This book is full of heart and healing. Featuring mostly characters of an older generation, i.e. post retirement, I could identify with these lovely people. Far from taking things easy and putting their feet up, they are a lovely and determined bunch and all have suffered loss, sadness and abuse in their lives but what began as a simple garden project by one woman to plant flowers in memory of her late and beloved husband, turns into a community of similar age ladies all seeking healing for their past hurts. As they join in, bringing flowers and plants to add to the garden in memory of happier times, friendships are formed and the story becomes heartwarming, hopeful and filled with kindness. I loved seeing how these characters changed, becoming more confident and able to face up to and overcome things that have held them back over the years. The garden, it's scents, sounds and tranquillity pour out of the pages as they are described so beautifully. I really felt that I was there. A lovely book, a story of hope and healing and a balm for the soul. Truly lovely! My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC which I gladly and voluntarily review.

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

What a wonderful book, about looking forward and connecting with other people. . The older generations are often overlooked and dismissed. This book shows how memories are powerful motivators.
The well being offered by a shared garden and the physical activity helping to soothe and access different parts of life.
The characters are engaging and very different.
Enjoy I did.

Rose is a retired nurse, and to honour her deceased husband, she turns to their garden, and makes it a place of friendship, extended family, community and love. Such a life-affirming read.

This book is such an uplifting and delightful read. I loved the characters, their challenges and the joys. Well written although there were a few too many 'sayings in quotation marks' for my liking in the first chapter or two. Lovely setting in Cornwall and a testament to life not being over when we reach a certain age and retire. As an older reader I loved reading about my own stage of life.

The Garden of Memories by Amanda James is a wonderful story about stepping outside of the box life has put you in to find your true happiness. Rose is a retired nurse and a widow who finds herself alone at home with no idea what to do with the rest of her life. She has always been a wife, a mother, and a nurse and now two of those roles are gone. She decides to start to refresh her garden and to plant flowers that remind her of her past. With the help of her friends and neighbors, her garden blooms with all of their memories but they also all step out of their boxes to try something new.
This story was a wonderful inspiration that a person can be many things all at once. It is a touching story of friendship and reliance. It is a story about reinventing yourself and finding happiness in yourself. I loved this story. It was uplifting, enlightening, and a nice change of pace. It would make a great beach read or picnic read.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK , and One More Chapter for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

Another wonderful, cheerful book by Amanda James that I dare anyone to finish reading without feeling better. Rose a newly widowed nurse retires after 40 years of nursing in her local community. She has no idea what she is going to do with her life. Slowly she finds that she has the ability to create a magical garden that brings people together. As they come together they share their stories, their sorrows and their dreams and become a supportive community. A brilliant read I'm happy to recommend to anyone who's looking for that feel good factor.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Three women, three lives, amazing tales. Rose has just retired from being a nurse after 40 years. Her husband died a while ago and now she needs to begin again and she is not quite sure how after all this time.. She has been friends with Daisy since school and they know each other inside out. Flora has not long moved to the area and would like to make new friends but doesn't get off on the best footing with Rose when she speaks to her one day. Through their shared love of gardens the women share their experiences and learn from each other in ways they never thought possible and expand their horizons beyond their wildest dreams- all through the calming effect of plants on each of our senses.

Oh wow! A stunningly beautiful book that wrapped itself around me like a beautiful honeysuckle. Flora's story stopped me in my tracks as much resonated with me, despite being decades younger. One of her phrases to stop a certain voice I’m now adopting! The joy leaps through the pages, as well as the drama and evokes the sights and smells and sounds of the garden. A book that made me stop in my tracks a few times (in a good way) to reflect on life and sometimes how it's the little things that can make the world of difference to us all. I guess it's almost mindfulness in a way- stopping to enjoy the sight of a flower and the effects it has to offer. I can’t say how much I enjoyed this (although I’m trying!). One I really didn't want to end , I loved it so much. Has to be one of my books of the year- one that has that extra special something that left me with more than a story in my heart. A true gem, a prize bloom. 10* if I could


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I love this book so much! I want to crawl into the pages and live within this story. I want to be a part of this wonderful community of lovely people and garden with them. Seriously, I don't think I would ever want to leave.

I have read books by Amanda James previously and enjoyed them. She is a very gifted author. Ms. James' character and plot development are excellent. Her stories always drawn me in immediately and I am hooked until the very end.

I know it is early in the year, but this book is going to be in my top 5 of 2024 for sure. I rarely re-read a book, but I know I will be reading this book again. That is a huge compliment from me!

I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

I loved this book. It is full of uplifting ideas and good thoughts to get through life.
The characters really come alive in the beautiful, memory garden, supporting each other, however they can. I enjoyed reading this story immensely.

A beautiful, cosy read full of friendship and love I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book and all the well described characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins (OMC) for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

The garden of memories is a beautiful book which explores how gardens and nature can not only look beautiful but can bring inner peace and reduce stress.

Rose has just retired from nursing and feels a bit lost , her husband had passed away and all her previous plans of a shared retirement has changed. Her daughter and family have moved further away from her so she feels a bit isolated.

Rose decides to turn her extra time into transforming her neglected garden and with the help of her friends Sally, Flora and Daisy they tend the garden and form a strong friendship supporting each other through many personal issues along the way.

New beginnings, friendship, transformation, love and kindness are all beautifully explored. A book which will warm your soul I really enjoyed it,

This was such a lovely book. First we meet Rose, a widowed nurse who is retiring after 40 years working. She suddenly finds herself lost with no idea how to navigate her retirement.

We are introduced to a plethora of characters, Daisy, Flora, Sally, Louise who are all wonderful in their own way.

One thing Rose decides to do is overhaul her garden which was her husband Glen’s domain but since his death she has only done the bare minimum.

Rose decides to plant a few flowers to remember him and her daughter when she was young. Rose then invites other people who may or may not have a garden to use hers and make it a Memory/Sensory garden.

From this Rose develops a great friends network where they all seem to help one another

A wonderful story of friendship, love and kindness

Rose retired as a nurse after forty years service. She was nervous about leaving her career and still missing her husband who had died a short time earlier. However, she began working in her garden and drawing in friends and neighbours who needed the connection to nature to heal their spirits and the connection to each other to build a community. The story is about the healing power of nature and growing things for all kinds of ailments - physical, spiritual, community, and personal development.
I enjoyed the subject matter as I wait for the snow to melt and spring to come so I can get into my garden. I did find the writing a bit to syrupy for my taste but I did finish the book eventually.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of the book; the opinions are solely mine.

I was not keen on this book at first, it seemed a bit flat and formularic, by that I mean that it follows a well worn storyline where a woman is lost at a crossroads in her life then has a sort of epiphany and everything works out brilliantly. In a way, that could be a synopsis for this book, but as I got into it more, I came to like the characters more and to enjoy the book. It is a good summer read, involves mostly older people (aged 50 +) and is mostly about friendship. It does deal with some issues such as dementia , drug use, overbearing parental expectations, emotional abuse and grief though these are not really explored in very much depth so the book is not dragged down by these too much. The characters are interesting though there are a lot of them which means that some are not really fleshed out in detail. The descriptions of the garden and plants are lovely though.
An entertaining read, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

A great book which had a real feel good vibe. Although it was filled with relatable emption from he challenges of the different characters, this came together so beautifully and made it hard to put down.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

Such a lovely story! I couldn't get enough of this one and devoured it in two sittings. It was a quick read and there were a few characters to keep up with, but I found I actually cared what happened to them. A real uplifting story and a well deserved five stars from me.

A wonderful feel-good story.

I loved this warm, witty, and hugely compassionate book. The characters are brilliantly imagined and skillfully portrayed, and the flowers, and the reason for planting the memories, beautifully described. I loved the depiction of the small Cornish community and the way the sea and the weather was a part of their lives.. There’s a mound of humour in this book, and a wonderful sense of healing. Best of all, is the strength and wisdom shown by this compassionate and very endearing group of women. A wonderful feel-good read with a perfect ending.

A most enjoyable, heartwarming story of lonely people forming friendships through the medium of a community garden. Beautiful descriptions of areas planted with so many different species of flowers and plants, all with special meaning to the people who work on the garden.
It’s how we would all like it to be in real life, if only it were so.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

A lovely book about community and chosen family. Great cast of characters and a wonderful story line. Highly recommended.