Winter Garden: From the multimillion copy bestselling author of The Women, The Four Winds and the Nightingale Paperback – 29 Dec. 2022

I loved this story. It was about a time and place I know little about and the story was as captivating as it was tragic. Just wonderful.

I’ve read quite a few books by this author and compared to the others, it was a little harder to connect with the sisters at first. I had to really push through, showing empathy, repeating to myself “those are traumatised people”. But once it got good, it got really good! So I’d say, try and push past the first half, and then you’re in for quite a ride. Hannah is incredible at bringing well researched history to life. This time I give 4 stars, as I wished the 3 female characters, Mer, Nina and Anya were more multidimensional. They were a little too cliche for my liking, especially after reading previous stories by this author where characters were colourful and multifaceted! I almost wish the book was just the story of Anya back in WW2. But it was still enjoyable and honoured the people, the women, the families who endured the siege of Stalingrad and the level of trauma that is carried. She is shining a light on an event that needs to be better known.

Like with most reviews of this book, and as discussed in our book club, the beginning of this story is slow. As I've reached the end, I'm still a little confused at why there was so much back story of the characters Meredith and Nina. The best bits of this book lie in the story of Vera and the stories she told of her Russian life and the heartbreaking events of world war 2. It is this story within a story that really captures the reader. From chapter 24 onwards you will definitely need tissues...Wow! Loved reading this ❤️

Intense, deep and with many facets to try to understand throughout the book, until the end. It is a serious rendition, in part, of an horrific time of suffering during Germany’s invasion of St Petersburg and of the heart rending decisions a mother has to make to save her children. The tale is told in two timelines, one in war time 1039/45 war and the other in the present day formulated around the lives of the mother’s two daughters.The difficult decisions and suffering of the mother are dramatized in how they have affected the sisters, particularly their relationships.Towards the end the doom and gloom of the story gets a bit lighter as the girls, now women, get to know their seemingly unfeeling mother and the reasons for her coldness through understanding.This was a hard read with little joy yet so well written that I had to read it all, even if it did make me sigh.

Purchased on deals for kindle at a great price.There are no content issues to my knowledge.This is a must read story, it made me cry like a baby. Absolutely fantastic read and so far my favourite Kristen Hannah book. She really grips you and makes you feel like you know all of the characters. I cannot recommend this book enough- especially if you want to cry!

Loved the book from the start. The flow of the story and Descriptions of places were captured perfectly. Thank you Kristin Hannah

Difficult to rate this book as there are really two parts to the story. The tale of the dysfunctional family running an apple producing farm I found tedious and slow paced. I also did not warm to the characters especially Meridith and the mother Anya. I found it quite hard going.The reason the mother is so difficult to get on with becomes apparent in the second part of the story. The descriptions of Russia before the second world war and the suffering of Leningrad makes facinating reading and I really enjoyed this part of the book.Without doubt the ending is very emotional and brilliant.In summarry if you are prepaired to tolerate the first part of the book, the rest and the ending make it a recommended read. Otherwise avoid

Yet another amazingly beautiful story that leaves you in happy and sad tears throughout. You’re drawn into the tale and feel the emotions of the characters!