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

448 pages

Average rating: 7.93

650 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

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.
Anonymous
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.
Anonymous
Apr 19, 2025
8/10 stars
Wow, you need a box of tissues at your side when reading this book. I really liked it.
aviationmet
Mar 31, 2025
10/10 stars
Audiobook version - well performed. Another Kristin Hannah winner! The characters are so well developed and the story so intricate and well written.
Tezriana
Mar 24, 2025
8/10 stars
The deeper I got into the book the more I enjoyed it. Like the sisters, I was looking forward to hearing more of their mother’s story with every page…which literally brought me to tears. The contrast between the sisters and the side stories of their other relationships made for good reading as well, and didn’t take away from the central storyline.

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