Hedge

Hedge

Jane Delury

Published June 06, 2023

 

 

A summer away. One troubled marriage. Two daughters. And the love interest that threatens to ruin it all.

 

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Maud is a talented garden historian and devoted mother to daughters Ella and Louise. Motivated to reinvigorate her career and escape her troubled marriage, she accepts a summer job restoring the garden of a lush, 19th-century Hudson Valley estate.

 

While waiting for her daughters to join her at the end of their school year, Maud meets coworker, archeologist Gabriel Crews, whose passion for landscape history matches her own. When their immediate and intense friendship ignites, it sets in motion a seismic shock that will profoundly change Maud's life, as well as the lives of everyone she cares about. Hedge is a deeply moving portrait of a woman’s longing to be a good mother while still answering the call of her soul and mind.

Featured Press

“As lush and inviting as the gardens created by its heroine, this novel…will wrap you in captivating, high-stakes drama.”
“A great portion of [Hedge’s] magic lies in how it turns a radical corner, gaining speed and burning urgency — then slowly becoming something else: deeper, denser, wiser. Readers will (and should) trust it to take us where we need to go — even if not where we expected.”
“With language as lush as the setting, Delury pulls readers into a thicket of lust, responsibility, and betrayal that they won’t want to escape.”
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What people are saying...

“Reading Hedge was like spending time with your best friend: the daring, smart, compassionate one whose wisdom opens your eyes even as her secrets stun you. Part love story, part thriller, this novel kept me entranced until the very last page.”

Jean Kwok

New York Times and international bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee

“Jane Delury has done the impossible: written a seemingly quiet novel about a woman trapped in a bad marriage that builds and builds and builds until suddenly you realize you’re reading a page turner. I could not stop turning the pages. Hedge is a wonderful book.”

Marcy Dermansky

author of Hurricane Girl

"It’s impossible to turn away from Delury’s newest novel, Hedge. I fell deeply and intensely into this story of love, loss, marriage, and parenthood. These are characters, this is a book, you will never forget."

Jessica Anya Blau

author of Mary Jane

“How do we protect those we love when there might be a terrible cost to ourselves? Which version of a story do we really believe about ourselves and others—and why? Delury’s immersive novel is about family and lovers, passion and responsibility, and it’s filled with such gorgeous writing, compassion and stunning surprises, that I couldn’t bear to tear myself from the page.”

Caroline Leavitt

New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You

"Hedge is the sort of novel that immediately pulls the reader in with its engaging storytelling and its exploration of themes like marital and maternal love and betrayal. I loved this novel and will recommend it widely."

Liz Moore

New York Times bestselling author of Long Bright River

"The magnificent Delury explores the complexities of marriage, parenthood, and art in Hedge. Maud is an every woman, relatable and strong, who loves her work and her daughters but finds herself at a crossroads when a secret is revealed that will upend their lives. As Maud restores gardens to their historic beauty, she must do the same for the family she loves. Passion and persistence bring a garden to full bloom, and so it goes for Maud, an unforgettable character in a story of arresting beauty and truth."

Adriana Trigiani

author of The Good Left Undone

"A beautiful exploration of the fragility of family life and the inherent tension between motherhood and desire. I simply could not put it down. Transfixing and utterly rewarding."

Fiona Davis

New York Times bestselling author of The Spectacular

"Hedge begins as a contemporary love story, but grows into a complex and suspenseful narrative about family. All the big themes—love, life, loss—bind together in this page-turner, with writing that is clear and riveting throughout. A gem of a book from start to finish.”

Catie Marron

author of Becoming a Gardener: What Reading and Digging Taught Me About Living

"Hedge insightfully explores the complexities of marriage and motherhood, and the danger of family secrets that fester. Delury builds up her characters while breaking down their reserves, and the result is an honest, beautiful, and riveting read."

Karen Winn

author of Our Little World

Why Zibby Loves It…

Sandra A. Miller’s WEDNESDAYS AT ONE is the perfect summer thriller because it’s not just about a mystery that needs resolution. It’s also about the emotional aspects of family life, what it means to be a parent of teenagers, how to navigate an imperfect relationship with a child, what to do when life isn’t satisfying but should be, and the power of conversation to heal all wounds.

Sandra does a great job of creating tension and suspense; I felt my shoulders tense as I held my breath trying to figure out what was happening and why. Through her accessible, breezy prose, the reader forgets he or she is even reading. It’s a full-body immersion into storytelling with no flowery sentences as distractions. It’s a direct infusion of plot into pores.

Gregory, the protagonist, is believable in his flaws, dashed hopes, confusion, and frustration. He’s the vehicle for all of our collective malaise as a society today. When his past comes to the fore, we find ourselves confronting demons and wondering about the other directions life could have taken us. The fact that he’s purportedly a mental health expert and yet struggles himself makes this even more poignant.

I loved reading about Greg and his family. I loved the issues, the scars, the things they wouldn’t want friends and others to necessarily see — but we get to. And I loved losing myself in the narrative.

This book is about the dashed dreams and moments that define our future — and yet it is inspiring in its ability to overcome even the most devastating moments, from a teen daughter’s scowl to a tragic event.

It is, quite simply, the most perfect summer read.

Jane's Book Tour

Jane Delury’s Hedge launches June 6th, 2023! We can’t wait to celebrate at Montgomery Place, the setting of the beautiful book. Join us to learn more about Jane’s inspiration behind Hedge and the history of the campus.

Jane’s tour schedule