The Kew Gardens Girls - by Posy Lovell (Paperback)

About the Book

"A heart-warming novel inspired by real life events, about the brave women during WWI who worked in the historic grounds of London's Kew Gardens"--

Book Synopsis

A heart-warming novel inspired by real life events, about the brave women during WWI who worked in the historic grounds of London's Kew Gardens.

Can the women of Kew keep the gardens alive in the midst of war?

London, 1916. England is at war. Desperate to help in whatever way they can, Ivy and Louisa enlist as gardeners at Kew, the Royal Botanic Gardens, taking on the jobs of the men who have gone to fight. Under their care, the gardens begin to flourish and become a safe haven for those seeking solace--but not everyone wants women working at Kew.

The pair begin to face challenges on the home front. When a tragedy overseas affects the people closest to them, can the women of Kew pull together to support themselves and their country through the darkest of times?

Review Quotes

"An absolutely charming story about the strength and beauty of female friendship. The Kew Gardens Girls blossom from the pages as WWI changes their lives and they face the challenges of being the first women to work in the famous Kew Gardens. I loved the way Ivy, Louisa and Win reveled in the many adventures they encountered and supported one another through the turmoil of wartime life. Settle into the story and be swept away!" ⁠--Natasha Lester, author of The Paris Secret

"Utterly charming, The Kew Garden Girls, set in World War I London to the backdrop of the women's suffrage movement, is a tumbling bouquet of detail and dialogue that immediately transports the reader to one of the most famous city gardens in the world, a century in the past. Inspired by real events, Posy Lovell deftly explores issues of friendship, loss, class, equality, and freedom, weaving those serious topics into a beautiful story of women in wartime who find solace and meaning in tending the plants of Kew Gardens, coaxing new life from the soil even as they struggle to hold their own lives together. I'll never look at the sprawling, brilliant Kew Gardens--one of London's top tourist attractions and a World Heritage Site--the same way again." --Kristin Harmel, author of The Book of Lost Names

"The Kew Gardens Girls weaves an engaging, charming story of three women and their friendship while exploring the fascinating struggle for women's suffrage during World War I Britain. Lovell's story is just as layered and beautiful as the gardens she writes about. A delight!" -Julia Kelly, author of The Light Over London

"[An] endearing slice of wartime life." -Booklist

The Kew Gardens Girls is a delightful story about women from very different backgrounds who end up working together at London's Kew Gardens during WWI, taking on the jobs of the men who have gone to war. The 'Girls' form fast friendships and something like a surrogate family. With beautifully well-drawn characters that you root for from the beginning, and interesting historical details about both the Suffragette movement and Kew Gardens during WWI, this is a poignant, heartwarming read that I highly recommend!" --Jane Healey, author of The Beantown Girls

About The Author

Posy Lovell is a pseudonym for British author and journalist Kerry Barrett. Born in Edinburgh, she moved to London as a child with her family. She has a passion for uncovering the role of women in the past. Kerry lives in London with her family and The Kew Gardens Girls is her American debut.