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  • Published: 3 August 2021
  • ISBN: 9781760899424
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 336

The Garden of Hopes and Dreams




From award-winning novelist Barbara Hannay comes a timely and uplifting story about the importance of community and connection.

Can love and friendship blossom on a rooftop?

The residents in Brisbane’s Riverview apartment block barely know each other. They have no idea of the loneliness, the lost hopes and dreams, being experienced behind their neighbours’ closed doors.

Vera, now widowed, is trying her hardest to create a new life for herself in an unfamiliar city environment. Unlucky-in-love Maddie has been hurt too many times by untrustworthy men, yet refuses to give up on romance. Ned, a reclusive scientist, has an unusual interest in bees and worm farms. Meanwhile, the building’s caretaker, Jock, is quietly nursing a secret dream.

When a couple of gardening enthusiasts from one of the apartments suggest they all create a communal garden on their rooftop, no one is interested. Not at first, anyway. But as the residents come together over their budding plants and produce, their lives become interconnected in ways they could never have imagined.

From award-winning novelist Barbara Hannay, The Garden of Hopes and Dreams is a timely and uplifting story about the importance of community and the healing power of connection.

  • Published: 3 August 2021
  • ISBN: 9781760899424
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 336

About the author

Barbara Hannay

Barbara Hannay writes women's fiction, with over twelve million books sold worldwide. Her novels set in Australia have been translated into twenty-six languages, and she has won the Romance Writers of America's RITA award and been shortlisted five times. Two of Barbara’s novels have also won the Romance Writers of Australia's Romantic Book of the Year award.

Barbara lives in Townsville with her writer husband and enjoys being close to the Coral Sea, the stunning tropical scenery and colourful characters, all of which find their way into her popular stories.

Also by Barbara Hannay

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Praise for The Garden of Hopes and Dreams

A beautiful, gentle read. I really enjoyed it and loved the characters and each of their stories and of course the love of gardening that is a character on its own. Sometimes we just need books that look after our souls and this one did that for me. I adore Barbara Hannay and will miss these characters.

Nigelle-Ann Blaser, The Sunday Book Club

What a magical read this was. Really delightful, full of beautiful characters who each had their own story to tell. It's amazing how gardening brings people together, especially this past year or so. I really loved the gentle pace of The Garden of Hopes and Dreams. It soothed my soul and gave me joy. Each character was special to me and the diversity of the characters was great. Thank you for this beautiful story. It was just what I needed.

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The Garden of Hopes and Dreams book club notes

A timely and uplifting story about the importance of community and connection from much-loved author Barbara Hannay.