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The Garden
An eerie, hypnotic, darkly beautiful novel about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world and how their lives unravel when their sanctum is breached, for fans of Piranesi and The Testaments.
In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.
So when a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?
As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known it.
In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.
So when a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?
As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known it.
12 pages, Audible Audio
Published February 18, 2025
About the author
Nick Newman
16 books32 followersNick Newman is a lifelong nature lover from the UK, who spent the early part of his career working with racehorses. After enrolling in a training programme in 2014, he travelled to South Africa where he qualified as a Field Guide relishing the time he got to spend in the African bush. His life changed in unimaginable ways, after a once in a lifetime opportunity presented itself and he was afforded the opportunity to monitor black rhinos. This coincided with the period when the current rhino poaching crisis in South Africa was approaching tipping point. Finding himself in such a privileged position of helping to protect a critically endangered species, Nick today feels that he has a duty and responsibility to assist other conservationists in raising awareness of the rhinos’ plight, by sharing his stories from the frontline.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
December 28, 2024
4.5
I'm not normally a fan of dystopian fiction but the cover of this book had me hooked and I only skim read the synopsis so it was a but of a surprise when I began reading.
However I thoroughly enjoyed The Garden, which tells the story of Evelyn and Lily, elderly sisters who live within the confines of the kitchen and garden of a large, otherwise uninhabited house. As the story progresses we learn that some catastrophe has befallen their world. It is unclear the nature - manmade or natural - but it has brought huge storms to the land covering it in feet of dust on occasion.
Lily and Evelyn have lived in the same house their whole lives; their father has left and their mother has died leaving behind a garden that the girls tend to provide their food.
However one day a stranger arrives, which begins a series of events that will change their lives forever.
Nick Newman has written a wonderfully atmospheric novel that has you guessing all the way through as to the true nature of the womens' predicament. I could vividly picture their home and garden, and their fear of what lies beyond the walls is palpable.
A really interesting and entertaining read. Definitely recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Transworld Books for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
I'm not normally a fan of dystopian fiction but the cover of this book had me hooked and I only skim read the synopsis so it was a but of a surprise when I began reading.
However I thoroughly enjoyed The Garden, which tells the story of Evelyn and Lily, elderly sisters who live within the confines of the kitchen and garden of a large, otherwise uninhabited house. As the story progresses we learn that some catastrophe has befallen their world. It is unclear the nature - manmade or natural - but it has brought huge storms to the land covering it in feet of dust on occasion.
Lily and Evelyn have lived in the same house their whole lives; their father has left and their mother has died leaving behind a garden that the girls tend to provide their food.
However one day a stranger arrives, which begins a series of events that will change their lives forever.
Nick Newman has written a wonderfully atmospheric novel that has you guessing all the way through as to the true nature of the womens' predicament. I could vividly picture their home and garden, and their fear of what lies beyond the walls is palpable.
A really interesting and entertaining read. Definitely recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Transworld Books for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
February 23, 2025
@putnambooks | #gifted Do you like beautifully bizarre books? If so, I’ve got a fantastic book for you: 🥀𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡🌻 by Nick Newman. I didn’t know what to expect going into this one. I knew it was about two elderly sisters living in a secluded, walled off home surrounded by a large garden. I also knew that into their lives comes a teenage boy who both frightens and intrigues them. What I didn’t know is what a strange mash-up this story is. It’s definitely dystopian, slightly sci-fi, maybe a tad horror, quite literary, has mystery elements, and also a bit of a historical fiction vibe.
I realize that sounds like a crazy combination, but it worked 𝐒𝐎 well! From the very start I was fascinated by sisters Lily and Evelyn, who’d been living in the same country home for almost their entire lives, but why? They were still following their mother’s rules and directives decades after she’d died, but why? They feared the outside world, but why? The idea of a boy being on their property brought both terror and hope, but why? Rest assured everything was eventually revealed and the journey proved to be absolutely unforgettable.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 is definitely one of the most original books I’ve ever read and I loved every moment of the reading experience. I don’t think this book will be for every reader, but for those who like something daring and a little out there, this is a book you 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 to read. Comparisons are difficult because this book is so unique, but it did remind me a bit of 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 by Claire Fuller, another book I loved. When I initially finished 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯, I wasn’t quite sure where to rate it, but as time has gone on, I can’t get this story out of my head and that’s always a very good sign for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I realize that sounds like a crazy combination, but it worked 𝐒𝐎 well! From the very start I was fascinated by sisters Lily and Evelyn, who’d been living in the same country home for almost their entire lives, but why? They were still following their mother’s rules and directives decades after she’d died, but why? They feared the outside world, but why? The idea of a boy being on their property brought both terror and hope, but why? Rest assured everything was eventually revealed and the journey proved to be absolutely unforgettable.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 is definitely one of the most original books I’ve ever read and I loved every moment of the reading experience. I don’t think this book will be for every reader, but for those who like something daring and a little out there, this is a book you 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 to read. Comparisons are difficult because this book is so unique, but it did remind me a bit of 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 by Claire Fuller, another book I loved. When I initially finished 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯, I wasn’t quite sure where to rate it, but as time has gone on, I can’t get this story out of my head and that’s always a very good sign for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 22, 2024
I love what people are bringing to adult dystopia these days, and this story of two elderly sisters, living their moldering house and tending their garden, not knowing what, if anything, lies beyond the walls really appealed to me.
Evelyn and Lily are such different people, shaped by how they were each raised, and I found I understood them both, Eve for wanting to keep control of her surroundings and Lily for wanting to know what might lie beyond the walls.
While this was a little slow in the middle, the ending was devastatingly sad, and gave me, I felt, enough answers as the sister's lives are changed forever. I truly had to put the book down for a solid five minute crying session.
Evelyn and Lily are such different people, shaped by how they were each raised, and I found I understood them both, Eve for wanting to keep control of her surroundings and Lily for wanting to know what might lie beyond the walls.
While this was a little slow in the middle, the ending was devastatingly sad, and gave me, I felt, enough answers as the sister's lives are changed forever. I truly had to put the book down for a solid five minute crying session.
December 8, 2024
A strange yet subtly claustrophobic, dystopian-esque read that, much like the garden itself, grew on me the further in I traversed.
With rich imagery and a uniquely compelling narrative that oscillates between the hazy, past memories and current lives of elderly sisters, Evelyn and Lily. I was completely fascinated by the eccentric nature of our protagonists and the secluded lives they’ve both led in this post apocalyptic setting. As well as the momentous change that happens when a strange boy finds his way into their walled-off sanctuary.
I also really enjoyed exploring their complex (slightly dysfunctional) sisterly dynamics, that briefly touches on their reasons for living soo off-grid. It felt very much like Grey Gardens and Flowers In The Attic had a dystopian, cottage-core horror love child — complete with an uncanny gothic undertone that kept me on edge of my seat.
Trust me, once you start reading this, you’ll probably not be able to put it down, because I certainly couldn’t! And that’s all down to Nick Newman’s skill in capturing the unfiltered rawness of human idiosyncrasies, his understanding of the affect isolation can have on someone’s sense of identity and (of course) his incredibly evocative prose.
I do have to say, it was a bit of a slow start but did pick up at around the 50 page mark — which is when I got completely hooked!
It’s definitely the kind of book you have to read to truly appreciate (though I do suggest checking trigger warnings beforehand.)
And, if you’re a literary lover, I highly recommend you consider adding this to your TBR, as I suspect it’s gonna be on quite a few award shortlists next year.
Also, a huge thank you to Milly at Transworld/Doubleday for the proof.
With rich imagery and a uniquely compelling narrative that oscillates between the hazy, past memories and current lives of elderly sisters, Evelyn and Lily. I was completely fascinated by the eccentric nature of our protagonists and the secluded lives they’ve both led in this post apocalyptic setting. As well as the momentous change that happens when a strange boy finds his way into their walled-off sanctuary.
I also really enjoyed exploring their complex (slightly dysfunctional) sisterly dynamics, that briefly touches on their reasons for living soo off-grid. It felt very much like Grey Gardens and Flowers In The Attic had a dystopian, cottage-core horror love child — complete with an uncanny gothic undertone that kept me on edge of my seat.
Trust me, once you start reading this, you’ll probably not be able to put it down, because I certainly couldn’t! And that’s all down to Nick Newman’s skill in capturing the unfiltered rawness of human idiosyncrasies, his understanding of the affect isolation can have on someone’s sense of identity and (of course) his incredibly evocative prose.
I do have to say, it was a bit of a slow start but did pick up at around the 50 page mark — which is when I got completely hooked!
It’s definitely the kind of book you have to read to truly appreciate (though I do suggest checking trigger warnings beforehand.)
And, if you’re a literary lover, I highly recommend you consider adding this to your TBR, as I suspect it’s gonna be on quite a few award shortlists next year.
Also, a huge thank you to Milly at Transworld/Doubleday for the proof.
December 3, 2024
We don’t know where the garden is. We don’t know why the people live in the kitchen and not in the house. We don’t know why they never leave. In flashbacks, we learn about Evelyn and Lily’s childhood. We know the events must be a long time ago because they are old women now. We don’t understand their fear when they realise someone else is in the garden. Little by little, their lives open up to us and we can piece together what has happened. I was impatient to know the answers.
This is an original story that leads us along a very bizarre path of events and suppositions. I found it compelling, moving and intriguing. The realisation of what has happened to these two women isn’t a huge shock in the end and it doesn’t answer all of our questions, the answers to some of which we’re left to surmise ourselves. I’ll be thinking about some of them for a while yet.
I enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different. With thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for a review copy.
This is an original story that leads us along a very bizarre path of events and suppositions. I found it compelling, moving and intriguing. The realisation of what has happened to these two women isn’t a huge shock in the end and it doesn’t answer all of our questions, the answers to some of which we’re left to surmise ourselves. I’ll be thinking about some of them for a while yet.
I enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different. With thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for a review copy.
September 20, 2024
A uniquely suffocating story of the apocalypse, where two elderly sisters have subsisted for decades on habit and fearful memories of their mother. When a boy arrives out of the emptiness of the world, their bonds begin to fracture. Will this destroy their garden home? And if it does, are they losing a sanctuary or fleeing a prison?
I particularly loved how perceptions of the characters -- and it's such a small cast, essentially being two sisters, their deceased parents, and a boy that is more catalyst than person -- shift and change as the story progresses. Some data comes from flashbacks, but others arise as breaking from stasis allows more thoughts and more words from each sister.
I particularly loved how perceptions of the characters -- and it's such a small cast, essentially being two sisters, their deceased parents, and a boy that is more catalyst than person -- shift and change as the story progresses. Some data comes from flashbacks, but others arise as breaking from stasis allows more thoughts and more words from each sister.
February 20, 2025
3.5 stars - thank you Putnam book for a copy of this book!
This is a slower yet enchanting and mysterious story, full of wonder and the interesting dynamics between two sisters who have had to rely on only each other for so long, with little changes to their day to day life up until this point.
I found the writing to be whimsical and the sisters’ to each have their own unique personalities that kept the story engaging.
Overall, I thought this was a nice read and something I’d recommend to anyone who doesn’t mind a slower more unassuming speculative horror book.
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2f2qS2X/
This is a slower yet enchanting and mysterious story, full of wonder and the interesting dynamics between two sisters who have had to rely on only each other for so long, with little changes to their day to day life up until this point.
I found the writing to be whimsical and the sisters’ to each have their own unique personalities that kept the story engaging.
Overall, I thought this was a nice read and something I’d recommend to anyone who doesn’t mind a slower more unassuming speculative horror book.
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2f2qS2X/
January 2, 2025
I enjoyed this dystopia, about two old women living in their secluded house in fear of what lies beyond the wall, well enough, but it took far too long to get going for me.
The most interesting part was the author's slight subversion of the dystopian trope of 'normal' protagonists trying to avoid whatever craziness is now at large in the world (in books such as McCarthy's 'The Road'). As The Garden progresses, we are forced to consider whether the protagonists might stranger than whatever is outside their garden.
An interesting book but never quite caught fire for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
The most interesting part was the author's slight subversion of the dystopian trope of 'normal' protagonists trying to avoid whatever craziness is now at large in the world (in books such as McCarthy's 'The Road'). As The Garden progresses, we are forced to consider whether the protagonists might stranger than whatever is outside their garden.
An interesting book but never quite caught fire for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
December 23, 2024
Let me start by saying: I have no clue whatsoever how to review this one and how to do it justice, my sincerest apologies for the mess this review will undoubtedly become!
I would describe The Garden as a drama veering into psychological horror, with a certain gothic undertone and a dystopian as well dark and eerie fairy-tale kind of vibe. It tells the story of two sisters and their somewhat dysfunctional relationship and how they’ve grown old together, cut off from the rest of the world.
We don’t know where or when they are, and we never fully discover what happened to the rest of the world. If you’re the sort of reader who wants full disclosure and clarity by the end of the story, you might have issues with The Garden, although I have to say, I’m usually that type of reader and here it didn’t bother me at all. For some reason, it works here, it adds to that almost dreamlike quality of the story.
The Garden is a slow-burner. Again, not something I always appreciate, but this is the kind of story that begs not to be rushed. The sisters’ tale is very compelling, I was drawn in from the very first chapter and I couldn’t stop reading. Little by little, (some of) the truth is revealed and I felt quite overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness for these sisters and what they’ve been through.
I started out giving The Garden four stars, but the more I think about it, the more I appreciate this haunting story and the feelings it left me with and I’ve rounded it up to five. I don’t think it will be for everyone but it most certainly was for me and I would happily recommend it to readers who enjoy dark stories that are a mix of genres and bring just that little bit more to the table.
Massive thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
I would describe The Garden as a drama veering into psychological horror, with a certain gothic undertone and a dystopian as well dark and eerie fairy-tale kind of vibe. It tells the story of two sisters and their somewhat dysfunctional relationship and how they’ve grown old together, cut off from the rest of the world.
We don’t know where or when they are, and we never fully discover what happened to the rest of the world. If you’re the sort of reader who wants full disclosure and clarity by the end of the story, you might have issues with The Garden, although I have to say, I’m usually that type of reader and here it didn’t bother me at all. For some reason, it works here, it adds to that almost dreamlike quality of the story.
The Garden is a slow-burner. Again, not something I always appreciate, but this is the kind of story that begs not to be rushed. The sisters’ tale is very compelling, I was drawn in from the very first chapter and I couldn’t stop reading. Little by little, (some of) the truth is revealed and I felt quite overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness for these sisters and what they’ve been through.
I started out giving The Garden four stars, but the more I think about it, the more I appreciate this haunting story and the feelings it left me with and I’ve rounded it up to five. I don’t think it will be for everyone but it most certainly was for me and I would happily recommend it to readers who enjoy dark stories that are a mix of genres and bring just that little bit more to the table.
Massive thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2024
The Garden started strongly. I found the premise interesting and the world building elements were well handled, so we got a continually building understanding of the sisters and their situation. Nonetheless, I did still have a few questions that were not answered, which made the ending a tad unsatisfactory for me. After such a slow buildup things seemed to conclude a little too abruptly. Regardless, the book had plenty of atmosphere and the pacing was generally well handled, which kept me wanting to read on. The two sisters both came across well as fully developed characters, but the boy who enters the garden felt a little less well defined, and many of my lingering questions at the end related to him and his motivation. Overall, though, it was a pleasing and original tale, so I am giving it four stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC vie NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC vie NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2025
Two elderly sisters live within the confines of a walled garden, having forgotten what their lives were like before the garden, and not remembering what exists outside the walls. They tend the garden and the bees, keeping to their routines that have been written down in their mother's very-used almanac. Practical Evelyn seems to run the daily chores, but something seems a little off and childlike about Lily, who spends her time dressing up in her mother's decaying outfits and practicing dance in the gazebo. When the sisters discover signs that someone may have broken into their sanctuary, their lives and relationship to one another slowly changes. Slowly, the sisters begin to remember the past in snippets, as the outside world eventually comes crashing in to the garden.
Overall this book kept me engrossed, as I wanted to learn more about the mysterious circumstances of Evelyn and Lily. And of course, once the boy is discovered and their isolation and safety are threatened, I was on tenterhooks waiting to see what would be revealed. There were one or two elements that I was not expecting. My only gripe is that the ending seemed a little rushed after the languid opening and middle parts of the book. I suppose it makes sense that the beginning of the book was slowly revealed, just as Evelyn's memories were cloudy and hazy. Be that as it may, the ending was satisfactory, and made me want to go back and finish my read of Jo Walton's My Real Children.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an opportunity to read this book!
Overall this book kept me engrossed, as I wanted to learn more about the mysterious circumstances of Evelyn and Lily. And of course, once the boy is discovered and their isolation and safety are threatened, I was on tenterhooks waiting to see what would be revealed. There were one or two elements that I was not expecting. My only gripe is that the ending seemed a little rushed after the languid opening and middle parts of the book. I suppose it makes sense that the beginning of the book was slowly revealed, just as Evelyn's memories were cloudy and hazy. Be that as it may, the ending was satisfactory, and made me want to go back and finish my read of Jo Walton's My Real Children.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an opportunity to read this book!
February 17, 2025
The Garden was weird and interesting until it wasn't.
In an unnamed near future, Evelyn and Lily, two elderly sisters, live in a walled garden and sleep in the kitchen — just about the only part of the main house that isn't closed off. Isolated from the outside world, their lives head off in a new trajectory, forcing truths and untruths to the surface for examination and contemplation, when a boy is found trespassing on their property.
What started out with a delightfully slip-sliding familiarity (at first it felt part We Have Always Lived in the Castle and part Grey Gardens), slowly descended into only actually playing around with weirdness — teasing with flashbacks that proved unnecessary, never fully serving or bolstering the main story's progress. Either this endeavor should've been shorter or more (not longer, per se), because this felt either overcooked or under-seasoned.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
In an unnamed near future, Evelyn and Lily, two elderly sisters, live in a walled garden and sleep in the kitchen — just about the only part of the main house that isn't closed off. Isolated from the outside world, their lives head off in a new trajectory, forcing truths and untruths to the surface for examination and contemplation, when a boy is found trespassing on their property.
What started out with a delightfully slip-sliding familiarity (at first it felt part We Have Always Lived in the Castle and part Grey Gardens), slowly descended into only actually playing around with weirdness — teasing with flashbacks that proved unnecessary, never fully serving or bolstering the main story's progress. Either this endeavor should've been shorter or more (not longer, per se), because this felt either overcooked or under-seasoned.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
February 7, 2025
I enjoy trying new authors. The book wasn't anything like I expected it to be.
I guess I was expecting something along the lines of The Secret Garden but not even close.
I expected two charming elderly sisters living together as neither had married and they've never ventured outside of their garden walls. Instead, the sisters fight constantly. Taking place mostly in modern times, of what year it is we have no idea. We also have a lot of flip flopping back and forth from this modern time to whenever the mother was alive. The mother put a lot of restrictions on the sisters, they couldn't do many things and even in their elderly age she still has control over them with their thoughts. The sisters spend their days taking care of bee hives, farming, cleaning and raising chickens. These are elderly women who have no help and no contact with the outside world. No mention of anything modern like tv's or phones. All of the sudden a ragged boy shows up and totally disrupts their world, one sister likes him the other doesn't.
Part of the huge house is boarded up from the time the mother was living, and it still is. The mother had a huge influence on them and still does.
The whole book has a strange and unsettling vibe to it. I have many questions that were not answered in the book and I'm sure there won't be a sequel to answer them.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I guess I was expecting something along the lines of The Secret Garden but not even close.
I expected two charming elderly sisters living together as neither had married and they've never ventured outside of their garden walls. Instead, the sisters fight constantly. Taking place mostly in modern times, of what year it is we have no idea. We also have a lot of flip flopping back and forth from this modern time to whenever the mother was alive. The mother put a lot of restrictions on the sisters, they couldn't do many things and even in their elderly age she still has control over them with their thoughts. The sisters spend their days taking care of bee hives, farming, cleaning and raising chickens. These are elderly women who have no help and no contact with the outside world. No mention of anything modern like tv's or phones. All of the sudden a ragged boy shows up and totally disrupts their world, one sister likes him the other doesn't.
Part of the huge house is boarded up from the time the mother was living, and it still is. The mother had a huge influence on them and still does.
The whole book has a strange and unsettling vibe to it. I have many questions that were not answered in the book and I'm sure there won't be a sequel to answer them.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
February 16, 2025
Oh man! This book!
I downloaded The Garden when I saw it was available on netgalley after reading the jacket copy. I think by now you know that I'm a sucker for post apocalyptic, dystopian novels and the isolation angle is always a fun one!
Here we have two elderly sisters who rely on each other for their daily survival. Evelyn steadfastly follows Mama's almanac, a book which guides the girls through each season and how to tend to their garden to ensure they have enough food to live off of. Lily, the younger of the two, is more whimsical, preferring to practice her dance routines or paint out in the gazebo, and cooks what Evelyn forages.
The house they live in is the very same one they grew up in, and was initially put to use as a group commune when things in the outside world first started going bad. Though, as things worsened, everyone packed up and headed out, leaving the sisters alone with Mama and Papa. Papa also eventually disappeared and that left the three. Mama, now crazed and in an effort to protect the girls, sealed the kitchen off from the rest of the house, claiming the rooms were all poisoned and filled with dangerous "man" things, and forbid them from exploring beyond the garden because there was nothing left outside their little haven but a barren wasteland.
After Mama's passing, the girls did the only thing they knew to do, which was maintain her strict rules to ensure their own safety. That is, until they discover a young boy who has broken through their garden wall claiming he is running from "others" and, you guessed it, this encounter shatters their entire world, flipping everything they were taught to believe right onto its head.
The Garden is wonderfully reminiscent of other post apocalyptic and isolation novels I've read (books like The Road, California, Whether Violent or Natural, The Water Cure, What Mother Won't Tell Me, These Silent Woods, all come to mind) where the characters appear to unravel almost as beautifully as their outside worlds do and where creative parenting plays a large role in just how fucked up the kids have become.
It's a deliciously slow burn with a couple of sick little twists thrown in towards the latter part of the book and it's an understatement to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I downloaded The Garden when I saw it was available on netgalley after reading the jacket copy. I think by now you know that I'm a sucker for post apocalyptic, dystopian novels and the isolation angle is always a fun one!
Here we have two elderly sisters who rely on each other for their daily survival. Evelyn steadfastly follows Mama's almanac, a book which guides the girls through each season and how to tend to their garden to ensure they have enough food to live off of. Lily, the younger of the two, is more whimsical, preferring to practice her dance routines or paint out in the gazebo, and cooks what Evelyn forages.
The house they live in is the very same one they grew up in, and was initially put to use as a group commune when things in the outside world first started going bad. Though, as things worsened, everyone packed up and headed out, leaving the sisters alone with Mama and Papa. Papa also eventually disappeared and that left the three. Mama, now crazed and in an effort to protect the girls, sealed the kitchen off from the rest of the house, claiming the rooms were all poisoned and filled with dangerous "man" things, and forbid them from exploring beyond the garden because there was nothing left outside their little haven but a barren wasteland.
After Mama's passing, the girls did the only thing they knew to do, which was maintain her strict rules to ensure their own safety. That is, until they discover a young boy who has broken through their garden wall claiming he is running from "others" and, you guessed it, this encounter shatters their entire world, flipping everything they were taught to believe right onto its head.
The Garden is wonderfully reminiscent of other post apocalyptic and isolation novels I've read (books like The Road, California, Whether Violent or Natural, The Water Cure, What Mother Won't Tell Me, These Silent Woods, all come to mind) where the characters appear to unravel almost as beautifully as their outside worlds do and where creative parenting plays a large role in just how fucked up the kids have become.
It's a deliciously slow burn with a couple of sick little twists thrown in towards the latter part of the book and it's an understatement to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
February 16, 2025
Nick Newman's The Garden raises a lot of questions about the future and how we would deal with our given lot. What will you do with the ones you love? Will you have hope, fear, or just live life by what you've been taught to believe? Throughout the novel I felt an underlying apprehension regarding Evelyn and Lily's state of being. I enjoy a good dystopia novel and The Garden hit all the marks.
February 6, 2025
Between a 3 and 3.5! Very nice pace and a quickly consuming read, but I was ultimately left wanting a little more from this dystopian world and wish I got more answers in the end.
February 23, 2025
Evelyn and Lily are elderly sisters living together in what remains of their family estate, now mostly a secured kitchen and expansive walled off garden, in a time and place unknown. They are secluded from the outside world and have been since they were barely a decade old when an unnamed catastrophe befell the world.
For a while they had their parents, then their mother, and then, upon her death, just each other.
They spend their days following the guide for survival their mother meticulously wrote for them as an almanac - they tend vegetables, take care of bees and chickens, and maintain safety from the monsters lurking outside the wall.
But are their really monsters or have the decades left the sisters with confused memories of the past?
All of this comes to a head when one day they find a boy in the garden. More than 10 but less than 20 years old they guess, he disrupts everything. He is nameless - they call him boy or beast of burden - and shy to speak, but he wants something.
Practical, work minded Evelyn is intrigued by him, by his youth; prone to childish things and protected by her sister, Lily wants him gone.
As the women struggle with what to do, wondering what he wants and if he’s trustworthy, alliances falter and bonds are tested.
This book is a little bit Grey Gardens, a little bit Lord of the Flies, with a sprinkle of The Road?
What did I just read?
Whatever it was, I could NOT put it down.
Told in past and present by Evelyn, the story of how the girls came to be where they are is slowly doled out, though maddeningly incomplete. We learn of the family pre-dystopia and the secrets and troubles that will haunt the girls as adults but no specifics as to what has caused any of this.
Is it a cautionary tale? A fairy tale? A gothic novel? It reads like a fever dream, these weird sisters, isolated from a world even the reader is unsure of, with unexpected twists and a lingering sense of dread.
It’s both dreamy and spooky, claustrophobic and spacious, a story about what we do to protect ourselves, our beliefs, and the people we love, how trust and survival are a delicate dance.
I might not have picked this up so gigantic thanks to @putnam for the ARC, this came out February 18, 2025. Not only is the cover gorgeous, the story is gripping and fascinating.
Highly recommend!
For a while they had their parents, then their mother, and then, upon her death, just each other.
They spend their days following the guide for survival their mother meticulously wrote for them as an almanac - they tend vegetables, take care of bees and chickens, and maintain safety from the monsters lurking outside the wall.
But are their really monsters or have the decades left the sisters with confused memories of the past?
All of this comes to a head when one day they find a boy in the garden. More than 10 but less than 20 years old they guess, he disrupts everything. He is nameless - they call him boy or beast of burden - and shy to speak, but he wants something.
Practical, work minded Evelyn is intrigued by him, by his youth; prone to childish things and protected by her sister, Lily wants him gone.
As the women struggle with what to do, wondering what he wants and if he’s trustworthy, alliances falter and bonds are tested.
This book is a little bit Grey Gardens, a little bit Lord of the Flies, with a sprinkle of The Road?
What did I just read?
Whatever it was, I could NOT put it down.
Told in past and present by Evelyn, the story of how the girls came to be where they are is slowly doled out, though maddeningly incomplete. We learn of the family pre-dystopia and the secrets and troubles that will haunt the girls as adults but no specifics as to what has caused any of this.
Is it a cautionary tale? A fairy tale? A gothic novel? It reads like a fever dream, these weird sisters, isolated from a world even the reader is unsure of, with unexpected twists and a lingering sense of dread.
It’s both dreamy and spooky, claustrophobic and spacious, a story about what we do to protect ourselves, our beliefs, and the people we love, how trust and survival are a delicate dance.
I might not have picked this up so gigantic thanks to @putnam for the ARC, this came out February 18, 2025. Not only is the cover gorgeous, the story is gripping and fascinating.
Highly recommend!
February 24, 2025
The Garden by Nick Newman opens with two elderly sisters living alone in their secluded and isolated family home and maintaining their self sufficient farm, beehives, and garden. When a young boy appears at their house without explanation, the sisters look for an explanation on how he got there and the reason why.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Garden by Nick Newman. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly, I was extremely excited to read this book, but I struggled with even finishing the story because it was slow paced and boring. It seemed pointless, and I expected more of a mystery or more suspense. Don't get me wrong, it was well written, but it just didn't appeal to me. It reminded me of Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alan, which I disliked immensely.
As for the main two characters, Lily and Evelyn, both characters had good and bad qualities, but I found myself disliking Lily the most. The minor characters of their parents weren't that great, but their mom seemed like a total nutcase. Their dad seemed to legitimately care for them but seemed to be a bit standoffish. As for the young boy, there wasn't really any character development for someone who's supposed to be a main character.
Overall I found The Garden by Nick Newman to be disappointing, and it just wasn't for me. I gave it an underwhelming two stars out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Garden by Nick Newman. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly, I was extremely excited to read this book, but I struggled with even finishing the story because it was slow paced and boring. It seemed pointless, and I expected more of a mystery or more suspense. Don't get me wrong, it was well written, but it just didn't appeal to me. It reminded me of Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alan, which I disliked immensely.
As for the main two characters, Lily and Evelyn, both characters had good and bad qualities, but I found myself disliking Lily the most. The minor characters of their parents weren't that great, but their mom seemed like a total nutcase. Their dad seemed to legitimately care for them but seemed to be a bit standoffish. As for the young boy, there wasn't really any character development for someone who's supposed to be a main character.
Overall I found The Garden by Nick Newman to be disappointing, and it just wasn't for me. I gave it an underwhelming two stars out of five stars.
December 18, 2024
This book is an unusual post-apocalyptic mystery set in a beautiful botanical environment. It covers themes of humanity, familial unravelling, childhood trauma, and how we deal with memories to survive.
It tells the story of two isolated sisters who live in the dilapidated stately home where they grew up. They only live in the kitchen, as the rest of the house is falling apart. They are scared of the house and what might be there. Their days revolve around tending to their large garden by religiously following the instructions their mother left them. They tend to the beehives, the chickens, the abundant fragrant flowerbeds, and they harvest apples, all in an unending list of tasks.
However, we quickly realise that things aren’t quite right. The sisters seem childish and immature, yet they are old and physically frail. They do not leave the house and garden under any circumstance, and they do not remember much of their past. The time setting is ambiguous. Past and present become blurred whilst seasons are unnaturally fast, and the heat is constantly extreme.
The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense as strange occurrences begin to happen. A strange figure is seen in the distance, making the sisters begin to question everything in their existence. Their relationship becomes strained as they confront their fears, memories, and their mother's teachings.
Ultimately, the story concludes with revelations about their past, leading to a bittersweet resolution.
I enjoyed how gradually and artfully the tension escalates. The narrative becomes increasingly oppressive and claustrophobic without ever entirely veering into horror or thriller as it goes from an idyllic, cosy atmosphere to being tense with a heavy sense of dread.
I enjoyed the sisters’ emotional journey as they navigate their lives in isolation whilst avoiding, yet being plagued by memories of their past and coming to terms with their humanity.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopias or gothic fiction and is looking for something different and fresh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
It tells the story of two isolated sisters who live in the dilapidated stately home where they grew up. They only live in the kitchen, as the rest of the house is falling apart. They are scared of the house and what might be there. Their days revolve around tending to their large garden by religiously following the instructions their mother left them. They tend to the beehives, the chickens, the abundant fragrant flowerbeds, and they harvest apples, all in an unending list of tasks.
However, we quickly realise that things aren’t quite right. The sisters seem childish and immature, yet they are old and physically frail. They do not leave the house and garden under any circumstance, and they do not remember much of their past. The time setting is ambiguous. Past and present become blurred whilst seasons are unnaturally fast, and the heat is constantly extreme.
The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense as strange occurrences begin to happen. A strange figure is seen in the distance, making the sisters begin to question everything in their existence. Their relationship becomes strained as they confront their fears, memories, and their mother's teachings.
Ultimately, the story concludes with revelations about their past, leading to a bittersweet resolution.
I enjoyed how gradually and artfully the tension escalates. The narrative becomes increasingly oppressive and claustrophobic without ever entirely veering into horror or thriller as it goes from an idyllic, cosy atmosphere to being tense with a heavy sense of dread.
I enjoyed the sisters’ emotional journey as they navigate their lives in isolation whilst avoiding, yet being plagued by memories of their past and coming to terms with their humanity.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopias or gothic fiction and is looking for something different and fresh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 8, 2025
I’m gonna be completely honest here… I have no idea what the point of this book was. 🫣 Don’t get me wrong, the writing style was great and I was pretty hooked to the story for the most part. But I kept waiting for things to be explained or just become more clear but nothing was… like at all. And it wasn’t left like it could have a sequel. Unless there was a book for the same timeline as the boy and his journey. I would like that. I’m still giving it 3 stars because I was pretty hooked and wanted to keep reading to hopefully figure it all out.
I found myself intrigued by the story of these two sisters, Evelyn and Lily. But also questioning everything. Are they actually elderly sisters or are they overworked or is their diet (that we discover in the end) deteriorating them prematurely? Are they actually sisters? Their dynamic was questionable and I felt that they didn’t actually like each other very much. Then comes a boy when they thought nothing existed beyond their garden and the wall that surrounded it.
I wanted to learn more from the boy about what was outside of the wall. What happened in the world? Did something actually happen or was their mom just completely nuts? Who were these people that kept trying to break in and what was wrong with them?
And we literally got NO answers. At all. So yea… that’s very frustrating. I get if we have to infer some stuff ourselves in books but to literally get zero answers was annoying. 🤷🏼♀️
Release date: February 18, 2025
I found myself intrigued by the story of these two sisters, Evelyn and Lily. But also questioning everything. Are they actually elderly sisters or are they overworked or is their diet (that we discover in the end) deteriorating them prematurely? Are they actually sisters? Their dynamic was questionable and I felt that they didn’t actually like each other very much. Then comes a boy when they thought nothing existed beyond their garden and the wall that surrounded it.
I wanted to learn more from the boy about what was outside of the wall. What happened in the world? Did something actually happen or was their mom just completely nuts? Who were these people that kept trying to break in and what was wrong with them?
And we literally got NO answers. At all. So yea… that’s very frustrating. I get if we have to infer some stuff ourselves in books but to literally get zero answers was annoying. 🤷🏼♀️
Release date: February 18, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
Far in a dystopian future, in a crumbling estate house haunted by the past, two elderly sisters survive by tending their garden. The garden, surrounded by high walls, is their food source and workload; all they’ve ever known. They dare not venture out of it, nor even look beyond it. That is, until something else breaks in and their careful routine descends into chaos.
This haunting study of childhood trauma, isolation and the sisterly bond blends the harsh simplicity of dystopia with the foreboding atmosphere of gothic fiction. There’s not much action, but it’s full of mystery and character depth to keep you turning pages. It forces you to confront the possibility that you could live your whole life with someone yet never truly know them.
I finished the book with questions - I wanted to know what caused such mayhem in the wider world and what really happened to the girls’ father. However, having had time to think on it, the writing is far more effective this way, as the reader gets to experience just a small portion of the confusion and loss the protagonist feels.
Thank you to @doubledayukbooks and the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
This haunting study of childhood trauma, isolation and the sisterly bond blends the harsh simplicity of dystopia with the foreboding atmosphere of gothic fiction. There’s not much action, but it’s full of mystery and character depth to keep you turning pages. It forces you to confront the possibility that you could live your whole life with someone yet never truly know them.
I finished the book with questions - I wanted to know what caused such mayhem in the wider world and what really happened to the girls’ father. However, having had time to think on it, the writing is far more effective this way, as the reader gets to experience just a small portion of the confusion and loss the protagonist feels.
Thank you to @doubledayukbooks and the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.
It is the story of Evelyn and Lily, two sisters who live in a house with a garden but never leave it. They are secluded from the world and never see anybody until one day, when Evelyn will start to notice that some of her stuff have moved…
This book is classified as sci-fi/fantasy, but I would say that it’s more of a mystery/horror book. I may be wrong though.
I had a great experience while reading this book! I often thought that it was really weird and that I couldn’t wait to read more to finally understand everything.
There was an eerie atmosphere throughout the book that was quite enjoyable.
The characters were a bit off sometimes, and I enjoyed that I sided with all the characters at different times in the book .
There was a lot of suspense and the chapters occurring in the past, really helped with that. I quite enjoyed them!
This is a slow paced book, with chapters that are not too long, third person narration, and we see what is happening through Evelyn’s eyes.
It is the story of Evelyn and Lily, two sisters who live in a house with a garden but never leave it. They are secluded from the world and never see anybody until one day, when Evelyn will start to notice that some of her stuff have moved…
This book is classified as sci-fi/fantasy, but I would say that it’s more of a mystery/horror book. I may be wrong though.
I had a great experience while reading this book! I often thought that it was really weird and that I couldn’t wait to read more to finally understand everything.
There was an eerie atmosphere throughout the book that was quite enjoyable.
The characters were a bit off sometimes, and I enjoyed that I sided with all the characters at different times in the book .
There was a lot of suspense and the chapters occurring in the past, really helped with that. I quite enjoyed them!
This is a slow paced book, with chapters that are not too long, third person narration, and we see what is happening through Evelyn’s eyes.
December 7, 2024
This is a really interesting read, the concept is that two sisters are living alone in a world that has been destroyed. There are dust storms, the threat of the unknown and they are getting older. They are struggling because they are completely self-sufficient with what they grow in the garden that their mother started.
The sisters have been living in the kitchen of an old, rather large house. They do have some memories of their childhood when things were "normal". They have a journal that their mother painstakingly compiled with when to plant, sow, harvest and care for the plants they would need in the garden. Over the years though, this journal has become out of date, things are changing.
This is a story of the two women, how they see themselves and how they see the world beyond the garden walls. While it does sound like a wonderful life, living in a kitchen and having the bounty of a garden just outside the door, it is not quite right. Their mother was a big influence in their lives when she was alive, but she did have an opinion that skewed the way the sisters think.
They have never gone beyond the garden walls, never ventured into the house. It is not until a young boy is discovered in the garden that they get to hear anything of what has happened outside. His arrival, while good for the sisters, also sees an unbalancing as such. An odd number, but also someone who has not had the same upbringing as themselves and this leads them to ask questions of what they have been told.
I do like the set of this story and the way the author has kept it enclosed, while there is information about the sisters, the garden and then the boy, there is not much else to know about before. This is not an issue for me as the story is focused on the women and their lives so it does work well. This makes the story more character-led and it is a slower pace which suits the age of the women as well. I think the author has got the balance right for this book, it is a quieter dystopian book that focuses on their solitude, attitudes and opinions as they go around with their everyday tasks.
I really enjoyed this one, it was an interesting concept and it made a nice change not to have battles, but that being said though, there are some darker moments. Ideal for fans who like dystopian and character-led novels and one I would be happy to recommend.
The sisters have been living in the kitchen of an old, rather large house. They do have some memories of their childhood when things were "normal". They have a journal that their mother painstakingly compiled with when to plant, sow, harvest and care for the plants they would need in the garden. Over the years though, this journal has become out of date, things are changing.
This is a story of the two women, how they see themselves and how they see the world beyond the garden walls. While it does sound like a wonderful life, living in a kitchen and having the bounty of a garden just outside the door, it is not quite right. Their mother was a big influence in their lives when she was alive, but she did have an opinion that skewed the way the sisters think.
They have never gone beyond the garden walls, never ventured into the house. It is not until a young boy is discovered in the garden that they get to hear anything of what has happened outside. His arrival, while good for the sisters, also sees an unbalancing as such. An odd number, but also someone who has not had the same upbringing as themselves and this leads them to ask questions of what they have been told.
I do like the set of this story and the way the author has kept it enclosed, while there is information about the sisters, the garden and then the boy, there is not much else to know about before. This is not an issue for me as the story is focused on the women and their lives so it does work well. This makes the story more character-led and it is a slower pace which suits the age of the women as well. I think the author has got the balance right for this book, it is a quieter dystopian book that focuses on their solitude, attitudes and opinions as they go around with their everyday tasks.
I really enjoyed this one, it was an interesting concept and it made a nice change not to have battles, but that being said though, there are some darker moments. Ideal for fans who like dystopian and character-led novels and one I would be happy to recommend.
February 4, 2025
The Garden is the first adult book by Nick Newman, a pseudonym for acclaimed children’s author Nicholas Bowling. What drew me to the blog tour for this book was the opening six words from the book blurb, In a place and time unknown, it was like an open invitation to enter the world of The Garden and of Evelyn and Lily. This is a world where there has been a catastrophic climate episode, that has seen the sister’s world shrink to just the garden and the kitchen of the house they live in. They are scared of what lies beyond, so when a young boy appears they fear for their existence, and others that may be out there.
The Garden is a fascinating read, set in no specific time or place, which gives it a timeless quality, like a fairytale or fable. Evelyn and Lily have their own timeless quality, we know they are older but not their age, and their memories seem to tangle with reality so it’s sometimes hard to know which is which. The sisters are intriguing, eccentric but have a childhood innocence about them, their world is confined to the garden, and to each other. Their relationship also has a childlike feel, Evelyn the elder sister, taking charge and looking out for the younger, and Lily who defers to Evelyn but has her moments of rebellion. The only other significant relationship was with their mother, who left them an almanac of what to do in the garden each day, each month, and even though she is dead she still has an influence in their lives. When the unknown boy appears I felt like a voyuer watching their relationship change, and in parts fall apart.
The writing of this book is beautiful, the way Nick Newman gets into the psyche of his characters and their relationships. The ethereal prose adds to the timeless quality, the mystery and otherworldly feel to the plot. The garden is like the sister’s Eden, the place that keeps them safe, provides their food, and is their sanctuary from the world outside, who their mother said was evil. The air of mystery, of why the house is boarded up, why they live only in the kitchen, and what happened to bring them to this point adds to the intrigue of the plot, keeping my attention as I tried to work it all out.
I loved the atmosphere of The Garden, it’s unknowm quality of time and place, giving it a fairytale quality of ‘Once Upon a Time. The sister’s and their relationship is at the heart of this book, their bond and how the dynamics change when the unknown boy turns up. This is a haunting, compelling and beautiful read, that kept me thinkng about the characters long after I finished reading.
The Garden is a fascinating read, set in no specific time or place, which gives it a timeless quality, like a fairytale or fable. Evelyn and Lily have their own timeless quality, we know they are older but not their age, and their memories seem to tangle with reality so it’s sometimes hard to know which is which. The sisters are intriguing, eccentric but have a childhood innocence about them, their world is confined to the garden, and to each other. Their relationship also has a childlike feel, Evelyn the elder sister, taking charge and looking out for the younger, and Lily who defers to Evelyn but has her moments of rebellion. The only other significant relationship was with their mother, who left them an almanac of what to do in the garden each day, each month, and even though she is dead she still has an influence in their lives. When the unknown boy appears I felt like a voyuer watching their relationship change, and in parts fall apart.
The writing of this book is beautiful, the way Nick Newman gets into the psyche of his characters and their relationships. The ethereal prose adds to the timeless quality, the mystery and otherworldly feel to the plot. The garden is like the sister’s Eden, the place that keeps them safe, provides their food, and is their sanctuary from the world outside, who their mother said was evil. The air of mystery, of why the house is boarded up, why they live only in the kitchen, and what happened to bring them to this point adds to the intrigue of the plot, keeping my attention as I tried to work it all out.
I loved the atmosphere of The Garden, it’s unknowm quality of time and place, giving it a fairytale quality of ‘Once Upon a Time. The sister’s and their relationship is at the heart of this book, their bond and how the dynamics change when the unknown boy turns up. This is a haunting, compelling and beautiful read, that kept me thinkng about the characters long after I finished reading.
January 25, 2025
This is wonderfully quirky and takes you on a strange little journey with Evelyn and Lily. There's little concept of time and place and a very post-apocalyptic feel to things. A hint at monsters that you are eager to meet but they're not what you think. It did remind me of Zombie films to a point and the communities that the sisters are trying to avoid remain a bit of an enigma. The beast of burden is a little illusive too which keeps up the air of mystery throughout; where the reader isn't fully aware of what has happened or what really lurks outside of the garden.
I feel like I'm more team Evelyn although I'm not as keen on her choice of meat 😂 it seems that mama has created a worry that has resulted in Evelyn fiercely holding on to her routine- partly as respect to mama but I think also due to her own comfort. The sister's age is unclear and they seem to be ailing although that could be lifestyle as much as anything. Their lives seem mundane but fascinating!
The slow burn feel to this builds a feeling of suspense that keeps you interested and intrigued as to what will happen. It's an odd story and I'm curious as to how others find it particularly the end. I feel like Evelyn would have been fine had she been left to her own devices but things have changed and I'm not sure how things will move on for her...
I feel like I'm more team Evelyn although I'm not as keen on her choice of meat 😂 it seems that mama has created a worry that has resulted in Evelyn fiercely holding on to her routine- partly as respect to mama but I think also due to her own comfort. The sister's age is unclear and they seem to be ailing although that could be lifestyle as much as anything. Their lives seem mundane but fascinating!
The slow burn feel to this builds a feeling of suspense that keeps you interested and intrigued as to what will happen. It's an odd story and I'm curious as to how others find it particularly the end. I feel like Evelyn would have been fine had she been left to her own devices but things have changed and I'm not sure how things will move on for her...
January 26, 2025
3.75 stars
This review is based on an ARC of The Garden which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons).
The cover halted me, the synopsis piqued my interest, and the first few lines swept me away into a wondrous landscape of lush greenery and the low-thrumming drone of bees. Our main characters, stolid Evelyn and frisky Lily, make for an intriguing yin and yang duo. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the characters, their believability and development. And that's not to forget the titular Garden, as alive and real as Evelyn, the bees, and the Boy; nor Mama, deceased, but whose breath speaks in the breeze, whose heart flutters with the pages of the Almanac.
The Garden, perennial and unchanged for decades passed, sees an abrupt change with the crumbling of a wall and a mysterious intruder from beyond. As routine is broken and steadfast beliefs challenged, our characters--and, inevitably, the reader--begin to question the truth of Mama's Almanac, of the idyllic life of the Garden.
I found myself so involved in the story of The Garden! As mysteries unfolded and doubts began to brew, I grew ever more wary, indignant to believe in another way of life. Then, I found myself opening to curiosity, growing doubtful of Mama's truths, questioning all I had come to know.
The Garden plays with one's mind, emotions, loyalties. The Garden is at once whimsical, romantic, and eerie, packaged in butcher paper and twine, a delightful cottagecore gift.
ATY 2025 Reading Challenge: a book published in 2025
This review is based on an ARC of The Garden which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons).
The cover halted me, the synopsis piqued my interest, and the first few lines swept me away into a wondrous landscape of lush greenery and the low-thrumming drone of bees. Our main characters, stolid Evelyn and frisky Lily, make for an intriguing yin and yang duo. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the characters, their believability and development. And that's not to forget the titular Garden, as alive and real as Evelyn, the bees, and the Boy; nor Mama, deceased, but whose breath speaks in the breeze, whose heart flutters with the pages of the Almanac.
The Garden, perennial and unchanged for decades passed, sees an abrupt change with the crumbling of a wall and a mysterious intruder from beyond. As routine is broken and steadfast beliefs challenged, our characters--and, inevitably, the reader--begin to question the truth of Mama's Almanac, of the idyllic life of the Garden.
I found myself so involved in the story of The Garden! As mysteries unfolded and doubts began to brew, I grew ever more wary, indignant to believe in another way of life. Then, I found myself opening to curiosity, growing doubtful of Mama's truths, questioning all I had come to know.
The Garden plays with one's mind, emotions, loyalties. The Garden is at once whimsical, romantic, and eerie, packaged in butcher paper and twine, a delightful cottagecore gift.
ATY 2025 Reading Challenge: a book published in 2025
September 25, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book, which has a gothic feel to it.
The book is about two sisters who literally live in their own wee world. Their days are spent tending to the garden created by their mother after a natural disaster of some sort as well as looking after their bees. The sisters live in one room only of the stately home that was their childhood home.
The sisters live happily (or not?) until a boy appears one day. We do not know who he is or where he has come from. That’s up to the reader to decide with the information provided.
The story moves back and forth between the sisters’ present day and their childhood to provide a little information to the reader about what happened and why the sisters live as they do. A lot of the blanks have to be filled in by the reader, which I enjoyed.
History then repeats itself. What will happen, and will there be a happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
A very enjoyable read. If you enjoyed ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by Shirley Jackson, I think that you would enjoy this book.
I have given the book 4/5 stars rather than 5/5* as there were a few points made in the book that I would have liked expanded on and the ending of the book seemed a bit rushed. I highly recommend reading this book, though. A very enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this e-book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The book is about two sisters who literally live in their own wee world. Their days are spent tending to the garden created by their mother after a natural disaster of some sort as well as looking after their bees. The sisters live in one room only of the stately home that was their childhood home.
The sisters live happily (or not?) until a boy appears one day. We do not know who he is or where he has come from. That’s up to the reader to decide with the information provided.
The story moves back and forth between the sisters’ present day and their childhood to provide a little information to the reader about what happened and why the sisters live as they do. A lot of the blanks have to be filled in by the reader, which I enjoyed.
History then repeats itself. What will happen, and will there be a happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
A very enjoyable read. If you enjoyed ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by Shirley Jackson, I think that you would enjoy this book.
I have given the book 4/5 stars rather than 5/5* as there were a few points made in the book that I would have liked expanded on and the ending of the book seemed a bit rushed. I highly recommend reading this book, though. A very enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this e-book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an early copy of The Garden by Nick Newman.
The Garden is a dystopian tale set somewhere in the future. The author alludes to climate change but does not discuss it in detail.
Evelyn and Lily are two elderly sisters taking care of the garden of their family's manor house and living in just the kitchen as the rest of the house was closed off by their Mother before she died. They are self-sufficient and have closed themselves off from the outside, strictly following their Mother's instructions written in a handmade almanac.
The sisters have opposing personalities with Evelyn, the elder sister, taking on the Mother's role, and Lily the role of the unruly younger sibling. This is for an undetermined number of years before a boy shows up in the garden, quietly challenging the sisters' relationship and their understanding of the outside world. What was their Mother trying to protect them from?
I enjoyed this and it was a different slant on most other dystopian novels I have read, and it was interesting to have the viewpoint of older characters in that situation.
Highly recommended!
The Garden is a dystopian tale set somewhere in the future. The author alludes to climate change but does not discuss it in detail.
Evelyn and Lily are two elderly sisters taking care of the garden of their family's manor house and living in just the kitchen as the rest of the house was closed off by their Mother before she died. They are self-sufficient and have closed themselves off from the outside, strictly following their Mother's instructions written in a handmade almanac.
The sisters have opposing personalities with Evelyn, the elder sister, taking on the Mother's role, and Lily the role of the unruly younger sibling. This is for an undetermined number of years before a boy shows up in the garden, quietly challenging the sisters' relationship and their understanding of the outside world. What was their Mother trying to protect them from?
I enjoyed this and it was a different slant on most other dystopian novels I have read, and it was interesting to have the viewpoint of older characters in that situation.
Highly recommended!
February 2, 2025
This book was not at all what I was expecting. It felt like a dreamlike story, a haunting dystopian tale, with a little bit of horror thrown in. It brought forth so many questions and left me with so many more by the end.
The story follows two elderly sisters living together on their family estate, tending their garden surviving day-to-day with only their memories and each other to keep them company. The story is told from the present as well as flashbacks into the past, where everything slowly starts to unfold. One day, a mysterious young boy find his way into their Garden leaving them to question everything they knew. At what lengths will someone go to survive when their world is turned upside down?
I enjoyed the story even though it was slow in places. The ending however, left me wanting more.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows two elderly sisters living together on their family estate, tending their garden surviving day-to-day with only their memories and each other to keep them company. The story is told from the present as well as flashbacks into the past, where everything slowly starts to unfold. One day, a mysterious young boy find his way into their Garden leaving them to question everything they knew. At what lengths will someone go to survive when their world is turned upside down?
I enjoyed the story even though it was slow in places. The ending however, left me wanting more.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
I can't say I am usually a fan of Dystopian style books. In fact, going into this, I thought it was horror (no idea how I got that impression to be completely honest).
This is one of those moments where I was completely wrong, and I am so glad that is the case! The story follows two elderly sisters who have been living in a walled off garden away from the rest of the world from a presumed global catastrophe. They live by a strict regime created by their late mother, that is, until they receive an uninvited guest and their routine starts to fall apart.
You never know what or who to believe in The Garden. This is, in part, due to the fact that no narrator is entirely reliable, and what information you are given during the course of the book is sparce. This constantly kept me guessing, and with the odd and sometimes erratic behaviour of the sisters, I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat!
This is a book absolutely worth getting your hands on and giving a try, and an author that I am excited to keep my eye on for any future releases.
This is one of those moments where I was completely wrong, and I am so glad that is the case! The story follows two elderly sisters who have been living in a walled off garden away from the rest of the world from a presumed global catastrophe. They live by a strict regime created by their late mother, that is, until they receive an uninvited guest and their routine starts to fall apart.
You never know what or who to believe in The Garden. This is, in part, due to the fact that no narrator is entirely reliable, and what information you are given during the course of the book is sparce. This constantly kept me guessing, and with the odd and sometimes erratic behaviour of the sisters, I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat!
This is a book absolutely worth getting your hands on and giving a try, and an author that I am excited to keep my eye on for any future releases.
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