Phoenix Rose, a 35-year-old neurodivergent teacher, is at a crossroads in her career and in her relationship with her boyfriend, Zack. But when she receives an urgent plea from a friend in Tasmania who needs to rehome her beloved animals, Phoenix, who has always led with her heart, spontaneously decides to help.
When she suddenly finds herself the custodian of an eccentric dog, two cats, a clutch of chickens and a geriatric pony, she makes another snap decision – to provide a new home for them all herself. The trouble is, she will have to drive the menagerie all the way back to Brisbane in time to return to Zack and her job – and she cannot do it alone.
She enlists the help of Lily – a colourful younger woman who is also neurodivergent – as well as resourceful members of their online community. Together the new friends must navigate unexpected twists, setbacks and moments of heartbreak and triumph as they both move towards a new identity and understanding of themselves.
The Wonderful Thing about Phoenix Rose is a joyful and moving tale of a woman’s commitment to fulfilling a friend’s dying wish, while finding her own inner strength and power and sharing it with others along the way.
Josephine Moon is one of my favourite authors. Her bestselling contemporary fiction repertoire includes The Chocolate Promise, The Cake Maker’s Wish and, BR favourite, The Jam Queens. Moon is often celebrated for her foodie fiction, but she takes a special turn with her latest, while still featuring her trademark warmth and uplifting style – complete with lemony scrumptiousness that you’ll be salivating for throughout.
After being late-identified as Autistic at age 45 and sharing it with her readers and followers, Moon felt this was the novel she was born to write. With The Wonderful Thing About Phoenix Rose, she brings readers her most heartwarming tale yet, featuring an all-Autistic cast.
I could go on all day about the many moments in this novel that moved and inspired me. It’s poignant in the ways in which it celebrates asking for help, and how confidence – in all its forms, including the confidence to recognise you’re at your lowest – can allow you to flourish and be your best self.
In this, Moon excels at giving readers a fantastic ensemble of characters. Phoenix is a refreshing, timely and necessary protagonist who’s loveable, relatable and uses her different outlook on life for good. Lily is the supporting character of dreams; she’s full of banter, hilarity, and is utterly kind. Audrey, Humphrey, Marilyn, and the menagerie of animals were all fantastic, too.
The Wonderful Thing About Phoenix Rose is a vital conversation starter, and a great book club pick, but ultimately, this is a novel that celebrates embracing change. It’s about the importance of camaraderie and friendship, happiness, adventure and learning how to stand out in a world that demands you fit in. So, grab a (relevant) lemon-based snack, a cup of tea and settle down with this fantastic, enrichingly vivid read.
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