The Restoration Garden

A Novel

By: Sara Blaydes

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw

A landscape architect unearths the tangled history of a once-celebrated English garden—and all its mysteries—in a captivating novel by the author of The Last Secret of Lily Adams.

Julia Esdaile is hired to restore the historic gardens at Havenworth Manor—the grounds of which are now an abandoned snarl of bramble and weeds—to their original splendor. For the enigmatic lady of the manor, ninety-two-year-old Margaret Clarke, the reason for the restoration is the deeply private story of a promise made a lifetime ago, and a vow to keep it before she dies.

It’s 1940, and Margaret’s older half sister, Irene, an aspiring artist, dreams of an exciting world beyond Havenworth. Her only escapes are James Atherton, a handsome officer in the RAF, and her sketchbook of flower drawings. Bonding over their disdain for war, Irene follows James to London, where, irrevocably in love, she is forced to make a choice she never imagined. With that, Irene vanishes from Margaret’s life forever.

Now, with the help of Margaret’s godson, Andrew, Julia is determined to uncover both the long-buried secrets of the past and the truth behind a heartbreaking mystery that only restoring the gardens of Havenworth can solve.

©2025 by Sara O’Shaughnessy. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Blaydes uses the language of flowers for more intimate conversations, but doesn’t shy away from bigger ideas like the varied ways in which war impacts people of different economic statuses, offering plenty of opportunity for discussion. A good choice for readers of Kate Morton, Beatriz Williams, or Lisa Wingate.”—Booklist (starred review)

“The author cleverly ties her protagonists together. This is an easy novel to get lost in. It tickled my personal love of gardens, and stoked memories of the stunning Lost (and recovered) Gardens of Heligan.”—Historical Novels Review

Different than any other WWII novel I’ve read

This novel feels super important in the current times. It gives a different perspective than I’ve read for the most part. It felt like I could understand the level of graphic descriptions making a heavy point without me disassociating. I call it a win personally, but would warn readers that this book is like anything that involves fascism or war themes, there are super upsetting portions of the book. Overall, I loved it and thought the characters were well developed, storyline was solid, and gave the perfect amount a suspense without me wanting the book to be over to know what happened lol! It left me wanting more, which feels rare lately.

Balance

I loved the back-and-forth between the historical perspective and the present-day viewpoint. The contrast created a rich, layered narrative that kept me engaged throughout. I do wish there had been a little more development of the present-day storyline, as those moments were compelling and left me wanting more. Overall, a beautifully woven story with a thoughtful balance of past and present.

The twists. The different elements were unexpected to me. The gorgeous garden speak and imagery.

Honestly I finished this in one day on 1.55x speed. I was zoned in. There isn’t anything I didn’t like. I love and recommend this book.

wonderful

I'm hard to please, but this one was Goo-oo-ood!
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I really liked this story.
got through it in only two days!!
Highly recommend

The Restoration Garden – Sarah Blaydes

If this isn’t a great book, I don’t know what is.

You may wonder how a garden could possibly mean that much to someone—but it doesn’t take long to realize it represents far more than flowers and soil. With a 4.3 average rating, it’s easy to see why this story resonates so deeply.

Julia Esdaile, a landscape architect, is hired to restore the long-neglected gardens of Havenworth Manor for its enigmatic ninety-two-year-old owner, Margaret Clarke. What begins as a restoration project soon becomes a journey into the past, revealing a deeply personal promise Margaret is determined to keep before she dies.

The story beautifully weaves back to 1940, following Margaret’s half-sister Irene—an aspiring artist yearning for a life beyond Havenworth—and her forbidden love with James, an RAF officer. War, love, impossible choices, and long-buried secrets collide, leaving heartbreak in their wake.

You’re immediately engrossed in the characters and their stories. If you love uncovering wartime mysteries filled with secrets, lies, and emotional depth—especially in the vein of Kristin Hannah—this book is a must-read. A touching story about love, loss, and the power of restoring what was once lost. 🌿📖