Flowers in July by Anna MaynardMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Mary Roberts is a trainee doctor, she was in a six year relationship with Felix, also a doctor, until she discovered another woman's G-string in their bed. Now she's single and homeless whilst simultaneously worrying about her sister (single mother of three) and mother (issues with men and alcohol).
To escape her temporary lack of a home (and Felix her ex) Mary signs up for a week long wilderness expedition medicine course, only to discover that Felix has also signed up - allegedly to persuade her (yet again) to give him a second chance.
Despite the wilderness course being waaaay outside her comfort zone, Mary finds the course leader Abel is a reassuring and empowering presence, in his company she feels capable of stepping outside her comfort zone. However, Mary worries that she is mistaking Abel's niceness for something more.
I really wanted to like this but it just felt a bit meh. Abel just seemed to fall in love with Mary for no reason and was just perfectly kind and nice and supportive ALL THE TIME - he had no nuance or shadow or (frankly) personality. Mary was just dense. Men don't platonically hug you and sleep in the same bed unless they like like you! Also, to complete the trifecta of characters I didn't warm to, Mary's sister got on my nerves. Mary sends her money every month which her sister never acknowledges, every time Mary calls there's some drama with her nieces and nephews, then she has the audacity to complain.
Anyway, I enjoyed the wilderness course part but after that (and there was a lot) it just felt like Mary was being obtuse and there was manufactured drama, which made it drag.
Sorry, not for me.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
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