Reviews

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly

tabs82's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

maureen_fox's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dexdar's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

An uncomplicated historical fiction 

laiam's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

run_blum_run's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

drubyy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

trudyd's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed reading the book, but I really enjoyed the audiobook. For me, skipping between three timelines was easier when I listened to the story.

The Last Garden in England takes the reader through the creation of a gorgeous garden, to its destruction during WW2 to its rebirth in present day. I don't think there is a better illustration of how much damage the war caused and how the people were able to rise above it.

gabmc's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this beautifully written historical novel which ties together six women over three different timelines through a garden. In 1907 Venetia Smith, a famous garden designer of the time, designs stunning gardens for Highbury House (this would be the last garden she designed in England). In 2021 Emma Lovell has been hired by Sydney Wilcox to restore the magnificent gardens. And in 1944 Diana Symonds is the mistress of Highbury House which has now been converted into a convalescent hospital. Stella Adderton is the cook at Highbury and has dreams of a bigger life. Beth Pedley has just moved to the area as a Land Girl. She gets to know Stella as she delivers the vegetables to Highbury House. During the war, the gardens of Highbury have been requisitioned for the war effort, along with the house itself. Julia Kelly has meticulously researched the historical aspects of the novel and has based several characters, and Highbury House on real people and places. The women in this novel are all really strong characters, but all very different from each other.

crazyherblady's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

bookish_manda's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly is a historical fiction that follows three different timelines with five narrators. Venetia (set in 1907) is a garden designer who creates gardens for wealthy families, and is hired to create a garden for Highbury House. Beth (set in 1944) finds herself working in a farm near Highbury House with the owner Diana and her cook Stella. She is seeking a place where she belongs after being shoved into the world by her aunt. Lastly, Emma (set in 2021) has a passion for reviving historical gardens with her business. 

I think the number of narrators was tricky to follow while listening to this audiobook. I think had I read it, I would’ve followed along better. I liked the characters, but  I wish there were fewer narrators. Two is usually one too many for me... I would’ve been okay with two timelines instead of three as well. It was a lot.