A heart-breaking but ultimately uplifting tale about love, loss, hope and healing, keep a box of tissues handy when reading Sophie Anderson’s The Butterfly Garden because this book will make you sob your heart out.

After losing the man she loved with all of her heart, Erin couldn’t bear to spend another minute in London. With the city full of painful memories, Erin had left London behind and retreated to Cornwall where she took a job at Hookes House, perched precariously on the Cornish cliffs and home to reclusive novelist and butterfly enthusiast Maggie. The beautiful house is shrouded in dust and memories of the past yet Erin’s presence allows Maggie the opportunity to finally face harsh truths from the past she had spent a lifetime running away from which in turn allows Erin’s shattered heart the chance to heal. Having grown increasingly fond of Maggie, Erin decides to do something for her before it’s too late: help her find her long-lost family.

Maggie’s family had been ripped apart by the death of her daughter. The grief and anguish of his sister’s passing had left Lucas with no other choice but to flee England and travel to the other side of the world where he has resided for years and years. Erin vows to track him down for Maggie and with time not being on her side, she vows to move mountains to reunite mother and son – especially as there is something Maggie is desperate to tell Lucas. When Erin finally locates him, it quickly becomes clear that Lucas is a man with secrets of his own…

As the two of them begin to get close, Erin wonders whether at long lost mother and son will find the strength and courage to move on from the past and forgive one another…or whether old fears and insecurities will continue to drive a wedge between them.

Sophie Anderson’s The Butterfly Garden is a book that will make you feel every single emotion the characters in this book go through. Written with compassion, sensitivity and empathy, Sophie Anderson deftly explores the heart-breaking agony of grief, the mistakes people make in times of sorrow and the courage and strength they find in their darkest hours that will strike a chord with readers everywhere.

Sophie Anderson is a wonderful writer who has written an emotional page-turner that will bring a tear to the eye of even the most cynical of readers. Heartfelt, captivating and absolutely enthralling, Lucinda Riley and Jojo Moyes fans will not want to miss The Butterfly Garden.

It was a beautiful book and I liked the setting and the friendship that grew between Erin and Maggie. But it was slow and I found Erin to be a bit childish and selfish, she made a lot of bad decisions that didn't really make sense and it was a little annoying. Overall an okay read but I have read better.

This book was a delight to read. It captured me from the first page with its easy reading style.
I loved getting lost in the relationship between Maggie and Erin. The characters were believable and loved going through the journey of their story.
A wonderful read!

What drew me to this book was the gorgeous cover, which is just so alluring and inviting and once I read the blurb it made me truly want to read this book. Sophie Anderson was a new author for me so I had no idea what to expect but as I do love trying out new authors so I couldn’t wait to dive straight in.

The genre of this book is contemporary fiction, which means that this story encompassed a lot, from full on drama, family relationships to include the joy and the heart breaking and the hardships from past to present, secrets, not to mention the emotional aspect, of which there was quite a lot. So what all of that meant was that I was gripped and involved with the story from start to finish.

I thought the story was very well written, I was drawn to the characters pretty quickly, enjoyed getting to know each one and spent most of the story waiting in eager anticipation to find out what actually happened and to see how everything would come together in the end.

I definitely look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

A beautifully etched story about family and secrets and everything in between
I loved how both the characters were details with a lot of twists in between
A surprisingly captivating read

I love family dramas that involve tragedy, secrets, relationships, and resolutions. This one had beautiful settings and was very atmospheric. A beautifully written story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The description of this book caught my eye for the “family secret” aspect. I’ve come to realize that I enjoy reading what authors come up with as desperate or “awful” enough to have been kept a secret. Sometimes, they are totally worthwhile, and I’m left speechless by the way everything has been crafted. Other times, they don’t seem to live up to the hype of the story. I’m happy to say that this book falls firmly in former category. I liked how Erin lived vicariously through Maggie and vice versa. I also liked how Maggie’s story (including the secrets) was relayed. There was even a meta touch near the end that I enjoyed. I don’t want to give away any plot points, because it was enjoyable to discover them on my own (and I want to give readers that opportunity). But I will say how much I enjoyed Erin’s journey. Should be high on your TBR list. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book.

I loved this story. I didn't want it to end. I became so invested in all the characters of the book. I wanted more and more! What a lovely story of two women finding each other, and learning for each other's life experiences.

This book is off to a promising start. It’s still on the go as other books have taken priority with time and interest at the moment but I’m looking forward to picking it back up and getting into the meat of the story.

TRIGGER WARNING: this book deals with the aftermath of a child's death, and serious mental health issues
Erin returns home after her love affair with a married man collapses. She finds employment with a dying author Maggie Muir, typing up her memoirs into a novel, and discovers the truth behind Maggie's reclusive life. Is it too late for Maggie to reunite with her son Lucas, and can Erin heal her own heart along the way?
The Butterfly Garden is a book which is often heartbreaking but also strangely uplifting.
Each chapter begins with a section of the memoirs which are written in the first person so we get a direct insight into Maggie's life and emotional state. We discover that Maggie had a breakdown following the death of her daughter Skye and blamed her son Lucas. The overwhelming grief and Maggie's descent into despair is utterly tragic to read.
Meanwhile Erin's character arc begins with her feeling at her lowest. Her relationship has fallen apart and now she feels ashamed around her family and community but really this is her own guilt rather than their judgement. Helping Maggie gives her a purpose and in the second half of the book Erin searches for Lucas so that he can be reconcile with his mother.
There is also a secret in Erin's family which Maggie brings to light. I think there is an important message about the danger of keeping things hidden from our loved ones for our own wellbeing. Forgiveness is also a key theme as both families need to move forward from the revelations which develop over the book.
The Butterfly Garden is full of poignant moments and tragedy but also had the warmth of hope for the future. This is a debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Sophie Anderson in the future.

EXCERPT: Her heart thumped harder, louder in her chest. It was Maggie lying in her daughter's bed, clutching Mr Gilbert, hoping her smell wouldn't fade. Maggie, drunk on the street, banging her front door down. Maggie, hitting her son and hating herself. Maggie who had lost her daughter. And blamed her son? What had happened? Where was he? And Richard? How had she ended up all alone, dying in this huge house on a Cornish hilltop with only Erin for company?

ABOUT 'THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN': When twenty-five-year-old Erin flees London for Cornwall and takes a job at Hookes End, a huge house clinging precariously to the Cornish cliffs, all she knows about it are the stories people tell. The owner, reclusive novelist and butterfly enthusiast Maggie, has kept the curtains of her dusty house drawn for many years. But now she is dying, and Erin, seeing the shadows that cross Maggie’s face, wants to help in any way she can.

Years ago, Maggie’s only son Lucas ran away to the other side of the world and the searing heat of the Costa Rican jungle. Maggie is desperate to see Lucas again – there is something she needs him to know.

Erin wants to help Maggie find peace. But when she travels to the warm white sands and tropical butterfly gardens of Costa Rica to find Lucas, it becomes very clear that he is hiding something too.

As Erin unravels the webs of deceit entangling mother and son, she learns about the terrible tragedy that changed their lives forever: the night when a little girl in a fairy nightdress went missing. But with Maggie’s time fast running out, is it too late for them to find the forgiveness they need to move on?

MY THOUGHTS: I love stories about families, secrets, and relationships, and The Butterfly Garden ticks all the boxes.

Although the plot focuses mainly on Erin, home with her tail between her legs after her relationship with her married lover failed, and Maggie, the elderly recluse with terminal cancer who employs Erin to help finish the book she is writing, it also encompasses Erin's parents, who are hiding a secret of their own, and Maggie's son Lucas, who has exiled himself in Costa Rica, guarding his own secret. An old friend of Maggie's, Fred, also appears and is a stabilizing influence.

The Butterfly Garden is a beautifully crafted story that certainly doesn't read like a debut novel. The characters are well rounded and delightfully human. Maggie, although nearly blind and dying, is not above being manipulative in order to get what she wants. Erin, who is feeling more than a little lost, and who is feeling betrayed both by her parents and her lover, starts out as an easy mark, but slowly the two women develop a mutual liking and respect.

The two separate storylines of Maggie's secret, and the secret that Erin's parents have kept works well. Their secrets are very different, but equally heartbreaking.

This is a touching and unpredictable story, one that surprised and delighted me. I will definitely be at the front of the line for this author's next novel, due to be published in 2022.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#TheButterflyGarden #NetGalley

I: @sophieandersonfiction @bookouture

T: @MSophieanderson @Bookouture

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #mystery #sliceoflife

THE AUTHOR: Sophie Anderson is an author of contemporary women's fiction. She writes emotional stories about families and their secrets, friendship, forgiveness and personal growth. Her debut novel 'The Butterfly Garden' will be released on June 21st 2021 and she is currently writing her second novel which will be out early 2022. Sophie lives in East Sussex with her husband, four children and several animals. When she is not writing or ferrying her children around the countryside she enjoys travelling, delicious food, yoga, playing the piano, walking in the South Downs, binging on box sets and curling up with a good book! (Amazon)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Butterfly Garden by Sophie Anderson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Such a wonderful book, I devoured it in a weekend. Maggie Muir is a recluse who lives alone in a secluded house writing mystery novels under a pen name. Maggie Muir is dying, she has a tumour that is causing her to lose her sight and she cannot finish her most important novel, the story of her life. She places an ad and hires Erin, a girl who has come home with her tail between her legs, after a disgraceful affair with a painter leaves her heartbroken and alone. Dreading life back home, she thinks this job is perfect as she can escape to Maggie’s house away from everyone’s prying eyes. The relationship that develops between Maggie and Erin is a slow one that ends in them being closer as Erin realizes the story she is typing up for Maggie is her life story.

I loved the way this book was written and the storyline was great. It shows that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, that Maggie and Erin were more similar than they thought. That everyone makes mistakes but it’s never too late to admit to them and apologize.

A story of secrets and loss of love and forgiveness and an unlikely friendship that is heartwarming. Highly recommended, lovely book.

Great story and I loved the relationship that formed between Maggie and Erin and how the family secrets started to come out including those of Erin's own family. The two settings of Cornwall and Costa Rica were also great in their contrast to each other, especially as I love Cornwall and Costa Rica is on my bucket list. Definitely recommended

The Butterfly Garden is a story about Maggie Muir, a recluse and author, who has a brain tumour. Ter tumour is taking her eyesight, so she places an add in the local paper stating, "Eyes Wanted". It is also the story of Erin Turner, a young woman who has just returned to Portheal. She had left home six months ago to follow her married lover to London and returned with her tail between her legs. No one will hire thie "homewrecker" so applies to Maggie's ad, not knowing what it is all about. Maggie hires her to type up her latest manuscript as her sight will no longer allow her to read what she has written. Through Maggie's manuscript form, alternating with conversations and Erin's point of view, we learn about Maggie's past and what she is dealing with in the present. These two characters form an unlikely pair and a deep and loyal friendship develops, as Maggie races to finish her story.

This was a story full of secrets, lies of omission and guilt. Maggie's story is heartbreaking. She had so much sadness in her past and she was not able to forgive herself for her actions and at times inaction. She has some mental health problems along the way and was angry at her husband for not being there for her. Erin has her own guilt and is not sure what she really wants out of life. She eventually finds Maggie's son, Lucas, and heads to Costa Rica to try and convince him to come and see Maggie before she dies. She learns more about herself on this trip, but is also able to make decisions about her life and what she wants to do when she returns home. There are not a lot of characters in this story, but the main ones are very well developed. Their relationships are not perfect, but I loved seeing how they changed and developed.

This is a story of grief, regrets and hidden secrets. It’s not just Maggie who’s been hiding the truth, Lucas and Erin’s parents have their own truths to tell as well. So much happened in this story because of these secrets, and I was glad that things do work out in the end. It’s an intriguing book that will keep you hooked, with some very poignant and emotional parts that had me reaching for the tissues. The writing is descriptive and I could smell, hear and see what Maggie experienced in Costa Rica, I really want to visit now. I also liked that the chapters were not too long and it was easy to read just one more chapter before I had to do something else, like sleep. I really enjoyed this story, from cover to cover. This is a wonderful debut novel and I look forward to seeing what is next for Sophie Anderson.

Erin is a young woman who comes back home to lick her wounds after a relationship gone wrong. The small village she is from are hardly welcoming and her parents are awkward around her as well, so she finds herself a job working for Maggie, who needs someone to type up her notes. Erin gets very involved with Maggie and her story, to the point where she decides to go to Costa Rica to track down Maggie's son.

This is definitely a bit of an emotional tale - Maggie is dying and she doesn't want to die without revealing how she feels to her estranged son. Erin is hardly in a good place emotionally speaking either, so these two lost and damaged souls help each other out. What Erin doesn't know is that her parents also have been keeping secrets from her.

Family relationships can be tricky, that is true, and the author covers some thorny subjects very well in this book. The take-home message I got was that it is important to communicate, properly, with your loved ones, before it is too late.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

Lansdown Place 1986 to Porteal 2017 is how readers will travel. I had to think about who was the narrator in 1986, so I’ll tell you now, that it is Maggie. Carrying on though, it jumps to 2017 and readers meet Erin and Mrs Muir (Maggie). Maggie is a recluse and the descriptions sho this well. All is not lost. My attention is then fully in and I want to read on. The writing is beautiful and somehow with heightened senses of how things sound, look, smell etc, that draws you in further, as does the mysteriously hidden away – Maggie Muir. I was intrigued to find out more and more as the story went on and whole pictures emerged in writing. So, what started out as frustrating, quickly evaporated.

The year 1986 is where Lucas is also met, in manuscript/diary form, aged 5 and likes Gerald Durrell’s Zoo in Jersey, which sounds fun! It’s like a bit of an insight into life before Maggie was dying and also part of her doing as she was asked by Dr Sham, who she saw at this time. Between this time frame, you’ve got 1986 being quite illuminating and yet the start of something quite claustrophobic, which becomes more so in 2017, with Maggie being as reclusive as she is. It has believability and so much sadness, especially for Maggie. It shows how life can seem one way, or assumed, such as her being a really successful writer, but underneath, what might have provided a fabulous life, she is in reality she has so many issues, and now she is dying, you know the inevitable will happen, but there is so much unfinished business in her life, that is uncovered in the book, such as more about Lucas and what happened.

There is poignancy in the use of butterflies and why they aren’t fluttering around. It is often clever how butterflies are used in stories and here it is too, as there is the use of the actual butterfly, which Maggie and in turn, Erin, has an interest in and a place called The Butterfly Garden, but there is also the significance within the symbolism of her life as everything has almost grinded to a halt, except she is writing this manuscript/diary. Yet, at some point there was, like the butterfly, a hub of activity at some point as she wrote detective novels.

Erin has a romance, burning brightly with Simon, which gives her a life outside Maggie’s life and it is also heartwarming to see unfold. Erin isn’t without her own concerns in life as she worries about her brother who has Downs Syndrome and where he may be.

Lies and coverups are later revealed and explosive emotions come to the fore. It is however, heartwarming to see the development of the relationship between Maggie and Erin, an element of trust emerges, that you can’t help but smile at. It also drives the story further forwards, until the end, which at the start you know how it will end, but it’s the journey to there that matters and will seep into your heart and emotions.

Such a beautifully written book. I really enjoyed the characters and story. I honestly didn't want it to end, I want to know the future of Erin and Lucas.

Heart-wrenching, beautiful friendships, dark family secrets and dreamy settings. The Butterfly Garden has it all.

When things go wrong with her relationship with a married man, Erin flees back home to her mum and dad in Cornwall. Now she’s the talk of the village with no job to her name. But she sees an advert for “eyes wanted” from recluse Maggie, an elderly detective novelist and butterfly enthusiast who is slowly going blind from her brain tumor. With no other job options coming her way she takes up the post of helping, Maggie with her latest novel.

The novel that Erin is typing up for Maggie is not her usual type of book. It’s Maggie’s life. Erin learns of the dark family secrets and why Maggie is not in contact with her long-lost son Lucas. Who now lives in Costa Rica.

Maggie wants to make amends with Lucas before she dies, and Erin is the one to help her.

Wonderfully written, and touching on difficult subjects the author draws you in emotionally. It’s brilliant and I can’t wait to read another of Sophie’s books!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Butterfly Garden is all about family, love, loss, forgiveness and new beginnings. I was hooked right from the beginning not only from the story but the authors way with words and descriptions. I’ve never been to Costa Rica but the author took me right into the tropical jungle and now I want to go! Such a delightful read!
Erin takes a job at Hookes End working for a very quiet and recluse women named Maggie. It’s very clear Maggie is holding onto pain from her past and the whole town is whispering about what happened. Maggie is dying so time is running out to get her the answers she needs. Maggie’s son Lucas fled to a remote jungle in Costa Rica to escape the secrets of his sister’s disappearance, but as Erin starts to uncover the truth she finds out both mother and son have secrets. With time running out can Maggie get her answers snd heal her relationship with her son? Erin will do everything she can to help mother and son get answers and closure

After a relationship has gone wrong, Erin has returned to Cornwall to live with her parents but in need of money, Erin takes up employment with Maggie, a reclusive writer who lives in a remote house on the edge of the cliffs. Maggie's health is fast deteriorating and she desperately needs Erin's help to finish a very poignant story about a family tragedy which has been hidden away for far too long.

What then follows is an emotional story which looks, not only at uncovering secrets in Maggie's life but also starts to reveal snippets of information about Erin and her sometimes stifling relationship with her parents. The Butterfly Garden has a theme of forgiveness running through the narrative as not only does Maggie's story dwell on the sins of the past but also Erin's own family have kept things hidden and it is these poignant reminders which act as a focus for what is eventually revealed.

The Butterfly Garden is a well written and poignant family drama which highlights the destructive nature of keeping secrets hidden for far too long and even though there are some quite emotional issues, the author handles these with compassion, and as the story concludes there is a definite sense of closure.