The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

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What to expect

Flowers, fire and fairy tales are the elements that will forever shape nine-year-old Alice Hart's life, in The Lost Flower's of Alice Hart, the international bestseller by Holly Ringland.

Alice Hart lives in isolation by the sea, where her mother’s enchanting flowers and their hidden messages shelter her from the dark moods of her father. When tragedy changes her life irrevocably, nine-year-old Alice goes to live with the grandmother she never knew existed, on a native flower farm that gives refuge to women who, like Alice, are lost or broken. In the Victorian tradition, every flower has a meaning and, as she settles into her new life, Alice uses this language of flowers to say the things that are too hard to speak.

As she grows older, though, family secrecy, a devastating betrayal and a man who’s not all he seems, combine to make Alice realise there are some stories that flowers alone cannot tell. If she is to have the freedom she craves, she must find the courage to possess the most powerful story she knows: her own.

Critics Review

A magical coming-of-age novel
Good Housekeeping
A beautifully written, hopeful and enthralling tale . . . Enchanting
Herald Sun
Rich, vibrant and alive with the messy, sometimes violent, song of human connection. Holly Ringland is a writer to watch out for
Jenn Ashworth
There's an aching heart beating through Holly Ringland's narrative that although at times seems almost broken, is stitched back together with shards of optimism that offer constant hope. These are characters we love, care about and want to nurture . . . A vivid and brave tale of love, loss and inner power
Australian Women's Weekly
At its heart, this book is about finding a way to care for yourself, in a world that sometimes likes to step on its flowers
Courier Mail
Holly Ringland’s debut is achingly beautiful, moving and masterful. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a book to fall in love with, to cherish and to remember for a long time after you’ve closed the last page. One of the most exquisite books out this year from a genuinely exciting new talent, Holly Ringland is one of those writers who takes your breath away. Timeless, enchanting, and powerful
Kate Leaver
Charming
The Australian
Brave and beautiful . . . Alice Hart has the strength and magic of an Australian wildflower in bloom
Favel Parrett
There is something transformative in the story of Alice Hart, something which lingers with you after the closing of the last page
9Honey
Equal parts enchanting and heart-wrenching
The Plant Hunter
The best fairy tales traverse the darkest corners of the human heart, and this beautiful novel is no exception. Truth and illusion, devastation and triumph, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart will spit you out whole
Myfanwy Jones
An astonishingly assured debut, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a story of love, loss, betrayal and the redemptive power of storytelling . . . Both heartbreaking and life-affirming
Kate Forsyth
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a book that glows – in the fire and heart of it; in the wonder and hope of it. Holly Ringland is a gifted, natural story-teller and her novel-about finding magic in the dark; about the power of freedom and the freedom of story-is truly a light-giving, tender thing. A vivid, compelling, utterly moving debut
Brooke Davis
Beautifully written and definitely a book to sink into
Better Read Than Dead
This novel shines with courage, with heart, and with love. Infused with a tender ferocity, and the beauty and warmth of native flowers, it invokes great stories of loss, kindness and home
Ashley Hay
Holly Ringland writes with a great deal of heart . . . [Her] writing is highly evocative, assured and gripping . . . There is something transformative in the story of Alice Hart, something which lingers with you after the closing of the last page
Booktopia
Lush, powerful . . . This is an engrossing novel imbued with passion and reverence for the Australian natural world, with a cast of characters that inspire affection in the reader even as they make mistakes . . . [A] compelling journey of female survival
Bookseller + Publisher
A novel of resurrections and revivals
Spectrum magazine
This is a brave story that strikes a chord in so many ways. It speaks of pain, but also redemption, survival and renewal
Gold Coast Bulletin
Captivating and enchanting, this is a tale of redemption, healing, and unraveling the stories of the past, while carving out a future for yourself
Nyssa Reads
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a rare beauty. It is one of those novels that quietly sneaks up on you and unleashes its power. I have a feeling that The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is destined to remain by my side for some time yet. It is a fierce and assured piece of writing that makes a solid commentary on family dynamics, domestic drama and self-discovery. It is a mighty feat for a new writer, but Holly Ringland demonstrates she is a force to be reckoned with
MrsB Book Reviews
One of my favourite books of the year. It’s beautifully written, a tragic and yet somehow still uplifting story that keeps you turning the pages in the hope that Alice will find her place, her balance
1girl2manybooks
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a touching coming of age story featuring three very unique and stunning Australian locations that will enchant readers from all over the world. Spanning twenty years of Alice’s life, the story will appeal to readers who enjoy saga novels in atmospheric, exotic places – this is armchair travel of the best kind
But Books are Better
An enchanting read . . . The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart has all the ingredients for a spellbinding tale; and absorbs its reader until the very final page
Literary Edit

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
I loved this book. Although the themes aren't new, it was a refreshing and beautifully crafted approach to storytelling. The writing was engaging and the narration worked perfectly with clear characterisation of a wide cast of people in the story. Descriptions of some of the Australian landscape really worked for me and I loved the flower information as chapter headings. This really helped to set the narrative into the flora of the countryside. Most of the characters in the story are struggling in various ways to come to terms with flaws in themselves or their past, and this could be burdensome, but the pace of the story gives this a light touch which in some ways is actually more impactful. The author has been deft with her handling of this, and I now want to discover more of her work.I would highly recommend this book
nikkichap 11/01/2024

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