Review of 'The Garden of Shared Memories' by Clare Swatman

Review of 'The Garden of Shared Memories' by Clare Swatman

Release date: December 3, 2025

Publisher: Boldwood Books

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REVIEW

What a beautiful, addictive and well-written time-slip novel! I absolutely loved it. Once I started reading, I could not stop as I was so curious as to how things would pan out. Time focused novels can be such a challenge to work out satisfactory events and conclusions. But I think Clare Swatman did an excellent job. She certainly overcame the many issues an author would deal with in creating a story such as this.

The Garden of Shared Stories is magical, mesmerising and memorable and as I got to know the two main characters, Emma and Nick, I really did not want to say good-bye to them. I felt their emotional traumas. Ached at their dilemmas, cried for their losses and cheered their hard earned victories. I must admit, I got frustrated at times with their stubbornness but it created some excellent tension—which is part of good story telling. For we must see a character’s flaws, along with their admirable qualities. And these two had plenty of each which made them ‘real’ and relatable. I often questioned, ‘what would I do if I found myself in their situation?’ Probably hesitate, ponder and make mistakes as they did while trying to navigate the emotional upheavals they had. Wanting to do the right thing but being torn between desire and duty.

The characters battled some age old time travel dilemmas. If you knew something bad was going to happen, should you warn the person? And would that person want to know as it could seriously affect their present life? Or should you just let events play out unhindered? And if you did interfere with the known course of events, what other ripple effects would happen? We have seen this many times in time travel movies and books. And ones like Back to the Future cannot help but come to mind!

Clare Swatman is an excellent wordsmith. The descriptions, atmosphere and dialogue are flawless. I was totally transported to the setting in the park garden where both Emma and Nick visited after losing their spouses. It is a place of solace; to remember their loved ones and to deal with grief. Of course, one fateful day their paths cross in this special place and a conversation begins that defies reason. They are continually drawn back to each other—at first not realising a major difference in the year date. When they do, it is a shock and they are unable to understand how this meeting could happen. But for whatever reason, this simple garden is a sacred spot. And as their attraction and comfortableness grows with each other, they share their deepest thoughts and experiences. Unexpected love blossoms. And when they touch, something otherworldly happens. They are motivated to keep returning to each other, until something happens that blows their closeness apart. It is only then that their most difficult journey begins. They must find a way to forgive and move forward.

This was such an enjoyable reading experience. The hours just slipped away as my heart became totally lost in the story of this couple. Although the characters themselves cannot believe what has happened to them (how they meet across time), it is believable within the story world. But Emma and Nick have no way of controlling these paranormal experiences. When they are together, it seems time and space suspend. Hard to explain but it works. The Garden of Shared Stores would make a wonderful movie! The two time frames could easily be constructed on set.

This story has lovely original ideas but still draws upon the time slip elements where the characters accidentally and without explanation meet (on a park bench) both living many years apart. I won’t say more as I don’t want to give anything away but I highly recommend this romantic time slip that genuinely latched onto my heart and did not let go—even after turning the last page. For I wanted to see more of these two! The Garden of Shared Stories fired my imagination and inspired my heart. I truly loved everything about it and highly recommend this gorgeous novel. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sincere thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the offer to review it.