The Grandest Garden

by Gina L. Carroll

Bella Fontaine is on her own. Fresh out of college and with the winnings from her first international photography competition, she decides to leave Los Angeles to forge a new life in New York City. But will she be able to overcome the trauma of her childhood and her break from home to make it as a successful artist and professional photographer in a new city? Or will her secrets catch up with her ,and keep her from developing the relationships she needs to make her dreams come true?

We meet young Bella just after her tenth birthday, and her grandmothers, Olivette and Miriam, each with a beautiful, mature garden as different from each other as the two gardeners who tend them. As Bella’s homelife begins to unravel, she relies on her grandmother’s gardens as her refuge for stability and belonging. But when Miriam moves in with Olivette in search of healing, the grandmothers bond in a way that makes Bella feel excluded. What happens next sends Bella out into the world before she is ready.

The Grandest Garden is a poignant coming-of-age story about the ties that bind us to our people and how to survive when they break.

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Steph 📚✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

Lately I’ve found myself wanting to step outside of my usual genre choices, and I’m so thrilled that I did. This is general fiction, for those who are curious, and it carries messages surrounding coming of age, finding your place in the world, coping with change, grief, and the concept of death is necessary for new life to grow - all packaged in a beautiful story about a young woman finding her way in the world after college alongside her passion for gardening.

It’s dual timeline, so on one side you see Bella coping with one of her grandmothers moving in with her other grandmother after having a bad fall and being diagnosed with the early stages of dementia. We walk alongside her as she grapples with the inevitable changes this brings to her life. In the present timeline, Bella has just moved to NYC and is trying to make it as a photographer. Some of her youthful naïveté is exposed through her attempts to establish herself as an artist in Manhattan, as well as her attempts to find a new rhythm and routine in this new environment.

My one piece of criticism is some of the plot points felt too convenient and I would have liked to see a bit more struggle, but the way Carroll brought everything together in the end had such a beautiful emotional impact for me that it makes up for what I felt the plot sometimes lacked. This book left me in tears at many points and I am so delighted by how much I enjoyed it.

This is a knockout debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Carroll writes in the future!

[Lindsey Sanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will forever love stories that focus on beautiful relationships with grandparents, because I had the best one with my grandpa. Carroll did a great job capturing the love and wisdom between Bella and her two grandmothers throughout different points in her life.

So much of this book was wonderfully done. Ultimately, it felt to me like a love-letter to so many things : to grandparents and the special ways they shape us; to beauty and the many ways it presents itself; to the hidden individuals working hard to keep nature alive in a city like New York; to New York! And mostly, to self, passion, heritage and culture.

I did find Bella to be a little bit inconsistent in her maturity and how she handled some things within the story. The writing also felt a bit...robotic occasionally.

But aside from those two things I did enjoy a majority of this novel and the way that Carroll put it all together.

(And also, like most Goodread reviews, I wish there was more Drip McAffrey.)

Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a free copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jennie McGarvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. I started reading and was quickly enthralled by Bella’s story and her relationship with her family.

I’m a sucker for a dual timeline. Ordinarily, I always love the flashbacks more than the present day. However, in The Grandest Garden, I really enjoyed both.

There was definitely a surprise or two, one of which I was grateful for. It made the story come together in the end and definitely brought the tears. The only somewhat negative was that I felt Drip deserved a bit more development but even that is just so very minor!

Advance reader copy provided by NetGalley + BookSparks but all opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gina L. Carroll's The Grandest Garden is a beautifully crafted narrative that blooms with rich storytelling and vivid descriptions, drawing readers into a world where nature, family, and mystery seamlessly intertwine. Carroll skillfully navigates intergenerational relationships, offering a poignant and heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, particularly the bonds between grandparents and their grandchildren. This theme is sure to resonate with readers who cherish their own familial connections. The representation in the book is commendable, with diverse characters and a respectful nod to the LGBTQIA+ community. The story's inclusivity is further enriched by elements of religion and spirituality, subtly woven into the narrative without overpowering it. For those who revel in the arts, the novel’s integration of art and photography, alongside its floral and botanical themes, will be a delightful treat. Carroll's descriptions of gardens and nature are so vivid and evocative that even those with severe allergies, like myself, might find themselves longing to visit a greenhouse or attend a garden party. 😂

Who Will Love This Book:
- Art and photography enthusiasts
- Lovers of flowers, plants, and gardens
- Anyone with a close relationship to their grandparents
- Nature enthusiasts
- Those affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia
- Readers connected to the natural world
- Individuals interested in horticulture

The Grandest Garden by Gina L. Carroll is more than just a novel; it’s an immersive experience that celebrates the beauty of nature and the strength of family ties. Whether you are drawn to it for its artistic elements, its exploration of intergenerational relationships, this book is bound to leave a lasting impression.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for this ARC!

"The Grandest Garden" has a beautiful depiction of big family dynamics, hard life choices and growing up. At some points this book becomes full on self-help book (in a good way!) and I was even making mental notes on some things I'll have to try out for myself.
I liked this book even though it was a bit slow for my taste. Plus, I was honestly waiting for more from Drip, but his character didn't actually add anything to Bella's story at all (in my opinion).

This book made me feel, cry and even giggle a little in the end.
Not going to lie, I was a bit bored at times, but the pace picked up towards the end.

3.5 stars from me

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @booksparks & @ginastories for this beautiful coming of age story about family, love, & finding your own way. This book made me think a lot about the ways in which we show up for family, how our families shape who we are & how we can apply the wisdom from our elders to our adult lives.

There’s something special about children raised by their grandmothers. Bella Fontaine grows up in her grandmothers’ gardens. These two master gardeners, Gran & Nan, each with beautiful, mature gardens as different from each other as the women who tend them, are Bella’s refuge of stability and belonging. But when Nan moves in with Gran in search of healing, what happens next sends Bella out into the world before she is ready.

Reading this made me think of my grandmother & one of the many bible verses she’d recite, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Gran & Nan imparted so much wisdom from their lives & their gardens, teaching Bella how to follow her passion & survive on her own. Gina Carroll tackles themes of aging, dementia, family trauma, & enduring love. Her writing brings Nan, Gran, & Bella’s gardens to life. Oh how I’d love to spend time in each of them! Highly recommend!

[Alex | reader_mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella is just getting started in her career as a photographer, and she moved to NYC from the west coast to find herself in the art world. This story is told in 2 timelines (then and now) the then taking place when Bella is just a child. She spends a lot of time with both of her grandmothers growing up, specifically working with them in their gardens. Gardening is a hobby that connects Bella to her grandmothers while they are living, and maybe even more so after their deaths. Bella is navigating her life in both timelines, and readers experience her growing up as well as how the family relationships change and evolve over time. I enjoyed learning more about gardening too while reading, as I’m trying to become somewhat of a gardener as an adult.

Thank you booksparks for my copy!

[Kayla Boss · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to @booksparks for the review copy of this debut novel! 🫶🏼

cw: Alzheimer’s/Dementia, parent with mental illness

The Grandest Garden is a coming-of-age story about Bella, the main character, who has just graduated from college and moved to NYC to pursue her dreams of being a professional photographer based on a promise made to her by a gallery owner. Bella is intricately connected to both of her grandmothers, who have cultivated a love of gardening within her, which is an essential theme throughout the book. it explores family bonds, the process of healing, and the transition from childhood to adulthood

this book has so many lovely elements that kept me connected to the storyline, especially the relationship Bella has with her grandmothers and the exploration of gardening. that being said, much of the story felt unfinished or unexplored in a meaningful way and because of that, it didn’t have much of an impact on me emotionally, which took away from me loving this one

[Ladiami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grandest Garden captures the essence of family legacies but falls short in execution. While I am drawn to narratives exploring generational ties, this book was a slow burn for me. Characters like Drip, Eddi, and the grandmother's lacked the depth that I longed for, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential. The inclusion of alternative timelines was intriguing, but the constant shift in point of view made the narrative feel disjointed. Additionally, the forced romantic subplot between Bella and Dorian did little to enhance the main character's development. Although the novel delves into themes of self-discovery, some characters could have been more fleshed out, and the pacing could have been smoother. While this book offers a poignant tale of introspection, it struggles to maintain a consistent and engaging flow throughout the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Spark Press for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina Carroll has given us a story in The Grandest Garden about gardens, art and grandmothers and their power to heal. Bella Fontaine flees California and her troubled family to pursue her photography in New York and make a life for herself. An inspirational narrative that awakens all the senses as the reader follows Bella's journey to grow and move forward while she reconnects to her loving beginnings.

[Reading Our Shelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...

This is a sweet coming of age story, of sorts… in that our main character is already technically an adult, but is just setting out on her own for the first time.

We immediately meet Bella and her mom in crisis, and we can see how fragile her mom’s mental state is. But we get more of the story later, as the book alternates between the present and the past.

Bella grew up in L.A. Her grandparents lived nearby, so she saw them regularly. Her brother was closer to their grandpa, who passed away while they were still pretty young. And their mom had mental health issues from time to time. Bella spends a lot of time in each of her grandmothers’ gardens, and the two older ladies love to debate the differences between their different flowers, herbs, etc.

As Bella moves into her teens, one grandmother starts showing signs of dementia. She takes a fall, and is not expected to live alone after that. Bella’s mom has gone to a place to “get well,” and Bella expects that her mom can take care of her grandma… but instead, her dad arranges for the grandmas to move in together. Nevertheless, her mom does not come home.

After college, Bella moves to NYC with the hopes of making it as a photographer. Some of her pictures had won a contest already, and a man with ties to a local gallery in the city has told her he could get her a show there. But after arriving in the city, she realizes he doesn’t have as much pull at the gallery as she thought he did. They work together to try to get Bella’s work in front of his mom, who really has the power.

Eventually, Bella recognizes that some of the older woman’s quirks are really the early signs of dementia she had seen before. She takes on befriending Ellen, the head of the gallery, because she believes her own grandma’s mind had been helped by gardening – both the act of it, and some of the things grown therein. She does help Ellen’s mind, and by becoming one of Ellen’s favorite people, gets her artwork in the gallery as well.

Along the way, there are many other ups and downs as Bella learns to navigate a new city. She has three possible love interests, and longs to find some black girlfriends. She does make connections easily in the world of the local community gardens, and pays the bills by photographing weddings and events.

We follow Bella’s journey for her first year and a half in the city, when she is finally able to show her work in Ellen’s gallery. And her whole family comes out to see it, where we see that her mom is doing much better than she was earlier.

The themes of this book, officially from the publisher, include: intergenerational trauma, mental health, identity exploration and belonging, exploration of female relationships, urban migration and pursuing dreams, nature and healing.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Pub Day to the beautiful book!

Thank you @BookSparks for the #gifted copy and the opportunity to be a part of the #SummerPopUp! I really enjoyed this moving coming of age story by @GinaStories

Synopsis

Bella Fontaine is on her own. Fresh out of college and with the winnings from her first international photography competition, she decides to leave Los Angeles to forge a new life in New York City. But will she be able to overcome the trauma of her childhood and her break from home to make it as a successful artist and professional photographer in a new city? Or will her secrets catch up with her?

We meet young Bella just after her tenth birthday, and her grandmothers, Olivette and Miriam, each with a beautiful, mature garden as different from each other as the two gardeners who tend them. As Bella’s homelife begins to unravel, she relies on her grandmother’s gardens as her refuge for stability and belonging.

The Grandest Garden is a poignant coming-of-age story about the ties that bind us to our people and how to survive when they break.

Review

When I read the synopsis of this book I knew I was really going to enjoy this story and I was right!

I loved the dual timeline and getting to know Bella. As a new plant mom myself I also really enjoyed all of the gardening that Bella and her grandmothers do together.. I had no idea there were so many community gardens in New York City!

This story also made me think so much about my grandmother and loved the way that Carroll explore themes of hope, that bonds of family, and the power of healing.

[Merle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming of age novel was an excellent story about a young girl who was trying to find her place in the world. It was set in a dual timeline between Bella’s interaction with her grandmothers as they cope with moving in with each other & one of them going through a health condition. As well as Bella’s present timeline as she navigates moving to New York & her attempt to make it into the artist world.

This was a story that I found to be quite interesting as it touched on two subjects that I don’t often read about, grandmothers & gardening. At first I was a little hesitant about the gardening but it was really wrapped around a great storyline about the messages that this story convey such as learning how to find your place in the world, learning how to deal with change & the upbringing of being raised by your grandparents, in this case, your grandmothers.

It was a great debut novel & found myself often laughing at Bella’s reactions as well as smiling at the warmth of those little reminders to cherish your loved ones.

[Carrolet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also had a Nanny and a Granny and enjoyed reading about Bella’s love for and connection to her grandmothers and their gardens. They were everything to Bella and gave her the foundation for what she needed to move forward, though it took her a while to realize it. The gardens are also a major character in the story and the descriptions encouraged me to look for gardening books to lose myself in. I actually envisioned myself living in a small house surrounded by hydrangeas, lilacs, lavenders, lilies, and every other plant I love.

There are some twists and turns in the story and I’m not convinced the grandmothers’ ending was totally necessary but other than that, it was a perfect read for me. The cover is also beautiful. Loved it!

Bonus: Bella was gifted a first edition, signed copy of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. I think I’ll reread that one next.

[Cel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good read, and I mostly liked it. I liked the story's concept. The characters were okay. Bella was interesting; she gave me awkward black girl vibes, lol. Dorian was alright, but their relationship needed more development. One minute they were flirting, and the next, they were a couple. Did I miss the courtship? I just didn't feel the chemistry between them. I wish she had made Drip and Bella a couple; they had more chemistry. Brad or Drip didn't really add anything to the story; she could've left them out. And I liked her relationship with Gran & Nan, but it threw me for a loop. Are they lesbians? I was like, huh? What I liked most was Bella's friendship with Ellen I felt the emotional connection between them....not a bad read

Overall I guess I would recommend it

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told through dual timelines The Grandest Garden walks readers through a coming-of age story of the main character, Bella. The novel takes us through her love of gardens cultivated by both of her grandmothers and how her life and career has ultimately been shaped by them. Through various obstacles Bella quickly learns how difficult growing up can be especially when it comes to dealing with change.

Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....

[Joanne Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect summer read. The characters, especially the main character, are loveable in their imperfections, and because I cared about them from pretty early in the book, I was eager to get back to them.

I did have to set aside my critical mind at times. It would be lovely to think that herbs and working in the garden might be curative for some ailments, but that is, sadly, not likely for so many.

It's also hard to believe the characters would be so whole after what they experienced, but if you suspend your disbelief, you can enjoy a lovely story.

[Ellen Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, starting with that gorgeous cover and the clever double entendre of the title. Author Gina Carroll handles the dual timeline deftly, with a change in voice and with "then" or "now" in the chapter headings. Quirky characters, a few plot twists, and some everyday magic make the book a great read.

[Alana Shoemaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really came together in the end! I loved this read even though it took me forever to finish (more of a me problem than the book's problem). The beginning was really slow, but once you got through the halfway point it was a page turner! Her relationship with her grandma's is beautiful and the end made my cryyyyy.

[Jen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful coming of age, coming into one’s own, asserting self as an artist, story! I can already see the series and the sequels! Instant (intergenerational) classic. Perfect summer read!