A little late in the day, but I really wanted to join the publication day celebrations and share my review of the latest book from Clare Swatman, The Garden of Shared Stories: published today (3rd December) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback and hardcover, and as an audiobook. My thanks to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy, provided via netgalley.
I must admit, I did gush a bit when I met Clare at the York Tea and was able to tell her how very much I love her writing. But it was true – I first discovered her books with The Night We First Met (I read it as How to Save a Life, and it was one of my 2022 Books of the Year – you’ll find my review here), and she’s been on my unmissable list ever since. A Love to Last a Lifetime was such a compelling read, with all those perfect emotional touches (you can read my full review here) – and The World Outside My Window might have been even better, and the book I chose to include in my 2023 Books of the Year (you’ll find my review here). The Lost Letters of Evelyn Wright was superb – moving and engaging, with the most wonderful characters (you’ll find my review here): and I loved every moment of Last Christmas, her really clever “sliding-doors” love story (review here). And then there was Five Things I Love About You – such an original concept, it made me laugh and cry, I enjoyed every moment, and the ending was sheer perfection. Her books are always so very different – in a good way, of course – and I was very much looking forward to reading her latest…
Twenty years apart. One story to share.❤️
Emma is at an all-time low the day she meets Nick. She sits down in a quiet rose garden in her local park, and from nowhere a handsome man sits next to her and turns her world upside down.
Over the weeks, she and Nick meet regularly, always in the same place, always at the same time. They discover they have a lot in common – shared heartbreak, and shared dreams. They tell each other stories about the people they’ve lost – things they’ve never told anyone else. Bit by bit, they get to know each other, and fall in love.
But there’s a catch, because however much they have in common, they have one big thing keeping them apart… twenty years apart. Because when Nick is sitting in the garden it’s 1999 – two decades before Emma is there.
Emma never expected to fall in love again, but now she has, she’s not going to give up on it without a fight. But how do you turn something impossible into a happy ever after?
The author’s wonderful writing makes the suspension of disbelief extremely easy – two main (and very sympathetic) characters, Emma and Nick, who live 20 years apart, meeting on a bandstand in the park that has a depth of meaning for them both. They’ve both been through grief and loss, neither of them looking for a new relationship, but through their pre-arranged visits they slowly find themselves falling in love. In 1999, Nick shares his new happiness with his brother – who’s been concerned about his mental health after his bereavement, and understandably wonders if this is another sign that his recovery has some way to go. In 2019, Emma confides in her best friend – who is happy for her but struggles to believe her, preferring to focus on the practicalities.
As their love grows deeper, they both – heartbreakingly – know they can never be fully together. In Nick’s world, Emma is still a child – and in the present day, the age gap is still there. And there’s always the possibility that something might have happened to Nick in the intervening years – but the availability of social media (he’s fascinated by her mobile phone, and it’s easy to forget how technology moved on in such a short time) does make it possible for her to find out, should she choose to do so.
It’s an exceptionally powerful romance – their love for each other is something so special you can really feel it – but it’s impossible to see how there could ever be a happy ending. And it would be unforgivable of me to give anything away – or tell you more about how they both deal with the reality of getting on with their separate lives. There’s a real tension throughout – and the overarching question whether interfering with the passage of time can ever be acceptable. But the author – always a safe pair of hands – handles it all so perfectly that I believed in every twist and turn of their unconventional love story. And my goodness, I fell in love with them both – two damaged people having found hope and joy in such an impossible situation.
This will be – without question – one of my books of the year. I read it at a feverish pace, desperately wanting to find out what happened but afraid to turn the next page in case everything fell apart. It’s an all-consuming love story unlike any other I’ve ever read – and I adored every single moment. Totally unforgettable, and so very special – do add it to your reading list!
About the author
Clare Swatman is the author of eleven women’s fiction novels.
She also writes psychological thrillers under the name CL Swatman. Her debut thriller, No Son of Mine, was released worldwide on 21st December 2024, and her second will be released in September 2025.
Clare lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and two boys. Even the cat is male, which means she’s destined to be outnumbered forever.
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Have you read the acknowledgements Anne?
Yes, I have – and what a wonderful tribute to Emma. She certainly has done the name proud!
Fabulous review Anne. I really enjoyed this one too!