Book Review: The Lily Garden by Barbara Josselsohn

When Caroline left Lake Summers thirty years ago, she thought she’d never go back to the place where she lost her parents.

But when she finds out that the town’s lily garden lovingly built by her mother is going to be destroyed, she knows fate is calling. Dropping everything at her office in Chicago, she knows she is the only person who can save the garden.

Caroline and her daughter Lee are welcomed home by the warm smile of her mother’s best friend Maxine, and piles of pancakes at her cozy little restaurant in town. And Caroline soon learns that she isn’t the only person invested in saving her mother’s legacy, when she meets handsome historian Aaron. As she gets to know him, strolling along the sparkling lakeshore, she can’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be.

But then Caroline learns a terrible secret about the day her mother died. And soon the real reason Aaron is in Lake Summers comes to light. Will the truth about the people she loves force her to give up a future with Aaron, and the beautiful town that has always been in her heart?

Caroline left Lake Summers thirty years ago after she lost both of her parents and has not been back.

When she gets a note informing her that her Mother’s beloved garden is due to be destroyed, she knows she finally has to return. She has to try and save the Lily Garden.

This was my introduction to Barbara Josselsohn’s novels. The premise intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to start reading.

It was pretty easy for me to feel warmth for Caroline. It was obvious to me from the beginning that she was in an environment to which she didn’t belong. There seemed to be a whimsical feel to her that didn’t fit with the corporate atmosphere. I knew there was more to her story than meets the eye.

Arron was a sweetheart and like Caroline, he seemed so lost. Lee was a typical teenager; I liked her and wanted to shout in frustration at the same time. I adored all of the inhabitants of Lake Summers, especially Maxine and Gull. They reminded me a little of the couple that owned the Pizza Parlour in Mystic Pizza. They felt homely and friendly.

Everyone seemed well rounded and developed. I liked seeing how Caroline, Arron and Lee are at slightly different stages in their lives but are all a little adrift, trying to figure out what they want to do, all tied together by this little town.

The descriptions of Lake Summers seems something right out of a movie. It was all so vivid. I could imagine walking down Main Street and being surrounded by all the colour in that beautiful garden. It wasn’t long into the story where I didn’t want that garden destroyed either.

There were some really lovely moments in this novel as well as some frustrating and heartbreaking ones.
I really don’t want this to be the last we see of these characters. I am not ready to say goodbye to them and feel that there is maybe more to their story. Pretty please?!?

Overall, The Lily Garden is a warm, charming novel about love, family, taking risks, overcoming your fears and self discovery. All very relatable emotions.

It’s a perfect book to relax with. Tea and biscuits are optional but recommended.

About Barbara Josselsohn:

Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning writer who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road.

Her novels include The Bluebell Girls, The Lilac House, The Last Dreamer, and her newest release, The Lily Garden.

She has published hundreds of articles about family, home and relationships in national and regional publications, and also teaches novel writing at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.

She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can.

Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: her husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo!

Say hello to Barbara via her website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

The Lily Garden was released by Bookouture. Click to view on Amazon UK.

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.