Three strong and independent women with the background centered around the gardens of a house designed in 1907 gives us an amazing story. Venetia Smith is the designer of the luscious gardens in 1907. In the 1940's the house is requisitioned by the British army, yet through the war Diana the lady of the house, wants to keep the gardens properly maintained. Jumping to the present day, there is Emma has been hired to bring the gardens back to their original state. There are secrets, of course, that were hidden in the past and eventually found. I love reading books such as these, reading about the past and the different timelines. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND
BY JULIA KELLY

"Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee." --Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

OH WOW! How I loved this wonderful, wholesome gem of a novel. It was so bright written with Julia Kelly's love of her character's. I would give it 100 stars if I could. I also loved every single one of the character's. They were deep and thoughtful to each other. It is an intricately told tale about our humanity coming together for the greater good of working together to make ourselves better. Wait--there are two character's that I almost forgot about that were unlikable during the earliest timeline this wonderful novel was set in 1907. They were the first owners of Highbury Manor for the cruel way they treated icon Venetia Smith but I understand that they were acting the way they did because it was a sign of the times that they were living in that dictated the way they reacted.

It is present day and Emma gets a dream job. She gets the chance to restore the gardens at Highbury Estates to their former glory the way her hero Venetia Smith designed them in 1907. When Emma meets Sydney and Andrew the new owners of Highbury Manor and Sydney finds Venetia Smith's original sketches she realizes that this restoration work will be highly rewarding. Only when they discover that there is a missing key to the gate of the Winter Garden section do they begin to wonder what happened to that key to the completely overgrown and long neglected section. The Winter garden section has a rusty locked gate, but why?

It is 1907 and Venetia Smith is known and highly regarded to designing beautiful gardens for the rich such as bankers and lawyers. She has a reputation for creating beautiful rooms with her unique talent and she is hired for the ambitious job of doing that at Highbury Manor. She will create a masterpiece of the likes of what can only be described as a Monet painting. Each section of this multifaceted garden of different rooms outside will bloom with rich and brilliant luxurious blooms that can only be described as watching the many bursting colors of fireworks exploding in an American 4th of July skies. Something heartbreaking will happen to her that forces her to flee to America and start a new life there.

It is 1944 and Diana Symmonds is newly widowed from losing her beloved husband in World War II. Her home has been taken over by the the British wounded from the war. In short Highbury Manor has been requisitioned as a convalescent hospital. Beth has been put into service as working as a land girl. Beth grew up as an orphan and has finally made a home that she craves to be permanent working on a farm next to Highbury Manor. She meets her future husband a Captain who is visiting the farmer while he is out on a walk from Highbury Manor. His shoulder was shot during his service and while he is healing he and Beth start a romance that will lead to marriage.

Stella works as a cook for Mrs. Symmond's when one day her sister shows up asking Stella if her young son Bobby can stay with her at Highbury Manor. Mrs. Symmond's happens to witness this exchange between the two sister's and kindly gives Stella the okay and encourages Bobby to go and find her only son Robin who is the same age. Stella doesn't want to be tied down with Bobby as she has been taking correspondence courses and shorthand so she can work in London and travel the world. Something equally as devastating happens to Mrs. Symmomd's and an odd bargain is made between Stella and Mrs. Symmond's.

There is a strand of thread that connects all of these different timelines and these wonderful women. It may seem like a lot of character's to keep track of but I assure you it was easy. This is a beautiful, well crafted story that I loved and can't recommend highly enough. I am certain my review didn't do this gem of a novel justice. This is another one of my favorites of 2020. I wish that I came across more novels like this that absolutely shimmers with sparking glitter. The descriptions of the gardens where some of the most beautiful imagery I have ever read. They are reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier's novel "Rebecca," only much more stunningly so. This is one I will definitely be purchasing for that special bookshelf and also for special family and friend's. I highly recommend that you pick up this special book for yourself. It has all the feels and will please all of your senses!

Publication Date: January 12, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Julia Kelly and Gallery Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheLastGardenInEngland #JuliaKelly #GalleryBooks #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book. There was romance , historical tid bits and a dash of mystery! It made me want to go and make a garden (or at least buy some flowers! Well written and engrossing.

Ah, a very satisfying ending for the most part. I think the three non-main character stories could have been reduced to one viewpoint, maybe Diana's?, but otherwise loved the book! Someday I will get to the great gardens of England!

The Last Garden in England was a thoroughly engaging novel; I read this book in one day. The story revolves around the planting and restoration of a large garden, which surrounds a country house, from the early 1900s to current day. We follow the story of three women's lives set against the backdrop of this house and garden. I enjoyed learning about garden design and the role of the Land Girls and convalescent hospitals durning WW II. There is enough of a mystery feel to the book that I found myself quickly reading the chapters to find out what secrets would be uncovered. The book was well written with engaging characters. I look forward to reading more books by Julia Kelly.

I was drawn to this book by the gorgeous cover and the fascinating description. For the most part, the novel lived up to my expectations. There are a lot of characters and 3 distinct timelines to keep track of. It's a lot to juggle. For that reason, some of the characters didn't seem as well rounded because we weren't able to get to know them as well. I was also somewhat disappointed that the original idea for the garden came as an ostentatious display of wealth, rather than a true love of its beauty. However, this novel definitely kept my interest and I would read more by Julia Kelly. The sense of setting is wonderful and the plot unfolds in a fascinating way. The ending is also very satisfying.

A lovely story of an English garden thru the ages. Designed and built in early 1900 it contained "rooms". During WW2 the garden was almost destroyed. And in present day it is being restored. What a story!

The Last Garden in England is set during two of my favorite time periods and is compared to Kate Morton's The Lake House, so my expectations were very high. While I enjoyed reading this book, especially Venetia's storyline, I felt a bit let down. I didn't feel like the book went deep enough with three of the five women who make up the book's five main characters. I wanted more connection with them, especially Beth and Stella. I also found myself wishing Venetia's chapters would be longer and more frequent. Overall, this was a good read if you enjoy connection through time stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for access to this ARC.

A historical fiction follows three women at different time periods all connected by a mysterious garden. For readers of Kate Morton, this book will keep you entertained until the last chapter. Will definitely recommend especially to older readers who want a book that they can pass on to their freinds.

Historical fiction set in England is my favorite genre and the “Last Garden in England” does not disappoint. Focusing on women in three separate time periods connected by a garden at Highbury Estate in the English countryside, the book provides great period detail, intricately drawn characterizations of strong women, and believable dialogue.

The first time period, 1907, features Venetia Smith, a garden designer in Edwardian England, who falls in love with the brother of the mistress of the house that hired her to design the garden. Her life is shrouded in mystery, as she abruptly moved to America after designing this garden, never to return to England.

The 1944 time period features Stella Adderton, head cook at Highbury Estate who dreams of escaping her life of service and becoming a career woman in London. Diana Symonds, a war widow with a small son, is mistress of the grand house, which has been requisitioned by the Government as a hospital. Diana strives to get past her grief over the loss of her husband, while trying to preserve some part of the garden from the military, which is trying to convert most of the garden to agricultural use. Beth Pedley is a land girl who works on a nearby farm, and sketches the garden in her spare time.

Emma Lovett owns a business in the present day that specializes in restoring old English gardens. She has studied Venetia Smith in horticultural school and is thrilled to have the opportunity to recreate this intricately planned garden, which includes trying to uncover Venetia’s plans for the garden.

The narrative ties all the time periods together seamlessly, drawing the reader in to the lives of these dynamic women. The garden itself is a central character in the drama, and the reader comes to love it as much as the women in the book. I highly recommend this novel for all lovers of historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in English History.

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly is an excellent historical fiction novel that is a triple timeline story that weaves together to create a beautiful and amazing book that kept me riveted from beginning to end.

I have been a huge fan of Ms. Kelly for quite a while now. I loved her previous two books: The Light Over London and The Whispers of War. When I saw that she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it. And it most certainly did not disappoint.

There were so many things I loved about this book:

1. The ability to take three separate stories from three different time periods, create excellent plots, and weave them all together seamlessly into a breathtaking end. All three time periods: early 1900s, 1940s, and 2021 were all excellent in their own rights. That in itself is hard to find. I enjoyed the development, the complexity, the mystery, the romance, the twists/turns/suspense, and the endings all equally.

2. I loved the full character cast. Ms. Kelly has outdone herself with a full array of fascinating characters. I loved Venetia, Emma, Diana, and even Stella (as hard as it was at some points to do so). There were so many more characters within each story to even mention, however each one was vital, complex, realistic, and fit perfectly. I loved how each woman was different in personality and place, yet all had similarities that the reader discovered throughout the book. Excellent.

3. I loved the central theme of the Highbury House Gardens. I was completely blown away and wonderfully immersed into a botanical dream. Learning about all of the plants, flowers, descriptions, history, colors, care, and design was a dream. It is clear that the author has done her research, and it showed in how she was able to create a literary masterpiece that made me feel as if I was actually walking among the paths feeling the dew on my legs as they brushed against the leaves, the silky petals against my skin as I touched the blossoms, and the smell of earth, leaves, ponds, and dampness as I wandered throughout the areas during each season. It was truly remarkable.

4. The ending. I LOVED it. It was perfect in every way and nothing else would have fit. Just perfect.

I also enjoyed the Author’s note at the end to give a bit more context as to what was fact vs fiction vs inspiration. I enjoyed that as well.

This was easily one of my favorite books this year, with Ms. Kelly being one of my favorite authors. She has most certainly done it again. Bravo.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication (and Instagram again).

When I saw Julia Kelly’s name pop up on NetGalley, I immediately requested the book without even reading the description. I’m a huge fan of Kelly and the cast of characters she creates. She effortlessly laced multigenerational characters with a common theme, place or object. And my instincts were 100% dead on...The Last Garden of England is FANTASTIC!

Last Garden weaves together the lives of several strong, independent women from present day and all the way back to the early 1900’s. The common denominator...a beautiful estate and is luscious gardens. From their inception to their restoration, the gardens of Highbury tell link these amazing characters, tell beautiful stories and keep their secrets.

The 1900’s introduce us to Venetia Smith...a well known architectural gardener is hired to turn the land of Highbury into vast gardens for both beauty and entertaining. She works for a hoity, toity family who value social class above all else. When she falls in love with her boss’ brother, her reputation as well as her job are in jeopardy. She’s determined to tell a story with her landscape design but ultimately the garden will harbor her secret for generations.

In the 1940’s Highbury is requisitioned to the British Army as a convalescent home. The lady of the house Diana is determined to keep the gardens organized and maintained while her life is hanging upside down. She rediscovered her voice and her strength as time passes and she too, hides a secret within the garden.

Jump decades forward to present day and Emma has been hired to restore the gardens to their original state. As she searches for any kind of plans Venetia may have left behind or Highbury owner Sydney’s great grandmother may have kept in and old box, she not only begins to dig up overgrown roots but the secrets within the garden.

All of these ladies find themselves, their strength and love within the walls of these gardens. Much like the plants that grow within, they take time to establish their roots and then begin to blossom.

This is a huge win for Julia Kelly. I did not want this story to end...in fact I can see this book becoming somewhat of series, a stand alone book for each of the characters. Well done Julia! Thank you so much to Julia and NetGalley for giving me early access to this gem! One of my favs of 2020!!

Book Review: The Last Garden in England by author, Julia Kelly
Expected Release: January 12, 2021 (ARC)

The Last Garden in England is a journey of friendship and strength through the ages. It brings together the intriguing lives of 5 women and how their lives become intertwined by history, family ties, and an elegant series of garden rooms~ a paradise that includes one particular garden where secrets of the past are waiting to be unearthed just beyond its rusted garden gate...

Ms. Kelly, through her wonderful descriptions and placement of suspense, has created a charming yet heart-wrenching narrative that covers a time period from 1908 to the present time~ with its loss, hope and a garden that not only exudes beauty but holds tragic memories, conflict and mystery.

From the historic 'Land Girls' to the eccentric, The Last Garden in England will capture you with its nostalgic, moving tale where past and present meet within the intriguing backdrop of England.

I thank the author and NetGalley for my copy of The Last Garden in England. A story of dreams, love and loss...

4 Stars

#TheLastGardeninEngland
#JuliaKelly
#GalleryBooks

Wild Sage Book Blog

Magical! I loved every word. Oftentimes while reading particular passages I could easily visualise the gardens.

Wow! I am blown away by this book. I love Julia Kelly and this book is my new favorite of hers! The Last Garden in England is historical fiction at its best with characters & a story line that every reader will love.

I loved the concept of this book far more than the execution. I have always been curious about the concept and execution of a majestic, monumental British garden and the idea of following the history of a significant (if fictional) one for 100 years was really enticing.

But, somehow I didn't find the magic I was looking for in this book. The concept of a garden as a statement of wealth and "taste" was not new to me, but the lack of heart and emotion in the couple who commissioned "The Last Garden in England" created a chill in this novel that never left me. Their calculating personalities and business-like approach to what should have been a creative project dispersed in to the tone of the whole book. I never really felt the passion and creativity I expected to experience when I read about the garden. Perhaps that was intentional, but it detracted from the book for me.

This garden was never presented as a happy place, nor the project as an emotionally satisfying one for the designer or the owner. Although the book was garden-centric, it was more a story of love and loss---and women's aspirations. The garden was the foil for presenting these emotional issues, but it was really never the star of this book.

NETGALLEY provided me a complimentary copy of this book in return for a candid review.

Julia Kelly has a way with words. The Last Garden in England was so captivating and fresh. This is historical fiction with not two eras, but three! I love the travel through the ages and learning about each stage and life of the gardens.
It was like three stories for the price of one. Even though there are numerous characters, Julia has them so well developed that the story just flows. This is one novel that I didn’t want to end. Thank you NetGalley and Julia Kelly!

It's January 1907. She walks in the winter garden surrounded by Christmas Roses. I loved the opening descriptions. Then it's February 2021 and Emma is meeting with clients. I liked reading about Emma's work in the gardens. I loved going back in time and reading about the past. I loved reading about the beginnings of the garden. I loved the characters and seeing how they would connect to the present.

In a time when women were expected to be only housewives and mothers, Venetia Smith has made a career of designing gardens for the rich and famous; no small feat for a woman in 1907. And the gardens at Highbury Estate promise to be her crowning glory. In 1944, England is at war, and Land Girls from all over descend on Highbury to help, to forget and to survive. In the present, Emma Lovett has come to Highbury to restore the gardens created by her idol, Venetia Jones, and in doing so uncovers the secrets and stories of all the other women who have called Highbury home. This is a gorgeous and sumptuous novel and just what I needed at a very dark time in my life