Publication Date: January 13, 2026
Jake has fallen head over heels for Dandelion. The only problem? Dandelion is dead.
When Poppy discovers unanswered messages from a charming stranger in her late sister’s dating app, she makes an impulsive choice: She’ll meet him, just once, on what would have been Dandelion’s fortieth birthday. It’s exactly the kind of wild adventure her vivacious sister would have pushed her toward.
Jake is ready to find something real—and not least because his ex-wife’s twentysomething boyfriend has moved into their old family home. When he meets the intriguing woman who calls herself Dandelion, their connection is undeniable, and he can think of little else.
As their relationship deepens, Poppy finds herself trapped in a double life she never meant to create. Every moment with Jake feels genuine, electric, and totally right—despite the fact they’re tangled in deceit. As the lines between grief and love blur, Poppy faces a choice: keep her sister’s memory alive through her lies, or risk everything for a chance at her own happiness?
With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.
Even in death, Dandelion Greene continues to guide her younger sister, Poppy. The chance to slip into her identity for one night with a stranger is overwhelming.
Author Rosie Storey serves up a multi-faceted storyline centered around the complexity of grief, especially when it leads to unwise decisions. Dandelion Is Dead illustrates the tight bond of sisterly love, along with fragile relationships built on lies.
While not exactly a classic romance, there’s a definite bond between Poppy and Jake. However, he brings his own baggage to the mix. Together, they generate chemistry, but there are significant hurdles that require a pause button.
The emotional angst drives the storyline, but just when the characters gain momentum, a bump appears in the form of a lie or omission. It’s frustrating that two adults over the age of 35 can’t seem to get their acts together.
Dandelion Is Dead highlights the roller coaster of grief amid new beginnings.
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.
