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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Uplitreads, Harper Muse Books & Netgalley for the #gifted π»π―π¬ π¨π³πͺπ―π¬π΄π πΆπ ππ³πΆπΎπ¬πΉπΊ ππ π³ππππ πΉππππ published this week!
This is a story of loss, healing, community, and the choices we make in the midst of darkness all told with a sprinkling of magic and balm of nature.
Eloise has endured the worst kind of loss. When an "help wanted" ad appears for a gardener in a walled estate in the south of France, one with a clear message of NO CHILDREN ALLOWED, Eloise makes the leap, hoping for a reprieve from the unending pain she is feeling. The elusive owner is never to be seen, but she begins to make real connections to her fellow companions at this isolated and beautiful estate. She relishes the quiet moments where she can hear the flowers speaking to her again as they guide her to open up to some, and give warning to others. This tiny spot of paradise has secrets, however, in a little woodsprite girl, but also more sinister ones that threaten if the rules are not obeyed.
I was quite enveloped by the magical garden abilities, the atmospheric estate, the quiet and knowing friends, and even the underlying danger. As one who has chosen to be child-free, there was much here I did not personally understand as such, but this is why reading is so wonderful. This is a book that explores the emotions of losing a child (or children) before they've taken a breath, and it was done with such a raw tenderness. This is one of those stories that helps those of us who do not know, to hear and learn from a vulnerable source, hopefully to be more sensitive and caring to those who do know. It is a hope-filled story, despite its heavy themes.
I recommend this book to those who need a feel good story filled with a bit of whimsy and love.
I paired the physical copy, which has a map (I absolutely love a good map!), with the audio and it made for a lovely reading experience. Cassandra Campbell narrates and does a fine job with the cast of diverse characters, but really shines with the emotion of Eloise.
This is a story of loss, healing, community, and the choices we make in the midst of darkness all told with a sprinkling of magic and balm of nature.
Eloise has endured the worst kind of loss. When an "help wanted" ad appears for a gardener in a walled estate in the south of France, one with a clear message of NO CHILDREN ALLOWED, Eloise makes the leap, hoping for a reprieve from the unending pain she is feeling. The elusive owner is never to be seen, but she begins to make real connections to her fellow companions at this isolated and beautiful estate. She relishes the quiet moments where she can hear the flowers speaking to her again as they guide her to open up to some, and give warning to others. This tiny spot of paradise has secrets, however, in a little woodsprite girl, but also more sinister ones that threaten if the rules are not obeyed.
I was quite enveloped by the magical garden abilities, the atmospheric estate, the quiet and knowing friends, and even the underlying danger. As one who has chosen to be child-free, there was much here I did not personally understand as such, but this is why reading is so wonderful. This is a book that explores the emotions of losing a child (or children) before they've taken a breath, and it was done with such a raw tenderness. This is one of those stories that helps those of us who do not know, to hear and learn from a vulnerable source, hopefully to be more sensitive and caring to those who do know. It is a hope-filled story, despite its heavy themes.
I recommend this book to those who need a feel good story filled with a bit of whimsy and love.
I paired the physical copy, which has a map (I absolutely love a good map!), with the audio and it made for a lovely reading experience. Cassandra Campbell narrates and does a fine job with the cast of diverse characters, but really shines with the emotion of Eloise.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
This book was trying to be everything. It was a love story, a mystery, a gothic setting, whimsical and lighthearted, tense, it was about trauma and healing, it was about forgiveness and found family. I just felt very all over the place and wanted to zero in on a few topics, instead I just got a glance on everything.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This magical realism debut novel is a bit odd, a bit sweet and a lot complex while also being very simple...confused yet? Yeah, me too...but in a good way.
The star of the show is an ancient walled garden (Jardins du Paradis) in the South of France...a mysterious castle and grounds which is where our middle-aged American heroine Eloise finds herself in a new gardening position. The job comes with three rules: no gossiping, stay indoors during the dusk hour and absolutely no children allowed on the premises.
Eloise is struggling with a past filled with pain, loss and hopelessness and applies for the position of a gardener who must "grow flowers from one's merde"...merde being the French swear word for sh*t. She finds herself literally locked up in a garden paradise, living in a dreamy multi-level treehouse (complete with a lovely outhouse built by the handyman Raphael) and doing what she loves most...talking with and caring for flowers. She lives and works with three other caretakers all of which are also seeking to heal and recover from various life traumas. The healing power of the garden begins to be challenged by an overwhelming sense of unease following certain discoveries and unexplained secrets on the grounds and the abrupt, abrasive behavior of the owner. The question then becomes, is this a paradise or just a seductive illusion?
The writing in this book is simply beautiful...the vivid imagery, the sense of place and time...all so very well done...Resau captured the ambiance and feel of an ancient walled garden so irresistibly. The characters are all complex and compelling, warm and accepting. But I think as the denouement nears it just went off the track a little for me, and in full disclosure that could be because I haven't read much magical realism as a genre. I felt like the pace was off in places, slow and meandering sometimes, full speed and sharp sometimes (especially during the denouement). As an aside, I also wanted to mention that there are some painful and dark issues covered here so reader be aware.
However, the pacing and a bit of "off tracking" can be overlooked by me in the face of the beauty of the words and the heartbreaking but ultimately triumphant cast of characters.
Maybe I do need to read more magical realism...hmmm.
My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus / Harper Muse for providing the free early arc of The Alchemy of Flowers for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
The star of the show is an ancient walled garden (Jardins du Paradis) in the South of France...a mysterious castle and grounds which is where our middle-aged American heroine Eloise finds herself in a new gardening position. The job comes with three rules: no gossiping, stay indoors during the dusk hour and absolutely no children allowed on the premises.
Eloise is struggling with a past filled with pain, loss and hopelessness and applies for the position of a gardener who must "grow flowers from one's merde"...merde being the French swear word for sh*t. She finds herself literally locked up in a garden paradise, living in a dreamy multi-level treehouse (complete with a lovely outhouse built by the handyman Raphael) and doing what she loves most...talking with and caring for flowers. She lives and works with three other caretakers all of which are also seeking to heal and recover from various life traumas. The healing power of the garden begins to be challenged by an overwhelming sense of unease following certain discoveries and unexplained secrets on the grounds and the abrupt, abrasive behavior of the owner. The question then becomes, is this a paradise or just a seductive illusion?
The writing in this book is simply beautiful...the vivid imagery, the sense of place and time...all so very well done...Resau captured the ambiance and feel of an ancient walled garden so irresistibly. The characters are all complex and compelling, warm and accepting. But I think as the denouement nears it just went off the track a little for me, and in full disclosure that could be because I haven't read much magical realism as a genre. I felt like the pace was off in places, slow and meandering sometimes, full speed and sharp sometimes (especially during the denouement). As an aside, I also wanted to mention that there are some painful and dark issues covered here so reader be aware.
However, the pacing and a bit of "off tracking" can be overlooked by me in the face of the beauty of the words and the heartbreaking but ultimately triumphant cast of characters.
Maybe I do need to read more magical realism...hmmm.
My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus / Harper Muse for providing the free early arc of The Alchemy of Flowers for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
I both listened and read this novel and I really enjoyed Cassandra Campbell's narration, especially because I don't speak French and don't always know how to pronounce French words. :) At times the story felt a little sappy or melodramatic, but I did like it overall and the characters were fun to get to know. The setting was vivid and incredibly detailed. I could easily picture myself in a medieval garden estate in Provence, and would love to smell such a place! I also enjoyed the sumptuous descriptions of food, tea blends, and aromatic lotions. The Gardens of Paradise were as important a character as Eloise and her friends. There was plenty of emotion, healing, drama, and a hint of magic in this book, and it was an overall enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse/Harper Collins, and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse/Harper Collins, and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced copy of this book.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Unique, mysterious, and also hopeful - The Alchemy of Flowers has been one of my favorite reads of the summer. If you love French culture, I highly recommend this book. Heavy on the them of infertility and miscarriage, so please keep that in mind if that is a trigger for you.
Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed are my own. This book was released today, 07/29/25.
Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed are my own. This book was released today, 07/29/25.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The Alchemy of Flowers wasnβt quite what I expected as I went into it pretty blind; it leaned more into magical realism than fantasy, but it had plenty of emotional depth. It felt simultaneously witchy and therapeutic/reflective. It is set in the beautiful and mysterious Jardins du Paradis in the South of France, which is what initially pulled me into the title. The story is rooted in grief, healing, and found family. The themes of motherhood, nature, and rediscovery are present throughout.
While the poetic writing was beautiful and immersive, it slowed the pacing and was distracting at times; the French phrases were very charming for a while, but then started to feel a bit overused.
It wonβt be for everyone, and while I didnβt fully connect, I can see how this could resonate with readers who share the main characterβs grief and experiences.
TW: fertility struggles, grief
The Alchemy of Flowers wasnβt quite what I expected as I went into it pretty blind; it leaned more into magical realism than fantasy, but it had plenty of emotional depth. It felt simultaneously witchy and therapeutic/reflective. It is set in the beautiful and mysterious Jardins du Paradis in the South of France, which is what initially pulled me into the title. The story is rooted in grief, healing, and found family. The themes of motherhood, nature, and rediscovery are present throughout.
While the poetic writing was beautiful and immersive, it slowed the pacing and was distracting at times; the French phrases were very charming for a while, but then started to feel a bit overused.
It wonβt be for everyone, and while I didnβt fully connect, I can see how this could resonate with readers who share the main characterβs grief and experiences.
TW: fertility struggles, grief
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ugh. I wanted to like this one. I really did. As someone who actively left home in Denver to chase a dream in Europe after a divorce this sounded amazing. Howeverβ¦ the minor little things include an absurd amount of time spent on food descriptions, flower explanations, and goddess summaries, which all just felt like too much layered like it was on top of so little plot. The book could have been half the length and not lost much. However my biggest problem is that itβs SO focused not just on family (as I expected from the summary) but childbirth. Pregnancy. Infertility treatments. Bearing children. As someone who does not nor has ever wanted children I really wish I had known this would be a book in which the FMC believes that producing offspring is the only natural way that womenβs bodies work, because then I could have avoided it.
Ugh. I wanted to like this one. I really did. As someone who actively left home in Denver to chase a dream in Europe after a divorce this sounded amazing. Howeverβ¦ the minor little things include an absurd amount of time spent on food descriptions, flower explanations, and goddess summaries, which all just felt like too much layered like it was on top of so little plot. The book could have been half the length and not lost much. However my biggest problem is that itβs SO focused not just on family (as I expected from the summary) but childbirth. Pregnancy. Infertility treatments. Bearing children. As someone who does not nor has ever wanted children I really wish I had known this would be a book in which the FMC believes that producing offspring is the only natural way that womenβs bodies work, because then I could have avoided it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated