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The Secret Garden Club
Can a broken heart learn to bloom again?
When Hilary finds her husband of thirty years dead on his way to the compost heap, it is the end of
the world as she knows it. In a fit of grief, she lays waste to every inch of the beautiful garden to
which George devoted his life.
But nearly as shocking as George's death are the group of strangers who appear at Hilary's door.
Announcing themselves as the The Secret Garden Club, they tell Hilary that George was a member
and one of their dearest friends. So why has Hilary never heard of them? And have they got
something to do with the mysterious mourner at George's funeral, with his favourite orchid pinned
to her chest?
While the club vows to restore the garden to its former glory, Hilary makes one of her to
uncover the truth. But it will mean questioning everything she ever believed about her marriage.
Will George's secret break her heart for a second time? Or could it possibly show Hilary the path to a
new life still yet to blossom?
As deeply moving as it is hilarious, The Secret Garden Club is an unforgettable story of the green
shoots that grow out of grief, perfect for fans of Sophie Green, Joanna Nell and Tricia Stringer.
When Hilary finds her husband of thirty years dead on his way to the compost heap, it is the end of
the world as she knows it. In a fit of grief, she lays waste to every inch of the beautiful garden to
which George devoted his life.
But nearly as shocking as George's death are the group of strangers who appear at Hilary's door.
Announcing themselves as the The Secret Garden Club, they tell Hilary that George was a member
and one of their dearest friends. So why has Hilary never heard of them? And have they got
something to do with the mysterious mourner at George's funeral, with his favourite orchid pinned
to her chest?
While the club vows to restore the garden to its former glory, Hilary makes one of her to
uncover the truth. But it will mean questioning everything she ever believed about her marriage.
Will George's secret break her heart for a second time? Or could it possibly show Hilary the path to a
new life still yet to blossom?
As deeply moving as it is hilarious, The Secret Garden Club is an unforgettable story of the green
shoots that grow out of grief, perfect for fans of Sophie Green, Joanna Nell and Tricia Stringer.
- GenresFiction
Audible Audio
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 2, 2026
From the moment I saw the beautiful cover until I turned the final page, I was completely captivated by The Secret Garden Club. Wendy Lynn Newton has written a heartfelt story about grief, friendship, healing and finding the courage to bloom again after unimaginable loss.
Hilary’s journey felt incredibly real. While she was a little irrational at times, her grief-driven behaviour was completely understandable, making her a character I genuinely cared about. The supporting cast was equally well developed, and watching the friendships grow throughout the story was one of my favourite parts of the book.
I especially loved the references to The Secret Garden. They added another layer of warmth and nostalgia to an already touching story. The Henry David Thoreau quotes woven throughout the novel were beautifully chosen, and George’s garden journal entries were some of the most memorable and moving passages in the book.
This story took me on an emotional journey. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it left me feeling hopeful. It’s a wonderful reminder that even after heartbreak, new beginnings can quietly take root.
What a fabulous fiction debut from Wendy Lynn Newton. I wholeheartedly recommend The Secret Garden Club and can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Hilary’s journey felt incredibly real. While she was a little irrational at times, her grief-driven behaviour was completely understandable, making her a character I genuinely cared about. The supporting cast was equally well developed, and watching the friendships grow throughout the story was one of my favourite parts of the book.
I especially loved the references to The Secret Garden. They added another layer of warmth and nostalgia to an already touching story. The Henry David Thoreau quotes woven throughout the novel were beautifully chosen, and George’s garden journal entries were some of the most memorable and moving passages in the book.
This story took me on an emotional journey. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it left me feeling hopeful. It’s a wonderful reminder that even after heartbreak, new beginnings can quietly take root.
What a fabulous fiction debut from Wendy Lynn Newton. I wholeheartedly recommend The Secret Garden Club and can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Read
April 22, 2026The secret garden club is a story of a grieving widow who finds friendship with some unexpected acquaintances as they rebuild a garden together.
It was a well written book with well developed characters, and the sprinkle of humour throughout was a welcome addition to some heavier topics.
I enjoyed the symbolism between nature and grief, the parallels to the story of The Secret Garden, and the commentary on complex grief.
I think this is a great choice for mature readers, especially those with their own experiences of grief (and would be a particularly excellent gift for mothers with an interest in gardening!)
It was a well written book with well developed characters, and the sprinkle of humour throughout was a welcome addition to some heavier topics.
I enjoyed the symbolism between nature and grief, the parallels to the story of The Secret Garden, and the commentary on complex grief.
I think this is a great choice for mature readers, especially those with their own experiences of grief (and would be a particularly excellent gift for mothers with an interest in gardening!)
August 2, 2026
A gentle holiday read!
June 8, 2026
The Secret Garden Club
✍️ @wendylynnnewton
📚 @macmillianaus
5 🌟
This is such a tender, unforgettable read. One that lingers long after the final page is read.
Thank you so much, @macmillanaus, for gifting me this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!
It's:
A grieving widow
Friendship
Unexpected Acquaintances
Gardening
Whitty humour
Complex grief
The love of nature
Heart-warming
Second chances
Sweet
Community
Hope
Kindness
Resilience
How to keep going after a significance loss
Starting over
Healing
Well developed characters that will stay with you.
Can a broken heart bloom again?
When Hilary finds her husband of thirty years dead on his way to the compost heap, it is the end of
the world as she knows it. In a fit of grief, she destroys every inch of the beautiful garden to which
George devoted his life. Only the trees are left standing - because Hilary can't get the safety off the
chainsaw.
In the hazy days after the funeral, a group of strangers knock at the door. Announcing themselves as
The Secret Garden Club, they tell Hilary that George was a member and one of their dearest friends.
So why has Hilary never heard of them? Could they be connected to the mysterious mourner, who
had George's favourite pale blue orchid pinned to her chest?
While the club vows to restore the garden, Hilary makes a promise of her own: to uncover the truth.
Will George's secret break her heart all over again - or show her the seeds of a new life filled with
hope and friendship?
It's a must read!
❓️ Do you like gardening? What's you're tip to gardening? What flower brings you joy? What book are you hoping to finish for May?
✍️ @wendylynnnewton
📚 @macmillianaus
5 🌟
This is such a tender, unforgettable read. One that lingers long after the final page is read.
Thank you so much, @macmillanaus, for gifting me this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!
It's:
A grieving widow
Friendship
Unexpected Acquaintances
Gardening
Whitty humour
Complex grief
The love of nature
Heart-warming
Second chances
Sweet
Community
Hope
Kindness
Resilience
How to keep going after a significance loss
Starting over
Healing
Well developed characters that will stay with you.
Can a broken heart bloom again?
When Hilary finds her husband of thirty years dead on his way to the compost heap, it is the end of
the world as she knows it. In a fit of grief, she destroys every inch of the beautiful garden to which
George devoted his life. Only the trees are left standing - because Hilary can't get the safety off the
chainsaw.
In the hazy days after the funeral, a group of strangers knock at the door. Announcing themselves as
The Secret Garden Club, they tell Hilary that George was a member and one of their dearest friends.
So why has Hilary never heard of them? Could they be connected to the mysterious mourner, who
had George's favourite pale blue orchid pinned to her chest?
While the club vows to restore the garden, Hilary makes a promise of her own: to uncover the truth.
Will George's secret break her heart all over again - or show her the seeds of a new life filled with
hope and friendship?
It's a must read!
❓️ Do you like gardening? What's you're tip to gardening? What flower brings you joy? What book are you hoping to finish for May?
July 31, 2026
A gentle, quietly humorous book — the sort where the jokes slip past unless you’re paying close attention. At times it felt a little twee, all tea and cakes served on best china in the garden. It’s an idea I actually love in real life, but somehow not in my reading; it felt like an obvious attempt to charm rather than something organic to the story. And occasionally the premise stretched my belief: the garden being wrecked, strangers sweeping in and taking over, rebuilding everything without waiting to be asked.
So much cake was eaten. More cake than any human could reasonably consume. It was as if cake had become the primary food group for these people.
I keep wondering whether we’re meant to like Hilary, or whether she’s written to tap into the part of ourselves we don’t particularly admire — that passive, people‑pleasing streak. Some of the character interactions were deliberately awkward, but I found them awkward to read, which slowed me down.
There were misunderstandings everywhere, piling up until the whole thing became a full‑blown farce.
The secret‑keeping is starting to make me angry. I’m getting tired of long passages inside Hilary’s head when it’s obvious she’s simply misunderstanding everything. And I can’t stand how patronising the garden club is toward her, as if she’s incapable of knowing her own mind.
I’ve realised the book reads like listening to someone who blurts out whatever pops into their head.
It’s strange: a story about death, grief, and the brevity of life — yet the writer seems oddly comfortable wasting the reader’s time.
I liked the ending, but it could have been reached in at least a hundred fewer pages.
So much cake was eaten. More cake than any human could reasonably consume. It was as if cake had become the primary food group for these people.
I keep wondering whether we’re meant to like Hilary, or whether she’s written to tap into the part of ourselves we don’t particularly admire — that passive, people‑pleasing streak. Some of the character interactions were deliberately awkward, but I found them awkward to read, which slowed me down.
There were misunderstandings everywhere, piling up until the whole thing became a full‑blown farce.
The secret‑keeping is starting to make me angry. I’m getting tired of long passages inside Hilary’s head when it’s obvious she’s simply misunderstanding everything. And I can’t stand how patronising the garden club is toward her, as if she’s incapable of knowing her own mind.
I’ve realised the book reads like listening to someone who blurts out whatever pops into their head.
It’s strange: a story about death, grief, and the brevity of life — yet the writer seems oddly comfortable wasting the reader’s time.
I liked the ending, but it could have been reached in at least a hundred fewer pages.
June 24, 2026
🌱Out of heartbreak, green shoots will grow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🌷I loved everything about this book.
🪻From George's diary entries to Hilary's path through her grief at his passing.
🌹And when chapter one begins with "When Hilary Toohey found her husband, George, dead in the garden three weeks before spring, he was literally pushing up the daisies", you know it is not as simple as a book about grief, it is going to be something so much more.
🪴And it definitely delivered.
The people in this book are alive with their characteristics and emotions. I loved Stan and by the end of the book, Rita had become my favourite.
I felt every single emotion Hilary felt, and both supported and tutted at her decisions 😅
🌻There were moments in this book that had me madly messaging Wendy about this or that, (thank you for engaging 😅), moments where I shed a tear, and moments where I laughed out loud and could not stop.
🌼I have two favourite passages in this book, one I will share and one you will have to find yourself. 😅 iykyk.
" Rose was his rare wild orchid, while Hilary was only his common household Daphne, blooming in plain sight. Rose got Pablo Neruda & hidden flowers; Hilary got Homer Simpson & tomatoes."
I loved this passage, it speaks to me of how we sometimes don't see our own value from another person's eyes, when really, they see a magnificent bloom, forever growing and delighting them.
🍂
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🌷I loved everything about this book.
🪻From George's diary entries to Hilary's path through her grief at his passing.
🌹And when chapter one begins with "When Hilary Toohey found her husband, George, dead in the garden three weeks before spring, he was literally pushing up the daisies", you know it is not as simple as a book about grief, it is going to be something so much more.
🪴And it definitely delivered.
The people in this book are alive with their characteristics and emotions. I loved Stan and by the end of the book, Rita had become my favourite.
I felt every single emotion Hilary felt, and both supported and tutted at her decisions 😅
🌻There were moments in this book that had me madly messaging Wendy about this or that, (thank you for engaging 😅), moments where I shed a tear, and moments where I laughed out loud and could not stop.
🌼I have two favourite passages in this book, one I will share and one you will have to find yourself. 😅 iykyk.
" Rose was his rare wild orchid, while Hilary was only his common household Daphne, blooming in plain sight. Rose got Pablo Neruda & hidden flowers; Hilary got Homer Simpson & tomatoes."
I loved this passage, it speaks to me of how we sometimes don't see our own value from another person's eyes, when really, they see a magnificent bloom, forever growing and delighting them.
🍂
May 25, 2026
One morning three weeks before spring, Hilary Toohey found her beloved husband, George, lying dead in the garden, George having slipped on the wet paving and hit his head, dying instantly. This is the sad beginning to the sweet, funny, whimsical story of how Hilary came to meet the members of the Secret Garden Club.
Wendy Lynn Newton writes the best dialogue. Hilary and her daughter, Bernie, have great rapport, and Hilary’s interactions with everyone she meets are all gems. There is a misunderstanding with Hilary getting hold of the wrong end of the stick and causing herself a lot of unnecessary grief while she is already struggling to come to terms with losing George, as well as trying to help Bernie sort out her life. The Secret Garden Club meanwhile all feel obliged to become part of Hilary’s life, to honour their obligations to George’s memory.
Passages from the writings of Henry David Thoreau through the book are all part of the general feel for love of nature, gardens and gardening. In my imaginary screen adaptation I have cast Asher Keddie as Hilary; I can see Asher delivering those cute, offbeat lines perfectly!
Wendy Lynn Newton writes the best dialogue. Hilary and her daughter, Bernie, have great rapport, and Hilary’s interactions with everyone she meets are all gems. There is a misunderstanding with Hilary getting hold of the wrong end of the stick and causing herself a lot of unnecessary grief while she is already struggling to come to terms with losing George, as well as trying to help Bernie sort out her life. The Secret Garden Club meanwhile all feel obliged to become part of Hilary’s life, to honour their obligations to George’s memory.
Passages from the writings of Henry David Thoreau through the book are all part of the general feel for love of nature, gardens and gardening. In my imaginary screen adaptation I have cast Asher Keddie as Hilary; I can see Asher delivering those cute, offbeat lines perfectly!
June 9, 2026
‘All good things are wild and free’
A beautiful story of grief and the healing power of nature. I loved getting to know Hilary and go along with her as she navigated her grief after her husband’s sudden death. From going through all the different stages of grief to her destroying George’s garden, turning to Buddhism and calling a mental health hotline and finally acceptance. I loved her support system and then seeing her meet and get to know The Secret Garden Club.
The club members were a colourful cast of characters, each having dealt with their own hurt and grief. I loved seeing them rebuild George’s garden and wished I could walk through it and just sit and reflect. The storyline of Hilary thinking he was having an affair with one of the members and the miscommunication around that had me in stitches. I enjoyed discovering George’s secrets, his gardening journal entries and discovering the works of Henry David Thoreau. A heartwarming and emotional debut filled with colourful characters and the power of nature.
June 15, 2026
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with this book. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I went in blind.
From the moment George is found dead in his garden, the turn of events are crazy, funny and heartbreaking! Hilary completely destroys his beautiful garden, in what some would say a way to deal with her loss.
While Hilary is grieving and not long after George’s funeral, a group of strangers turn up on her doorstep and say they’re from the secret garden club and George was member.
Hilary has never heard of this club, never knew George was a member and starts to question her relationship with George. Was their marriage really what she thought it was?
Throughout the rest of the story, there’s a lot of misunderstanding, so many secrets, new friendships and new relationships formed.
This is a lovely novel, slow paced and full of heart.
Thank you @panmcmillan for my early copy.
From the moment George is found dead in his garden, the turn of events are crazy, funny and heartbreaking! Hilary completely destroys his beautiful garden, in what some would say a way to deal with her loss.
While Hilary is grieving and not long after George’s funeral, a group of strangers turn up on her doorstep and say they’re from the secret garden club and George was member.
Hilary has never heard of this club, never knew George was a member and starts to question her relationship with George. Was their marriage really what she thought it was?
Throughout the rest of the story, there’s a lot of misunderstanding, so many secrets, new friendships and new relationships formed.
This is a lovely novel, slow paced and full of heart.
Thank you @panmcmillan for my early copy.
July 2, 2026
Lovely cover. Set in Tasmania this book revolves around Hilary and her daughter, Bernie, who are grieving the sudden death of George, their husband and father. There are many topics covered, including feminism, many secrets and misunderstandings, plants, profound grief and different reactions to it, friendship, healing, references to the classic “The Secret Garden”, Buddhism, second chances and many quotes from Henry David Thoreau who had influenced George deeply. Each chapter is headed by a flower or seasonal event (Solstice and Equinox) which is an interesting plot device. I was, however, quite unimpressed with the (unnecessary) use of coarse, crude and vulgar language which I felt distracted from the deep philosophising nature of some of the characters’ thoughts, feelings and actions.
Review of advance copy
I think this book found me at the right time.🤍
Following a woman navigating loss while becoming closer to the secret garden club her late husband was part of before he passed, this story quietly explores grief, healing, friendship, and learning how to keep going after life changes completely.
A month ago, I probably would’ve just called this a thoughtful and emotional read. But reading it now while going through grief myself made parts of this hit a lot harder than I expected.
It’s definitely a slower and softer kind of read, but honestly, that ended up being what I loved most about it.
Thank you to Wendy Lynn Newton and Macmillan Australia for the ARC.
Following a woman navigating loss while becoming closer to the secret garden club her late husband was part of before he passed, this story quietly explores grief, healing, friendship, and learning how to keep going after life changes completely.
A month ago, I probably would’ve just called this a thoughtful and emotional read. But reading it now while going through grief myself made parts of this hit a lot harder than I expected.
It’s definitely a slower and softer kind of read, but honestly, that ended up being what I loved most about it.
Thank you to Wendy Lynn Newton and Macmillan Australia for the ARC.
May 31, 2026
I really enjoyed The Secret Garden Club! It drew me in right from the get go and had me turning pages long into the night. Wendy pulled me in and had me interested and intrigued throughout.
The pace was slow and steady - but I feel this was intentional and necessary for the topics explored throughout. It was navigating loss and grief which calls for a gentleness and sensitivity, both of which the author did to perfection.
I enjoyed the banter and mother-daughter relationship! The side characters were all perfection.
I also loved the incorporation of nature and the correlation of new beginnings.
All in all, I absolutely loved it.
Thank you to Wendy Lynn Newton and Pan Macmillanfor this absolutely stunning book! This opinion is honest and my own!
The pace was slow and steady - but I feel this was intentional and necessary for the topics explored throughout. It was navigating loss and grief which calls for a gentleness and sensitivity, both of which the author did to perfection.
I enjoyed the banter and mother-daughter relationship! The side characters were all perfection.
I also loved the incorporation of nature and the correlation of new beginnings.
All in all, I absolutely loved it.
Thank you to Wendy Lynn Newton and Pan Macmillanfor this absolutely stunning book! This opinion is honest and my own!
June 23, 2026
Debut novel The Secret Garden Club by Wendy Lynn Newton is a beautiful exploration of grief, sadness, hope, friendship and starting over. And how gorgeous is its cover 😍
💐 I loved how Newton used the gardening club, nature and an eclectic cast of side characters to bring in themes of finding yourself, new beginnings and hope through witty dialogue and a setting that changes with the seasons.
Hilary is definitely not processing her grief well, and I found her to be a rather chaotic character that I wasn’t overly invested in. But as the story unfolds and I got her understand her better I was actually heartbroken for her.
This story is the miscommunication trope in all its glory, but told with heart and humor making for an emotional read. Overall a really enjoyable slow burn debut.
Thank you to @macmillanaus and @wendylynnnewton for a copy to read.
💐 I loved how Newton used the gardening club, nature and an eclectic cast of side characters to bring in themes of finding yourself, new beginnings and hope through witty dialogue and a setting that changes with the seasons.
Hilary is definitely not processing her grief well, and I found her to be a rather chaotic character that I wasn’t overly invested in. But as the story unfolds and I got her understand her better I was actually heartbroken for her.
This story is the miscommunication trope in all its glory, but told with heart and humor making for an emotional read. Overall a really enjoyable slow burn debut.
Thank you to @macmillanaus and @wendylynnnewton for a copy to read.
July 17, 2026
This book sounded like it had a great premise, but I was so let down by how it was executed-- a group of people keeping secrets from each other and speaking like they're spies in the FBI to use miscommunication to further the plot and then to further it again. The growth Hilary showed was the only saving grace.
July 8, 2026
I absolutely adored this book. I shed countless tears along the way, as Hilary slowly navigated her way through her grief.
Wonderful characters to help, or hinder, her whilst on this journey.
I've never read The Secret Garden, so that is now at the top of my tbr list!
Wonderful characters to help, or hinder, her whilst on this journey.
I've never read The Secret Garden, so that is now at the top of my tbr list!
June 8, 2026
As a passionate gardener I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t care for any of the characters. It gained an extra star because it gave me the idea of starting a garden journal.
August 2, 2026
Just divine. I really enjoyed this, it made me laugh and cry. Thank yoy
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A heartfelt story of grief, friendship, healing, and second chances, The Secret Garden Club introduces characters who feel so real you’ll find yourself thinking about them long after the final page. Wendy Lynn Newton balances sadness and hope beautifully, creating a cast of characters whose kindness, humour, and resilience make this an emotionally rewarding read. Readers who enjoy stories about friendship, community, and finding your way after loss will find plenty to love here.
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