I loved this book. Very much a study of relationships between siblings, loyalty to long lost parents, or was it fear? Fear that perhaps mum is always watching over and what would she say to Evelyn if she didn’t follow her mothers almanac to the letter.

The book is set in a time and place that we don’t know, we’re not entirely sure what has happened in the past but it would seem an environmental disaster of sorts happened when the two sisters were very young.

Now feeling the effects of old age, especially Evelyn, they live in just one room of their once substantial family home where they grew up. Their parents long gone and the rest of the house “out of bounds” they live a somewhat frugal and completely self sufficient life. They haven’t seen anyone else for many, many years. Evelyn being the elder of the two sisters seems to take on the role of ‘mother’ to her younger sister Lily. Lily comes across as somewhat child like in her ways, she’s certainly the more adventurous, fun person out of the two, yet they’re both quite lovable in their own individual ways.

It’s when ‘The Boy’ turns up that the plot starts to pick up speed. We start to get snippets of what has happened in the past and why they’re both so fearful of strangers and the outside world.

There are so many aspects to the story, humour, sadness, tension towards the end, even a little horror and gore. There’s also much poignancy to the relationship between the sisters and how they come to the realisation that maybe they’ve wasted away their entire lives on the basis of what happened during their formative years. Fab book, I really enjoyed it.

4.5 ⭐

I immediately warmed to Evelyn and Lily, two little old ladies, navigating their lives through routine, and tending the garden.
It becomes apparent very soon something I'd amiss. Why are they living just in the kitchen? What has gone on outside the walls of the garden? What's gone on withing the walls of the garden?
A little bit sinister at times, always having an edge of unease.
Hard to put down, and just not long enough in my opinion.

I’m not really sure how I would classify this. It a rather disturbing adult fairytale, a bit gothic, a bit horror and very dark. It’s a relatively short book which tells the story of sisters Evelyn and Lily who live alone in the family home, in the kitchen, with the rest of the house closed up and a walled garden keeping everyone out - or maybe them in! Told throughout in Evelyn’s POV this is a slow paced but completely compelling book about relationships and the complex human psyche.

Briefly, the sisters have no contact with the outside world. They grow their own fruit and vegetables, keep bees and chickens and spend their days tending these and their garden as their mother taught them to do. They are both elderly and both very different in personality, Evelyn is the serious one whereas Lily is more flighty and prone to breaking the rules imposed on them by their mother. But their lives are changed when an unnamed boy comes into their lives.

I can’t even begin to imagine how the terrible isolation must have affected the two women, they are now elderly so it must be around 60 years where they have had no conversation or interaction outside their own little world. Although it seemed like a bit of a cozy tale at first there was always a hint of menace in the background. Two amazing characters but whilst Evelyn was a martyr to her, or rather her mother’s, beliefs Lily’s free spirit railed against their lives once her curiosity was allowed free rein. A haunting piece of literary fiction, that won’t be for everyone, but which left me with a feeling of immense sadness for the sisters.

4.5⭐️

Evelyn and Lily have a beautiful garden, which is both their prison and their sanctuary. Using a book written by their mother they tend the garden and live their days together peacefully.

When a mysterious young boy appears their world changes and they see their live through different eyes.

This is a wonderul read. it is intriguing and beguilling. I loved the richly descriptive words and The plot is unlike anything I have read previously.

recommended read.

"The Garden" by Nick Newman invites us into a captivating yet enigmatic world, where two elderly sisters, Evelyn and Lily, live in an isolated garden that is both their refuge and prison. Set in an ambiguous time and place, the novel explores themes of grief, memory, and the intricacies of human relationships.

The sisters' daily lives revolve around tending to their secluded home, following the instructions left by their mother in an almanac. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when they discover a mysterious boy hiding in the boarded-up house at the heart of their garden. This revelation raises numerous questions and forces Evelyn and Lily to confront unsettling truths about themselves, their sanctuary, and the world beyond.

As suspicions grow and allegiances shift, memories resurface, intertwining past and present in a complex narrative. The enigmatic boy serves as a catalyst, propelling the sisters on a journey of self-discovery and unearthing long-buried secrets.

Newman's lyrical prose creates an atmosphere rich with emotion, immersing readers in the haunting beauty of the garden. His vivid descriptions evoke a sense of place that is both enchanting and eerie, reflecting the turbulent emotions of the characters. While the slow pacing may not appeal to all readers, it allows for a deeper exploration of the characters' psyches and the themes at play.

The ambiance of the novel oscillates between tranquility and unease, with lush imagery contrasting the pervasive sorrow that underlies the story. Emotions run high as the characters confront their pasts, and moments of tenderness are often tinged with sadness, painting a nuanced portrait of the human experience.

This novel evokes the same haunting atmosphere as Grey Gardens, with a post-apocalyptic twist that adds an extra layer of intrigue.

Wow loved this book ! This deliciously twisty story kept me up late at night, desperate to know the outcome. A definite 5 stars

Rating: 4.5 stars

Oh, my melancholy heart rejoiced whilst reading this one.

‘The Garden’ by Nick Newman follows the lives of elderly sisters Evelyn and Lily, isolated from the rest of the world, or whatever is left of it, spending their days in their garden, with ghosts of memories and with each other. Until a boy shows up, and everything the sisters thought they knew comes into question.

It’s a small cast of characters, which means we get to know the ones we do meet well. The sisters really come to life throughout this book, I felt like I came to naturally understand both Evelyn and Lily’s point of views and thoughts. I liked their conversations with one another, I thought they flowed well and read realistically. I also liked that the boy was less of a in-your-face character and more of a plot line, I found he didn’t take away from the sisters and their stories but enhanced the main story well just with his presence, yet any questions I had were answered satisfactorily.

The overall vibe of the book is, in my opinion, exquisite. It has a sense of creepiness, a dose of melancholy, a dollop of heartbreak, with the setting of a desolate floral haven, slowly crumbling down.

This is a unique read, I think it’ll be a must read in 2025. It’s beautifully written and the story told is one that lingers in your mind.

Also, a very big thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this ebook!

The Garden is an eerie and hypnotic book that transports readers to a secluded world, where two elderly sisters, Evelyn and Lily, live in a walled garden. Their lives are solitary and routine, governed by the instructions left in an almanac by their late mother. The garden is all they have ever known, and the outside world is nothing but a forgotten memory—until a nameless boy is discovered hiding in a boarded-up house on their grounds. This sudden intrusion upends their quiet existence, raising questions about the boy’s origins and intentions, and forcing the sisters to confront unsettling truths about themselves and the world they thought they knew.

This book masterfully blends elements of mystery, horror, and speculative fiction. Though classified as sci-fi/fantasy, it feels more like a gothic mystery, with a constant sense of unease threading through the story. The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, dark and haunting, and the suspense builds steadily as the narrative shifts between the present and the sisters' hazy memories of the past.

Evelyn and Lily are compelling characters, each one revealing hidden layers as the story unfolds. Their relationship is complex, and as suspicions arise and loyalties shift, the tension between them becomes palpable. I found myself aligning with different characters at various points, which added to the unpredictability of the story.

While The Garden is a slow-paced book, the chapters are concise, and the third-person narration through Evelyn’s eyes keeps the reader engaged. The shifting timelines, especially the flashbacks, add depth and help heighten the sense of mystery.

Overall, The Garden is a darkly beautiful, atmospheric read. Its slow burn might not appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate quiet tension and a deep, unsettling mystery, this is a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

This was a fantastic read. A atmospheric, somewhat eerie novel set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by some kind of ecological disaster (what a surprise!). There is a sinister, suffocating feel about the setting—as if two elderly sisters sequestered for decades in the kitchen of a mansion that has been boarded up is not suffocating enough. Even though they have their garden and the vast grounds to tend to, the sisters' lives are tiny. As the story progresses, we get a better sense of the tragedy that has befallen their times, even though there are no details. I have great admiration for authors who can build apocalyptic fantasty with such a narrow focus.

It is right that the title of this novel is The Graden, as the descriptions of the land, the life giving bounty and safety provided by its walls are the main focus of this book. An unusual, beautiful story about two fearful elderly sisters working hard to survive in a future world. The relationship between Lily and Evelyn, and the power of their long dead mother and the alamac she left, is well written and I appreciated the flash backs to their early years to understand how they are living alone in a small part of their large home:
I was intrigued when The Boy turned up and had no idea what to expect. It kept me guessing.
I could see this being made into a film, and I’d definitely watch it.

The Garden is a dark and haunting story about two sisters, Evelyn and Lily, who live alone in their old family home, caring for their late mother’s garden; when a strange boy shows up, disrupting their quiet world. The book shifts between their past and present, revealing fragments of their childhood memories and present-day isolation.

The story has a slow build but leads to a powerful, emotional ending. It will suit readers who enjoy gothic fiction, slow-paced mysteries, and reads that leave room for interpretation.

I really enjoyed reading this book which has a gothic feel to it.

The book is about two sisters who literally live in their own wee world. Their days are spent tending to the garden created by their mother after a natural disaster of some sort as well as looking after their bees. The sisters live in one room only of the stately home that was their childhood home.

The sisters live happily (or not?) until a boy appears one day. We do not know who he is or where he has come from. That’s up to the reader to decide with the information provided.

The story moves back and forth between the sisters’ present day and their childhood to provide a little information to the reader about what happened and why the sisters live as they do. A lot of the blanks have to be filled in by the reader which I enjoyed.

History then repeats itself. What will happen and will there be a happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

A very enjoyable read. If you enjoyed ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson I think that you would enjoy this book.

I have given the book 4/5 stars rather than 5/5* as there were a few points made in the book that I would have liked expanded on and the ending of the book seemed a bit rushed. I highly recommend reading this book, though. A very enjoyable read.

I received an advance copy of this e-book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love what people are bringing to adult dystopia these days, and this story of two elderly sisters, living their moldering house and tending their garden, not knowing what, if anything, lies beyond the walls really appealed to me.

Evelyn and Lily are such different people, shaped by how they were each raised, and I found I understood them both, Eve for wanting to keep control of her surroundings and Lily for wanting to know what might lie beyond the walls.

While this was a little slow in the middle, the ending was devastatingly sad, and gave me, I felt, enough answers as the sister's lives are changed forever. I truly had to put the book down for a solid five minute crying session.

After a catasthropic event, Evelyn, Lily and their strict mother are forced to live in limited areas of their home and tend to their garden most of the time.
With flashbacks, we get a sense of how life had been for them, and finally, when a boy shows up, things take a different turn.
I was in a neutral mood when I started this book, in no particular inclination towards any expectations.
I loved this book. It has a cinematic quality, it will probably be made into a film as soon as the gods of filmmaking become aware of it.
That is not to say it is not literary. On the contrary, Newman’s writing has immense merit.
I cannot say that I understood everything about the twist and what might have happened, and what and if the ideas here are metaphors, analogies, but the feel of the book and the whole reading experience are awesome. The characters need to make some tough decisions, and I was happy not to know all the answers for every question, but had I understood the finale and the twist a bit better then I would have enjoyed it 10% more.
A very cool read.

The Garden started strongly. I found the premise interesting and the world building elements were well handled, so we got a continually building understanding of the sisters and their situation. Nonetheless, I did still have a few questions that were not answered, which made the ending a tad unsatisfactory for me. After such a slow buildup things seemed to conclude a little too abruptly. Regardless, the book had plenty of atmosphere and the pacing was generally well handled, which kept me wanting to read on. The two sisters both came across well as fully developed characters, but the boy who enters the garden felt a little less well defined, and many of my lingering questions at the end related to him and his motivation. Overall, though, it was a pleasing and original tale, so I am giving it four stars.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it very hard to stop reading and found time getting away from me! I haven't read anything like it before and I was hooked all the way through.

It's an unsettling story which follows two elderly sisters who live together, shut off from the outside world. They have been content with their quiet lives tending to the garden of the large house they live in, keeping bees and growing food. But things slowly start to change, and the outside world starts to creep in. The sisters have to face up to the fact that things are changing and seem to be falling apart.

The chapters go back and forth between the sisters as elderly women and their lives as children, which helps to give more background.

There is a creepy, Gothic feeling to the story which I really enjoyed. It kept me guessing all the way through as well and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I would definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

It is the story of Evelyn and Lily, two sisters who live in a house with a garden but never leave it. They are secluded from the world and never see anybody until one day, when Evelyn will start to notice that some of her stuff have moved…

This book is classified as sci-fi/fantasy, but I would say that it’s more of a mystery/horror book. I may be wrong though.

I had a great experience while reading this book! I often thought that it was really weird and that I couldn’t wait to read more to finally understand everything.

There was an eerie atmosphere throughout the book that was quite enjoyable.

The characters were a bit off sometimes, and I enjoyed that I sided with all the characters at different times in the book .

There was a lot of suspense and the chapters occurring in the past, really helped with that. I quite enjoyed them!

This is a slow paced book, with chapters that are not too long, third person narration, and we see what is happening through Evelyn’s eyes.

Didn’t know what to expect from this book but the story was very unique with realistic characters and an engrossing plot. The characters were well rounded and felt very realistic
This is mysterious with some sci fi elements and is well written and quite emotional

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

I really enjoyed this. The writing style is easy and the dialogue between the women flows well. Some sort of global crisis has occurred. We are not told what, but great storms bringing choking dust occur now and then. The women's mother has caused them to live in a small portion of a big house, within a large, enclosed garden which the women are entrusted to tend using a manual written by the mother. A boy turns up and suddenly the outside world intrudes in a threatening way. I was not clear what had happened in the final chapter but I had a good guess. This is a quirky and original novel and I would recommend it.