All the Pretty Places

Reviews / Votes

'All The Pretty Places is a timeless and powerful novel of a daring woman who must decide if she will risk everything to follow her passion and find her voice. Callaway's wise and insightful prose gives life to Sadie Fremd, a woman who understands the value of beauty and the vulnerability of love. For anyone who has ever had to find their voice in a crowd shouting to be the same as everyone else, Sadie Fremd will be your hero. With lush gardens so generously described that one feels as if they can pick the flowers, All the Pretty Places is immersive, engaging, and full of wonder.' * Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah * 'All the Pretty Places is a verdant, gorgeous novel, filled with lush scenery, fascinating characters, and engaging drama. Callaway skillfully transports her readers into the Gilded Age gardens of the late-twentieth century, where the yearnings of the heart come into conflict with the economic realities of the time. I was instantly swept away and stayed enraptured by the story to its very last page.' * Lauren Edmondson, author of Wedding of the Season * 'If you yearn for a more gracious era, when natural beauty was a human birthright, you'll adore Joy Callaway's ALL THE PRETTY PLACES. Landscape designer Sadie Fremd is a forward-thinking heroine who wants three things--to inherit her father's plant nursery, to create a public park in her hometown of Rye, New York, and to marry Sam Jenkins, a family employee who shares her vision of bringing nature to everyone, regardless of income or status. Sadie's struggle to be taken seriously in an age when women are considered as ornamental as roses and her desire to freely pursue both her talents and her heart create a warm and engaging novel. And the fact that the story is based on Callaway's real-life ancestors only makes ALL THE PRETTY PLACES an even more satisfying read!' * Kim Wright, author of LAST RIDE TO GRACELAND * 'Inspired by her own family history, Joy Callaway's All the Pretty Places is a gorgeously written novel about a Gilded Age nursery, the beauty of nature, the ugliness of the world, and how one woman blossoms to discover the wonder in the world and within herself.' * Viola Shipman, USA TODAY bestselling author of Famous in a Small Town * 'Joy Callaway's All the Pretty Places is a fascinating, heartwarming story that brings to light a time and place where only the wealthy had access to the beauty and restorative power of gardens. This Gilded Age tale, set in Rye, New York, in the late 1800s, follows one courageous young woman, Sadie Fremd, as she navigates a world where men lead and women follow. Despite the expectations of her father and polite society, Sadie is determined to build a life for herself, a life filled with purpose, true love, and pretty places for all. Callaway draws us into Sadie's world with gorgeous prose (you can practically feel the rich, damp soil and smell the sweet lilacs) that transports readers to the lush landscapes that Sadie will go to any lengths to protect.' * Adele Myers, author of The Tobacco Wives * 'Masterfully written with elegant prose and exquisite detail, Joy Callaway crafts a story as sumptuous and colorful as the Gilded Age gardens she transports readers to. All The Pretty Places is the story of a young woman fighting for personal and professional integrity and freedom, as well as a searing social commentary on poverty, privilege, and class discrepancy. I found myself cheering for Sadie with each page and tearing up at the emotional and nuanced ending.' * Yvette Manessis Corporon, international bestselling author of Where the Wandering Ends * Slow, rich with revelation, and packed with historical insight, Callaway's novel offers a Gilded Age that forsakes ballrooms to elevate working-class life and new values. Particularly striking are Sadie's strength and sense of honor, such that she finds purposeful flirtation to be both distasteful and deceitful. Her secret gift of gardens to humble districts nearby is life-giving, and Callaway offers twists for an ultimate rescue resulting from Sadie's own integrity. * Historical Novel Society *