Sunflowers Beneath the Snow by Teri M. Brown: Book Review

Looks Like Books contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclaimer to learn more.

I didn’t get what I expected from Sunflowers Beneath the Snow.

I got much more.

This multigenerational historical novel takes place in Ukraine between 1973 and 2021, a time period and part of the world I hadn’t read much about when I first picked it up. I wasn’t sure the subject would particularly appeal to me, but once I started reading, I became completely caught up in both the characters and the history behind their story.

Following three generations of women through decades of political upheaval and family struggles, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow turned out to be an emotional, educational, and ultimately inspiring read.

My Take: Sunflowers Beneath the Snow surprised me in the best possible way. I went into it knowing very little about what to expect and found a compelling family saga that drew me into a period and place I hadn’t explored much before. It isn’t always an easy or feel-good story, but it left a lasting impression on me. My Verdict? Read. This debut novel gave me much more than I expected.

What Sunflowers Beneath the Snow Is About

Sunflowers Beneath the Snow traces three generations of Ukrainian women whose lives are shaped by family choices and the enormous political changes unfolding around them.

Beginning during the Soviet era and continuing through Ukraine’s struggle for independence and into the twenty-first century, the novel centers on Ivanna, her daughter Yevtsye, and her granddaughter Ionna. Each woman faces a different world, but the consequences of decisions made by one generation continue to affect the next.

It’s a story about survival, family, sacrifice, and the ways history can shape ordinary lives for generations.

Sunflowers Beneath the Snow – What I Liked

I love family sagas, especially in historical novels, and Sunflowers Beneath the Snow didn’t disappoint on that score. The book takes us through the lives of 3 generations of women who experience difficulties in their lives that most of us can’t even imagine. As I was reading the book, I could almost feel the strength that each of these women had and how they coped with their lives under the most trying circumstances.

This was also an educational book for me because I really didn’t know much about Ukraine during the years covered in the novel. Although this is fiction, the story is set against real events, including Soviet control of Ukraine, Ukrainian independence, and Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

I didn’t necessarily expect this history to capture me as much as it did, but once I started reading, I found myself becoming increasingly interested in the events behind the story.

Finally, although the subject matter, in general, is certainly difficult at times, in the end, this book is about family, hope, courage, and perseverance, and when I finished reading it, I felt strangely uplifted in some way despite the struggles portrayed in the book.

The bottom line here is that I think Sunflowers Beneath the Snow is an inspiring book in more ways than one.

Sunflowers Beneath the Snow – What I Didn’t Like

There isn’t much that I disliked about this book. And the few things I’m going to mention are not the fault of the book in any way!

One small difficulty for me was knowing how to pronounce some of the Ukrainian names. I like to hear names correctly in my head when I’m reading, so I would have appreciated a pronunciation guide. That’s certainly a personal quirk rather than a criticism of the story, but unfamiliar names can sometimes distract me while I’m reading.

The other consideration isn’t really a criticism either: this isn’t always an easy book to read. The historical events and circumstances surrounding these women are often difficult, so there are parts of the story that are understandably heavy.

That didn’t make me like the book less. In fact, it made the ultimately hopeful aspects of the story more meaningful.

Sunflowers Beneath the Snow – Read, ReRead, or Reconsider

And now, for my 3 Rs of book reviews. Should you Read, Re-read, or Reconsider Sunflowers Beneath the Snow? What is my honest opinion about this book?

A definite Read!

Sunflowers Beneath the Snow took me into a place and period of history I knew relatively little about and made that history personal through the lives of three generations of women. I finished it knowing more than I did when I began – and caring deeply about the family at the center of the story.

Is Sunflowers Beneath the Snow Worth Reading?

One of my favorite things about historical fiction is discovering a story that sends me into a part of history I hadn’t previously explored, and Sunflowers Beneath the Snow did exactly that.

Teri M. Brown’s debut surprised me with how invested I became in both the history and the women whose lives unfold against it. It’s difficult at times, hopeful at others, and ultimately a story about the strength it can take simply to keep moving forward.

What To Read Next

• An Enemy Like Me by Teri M. Brown – If you’d like to read more from Brown, continue with another of her historical novels.
• The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani – Another multigenerational family story shaped by WWII, history, sacrifice, and the choices one generation leaves to the next.
• The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn – A natural choice if the Ukrainian setting and history were especially interesting to you.
• Explore Historical Fiction – Browse more historical novels, authors, and reading recommendations on Looks Like Books.

Please Share This Post!