Review of 'The Someday Garden' by Ashley Poston

Review of 'The Someday Garden' by Ashley Poston

Release date: June 16th, 2026

Publisher: HQ Fiction

REVIEW

Ashley Poston has written some fascinating stories which I have read so I was keen to review The Someday Garden. Her unique and creative blend of magical realism with love and friendship themes certainly reign supreme in her latest. I was captivated from the first page with the picturesque estate of Lilymoor and Gardens. The wonderful characters and plot stoked my curiosity, too, along with the exquisite prose that made my heart soar to the very last page. This is such a magical and enchanting read that glitters with imagination, soul and heart.

Sophie Drear is a horticulturist on a summer sabbatical. She has been given an opportunity to work at Lilymoor Gardens as the Head Gardener. She must help owner Eula Beck get the place ready for a bicentennial anniversary party. But let’s wind back the clock to the opening scene where we get a beautiful description of this estate: an old charming, drafty house in Maine on top of a cliff surrounded by magnificent gardens where ‘wild and colourful and lush’ flowers such as peonies, daisies, marigolds and honeysuckle thrive.

There is a sense that this house is unique. It had not been ‘tamed’ by two previous owners but the last couple Eula and Henry were special. The house and its surrounds are truly characters in this novel that looked upon its last caretakers favourably—knowing they were different from the others. The couple’s love was evident and echoed across the property even beyond Henry’s passing. They truly had adopted this place. They ‘gently’ placed ‘paths through its sections, putting order to its seasons.’ Plus they painted the word Lilymoor on a piece of driftwood and mounted it on the door… ‘a magical name for a magical house.’

We learn from Chapter One that Sophie visited Lilymoor in the past with her best friend Harriet who marvelled at the beauty of this historic house and gardens. They had seen a documentary on the estate and sweet couple the Becks who owned and lovingly cared for it. The girls wanted to see it for themselves so for their graduation gift, they took a trip there— to the place that brought them together through a common interest. And seeing it through their eyes provided an immediate intimate connection. And how magical, special, otherworldly—even fairytale like it was.

Just before these two friends go off to different locations—Harriet to Grad School at UCLA and Sophie to an internship at New York Botanical Gardens, they make a promise to meet at Lilymoor in ten years when the place would be two hundred years old and probably hosting some sort of celebration. Then Chapter Two begins, ten years later, when we find Sophie is back at the estate as Head Gardener for the summer. But sadly Harriett’s life has taken a tragic turn. Sophie has tried to process her grief and returning here just might help her feel close to her friend. But Lilymoor and Gardens have other thoughts that will distract Sophie from her grief (or help heal her). Something bizarre happens when she stumbles into a secret garden where a man is trapped and unable to leave. Time here is different, too. And Sophie must find a way to free him. Will she become the heroine to save the victim? If so, this outcome is a bit of fairy tale reversal role. Or just maybe these two will save each other?

There are a number of fascinating characters in the story. Eula is one. She is a generous and loving elderly lady. Even though her husband has passed and she has no children, her two nephews Cyrus and Oliver become prime candidates to inherit the property. But they had a falling out over something that happened in the past and have not seen each other in a fair while. We learn a lot about these two: their differences and challenges. We also get a good picture of Sophie’s friend, Harriet, and what she means to her. And we can see how different their personalities were but they were complimentary. Harriet obviously was a strong force of encouragement in Sophie’s life and to lose her means she loses her sense of purpose and balance. Which is where the Gardens try to bring about healing through the stranger in the secret garden.

As mentioned, the characters are unforgettable, appealing and well developed. Their journeys and transformations are believable, especially as the leading two navigate their grief, concerns, hurts, self-blame, feelings of expectations and unworthiness. Through meeting each other, they learn to trust, embrace healing and move forward after major life events once altered their self perceptions.

The mention of Victorian’s use of flowers to convey messages, warnings, moods and occasions is appropriate for this story. The meanings of flowers made me wonder about the estate’s name, Lilymoor. Lilies often represent purity, life, devotion and new beginnings/rebirth and a moor is a physical atmospheric setting of untamed, ancient beauty, solitude and space. Thus accurate characteristics of the place and how it provides the uplifting magic we see in the story.

Ultimately this is a story about grief, love, healing and learning to live after death of someone very close. Fo Sophie, working at Lilymoor takes her on an unexpected journey of self-discovery partly through the man who is trapped in a section of the gardens behind a blue door—where time stands still. There is a little surprise at the end that adds a nice touch. These beautiful atmospheric gardens once again send out a healing magic moment for Sophie.

I really loved The Someday Garden which is sensitive, rapturous, passionate and freeing. It carries some deep spirit filled messages about grief and healing. Without question, a 5 Star magical realism read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for the ARC.