Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
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:
Complicated
Be prepared for a slow burn -- especially at the start. While I ended up really enjoying this book, I did almost DNF it about a quarter of the way in. I thought that the supernatural/mystery element was going to occur a lot sooner than when it did, so for a second I thought that maybe I misunderstood what this book was going to be like. However, once we got into the thick of it, it became extremely enjoyable. Love the characters and I really appreciated the plot twist. Eloise is such a sympathetic lead and I enjoyed going through the journey with her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Stalking
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for supplying me with a complimentary e-arc of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was really drawn to the beautiful cover of this book and the premise sounded promising, filled with magic realism, intrigue and mystery. I think I was hoping for something a bit darker as the blurb felt like this story could take a sinister turn.
Perhaps I am at the wrong stage of my life, but this novel fell short of the mark and the characters didn’t resonate with me. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about them.
The interjection of the French language was somewhat cumbersome and made me feel as though the author was displaying her proficiency in French more than enriching the story.
The author does have a rich, vivid writing style, able to convey settings beautifully.
I was really drawn to the beautiful cover of this book and the premise sounded promising, filled with magic realism, intrigue and mystery. I think I was hoping for something a bit darker as the blurb felt like this story could take a sinister turn.
Perhaps I am at the wrong stage of my life, but this novel fell short of the mark and the characters didn’t resonate with me. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about them.
The interjection of the French language was somewhat cumbersome and made me feel as though the author was displaying her proficiency in French more than enriching the story.
The author does have a rich, vivid writing style, able to convey settings beautifully.
This book isn’t for everyone—myself included. It feels like it was meant for a specific audience, one that shares the main character’s trauma and grief, and would connect with the story on a much deeper level than I did.
That being said, the writing is stunning—florid and poetic. The setting is captivating, with its vivid descriptions, the unique talents of each character, and the magic woven into the whole place. These elements bring the world to life in a way that feels almost tangible.
But for all its beauty, the book has its drawbacks. Descriptive passages often cross into info-dump territory, dragging on to the point of frustration. The protagonist’s past is intentionally kept in the shadows, leading to a repetitive cycle of rediscovering the same fragments of their story over and over again. And then, there’s the excessive use of French phrases—mon ami, mon chéri, merde—which, rather than adding charm, felt forced and overdone.
Albeit the book wasn’t for me, I believe every book finds its reader. This one touches on important, often-overlooked themes, and for the right audience, it may be exactly the story they need.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC~
That being said, the writing is stunning—florid and poetic. The setting is captivating, with its vivid descriptions, the unique talents of each character, and the magic woven into the whole place. These elements bring the world to life in a way that feels almost tangible.
But for all its beauty, the book has its drawbacks. Descriptive passages often cross into info-dump territory, dragging on to the point of frustration. The protagonist’s past is intentionally kept in the shadows, leading to a repetitive cycle of rediscovering the same fragments of their story over and over again. And then, there’s the excessive use of French phrases—mon ami, mon chéri, merde—which, rather than adding charm, felt forced and overdone.
Albeit the book wasn’t for me, I believe every book finds its reader. This one touches on important, often-overlooked themes, and for the right audience, it may be exactly the story they need.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC~
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Needing an escape from her life, Eloise takes a job at a mysterious garden in France because of one strange rule. No children allowed.
The gardens can heal, but they can also harm. Can Eloise ignore les bizarreries and just exist in this little heaven on earth with her new friends?!
This book is part magical realism, part mystery.. It's cozy, emotional, and terrifying. The characters are lovely, each trying to escape their own trauma. The food sounds delicious. The gardens are a dream. I loved every second of this book.
The gardens can heal, but they can also harm. Can Eloise ignore les bizarreries and just exist in this little heaven on earth with her new friends?!
This book is part magical realism, part mystery.. It's cozy, emotional, and terrifying. The characters are lovely, each trying to escape their own trauma. The food sounds delicious. The gardens are a dream. I loved every second of this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
There was something quite cozy about The Alchemy of Flowers despite the sensitive subjects it broached by a hurting and angry main female character who struggles with infertility, the guilt associated with failure to do that which she feels she was made for as a woman, and agonizing through the trauma of losing a marriage as well as the children she miscarried.
The message repeated over and over again through the book is 'making flowers from shit' - which is so very fitting given that Eloise is running from a life unfulfilled and hired on as a gardener at a beautiful estate shrouded in mystery. I really enjoyed watching her make something out of herself as she worked through some of her dark traumas while being tempted time and time again by the eerie magical nature of what happens at dusk when all staff are required to remain indoors. There was a spunky charm to her continuing to question what others were too afraid to, to not let herself be silenced when things didn't make sense, and to push forward even if she stumbled back a few steps.
This was the first book I've read of its kind and I can't compare it to anything I've read before which makes it stand out as being quite enjoyable even if it's not exactly my cup of tisane. I think the magic and mysteries of the book is really understated, focusing mainly upon character growth and development over time.
Eloise's connection with flowers and her creative outlets are precious. The world within The Alchemy of Flowers is whimsical and never truly gets too dark without offering a bit of levity between the hurts. I think that this book has within it an incredible display of feminine strength and while I have never experienced the agonies associated with the loss of marriage, children, and infertility, I think that those who have might find the words within this book to be quite empowering.
I'm grateful to have received a copy of The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau from Harper Muse over on NetGalley.
The message repeated over and over again through the book is 'making flowers from shit' - which is so very fitting given that Eloise is running from a life unfulfilled and hired on as a gardener at a beautiful estate shrouded in mystery. I really enjoyed watching her make something out of herself as she worked through some of her dark traumas while being tempted time and time again by the eerie magical nature of what happens at dusk when all staff are required to remain indoors. There was a spunky charm to her continuing to question what others were too afraid to, to not let herself be silenced when things didn't make sense, and to push forward even if she stumbled back a few steps.
This was the first book I've read of its kind and I can't compare it to anything I've read before which makes it stand out as being quite enjoyable even if it's not exactly my cup of tisane. I think the magic and mysteries of the book is really understated, focusing mainly upon character growth and development over time.
Eloise's connection with flowers and her creative outlets are precious. The world within The Alchemy of Flowers is whimsical and never truly gets too dark without offering a bit of levity between the hurts. I think that this book has within it an incredible display of feminine strength and while I have never experienced the agonies associated with the loss of marriage, children, and infertility, I think that those who have might find the words within this book to be quite empowering.
I'm grateful to have received a copy of The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau from Harper Muse over on NetGalley.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Alchemy of Flowers is like a visit into an alternate reality. One in which the flowers speak to you and your every need is taken care of. Where you can focus on healing from hardship and learning to be happy with yourself and your situation. It brings you back to reality brutally, but the message is clear: take time for yourself, focus and heal, grow connections, but come back. Return. Do not ignore your troubles forever. Do the work, then trust yourself to be whole enough to weather the storm.
It is overall a powerful message.
Eloise and her journey made me laugh and cry and heal just a little along with her. Her character development, learning to trust again, acknowledging her own role in how her life had gone, what was her fault and what most definitely was not, were moving. It really made me think and I could barely put down the book for it. The other characters, Raphael, Mina and Bao, were just as loveable, with journeys just as tragic and powerful. The undercurrent of wrong (which resulted in my first note on this book being "this sounds like a literal cult" and the second one, "Girl, run", all within the first 15 pages) created a layer of suspense and Eloise's empathy and curiosity made her especially relateable and loveable. These story elements were well done and enjoyable.
There was a lot of talk about child loss and general child-related trauma, especially in regards to Eloise's earlier line of work, which was very powerful and a main theme of the story. However, I personally felt the part of the conversation regarding the foster system and adoption somewhat lacking. Not because of the related heartbreak, but because it seemed critical of reunification efforts in fostering while mentioning none of the hardships adoption, especially cross-culture adoption, could have for a child. This is not in line with what people who have been through adoption and the foster system in the US generally say. I think the author's criticism is valid, in that as a worker in the foster care system, it must be heartbreaking to see reunification efforts fail, but because the author chose to focus only on that pain without mentioning how attempts at reunification are also important for the child. I do think that the importance of the connection of a child to their culture, the culture of the biological parents, was shown nicely, both when the parent of that culture is gone, and during cross-culture adoption.
The prose was nice to read and made speeding through the pages easy, though it was missing a bit of a whimsical tone in some places that I personally feel would have made the appeal of Paradise more apparent. But honestly, I would pay so much money for a single night in Eloise's treehouse so you know, it's whatever. It obviously worked on me.
I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
It is overall a powerful message.
Eloise and her journey made me laugh and cry and heal just a little along with her. Her character development, learning to trust again, acknowledging her own role in how her life had gone, what was her fault and what most definitely was not, were moving. It really made me think and I could barely put down the book for it. The other characters, Raphael, Mina and Bao, were just as loveable, with journeys just as tragic and powerful. The undercurrent of wrong (which resulted in my first note on this book being "this sounds like a literal cult" and the second one, "Girl, run", all within the first 15 pages) created a layer of suspense and Eloise's empathy and curiosity made her especially relateable and loveable. These story elements were well done and enjoyable.
There was a lot of talk about child loss and general child-related trauma, especially in regards to Eloise's earlier line of work, which was very powerful and a main theme of the story. However, I personally felt the part of the conversation regarding the foster system and adoption somewhat lacking. Not because of the related heartbreak, but because it seemed critical of reunification efforts in fostering while mentioning none of the hardships adoption, especially cross-culture adoption, could have for a child. This is not in line with what people who have been through adoption and the foster system in the US generally say. I think the author's criticism is valid, in that as a worker in the foster care system, it must be heartbreaking to see reunification efforts fail, but because the author chose to focus only on that pain without mentioning how attempts at reunification are also important for the child. I do think that the importance of the connection of a child to their culture, the culture of the biological parents, was shown nicely, both when the parent of that culture is gone, and during cross-culture adoption.
The prose was nice to read and made speeding through the pages easy, though it was missing a bit of a whimsical tone in some places that I personally feel would have made the appeal of Paradise more apparent. But honestly, I would pay so much money for a single night in Eloise's treehouse so you know, it's whatever. It obviously worked on me.
I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.