Book Description:
I blamed my son for the death of my daughter… When twenty-five-year-old Erin loses the man she loves, she flees London for Cornwall and takes a job at Hookes End, a huge house clinging precariously to the Cornish cliffs. The owner, frail reclusive novelist and butterfly enthusiast Maggie, has kept the curtains of her dusty house drawn for many years. But as she and Erin spend evenings together by the fireside, sharing stories of the past, Erin feels her shattered heart begin to heal. In return, Erin agrees to help Maggie find her long lost family before it is too late. Years ago, Maggie’s son Lucas ran away to the other side of the world after the death of her daughter ripped the family apart. Maggie is desperate to see Lucas again – there is something she needs him to know. Erin wants to help Maggie find peace so she vows to track down her lost son. But when at last she finds Lucas, in a far- away place of searing heat and pearly sands, it becomes clear that he is hiding something too. As Erin grows closer to Lucas and unravels the webs of deceit entangling mother and son, she learns about the terrible tragedy that changed their lives forever: the night when a little girl in a fairy nightdress went missing. But with Maggie’s time fast running out, is it too late for them to find the forgiveness they need to move on? A heart-wrenching page-turner about a family ripped apart by guilt and lies. Set against the storms of the Cornish coast and silvery tropical sands of a distant paradise, The Butterfly Garden is a story of love, loss and letting go. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Harriet Evans and Lucinda Riley will be gripped.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Butterfly Garden' by Sophie Anderson.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sophie Anderson, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 21st June 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also her debut novel.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching and gorgeous cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Jojo Moyes, Harriet Evans and Lucinda Riley will be gripped'. I am a huge fan of JoJo Moyes so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 29 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in both Dorset, UK 🇬🇧 and Costa Rica, America 🇺🇸. I always enjoy when books are partly or fully set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited Cornwall on many occasions so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Erin. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'The Butterfly Garden' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Sophie discusses/includes tumours and the death of a child.
It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
Wow!!! What an absolutely devastatingly gorgeous heartbreaking stunning book!!! An absolutely HUGE congratulations Sophie on one of the best debut novels I've ever read. You should be mega proud of yourself!!!!
A beautifully written book whose descriptions are vivid and gorgeous and highlights the beauty of Cornwall and Costa Rica perfectly. The synopsis, title and cover work perfectly with the storyline.
The storyline itself is unique and just absolutely gorgeous. I loved that we got to visit not only Cornwall but also Costa Rica and Sophie has done both places jistoc. I was devastated by the end as it genuinely felt that I had come to the end of one of the most beautiful holidays I've ever had. I loved all the intriguing facts about butterflys and the fact that Sophie has done her research absolutely shines through!!! The storyline is filled with love, loss, friendship, beauty, sadness, happiness and of course butterflies!! It is a true rollercoaster of emotions!!! I was not expecting the twists at all and this is unlike any holiday fiction or romance I've ever read. This did not end like I expected and although I was devastated by a few things that did or didn't happen I LOVE the fact that this book was not predictable. It is so easy to fall into the web of predictability especially on a debut novel but a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Sophie who did not do this!!! I LOVED that I didn't guess the ending which is getting harder and harder the more books I read. The fact that what I hoped would happen didn't makes it more true to life in the fact that we don't always get what we wish for and sometimes the happy ending isn't what you expect.
I was completely invested in the characters. I loved all their unique and eclectic personalities. I really enjoyed watching Erin grow and develop as well as mature as a person throughout the book. It was intriguing watching her relationship with Maggie start and develop throughout the storyline. Maggie absolutely intrigued me and I loved reading her letters although I was definitely in tears several times so make sure you have the tissues ready. If you are going to read this book then you need to clear your diaries as once it sucks you in then your not coming out until the very last page. Absolutely unputdownable!!!
Another congratulations to Sophie on this stunning debut novel. I for one would love to visit The Butterfly Garden and meet Erin and Lucas again. This would make a stunning series and I'm sure I'm not the only person who wants this. If not a series then I still cannot wait to read your next gem of a novel!!! Welcome to my favourite book lost. I most definitely will be recommending this to everyone and anyone.
Overall an absolutely stunning unputdownable unique story that will whisk you to the beautiful Cornwall and stunning Costa Rica.
Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:
🦋 "Did you know that their wings are actually transparent, and those wonderful colours we see is just the light reflecting off their scales?’". Talking about butterflies. Learn something new every day. 😊 Actually googled and discovered the following:
"The chitin is covered with modified hairs called 'scales' that contain pigments (such as our very own melanin, found in brown butterflies) that reflect light in different colours. Over time, some of these colourful scales will rub off, exposing the transparent membrane."
Genres covered in this book include Contemporary Fiction and Holiday Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of JoJo Moyes,. Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult and anyone looking for an absolutely stunning getaway
311 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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@SophieAnderson @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
Author Bio:
Sophie Anderson enjoyed a career in TV production in London before working with her husband to set up an online software business where she wrote the marketing content. But neither scratched that creative itch to tell a story, so she enrolled on a writing course and wrote her first novel The Butterfly Garden. She lives in Sussex with her husband, four children, a cocker spaniel and two cats.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3iIoT3c
Apple: https://apple.co/2OY3Q08
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3lKrEke
Google: https://bit.ly/2NME1zE
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