Thank you to the author, Zibby Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This multi-faceted book was fascinating - I loved the parallel strands of Maud, the garden historian, unearthing old overgrown gardens and bringing them back to life, and Maud's personal story as a woman, whose roles as wife and mother have worn her down and made her too weary to do anything but continue plodding on through the weeds of her life. Diving into the different relationships felt immersive, because the author makes her characters real people - relatable and intriguing. The story doesn't end neatly, but life usually doesn't either.

Maud a garden historian is the main character of this book - she is disillusioned by all the compromise life requires. It seems like everything is on the edge. Her husband’s career didn’t pan out the way he wanted so the whole family moved from England to California leaving everyone uprooted. Maud had a job she loved in England but California doesn’t seem to need English taught garden historians and the simpler job of landscaper doesn’t hold the same appeal, which has her struggling and her teen daughter doesn’t seem to adapt to the change easily either. When she discovers her husband’s infidelity it’s the last straw- she needs an out something of her own. So she jumps at the chance to restore a historic garden in New York’s Hudson Valley and a tentative separation for the summer but problems with her daughter escalate and she finds herself trapped between a pursuit of self actualization and happiness and what is best for her older kid who is clearly suffering - an exploration on compromise all the small and bigger compromises close relationships - partnerships and parent- child relationships require and how to allow both to grow and who is more important when both is not an option. Fascinating and intriguing especially since Maud‘s and my value system did not necessarily line up - if you‘ve read this one I’d love to talk !
The garden historian background was fascinating to learn about !

In 2012, Maud is in a disintegrating marriage balancing the demands of motherhood. As a landscape historian in California, she takes on the restoration of Montgomery Place, a 19th century estate in New York’s Hudson Valley, which becomes a geographical and marital separation. Delury’s novel is filled with intricate historic gardening details and planning as Maud’s summer contract involves working with Gabriel, an archaeologist opening a dig in the same area. Reuniting at the end of their California school session, daughters Ella and Louise join Maud at Montgomery Place. The angst and instability of teenage daughter Ella adds a layer of turmoil to Maud’s developing relationship with Gabriel. Funding future projects depends on another budding relationship between wealthy recluse Alice Lincoln and Maud. Each of Delury’s slow growing, needy characters create emotional suspense layered with a hedge of secrecy.
Delury’s plot, twisting and turning like the garden labyrinth at Montgomery Place, sheds light on therapy for teenage fears and anxieties, marital communication and counseling, truth and trust in relationships, forgiveness, and finding a satisfying life path.

First off, Jane Delury is wonderful. I so appreciated her time when we were fortunate enough to interview her on the Virgin Authors' Facebook Live. So much fun and I fell in love with her.

Hedge is beautifully written, describing a woman (Maud - 40's) struggling to rediscover her true self after sacrificing her own needs throughout her marriage and while raising her kids. This is something most women can relate to and Jane Delury's words make these women feel heard. And, the conflicts within the story... being attracted to another man, rediscovering lost career passions, and, of course, prioritizing your children's needs first and foremost. It's all very relatable for so many.

The story does take on a dramatic twist, which is difficult for anyone searching for the HEA in a story. But, it's real and raw and the writing magically weaves the reader into Maud's world and heart. Highly recommend.

I took Hedge on vacation with me and I struggled to put it down for the first half. I don't have the greenest of thumbs so I enjoyed learning about garden restoration, however, the twist in the middle didn't hit me right. I thought Maud came off as a bit entitled, the dialogue with the daughters was exhausting and the imploding marriage so I'm going to hook up with a coworker trope is just overdone. The book was okay, but not great.

When a book completely takes you by surprise and you want to tell everyone to go read it —— it’s this my favorite!

Hedge follows Maud, a 40-year-old garden historian a in a loveless marriage who spends the summer working to restore the gardens of an old estate in New York’s Hudson Valley. Maud and her husband, Peter, are separated, but they have not told their two daughters yet. Maud is planning to divorce Peter once the summer ends even before she falls in love with Gabriel, a co-worker at the estate.

Then, Peter comes to visit Maud with their daughters and everything changes.

WOW! I could not put this book down. It may feel slow the first couple of chapters, but there is a purpose for it all. I also loved the focus on a middle-aged woman who just feels stuck. Maud is such a well-developed complicated character

Loved the lovely settings, especially in the Bay Area where I’ve spent a lot of time. And was intrigued by the characters, unsure of where they would end up.

Definitely worth the read and perfect for the summer months!

Also loved how the title is a subtle hint to what is a more pivotal moment for multiple characters than we originally are aware of.

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed getting to see the mother/daughter dynamic, but I wish we had more of Alice and Maud's friendship. The pacing felt off in places, but overall enjoyable. Would make a great book club pick!

I liked the first half of this book. Maud's job as a garden historian is a really clever analogy for where she's at in her life -- trying to remember who she once was, and restore that person, and nurture those now hard to find qualities that made her unique. There are great metaphors about excavation and being a transplant (from England to America, and from California to rural New York.

The author does a really lovely job of conveying the guilty flush of attraction and resurgence of desire and hope in Maud when she meets Gabriel (an archeologist, which is perfect in our symbolism of rediscovery). But: the book takes a huge turn at the halfway point and basically becomes a different story, and Maud feels like a different character. To me it was a bit disjointed, the tonal shift let my interest slip, and I was less engaged and more frustrated by the second story.

I do really appreciate this book introducing me to the concept of historical gardening as a field. It also explored a lot of great themes about how marriage and motherhood can impact a woman's independence, which was interesting contrasted with historical women responsible for these gardens.

Hedge by Jane Delury is a lovely book. Maud is a mother and wife who has lost herself. Her marriage is broken and she is seeking ways to continue being a good mother while being true to who she really is. While working a summer job restoring a garden, Maud strikes up a friendship with a man who works the grounds as well. As that friendship is deepening into something more, Maud’s daughters come to stay. One night events take place that change the course of all their lives. The book then skips ahead two years and we see them try to pick up the pieces. This story was not what I expected it to be and I liked it even more for that reason. It is so hard to fully exist in this world as yourself, especially when you add in obligations to a spouse, children, parents, all the people you love. This book takes us on Maud’s journey to be more of herself and it was really endearing to me. It is true to all the imperfections of life and how we are never going to make everyone we love happy. It showed how you can love someone deeply and it doesn’t work. That maybe you will be happier and healthier without that person no matter the love between you. I really felt this book in my soul. I adored the gardening and information on plants. Truly lovely story. I give it 5/5 stars. This book is releasing tomorrow, June 6th, 2023. Many many thanks to @netgalley and Zibby Books for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review will be found on Instagram and Goodreads indefinitely.
Instagram book reviews @CandaceOnline

With HEDGE, Jane Delury shares the story of a woman caught between loyalty and love for her daughters and family and loyalty to the woman she is when she is set free on a huge project where she is temporarily free of her soul-crushing marriage and good-enough life. Throughout, I was captivated by the vivid dilemmas and the heartache of finding your joy and also knowing it will destroy your vulnerable children. I read way too late into the night, not wanting to leave a wonderfully wrought world, finishing the story regretting it was over and also deeply satisfied. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Hedge begins as Maud is on the opposite side of the country from her family, restoring an old garden. She develops feelings for a colleague, Gabriel, and has to make decisions about her marriage in the process. When her daughters join her for the summer, she must then balance her feelings for Gabriel with focusing on her motherly duties.

Then this book took a turn half way through that I was not expecting and unprepared for. Because of some things going on around me right now, it made this book a tough read. I think readers definitely need to be in the right head space to tackle some of the topics Jane Delury is tackling here.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Read if you like:
Gardening
Motherhood stories
Complex family stories

CW: self-harm

Thank you Zibby Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

“When you married, you did nothing but compromise. And you lost your ability to make a home exactly as you wanted down to the last detail.”

Maud is in a marriage with a man she no longer loves, so she jumps at the chance to spend the summer away restoring the gardens of a historic estate in the Hudson Valley. She comes to life as she unearths the mysteries of the garden beds with the help of a handsome archaeologist and colleague. But, when her children join her, the budding relationship she has built and the independence she felt becomes stunted by an event that changes everything.

I found myself relating to this book so deeply as a mother and wife. The parallels between gardening and a mother’s sense of worth were so beautifully written. While Maud tends to the gardens and nurtures her children, her own sense of self and worth become overgrown with weeds. In the end, though, there is hope as she begins to build a life on her own terms.

Hedge was so much more than I was expecting. It is deeply moving, full of rich, elegant language, and hard to put down. This one will stay with me for quite some time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zibby Books and Jane Delury for an advance copy of this book.

Hedge
Jane Delury
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maud is a garden historian and has taken a job in NY to restore a garden to its previous splendor. She is separated from her husband and the two daughters (Ella and Louise) will be joining her from CA as soon as school is out. Maud is loving her new job and feels so much better about herself. Gabriel is an archeologist working at the estate too. They become friendly and enjoy being with each other. Will they take this relationship to another level?

On the day that their father comes to visit, Ella does something that will change a lot of lives!! How far will a mother go to protect her child???

This was a fast paced and wonderfully book about the messiness of families, the desire to excel in your chosen job, friendship and finding out how to navigate life. Highly recommend this book which will be out on 6/6.

Hedge
Jane Delury

While reading this book, I found myself captivated by the beautiful language and drawn into the complicated world of Maude, a garden historian who finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Unhappy in her marriage, questioning her ability to mother her girls and desiring an entirely different life, the book addresses common struggles of women of a certain age. .

Maude takes a job across the country and she and her husband decide on a trial separation. For Maude, this is not a trial, it is a softening of the blow but, in her mind she has already left the marriage. The new location gives her freedom to explore life as a single person but a family tragedy quickly changes everything.

Parenting is hard, and you have no idea just how scary it can be. Watching your children grow up and become their own person is a lot like watching them walk on a tight rope. You’re so focused on looking down, seeing where they can fall you can miss the thunder storms forming above them. This book addresses one of those unexpected thunder storms and I’m so grateful for the author drawing attention to this issue. Some people will recognize their own struggles, others have no idea they will be experiencing it in the future.

Still resonating in my head is this quote:
“And I’ll be here again, she thought, cresting the hill that led to her house, back and forth to the grocery story and the dry cleaner’s, caught between the drumbeats of guilt and worry”
So good!

This book is coming out June 6th, big thank you to Zibby Books for my ARC and for Jane Delury for your gorgeous piece of work. You’ve told a story that we all need to read.

There’s a big surprise but you’re just going to have to read it for yourself. It’s worth it.

I really liked the garden restoration angle of this novel, which concerns itself with a woman whose marriage has hit the rocks and is looking after her two daughters, one of whom is going through a difficult time in her teenager life.
I didn't really enjoy the book. I didn't feel kinship with the characters and the plot rambled and didn't seem to move forward quickly enough for me. There was a lot of pondering and discussion which slowed things down considerably.

I can’t stop thinking about this book, and I have a feeling I’ll be turning it over in my mind for quite a while. I was hooked by the writing style from the first page. I love stories where one moment, one decision, one mistake, one misunderstanding has devastating ripple effects, and HEDGE is one of those books. Maud, the flawed and struggling protagonist, is immensely relatable as motherhood and personal fulfillment pull her in opposite directions. Her job as a garden historian is fascinating, and the settings are lush and richly described. At multiple points, I found myself highlighting the author’s descriptions out of love for the evocative imagery. If you love character-driven novels, HEDGE is highly recommended.

This was unique and cute and overall a nice story, but I don't know, something felt off to me and didn't exactly work.

The characters were sweet and I found myself rooting for them, but I just didn't walk away from this feeling like it was super memorable.

In Hedge, we meet Maud, a wife and mother who is not happy in her marriage. She and her husband agree to a trial separation, where she takes a job in NY for the summer. She is working as a garden historian, restoring a garden at an old estate. Maud is raising two daughters, trialing a separation, and developing a relationship with a coworker.

This book was okay for me. I was truly interested in the garden restoration aspect of the book. This was not a career that I knew existed prior to reading this book. I loved learning about garden archeology and the process of recreating and rebuilding a garden. However; I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. There was a "twist" of sorts in the middle that took the book in a different direction than I was expecting. Overall, this was a unique premise and an interesting read, but I don't think it will stick with me in the long run.

This book was an interesting and unique read but was not really for me. I found the plot to be a little all over the place and not completely cohesive.