What do you think?
Rate this book
The Butterfly Garden
A gripping and beautiful tale of love, loss and secrets.
1963: When Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage, she knows the scandal she’ll cause. A single woman buying property is not the ‘done thing’, especially not in a village like Carybrook. But Clara has been in love with Butterfly Cottage, and its garden, since she used to play there before the War. And when she reconnects with her childhood friend James, her decision feels serendipitous. But the true scandal is yet to come, because within six months, Clara will leave England under mysterious circumstances, and Butterfly Cottage will stand empty for more than 50 years.
2018: No one is more surprised than Meredith when she’s bequeathed a cottage by a great aunt she’d never heard of. She hopes, briefly, that the inheritance could be the answer to her financial problems. But when she arrives in Suffolk, she is shocked to discover a man is already living there. A young gardener, who claims he was also bequeathed half of Butterfly Cottage.
As the pair try to unravel their complicated situation, they unearth a decades old mystery involving Clara, the garden, and a stack of letters left unread for over 50 years…
1963: When Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage, she knows the scandal she’ll cause. A single woman buying property is not the ‘done thing’, especially not in a village like Carybrook. But Clara has been in love with Butterfly Cottage, and its garden, since she used to play there before the War. And when she reconnects with her childhood friend James, her decision feels serendipitous. But the true scandal is yet to come, because within six months, Clara will leave England under mysterious circumstances, and Butterfly Cottage will stand empty for more than 50 years.
2018: No one is more surprised than Meredith when she’s bequeathed a cottage by a great aunt she’d never heard of. She hopes, briefly, that the inheritance could be the answer to her financial problems. But when she arrives in Suffolk, she is shocked to discover a man is already living there. A young gardener, who claims he was also bequeathed half of Butterfly Cottage.
As the pair try to unravel their complicated situation, they unearth a decades old mystery involving Clara, the garden, and a stack of letters left unread for over 50 years…
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2024
1424 people are currently reading
6662 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Burton
18 books301 followersRachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels and has previously written romantic comedies.
Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.
After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.
She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.
She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.
Find her on Instagram as @RachelBWriter, subscribe to her newsletter rachelburton.substack.com or website rachelburtonwrites.com
Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.
After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.
She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.
She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.
Find her on Instagram as @RachelBWriter, subscribe to her newsletter rachelburton.substack.com or website rachelburtonwrites.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
June 29, 2024
Rachel Burton’s tenth book, a dual-timeline historical fiction set between 1963 and 2018, shows us how secrets from the past have the potential to change our future.
When Clara Samuels arrives in Carybrook, Suffolk in 1963 and purchases Butterfly Cottage, she gives the villagers something to gossip about; after all, women didn’t make such purchases! Clara’s memories and the desire to capture her youth overpower any societal norms and she’s rewarded with a serendipitous meeting with someone from her past. Without giving anything away, I’ll tell you that the house sits empty for 50 years. You’ll have to read to find out why!
When Meredith Carling discovers she’s been left her great aunt’s home in Suffolk, she’s elated. She’s never heard of the woman and never seen Butterfly Cottage, but she believes it to be the answer to her money challenges. The thing is, when she arrives…there’s a gruffy-looking man already living there. What’s more - he claims he was gifted half of the cottage!
I enjoyed discovering how these two women moved on from their challenges and welcomed a journey towards growth. The focus on new beginnings and the characters Burton developed to carry her message kept me involved in the story. You’ll have to read to see how these two men at Butterfly Cottage influenced the lives of both Clara and her great-niece Meredith.
I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
When Clara Samuels arrives in Carybrook, Suffolk in 1963 and purchases Butterfly Cottage, she gives the villagers something to gossip about; after all, women didn’t make such purchases! Clara’s memories and the desire to capture her youth overpower any societal norms and she’s rewarded with a serendipitous meeting with someone from her past. Without giving anything away, I’ll tell you that the house sits empty for 50 years. You’ll have to read to find out why!
When Meredith Carling discovers she’s been left her great aunt’s home in Suffolk, she’s elated. She’s never heard of the woman and never seen Butterfly Cottage, but she believes it to be the answer to her money challenges. The thing is, when she arrives…there’s a gruffy-looking man already living there. What’s more - he claims he was gifted half of the cottage!
I enjoyed discovering how these two women moved on from their challenges and welcomed a journey towards growth. The focus on new beginnings and the characters Burton developed to carry her message kept me involved in the story. You’ll have to read to see how these two men at Butterfly Cottage influenced the lives of both Clara and her great-niece Meredith.
I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 22, 2024
Can a secret from the past change hr future...?
It was the stunning cover that initially drew me to this book. That and the whimsical title which conjured up thoughts of a delightful tale hidden therein. Therefore I simply HAD to read it. And boy, am I glad I did!
I have struggled to find any connection or interest in many books the last couple of months but this one just blew me away that I didn't want to put it down and I devoured it in one sitting!
London 2018: Meredith thought she had everything she wanted. Her dream job as a hairdresser running her own salon, a nice flat in Clapham and a fiance she couldn't wait to marry. But then a grenade was set off in the midst, blowing it all to smithereens. Suddenly she had no fiance, struggling to pay the rent alone on their shared flat and her business was falling apart as the debts mounted.
Then she gets a call from a solicitor. She has inherited a cottage in Suffolk from her great-aunt Clara. A great-aunt she never knew existed until now. But with this windfall, Meredith could see a light at the end of her tunnel in which the sale of this cottage could be the answer to her troubles. But the solicitor told her to wait until she saw the cottage before she made any decisions. And with that, Meredith believed he was keeping something from her. The question was, what exactly?
Making her way up to Suffolk, a county she had no idea where it was having lived in London all her life, she got lost along the way before finding herself outside Butterfly Cottage in the sleepy village of Carybrook. And there she finally discovers what the solicitor had been keeping from her. Suddenly the answer to getting her out of debt didn't seem so within reach as she had thought. She knew it was too good to be true.
But the question remains, why would a great-aunt she had never met do this? Why even make this bequeath if there was so to be such a condition attached to it? And where has this great-aunt been all her life? She'd never even heard of her before. The only person who could shed any light is her father but she's not seen him since her 18th birthday almost half a lifetime ago, disappearing from her life altogether. And yet she feels he is the only one who could give her the answers she seeks...but how will she go about finding him when? Where would she even start?
Carybrook 1963: Schoolteacher Clara Samuels returns to the village where she grew up when her older sister Esther informs her that Butterfly Cottage, somewhere that held a special place in Clara's childhood, is up for sale. Having inherited a tidy sum from her parents that has been held in trust and gathering interest since, Clara has the means to by the cottage outright...which she does, despite it not being the done thing for an unmarried woman to make such a purchase.
Clara enjoys her independence and she loves Butterfly Cottage, especially the garden which holds many special memories alongside her childhood friend James who lived there at the time. Despite James and his family having moved away soon after war broke out, Clara and James continue to write to each other for the next nine years before his letters disappeared altogether. Clara often wonders what happened to her childhood friend and why he stopped writing.
It's one night at a dance with some friends that a face from the past brings everything back - from the grass stains on her dress to the butterflies and bees in the butterfly garden. Suddenly the years are washed away in a flurry of words, laughter and memories. And Clara, who has prided herself on being driven and independent, will suddenly find her life is about to change in ways she never thought possible.
As the two timelines collide, Meredith does her own soul searching as she finds the answers where she least expects them. And she's also in for one more surprise which will answer all her questions as Meredith begins to unravel the mystery of her great-aunt Clara and the answers surrounding Butterfly Cottage.
A truly delightful tale that I read long into the night simply because I didn't want to leave. I was so immersed within the storyline I wanted to stay there and stay there I did until the final page. I didn't mind that I predicted the direction it almost from the beginning. In fact I rather enjoyed discovering if I was right or not.
I absolutely love dual timeline stories and this one is reminiscent of Lorna Cook and I just loved being in the sleepy Suffolk village and surrounded by all those butterflies and fragrances of the butterfly garden.
A well written unforgettable tale that draws you in from the very first page in such a way you won't want to leave...even after you've turned the last page.
A 5 star read I highly recommend. Especially to those who love dual timeline tales, Lorna Cook and Kathleen McGurl.
I would like to thank #RachelBurton, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheButterflyGarden in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
It was the stunning cover that initially drew me to this book. That and the whimsical title which conjured up thoughts of a delightful tale hidden therein. Therefore I simply HAD to read it. And boy, am I glad I did!
I have struggled to find any connection or interest in many books the last couple of months but this one just blew me away that I didn't want to put it down and I devoured it in one sitting!
London 2018: Meredith thought she had everything she wanted. Her dream job as a hairdresser running her own salon, a nice flat in Clapham and a fiance she couldn't wait to marry. But then a grenade was set off in the midst, blowing it all to smithereens. Suddenly she had no fiance, struggling to pay the rent alone on their shared flat and her business was falling apart as the debts mounted.
Then she gets a call from a solicitor. She has inherited a cottage in Suffolk from her great-aunt Clara. A great-aunt she never knew existed until now. But with this windfall, Meredith could see a light at the end of her tunnel in which the sale of this cottage could be the answer to her troubles. But the solicitor told her to wait until she saw the cottage before she made any decisions. And with that, Meredith believed he was keeping something from her. The question was, what exactly?
Making her way up to Suffolk, a county she had no idea where it was having lived in London all her life, she got lost along the way before finding herself outside Butterfly Cottage in the sleepy village of Carybrook. And there she finally discovers what the solicitor had been keeping from her. Suddenly the answer to getting her out of debt didn't seem so within reach as she had thought. She knew it was too good to be true.
But the question remains, why would a great-aunt she had never met do this? Why even make this bequeath if there was so to be such a condition attached to it? And where has this great-aunt been all her life? She'd never even heard of her before. The only person who could shed any light is her father but she's not seen him since her 18th birthday almost half a lifetime ago, disappearing from her life altogether. And yet she feels he is the only one who could give her the answers she seeks...but how will she go about finding him when? Where would she even start?
Carybrook 1963: Schoolteacher Clara Samuels returns to the village where she grew up when her older sister Esther informs her that Butterfly Cottage, somewhere that held a special place in Clara's childhood, is up for sale. Having inherited a tidy sum from her parents that has been held in trust and gathering interest since, Clara has the means to by the cottage outright...which she does, despite it not being the done thing for an unmarried woman to make such a purchase.
Clara enjoys her independence and she loves Butterfly Cottage, especially the garden which holds many special memories alongside her childhood friend James who lived there at the time. Despite James and his family having moved away soon after war broke out, Clara and James continue to write to each other for the next nine years before his letters disappeared altogether. Clara often wonders what happened to her childhood friend and why he stopped writing.
It's one night at a dance with some friends that a face from the past brings everything back - from the grass stains on her dress to the butterflies and bees in the butterfly garden. Suddenly the years are washed away in a flurry of words, laughter and memories. And Clara, who has prided herself on being driven and independent, will suddenly find her life is about to change in ways she never thought possible.
As the two timelines collide, Meredith does her own soul searching as she finds the answers where she least expects them. And she's also in for one more surprise which will answer all her questions as Meredith begins to unravel the mystery of her great-aunt Clara and the answers surrounding Butterfly Cottage.
A truly delightful tale that I read long into the night simply because I didn't want to leave. I was so immersed within the storyline I wanted to stay there and stay there I did until the final page. I didn't mind that I predicted the direction it almost from the beginning. In fact I rather enjoyed discovering if I was right or not.
I absolutely love dual timeline stories and this one is reminiscent of Lorna Cook and I just loved being in the sleepy Suffolk village and surrounded by all those butterflies and fragrances of the butterfly garden.
A well written unforgettable tale that draws you in from the very first page in such a way you won't want to leave...even after you've turned the last page.
A 5 star read I highly recommend. Especially to those who love dual timeline tales, Lorna Cook and Kathleen McGurl.
I would like to thank #RachelBurton, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheButterflyGarden in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 10, 2025
A beautifully written dual timeline family saga" The author captivates a range of emotions in this well—structured immersive Novel I recommend this easy read
May 22, 2024
Not my usual read, but I can still say it was rich and deeply submerged in history, along a dual timeline chock full of secrets and family relationships. Beautifully written.
August 5, 2024
I am a fan of Rachel’s writing and on this occasion she has written another lovely story surrounding a beautiful home. The Butterfly Cottage is about one family’s secrets and the impact keeping them can have.
The is a dual timeline narrative with the historical passages from the 1960s and the more contemporary passages from 2018. This book was good but not one of my favourites from Rachel. The plot was slow in parts, and became a little repetitive in the contemporary tale. While I was interested in Clara and James’ story, I found it harder to believe Meredith and Zach’s connection. I am unsure of why the latter was there unless he reminded Clara of James?
The cover is gorgeous and Rachel always guarantees a warm and captivating tale set against perfect locales that keep me coming back from more. Take some time to visit Butterfly Cottage, its gardens and life in an English village of the 1960s.
‘What had happened to Clara Samuels all those years ago? What had made her go to Australia? And why had nobody mentioned her since?’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
The is a dual timeline narrative with the historical passages from the 1960s and the more contemporary passages from 2018. This book was good but not one of my favourites from Rachel. The plot was slow in parts, and became a little repetitive in the contemporary tale. While I was interested in Clara and James’ story, I found it harder to believe Meredith and Zach’s connection. I am unsure of why the latter was there unless he reminded Clara of James?
The cover is gorgeous and Rachel always guarantees a warm and captivating tale set against perfect locales that keep me coming back from more. Take some time to visit Butterfly Cottage, its gardens and life in an English village of the 1960s.
‘What had happened to Clara Samuels all those years ago? What had made her go to Australia? And why had nobody mentioned her since?’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
October 3, 2024
Intriguing at first but repetitive in so many ways & the dialogues between people are SO simple that it’s hard to believe the conversations. Staged/obvious, can’t think of the best way to describe them. Not entirely sure why I even kept reading it! As “easy put downable & pick up again” books go, this one wins first prize in a not entirely good way. Even the author credits someone else with coming up with the ending because “praise the Lord as I thought it would never end”
The over simplified writing style was somehow insulting & failed the characters & don’t even get me started on the sickly “I’m not ready but gagging for him” romance that unfolds SO predictably 🙄
Clara’s story is not uncommon for the time & could’ve been done far better justice by a better telling & probably has in other books. So I’m afraid I have to conclude as unoriginal & not well written. Doubtful that I’ll read any more of this author’s work.
The over simplified writing style was somehow insulting & failed the characters & don’t even get me started on the sickly “I’m not ready but gagging for him” romance that unfolds SO predictably 🙄
Clara’s story is not uncommon for the time & could’ve been done far better justice by a better telling & probably has in other books. So I’m afraid I have to conclude as unoriginal & not well written. Doubtful that I’ll read any more of this author’s work.
July 2, 2024
Meredith inherits a cottage from a person she’s never met. It couldn’t come at a better time since her life is a bit topsy turvy lately. Maybe she can sell it and fix all her problems. Imagine her surprise when she finds out someone else owns half of her house too.
It’s a nice dual timeline story. I couldn’t wait to find out how Meredith ended up with the house. It’s full of family drama and secrets.
It’s a nice dual timeline story. I couldn’t wait to find out how Meredith ended up with the house. It’s full of family drama and secrets.
June 28, 2024
What a powerful and emotional novel by Rachel Burton. This dual timeline left me deeply moved, shedding a few tears and sighing with satisfaction by the end. It held my attention from the very start with its intriguing plot and endearing lead characters. I was immersed in the storyline with its many twists and turns and filled with suspense at the finding of those letters and a locket! The Butterfly Cottage is a beautifully written family tale of two women generations apart sharing common DNA and a passion for a home and its garden treasures.
In 2018, Meredith is stunned to discover she has inherited a cottage in a little English village (Carybrook in Suffolk) from an aunt she never knew. This is just after her life has fallen apart. She is a hairdresser with a business that is failing financially. On top of this, her fiancé has cheated on her so everything is in shambles. She owes money to him and the bank for her business. She extended too far, took a gamble but it did not pay off. She decides this unexpected inheritance may be her ticket to getting out of debt so she heads to the cottage after talking to the solicitor. But what she finds waiting there is quite a surprise. A man is living on the property who states he is an owner as well. What is going on? Why would her aunt do such a thing? There is only one person she feels can give her the answers: her father. But he disappeared from her life a number of years ago. How will she ever find him to ask these important questions? In the meantime, her mother offers to fly home from Spain to help her sort out her life.
In 1963, we meet Clara, the schoolteacher who has inherited money from her parents and buys a cottage. It was unusual for women at that time to be able to buy a property, partly due to their lack of funds as their jobs did not offer much financial payment. But Clara enjoys her independence and is not quite like other women of her time. We learn of her love for the English cottage and its garden and the man from her childhood who re-enters her life. This provides quite a backstory that includes the disaster that follows and her disappearance.
Back in 2018, Meredith gets to know the young man named Zach who is a gardener and co-owner of the cottage. We hear his perceptions of Aunt Clara and learn she was a very private person who never shared much about her life. The story ramps up at this point as we wonder what part Zack will play in the current drama but also why did he become a recipient of this house? Meredith wants to know, too, more about the aunt she never knew so starts on a quest, aided by Zach. Together they try to sort out the answers and their search takes them down a number of interesting roads. There are some big twists in the story that you might expect and others you may not. Personally, I enjoyed getting to know all the characters of both timelines and their paths to restoration and discovery.
The two timelines were well delivered and come together effortlessly at the end. Meredith’s personal and business crisis, her family’s revelations, her unexpected inheritance and path forward was fresh and believable. Clara’s independence, re-connection with her childhood friend and sweetheart, her heartbreak, rebuilding of her life elsewhere and then her return home was moving and convincing. This is a lovely novel that is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. But everything works out in the end and there is a positive and uplifting message in the climax. Happiness is in the cards, plus restoration and love for these deserving characters. I thoroughly enjoyed The Butterfly Garden and highly recommend it. It is a well-written, unforgettable story that shines with genuine substance and beauty. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
In 2018, Meredith is stunned to discover she has inherited a cottage in a little English village (Carybrook in Suffolk) from an aunt she never knew. This is just after her life has fallen apart. She is a hairdresser with a business that is failing financially. On top of this, her fiancé has cheated on her so everything is in shambles. She owes money to him and the bank for her business. She extended too far, took a gamble but it did not pay off. She decides this unexpected inheritance may be her ticket to getting out of debt so she heads to the cottage after talking to the solicitor. But what she finds waiting there is quite a surprise. A man is living on the property who states he is an owner as well. What is going on? Why would her aunt do such a thing? There is only one person she feels can give her the answers: her father. But he disappeared from her life a number of years ago. How will she ever find him to ask these important questions? In the meantime, her mother offers to fly home from Spain to help her sort out her life.
In 1963, we meet Clara, the schoolteacher who has inherited money from her parents and buys a cottage. It was unusual for women at that time to be able to buy a property, partly due to their lack of funds as their jobs did not offer much financial payment. But Clara enjoys her independence and is not quite like other women of her time. We learn of her love for the English cottage and its garden and the man from her childhood who re-enters her life. This provides quite a backstory that includes the disaster that follows and her disappearance.
Back in 2018, Meredith gets to know the young man named Zach who is a gardener and co-owner of the cottage. We hear his perceptions of Aunt Clara and learn she was a very private person who never shared much about her life. The story ramps up at this point as we wonder what part Zack will play in the current drama but also why did he become a recipient of this house? Meredith wants to know, too, more about the aunt she never knew so starts on a quest, aided by Zach. Together they try to sort out the answers and their search takes them down a number of interesting roads. There are some big twists in the story that you might expect and others you may not. Personally, I enjoyed getting to know all the characters of both timelines and their paths to restoration and discovery.
The two timelines were well delivered and come together effortlessly at the end. Meredith’s personal and business crisis, her family’s revelations, her unexpected inheritance and path forward was fresh and believable. Clara’s independence, re-connection with her childhood friend and sweetheart, her heartbreak, rebuilding of her life elsewhere and then her return home was moving and convincing. This is a lovely novel that is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. But everything works out in the end and there is a positive and uplifting message in the climax. Happiness is in the cards, plus restoration and love for these deserving characters. I thoroughly enjoyed The Butterfly Garden and highly recommend it. It is a well-written, unforgettable story that shines with genuine substance and beauty. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
June 9, 2025
✨️A light read for those wanting something as an in between. For me, nothing really exciting happened. You could guess how the ending would come together. Easy enough to follow 👌
June 29, 2025
A beautifully written book, dual timeline set in 1963 and 2018.
I was captivated from the outset by this family saga... secrets, lies and love.
I was captivated from the outset by this family saga... secrets, lies and love.
June 9, 2024
I’ve really been enjoying Rachel’s historical mysteries based in beautiful home. Whilst The Butterfly Cottage and its beautiful gardens may not be as stately and grand as some of the other homes featured, its story is still very compelling and its inhabitants very engaging. I loved hearing about the gardens and the small town of Carybrook made for the perfect backdrop to the story.
The story takes place over a dual timeline going back and forth between 1963 and 2018. Both storylines were engaging and held my attention and the mystery unraveled nicely through them both. I really felt like I was in the 1960s - I enjoyed hearing about the dances, a new band called the Beatles and hearing about Mary Quants designs.
The two main protagonists Clara and Meredith were both well fleshed out, had their family issues and had a gardener for a love interest. I particularly enjoyed Clara and how ahead of the times she was. The mystery element was fun in that we knew the beginning and the end, I enjoyed trying to guess how it all played out. Some bits I was right about others took me by surprise. I enjoyed that there was list of further reading and a playlist to set the mood at the end. I can’t wait to see what home with visit with Rachel next.
July 13, 2024
A lovely story which drew me in from the very beginning. Loved the way the story unfolds and has different eras. The characters were interesting. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
August 15, 2024
Well, it’s an average read. The story somehow felt incomplete and disconnected. Characters seemed too distant. It felt like someone’s giving a rushed account of a supposedly most interesting story of their life, peppering in with characters and then forgetting about them or their side story. The plot isn’t extraordinary either, neither is romance or the historical angle.
But overall it kept me engaged till the end, so it wasn’t a DNF. The reason it’s got an additional star is the concept of love it presents where it’s alright to not want the usual nine yards of relationship even when you love a person till your last breath.
But overall it kept me engaged till the end, so it wasn’t a DNF. The reason it’s got an additional star is the concept of love it presents where it’s alright to not want the usual nine yards of relationship even when you love a person till your last breath.
June 28, 2024
I am very fond of novels which have a dual timeline. This one is set during 1963 and 2018.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
December 8, 2024
I think I am beginning to really like a well written, dual time line books. This is the second one this year I've really enjoyed. I've not previously enjoyed them very much because the way they'd been written had been a little confusing as to which timeline I was in.
This book isn't like that, it's clear from the Chapters whether I'm in the past or present and I loved the way it's written.
The family element of never having met each other and having the same love for the house is really quite beautiful.
I really enjoyed the flicks between Clara's time line and her Great Niece Meredith's. I love that Meredith is attempting to find out who her Great Aunt was and why she would have left Butterfly cottage to her. There is also the surprise element that Meredith wasn't expecting and that is to have been left Butterfly Cottage in a 50/50 share with the gardener who lived in a caravan at the bottom of its garden.
I loved the unfolding of the story and that Meredith and Zach work together to discover the history of Clara and what happened to her all those years ago.
This story is romantic and heart-warming and pulls you in with it's warmth. There are some emotional elements too.
This book isn't like that, it's clear from the Chapters whether I'm in the past or present and I loved the way it's written.
The family element of never having met each other and having the same love for the house is really quite beautiful.
I really enjoyed the flicks between Clara's time line and her Great Niece Meredith's. I love that Meredith is attempting to find out who her Great Aunt was and why she would have left Butterfly cottage to her. There is also the surprise element that Meredith wasn't expecting and that is to have been left Butterfly Cottage in a 50/50 share with the gardener who lived in a caravan at the bottom of its garden.
I loved the unfolding of the story and that Meredith and Zach work together to discover the history of Clara and what happened to her all those years ago.
This story is romantic and heart-warming and pulls you in with it's warmth. There are some emotional elements too.
March 31, 2025
Lovely easy read
This was a lovely story told in duel time lines of 1963 ( Clara) and 2018 ( Meridith).
I really liked the ease of how the 2 time lines weaved together and the mystery Meridith had to solve around her great aunt Clara. The writing was easy to follow and I got through it really fast.
Butterfly cottage was beautiful and I'd love to live there!
I felt it a bit of an odd choice with Zach and why Clara made decisions she did ( no spoilers) he was lovely but a bit misplaced.
I felt lack of emotion in many parts and it was all a bit flowery and predictable, when there were some pretty heavy topics. That being said the story was beautiful but had so much potential to delve further in the loss of love. The ending was very fitting though.
This was a lovely story told in duel time lines of 1963 ( Clara) and 2018 ( Meridith).
I really liked the ease of how the 2 time lines weaved together and the mystery Meridith had to solve around her great aunt Clara. The writing was easy to follow and I got through it really fast.
Butterfly cottage was beautiful and I'd love to live there!
I felt it a bit of an odd choice with Zach and why Clara made decisions she did ( no spoilers) he was lovely but a bit misplaced.
I felt lack of emotion in many parts and it was all a bit flowery and predictable, when there were some pretty heavy topics. That being said the story was beautiful but had so much potential to delve further in the loss of love. The ending was very fitting though.
April 25, 2025
I thought I might relate well to the main character Clara in this story. She is a teacher who is drawn to a small village and a cottage that she knew well as a child. The cottage has an amazing garden that attracts butterflies. Clara falls in love with a man and seems to have her life in order. The story seemed a little too predictable to me and that’s why I gave it 3 stars. I did like how the family reconnected and how the new owners would be making a fresh start.
August 14, 2025
What a wonderful read this was- perfect for a cosy, chill day!
Fans of Lucinda Riley & Kate Morton would enjoy this; as it’s written in very similar style to them, where secrets of the past need to be uncovered in the present.
My first read by Rachel and I am definitely looking forward to reading more by her 💖
Fans of Lucinda Riley & Kate Morton would enjoy this; as it’s written in very similar style to them, where secrets of the past need to be uncovered in the present.
My first read by Rachel and I am definitely looking forward to reading more by her 💖
September 28, 2024
Sad but happy
Lovely book very different in content and hard to put down.
Will recommend to to my bookclub friends. Thoroughly believable
Lovely book very different in content and hard to put down.
Will recommend to to my bookclub friends. Thoroughly believable
January 3, 2025
Such a beautiful and heartbreaking story. Shed a tear at the very end.
January 21, 2025
Lovely read and nice plot, but a little predictable
April 16, 2025
Read the wrong butterfly garden but it was good. Cute books, didn’t like the twist
April 18, 2025
All the dreamy English garden vibes 🤍
April 28, 2025
I was rooting for a Clara and James reunion but I really enjoyed it nonetheless, nice change of pace for me to get out of a slump!
4.5
4.5
June 27, 2024
4.5 stars
I’m a huge fan of dual timeline reads, and this is a beautifully written one from Rachel Burton.
Butterfly Cottage sounded such an idyllic place to call home and I loved how Meredith was able to get to know the cottage and garden after receiving the shock notice of her inheritance.
Rachel Burton always writes about such interesting characters and Clara really captured my heart. Her independence, her strength and courage to do her own thing was so admirable - something for Meredith to follow as an example for sure.
With a little mystery and a whole lot of love, The Butterfly Garden is a beautiful story and one to lose yourself in for just a little while.
I’m a huge fan of dual timeline reads, and this is a beautifully written one from Rachel Burton.
Butterfly Cottage sounded such an idyllic place to call home and I loved how Meredith was able to get to know the cottage and garden after receiving the shock notice of her inheritance.
Rachel Burton always writes about such interesting characters and Clara really captured my heart. Her independence, her strength and courage to do her own thing was so admirable - something for Meredith to follow as an example for sure.
With a little mystery and a whole lot of love, The Butterfly Garden is a beautiful story and one to lose yourself in for just a little while.
April 18, 2025
This was a clean and sweet and bittersweet fluffy love story. A little heavy handed on the feminist women are oppressed narrative from the 1960s and forward. For some reason, it seemed necessary to keep repeating that women couldn’t buy a house on their own or do things without a man to stand in for them at the bank or whatever. But, otherwise a decent clean story.
July 18, 2025
A good story that pulled me in quite quickly. I enjoyed how the story developed and although it’s not your typical happy ending, it’s still a complete story. The characters developed well, and I almost guessed the ending, but didn’t quite get it right.
January 20, 2025
Very enjoyable read. I love dual time period books.
Read
April 19, 2025Lovely story. My predictions were correct and the story ended how I expected.
July 15, 2025
This was a beautifully written family tale. A very enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews