I found “June in the Garden” to be an interesting read. It was told in the first person, by June, the protagonist. June appeared to have ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and seemed to have rage blackouts when her world was not consistent and orderly. She seemed to function well if her life was consistent and her routine was not disturbed, thus OCD, as well. The prose, which was mostly inner-speech, or self talk was done to try to help the reader understand the level in which June was able to function in the outside world. June’s life seemed to be one trauma after another. This was not so much an enjoyable book for me, but a book that gave me perspective for people on the spectrum. I don’t want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. 3.5 stars.

This was your basic feel good, have hope, all's well that ends well book. It was slow in spots, picked up in others--the pacing was inconsistent. I would read for 1 or 2 chapters, even 6 or 7 and then put it aside for a while. There were some extra bits in the book that could only be considered as "filler" and were never tied up and addressed. The man on the bicycle? June's diet--the family diet--did things change at the end of it all? Her meds? Three stars and thank you to NetGalley and Crown for the complementary digital ARC. I am appreciative for the chance to read and comment on this book. These thoughts are all my own. I did like it enough to search out other Eleanor Wilde titles.

Awe I want to give June a big big hug and chat with her all about gardening! This book has SO much heart and truly is such a wholesome read. June navigates life after her mother’s passing— although she struggles with change she is brave and I valued this story so much! What a beautiful debut— thank you so much Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.

JUNE IN THE GARDEN by Eleanor Wilde is a story about finding one's place and overcoming loss. The main character, June, is twenty-two years old and neurodivergent. She struggles to cope with others (e.g., throwing a dozen eggs in the supermarket where she works) and is trying to adjust to her Mother's recent death. Sadly, she will also so have to move: "I have less than a week to pack my belongings. I have been "less" of a few things over the years --restless, jobless, friendless, and according to the teachers at school, hopeless. But never homeless until now." No one, even her social worker, seems capable of stepping up to help June to grieve or to understand. It was disheartening and cringe-inducing. I could not finish this story even though other reviewers indicated that the second half of the book was more humorous.

A tender and absorbing story about grief, neurodivergence, and finding family. June is 22, living in Scotland, and reeling after her mother’s death. She’s neurodivergent, with OCD and reactive attachment disorder, and sees the world through her own careful set of rules. When she seeks out the father she’s never met, she uncovers new connections and unexpected support.

This is a quiet, character-driven book. It moves slowly but deliberately, and the representation of neurodiversity is excellent. June’s voice is unforgettable, and the emotional depth snuck up on me. What I thought would be a feel-good story turned out to be something more, gentle, sad, and full of hope.

2.5 rounded up.

This story follows 22-year-old June, a possibly neurodiverse young woman, as she navigates life after the sudden loss of her mother—her primary support system. Alone and without a home, she sets out in search of her "relative" that ends up being her father, but her journey becomes less about logistics and more about finding love, family, and belonging. June lives by a set of personal rules that have helped her manage life, but as she enters unfamiliar territory, it becomes clear that others must help her adjust and grow.

Told through June’s straightforward, literal point of view, the book explores deep emotional questions about survival, purpose, and connection. I had high expectations for the book but found the story to be slow at times. I'm not sure if I liked it or not but I finished it in short time so thats a plus.

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC!

I wasn't sure where this story was headed when it began and I was very pleased with how it all ended. June is a character that will tug at your heartstrings as she learns to navigate life without her mother. Though it has a tone of sadness throughout there are some touching moments and some actions, thoughts and behaviours that reminded me of Molly from The Maid by Nita Prose. We are never told but June seems to be neurodivergent and the author does a wonderful job capturing the inner world and unique characteristics of June.
I also liked how gardening played a role in keeping June comforted and that the. ending gave us some answers about her parentage.
If you are looking for a slower story that follows a unique young woman as she sets out to find family you will want to pick this one up. It may just bring a tear to your eye!



Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read it in exchange for my honest thoughts!

June in the Garden by Eleanor Wilde is refreshingly original in the gorgeous writing, quirky characters and fascinating subject matter. June is twenty two, presumably neurodivergent, and lost her mother unexpectedly. Not only does she grieve the one person who understood her but also her home and her garden, everything she was familiar with. She even lost her job where she was told she had "no filter". Horticulture was her passion , Scotland her joy, crowds her fear. But she sold furniture and with her earnings, courageously embarked on an adventure to London to search for a family member listed in an unsent letter of her mother's. Living with her father wasn't the best solution and after a stint at a hotel, June found her wheelhouse, a garden shed where she lived temporarily. She and young Henry exchanged sweet letters, one of my favourite bits. The ending is moving and poignant. Stories about family melt my heart.

June's straightforward naivety and wit endeared me and I rooted for her the entire time. The writing is gentle and thoughtful and really allowed June to shine. It was lovely to see the world through her eyes and her inner dialogues were insightful. Her profound reflections struck a chord, especially that she and her mother made themselves small to fit into a tiny corner of a big world. The slow pace gave me ample time to get to know June and an understanding of her mother. All in all, this is a beautiful, beautiful novel. Truly something special.

👩🏼‍🌾⚱️🌸BOOK REVIEW🌸⚱️👩🏼‍🌾

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🥰Thank you so much to @crownpublishing for the gifted ARC!

📖Title: June in the Garden
✍️Author: Eleanor Wilde
📅Pub Date: June 17, 2025

👀What do you get when you cross Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine with Old Farmer's Almanac and Strange Sally Diamond? June in the Garden 👩🏼‍🌾

👩🏼‍🌾The biggest reason why I loved this book (besides June, she stole the show) was because I had literally no idea what was going to happen at any point or even where the plot was going at all. I was just so happy to follow June wherever she took me and I was never bored and never disappointed!

⚱️I don't even want to say what the book is about, but I will share how it made me FEEL. The biggest feeling that I felt while reading this was COMPASSION. June sees the world through her own unique perspective, and the way she sees things differently has opened my eyes to so much. So many parts of this story had me so emotional, especially the ending 🥹

👩🏼‍🌾Some may consider this a "slower pace" plot wise, but I was so invested in June as a character that I was flying through the pages to make sure she had a happy ending!

🌸On a lighter note, I loved all the gardening talk and all the tips shared. Did I finish this book and plant a garden for the first time in my life right after I finished this book? Yes, yes I did. 🌸

🫶Can't wait for the whole world to fall in love with June this June!

Where to even start…this was such a good book and reeled me in right from the beginning! June is a 22 year old woman with special needs who has just lost her mother. She travels from Glasgow to London to try to find some family to live with and she has many adventures along the way as well as the whole summer after she arrives. She has “no filter” as you might say, and tells it how it is, keeps a very strict routine, and loves gardening. This book made me feel so many different emotions, and I absolutely love how it ended. Wonderful story!!

Written from the perspective of June, who it was never confirmed but can be deduced, is a neurodiverse individual. At age 22 she loses her mother and primary caretaker, her home, and her sense of stability. She sets off to find her father and a place to live, but as time wears on, the meaning of her journey grows deeper into the realm of wanting a family and a place to belong.

Honestly I can't decide if I liked this book or not, but I do know I read it in only a few days and shed a few tears by the end. So take that for what you will. I liked how each chapter went through June and a new trial and tribulation, but overall, it felt like it moved slowly and lacked excitement. If you can hang on until the end, the reward is definitely there with a heartwarming and emotional conclusion to her story.

June’s mother has died. Her social worker would like her to move into a residential facility but she wouldn’t have a garden anymore if she did that. When she finds a lead to a potential family member she has never met she decides to go see if they have a suitable garden for her to tend if she decided to live with them.
This book was a similar vibe/style as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which was a book I enjoyed so was happy to find something in the same vein.
June is a plucky character whose love of gardens and plants is infectious.
Thank you to @netgalley and @crownpublishing for letting me have an advanced copy of Elinor Wilde’s debut adult novel #juneinthegarden for review.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagrammer #booklover

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I'm glad I stuck with this to the end. I really didn't like the story until June moved into the garden shed. From there, it just took off. Her relationships with Henry and "the bicyclist" were so sweet, and the second half of the book was much more humorous.
2 stars for the first half, 4 for the second half

A lovely story full of engaging characters that really come alive.I was so engaged by the story I hated to put it down.A book I will be recommending.# NetGalley # crown

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.

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.