I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Tracy Rees for this e-arc copy for review.

This is an historical fiction set in 1895 in London. It is told for the most part by three female characters.

Firstly we have Mabel Daley known mostly as Mabs who at the beginning of the book is working on the canals hauling ice and dressed as a boy so that she can work. Her family has fallen on hard times with the death of her mother and her grieving father not working regularly. There are five siblings at home that need caring for and that is what Mabs is trying to do. She hopes for a better life and through a friend she knows hears of a position in service that is a step up from working the canals, she gets interviewed and gets the job working for the Finch family newly living in London having come down from Durham. Mr Finch is employing Mabs as a companion to his wife who is unwell. He does not care that she has no experience just that she is able to watch and help his wife.

We then have Olive Westallen who at 28 is still unmarried and does not see the prospect of such happening in the future. She does however want to be a mother and decides that she will adopt a child from the local orphanage. Her parents who are well to do so finances will never be an issue for Olive tell her that society may not accept her for doing this, but she is adamant that is what she wants and so they support her in this endeavour. She goes to the orphanage with the view to adopting a child who is around 12 but the girl she has picked does not want anything to do with her. A young girl of around 4 asks if she could be chosen and so eventually this little girl that Olive names Clover is selected and goes with her to Hampstead to live in her nice home.

Finally we have Ottilie Finch – known mainly as Otty, she is the 12 year old daughter of Mr and Mrs Finch who Mabs is going to work for. Newly arrived in London, Otty wants to explore but her siblings who are all quite a bit older than her are not interested so she goes off wandering on her own and ends up at the canals where her father has investments. Here she meets Jill who is a black girl from the Caribbean who like Mabs is pretending to be a boy to get work. They form an unlikely friendship which is short lived when they are set upon. Otty does not understand why there is an issue but Jill more used to nastiness tells her its best that they do not meet again so that Otty does not experience any more trouble.

Later in the book we also have some chapters from Abigail Finch this is the wife of Mr Finch and Otty’s mother. She is supposedly ill with nervous health but Abigail’s story is somewhat different.

This book focuses on the woman’s position in society, spousal control/abuse and slightly on racism. I found it a very enjoyable read. There were one or two coincidences that moved the story on but this did not detract from my overall enjoyment and I am happy to recommend it.
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In dit boek volgen we de levens van een aantal vrouwen en meisjes uit het Londen aan het einde van de 19de eeuw.
Mabs (Mabel) is de oudste dochter van het moederloze gezin Daley, dat uit 7 kinderen bestaat. Mabs familie is erg arm en Mabs moet dan ook al jong een baantje vinden. Ze gaat vermomd als jongen werken in de haven.
Olive Westallen is de het enige kind van een rijk echtpaar en lijdt een luxueus en zorgeloos leven, Maar ze is op haar 28ste nog steeds niet getrouwd. Olive heeft daarom besloten een dochter te adopteren uit een weeshuis waar ze vaker komt om liefdadigheidswerk te doen. Olive heeft een aantal voor die tijd vooruitstrevende ideeën over wat vrouwen zouden kunnen doen. En is vastbesloten om het lot van vrouwen te verbeteren.
Otty (Ottily) Finch is de jongste dochter (12) van een ambitieuze zakenman en zijn ziekelijke vrouw. Als Mabs wordt aangenomen als gezelschapsdame voor haar zieke moeder leren deze vrouwen elkaar kennen en ontdekt de slimme Mabs een vreselijk geheim waardoor een hele reeks aan gebeurtenissen zorgt voor grote veranderingen en hun levens en dat van hun familieleden.
Heerlijk ontspannen lezen. Ik heb erg van dit boek genoten. ( )

What a delightful read "The Rose Garden" turned out to be. I thoroughly enjoyed the strong female leads and the friendships that were formed. The author painted a very real picture of life in Victorian England, from the extreme poverty faced by Mabs and family to the opulence of Olive and her family, thanks to their wealth and privilege. The novel also gave an insight into the lives of women in this era - their roles, attitudes and responsibilities. Howe they were denied an education and were seen as the property of their husbands once they were married grated on my nerves. Regardless of their social standing, women were in a precarious position and often at the mercy of men's whims

Told from the points of view of Mabs, Olive and Otty, these three women, despite their differing social backgrounds, were strong and ahead of their time. They each had a distinctive voice and I sympathised with all of them as they faced difficult changes and I loved how they joined forces, determined to fight against male injustices.

The mystery of the Finch family was an intriguing one, but I wasn't surprised by the secrets that were gradually revealed. However, I loved the role Mabs playing in bringing those secrets to light.

"The Rose Garden" was a wonderful historical read and an uplifting story about female friendship. ( )