The Last Garden in England

By: Julia Kelly

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio, Marisa Calin, Danielle Cohen, Katherine Littrell, Siobhan Waring

From the author of the international bestsellers The Light Over London and The Whispers of War comes an enchanting novel that is “historical fiction at its very best” (Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author) as it follows five women living across three different times whose lives are all connected by one very special garden.

Present day: Emma Lovett, who has dedicated her career to breathing new life into long-neglected gardens, has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime: to restore the gardens of the famed Highbury House estate, designed in 1907 by her hero Venetia Smith. But as Emma dives deeper into the gardens’ past, she begins to uncover secrets that have long lain hidden.

1907: A talented artist with a growing reputation for her work, Venetia Smith has carved out a niche for herself as a garden designer to industrialists, solicitors, and bankers looking to show off their wealth with sumptuous country houses. When she is hired to design the gardens of Highbury House, she is determined to make them a triumph, but the gardens—and the people she meets—promise to change her life forever.

1944: When land girl Beth Pedley arrives at a farm on the outskirts of the village of Highbury, all she wants is to find a place she can call home. Cook Stella Adderton, on the other hand, is desperate to leave Highbury House to pursue her own dreams. And widow Diana Symonds, the mistress of the grand house, is anxiously trying to cling to her pre-war life now that her home has been requisitioned and transformed into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. But when war threatens Highbury House’s treasured gardens, these three very different women are drawn together by a secret that will last for decades.

“Gorgeously written and rooted in meticulous period detail, this novel is vibrant as it is stirring. Fans of historical fiction will fall in love with The Last Garden in England” (Roxanne Veletzos, author of The Girl They Left Behind).

Critic reviews

"The inviting performances of Marisa Calin, Shiromi Arserio, Katherine Littrell, Danielle Cohen, and Siobhan Waring add to the immersive pleasure of this engaging historical novel by bestselling author Julia Kelly. Set alternately in 1907, 1944, and the present day, the plot centers on the women of England's Highbury House. Venetia, the estate's 1907 garden designer, struggles to balance social expectations with her career desires. When WWII turns the estate into a convalescent hospital, estate owner Diana, cook Stella, and land girl Beth fight to preserve the gardens while building fulfilling lives. Modern-day garden restorer Emma uncovers the past's hidden secrets while navigating challenges that echo Venetia's. They are all compellingly written characters with affecting lives and interesting personal challenges, making this a listening experience to savor."

Good Development of Plot and Charecters

Good overall character and story development. It took me awhile to figure out the movement through time and who fit with which years... but it made me reason out the processes.

Best book I have read this year and for many years

I really loved each of the three stories and the way they entwined. I learned so much about plants, history, and human nature. The gentle live themes warmed my heart too!

Beautiful Story!

I found myself smiling through most of this book, and then brought to tears at times. The visual imagery played out perfectly in my mind’s eye with the author’s skill for storytelling. I LOVED this book so much I’ve shared it with more than a few friends. If you’re looking for a book to escape into, this is the one. Pure joy!

Interesting Historical Fiction Novel

If you enjoy WWII historical fiction books and multiple story lines woven together over different time periods, I would recommend this book! It followed multiple women’s lives and how they were deeply connected to the Highbury Estate’s Gardens. Found it a peaceful and interesting read with a satisfying ending.

Gardens, Mansions, Love and Death

Wonderfully acted, sweetly written, intetesting amalgamation of historical research into fiction. As a gardener I would have liked more gardening, less romance.