Some readers may find Vincent’s reaction to her husband’s secret too self-pitying and outlandish, while others may think that Loup is too childish and impossible, but I doubt that anyone can deny that there is something endlessly compelling about each of Vincent’s great loves ... what makes Half-Blown Rose absolutely ripe for conversation, introspection and self-discovery is the way that Cross-Smith does not hold one type of love over the other, exploring instead the ins and outs of all different kinds ... It may seem like a lot to handle, but Cross-Smith is a confident, deft writer who is comfortable exploring any dynamic as long as she has a strong character to start with. Lucky for her, this too comes naturally, making her grander exaltations of love and passion feel every bit as fate-driven and heady as they do grounded and deeply raw and human ... I don’t expect that Half-Blown Rose will be for every reader, but that statement has little to do with Cross-Smith’s talent, which is an undeniable fact. While some will love the book immediately and want to whisk it away to Paris, it is those who are made uncomfortable by the story and the topics it explores who need it most of all ... a guaranteed summer steamer and a surefire book club pick for readers of all ages.
Cross-Smith continues to weave spellbinding tales of love and lust in the wake of adversity ... Cross-Smith never allows Vincent’s indecisiveness to come off as naivete or weakness; she is an utterly appealing heroine. Another winning novel from Cross-Smith.
Long-winded ... A refreshing take on a woman’s story of midlife upheaval, but there isn’t much in the way of narrative momentum, and Vincent’s vacillation between Cillian and Loup ends up feeling like the author is merely spinning her wheels. This has its moments, but it’s not Cross-Smith’s best.
Though its plot sometimes proves predictable...this is a smoothly written, enjoyable novel that gives due to the social and emotional complexities of middle age. Vincent is a lovable protagonist; the narrative is also interspersed with her diary entries and letters, creating a self-aware, three-dimensional character. Cross-Smith sensitively explores the many permutations of romantic and platonic love and the idea that, especially in Paris, one’s love may not be limited to a single other person ... Charming and lively, if somewhat predictable.