The place where friendship grows . . .

One moment Lili is arguing with Dan, her husband, the next he is killed in a terrible car accident right outside their family home.

Three years later and Lili has managed to resume her day-to-day life as a mother of two girls and a successful textbook illustrator. But despite her outward appearance, she feels an aching loss. However, when she is commissioned to illustrate a series of horticultural books, Lili is forced to take gardening class and the wilted roots of her life finally start to blossom. The class provides Lili with a new network of friends - friends with their own heartaches and problems - and, maybe, another chance at love . . .

About the Author
Born in England, Abbi Waxman has worked as a copywriter and then a creative director at various advertising agencies in London and New York, including Ogilvy and Mather, Y&R, Grey, and Wunderman. After successfully ghost-writing Nicole Ritchie's novel, Abbi quit advertising, and turned to writing of her own. Abbi lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, three dogs, three cats and seven chickens.

Reviews
Like a conversation with the funniest person you know - just lovely * Katie Fforde, number one bestselling author of A Country Escape *
Waxman has given us a grow bag full of emotion - witty, uplifting and unashamedly honest * Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of Summer at Skylark Farm *
A cosy, life-affirming read * Cathy Hopkins, author of The Kicking the Bucket List *
A young widow is just about holding her life together when she's persuaded to enrol on a gardening course. Down among the weeds and worms she find purpose and friendship . . . a funny and uplifting debut novel * Good Housekeeping *
Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The Garden of Small Beginnings is funny, poignant, and startling in its emotional intensity and in its ability to make the reader laugh and cry on the same page . . . I loved this book! * Karen White *
Funny and poignant. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. May make you want to play in dirt and grow a new life of your own * Wendy Wax *
This is my favorite kind of book: hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully-written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it * Julia Claibourne Johnson *
What a treat!! Abbi Waxman is one of the wittiest voices in the world today. The Garden of Small Beginnings is a beautiful book full of humour, heart, and deep insight. An intimate and hilarious journey about a young mom moving on from grief. Reading it gave me the feeling I was talking to a really funny, open mom-friend sharing secrets about life, love, loss, and gardening! Abbi Waxman's quick wit and heart shine brightly throughout this debut novel. I just loved it! * Molly Shannon *
Kudos to debut author Waxman for creating an endearing and realistic cast of main and supporting characters (including the children). Her narrative and dialogue are drenched with spring showers of witty and irreverent humour, which provides much respite from the underlying grief theme * Library Journal *
The Garden of Small Beginnings is a quirky, funny, and deeply thoughtful book. . . . We're already dying to know if there will be a sequel * HelloGiggles *
Waxman's voice is witty, emotional and often profound * InStyle.com *
This novel is filled with characters you'll love and wish you lived next door to in real life * Bustle *
Lilian Girvan, the central character of The Garden of Small Beginnings, is an illustrator, a mother, a sister, a budding gardener, and a widow, and her perspective on how she's doing with each role doesn't always match up with what readers can see around her. But that trait makes her a more interesting and realistic protagonist, and along with the book's humour and eccentric supporting cast made it a great read * BookRiot *
Abbi Waxman artfully tackles grief with humour in her debut novel * Signature Reads *
It's impossible not to fall in love with Lilian, a young widow who is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband four years later. . . . If you are thinking to yourself 'forget it, I'm not reading a gardening book'- don't worry . . . THIS IS NOT A GARDENING BOOK! It IS, however, a feel-good, hate-to-put-it- down, kind-of-book! * ChickLit Central *
Waxman has mastered the fine art of dialogue . . . this debut begs for an encore * Kirkus Reviews *
Waxman has mastered the fine art of dialogue . . . this debut begs for an encore * Kirkus *
Waxman takes readers from tears to laughter * Booklist *



Book Information
ISBN 9780751564853
Author Abbi Waxman
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Sphere
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 482g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 153mm * 35mm