Publisher: Berkley Books | Penguin Audio
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 368 pages | Audio Length: 9 hours 51 mins
Narrator: Emily Rankin
Source: Publisher
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years—ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she’s just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she’s becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed.
At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks—like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there’s that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently, being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can’t be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity.
After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling out of her element. But what she’ll soon discover—with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners—is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not…
*This audiobook was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 368 pages | Audio Length: 9 hours 51 mins
Narrator: Emily Rankin
Source: Publisher
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years—ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she’s just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she’s becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed.
At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks—like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there’s that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently, being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can’t be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity.
After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling out of her element. But what she’ll soon discover—with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners—is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not…
*This audiobook was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Lilian lost her husband in a tragic car accident that she practically witnessed right outside her front door. She suffered a nervous breakdown after this incident and was hospitalized. Her supportive younger sister, Reichel, steps in to take care of her nieces, Annabel, age seven and Clare, age five.
The book opens with Lilian getting back to work as a textbook illustrator for Poplar Press and being a mom with her predictable routine of picking of the girls from school and typical mom stuff. But her routine is disrupted abruptly when her boss assigns her to a job to illustrate a book for the Bloem Company on vegetables and flowers, but there is a catch… she must attend a six-week gardening class. The class is instructed by the handsome Professor Edward Bloem who is also part owner of the Bloem Company. Lillian attends the classes with her daughters and her sister Reichel. However during the course, Lilian’s attraction to Edward “blooms”, but she struggles with it because she can’t seem to move past her love for her dead husband Dan. However, she soon finds out that love and gardening have a lot in common.
The book opens with Lilian getting back to work as a textbook illustrator for Poplar Press and being a mom with her predictable routine of picking of the girls from school and typical mom stuff. But her routine is disrupted abruptly when her boss assigns her to a job to illustrate a book for the Bloem Company on vegetables and flowers, but there is a catch… she must attend a six-week gardening class. The class is instructed by the handsome Professor Edward Bloem who is also part owner of the Bloem Company. Lillian attends the classes with her daughters and her sister Reichel. However during the course, Lilian’s attraction to Edward “blooms”, but she struggles with it because she can’t seem to move past her love for her dead husband Dan. However, she soon finds out that love and gardening have a lot in common.
Reichel is the younger sister, but is obviously the stronger of the two. She stood up and took charge when her sister needed her the most, but we see a softer side of Reichel when she finds true love and someone to take care of her. Lilian’s struggle with grief, even after 4 years, and how it has affected every aspect of her life is key to this story and touches everyone. Annabel and Clare are your typical inquisitive and squabbling siblings. Annabel remembers her dad and wants to keep his memory alive and Clare has no recollection of Dan because she was too young. And their fellow gardening classmates come from various backgrounds that bring a flare and different viewpoints to the class, support for each and budding friendships and love.
Writing about grief can be touchy and a difficult task to tackle because everyone experiences it differently, but Waxman does a fabulous job. Her use of sarcasm, wit, grit and humor actually allows the reader to go through the stages of grief along with Lilian. Her use of gardening tips and terms like soil, seeds, grow, bloom, and water throughout the book brought a sense of hope and new beginnings. I found myself trying to find the semblance of the relationships within the book with each gardening tip. She opens chapter one with the following tip:
Preparing Your Garden
As soon as your soil is soft enough to work, turn it over with a fork and leave it alone for several days. Cover the soil with a 1-inch-thick layer of compost. Don’t skimp. Use a spading fork to loosen up the soil. Mix in the compost. Rake out stones and other crap, leaving the soil smooth. (Chapter 1)
Preparing Your Garden
As soon as your soil is soft enough to work, turn it over with a fork and leave it alone for several days. Cover the soil with a 1-inch-thick layer of compost. Don’t skimp. Use a spading fork to loosen up the soil. Mix in the compost. Rake out stones and other crap, leaving the soil smooth. (Chapter 1)
Emily Rankin did an overall great job of narrating this book. I especially loved the voices she used for Annabel and Clare. They were spot on. I also enjoy when I don’t have to guess which character is speaking while listening to audio books and Emily does a fine job making this distinction. Her emotional connection with Lilian’s character was delightful. I felt Lilian’s grief and joy during her storyline. However, I did feel like she struggled with the male voices. They seemed too hoarse and nasally. Edward has a Dutch accent and I had a hard time listening when his character was up next. I’m not exactly sure what a Dutch accent sounds like, but this narration was obscure for me.
I am your thriller/suspense/mystery reader. Chick-lit and romance are definitely not my genre, but I challenged myself this year to broaden my horizons and I am glad I chose this book. This is definitely a feel-good, beach or rainy day book. Waxman did a great job developing each character and I felt like I really got to know them, even the small ones like Berto and Isabel. I have faced grief over the last three years and I found myself in some of the characters, some wise advice and how much I miss gardening, but not weeding. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to read a fun-loving book with the extra bonus of gardening tips.
I am your thriller/suspense/mystery reader. Chick-lit and romance are definitely not my genre, but I challenged myself this year to broaden my horizons and I am glad I chose this book. This is definitely a feel-good, beach or rainy day book. Waxman did a great job developing each character and I felt like I really got to know them, even the small ones like Berto and Isabel. I have faced grief over the last three years and I found myself in some of the characters, some wise advice and how much I miss gardening, but not weeding. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to read a fun-loving book with the extra bonus of gardening tips.
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