A Review of Wilted Flowers

"Set in the fictional small town of Redwood, Texas, Wilted Flowers follows a friend group of seniors through their final year of high school. At its center is the slow unraveling of whatever the main characters, Ashton and Jesse, are to each other, a question the story has been asking since page one and is in absolutely no hurry to answer. It's a slow burn. The dynamic between Ashton and Jesse is genuinely compelling. Jesse is one of the more interesting love interests because of his boldness. Ashton, on the other hand, is the kind of character who is almost painful to read because you can see exactly what he's doing to himself and to Jesse, and you cannot make him stop. The kind of character that you want to scream at, but can't look away from. The supporting characters are also interesting. Riley (a part of the friend group) is outspoken and perceptive and carries her own pain and backstory. Logan is understated in a way, but another interesting character, who's also a part of the friend group. There are brief glimpses into their lives, but nothing really deep yet. Sixteen chapters in, the relationship has moved, but not as far as I thought it would. We haven't gotten to anything really juicy yet. But, as stated before, it's a slow burn. There are moments where the pacing feels a bit slow, but as a reminder again, it's a slow burn. The supporting characters deserve more. Riley and Logan's individual storylines are starting to be established, but sixteen chapters in, their backstories remain in the background compared to the main characters. This is the kind of story that rewards patient readers. If you're looking for a fast-moving romance with an immediate connection, this isn't your book yet. But it does show what it's like to be seventeen, confused, and surrounded by small-town views. It's a great coming-of-age story."