A Constellation of Roses
In Miranda Asebedo’s A Constellation of Roses, Trix McCabe is determined to make it on her own. Since her mother walked out on her, Trix has been frequently using her gift for pulling valuables off unsuspecting strangers. She’s confident she has what it takes to survive. Until she’s caught and given a choice: jail time, or go live with her long-lost family in the tiny town of Rocksaw, Kansas. Before long, Trix feels like she might finally belong with this special group of women in this tiny town. But when her past comes back to haunt her, she’ll have to decide whether to take a chance on this new life, or keep running from the one she’s always known.
It took me a while to warm up to Trix. It’s hard to pinpoint the reason why I didn’t immediately like her; perhaps it was the fact this book was written in first-person POV, and I generally don’t enjoy books told in that perspective. It could have also been how her anger and outbursts reminded me too much of myself at that age. Looking back, I just want to shake my seventeen-year-old self. I definitely wanted to shake some sense into Trix more than once while reading.
When you consider her history of abandonment, I understand why Trix didn’t trust Mia, Auntie, and Ember would accept her as part of their family. I liked watching her learn to trust them, try to give up her old habits, and deal with her trauma. I especially enjoyed her interacts with Jasper, the town’s golden boy whose bright smile hides his own scars. I found myself liking Trix more as her relationship with Jasper progressed. To see her share her past with him and for him to share his loss with her warmed my heart.
The character that really stole this book for me was Auntie. As the matriarch of the family, she’s in charge. With a sharp tongue and sharper wit, she reads the town folk’s fortunes at the family bakery with startling accuracy (another McCabe woman gift). In the beginning, she confronts Trix on her bad attitude and “pissy party.” She gives sound advice that follows Trix throughout the book: plant roots or you’ll wither. She is a key part of Trix’s decision to stay in Rocksaw.
Some of Auntie’s dialogue made me laugh out loud; it’s hard not to love characters that do that.
I like how Asebedo wrote about Trix’s trauma, and that of the other minor characters in this book. She acknowledged that Trix’s relationship with Jasper wouldn’t magically solve either of their issues, but it was clear sharing the burden of their pain made them into stronger people.
I was surprised Asebedo tied in her first book to this one. Not a lot to make you think this was a sequel, but the few mentions were a nice touch, especially considering how much I enjoyed The Deepest Roots.
Overall, an unexpectedly good book that I’m glad was my first pick of the year.
A Constellation of Roses Rating: ★★★★
It took me a while to warm up to Trix. It’s hard to pinpoint the reason why I didn’t immediately like her; perhaps it was the fact this book was written in first-person POV, and I generally don’t enjoy books told in that perspective. It could have also been how her anger and outbursts reminded me too much of myself at that age. Looking back, I just want to shake my seventeen-year-old self. I definitely wanted to shake some sense into Trix more than once while reading.
When you consider her history of abandonment, I understand why Trix didn’t trust Mia, Auntie, and Ember would accept her as part of their family. I liked watching her learn to trust them, try to give up her old habits, and deal with her trauma. I especially enjoyed her interacts with Jasper, the town’s golden boy whose bright smile hides his own scars. I found myself liking Trix more as her relationship with Jasper progressed. To see her share her past with him and for him to share his loss with her warmed my heart.
The character that really stole this book for me was Auntie. As the matriarch of the family, she’s in charge. With a sharp tongue and sharper wit, she reads the town folk’s fortunes at the family bakery with startling accuracy (another McCabe woman gift). In the beginning, she confronts Trix on her bad attitude and “pissy party.” She gives sound advice that follows Trix throughout the book: plant roots or you’ll wither. She is a key part of Trix’s decision to stay in Rocksaw.
Some of Auntie’s dialogue made me laugh out loud; it’s hard not to love characters that do that.
I like how Asebedo wrote about Trix’s trauma, and that of the other minor characters in this book. She acknowledged that Trix’s relationship with Jasper wouldn’t magically solve either of their issues, but it was clear sharing the burden of their pain made them into stronger people.
I was surprised Asebedo tied in her first book to this one. Not a lot to make you think this was a sequel, but the few mentions were a nice touch, especially considering how much I enjoyed The Deepest Roots.
Overall, an unexpectedly good book that I’m glad was my first pick of the year.
A Constellation of Roses Rating: ★★★★