100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Enjoy overnight NZ-wide delivery from our NZ-owned independent bookstore! 🎉

A Secret Garden Affair

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James is a heartwarming tale interweaving past and present through the lens of a charming English countryside setting. The story follows a young woman who uncovers family secrets while transforming a neglected garden estate. This journey of self-discovery and the legacy of love encapsulates themes of forgiveness and moving forward.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3000
Elsewhere:
$3299
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate stories that blend romance, mystery, and the power of healing. It weaves a tale of love and resilience, set against the enchanting backdrop of an English garden, making it a heartfelt escape for those who cherish emotionally rich narratives and beautifully crafted settings.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Recapture the summer sunshine this autumn with the Sunday Times bestseller that readers are calling ‘captivating’ and ‘a treasure of a read’…

🌼🌻

From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes the most captivating new historical romance and family drama!

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Recapture the summer sunshine this autumn with the Sunday Times bestseller that readers are calling ‘captivating’ and ‘a treasure of a read’…

🌼🌻

Love grows where you least expect it…

July 1981. As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Libby flees London – and her cheating fiancé Marcus – for the Suffolk countryside.

At Larkspur House, she hopes to put the pieces of her life back together. And Libby’s great-aunt Bess and renowned garden designer and former socialite Elfrida are happy to help.

But for lifelong friends Bess and Elfrida, Libby’s arrival has stirred up the ghosts of the past. And before they can help her rebuild her shattered future, they must confront their own secrets, lost loves, and tragedies…

From the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James comes a captivating story that sweeps through sixty years of history, love, and family drama.

Readers love A Secret Garden Affair:

‘Having read all of Erica James’s books and thoroughly enjoyed every single one, I absolutely loved this one! The plot, characters and descriptions of beautiful Lake Como… were spot on. My only disappointment was that the book ended as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Elfrida, Bess and Libby!’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Captivating. Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, I didn't want the story to end’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Skillfully written, compelling family drama. Erica James is expert at writing about families and relationships, and she skilfully brings the characters alive, exploring past secrets as the story unfolds. Settings are described beautifully, especially the gardens… Richly detailed, with intriguing characters, I was absorbed in this book, and highly recommend.’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An excellent read from page 1. I love the way the reader is immediately enthralled’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this book from start to finish, I was left wanting more of it. A definite favourite Erica James book’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Erica James is one of my long time favourite authors for a guaranteed agreeable read. Once again she has not disappointed me… Highly recommended to lovers of romantic escapism at its best.’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What a fantastic read. I absolutely loved this story it had everything I love about a novel: really interesting characters, secrets, relationships and love interests. Really enjoyed the relationship between Elfrida and Bess and their background stories… Highly recommend this book’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James has received praise for its captivating and compelling depiction of family drama. Reviewers highlight its warmth, escapist qualities, and immersive storytelling. The novel is celebrated for its beautifully written narrative, wise observations, and delightful twists and turns.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008413743

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 March 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HQ

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 31.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 510g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Erica James is the author of twenty-three internationally bestselling novels. With recent Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers including Swallowtail Summer, Coming Home to Island House and, most recently the hardback bestseller, Letters from the Past. Her books are loved by readers looking for beautifully drawn relationships, emotionally powerful storylines and evocative settings. A keen gardener herself, Erica lives in Suffolk and has a fondness for Lake Como, Formula One motor racing and travel.

Also by Erica James

View all
  • A Secret Garden Affair
    Recapture the summer sunshine this autumn with the Sunday Times bestseller that readers are calling ‘captivating’ and ‘a treasure of a read’… 🌼🌻 Love grows where you least expect it… July 1981. As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Libby flees London – and her cheating fiancé Marcus – for the Suffolk countryside. At Larkspur...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mothers and Daughters
    A sweeping family drama of old secrets and new beginnings… ‘A satisfying treat’ Adele Parks, Platinum ‘A compelling family drama’ Sarah Morgan ‘Wise and warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Rachel Hore ‘Emotional and uplifting’ Veronica Henry ‘Captivating and vivid’ Miranda Dickinson Even happy families have their secrets… Anchor House is the coastal home where Naomi and her husband...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Ideal Husband
    'I couldn’t put it down!' Sarah Morgan The uplifting story of fresh starts and second chances from the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James After a long and seemingly happy marriage, Louisa is stunned when her husband Kip suddenly asks for a divorce. He’d never seemed unhappy – and they’ve raised three children together. For months, Kip has been secretly...
    Paperback
    $2699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Forever Home
    A feel-good tale of new friendships and second chances from the Sunday Times bestselling author of An Ideal Husband ‘Brimming with warmth and compassion, Erica reveals her characters’ secrets. A heartwarming tale and a delight’ Veronica Henry*****In the glorious Cambridgeshire countryside, Hope Hall was once a grand country house, but it's now been converted into beautiful luxury apartments and its...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Song of the Skylark
    'A beautifully crafted and hugely uplifting tale of friendship, history and love. A real gem' HEAT magazine 'A captivating tale of love and loss' SUNDAY EXPRESS magazine 'A stunning book, brilliantly written ... Song of the Skylark will totally captivate you and your emotions, impossible to put down' Kaye Thorne Lizzie has an unfortunate knack for attracting bad luck, but...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Dandelion Years
    Someone had made a perfect job of creating a place in which to hide a notebook... there was no address, only a date: September 1943... Ashcombe was the most beautiful house Saskia had ever seen as a little girl. A rambling cottage on the edge of a Suffolk village, it provided a perfect sanctuary to hide from the tragedy which...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Letters From the Past
    A captivating drama of family secrets and second chances, from the bestselling author of Richard & Judy Book Club pick An Ideal Husband. 'A glorious summer story which sizzles with passion; idyllic location, compelling characters and lives so interwoven, that their secrets have the power to change everything. I wanted it to go on forever' — Cathy Bramley Suffolk, 1962....
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Swallowtail Summer
    A captivating story about friendship, making changes, and learning to live life to the fullest from SUNDAY TIMES bestseller Erica James Swallowtail Summer is about a cherished home, a circle of friends, and a summer that will change everything... Linston End has been the summer holiday home for three families for many years. A rambling thatched house nestled on the...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Coming Home to Island House
    From Erica James, bestselling author of Summer at the Lake, comes an enchanting tale of one family coming together and finding their way. It's the summer of 1939, and after touring an unsettled Europe to promote her latest book, Romily Temple returns home to Island House and the love of her life, the charismatic Jack Devereux. But when Jack falls...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • An Ideal Husband
    ‘Wonderful on characterisation and family dynamics, and done very deftly, with that wry humour of hers. I was very entertained by her clever, tongue-in-cheek plotting.’ Marian Keyes The uplifting new story of fresh starts and second chances from the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James… After a long and seemingly happy marriage, and a wonderful family Christmas, Louisa is stunned...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Airs and Graces
    Ellen has been living on her own in a picturesque if damp cottage in Cheshire since her husband abandoned her to go and live with another woman in Provence. Having married once for love, she is now determined that the second time around it will be for money. Close at hand is Duncan, her not unattractive and enticingly single, divorce...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from General Fiction

View all
  • The Wedding People
    'BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR' THE TIMES 'BOOKS AS FUN AS THIS ONE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN' GUARDIAN Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people — but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Throne of Glass Box Set (Paperback)
    Enter the realm. Unleash the darkness. Live the legend. Discover the worldwide phenomenon of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Throne of Glass series in this gorgeous 8-book box set! In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not...
    Set
    $12400
    Elsewhere:
    $15500
    (6)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Goal
    Welcome to Briar U!Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy!Read The Goal now for the perfect forced proximity romance! She's good at achieving her goals . . . College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Red Rising
    The first book in the incredible New York Times bestselling series Darrow is a Helldiver, toiling beneath the surface of Mars. As a member of the Red caste, he performs grueling labor in the belief that his sacrifice will enable future generations to one day inhabit the surface of the Red Planet. The Reds are humankind's lowest caste, living in...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Ballad of Falling Dragons [Special Deluxe edition]
    The No.1 Sunday Times bestselling sensation When the Moon Hatched continues with the second book in The Moonfall Series, The Ballad of Falling Dragons… Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor – a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the...
    Hardback
    $5999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Carl's Doomsday Scenario
    Join Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat Princess Donut as they fight fantastical creatures and deadly mobs in the second book in the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl series -now with bonus material exclusive to the print edition Now on the third floor, Carl and Donut have to fight harder than ever. They've already proven that a Coast Guard vet and once-and-forever...
    Hardback
    $4699
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Score
    Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession... Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Score now for the perfect friends with benefits romance! He knows how to score, on and off the ice... Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn't have...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Golden Son
    ENDER'S GAME meets THE HUNGER GAMES in this, the second in an extraordinary trilogy from an incredible new voice.'I'm still playing games. This is just the deadliest yet.' Darrow is a rebel forged by tragedy. For years he and his fellow Reds worked the mines, toiling to make the surface of Mars inhabitable. They were, they believed, mankind's last hope....
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Theo of Golden
    THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON'For anything to be truly good, there must be love in it. Nothing is what it's supposed to be if love is not at the core.' One morning, a stranger arrives in the town of Golden. No one knows who he is or where he came from…His name is Theo and he's arrived there by chance –...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    (5)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    On Mystic Lake
    One of the greatest storytellers of our time - Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing Annie Colwater's only child has just left home for school in England. On that same day, her husband of twenty years confesses that he's in love with a younger woman. Left alone in the beautiful California house which was once a home, Annie...
    Paperback
    $3100
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • East of Eden
    Set against the backdrop of the fertile Salinas Valley in California, East of Eden is a profound and compelling novel by John Steinbeck, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. This masterful narrative charts the intertwining destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—across multiple generations. Steinbeck's intricate portrayal of human nature and enduring exploration of moral themes...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.