In the Shadow Garden is a book of healing, of gardening, of memories remembered and forgotten, and of the family we are born into and the gloom and bloom that comes along with it,

In the Shadow Garden is a beautiful magical realism story about two families- the Haywoods- who can ease a person's pain by planting it in their garden, and the Bonners- a bourbon dynasty whose irresistible concoctions can drink away a person's bad memories. Painful truths and family trauma intertwine in this bewitching story about the power of healing.

Trauma and bad memories can be planted inside of someone and take over their life like an invasive weed. The garden as a metaphor and place for transformation is used with heart and soul in this story. Many important questions are asked...is pain just a memory? Would someone be better off forgetting bad experiences? If your life was a garden, what would it look like? Would it be dry and barren? Luscious and vibrant?

I read this book in a couple of days because it was that good. It had the perfect pacing, a magical driven mystery, a thoughtful storyline, and vulnerable characters in the throes of regeneration. The shadow garden and the magical bourbon were soulful metaphors for the healing process but still very enchanting which made this an entertaining page-turner.

This is the best magical realism story about gardens/flowers that I have read (I have read them all), and I look forward to reading more from Liz Parker.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS BOOK!! I am predicting now that In the Shadow Garden will definitely be a 2022 must-read favorite. It was captivating and so much fun!! An utterly unique, fascinating tale filled with magic, mystery and a little bit of romance. I fell in love with some of the characters and was very sad when the book ended. It completely stole my heart and all of my attention! Thankfully, I still have my memories!! haha

Welcome to Yarrow, Kentucky where magic runs deep within the soil, bourbon is plentiful and your most painful memories can be completely forgotten! It's home to the Haywood family of witches, whose Shadow Garden is well known for supplying magical remedies to the community as well as providing a special pizzazz to the local bourbon distillery run by the Bonner family. On one particular day each year, one shot of that bourbon will erase any harmful memory of your choosing. Except, on that day twenty years ago, when the bourbon erased an entire summer for everyone. A summer that ended with one man's murder, another man's disappearance and two families hating each other with no recollection of the events. When small details of that summer begin to resurface, secrets will be exposed and the power of magic and strength of family will be put to the test.

For the life of me, I really can't believe that this is a debut!! I absolutely, positively, HIGHLY recommend this book!! I think that most of you will love it just as much as I did. I look forward to see what Liz Parker comes up with next.

Thank you to the author, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I believe this will be one of the best releases of 2022. I absolutely adored the town of Yarrow and it’s residents. The themes of loss and grief, love and forgiveness, are so wonderfully executed. Liz Parker creates an atmosphere that draws you in and makes you feel like you are a part of the story and the magic that permeates this novel. The magic system is unique and each character was well developed. The mystery is compelling and eerie. I loved the romances featured throughout the book- which included LGBTQ representation. The pacing kept me engaged and eager for more. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read this eARC.

In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker is a great contemporary fiction that has it all: magic, fiction, mystery, and suspense. I really enjoyed it.

I love Alice Hoffman, so I really wanted to read a book that had many of those desirable components. I really enjoyed the unique and intricate mystery and history that was weaved into a contemporary narrative. The alternating points of view among the characters of the different families involved residing within the community really added to the overall plot and pacing. It gave a real, human feel to balance out the mystical and magical threads.

I also really liked that the author picked Kentucky as the location of the novel. Not enough books feature this hidden gem. She does an excellent job keeping the reader interested, engaged, and entertained. I loved the inclusion of the magical components and aspects. This would be a perfect read for fall.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Forever ( Grand Central Publishing) for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/13/22.

Our memories make us who we are. So, what happens if they are taken from us? The premise of In the Shadow Garden was fresh and fascinating with a unique magic system. The tantalizing mystery of what really happened during the summer that the entire town forgot kept me reading. The book has deep and complex relationships between family members, friends, and lovers. A very enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for access to this arc.

The Haywood women of Yarrow, Tennessee are benevolent witches, there’s not an heirloom vegetable or herb they can’t grow and they can ease a broken heart or soothe a troubled mind just as easily. This being Tennessee, the Haywood’s also imbue the local bourbon (through their gardens) with a little special magic of its own. But the Haywoods have never forgiven the Bonner’s of Bonner’s bourbon for the part they played in the collective amnesia of the residents of Yarrow twenty years ago. But the secrets of that long ago summer are about to resurface and the Haywood and Bonner families will face off – there will be an accounting for debts owed. Perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen