“The Garden of Small Beginnings: An Informative Revealing”

DISCLAIMER:

I bought The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman at the Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) in 2021–2022. It was Abbi Waxman’s first book. For me, it was meant to be an impulsive purchase. But my friend requested that I acquire a book for her. So I ended up getting her this one. Even though I do not own a copy of this lovely book. But I’m delighted my buddy let me borrow this before she reads it. Thank you for allowing me to participate in this fantastic adventure, Zaynab.

The review of The Garden of Small Beginnings is based only on my thoughts, which may differ from yours.

EXCERPT: THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS

Thirty-something Lilian Girvan is a widow with two young girls whose husband was murdered in a car collision 50 feet from their home. On the other hand, Abbi Waxman’s debut book is brimming with sarcastic wit and a clear-eyed view of how life continues to provide lovely things.

Lilian suffered a nervous breakdown three years ago after her husband died, and she spent many months in a treatment center while her caring sister, Rachel, looked after the daughters. Now she’s a widow, balancing a toy-filled living room and illustration work. Lilian’s department is being shut down, leaving her with just one final task: to draw a series of vegetable gardening books for Bloem Company, which requires her to attend a six-week Saturday morning gardening class by Edward Bloem.

The varied group immediately connects through the joy of sowing seeds and the sense of optimism that the book brings. And there’s a tingle of attraction between Lilian and Edward. Of course, for those who can predict where this is going,! Waiting for a happy conclusion, on the other hand, is like waiting for dessert. Lilian does a lot of soul-searching, and there are a lot of side storylines concerning the other group members. Lilian isn’t the only one who learns life lessons in the garden.

The story is simple, but Waxman’s skill at creating characters makes this much more than another “widow finds love” story. Waxman, an observer, has also perfected the delicate art of conversation. The believable characters include Lilian’s two kids, who frequently steal the show

THE CATCH

Things that caught my attention and made me want to read the book…

• Amazing cover: The cover detailing is aesthetically pleasing.
• An appealing blurb: Quiet a gripping blurb I must say.
• Impulsive buy: Well with a cover like this one and an intriguing blurb, who will say no to this one?
• The fact that this book revolves around gardening: If you have a thing for gardening then this one is worth the investment.

THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS REVIEW

Ride of Emotions

Waxman’s observations on the emotional rollercoaster that is learning to live with sorrow are profound and honest, and The Garden of Small Beginnings deals with some weighty subject areas. Maybe it’s because I lost my father two years ago, but those sentences struck a chord. Grief is tough for people who have never experienced it, and everyone’s journey is unique. “Yes, precisely!” I’d been thinking while reading and crying my eyes out. “She understands!” I had to constantly remind myself that I wasn’t reading a memoir since Waxman writes about pain and losing someone with such candor.

Waxman, on the other hand, made me laugh for every tear I shed. The character in The Garden of Small Beginnings is what makes the story so heartwarming. Whether it’s Lili’s children or the gardening class gang who become unexpected friends, each character is well-developed, and as we learn more about them, we begin to invest in and admire them as if they were family. Don’t even get me started on how moved I was by Gene’s story at the end! Another excellent aspect of this work was the relationship between the female characters.

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Strong Female Characters

All the ladies in “The Garden of Small Beginnings” are incredibly supportive of one another, from Lili’s sister Rachel to Angela, Eloise, Frances, and even Gene’s wife, Isabel. Typically, there is a female protagonist and one best friend in this genre, and every other female comes off as sour, but not in Waxman’s story! The ladies, like their plants, develop with each contact, and it’s a delight to read.

Praise

It was nice to start the year with something happy since I usually read middle-grade mysteries with a lot of violence. To truly appreciate Waxman’s story, I believe you must be in a certain mindset and stage of life. And it’s a charming bit of writing. The finale is upbeat and hopeful for Lili, and I believe The Garden of Small Beginnings also offers a message to its readers. A statement that there is always hope for the future and that we must constantly look forward, even while grieving.

It’s a heartfelt story that’s also beautifully humorous. If that isn’t enough to persuade you, each chapter starts with gardening advice. I don’t have the greenest thumbs (I’m frightened of worms, much like Waxman’s Roberta). I’ll be sure to pass along these gardening suggestions to my mother.

The Garden of Small Beginnings was a treat from start to finish. Thanks to Waxman’s colorful cast of characters and intelligent prose.

The Best Thing From the Book

Each chapter begins with gardening suggestions, which are full of intriguing facts and science, so I also learned something about gardening.

Siblings, parenthood, friendships, loss, gardening, hope, healing, widowhood, mental health, and love are all themes in this book. Abbi Waxman is great at telling stories in a way that is true, very human, kind, and hilariously funny. The Garden of Small Beginnings is as wonderful as Other People’s Houses, and I highly recommend it. It was the ideal diversion from my thrillers. It was a delightful read because it is Abbi Waxman’s debut book.

RATE and RECOMMENDATION

I loved the humor in this book. Often, I had to bite my tongue to avoid letting out a spontaneous, boisterous chuckle in public. Lilian and Rachel often use humor to deal with pain and show who they are. This is a fascinating part of their personalities. Their quips and observations will keep you on your toes, shocked, and laughing so hard that your stomach hurts.

This book is perfect for all contemporary lovers. Although it’s not a romantic contemporary, you’ll find a little romance.

Genres: young adult contemporary, humor.

Keywords: gardening, family bonding, friendship, humor, death, grief, motherhood, new beginnings, schooling.

★★★★

CONCLUSION

To wrap up this review post, I believe if you are one of those readers who enjoy second chance romance, a close-door romance, then this book is worth your time.

Abbi Waxman’s books are usually under 400 pages, her books are short, fast-paced, and to the point; no unwanted details are found in her books.

Drop down a comment if you have read her books or are planning to read her book.

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ABBI WAXMAN BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Abbi Waxman was born in England and has worked as a copywriter for various advertising agencies in London and New York. She eventually stopped advertising, had three children, and started writing books, television shows, and scripts, mostly to find peace. Abbi lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their adorable little family.

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If you enjoyed the review, do check out the review of The Switch here.