All the Pretty Places

I am not usually a romance person so I was sitting there the entire time I was listening going "just marry the richest jerk! Just do it! Get that money" but our girl is not a gold digger and she refuses to do it.
It was so good though. I am a museum and library person and the only parks I think about are cemeteries. After reading this I want to go to city commission meetings and demand new parks. Stop building more apartments and give us some parks!
The narrator was perfect and I absolutely loved this story. It is based on genealogical information and I can tell the author put a lot of work into this. I would recommend this to anyone.

While I typically do not read love stories, I was fascinated with the historical premise of this book. @joywcal knocked it out of the park with this historical fiction novel. This book is a love letter to flowers, gardens, and parks. It also has a strong message about creating community and transcending the socioeconomic standing that you are born into. My flower loving heart could not love this story more, so of course I’ve already pre-ordered this book and recommend either the book or audiobook!

Thank you @harpermusebooks and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

This book captivated me with its historical fiction setting of 1893, where a woman strives to make her voice heard and challenge the norms of the society she lives in.

I loved following the main character’s journey as she fought to protect her family’s legacy, defied the expectations of her time, and found true love along the way. I felt a strong connection and admiration for her as a powerful female protagonist.

The romance in this book was also beautiful and moving, showing how love can overcome any obstacle or sacrifice. I’m grateful to NetGalley for providing me with this wonderful book, which I enjoyed immensely.

Historical fiction is not my usual wheelhouse so I was not sure how I’d enjoy this, but I LOVED it. Every time I had to put it down was misery. Sadie and Sam, and the whole crew of characters, were easy to fall in love with. The plot was captivating.

What a beautiful story based on family stories and history from Joy. I loved this story of a strong woman who did not want to conform to the "norm" in the late 1800s high society. Wonderful characters, wonderful story and beautiful writing!!!

Narrator was perfect for this story...very much enjoyed!

Thank you, Net Galley, for this gem, All the Pretty Places by Joy Callaway. Wow, this book rattled my heart . I would recommend this to everyone.

This was brilliant audiobook! Cassandra Campbell’s narration was perfect in every way and was the essence of Sadie’s character! I loved listening to this, thank you for the opportunity!

All the Pretty Places is the story of many women that lived during that time, being left alone and considered inferior, they couldn't make or take any decision, their parents never considered them to inherit anything, they were not allowed to work and they were always married by conveniences never for love.

Sadie had that terrible experience, her father is looking for a suitor who can marry her and help them economically, she really is heartbroken, her father can't see the amazing work and talent she had, she is the best option to be in charge of the plants and nurseries but still, her father doesn't care, he only cares about what people will say and traditions who really are terrible.

Sadie is in love with someone who is not "suitable" for her, her family has made sure to remind her that she is not able to fall in love only to marry for duty, Sadie is sad and heartbroken, she is working and doing things behind her fathers back because she thinks this is t only way she could accomplish what she ever wanted and also in the meantime help many bringing beauty to bring more smiles and hope to people of the town.

Sadie was a great character, I really love how much she evolves with the story, how strong she is, and how she doesn't take anything for granted, she works and helps no matter if that is putting her relationship with her father at risk, she deserves better and more, she deserves respect ad she knows sooner or later someone will see her abilities and maybe one day her father will see that too.

One of those books that the characters grow alongside the story and make you feel even more connected and enjoyable

The Narrations by Cassandra Campbell were amazing, I love her work, and I really enjoy every book she narrated because she always gives so much to the stories.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the advanced audio copy of All The Pretty Places in exchange for my honest review

Sweet story. Excellent narrator. The audio book is a slow moving love story along with beautifully described plants, flowers and "gardens" of the Victorian age. The characters are based on the author's family history! You will hear familiar names of that time such as the Astor, Vanderbilt, and the railroad magnet, Henry Flagler along with landscape architect, Fredrick Law Olmsted, known for many park landscapes in the NE and in the Carolinas for his work at Biltmore House. The story itself is woven from the authors' imagination. It is descriptive of possible events during that time period.
I was provided an advanced reader copy at my request and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I've read every one of Joy's books since her debut novel, and I have to say this is my absolute favorite. This novel is inspired by her family history, particularly her great-great grandmother Sadie Fremd, and the Fremd family nurseries. Set during the Gilded Age; there is nothing Sadie wants more than to run her family's business, but her father expects her to marry a society scion and secure her future. But there is no man that measures up to Sam, one of her father's nursery employees. When an economic depression and tragedy threatens all that Sadie holds dear, she may have to sacrifice her own happiness for her family.

Sadie's love of flowers and her recognition of the joy and hope they inspire really spoke to my heart. Many readers will feel for Sadie as she confronts the limited choices for women in her time, and her desire to break through those barriers. I found Sadie to be very inspiring for always looking for ways to share the beauty of flowers and for finding a way to leave a lasting legacy for her family. If you're like me, and visiting a greenhouse gives you the same happiness as a bookstore, you'll love this one.

All the Pretty Places by Joy Callaway and Narrated by Cassandra Campbell was an unbelievable journey!
I had an opportunity to have an advance copy of the audiobook and I am so grateful for this. The narrators made this book just magical! It felt so real, so aristocratic! The different accents! It felt so real, so alive! Truly thank you!
This book is about a young woman Sadie whose absolute passion is plants. Sadie, it's not like other women in 1893 who accepted that the only way for women is to get married and have children. Sadie wants to follow her heart. And it's not just about the man she will marry it's about the life she will live. She wants to be involved in every step of the plant nursery, she is not scared to get her hands dirty and she wants to create beauty around to make people happy. Unfortunately, this is not how her father sees her life. Sadies father is stubborn and wishes to follow the traditional path, he wants a wealthy man to marry his daughter and potentially run the nursery.
This book is about women struggling to find their voice, struggles, and sacrifices, about broken hearts and acceptance.
As an independent woman, I struggled to understand how little man was thinking about women in those days. The idea that just man can succeed just made me furious! How it's possible for a parent to be so stubborn and not hear his own child was my question throughout the book!
Even though this is a historical romance, it's beautiful and for sure a "Must Read Book"!
#AllthePrettyPlaces #NetGalley #HarperMuse

Very enjoyable read. Will be easy to recommend to many different kinds of readers. I’d like to read more from this author.

All the Pretty Places by Joy Callaway is one of the best books of the year for me so far. And I have read over seventy, so I don't say that lightly. Very beautifully written, with all the right amounts of love, joy, sadness, and laughter. The characters were fleshed out and full of humanity. The story itself was very realistic and full of hope and life. I would give it more than five stars if I could! Thanks #NetGalley and the publishing company. I truly enjoyed it!

The "horticulture hazards" are real! This book spoke to me as the wife of an arborist. I laughed, I cried, and I rolled my eyes. A fun read that was great as an audio book.

Joy Callaway is a new author for me. I am typically not a romance reader. However, I loved this book! The characters are so well written. You can visualize the gardens. I found myself cheering, aching and fighting for Sadie. Ms. Callaway takes information from her great grandmother to bring “All the Pretty Places” to life. The narration is well done too!

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarperMuse, #JoyCallaway, #CassandraCampbell and #All the PrettyPlaces for my honest review.