Book Review: Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

CHALLENGE BOOK: 2010 Debut Authors

Title: Forget-Her-Nots
Author: Amy Brecount White
Publication Date: March 2010
Tags: flowers, magic, love, family
Age: 12+
Pages: approx 384
Series: ?
Book Acquisition: 1 ARC Tours

My Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

My Review:

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it since it's not the usual type of book I read. Flowers? Not really my thing but flower magic, I learned, is pretty awesome.

The setting didn't do too much for me - boarding school full of the usual suspects. But, Laurel as a character really drew me into the story. When we first meet her, she is unaware of her special talent. She really knows nothing of her family's past. I would have been more then frustrated if I were in her shoes. She takes everything that comes with a bit of grace - which I really liked.

If I had to pick anything about this book I didn't like it would have to be Laurel's age. Or rather, her maturity level. She is very young, but it was easy to forget this fact. I understand why Amy choose to make Laurel as young as she did when we first meet her but at times, I felt like I was reading about a much older teen. It doesn't take away from the story really, it was just a little bit of a sticking point with me when it came to Laurel and the relationships she both helps with and peruses while at Avondale.

Overall, I really liked this book. I wasn't able to find any information on a possible sequel but I would gladly welcome another story on the Language of Flowers. I would recommend this book to fans of good YA fiction and also to those who may like a bit of magic or fantasy in their stories - there is just enough in this one to really do the trick.

Linkage Love:
Harper Teen
Author's Website

Other Reviews:
Katie's Book Blog
GreenBeanTeenQueen
Ellz Readz
*if you would like your review added please leave me a link in the comments*