About the Book: From the author of the international bestseller The Elegance of the Hedgehog, this life-affirming novel follows Rose, a botanist from Paris, who is summoned to Kyoto at age forty for the reading of her estranged father Haru’s will. Leaving behind her life in France, Rose embarks on a journey through Kyoto’s temples, teahouses, and zen gardens, guided by Paul, Haru’s former assistant. Initially a reluctant traveler, Rose uncovers her father’s legacy through a thoughtfully planned itinerary, finding unexpected gifts and forming a connection with the gentle widower Paul. This story explores themes of second chances, beauty emerging from grief, and the blossoming of love amidst loss.