Ashley Poston has always managed to masterfully weave in magical realism with her contemporary storytelling.

Her latest, the utterly delightful The Someday Garden, is no exception. It’s also a fitting placeholder as Poston is stepping away and trying something new genre-wise for future novels.

While The Someday Garden is definitely not a beach read as it tackles the not-so-easy-breezy topic of working through grief, she does so in such an elegant, heartfelt way. I loved the vivid imagery and imaginative turns of phrase. The way the characters grew throughout.

For those of us who love flowers but don’t exactly possess a green thumb 🙋🏻‍♀️, Poston’s lush descriptions of Lilymoor House were so incredibly inviting. You could see exactly why the location made such an impression with the story’s leads.

Anyone obsessed with words (guilty once again!) will adore the chapter titles. They are Harriet’s untranslatable words. As someone who loves to write and make up new words from time to time, well, this was one of my favorite parts. All the definitions are included in the back.

While more of a slow build as we get to know the characters, I enjoyed the more languid pacing that matched the setting and the characters’ respective journeys. The Someday Garden is definitely one of my favorites of the summer and something that’s perfect for a book club discussion.