Guest Book Review and Giveaway: The Garden of Small Beginnings

By Shana Javery

Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years—ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she’s just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she’s becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed.


At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks—like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there’s that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can’t be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity.

After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles Botanical Garden feeling out of her element. But what she’ll soon discover—with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners—is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not…(Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

Prior to reading The Garden of Small Beginnings, I would never have thought that grieving and gardening could be woven so perfectly into one story. However, Abbi Waxman does exactly that throughout this book. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Lilian, a young widow who is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband four years later. Lilian’s honesty, humor, and irreverent comments are perfectly balanced against the tragic reality that she is a grieving widow. Lilian manages to laugh at herself and invites us to laugh along with her as she deals with everyday life, including working at a job she doesn’t love, raising two adorable yet high-energy daughters, and dealing with a mother that seems to be the “mother of all mothers.” Thank goodness Lilian has her amazing sister Rachel to help her power through those times they spend with their mother!!! Perhaps the best part of this book is that Lilian lets us see that she is far from perfect. I laughed a lot while reading this amazing novel. That’s something you wouldn’t expect after reading the book’s description. I don’t like when reviews give away the best parts so I’ll just tell you that reading this book will give hope to those who need it.

As for the gardening, let’s just say not only do I NOT have a green thumb, but I have never been the least bit interested in gardening! Just a few chapters into the book, all of that began to change though. Between each chapter Ms. Waxman inserts a brief synopsis about gardening different vegetables, herbs, etc. Even those chapters were hilarious. For the first time in my entire life I found myself thinking of turning part of my backyard into a garden! If you are thinking to yourself “forget it, I’m not reading a gardening book”- don’t worry…THIS IS NOT A GARDENING BOOK! It IS, however, a feel-good, hate-to-put-it- down, kind-of-book!

Ms. Waxman has harvested a fan out of me! If she writes it, I will read it! So I hope she’s writing another book as I write this review!!!

Shana Javery is an attorney mediator with a background in employment law. She is thrilled to have renewed her lifelong love for reading over the past few years. Recently, Shana even had the chance to edit a friend's book, something which she thoroughly enjoyed. Shana resides in Plano, Texas with her husband and the family dog Smoochy. She is looking forward to briefly having a "full nest" again until her son permanently starts his new job up north (sob!) and her daughter heads west to complete another year of college. (Hence the renewed interest in reading...the perfect escape!)

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy to give away!

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Giveaway ends May 7th at midnight EST.