Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey
I finished Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey feeling a little unsettled, a little sad and oddly comforted all at once. It’s one of those books that doesn’t shout for your attention but instead stays with you, quietly tapping you on the shoulder long after you’ve put it down. I enjoyed this novel not because it was easy or comforting, but because it felt honest in a way that’s rare.
Living in the Shadow of Loss
At its heart, this is a story about grief and sisterhood, but it’s also about loneliness, desire and the strange things people do when they’re trying to survive loss. The main character, Poppy, has lost her older sister, Dandelion, who was bold, confident and full of life. Dandelion was the kind of person who made everything feel louder and brighter just by being there. Poppy, by contrast, has always lived a little more quietly. Now that her sister is gone, she’s left with a version of life that feels thin and unfamiliar.
The book is set in modern-day London and I really appreciated how grounded it felt. Dating apps, awkward conversations, public transport and social media are all part of the story, but none of it feels forced or trendy. It just feels like the world we’re all living in now. Grief doesn’t happen in isolation and this book understands that. You still have to show up, answer messages, go on dates and pretend you’re fine even when you’re very much not.
One of the most interesting parts of the novel is the way Poppy handles her grief. Instead of moving forward neatly or healthily, she slips into her sister’s digital life. She starts talking to Jake, a man Dandelion once matched with on a dating app. I’ll admit, at first this made me uncomfortable and I think that’s intentional. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Poppy isn’t being reckless for shock value. She’s trying to feel close to her sister again. She’s trying to borrow Dandelion’s confidence, her energy, her way of being in the world.
I found myself both frustrated with Poppy and deeply sympathetic toward her. That’s not an easy balance for a writer to pull off, but Rosie Storey manages it well. Poppy’s choices aren’t always good ones, but they feel real. Grief doesn’t make people behave perfectly. It makes them strange, impulsive and sometimes selfish.
Stealing a Life to Feel Close
Jake’s perspective adds another layer to the story that I really enjoyed. He’s recently divorced, lonely, and drifting through dating apps with a mix of hope and disappointment that felt painfully familiar. His chapters give the book emotional balance and remind the reader that everyone is carrying something, even if it looks different on the surface.
What really stood out to me was the writing itself. Storey has a great sense of timing and detail. Some moments made me laugh out loud, especially those related to dating and social awkwardness, as well as other moments that caused me to pause and reflect on what had been said. The humor never undercuts the sadness and the sadness never overwhelms the story.
The relationship between the sisters is the emotional center of the novel. Even though Dandelion is dead, she feels very present throughout the book. Through memories and small details, you get a strong sense of who she was and why losing her feels so devastating. Their relationship isn’t idealized. It’s loving, complicated, sometimes tense and deeply believable.
By the end of the book, I wasn’t looking for a big resolution and thankfully, the novel doesn’t try to provide one. Instead, it offers something quieter: an understanding of how people carry loss with them and how identity can shift when someone important is gone.
Love, Loss and the Beauty of Being Human
I would recommend Dandelion Is Dead to readers who enjoy character-driven stories and books that deal honestly with grief and modern relationships. If you like novels that let characters be messy and human, this one is worth your time. This isn’t a book you rush through. It’s one you live with for a while. And for me, that’s what made it such a rewarding read.
About Rosie Storey:
Photo: © Photograph by Sophie Davidson
Rosie Storey grew up on a farm in the south of England. She left her corporate career to finish her debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. She holds a master’s in creative writing, lives in East London, and works as a writing coach.
