Day: June 23, 2021

The description of this book caught my eye for the “family secret” aspect. I’ve come to realize that I enjoy reading what authors come up with as desperate or “awful” enough to have been kept a secret.

Sometimes, they are totally worthwhile, and I’m left speechless by the way everything has been crafted. Other times, they don’t seem to live up to the hype of the story.

I’m happy to say that this book falls firmly in former category. But more on that in a minute.

I’m also interested in how the characters react to the aforementioned secrets. Are they totally surprised, and does it set off a new chain of events? Or do they accept it and continue as is, simply holding on to new knowledge.

Again, this one falls in the former category.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Erin or Maggie. The author did a great job of making their characters fairly unlikeable in the opening chapters. I think this worked because it made their eventual friendship (not a spoiler) that much more poignant.

Erin was a young girl at odds, and she had to return to her village with her tail tucked between her legs. We all can relate to that feeling of having messed up so badly that nothing will ever be right again.

I thought her growth was exciting to watch (read?). She drew on her strength before she even realized she had any. A pivotal moment with her parents catapulted her into action that (at first glance) seemed like a childish tantrum, but actually showed depth of feeling and helplessness.

And that’s when family secrets are the most interesting.

I liked how Erin lived vicariously through Maggie and vice versa. I also liked how Maggie’s story (including the secrets) was relayed. There was even a meta touch near the end that I enjoyed.

I don’t want to give away any plot points, because it was enjoyable to discover them on my own (and I want to give readers that opportunity). But I will repeat how much I enjoyed Erin’s journey.

I will also say, though, that it took me a bit to understand the title and the symbolism of the butterflies. The author was very subtle with this, which I appreciated. In fact, it really wasn’t until I sat down to write this review that all of the different ways occurred to me.

There are a lot of books out there with taglines about being emotional page-turners. I think the sign of a really good one is when I don’t go in expecting to feel anything but find myself nodding in agreement at a character’s actions or tearing up unexpectedly.

Once again, this book delivers in both of those cases. It’s a well-written, compelling story with regrets and new beginnings. And it should go right on your TBR list.   

Author Bio:
Sophie Anderson enjoyed a career in TV production in London before working with her husband to set up an online software business where she wrote the marketing content. But neither scratched that creative itch to tell a story, so she enrolled on a writing course and wrote her first novel The Butterfly Garden. She lives in Sussex with her husband, four children, a cocker spaniel and two cats.