What do you think?
Rate this book
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
Noosa Heads, 1987: Newly-divorced Cynthia has returned to her hometown from Los Angeles to reconnect with her 19-year-old daughter, who is pregnant and determined not listen to her mother's advice. Cynthia's former best friend Lorraine has been stuck mowing lawns as part of a business she shares with her husband - his dream, not hers. When Cynthia convinces Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, they meet young widow Elizabeth , and rootless, heartbroken Kathy .
The four women soon discover the society is much more than an opportunity to chat about flowers. Rather, it offers them the chance to lend a helping hand to people whose lives need a bit of care and attention right along with their gardens.
Between pulling up weeds and planting sweet wattle, strelitzias and bromeliads, the women learn from each other that some roots go deep, and others, shallow; that seeds can lie dormant for a long time before they spring to life, and that careful tending is the key to lives and friendships that reach their full potential.
The four women soon discover the society is much more than an opportunity to chat about flowers. Rather, it offers them the chance to lend a helping hand to people whose lives need a bit of care and attention right along with their gardens.
Between pulling up weeds and planting sweet wattle, strelitzias and bromeliads, the women learn from each other that some roots go deep, and others, shallow; that seeds can lie dormant for a long time before they spring to life, and that careful tending is the key to lives and friendships that reach their full potential.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2023
84 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Green
33 books244 followersSophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
May 22, 2024
Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in 1987 had a laid back, friendly lifestyle and when Cynthia arrived from Los Angeles, back to the home she'd left fourteen years prior, she moved in with her father until she worked out if she would stay. Her daughter, Odette, was nineteen and pregnant, and Cynthia didn't want her to make the same mistakes she did. Kathy had arrived from Melbourne, another person not sure if she'd stay in Noosa. Kathy had left her husband for another, was estranged from her two children and had had her heart broken. Lorraine worked with her husband Mike in their gardening business, looked after their two boys and her mother-in-law and generally felt she didn't have a life of her own. And Elizabeth was still grieving her husband Jon's death, while caring for their six year old son Charlie.
Elizabeth's garden - which had been Jon's pride and joy - was in need of some TLC, and that's where the Sunshine Gardening Society came in. Shirl and Barb were old members, and gradually, one after another, Cynthia, Kathy and Lorraine joined, prepared to bring Jon's garden back to life, as well as working on other gardens and parks that needed help. Slowly these women came to know one another, to become close friends. And gradually their lives turned around...
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is another excellent novel by Aussie author Sophie Green which I loved! I've been to Noosa so while the characters were wandering along Hastings Street, I wandered with them. A beautiful place, Noosa is usually filled with tourists, as even the winters there aren't really classified as such. The characters are well written, and I enjoyed watching how much they changed from the beginning of the book to the end. Looking forward to Ms Green's next book, very much. Highly recommended.
Elizabeth's garden - which had been Jon's pride and joy - was in need of some TLC, and that's where the Sunshine Gardening Society came in. Shirl and Barb were old members, and gradually, one after another, Cynthia, Kathy and Lorraine joined, prepared to bring Jon's garden back to life, as well as working on other gardens and parks that needed help. Slowly these women came to know one another, to become close friends. And gradually their lives turned around...
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is another excellent novel by Aussie author Sophie Green which I loved! I've been to Noosa so while the characters were wandering along Hastings Street, I wandered with them. A beautiful place, Noosa is usually filled with tourists, as even the winters there aren't really classified as such. The characters are well written, and I enjoyed watching how much they changed from the beginning of the book to the end. Looking forward to Ms Green's next book, very much. Highly recommended.
August 13, 2023
Another beautiful story from the pen of Sophie Green, it is always lovely to spend time with her wonderful characters, I love getting to know them, this book takes us to The Sunshine Coast in Queensland in Noosa Heads, it is 1987 and we meet Cynthia, Lorraine, Elizabeth and Kathy as they join together to help bring gardens back to life and perhaps themselves as well, along with Barb and Shirl this is a fabulous story.
Cynthia has just arrived back to her home town after spending many unhappy years in Los Angeles, her nineteen year old daughter Odette is pregnant and it seems that time is repeating itself and Cynthia wants to be there for her, as her mother was not for her. When Cynthia meets up with an old friend she is encouraged to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society.
Lorraine, is Cynthia’s best friend and after years apart they are as close as ever, Lorraine is busy helping her husband with the handyman business keeping up with her two sons and having her mother in law living with her and after a talk, Cynthia encourages Lorraine to join the gardening society as well.
Elizabeth is a young widow with a young son Charlie, she has a big garden and after the death of her husband it is badly needing some TLC, the gardening society steps up to offer help and friendships are soon forming.
Kathy has run from her home town of Melbourne and her family to start fresh in Noosa Heads, her heart is breaking but she needs to be strong when she meets the gardening ladies on a walk one day she is encouraged to join as well and soon her life is changing with friendship.
With Shirl and Barb teaching these four woman about plants and gardening, native verses other plants, these woman become very close and they support each other where needed, in their personal lives, as in gardening many aspects of life can be similar and one quote from the book that I loved is “remove the weeds so as the plants can grow” together these woman encourage each other to find trust and happiness to start new lives where needed and to move forward.
Sophie Green has again dug deep into the emotions of these woman and bought them to life on the pages, I found them all so easy to like and I do highly recommend this one, lots of emotions rolling from the pages of this book, I loved it.
Cynthia has just arrived back to her home town after spending many unhappy years in Los Angeles, her nineteen year old daughter Odette is pregnant and it seems that time is repeating itself and Cynthia wants to be there for her, as her mother was not for her. When Cynthia meets up with an old friend she is encouraged to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society.
Lorraine, is Cynthia’s best friend and after years apart they are as close as ever, Lorraine is busy helping her husband with the handyman business keeping up with her two sons and having her mother in law living with her and after a talk, Cynthia encourages Lorraine to join the gardening society as well.
Elizabeth is a young widow with a young son Charlie, she has a big garden and after the death of her husband it is badly needing some TLC, the gardening society steps up to offer help and friendships are soon forming.
Kathy has run from her home town of Melbourne and her family to start fresh in Noosa Heads, her heart is breaking but she needs to be strong when she meets the gardening ladies on a walk one day she is encouraged to join as well and soon her life is changing with friendship.
With Shirl and Barb teaching these four woman about plants and gardening, native verses other plants, these woman become very close and they support each other where needed, in their personal lives, as in gardening many aspects of life can be similar and one quote from the book that I loved is “remove the weeds so as the plants can grow” together these woman encourage each other to find trust and happiness to start new lives where needed and to move forward.
Sophie Green has again dug deep into the emotions of these woman and bought them to life on the pages, I found them all so easy to like and I do highly recommend this one, lots of emotions rolling from the pages of this book, I loved it.
May 23, 2024
Three and a half stars.
It is the story of a group of women in Noosa Heads starting in 1987. Cynthia, who is newly divorced, has returned from America to her home town in Australia in an effort to reconnect with her 19 year old daughter Odette. Pregnant Odette refuses to listen to her mother’s advice and intends on keeping and raising the baby herself.
Lorraine, Cynthia’s best friend from years ago, is stuck trying the keep the lawn mowing and garden business her husband Mike owns and runs going, while his own place and garden is neglected. Cynthia urges Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, so they can spend time together on weekends as they renew their friendship. Plus it gets Lorraine out of her own little house and marital issues that arise. There they meet widowed Elizabeth and Kathy who has been heartbroken because of a previous relationship where she was dumped. Shirley and Barbara, otherwise known as Shirl and Barb, organise the Sunshine Gardening Society. As they help out those whose gardens need some tender care it often means their lives do too and they are ready to help there as well. These women learn a lot from each other.
This is a story of grief, friendship and of a community helping others. Thoughts about grief and the way people respond to terminal illness definitely rang a chord with me. It was really honestly and sensitively handled.
Since I have loved all of this authors other books that I have read, I expected to adore this one too. Now maybe it is my lack of concentration at present, but for whatever reason I struggled a bit to keep who was who and their respective families straight in my head. So, although I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it as much as expected. But others have so maybe it could well be just me at this time. Still worth reading though and I would still recommend it.
It is the story of a group of women in Noosa Heads starting in 1987. Cynthia, who is newly divorced, has returned from America to her home town in Australia in an effort to reconnect with her 19 year old daughter Odette. Pregnant Odette refuses to listen to her mother’s advice and intends on keeping and raising the baby herself.
Lorraine, Cynthia’s best friend from years ago, is stuck trying the keep the lawn mowing and garden business her husband Mike owns and runs going, while his own place and garden is neglected. Cynthia urges Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, so they can spend time together on weekends as they renew their friendship. Plus it gets Lorraine out of her own little house and marital issues that arise. There they meet widowed Elizabeth and Kathy who has been heartbroken because of a previous relationship where she was dumped. Shirley and Barbara, otherwise known as Shirl and Barb, organise the Sunshine Gardening Society. As they help out those whose gardens need some tender care it often means their lives do too and they are ready to help there as well. These women learn a lot from each other.
This is a story of grief, friendship and of a community helping others. Thoughts about grief and the way people respond to terminal illness definitely rang a chord with me. It was really honestly and sensitively handled.
Since I have loved all of this authors other books that I have read, I expected to adore this one too. Now maybe it is my lack of concentration at present, but for whatever reason I struggled a bit to keep who was who and their respective families straight in my head. So, although I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it as much as expected. But others have so maybe it could well be just me at this time. Still worth reading though and I would still recommend it.
July 17, 2023
Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Club is the fifth novel by best-selling Australian author and publisher, Sophie Green. After fourteen years away from her Queensland hometown of Noosa Heads, Cynthia Scheffer has finally managed to extricate herself from the domestic violence that blighted her second marriage. The horror of it was so consuming, it drove her then sixteen-year-old daughter Odette back to her father in Australia, and Cyn’s contact with her family and friends has been allowed to dwindle, lest it infect those happy memories.
Back from LA, she has some repair work to do. Now nineteen and pregnant, Odette is virtually estranged and refusing to listen to advice, while Cyn can only hope her best friend, Lorraine will forgive her ongoing neglect. Also sitting heavily on her conscience is her absence during her recently-deceased mother’s illness and death. Too late, Cyn is now discovering things about Diane Scheffer that she never knew, like her participation in the Sunshine Gardening Society.
Despite having not a moment to spare with an overworked, over-committed handyman husband, friction between her typically chore-evading sullen skateboarder teen and his sensitive pre-teen brother, and a difficult and somewhat imperious mother-in-law, Lorraine Karras finds herself roped into helping tidy up the rather derelict garden of a recently-widowed young mother.
Cyn has urged her to come along, introducing her to the irrepressible Shirl, a passionate proponent of Australian Natives, and ever-friendly Barb, who represent the Sunshine Gardening Society, a group of volunteers who help out in the gardens of those who can’t manage. As well as it being a break from her family duties, Lorraine’s surprised to find herself enjoying getting her fingers in the dirt in this most therapeutic of activities.
After nursing him for two years, Elizabeth is understandably devastated by her husband’s death, and her grief is a daily burden, especially with young Charlie to look after. With Jon’s beloved garden in a mess, she warily but gratefully accepts the help these volunteer ladies bring. In time she joins them in other gardens, and their kindness offsets the casual cruelty that one of her church congregation metes out as charitable pity. When she gets a job, she finds an empathetic ear, and all this helps her to find a sense of her own purpose
Having both dumped and been dumped, a heart-broken Kathy has fled Melbourne, leaving behind an ex-husband, two adult children and an ex-lover. She’s gone from restaurant manager to waitress, and is taking too much solace in alcohol. When her Saturday walk takes her past a group of women tidying up a garden, a friendly smile draws her in, and before she knows it, she’s part of the Sunshine Gardening Society too.
Each of the women faces challenges of varying proportions: becoming a grandmother at forty, the threat of losing the family home to a partner’s bad investment, or trying to put down roots as a newcomer. Within their group, they find common ground that leads to friendship, understanding, sound advice and support. They gain confidence, strength and sometimes, a new perspective.
Once again, Green gives the reader characters who appeal for all the little faults and failings that are integral parts of their generosity and loyalty, who face realistic problems to which there aren’t instant solutions. The final pages don’t present resolutions neatly tied with a bow, but possibilities and hopes. And what a wonderful idea this garden society is! Definitely something that others seeking to do some good could emulate.
Green gives her characters insightful observations and advice they can apply to their own lives, offered in the form of delightful gardening metaphors: “See these weeds? We have to get them out so the garden can reach its full potential” and “One thing she’s learnt, being a Sunshine Gardener: you have to keep turning over your own soil so that it doesn’t get old and you don’t stay stuck thinking and doing what you’ve always done” and “If leaves are dying it’s best to get rid of them – they’re going to die anyway and the plant doesn’t need to try to keep them alive” are examples.
Green’s characters get right into your heart, and each time you have to put it down, this is a novel you really look forward to picking up again. An undiluted joy to read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia.
Back from LA, she has some repair work to do. Now nineteen and pregnant, Odette is virtually estranged and refusing to listen to advice, while Cyn can only hope her best friend, Lorraine will forgive her ongoing neglect. Also sitting heavily on her conscience is her absence during her recently-deceased mother’s illness and death. Too late, Cyn is now discovering things about Diane Scheffer that she never knew, like her participation in the Sunshine Gardening Society.
Despite having not a moment to spare with an overworked, over-committed handyman husband, friction between her typically chore-evading sullen skateboarder teen and his sensitive pre-teen brother, and a difficult and somewhat imperious mother-in-law, Lorraine Karras finds herself roped into helping tidy up the rather derelict garden of a recently-widowed young mother.
Cyn has urged her to come along, introducing her to the irrepressible Shirl, a passionate proponent of Australian Natives, and ever-friendly Barb, who represent the Sunshine Gardening Society, a group of volunteers who help out in the gardens of those who can’t manage. As well as it being a break from her family duties, Lorraine’s surprised to find herself enjoying getting her fingers in the dirt in this most therapeutic of activities.
After nursing him for two years, Elizabeth is understandably devastated by her husband’s death, and her grief is a daily burden, especially with young Charlie to look after. With Jon’s beloved garden in a mess, she warily but gratefully accepts the help these volunteer ladies bring. In time she joins them in other gardens, and their kindness offsets the casual cruelty that one of her church congregation metes out as charitable pity. When she gets a job, she finds an empathetic ear, and all this helps her to find a sense of her own purpose
Having both dumped and been dumped, a heart-broken Kathy has fled Melbourne, leaving behind an ex-husband, two adult children and an ex-lover. She’s gone from restaurant manager to waitress, and is taking too much solace in alcohol. When her Saturday walk takes her past a group of women tidying up a garden, a friendly smile draws her in, and before she knows it, she’s part of the Sunshine Gardening Society too.
Each of the women faces challenges of varying proportions: becoming a grandmother at forty, the threat of losing the family home to a partner’s bad investment, or trying to put down roots as a newcomer. Within their group, they find common ground that leads to friendship, understanding, sound advice and support. They gain confidence, strength and sometimes, a new perspective.
Once again, Green gives the reader characters who appeal for all the little faults and failings that are integral parts of their generosity and loyalty, who face realistic problems to which there aren’t instant solutions. The final pages don’t present resolutions neatly tied with a bow, but possibilities and hopes. And what a wonderful idea this garden society is! Definitely something that others seeking to do some good could emulate.
Green gives her characters insightful observations and advice they can apply to their own lives, offered in the form of delightful gardening metaphors: “See these weeds? We have to get them out so the garden can reach its full potential” and “One thing she’s learnt, being a Sunshine Gardener: you have to keep turning over your own soil so that it doesn’t get old and you don’t stay stuck thinking and doing what you’ve always done” and “If leaves are dying it’s best to get rid of them – they’re going to die anyway and the plant doesn’t need to try to keep them alive” are examples.
Green’s characters get right into your heart, and each time you have to put it down, this is a novel you really look forward to picking up again. An undiluted joy to read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia.
October 22, 2023
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green. (2023).
Noosa Heads, 1987. Newly divorced Cynthia has returned home from America to reconnect with her 19-year-old pregnant daughter. Cynthia's former best friend Lorraine is stuck helping her husband's business. When Cynthia convinces Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, they meet young widow Elizabeth and heartbroken Kathy. The women soon learn the society lets them lend a helping hand to people whose lives and gardens need a bit of care. They learn from each other that some roots go deep, some are shallow, seeds can lie dormant before springing to life and careful tending is key for lives and friendships to reach their full potential.
As I picked this one up, I settled in for a good read because every book by this author has been an engaging story and this one is no exception. Alternating perspectives between Cynthia, Lorraine, Elizabeth, and Kathy, readers get to know these four women who all have different dramas going on in their lives. The four become connected (with Cynthia and Lorraine already knowing each other) by a volunteer gardening society led by two older local women. I always respect and enjoy a storyline that showcases people of different ages and from different walks of life forming a connection with each other. I personally don't have a green thumb (or you know, do anything at all in a garden haha) but I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the women working hard in the gardens and using the opportunity to get away from life and its dramas for a short period of time.
Overall: happily recommend for those readers who enjoy a heartfelt story about female friendship.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green. (2023).
Noosa Heads, 1987. Newly divorced Cynthia has returned home from America to reconnect with her 19-year-old pregnant daughter. Cynthia's former best friend Lorraine is stuck helping her husband's business. When Cynthia convinces Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, they meet young widow Elizabeth and heartbroken Kathy. The women soon learn the society lets them lend a helping hand to people whose lives and gardens need a bit of care. They learn from each other that some roots go deep, some are shallow, seeds can lie dormant before springing to life and careful tending is key for lives and friendships to reach their full potential.
As I picked this one up, I settled in for a good read because every book by this author has been an engaging story and this one is no exception. Alternating perspectives between Cynthia, Lorraine, Elizabeth, and Kathy, readers get to know these four women who all have different dramas going on in their lives. The four become connected (with Cynthia and Lorraine already knowing each other) by a volunteer gardening society led by two older local women. I always respect and enjoy a storyline that showcases people of different ages and from different walks of life forming a connection with each other. I personally don't have a green thumb (or you know, do anything at all in a garden haha) but I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the women working hard in the gardens and using the opportunity to get away from life and its dramas for a short period of time.
Overall: happily recommend for those readers who enjoy a heartfelt story about female friendship.
August 12, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Australian book darling Sophie Green returns with her fifth novel, Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. Inviting, positive and embracing, this gentle tale of friendship reminds us of the power of community in the rebirth process.
Advertisement
Situated in gorgeous Noosa Heads in the year 1987, Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society introduces a divorcee named Cynthia. Recently returned from overseas, Cynthia is coming to grips with an escalating family problem involving her pregnant daughter. Cynthia’s old friend Lorraine is struggling to continue working for her family’s mowing business, Lorraine desperately wants her fulfill her own dreams. When Cynthia and Lorraine come together to participate in the Sunshine Gardening Society, they cross paths with two women who will change their lives. Elizabeth is having an identity crisis and Kathy is suffering from emotional heartbreak. Together this four-woman strong collective realise that their garden club is about much more than plants and flowers. The group begin to support one another and offer each other a form of self-care. While this quartet gain much headway in clearing weeds and overgrown bushes, they realise that they are creating something much more important, an unwavering support network. The gardening society becomes a pillar of the community and to the women involved, it provides them with the confidence to strive for their own personal goals.
It was a double treat to be gifted a copy of Sophie’s Green new release and to be extended an invitation to take part in the online tour for Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. I am admirer of Sophie Green’s work and can proudly claim that I have read all of her previous novels. This brand-new title from the Australian top ten bestselling author made me happy from the moment I held this book in my hands. It just beams with sunshine, radiance and connection.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a story that places a strong emphasis on characters and it is the cast who direct Green’s story. The protagonists of this story are such a wonderful and genuine bunch of women. I found that I was able to relate to the foursome in different ways, which was very settling. I liked how I could sympathise with each female character and their woes, issues and misgivings. I also loved that Green’s core character set are beautiful inside and out. The support cast are a bright and engaging bunch too, who add plenty to the overall tale.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society features such a pretty cover, but the story inside features some rather weighty topics. Sophie Green’s latest considers issues of loss, grief, identity, relationships, separation, parenting, expectations, pregnancy, personal welfare, alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Each of these hard-hitting topics are treated with understanding and compassion. There is a sense of wisdom gained from Sophie Green’s prose and the actions of her characters that she seems to have down pat. I just loved the umbrella theme of gardening and the sense of rejuvenation this simple act provides to the cast. I am no green thumb but I was able to thoroughly enjoy the gardening sequences in this Sophie Green release. On a side note, I adored the page illustrations between each new chapter of a native flower, it brought an added burst of unexpected inner beauty to this tale.
The scenic backdrop of Noosa Heads adds another element of shelf allure to Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. I haven’t been blessed with the opportunity to pay this attractive Australian locale a visit, but I will definitely add it to my travel around Australia list. I honestly felt like the Noosa Heads setting base was the perfect choice for this particular narrative.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a story written with a good dose of affection, sentiment and enlightenment. It will add a spring to your step so do slip a copy into shopping bag next time you visit your local bookstore.
*I wish to thank Hachette Australia/Benson Publicity for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Australian book darling Sophie Green returns with her fifth novel, Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. Inviting, positive and embracing, this gentle tale of friendship reminds us of the power of community in the rebirth process.
Advertisement
Situated in gorgeous Noosa Heads in the year 1987, Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society introduces a divorcee named Cynthia. Recently returned from overseas, Cynthia is coming to grips with an escalating family problem involving her pregnant daughter. Cynthia’s old friend Lorraine is struggling to continue working for her family’s mowing business, Lorraine desperately wants her fulfill her own dreams. When Cynthia and Lorraine come together to participate in the Sunshine Gardening Society, they cross paths with two women who will change their lives. Elizabeth is having an identity crisis and Kathy is suffering from emotional heartbreak. Together this four-woman strong collective realise that their garden club is about much more than plants and flowers. The group begin to support one another and offer each other a form of self-care. While this quartet gain much headway in clearing weeds and overgrown bushes, they realise that they are creating something much more important, an unwavering support network. The gardening society becomes a pillar of the community and to the women involved, it provides them with the confidence to strive for their own personal goals.
It was a double treat to be gifted a copy of Sophie’s Green new release and to be extended an invitation to take part in the online tour for Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. I am admirer of Sophie Green’s work and can proudly claim that I have read all of her previous novels. This brand-new title from the Australian top ten bestselling author made me happy from the moment I held this book in my hands. It just beams with sunshine, radiance and connection.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a story that places a strong emphasis on characters and it is the cast who direct Green’s story. The protagonists of this story are such a wonderful and genuine bunch of women. I found that I was able to relate to the foursome in different ways, which was very settling. I liked how I could sympathise with each female character and their woes, issues and misgivings. I also loved that Green’s core character set are beautiful inside and out. The support cast are a bright and engaging bunch too, who add plenty to the overall tale.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society features such a pretty cover, but the story inside features some rather weighty topics. Sophie Green’s latest considers issues of loss, grief, identity, relationships, separation, parenting, expectations, pregnancy, personal welfare, alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Each of these hard-hitting topics are treated with understanding and compassion. There is a sense of wisdom gained from Sophie Green’s prose and the actions of her characters that she seems to have down pat. I just loved the umbrella theme of gardening and the sense of rejuvenation this simple act provides to the cast. I am no green thumb but I was able to thoroughly enjoy the gardening sequences in this Sophie Green release. On a side note, I adored the page illustrations between each new chapter of a native flower, it brought an added burst of unexpected inner beauty to this tale.
The scenic backdrop of Noosa Heads adds another element of shelf allure to Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. I haven’t been blessed with the opportunity to pay this attractive Australian locale a visit, but I will definitely add it to my travel around Australia list. I honestly felt like the Noosa Heads setting base was the perfect choice for this particular narrative.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a story written with a good dose of affection, sentiment and enlightenment. It will add a spring to your step so do slip a copy into shopping bag next time you visit your local bookstore.
*I wish to thank Hachette Australia/Benson Publicity for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
August 13, 2023
Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Society is as light and bright as the cover. It’s all very white-bread Australia, but the genuine affection that these women have for one another is touching. There are a lot of criss-crossing sub-plots and complications – a couple of them seem to disappear completely without being fully resolved. But it’s a pleasant read all the same, one that might even inspire this brown thumb to do something about the weeds currently overtaking her yard.
My full review of Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Society appeared first on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Society appeared first on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
July 28, 2024
Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Club is the fifth novel by best-selling Australian author and publisher, Sophie Green. The audio version is narrated by Fiona Macleod. After fourteen years away from her Queensland hometown of Noosa Heads, Cynthia Scheffer has finally managed to extricate herself from the domestic violence that blighted her second marriage. The horror of it was so consuming, it drove her then sixteen-year-old daughter Odette back to her father in Australia, and Cyn’s contact with her family and friends has been allowed to dwindle, lest it infect those happy memories.
Back from LA, she has some repair work to do. Now nineteen and pregnant, Odette is virtually estranged and refusing to listen to advice, while Cyn can only hope her best friend, Lorraine will forgive her ongoing neglect. Also sitting heavily on her conscience is her absence during her recently-deceased mother’s illness and death. Too late, Cyn is now discovering things about Diane Scheffer that she never knew, like her participation in the Sunshine Gardening Society.
Despite having not a moment to spare with an overworked, over-committed handyman husband, friction between her typically chore-evading sullen skateboarder teen and his sensitive pre-teen brother, and a difficult and somewhat imperious mother-in-law, Lorraine Karras finds herself roped into helping tidy up the rather derelict garden of a recently-widowed young mother.
Cyn has urged her to come along, introducing her to the irrepressible Shirl, a passionate proponent of Australian Natives, and ever-friendly Barb, who represent the Sunshine Gardening Society, a group of volunteers who help out in the gardens of those who can’t manage. As well as it being a break from her family duties, Lorraine’s surprised to find herself enjoying getting her fingers in the dirt in this most therapeutic of activities.
After nursing him for two years, Elizabeth is understandably devastated by her husband’s death, and her grief is a daily burden, especially with young Charlie to look after. With Jon’s beloved garden in a mess, she warily but gratefully accepts the help these volunteer ladies bring. In time she joins them in other gardens, and their kindness offsets the casual cruelty that one of her church congregation metes out as charitable pity. When she gets a job, she finds an empathetic ear, and all this helps her to find a sense of her own purpose
Having both dumped and been dumped, a heart-broken Kathy has fled Melbourne, leaving behind an ex-husband, two adult children and an ex-lover. She’s gone from restaurant manager to waitress, and is taking too much solace in alcohol. When her Saturday walk takes her past a group of women tidying up a garden, a friendly smile draws her in, and before she knows it, she’s part of the Sunshine Gardening Society too.
Each of the women faces challenges of varying proportions: becoming a grandmother at forty, the threat of losing the family home to a partner’s bad investment, or trying to put down roots as a newcomer. Within their group, they find common ground that leads to friendship, understanding, sound advice and support. They gain confidence, strength and sometimes, a new perspective.
Once again, Green gives the reader characters who appeal for all the little faults and failings that are integral parts of their generosity and loyalty, who face realistic problems to which there aren’t instant solutions. The final pages don’t present resolutions neatly tied with a bow, but possibilities and hopes. And what a wonderful idea this garden society is! Definitely something that others seeking to do some good could emulate.
Green gives her characters insightful observations and advice they can apply to their own lives, offered in the form of delightful gardening metaphors: “See these weeds? We have to get them out so the garden can reach its full potential” and “One thing she’s learnt, being a Sunshine Gardener: you have to keep turning over your own soil so that it doesn’t get old and you don’t stay stuck thinking and doing what you’ve always done” and “If leaves are dying it’s best to get rid of them – they’re going to die anyway and the plant doesn’t need to try to keep them alive” are examples.
Green’s characters get right into your heart, and each time you have to put it down, this is a novel you really look forward to picking up again. An undiluted joy to read.
Back from LA, she has some repair work to do. Now nineteen and pregnant, Odette is virtually estranged and refusing to listen to advice, while Cyn can only hope her best friend, Lorraine will forgive her ongoing neglect. Also sitting heavily on her conscience is her absence during her recently-deceased mother’s illness and death. Too late, Cyn is now discovering things about Diane Scheffer that she never knew, like her participation in the Sunshine Gardening Society.
Despite having not a moment to spare with an overworked, over-committed handyman husband, friction between her typically chore-evading sullen skateboarder teen and his sensitive pre-teen brother, and a difficult and somewhat imperious mother-in-law, Lorraine Karras finds herself roped into helping tidy up the rather derelict garden of a recently-widowed young mother.
Cyn has urged her to come along, introducing her to the irrepressible Shirl, a passionate proponent of Australian Natives, and ever-friendly Barb, who represent the Sunshine Gardening Society, a group of volunteers who help out in the gardens of those who can’t manage. As well as it being a break from her family duties, Lorraine’s surprised to find herself enjoying getting her fingers in the dirt in this most therapeutic of activities.
After nursing him for two years, Elizabeth is understandably devastated by her husband’s death, and her grief is a daily burden, especially with young Charlie to look after. With Jon’s beloved garden in a mess, she warily but gratefully accepts the help these volunteer ladies bring. In time she joins them in other gardens, and their kindness offsets the casual cruelty that one of her church congregation metes out as charitable pity. When she gets a job, she finds an empathetic ear, and all this helps her to find a sense of her own purpose
Having both dumped and been dumped, a heart-broken Kathy has fled Melbourne, leaving behind an ex-husband, two adult children and an ex-lover. She’s gone from restaurant manager to waitress, and is taking too much solace in alcohol. When her Saturday walk takes her past a group of women tidying up a garden, a friendly smile draws her in, and before she knows it, she’s part of the Sunshine Gardening Society too.
Each of the women faces challenges of varying proportions: becoming a grandmother at forty, the threat of losing the family home to a partner’s bad investment, or trying to put down roots as a newcomer. Within their group, they find common ground that leads to friendship, understanding, sound advice and support. They gain confidence, strength and sometimes, a new perspective.
Once again, Green gives the reader characters who appeal for all the little faults and failings that are integral parts of their generosity and loyalty, who face realistic problems to which there aren’t instant solutions. The final pages don’t present resolutions neatly tied with a bow, but possibilities and hopes. And what a wonderful idea this garden society is! Definitely something that others seeking to do some good could emulate.
Green gives her characters insightful observations and advice they can apply to their own lives, offered in the form of delightful gardening metaphors: “See these weeds? We have to get them out so the garden can reach its full potential” and “One thing she’s learnt, being a Sunshine Gardener: you have to keep turning over your own soil so that it doesn’t get old and you don’t stay stuck thinking and doing what you’ve always done” and “If leaves are dying it’s best to get rid of them – they’re going to die anyway and the plant doesn’t need to try to keep them alive” are examples.
Green’s characters get right into your heart, and each time you have to put it down, this is a novel you really look forward to picking up again. An undiluted joy to read.
August 7, 2023
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green is a gorgeous book about friendship, I love its floral design and bright sunny cover and pretty spine.
The book is divided into segments which displays a different Australian native plant for each segment which was a lovely feature.
Set on the Sunshine Coast in Noosa, this is a beautifully character driven story about a group of everyday women who find a common interest where they help others in their community while also distracting themselves from their grief and along the way making new friendships.
Recently divorced Cynthia returns home to Noosa after living in LA for fourteen years to reconnect with her daughter who returned back to Australia three years ago to live with her father. Her daughter is now nineteen and pregnant.
Cynthia also establishes contact with Lorraine her former best friend and together they join the local Sunshine Gardening Society where they also meet Kathy a lonely heartbroken woman from Melbourne and Elizabeth a young grieving widow.
This is a very heartfelt story as we discover the situation each character is going through in their life as they connect with each other whilst working as volunteers tidying and replanting people’s gardens. The supporting characters in the book are also interesting and relatable.
I loved the gardening metaphors for life thrown in, they were so clever.
If you love uplifting and inspiring stories about healing and unexpected friendships you will love this book!
Publication Date 26 July 2023
Publisher Hachette Australia
Many thanks to Benson Publicity and Hachette Australia for a copy of the book and having me on the book tour.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green is a gorgeous book about friendship, I love its floral design and bright sunny cover and pretty spine.
The book is divided into segments which displays a different Australian native plant for each segment which was a lovely feature.
Set on the Sunshine Coast in Noosa, this is a beautifully character driven story about a group of everyday women who find a common interest where they help others in their community while also distracting themselves from their grief and along the way making new friendships.
Recently divorced Cynthia returns home to Noosa after living in LA for fourteen years to reconnect with her daughter who returned back to Australia three years ago to live with her father. Her daughter is now nineteen and pregnant.
Cynthia also establishes contact with Lorraine her former best friend and together they join the local Sunshine Gardening Society where they also meet Kathy a lonely heartbroken woman from Melbourne and Elizabeth a young grieving widow.
This is a very heartfelt story as we discover the situation each character is going through in their life as they connect with each other whilst working as volunteers tidying and replanting people’s gardens. The supporting characters in the book are also interesting and relatable.
I loved the gardening metaphors for life thrown in, they were so clever.
If you love uplifting and inspiring stories about healing and unexpected friendships you will love this book!
Publication Date 26 July 2023
Publisher Hachette Australia
Many thanks to Benson Publicity and Hachette Australia for a copy of the book and having me on the book tour.
August 7, 2023
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a gentle and charming character driven novel about friendship and fresh starts from bestselling Australian author, Sophie Green.
Having finally extricated herself from her abusive second marriage in LA, Cynthia has returned to her hometown of Noosa Heads in the hope of restoring her relationship with her pregnant daughter, Odette. In attempting to reconcile with her past, Cynthia also reconnects with her former best friend, harried wife and mother Lorraine, and the pair become involved in the Sunshine Gardening Society, a group who volunteer their services to renew the gardens of those in need. Their first mission introduces them to Elizabeth, a young widow whose garden has suffered while she nursed her dying husband, and soon after Kathy, who has moved to Queensland from Melbourne in the wake of heartbreak.
As the women work together in the Sunshine Gardening Society, under the guidance of the indomitable Shirl and Barb, they find support, purpose and direction. I enjoyed getting to know the well crafted, distinct personalities of Cynthia, Lorraine, Elizabeth and Kathy, each of whom have relatable strengths and flaws.
While focusing largely on the themes of motherhood, identity, and friendship, Green touches on a number of issues including grief, domestic violence, gambling, alcoholism, mental health, and marital breakdown. These topics are explored with compassion and thoughtful insight as the women grapple with disappointment, joy, and change.
And you don’t need to be a gardener to enjoy Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. Though I personally have a ‘black thumb’, I appreciated Green’s use of thoughtful gardening metaphors that speak to life lessons, and Shirl’s championing of Australian native flora.
Written with warmth, heart and wisdom, Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is an engaging and uplifting read.
Please visit Book’d Out to read an edited extract.
Having finally extricated herself from her abusive second marriage in LA, Cynthia has returned to her hometown of Noosa Heads in the hope of restoring her relationship with her pregnant daughter, Odette. In attempting to reconcile with her past, Cynthia also reconnects with her former best friend, harried wife and mother Lorraine, and the pair become involved in the Sunshine Gardening Society, a group who volunteer their services to renew the gardens of those in need. Their first mission introduces them to Elizabeth, a young widow whose garden has suffered while she nursed her dying husband, and soon after Kathy, who has moved to Queensland from Melbourne in the wake of heartbreak.
As the women work together in the Sunshine Gardening Society, under the guidance of the indomitable Shirl and Barb, they find support, purpose and direction. I enjoyed getting to know the well crafted, distinct personalities of Cynthia, Lorraine, Elizabeth and Kathy, each of whom have relatable strengths and flaws.
While focusing largely on the themes of motherhood, identity, and friendship, Green touches on a number of issues including grief, domestic violence, gambling, alcoholism, mental health, and marital breakdown. These topics are explored with compassion and thoughtful insight as the women grapple with disappointment, joy, and change.
And you don’t need to be a gardener to enjoy Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. Though I personally have a ‘black thumb’, I appreciated Green’s use of thoughtful gardening metaphors that speak to life lessons, and Shirl’s championing of Australian native flora.
Written with warmth, heart and wisdom, Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is an engaging and uplifting read.
Please visit Book’d Out to read an edited extract.
August 15, 2023
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
A flashback to the eighties in a story where friendship and the turmoil of life are offset by the solidarity of a gardening club.
A group that repair, nurture and enjoy the flourishing reward of working in the garden while simultaneously replenishing soul and direction among themselves.
A cast of women that are at different crossroads in life find each other and bond over gardening on the Sunshine Coast.
A group that has solid roots and wise leaders that not only know their gardens but the benefits of camaraderie and the fact a problem shared is a problem halved.
Each member has her own backstory and has issues that need confronting.
With such a bright and cheery cover I was immediately drawn to this and being an avid gardener I was sold.
I know the wholistic benefits from this passion and loved it being the connection to personal resolve.
As each month passed the reader was treated to a sweet picture of a native flower.
I was curious to see what grew up there in the tropical climate and was pleased to see azaleas and hydrangeas made an appearance.
A common bond is rewarding and soil sequesters more than carbon.
A flashback to the eighties in a story where friendship and the turmoil of life are offset by the solidarity of a gardening club.
A group that repair, nurture and enjoy the flourishing reward of working in the garden while simultaneously replenishing soul and direction among themselves.
A cast of women that are at different crossroads in life find each other and bond over gardening on the Sunshine Coast.
A group that has solid roots and wise leaders that not only know their gardens but the benefits of camaraderie and the fact a problem shared is a problem halved.
Each member has her own backstory and has issues that need confronting.
With such a bright and cheery cover I was immediately drawn to this and being an avid gardener I was sold.
I know the wholistic benefits from this passion and loved it being the connection to personal resolve.
As each month passed the reader was treated to a sweet picture of a native flower.
I was curious to see what grew up there in the tropical climate and was pleased to see azaleas and hydrangeas made an appearance.
A common bond is rewarding and soil sequesters more than carbon.
January 18, 2025
Determined to read all the Sophie Green books on my TBR pile these holidays. Same format, this time Noosa is our location in the 1980s, women at crossroads in their lives who form a friendship at a gardening club. An enjoyable read.
July 25, 2023
‘We mothers like to have our secrets …. But we get away with so many of them because no one ever asks what we get up to in a day. When your children and your husband think you’re just their servant, they overlook you”.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is set in sunny Queensland in the late 1980s.
It’s a story about women, mothers, daughters and friends.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a journey into the lives of women.
The main four are from different backgrounds with varied life experiences. They are brought together by some older women who do gardening for good in the local community.
Through these women we see lives impacted by monotony, loss, violence and trauma, addiction , and heartbreak. We watch them gain strength through their connectedness, their friendships shoring up the fractures, hard truths sometimes softened by those who see them more easily.
This is a gentle, bittersweet book. A welcome change in a sea of drama and darkness.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and Benson Publicity for sending me a free copy to read and review.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is set in sunny Queensland in the late 1980s.
It’s a story about women, mothers, daughters and friends.
Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a journey into the lives of women.
The main four are from different backgrounds with varied life experiences. They are brought together by some older women who do gardening for good in the local community.
Through these women we see lives impacted by monotony, loss, violence and trauma, addiction , and heartbreak. We watch them gain strength through their connectedness, their friendships shoring up the fractures, hard truths sometimes softened by those who see them more easily.
This is a gentle, bittersweet book. A welcome change in a sea of drama and darkness.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and Benson Publicity for sending me a free copy to read and review.
August 22, 2023
Exactly what the cover promises; a complete hug of a novel. I think at the core a Sophie Green novel makes you think about incidental friendship; the importance of doing and moving. I just loved it. I loved slowly becoming friends with Elizabeth, Lorraine, Cynthia and Kathy. I loved slowly becoming part of the Sunshine Gardening Society. I always love a Sophie Green for the setting, always so ‘atmospheric and incredibly descriptive’ who magazine is so right. I loved being in Noosa in the late 80s- before phones, development and computers. I loved seeing ‘these seemingly unremarkable moments..be the crown of life’ loved it!
August 2, 2023
Thank you to Better Reading for an advanced copy!
Sophie Green's newest release ended up being exactly the type of book I needed to read this past few weeks. Superficially, I loved the cover and title which is what attracted me to pick it up. But reading Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society was honestly a real treat. The pacing between each chapter, sectioned into months named with wildflowers, felt fast-paced enough to keep my attention, but didn’t rush through the events and important moments throughout the book. I ended up loving each of the four main characters, whose perspectives alternated from chapter to chapter (and so many wonderful side characters!), and appreciated their individual stories. In the beginning, it was a little difficult to keep track of everyone and how they were connected, but I love small-town stories and this one is no exception. All the better being an Australian-setting too <3 I especially loved how the author dealt with some serious and significant life events without losing hope, and reminding us to seek opportunities and friendship by stepping out of that comfort zone. Definitely recommend and I'll be picking up more from this author!
Sophie Green's newest release ended up being exactly the type of book I needed to read this past few weeks. Superficially, I loved the cover and title which is what attracted me to pick it up. But reading Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society was honestly a real treat. The pacing between each chapter, sectioned into months named with wildflowers, felt fast-paced enough to keep my attention, but didn’t rush through the events and important moments throughout the book. I ended up loving each of the four main characters, whose perspectives alternated from chapter to chapter (and so many wonderful side characters!), and appreciated their individual stories. In the beginning, it was a little difficult to keep track of everyone and how they were connected, but I love small-town stories and this one is no exception. All the better being an Australian-setting too <3 I especially loved how the author dealt with some serious and significant life events without losing hope, and reminding us to seek opportunities and friendship by stepping out of that comfort zone. Definitely recommend and I'll be picking up more from this author!
August 16, 2024
Another beautiful book about female friendships by Sophie Green. Thoroughly enjoyed it just as I have loved all of her books I’ve read so far.
February 7, 2025
Ik heb meerdere boeken in deze serie gelezen, en het begint me nogal tegen te staan, dus daarom misschien een gekleurde review.
De boeken van Sophie Green zijn steeds ongeveer hetzelfde, namelijk:
4 vrouwen met elk hun eigen problemen vinden elkaar in een gezamenlijke hobby, en daarin vinden ze zichzelf, doen ze ontdekkingen over "het leven" en worden alle problemen miraculeus opgelost.
Gooi daar een amerikaans christelijk feelgood sausje over en het feest is compleet.
Waarom ik het dan nog 2 sterren geef? Tja, soms is feelgood best fijn, zeker als het in dit geval over tuinieren gaat.
De boeken van Sophie Green zijn steeds ongeveer hetzelfde, namelijk:
4 vrouwen met elk hun eigen problemen vinden elkaar in een gezamenlijke hobby, en daarin vinden ze zichzelf, doen ze ontdekkingen over "het leven" en worden alle problemen miraculeus opgelost.
Gooi daar een amerikaans christelijk feelgood sausje over en het feest is compleet.
Waarom ik het dan nog 2 sterren geef? Tja, soms is feelgood best fijn, zeker als het in dit geval over tuinieren gaat.
November 18, 2023
I wanted to love this, because I want the gardening society to exist and to come sort out my house! And I love a women-becoming-friends-over-a-shared-goal romp. But the pacing was weird. And we spent ages with some characters then we just fell off. Still, I liked spending time with the gals.
March 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ easy read and i really enjoyed it. i absolutely love when books are set somewhere i know!
December 28, 2023
What an absolutely beautiful book. I'll be recommending this to all my girlfriends who need a boost, some reassurance, or even just to hear stories of other women living the same lives as us. Delightful.
October 2, 2023
I did really enjoy reading this book, but I got to the end and felt like there were a few pages missing! The story lines didn't feel as though they really wrapped up, it just seemed to be a continuation of the story and then no more pages??
But overall I did like this book and the different women's stories.
But overall I did like this book and the different women's stories.
February 18, 2024
Not a book I enjoyed. Although interested in gardening myself, I found general chit chat about gardening tasks mundane after a while. I kept reading as I thought the story and characters would develop. I gave up halfway through the book disappointed. To be fair, it may have improved if I persevered.
August 25, 2023
A lightweight read that didn’t need to be so long and only just kept my interest
September 22, 2023
Downright awful book and I really didn't like the religion undertones. Literally just a bunch of self entitled house wives having a cry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
Alleen al door de vrolijke, kleurrijke en sprankelende cover werd mijn nieuwsgierigheid naar dit boek gewekt. Het is zo'n vrolijke en zomerse voorkant, dat dit boek helemaal past bij het weer. Op de zongele cover zien we verschillende bloemen en planten aan de zijkanten en onderaan is een typisch lichtroze tuinhekje te zien. De titel is er op passende wijze op geplaatst. Ik ben erg benieuwd. Dit is het eerste boek van Sophie Green dat ik ga lezen.
Noosa Heads, 1987. Vier vrouwen; de pas gescheiden Cynthia die terugkeert naar het dorpje, haar voormalige beste vriendin Lorraine, de jonge weduwe Elizabeth en verloren Kathy, sluiten een bijzondere vriendschap dankzij de tuinclub van Sunshine Beach. Tussen het verwijderen van het onkruid door en het planten van inheemse gewassen en het snoeien van rozen, leren de vrouwen van elkaar dat sommige wortels diep gaan en andere ondiep zijn. Soms moeten zaadjes jarenlang de tijd hebben om op te bloeien, zolang het maar genoeg liefdevolle verzorging heeft, kunnen de meest verwaarloosde tuinen, leven en vriendschappen weer tot bloei komen.
Wat een mooi, meeslepend en goed boek dat mooie levens boodschappen bevat. Sophie Green heeft een hele natuurlijke, vlotte en levendige schrijfstijl. Ondanks dat het boek zich afspeelt in 1987 vind ik het toch een heel actueel en verhaal van alle tijden.
We volgen in het verhaal vier hele verschillende vrouwen die allemaal worstelen met bepaalde gebeurtenissen in hun leven. De ene met het overlijden van haar man en de opvoeding van hun jonge zoontje. De ander is net gescheiden en is naar haar ouderlijk huis gevlucht en nog zoekende naar wat ze wil in haar leven, en kampt met een dochter van zestien en zwanger is. De ander kampt met een relatie waarin haar man een gokprobleem heeft. De vrouwen zijn prachtig uitgewerkt en neergezet. Het is mooi hoe Sophie Green deze vier vrouwen gedurende het verhaal op sterke wijze laat groeien en diepgang heeft als ze over hun problemen en worstelingen gaan praten.
Het is een vrij luchtig geschreven verhaal, ondanks de best heftige problemen waarin alle vier de vrouwen mee worstelen. Hierdoor raken de dingen je wel, maar wordt je er niet door overspoeld. Het verhaal volgt de verhaallijnen van de vier vrouwen en hun privéleven als de momenten waarbij de vier vrouwen samenkomen en ontdekken hoe therapeutisch hun samenzijn, steun en vriendschap is om verder te komen in het leven. De connectie tussen het verzorgen en tot bloei laten komen van de verschillende tuinen en de manier waarop het leven van de vier vrouwen door deze bezigheid weer tot bloei komt is prachtig gedaan.
De tuinclub van Sunshine Beach is een prachtige, mooie en pakkende roman met een mooie en inspirerende boodschap. Het verhaal is heerlijk levendig, luchtig en vlot geschreven en we volgen vier vrouwen met hele verschillende levens en verschillende problemen. Samen vinden ze steun, troost en vriendschap tijdens hun tuinclub momenten waardoor ze een prachtige groei in hun levens maken.
Noosa Heads, 1987. Vier vrouwen; de pas gescheiden Cynthia die terugkeert naar het dorpje, haar voormalige beste vriendin Lorraine, de jonge weduwe Elizabeth en verloren Kathy, sluiten een bijzondere vriendschap dankzij de tuinclub van Sunshine Beach. Tussen het verwijderen van het onkruid door en het planten van inheemse gewassen en het snoeien van rozen, leren de vrouwen van elkaar dat sommige wortels diep gaan en andere ondiep zijn. Soms moeten zaadjes jarenlang de tijd hebben om op te bloeien, zolang het maar genoeg liefdevolle verzorging heeft, kunnen de meest verwaarloosde tuinen, leven en vriendschappen weer tot bloei komen.
Wat een mooi, meeslepend en goed boek dat mooie levens boodschappen bevat. Sophie Green heeft een hele natuurlijke, vlotte en levendige schrijfstijl. Ondanks dat het boek zich afspeelt in 1987 vind ik het toch een heel actueel en verhaal van alle tijden.
We volgen in het verhaal vier hele verschillende vrouwen die allemaal worstelen met bepaalde gebeurtenissen in hun leven. De ene met het overlijden van haar man en de opvoeding van hun jonge zoontje. De ander is net gescheiden en is naar haar ouderlijk huis gevlucht en nog zoekende naar wat ze wil in haar leven, en kampt met een dochter van zestien en zwanger is. De ander kampt met een relatie waarin haar man een gokprobleem heeft. De vrouwen zijn prachtig uitgewerkt en neergezet. Het is mooi hoe Sophie Green deze vier vrouwen gedurende het verhaal op sterke wijze laat groeien en diepgang heeft als ze over hun problemen en worstelingen gaan praten.
Het is een vrij luchtig geschreven verhaal, ondanks de best heftige problemen waarin alle vier de vrouwen mee worstelen. Hierdoor raken de dingen je wel, maar wordt je er niet door overspoeld. Het verhaal volgt de verhaallijnen van de vier vrouwen en hun privéleven als de momenten waarbij de vier vrouwen samenkomen en ontdekken hoe therapeutisch hun samenzijn, steun en vriendschap is om verder te komen in het leven. De connectie tussen het verzorgen en tot bloei laten komen van de verschillende tuinen en de manier waarop het leven van de vier vrouwen door deze bezigheid weer tot bloei komt is prachtig gedaan.
De tuinclub van Sunshine Beach is een prachtige, mooie en pakkende roman met een mooie en inspirerende boodschap. Het verhaal is heerlijk levendig, luchtig en vlot geschreven en we volgen vier vrouwen met hele verschillende levens en verschillende problemen. Samen vinden ze steun, troost en vriendschap tijdens hun tuinclub momenten waardoor ze een prachtige groei in hun levens maken.
January 21, 2025
A light read about a group of women who bond over their love of gardening as they each go through their own struggles with grief, loss, relationship breakdowns, ageing parents etc. My only comment was that I felt that this book was too long and could have been capped at 300-350 pages. I also found it hard to keep up with the characters and their own personal stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2023
The minute the reader begins to read the story is setting a scene as well as provides plenty of detail without leaving a reader feeling like an information overload is happening, there is plenty to keep a reader of any genre engrossed, I feel I should probably warn you if you’ve never read a Sophie Green novel before, the story does finish rather quickly because you cannot put her books down!
Read my full review on my website
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
Read my full review on my website
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
February 21, 2024
Another enjoyable contemporary fiction novel by Australian author Sophie Green! Women, loving in Noosa Heads in the late 80s, finding solace and themselves through the simple act of gardening, learning from each other creating lifelong friendships.
January 22, 2025
A beautiful story of female friendship, mothering, grief, and nature woven in Sophie Green's easy to read style.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews