The Allotments
My debut literary novel follows a year in the lives of a group of allotment holders in a small North Yorkshire market town.
A warm and funny love story, it explores the importance of community and the therapeutic value of gardening, whilst touching on issues like homelessness, disability, loneliness and age.
When the friends uncover corruption that threatens them and the future of all the allotments, they have to find a way to fight back and protect all that is important.
What an enjoyable read!
This novel covers the lives of the allotment ‘owners’ in Kirkby over all four seasons and I really enjoyed uncovering the characters lives. And even though I’m not much of a gardener myself, I could imagine myself sitting in one of their sheds with a cuppa in my hand watching the world go by.
The book centres around Josie, Kara and Jack, with lots of other characters in the mix that add to the novel’s charm. They all add to the story even if some characters are quite detestable!
There’s lost and rediscovered family, love, loss, corruption, fraud and even some not so straight forward going’s on in a barn.
Community spirit is the centre of this book and how people can help others when they truly want to, even if some people do their best to try and crush it.
This made a real change from the thrillers I’ve been reading and I enjoyed every moment of it.
The book introduces the reader to what is a diverse group of allotment users, allotment lovers and other people who are intent on ruining the sanctuary that it has become for many.
Despite there being a huge cast of (wonderful) characters, not once did I feel like I didn't know who anyone was.
I enjoyed this story so much I would love for there to be a follow up *hint hint Jean 😆
I hope this is a compliment, but I got real Heidi Swain vibes whilst reading and I think that comes from the skilled way the community feeling was built throughout the book!
Review by @twilight_reader
This is the most different style of book I’ve read in a long time. Full of friendships, love, community and of course having an allotment. I found this book extremely refreshing as it isn’t the sort of book I’d be drawn to but I was so glad I got the chance to read this.
I found the setting wonderful based in Yorkshire I loved how the author gave you that knowledge through the writing without having to tell you where.
For me I found it so special to read as you truly start to feel like one of them. This has given me so much inspiration to not only want an allotment but to spend time and appreciate the joy that having a garden can give me. I adored how the layout of the book travelled over time too. Every time of year was described beautifully.
I found the pace of this perfect, it wasn’t too fast or too slow but gave me the right balance to fully get to know and appreciate the characters back stories and who they are. I can’t wait to read more from this author to see what other unexpected settings can be bought to life.
This was the perfect balance of joy and reality. On top of all this the cover is the best to spark the curiosity.
Review by @booksnink
I jumped at the chance to read this as I have had one for nearly half of my life and have been chairlady for the last five years.
Jean writes this book based in the idyllic Yorkshire town of Kirkby and we follow Josie at the beginning who is a widowed former headteacher in her 60’s and she is chairlady of The Allotments.
Jean has captured allotment life perfectly and I could relate to a lot the characters and certain scenes at the beginning with a sleeper in a shed. The characters are extremely believable and I could see quite a few of my own plot holders in the characters throughout the book.
I loved how the different characters came in to the book and how each had a story to tell of their own involving their pasts.
I found this book to be really entertaining and with a number of the characters you really felt for them and their circumstances.
This is a glorious book that shows love and loneliness, tragedy and triumphs and surprises when you least expect them.
Jean’s writing it beautifully descriptive and you really get a solid image of the area and the people. I absolutely loved this book and it was an ideal read for me and it will be for my plot holders as I have spoken to and recommended it to some of them who I know are readers.
Even if you aren’t in to growing your own at home this book really was absolutely lovely to read and who knows it might make you take the leap and look in to finding an allotment around your own area.
I really enjoyed this heart warming and thought provoking book, rooted as it is in North Yorkshire which I loved. It was good to catch up with the characters from book one, The Allotments, and I loved the new characters. Poppy, the villain of the piece was even nastier than before! Who was the murderer and how it was done kept me guessing all the way through - I couldn't put it down! I'm hoping there will be a third book, please, Jean!
Following on from the first book, The Allotments, this book continues the story of Kirkby and its residents as they try to build a new community, The Square, within sight of the allotments. The book also tackles some challenging issues such as blackmail and domestic abuse without being sensationalist. The characters have moved on from the first book, but this story can stand alone. A thoroughly enjoyable read, which you will struggle to put down. Perfect for those with an interest in gardening although not essential!
Having read The Allotments I have been eagerly awaiting its follow up The Square and I was not disappointed! Great reading and I hope there will be more to come 🙏.