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The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne
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.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2026
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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.
Currently Reading
April 18, 2026a cutie cozy (and spicy?!) romantasy that i’ve had the arc and alc for… so time to dive in💐
April 10, 2026
3 Stars
One Liner: Some good stuff
Clara Throne just wants a HEA in her beloved town, Moss, a magical land where she tends to her garden and is working on a book. However, the Goddess appears and gives her a quest: Clara has a month to travel to the cursed town of Dwindle and grow a garden there. If she fails, she’s banished.
It should be easy, but Clara’s magic doesn’t work outside Moss, and no one knows this secret. Now she also has to deal with the assistant the Goddess provided to keep her safe in Dwindle. Hesper Altanfall is determined to keep Clara safe, whether she likes it or not.
This quest might grow something more than a garden!
The story comes in Clara’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
The premise is so cool, right? And that cover! I so love it! I was all for garden magic and the MC’s growth as she goes on a quest. Well, it had decent bare bones, but the execution doesn’t always hit the mark.
My favorites are the hedgehog and the crow (if only they had more scenes), and of course, Rose and the bumbling mayors. Honestly, the side characters are rather good.
Now, based on the blurb, you can guess the MC is grumpy, rude, and has a ‘tragic’ backstory that made her that way. Initially, I was intrigued. However, we had to wait a long time to know the reason, and her acting like a petulant child during this wait doesn’t help.
If she actually heard what the other character had to say about her magic, the book would have ended in 200 pages. Or, we could have made it to 250 pages by making the villain a bit more dominant in tangible ways.
This is a spicy cozy, which may not work for everyone, but I skimmed a little, so it wasn’t an issue. Still, I wish there were a bit more development to their romance.
The other MC ticks all boxes on the checklist, and there were many times I empathized with her for being saddled with this narrator girl. Maybe she couldn’t resist the MC’s potential that doesn’t get explored until almost the last quarter!
This needed some tightening and a bit of depth to become a 4-star read. I enjoyed some of it, but right now, it is a tad too long. While I understand the limitations of keeping the villain cozy, it didn’t help the plot in this instance. There was drama from the beginning, which builds up at the end. But it had to include the main fella in live action (not just mentions) at least twice.
There is HEA, so that made me happy. I won’t call this ambitious, as the plot definitely works, but I wish there were a few more revisions and structural edits.
To summarize, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne has an interesting premise and world-building, but the romance tropes don’t land as they should.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheImpossibleGardenOfClaraThorne
***
P.S: That’s the author’s real name (I wondered if it was a pen name, and apparently, many have the same doubt), and she even gives people permission to make fun of it. I find it cute, though!
One Liner: Some good stuff
Clara Throne just wants a HEA in her beloved town, Moss, a magical land where she tends to her garden and is working on a book. However, the Goddess appears and gives her a quest: Clara has a month to travel to the cursed town of Dwindle and grow a garden there. If she fails, she’s banished.
It should be easy, but Clara’s magic doesn’t work outside Moss, and no one knows this secret. Now she also has to deal with the assistant the Goddess provided to keep her safe in Dwindle. Hesper Altanfall is determined to keep Clara safe, whether she likes it or not.
This quest might grow something more than a garden!
The story comes in Clara’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
The premise is so cool, right? And that cover! I so love it! I was all for garden magic and the MC’s growth as she goes on a quest. Well, it had decent bare bones, but the execution doesn’t always hit the mark.
My favorites are the hedgehog and the crow (if only they had more scenes), and of course, Rose and the bumbling mayors. Honestly, the side characters are rather good.
Now, based on the blurb, you can guess the MC is grumpy, rude, and has a ‘tragic’ backstory that made her that way. Initially, I was intrigued. However, we had to wait a long time to know the reason, and her acting like a petulant child during this wait doesn’t help.
If she actually heard what the other character had to say about her magic, the book would have ended in 200 pages. Or, we could have made it to 250 pages by making the villain a bit more dominant in tangible ways.
This is a spicy cozy, which may not work for everyone, but I skimmed a little, so it wasn’t an issue. Still, I wish there were a bit more development to their romance.
The other MC ticks all boxes on the checklist, and there were many times I empathized with her for being saddled with this narrator girl. Maybe she couldn’t resist the MC’s potential that doesn’t get explored until almost the last quarter!
This needed some tightening and a bit of depth to become a 4-star read. I enjoyed some of it, but right now, it is a tad too long. While I understand the limitations of keeping the villain cozy, it didn’t help the plot in this instance. There was drama from the beginning, which builds up at the end. But it had to include the main fella in live action (not just mentions) at least twice.
There is HEA, so that made me happy. I won’t call this ambitious, as the plot definitely works, but I wish there were a few more revisions and structural edits.
To summarize, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne has an interesting premise and world-building, but the romance tropes don’t land as they should.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheImpossibleGardenOfClaraThorne
***
P.S: That’s the author’s real name (I wondered if it was a pen name, and apparently, many have the same doubt), and she even gives people permission to make fun of it. I find it cute, though!
April 28, 2026
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is a magically charming sapphic romance brimming with nature and small town happenings, all wrapped up in a whimsical quest to defeat an evil force. I enjoyed every minute of this gentle romantasy and how Clara and Hesper fell for each other all while saving the world. The quaint villages and all the magical feats were so fun and wondrous, and I just loved how Clara came into herself and magic, all while discovering the world that exists outside of her small hometown. If you're in the mood for a quietly enchanting romance, this is the book for you!
April 15, 2026
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a good time with this. I thought it was a nice cozy fantasy with a comforting atmosphere. There were stakes but they didn’t feel too dire or overwhelming, which made it an easy and enjoyable read. I really liked the quest that Clara went on, especially as she discovered new things about the world and grew as a character along the way. Her development felt natural and it was satisfying to see her gain confidence and experience. The setting and overall vibe added to the charm and made it feel warm and engaging without being too intense. There was some spice and that’s not really my thing so I flipped through those pages. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something cozy.
I had a good time with this. I thought it was a nice cozy fantasy with a comforting atmosphere. There were stakes but they didn’t feel too dire or overwhelming, which made it an easy and enjoyable read. I really liked the quest that Clara went on, especially as she discovered new things about the world and grew as a character along the way. Her development felt natural and it was satisfying to see her gain confidence and experience. The setting and overall vibe added to the charm and made it feel warm and engaging without being too intense. There was some spice and that’s not really my thing so I flipped through those pages. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something cozy.
April 7, 2026
The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne by Summer N. England
Book Blurb: 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.
Rating: ****
Feels: Cozy, touching, healing, adventure
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Cozy Fantasy, LGBT
First published April 7, 2026 : 416 pages
Cozy Adventure with splashes of healing energy, finding yourself and finding your community. Im always such a fan of the body guard vibes and Clara and Hesper gave such perfect vibes. Clara was our sunshine princess with her grumpy bodyguard and they both had alot of growth and healing to go through during this adventure to a town to discover the magic inside. The aspect of each person having a unigue type of magic was really fun, beauty magic, garden magic, kitchen magic, trickster magic, honey magic .... it gave a really fun flavor to the roles that everyone filled in the book and how they used their magic in those roles. The side characters that we got to play with along the way added such fun flair to the adventure for these two. Watching these two learn to trust each other and slowly (gotta have that slow burn !!) get to the spice was worth it !!!
Favorite Quote: But it was all far too much. Fear of failing, fear of leaving, fear of being, fear of loving.
This book has:
Sapphic Story
Chosen One
One Bed
Forced Proximity
Questing Adventure
Bodyguard Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Slow Burn
Healing & Growth
Found Family
Unique Magic
Sweet & Spicy
Book Blurb: 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.
Rating: ****
Feels: Cozy, touching, healing, adventure
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Cozy Fantasy, LGBT
First published April 7, 2026 : 416 pages
Cozy Adventure with splashes of healing energy, finding yourself and finding your community. Im always such a fan of the body guard vibes and Clara and Hesper gave such perfect vibes. Clara was our sunshine princess with her grumpy bodyguard and they both had alot of growth and healing to go through during this adventure to a town to discover the magic inside. The aspect of each person having a unigue type of magic was really fun, beauty magic, garden magic, kitchen magic, trickster magic, honey magic .... it gave a really fun flavor to the roles that everyone filled in the book and how they used their magic in those roles. The side characters that we got to play with along the way added such fun flair to the adventure for these two. Watching these two learn to trust each other and slowly (gotta have that slow burn !!) get to the spice was worth it !!!
Favorite Quote: But it was all far too much. Fear of failing, fear of leaving, fear of being, fear of loving.
This book has:
Sapphic Story
Chosen One
One Bed
Forced Proximity
Questing Adventure
Bodyguard Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Slow Burn
Healing & Growth
Found Family
Unique Magic
Sweet & Spicy
April 9, 2026
Narrator did a fantastic job bringing this to life. Story is very whimsical and while it has cozy elements I feel like the plot was too serious to be actually cozy. The romance is really well done, the tension is perfect and this is an overall entertaining listen. Thanks to Netgalley, the author , narrator and publisher for this alc.
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
April 21, 2026
3.5 / 5 stars
This was okay, but why tf is it marketed as a cozy fantasy?? It is so not a cozy fantasy???? The survival of the whole world is at stake, the main character almost dies a couple of times, and the love interest is pretty much the only survivor of a genocide and yet it’s supposed to be cozy? It’s whimsical, at times, and has moments of coziness, but it is not a cozy story. It’s a nice story that is very predictable, not very innovative, and there was never a point when I doubted that it would have a happy ending. But I still had a good time reading it.
Clara Thorne is a gardener without garden magic in a world where having garden magic is a job requirement. Every four years she has to grow a tulip that saves the world from darkness by strengthening a goddess. After the tulip is given to the goddess, she chooses someone to go on a quest, unfortunately this year that someone is Clara. So she is sent on a quest with a hot lady knight, who she definitely won’t fall in love with, to protect her.
As I said: simple, predictable story, but I still had a good time reading it. The pacing is a bit wonky and there’s a chapter where the villain is just monologuing his whole plan to the protagonist, which was kinda annoying to sit through. It’s absolutely not for everybody, and it’s not gonna blow your socks off, but it’s a nice way to pass the time. Nice audiobook narration & production too.
Tropes and such:
- this is not a cozy fantasy why tf is it marketed as one
- sapphic knight/bodyguard romance
- fae love interest
- queernormative world
- plant magic
- two fairly explicit FF sex scenes
- parental abuse/neglect (in the past, off page)
----
Do the queer characters get a happy ending?
----
Thank you to Forever for the ARC and to Hachette Audio for the ALC
This was okay, but why tf is it marketed as a cozy fantasy?? It is so not a cozy fantasy???? The survival of the whole world is at stake, the main character almost dies a couple of times, and the love interest is pretty much the only survivor of a genocide and yet it’s supposed to be cozy? It’s whimsical, at times, and has moments of coziness, but it is not a cozy story. It’s a nice story that is very predictable, not very innovative, and there was never a point when I doubted that it would have a happy ending. But I still had a good time reading it.
Clara Thorne is a gardener without garden magic in a world where having garden magic is a job requirement. Every four years she has to grow a tulip that saves the world from darkness by strengthening a goddess. After the tulip is given to the goddess, she chooses someone to go on a quest, unfortunately this year that someone is Clara. So she is sent on a quest with a hot lady knight, who she definitely won’t fall in love with, to protect her.
As I said: simple, predictable story, but I still had a good time reading it. The pacing is a bit wonky and there’s a chapter where the villain is just monologuing his whole plan to the protagonist, which was kinda annoying to sit through. It’s absolutely not for everybody, and it’s not gonna blow your socks off, but it’s a nice way to pass the time. Nice audiobook narration & production too.
Tropes and such:
- this is not a cozy fantasy why tf is it marketed as one
- sapphic knight/bodyguard romance
- fae love interest
- queernormative world
- plant magic
- two fairly explicit FF sex scenes
- parental abuse/neglect (in the past, off page)
----
Do the queer characters get a happy ending?
----
Thank you to Forever for the ARC and to Hachette Audio for the ALC
April 29, 2026
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cosy cottagecore, but with a quest, which I thought was a fun twist on your normal low stakes cosy fantasy! Very fast paced, and a bit messy at times - I think maybe it needed a bit more refining to find it's voice. It takes some time to establish Clara and where she is in her life, but once the quest begins, I was quite invested! Clara also has a pet hedgehog called 'Warty', which was one of my favourite parts of the entire book to be honest. There's a beautiful found family aspect, and a great sapphic romance too, although I wish it had been a bit more developed and not quite as rushed as it felt. This didn't stand out to me against other cosy fantasies, but I would recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cosy cottagecore, but with a quest, which I thought was a fun twist on your normal low stakes cosy fantasy! Very fast paced, and a bit messy at times - I think maybe it needed a bit more refining to find it's voice. It takes some time to establish Clara and where she is in her life, but once the quest begins, I was quite invested! Clara also has a pet hedgehog called 'Warty', which was one of my favourite parts of the entire book to be honest. There's a beautiful found family aspect, and a great sapphic romance too, although I wish it had been a bit more developed and not quite as rushed as it felt. This didn't stand out to me against other cosy fantasies, but I would recommend!
April 20, 2026
As a longtime Summer England follower, I could almost hear her narrating this book. What a sweet, cozy debut.
May 8, 2026
This is the type of cozy I like, where it's not super cozy but feels more like a delicate romantasy. It's cozy, but not without stakes, albeit the stakes are mellow. And I really like the blend of cozy and spicy, it works well.
The setting is so lush and I found myself falling in love with Moss and then with Dwindle, they both sound like lovely places to live. Not only is the world built nicely and we see the details for the towns through vivid descriptors, we see and feel Clara's love for her home, making it all that more special.
The pacing is a comfortable trot and stayed consistent throughout.
The characters are all so charming. I really love Clara's inner monologue, she's hilarious, however, she does remain intentionally dense for way too long. Her denial of the obvious was a little frustrating. I love Hesper, but I wish she wasn't so immediately into Clara, a slower burn would have been preferred, but they did have great banter. And I did like Hesper's flirting.
The setting is so lush and I found myself falling in love with Moss and then with Dwindle, they both sound like lovely places to live. Not only is the world built nicely and we see the details for the towns through vivid descriptors, we see and feel Clara's love for her home, making it all that more special.
The pacing is a comfortable trot and stayed consistent throughout.
The characters are all so charming. I really love Clara's inner monologue, she's hilarious, however, she does remain intentionally dense for way too long. Her denial of the obvious was a little frustrating. I love Hesper, but I wish she wasn't so immediately into Clara, a slower burn would have been preferred, but they did have great banter. And I did like Hesper's flirting.
May 10, 2026
I’ve followed the author on IG before she wrote the book so it was fun to see the process with her getting published. I was really excited for this book.
Unfortunately I just didn’t like it. It was trying to be sooo many things and it felt like it didn’t do any of them successfully. I’m bummed about it. I tried to love it. But the book just kept working against itself. I don’t know if they pushed it quicker than it should’ve been and it didn’t get its time in revisions that it needed or what. But it lacked focus. And the fake hate to love just isn’t working for me anymore.
Unfortunately I just didn’t like it. It was trying to be sooo many things and it felt like it didn’t do any of them successfully. I’m bummed about it. I tried to love it. But the book just kept working against itself. I don’t know if they pushed it quicker than it should’ve been and it didn’t get its time in revisions that it needed or what. But it lacked focus. And the fake hate to love just isn’t working for me anymore.
April 5, 2026
If you are someone who enjoys Magicks… Fae…. Magical Realism… World Building… Magical/Fantastical…sometimes talking creatures…. Well, this one is for you!
Clara has been on her own for some time now. She left her parents when she was very young, and I don’t blame her one bit… But she has finally settled in at least a bit… and now she’s being forced to pick up and uproot herself all over again! Why you ask? Well, because The Goddess has come and has given her an ultimatum! She must travel to the town of Dwindle, and establish a full grow garden there within a month, or be forever banished from her hometown. 😳
The problem is that Dwindle has been desolate for some time now. But, it is believed that Clara has some type of Garden Magic that will make her plants grow there…. But, can she actually do this?
Also, she must travel quite a ways to get there, and it is NOT safe. So she is assigned a protector…named Hesper. She is big and brawny and seems to be cold and uncaring… but, as time marches on, we find that she has a whole other side to her! And she can be quite funny! 😄
As these two navigate the travels ahead, they form a kind of bond that is sweet and scary too…
And when Clara finally comes in to her magics… well,it is very sweet… and bittersweet at the same time!
This was a mostly sweet, cozy, small-town, community helping each other kind of read… and I loved that!
I have to say that I was honestly surprised with the sapphic romance that followed! Although I am not a fan of this, the book was very sweet…and a bit spicy too.
And, being as this is a debut novel, I upped my rating from 4 stars to 5!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Looking forward to see what comes next from this talented author!
#TheImpossibleGardenOfClaraThorne by @SummerNEngland and narrated nicely by @FrankiePorter.
This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET! Please look 👀 for it on 4/7/26!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HachetteAudio and @ForeverPublishing for an ALC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️🩷
Clara has been on her own for some time now. She left her parents when she was very young, and I don’t blame her one bit… But she has finally settled in at least a bit… and now she’s being forced to pick up and uproot herself all over again! Why you ask? Well, because The Goddess has come and has given her an ultimatum! She must travel to the town of Dwindle, and establish a full grow garden there within a month, or be forever banished from her hometown. 😳
The problem is that Dwindle has been desolate for some time now. But, it is believed that Clara has some type of Garden Magic that will make her plants grow there…. But, can she actually do this?
Also, she must travel quite a ways to get there, and it is NOT safe. So she is assigned a protector…named Hesper. She is big and brawny and seems to be cold and uncaring… but, as time marches on, we find that she has a whole other side to her! And she can be quite funny! 😄
As these two navigate the travels ahead, they form a kind of bond that is sweet and scary too…
And when Clara finally comes in to her magics… well,it is very sweet… and bittersweet at the same time!
This was a mostly sweet, cozy, small-town, community helping each other kind of read… and I loved that!
I have to say that I was honestly surprised with the sapphic romance that followed! Although I am not a fan of this, the book was very sweet…and a bit spicy too.
And, being as this is a debut novel, I upped my rating from 4 stars to 5!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Looking forward to see what comes next from this talented author!
#TheImpossibleGardenOfClaraThorne by @SummerNEngland and narrated nicely by @FrankiePorter.
This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET! Please look 👀 for it on 4/7/26!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @HachetteAudio and @ForeverPublishing for an ALC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️🩷
April 7, 2026
This was a fun mix of sapphic romantasy & cozy fantasy! Such a fun read with a whimsical tone with complex characters.
I know some people don’t love spice with cozy but I do, don’t yuck anyone’s yum.
FMC Clara is a scatterbrained, crafty, town gardener with a a pet hedgehog. The Goddess of Moss surprises her with an unexpected quest. Clara must travel to the abandoned town of Dwindle and grow them a garden, or be banished from Moss. Only Clara cannot grow a thing outside of Moss. The mystery and intrigue around Clara’s magic keeps you hooked in to find out how she’s going to get out of the mess she is in and make her way back to her cozy home cottage.
To make matters worse the Goddess assigned her a guardian, a mysteriously hot and helpful Hesper Allanfall. We’re getting some grumpy sunshine action as Clara refuses help and is an overall curmudgeon, and Hesper works her charms as they make their way across the realm to Dwindle.
I love the romance so much, the slow burn tension was perfect, and the pay off was everything. Hesper was definitely my favorite character, I am a sucker for a swaggering sapphic. Clara makes some incredible growth and breakthroughs by the end of the book, while still maintaining her zany slightly chaotic personality which I appreciate.
I love that we had a nice HEA for the story here and a clear set up for another book to come.
Overall a great debut. The Audiobook was excellent and I loved the narrators energy and voices. They added so much richness to the story and kept me listening for hours.
I think if you like T Kingfisher’s Swordheart, or Hemlock & Silver, you’d think this was a fun read!
I know some people don’t love spice with cozy but I do, don’t yuck anyone’s yum.
FMC Clara is a scatterbrained, crafty, town gardener with a a pet hedgehog. The Goddess of Moss surprises her with an unexpected quest. Clara must travel to the abandoned town of Dwindle and grow them a garden, or be banished from Moss. Only Clara cannot grow a thing outside of Moss. The mystery and intrigue around Clara’s magic keeps you hooked in to find out how she’s going to get out of the mess she is in and make her way back to her cozy home cottage.
To make matters worse the Goddess assigned her a guardian, a mysteriously hot and helpful Hesper Allanfall. We’re getting some grumpy sunshine action as Clara refuses help and is an overall curmudgeon, and Hesper works her charms as they make their way across the realm to Dwindle.
I love the romance so much, the slow burn tension was perfect, and the pay off was everything. Hesper was definitely my favorite character, I am a sucker for a swaggering sapphic. Clara makes some incredible growth and breakthroughs by the end of the book, while still maintaining her zany slightly chaotic personality which I appreciate.
I love that we had a nice HEA for the story here and a clear set up for another book to come.
Overall a great debut. The Audiobook was excellent and I loved the narrators energy and voices. They added so much richness to the story and kept me listening for hours.
I think if you like T Kingfisher’s Swordheart, or Hemlock & Silver, you’d think this was a fun read!
April 12, 2026
I follow Summer on social media and think she’s hilarious, so I was really looking forward to reading her debut cozy romantasy.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The premise — a quest, a chosen one, a hot sapphic love interest, found family — was interesting, but the main character has the emotional maturity of a toddler. She spends most of the book pouting, willfully ignorant, self-defeating, and even throws several tantrums. The story is told from her POV, so her petulance is inescapable.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The premise — a quest, a chosen one, a hot sapphic love interest, found family — was interesting, but the main character has the emotional maturity of a toddler. She spends most of the book pouting, willfully ignorant, self-defeating, and even throws several tantrums. The story is told from her POV, so her petulance is inescapable.
April 8, 2026
I've been on the fence about cosy fantasies lately, but this has definitely won me over. I think for me personally, the big quest is too cosy. I still need something with an interesting lore and a shock factor and this book delivered.
This was a wonderful sapphic, cosy fantasy that had me enchanted from start to finish. I adored this story and the whole world from the first page and wish I could have been transported to Moss. That Goddess Celebration looked like a hoot and a half. The characters were just so easy to love, and the found family feeling I got from the town warmed my heart. I'm always a sucker for that kind of community. As for the quest, this was still a low-risk fantasy in my opinion, but it also had enough tension and high(ish) stakes to keep me invested.
Clara just felt so relatable throughout the whole book. I adored her personality, her sarcasm, her kindness and love for the people around her. Clara wasn't your typical strong, confident heroine. She could be clumsy, unsure of herself, scared, and is normally winging it 90% of the time and that just felt more real to me. Clara's journey on this quest turned out to be more important than she realised, and watching Clara find herself and believe in herself was just wonderful to read.
I also had the chance to listen to the audio which was narrated by Frankie Porter. Frankie did an incredible job with this audio and really brought the characters to life. The audiobook just added to my experience. I would highly recommend checking out the audiobook if you are going to read this book.
I feel like there is potential there for another book with how it ended, and I hope there is as I need more of Clara and Hesper! I loved this book and I would love to head back to Moss 🌿
Thank you to Hodderscape for the proof and Hachette audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
This was a wonderful sapphic, cosy fantasy that had me enchanted from start to finish. I adored this story and the whole world from the first page and wish I could have been transported to Moss. That Goddess Celebration looked like a hoot and a half. The characters were just so easy to love, and the found family feeling I got from the town warmed my heart. I'm always a sucker for that kind of community. As for the quest, this was still a low-risk fantasy in my opinion, but it also had enough tension and high(ish) stakes to keep me invested.
Clara just felt so relatable throughout the whole book. I adored her personality, her sarcasm, her kindness and love for the people around her. Clara wasn't your typical strong, confident heroine. She could be clumsy, unsure of herself, scared, and is normally winging it 90% of the time and that just felt more real to me. Clara's journey on this quest turned out to be more important than she realised, and watching Clara find herself and believe in herself was just wonderful to read.
I also had the chance to listen to the audio which was narrated by Frankie Porter. Frankie did an incredible job with this audio and really brought the characters to life. The audiobook just added to my experience. I would highly recommend checking out the audiobook if you are going to read this book.
I feel like there is potential there for another book with how it ended, and I hope there is as I need more of Clara and Hesper! I loved this book and I would love to head back to Moss 🌿
Thank you to Hodderscape for the proof and Hachette audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
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.
May 2, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
It was cute, very appropriate for spring and I liked the characters. However, I think I’m just not cut out for romances. I did appreciate the story part that felt more adventurous with the dark magic, but I did not find the overarching plot riveting. Also, I’m not a fan of a “enemies to lovers but actually far from being enemies even though it’s said many times that they are by the main character” trope, as well as a problem with the main villain being solved in about 6 pages. If you enjoy cutie and cheesy romances though, I would really recommend.
It was cute, very appropriate for spring and I liked the characters. However, I think I’m just not cut out for romances. I did appreciate the story part that felt more adventurous with the dark magic, but I did not find the overarching plot riveting. Also, I’m not a fan of a “enemies to lovers but actually far from being enemies even though it’s said many times that they are by the main character” trope, as well as a problem with the main villain being solved in about 6 pages. If you enjoy cutie and cheesy romances though, I would really recommend.
April 24, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC🌸
I was so excited to read a cozy book but unfortunately I didn't like the plot or the main character; she's annoying and strange to me, and her reactions are irritating.
Also, I didn't feel this book was a Cozy; rather, I felt that the focus of Spice was stronger, and they are two elements that are difficult to combine.
I'm sorry, I didn't like this book. I was expecting to read something completely different.
I was so excited to read a cozy book but unfortunately I didn't like the plot or the main character; she's annoying and strange to me, and her reactions are irritating.
Also, I didn't feel this book was a Cozy; rather, I felt that the focus of Spice was stronger, and they are two elements that are difficult to combine.
I'm sorry, I didn't like this book. I was expecting to read something completely different.
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.
April 12, 2026
Omg I LOVED this!!! I absolutely adore Summer, have been following her for years on Instagram and TikTok and knew I had to read this as soon as I found out about it! This was so wholesome and lovely, from the descriptive fantasy villages to the journey of facing your fears and learning to love despite all odds❤️❤️❤️ Absolutely loved every minute of this
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! 🌷🦔✨
April 11, 2026
2.5/5 Stars | Cozy Cottagecore Garden Magic 🌿🦔✨
What I liked: This book is soft. Like, aggressively, unapologetically soft. A gentle little world of cottages, hedgehogs, and quiet magic that feels like it was brewed in a teapot and served in a garden. And it delivers on that promise. The cozy vibes? Immaculate. Intentional. Lovingly crafted. You can feel the care poured into every detail—the warm settings, the tender atmosphere, the sweetness that wraps around you like a well-worn blanket. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to slow down, sip something warm, and just exist. And honestly? For readers seeking pure comfort, I think this hits the mark. If cozy is your aim, pick this one up.
What I didn’t like: However. HOW MANY TIMES MUST WE BE TOLD THE ANSWER BEFORE WE ARRIVE AT IT? I was gently (and then not so gently) bonked over the head with hints about the main conflict’s resolution. Again. And again. Let a girl discover it. Let the reader connect the dots. I am begging on behalf of all of us. It creates this frustrating sense that the story doesn’t quite trust its audience to keep up. And the genre blending. Cozy + romantasy + a dash of spice? In theory: delightful. In execution: a bit wobbly. The cozy elements shine, but the romantic dynamics and spicier elements (along with the plot) feel harder to believe, less developed, and lacking the depth needed to fully sell them. The relationships, in particular, left me tilting my head in confusion. I wanted more nuance, more emotional layering—more reason to believe.
Special thanks to Forever/Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
What I liked: This book is soft. Like, aggressively, unapologetically soft. A gentle little world of cottages, hedgehogs, and quiet magic that feels like it was brewed in a teapot and served in a garden. And it delivers on that promise. The cozy vibes? Immaculate. Intentional. Lovingly crafted. You can feel the care poured into every detail—the warm settings, the tender atmosphere, the sweetness that wraps around you like a well-worn blanket. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to slow down, sip something warm, and just exist. And honestly? For readers seeking pure comfort, I think this hits the mark. If cozy is your aim, pick this one up.
What I didn’t like: However. HOW MANY TIMES MUST WE BE TOLD THE ANSWER BEFORE WE ARRIVE AT IT? I was gently (and then not so gently) bonked over the head with hints about the main conflict’s resolution. Again. And again. Let a girl discover it. Let the reader connect the dots. I am begging on behalf of all of us. It creates this frustrating sense that the story doesn’t quite trust its audience to keep up. And the genre blending. Cozy + romantasy + a dash of spice? In theory: delightful. In execution: a bit wobbly. The cozy elements shine, but the romantic dynamics and spicier elements (along with the plot) feel harder to believe, less developed, and lacking the depth needed to fully sell them. The relationships, in particular, left me tilting my head in confusion. I wanted more nuance, more emotional layering—more reason to believe.
Special thanks to Forever/Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
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.
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.
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