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sweetbabyray1's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.25
kalin_grace's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
lydie95's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A great escape with depth. The power of friendship in the context of Kew Gardens and World War One.
emileereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's London, 1916, and as the men are off at war, Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, is having to take on women in the role of gardeners.
Ivy and Louisa. Two women from very different circumstances. But at Kew they find that plants aren't the only thing they have in common.
Kew becomes a haven for those who need a soft place to land as the tensions of WWI threaten to upend the Homefront and the lives that everyone once knew.
_____
A book about found family and doing what is right even when it's not popular. With a wide array of charming characters this book gives a niche view of the WWI Homefront that was engrossing and endearing.
I loved how these characters supported one another more and more and their lives became more interwoven. And how they easily brought new people into the fold.
This isn't a book full of shocking twists or elaborate plot orchestrations. It's a gentle stream of a story that flows and sometimes there is a ripple, but overall it's a story where you know what you are going to get and it leaves you with a warm fuzzy glow.
_____
Content Note: This is a historical fiction book with one fade to black scene. There are brief descriptions of war violence, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and bullying.
Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Ivy and Louisa. Two women from very different circumstances. But at Kew they find that plants aren't the only thing they have in common.
Kew becomes a haven for those who need a soft place to land as the tensions of WWI threaten to upend the Homefront and the lives that everyone once knew.
_____
A book about found family and doing what is right even when it's not popular. With a wide array of charming characters this book gives a niche view of the WWI Homefront that was engrossing and endearing.
I loved how these characters supported one another more and more and their lives became more interwoven. And how they easily brought new people into the fold.
This isn't a book full of shocking twists or elaborate plot orchestrations. It's a gentle stream of a story that flows and sometimes there is a ripple, but overall it's a story where you know what you are going to get and it leaves you with a warm fuzzy glow.
_____
Content Note: This is a historical fiction book with one fade to black scene. There are brief descriptions of war violence, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and bullying.
Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
5.0
A surprisingly delightful debut set in England during WWI. The story focuses on the Kew Garden girls, specifically the friendship that develops between Ivy, Louisa and Bernard - a pacifist Quaker with social anxiety who loses his job because of his stance as a conscientious objector. Ivy is a young girl who falls in love with fellow gardener Jim (who ends up going to the front) and Louisa is an older woman who left her violently abusive husband. Both women get jobs working at Kew Gardens when the men leave for war and discover that women gardeners are getting paid less than the men are for the same work. Banding together, the women present a united front fighting for equal pay for equal work. There are lots of strong, independent women fighting for Suffrage and greater rights in the book and I loved how the story emphasizes the power of forgiveness and small acts of kindness during tough times. Sprinkled throughout the novel is knowledge about the various meanings of different plants and flowers (Jim and Ivy send each other seeds and flowers in their letters as expressions of their love and devotion, which was really cute). Highly, highly recommend this well-researched and feel-good WWI historical novel that celebrates the power of nature to calm one's spirits during troubled times.
My favorite flower meanings included:
Carnations = I'll never forget you
Lilies = symbol of mother's love
Daffodils = the sun is always shining when I'm with you
CW: miscarriage, domestic violence
My favorite flower meanings included:
Carnations = I'll never forget you
Lilies = symbol of mother's love
Daffodils = the sun is always shining when I'm with you
CW: miscarriage, domestic violence
dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
A feel-good read about the war times (WW1) and a group of women who start working at Kew Gardens. There are various themes related to the times: women's rights; the suffragettes; pacifists who didn't want to go to war; domestic violence; and love. I say feel-good because the characters are lovely and although they are terrible times with terrible events, everyone sticks together and it all works out in the end. Interestingly, there wasn't much about the bombing of London, but perhaps that only happened in WW2?
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
5.0
To be honest, I haven't really read many books based on WWI, I find myself reading more about WWII. The Kew Gardens Girls gave me an insightful look at an important time and place in London during the war. Based on true events the Gardens brought together a group of people working together to maintain the flowers and vegetables, while also nurturing a strong family bond among the strangers who found themselves working on the grounds. It was a time of great stress for everyone, but they were there for each other.
There are many wonderful characters and relationships in this story and I found myself transported to the place and found myself among people I came to care about. The Kew Gardens Girls will be a story that I will think about long after I close the book. I highly recommend it for all readers of historical fiction for a glance at an important part of the past.
There are many wonderful characters and relationships in this story and I found myself transported to the place and found myself among people I came to care about. The Kew Gardens Girls will be a story that I will think about long after I close the book. I highly recommend it for all readers of historical fiction for a glance at an important part of the past.
purak007's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
msnyderk's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely way to spend my weekend. This was such a wonderful story taking place at Kew Gardens during WWI. I loved the friendships among the workers and the different stories. Such a heartwarming book!
eternalscout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
5.0