Hi, fiction lover! I’m bringing you a review of a book that is full of delight and surprises. 📖 The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes appeared to be a cozy read, but as I dove in, I realized that it was darker and heavier than I imagined. However, I appreciate the themes of healing and redemption, along with the dual timeline story, which I appreciated more with each page turned! This is my The Restoration Garden Book Review, and to make a long story short, I 100% recommend that you pick this one up. 🏡
The Restoration Garden Book Review 💮
The Restoration Garden is a dual timeline story. In the present day, we are first introduced to Julia, who is hired to restore a garden in a manor called Havenworth. This proves to be an almost impossible task since she has nothing to reference at first. Then, we jump back in time to Irene, who is living in the time of WWII. She vanishes one day from Havenworth, leaving the elaborate garden that she loves so much.
At first, the jumps in time are filled with mystery. What ties these two women together? And why is it so important that Julia restores this garden? 🌸
Over time, we get more of the mystery uncovered. Margaret, Irene’s half sister, is the key to unlocking the things that we need to solve. Margaret is the one who wants to restore the garden, due to a promise she made long ago.
Getting Into It 🏵️
The Mood for This The Restoration Garden Book Review
At first, I had a hard time getting into Julia’s character. But she definitely grew on me! She deals with a massive loss and has to take care of a young boy when her career has been yanked from her. The garden proves to be the thing that holds her together, and of course, there is also a heartthrob in the manor who helps her get her bearings. 🪷
I was immediately drawn to Irene. 🪻 Irene wants bigger things for her life, and she feels caged in the manor. When the handsome James Atherton stops by the manor, she risks it all for love. She falls hard and fast, though she is unaware of James’s role in the war and the RAF.
The dual timeline is what makes this novel for me. It offers a break from the pacing of Irene’s fast-paced and heartwrenching story. Whenever we jump back to Julia, I get a hit of more coziness. It’s a bit of a breather and offers me some time to process the chaos in Irene’s life. I bet readers will feel like they are exploring and uncovering the mystery with Julia. It’s definitely how I felt!
Is It the Right Read for You? — The Restoration Garden Book Review 💐
If This Novel Could Speak About Being the Best of 2025
I would recommend this book to anyone! I mean, I have a hard time thinking of a situation when I wouldn’t give this book to someone. I guess the only situation would be if they are sensitive to wartime books or heavier topics like loss and violence. 🌼
The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes gave me hope in the end, so I wouldn’t say it’s too dark a read. 🌻 I learned a lot about WWII and a lot about the 1940s. And a side note, if you’re interested in the language of flowers, this one is a must-read for you!
How did you like this post of The Restoration Garden book review? I had a lot of fun with this one. I always love recommending books to you! Let me know what you think if you check this one out. Follow me on my blog for more posts about fiction and fandom! 🌹
Leave a Reply