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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Four different women, at three different times over the past century, all connected by a garden. One who risks it all, one who loses everything, one who is trying to find her place, and one who is just trying to make ends meet.
This book was slow, and it took me a while to get into it. Once I was pulled in, I was trapped by the intrigue of the whole story. The garden, designed by one of the women, has served many purposes over the years, but had often been a haven to the women involved. And yet, it's shrouded in mystery, and in need of being saved. Further proof that some places are magical, and that beauty and pain can coexist in the same space. I loved the strong female characters, and the entire story.
This book was slow, and it took me a while to get into it. Once I was pulled in, I was trapped by the intrigue of the whole story. The garden, designed by one of the women, has served many purposes over the years, but had often been a haven to the women involved. And yet, it's shrouded in mystery, and in need of being saved. Further proof that some places are magical, and that beauty and pain can coexist in the same space. I loved the strong female characters, and the entire story.
3.75 stars. Review of the audio book, read by: Shiromi Arserio, Marisa Calin, Danielle Cohen, Katherine Littrell & Siobhan Waring.
Whew, that was a lot of narrators…and no, I couldn’t keep them all straight. I honestly didn’t realize there were that many until they were listed at the end.
I truly enjoyed the story. I think WWII is definitely my favorite era to read about. But the setting with the garden and how the women were connected by it, it just worked really well.
Whew, that was a lot of narrators…and no, I couldn’t keep them all straight. I honestly didn’t realize there were that many until they were listed at the end.
I truly enjoyed the story. I think WWII is definitely my favorite era to read about. But the setting with the garden and how the women were connected by it, it just worked really well.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
“Have you ever loved a place so much that it sunk into your bones?”
Julia Kelly's THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND focuses around three gifted female gardeners whose stories across three time periods but across one English estate - Highbury House. In 1907, famed landscape gardener Venetia Smith is hired to create a masterpiece. Emma, in modern-day, is a small business owner restoring Venetia's work. And land girl Beth Pedley in World War II era Highbury House - a temporary hospital - bridges the two. And there's a secret that carries through the entire story, which Kelly artfully teases out over the pages.
Kelly is a beautiful writer, describing the lush gardens and design with a passion of her own. Venetia, Emma and Beth are all fleshed out and grow as people throughout the story. There are passionate romances, but above all, each of these women fight to make a life of their own, one that they can feel is independent, fulfilling and true to their passions.
Even if you could care less about gardening, the story goes beyond that. THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND also speaks to the challenges of raising a child, motherhood, art, and how far women will go to dig up a secret and learn the truth. This is one I can highly recommend for fans of historical fiction, multiple POVs and anyone who loved Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale.
Thank you to Netgalley & Gallery Books for the gifted copy for review.
Julia Kelly's THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND focuses around three gifted female gardeners whose stories across three time periods but across one English estate - Highbury House. In 1907, famed landscape gardener Venetia Smith is hired to create a masterpiece. Emma, in modern-day, is a small business owner restoring Venetia's work. And land girl Beth Pedley in World War II era Highbury House - a temporary hospital - bridges the two. And there's a secret that carries through the entire story, which Kelly artfully teases out over the pages.
Kelly is a beautiful writer, describing the lush gardens and design with a passion of her own. Venetia, Emma and Beth are all fleshed out and grow as people throughout the story. There are passionate romances, but above all, each of these women fight to make a life of their own, one that they can feel is independent, fulfilling and true to their passions.
Even if you could care less about gardening, the story goes beyond that. THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND also speaks to the challenges of raising a child, motherhood, art, and how far women will go to dig up a secret and learn the truth. This is one I can highly recommend for fans of historical fiction, multiple POVs and anyone who loved Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale.
Thank you to Netgalley & Gallery Books for the gifted copy for review.
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
I liked the different timelines, but having all of the POVs be third person except ONE being in first person was a really bizarre choice. Overall it was fun and the gardening element was interesting. I could have used fewer characters to go more deeply into each one; Beth, though I liked her, felt totally superfluous and could have been a background character in the Stella/Diana storyline instead of having her own. Diana's were the most interesting chapters to me and her story had me the most emotionally invested. I really wish there had been more about the restoration of the garden itself!
My gardener, historical fiction loving heart adored this book! Hearing about hellebores, cross breeding roses and shade loving hydrangeas as spring is in the horizon hurled me into my happy place! The multi generational story was woven together beautifully. Julia Kelly is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers.
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
pleasant nonsense!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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