Wildflower by Australian author Monique Mulligan is a deep heart-rending, moving fictional
drama novel.
In 1979, ten-year-old Jane Kelly the youngest, lives with her mum, dad, brother Jim and sister Sal.
She lacks confidence and self-esteem from being bullied at school by Mary Evans and her
friends, who exclude her from a conversations and activities.
Jane was thankful school holidays were approaching and was excited new neighbours were moving in next door, hopeful there would be a girl her age she could become best friends with.
Acacia Miller and her mother Rose are the Kelly’s new neighbour, Jane is delighted to find out
Acacia is the same age as her and they fast become best friends. Jane would share secrets and
tell her about her family situation.
When it came to Acacia discussing her family, she was not forthcoming. All Jane knew was Rose had a boyfriend named Daryl who did not treat her right and most nights Acacia did not want to go home which worried Jane.
In 1999, a woman arrives at a women’s shelter after leaving her abusive husband. Ending a
significant relationship and walking away was not easy, she is feeling confused, uncertain,
frightened, and torn.
She recognizes a volunteer from her childhood and feels weak and embarrassed because she remained in her marriage not breaking the cycle of abuse. The woman remains at the shelter gaining tangible resources to help her create a new life and find a sense of empowerment to be on her own.
Author Monique Mulligan tells an absorbing tale told in a dual timeline. the narrative sets its
hooks on you from the first page and refuses to let go until the end. The characters are well
developed that make them thoroughly compelling to read, the plot will keep you hooked and
guessing until the end who the mystery woman is.
Wildflower is gripping, heart-wrenching, and realistic, and shows that sometimes you can find
strength in a much greater power than your own. The story is an important one, showing the
true struggle that battered women fight every single day. Although victims never think they will
make it, the ones that do become survivors, determined to help other victims live through their
ordeal and restore peace and hope where there had been none for so long.
Being in the same circumstances I found myself walking in her shoes. I felt her fear and
frustrations. I cheered her wins and her courage, and I grieved over her deep disappointments.
Whilst this book may be sensitive to some readers, it is a story that screams to be read. I highly
recommend.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Pilyara Press for the opportunity to read and review.
Author: Monique Mulligan
ISBN: 9781925827484
Copy courtesy of publisher: Pilyara Press
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Wildflower by Monique Mulligan. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
My love of books started at a very young age. My mum has always been a reader and encouraged me to read, buying me endless book from classic fairy tales advancing to the world of Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene, Francine Pascal. In my adult years the list of authors is endless and every room in my house is filled with books.
One of my favourite novels is Narnia which has always has a special place in my heart. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1978 and when I was given this book to read it let me escape to another world where I felt like I was in the book with all the characters, it wasfun and exciting to escape from reality and eased the ups and downs of the disease at such a young age.
In books nothing is impossible and there is endless potential and hundreds of places to explore or being taken to places that are only made up from the authors’ great minds, the past and future to navigate, characters lives you step into taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride or being scared out of your wits. I can experience things that I can’t in real life because they’re not possible or real. It challenges my perspective and mindset expanding my worldview.
I find joy, comfort and peace with books, many people may not get it, but I know bookworms like me truly understand. Reading makes my heart happy.
I enjoyed this book very much. It reminded me of my own childhood , although not the domestic violence part. It was just about remembering school holidays and Christmas at that times.
It was good to read about Acacia’s problems through the eyes of a child and how she feels about the subject.
I recommend this book to everyone.
Wildflower was an emotional read for me so it’s taken a while for me to review. The story reminds us of the vulnerability of some in society how we deal with it differently! Amazing read, true to life and so much so many of us went through before our eyes were open to support.
My review is different, I apologise for that, but I did enjoy the read.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Monique Mulligan for the opportunity to review Wildflower.
Wildflower had my attention from the moment I read the first page. I was immediately drawn to the characters and found it easy to navigate between the past and present. Monique set the novel up very well I think.
It was quite an emotional journey through the book whilst reading from the point of view of a child being bullied and also the domestic violence that happened.
However, I found that Monique was very sensitive in the way she told the story.
Whilst trauma and domestic violence are very hard things to experience, I feel like Monique was able to tell the stories without being graphic and triggering. She told them with respect and her fantastic story telling ability.
I think that everyone should read this book because they are important stories to tell.
Thank you again.
I agree with all the above comments so what more can I add ? An emotional read with lots to trigger women who have been in situations of domestic violence or childhood bullying . At the same time the parallel story line is told with great sensitivity and compassion . I loved the book and think it would make a wonderful film script .