Book about women during WWI. Loved the characters and the back stories. ( )

I enjoyed this book set during World War I in London. The characters were well done and the story kept me wanting to read. Although most of the loose ends were tied up, we did not see a resolution for Louisa and Teddy's romance. Perhaps there could be a sequel. ( )

Set during WWI, this book follows Ivy, Louisa and, Bernie gardeners at the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens. Louisa and Ivy, suffragettes have opposite views on wartime service and how the suffragettes should focus their time. Bernie, a religious man, is a conscience objector, and finds himself targeted and forced into hiding.

This was an interesting story with well developed characters. I really enjoyed reading about the suffragette activities, and the differing opinions within their ranks. My only criticism is that everything ended up a bit too perfect for a wartime story. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

All the men are gone and no one is left except women to tend to the Kew Gardens in London during WWI.

Can women really do this job? Of course!!

Louisa and Ivy certainly can. They form a wonderful friendship that neither ever had, but then something happens that pulls them apart.

We also meet adorable, helpful Lady Winifred and Bernie who is a Quaker and trying to avoid conscription.

Ivy is an endearing character and my favorite. She and her boyfriend, Jim, were the sweetest couple.

Louisa had troubles of her own and caused trouble for Bernie which upset me because Bernie was another wonderful, caring character.

You will love the friendships that develop and the support and forgiveness everyone eventually gave each other.

This book is a very enjoyable read telling of real-life events that happened at the Kew Gardens.

It also touches on a suffragette event that got pay equality for the women working in the Kew Gardens, but most importantly it addresses the beauty of friendship and love.

If you need a book that is going to lift your spirits, a book that will teach you the meaning flowers have, and a book that will have you take a look at the wonderful friendships these characters have and that you hopefully have, you won't want to miss THE KEW GARDENS GIRLS.

It is the most heartwarming book I have read in a while. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This is a book about friendships, forgiveness with a glimpse of the suffragette movement during the WW I time period. There seem to be more novels written about the second world war than the first war. This was inspired by true events about women who worked in the historic Kew botanical gardens. It was interesting to read more about this time period. Of course having gardens play a big role in this story was one of the attractions for me.

Women were not given the same considerations as their male counterparts when it came to the jobs in the gardens...or anything else for that matter. A man who never held a shovel was immediatley "hired" for the Kew garden work but the women were questioned as to their abilites. That had to be aggravating for those who grew up on farms and knew far more than the men in charge of the projects.

Our main characters are Louisa, Ivy, Bernie, Jim and Mac. Louisa has escaped a bad situation in Kent and made her way to London to start over. She carved out a life for herself is so happy to have escaped a brutal marriage to a drunken wife beater. Ivy is a suffragette and much younger than Louisa. They work side by side in the gardens with a conscientious objector named Bernie. No one knows this about Bernie but when it's discovered he's labeled a "Conchie," reviled and driven away from his work. There is much more to that story and it was very interesting to me.

I don't want to give spoilers but I can say this was an easy read, nothing violent and no bad language for those who are offended by those details. Reading about the friendships and support of one another during such a terrible time was inspiring.

Publication date April 20, 2021 by Penguin Group Putman. Genre: Historical Fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.

Sharing with Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday and Marg at The Intrepid Reader for the 2021 Historical Fiction Challenge. ( )