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The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26Love grows in the most impossible of places in Summer N. England's debut sweet and spicy cozy romantasy for fans of The Spellshop and For Whom the Belle Tolls!
All gardener Clara Thorne wants is to live "happily ever after" in her beloved town of Moss, magically growing herbs and vegetables and trying to write her book. But Fate has other plans when The Goddess unexpectedly bestows her with an impossible quest. Clara has one month to travel to the cursed and abandoned town of Dwindle and grow them a garden. If she fails, she will be banished.
Only Clara's magic doesn't work outside of Moss, a fact she has kept hidden for years. Worse, the Goddess has assigned the absurdly sexy, annoyingly cheerful Hesper Altanfall to keep her safe. All leather and crossbows, Hesper is as determined to protect Clara as she is full of secrets—but Clara would rather eat thorns than accept help. Nevertheless, the two can't help but grow closer as they make their way across enchanted woods, share one too many tavern beds, and work together to rebuild Dwindle one garden bed at a time.
Clara, however, refuses to give in to their blossoming romance. She’s had one too many losses, and Hesper might the one to break her beyond repair. But if Clara can find the key to opening her heart, she may just unearth the life and love she's always believed to be impossible.
All gardener Clara Thorne wants is to live "happily ever after" in her beloved town of Moss, magically growing herbs and vegetables and trying to write her book. But Fate has other plans when The Goddess unexpectedly bestows her with an impossible quest. Clara has one month to travel to the cursed and abandoned town of Dwindle and grow them a garden. If she fails, she will be banished.
Only Clara's magic doesn't work outside of Moss, a fact she has kept hidden for years. Worse, the Goddess has assigned the absurdly sexy, annoyingly cheerful Hesper Altanfall to keep her safe. All leather and crossbows, Hesper is as determined to protect Clara as she is full of secrets—but Clara would rather eat thorns than accept help. Nevertheless, the two can't help but grow closer as they make their way across enchanted woods, share one too many tavern beds, and work together to rebuild Dwindle one garden bed at a time.
Clara, however, refuses to give in to their blossoming romance. She’s had one too many losses, and Hesper might the one to break her beyond repair. But if Clara can find the key to opening her heart, she may just unearth the life and love she's always believed to be impossible.
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 7, 2026
1412 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne to be magical, cozy, and just adventurous enough to keep me engaged. The beginning felt slow, though not in an immediately obvious way. I enjoyed settling into the characters and getting to know the town, but after a while, it felt like the story was lingering without moving forward. When the plot finally picked up, that’s when I was the most interested. There were many unique stops along the way that I wish had been explored more. Unfortunately, because the adventure portion was rushed, the beginning and ending ended up feeling somewhat repetitive, which threw off the overall pacing.
Once the story reached Dwindle, I had a lot of fun meeting new characters and seeing the world expand. Overall, I enjoyed this book for its charm and heart. While it didn’t do anything particularly new within the genre, I still found it to be a warm, endearing read.
Honestly, I think the cover alone made me like this book at least 10% more. It’s a perfect cover in my eyes.
Thank you Forever Pub for an eARC of this book.
Once the story reached Dwindle, I had a lot of fun meeting new characters and seeing the world expand. Overall, I enjoyed this book for its charm and heart. While it didn’t do anything particularly new within the genre, I still found it to be a warm, endearing read.
Honestly, I think the cover alone made me like this book at least 10% more. It’s a perfect cover in my eyes.
Thank you Forever Pub for an eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For Fans Of: The Teller of Small Fortunes, The Spellshop, In Other Lands, Terry Pratchett
Spice: 3/5
Within the first few pages I knew I was going to love this book. England's writing is lyrical but not overly-so, and it is easy to hear Clara's voice coming through. Each step of the way was meaningful to the characters as themselves, to the story, and to character growth; the plot and narrative felt purposeful. England is not just telling us a story but taking us along with as passengers.
I appreciated the whimsy of the world, the names were delightful (a town called Dwindle at the edge of the withering? perfect), and the normalization of fantasy creatures (humans, orcs, dryads, dwarves, all living alongside each other; water nymphs rare but not unheard of) added to the sense of immersion in this cozy setting.
Clara's moments of emotional pain absolutely came through and affected me; this is cozy but you will probably cry to see a woman who has locked herself up so tight trying to convince herself that she needs to stay that way. She unwinds and then snaps back, over and over, and it is so painful to see. You want the best for her, but you have to wait for her to find it herself. The payoff at the end is well worth any amount of tears.
I loved Hesper, the big strong protector who is also SO so gay, the waves of sapphic energy just wafting off her building tension with Clara. She had an emotional depth and purpose/background that made both she and Clara the exact right kind of damaged the other could help prop up. She doesn't need fixing, but everyone can use a hand up sometimes.
This is a book to sit with, to take some time with, to smile and giggle with and roll your eyes and cry with. Anyone who has ever felt "not enough" unless (or even if) they give everything they've got - Clara's impossible garden is waiting.
Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice and it is my unbiased opinion.
Spice: 3/5
"Belief, while not inherently magical, is a powerful thing."
Within the first few pages I knew I was going to love this book. England's writing is lyrical but not overly-so, and it is easy to hear Clara's voice coming through. Each step of the way was meaningful to the characters as themselves, to the story, and to character growth; the plot and narrative felt purposeful. England is not just telling us a story but taking us along with as passengers.
I appreciated the whimsy of the world, the names were delightful (a town called Dwindle at the edge of the withering? perfect), and the normalization of fantasy creatures (humans, orcs, dryads, dwarves, all living alongside each other; water nymphs rare but not unheard of) added to the sense of immersion in this cozy setting.
Clara's moments of emotional pain absolutely came through and affected me; this is cozy but you will probably cry to see a woman who has locked herself up so tight trying to convince herself that she needs to stay that way. She unwinds and then snaps back, over and over, and it is so painful to see. You want the best for her, but you have to wait for her to find it herself. The payoff at the end is well worth any amount of tears.
I loved Hesper, the big strong protector who is also SO so gay, the waves of sapphic energy just wafting off her building tension with Clara. She had an emotional depth and purpose/background that made both she and Clara the exact right kind of damaged the other could help prop up. She doesn't need fixing, but everyone can use a hand up sometimes.
This is a book to sit with, to take some time with, to smile and giggle with and roll your eyes and cry with. Anyone who has ever felt "not enough" unless (or even if) they give everything they've got - Clara's impossible garden is waiting.
Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice and it is my unbiased opinion.
December 20, 2025
“It’s a hard, odd, wonderful thing to be alive”
Enter the whimsical and cozy fantasy that is The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne. In this world that Summer England has created humans, orcs, nymphs, beasts, fae and goddesses all co-exist. Clara is sent on an impossible mission by the Goddess Eldrene: leave the cozy village of Moss to create an impossible garden in the not so cozy Dwindle with an impossibly sapphic, strong and stubborn companion.
Clara’s aesthetic is Florence Welch frolicking through a garden with an adorable hedgehog sidekick. (With weird capabilities by the end that I don’t understand but whatevs). Clara is the only character in this whole book who believes she’s powerless and despite the OBVIOUS signs proving otherwise she refuses to see otherwise. I did get frustrated with how Clara would ignore clear signs of her powerful magic or dismiss everyone that told her otherwise, but I get it, she has baggage.
Hesper, Hesper, Hesper. Our gloriously fae warrior who RADIATES sapphic energy… can protect me whenever she wants to. Summer deviates from the trend of making strong female characters impossibly thin but somehow impossibly strong. Hesper is the sensitive, stubborn, buff fae warrior of my dreams.
I enjoyed my time in Nesyria. I giggled, kicked my feet, cheered, rolled my eyes and teared up reading Summer’s debut novel.
Enter the whimsical and cozy fantasy that is The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne. In this world that Summer England has created humans, orcs, nymphs, beasts, fae and goddesses all co-exist. Clara is sent on an impossible mission by the Goddess Eldrene: leave the cozy village of Moss to create an impossible garden in the not so cozy Dwindle with an impossibly sapphic, strong and stubborn companion.
Clara’s aesthetic is Florence Welch frolicking through a garden with an adorable hedgehog sidekick. (With weird capabilities by the end that I don’t understand but whatevs). Clara is the only character in this whole book who believes she’s powerless and despite the OBVIOUS signs proving otherwise she refuses to see otherwise. I did get frustrated with how Clara would ignore clear signs of her powerful magic or dismiss everyone that told her otherwise, but I get it, she has baggage.
Hesper, Hesper, Hesper. Our gloriously fae warrior who RADIATES sapphic energy… can protect me whenever she wants to. Summer deviates from the trend of making strong female characters impossibly thin but somehow impossibly strong. Hesper is the sensitive, stubborn, buff fae warrior of my dreams.
I enjoyed my time in Nesyria. I giggled, kicked my feet, cheered, rolled my eyes and teared up reading Summer’s debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🌸 Enchanting Read Alert! 📚
From the very first pages, I was utterly hooked by the sheer lyricism of this world! The author doesn't just tell a story; she pulls you in as an essential passenger on Clara's deeply personal journey. Every twist, every turn, felt purposeful—pure narrative gold ✨.
I adored how delightful and whimsical the setting was. The effortless co-existence of humans, orcs, dryads, and more makes this fantasy feel utterly immersive and cozy.
Don't let yourself be fooled by the cozy vibes—this book has heart. You will cry. You will ache for Clara's breakthrough. But the emotional payoff at the end? Worth every tear shed 😭
And let's talk about Hesper 😍: the big, strong protector radiating such glorious sapphic energy! The tension between her and Clara is palpable and perfect. They are two beautifully damaged souls who find exactly the right way to prop each other up.
This is a book to savor. If you've ever felt "not enough," Clara's impossible garden is waiting for you. Go find it. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you SO much to Forever pub for the ARC read!
From the very first pages, I was utterly hooked by the sheer lyricism of this world! The author doesn't just tell a story; she pulls you in as an essential passenger on Clara's deeply personal journey. Every twist, every turn, felt purposeful—pure narrative gold ✨.
I adored how delightful and whimsical the setting was. The effortless co-existence of humans, orcs, dryads, and more makes this fantasy feel utterly immersive and cozy.
Don't let yourself be fooled by the cozy vibes—this book has heart. You will cry. You will ache for Clara's breakthrough. But the emotional payoff at the end? Worth every tear shed 😭
And let's talk about Hesper 😍: the big, strong protector radiating such glorious sapphic energy! The tension between her and Clara is palpable and perfect. They are two beautifully damaged souls who find exactly the right way to prop each other up.
This is a book to savor. If you've ever felt "not enough," Clara's impossible garden is waiting for you. Go find it. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you SO much to Forever pub for the ARC read!
November 28, 2025
3.25-3.5/5
Oh my goodness, I love this cover so much. I think it is so stinkin/ pretty!
This has cozy vibes, a magical garden, and a very complicated relationship.
I didn't really like the relationship in this. It was too complicated. It was complicated in a way where I think they just need to break up and never see each other again. Just move on with your lives. And that will probably be a very hot take. It was just made way too hard to root for them.
And I think there's non-binary rep in here, but those pronouns did change about halfway through and I got confused (I don't know if that was no purpose or not. I don't know if I missed a whole conversation on that or not. Possibly. I don't know.).
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Oh my goodness, I love this cover so much. I think it is so stinkin/ pretty!
This has cozy vibes, a magical garden, and a very complicated relationship.
I didn't really like the relationship in this. It was too complicated. It was complicated in a way where I think they just need to break up and never see each other again. Just move on with your lives. And that will probably be a very hot take. It was just made way too hard to root for them.
And I think there's non-binary rep in here, but those pronouns did change about halfway through and I got confused (I don't know if that was no purpose or not. I don't know if I missed a whole conversation on that or not. Possibly. I don't know.).
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
November 30, 2025
this was cozy, and warm. whimsical and magical. adventurous and epic. frustrating and sad. hopeful and wondrous. there was a plethora of different characters, all of them (okay, most of them) were fantastic and some over the top. there was also mention of dragons, so I'm kind of hoping there's a sequel where we get to meet the dragons.
Clara Thorne is just an average girl, with minimal magical powers, then one day a Goddess comes to town and sends her on a mission. Clara, with her hedgehog and appointed bodyguard (Hesper - Xena Warrior Fae.- Altanfall) travel from the cozy town of Moss to the dreary Dwindle. meeting many a character along the way.. with great adventures, and perhaps some kissing they make their way to Dwindle discovering who they are and what they're capable of.
I had a great time reading this.
(e-arc via Netgalley)
Clara Thorne is just an average girl, with minimal magical powers, then one day a Goddess comes to town and sends her on a mission. Clara, with her hedgehog and appointed bodyguard (Hesper - Xena Warrior Fae.- Altanfall) travel from the cozy town of Moss to the dreary Dwindle. meeting many a character along the way.. with great adventures, and perhaps some kissing they make their way to Dwindle discovering who they are and what they're capable of.
I had a great time reading this.
(e-arc via Netgalley)
December 1, 2025
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to read The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne as an ARC. The book cover was what originally pulled me in, with the cutesy, warm vibe.
This book did not disappoint. It is well written, funny, and has likeable, believable characters.
At times, it did feel a bit cliché (makeover scene about 18% of the way in), but it was still enjoyable overall.
The book was an "easy" read. It used simple sentence structure yet did not feel juvenile, making it easy to digest and enjoy.
This book IS sapphic/LGBTQ+. I noticed that in most places where this book is talked about, this important tag seems to be missing.
With that aside, this book is cozy, cute, and spicy. I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and recommend it to anyone who wants something to warm them up this winter!
This book did not disappoint. It is well written, funny, and has likeable, believable characters.
At times, it did feel a bit cliché (makeover scene about 18% of the way in), but it was still enjoyable overall.
The book was an "easy" read. It used simple sentence structure yet did not feel juvenile, making it easy to digest and enjoy.
This book IS sapphic/LGBTQ+. I noticed that in most places where this book is talked about, this important tag seems to be missing.
With that aside, this book is cozy, cute, and spicy. I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and recommend it to anyone who wants something to warm them up this winter!
December 2, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever Publishing, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I've followed Summer's escapades on TikTok for a few years now and have always loved the charmingly chaotic way she narrates her stories, and I think her personality translated well into her debut novel. The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is Summer N. England's cozy, whimsical, cottagecore persona wrapped up in a fantastically endearing book, and I had a fun time reading it.
I will say that I did find parts to be a bit wordy at times, but, again, I think that's just part of how Summer talks in real life, and as a chronic oversharer myself, I can't knock her for that.
If you liked/loved the Emily Wilde trilogy, any of Travis Baldree's works, or cozy fantasy in general, you'll love this one, too.
I've followed Summer's escapades on TikTok for a few years now and have always loved the charmingly chaotic way she narrates her stories, and I think her personality translated well into her debut novel. The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is Summer N. England's cozy, whimsical, cottagecore persona wrapped up in a fantastically endearing book, and I had a fun time reading it.
I will say that I did find parts to be a bit wordy at times, but, again, I think that's just part of how Summer talks in real life, and as a chronic oversharer myself, I can't knock her for that.
If you liked/loved the Emily Wilde trilogy, any of Travis Baldree's works, or cozy fantasy in general, you'll love this one, too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this book. I don’t always go into “cozy” fantasy with big expectations, but I think it’s because so many different people define it so differently. Did this book make me feel like I was embraced in a warm hug? yes, but there was also adventure and some action in the middle, and I think that’s the sweet spot for me. The love interest was also written specifically to destroy me (seriously a muscular woman who chops wood and uses princess as a pet name? I’m so in love). I also loved Clara as a character she was prickly but so so loving underneath. What a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Is definitely one of those books that is hard to put down. Clara is probably one of my favorite characters out of any book I’ve read in awhile. I enjoyed yelling at the two dorks in love, until they finally admitted it to each other.
I’m hoping, with enough hope to keep the withering away, that the ending is a set up to another book, because I for one could read about these two and their familiars all day every day.
I’m hoping, with enough hope to keep the withering away, that the ending is a set up to another book, because I for one could read about these two and their familiars all day every day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
This is a book for fans of books like The Enchanted Greenhouse, the Honey Witch, or Brigands & Breadknives! a fantastic blend of exceptionally cozy, and grand adventure that will leave you breathless with excitement, and clutching your pillow and giggling. a beautiful slow burn romance, epic magical quests, the discovery of ones self and purpose, and the discovery of ones heart. this was such a cute and cozy book and i was SO into the black cat, golden retriever energy. especially given how those roles were pretty flipped once the adventure started xD. if your looking for a way to get into cozy fantasy, this is definitely a book i would choose, as there are pockets of high activity action to help break up the slower pace of the cozy parts. this is easily going on my re-read shelf, and it's probably going to stay there for all time. beautiful slow burn romance, very entertaining and relatable characters, and a fantastic plot that makes it impossible to put the book down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This felt cozy and relaxing to read. In the beginning, it was slow. But it started to pick up the pace throughout the book. I really liked that it has magic in it and towards the end of book, things got very interesting to me. If you like cozy fantasy books, this one is for you. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book. 😇
December 4, 2025
If you’re looking for a book that feels warm and comforting, this is it. I really enjoyed this story. Clara is an engaging main character, and I appreciated how honestly her flaws and inner struggles were written — they’re easy to connect with. Her journey to understand herself and her magic felt very real. I also loved Hesper. Her quick wit and one-liners added a lot of personality, and it was fun to watch their relationship develop. The supporting characters were great as well., I loved all their different quirks. The magic system is interesting and well thought out. I loved all the different abilities and creatures and how magical it truly made the story. Overall, the characters, their challenges, and the places they travel through make this book a genuinely enjoyable adventure.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews