A Home Like Ours
Fiona Lowe
Reviewed by Helen
Firstly let me say I loved this story, it is a story that takes in some issues that are with us always and handles them so well, this is the story of women and the struggle they have in their day to lives not only with family but homelessness, the upheaval of moving from war torn countries to start a new life and how a community garden help them come together, learn from each other, open up to each other and fight for justice and happiness.
We meet Helen, she is in her fifties and has been homeless for a few years now, although well-educated and willing to work that doesn’t mean that a job is easily given to her at her age, she has struggled but kept her dignity, when she arrives in the beautiful small country town of Boolanga she finds the community garden and things start to look up for her.
Then there is Jade a teenage single mother who has never known the true love of a family and that is one thing she is determined to give her beautiful son Milo with a drop in boyfriend Milo’s father never there to help she struggles but when she finds the community garden growing food and flowers gives her a well -deserved lift in life.
Fiza has arrived from war torn Sudan with her teenage son and young twins to make a fresh start in life, she is a nurse and works hard for her family but growing plants is what brings her closer to her past and the community garden is the place to start, here not only does she get to grow plants but she also meets strong woman like her.
Tara’s life is a struggle at the moment for her and her husband Jon they have two children and run a successful hardware store in town, their marriage seems to have lost its sparkle and with a series of break-ins from a crime spree the happy contended life is changing for her.
This story brings woman from totally different backgrounds together, things don’t always run smoothly and personalities can clash but the community garden, the joy at growing food and flowers brings them together, they learn so much from each other, they are there for each other in many ways and friendships and trusts are formed. Challenges are thrown up when their community garden is under threat and they band together to fight them, I loved these woman, MS. Lowe has made these woman come to life on the pages and I was cheering them on as their lives move forward in this beautiful town.
This story was an emotional journey for me, so beautifully written, it pulled at my heartstrings as we see Helen, Jade, Fiza and Tara find their happy place in life, to see them form such beautiful friendships that all started with a community garden, a place to bond and learn, yes I was left in tears at the end, tears of happiness, thank you MS. Lowe for another keeper, these ladies will stay with me for a long time to come. I do highly recommend this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
We meet Helen, she is in her fifties and has been homeless for a few years now, although well-educated and willing to work that doesn’t mean that a job is easily given to her at her age, she has struggled but kept her dignity, when she arrives in the beautiful small country town of Boolanga she finds the community garden and things start to look up for her.
Then there is Jade a teenage single mother who has never known the true love of a family and that is one thing she is determined to give her beautiful son Milo with a drop in boyfriend Milo’s father never there to help she struggles but when she finds the community garden growing food and flowers gives her a well -deserved lift in life.
Fiza has arrived from war torn Sudan with her teenage son and young twins to make a fresh start in life, she is a nurse and works hard for her family but growing plants is what brings her closer to her past and the community garden is the place to start, here not only does she get to grow plants but she also meets strong woman like her.
Tara’s life is a struggle at the moment for her and her husband Jon they have two children and run a successful hardware store in town, their marriage seems to have lost its sparkle and with a series of break-ins from a crime spree the happy contended life is changing for her.
This story brings woman from totally different backgrounds together, things don’t always run smoothly and personalities can clash but the community garden, the joy at growing food and flowers brings them together, they learn so much from each other, they are there for each other in many ways and friendships and trusts are formed. Challenges are thrown up when their community garden is under threat and they band together to fight them, I loved these woman, MS. Lowe has made these woman come to life on the pages and I was cheering them on as their lives move forward in this beautiful town.
This story was an emotional journey for me, so beautifully written, it pulled at my heartstrings as we see Helen, Jade, Fiza and Tara find their happy place in life, to see them form such beautiful friendships that all started with a community garden, a place to bond and learn, yes I was left in tears at the end, tears of happiness, thank you MS. Lowe for another keeper, these ladies will stay with me for a long time to come. I do highly recommend this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
5 stars
Published March 1st 2021 by HQ Fiction
