The Green House Review

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review.

I enjoyed The Green House a lot and would recommend it, with some trigger warnings: miscarriage and alcoholism.

The story itself was very touching and I felt connected to both Girard and his daughter Stacey. Anyone who has lost someone close to them will be able to identify with Girard and Stacey’s different expressions of grief. Girard retreats into his greenhouse and compares his current tragedy to another one, 37 years removed. It is satisfying to watch Girard and Stacey repair their strained relationship through their shared sadness, and bond over the flowers in the greenhouse. The flowers themselves add symbolism throughout the story, which in my opinion enhances the experience of the narrative.

The parts of this book I enjoyed less was Lawton’s writing style. It was too simple for me, but that is not to say it was bad, it’s just a personal preference. There is also a heavy dose of Christian morality within the narrative, which I thought could have been more subtly done. The way it stands feels heavy-handed and preachy.

This is a short book and will fly past. There is never a dull moment and has some well-timed surprises.