Publisher's Synopsis
The Softest Part of the Day
A quiet life. A stranger upstairs. A story that blooms slowly-and never leaves you.
Anya Sullivan lives her life in quiet rhythms. Every morning she opens the doors of The Petal Press, her mother's flower shop nestled on the coast of Windmere-a sleepy seaside town where change arrives slowly, if at all. Surrounded by lavender and eucalyptus, cobblestones and routine, Anya has built a sanctuary from grief, anchored in the scent of blossoms and the weight of memory.
She's not looking for anything. Not adventure. Not surprise. And certainly not the man who moves into the flat above the shop.
But when Caleb Hart arrives-sun-dappled, camera always in hand, a man whose silence is full of story-her world shifts.
At first, he's just upstairs noise. Creaking floorboards. Soft music. The occasional thud of a rug refusing to cooperate. But soon, he's something else: a question she can't stop circling. A presence she starts waiting for. A quiet kind of chaos that feels, somehow, like coming home.
Caleb isn't looking to stay. He's a photographer between places, a man haunted by loss, carrying the weight of stories he never got to finish. But Windmere-with its soft mornings, lemon-scented air, and a woman who arranges flowers like she's speaking a language only he understands-starts to unravel him in the gentlest of ways.
As days blur into golden hours, small gestures begin to bloom between them: shared tea, glimpses of grief, laughter between shelves of roses, and silences that speak louder than words. They navigate sisterly interruptions, moody weather, teething babies, late-night walks to the pier, and the fragile vulnerability of saying what truly matters-without always needing to speak.
But even in the safest places, we carry storms. And sometimes the hardest part of beginning again... is believing we're allowed to.
The Softest Part of the Day is a beautifully written, slow-burn novel about grief, healing, and the quiet magic of finding someone who sees you-all the way through. Tender, witty, and full of heart, it's a love letter to small towns, late-night confessions, and the soft strength it takes to stay.
If you loved the introspective charm of The Flatshare, the emotional depth of Normal People, or the cozy small-town soul of Evvie Drake Starts Over, The Softest Part of the Day will stay with you long after the final page.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
Slow-burn romance with emotional payoff
Gentle stories of grief, healing, and human connection
Atmospheric, character-driven fiction
Found family and soft beginnings
Quiet magic in everyday moments
Let this story settle into your chest like sunlight through gauze. Come for the flowers. Stay for the silence that becomes something more.
