What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 08:11:52
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 08:11:52
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Love 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
7294 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
Did not finish
April 1, 2026The beginning of this book is humorous and so nicely cosy it could be a publicity poster for Cottagecore, and then the romance came in and bulldozed the cottage.
I was loving this world and its magic system, the idea of "lesser magics" that are domestic and practical magical abilities that are actually helpful in the day-to-day, like for gardening, cooking, music, etc. Nothing grand, nothing it-has-to-cost-your-firstborn, nothing but pure domestic and trade-worthy stuff. Who wouldn't want to have magic that grows the perfect carrot and pumpkin? And our Clara, a plain (she thinks) and sensible woman, has precisely that. A no-nonsense country girl with a sense of humour, a purpose in life to grow perfection in vegetable form, and a complete lack of superfluous complications that would make Tolkien's Shire-dwellers proud. It's all so quintessentially English it bleeds miniature Union Jacks.
But for that bloody romance, guv'nor! Who ever thought "cosy" and "spicy" can coexist? I want to know!
To spare all of you a long rant, I'll only say that the story is lovely up to the moment Clara is sent on a mission by the Goddess to tend a complex garden needed for the fight against an evil prince, and since she had to be escorted by a guard and the laws of Romantasy dictate that whilst travelling they have to fake-hate each other on sight so they can true-love each other later, of course Clara was assigned this bore on two legs called Hesper, and that's when the cosiness met its end.
The Cottagecore loveliness was as fleeting as . . . uh, a summer in England, and I'm out.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was loving this world and its magic system, the idea of "lesser magics" that are domestic and practical magical abilities that are actually helpful in the day-to-day, like for gardening, cooking, music, etc. Nothing grand, nothing it-has-to-cost-your-firstborn, nothing but pure domestic and trade-worthy stuff. Who wouldn't want to have magic that grows the perfect carrot and pumpkin? And our Clara, a plain (she thinks) and sensible woman, has precisely that. A no-nonsense country girl with a sense of humour, a purpose in life to grow perfection in vegetable form, and a complete lack of superfluous complications that would make Tolkien's Shire-dwellers proud. It's all so quintessentially English it bleeds miniature Union Jacks.
But for that bloody romance, guv'nor! Who ever thought "cosy" and "spicy" can coexist? I want to know!
To spare all of you a long rant, I'll only say that the story is lovely up to the moment Clara is sent on a mission by the Goddess to tend a complex garden needed for the fight against an evil prince, and since she had to be escorted by a guard and the laws of Romantasy dictate that whilst travelling they have to fake-hate each other on sight so they can true-love each other later, of course Clara was assigned this bore on two legs called Hesper, and that's when the cosiness met its end.
The Cottagecore loveliness was as fleeting as . . . uh, a summer in England, and I'm out.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know, maybe the author bit off more than she can chew when writing a "spicy debut cozy romantasy", because I was pretty underwhelmed by the spicy, the cozy, the romance and the fantasy parts of this book. For me this simply was a messy read that did not know its own tone. I guess the book relies on readers who like any of these genres to just find something that they enjoy in here, instead of telling a story with coherent vibes. I'm a huge fan of cozy fantasy for instance. There doesn't need to be much worldbuilding and I'm generally happy with a little magic and lovable characters, and adding a romance is also fine by me. But cozy + spicy is already a questionable mix in my opinion, because it just serves so different vibes. It was throwing me off so badly in this book, especially since I lowkey hated the main character and didn't think that she deserved the romance that she got.
But back to beginning when I still thought that this could be a nice and cozy read. I was looking forward to reading about town gardener Clara Thorne who is living in a small town where lesser magics are very common. There's kitchen magic and garden magic and beauty magic and I was intrigued. She lives in a cottage with a little hedgehog and is preparing the flowers for an upcoming celebration. It was a bit infodumpy, but it still was solid cozy fantasy material for me. But Clara is soon sent on a quest, meaning that she has to leave the cozy town. Her Goddess gives her the task of growing a garden in another town many miles away, and so a good chunk of the book is about the mostly boring journey from one place to another. Clara is accompanied by her protector Hesper, meaning that I had to suffer through one of the most incomprehensible romances I've ever read about. There is supposed to be some kind of enemies-to-lovers thing going on, but it is literally just Clara hating Hesper for absolutely no reason. She's blaming her for things that aren't her fault, she's rude and inconsiderate while constantly complaining about everyone and everything. She's oh so plain (she isn't) and she has no magic (she does) and she is of no value to the town (she does and literally everyone tells her so) and leaving means the end of the world (it doesn't and she is supposed to return in one month) and she just despises Hesper (she doesn't). I honestly don't understand how anyone would like her, but Hesper is just in love with her from their first meeting and calls her by the cutesy (and nonsensical) nickname "princess" on every occasion (ew). Everything was either overly dramatic or very childish until it turns into full-blown smut all of a sudden. The book doesn't transport the cozy vibes that I expected from the cute cover at all and I also had to wait up to the 70% mark until I got something that resembled the impossible-garden part from the title. The book is so long without ever really delivering the cozy garden magic that I actually came here for and my disappointment is immeasurable. I don't think that it's written poorly, but it sure has a lot of tone issues and is structured in a weird way. Like, at the end there suddenly is a villain who has no impact on the overall story and is fought off in 20 pages, so what the hell was the point? But you know, the book is probably not as bad as I make it sound like. It just annoyed me with many unnecessary things, resulting in a personal distaste. It might be fine for other readers, though.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
But back to beginning when I still thought that this could be a nice and cozy read. I was looking forward to reading about town gardener Clara Thorne who is living in a small town where lesser magics are very common. There's kitchen magic and garden magic and beauty magic and I was intrigued. She lives in a cottage with a little hedgehog and is preparing the flowers for an upcoming celebration. It was a bit infodumpy, but it still was solid cozy fantasy material for me. But Clara is soon sent on a quest, meaning that she has to leave the cozy town. Her Goddess gives her the task of growing a garden in another town many miles away, and so a good chunk of the book is about the mostly boring journey from one place to another. Clara is accompanied by her protector Hesper, meaning that I had to suffer through one of the most incomprehensible romances I've ever read about. There is supposed to be some kind of enemies-to-lovers thing going on, but it is literally just Clara hating Hesper for absolutely no reason. She's blaming her for things that aren't her fault, she's rude and inconsiderate while constantly complaining about everyone and everything. She's oh so plain (she isn't) and she has no magic (she does) and she is of no value to the town (she does and literally everyone tells her so) and leaving means the end of the world (it doesn't and she is supposed to return in one month) and she just despises Hesper (she doesn't). I honestly don't understand how anyone would like her, but Hesper is just in love with her from their first meeting and calls her by the cutesy (and nonsensical) nickname "princess" on every occasion (ew). Everything was either overly dramatic or very childish until it turns into full-blown smut all of a sudden. The book doesn't transport the cozy vibes that I expected from the cute cover at all and I also had to wait up to the 70% mark until I got something that resembled the impossible-garden part from the title. The book is so long without ever really delivering the cozy garden magic that I actually came here for and my disappointment is immeasurable. I don't think that it's written poorly, but it sure has a lot of tone issues and is structured in a weird way. Like, at the end there suddenly is a villain who has no impact on the overall story and is fought off in 20 pages, so what the hell was the point? But you know, the book is probably not as bad as I make it sound like. It just annoyed me with many unnecessary things, resulting in a personal distaste. It might be fine for other readers, though.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
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.
Did not finish
January 14, 2026I’m not sure what I hated more — the whiny main character or the transparent plot. I put it down maybe a quarter of the way in and backed away. Clearly other people love it and good for them — not my cup of tea. And the random spelling of shoppe (and only the word shoppe) just made my teeth itch.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss
Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss
March 27, 2026
I received this eARC from NetGalley and Forever! This review is completely independent and reflects my opinions.
I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated the balance between humor, coziness, and some adventure. Clara is such an interesting protagonist to ride along with – I actually appreciated that grumpy and reluctant Clara was forced on a hero’s journey. It’s a bit funny to see a protagonist actively despise a quest. I fear I would be like Clara if I were ever in the same situation! Hesper’s flirtatious and determined personality kept things interesting as she escorted Clara to Dwindle. Their relationship felt like it naturally developed despite the quick timeline. A good portion of the book takes place on the road to Dwindle, but the characters Clara and Hesper encounter throughout the whole journey were so eclectic and fun! The inclusion of these characters in Clara’s journey worked so well with her development. My only complaint is the ending resolved so quickly with an enemy that didn’t have much of a presence that I wish the book were a bit longer to provide more interactions between the antagonist and Clara, and a slightly longer resolution. Otherwise, I had a great time with this book and think anyone who likes humorous, queer-normative, and cozy fantasy will enjoy this book!
I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated the balance between humor, coziness, and some adventure. Clara is such an interesting protagonist to ride along with – I actually appreciated that grumpy and reluctant Clara was forced on a hero’s journey. It’s a bit funny to see a protagonist actively despise a quest. I fear I would be like Clara if I were ever in the same situation! Hesper’s flirtatious and determined personality kept things interesting as she escorted Clara to Dwindle. Their relationship felt like it naturally developed despite the quick timeline. A good portion of the book takes place on the road to Dwindle, but the characters Clara and Hesper encounter throughout the whole journey were so eclectic and fun! The inclusion of these characters in Clara’s journey worked so well with her development. My only complaint is the ending resolved so quickly with an enemy that didn’t have much of a presence that I wish the book were a bit longer to provide more interactions between the antagonist and Clara, and a slightly longer resolution. Otherwise, I had a great time with this book and think anyone who likes humorous, queer-normative, and cozy fantasy will enjoy this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is a cozy romantasy standalone, with a few spicy scenes but I didn't feel like that was the focus of the book. It has a sort of slapstick, physical comedy that I could see really clearly in my mind. I didn't fall in love with Clara or her love interest Hester though, so that meant I didn't get swept into the story. The book has a bit of a slow start, but I think readers who particularly click with Clara as a character will enjoy that it takes the space to breathe before getting into her quest properly.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 25, 2026
Thank you to Hodderscape & NetGalley for the ALC! This is an easy to read, sapphic (!!!) cosy fantasy with a well developed world, and fun cast of characters. However, for me, it was just….fine? I wasn’t a huge fan of when the big reveal regarding Clara’s powers was done, and it left the rest of the book quite flat. I’m also really sorry but if I hear the pet name “Princess” anytime in the next year it’ll be too soon.
March 4, 2026
This was such a FUN time - Think Legends and Lattes x The Spell Shop but make it sPicY! Cosy AF with cottagecore vibes, the story of Clara Thorne’s impossible garden is both playful and warm with a wonderful cast of colourful characters. It’s a low stakes kind of plot but is not without obstacles and the feeling of community is at the heart of the story. There’s magical beings a plenty, a sapphic romance and the cutest hedgehog shaped companion to keep you company as you follow Clara on her adventures.
Being a longtime follower of Summer’s content I’m not at all surprised to have enjoyed her gorgeous debut to the fullest! I love, love, loved it! 🌷🦔✨
Being a longtime follower of Summer’s content I’m not at all surprised to have enjoyed her gorgeous debut to the fullest! I love, love, loved it! 🌷🦔✨
March 22, 2026
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
A wholesome sapphic romantasy perfect for readers looking for a sweet small-town community, an opposites attract love story with tension, and a feel good conclusion that leaves you wanting more!
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
3.75 ⭐
3 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"Fuck you," I seethed.
"What foul language for such a pretty mouth," they tutted.
"Clara Thorne"-she pulled me close to her, our mouths centimeters apart-"you're very much a brat, but I never said that was a bad thing."
"Clara, dear," she whispered into my ear. "I'll wake every monster on the Irk if I come on your mouth."
"We're all just trying our best. It is a hard, odd, wonderful thing to be alive."
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
Magical Gardener Clara must grow a garden in cursed town Dwindle but her magic is failing. With cheerful bodyguard Hesper at her side, she discovers adventure, unexpected love, and her deeper power.
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
♀️ Sapphic Romance
🌞 Grumpy x Sunshine
1️⃣ Chosen One Quest
🪄 Bound Magic
🫶 Found Family
🦔 Animal Sidekicks
🔗 Forced Proximity
😬 Reluctant Hero
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🌶️ Some explicit sexual content
🩸 Mild Violence
💨 Parental Abandonment
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ The Hobbit x Barbie Swan Lake
+ Cosy, Magical Atmosphere
+ Strong Small-Town Community Feel
+ Great Chemistry and Banter between the Leads
+ Flirting, Emotional Intimacy, and Spice
+ Mystical Creatures and Settings
+ Wholesome Side Characters
+ Healing Arc for all
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Slow, Low Stakes opening lacked impact
- Lots of Info Dumping early on slowed pacing
- FMC's stubbornness could be repetitive
- Ending didn't suit a standalone (no cliff hangers but more could be explored)
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
This book reminded me of a cross between The Hobbit and Barbie Swan Lake... Clara is Bilbo Baggins in female form and Goddess Elderene and Villain Thanadyn with their history and current war felt straight out of Swan Lake!
As a result, I was immediately charmed by the little town of Moss and the folk within it. Clara is grumpy and proud but she loves her hedgehog friend Warty and the garden she grows for the village. She struggles with her magic, though, and doesn't share her woes with her wonderful friends.
The small-town community is obvious from the start, and we're introduced to many of the characters right away - including Hesper (Clara's future bodyguard) when Clara bumps into her while chasing a squirrel. Hesper is the complete opposite to Clara, and has no qualms with reminding her of that fact!
Hesper and Clara have their own faults (Clara's too stubborn, and Hesper too distant/lighthearted), but together their chemistry is off the charts. I laughed at several comments from their many back and forths! Yet even getting on each other's nerves, they help and heal together.
Their flirting and eventual spice is lovely to watch, and I really enjoyed how the emotional parts of Clara's experience were portrayed. They're both bashful yet commandeering and they take turns leading the way.
The vast array of magical creatures spread throughout the book was wondrous to behold! I felt just as awed as Clara whilst reading. I also loved the various side characters for their wholesome yet distinct personalities!
However, one area for me that was a bit lacking was the slower start to the book! Clara is chasing a squirrel that's stolen a tulip bulb, but it ends up not amounting to anything as Hesper finds it straight away. It feels painfully obvious as an excuse to get the characters to meet, and the stakes fall a bit flat. I'd have loved for the story to start in the Goddess Celebration instead!
Also, Clara spends a lot of time info dumping to the reader about the town, the culture, and her past. This is helpful later on but made the story drag a bit first thing. Not to mention, Clara's stubbornness gets a bit too repetitive as time goes on. It feels like a fairly easy blocker to be resolved, only it lasts through most of the story.
Even though the story was resolved, it felt like there was more unfinished. The ending was satisfying in it's own way, but it doesn't feel like the ending to a standalone! It's like there should be at least a sequel exploring the elements that are ongoing. I can appreciate that this might make the ending look more realistic, but as a reader, I'd want to know what happens next!
Despite this, I still loved reading The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne, and found it to be a wholesome and charming experience!
Thank you to Summer N. England and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A wholesome sapphic romantasy perfect for readers looking for a sweet small-town community, an opposites attract love story with tension, and a feel good conclusion that leaves you wanting more!
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
3.75 ⭐
3 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"Fuck you," I seethed.
"What foul language for such a pretty mouth," they tutted.
"Clara Thorne"-she pulled me close to her, our mouths centimeters apart-"you're very much a brat, but I never said that was a bad thing."
"Clara, dear," she whispered into my ear. "I'll wake every monster on the Irk if I come on your mouth."
"We're all just trying our best. It is a hard, odd, wonderful thing to be alive."
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
Magical Gardener Clara must grow a garden in cursed town Dwindle but her magic is failing. With cheerful bodyguard Hesper at her side, she discovers adventure, unexpected love, and her deeper power.
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
♀️ Sapphic Romance
🌞 Grumpy x Sunshine
1️⃣ Chosen One Quest
🪄 Bound Magic
🫶 Found Family
🦔 Animal Sidekicks
🔗 Forced Proximity
😬 Reluctant Hero
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🌶️ Some explicit sexual content
🩸 Mild Violence
💨 Parental Abandonment
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ The Hobbit x Barbie Swan Lake
+ Cosy, Magical Atmosphere
+ Strong Small-Town Community Feel
+ Great Chemistry and Banter between the Leads
+ Flirting, Emotional Intimacy, and Spice
+ Mystical Creatures and Settings
+ Wholesome Side Characters
+ Healing Arc for all
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Slow, Low Stakes opening lacked impact
- Lots of Info Dumping early on slowed pacing
- FMC's stubbornness could be repetitive
- Ending didn't suit a standalone (no cliff hangers but more could be explored)
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
This book reminded me of a cross between The Hobbit and Barbie Swan Lake... Clara is Bilbo Baggins in female form and Goddess Elderene and Villain Thanadyn with their history and current war felt straight out of Swan Lake!
As a result, I was immediately charmed by the little town of Moss and the folk within it. Clara is grumpy and proud but she loves her hedgehog friend Warty and the garden she grows for the village. She struggles with her magic, though, and doesn't share her woes with her wonderful friends.
The small-town community is obvious from the start, and we're introduced to many of the characters right away - including Hesper (Clara's future bodyguard) when Clara bumps into her while chasing a squirrel. Hesper is the complete opposite to Clara, and has no qualms with reminding her of that fact!
Hesper and Clara have their own faults (Clara's too stubborn, and Hesper too distant/lighthearted), but together their chemistry is off the charts. I laughed at several comments from their many back and forths! Yet even getting on each other's nerves, they help and heal together.
Their flirting and eventual spice is lovely to watch, and I really enjoyed how the emotional parts of Clara's experience were portrayed. They're both bashful yet commandeering and they take turns leading the way.
The vast array of magical creatures spread throughout the book was wondrous to behold! I felt just as awed as Clara whilst reading. I also loved the various side characters for their wholesome yet distinct personalities!
However, one area for me that was a bit lacking was the slower start to the book! Clara is chasing a squirrel that's stolen a tulip bulb, but it ends up not amounting to anything as Hesper finds it straight away. It feels painfully obvious as an excuse to get the characters to meet, and the stakes fall a bit flat. I'd have loved for the story to start in the Goddess Celebration instead!
Also, Clara spends a lot of time info dumping to the reader about the town, the culture, and her past. This is helpful later on but made the story drag a bit first thing. Not to mention, Clara's stubbornness gets a bit too repetitive as time goes on. It feels like a fairly easy blocker to be resolved, only it lasts through most of the story.
Even though the story was resolved, it felt like there was more unfinished. The ending was satisfying in it's own way, but it doesn't feel like the ending to a standalone! It's like there should be at least a sequel exploring the elements that are ongoing. I can appreciate that this might make the ending look more realistic, but as a reader, I'd want to know what happens next!
Despite this, I still loved reading The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne, and found it to be a wholesome and charming experience!
Thank you to Summer N. England and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 25, 2026
I think this is one of those books where the vibe carried a lot for me. The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is soft, magical, a little whimsical, and just adventurous enough to keep me from fully sinking into full cozy mode.
That said, I did feel the pacing a bit. The beginning was nice at first and I liked getting to know the town and the characters, but eventually it started to feel like we were just hanging out there without much forward momentum. And then once things did pick up, it almost swung the other way and moved a little too quickly. There were so many interesting little moments and places along the journey that I wish we had more time with. It felt like the adventure section could’ve been stretched just a bit, because some of the payoff didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to. Getting to Dwindle was good! I loved the new characters, the expanded world, all of it. That was probably my favorite stretch of the book.
The audiobook narration is fantastic! I felt like the narrator did a great job giving a voice to Clara and setting the tone of the story.
Overall, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is warm, charming, and easy to enjoy. I am looking forward to hearing more from Warty now that he can talk!
Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio via NetGalley for gifting me copies of the book and audiobook.
That said, I did feel the pacing a bit. The beginning was nice at first and I liked getting to know the town and the characters, but eventually it started to feel like we were just hanging out there without much forward momentum. And then once things did pick up, it almost swung the other way and moved a little too quickly. There were so many interesting little moments and places along the journey that I wish we had more time with. It felt like the adventure section could’ve been stretched just a bit, because some of the payoff didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to. Getting to Dwindle was good! I loved the new characters, the expanded world, all of it. That was probably my favorite stretch of the book.
The audiobook narration is fantastic! I felt like the narrator did a great job giving a voice to Clara and setting the tone of the story.
Overall, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is warm, charming, and easy to enjoy. I am looking forward to hearing more from Warty now that he can talk!
Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio via NetGalley for gifting me copies of the book and audiobook.
March 22, 2026
What I didn’t realize going in because I did go in blind, I went in for the aesthetic of a cover is that this is a Saphic fantasy romance…and I love that. Clara Thorne is the gardener for the town of Moss. But she does have a secret her magic doesn’t actually work outside of Moss. So when she’s chosen by the goddess for an important quest to grown a garden for the town of Dwindle what could go wrong…right?
I really liked the world building and I did like the characters for a debut. I’m very interested to see what else the author does next. I think it is a solid start and this is described as spicy and cozy. I’m not sure if I would say it’s all as cozy as some of the other books it is compared to. I do really appreciate the narrator, Frankie Porter. I really think her narration is the thing that brought this book to life for me. I liked the array of voices she used. Her tone was great and pacing was perfect. It made it easy to adjust to my favorite speeds and be able to understand her easily without losing anything.
Thank you to Forever and Hachette for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really liked the world building and I did like the characters for a debut. I’m very interested to see what else the author does next. I think it is a solid start and this is described as spicy and cozy. I’m not sure if I would say it’s all as cozy as some of the other books it is compared to. I do really appreciate the narrator, Frankie Porter. I really think her narration is the thing that brought this book to life for me. I liked the array of voices she used. Her tone was great and pacing was perfect. It made it easy to adjust to my favorite speeds and be able to understand her easily without losing anything.
Thank you to Forever and Hachette for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 25, 2026
I received this ALC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is certainly a cozy, sapphic fantasy with a bit of spice. I was not prepared for the later bits of this book! This starts innocently enough, with a girl who believes she doesn’t have magic and can only channel her home’s magic to grow her garden. When she is selected by the Goddess to complete a task, she is flabbergasted and horrified. She is assigned a guardian, Hesper, and sparks fly (both attraction and also anger). Her task is to grow a garden in Dwindle, where withering magic has made gardening impossible…without some help anyway.
I expected this to be cute and cozy, and it certainly is. I expected a dash of romance, but what I wasn’t expecting was the… level of description. I’ve read plenty of smut, so no pearls were clutched, but some people would be shocked to see this content in here 🤭
The characters are fun and adorable and the cheeky banter really adds to the tension. This is certainly LGBTQIA+ friendly; several characters (main and side) fit into that spectrum.
Listening to this was a lot of fun. The narrator did an absolutely wonderful job of the inflections and emotions, and Clara is nothing if not emotional. She really brought both Clara and Hesper to life.
This is certainly a cozy, sapphic fantasy with a bit of spice. I was not prepared for the later bits of this book! This starts innocently enough, with a girl who believes she doesn’t have magic and can only channel her home’s magic to grow her garden. When she is selected by the Goddess to complete a task, she is flabbergasted and horrified. She is assigned a guardian, Hesper, and sparks fly (both attraction and also anger). Her task is to grow a garden in Dwindle, where withering magic has made gardening impossible…without some help anyway.
I expected this to be cute and cozy, and it certainly is. I expected a dash of romance, but what I wasn’t expecting was the… level of description. I’ve read plenty of smut, so no pearls were clutched, but some people would be shocked to see this content in here 🤭
The characters are fun and adorable and the cheeky banter really adds to the tension. This is certainly LGBTQIA+ friendly; several characters (main and side) fit into that spectrum.
Listening to this was a lot of fun. The narrator did an absolutely wonderful job of the inflections and emotions, and Clara is nothing if not emotional. She really brought both Clara and Hesper to life.
Did not finish
March 22, 2026 "I noticed your washbasin sparkled, so I assumed you must wash every day," she reset a new stump, bigger than the last, and with her arms up high in the air, she murmured, "What a shame."
"Why?" I asked, blinking dumbly as I watched her back muscles bunch for another hit.
Thwack.
The stump cleaved in two like butter.
She turned toward me, wiping a smear of sweat from her upper lip with the back of her hand, "I like the smell."
This was... tough. I DNF'd at about page 120. I was never able to connect with Clara; her whole personality felt disjointed and inconsistent. She was very sweet to her friends and the town but inexplicably mean to Hesper, who is, for whatever reason, inexplicably attracted to Clara... and also assigned by their goddess to protect Clara!!!
The writing was also not doing it for me. Some chapters felt sweet and whimsical, and others reminded me a bit of when I first started writing on Wattpad in the 2010's. No shame to Wattpad, but if writing reminds me of my capabilities when I was 13, it may need a few more rounds of editing before being published.
I think this story had a lot of potential and perhaps should have gone a few rounds over with beta readers and editors before being published.
Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me an advance reader copy of this book.
"Why?" I asked, blinking dumbly as I watched her back muscles bunch for another hit.
Thwack.
The stump cleaved in two like butter.
She turned toward me, wiping a smear of sweat from her upper lip with the back of her hand, "I like the smell."
This was... tough. I DNF'd at about page 120. I was never able to connect with Clara; her whole personality felt disjointed and inconsistent. She was very sweet to her friends and the town but inexplicably mean to Hesper, who is, for whatever reason, inexplicably attracted to Clara... and also assigned by their goddess to protect Clara!!!
The writing was also not doing it for me. Some chapters felt sweet and whimsical, and others reminded me a bit of when I first started writing on Wattpad in the 2010's. No shame to Wattpad, but if writing reminds me of my capabilities when I was 13, it may need a few more rounds of editing before being published.
I think this story had a lot of potential and perhaps should have gone a few rounds over with beta readers and editors before being published.
Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me an advance reader copy of this book.
March 21, 2026
eARC from NetGalley
I wanted to like this so much more than I did.
The writing was overly wordy with too many unnecessary adjectives. The foreshadowing was so obvious and a lot of the time it was telling rather than showing especially in the beginning.
Clara as a character was so annoying and it didnt feel like her history was equivalent to the amount of trauma and repression she presented. Also she was just really dumb.
The world building was ok. The places themselves were cute and cozy, but I thought the magic system and history of the world was kind of flimsy if you really looked at it. Also it seemed like every piece of clothing was made of tissue paper.
CAWPILE: 5.81
Characters 6
Atmosphere/Setting 8
Writing 6
Plot/Logic 5
Intrigue 5
Relationships 6
Enjoyment 5
I wanted to like this so much more than I did.
The writing was overly wordy with too many unnecessary adjectives. The foreshadowing was so obvious and a lot of the time it was telling rather than showing especially in the beginning.
Clara as a character was so annoying and it didnt feel like her history was equivalent to the amount of trauma and repression she presented. Also she was just really dumb.
The world building was ok. The places themselves were cute and cozy, but I thought the magic system and history of the world was kind of flimsy if you really looked at it. Also it seemed like every piece of clothing was made of tissue paper.
CAWPILE: 5.81
Characters 6
Atmosphere/Setting 8
Writing 6
Plot/Logic 5
Intrigue 5
Relationships 6
Enjoyment 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2026
This was such a great cozy sapphic fantasy.
Clara was abandoned by her family when she was young and found her way to a welcoming village where she gained gardening magic. Though her magic was temperamental she found her place among the town. Living in a quaint cottage with her hedgehog she's made it through life determined not to love.
Clara finds herself on an impossible quest to bring garden magic to a village that can't grow anything. During the journey with her body guard they're both made to dive deep into their issues and solve Clara's magic predicament. The characters grow, learn to love, and find family in unexpected places.
Thank you hatchette audio and forever for the gifted copies.
Clara was abandoned by her family when she was young and found her way to a welcoming village where she gained gardening magic. Though her magic was temperamental she found her place among the town. Living in a quaint cottage with her hedgehog she's made it through life determined not to love.
Clara finds herself on an impossible quest to bring garden magic to a village that can't grow anything. During the journey with her body guard they're both made to dive deep into their issues and solve Clara's magic predicament. The characters grow, learn to love, and find family in unexpected places.
Thank you hatchette audio and forever for the gifted copies.
March 31, 2026
4.5//thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the ARC of this book! If you love Legends and Lattes, you'll loveee this!! The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne was such a sweet and cozy read! I loved the magic, the small town, and the adventure that took place! I also loved our main characters and our cutie hedgehog friend! It was a well-paced story full of adventure that any cottage core gal or gent will love!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An important note: I am regularly on the fence when it comes to “cosy” novels. I either adore it, or they just don’t work for me. Sadly this one fell into the latter camp.
Based on Summer’s lovely personality and TikToks, I wanted to love The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne but unfortunately it just wasn’t my cup of tea. While the plot and tempo are cosy-esque, the characterizations and relations were just a bit too juvenile and read like a collection of caricatures.
Largely, Clara came off like a hot and cold manic-pixie-pick-me who turns brattish on a dime (at 30?). ln the end, I just didn’t enjoy the stylizations and motivations of any of the characters. They all just felt like they were coated in “whimsy” and didn’t feel grounded or real enough for me to really root for.
As a nonfan of instalust/instahate, the instant anger and bickering between the main couple was, I’m sorry to say, too brash and repetitive (but hey, they both think the other is HOT). These relations again just came off far too juvenile for me to really think these two should be together.
“They looked built for war, which was good. I intended to battle them every chance I got.” BUT WHY?!?
I feel like the right audience will find and adore this story. Sadly it just wasn’t my style, but I can appreciate the writing and efforts made.
Regardless, many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an electronic advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Based on Summer’s lovely personality and TikToks, I wanted to love The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne but unfortunately it just wasn’t my cup of tea. While the plot and tempo are cosy-esque, the characterizations and relations were just a bit too juvenile and read like a collection of caricatures.
Largely, Clara came off like a hot and cold manic-pixie-pick-me who turns brattish on a dime (at 30?). ln the end, I just didn’t enjoy the stylizations and motivations of any of the characters. They all just felt like they were coated in “whimsy” and didn’t feel grounded or real enough for me to really root for.
As a nonfan of instalust/instahate, the instant anger and bickering between the main couple was, I’m sorry to say, too brash and repetitive (but hey, they both think the other is HOT). These relations again just came off far too juvenile for me to really think these two should be together.
“They looked built for war, which was good. I intended to battle them every chance I got.” BUT WHY?!?
I feel like the right audience will find and adore this story. Sadly it just wasn’t my style, but I can appreciate the writing and efforts made.
Regardless, many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an electronic advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
I wish I loved this book but it was unfortunately a DNF for me. I was so excited to read this and I loved the plot and world-building, especially since I love books about gardens, but I struggled with the main character Clara. I could have warmed up to her eventually though, if I had not disliked the love interest, Hesper, so intensely. She was annoying, invasive, and what was supposed to be flirting came off as a lack of appropriate boundaries instead. Her behavior reminded me uncomfortably of the men in poorly written straight romances. I couldn’t stand her and as she is a huge part of the story it very quickly stopped being enjoyable to me. I am sure many other people will love this book, and I hope they do, but sadly it was not for me.
I wish I loved this book but it was unfortunately a DNF for me. I was so excited to read this and I loved the plot and world-building, especially since I love books about gardens, but I struggled with the main character Clara. I could have warmed up to her eventually though, if I had not disliked the love interest, Hesper, so intensely. She was annoying, invasive, and what was supposed to be flirting came off as a lack of appropriate boundaries instead. Her behavior reminded me uncomfortably of the men in poorly written straight romances. I couldn’t stand her and as she is a huge part of the story it very quickly stopped being enjoyable to me. I am sure many other people will love this book, and I hope they do, but sadly it was not for me.
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!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
3.75-4 ish!
I loved this more and more as I kept reading! I'm an avid fan of cozy fantasy, and what I loved about this one was that it felt different. There's everything I wanted and have come to love from the genre - found family, quirky characters, charm, and love. At the same time, there's more humor and spice in here than in other cozy fantasies, which I personally adored!
I absolutely fell in love with the author's writing style! The humor? Absolute yes. The quirky characters? Please give them my address. The charming, subtle magic? I totally felt like I was in a magical little village with a pep in my step while I was reading (envision the opening scenes of Beauty and the Beast as Belle goes through the village).
Following Clara and Hesper's adventure was such a fun adventure. Throughout the whole journey, we get to know more about the magic and world, which I thought was intriguing - there's a sort of 'darkness' with the withering magic and evil prince working against the Goddess, Eldrene. That added some tension and stakes that drove the story forward. In general, the history of the realm, towns, and types of characters in the story were compelling, and I really enjoyed getting to know about it all through little details and new experiences and interactions Clara and Hesper had along with way. The world was a tad confusing to me at the start, but I got more acquainted with the world as the story went on.
Again, I had a lot of fun with the adventure of the story, and I adored the characters! They're quirky, fun, and distinct. They're funny, diverse, and utterly compassionate. The found family is town-wide, it seemed, and it absolutely warmed my heart!
I will say I didn't like Clara, to be honest. She's approaching 30, yet I felt that she acted quite immature. I thought she was whiny and rude, cruel without cause. That said, I correspondingly didn't feel attached to her character and, honestly. . . I wanted better for Hesper. Hesper is such a compassionate, loving, observant, supportive person/partner (just list all the good qualities). Despite this, Clara blames Hesper for everything and anything. She explodes at Hesper at every turn, taking out all of her anger and emotions on her, and Hesper just takes it (to support Clara). Clara just didn't have the emotional maturity I expected or wanted from her character. I did appreciate the sapphic rep and spice in here! There are other queer characters, as well!
One other struggle I had with Clara's character was that she is incredibly self-deprecating and repetitive about her feelings of inadequacy, being a failure, and being afraid/avoidant of getting close to others. I entirely understand and can relate to those feelings, as I think most people can in some way, but I thought it was extremely overdone/overwritten in the story (especially in the beginning) to the point of being distracting and bringing down my enjoyment.
Hesper, particularly, had an interesting background that was enigmatic at first and made me feel even more for her character when it was revealed!
In terms of the magic, it was cool! There's different kinds in this world, and I liked getting to learn about them. I thought that the way Clara's magic worked with/within Moss could have been explained more to make it clearer (not in terms of revealing any of the 'truths' about her magic, but more so at the beginning as she is actually practicing/doing magic and saying that it ignites with Moss? It wasn't totally clear). I did feel like the 'reveal' about her magic was pretty clear from the start, which made the ending predictable, but I didn't mind.
Speaking of the ending, it absolutely made me love the story! The little town of Dwindle is such a lollipop of a town, if that makes sense. It's super cute, quirky, and charming! The townspeople are just the same! As much as I enjoyed the adventure Clara and Hesper went on to get to Dwindle, I loved reading about their time there even more! The pacing picks up a bit and the tension/danger comes to a peak as the mysteries surrounding magic get unraveled (even though they're pretty predictable). The way it ends, though? MY HEART! Even though I didn't really think Clara and Hesper belonged together, I still loved the ending they got. The world, the realm, the towns, everything was perfect at the end and made my heart melt.
I will say that the whole aspect of the quest could've used a little more depth at the start of the story. From what we learn, there's no real stakes to it - there's no consequence noted for the town or realm if 'the chosen one's' quest isn't completed or successful (aside from the person themself getting punished by Eldrene). So, at the start, it's kind of like. . . what's the point, then? Clara notes that it's just to show dedication to Eldrene, which didn't totally 'do it' for me in terms of adding purpose. Clara's particular journey gets some more weight as the story goes on, but I think I would've liked there to have been some kind of 'purpose' to these quests in general.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this to cozy fantasy lovers who are wanting something different - the same quirky characters, settings, magic, and charm, but with lots of humor and some fun sapphic spice! I would only note that Clara is pretty insufferable as a main character and hard to root for, but the story as a whole (and especially the ending) is so worth it!
3.75-4 ish!
I loved this more and more as I kept reading! I'm an avid fan of cozy fantasy, and what I loved about this one was that it felt different. There's everything I wanted and have come to love from the genre - found family, quirky characters, charm, and love. At the same time, there's more humor and spice in here than in other cozy fantasies, which I personally adored!
I absolutely fell in love with the author's writing style! The humor? Absolute yes. The quirky characters? Please give them my address. The charming, subtle magic? I totally felt like I was in a magical little village with a pep in my step while I was reading (envision the opening scenes of Beauty and the Beast as Belle goes through the village).
Following Clara and Hesper's adventure was such a fun adventure. Throughout the whole journey, we get to know more about the magic and world, which I thought was intriguing - there's a sort of 'darkness' with the withering magic and evil prince working against the Goddess, Eldrene. That added some tension and stakes that drove the story forward. In general, the history of the realm, towns, and types of characters in the story were compelling, and I really enjoyed getting to know about it all through little details and new experiences and interactions Clara and Hesper had along with way. The world was a tad confusing to me at the start, but I got more acquainted with the world as the story went on.
Again, I had a lot of fun with the adventure of the story, and I adored the characters! They're quirky, fun, and distinct. They're funny, diverse, and utterly compassionate. The found family is town-wide, it seemed, and it absolutely warmed my heart!
I will say I didn't like Clara, to be honest. She's approaching 30, yet I felt that she acted quite immature. I thought she was whiny and rude, cruel without cause. That said, I correspondingly didn't feel attached to her character and, honestly. . . I wanted better for Hesper. Hesper is such a compassionate, loving, observant, supportive person/partner (just list all the good qualities). Despite this, Clara blames Hesper for everything and anything. She explodes at Hesper at every turn, taking out all of her anger and emotions on her, and Hesper just takes it (to support Clara). Clara just didn't have the emotional maturity I expected or wanted from her character. I did appreciate the sapphic rep and spice in here! There are other queer characters, as well!
One other struggle I had with Clara's character was that she is incredibly self-deprecating and repetitive about her feelings of inadequacy, being a failure, and being afraid/avoidant of getting close to others. I entirely understand and can relate to those feelings, as I think most people can in some way, but I thought it was extremely overdone/overwritten in the story (especially in the beginning) to the point of being distracting and bringing down my enjoyment.
Hesper, particularly, had an interesting background that was enigmatic at first and made me feel even more for her character when it was revealed!
In terms of the magic, it was cool! There's different kinds in this world, and I liked getting to learn about them. I thought that the way Clara's magic worked with/within Moss could have been explained more to make it clearer (not in terms of revealing any of the 'truths' about her magic, but more so at the beginning as she is actually practicing/doing magic and saying that it ignites with Moss? It wasn't totally clear). I did feel like the 'reveal' about her magic was pretty clear from the start, which made the ending predictable, but I didn't mind.
Speaking of the ending, it absolutely made me love the story! The little town of Dwindle is such a lollipop of a town, if that makes sense. It's super cute, quirky, and charming! The townspeople are just the same! As much as I enjoyed the adventure Clara and Hesper went on to get to Dwindle, I loved reading about their time there even more! The pacing picks up a bit and the tension/danger comes to a peak as the mysteries surrounding magic get unraveled (even though they're pretty predictable). The way it ends, though? MY HEART! Even though I didn't really think Clara and Hesper belonged together, I still loved the ending they got. The world, the realm, the towns, everything was perfect at the end and made my heart melt.
I will say that the whole aspect of the quest could've used a little more depth at the start of the story. From what we learn, there's no real stakes to it - there's no consequence noted for the town or realm if 'the chosen one's' quest isn't completed or successful (aside from the person themself getting punished by Eldrene). So, at the start, it's kind of like. . . what's the point, then? Clara notes that it's just to show dedication to Eldrene, which didn't totally 'do it' for me in terms of adding purpose. Clara's particular journey gets some more weight as the story goes on, but I think I would've liked there to have been some kind of 'purpose' to these quests in general.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this to cozy fantasy lovers who are wanting something different - the same quirky characters, settings, magic, and charm, but with lots of humor and some fun sapphic spice! I would only note that Clara is pretty insufferable as a main character and hard to root for, but the story as a whole (and especially the ending) is so worth it!
March 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy of The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne by Summer N. England in exchange for my honest review.
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne follows Clara, the quiet yet sharp-witted gardener of Moss Town, whose life is turned upside down after a mishap during a sacred celebration leads to an unexpected quest. Tasked by the goddess herself to restore life to a land overtaken by withering magic, Clara is forced to leave behind everything familiar and journey to Dwindle, where she must confront both external dangers and her own doubts about who she is and what she is capable of.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and how thoughtfully it was structured. The story is divided in a way that clearly marks Clara’s growth, from her life before the quest, to her journey toward Dwindle, and finally to the point where she begins to believe in herself and her magic. It made her development feel intentional and rewarding without ever dragging.
Clara was such a fun main character to follow. Her sarcastic humor made so many moments genuinely entertaining, especially in contrast with the high stakes of her situation. I also loved how much personality she had outside of the main plot. The inclusion of her hobbies like painting, writing, and gardening added so much depth and made her feel like a real person rather than just someone moving the story forward. Those details made it easier to connect with her and understand what she stood to lose.
One of my favorite stylistic choices was the way each chapter opened with a line from Clara’s journal. It was such a small detail, but it added a lot to the reading experience and tied beautifully into the themes of each chapter. It gave insight into her mindset while also setting the tone for what was to come.
The world building felt immersive without being overwhelming. From Moss Town and its traditions to the journey through different landscapes, everything unfolded naturally. The initial conflict with the lost tulip and the Goddess Celebration pulled me in quickly, and I liked how that moment set everything else into motion. Clara being chosen for a quest she does not feel prepared for creates a strong emotional core that carries through the entire story.
The dynamic between Clara and Hesper, Clara’s assigned protector, was another highlight. Their relationship felt incredibly well developed, with so many layers of tension ranging from romantic moments to genuine frustration when they misunderstood each other. Their interactions were filled with humor and gradual understanding, which made their connection feel natural and earned. I especially appreciated that the author did not rush them into a relationship, but instead allowed both of them to grow individually before growing together. Hesper’s role in helping Clara come into herself added even more depth, and their relationship evolved in a way that complemented Clara’s personal journey rather than overshadowing it.
There were also so many small moments that stood out, like Clara navigating her responsibilities before leaving, her interactions with Rosie, and the quiet realizations she has along the way. Even the side characters and companions added charm, especially Warty Thorne, Clara’s hedgehog, who somehow manages to have so much personality without saying a word.
As the story progresses, Clara’s internal struggle becomes just as important as the external conflict. Her self doubt, especially surrounding her magic, felt very real and frustrating in a way that made sense for her character. Watching her slowly come into her own was one of the most satisfying parts of the book.
Overall, this was a really engaging and heartfelt read. It balances adventure, humor, and emotional growth in a way that keeps you invested from start to finish. Clara’s journey is not just about saving a place, but about learning to trust herself and embrace who she is, and that message comes through clearly without feeling forced. I am really glad I picked this one up and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys character driven fantasy with a strong emotional core.
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne follows Clara, the quiet yet sharp-witted gardener of Moss Town, whose life is turned upside down after a mishap during a sacred celebration leads to an unexpected quest. Tasked by the goddess herself to restore life to a land overtaken by withering magic, Clara is forced to leave behind everything familiar and journey to Dwindle, where she must confront both external dangers and her own doubts about who she is and what she is capable of.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and how thoughtfully it was structured. The story is divided in a way that clearly marks Clara’s growth, from her life before the quest, to her journey toward Dwindle, and finally to the point where she begins to believe in herself and her magic. It made her development feel intentional and rewarding without ever dragging.
Clara was such a fun main character to follow. Her sarcastic humor made so many moments genuinely entertaining, especially in contrast with the high stakes of her situation. I also loved how much personality she had outside of the main plot. The inclusion of her hobbies like painting, writing, and gardening added so much depth and made her feel like a real person rather than just someone moving the story forward. Those details made it easier to connect with her and understand what she stood to lose.
One of my favorite stylistic choices was the way each chapter opened with a line from Clara’s journal. It was such a small detail, but it added a lot to the reading experience and tied beautifully into the themes of each chapter. It gave insight into her mindset while also setting the tone for what was to come.
The world building felt immersive without being overwhelming. From Moss Town and its traditions to the journey through different landscapes, everything unfolded naturally. The initial conflict with the lost tulip and the Goddess Celebration pulled me in quickly, and I liked how that moment set everything else into motion. Clara being chosen for a quest she does not feel prepared for creates a strong emotional core that carries through the entire story.
The dynamic between Clara and Hesper, Clara’s assigned protector, was another highlight. Their relationship felt incredibly well developed, with so many layers of tension ranging from romantic moments to genuine frustration when they misunderstood each other. Their interactions were filled with humor and gradual understanding, which made their connection feel natural and earned. I especially appreciated that the author did not rush them into a relationship, but instead allowed both of them to grow individually before growing together. Hesper’s role in helping Clara come into herself added even more depth, and their relationship evolved in a way that complemented Clara’s personal journey rather than overshadowing it.
There were also so many small moments that stood out, like Clara navigating her responsibilities before leaving, her interactions with Rosie, and the quiet realizations she has along the way. Even the side characters and companions added charm, especially Warty Thorne, Clara’s hedgehog, who somehow manages to have so much personality without saying a word.
As the story progresses, Clara’s internal struggle becomes just as important as the external conflict. Her self doubt, especially surrounding her magic, felt very real and frustrating in a way that made sense for her character. Watching her slowly come into her own was one of the most satisfying parts of the book.
Overall, this was a really engaging and heartfelt read. It balances adventure, humor, and emotional growth in a way that keeps you invested from start to finish. Clara’s journey is not just about saving a place, but about learning to trust herself and embrace who she is, and that message comes through clearly without feeling forced. I am really glad I picked this one up and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys character driven fantasy with a strong emotional core.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne" by Summer N. England is a charming and spicy sapphic cozy romantasy debut, following a grumpy garden witch and her sunshine bodyguard. The book enchanted me from the first word with its warm, fuzzy atmosphere, catching me hook, line, and sinker.
Clara Thorne lives happily in a cozy cottage in the town of Moss with Warty, her sidekick hedgehog, along with books, writing, and her garden. She has one friend, an orc named Rosie, and prefers to keep to herself. Believed to possess garden magic, she was appointed Town Gardener upon her arrival in Moss at the age of 13 and has lived there ever since. Fast-forward 15 years, and her life takes a turn when the Goddess Eldrene sends her on a seemingly hopeless quest—to travel to the cursed town of Dwindle, which is on the edge of withering, and grow them a garden in a month.
Clara believes the quest is doomed since her powers are weak and don’t exist outside of Moss—or so she thinks. The Goddess appoints her a bodyguard, a warrior named Hesper, who has a crow companion named Edge. The two hit a false note from the moment they meet. Clara dislikes Hesper at first sight, blaming her for all her woes and being openly hostile toward her, so their journey doesn’t start on the right foot. Hesper keeps insisting that Clara has magic, which only further irritates her. Add to that an ancient enemy on their trail, an eclectic cast of characters—nymphs, fae, water nymphs, dryads, dwarves—and magic, and you get one hell of an adventure.
The book had everything I enjoy: a fantasy world with magic, talking animals, enemies to lovers, and a heroine forced out of her comfort zone and placed in situations that test her strength and heart. The whimsical names worked for me, Warty and Edge were delightful, and I enjoyed the friendship between Clara and Rosie, as well as the emotional dynamics between the characters. The novel thoughtfully explores themes of loss, found family, duty, hope, self-growth, believing in yourself, and the power of love.
This is a highly entertaining cozy fantasy with rich world-building, vivid characters, and a captivating magical setting. The division between major and lesser magic was especially fun—kitchen magic, beauty magic, garden magic, heart magic—and paired nicely with the whimsy of the tale and the banter. I smiled every time Hesper called Clara “princess” and at their comebacks. The chapter-opening quotes were also a nice touch.
I did find Clara to be a bit of a brat. Since she’s almost 30 years old, it didn’t always fit, and she lived up to her name—thorny. She was often whiny and irrational, hating Hesper for no real reason, treating her badly, and refusing to accept certain truths. Because it felt so one-sided, the enemies-to-lovers arc came across as a bit too constructed for the sake of the trope. That said, I still liked her. Hesper, on the other hand, was a delight, and I would love to read more about her past.
Overall, I enjoyed the book greatly and would happily read more stories set in this world. The writing was top-notch and kept me hooked all the way through. Fans of cozy fantasy, fleshed-out characters, and those who don’t mind spicy sapphic romance and a somewhat forced enemies-to-lovers arc will enjoy this book. I know I did!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Clara Thorne lives happily in a cozy cottage in the town of Moss with Warty, her sidekick hedgehog, along with books, writing, and her garden. She has one friend, an orc named Rosie, and prefers to keep to herself. Believed to possess garden magic, she was appointed Town Gardener upon her arrival in Moss at the age of 13 and has lived there ever since. Fast-forward 15 years, and her life takes a turn when the Goddess Eldrene sends her on a seemingly hopeless quest—to travel to the cursed town of Dwindle, which is on the edge of withering, and grow them a garden in a month.
Clara believes the quest is doomed since her powers are weak and don’t exist outside of Moss—or so she thinks. The Goddess appoints her a bodyguard, a warrior named Hesper, who has a crow companion named Edge. The two hit a false note from the moment they meet. Clara dislikes Hesper at first sight, blaming her for all her woes and being openly hostile toward her, so their journey doesn’t start on the right foot. Hesper keeps insisting that Clara has magic, which only further irritates her. Add to that an ancient enemy on their trail, an eclectic cast of characters—nymphs, fae, water nymphs, dryads, dwarves—and magic, and you get one hell of an adventure.
The book had everything I enjoy: a fantasy world with magic, talking animals, enemies to lovers, and a heroine forced out of her comfort zone and placed in situations that test her strength and heart. The whimsical names worked for me, Warty and Edge were delightful, and I enjoyed the friendship between Clara and Rosie, as well as the emotional dynamics between the characters. The novel thoughtfully explores themes of loss, found family, duty, hope, self-growth, believing in yourself, and the power of love.
This is a highly entertaining cozy fantasy with rich world-building, vivid characters, and a captivating magical setting. The division between major and lesser magic was especially fun—kitchen magic, beauty magic, garden magic, heart magic—and paired nicely with the whimsy of the tale and the banter. I smiled every time Hesper called Clara “princess” and at their comebacks. The chapter-opening quotes were also a nice touch.
I did find Clara to be a bit of a brat. Since she’s almost 30 years old, it didn’t always fit, and she lived up to her name—thorny. She was often whiny and irrational, hating Hesper for no real reason, treating her badly, and refusing to accept certain truths. Because it felt so one-sided, the enemies-to-lovers arc came across as a bit too constructed for the sake of the trope. That said, I still liked her. Hesper, on the other hand, was a delight, and I would love to read more about her past.
Overall, I enjoyed the book greatly and would happily read more stories set in this world. The writing was top-notch and kept me hooked all the way through. Fans of cozy fantasy, fleshed-out characters, and those who don’t mind spicy sapphic romance and a somewhat forced enemies-to-lovers arc will enjoy this book. I know I did!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
2.5 stars but rounding up for Goodreads.
This book is full of ideas that never felt fully realized and relies heavily on the reader recognizing common tropes of the romantasy genre in order to fill in the blanks the text leaves. Our love interest, Hesper, is introduced as being shadowy and mysterious. We later find out that She bickers with Clara at any given opportunity, is described as cocky and self-assured, and of course is very tall. There's genre conventions, and then there's just another generic love interest. She never felt like a character all on her own, just a trope to fill the spot. I had the same issue with Clara. She's guarded, grumpy, and a jealous "harlot shamer" that describes herself in the text as "painfully average." Just your regular old girl next door who needs a big, strong woman to come spoon feed her character growth just for Clara to then spit it right back out. The two of them felt like dolls being smushed together so they kiss rather than people existing in a living, breathing world. Which would have been at least understandable if the spice had taken more of a center focus of the book. Instead, we get two short, incredibly cliche sex scenes--right down to Hesper roaring--and then a third, brief fade to black right at the end. Both the sweet and the spicy are just so disappointing.
The discussions about Clara's magic feel mind numbingly circular and the plot is thin at best. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Clara refuses to reevaluate her belief in her own magic until it practically hits her in the head with a brick. So much time was unnecessarily spent in Moss, then we get a brief journey where we fly past all the potential world building and plot thickening, and finally make a pit stop in Dwindle where, again, tropes are used to try and make the reader care enough about side characters so that the sudden climax of the story feels impactful. It didn't work. The villagers of Dwindle blurred together and so much time had been spent outside of the town that the cozy atmosphere didn't have time to build. I cared more about Moss than I did anyone in Dwindle. And speaking of the plot's climax:
Genuinely, I'm not sure who the audience is for this book. It never settles enough to build a cozy atmosphere, the romance is lackluster, the fantasy doesn't feel engaging, and the spice is basically nonexistent. So many things were attempted that none of them were given enough space and care to flourish. Which is incredibly disappointing because I've been trying to read more sapphic books and I was hoping this would be a good one. That being said, it's not bad either. It's cliche and won't be something I remember in a few months but it wasn't frustrating enough to DNF, either. Maybe fans of Assistant to the Villain (another extremely tropey romantasy) or Asiri and the Amaru (another cozy and slightly spicy romantasy) will want to give this one a shot as the vibes are similar.
2.5 stars but rounding up for Goodreads.
This book is full of ideas that never felt fully realized and relies heavily on the reader recognizing common tropes of the romantasy genre in order to fill in the blanks the text leaves. Our love interest, Hesper, is introduced as being shadowy and mysterious. We later find out that She bickers with Clara at any given opportunity, is described as cocky and self-assured, and of course is very tall. There's genre conventions, and then there's just another generic love interest. She never felt like a character all on her own, just a trope to fill the spot. I had the same issue with Clara. She's guarded, grumpy, and a jealous "harlot shamer" that describes herself in the text as "painfully average." Just your regular old girl next door who needs a big, strong woman to come spoon feed her character growth just for Clara to then spit it right back out. The two of them felt like dolls being smushed together so they kiss rather than people existing in a living, breathing world. Which would have been at least understandable if the spice had taken more of a center focus of the book. Instead, we get two short, incredibly cliche sex scenes--right down to Hesper roaring--and then a third, brief fade to black right at the end. Both the sweet and the spicy are just so disappointing.
The discussions about Clara's magic feel mind numbingly circular and the plot is thin at best. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Clara refuses to reevaluate her belief in her own magic until it practically hits her in the head with a brick. So much time was unnecessarily spent in Moss, then we get a brief journey where we fly past all the potential world building and plot thickening, and finally make a pit stop in Dwindle where, again, tropes are used to try and make the reader care enough about side characters so that the sudden climax of the story feels impactful. It didn't work. The villagers of Dwindle blurred together and so much time had been spent outside of the town that the cozy atmosphere didn't have time to build. I cared more about Moss than I did anyone in Dwindle. And speaking of the plot's climax:
Genuinely, I'm not sure who the audience is for this book. It never settles enough to build a cozy atmosphere, the romance is lackluster, the fantasy doesn't feel engaging, and the spice is basically nonexistent. So many things were attempted that none of them were given enough space and care to flourish. Which is incredibly disappointing because I've been trying to read more sapphic books and I was hoping this would be a good one. That being said, it's not bad either. It's cliche and won't be something I remember in a few months but it wasn't frustrating enough to DNF, either. Maybe fans of Assistant to the Villain (another extremely tropey romantasy) or Asiri and the Amaru (another cozy and slightly spicy romantasy) will want to give this one a shot as the vibes are similar.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How many times will I consume this book before it even comes out? Twice so far! Being so fortunate to have read the ARC and now been given access to the ALC I feel as though I got to experience the story again with fresh excitement - Frankie Porter's brilliant narration brings so much life to Clara's already emotionally complex internal world.
Right from the beginning as we're introduced to Clara's attempts at writing her happily ever after (or at least, the one she's settled for) I knew I was going to love this book. Summer N. England's writing is lyrical and charming, and it's easy to hear Clara's voice coming through. She is an endearing character, a silly goose (affectionate) refusing or unable to see the truth in front of her face in a manner so charming that it's no wonder Hesper falls so hard.
The setting is whimsical, all the characters with their own delightful charm and sense of life about them independent of Clara's interactions with them. There is so much to learn and know about this world, and I dearly hope that England returns to tell more stories from it (or perhaps a certain future story of Hesper's...did I sense an opening for a follow-up or is that just wishful thinking??).
Clara's moments of emotional turmoil are gut-wrenching; I can't count how many times I cried listening to the strain in the narrator's voice as Clara fights with herself and the raw emotion in her narration of Hesper as our strong protector tries to convince this silly goose (affectionate) that she is so much more than she's allowing herself to be. This is a cozy novel with a whimsical story about 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. We get to sit and watch with all Clara's friends who want the best for her, but just like them we 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 ("don't call me princess" "then stop looking like one" is absolute fire). 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. I loved the husky tones that Porter chose for Hesper, it captured perfectly the way I imagined the character on the page.
The audiobook adds so much to England's writing. The narrator's choices of tone, pitch, and intensity of expression in different parts of the book/with different characters brought this world to life; not just listening to a text being read but getting to experience a full performance of the story.
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 Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this ALC and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me access to the e-ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice and it is my unbiased opinion.
“Clara Thorne of Moss, you will embark on the quest. To travel to the town of Dwindle, and there, grow a garden.”
Right from the beginning as we're introduced to Clara's attempts at writing her happily ever after (or at least, the one she's settled for) I knew I was going to love this book. Summer N. England's writing is lyrical and charming, and it's easy to hear Clara's voice coming through. She is an endearing character, a silly goose (affectionate) refusing or unable to see the truth in front of her face in a manner so charming that it's no wonder Hesper falls so hard.
The setting is whimsical, all the characters with their own delightful charm and sense of life about them independent of Clara's interactions with them. There is so much to learn and know about this world, and I dearly hope that England returns to tell more stories from it (or perhaps a certain future story of Hesper's...did I sense an opening for a follow-up or is that just wishful thinking??).
Clara's moments of emotional turmoil are gut-wrenching; I can't count how many times I cried listening to the strain in the narrator's voice as Clara fights with herself and the raw emotion in her narration of Hesper as our strong protector tries to convince this silly goose (affectionate) that she is so much more than she's allowing herself to be. This is a cozy novel with a whimsical story about 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. We get to sit and watch with all Clara's friends who want the best for her, but just like them we 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 ("don't call me princess" "then stop looking like one" is absolute fire). 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. I loved the husky tones that Porter chose for Hesper, it captured perfectly the way I imagined the character on the page.
The audiobook adds so much to England's writing. The narrator's choices of tone, pitch, and intensity of expression in different parts of the book/with different characters brought this world to life; not just listening to a text being read but getting to experience a full performance of the story.
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 Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this ALC and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me access to the e-ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice and it is my unbiased opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 ⭐
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is the kind of cozy romantasy that feels soft and magical on the surface—but hides a deeply emotional journey underneath.
Clara is a gardener who only wants a quiet life in Moss, her beloved town. So when the Goddess sends her on a quest to grow a garden in the cursed lands of Dwindle, she’s convinced it’s a punishment disguised as destiny. She believes she has no magic of her own, and once she leaves Moss, she fears she’ll fail and be banished forever. Enter Hesper; a gentle but fiercely protective warrior assigned to accompany her. And suddenly, Clara’s biggest battle isn’t the cursed land… it’s her own guarded heart.
I’ll be honest: Clara is not an easy character to love at first. She’s defensive, moody, and pushes everyone away; especially Hesper. It took me about halfway through the book, once her backstory unfolds, to truly understand her. Before that? She could be frustrating. But once I saw the hurt behind her walls, everything shifted. Even so, I appreciated that beneath her prickly exterior was someone who cared deeply about others, often more than herself. Watching her growth by the end felt rewarding. She simply needed someone—Hesper—to remind her that love is worth the risk and that she is worthy of it.
Hesper completely stole my heart. She’s warm, patient, steady; the emotional backbone of the story. I adored how persistent yet gentle she was with Clara. If anything, I wish we had gotten more of her perspective and more of her warrior life, especially after that ending.
As for the romance, I did struggle with fully believing it at times. Clara spends much of the story pushing Hesper away and trying to resent her, which made it hard not to feel like Hesper deserved better. While understanding Clara’s childhood trauma helped contextualize her behavior, the push-and-pull dynamic occasionally tested my patience. Still, their banter was enjoyable, and I appreciated that the author didn’t rush the emotional development. Their resolution felt earned, and seeing them finally come together was genuinely satisfying.
At its core, this is an entertaining magical tale about friendship, found family, and discovering one’s power. However, I do think the world-building took a slight backseat to the personal growth arc. The different settings and magical beings—nymphs, fae, dryads, dwarves—were intriguing, but I felt like we only scratched the surface of the world’s larger magic system. While the execution was solid, I anticipated both Clara’s power reveal and the villain’s arrival, which made those moments feel less striking.
The pacing was another minor issue. The story doesn’t truly pick up until the quest begins; before that, it feels somewhat stagnant. It wasn’t boring, but I wasn’t fully immersed either. Thankfully, once the journey starts, the narrative gains momentum. The writing itself is dreamlike yet grounded, which helped create a vivid and immersive atmosphere.
Overall, this is a cozy fantasy about self-worth, found family, and healing, wrapped in a gentle slow-burn romance. Perfect if you’re looking for low angst, soft magic, and a story about learning that sometimes the power you’re searching for has been inside you all along.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the eARC—I really appreciate the chance to read this early!
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is the kind of cozy romantasy that feels soft and magical on the surface—but hides a deeply emotional journey underneath.
Clara is a gardener who only wants a quiet life in Moss, her beloved town. So when the Goddess sends her on a quest to grow a garden in the cursed lands of Dwindle, she’s convinced it’s a punishment disguised as destiny. She believes she has no magic of her own, and once she leaves Moss, she fears she’ll fail and be banished forever. Enter Hesper; a gentle but fiercely protective warrior assigned to accompany her. And suddenly, Clara’s biggest battle isn’t the cursed land… it’s her own guarded heart.
I’ll be honest: Clara is not an easy character to love at first. She’s defensive, moody, and pushes everyone away; especially Hesper. It took me about halfway through the book, once her backstory unfolds, to truly understand her. Before that? She could be frustrating. But once I saw the hurt behind her walls, everything shifted. Even so, I appreciated that beneath her prickly exterior was someone who cared deeply about others, often more than herself. Watching her growth by the end felt rewarding. She simply needed someone—Hesper—to remind her that love is worth the risk and that she is worthy of it.
Hesper completely stole my heart. She’s warm, patient, steady; the emotional backbone of the story. I adored how persistent yet gentle she was with Clara. If anything, I wish we had gotten more of her perspective and more of her warrior life, especially after that ending.
As for the romance, I did struggle with fully believing it at times. Clara spends much of the story pushing Hesper away and trying to resent her, which made it hard not to feel like Hesper deserved better. While understanding Clara’s childhood trauma helped contextualize her behavior, the push-and-pull dynamic occasionally tested my patience. Still, their banter was enjoyable, and I appreciated that the author didn’t rush the emotional development. Their resolution felt earned, and seeing them finally come together was genuinely satisfying.
At its core, this is an entertaining magical tale about friendship, found family, and discovering one’s power. However, I do think the world-building took a slight backseat to the personal growth arc. The different settings and magical beings—nymphs, fae, dryads, dwarves—were intriguing, but I felt like we only scratched the surface of the world’s larger magic system. While the execution was solid, I anticipated both Clara’s power reveal and the villain’s arrival, which made those moments feel less striking.
The pacing was another minor issue. The story doesn’t truly pick up until the quest begins; before that, it feels somewhat stagnant. It wasn’t boring, but I wasn’t fully immersed either. Thankfully, once the journey starts, the narrative gains momentum. The writing itself is dreamlike yet grounded, which helped create a vivid and immersive atmosphere.
Overall, this is a cozy fantasy about self-worth, found family, and healing, wrapped in a gentle slow-burn romance. Perfect if you’re looking for low angst, soft magic, and a story about learning that sometimes the power you’re searching for has been inside you all along.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the eARC—I really appreciate the chance to read this early!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cozy fantasy/romantasy books have always been pretty hit or miss for me, and this was a hit! The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is whimsical and charming, but it was also full of more heat, heart, and emotional depth than I was expecting.
"Belief, while not inherently magical, is a powerful thing."
This cozy romantasy balances softness and spice in a way that genuinely surprised me. It has all the staples I love—found family, quirky townsfolk, gentle magic—but with an added layer of humor and open-door romance that gives it a fresh, slightly edgier feel. It’s the kind of book that feels warm and comforting one moment, then destroys you the next. The spice definitely made me enjoy this more— my issue with cozy fantasy/romantasy is usually because I find them dull and boring, but that wasn’t the case with this book!
Clara is… complicated. I didn’t always like her, but I was still rooting for her. Her journey is very much rooted in insecurity and self-doubt, and she clings to those emotions a little too tightly. At times, her constant self-deprecation and tendency to lash out made her frustrating to connect with, especially considering her age. But at the same time, her growth feels intentional and hard-won. Watching her slowly unravel—and then rebuild—was painful but vulnerable.
And then there’s Hesper. I LOVED Hesper. She is sweet, steady, and emotionally intelligent. She was easily my favorite part of the book. The way she sees Clara—not as she is, but as she could be—adds so much depth to their dynamic. Their slow-burn sapphic romance is filled with tension, tenderness, and just the right amount of spice, even if I occasionally found myself wishing Clara met her halfway a bit more. For the most part, they balanced each other out perfectly.
The world itself is whimsical yet shadowed, with hints of darker magic and an underlying threat that keeps the story moving (and not boring). While the magic system and broader stakes could have used a bit more clarity, I loved how the story gradually unfolded through small details and discoveries. I also wish we got more backstory—especially for Hesper, whose past felt incredibly intriguing but not fully explored. There’s so much there, and I wish we could’ve explored other characters on the same level as we did Clara.
The ending was emotional, hopeful, and satisfying—it made the entire journey feel worth it. This cozy fantasy is a little messier, a little spicier, and a lot more emotionally raw than you might expect. If you’re looking for something familiar yet different—with heart, humor, and sapphic longing woven throughout—this is absolutely worth the read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this adorable eARC!
"Belief, while not inherently magical, is a powerful thing."
This cozy romantasy balances softness and spice in a way that genuinely surprised me. It has all the staples I love—found family, quirky townsfolk, gentle magic—but with an added layer of humor and open-door romance that gives it a fresh, slightly edgier feel. It’s the kind of book that feels warm and comforting one moment, then destroys you the next. The spice definitely made me enjoy this more— my issue with cozy fantasy/romantasy is usually because I find them dull and boring, but that wasn’t the case with this book!
Clara is… complicated. I didn’t always like her, but I was still rooting for her. Her journey is very much rooted in insecurity and self-doubt, and she clings to those emotions a little too tightly. At times, her constant self-deprecation and tendency to lash out made her frustrating to connect with, especially considering her age. But at the same time, her growth feels intentional and hard-won. Watching her slowly unravel—and then rebuild—was painful but vulnerable.
And then there’s Hesper. I LOVED Hesper. She is sweet, steady, and emotionally intelligent. She was easily my favorite part of the book. The way she sees Clara—not as she is, but as she could be—adds so much depth to their dynamic. Their slow-burn sapphic romance is filled with tension, tenderness, and just the right amount of spice, even if I occasionally found myself wishing Clara met her halfway a bit more. For the most part, they balanced each other out perfectly.
The world itself is whimsical yet shadowed, with hints of darker magic and an underlying threat that keeps the story moving (and not boring). While the magic system and broader stakes could have used a bit more clarity, I loved how the story gradually unfolded through small details and discoveries. I also wish we got more backstory—especially for Hesper, whose past felt incredibly intriguing but not fully explored. There’s so much there, and I wish we could’ve explored other characters on the same level as we did Clara.
The ending was emotional, hopeful, and satisfying—it made the entire journey feel worth it. This cozy fantasy is a little messier, a little spicier, and a lot more emotionally raw than you might expect. If you’re looking for something familiar yet different—with heart, humor, and sapphic longing woven throughout—this is absolutely worth the read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this adorable eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is a cozy fantasy debut with a warm, lyrical voice and an imaginative heart. Summer N. England’s writing style was an immediate draw for me, and I appreciated the gentleness and care she brings to her prose, especially when exploring themes of self-doubt, healing, and belonging.
The story follows Clara, her town’s gardener, who quietly uses magic to help plants grow while deeply doubting her own abilities. Her lack of confidence is rooted in a traumatic upbringing, and that emotional history shapes much of her internal struggle. When a goddess selects Clara for a daunting quest to grow a garden in the desolate city of Dwindle, her fears intensify. Clara believes her magic is intrinsically tied to the loving, fertile town she calls home and that it cannot possibly survive, much less thrive, in a place defined by barrenness.
Accompanying her on this journey is a hooded protector named Hesper, who eventually becomes Clara’s love interest. While I found Hesper consistently kind, thoughtful, and supportive, I struggled with Clara’s instant and seemingly irrational hatred toward them. This reaction felt incongruous with Clara’s otherwise compassionate and reflective nature. I would have fully understood emotional distance or guardedness stemming from her trauma and the immense pressure she was under, but the intensity of her hostility felt less like an organic character response and more like an attempt to force an enemies-to-lovers trope into place. This disconnect nearly caused me to put the book down.
That said, I am glad I pushed through. Once the story settled into its rhythm, the strengths of the novel truly began to shine. The imaginative settings, curious creatures, and sense of wonder infused into the journey made for a delightful and engaging adventure. England clearly has a talent for world-building and for creating moments that feel both magical and emotionally resonant.
Readers should also be aware that while this is categorized as cozy fantasy, it includes multiple open-door romance scenes. For the right audience, that will be a feature rather than a drawback.
Overall, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne shows a great deal of promise. Despite some characterization choices that did not fully work for me, this debut left me interested in what Summer N. England will create next, and I think many readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with higher emotional and romantic stakes will find much to love here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story follows Clara, her town’s gardener, who quietly uses magic to help plants grow while deeply doubting her own abilities. Her lack of confidence is rooted in a traumatic upbringing, and that emotional history shapes much of her internal struggle. When a goddess selects Clara for a daunting quest to grow a garden in the desolate city of Dwindle, her fears intensify. Clara believes her magic is intrinsically tied to the loving, fertile town she calls home and that it cannot possibly survive, much less thrive, in a place defined by barrenness.
Accompanying her on this journey is a hooded protector named Hesper, who eventually becomes Clara’s love interest. While I found Hesper consistently kind, thoughtful, and supportive, I struggled with Clara’s instant and seemingly irrational hatred toward them. This reaction felt incongruous with Clara’s otherwise compassionate and reflective nature. I would have fully understood emotional distance or guardedness stemming from her trauma and the immense pressure she was under, but the intensity of her hostility felt less like an organic character response and more like an attempt to force an enemies-to-lovers trope into place. This disconnect nearly caused me to put the book down.
That said, I am glad I pushed through. Once the story settled into its rhythm, the strengths of the novel truly began to shine. The imaginative settings, curious creatures, and sense of wonder infused into the journey made for a delightful and engaging adventure. England clearly has a talent for world-building and for creating moments that feel both magical and emotionally resonant.
Readers should also be aware that while this is categorized as cozy fantasy, it includes multiple open-door romance scenes. For the right audience, that will be a feature rather than a drawback.
Overall, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne shows a great deal of promise. Despite some characterization choices that did not fully work for me, this debut left me interested in what Summer N. England will create next, and I think many readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with higher emotional and romantic stakes will find much to love here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2 stars
Thank you to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
I'll be honest, this book ended up being a bad choice for me personally. I applied for this arc and did read that it would be a spicy cosy fantasy. I thought the synopsis sounded delightful, and I assumed I would have no issue with cosy fantasy with a bit of spice. Unfortunately, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne was quite impossible to get invested in because it floundered around on what it actually was. As a cosy fantasy enthusiast, I came into this looking forward to Clara embarking on this gardening adventure where her magic would be seemingly out of reach to get the task done. However, most of the book is not spent on the quest, but the journey to get there, is ridiculously paced with highly unrealistic romantic elements, and Clara herself was so unlikeable with little to offer. She's needlessly grumpy about literally everything and then contradicts herself, and feels like the author wanted her to be some plain overlooked person who ended up being cliche and "not like the other girls". Hesper, Clara's sunshine bodyguard, falls into instalove with Clara far too quickly for me to even enjoy her as a character, and together, the romance quickly lost my interest. Given that the cosy start is soon forgotten about, I started to miss the setup from the beginning, around the world's magic and the delightful township of Moss as Clara embarks to Dwindle to grow the garden. Admittedly, I should have DNF'd early into this story, and by the time I finished it, I was exasperated that it took so long to feel like the book I came in expecting to read. The insanely gorgeous cover also depicts something more than what I felt I read here, showing me yet again that cosy vibes can be shown but not achieved within books that are leaning towards spicy romantasy now.
I assume if you come into this wanting more spice in a cosy setting (that loses its cosy qualities early on), then you probably will enjoy this more than I did. However, I've discovered recently, after DNFing another book that is coined as spicy cosy fantasy, that the balance of keeping the world feeling magical and full and developing solid characters, whilst also then making it spicy, just never comes out as successful for me. So that's why I think this is more of a personal "not here for it" than a terribly written book, as echoed by other negative reviews shared on this book. I do think England needs to work on pacing, character development, and defining what her story is about, but this is not badly written for a debut novel. I just wish this had offered more of the cosiness proposed in the synopsis.
Thank you to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
I'll be honest, this book ended up being a bad choice for me personally. I applied for this arc and did read that it would be a spicy cosy fantasy. I thought the synopsis sounded delightful, and I assumed I would have no issue with cosy fantasy with a bit of spice. Unfortunately, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne was quite impossible to get invested in because it floundered around on what it actually was. As a cosy fantasy enthusiast, I came into this looking forward to Clara embarking on this gardening adventure where her magic would be seemingly out of reach to get the task done. However, most of the book is not spent on the quest, but the journey to get there, is ridiculously paced with highly unrealistic romantic elements, and Clara herself was so unlikeable with little to offer. She's needlessly grumpy about literally everything and then contradicts herself, and feels like the author wanted her to be some plain overlooked person who ended up being cliche and "not like the other girls". Hesper, Clara's sunshine bodyguard, falls into instalove with Clara far too quickly for me to even enjoy her as a character, and together, the romance quickly lost my interest. Given that the cosy start is soon forgotten about, I started to miss the setup from the beginning, around the world's magic and the delightful township of Moss as Clara embarks to Dwindle to grow the garden. Admittedly, I should have DNF'd early into this story, and by the time I finished it, I was exasperated that it took so long to feel like the book I came in expecting to read. The insanely gorgeous cover also depicts something more than what I felt I read here, showing me yet again that cosy vibes can be shown but not achieved within books that are leaning towards spicy romantasy now.
I assume if you come into this wanting more spice in a cosy setting (that loses its cosy qualities early on), then you probably will enjoy this more than I did. However, I've discovered recently, after DNFing another book that is coined as spicy cosy fantasy, that the balance of keeping the world feeling magical and full and developing solid characters, whilst also then making it spicy, just never comes out as successful for me. So that's why I think this is more of a personal "not here for it" than a terribly written book, as echoed by other negative reviews shared on this book. I do think England needs to work on pacing, character development, and defining what her story is about, but this is not badly written for a debut novel. I just wish this had offered more of the cosiness proposed in the synopsis.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I KNEW I would love this book from literally the cover alone, then I read the description and somehow managed to love it more, when I eventually got accepted for the arc and started to read it I just knew it would be a special story.
I love all the characters so much, they are all just so perfectly written and beautiful and make the story so magical and cozy. Each character has growth and it’s just heartwarming. My favorite characters have to be Clara and Rosie, their relationship was just so perfect and everyone truly needs a best friend like Rosie, she is just pure sunshine and lit up every page she was on. I also liked the character who owned the clothes stall Clara visited on her quest, the fact Clara didn’t know who she was at first? That whole part actually, the whole Lore Isles section of the book was amazing, and the journey there, I loved all the book but the Lore Isles was such a good part of the adventure part.
Moss is the town where Clara found herself arriving to when she was young, soon running into Rosie and Sylvie, Clara’s ‘Garden Magic’ became apparent and she was quickly appointed Town Gardener and appointed a home.
I was so sad when Clara had to leave Moss, Moss and its people were just so cozy and warm and happy and welcoming and everything, I know one of the lessons of the book is to go outside of your comfort zone but I loved Moss so much. It was quite literally filled with love.
The worldbuilding was fantastic, excellent, perfect, everything anyone could dream of. Every single place Clara and Hesper visited I felt instantly connected to, each place was well described, had its own look and personality and ugh every place was just so perfect and beautiful and CHARMING (that’s the word I have been looking for) Each place had its own Charm, as did the residents.
Hesper is also such a good love interest, I really really hope we get a second book so Hesper can take a little bit more of the spotlight. Hesper is mysterioua, incredibly hot, funny, flirty, just everything you would want in a partner for yourself. Obviously she is more than just Clara’s love interest though and I LOVED Hespers story, it’s so mysterious and even by the end we truly don’t know much about her, but I could still connect to her, understanding her and her emotions. Everything in this book is just so perfect, the character building, the world building, the storytelling, everything. I am so incredibly grateful for this book and the magic of the story, I recommend this book so so highly and I truly do think everyone needs this book.
I love all the characters so much, they are all just so perfectly written and beautiful and make the story so magical and cozy. Each character has growth and it’s just heartwarming. My favorite characters have to be Clara and Rosie, their relationship was just so perfect and everyone truly needs a best friend like Rosie, she is just pure sunshine and lit up every page she was on. I also liked the character who owned the clothes stall Clara visited on her quest, the fact Clara didn’t know who she was at first? That whole part actually, the whole Lore Isles section of the book was amazing, and the journey there, I loved all the book but the Lore Isles was such a good part of the adventure part.
Moss is the town where Clara found herself arriving to when she was young, soon running into Rosie and Sylvie, Clara’s ‘Garden Magic’ became apparent and she was quickly appointed Town Gardener and appointed a home.
I was so sad when Clara had to leave Moss, Moss and its people were just so cozy and warm and happy and welcoming and everything, I know one of the lessons of the book is to go outside of your comfort zone but I loved Moss so much. It was quite literally filled with love.
The worldbuilding was fantastic, excellent, perfect, everything anyone could dream of. Every single place Clara and Hesper visited I felt instantly connected to, each place was well described, had its own look and personality and ugh every place was just so perfect and beautiful and CHARMING (that’s the word I have been looking for) Each place had its own Charm, as did the residents.
Hesper is also such a good love interest, I really really hope we get a second book so Hesper can take a little bit more of the spotlight. Hesper is mysterioua, incredibly hot, funny, flirty, just everything you would want in a partner for yourself. Obviously she is more than just Clara’s love interest though and I LOVED Hespers story, it’s so mysterious and even by the end we truly don’t know much about her, but I could still connect to her, understanding her and her emotions. Everything in this book is just so perfect, the character building, the world building, the storytelling, everything. I am so incredibly grateful for this book and the magic of the story, I recommend this book so so highly and I truly do think everyone needs this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all thank you to the folks at NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 33% February has been the month of DNFs which is something new to me. I generally try to give a book a fair shot by reading all the way through but I recently started law school and figured it’s not productive for me as a reader or reviewer to push myself through a book that I’m not enjoying. So, take everything I say with a grain of salt.
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is such a hard book to rate because I *wanted* to love it. I mean look at the freaking cover!!! It’s gorgeous!!! When done right, cozy fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres. In practice, however, I feel like cozy fantasy stories are always toeing the line between genuinely beautiful and comforting reads (the type of book you curl up in bed with on a rainy day) and bland milk toast, slow-as-molassas reads that make me wish I had spent my time elsewhere. I’m afraid this falls into the latter.
I never really connected with the FMC despite the fact we’re pretty similar in terms of personality. It felt like a lot of the supporting cast was also just there to fill out the obligatory roles in a whimsical cozy fantasy. They were ‘quirky and unique’ without feeling like they had depth or interiority to them. The romance, despite being marketed as a ‘slow-burn’, felt incredibly insta-lovey where there is instant and apparent physical attraction between Clara and the love interest.
I saw a couple people talking about how they didn’t like the spicy scenes in this book and (though I didn’t get to those parts) I understand how a smut scene could feel out of place here. The writing in the Impossible Garden, with its infodumps, lack of character depth, simplistic diction and sentence structure, feels quite middle grade or early YA. So when there is a spicy scene I can understand how it would feel incredibly jarring to read. Even a lot of the humor felt more juvenile with a lot of slapstick and cussing (again not bad per se but just clashed with the intended tone of the book). The worldbuilding and town characters similarly just felt so flat.
I don’t really want to bash on this book too much because it is a debut novel and I understand how difficult that can be. Kudos to the author for writing the book she wanted to write! I’m sure this will find its intended audience but it just wasn’t for me.
DNF at 33% February has been the month of DNFs which is something new to me. I generally try to give a book a fair shot by reading all the way through but I recently started law school and figured it’s not productive for me as a reader or reviewer to push myself through a book that I’m not enjoying. So, take everything I say with a grain of salt.
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is such a hard book to rate because I *wanted* to love it. I mean look at the freaking cover!!! It’s gorgeous!!! When done right, cozy fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres. In practice, however, I feel like cozy fantasy stories are always toeing the line between genuinely beautiful and comforting reads (the type of book you curl up in bed with on a rainy day) and bland milk toast, slow-as-molassas reads that make me wish I had spent my time elsewhere. I’m afraid this falls into the latter.
I never really connected with the FMC despite the fact we’re pretty similar in terms of personality. It felt like a lot of the supporting cast was also just there to fill out the obligatory roles in a whimsical cozy fantasy. They were ‘quirky and unique’ without feeling like they had depth or interiority to them. The romance, despite being marketed as a ‘slow-burn’, felt incredibly insta-lovey where there is instant and apparent physical attraction between Clara and the love interest.
I saw a couple people talking about how they didn’t like the spicy scenes in this book and (though I didn’t get to those parts) I understand how a smut scene could feel out of place here. The writing in the Impossible Garden, with its infodumps, lack of character depth, simplistic diction and sentence structure, feels quite middle grade or early YA. So when there is a spicy scene I can understand how it would feel incredibly jarring to read. Even a lot of the humor felt more juvenile with a lot of slapstick and cussing (again not bad per se but just clashed with the intended tone of the book). The worldbuilding and town characters similarly just felt so flat.
I don’t really want to bash on this book too much because it is a debut novel and I understand how difficult that can be. Kudos to the author for writing the book she wanted to write! I’m sure this will find its intended audience but it just wasn’t for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews