Julia Kelly weaves in and out of three different periods of history to tell the story of a garden at an estate in England. The oldest time period is one in which the garden is planned and planted. A budding romance between the garden's planner, a woman ahead of her time in the area of horticulture, and a relative of the estate is an interesting one and extends across a span of time and space. The second is the story of the estate owner, a widow, and two interesting young boys who love the gardens and use them as their play space. This time period is World War II and the story has all the triumph and tragedy of that time. There is however a mystery surrounding this time period involving the boys that is solved in the most recent setting. The third setting is a modern setting of a young woman who owns her own business and has been hired to recreate the gardens. There are a couple of young men who find her appealing as she struggles to maintain her business and please herself as well as her family. And, of course, the mystery of the young boys is solved. I found this book to be an entertaining read with interesting and appealing heroines through each time period. For lovers of historical romance and old British estate gardens, this will be a must read. It provides romance, gardening, and mystery to the lovers of this genre. Thanks to #NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read and review #TheLastGardeninEngland.

I received an e-book of this book to facilitate my review.

Julia Kelly's The Last Garden in England takes us to Highbury House in Warwickshire, where we are immersed in its historical garden -
First, in 1907 - when it is commissioned and designed by the famed Venezia Smith
Next. in the 1940s - when Highbury House serves as a convalescent hospital and the gardens are a place of healing and solace for wounded soldiers, and for Beth, a local land girl - but avoided by the current owner Diana, a war widow.
Lastly, in 2021 - when Emma Lovett is hired by the present day owners to restore the gardens to their original beauty.

All the timelines have strong female characters, interesting plots and the occasional romance. Highly recommend!

“You’re a beacon in the night sky, Beth. Please be mine.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of The Last Garden in England in exchange for my honest review. Synopsis: 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: to restore the gardens of the famed Highbury House estate, designed in 1907 by her hero Venetia Smith. As Emma dives deeper into the gardens’ past, she begins to uncover secrets about Venetia’s life at Highbury in 1907, and the lives of land girl Bet, Highbury chef Stella and Highbury mistress, Diana in 1944, in order to restore the garden to its original state. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Review: what a joy this book was! I have always loved historical fiction but have found the last few I have read to be a little uninspiring. This novel did not disappoint! I loved the beautiful imagery of the English countryside and the stories of the brave women during the Great War in their efforts to sustain Britain. I loved the different perspectives and how each chapter ended with a cliff hanger. For fans of Likac a girls or The Alice Network, you’ll love this!

The Last Garden in England is a beautifully written story about a country estate gardens told during three different eras. The gardens are designed in 1907 by Venetia Smith , an unmarried woman in her mid-30's who is uncommonly able to have a career; they are cared for in 1944 by Diana Symonds, the mistress of the house which has mostly been taken over by the British for convalescent hospital; then in 2021 by Emma, a woman who restores old gardens.

Each woman is strong-willed and determined, to not only create or maintain the luscious garden rooms at Highbury House but to live their lives as they please. The historical figures have secrets that stay hidden until Emma discovers them or at least guesses at them in 1921.

I loved the descriptions of the gardens and could feel myself crawling into them, something I love being able to do with a well-written book. I only gave it 4 stars though because I of the number of characters in each time period. I had to try to remember who some of the secondary characters were as we jumped back and forth in time.

I enjoyed this story. It was interesting and I like how the three timelines were connected. I would recommend it to patrons. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I love to garden, but no where near the extent of the gardening in this story. This story describes how beautiful it is to build a garden, but this story really tells how the soul of each individual grows and the life they make for themselves. Loved the time frame. 2021, 1940's, 1907. This story all comes together beautifully.

I received a free electronic ARC of this historical novel from Netgalley, Julia Kelly, and Gallery Books Publisher. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Julia Kelly writes a clear engrossing tale, with colorful, personable protagonists and a true historical image of the importance of gardens from Victorian England through today. Proof positive that though a garden can be a bit of this and a bit of that, it can also tell a strong story of life as it could be. Should be.

The generations of women and men who lived with and enjoyed the gardens of Highbury House in this novel, from its inception in 1908 through today, come to life in this excellent tale. Both as a personal home and wartime hospital, the gardens enrich the lives and lighten the load of generations of men and women. Julia Kelly brings to life the joy and encouragement just the scent or reflection of light one small flower can add to the hearts and minds of those who notice. And some of us notice a lot. I have had a garden for most of my 72 years, and can't seem to manage without one, but could never put into words the feelings I get from my yards. Julia can, however. Yes. That.

First of all the cover of this book is simply beautiful! It just begs you to step inside this beautiful garden or conservatory! I love gardening, and historic gardens history and this reminded me of the gardens at The Biltmore Estate and Longwood Gardens to name just a couple.
In this gorgeous book five strong, hard working but serious women, all with big dreams, living in different times are brought together by one special garden. In the present day Emma Lovett who is a landscape gardener and historian of old gardens, is given the opportunity of a lifetime to restore the gardens of the famous Highbury House Estate designed in 1907 by Venetia Smith! Ms. Smith has always held the interest of Emma as she has progressed in her career., but as Emma begins restoration on the garden and is presented with old documents and plans of the original gardens she begins to become curious about some of the cryptic messages she is finding. It seems there are some long kept secrets that have laid buried in the past.
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The rest of the story is told in alternate timelines of the ambitious gardener, Venetia Smith, in the early 1900s, and a Land Girl named Beth, who works on the farm during the second world war. Beth want s to find a place to call home but Stella, the cook is desperate to leave the farm and make her own way in the world and a young widow wh is the mistress of the great house trying to make her way as the way of life she has known is crumbling. But when war threatens Highbury House's treasued beautiful gardens these women are drawn together by a secret that will last decades.

The Last Garden in England is found at Highbury House in the midlands. In tree timelines, this story traces the history of the garden from its original installation to it's use as a hospital in World War 2 and to it's restoration in present day. Venetia Smith is the original garden designer in 1907 and her story tells of it's creation. Beth, Stella and Diana's stories surround the use of HIghbury House as a wartime recovery hospital. In the present day, Emma is working to restore the garden to its original grandeur. This reads very much like a Kate Morton novel, just about 100 pages shorter. Loved this book and look forward to more books by Julia Kelly.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy. via NetGalley.

3.75 stars

Absorbing historical novel with three plot lines: one featuring a female garden designer in England in 1907, one a Land Girl working in the British countryside during World War II, and a modern day landscape business owner. The stories converge around a garden.

The different characters and plotlines are skillfully woven together. There is romance, and tragedy and three women all striving to be able to control their own lives and happiness.

The garden and horticultural details are interesting and well described and the characters are appealing. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a seemingly disjointed story about three women in three different time periods. You meet Venetia in 1907, Beth, Diana, Cynthia and Stella in 1944, and Emma in 2021. After a slow start learning about the different women, chapters alternating, you are drawn into the lives of all of them. Not being a gardener or into gardening, a lot of the plant description was uninteresting to me. I did like how the story came together and would recommend this to those who like a well written historical fiction book about women and the men who love them.

This book grabbed me just based on its premise alone: Three different women, one in present day, one in 1907 and one in 1944, all tied together by Highbury House and its vast garden. I really enjoyed how each character and time period brought its own unique perspective and how they were connected by the home and gardens. Normally in these types of stories, I'm drawn slightly more to one character over another, but truly this book had all timelines and storylines on equal footing. It was so interesting to read about the challenges the women faced and how they each handled their own adversity differently. I think readers will identify with at least one character, if not several characters, in the novel.

If you are a historical fiction fan, or simply enjoy a moving story, I highly recommend The Last Garden in England. I also think it would make for an engaging and interesting book club discussion as well. A five star read for me.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The last Garden in England is a very beautiful, romantic story set in three timelines, with wonderful characters connected by one garden. It's a story about love, loss and courage in choosing one's own path in life.
I truly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end.
The last Garden in England was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone who loves historical fiction or gardens will love this book. Julia Kelly weaves three stories in three time periods to create a satisfying whole. Kate Morton fans will love this.

Review will be posted on 1/22/21
Venetia Smith is a renowned garden designer and is hired in 1907 by Highbury House to renovate the gardens. While there, she becomes entwined in a love affair that will change her life forever. Fast forward to 1944, the mistress of Highbury House is Diana Symonds, a war widow. Her husband was killed during the war and she lives there with her young son, but Highbury House is no longer just her home, it is now a convalescent hospital. This obviously turns her world upside down, not to mention the fact that her sister-in-law has come to help run it. Stella Adderton, the cook at Highbury House, longs for a different life, but things change for her when her sister reaches out to her for help. Then there's Beth Pedley, who is a land girl during the war and works on a farm in Highbury. Beth is looking for where she fits in and her life will be changed forever as well by her time spent at Highbury. Jump to present day and we meet Emma Lovell, who is in charge of restoring the gardens at Highbury. As she restores the gardens to their former glory, she learns more about Venetia and the secrets that surround Highbury. Fans of Downton Abbey will especially love The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly; it's a historical story that spans generations and highlights the beauty of gardening, as well the focus on strong female friendships.

There are many points of view in The Last Garden in England. There's Venetia, in 1907, and she immediately impressed me. Most women during that time period did not have a jobs and were not unmarried, so I was taken in by her from the beginning. I loved her unconventional behavior; however, this definitely gets her into trouble at Highbury. Then in 1944, there's a focus on Stella, Beth, and Diana. While they are all very different, I loved how they form a friendship as well as a respect for each other by the novel's end. Diana now finds herself as mistress of Highbury, but it's her husband's family's house and without him there, it's not the same. She does pride herself on her garden and she finds it in jeopardy due to the war. She already lost part of her house as a convalescent hospital, so she is determined to not see the gardens ruined. Diana grows a lot throughout this novel, but things aren't easy for her. Beth and Stella both want more for their lives and their time at Highbury also proves to be interesting. Stella can't wait to escape Highbury and the daily drudgery of the kitchens, but she finds her plans going up in flames when her sister needs her help. She works in London and it's dangerous, so she needs Stella to watch her son. Beth is not only learning what it takes to be a farmer, but she is also learning more about herself. She also finds an unexpected love while at Highbury. Emma, who lives in present day, ties all the women's stories together as well as the secrets surrounding Highbury House and the gardens.

As you can see, there's a lot of points of view in The Last Garden in England. At times, it was difficult to remember which character lived during which time period. The e-galley I read did not always include dates prior to each chapter, so I am hoping the final copy will, otherwise can get rather confusing. In fact, I do think there may be one narrator too many in The Last Garden in England as sometimes it felt a bit too choppy.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the female friendship showcased in The Last Garden in England and I adored the focus on gardening. It made me want to get outside and bring my springtime gardens back to life. Kelly gives us a lot of details regarding the various plants and the design; being a fan of gardens, I especially appreciated all of these details.

So, if you are looking for a historical novel to get swept up in this winter, give Julia Kelly's The Last Garden in England a try, especially if you are a fan of Downton Abbey or Upstairs, Downstairs and if you are like me, The Last Garden in England will have you looking outside longingly for the first blooms of spring.

An exquisite book filled with beautiful stories, beautiful characters, beautiful gardens with a lovely story. It is the story of 1 garden over 100 years with 5 women who loved the garden through various times of tumultuous history in the 20th and 21st century. The garden is the anchor for each of these women as they deal with personal tragedy and difficult periods of world history. The descriptions allow your imagination to see and smell the gardens as the story unfolds. Each of the women is inspiring for their strength, their weaknesses, their humanity. It was a book that I couldn't put down and my eyes simply couldn't read fast enough because I was so enchanted and intrigued on how it would all turn out in the end. As is life, happy endings are tinged with tragedy and heartbreak, which make the happy endings ever so sweet. This book is a wonderful way to curl up and escape!

This is my first book by Julia Kelly, and I really liked it! I will definitely be reading more of her books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Pros:
-There are strong female characters.
-There are several close friendships between women, even those of different classes.
-Throughout, women are supporting other women, unless the women didn't deserve to be supported (I'm looking at you Mrs. Melcourt and Cynthia).
- Also, the men in the story are second to the women, rather than the other way around. I liked how the men in the lives of Venetia, Beth, and Emma offered support and encouragement without trying to take over and run the show.
- The garden theme of birth, growth, death, and rebirth reflect the cycle not only of the land but of the people who work the land as well.
- The theme of finding one's place after feeling adrift is prominent as well. All three women, Venetia, Beth, and Emma, come to Highbury House and find "Home" in more ways than one.

Cons:
-It's not really a con about the book, but I just wish that I had kept track of the names of each of the main characters in each timeline because I kept getting confused!
- Also, I am unclear as to why Sydney refers to her grandfather as not being very happy, and I wonder why that was. His later life is never really explained.

Overall, I really liked this book and would suggest it to anyone who likes historical fiction, timeline shifts, gardens, and women doing jobs well and being proud and strong!

“Everything gardeners do is intentional. We create order out of nature. If she called this Celeste's garden, there was a reason,' she said.”

I LOVED this book! I loved the women in all the times, found myself rooting for them all. Beautiful on the gardening, all that fascinating history just oozing through the pages.

Thanks to the great folks at NetGalley for a chance to read an early copy of this magnificent book!

I love books with multiple perspectives and time when they are done right, and that can truly be said for The Last garden in England. It's a thoughtful, engaging and well researched story that will stay with me for some time to come.