emotions. Throughout the whole book my heart ached and I had constantly burning eyes threatening tears to fall.
“One night will never be enough. One night will have to last us a lifetime.”
The story of Fflur and Galen and their family pulled all my emotional strings and played them well like a rock star plays his guitar. My mind was in a constant state of denial, because it couldn’t believe what it just read. So many things happen on so many different and sensitive layers, touching your soul deeply.
“We kiss. We touch. We grasp. We pull, We stumble. But he never lets me fall.”
E.S. Carter worked magic with this book. She handled so many topics so perfectly well, created a family with different and deep layers of love. The characters come to live so vividly, you feel every heart ache, every moment of happiness as your own.
“Let’s blow wishes on the wind and try to make them a reality. Let’s see beauty where others see weeds.”
Fflur is a quirky and easily lovable girl which loves flowers, they are her sanctuary as much as music is for Galen. Their family doesn’t meet any standards or ideals, but it’s packed with deep and true love as much as understanding for each other. Their story is about loss as much as it is about love and what should be important in life.
“My Fflur, my every flower and the definition of all that’s good in my world.”
The Definition of Fflur is heartbreakingly and breathtakingly beautiful and it put itself easily on my All-Time-Fav-List. Thank you so much Eli for this deeply soul touching story. I can’t even tell you what this book did with me.
“Love, even if that someone can’t love you in return. Live, don’t waste time on the little things.”
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
First, I will allow you to let that sink in what you read above. Because truly, if a blurb checks off all my no-no rules when selecting a book, it’s right there in front of your eyes.
~ It’s a story of someone under the age of 25. YA and me are a no.
~ It’s a story that is going to have some pretty heavy angst. No hearts and rainbow unicorns, and I’m out.
But what if I get off the high horse of self imposed pickiness and actually gave the book a chance? Seriously, didn’t I JUST complain about insta-love haters in a blog post? Now, in full disclosure, I did beta read the story, and Ms. Carter gave me the opportunity to say no. Yet, I decided to take a chance on this awkward old soul who is the center of probably the most wonderful story that will grace your heart and mind. My earlier initial thoughts were radically changed:
~ It’s a story of a girl trying to understand her world after it all comes apart. How it molds and shapes her as the reader experiences her life in coming of age.
~ It’s a story that will evoke a lot of feelings as you read: anger, shock, sympathy, loss, understanding and most of all great love.
Many have asked and I have answered firmly: Yes, there is a HEA. I know as a reader, Ms. Carter put me through hell – read that as yes she ACTUALLY made me cry – but there is a happily ever after in the end. I would never steer my fellow book friends into a non-HEA.
But did you catch that? She made me cry. The person who watched Titanic and asked when the people drown. That piece of information should make you rethink any decision not to read this story. If someone’s words can touch me so profoundly to move me to tears, it is well worth your time.
ES Carter creates a world where your mind travels there. The characters play out their lives with vivid imagery. Her words are beautiful and brilliant. As a reader, you want to reach out to Fflur, counsel her in each misstep, hold her when she breaks, and praise her when she grows resilient.
I think I’m done. Because honestly, there is nothing else that I can find that will tell you why you should read this story. It is something to be experienced, treasured, and most of all – shared with all your book friends. In short…Buy The Book.
3.5 Sunshine Stars
I have mixed feelings about The Definition Fflur. I’ll start off with it’s extremely well written and that’s always a plus for me. It also gave me some really deep feels. It had wonderful moments of life, love, family, friends, acceptance and forgiveness. But it also had, in my opinion, a few unnecessary plot twists that actually threw me off and took me out of the story. I was still questioning one of those twists all the way up until the end of the story. So this isn’t your conventional romance and won’t be for everyone, but it is a story of love in all its many forms and that’s what reading romance is all about.
There’s something about the way Ms Carter writes, her words permeate my thoughts for hours and days after reading her stories, they take up residence in my life.
The Definition of Fflur has taken this sentiment to a whole new level and a deeper impact.
I choked, gagged and gasped for breath at times on the overwhelming emotion in this story.
It’s cloying in it’s intensity and yet as brilliant as the brightest day and as light as Fflur’s dandelions on the wind. Love and loss are hand in hand on centre stage and you can’t help but get carried away in both.
Fflur’s broken family story is not a new one.
I’m sure many of us have come from similar. I did, and am married to a divorcee with stepchildren of my own.
But Fflur isn’t an ordinary girl, she’s an old soul if you like, and the relationship that springs from her new circumstances is unique, powerful and enriching and I don’t see it as taboo. And it’s a long way from wrong.
This story left me speechless for months, only now having read it for a second time do I feel I can write a semi worthy review, can I put words to how it made me feel and simply said, IT MADE ME FEEL.
“It’s my little heartfelt mashup about a quirky girl and the boy who loves her. It’s about family, even the ones who don’t conform to standard ideals. It’s about love. It’s about loss.
People can hate it or love it. I’m okay with that. I love my little Fflur.”
Eli, I love your little Fflur too!
5 Glorious Stars!
I was hooked from the very beginning. This book gave me all the feels- the anger and bitterness from the divorce, the hate and the love that was to come. The push/pull was fabulous. I was a little uncomfortable at times but it all came together so beautifully. The name is perfect for this book and I loved all the flower references and tie ins. I highly recommend this fabulous love story.
There is no way that I will be able to express the breath, depth and emotion of this story. This is the definition of awesomeness though, I’ll tell you that. This toes the line of taboo-ish, but you will get so lost and engrossed in the story that the taboo-ish part isn’t even an issue.
Fflur (Welsh, pronounced Fleer with a rolling r) and her brother Rhys have just been given devastating news that completely breaks their family apart,and their life completely changed. Now they must accept a new family with another child, Galen, that calls their mother ‘mum’. Two sets of children who have two totally different views of a situation their parents did not prepare them for.
Fflur is a very different girl, she talks to the flowers. Flowers bring her the comfort she needs and they keep the secrets she tells them. She knows them all and speaks their language. There is so many flower references in this book and they all work so wonderfully well. She speaks in flowers and it’s beautiful.
“My Fflur, my every flower and the definition of all that’s good in my world.”
This is an emotional roller-coaster. Love, betrayal, sorrow, acceptance, forgiveness. We see it all in this story. The last third of the book had me in tears and feeling heartbroken for these two characters. You can’t always choose who your heart will love. There so much pain in this story for a couple of reasons actually, but I’ll let the new readers find that out. It’s also one that spans about a 10 year time-frame, so we see them through from their teens to adulthood.
I stayed up until the wee hours of the night reading this story and it was worth every minute of sleep I missed. A pretty epic love story in my mind and one I don’t think you’ll want to miss. Just a wonderful, beautiful story.
There were so many twists and turns in this book, I don’t even know where to begin. As soon as you think you have something figured out, BOOM, you’re wrong! My emotions are a hot mess after reading TDOF, and I couldn’t be happier about it. This was such an amazing book, with real, raw, emotions. The beginning reminds me so much of a time in my life, so I related to the lead character, Fflur, immediately. Her journey, was breath taking. From one emotion to the next, TDOF makes you feel all of them, more than once. I laughed, I cried, I smiled. Over and over again. I will never look at flowers the same way, ever again. Thank you E.S. Carter for another amazing book.
This was a great and emotional read with a bit of forbidden romance touch to it. I enjoyed the characters a lot. They are definitely easy to love and hard to hate. This book has a touch of drama, a few surprises, it deals with loss, love, forgiveness, acceptance and following your heart. I enjoyed this book a lot and I definitely look forward to reading more books from this author in the future. This was a great standalone read that’s worth reading.
This surprise release by ES Carter took me by surprise with its beautiful yet sometimes heartbreaking journey to adulthood of a girl named Fflur.
Fflur thought her family was a happy one so she was devastated to learn not only were her parents splitting up, but her mother had been living a double life and was leaving to go live with her other family. When Fflur was forced to go visit her mother, she met Galen, her soon to be stepbrother. At first glance, she thought him to be cocky and hated that he called her mother “Mum” even though she wasn’t. But first impressions aren’t always accurate and sometimes there is a lot more to the story than meets the eye.
There were lots of ups and downs during this book and my heart and stomach felt them all. I loved getting to know each of these characters in this story and felt as if I were a part of this family as well. I love taboo-ish stories and this one falls in that category but it was also so much more than that, too. ES Carter is such an amazing talent and weaves a mesmerizing story of love, strength and family. I highly recommend this book!!
I finished this book a few days ago but I needed to think about the words I needed to put on paper, I needed to do this book justice, The Denfinition of Fflur is a stand-alone YA/NA Contemporary Romance but for me it was so much more than just a story I felt like I was going on a journey and I couldn’t stop until I reached the end of that journey.
Fflur’s heart was broken when she found out her parents were divorcing, she found herself hating everything about her mothers new life she didn’t want anything to do with it but her father forces her to spend time at her mothers new home and that meant spending time with Galen her soon to be stepbrother, Galen is everything Fflur is not, he is charming, cocky and has a smile that lights up the room and Fflur is determined not to like him……. Animosity soon turns into friendship and then so much more.
This book has a lot of angst and heartache but as I said at the start of this review it’s akso a journey of two people learning about each othe, becoming friends and growing, this book is so much more than just a romance and it’s a must read…….
4.5 Stars
Fflur’s heart was shattered when she found out her supposedly happy family was nothing but an illusion. Her parents’ divorce bred contempt that quickly eating her from the inside. That was until the boy that was supposed to be the enemy started to warm up her heart.
Galen was everything that Fflur was not. With an infectious grin that could brighten up any dark day, his charm and talent helped him breezed through life. Their animosity turned to friendship and begging for more, but what brought them together could very well be the reason that could pull them apart.
When I first met Galen, I thought he was going to be a typical cocky a-hole. But that notion was quickly squashed by his kindness and patience.
Fflur was quiet and quirky. Some of her actions were downright kooky, like her “flowers and secrets” thing [insert awkward smile gif lol!] but somehow I could relate to her view of life – specifically the dandelion significance.
The story was weaved with pain and angst throughout the book which is something I’ve always enjoy in my reading. I like how their relationship developed organically. There was more friendship than romance, but that’s what made their story meaningful.
The Definition of Fflur is an evocative tale of family and love. It would appeal to readers looking for a semi taboo slow burn romance.
The Definition of Fflur is one of those stories that is heartbreaking and uplifting in turns. It deals with real life, real love and some really hard decisions.
“No matter where I go, you follow. I’ve travelled the world these last few years, and you’re still in every flower I see.”
I absolutely loved quirky heroine, Fflur. She has always been different and a loner, but when her family seems to be falling apart she turns to the flowers that have always been a source of solace to her.
“Wishing is for naïve kids that blew on dandelions and whispered their dreams to the breeze. Wishing is for a boy and a girl who picked buttercups with glowing yellow skin.”
This story is part angsty, coming of age tale, part slightly taboo but epic romance. It is a story that is all consuming and it was so easy to get caught up and be unable to put it down from start to finish.
-5 Epic Stars!-
A bouquet of Camellias
I don’t know where to start with this review. All the emotions it brought out in me will take some time to process.
Fflur and Galen’s story is a slow burning love affair that spans years, from early teenage years into adulthood. It’s set against the backdrop of a family breakdown and new families forming in its wake, and all the emotions and feelings that go along with accepting a second family life.
I can’t tell you how much I ugly cried throughout this book, but that’s not to say that it’s sad or miserable – it’s just real. Real life in all its forms. From recognising some feelings that I’ve had, to ones that I can’t imagine experiencing.
I’d encourage everyone to read this book because it shows that despite what life throws at you, you can make a life that’s happy and fulfilling if you would only allow yourself to have it. Be brave. Take the life that you want. I do feel uplifted having read this book. It’s worth every star and accolade that can be thrown at it.
Btw, the Camellias? They mean perfection; unpretending excellence.
I don’t know if I can find the right words to express how I feel about this one. Read it in one sitting, and my emotions were all over the place. Oh, my heart.
Like all books by ES Carter, it is so easy to fall in love with the characters, and The Bachelors follows.
In this contemporary romance we meet 3 totally opposite Austen brothers who meet their matches with the Bennett sisters. From the flirtatious, troublesome youngest sister Lydia, to the middle, quiet Jane ending with the powerful yet snark Elizabeth we can see a beautiful story unfold before our eyes. What many authors would need three full books to get us to see the story, ES Carter grabs the reader, throws us into the mayhem between Austen/Bennett famity drama, yet still ends with a sense of closure. I would love to continue seeing thsee siblings bc their interactions are hilarious and makes one realize all family have quarks whether wealthy or poor, and just makes these 6 that much more believable.
“In fact, she continued, with wickedness dancing in her eyes. “I’d say the Austen boys, including the one about to make our beloved sister his wife, are so poor that if their dear old daddy hadn’t cut holes in their trouser pockets at Christmas they wouldn’t have had anything to play with.”
I have read the LBN series, the New Order series and now this and each one just makes me a deeper fan for this author and her ability to make me wish I was there in the book watching as life unfolds.
“…ignore the days, hours and minutes, live in the minute, and love every second.”
“Sometimes flowers grown in cracks. Some people call them weeds. I don’t. They’re the strong ones. The resilient ones. The ones who survive anything.”
Speechless is what I am right now.
Beautiful! Flawless! Perfect!
This is an emotional read, looking at relationships, love, loss and forgiveness. There are a lot of elements to the story, the family as it grows and develops and the different forms of love that bloom within it.
Fflur is quirky, and sweet but she has an inner strength that shines, I admire how she knows who she is even at a young age. Her friendship with Galen comes from a shaky beginning where lies are exposed and they are surrounded by conflicts, from this friendship strong bonds are created and you can see the difference between this and her relationship with Rhys.
For me, some of the most poignant moments were between Max and Fflur, they have some conversations that really hit you in the feels.
I cried. A lot! Thats unusual for me with YA/NA but ES Carter always seems to reach a depth of emotion with her stories and this one was no different. I loved it!
4.5 stars!!
E.S. Carter is a new-to-me author and when I read the synopsis of The Definition of Fflur, I was intrigued. This is a heart-breaking, twist your heart story and I adored Ms. Carter’s writing. Filled with the elements of love, family, hope, and finding your way through this crazy thing we call life, The Definition of Fflur was a beautiful story.
Fflur was an amazing character, I loved her immediately!! I wasn’t sure I’d like Galen at first, but God, he turned out to be one of my favorites. The secondary characters added so much to the story. Once I started, I couldn’t wait to see how it would all turn out. Again, fantastic writing, a unique plot, and the perfect amount of angst.