"The Garden" by Nick Newman is an absolute masterpiece! I wish I could give this book more than five stars!

The two main protagonists are Evelyn and Lily, two elderly sisters living alone and secluded in a walled garden their parents left to them many years ago. They’ve survived an apocalyptic sandstorm before that they believe has ended the world, and they must adhere to their mother’s detailed almanac for survival.

There are so many secrets in the garden, so many dangers in the outside world, and even more within their boarded-up childhood home, which they haven’t entered since they were very young. Life changes dramatically for the sisters, and secrets and jealous tendencies are exposed when a young boy is suddenly found on their property and mentions another world out there beyond the wall.

The characters are so well-developed that I felt like I knew them personally and could understand their behaviors and choices. The plot is gripping and full of unexpected twists that keep the pages turning. I also enjoyed the tiny hints dropped here and there that provided insight to the time period of the story.

Newman's writing style and world-building are poetic and evocative, yet also eerie and suspenseful. It made the pages come alive in my mind while keeping me on my toes and, at times, feeling a little tense. The descriptions of the gardens, flowers, and bees were an enchanting contrast. **(A map of the grounds and the house would be an excellent addition to the book!) The emotional depth of the story is profound, and I found myself deeply moved by the characters' journeys throughout the story.

Thank you, #NetGalley, #NickNewman, and #PenguinGroupPutnam, for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review. #TheGarden #AdultDystopian

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

We follow a pair of aging sisters who've managed to survive an apocalyptic event by tending to their garden and beehives. Evelyn and Lily's lives consist of their titular garden, each other, and their mother's handwritten almanac. Convinced they're the only people left in the world, they're thrown for a loop when a young boy suddenly appears on the grounds and turns their understanding of reality on its head.

If they're not the only survivors left, then what else have they believed that's false? How will they cope with changes to their almost life-long routines? Just what exists outside their garden walls? Perhaps, most terrifying of all, were the sudden influx of long-forgotten and suppressed memories.

The comparison to <i>Piranesi</i> was incredibly apt, in both style and the haunting ache of loneliness oozing from the pages. At times quite odd, the lyrical prose and forays into whimsical descriptions won't be for everyone, yet I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this story. Whereas Piranesi delighted in the unknown, the sisters were filled with dread... and eventually in Lily's case excitement.

It may be jarring for some readers to follow women in their 50s still following their mother's commands to the letter without asking why such acts were necessary. Additionally, <i>the boy</i> was never named on page, so if that sort of thing will bother you fair warning. This story takes a look at what would happen when you vaguely recall the outside world while not being able to see it for about 40 years.

Whereas in other horror stories we tend to shout out 'don't go through the door' or 'stop', here the hope was that the sisters would be brave enough to widen their horizons. A stifling, and at times slow, tale nothing felt all that unbelievable. Of course Lily was curious of the unknown but frightened to act, while her big sister Evelyn clung to past patterns with an iron fist... both lived through the tentative end of the world at age 12.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! It was eerie and beautiful and quite fascinating. It’s labeled as Sci-Fi and fantasy, but is definitely also psychological fiction. I was captivated throughout the whole story! I can’t wait to read more from Nick Newman. This is my honest opinion and I’m leaving my review voluntarily.

“The Garden” follows two elderly sisters living a strange, isolated existence that is shaken up by the arrival of a stranger. The world-building and learning about each sister was slow, however, the unique premise kept me going. Each sister is different, and faces this odd life their living in their own way. When the stranger does arrive, i genuinely felt the tension as their world shifted.

This is an interesting addition in the adult dystopian genre and, although slow in parts, a worthwhile read. It would make for excellent discussion as a book club pick.

Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance!

This book had sort of post-apocalyptic vibes but was eerie and slow, which added to the atmosphere. There was quite a bit of suspense and I enjoyed Evelyn's character the most.