“As lush and inviting as the gardens created by its heroine, this novel…will wrap you in captivating, high-stakes drama.”—People Magazine (Best Books Summer 2023)
“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.”―The Washington Post
Featured in Oprah Daily’s Spring 2023 Reading List and Kirkus Reviews
An emotionally charged, richly observed novel about a woman balancing the demands of motherhood and marriage with her own needs.
Maud is a talented garden historian and devoted mom to daughters Ella and Louise. Motivated to reignite her career and escape her troubled marriage, she accepts a summer job restoring the garden of a lush, 19th-century estate in the Hudson Valley.
Reveling in her work and temporary independence, Maud relishes her days in the sun. While waiting for her daughters to join her at the end of their school year, she strikes up a friendship with a coworker, archeologist Gabriel Crews. As the two share nightly dinners, their relationship grows more intimate, and Maud starts to imagine a future outside of her stifling marriage. Once Ella and Louise arrive, however, she is torn by her desire for Gabriel, her obligations to her daughters, and her growing concern for Ella’s dark moods. Is Ella acting out because she senses that Maud and Gabriel have fallen in love?
What happens next is a seismic shock that profoundly changes Maud's life, as well as the lives of everyone she cares about.
Deeply moving and impossible to put down, Hedge is an unforgettable portrait of a woman’s longing to be a good mother while still answering the call of her soul and mind.
Genre: Literary Fiction
“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.”―The Washington Post
Featured in Oprah Daily’s Spring 2023 Reading List and Kirkus Reviews
An emotionally charged, richly observed novel about a woman balancing the demands of motherhood and marriage with her own needs.
Maud is a talented garden historian and devoted mom to daughters Ella and Louise. Motivated to reignite her career and escape her troubled marriage, she accepts a summer job restoring the garden of a lush, 19th-century estate in the Hudson Valley.
Reveling in her work and temporary independence, Maud relishes her days in the sun. While waiting for her daughters to join her at the end of their school year, she strikes up a friendship with a coworker, archeologist Gabriel Crews. As the two share nightly dinners, their relationship grows more intimate, and Maud starts to imagine a future outside of her stifling marriage. Once Ella and Louise arrive, however, she is torn by her desire for Gabriel, her obligations to her daughters, and her growing concern for Ella’s dark moods. Is Ella acting out because she senses that Maud and Gabriel have fallen in love?
What happens next is a seismic shock that profoundly changes Maud's life, as well as the lives of everyone she cares about.
Deeply moving and impossible to put down, Hedge is an unforgettable portrait of a woman’s longing to be a good mother while still answering the call of her soul and mind.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Praise for this book
"It's impossible to turn away from Jane 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
"A beautiful exploration of the inherent tension between motherhood and desire. Transfixing and utterly rewarding." - Fiona Davis
"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
"Reading Hedge is 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
"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
"Hedge immediately pulls the reader in with its engaging storytelling and its exploration of themes like marital and maternal love and betrayal. Every turn the story takes feels both surprising and earned. I loved this novel and will recommend it widely." - Liz Moore
"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
"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
"A beautiful exploration of the inherent tension between motherhood and desire. Transfixing and utterly rewarding." - Fiona Davis
"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
"Reading Hedge is 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
"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
"Hedge immediately pulls the reader in with its engaging storytelling and its exploration of themes like marital and maternal love and betrayal. Every turn the story takes feels both surprising and earned. I loved this novel and will recommend it widely." - Liz Moore
"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
"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
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