Winter Garden

Can a woman ever really know herself if she doesn't know her mother?

From the author of the smash-hit bestseller Firefly Lane and True Colors comes Kristin Hannah's powerful, heartbreaking novel that illuminates the intricate mother-daughter bond and explores the enduring links between the present and the past.

Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end.

Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

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Published Jan 4, 2011

401 pages

Average rating: 7.93

682 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

K Olson
Jan 14, 2025
10/10 stars
Ever read a book that you dreaded coming to an end? This was one of those for me.
SherylStandifer
Jul 26, 2025
10/10 stars
This one is going to stick with me awhile. It’s the story of an elderly mom, Anya, her grown daughters Meredith and Nina, and the dying wish of husband and dad, Ethan, to finally get Anya to share her mysterious backstory with the girls. Anya has always been cold and inaccessible with the girls. She cooks, but never taught them to cook. She never smiles. And the girls have no idea just how old she really is. The girls, now women, have issues with their own relationships. And miss their father, terribly. All they have left is seemingly cold and unfeeling Anya. But when Anya starts to tell the fairytale of the girl and the prince this time, they realize that the story has gotten further along than they’d ever heard, previously. Then they begin to know that it’s the story of their own mother’s life during a horrific period - the Siege of Leningrad - and the sacrifices and choices she made. The final frames were a surprise - one that I wanted to savor twice, so I read it all over again. I learned a lot about this terrible event in history. Stopped reading to google it and learned the city was essentially starved to death by the Nazi regime for almost 3 years. And Stalin got them no help. The ‘present’ day took place in 2000 and 2001, which is why a first person account by Anya was able to be finally told. Amazing story of forgiveness and redemption - for those lost, and for those who are still with us.
RubyS
Jun 06, 2025
4/10 stars
idk….

2.5/5
This book was okay. Idk i didn’t feel like i connected to any characters and I do think Kristin Hannah went heavy handed on the sappiness, to the point that i was just annoyed and rolling my eyes. It wasn’t awful but the book at times felt like a chore. It was a very fast read for me, but idk this isnt a book I would recommend to anyone.
Julie MK
May 25, 2025
10/10 stars
I would give this a higher review rating than 10 if I could! This is the second book by Kristin I have read and it more than exceeded my expectations! A brilliant story, full of history, love, intrigue, and more. Would very much recommend this.
Harrietaspy
May 04, 2025
6/10 stars
Fine. Honestly pretty formulaic and could have been half the length. The way the girls heat to stay the story out of their mom made me feel like I was having to suffer through dragging out out too. It wasn't bad. But it wasn't great.

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