A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo

A Constellation of Roses

by Miranda Asebedo

Perfect for fans of Tell Me Three Things and The Astonishing Color of After, A Constellation of Roses is brimming with a magic all its own—lovable and flawed characters, an evocative setting, and friendships to treasure.

Ever since her troubled mother abandoned her, Trix McCabe has preferred to stay on the move.

But when she lands with her long-lost relatives, she finds out that the McCabe women have talents like her own that defy explanation: pies that cure all ills, palm-reading that never misses the mark, knowledge of secrets that have never been told.

Before long, Trix feels like she might finally have found somewhere she belongs. 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.

More magic awaits in the stunning companion novel, The Deepest Roots, which Booklist called “a must-read” in a starred review!

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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Rating: 4.5 Stars

Trix had been on her own since her addict mother went out for cigarettes and never returned. She had been using her "gift" to steal just enough to get by, but when she was caught, she was given two choices: jail or the family of the father she never knew. Initially, Trix was just going through the motions, but after Auntie told her to plant roots or wither, she was determined to give an honest effort to being a part of the McCabe family.

This was such a beautiful and emotional story of family, connection, and forgiveness. Trix's story was heartbreaking, and every flashback, though painful, reinforced my happiness that she had found this amazing group of women. It was them - Mia, Auntie, and Ember, who received Trix with open arms. They gave her love without expecting anything back, and they gave her the sort of home and stability she deserved.

Asebedo is so good at assembling these groups of incredible women. She did so in The Deepest Roots, and has done it again in this book. She not only gave them "talents", but she made they strong and compassionate with a vulnerability making them easy to relate to. I adored them all, and loved how each of them helped topple the walls Trix had erected.

Mia was so kind and understanding. She exercised great patience with Trix, and became a strong maternal figure for her. Auntie was a hoot! She was brutally honest, but also very wise. She was a great motivator for Trix and helped keep her on her path. Ember developed such a real and honest friendship with Trix, and it was a reciprocal relationship, as Trix helped Ember heal some wounds as well.

The family dynamic was beautiful, but I also liked how they fit into the town. Trix grew up in a big city, and experienced some culture shock when she arrived at the McCabe's. The longer she stayed, though, the deeper her roots, and the greater her integration into the town.

Though this book tackles some heavier issues, Asebedo weaves in humor and hope, which alleviates some of the weight. From a gritty beginning comes a joyful ending, and I could feel my heart growing more and more full as I worked through this story.

A stable home. A loving family. A place where she belonged filled with people she could count on. These were the things that had eluded Trix, and it was so gratifying seeing her finally getting it all.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 October, 2019: Finished reading
  • 9 October, 2019: Reviewed