This work of historical fiction weaves together the stories of strong women facing the challenges of their times. Venetia is designing the gardens of the Highbury House, working for the snobbish Melcourts. It is the early 1900’s, a time when a scandal could ruin a woman’s reputation, facing Venetia as she falls for the owners’ brother Matthew. The second story revolves around two women, Diana Symonds, a war widow in Highbury House which has been requisitioned for use as a hospital during WWII, and Beth, a land girl who is looking for a place to call home. Beth was orphaned at an early age, and felt unloved by her guardian. Lastly, we meet Emma in 2021, a landscape professional hired by a young couple to restore the Highbury House gardens to their original design. The stories are told in alternating chapters, with rich details of their eras, as well as beautiful descriptions of the various gardens. I loved the very English setting, and the stories of strong women who face challenges . I highly recommend this wonderful book, and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

The Last Garden takes the current obsession with World War II stories told back and forth between war time and the present day a step further, starting this story in 1907 with a woman, Venetia Smith, that acts as a professional garden planner. Venetia is commissioned to design a set of gardens for Highbury House and along the way falls for the brother of wife's homeowner which ends up causing her to leave England for America. The story is then looped into 1944 when the wife of one of the descendants is required to convert the home into a convalescent hospital for injured service members during the war. Finally Emma in 2021 is hired to restore the gardens to Venetia's earlier plans from over a century ago. I really loved the focus on the gardens, and I kind of wish that Kelly's descriptions of them had been even more vibrant. There is less focus on them in the 1944 part of the story, but one of the gardens has a dramatic impact on all three women the author focuses on during that time. While I do like seeing the evolution of the garden over multiple generations and multiple points of view I did feel like it could get muddled at times - especially in the 1944 portion. The five different perspectives also makes it a little difficult to really feel like you're getting to really know and be in the shoes of any of the characters. Ironically I felt most strongly about the women that were the "villains" in several of the timelines. This is another solid book by Julia Kelly that I enjoyed and would recommend to people who enjoy these types of stories, but it isn't quite in the upper tier for me.

The Last Garden in England reconstructs an abandoned historic garden, uncovers a mysterious locked gate, and reveals the lives of determined women, separated by generations and war but who grow connected by one famous garden.
Julia Kelly presents The Last Garden in England in triple timeline and the voice of five women, including the diary entries of the Edwardian garden designer, Venetia Smith. Readers are introduced to original garden designs through the intricate details drawn and planted by Venetia in 1907, sketched by “land girl,” Beth in 1944, and recreated by Emma and the company crew of Turning Back Thyme in 2021.
Highbury House and its labyrinth of garden “rooms” in Warwickshire, England, becomes the “living” landscape for the nouveau riche Mr. & Mrs. Melcourt in the early 1900’s, Dr. and Mrs. Murry Symonds in 1944 war torn England, and Sydney and Andrew Wilcox in 2021. Each family is grafted into the history of this once breathtaking garden.
Readers’ love for Venetia and her gift of visionary gardens will thrive as Julia Kelly’s tendrils of love and loss are intertwined amongst the thorn encrusted, vine covered locked gates and the seeds of new beginnings.
Return to an early Victorian era and wander the rose petaled pathways in The Last Garden in England.

Highbury House estate had historic gardens. They were designed in 1907 by Venetia Smith commissioned by the Melcorts. Mrs. Melcort's brother, Matthew, lived nearby and bred roses. Many of his varieties were used in the garden "rooms" designed by Venetia. Venetia's reputation is growing and she is determined to make this garden a masterpiece. The garden, and the people she meets, change her in ways she never expected. After working with this garden, Venetia moved to America, so the Highbury House garden was The Last Garden in England Venetia designed.

Present Day: Sydney & Andrew Wilcox commission Emma Lovett to restore the garden at Highbury House. To be accurate with the restoration, Sydney searches through her grandfather's papers to find the originals. Henry, who runs a family farm nearby, also provides his grandmother's sketches of the garden, as it was in the 1940s. As Emma learns more about the garden's past, she uncovers secrets that have long been hidden.

1944: Beth Pedley, an orphaned Land Girl, arrives at a farm on the outskirts of Highbury. She just wants a place to belong. Cook Stella Adderton, wants desperately to leave Highbury House. Widow Diana Symonds, mistress of Highbury House, wants life to be like it was before the war and before her house has been commissioned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers. When war threatens the gardens, these three women are drawn together by a secret that will be kept for generations.

In The Last Garden in England, Julia Kelly writes a extraordinary story of unexpected connections that cross generations and of the special places that change lives forever. I was captivated! I was allowed to read this book on #netgalley.

Julia Kelly gives us an interesting historical read featuring three storylines, three strong women and three different time periods. The story features a beautiful garden and all the secrets it holds. We experience all the heartache as well as the love shared by many of the characters. Well written with a beautiful cover that draws you in. #TheLastGardenInEngland #JuliaKelly #NetGalley

Three stories in one: a woman who designs high-end gardens struggles with a frowned upon romance in 1907; a WWII story of heartbreak and loss; a contemporary story of a young woman trying to restore the garden. The first two stories were riveting and were well worth reading. Like many novels of this genre, the contemporary story just didn't grab me. Overall, however, I enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down towards the end.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Set in three timelines. 1907: Venetia Smith, 1944: Beth Pedley, Present day: Emma Lovett are all involved with Highbury House Gardens.

I enjoyed all the gardening stuff, the designing/planning and how different flowers/shrubbery would mature and create the garden rooms. I spent much time looking at pictures of the flowers that were mentioned. But, there were very familiar storylines making this an uncomplicated (boring?) predictable read.

2.75☆

What a beautiful story. The Last Garden in England tells the story of the gardens at Highcourt House from their creation by a female gardener in the early 1900’s to the war years to a present day restoration and the women who love them. Perfect for fans of Beatriz Williams and Downton Abbey. I loved the mystery and seeing the stories come together. Each woman’s story was better than the chapter before. This book was a cozy, joyful trip to England!

Wow! I am blown away by this book. I love everything about this book it is my new favorite! historical fiction at its best with characters & a story line that every reader will love.

Told in multiple viewpoints across more than 100 years, The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly is an atmospheric, dramatic read. In 1908, we join Venetia, who has been hired to design a revolutionary garden for a country estate. In 1944, we join Beth, a Land Girl stationed at a neighboring farm. In 2021, we join Emma, who has been hired to restore the garden. I love multiple viewpoints because each chapter has you riveted and on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Beatriz Williams or Karen White, this is the poignant story of love, loss, and sacrifice that you need to add to your TBR today.

A tale of three gardens
A prepublication Big5+ review

r/suggestmeabook: I want a drama about women of various eras dealing with similar issues about work and love.

Edwardian, WWII and contemporary

Rating: PG

Publication date: 1/12/2021

From the publisher:

From the publisher: Present day: Emma Lovett, who has dedicated her career to breathing new life into long-neglected gardens, has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime.

1907: A talented artist with a growing reputation for her ambitious work, Venetia Smith has carved out a niche for herself as a garden designer.

1944: When land girl Beth Pedley arrives at a farm on the outskirts of the village of Highbury, all she wants is to find a place she can call home. Cook Stella Adderton, on the other hand, is desperate to leave Highbury House to pursue her own dreams. And widow Diana Symonds, the mistress of the grand house, is anxiously trying to cling to her pre-war life.

Julia Kelly expertly explores the themes of women and work in two major past periods and contemporary England through the frame of a garden. What will you give up for your dream of work or your dream of love? We used to think we could have it all, but Kelly does a good job of showing that from the dawn of professional female artists, compromises have had to be made.

At first, it was a little difficult to keep up with whose point of view was being discussed, despite the labeling of each chapter with each of the five women’s names.

Venetia was easy enough, given the unique name coupled with the earlier period, but I had a more trouble remembering which name matched which woman. The tone is fairly consistent for all these points of view, despite the fact that Venetia is first person and the other four are third party close.

Another theme she explores is the one of home: what constitutes one and when do we start wanting one? All of the women have different answers, and the answers morph with their character arcs, which are developed at a believable pace, as seasons change.

The choice to explore three different women during WWII is interesting. Of late, it feels like land girls and occupied country estates have been fairly thoroughly explored, but juxtaposing the land girl, the lady of the house, and the cook for the great house helps illuminate all of them in new and interesting ways.

The garden itself is lost on me. I have a vague sense of all the plants she was describing, but not the specifics of them or what a room in a garden is. However, it still worked for me, as the love of the various characters for the garden and what it symbolized to each of them came through.

A solid piece of historical fiction—probably not one to haunt my dreams, but The Last Garden in England was a good meat and potatoes read.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

Lovely book and historical novel about 3 time zones and three women , and how they all connect to the same Historic garden. Writing and characters were clear, good winding plot, and educational wrt gardening and history of gardens. Very pleasant read and would highly recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have been a fan of Julia Kelly historical books for awhile and I can say they have not disappointed me yet. This story goes between present day, 1907 and 1944. Present day is about Emma Lovett and she is working hard to restore the famed Highbury House estate gardens. 1907 is about Venetia Smith who is a garden designer and was the one who originally designed the Highbury Estate gardens. Then in 1944, Beth Pedley only wants to find a place to call home. Stella Adderton who works as a cook at Highbury Estate wants to leave. Diana Symonds is the mistress of Highbury Estate and is trying to cling to the pre war life style. All of these ladies have a secret. I think fans of Downton Abbey will really enjoy this book. The story had a good plot and twists. I really enjoyed it.

I found this book to be so good!!! I was a little thrown at first with the 3 different time lines but after writing down the names with each timeline, I understood the bokk much better.

Three women are tied by a Garden at Highbury House. Venetia in 1907 is the first to design this garden which is a combination of many gardens on the property. Beth in 1944 is working on the land of a farm near Highbury and begins to make deliveries there. Beth likes to sketch and begins making sketches of the gardens. Emma in 2021 is asked to bring the gardens back to their former glory.

There is sadness and happiness in this book. There are mysteries that are uncovered and many new friendships that begin.

Thank you for an early copy of this beautiful book!! I greatly enjoyed it!!

I loved this beautiful book! Told in multiple timelines and voices, the characters were so well developed and the descriptions of the garden were so alluring that I really didn't want it to end! Can't wait for it's publication so that I can buy it!

This is about three women in different time periods all bound by the same garden. This is another really good book by this author. Three different stories and all very interesting. I tried to picture the garden and couldn’t help but think how enjoyable it would be it walk through it.
I enjoyed the book and definitely recommend
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

If you love flowers and gardening you need to read this book. The story is told in three different time periods in history, and that is the only issue I had with the book. It would take me a few seconds at the start of each chapter to realize where in history I was. It was worth sticking to and finishing this book . I enjoyed the book and am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
Source: NetGalley and Gallery Books
Rating: 5/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I found this book to be tremendously entertaining, educational, and inspiring. Covering three generations of women and their connection to a single site, I found the time slip nature of this book to be seamlessly woven together. If I’m completely honest, my favorite “character” in this book is the garden originally created by Venetia. As the book progresses, so does Venetia’s work and the descriptions are so wonderfully written that I could see the garden growing in my mind. In the later generations, the garden and Venetia’s vision has come to fruition and then fallen into decline which brings one to the present and the campaign to bring the garden back to its original splendor. Each woman connected to the garden has her own story to tell and those stories are so intimately connected to the garden as to be wholly inseparable. I found this connection quite special and was pleasantly surprised to find that each woman had a completely satisfying ending. In all, I was immensely satisfied with this historical fiction and find I can heartily recommend it to lovers of the genre.

This was such a lovely read. I loved the storyline and history infused into this novel. The characters were interesting I loved the garden descriptions. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!