Article contributed by Yakira Goldsberry
If I had to come up with a way to describe Things That Grow it would be that this book is very much a love letter to stories and nature, and a blanket for the grieving. Loss is always a hard thing to deal with and if I were being honest, it’s even harder to write about. Things That Grow by Meredith Goldstein had its ups and downs, but I think it did a wonderful job of portraying the messiness and unscripted ways of grief. While I wouldn’t call her writing style elegant, at times it did reflect a sort of poignancy that really brought a lot of heart into the story.
There were so many things about the plot that at first seemed so random and disjointed, but in the end, they turned out to be important pieces. I really liked just how cleverly Goldstein would tie those pieces into the story and give the plot a whole new life. There were also some things that just remained random, but still felt like they had their own importance, their own story to tell. Things like giant bears carved out of hedges or the guy at the bar named Jake. And, of course, the plants.
As a serious plant lover but unfortunate plant killer, this book was like finally being able to be a horticulturist without actually buying any plants. Goldstein’s descriptions of the gardens and parks left me breathless, they were that stunning. And it also helped me better appreciate plants and everything they do for the environment. It was absolutely amazing, almost like taking a trip to these gardens myself. And to be honest, it makes me want to actually throw away all of my plans, hop in a car, and take a trip across the country just to look at all of the different gardens.
With a large array of characters, there were several in the book that I would feel like I would have loved to meet in real life. But my two favourites were Christian, a.k.a. Chris, and Lori’s grandmother. Chris is the kind of friend that everyone wants—supportive, kind, and always there when you need a shoulder to cry on. He’s also an artist, which meant that he would illustrate Lori’s stories for her, and I honestly would love to have a friend that draws things for my writings. And Lori’s grandmother is the kind that I always wished I had—a super book worm, teacher, friend and companion. I mean, how amazing would it be to have an English teacher grandma when you’re a writer? That would be amazing.
If there was one thing I enjoyed the most about Things That Grow, it was Lori’s relationship with her mother. Lori frustrated me to no end with her seeming hatred of her mother for most of the book. To me, it didn’t really make a whole lot of sense, but I could understand why a teenager who never had a stable home would be eternally upset with her mother. Still, I also understood the mother’s point of view of things and could sympathise with both characters. And when you sympathise with both characters, it can make things somewhat annoying. But the way everything resolved in the end was wonderful, and I really enjoyed it.
Now I’m going to talk about the few things I didn’t like. While most of the time Lori’s and Chris’s relationship was just about perfect, Lori also had a huge crush on him throughout most of the book that, too me, just felt awkward. And yes, the whole time she told herself that she couldn’t ever change their friendship status to boyfriend/girlfriend status, she still was very much into him, which just made me feel slightly uncomfortable. The other thing was Lori’s Uncle Seth. While he was an okay guy and Lori really looked up to him, I found him to be very immature and somewhat annoying. But I digress.
Overall, Things That Grow is beyond emotionally lovely and it’s the perfect read for lovers of words and flowers.
Things That Grow is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
After her grandmother dies, a girl travels to different gardens to scatter her ashes, learning about life, love, and how to laugh again along the way. From Love Letters advice columnist and podcast host Meredith Goldstein, this emotionally resonant novel is perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jenna Evans Welch.
When Lori’s Dorothy Parker–loving grandmother dies, Lori’s world is turned upside down. Grandma Sheryl was everything to Lori—and not just because Sheryl raised Lori when Lori’s mom got a job out of town. Now Lori’s mom is insisting on moving her away from her beloved Boston right before senior year. Desperate to stay for as long as possible, Lori insists on honoring her grandmother’s last request before she moves: to scatter Sheryl’s ashes near things that grow.
Along with her uncle Seth and Chris, best friend and love-of-her-life crush, Lori sets off on a road trip to visit her grandmother’s favorite gardens. Dodging forest bathers, scandalized volunteers, and angry homeowners, they come to terms with the shape of life after Grandma Sheryl. Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but Lori might just find a way to move forward surrounded by the people she loves.
