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I’ve always dreamed of a lush garden overflowing with flowers and veggies, but gardening hasn’t exactly been my strong suit.
My plants usually end up looking more than a little sad.
But even though I’m not a green thumb, I can still appreciate the beauty of a well-loved garden.
And that’s why I adore books about gardening.
They let me live out my dream of flourishing blooms and vibrant greenery, all while cozying up with a good story.
These 25 books are full of amazing stories about growth – both in the garden and in life.
They’re about love, healing, secrets, and finding hope, all wrapped up in beautiful, leafy settings.
If you’ve ever dreamed of wandering through a secret garden or just love plants from afar (like me), these books are the perfect escape.
1. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert
Sanna, a dedicated cider-maker, lives a peaceful life on her family’s orchard until a single dad and his son arrives and shakes things up.
With apple trees and cider in the mix, it’s a heartwarming, slow-blooming love story.
If you like the sweetness of an orchard and a little magic in your love life, this one’s for you.
2. The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams
In a forgotten community garden, life slowly returns, one small seed at a time.
This story is all about finding connection in the most unlikely places, just like how gardens grow when given time and care.
It’s a lovely reminder that even the smallest gardens can create big changes.
3. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Claire Waverley’s family garden is full of magic, from apples with prophetic powers to flowers that influence feelings.
When her estranged sister returns, Claire must face her past, all while surrounded by a garden that heals, nurtures, and, well, works a little magic of its own.
4. The Kew Gardens Girls by Posy Lovell
Set during WWI, this novel is a tribute to the women who kept Kew Gardens blooming while the world was in chaos.
Ivy and Louisa are brave gardeners who work to keep the gardens alive while the men are away.
It’s a beautiful story of strength, loss, and growth – both in the garden and in the characters’ hearts.
5. Scent of a Garden by Namrata Patel
After losing her sense of smell, Poppy returns to her grandmother’s garden to find herself again.
The garden that once inspired the her gift is now in ruin, and as she faces her past, the garden’s restoration becomes a metaphor for her journey.
The scent of flowers and healing goes hand-in-hand in this touching tale and it’s a perfect book if you like gardening.
6. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
A guerrilla gardening group called Birnam Wood thrives on planting in forgotten spaces, but they stumble upon a new opportunity in a secluded farm.
It’s a gripping story about survival, trust, and planting new roots, with a bit of suspense added to keep you on your toes.
7. The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
This novel weaves through three different time periods, all connected by one garden at Highbury House.
From a garden designed in 1907 to the women who’ve lived and worked in it, the story blooms with mystery, history, and the timeless power of plants.
8. The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman
Two women, one with a love for flowers, the other with a broken past, find healing through a shared garden.
This story of hope and renewal is a gentle reminder that sometimes, it’s the flowers that help us find our way.
9. Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams
At Storyton Hall, the secret garden of deadly plants becomes the scene of a murder.
If you’re a fan of mystery and love gardens, this one’s perfect.
10. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Flowers speak a language of their own, and for Victoria, they’re her way of communicating after a troubled childhood.
This touching novel shows how flowers can be a bridge to healing and love.
If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite flower says about you, this book will have you thinking about their meanings in a whole new way.
11. The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair
In a secluded Indian village, a garden with a hidden secret offers Rakhee a path to healing.
The lush garden reflects her journey, where every step she takes brings new growth, both inside and out.
12. Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin
Violette, a cemetery caretaker, offers warmth and coffee to those who visit, all while grappling with her own past.
This story is like a gentle rain over a garden – it soothes, it heals, and it helps us bloom from within.
13. Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf
A lovely, quiet tale of a summer day in Kew Gardens, where conversations flow like the plants around them.
This one is a whimsical, reflective story about how gardens hold stories we may never hear.
And, it’s so perfect for a peaceful, thoughtful afternoon.
14. Digging In by Loretta Nyhan
After losing her husband, Paige starts a garden in her neglected backyard, and with each shovel of dirt, she finds herself again.
It’s a beautiful, uplifting tale of reclaiming life, one seed at a time and the garden becomes her second chance.
15. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland
Alice grows up surrounded by Australian native flowers and she realised that each one carried a message.
As she manages her love, loss, and self-discovery, the flowers guide her through a life filled with secrets and healing.
This one is a beautiful story that celebrates how nature and flowers can help us find our way.
16. The Hidden Letters by Lorna Cook
As war looms, Cordelia finds refuge in her family’s garden, where a forbidden love with Isaac begins to blossom.
When Isaac is sent to the front, his letters give her hope, but when they suddenly stop, Cordelia must take charge of her future and the garden they both cherished.
17. The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan
Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s Botanic Garden in 1822, Elizabeth is drawn to the rare Agave Americana plant and its impending bloom becoming the symbol of her new life.
As she explores the garden’s secrets, she becomes entangled with Belle, whose hidden connection to the garden may change everything.
18. The Garden of Evening Mists by Twan Eng Tan
In 1950s Malaya, Yun Ling Teoh, a survivor of a Japanese wartime camp, finds peace in a Japanese garden created by the enigmatic Aritomo.
The garden becomes a place of healing and mystery as Yun Ling learns the art of gardening and reveals dark secrets tied to both the land and her past.
19. The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick
Sorrel Sparrow’s gift for nurturing plants leads her to revive a long-forgotten Shakespearean garden at Kirkwood Hall.
As she reveals its tragic history, the garden becomes a symbol of hope, healing, and the deep connection between nature and the heart.
20. The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen
Emily Bryce joins the war effort by working as a land girl on a large estate, and she is tasked with tending to neglected gardens.
As she learns the healing power of herbs and gardening, the journals of a medicine woman guide her through the pain of loss and the search for her own purpose.
21. The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
Lilian Girvan, struggling with grief, is roped into a vegetable gardening class.
What starts as a reluctant task transforms into a journey of healing as she learns that tending to the earth can help her nurture her own heart and her relationship with her family.
22. The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass
Lucy Silver’s quest to solve an academic mystery leads her to a neglected walled garden, where hidden secrets unfold.
As she works to protect the garden from being lost forever, she discovers how deeply intertwined the garden’s history is with her own.
23. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Cassandra’s search for family secrets leads her to an overgrown, forgotten garden.
As she unravels her grandmother’s past and the connection to the garden, she learns about love, loss, and the power of memories hidden in the earth.
24. All The Pretty Places by Joy Callaway
Sadie Fremd finds herself drawn to the beauty of nature as she works to save her family’s nursery during a time of financial collapse.
In the process, she learns how nature’s restorative power can heal hearts, spark change, and inspire passion for something greater than herself.
25. A Garden of Earthly Delights by Joyce Carol Oates
In this first novel of The Wonderland Quartet, Clara Walpole is managing her ambition to escape poverty through her relationships with four very different men.
As she tries to rise above her past, the metaphor of a garden and its growth mirrors her own struggle for independence and identity.
I’d love to hear your thoughts – have any of these books caught your eye?
Or maybe you have a favorite gardening story you’d love to recommend?
Drop a comment below; I’m all ears.
And if you’re in the mood for more nature-inspired reading, check out these posts for some fresh ideas:
- 25 Spring Children’s Books – For the young (or young-at-heart) reader.
