The Gardins of Edin and A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee

The Gardins of Edin - Book 1 

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 308 pages
Published: January 2024

A Gardin Wedding - Book 2

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 281 pages
Published: May 2025

The Gardins of Edin and A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee were part of my September Reading Circle selections, and together they offered a heartfelt, engaging introduction to Lee’s work. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the author blended family drama, emotional growth, and gentle storytelling. In this review, I’ll be sharing a bit about both since I read them in succession. The timelines sit close in proximity and the second book naturally continued from the first. However, each of the books can be read independently as Lee provides enough background in A Gardin Wedding for new readers to feel fully oriented. 

This series centers on four women of the Gardin family in the fictional town of Edin, Georgia. The primary characters include: the matriarch, Aunt Naomi, older cousin Ruth, and younger cousins and sisters Mary and Martha. In each book, Lee presents a central conflict that the family must navigate together, and she consistently delivers the hopeful, satisfying endings she promises.  

In The Gardins of Edin, the reader meets the Gardin women and learn of the long-standing tension between Ruth and Martha. Ruth, who married into the family twice–first through Naomi’s son, and later through Naomi’s cousin Beau–has taken leadership of the family’s peanut company. Martha resents Ruth deeply, convinced she has ulterior motives regarding the family business and estate. As Ruth pursues the permanent CEO role after Beau’s death, the two clash repeatedly. When the consultant Ruth hires begins forming a personal connection with Naomi, the conflict gains another emotional layer. Lee guides the family through these challenges with care, ultimately offering a resolution that feels both tidy and believable. 

In book two, A Gardin Wedding, the story opens with a Gardin wedding and the focus shifts to Martha who is navigating a new relationship with her love interest, Oji, a successful real estate entrepreneur. She’s also getting a little taste of her own medicine from book one, but this time from Oji’s mother who’s keeping her at a distance while caring for Oji’s father who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Similar to the first book, this plot takes several twists and turns but Lee again employs her signature device of bringing everyone together in the end. 

I really enjoyed reading both of these fast-paced novels. Lee offers an affirming, respectful portrayal of Black family dynamics, and I appreciated the in-depth examination of health issues affecting the community. While I don’t always gravitate to stories that are tied up nicely in the end, I valued how Lee pulled things together without making them feel forced. Her writing is clear, her pacing steady, and her characters compelling. My only early struggle was understanding Ruth’s place in the family, and Martha’s treatment of her in book one frustrated me. But by book two, Martha’s character felt more grounded and sympathetic. Any story that evokes emotion, especially conflicting emotion, is a worthwhile read in my opinion.  

Recommendation: I don’t typically like to get invested in book series because I like to read widely across many authors, but Rosey Lee’s work may be an exception to my rule. I’m grateful for the way she presented middle-class Black families without leaning too much on trauma or drama. If you enjoyed shows like The Cosby Show or This is Us, I think you’d enjoy falling into the world of the Gardins. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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