Our top 10 TBR picks are already full of unforgettable characters, immersive worlds, and page-turning moments, but pairing them with flowers adds a whole new layer of life and beauty. It is such a fun way to bring elements of your book right out of the pages, whether you are drawn to dragon-packed romantasy, laid-back beach reads, clever thrillers, beloved sci-fi, or sweeping historical fiction. Each genre has its own floral vibe. Some are inspired by the title, some are rooted in symbolism, and some simply reflect the mood a book leaves behind. A bouquet can transform your reading nook into a cozier, more inviting space, and when paired with a book, it becomes a thoughtful, stylish, and personal gift. Books and blooms even share a holiday! Every April 23rd, Barcelona celebrates St. Jordi Day, also known as the Day of Books and Roses, with a beloved tradition of exchanging both. Whether you are enhancing your next book club meeting, putting together a meaningful gift, or embracing a little everyday magic for yourself, our books-and-blooms guide is here to help you find the perfect match. At Phillip’s Flowers, the top florist in Chicago, these bookish flowers blend personality and literary inspiration into something truly special.

Romantasy

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Rebecca Yarros launches readers into a ruthless fantasy world where dragon riders are forged through danger, and survival is never a sure thing. Violet Sorrengail has to enter that world with everyone underestimating her, only to prove she’s stronger, smarter, and more resilient than they ever imagined. Fourth Wing brings the perfect mix of suspense, chaos, action, and emotional wreckage. Purple calla lilies are a natural match because they’re dark, cool, and unmistakably Violet-coded. Since Violet is bonded to two dragons, this book also needs a second flower, and yellow pincushion protea brings the bold, blazing energy that matches her golden dragon beautifully.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

In A Court of Thorns and Roses, the world is rich with magic, overflowing with flowers, and charged with romance and danger. Sarah J. Maas puts beauty, longing, and emotional intensity right at the center, creating a story that’s both dreamy and sharp-edged. Red roses are the clearest flower pairing for this one, thanks to both the title and the blooms that define the Spring Court. They capture the novel’s romantic pull while also nodding to the hidden danger woven through it all.

Beach Reads

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Whether you grew up reading about Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah or found yourself fully invested through the series, The Summer I Turned Pretty delivers summer romance with a side of emotional chaos. Jenny Han blends beachy nostalgia, growing pains, and love-triangle tension into a story that is sweet, wistful, and totally unforgettable. Blue and white hydrangeas are the obvious flower match here because they are tied so closely to Susannah, who loved them most. From the vases around the iconic beach house on Cousins to the hydrangea bushes outside, they carry all the heartfelt emotion this story is known for.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation takes readers on a romantic ride through years of shared summer vacations, changing feelings, and friendship. Emily Henry pairs Poppy’s love of adventure with Alex’s homebody energy, creating a dynamic that is both charming and emotionally loaded as their summer tradition starts to unravel. Anthuriums are the perfect nod to the travel-filled spirit of the book, especially in green or orange for a little nod to the original book cover. Orange roses are a beautiful second pairing because they reflect the warmth, enthusiasm, friendship, and underlying passion that define Poppy and Alex’s connection.

Mystery Thrillers

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

My Husband’s Wife starts with a plot that is instantly chilling and only gets more tangled page after page. Alice Feeney throws readers into a suspenseful story where our main character, Eden Fox, comes home from a jog to find that her house, her husband, and even her reality are nothing as she left them. Birdy, the woman Eden’s husband claims is his wife, brings another eerie layer, with her inheritance, her search for redemption, and a clinic that predicts death hovering over it all. Spider mums are the perfect pairing for this thriller because they’re intricate, dramatic, and just a little uncanny. Pink, purple, and white spider mums also represent themes of affection, new love, truth, and hope.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Verity drops readers into a mystery that is dark, twisted, and impossible to shake. While sorting through Verity’s office to help finish her highly anticipated book series, Lowen stumbles across a blood-chilling memoir that makes the whole situation even more sinister. Not to mention, her growing feelings for Verity’s husband, Jeremy, add risky romance to a story already packed with unease. Purple orchids pair beautifully with the novel’s moody atmosphere, bringing in that sleek, mysterious energy. Blue thistle is a perfect symbol for Verity’s untrustworthy edge, while crimson roses nod to the dangerous pull between Lowen and Jeremy.

Science Fiction

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Andy Weir makes Project Hail Mary thrilling, smart, and surprisingly emotional all at once. Ryland Grace goes from middle school teacher to astronaut after waking up alone in space with no memory and a mission to save Earth from a strange force affecting the sun. As he pieces everything together, the story delivers plenty of science and survival, along with a friendship that readers don’t see coming but absolutely love. Sunflowers are the perfect fit for this book because they connect so clearly to the sun. Their constant movement toward light also reflects humanity’s drive to survive and keep pushing forward.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert makes Arrakis feel brutal from the very start, creating a desert world where survival depends on discipline, awareness, and knowing how to work with the environment instead of against it. As Paul Atreides is drawn deeper into betrayal, prophecy, and political conflict, Dune becomes a story in which the planet feels just as intense as the power struggle itself. Succulents are a fitting pairing because they are made to withstand heat, dryness, and harsh conditions. They reflect the book’s themes of resilience, transformation, and learning how to thrive in a place that never makes it easy.

Historical Fiction

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale follows two sisters through the danger and heartbreak of war, showing how each one carries fear, loss, and sacrifice differently. It is a story that makes it clear that courage is not one-size-fits-all. White roses pair beautifully with this novel because they call back to the idyllic French countryside woven into the setting. Blue thistle adds a meaningful contrast, symbolizing bravery, resilience, determination, and loyalty, all of which run deep through the book’s emotional core.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Atmosphere is a cosmic and close-to-the-heart story, with Taylor Jenkins Reid balancing the vastness of space against the intensity of human relationships. There is wonder here, but also romance, longing, and that all-consuming first-love energy. Stargazer lilies fit this book beautifully because they’re dramatic, romantic, and made for a title like this. Cosmos, zinnias (the first flower at the ISS), and blue delphinium round out the pairing with a celestial touch that nods to the beauty and mystery of the galaxy.

At Phillip’s Flowers, there is something so fun about giving a gift that is both cozy and conversation-worthy. Flowers bring that first burst of delight, while a great book keeps the experience going page after page, chapter after chapter. For readers, book club besties, and anyone who loves turning a quiet night at home into a true occasion, this pairing is fresh, smart, and full of personality.