In this book we meet Deborah. She is the Former Chief Executive of an NHS Trust. Something went a bit sour for her in her job so, on leaving, she changed her name to escape the backlash. She, along with her husband, Peter, also moved away, to a lovely bungalow with a fabulous garden which Peter carefully and lovingly tended. Now widowed only several months after moving, Deborah needs someone to help her in the garden so she signs up for the local garden share scheme. Enter Luca, the young man she has been paired with. An ex-con with a zero hours work contract, a girlfriend with a baby, and another on the way. Initially chalk and cheese, this book follows Deborah and Luca as they start to open up to each other. Despite all the ways they differ, they find so many similarities and connections. Sharing pasts, connecting in the present, moving forward into the future. But what will that future hold for the both of them? And just where does neighbour Maureen fit into it all?
This is not a long book, but it contains so much. A tad political in places, sometimes quite topical, but all within the bounds of the storyline so not a all preachy. Pacing is steady throughout; the "action" being more cerebral rather than physical as we see glimpses into the lives of all involved.
The main characters and the supporting cast are all very well drawn and were easy for me to connect with. Yes, of course there were some I liked more than others and the odd one I just despised but hey, that's life. As long as I connect with a character, it doesn't have to be positive. I'm also a bit of a fan of people who shouldn't get on but, despite all the obvious differences between them and the many reasons that the relationship shouldn't work, they just click. Deborah and Luca are two such people but I was fascinated at how their relationship developed. Sometimes amused, other times shocked as I watched the bond between them form. On the flip side I wasn't very enamoured of both Belle's and Eleanor's behaviours throughout but, as already mentioned, they did get my juices going, albeit it in a negative way, so the connection there held firm too.
The ending is all sorts of interesting but follows nicely on from the rest of the narrative. That's pretty much all I can say without giving anything else away and I am of course loathed to do that.
All in all, this was a very satisfying read for me. If you want a good, clever read, incorporating many layers, played out by a cast of interesting and well drawn characters which, at the conclusion, will stay with you a while as you digest it all fully then maybe give this book a whirl.
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
- Brooke FieldhouseReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2018
I was impressed with the construction of this novel, designed to emphasize past and present.
- LeslieTKDReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2017
I found that I particularly liked the attention to details (horticultural and otherwise) throughout the ...
- Anne GoodwinReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2020
I warmed to this book from the start
