Some books quietly pull you in from the first page, and The Restoration Garden (coming October 2025) did exactly that for me. It gave me the same feeling I have when I read the prologue of The Forbidden Garden by Ellie Herrick (one of my favorite books)-atmospheric and inviting me to read more.
Publisher’s Summary: The story follows Julia Esdaile, a landscape architect tasked with restoring the overgrown gardens of Havenworth Manor to their former glory. The restoration is driven by a deeply personal promise made by the manor's 93-year-old owner, Margaret Clarke, who seeks to fulfill a vow before her death. The narrative intertwines past and present, delving into the life of Margaret's half-sister, Irene, an aspiring artist who vanished during World War II. As Julia works on the gardens, she uncovers long-buried secrets and a poignant mystery that only the restoration can resolve.
This was my first time reading anything by Sara Blaydes, and I loved it so much. The story follows Julia, a landscape architect who’s been hired to restore a long-forgotten English garden. The challenge? There are no maps, photos, or real plans-just fragments of family history and what the land is willing to reveal. And what a history it is. The book unfolds through a dual timeline between the present and WW2 Britain during the Blitz, and this dual timeline added richness and depth.
There’s romance, mystery, and family drama woven throughout, but at its core, this is a story about healing— bringing a garden back to life, mending relationships, generational healing and coming to terms with who we are as a person. While there are quite a few subplots, not all get a perfectly tied-up ending, but that actually works in this book. The focus stays where it needs to: on Julia’s journey and the garden’s secrets.
And I have to say, I didn’t see the plot twist coming. When it was finally revealed, I actually got quiet-it hit me in a really visceral way. That moment added emotional weight to the entire story and made me appreciate how carefully everything had been layered. It’s the kind of story that lingers after you’ve finished the last page.
Thank you @netgalley and Sara Blaydes for the ARC.
Book Link-Ups I Enjoy Joining
It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? at The Book Date, Top Ten Tuesday at The Artsy Reader, The Friday56 at My Heads if Full of Books, Book Beginnings on Friday at Rose City Reader, First Line Friday at Reading in My Superpower, Stacking the Shelves at Reading Reality, Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Monthly Round-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction, Foodies Read at Based on a True Story (monthly)
Non-Bookish Link-Ups
Mondays - Sweet Tea & Friends, Hearth & Soul Community, You Are The Star, Love Your Creativity Link-Party // Tuesdays- Nature Notes // Wednesdays- Let’s Have Coffee, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop,Homestead Blog Hop, Happiness is Homemade // Thursdays-Thursday Favorite Things // Fridays- Farmhouse Fridays, Five Minute Friday Crazy Little Lovebirds