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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow.
This book took me by surprise in every way and I could not put it down!
Rose's parents get divorced, and she moves from NYC to Meadow Falls, CT with her dad the summer right before her senior year. Almost as soon as she arrives, she literally runs into Hart Hargrove at the gas station and ends up covered in red slushie. Hart and his twin sister, Heather, live at Hemlock Hill, a well-known house in Meadow Falls known for its expansive gardens and legendary garden parties. When Hart invites Rose to the summer solstice party, they embark on a swift and passionate summer romance that almost feels like they were made for each other. But something is suspect about Hemlock Hill and its occupants, something Rose can't quite put her finger on. She only knows being with Hart in those strange gardens is like an addiction, one that could make or break her.
This book is the best parts of Tuck Everlasting, The Secret Garden, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with a dark twist on fate and desire. From the moment Rose and Hart and Heather collide, it's obvious something isn't quite right, but nothing is wrong enough for anyone to panic. Yet. The author did an incredible job of quickly building Rose and Hart's relationship while continually feeding us seeds of unwariness.
The first half of the book is told from Rose's perspective, interspersed with glimpses into her adult life with Hart as they go off to college together. It's their future puzzle, except some of the pieces don't quite fit. Bit by bit, the mystery builds until we eventually get our answers into what makes Hemlock Grove such a dark and magical place.
You basically get two books: a whirlwind, teen summer romance and a magical realism thriller. If you've been aching for a book that will keep you up at night, you DEFINITELY need to add this to your summer reading list.
This book took me by surprise in every way and I could not put it down!
Rose's parents get divorced, and she moves from NYC to Meadow Falls, CT with her dad the summer right before her senior year. Almost as soon as she arrives, she literally runs into Hart Hargrove at the gas station and ends up covered in red slushie. Hart and his twin sister, Heather, live at Hemlock Hill, a well-known house in Meadow Falls known for its expansive gardens and legendary garden parties. When Hart invites Rose to the summer solstice party, they embark on a swift and passionate summer romance that almost feels like they were made for each other. But something is suspect about Hemlock Hill and its occupants, something Rose can't quite put her finger on. She only knows being with Hart in those strange gardens is like an addiction, one that could make or break her.
This book is the best parts of Tuck Everlasting, The Secret Garden, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with a dark twist on fate and desire. From the moment Rose and Hart and Heather collide, it's obvious something isn't quite right, but nothing is wrong enough for anyone to panic. Yet. The author did an incredible job of quickly building Rose and Hart's relationship while continually feeding us seeds of unwariness.
The first half of the book is told from Rose's perspective, interspersed with glimpses into her adult life with Hart as they go off to college together. It's their future puzzle, except some of the pieces don't quite fit. Bit by bit, the mystery builds until we eventually get our answers into what makes Hemlock Grove such a dark and magical place.
You basically get two books: a whirlwind, teen summer romance and a magical realism thriller. If you've been aching for a book that will keep you up at night, you DEFINITELY need to add this to your summer reading list.
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rose has just moved from New York City to a small suburban town in Connecticut after her parents' divorce, and immediately things are not going her way. After a fight with her Dad, Rose runs to the nearest corner mart to get a treat to cool down & runs into Hart. Well, actually, Hart runs into her & spills his red cherry slushie down her shirt. Not used to newcomers, Hart invites her along to a party to celebrate the back-to-school season, where she immediately and accidentally insults the school's most popular girl. Not only that, the popular girl, Heather, says something totally weird, which we find isn't an isolated incident as we get to know the character. She seems to think Rose has been here before, but she hasn't, has she?
Of Earthly Delights follows Rose's journey as she adapts to her new life & falls quickly for the Hargrove hottie, Hart. Quicker than she's used to, since she is usually so skeptical after being raised in NYC. The story was charming and enchanting, and had me wanting to read more and stay up way too late to get some answers. Through the beauty of falling in love and enjoying a perfectly landscaped garden, we also run into multiple instances where things just feel... uncanny or too familiar. The author did a great job of adding subtle hints throughout the story to make you uncomfortable without giving away the large plot twist, but makes it fun to look back and go, "OMG, I should've seen it coming!".
I really enjoyed this read and the mysterious journey it took me along as we experience love through a teenage lens and grief of losing the ones we love. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys an unsettling Gothic tale with a bit of romance.
Thank you to MacMillan Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book! All opinions are my own and completely honest.
Of Earthly Delights follows Rose's journey as she adapts to her new life & falls quickly for the Hargrove hottie, Hart. Quicker than she's used to, since she is usually so skeptical after being raised in NYC. The story was charming and enchanting, and had me wanting to read more and stay up way too late to get some answers. Through the beauty of falling in love and enjoying a perfectly landscaped garden, we also run into multiple instances where things just feel... uncanny or too familiar. The author did a great job of adding subtle hints throughout the story to make you uncomfortable without giving away the large plot twist, but makes it fun to look back and go, "OMG, I should've seen it coming!".
I really enjoyed this read and the mysterious journey it took me along as we experience love through a teenage lens and grief of losing the ones we love. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys an unsettling Gothic tale with a bit of romance.
Thank you to MacMillan Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book! All opinions are my own and completely honest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
This book? A trippy, twisting, time-bending rabbit hole—and I willingly fell face-first into it. It lures you in like the garden itself, with beauty, mystery, and a few thorns along the way.
Romance? Check.
Grief and gut punches? Double check.
A surreal, dreamy narrative that makes you question everything? Ohhh yeah.
It’s a classic “be careful what you wish for” wrapped in petals and pain, where reality blurs and time loops like a fever dream. I’ll admit—there were moments I was like, where are we now?? But somehow, that just added to the magic.
Brilliantly creative, a little chaotic, and totally unforgettable.
Romance? Check.
Grief and gut punches? Double check.
A surreal, dreamy narrative that makes you question everything? Ohhh yeah.
It’s a classic “be careful what you wish for” wrapped in petals and pain, where reality blurs and time loops like a fever dream. I’ll admit—there were moments I was like, where are we now?? But somehow, that just added to the magic.
Brilliantly creative, a little chaotic, and totally unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky is a third person dual-POV YA romantic gothic. When Rose moves from New York to Connecticut after her mother’s death, the last thing she expects is to find a new romance with Hart, one of a pair of popular twins who have a lot of power in Rose’s new small town. When Rose’s new friend Lowell goes through drastic changes, she starts to question Hart and his sister Heather.
I know that Gothic romance can have the room for not featuring a HEA/HFN, but I felt that the structure of the book in the second half veered away from the Romance beats and became more about Hart and Heather and what they have gone through since they were children. If these chapters had been one chapter Rose’s POV and one chapter Hart and then one chapter Rose, I might feel differently. Because of this, I would classify this as a romantic gothic as the romance arc is the driving force, but it’s necessarily a Romance book.
Between Rose and Hart, I actually enjoyed Hart more as a POV character. He’s more introspective and reflective, but the moments when we’re deep in his head paint him as truly sympathetic, especially when we get more of his childhood. His relationship with Heather is also very complex because she’s much less cautious than he is when it comes to the maze in their home but she’s still his sister and she is all he really has left of his family after the death of their mother and the continued absences of his father.
The romance between Rose and Hart is fairly intense fairly fast. Rose spends all of her time over the summer with Hart to the point that she ignores Lowell and her father. It’s something that I definitely do expect of a seventeen-year-old as a lot of teens in the middle of their first love do struggle with remembering that things outside of the relationship do exist. Rose is also aware enough to recognize that she is focusing solely on her relationship, but she’s not sure how to get out of that headspace since she truly does want to spend all of her time with Hart.
I would recommend this to fans of Gothic romance and romantic Gothics looking for a YA with a speculative element and readers of YA looking for something more tragic
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 ⭐️
I am crushed. I was so close to crying and being emotional over this book. At first, I got the feeling this book was going to be the creepy sort, but I enjoyed getting to know Rose while slowly discovering the mystery of the garden along with her falling in love with Hart. Then I thought ‘wow this is a full love story about these two’ then when I learned about the garden, i was very much surprised because it was not what I suspected. The mystery of it made it creepier than it was, but the lesson behind it was actually kind of a cynic view of reality. You can make a decision and wish for something but you always have to think your actions have consequences. I really liked this message with a bit of magic.
Then, 180 turn and the tragic hits. I was so heartbroken for Hart but at least some of the weird scenes? Flashbacks? (Idk what to call them) made more sense. It was kind of beautiful that he just wants to be with her over and over again, but again that has consequences, one of them being Heather. Heather was such an interesting side character and you don’t really get her truth depth until you see her reasons at the end, and they are valid. The conclusion of the book was also shocking, I really thought they would move on but Hart is obviously set on thinking his happiness is based in his one love. So, the end end of this book was even more because I have questions and need to know if he finally broke the cycle. Loved this book, what a rollercoaster of emotions
I am crushed. I was so close to crying and being emotional over this book. At first, I got the feeling this book was going to be the creepy sort, but I enjoyed getting to know Rose while slowly discovering the mystery of the garden along with her falling in love with Hart. Then I thought ‘wow this is a full love story about these two’ then when I learned about the garden, i was very much surprised because it was not what I suspected. The mystery of it made it creepier than it was, but the lesson behind it was actually kind of a cynic view of reality. You can make a decision and wish for something but you always have to think your actions have consequences. I really liked this message with a bit of magic.
Then, 180 turn and the tragic hits. I was so heartbroken for Hart but at least some of the weird scenes? Flashbacks? (Idk what to call them) made more sense. It was kind of beautiful that he just wants to be with her over and over again, but again that has consequences, one of them being Heather. Heather was such an interesting side character and you don’t really get her truth depth until you see her reasons at the end, and they are valid. The conclusion of the book was also shocking, I really thought they would move on but Hart is obviously set on thinking his happiness is based in his one love. So, the end end of this book was even more because I have questions and need to know if he finally broke the cycle. Loved this book, what a rollercoaster of emotions
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS by Goldy Moldavsky
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan (Henry Holt and Co) for the earc (May 13)
Rose isn't happy to leave NY for Connecticut, but when she meets Hart Hargove, everything changes. She comes to know Hart, to love him, but when she learns the truth about the garden, she's filled with more questions than answers.
Talk about a shocking read. OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS is an explosive read full of romance, gardens, and desire. But it goes deeper than that. This book takes everything to a whole new level. It wickedly dark and propulsive. It left me with questions that led me to devour the book, cover to cover.
There was something about OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS that was just so good. I loved the two different pov's that led to the intertwining of the storylines. There were also tims were I was flabbergasted, talk about a twist.
OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS has been my favorite read by this author. It leaves you perplexed, hopeful, and kind of sad. 10/10 would recommend.
OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS by Goldy Moldavsky
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan (Henry Holt and Co) for the earc (May 13)
Rose isn't happy to leave NY for Connecticut, but when she meets Hart Hargove, everything changes. She comes to know Hart, to love him, but when she learns the truth about the garden, she's filled with more questions than answers.
Talk about a shocking read. OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS is an explosive read full of romance, gardens, and desire. But it goes deeper than that. This book takes everything to a whole new level. It wickedly dark and propulsive. It left me with questions that led me to devour the book, cover to cover.
There was something about OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS that was just so good. I loved the two different pov's that led to the intertwining of the storylines. There were also tims were I was flabbergasted, talk about a twist.
OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS has been my favorite read by this author. It leaves you perplexed, hopeful, and kind of sad. 10/10 would recommend.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warning: violence, grief, accident, body horror
+ The twist in this story blew my mind, it’s the one book this year that has made my jaw drop.
+ Rose is new to town, but right away she meets Hart Hargrove. He’s popular, he lives on the biggest estate in town – an estate whose gardens are infamous for secret, exclusive parties. Rose and Hart fall madly in love, almost insta-love, but there are clues along the way in this book where it feels like something is off. Something doesn’t feel right with their love story.
+ The grief that is presented in this book is heartbreaking. I could understand the decisions of Hart and his twin, Heather, but when everything is revealed, it made my heart ache for all of them involved. Without spoiling the story, I couldn’t imagine what they were going through.
+ Though the love story about Rose and Hart feels invincible and meant to be, there is a dark, sinister undertone to this story. It shows up in the garden parties and Rose’s best friend, Llowell. There is some body horror but really brief and the ending is wild with action and violence.
~ Because I knew there was something off to the romance, and some moments of the “future” sprinkled in as the story went on…I did get confused. But I’m glad I pushed through to the end – the end though, it’s an open ending which shocked me.
Final Thoughts:
This story is creative, dark, has a gothic contemporary atmosphere and the romance is heady but it’s also so sad and tragic. It explored a lot of topics like love, grief, friendship, and wishes. But if you could make your wishes come true, what would you be willing to give up? The ending of this story made my jaw drop and I think it’s one of those books that I’ll never forget.