REVIEW:

Dear Orchid by Carol Van Den Hende is the fourth and probably final book in the Goodbye Orchid Series. This is one series that will grab your heart and twist. It is so heartwrenching and heartwarming, it really makes you really hope that perfect, gentle love really exists. I fall in love with love when I read these books. They make me have hope for humanity.

This book is a collection of letters, stories and new fiction. It brings back characters we have met before. It is reminiscent. I am going to be honest with you and tell you that I did not think that I would like this book. I thought it was going to be a big let down after reading the rest of the series. I do want to tell you that I was not disappointed. Carol Van Den Hende came through with flying colors. I loved it!

I will say that I had my favorite spots in the book and I am not going to say what they were because I feel everyone will have their own special favorites. There were some stories I wanted more of. There were some I just was ok with and there were not many of them. There was an interesting interview I think you will like. It kind of felt like Carol  was sitting at her desk picking up old notes from her books and just throwing them in a file folder. Then she assembled them into what you get in Dear Orchid. I don’t know how she threw all of that in a folder and came up with such a wonderful book! 

Look, I know Carol worked hard on this book and it was not that easy. I just think that it would be a wild experience to get to paw through the notes of an author on her books that you love. This was kind of like getting to know how her mind works. On the other hand, she always handles these stories with such love and empathy. 

If I have intrigued you in just a tiny way, if you love short stories, and you have read any of the other books in this series, you will definitely need to put this book on your to be read list and add it to your nightstand. It is an absolutely wonderful book to read before bed. It does not require you to read for long stretches of time. So, be sure to check out Dear Orchid by Carol Van Den Hende. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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SYNOPSIS:

These aren’t just stories. They’re love letters.

Told through a mix of true stories and new fiction, Dear Orchid opens the heart in unexpected ways: through loss and love, silence and recovery, and the hard-won resilience of people who don’t always fit the mold.

With tenderness and heart, Dear Orchid is an Asian American author’s homage to Mary-Louise Parker’s Dear Mr. You, through letters to a girl newly freed from East Berlin, an aunt lost to Communist-era borders, and Purple Heart-decorated heroes. These intimate portraits explore the messy beauty of friendship, family, disability, and belonging.

You’ll meet a wounded hero who jokes through his pain, a beloved cat with a crayon note taped to his back (“HELP ME”), and characters who refuse to be defined by what they’ve lost.

The final chapter brings a fictional reunion with the unforgettable cast from the Goodbye Orchid trilogy, offering healing, closure, and a second chance romance.

Written in a lyrical, letter-style format, this collection blends memoir and imagination in a deeply personal exploration of grief, identity, and human connection. It’s a window into private moments that echo something universal.
Underneath the heartbreak and humor runs the quiet pull between star-crossed lovers, whose stories unfold across time, distance, and impossible odds.

Whether you’re drawn to true stories of survival or fictional narratives filled with tenderness and truth, Dear Orchid offers an emotional journey that celebrates love in all its forms.

A collection for anyone who’s ever loved, lost, or longed to understand the emotional truth behind the quiet moments that shape us.

Includes elements of multicultural and medical romance, true stories, and unforgettable moments of vulnerability and hope.

Also look for the Goodbye Orchid trilogy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

CAROL VAN DEN HENDE is an award-winning author who pens stories of resilience and hope. Her novels Orchid Blooming, Goodbye, Orchid, and Always Orchid draw from her own Chinese American family’s history, and have won 40+ literary awards, including the American Fiction Award, IAN Outstanding Fiction First Novel Award, and Royal Dragonfly Awards for Disability Awareness and Cultural Diversity.

Buzzfeed, Parade, and Travel+Leisure named “heartwarming, heartbreaking” Goodbye, Orchid a most anticipated read. Glamour Magazine recommended this “modern, important take on the power of love.” The International Pulpwood Queens selected Goodbye, Orchid, Orchid Blooming, and Always Orchid as Books-of-the-Month.

Carol’s mission is unlocking optimism as a writer, speaker, global marketer, digital strategist, and Board Trustee. One secret to her good fortune? Her humorous husband and twins, who prove that love really does conquer all.

Look for Dear Orchid November 2025!