afagan18 's review for:

Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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ARC Review of “Of Earthly Delights” by Goldy Moldavsky
⭐ 5/5 Stars 

 

“That summer, Rose and Hart came together in a kaleidoscope of colors.” 

 

A darkly romantic YA gothic thriller with a splash of magical realism, “Of Earthly Delights” follows Rose Pauly, a teen artist ripped from New York and dropped into a mysterious new world. When she meets the charming and enigmatic Hart Hargrove, their star-crossed romance blooms inside the secretive garden behind his family's mansion - but love this intense never comes without thorns. This story is equal parts romance, mystery, and emotional gut punch. 

 

Wow - I’ve never enjoyed having my heart torn apart so much, and willingly so. This book completely immersed me in its atmosphere: eerie, beautiful, and emotionally raw. It made me feel like I was right there with Rose, swept up in something intoxicating and terrifying all at once. Grief, love, and obsession pulse through every page, and the plot twists hit with the weight of truth you don’t want to admit. 

 

The characters in this book are so distinct and unapologetically themselves. Rose’s yearning and creative spark, Hart’s intensity and mystery, the garden’s uncanny allure. I loved Goldy Moldavsky’s vivid and emotional writing and how they threaded clever clues and foreshadowing through the writing without ever giving too much away. The tension builds so expertly that I never saw the twists coming, and when they did... I was wrecked. 

 

If you love atmospheric YA with sharp writing, haunting themes, and a romance that burns beautifully dark, Of Earthly Delights is for you. Go in blind - and prepare to be completely consumed. 

 

I was generously provided an e-ARC by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Henry Holt and Co. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own ♡