What a beautiful unexpected treat! How many books can you say that you have read about relationships between older people AND that positively depicts sexual relationships in that age group? The artwork was stunning. I would highly recommend giving this a read.

This was better then what I expected!! This isn't about old people naked like the cover made me think, this book is about two older persons (59 and 62... I think) who are searching for a reason to continue living and then finding one. This is a book about love, about life, about getting old and I find myself deeply touch by it. I'm no way near that age (I'm 31 has I read it), but I see the future me in those characters and it made me thing a lot about getting old, without kid and all that came with it. The illustrations where also beautiful so it help getting into the story. A big surprise and a great book! Love it!

abort!!!!!!!!!!!

I found this a really interesting read that deals with facing the realities of old age, not the most popular topic I'd say. The protagonists in this story finds new love towards the end of their lives, and they find comfort in one another. The art is absolutely lovely, and I enjoyed this more than I'd expected to!

Actual rating: 3.5

*I received this copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Well the art was nice but the story did go in an entirely unexpected direction. And I really could not believe it.

Advanced reading copy supplied from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

"How many times have I told them that I'm enjoying life and finally taking my time? While in reality, it's actually time that's taking me, bit by bit, like the cruel tide gnawing at the cliffside."

Blossoms in Autumn is a beautiful work of art. It's so rare to find love stories featuring older couples presented in an interesting and relatable manner, yet this comic is something any age of adult can appreciate. The art style is wonderful, bright and colourful with facial expressions that say just as much as the text bubbles do.

The pacing was fantastic. I never felt bored at any point and it was easy to let myself drift along with the story. The section in which the phrase 'How many times' was repeated over and over was brilliant. It really reinforced the constant sense of meaninglessness, isolation and monotony that can creep in as you get older and also served as a great tool to progress through a lot of panels without the story feeling rushed.

The contrast in both parties of the couple going through the same struggle of being old in a world that doesn't look kindly on it made the story have so much more depth. Mediterranea going from being scared of old women as a child, to being a model in her adult life, to then growing to feel insecure about her body aging was so impactful. The scene where she compared herself to the witch she'd been afraid of as a child made me feel so deeply for her.

I also adored how sexuality was not shyed away from. The assumption from the young of society that sex is something which shouldn't be spoken of past a certain age is sadly all too prevelant. It was heartwarming to see it displayed here in such a truthful, light manner. All in all this comic was delightful and I will definitely be suggesting it to people I know.

a sweet meditation on getting old and finding new meaning

A retired moving man in his late 50s and a cheese shop owner in her early 60s embark on a relationship. When the woman, against all odds and apparently having never been told that even older folks should practice safe sex, becomes pregnant, they flee the judgement of the man's family and go to Corsica, where the book ends before the woman has given birth. The book is meh--not particularly interesting or deep or thoughtful, but not unpleasant to read.

Beautiful art and writing. A fairy tale for the very grown up.

'Bloesems in de herfst' vertelt het liefdesverhaal van Ulysses en Mediterranea. Ulysses is al jaren weduwnaar wanneer hij op zijn 59ste stopt met zijn baan als verhuizer en met vervroegd pensioen gaat. Zijn dochter is op haar zestiende overleden en zijn zoon heeft het te druk om nauw contact te houden. Een gevoel van zinloosheid en leegte overspoeld hem. Mediterranea is 62 was vroeger een vooraanstaand fotomodel, maar werkt nu in de kaaswinkel die zij overgenomen heeft van haar net overleden moeder. Haar dagen tikken troosteloos weg in een isolement, totdat zij op een dag Ulysses ontmoet.

Ik vond het verhaal van deze graphic novel niet overal even sterk uitgewerkt en de illustraties waren ook niet helemaal mijn ding, maar wat het verhaal wel deed was mij laten nadenken over de thematiek en de onderliggende boodschap van het verhaal. Over betekenisgeving op oudere leeftijd, de destructieve werking van een sociaal isolement, en hoe eenzaamheid een enorme stempel kan drukken op je gevoel van zingeving en er als mens toe doen.