The Someday Garden

I sat all day on my couch yesterday sipping ginger tea and reading this book and I can safely say: I don't think it's possible for Ashley Poston to write a book that doesn't immediately pull me in. even if TSG didn't quite get *there* for me, it did remind me why I keep coming back to her books. the real magic of this story isn't the romance, but lilymoore. the gardens, the estate, the cottage, the hidden corners tucked away behind vines... ¿ the gardens have a mind of their own and I got completely obsessed with them. Ashley has a real gift for writing magical realism. her stories always feel familiar, like a hug, like returning somewhere you've never actually been before? plus the words used as chapter titles gave the story even more charm. that said, I found myself wishing the magical elements had been explored a bit more. I was left with a lot of questions. the pacing also took some getting used to and after talking to a friend about it, I think that's the general opinion. there were a lot of characters competing for attention. I really liked the fmc and felt for her, especially when it came to her grief, but I never felt as close to her as I wanted to. keep in mind this is very much a story about loss, healing, and learning how to keep living after losing someone you love. the romance is there, but it felt secondary to the fmc's emotional journey. romantically, I think the storyline was predictable. it was sweet, but I expected *more*. the way this story explores grief and the fear of moving forward without leaving someone behind was beautiful. there was something incredibly hopeful about that message, and it ended up being the part of the book that stayed with me the most. even if this wasn't a favorite, I hope your reading experience ends up being better than mine.