June in the Garden follows June, a young woman with a unique perspective on the world. As a passionate horticulturist, she’s at home among the flowers but struggles to navigate the complexities of human relationships. After the sudden death of her mother, June sets off on a journey to find her estranged father, only to end up living in his garden shed. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, June must confront her need for connection and decide whether to open up to her new family or retreat once again. This heartfelt novel explores themes of belonging, unconventional thinking, and the transformative power of seeing the world through a different lens.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

June in the Garden is a sweet and lovely novel about overcoming your fears and defeats. June is neurodivergent and trying to start a new life for herself without her mother. Even I liked this book, I must admit some of the dialogue and scenes came off as kind of corny and cringey. Overall this is a breezy and lighthearted read. I think a lot of readers will enjoy the sweet nature of June.

This is an unusual novel that explores the world from the perspective of June, a twenty-two-year-old neurodivergent woman. Having lived in foster care and then reunited with her mother, June is facing eviction following her mother’s death. She travels from Glasglow to London, seeking her biological father in the belief that family must care for family. To her dismay, he seems startled to see her and, fearing the disruption of his marriage, sends June to a hotel with a substantial amount of cash. Thus, begins a deeply touching story of June’s experiences living in a garden shed on her father’s property.

I was impressed with the author’s skill in drawing the reader into June’s world as she struggles to maintain her equilibrium in a new, unfamiliar environment. Her resourcefulness and deep appreciation of the art and science of horticulture reveal a multifaceted human being with major emotional and interpersonal challenges. Her need for structure and her rigidity in her routines provide insight into her daily struggle to simply live and yet in her vulnerability she demonstrates great resilience and creativity.

I most appreciated June’s relationship with Henry, her half-brother, who has his own challenges. The bond between them grows organically over time and reveals new possibilities for both.

I would have liked to have more background details concerning June’s parents. It was obvious they cared for one another in a youthful relationship, but the reasons for their estrangement and her father’s absence are a mystery. I also felt the ending was rushed and left unanswered questions about June’s future. Overall, I found the novel intriguing, sensitive, and insightful.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

A fun quirky book with heart -June reminded somewhat of Elinor Oliphant. I had to suspend reality from time to time to fully embrace the plotline - for example, that June could live in a shed for what turned into several months without detection by adults, that she literally carried around an urn of cremains along with everything else she was supposedly carrying in a single duffle bag, etc., but the charm factor won the day. I would've liked to know a little more about her biological parents' story - we're left to infer her mother's addictions were the cause of their split but any specific details about that relationship were completely left out. I was unsure if her father wanted to be part of her life and wasn't allow to be? Couldn't find June and her mother? Didn't care about June at all? He did not seem entirely surprised when she showed up, with the police, at his door and yet that portion of the story was never described in detail.

I liked June's relationship with her half-brother and how he took her under his wing and showed interest in the things she cared about.

Overall enjoyable when some logistical leaps can be overlooked.

A wonderful take on life. I always enjoy putting myself in someone else's shoes and escaping for awhile. This was a wonderful story for that. I like that it was not all sunshine and roses, that there were misunderstandings and reconciliation of those misunderstandings. I love how kindness was shown in various ways. Life is not always a perfect ending, but if we are lucky it gets close to being one. This book was that for me.

This book gives me ALL the feels! I absolutely feel in love with the main character and her sweet story. It was beautifully written.

I really enjoyed this as an immersive novel that offered a deeply personal look at grief, identity, and resilience through the eyes of June, the neurodivergent protagonist. Told from June’s perspective, the story does a remarkable job of capturing the nuances of living with autism—her sensory experiences, emotional processing, and struggles with sudden blackouts when overwhelmed with anger all feel authentic and compelling.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is June’s relationship with her brother, (half-brother) which is beautifully written and adds depth to the story, providing a strong emotional anchor. I was also really interested in her begrudging friendship with the man on the bicycle.

The ending felt slightly unresolved, but I appreciated the look back and closure with the letter from her mother.

Overall, June in the Garden is a moving and insightful read, offering a raw and realistic portrayal of grief and neurodivergence.

I received a free copy of June in the Garden by Eleanor Wilde from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

June is a neurodivergent young adult suddenly facing the world alone after losing her mother. As everything changes around her, she realizes that to maintain her peace—and her beloved garden—she must take the initiative to seek help. June leaves her Scottish countryside home for the bustling streets of London in search of a family she's never known.

The story unfolds beautifully through June's unique perspective, which many readers will find both relatable and endearing. Wilde masterfully portrays this particular experience of a neurodivergent mind, and readers will find themselves deeply invested in June's journey and the friendships she forms along the way.

We are taken into the life of June, a 22 year old neurodivergent, who must now learn to navigate the world without her mother. Finding a clipping about relatives, she decides to leave Glasgow and travel to London to see if they’ll take her in. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

An incredibly heartfelt and sweet story. An emotional read about a woman who just wants family and to find her place in this world. A story about finding compassion for those who may experience the world in a different way. i couldn't put this book down. I spent the whole read wanting only the best for June and for her to find her place.

This book has everything, characters you genuinely care about, a story that keeps you reading. There are moments of joy, moments of utter heartbreak, moments of understanding. I can't recommend this book enough.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC.