This is the first book I have read by Caroline Scott. It is a story set between the 2 wars. In a rather run down manor house, which is struggling with its upkeep, there is a community of craftsmen and artists, all working together and helping each other. Robert has been dismissed from his former employment as a gardener and gets the job of renovating the gardens at Anderby. When Gwen, the owner decides to sell the orchard to a property developer, in order to raise much needed funds towards the upkeep, the others feel aggrieved. Lots of tempers are raised and it takes some considerable time for things to become reasonable.
It is an easy story to read, but I think it could have been a bit shorter. My thanks to NetGalley, Caroline Scott and the publishers, Harper Collins for an arc of this book.

Gwendoline is the driving force behind the Greenfields community, centred around the now rather rundown Anderby Hall. The manor house has proved to be a money pit, eating up most of Gwendoline’s fortune. However it’s not just a place to pursue her ideals but somewhere she has a very personal connection to because of its use as a military hospital for wounded soldiers of the First World War. In particular, the restoration of the gardens to their former glory is something dear to her heart. More pragmatically, she hopes charging people to view the garden might be a way to restore the community’s economic fortunes. However not everyone feels this accords with Greenfield’s values, prinicipally Faye, Anderby’s schoolteacher.

Robert is excited at taking on the project of restoring the garden but arrives at Anderby with a degree of trepidation because he has something in his past he would rather not be discovered. Unfortunately Teddy, Gwendoline’s husband, is pretty good at sniffing out secrets and using them to his advantage. Robert finds himself drawn to Faye but wonders if he can overcome her animosity towards him.

I had Teddy down as a bounder from the start. I struggled to see what Gwendoline saw in him as he seemed more interested in spending her money than anything else. I can’t say I was upset when he got his just desserts, even if it was in an unexpectedly dramatic way.

For me, Daniel was the most fully rounded character. Still struggling with memories of the terrible things he experienced in the First World War, he finds solace in spending time in the grounds of Anderby, particularly in its ancient orchard. I could really appreciate his dismay at the prospect of its destruction to make way for a new housing estate.

Gwendoline’s decision to sell land to housing developers sets the community at odds. For some it’s simply too far from their original ideals putting the whole Greenfields project at risk. But perhaps it’s also an opportunity for a reset, to acknowledge that change is inevitable and must be embraced, allowing the book to end on an uplifting note.

I definitely recommend reading the Author’s Note which provides historical background and sources of inspiration for some aspects of the book. For example, the rise of utopian communities in the wake of the First World War and the explosion in housebuilding in order to fulfil Lloyd George’s promise of ‘a fit country for heroes to live in’. The author also points out some interesting parallels with contemporary issues.

I enjoyed The Best of Intentions but, if I’m honest, missed the emotional intensity of the author’s previous books, particularly The Photographer of the Lost and When I Come Home Again.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the description. I stayed because it was an enjoyable historical fiction read that has a cast full of interesting characters, all of whom are well drawn.

The story takes place in the inter-war years when WWI was remembered and the circumstances that will lead to WWII are beginning to rear their head. Some strict societal rules exist still and, because of this, gardener, Robert Bardsley had to leave his job and a woman he loved. He lands at Anderby where he will try to restore the gardens. At Anderby, Robert (and the reader) will meet a range of characters including Anderby's owner who got her money from industry, and her husband, who has a flirtatious eye. Some of the others are a teacher, an upper class woman on the outs with her family and a musician to name a few. They endeavor to live together on what seems like a commune.

What happens to these people and what happens when there is an outside challenge will keep readers following along over the year that the story takes place. This is a nice book and one that it is easy to recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster U.K. for this title. All opinions are my own.

A nice, gently read of British country life between the wars.

It's 1932 and Robert Bardsley arrives at Anderby Hall, ready to take up the position of gardener. The estate is home to a colony of artisans, all pulling together to make a life but, as always when many people come together, there are unshared secrets . . .

This is a gentle story of life in years gone by when large estates were beginning to struggle to survive and many diversified from the previous ways. Whilst I liked the story and, for the most part, the characters, I did think that the owner of the estate was too trusting and more than a bit naive. For me, 4*.

My thanks to the publisher for my arc via NetGalley.

The Best of Intentions by Caroline Scott

In 1932, gardener Robert arrives at Anderby Hall, a down at heel Elizabethan manor house, and home to a community of artists. His job is to revive the gardens so that paying visitors will come to see them, but some members of the community are more welcoming than others. The threat of property developers building a new estate divides the community further.

What a lovely story - I really enjoyed it. I didn't know anything about these type of communities and loved finding out about them. The characters were fabulous, really vivid and life-like, and although some more serious themes were dealt with throughout, the overall feeling was of kindness and community. Very highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to Rachel Quin and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review a finished copy of The Best of Intentions by one of my favourite authors, Caroline Scott. You can read my last review of a book by Caroline here: https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2022/10/20/good-taste-by-caroline-scott/

I started reading Caroline’s book just before publication day with the intention of sharing my thoughts around publication week. However my best laid plans (and intentions) failed due to work commitments, so I’m sharing during publication month instead!

Caroline’s new book is another five star read for me. This historical fiction novel allows the reader to discover what life was like during the years between the two wars. Life in England was changing, as the aristocracy had been altered forever by the loss of future heirs and also the Great Depression. Could a community of creative people from different social backgrounds live well together? Or would the class rules still prevail?

In addition to the changes in social history, Caroline brings to life her characters, many with secrets and/or hidden agendas. Her beautifully written book was a pleasure to read and I was left feeling bereft when I closed the book for the final time after spending time at Anderby Hall. If you haven’t discovered Caroline’s books before, then this is an excellent one to start with.

This was a charming read, inspired by the real life communities after the first World War, and it really does capture that uncertainty faced by the locals as they try and look forward to a new way of life but still troubled by what they've been through with the war.

Robert finds himself new to the area, charged with restoring the garden at Anderby Hall and he soon finds himself the centre of attention as the colourful set of characters are introduced to us! The lady of the house wants the gardens smartened up so she can open up to the public to raise funds, so Robert has a big task on his hands.

And the hall is full of families living there a quite unconventional set up, which adds to the community feel so when decisions are made without their consent it really pulls the community together - and it feels very relevant to problems facing communities nowadays with land being sold for new homes to be built.

It was a lovely gentle read, full of different personalities to follow and I loved the grown up attitudes to facing problems and dealing with them! No OTT plotlines and just a lovely read!

The Best of Intentions is a historical fiction set between the wars. I love interwar fiction, and thought this sounded interesting. I quite liked the story, set in an artistic community with pacifist leanings, told mainly from the point of view of Robert, who has been brought in to get the gardens back into shape. It was an aesy read in the beginning, but ultimately too long, and I struggled to remain interested towards the end.

Also, it didn't read like historical fiction; it was only when there were mentions of events that werecontemporary to the setting that I remembered I was reading historical fiction, it read like it was set today

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

This is the first time I've read a book from this author; I don't think it will be the last.
A chance, a wealthy lady and a community are the crux of the story.
Set between the two world wars, Robert takes up a position as a gardener I on a formal war hospital. It is run as a communder the owner Gwen and her husband Teddy..
The community are mainly artists, who don't always follow the social rules of the time.
Friendships, hardships and loyalty are all tested to the maximum.
Lies and hidden truths come to the surface but it forces the community to re-ev their ethos.

I enjoyed this story of a community of people trying to sort out their lives after World War I. Within the beautiful setting of an old, neglected British manor house and its gardens, we follow the characters lives, past and present, and become absorbed in a world that no longer exists today. A gentle read that touches the emotions. Recommended.

A heart-warming nice read. Based in the 1930's around a small community who try to uphold their values.

Deceit creeps in and it takes the strength of the community to keep things going. Based around 4 main characters who have all overcome difficulties in their past.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

This was the most amazing, warm, wonderful story. All these mismatched, awkward, sometimes broken, people coming together at Anderby to live in companionship and form an amazing community, I want to live at Greenfields too

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an early copy of this new novel from Caroline Scott.

As a lover of historical fiction, I was pleased to get an early look at Caroline Scott's new book. This is the fifth of her books that I’ve read, and I’ve enjoyed them all.

Robert, a gardener who left his previous job under less-than-auspicious circumstances, joins a small community at Greenfields, Anderby Hall in Gloucestershire, to help revive a neglected formal garden. I loved the generous descriptions of the garden and wildlife, which flowed gently through the story and helped to balance the weight of the more serious themes.

Like many British stately homes, Anderby was used as a hospital during World War One—specifically, for those suffering not only physical wounds but also psychological trauma. After the war, a glamorous American woman takes over the hall in memory of her lost brother. One former patient remains behind and helps her build a community of artists, writers, and other free-thinking individuals.

Robert arrives in 1932, during a time of upheaval. Funds are low, a property developer plans to fell the ancient orchard to build new homes, and the community is struggling to survive.

As with her other novels, I enjoyed this one. A couple of the storylines were a little predictable, but I found comfort in that—it made the narrative feel believable, and it didn’t detract in the slightest from my pleasure in reading another excellently written and well-plotted book.

I read another review where someone said they’d like to see a sequel showing how the community copes when World War Two begins. I agree that this is a possibility, as the novel drops several hints in that direction.

A gentle, thoughtful telling of a community living together in the 1930s. A new young gardener joins the assorted crew and makes some waves.

This gentle book draws you into its community of eccentric characters and I felt quite swept up in their stories while reading it. An engaging and enjoyable read - would recommend.

This is fabulous. I fell in love from the very first page. It just set a tone for me that I knew I was going to love the way the author writes. You know when you just know? I felt so comfortable from the first page.

The story is wonderful - I don’t want to give spoilers, but I loved (almost!) every character, I was so committed to their individual story. I felt the love between them all, and everything else…

I was absolutely charmed off my feet by this book. Love!

My thanks to Netgalley and Rachel Quin Marketing for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A nice gentle book set in the 1930s in what is basically an artist's collective set in and around a large country house. New to the house is Robert who is employed to revive the gardens. The story is told over the course of a year and we get to know the characters and their relationships with each other and the locals quite well during this time. This is not my usual kind of book but I quite enjoyed it as I found it very relaxing to read. Initially I thought nothing much had happened but when I looked back I realised that actually quite a lot had happened over the course of the story. However, I'm not sure I'd read any other books by this author
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This was an engaging read, I really became invested in the characters and hoped it all worked out for them. There were quite an eclectic mix of characters from the aristocracy, gardeners, artists and then there was Gwendolyn, an American who bought the manor and established the community. Not everything ran smoothly. as happens when a group of people get together. This was especially true when a new housing estate was proposed for the old apple orchard. Also, not everyone was as socially minded as others. It does have a satisfying ending and a real sense of community established. The story is told from the viewpoint of some of the characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a joy to read, I could imagine myself at Anderby along with the Greenfields community. Robert arrives to undertake the renovation of the gardens at Anderby, he has arrived somewhat under false pretences as his letter of recommendation was in reality not from his previous employer but rather from his daughter.
In the year that follows there are many changes and heartbreak, we see these through the eyes of Robert, Faye, who runs the school and Gwen the American heiress who saved Anderby and whose dream of an artist community all working together took shape.
A truly wonderful book and my thanks to the NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

England in the 1930s.
A country house with four friends.
A story which had me captivated from the beginning.
A tale of love, friendship, grief and past times.
I enjoyed this read very much, a touch of history with colourful characters.
T