Summer sun illuminates a moving and magical narrative in Ashley Poston's novel The Someday Garden. Sophie Drear, a horticulturalist in New York City, takes a temporary position at Lilymoor, an extraordinary cliffside estate with expansive gardens overlooking the coast of Maine. To Sophie, who is escaping the grief of losing her best friend almost a year earlier and the uncertainty that has followed, Lilymoor is more than a summer job. It's the place where her once-in-a-lifetime friendship with Harriett was sparked, but its peculiar gardens are also said to be magical, possessing the ability to reveal the voice of one's true love.
When Lilymoor's eccentric owner shares her plan to retire at the upcoming bicentennial celebration, the question of who will inherit the estate worries the quirky, lovable staff. Sophie's dedication to restoring the gardens only grows stronger with every setback: the arrival of the owner's distractingly handsome grand-nephew, inexplicably appearing vines, an untraceable water source that's dampening the wildflowers, and an enchanted door that leads to a grumpy man trapped inside an unfinished garden.
Fascinating twists and turns reveal the supernatural elements of Lilymoor as Sophie attempts to figure out the secrets of the mysterious garden. The strength of Sophie's passion for gardening and those she cares about cultivates an inspiring story of grief and self-discovery. Through fun characters and a whimsical setting, Poston (Sounds Like Love; A Novel Love Story) celebrates determination, belonging, and the strength of true love. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer