The Magic of Flowers

Tatiana Ayoub, a story revolving around her as a lost and broken soul, believes she is finally receiving the gentle guidance needed for her to cope with everything she’s suffered throughout her life. Psychologist Dr. Amanda, a caring and kind-hearted individual who only wants the best for her patients, discovers that Tatiana may need to be treated with extra special care by building a patient-client relationship full of trust and understanding. Interesting enough, as a special case, Amanda’s approach takes a toll on her emotional state because she truly feels deep compassion for Tatiana’s struggle. In The Magic of Flowers, author Roxanne M. introduces two main characters which have crossed paths, as one is a psychologist and the other a patient, but their connection slowly unravels to be even more intense. Learning about talk therapy and how everyone could use a session or two has been encouraged by reading this book. The understanding that none of us are perfect has been demonstrated throughout character interactions. Unfortunately, your childhood and what you’ve experienced in your life can determine your future if you allow it.

Feeling the emotions of the character’s lives helped me realize that there is a world full of other individuals who are going through something. Noticing, on rare occasions, Amanda either internally felt how she gets exhausted and feels sadness listening to the life stories of her patients, entirely engulfing her in mixed emotions is extremely well- articulated by the author. Strength granted to her for becoming a psychologist to fix her own issues and I’m sure many may find that relatable. The most intriguing thing throughout this whole book is the mention of Amanda’s perfume, both expressed openly by Tatiana and Alexander. Interesting enough to never underestimate the power of an alluring fragrance, it triggered emotions of the characters who got a whiff, a feeling of peace.

The author has provided her readers with an insider’s view to the lives of both Tatiana and Amanda. This book is well-written and has articulated moments shared about their lives which allowed for invoked emotions of sadness, unconditional love, warm embraces, trust and understanding. Expressing such empathy for the character’s past that they’ve endured proves we as mere humans are resilient beings. The story’s twist truly puts things in a new perspective, as anyone wouldn’t have seen that coming. When the plot thickens, I instantly got the sense of remaining at the edge of my seat as I continued reading, impressive on the author’s part.

There have been several times that I felt connected to Tatiana on an emotional level and not just because I’m empathic to her past, but some of her feelings are relatable. I commend anyone who has stepped out of their comfort zone, becoming courageous by seeking professional help, as it takes a lot for someone to take that initial step. What both characters have endured is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy and I was glad to learn that Amanda is spiritual, which I can agree with. Some moments shared between both Tatiana and Amanda seemed more intimate and a bear-all kind of vibe due to the level of care involved, and I admire it is as an effective method for the sake of psychology patients. I enjoyed the reading experience of witnessing just how ‘damaged’ an individual can be to need someone loving enough to listen to them and help them heal from internal scarring. I recommend those who might be considering scheduling a therapy session to give this book a chance, even if you don’t relate to Tatiana, you can learn much from her talk therapy sessions.

"You can't change your past, but you can look at it with different eyes."
Amanda is a psychologist who specializes in talk-therapy, letting her patients express themselves in an unguarded way. Her newest patient, Tatiana Ayoub, however, has a harder time opening up, fluctuating between wanting to work through her trauma and not sharing. Amanda begins to take a personal interest in Tatiana, curious to know what haunts her. As the two women's therapy sessions continue, they grow closer together, forming a deep and intimate friendship of understanding and healing. What happens when they find out their lives are intertwined more than they thought? How does Amanda's perfume, "Quelques Fleurs," affect those closest to her?

Set against the backdrop of Paris, Roxanne M. deftly weaves psychological intrigue, romance, and modern-day events together to form a tale that meditates on the power of human relationships and trauma. The majority of the story takes place in Amanda's office, which runs the risk of being repetitive and heavy due to the nature of therapy. However, M. succeeds at using these therapy sessions as the vehicle of the story through Tatiana and her animated storytelling. The novel does not treat Tatiana's emotional and abuse issues lightly; rather, the manner in which the issues are presented and discussed allow Tatiana to be in control, something that fellow readers who may have similar issues will appreciate.

The straightforward language, consistent pacing, and likeable characters keep the reader engaged. In addition, M. unfolds the plot in a way that keeps the reader surprised; when it seems that the story may go in one direction it takes a sharp turn—as evidenced in the latter half of the book—that is unexpected but rewarding.