Cis H. (californiadreamin) reviewed The Girls in the Garden: Target Club Pick on + 273 more book reviews
I enjoy Lisa Jewell's writing style. She usually has me guessing till the end, but this one was a little too easy. Somewhat complex story with lots of young characters who don't have much depth. I actually put this down several times and eventually got interested enough to finish.
Garden is considered a private park surrounded by various types of housing: apartments, attached houses, etc. All the residents use the garden and since it's gated and private, the kids all run free without much parental supervision. Some of the residents have lived there for decades, knowing the secrets of other residents. Newer residents have to work their way into the 'gang' of teens who live in complex.
Clare moves in with her two daughters, Grace who is almost 13 and Pip who's a year younger. They moved there because their father Chris had a breakdown and burned down their home. He's in mental institution and Clare and Grace are having hard time adjusting and accepting what he did. Pip still adores her father, writing letters to him weekly. Grace strikes friendship with three sisters who are home schooled. Then a romance blossoms with a 13 yo boy who lives in complex. It's all mundane action until Grace is found passed out with her clothes in disarray. I won't spoil the rest for you.
The story shows how parenting can go wrong, and how kids aren't to be thought so innocent.
Garden is considered a private park surrounded by various types of housing: apartments, attached houses, etc. All the residents use the garden and since it's gated and private, the kids all run free without much parental supervision. Some of the residents have lived there for decades, knowing the secrets of other residents. Newer residents have to work their way into the 'gang' of teens who live in complex.
Clare moves in with her two daughters, Grace who is almost 13 and Pip who's a year younger. They moved there because their father Chris had a breakdown and burned down their home. He's in mental institution and Clare and Grace are having hard time adjusting and accepting what he did. Pip still adores her father, writing letters to him weekly. Grace strikes friendship with three sisters who are home schooled. Then a romance blossoms with a 13 yo boy who lives in complex. It's all mundane action until Grace is found passed out with her clothes in disarray. I won't spoil the rest for you.
The story shows how parenting can go wrong, and how kids aren't to be thought so innocent.
