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thespicelessreader 's review for:

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
5.0
funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop  is a masterclass in cozy fantasy and I am happy to report that she somehow found a way to improve on perfection with The Enchanted Greenhouse. I love that she's built a world that feels expansive and fleshed out, mixing classic fantasy elements with modern sensibilities in a way that feels natural. 
I appreciate that for a cozy tale Durst doesn't ignore the fact that some of the events of the book are highly traumatic for the characters and addresses that there will be some fall out/consequences from that. Could it be further fleshed out and more realistic? Of course, but she's writing in the coxy fantasy genre, its not the place for a full deep dive into the psychology of trauma. 
While I personally could have taken or left the romance plot, I can appreciate that that is a me thing. Its not clunky or overly spicy, romance in general just isn't my jam. I think those that do like it will find the progress of the relationship to be believable and sweet. 
I also appreciate that this is a standalone story so I can recommend this book to anyone who wants to dip their toes into the genre, and then share the happy surprise that there is another book in world if they enjoy it. 
Hoping to see more from this world in the future. 

Thank you to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for this review copy.