Holly Varni and her Moonberry Lake characters are out in a vibrant and colorful display of personalities in The Blooming of Delphinium. Although it is a standalone novel, the reader may find greater enjoyment in reading the first book in the Moonberry Lake Series before proceeding. This modern day piece of fiction is filled with humorous scenarios and heart-wrenching stories. Be prepared for some really high moments and some really low ones.

The author’s decision to have her main character, Delphinium, have synesthesia is an interesting way to introduce characters. Every new character has the reader trying to determine if the scent is part of the dramatic foreshadowing or just part of Delphinium’s personality. Almost everyone in the story has some type of quirk or unusual personality trait. The zanier and more whacky the characters behave, the more endearing they become. The interactions between Delphinium and another important character, Mason, are really funny, but that story line seemed to fizzle.

Underneath the humor, the book is held together by a backbone of moral principles such as caring for those you love, no matter how difficult and clinging to one another when things are challenging. There were some things about the main character that made her seem especially young and immature, in spite of her age. I really hoped certain parts of the story would have turned out differently.

Review of an Advance Reader Copy Provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: A character somewhat sarcastically declares another character is murdering him.

Sex/Nudity: A character says someone might think she is running a brothel; a character recalls her boyfriend admitting he is married.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of family members and close friends.

Drug/Alcohol Use:

Adult characters mention wanting to smoke and drink alcohol.