Unreliable narrators aren’t always murderers or train passengers. In fact, given that no one is entirely self-aware, any well-written character should have a skewed perspective of her own life and self, even if a book is a comedy about family life and gardening. Lilian Girvan, the central character of The Garden of Small Beginnings, is an illustrator, a mother, a sister, a budding gardener, and a widow, and her perspective on how she’s doing with each role doesn’t always match up with what readers can see around her. But that trait makes her a more interesting and realistic protagonist, and along with the book’s humor and eccentric supporting cast made it a great read.

THE GARDEN OF NEW BEGINNINGS written by Abbi Waxman and narrated by Emily Rankin is a tale that anyone who has ever loved, lost, raised a child, had siblings or simply tried to find their way in this thing we call life will relate. Brilliant, heartwarming and filled with moments that will have you laughing aloud and shedding a tear.

After a hellacious week, the synopsis grabbed me, and I remembered seeing the title available for audio review...I downloaded it and then promptly devoured it. Believe the hype, own the book or audio...it's a keeper.

Breakfast Club meets the gardening club. Waxman introduces us to Lilian Girvan, a young widow, and mother of two girls, five and seven years of age. It hasn't been easy for Lilian, but she is finally at a place where she is handling things. Every day isn't all sunshine and puppies, but she is trudging along. In THE GARDEN OF NEW BEGINNINGS, Lilian's world is about to change. Lilian works as an illustrator and has been with the same company since she graduated. With dismal textbook sales, her company takes on another project involving garden books, and sign Lilian up to attending a garden class in preparation to drawing vegetables. With her sister and children along for support, she attends the first class. Over the summer they meet, and friendships blossom. More changes are coming as Lilian navigates life and Waxman takes us along in this touching, humorous tale that wraps itself around you. It is poignant, realistic and speaks to the reader.

Waxman shares parenting moments, friendship, mother and daughter dynamics, loss, love, new beginnings, sisterly love and so friggin much more. Lilian was very real, and the running commentary in her head frequently struck a cord. I found myself understanding her loss and relating it to my own losses. Her thoughts on parenting, waking up and just dealing with usual crap we face daily were spot on. Don't even get me started on her mother. The author captured their relationship perfectly.

We get a little side dish of romance, and threads on other relationships. It added depth and gave us a strong sense of Lilian's world. I loved Saturdays with the gardening group and getting to know each of the characters. The writing is just brilliant. The author brought all of these characters to life. I felt as if I knew them and or recognized someone I knew in them. THE GARDEN OF NEW BEGINNINGS is the type of reading that lifts you even as it tugs at your heartstrings. I still cannot believe this is a debut novel. Waxman writes characters and their complexities like a seasoned writer who has honed their skill.

Emily Rankin was the sole narrator, and it was the perfect story for her. Hr voice became Lilian, and her voices for the other characters were wonderful. She handled accents, age, and personality delightfully. The pacing was perfect allowing me to listen for long lengths of time.

THE GARDEN OF NEW BEGINNINGS is the perfect book to own and to gift. I hope that Waxman revisits these characters, but in the meantime, I will certainly be looking for her next novel.

The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman is a very sweet story about Lili Girvan, a young widow trying to keep her life together a few years after the death of her husband Dan. Her sister Rachel is her best friend who had to step in and take care of the girls after Lili had a nervous breakdown following Dan’s death. Years later and she’s still reeling. Who can blame her?

Lili is an illustrator who is signed up by her boss to take a gardening class at the Los Angeles Botanical Garden in order to learn about the vegetables she will be drawing for a new catalog. She takes along her sister and her two little daughters where of course there’s a whole cast of characters including a handsome gardening expert who awakens something in Lili she thought had died with her husband.

Through the story, Lili slowly comes back to life, much like the cycle of a garden. Its a beautifully written book and though death is mentioned a lot, the author does a fantastic job of infusing humor in the pages.

I really enjoyed this one!

Lilian Girvan is thirty-nine and has been widowed for four years with two young girls. She has a strong bond with her unmarried sister Rachel who provided care and support for her children while she was recovering from a breakdown. Her life starts trending in a positive direction and she continues her career as an illustrator.

Lilian struggles with romance while focusing on providing a stable home for her children. She has not been open to dating because of her grief over losing her deceased husband. Lilian gets assigned to illustrate a series of books about gardening vegetables. Knowing little about the topic, she agrees to attend a six week gardening class where she can also bring her children. The garden and her life slowly begin to grow as she forms new relationships while also seeking out new job opportunities.

The setting for this story should be sad but Lilian is very likeable and her thoughts are funny. I really enjoyed the clashing personalities of Lilian and Rachel and their love for each other. These contrasts make for a very entertaining debut novel by Abbi Waxman.

Five Stars: I loved this book. It made me snort with laughter, yet it was full of heart. Don't miss this one!

Lilian feels like she is finally getting her feet back under her. It has been four years since her husband was killed in a car crash, leaving her widowed with an infant and a three year old. Somehow, Lilian survived with the help of her sister, Rachel. Lilian can actually manage to get the girls to school, go to her job without any incidences. When her boss calls her up to her office, Lilian fears the worst, but she is surprised to learn that she is going to be attending a gardening class so she can prepare to illustrate a gardening book. Lilian knows nothing about gardening, but how hard can it be, besides drawing plants and flowers can't any worse than drawing whale genitalia. At the gardening class, Lilian and Rachel meet a group of quirky gardeners, who quickly become like family. The gardening class opens doors and windows for Lilian, and she begins to wonder if she can take that final step and live again. Will Lilian have the courage to follow her heart?
What I Loved:
Okay... let's just get this out of the way. I absolutely adored this book. It was full of humor, yet it had heart and it was just what I needed. This is a debut author not to be missed, to me, this is like last year's blog buster, debut author, must read book, The Hating Game. Though this book is entirely different, I feel like it is the must read of the year. You can skip the rest of the review and go read the book now.
Seriously? You are still reading? Okay, let me tell you more about why I loved the book. The humor! This book was funny and relatable to anyone who has kids. I loved Lilian's sense of humor and her witty, sarcastic commentary. I found myself snorting with laughter, and I it just kept getting funnier as it went along. If you want a feel good, laugh out loud book, get this.
Even though this book is humorous, it is also full of heart as it takes on Lilian's struggle to let go of the past and try to move forward after her husband's unexpected death. Yes, there are serious and sad parts, but they aren't meant to get you down. I loved watching Lilian's journey and seeing her growth. By the end, I had hope that she was just about to flower again.
For all you romance lovers out there, this book has a touch of romance. Now don't expect a torrid, panty dropping love affair. This one is a quieter, gentler, patient romance that is all about taking a chance and starting anew. I loved that it was slow and that it fit the characters. Even though I wished it had developed more, I loved the way it all worked out. I also enjoyed the additional secondary romances that were featured. The one with the two people in the gardening class was adorable.
The characters are amazing. I loved how quirky and eccentric and funny they all were. Lilian is fantastic, she does the whole frazzled mother thing perfectly. I loved her heart, her courage and how she fought to move on. Her two girls are adorable and hilarious. They will steal your heart. I also thought Rachel was wonderful. The entire gardening class was awesome. The more I got to know each one of them and their secrets, the more I loved them. The best part was watching the rag tag gardening group bond and become family. Even Lilian's mom with her issues and narcissistic temperament was hilarious.
This book is perfect for anyone who wants a fantastic, funny read, but also it is for those who are struggling with life's obstacles and overcoming grief. The story is all about taking chances and moving forward, and not letting the past hold you back. Seriously, when I finished reading this book, I immediately purchased a copy for a friend who lost her husband three and a half years ago. I have fierce love for this book. Please read it!
And The Not So Much:
I have just two minor niggles. First, I didn't want the book to end. I wanted it to go on, so I could continue to see Lilian take those baby steps and find her way. I especially wanted to see her open her heart and fall completely in love. The book concludes with an open ending, which usually bothers me, but not so much in this case because I firmly believe that Lilian had found her way again.
Second, I was excited that the book was set in Los Angeles. However, I never felt like the flavor of the city came through. I honestly forgot at one point where the book was taking place. It wish that the city had been better incorporated in the book.
The Garden of Small Beginnings is a book I absolutely adored. I loved this book fiercely. It made me laugh. I loved the heart and the humor. This is Ms. Waxman's debut novel, and it is a gem. Please do yourself a favor and read this book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.

Do you ever start reading something and think, "you are my kind of book"? Because that's what happened when I started the first chapter of this novel about a woman whose husband died a few years prior and is not quite ready to move on. Given the subject matter, I wasn't prepared for how hilarious it is. Clever prose and double entendres are my catnip.

Lilian's husband Dan died in a car accident in front of their house 4 years ago. He'd been on his way to work and they'd just had an argument.The accident and Lili's grief is woven in seamlessly throughout the book and it is one of the most honest depictions of grief I've encountered in some time. (I used to be a hospice social worker so I read books about grief with a keen and critical eye.) Lili is not unhealthy in her grief per se- she's been actively working with a wonderful counselor for quite some time- but she's in a rut and generally okay with it. She's decided her life with her daughters Clare and Annabel is enough.

She's given a special project at work. As the illustrator for a vegetable book for Bloem, she's signed up for their 6 week garden class. She brings the girls and her sister Rachel and we are introduced to a delightful cast with her fellow gardeners. We get to know Frances, Eloise, Gene, Angela and her son Bash, and Mike. They're an unlikely crew but community results as they spend time helping each other with the gardens at their respective homes.

This group, as well as the class instructor Edward Bloem and Handsome Bob ("Just before four, Bob stepped back from his work and stretched. We all watched. It was like an art exhibit, you couldn't not look, it would have been rude." p. 98), has a big impact on Lili's life, as you might guess. But the way it happens is pure delight. The class members accept each other as they are and yet no one is the same at the end of the 6 weeks. Plus, the metaphor of gardening is a powerful one and I loved its similarities to Lili's grief and growth.

Similarly, I loved the depiction of Lili and Rachel's relationship. They're sisters and best friends. Rachel really stepped it up after Dan died, particularly once Lili had to go to the psych ward, and since Lili's recovery has been a major source of comfort and distraction. It's not a codependent relationship because Rachel keeps nudging Lili toward reentering her life instead of passively experiencing it. And Lili calls Rachel out on her stuff too. We get to see Rachel change some of her own patterns and this development was utterly lovely. Like I almost clapped my hands with glee. Truly.

Anyone who is a parent will appreciate and relate to Lili's home life. Clare and Annabel are precious and difficult and charming in the way children can be. Lili and Rachel have a complicated relationship with their narcissist mother and Lili often compares how her mothering her own children is different. I was really impressed with how Lili handled her mother and the strategies the sisters have developed over the years. There's a lot of compassion and grace amidst the boundaries that reflects real life.

After Dan died, Lili put all of his unwashed laundry in ziplock storage bags and every so often she takes the bags out and open them so she can smell him again. It was such an unexpected detail and told me a lot about how Lili was functioning. Lili feels Dan would have grieved better but she was the one left behind. The day in and day out of grief is disrupted by the gardening class and her attraction to Edward. She's drawn to Edward and he to her but she's not ready to date and doesn't think she ever will be. She's still deeply in love with her husband and much of this book centers around whether or when she'll be ready to move forward.

"'There is something comfortable for you in the life you've built, even though you're deeply sad still, and lonely. It's a rut, but it's your rut, do you know what I mean?'" p. 186 -Lili's therapist Dr. Graver

I don't know how to properly convey how much I loved this book. I wrote down so many lines because of how crisp and witty they were.

Each chapter is separated by a short garden tip and you might be tempted to skip these but that would be a mistake. Concerning cucumbers, you'll learn that "water droplets on delicate leaves become magnifying glasses in the sun, burning the plant and really pissing it off" (p. 90.) No one wants to piss off a cucumber plant! And I'd hate for you to miss this fun fact about garlic: "In spring, as the weather warms up, shoots will appear and neighborhood vampires will retreat" (p. 112.)

This is laugh out loud funny, tender, and written in a fresh voice. I knew from the start I'd found something special and I wasn't disappointed.I cannot believe this is Abbi Waxman's debut! This will be on my Favorite Fiction of 2017 list, mark my words.

I enjoyed The Garden of Small Beginnings immensely. Lilian is a young widow with a small child trying to make it all work. She gets an assignment to work on the illustrations in a gardening book. Little did she know that this assignment would change her life.

Her boss makes her take a gardening class so she can be better informed about her upcoming job. I loved all the wonderful characters that she and her son meet in this class. There are a lot of misfits in the class and people with problems but they all just seem to mesh and connect with each other.

The Garden of Small Beginnings is an enjoyable story about the power of friendship and support and I loved every minute of it!

A Garden of Small Beginnings grows on you
Sweet, sad, and sassy, Abbi Waxman’s debut fiction (and way too literally titled) The Garden of Small Beginnings hinges on the silly at times but still you root for her main character Lilian Girvan whose dry humor and relationship with her equally funny younger sister Rachel ground not just Lilian but the story itself. They support each other through the rough times, which in this case is the sudden death of Lilian’s husband and the father of her two small daughters. Now three years into widowhood and single parenthood–settled but without any real growth–Lilian is assigned a gardening class on Saturdays and NATURALLY the group of misfit classmates become an extended family and the teacher is hot, and someone has a heart attack, and the fairy house that gets built in her backyard (not an euphemism) sounds as magical as the thinking it takes to move on from a dead lover/husband/best friend/partner. It’s spring and then it’s summer and guess what? The plants keep growing and the world keeps spinning and needs and wants keep getting needed and wanted. Get it girl. Grow it girl.

Wendy Ward
http://wendyrward.tumblr.com/

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this galley. Unfortunately, it was not a good read for me. I did not post my review on any sites. Please contact if you would like me to post a formal review.

2281353
Patty's review Apr 24, 2017 · edit
it was amazing

The Garden Of Small Beginnings
By
Abbi Waxman






What it's all about...

This is such a lovely book about life and love and gardening. Lili's husband has died...actually in an accident 3 years ago...but she has had a difficult time dealing with his death. She has two young children...one who doesn't even really remember her father. Rachel...Lili's sister...has been a great help to her. They have a close and special relationship. Lili and her girls take a gardening class with Rachel and Lili meets Edward and meets new people and a wealth of new relationships are begun.

Why I wanted to read it...

I wanted to read this book because I heard great things about it. The moment I read the first few pages I loved this book. Lili was unique, her girls were sweet and funny, her relationship with her sister was special and her evolving relationship with Edward was special, too.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

I loved the writing in this book. The banter among characters was lively and funny and clever.

Why you should read it, too...

Readers who love unique family dramas with humor should love this book. It was heartwarming and funny and I learned about gardening, too! It was pretty much just a delightful book that left me craving lasagna and Trader Joe's bread. As you read it you will see why!
2 likes

The author tells a story that is deeply touching as it unfolds. The connection to your sibling who saves you time and again. The amusement and deep insight of your children. The daily stress life brings you. The snippets of tragedy that makes you gasp for breath.

But then life gives you something special. A connection to others. New friendships that lets you relax and enjoy. The beginnings of someone that could be special in your life and help you over the tragedy. The amusement factor and wacky ways that is your life. Can there really be someone that can help you shoulder through?

The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman touches so many emotions as you read it. Amusement, laughter, wit, tears of joy, and tears of sorrow. This book is an incredible journey that will touch you in many places in your heart. It will be one that you will read again and again.

It's been four years since Lili's husband died and while things have gotten easier, she can't imagine a day when she'll ever be over it. His death sent her spiraling out of control, leaving her two daughters under the care of her sister in the immediate aftermath. These days, it means they're closer than ever. But as her beloved sister encourages Lili to get out there and meet someone - to take the reigns and join the dating pool once again - Lili remains staunchly against it. Not until the kids are out of college, she promises (they're seven and five).

When her job asks her to join a gardening class at the local botanical gardens, Lili isn't at all resistant. Not only does it sound like fun, and she can bring the kids, but everyone hopes it'll get Lili and the company in the good graces of the Bloem family, a huge new account for the publisher. And since Lili will be illustrating their new vegetable guides, it should be a great opportunity for research. But what Lili isn't counting on is falling for Edward Bloem himself!

Abbi Waxman's The Garden of Small Beginnings is fantastic! It's more than bit of a tear jerker but it's still light and funny when it needs to be (which is most of the time).

Loss and grief and moving on are tough topics to tackle. As Lili and the rest of the characters show us, each and every person is different in how they react and recover to loss. And Lili is lucky that she has her sister, Rachel, in her life. Her sister who stepped up and helped out when Lili needed it most.

While this is very much Lili's story, it's also Rachel's story, and it's Lili's kids' story. And it's the story of the gardening class - led by Edward - a group of people who might never have crossed paths in their day to day lives, drawn together and made friends over the act of bringing a garden of vegetable bounty to life.

Fair warning, it'll likely make you antsy to get your own garden going, if you have one!

I loved this book. I really did - tears and all. And it really was all I could do not to let the tears take over. Out of both sadness and joy, I might add. But again, this is actually a pretty hilarious read overall. Between Lili and Rachel and Lili's daughters, there are some definitely laugh out loud moments throughout. And really, the tears are minor in comparison. Heck, even Molly Shannon (you know, MOLLY SHANNON) blurbed the book!

The Garden of Small Beginnings is new out today and should be on every reading list for anyone looking for a fun and upbeat feel good read. Perfect for spring in every way!

It’s been nearly four years since Dan was tragically killed in a car accident just outside his home. Lilian saw the scene play out, unable to do anything, and shortly after gave herself over to grief. Over time and with the help of her sister, Lili has slowly managed to learn how to face a world without her husband, a new life where she’s sole parent to their two little girls.

Her job as an illustration for a textbook company allows her the creative freedom to jump from American Presidents to whale anatomy to her latest project, vegetables. When one of the most prominent gardening companies chooses their publishing company for their latest how-to guide, Lili’s boss hands her the project, along with word that Roberta took the liberty to sign Lili up for a summer-long gardening class. Not exactly how she imagined spending her Saturdays, but hey, it’s not like she had better plans and kids are welcome. While she did anticipate the dirt and digging, Lili had no idea that their tiny group would open her eyes and allow her to finally allow some happiness into her life.

I’ll be honest: when the publicist first reached out to me about this one, I was intrigued. The Garden of Small Beginnings certainly sounded good, but I had no idea just how good. I read this near-400-page novel in a single sitting. Lili’s grief, her toxic relationship with her former model mother, her amazing relationship with her sister Rachel, the way she handles curveball after curveball that life throws at her (Dan’s death, the abrupt announcement the art department will be cut), it was all so captivating that I couldn’t look away. I feel a little morbid saying that, that this woman’s pain was hypnotic, but it was how she faced that pain – and the rallying support of those around her (whether she knew they were providing support or not) completely drew me in.

Though the story was certainly engaging, it was the characters that truly made this book for me. Lili’s young daughters, meticulous and serious 7-year-old Anabel and 5-year-old Clare who lives for My Little Pony and dances to the beat of her own orchestra; an older lesbian couple; fellow single mom Angie who grew up poor and is still struggling to make it on her own; a carefree surfer-slash-stoner who proves that appearances can be deceiving; a perpetually frowning, newly retired banker who’s actually a big ol’ softie; Edward, scion of the Bloem gardening empire and leader of their gardening group. Lili’s sister-in-law and Dan’s parents also play huge roles in the book – there are seriously a ton of characters and they’re the quintessential rag-tag bunch, but I loved each and every one of them. The way Waxman created each one, giving them all their own personalities and unique voices, I grew (ha!) to love these characters in the all-too-short time I spent with them!

It’s no secret that romance works its way into the book and watching Lili go through the process of guilt, excitement, confusion, the whole gamut of emotions that come with moving on as a widow was both heartbreaking and a joy. Naturally she doesn’t want to move on – despite Rachel’s and even her own in-laws’ numerous attempts to get her to date – and when she develops a crush on Edward, she isn’t sure what to make of it. Would Dan want her to date again? What would her daughters think? She’s not trying to replace their father. For his own part, Edward is so, so patient and kind and just an all-around fantastic character.

One thing that surprised me about this book was just how funny it was! Lili’s witty, uber sarcastic observations had me giggling the entire time – and I know it’s bad form to quote review copies, but I just HAD to share her thoughts on Target, because seriously, haven’t we all been there:

"Thank you, Target, sanctuary to those of us who wander your aisles in aimless search for the one thing we came in for and the forty-two things we didn’t, but which, at that price, we could not resist."

I had only one issue with The Garden of Small Beginnings and it’s honestly so minor and definitely a Me problem that I’m sure wouldn’t make other readers bat an eye. Lili’s babysitter is named Leah – yay, a character with my name! However, at one point, Lili refers to her as Lee. I get that she said it as a nickname, but I hate when people mispronounce my name as Lee or try to shorten my name to it. Again, this single sentence was one that annoyed me and only me.

I’m both delighted and sad that The Garden of Small Beginnings is Abbi Waxman’s debut. On the one hand, it’s a phenomenal book full of humor and heart and depth complete with such a lovable group of characters and I’m SO excited to see where she goes from here. On the other hand, I loved this book so much that I want to read more from her and can’t. I went into this book expecting an entertaining read and what I got was an intensely compelling novel that held me captive and lured me in more and more with each page.

Lillian is a single mother after her husband has died in a care accident. She is a textbook illustrator and ends up illustrating vegetable garden guides with the help of an interesting group of gardeners and her kids. Fun novel!

I absolutely loved this book. I am not a gardener by any means, in fact, last year I killed a CACTUS! A CACTUS! How is that even possible?! Anyway, each chapter has a brief one page tidbit about gardening that is quite cute and sometimes funny.

The setting of the story, a gardening class, helps to bring all of the characters of the story together and leads to the underlying theme of nurturing yourself and tending to your own needs.

Lili's story is one of heartache but then she starts to see glimmers of hope and happiness when surrounded by the new growth of the garden and the support of new friends. I can't say enough about this book and really do recommend it.

The Garden of Small Beginnings was about your every woman. Lilian Givran has faced life’s difficulties and has soldiered through finding light raising her two small girls, and unexpectedly also finds passion while gardening. I couldn’t believe this was Abbi Waxman’s debut novel. Lili’s voice was solid, funny, exasperating, sad and sarcastic. I laughed out loud multiple times and also cried softly as Lili struggled to find her way after the loss of her husband in a tragic accident. The fact that Lili finds that path while taking a gardening class is a great analogy for how each moment in life starts with a seed.

The cast of characters in this book added to the comedic highlights. The two daughters who say everything that comes into their heads, distracted, in a good way, from some of Lili’s more serious moments. Lili’s sister, Rachel, avoids serious relationships (sleeps around) because she wants to be available if Lili needs her. Her alcoholic mother who is narcissistic and says inappropriate things that embarrass her daughters. The class full of gardener wanna be’s who don’t have anything in common but end up being great friends with each other. Then there’s the teacher who makes her think there may be a little life left in her. This was a dream ensemble cast with a ton of personality.

Each chapter started off with a note about how to grow a vegetable. You could hear Lili’s voice speaking sardonically about why strawberries or carrots, I can’t remember, should not be planted in a bed after you’ve grown dill. These charming and funny intro’s set the stage for a really enjoyable, uplifting, love your family and keep your friends close kind of story. I don’t know if I’ve done a very good job of portraying why the book was so good, or even what the plot was like, but if you are a fan of women’s fiction, like humor, and like chick flicks, then put this on your TBR. Read it.

I received an Arc of this book, through NetGalley, for my honest review, and it was honest.

4.5 stars! I loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me sad, it made me empathetic. Lilli is such a real and great character. Seeing her being the "mother" to everyone around her is so relatable. Seeing her deal with the death of her husband and developing feelings for a new man was heartbreaking. The snark in this book was fantastic. I also loved Lilli's job as an illustrator, I thought that part was so interesting. I loved it!

*This book was sent to be from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Endearing and lovely! Gardening was a perfect set up for this story about Lilian, who is finding her way not in the immediate aftermath of losing her husband, but several years later, trying to learn and understand the new shape her life has taken. Just as a garden needs hard work and attention in order for new plants to grow and thrive, Lilian has done (and continues to do) the hard work of putting her life back together after her grief threatened to take over, and now has the tender new shoots of possibility and change that need her attention to truly take root. Of course there's some sadness in this story, but the book isn't morbid or tragic- instead it's hopeful and honest. This is a remarkable debut and will be a great summer reading recommendation.

Lillian is a widow and is now trying to make her way in life as a single mother. She illustrates textbooks for a living and her boss signs her up for a gardening class so she can illustrate a series of vegetable guides - rather upscale vegetable guides. She recruits her amazingly supportive sister and takes her children and goes to class, where the members become a true family. Strong characterizations with a truth-filled story mixing sadness with humor make this a perfectly satisfying read and one that will be easy to recommend to readers.

Waxman's quirky characters made me smile. Although her circumstances are tragic, Lili keeps her sense of humor and faces her fears, which is admirable. The characters are sympathetic and the storyline believable. I also liked the "gardening notes." Thank you, Netgalley.