Books and blooms both have a way of setting a mood, telling a story, and leaving a lasting impression. A bouquet can brighten your favorite reading nook, and the gift of flowers and a book can be deeply romantic or simply thoughtful. From windswept classics and glamorous Jazz Age novels to dark thrillers, sweeping romances, and breezy beach reads, every genre has its own palette of colors, textures, and symbolism. Even holidays celebrate the connection of books and blooms! On April 23rd, also known as St. Jordi Day or the Day of Books and Roses, the streets of Barcelona fill with people exchanging the two. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway surprise, putting together a gift for a family member, thanking a teacher or mentor, or simply treating yourself to two of your favorite things, our books and blooms guide is at your service. At Ah Sam Floral Co., the top florist in San Mateo, we’re pairing two timeless pleasures for a sensory journey.

The Classics

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

This classic novel delves into the story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, a tale of passionate love, betrayal, and eventual vengeance. The iconic Thrushcross Grange is said to be inspired by the English gardens of Ponden Hall in West Yorkshire, near Hawthorn. For that reason, our minds wander through the pink garden roses, tall delphinium stems, and lush, full peonies found in such places.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This beloved novel is set in exciting 1920s New York, where the mysterious Jay Gatsby falls in love with the enchanting Daisy Buchanan. Among the lavish and exquisite parties of the Jazz Age, readers of The Great Gatsby are sure to remember the infamous green light. Representing this symbol of the American Dream, money, and, of course, the love Jay has for Daisy, is the green orchid, which is also a sign of status, luxury, and opulence. For a full bouquet, incorporate the ultimate symbol of love, beauty, and passion, roses, along with fresh daisies as a nod to our favorite love interest.

Mystery Thrillers

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

This thrilling novel took readers by storm with its twists and turns as Millie moves into the home of Nina and Andrew. They’re a seemingly perfect couple with a stunning residence, fancy cars, and a daughter. We won’t give too much away other than Millie might not be as “innocent” as she seems. Frankly, nobody is what they seem to be. White orchids are a beautiful representation of the pristineness, purity, and elegance readers encounter in the first few chapters, not to mention Nina’s perfectly white wardrobe.

His & Hers by Alice Feeney

Murder, mystery, and suspense at every turn make this novel truly captivating. It follows newsreader Anna Andrews and Detective Jack Harper as they cover the same murders happening in their hometown. With an intricate, dynamic plotline, dahlias are the perfect blooms to represent the book. Red dahlias are especially fitting, as red-and-white friendship bracelets keep turning up in these murders…

Romance

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Magic and romance enchant readers as Morgenstern’s hit novel sweeps them off of their feet and into the mysterious night circus. There, revelers wearing black and white with “a splash of red” attend the sensory spectacle, set underneath a black and white tent that houses countless dazzling acts. Within the circus, two magical proteges named Marco and Celia can’t help but be pulled together even as they’re forced to battle one another in the arena. Red roses symbolize their burgeoning love, while dark calla lilies and white accents anchor the book’s memorable palette.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

By now, many are familiar with the story of The Duke and I; however, you may know it better as the Netflix smash Bridgerton. Offering an endless amount of spring feelings and heaps and heaps of floral inspiration, we’ve narrowed this title down to one stem: Tulips. With symbolism including fame, passion, a declaration of love (in red tulips), and even hopeless love (in yellow tulips), these blooms also play a role in the plot. Simon, in fact, gifts Daphne, his future wife, a bouquet of tulips.

Beach Reads

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

This novel is filled with themes of friendship, sisterhood, loss, and love as the main character, Hollis, grieves the loss of her husband by hosting five friends (one from each stage of her life, who may or may not get along with one another) at her beach house on the idyllic island of Nantucket. Between the flawlessly curated breakfasts, lunches, happy hours, dinners, and evening itineraries, and chaos, blue and white hydrangeas help set the scene. There’s no better bloom than one that symbolizes heartfelt emotion and gratitude to represent this beach read.

The Wedding People by Aliso Espach

A favorite among many, The Wedding People is a darkly humorous yet sweet novel about Phoebe Stone, who shows up at the Grand Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. Ready for a weekend of self-indulgence, she finds herself the only guest at the Inn who’s not there for a wedding. Navigating a wedding weekend, this book is best reflected through popular wedding blooms, like ranunculus and white calla lilies.

Fiction

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to befriend an octopus? For our protagonist, Tova, it’s actually life-altering in ways nobody would ever believe. While this book is about friendships, albeit unlikely ones, it’s also about family, loss, and love. To represent this incredible and beloved novel, we’re paying homage to our favorite giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, with orange spider mums and colorful alstroemeria. While these blooms resemble sea creatures, they also represent loyalty and devoted friendships.

Heart the Lover by Lily King

This captivating story follows our narrator, drawn into the world of high-level academia through her relationships with Sam and his best friend, Yash. As their lives unfold, twists and tangles among their relationships are a part of the package. With an author named after a flower, one would assume we’d assign orange lilies to this novel, and those people would be absolutely correct. However, we’d also like to give honorable mention to Peruvian lilies (or alstroemeria) for their association with friendship, loyalty, and devotion, three qualities we see in all of our main characters.

At Ah Sam Floral Co., we know that books and flowers each speak their own language, which makes pairing them such a compelling endeavor. These combinations allow us to connect storytelling with nature’s most beautiful offerings, giving aficionados of both meaningful food for thought.