The Driveway Has Two Sides

by Sara Marchant

On an East Coast island, full of tall pine moaning with sea gusts, Delilah moves into a cottage by the shore. The neighbours gossip as they watch her clean, black hair tied back in a white rubber band. They don’t like it when she plants a garden out front - orange red carpinus caroliniana and silvery blue hosta. Very unusual, they whisper.

Across the driveway lives a man who never goes out. Delilah knows he’s watching her too and she likes the look of him, but perhaps life is too complicated already…

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Novella

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2018

Reviews

[Sara Marchant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. And I'm not just saying that because I wrote it.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
Oh my I just have to let you all know how good this book is and how much I enjoyed every single page.

I never have read a story before about how gardening can make you fall in love with not just gardening but men!

Delilah moves into a cottage next door to a yellow cottage, both have to share the same driveway. She is having an affair with a married man. But its not long when she gets quite friendly with the sheriff. It seems Delilah is a bit of a flirt she teases her neighbour. So here is Delilah with gardening as her the love of her life and with three men in her life. Will she choose one of these men to settle down with?

This is a brilliant short story all 135 pages. I have to very highly recommend this pocket size unusual story to all. Sara Marchant is seriously an extremely good story teller.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella that didn’t quite work for me because I so disliked the protagonist, Delilah, a selfish kept woman whose Cape Cod cottage has been bought for her by her older married lover. 2/5

Pub Date 11 Jul 2018.

Thanks to the author, Fairlight Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#DrivewayHasTwoSides #NetGalley

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such an easy to read, curious novella. I went in expecting a story about a feud between neighbours, but that's not the premise at all - a pleasant surprise. I was charmed by Marchant's characters and enjoyed the descriptions of gardens quite a lot. A few pointed feminist observations endeared me to protagonist Delilah even more. An enjoyable, quick read.

[Lauren James]

[Gifted]

A short and sweet story about my ideal life: being given a beach-side cottage on an island, with money to renovate it and create a garden. Full of lush details of deciding how to design and build it, this was really lovely.

[Wendy Greenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adored this novella. Whilst different in so many ways, I was reminded of Un Amor by Sara Mesa which touched me in similarly.

We find Delilah in a small US island community where outsiders come only in the summer months. Being supported by her married lover who lives in the city and visits on the weekends, she builds a garden and becomes the focal point of local gossip.

To say more about the narrative would be to spoil the perfect prose of how she spins her web.

[jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A relatively uneventful story about a young woman, new to a small community, who has a penchant for gardening and older men. Ultimately, this is a quiet love story, with an aspect of mystery attempted that didn’t really intrigue me. Not badly written by any means, but the characters were pretty one dimensional and I didn’t find the story terribly exciting.

Thank you to Fairlight Moderns for providing an ebook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion

[SueLucie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my eye was caught by a series of novellas offered by a new UK publisher via NetGalley, I was determined to sample one or two and this is the one I read first.

An intriguing scenario and characters who may or may not be quite who everyone on this small, gossipy island thinks they are, I had no idea right to last page where the story might be headed. It could have gone in any number of directions (sinister, tragic, romantic or perhaps all of these) and that always appeals to me. The writing is light and breezy, the pace of action perfect, the atmosphere edgy. And as a bonus for anyone as interested in gardening as I am, it is a real joy to follow the creation of Delilah’s garden. I’m keen to see what the author tackles next.

With thanks to Fairlight Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Okaaaaaaaaay Sara Marchant. You've charmed me.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a nice and quick read, but I don't feel like I gained anything by reading it. I didn't really like Delilah, so I wasn't too invested in her side of the story. She seemed very selfish and had absolutely no care for anyone other than herself. I feel like Anton had a lot of potential, but we didn't get much about him or from his side. The story was interesting enough to keep reading, but I felt like it was lacking something to make it really stand out and be memorable.

(Not at the fault of the author, but it also bothers me that the cover has two blue houses when the neighbour's house is very explicitly yellow.)

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Norah Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book to read in exchange for a fair review. Sara Marchant’s novella The Driveway Has Two Sides is the perfect book to read on a sunny afternoon in your hammock. The story is about Delilah who has come to live in a cottage on an island near Cape Cod purchased for her by her lover who has a wife and family elsewhere. It’s about the garden Delilah creates and the mysterious man next door who’s driveway is shared with Delilah’s cottage. I very much enjoyed this story. Publishing Date July 11, 2018 #NetGalley #TheDrivewayHasTwoSides

[Wendi · Rating 1 out of 5]

The publisher, Fairlight Moderns, provided this novella to me as an ARC. Although I provided more solid feedback to the publisher, my feelings about this one are such that I'm disinclined to write extensively about it here. However, I do want readers/followers to be aware that if you have similar responses to content as I do as evidenced by my other ratings and reviews, I dissuade you from this one.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensual, earthy book about loneliness and the search for deep and all-consuming love. I could not put it down. I loved it.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky little tale.

[Ylenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the first chapter was quite interesting, I slowly got bored of reading about flowers and gardening.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this novella.A woman living on her own a beautiful young woman ,a woman who occasionally has a male visit an older male who drives a Porsche.She is busy decorating her small house and gardening.Who is this young woman what is her story.Well written involving. kept me turning the pages. #netgally #fairlightbooks

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, at just under 130pages this was a great lazy Sunday afternoon read. Delilah moves into a previously abandoned cottage with a shared driveway on a small east coast island; Monday to Friday she works tirelessly to turn the cottage and its garden's into a home funded by her boyfriend Alan who visits each weekend. She quickly becomes a central figure of the other islander's gossip as they try to suss out this mysterious newcomer. It's not the most dramatic of stories, I can't promise you'll be hanging onto the edge of your seat desperate to know what happens next but the characters and their relationships are great. I love the play on how quick the judge people can be and how that stereotype can be personified in small tightly knit communities, 4 stars.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara Marchant's core idea in her novella, The Driveway Has Two Sides, really intrigued me, and I couldn't wait to read it. I enjoyed Marchant's writing a lot; there were some really lovely turns of phrase here, and the characters felt utterly realistic. Whilst not a novella in which a great deal happens - it is largely about relationships and gardening, which do make for an interesting combination - I found it highly compelling. I look forward to reading more works by Marchant, and seeking out more novellas published by Fairlight Moderns.

[Elizabeth Grieve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this short story somewhat uneventful, and the characters a bit one-dimensional. The island and its gossips were the most interesting part, and I found the main character, Delilah, not particularly likable. I'm afraid it would not inspire me to read more from this author.
A review copy was provided by the publisher.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure delight! I can still smell the rosemary!

[rövardotter · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5!

[Beth O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️’s

[nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sweet story. I enjoyed the prose, as often, much more than the plot. Though I do think this story will not stay with me for all that long.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prose was nice but this was unexceptional.

[Abide Aşıkoğlu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a waste of time.

[Atheinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I am deeply grateful to the publisher and the author for providing me a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review solely contains my honest thoughts and opinions.**


The first time I saw the cover of The Driveway Has Two Sides on Netgalley, I got curious what the story was about. As a book cover picker, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the simplicity of its cover. It felt like I was told that behind that cover, there was a story that needs to be read. Because I didn’t have any thought in mind on how the story would go, I was able to enjoy reading the story as what it was.

The Driveway Has Two Sides by Sara Marchant is a story of passion, loneliness, and romance. As someone very new to the small village in the East Coast Island, Delilah was immediately the talk of town among the island dwellers. Even more so when her actions were contrary to theirs. Now, in the small cottage that she lived in was a shared driveway with a large, yellow house. And in that house was a man who lived by himself. So much for living alone that even the villagers weren’t sure of his name even though he’s been living in the same island for a couple years. Having a neighbor wasn’t something he expected and mingling with one, or anyone at all, isn’t advisable, as he was told.

Although a short story, the number one thing that I liked about this book is the writing. It was descriptive and detailed and specific that the imagination can not be blurry. Here’s an example sentence:

“It was a quiet day after that, filled with luminous sunlight behind cloudy skies and the gently wafting scent of bruised rosemary drifting up to lonely watchers.”

Notice how three senses are present: sense of hearing (quiet day), sense of smell (scent of bruised rosemary), sense of sight (luminous sunlight). All that in a single sentence. Imagine what the whole book could do! I absolutely enjoyed creating an imaginative space because of how vivid the story was written.

The different personalities of the characters were fascinating to learn and each character’s background were unique although something that can happen in real life. My favourite character would be Anton as his background was the most intriguing. I’ve always been attracted to historical narratives especially of a person’s life and Anton’s past was one that I wanted to know more of. He was the mysterious one in the story as his circumstances had made him to be. From an outgoing person to a home-buddy, Anton kept to himself and avoided human contact as much as possible.

The main character, Delilah is the center of the story. I saw her as a free-spirited lady. She didn’t mind the curious looks that went her way and she would simply mind her own business, improving the interior of her cottage, wandering about the island on her bike, or gardening. Delilah is very passionate when it comes to anything gardening-related and that’s something I could relate with her very well. I’m not an expert in gardening but if it were a topic in a conversation, I would gladly listen all day long. On a scale of personality types, I would say Delilah is an ISTP.

As I’ve mentioned, romance is another theme of the book. I’m not a love guru but the romance genre has been my favourite genre since my teenage years and I’ve met the different types of romantic relationships. And in this book, the romantic relationsips didn’t sit well with me.

While the story as a whole was a unique experience for me, it didn’t completely grab my attention. It was a pleasant read but at the end of the tunnel, I wanted more, especially at the ending. Nevertheless, I had a nice time reading the book.

[Debbie Robson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I’ve mentioned before, point of view is very important. When I begin a new book it’s the first thing I look for. In the Driveway Has Two Sides the point of view in the beginning is primarily collective.
The novella is set on a small island off Cape Cod: “It was a tall pine moaning with the sea gusts and unexpected hurricanes hurling their way off the Atlantic kind of island.” And we find out about the main character Delilah through the observations of the islanders. Soon after moving into a small cottage that shares a driveway with a larger house, Delilah begins work on the garden, embarking on redoing the whole thing, ordering a large quantity of supplies from the island hardware store.
I was really beginning to enjoy this unusual book and the way the islanders try to piece together details of Delilah’s life as a kept woman, particularly when her wealthy benefactor arrives.
“What was obvious was that she was happiest during the week. She smiled for the boyfriend - who drove the expensive car and showed up for the occasional weekend - and dressed in the sexy clothes and hardly ever left the cottage when he was in residence.”
And then Delilah meets the sheriff, a keen gardener like herself. This is my favourite part of the book. I was beginning to wonder where this was going when the point of view changed, abruptly for this reader.

Going back now to review this book over a year later I notice there is more of Delilah’s point of view than I remembered which has thrown me. I now realise when the switch to the point of view of the owner of the larger house happens, for me it happens at an unfortunate time. The author was starting to gradually reveal more of Delilah’s thoughts and feelings dealing with the wealthy Alan and Ted the sheriff. Instead suddenly we are finding out about Anton which for this reader was too late in the day. Still enjoyable however. 3 and a half stars.

[Gazala · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE DRIVEWAY HAS TWO SIDES by @sarahmarchant
Delilah moves to a cottage by the sea which shares a driveway with a big yellow house. She is new to this little island where she sure has everyone's attention... everyone including her neighbour- a stranger just like her on this island that they choose to call home.
The book is a short story by @fairlightbooks and it's such a wonderful read!
Delilah loves to garden, and her zeal to create a beautiful garden around her home is one of the many interesting parts of the book. As the book is short, it doesn't dwell much on developing each character, which sure leaves one asking for more. The aura of mystery around Delilah, her neighbour and their lives is something that is sure to keep you thinking.. There is a bit of this and that, a hint of romance, a bit of drama..a bit of betrayal...but nothing is overpowering, and you keep wishing that something developed more than it did! That there was more romance, or maybe something more along the mystery end .. something along the gardening maybe? Each reader would want the book to be a little more of one thing... Which I guess is a great thing! Leaving a reader wanting more is definitely something sinful and enticing just the same🤪.. Overall, this book made for a light and quick read... #thedrivewayhastwosides

[The Idle Woman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time for another Fairlight Modern novella! This time we’re off to a remote island on the east coast of America, to a world of crisp winter winds and pines, and sudden summer influxes of tourists; a world where the year-round residents all know everyone else’s secrets and newcomers are watched with suspicion. And the gossiping islanders have plenty to occupy them now, because an old rental cottage has just been sold to the young and beautiful Delilah. The neighbours wonder about her story (and her morals), gleefully scandalised while Delilah rolls up her sleeves and gets on with the business of transforming her little cottage into a home. But she swiftly realises that she isn’t the only mystery on the island. What about the man who lives in the yellow house next door, with whom she shares a driveway, but who hardly ever comes out into the world?

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/07/08/t...

[Brittani Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the overall story line of this story. I can't sum it up or it will give the whole book away. It took a long time to get a little information though, or so it felt. I arrived to the ending and I feel empty! I wish I knew more to Delilah and Anton's story! I also can't tell if I like her or dislike her, because I didn't get far enough in her mind. This was a story told completely from the 3rd person, so it told the story of Delilah then switched to Ted then to Alan all within the same parts and only letting you know it was talking about someone else when it mentioned their name. There is nothing wrong with this, but it was just different. I did enjoy that!

Overall, I think I would have given more stars if I would have felt closure but the end was too open for me. I would definitely read something else from this author though!