There is something special about the way books and flowers can turn an ordinary day into something a little more beautiful. A stack of beloved novels and a fresh bouquet on the table make your reading space stylish, personal, and alive. Whether you’re treating yourself to a better reading routine, creating a cozy corner at home, picking out a thoughtful gift for an avid reader, enhancing your book club meeting, or adding a little charm to a weekend escape, pairing books with blooms is a simple way to romanticize the moment and make it memorable. At Bagoy’s Florist, the premier florist in Anchorage, you know you can count on us to share our perfect pairings of beloved novels and equally cherished flowers.

The Classics

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

This classic novel tells the story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, unfolding a sweeping tale of passionate love, betrayal, and revenge. Thrushcross Grange is widely believed to have been inspired by the English gardens of Ponden Hall in West Yorkshire, near Haworth. With that in mind, we imagine pathways lined with pink garden roses, towering delphinium stems, and lush peonies in full bloom.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This beloved book unfolds in the glittering world of 1920s New York, where the mysterious Jay Gatsby longs for the enchanting Daisy Buchanan. Amid the lavish parties and excesses of the Jazz Age, readers of The Great Gatsby cannot forget the famous green light. A symbol of the American Dream, wealth, and Gatsby’s enduring love for Daisy, it pairs beautifully with the green orchid, a bloom long associated with status, luxury, and opulence. To complete the bouquet, add roses for love and passion, along with fresh daisies as a charming tribute to literature’s favorite leading lady.

Mystery Thrillers

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

This gripping story pulls readers in from the start with its sharp twists and mounting suspense as Millie steps into the home of Nina and Andrew. On the surface, they appear to have it all, from the beautiful house and luxury cars to a perfect young daughter. We won’t spoil too much, except to say that Millie may not be as innocent as she first appears, either. Then again, no one in this story is quite what they seem. White orchids capture the purity, polish, and elegance found in these pages and echo Nina’s perfectly crisp white wardrobe.

His & Hers by Alice Feeney

His & Hers is a gripping read filled with murder, mystery, and suspense at every turn. The story follows newsreader Anna Andrews and Detective Jack Harper as they become tied to the same string of murders unfolding in their hometown. With such an intricate and layered plot, dahlias feel like the perfect floral match. Red dahlias are especially fitting, echoing the red-and-white friendship bracelets that keep appearing throughout the case.

Romance

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus enchants readers with its blend of magic, romance, and mystery, drawing them into a circus unlike any other. Beneath the black-and-white striped tents, guests dressed in black and white with “a splash of red” wander through a world of dazzling wonders. At the heart of it all are Marco and Celia, two gifted magicians bound in rivalry yet undeniably drawn to one another. Red roses capture their growing love, while dark calla lilies and crisp white accents reflect the novel’s unforgettable palette.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

By now, many readers know the story of The Duke and I, though some may recognize it better through Netflix’s hit adaptation, Bridgerton. Overflowing with spring charm and floral inspiration, this title leads us to one standout bloom… the tulip. Symbolizing fame, passion, and love, red tulips are especially fitting, while yellow tulips can suggest hopeless love. The flower also plays a role in the story, as Simon gifts Daphne, his future wife, a bouquet of these quintessentially spring stems.

Beach Reads

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

The Five-Star Weekend explores friendship, sisterhood, love, loss, and forgiveness as Hollis Shaw copes with the death of her husband by inviting five friends, one from each chapter of her life, to her Nantucket beach house. As carefully planned breakfasts, lunches, happy hours, dinners, and evening events unfold alongside plenty of tension, blue and white hydrangeas help set the scene. With their ties to heartfelt emotion and gratitude, there is no better bloom to represent this unforgettable beach read.

The Wedding People by Aliso Espach

A favorite for many readers, The Wedding People is a darkly funny yet heartfelt novel about Phoebe Stone, who arrives at the Grand Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, without any luggage. Once there, she discovers she is the only guest not there for a wedding. As she navigates the emotions and absurdities of the weekend, classic wedding blooms like ranunculus and white calla lilies feel like the perfect floral reflections of the story.

Fiction

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Shelby Van Pelt leaves readers pondering what it would be like to befriend an octopus. For Tova, that unlikely connection becomes life-changing in ways no one could have imagined. While the novel is rooted in friendship, it also explores family, loss, and love with great heart. To represent this beloved story, we are honoring Marcellus, our favorite giant Pacific octopus, with orange spider mums and alstroemeria. These blooms echo the visual beauty of sea life while symbolizing loyalty and devoted friendship.

Heart the Lover by Lily King

This book follows a captivating narrator as she is drawn into the world of high-level academia through her relationships with Sam and his best friend, Yash. As their lives unfold, so do the twists and tensions within their circle. With an author whose name already brings flowers to mind, orange lilies feel like the obvious choice for this novel, and for good reason. We would also give honorable mention to Peruvian lilies, or alstroemeria, which symbolize friendship, loyalty, and devotion, all qualities reflected in the story’s central relationships.

At Bagoy’s Florist, we believe books and flowers each speak a language of their own, which is what makes pairing them so meaningful. Bringing stories together with nature’s most beautiful blooms creates a thoughtful connection, finding inspiration in the pages we read and the flowers we bring home.