The Kew Gardens Girls

Content warnings: war violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, attempted rape, alcoholism, miscarriage, grief, loss of a spouse, loss of a child, draft dodgers

Women take up work as gardeners at Kew during World War I.

At the beginning of World War I in London, Kew Gardens is in need of skilled hands to maintain the gardens while most of the men in England are at war. Louisa has escaped an abusive marriage and uses her farm upbringing to land a job. Ivy Adams is the daughter of a flower merchant who also works at Kew. The two women form a friendship with each other and former teacher Bernie, who also is tending Kew Gardens.

When the girls find out that Bernie objects to the war and isn't "doing his bit," their friendship is tested. The women must reexamine the war, their opinions about conscientious objectors, and deal with providing for themselves in a time when women typically didn't work. Grief and the loss of family members in the war is also a strong theme.

Recommended only for readers who love World War I historicals.

Posy Lovell was born in Edinburgh and lives in London.

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons (print); Penguin Random House Audio

Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden

Running Time: 8 hours, 27 minutes

Length: 320 pages

Release Date: April 20, 2021 (originally published May 2020)

Representation: Quaker, hearing impaired side character, working women in the early 1900s

Note: This book was also published under the title The Kew Gardens Girls at War.

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I also received a digital audio recording of this title from Penguin Random House Audio as a librarian review copy. I read the latter edition.