The Garden of Small Beginnings
by Abbi Waxman
Widowed illustrator Lilian Girvan is raising two daughters in Los Angeles when her boss sends her to a vegetable-gardening class. There she meets Edward, a Scottish gardener, and begins to bloom again. A warm, funny romance about grief.
About This Book
The Garden of Small Beginnings is a contemporary romance novel by Abbi Waxman, first published in 2017 by Turtleback Books. It runs 368 pages. Readers can expect slow burn.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Slow Burn
- Length
- 368 pages
- Format
- Library binding
Where to read or listen
Get The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A widowed illustrator finds an unexpected path to healing through a community gardening class.
- Fans of emotional contemporary fiction
- Readers seeking stories about healing after loss
- Reflective
- Features Slow Burn
This may not be ideal if…
- Limited information on the romantic trajectory
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: unknown
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate angst, moderate humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Lilian Girvan, an illustrator and mother of two, is struggling to move forward after the death of her husband. Her life in Los Angeles takes a turn when her boss mandates her attendance at a vegetable-gardening class. There, she encounters Edward, a Scottish gardener, sparking a journey of personal renewal and the tentative possibility of love.
Central Conflict
Lilian's struggle to process her grief and move forward with her life after the loss of her husband while managing motherhood and her career.
Setting
Los Angeles, California
Strengths
- Promising premise centering on personal growth and recovery
- Likely emotional depth given the subject of grief
Consider before reading
- Limited information on the romantic trajectory
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Abbi Waxman
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Format
- Library binding
- Length
- 368 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780606400404
- ISBN-10
- 0606400400
The Garden of Small Beginnings: quick answers
- Who wrote The Garden of Small Beginnings?
- The Garden of Small Beginnings was written by Abbi Waxman.
- When was The Garden of Small Beginnings published?
- The Garden of Small Beginnings was first published in 2017 by Turtleback Books.
- What genre is The Garden of Small Beginnings?
- The Garden of Small Beginnings is a contemporary romance novel, with slow burn.
- How many pages is The Garden of Small Beginnings?
- The Garden of Small Beginnings is 368 pages long (Library binding).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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