The Secret Life of Sunflowers

The Secret Life of Sunflowers is a dual-timeline historical fiction novel that follows the intertwined stories of two women fighting to succeed against the odds. In the present day, Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson is struggling with a failing business, a complicated relationship, and the loss of her beloved grandmother, Violet Velar . While cleaning out her grandmother's New York brownstone, Emsley discovers a diary and a stack of Dutch letters she initially believes belonged to Violet . To her surprise, the diary is actually that of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law . The novel alternates with Johanna's story in the late 19th century . After the deaths of both Vincent and her husband, Theo van Gogh (Vincent's brother), Johanna is left as a young widow with a baby and an entire collection of Vincent's artwork, which was largely considered worthless at the time . With no means of support, Johanna embarks on a formidable mission to introduce Vincent's legacy to the world and make his paintings famous . Through reading about Johanna's perseverance and battle against the gender norms of her era, Emsley finds the inspiration she needs to confront her own modern-day struggles, unravel family secrets, and persevere toward her own goals .

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