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The Someday Garden
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Expected 16 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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15 copies available
U.S. only
The new head gardener at the enchanting Lilymoor House stumbles upon a secret garden . . . with a mysterious man trapped inside, in the next magical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip.
When Sophie Drear plans her escape to coastal Maine for the summer—for a temporary job revitalizing the storied grounds at Lilymoor House—she doesn’t expect to fall in love.
But she does: With the beguiling land, the fragrant flowers, and the towering hedge maze. With the quirky staff and the enigmatic woman who owns the place.
And then, the door appears. Never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, and unfinished, garden with a frustrated thundercloud of a man trapped inside.
This mysterious garden is not the only sign that the future of Lilymoor is unstable: the foliage resists Sophie’s careful nurturing, vines threaten to strangle the hedges, and the manor’s owner has wild ideas about who will take over when she retires—including her inconveniently attractive nephew who is also there just for the summer.
Despite herself, Sophie has come to care for the residents of Lilymoor just as much as she cares for its grounds. With the help of one man on the outside of the secret garden, and one man on the inside, she might be the only person who can figure out exactly what Lilymoor needs to bloom once more.
When Sophie Drear plans her escape to coastal Maine for the summer—for a temporary job revitalizing the storied grounds at Lilymoor House—she doesn’t expect to fall in love.
But she does: With the beguiling land, the fragrant flowers, and the towering hedge maze. With the quirky staff and the enigmatic woman who owns the place.
And then, the door appears. Never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, and unfinished, garden with a frustrated thundercloud of a man trapped inside.
This mysterious garden is not the only sign that the future of Lilymoor is unstable: the foliage resists Sophie’s careful nurturing, vines threaten to strangle the hedges, and the manor’s owner has wild ideas about who will take over when she retires—including her inconveniently attractive nephew who is also there just for the summer.
Despite herself, Sophie has come to care for the residents of Lilymoor just as much as she cares for its grounds. With the help of one man on the outside of the secret garden, and one man on the inside, she might be the only person who can figure out exactly what Lilymoor needs to bloom once more.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
65 people are currently reading
65762 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Poston
28 books25.3k followersNew York Times best-seller by day, fanfic author by night.
Viist her at www.ashposton.com.
Viist her at www.ashposton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
— ∞/5 stars
I truly believe that the right book finds you at the right time and this one found me exactly when I needed it most. . I was feeling a little lost, a little unsure of myself, and somehow this story reached into that space and gently held it. It made me feel vulnerable in a way that wasn’t uncomfortable, but healing. You know how there are books we read… and then there are books that read us? This was one of those. It felt like I was seeing pieces of myself reflected back through the pages.
I honestly don’t know how to describe it more precisely than that, I found myself in this book. And when I say it’s become one of my new favorites, I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I already knew Ashley Poston writes beautifully. Her words always feel soft and magical, like they wrap around your soul and refuse to let go even after you turn the last page. So loving this book wasn’t a surprise it was more of a quiet, satisfied “I knew it” moment.
Getting the ARC made the experience even more special. I truly didn’t expect to receive it, so when I did, I was over the moon, smiling, giggling, staring at my screen in disbelief. I didn’t even wait to start it. I opened it immediately because I just had to. And I’m so grateful I had the chance to read it early, because it turned out to be one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
Nobody does magical realism quite like Ashley Poston. I’ll say it again, nobody. She has a way of blending the ordinary with the extraordinary so seamlessly that it feels real, like magic could slip into your life at any moment. This book was tender, emotional, and quietly powerful. And I’m so glad it found me when it did.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
This story follows Sophie Drear, a woman who feels completely untethered after losing her best friend, Harriet. Grief has hollowed her out, leaving her unsure of who she is or where she belongs. So she returns to the one place that still holds Harriet’s memory close, Lilymoor. Years ago, they had promised to meet there again in a decade, each bringing stories and surprises from the lives they had built. Ten years later, Sophie keeps that promise alone.
Lilymoor is the only place that still feels like home, the only place where Sophie feels even remotely connected to Harriet. Wanting to stay close to that feeling, she takes a job there as the head gardener. And as the days pass, she begins to realize that Lilymoor is more than just beautiful, it’s magical. People say the gardens can whisper the voice of your truest love, and Sophie slowly discovers that love doesn’t always mean another person. Sometimes, it means finding your way back to yourself.
Through tending the soil and nurturing the flowers, Sophie begins to heal in quiet, tender ways. She learns to trust herself again. She learns that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting. Losing a best friend is like losing a limb, it shifts your balance, your perspective, the way you see the world. The sky feels less blue, the ocean less endless. That’s the weight Sophie carries. But in Lilymoor’s gardens, she finds purpose. And purpose makes grief feel a little less sharp.
As the story unfolds, Sophie discovers something even more extraordinary, a hidden magical garden within Lilymoor, accessible only through a mysterious gate that never appears in the same place twice. Inside, a man is trapped, and freeing him becomes her new mission. It gives her direction, something to fight for, something to believe in.
And somewhere between chasing magic and honoring memory, Sophie realizes she has fallen in love, not just with the garden, but with the life she is building there. Lilymoor doesn’t erase her grief. It doesn’t pretend Harriet never existed. Instead, it helps Sophie carry that loss differently. It helps her feel seen, whole, and alive again.
➳ ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
╰┈➤ SOPHIE DREAR
For me, Sophie didn’t just feel like a character. She felt like me. I have never truly, not even once related to a fictional character the way I related to her. There’s something so quiet and gentle about Sophie, an aura that isn’t loud or dramatic, but deeply present. It makes you want to protect her, to understand her, to sit beside her in silence. And in so many ways, I saw myself in that silence.
The way she carried her grief felt painfully real. Especially when she says she didn’t let herself cry because she didn’t know who would put her back together again if she fell apart. That line stayed with me. Because sometimes grief isn’t just about missing someone, it’s about being terrified of unraveling with no one there to steady you.
As someone who has walked through a similar kind of loss, that moment hit me harder than I expected. It felt like the book reached into a place I rarely speak about and said, I see you.
This story made me feel seen in a way I didn’t even think books were capable of. It was tender and honest and raw without trying too hard. I’m so grateful I got to read it early, because I truly believe the right book finds you at the right time. And this one found me when I needed it most. It felt like a warm hug on a cold day. Like being wrapped up safely when everything feels overwhelming. There was comfort in it. There was magic in it.
Sophie was written so beautifully that she never felt fictional. She felt human. Real. Flawed. Grieving. Healing. And the way she spoke about Harriet, God. There’s a line where she mentions being asked a question that didn’t force her to repeat a eulogy, but instead made her remember Harriet as a person, as memories, not just someone who had died. That line broke me. It shifted something inside me.
I cried reading this book. And I am not an easy crier. I really am not. But this story pulled tears out of me more than once. And for me, that says everything. When a book can make you feel that deeply, when it can gently hold your grief and reflect it back to you with care, that’s something rare.
This book didn’t just tell a story. It understood me. And I’ll always be grateful for that.
╰┈➤ CYRUS BECK
Okay, I’m going to be completely honest here. As much as Cyrus is technically the main male character, I just didn’t connect with him the way I expected to. I know that sounds a little unfair, but my entire focus was on Sophie. She held my heart from the very beginning, and because of that, Cyrus sometimes felt more like he was orbiting her story rather than leading his own.
That doesn’t mean his pain wasn’t real. It absolutely was. The way he loved Lilymoor, the way returning there after tragedy felt both comforting and devastating for him, that was beautifully written. You could see how much the place meant to him, how it shaped him, how it felt like the only place where he could truly be himself. But for some reason, I struggled to emotionally attach myself to him in the same way I did with Sophie. At times, he felt more like an anchor in the background rather than the center of the narrative.
Still, I can’t deny that Cyrus was written with depth and care. The way he understood Sophie, truly understood her, was something special. He recognized her grief without forcing it. He met her in that quiet, fragile space and made her feel seen. And that matters. That tenderness, that quiet emotional intelligence, made him feel very human.
And I have to mention Oliver. Oliver was genuinely one of the sweetest parts of the book. There was something so warm and lovable about him that I couldn’t help but adore him.
What really stands out to me is that every single character in this story felt real. I don’t think there was one I genuinely disliked. Each of them was written with such softness and precision that they didn’t feel fictional. They felt like people you might know in real life, flawed, grieving, loving, healing. That’s rare. It’s rare to read a book where you can say you loved every character in some way.
So even though my heart belonged mostly to Sophie, I can appreciate how beautifully everyone was crafted.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
Honestly, I think I knew I was going to love this book from the very first page. Ashley Poston does magical realism on a completely different level, it’s soft and surreal and somehow still painfully real. I went in expecting to enjoy it. I did not expect it to see me the way it did. I did not expect to feel this vulnerable, this understood, this gently exposed.
But here we are.
This book was truly, genuinely wonderful. Not just “good,” not just “beautifully written,” but the kind of wonderful that lingers in your chest long after you close it. The kind that makes you pause and just sit there for a moment.
I would highly, highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who feels a little lost. To anyone searching for an anchor. For purpose. For something that whispers, you’re not alone in this. This story feels like it was written for people who deeply want to be seen and understood. And not in a dramatic, loud way, but in a quiet, soul-deep way.
The last book I read by Ashley Poston was The seven year slip, and for the longest time I thought that one would remain my favorite forever. I was so sure of it. I was so confident. Turns out, I was completely wrong. This one has claimed that place so effortlessly. It has become my new favorite, and I love it so much that I already know I’ll reread it. Not because I have to. Just because I want to live in it a little longer.
And can we talk about how human the characters felt? None of them felt fictional. They felt like people I could meet, people I might already know. I was so deeply entranced that I finished the book in three to four days, which, during exam season, is basically a miracle. That’s not just reading. That’s devotion.
So yes, I cannot recommend this book enough.
⚘ "Overall, If you’re looking for a story that will make you feel seen, loved, understood, more human, then this is the one. It’s gentle. It’s magical. It’s grounding.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need." 💌
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 11 February , 2026
another anticipated arc got approved hehe, who’s doing it like me 😌🤌🏻
I truly believe that the right book finds you at the right time and this one found me exactly when I needed it most. . I was feeling a little lost, a little unsure of myself, and somehow this story reached into that space and gently held it. It made me feel vulnerable in a way that wasn’t uncomfortable, but healing. You know how there are books we read… and then there are books that read us? This was one of those. It felt like I was seeing pieces of myself reflected back through the pages.
I honestly don’t know how to describe it more precisely than that, I found myself in this book. And when I say it’s become one of my new favorites, I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I already knew Ashley Poston writes beautifully. Her words always feel soft and magical, like they wrap around your soul and refuse to let go even after you turn the last page. So loving this book wasn’t a surprise it was more of a quiet, satisfied “I knew it” moment.
Getting the ARC made the experience even more special. I truly didn’t expect to receive it, so when I did, I was over the moon, smiling, giggling, staring at my screen in disbelief. I didn’t even wait to start it. I opened it immediately because I just had to. And I’m so grateful I had the chance to read it early, because it turned out to be one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
Nobody does magical realism quite like Ashley Poston. I’ll say it again, nobody. She has a way of blending the ordinary with the extraordinary so seamlessly that it feels real, like magic could slip into your life at any moment. This book was tender, emotional, and quietly powerful. And I’m so glad it found me when it did.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
This story follows Sophie Drear, a woman who feels completely untethered after losing her best friend, Harriet. Grief has hollowed her out, leaving her unsure of who she is or where she belongs. So she returns to the one place that still holds Harriet’s memory close, Lilymoor. Years ago, they had promised to meet there again in a decade, each bringing stories and surprises from the lives they had built. Ten years later, Sophie keeps that promise alone.
Lilymoor is the only place that still feels like home, the only place where Sophie feels even remotely connected to Harriet. Wanting to stay close to that feeling, she takes a job there as the head gardener. And as the days pass, she begins to realize that Lilymoor is more than just beautiful, it’s magical. People say the gardens can whisper the voice of your truest love, and Sophie slowly discovers that love doesn’t always mean another person. Sometimes, it means finding your way back to yourself.
Through tending the soil and nurturing the flowers, Sophie begins to heal in quiet, tender ways. She learns to trust herself again. She learns that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting. Losing a best friend is like losing a limb, it shifts your balance, your perspective, the way you see the world. The sky feels less blue, the ocean less endless. That’s the weight Sophie carries. But in Lilymoor’s gardens, she finds purpose. And purpose makes grief feel a little less sharp.
As the story unfolds, Sophie discovers something even more extraordinary, a hidden magical garden within Lilymoor, accessible only through a mysterious gate that never appears in the same place twice. Inside, a man is trapped, and freeing him becomes her new mission. It gives her direction, something to fight for, something to believe in.
And somewhere between chasing magic and honoring memory, Sophie realizes she has fallen in love, not just with the garden, but with the life she is building there. Lilymoor doesn’t erase her grief. It doesn’t pretend Harriet never existed. Instead, it helps Sophie carry that loss differently. It helps her feel seen, whole, and alive again.
➳ ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
╰┈➤ SOPHIE DREAR
For me, Sophie didn’t just feel like a character. She felt like me. I have never truly, not even once related to a fictional character the way I related to her. There’s something so quiet and gentle about Sophie, an aura that isn’t loud or dramatic, but deeply present. It makes you want to protect her, to understand her, to sit beside her in silence. And in so many ways, I saw myself in that silence.
The way she carried her grief felt painfully real. Especially when she says she didn’t let herself cry because she didn’t know who would put her back together again if she fell apart. That line stayed with me. Because sometimes grief isn’t just about missing someone, it’s about being terrified of unraveling with no one there to steady you.
As someone who has walked through a similar kind of loss, that moment hit me harder than I expected. It felt like the book reached into a place I rarely speak about and said, I see you.
This story made me feel seen in a way I didn’t even think books were capable of. It was tender and honest and raw without trying too hard. I’m so grateful I got to read it early, because I truly believe the right book finds you at the right time. And this one found me when I needed it most. It felt like a warm hug on a cold day. Like being wrapped up safely when everything feels overwhelming. There was comfort in it. There was magic in it.
Sophie was written so beautifully that she never felt fictional. She felt human. Real. Flawed. Grieving. Healing. And the way she spoke about Harriet, God. There’s a line where she mentions being asked a question that didn’t force her to repeat a eulogy, but instead made her remember Harriet as a person, as memories, not just someone who had died. That line broke me. It shifted something inside me.
I cried reading this book. And I am not an easy crier. I really am not. But this story pulled tears out of me more than once. And for me, that says everything. When a book can make you feel that deeply, when it can gently hold your grief and reflect it back to you with care, that’s something rare.
This book didn’t just tell a story. It understood me. And I’ll always be grateful for that.
╰┈➤ CYRUS BECK
Okay, I’m going to be completely honest here. As much as Cyrus is technically the main male character, I just didn’t connect with him the way I expected to. I know that sounds a little unfair, but my entire focus was on Sophie. She held my heart from the very beginning, and because of that, Cyrus sometimes felt more like he was orbiting her story rather than leading his own.
That doesn’t mean his pain wasn’t real. It absolutely was. The way he loved Lilymoor, the way returning there after tragedy felt both comforting and devastating for him, that was beautifully written. You could see how much the place meant to him, how it shaped him, how it felt like the only place where he could truly be himself. But for some reason, I struggled to emotionally attach myself to him in the same way I did with Sophie. At times, he felt more like an anchor in the background rather than the center of the narrative.
Still, I can’t deny that Cyrus was written with depth and care. The way he understood Sophie, truly understood her, was something special. He recognized her grief without forcing it. He met her in that quiet, fragile space and made her feel seen. And that matters. That tenderness, that quiet emotional intelligence, made him feel very human.
And I have to mention Oliver. Oliver was genuinely one of the sweetest parts of the book. There was something so warm and lovable about him that I couldn’t help but adore him.
What really stands out to me is that every single character in this story felt real. I don’t think there was one I genuinely disliked. Each of them was written with such softness and precision that they didn’t feel fictional. They felt like people you might know in real life, flawed, grieving, loving, healing. That’s rare. It’s rare to read a book where you can say you loved every character in some way.
So even though my heart belonged mostly to Sophie, I can appreciate how beautifully everyone was crafted.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
Honestly, I think I knew I was going to love this book from the very first page. Ashley Poston does magical realism on a completely different level, it’s soft and surreal and somehow still painfully real. I went in expecting to enjoy it. I did not expect it to see me the way it did. I did not expect to feel this vulnerable, this understood, this gently exposed.
But here we are.
This book was truly, genuinely wonderful. Not just “good,” not just “beautifully written,” but the kind of wonderful that lingers in your chest long after you close it. The kind that makes you pause and just sit there for a moment.
I would highly, highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who feels a little lost. To anyone searching for an anchor. For purpose. For something that whispers, you’re not alone in this. This story feels like it was written for people who deeply want to be seen and understood. And not in a dramatic, loud way, but in a quiet, soul-deep way.
The last book I read by Ashley Poston was The seven year slip, and for the longest time I thought that one would remain my favorite forever. I was so sure of it. I was so confident. Turns out, I was completely wrong. This one has claimed that place so effortlessly. It has become my new favorite, and I love it so much that I already know I’ll reread it. Not because I have to. Just because I want to live in it a little longer.
And can we talk about how human the characters felt? None of them felt fictional. They felt like people I could meet, people I might already know. I was so deeply entranced that I finished the book in three to four days, which, during exam season, is basically a miracle. That’s not just reading. That’s devotion.
So yes, I cannot recommend this book enough.
⚘ "Overall, If you’re looking for a story that will make you feel seen, loved, understood, more human, then this is the one. It’s gentle. It’s magical. It’s grounding.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need." 💌
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 11 February , 2026
another anticipated arc got approved hehe, who’s doing it like me 😌🤌🏻
April 17, 2026
This was so cute! Secret garden vibes, this was such a tender story, perfect for a spring read.
Right off the bat, I was invested in the gardening plot. I wanted to see our project through, and was also loving the mystery behind this mysterious door to the secret garden (and the man inside). Everything just felt so inherently romantic, even outside the romance plot- because we literally have flowers EVERYWHERE.
I did eventually come to love the chemistry and romance between our characters, but it was a little iffy in the beginning. Felt like one of those romances that just went from 0-100 instantly. Like we had some cute banter moments and all of a sudden, our characters were using language like “falling for him” and it just felt way too quick! However, the substance did come later, and I did end up falling in love with them in the end. Bonus: the third act conflict was actually plot-driven and not just an annoying miscommunication! 🥳
I did get a little teary at the end, and overall loved the story! Also loved the little “untranslatable words” theme that was included chapter to chapter, in ways it gave each chapter a purpose.
Definitely a good one to jump into for a feel good, light read!
Right off the bat, I was invested in the gardening plot. I wanted to see our project through, and was also loving the mystery behind this mysterious door to the secret garden (and the man inside). Everything just felt so inherently romantic, even outside the romance plot- because we literally have flowers EVERYWHERE.
I did eventually come to love the chemistry and romance between our characters, but it was a little iffy in the beginning. Felt like one of those romances that just went from 0-100 instantly. Like we had some cute banter moments and all of a sudden, our characters were using language like “falling for him” and it just felt way too quick! However, the substance did come later, and I did end up falling in love with them in the end. Bonus: the third act conflict was actually plot-driven and not just an annoying miscommunication! 🥳
I did get a little teary at the end, and overall loved the story! Also loved the little “untranslatable words” theme that was included chapter to chapter, in ways it gave each chapter a purpose.
Definitely a good one to jump into for a feel good, light read!
March 24, 2026
[arc review] ashley poston is one of those authors that has discovered her niche, and with every new release, proves time and time again why she’s so good at it.
I’ve been a huge fan since I read the dead romantics in 2023, and have enjoyed everything she’s released since—this novel being no different.
the someday garden follows sophie drear as she fulfills the promise she made with her best friend to visit the infamous lilymoor 10 years after they graduate—no matter where in life they end up. except this time she’s alone, and bearing the grief of losing harriet since her last visit.
sophie and harriet had theorised about how the gardens at lilymoor harbour a hidden magic.
it isn’t until sophie visits for the second time that she realises that it isn’t just a conspiracy theory—there is magic at lilymoor, and behind the blue door that appears in different locations, is a man stuck, and he needs her help to get out.
the way ashley writes has you so immersed; weaving intricacies that leave you feeling connected with the characters as they tackle such raw issues head on, but in a way that is treated so delicately.
ashley poston takes you on a journey of grief, finding strength, and learning how to live with it—not die in it.
I really enjoyed this and finished it in one sitting. I kept saying one more chapter until the end, and I still found myself wanting more.
sophie is one of those characters that has been written with so much care and attention. I liked how as the story progressed, she started to find herself again. I wanted her happy ending, and the ending was so fulfilling.
I equally loved the banter between sophie and cyrus, and the side characters each played their part in the story so well.
at the end of the day, I’m a simple woman—if ashley poston writes it, I will read it.
thank you HQ for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve been a huge fan since I read the dead romantics in 2023, and have enjoyed everything she’s released since—this novel being no different.
the someday garden follows sophie drear as she fulfills the promise she made with her best friend to visit the infamous lilymoor 10 years after they graduate—no matter where in life they end up. except this time she’s alone, and bearing the grief of losing harriet since her last visit.
sophie and harriet had theorised about how the gardens at lilymoor harbour a hidden magic.
it isn’t until sophie visits for the second time that she realises that it isn’t just a conspiracy theory—there is magic at lilymoor, and behind the blue door that appears in different locations, is a man stuck, and he needs her help to get out.
the way ashley writes has you so immersed; weaving intricacies that leave you feeling connected with the characters as they tackle such raw issues head on, but in a way that is treated so delicately.
ashley poston takes you on a journey of grief, finding strength, and learning how to live with it—not die in it.
I really enjoyed this and finished it in one sitting. I kept saying one more chapter until the end, and I still found myself wanting more.
sophie is one of those characters that has been written with so much care and attention. I liked how as the story progressed, she started to find herself again. I wanted her happy ending, and the ending was so fulfilling.
I equally loved the banter between sophie and cyrus, and the side characters each played their part in the story so well.
at the end of the day, I’m a simple woman—if ashley poston writes it, I will read it.
thank you HQ for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
ughhh i was worried that this wouldn’t be a five star read for me (ashley poston became one of my fav authors in 2025 and all of her books were five stars for me), but the last 10 pages or so solidified why i should trust in poston’s process.
as usual, ashley poston writes beautiful magical realism novels that focus on so many different types of love. in the someday garden, sophie drear returns to the beloved garden lillymoor that she and her best friend harrie visited 10 years ago, only this time she returns as the head gardener, and without her best friend.
sophie grapples with the loss of her best friend and drifts through life without much passion until she stumbles upon a door to a hidden garden during lillymoor’s golden hour, and finds a handsome but rude man seemingly stuck in the garden.
i especially loved how each chapter was titled an “untranslatable” word, with the full list being featured at the end of the book.
i’m very excited to hear ashley poston speak about this book in june!
ughhh i was worried that this wouldn’t be a five star read for me (ashley poston became one of my fav authors in 2025 and all of her books were five stars for me), but the last 10 pages or so solidified why i should trust in poston’s process.
as usual, ashley poston writes beautiful magical realism novels that focus on so many different types of love. in the someday garden, sophie drear returns to the beloved garden lillymoor that she and her best friend harrie visited 10 years ago, only this time she returns as the head gardener, and without her best friend.
sophie grapples with the loss of her best friend and drifts through life without much passion until she stumbles upon a door to a hidden garden during lillymoor’s golden hour, and finds a handsome but rude man seemingly stuck in the garden.
i especially loved how each chapter was titled an “untranslatable” word, with the full list being featured at the end of the book.
i’m very excited to hear ashley poston speak about this book in june!
May 4, 2026
this was the most perfect spring romance read EVER!!! it’s set in a magical garden, rufkm!!!! 🌹🌸💐🌺🌷🌻🥀🪷🪻
Ashley Poston has found her niche in romance writing and i’m so obsessed with it—no one does the romance & magical realism blend quite like her!!! it feels so effortless to the story and weaves together so well that you almost forget there is magic! she reminds me a lot of Rebecca Serle in this way (who i’m also obsessed with).
while this and romance, to me this one was actually more about the female MC and her coming of age/finding herself after a devastating loss. there is a lot of grief and the MC is dealing with how she can possibly move on and start living a life that is different from how it was before. she wrote that so beautifully!
then you have the romance which was definitely a slow burn. upon finishing, i honestly wanted even more from that plot! the ending wrapped up quickly for the slow burn romance/mystery of the garden so i selfishly wanted 2-3 more chapters there.
TLDR: this book was hopeful, funny at parts and super cute. lovedddd the setting and honestly it’s perfect for spring 🌼 she remains an auto buy author for me!! her books are so calming and feel like a big hug.
thanks to Berkley for the gifted early copy
Ashley Poston has found her niche in romance writing and i’m so obsessed with it—no one does the romance & magical realism blend quite like her!!! it feels so effortless to the story and weaves together so well that you almost forget there is magic! she reminds me a lot of Rebecca Serle in this way (who i’m also obsessed with).
while this and romance, to me this one was actually more about the female MC and her coming of age/finding herself after a devastating loss. there is a lot of grief and the MC is dealing with how she can possibly move on and start living a life that is different from how it was before. she wrote that so beautifully!
then you have the romance which was definitely a slow burn. upon finishing, i honestly wanted even more from that plot! the ending wrapped up quickly for the slow burn romance/mystery of the garden so i selfishly wanted 2-3 more chapters there.
TLDR: this book was hopeful, funny at parts and super cute. lovedddd the setting and honestly it’s perfect for spring 🌼 she remains an auto buy author for me!! her books are so calming and feel like a big hug.
thanks to Berkley for the gifted early copy
anticipated-books
January 1, 2026Gimme plz 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is for lovers of magical realism and slow burns. A magical garden with a man trapped inside that she finds and she has to find a way to get him back into the real world.
It was really hard for me to rate this one, because I really enjoyed all the magical parts, but the parts that were just ‘real life’ seemed extremely slow to me. I wanted the whole book to be more of the magical parts and less of the rest.
I also wanted more of an explanation of why the magical part happened, but I guess the explanation is just “magic” haha. This might be more of a me problem, because I do have more of a fact based mind and I don’t read much fantasy. My theory about what I thought was going on was wrong.
I would say this is probably a 3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
It was really hard for me to rate this one, because I really enjoyed all the magical parts, but the parts that were just ‘real life’ seemed extremely slow to me. I wanted the whole book to be more of the magical parts and less of the rest.
I also wanted more of an explanation of why the magical part happened, but I guess the explanation is just “magic” haha. This might be more of a me problem, because I do have more of a fact based mind and I don’t read much fantasy. My theory about what I thought was going on was wrong.
I would say this is probably a 3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
remind-me-once-out
September 26, 2025Me: seeing a new AP book
Also me: *hyperventilating from heavy breathing*
Also me: *hyperventilating from heavy breathing*
Want to Read
March 13, 2026I ADORE Ashley Poston and so thankful for the early copy! I love how all her stories have interconnected characters (hoping this one might too) and how lighthearted and whimsical they are!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Ashley Poston for an early copy.
Publication date: June 16, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Ashley Poston for an early copy.
Publication date: June 16, 2026
Want to Read
November 20, 2025The TITLE, the COVER, the VIBES
IMMACULATE
IMMACULATE
Want to Read
October 6, 2025Never clicked tbr faster😍
Want to Read
February 12, 2026I’m reading the ARC and i have a good feeling that it will slap like The Seven year Slip 💗 🪴 🍋
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5⭐
I couldn't put this book down 🧡 This book is for anyone who has lost a loved one. The healing process, the emotional state, and the reflection all happened to me 😭 This is basically the five stages of grief
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:32, 36, 43
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I can't believe I have this in my hands 😭😭 tysm Netgalley and Berkley 🧡🩷💛
I couldn't put this book down 🧡 This book is for anyone who has lost a loved one. The healing process, the emotional state, and the reflection all happened to me 😭 This is basically the five stages of grief
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER:32, 36, 43
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I can't believe I have this in my hands 😭😭 tysm Netgalley and Berkley 🧡🩷💛
2026
April 7, 2026Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
Read
May 3, 2026ended up crying so much at the end, I wasn’t expecting it 😭 rtc
April 3, 2026
Ashley poston you evil, wonderful, talented woman
May 6, 2026
Ashley Poston writes books that you just want to live in and The Someday Garden is exactly that kind of story!
This follows Sophie, who escapes to coastal Maine for the summer to work as the new head gardener at Lilymoor House. What starts as a simple job quickly becomes something more as she falls in love with the estate, its quirky residents, and the beautiful, ever-changing grounds. But when a mysterious door begins appearing, never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, unfinished garden… and a man trapped inside. As the magic of Lilymoor begins to falter, Sophie may be the only one who can help bring it back to life.
I absolutely loved this book! The setting completely stole my heart. Lilymoor House and its magical garden felt so vivid, whimsical, and immersive that it’s honestly a place I wish I could step into. The magical elements were beautifully done and as always the story is filled with emotions.
And as always, Ashley Poston’s writing just works for me. She has such a gift for creating stories that feel comforting, slightly bittersweet, and completely transportive. This one absolutely did not disappoint and it’s one you’ll want to read! Also perfect for fans of The Secret Garden.
Rating: 5⭐️ thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance copy!
This follows Sophie, who escapes to coastal Maine for the summer to work as the new head gardener at Lilymoor House. What starts as a simple job quickly becomes something more as she falls in love with the estate, its quirky residents, and the beautiful, ever-changing grounds. But when a mysterious door begins appearing, never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, unfinished garden… and a man trapped inside. As the magic of Lilymoor begins to falter, Sophie may be the only one who can help bring it back to life.
I absolutely loved this book! The setting completely stole my heart. Lilymoor House and its magical garden felt so vivid, whimsical, and immersive that it’s honestly a place I wish I could step into. The magical elements were beautifully done and as always the story is filled with emotions.
And as always, Ashley Poston’s writing just works for me. She has such a gift for creating stories that feel comforting, slightly bittersweet, and completely transportive. This one absolutely did not disappoint and it’s one you’ll want to read! Also perfect for fans of The Secret Garden.
Rating: 5⭐️ thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance copy!
Want to Read
May 6, 2026I NEED THIS BOOK NOWWW
___
Update: I RECIEVED A PHYSICAL ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER AHHH
___
Update: I RECIEVED A PHYSICAL ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER AHHH
March 29, 2026
“𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞—𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧. 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥.”
Whenever I think I found my favourite Ashley Poston book, she ends up releasing another one and I fall in love all over again. The Someday Garden made me smile, laugh, cry and text the ones I love the most. Ashley brings a compelling story about grief, friendship, love and finding yourself in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people. Per usual I’m wholeheartedly obsessed with the magical realism and I just love Ashley’s writing style (she can do no wrong), she quickly became one of my most favourite authors and I cannot wait for all of you to fall in love with Sophie, Rus and the wholesomeness of The Someday Garden.
the vibes ™:
- navigating loss
- friendship
- magical realism
- whimsical
(to all of you who took the time to read this review: please pick up an Ashley Poston book and thank me later)
Special thanks to HQ for allowing me to read this as an e-arc 🌷✨🧡
Whenever I think I found my favourite Ashley Poston book, she ends up releasing another one and I fall in love all over again. The Someday Garden made me smile, laugh, cry and text the ones I love the most. Ashley brings a compelling story about grief, friendship, love and finding yourself in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people. Per usual I’m wholeheartedly obsessed with the magical realism and I just love Ashley’s writing style (she can do no wrong), she quickly became one of my most favourite authors and I cannot wait for all of you to fall in love with Sophie, Rus and the wholesomeness of The Someday Garden.
the vibes ™:
- navigating loss
- friendship
- magical realism
- whimsical
(to all of you who took the time to read this review: please pick up an Ashley Poston book and thank me later)
Special thanks to HQ for allowing me to read this as an e-arc 🌷✨🧡
April 20, 2026
This is my first book by Ashley Poston and it certainly is not going to be my last. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into it but it was such an emotional, beautiful read. The writing was also incredible and I can’t wait to pick up more soon.
The book follows Sophie as she navigates the loss of her best friend, Harriet, and the overwhelming grief that comes with it. Before Harriet’s death, they make a pact to meet at Lilymore in ten years time. A decade later, Sophie accepts a job as the head gardener at Lilymore. Weeks into her new role, she discovers a hidden door that leads to a secret garden where a man is trapped inside who needs her help to leave.
This is a beautiful story about grief, healing, friendship and love. The portrayal of grief in this book is so real and so raw, seeing Sophie find herself and happiness again was so moving.
I loved the side characters in this book, dammit really did bring the drama🤭
“Sprout, it’s a privilege to waste time - waste as much of it as you can. On things you love, on things you enjoy, on moments that make you so happy you could burst. And in the end, if you do it right, none of it will have been a waste at all.”
Thank you so much to NetGalley & HQ for this arc!
The book follows Sophie as she navigates the loss of her best friend, Harriet, and the overwhelming grief that comes with it. Before Harriet’s death, they make a pact to meet at Lilymore in ten years time. A decade later, Sophie accepts a job as the head gardener at Lilymore. Weeks into her new role, she discovers a hidden door that leads to a secret garden where a man is trapped inside who needs her help to leave.
This is a beautiful story about grief, healing, friendship and love. The portrayal of grief in this book is so real and so raw, seeing Sophie find herself and happiness again was so moving.
I loved the side characters in this book, dammit really did bring the drama🤭
“Sprout, it’s a privilege to waste time - waste as much of it as you can. On things you love, on things you enjoy, on moments that make you so happy you could burst. And in the end, if you do it right, none of it will have been a waste at all.”
Thank you so much to NetGalley & HQ for this arc!
March 11, 2026
TL;DR: A cozy, heartwarming story about grief, female friendships, and soul-deep romance. If you love whimsical magic, found family, and flowers (plus a goose named Damnit!), this one’s for you.
Sophie has returned to Lilymoor 10 years later just like she and Harrie promised. Except Harrie has passed, and Sophie is now working as head gardener — a role she never expected. While working through her grief and preparing for the end-of-summer bicentennial party, she discovers a secret garden. In it is a trapped, fiery, grumpy redhead named Rus, estranged from Lilymoor. Outside the garden is Oliver, who Sophie must work with to help Rus find a way out.
This story is full of heartache and warmth. At its core, it’s about losing a soulmate — sometimes a best friend rather than a partner — and learning to continue on. The depiction of grief feels painfully real, especially the way life can feel stagnant while processing loss.
The book also beautifully celebrates female friendships and their emotional importance, particularly in modern times when women often lean on each other for support.
There’s romance as well — a deep, soul-sharing kind of love where each character feels truly understood. I will admit, the love triangle had me stumped in the middle, as shared love interests are usually a dealbreaker for me, but it resolved smoothly in the end.
If you love whimsical magic, romance, flowers, found family, and yes — a goose named Damnit — you’ll enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie has returned to Lilymoor 10 years later just like she and Harrie promised. Except Harrie has passed, and Sophie is now working as head gardener — a role she never expected. While working through her grief and preparing for the end-of-summer bicentennial party, she discovers a secret garden. In it is a trapped, fiery, grumpy redhead named Rus, estranged from Lilymoor. Outside the garden is Oliver, who Sophie must work with to help Rus find a way out.
This story is full of heartache and warmth. At its core, it’s about losing a soulmate — sometimes a best friend rather than a partner — and learning to continue on. The depiction of grief feels painfully real, especially the way life can feel stagnant while processing loss.
The book also beautifully celebrates female friendships and their emotional importance, particularly in modern times when women often lean on each other for support.
There’s romance as well — a deep, soul-sharing kind of love where each character feels truly understood. I will admit, the love triangle had me stumped in the middle, as shared love interests are usually a dealbreaker for me, but it resolved smoothly in the end.
If you love whimsical magic, romance, flowers, found family, and yes — a goose named Damnit — you’ll enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2026
As always, Ashley Poston’s writing is truly beautiful. She has such a knack for creating beautiful, soft and gentle love stories that explore tough themes while also adding in some kind of magic. I certainly was not expecting grief to play such a big part in this book but I thought it was explored thoughtfully.
This was a little slow for me to get into, and I wasn’t really sure where the story was going to go. I found myself immersed from around the 20% mark though. I loved the little found family group and the descriptions of the gardens!
While I always love Ashely Poston’s use of magical realism, this one felt a little bit off to me - I just felt like some things didn’t QUITE add up in the end.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a little slow for me to get into, and I wasn’t really sure where the story was going to go. I found myself immersed from around the 20% mark though. I loved the little found family group and the descriptions of the gardens!
While I always love Ashely Poston’s use of magical realism, this one felt a little bit off to me - I just felt like some things didn’t QUITE add up in the end.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 20, 2026
“This was what I’d been looking for all these years. A love that felt like warm sunshine.”
I didn’t think another Ashley read would hit me like The Seven Year Slip, but The Someday Garden is hands down my new favorite from her.
A beautifully written story about grief, the friends we never thought we’d have to live without, found family, untranslatable words, gardens and finding love and falling in love with life again, over and over.
Cover to cover I loved every minute of this reading experience.
I didn’t think another Ashley read would hit me like The Seven Year Slip, but The Someday Garden is hands down my new favorite from her.
A beautifully written story about grief, the friends we never thought we’d have to live without, found family, untranslatable words, gardens and finding love and falling in love with life again, over and over.
Cover to cover I loved every minute of this reading experience.
March 29, 2026
Yea I just didn’t enjoy this one. It was boring.
The plot just didn’t excite me and I speed read the last 40% with extra big font on my kindle.
The setting was basically just in the garden. Like I said…boring.
The magical aspect didn’t even get explained.
I wanted to DNF but I finished it since it was an ARC on NetGalley and didn’t want to mess up my rating ratio.
It’s sad because I loved the seven year slip and dead romantics so much.
Thanks Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC.
The plot just didn’t excite me and I speed read the last 40% with extra big font on my kindle.
The setting was basically just in the garden. Like I said…boring.
The magical aspect didn’t even get explained.
I wanted to DNF but I finished it since it was an ARC on NetGalley and didn’t want to mess up my rating ratio.
It’s sad because I loved the seven year slip and dead romantics so much.
Thanks Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC.
April 7, 2026
Thank you Berkley for the advanced copy via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
One million stars for this book!!!! This was a beautiful and heartfelt read. There were so many emotional moments and I cried when I finished it (and I continued to cry when I thought about the ending). I absolutely loved this one. It very well might be my new favorite Ashley Poston book and it’s definitely joined my all time favorite reads list. It was just so magical. I loved Sophie and Cyrus and all their friends and family. Ashley Poston did a great job of handling the topic of grief and loss while also creating a real-feeling romance. I will be thinking about this book for a very long time and I would highly, highly recommend it.
One million stars for this book!!!! This was a beautiful and heartfelt read. There were so many emotional moments and I cried when I finished it (and I continued to cry when I thought about the ending). I absolutely loved this one. It very well might be my new favorite Ashley Poston book and it’s definitely joined my all time favorite reads list. It was just so magical. I loved Sophie and Cyrus and all their friends and family. Ashley Poston did a great job of handling the topic of grief and loss while also creating a real-feeling romance. I will be thinking about this book for a very long time and I would highly, highly recommend it.
Want to Read
October 11, 2025not me only finding out this now!!
2026-releases
April 5, 2026This title!?? Oh, I am so sat for next spring. I am so ready for Mother to bring on the magical realism + romance vibes💐⛲️💛
Want to Read
December 18, 2025EEEEK A NEW ASHLEY POSTON WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED IN 2026
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