Review: The Garden - Amy Sparling ( Shelfbrooke Academy)

Review: The Garden - Book #4 Shelfbrooke Academy Series - Amy Sparling - July 2019

Growing up, did you enjoy the children's classic novel - The Secret Garden? I just adored the whole idea of finding a magical garden tucked away that could become not only a safe haven but a spot of healing and joy. Our book starts with the introduction of Sophia Brass who lives in California and rubs shoulders with celebrities. She has never needed for anything as she lives in a world of luxury. Her life has been a series of private tutors and homeschooling, however, her grades are starting to slip due to her extra-curricular of partying and drinking, etc. Her parents decide to enroll her in Shelfbrooke Academy till graduation. Sophia's cousin Belle attends Shelfbrooke Academy and Sophia has managed to board with her. Turns out though that Sophia who thought she could just slip into the popular crowd finds it a challenge as she ends up being blacklisted and ignored. It doesn't help that Sophia's cousin Belle can't join her in the classes as she suffers from panic attacks and has agoraphobia due to her severe social anxiety. Her only friend later comes in the form of Declan Moss - a student and a gardener. His family has looked after the gardens of Shelfbrooke Academy for generations. During a particularly bad day, Sophia finds herself wandering the gardens and finds a hidden locked door. Wondering what's behind it, she searches for the key which leads her back to Declan, and to their amazement, they find a secret garden. This garden will become a safe haven and refuge for Sophia and will also be the beginning of something powerful as it manages to get Belle slowly emerging into the real world. If you love classic renditions and YA romance/friendship and boarding school novels, then check out the Shelfbrooke Academy series today.