The Forgotten Garden by Sharon Gosling

 The Forgotten Garden by Sharon Gosling

A novel of second chances and blossoming communities from the author of The Lighthouse Bookshop.

The Forgotten Garden by Sharon Gosling was published on 27th April 2023 by Simon and Schuster. My thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Book Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

Budding landscape architect Luisa MacGregor is stuck in a rut - she hates her boss, she lives with her sister, and she is still morning the loss of her fiancé many years ago. So when she is given the opportunity to take on a parcel of land in a deprived area, she sees the chance to build a garden that can make the area bloom.

Arriving in the rundown seaside town of Collaton on the north-west coast of Cumbria, she realises that her work is going to be cut out for her. But, along with Cas, a local PE teacher, and Harper, a teen whose life has taken a wrong turn, she is determined to get the garden up and running.

So when the community comes together and the garden starts to grow, she feels her luck might changed. Can she grow good things on this rocky ground? And might love blossom along the way…?

My Review

This was such a beautiful and emotive read which, for me, ticks all the positive aspects of humanity. The healing power of nature and communities, good triumphing over evil,kindness and compassion along with a sense of purpose in life. All these aspects are evident throughout the book in a story you won't want to put down and which was why I read it in two sittings and then felt bereft when it ended.

The language and description is phenomenal and if you have an imagination like mine you will be able to picture the garden every step of the way and envisage how it changes as the story progresses.

Luisa, Cas, Harper, Max and Kath, along with many more are characters you come to know as though you have known them all your life and you will feel the joy and pain that they invariably experience as they each try to find what they need to fulfill their hopes and dreams.

This is the first time I have read any of Sharon's books and I will be looking out for other stories to add to my collection as they give you that lovely feel good factor which we all need in our lives.,

A huge 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read from me.

About the Author

Sharon started her career as an entertainment journalist, writing non-fiction books about film and television.

She is also the author of multiple children's books.

Sharon and her husband live in a small village in northern Cumbria.

She can be found on Twitter @sharongosling.