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The Divine Gardener's Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun: A Novel
Perfect for fans of Tamsyn Muir and Rebecca Thorne, this joyful debut follows a gardener fighting to secure her dream job in the Divine Gardens—manipulating God, antagonizing her attractive rival, and running afoul of a brewing rebellion along the way.
Cyprin grows perfect apples.
No other worker tends the orchards like she can. Sick of living in a Jenga-esque megacity where she’s never alone (there’s always a rat), Cyprin dreams of a job in the Divine Gardens, tending to the plants overseen by God.
Her only way in is winning an annual flower pageant—one that’s been dominated by the Divine Gardens’ head gardener for five years an insufferable woman with an undeniable affinity for plants. When Cyprin plays dirty (criminally dirty) and wins, she jumps headfirst into life in the gardens and her rivalry with the head gardener, who she just can’t stop thinking about.
Pranks, backstabbing, and a lot of heated glaring unite them, until they’re both drawn into a plot to take down God—who’s really just some guy with a great garden. As they spiral through layers of the city’s history and underground rebel group, Cyprin and her rival will find they understand each other like no one else does, even if there can only be one head gardener in the end.
But rise or fall, at least Cyprin will always have the rats.
A chaotically queer exploration of love, ambition, and toxic work culture, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a romp of a science fantasy that will leave you gasping for more.
Cyprin grows perfect apples.
No other worker tends the orchards like she can. Sick of living in a Jenga-esque megacity where she’s never alone (there’s always a rat), Cyprin dreams of a job in the Divine Gardens, tending to the plants overseen by God.
Her only way in is winning an annual flower pageant—one that’s been dominated by the Divine Gardens’ head gardener for five years an insufferable woman with an undeniable affinity for plants. When Cyprin plays dirty (criminally dirty) and wins, she jumps headfirst into life in the gardens and her rivalry with the head gardener, who she just can’t stop thinking about.
Pranks, backstabbing, and a lot of heated glaring unite them, until they’re both drawn into a plot to take down God—who’s really just some guy with a great garden. As they spiral through layers of the city’s history and underground rebel group, Cyprin and her rival will find they understand each other like no one else does, even if there can only be one head gardener in the end.
But rise or fall, at least Cyprin will always have the rats.
A chaotically queer exploration of love, ambition, and toxic work culture, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a romp of a science fantasy that will leave you gasping for more.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Eli Snow
1 book51 followersEli Snow (they/them) is a speculative fiction writer, editor, and former medical geneticist, based in rural Australia with their two cats.
Their work tends to center queer and neurodivergent characters, as these are the perspectives they experience the world from. When not reading or writing, they should be checked for signs of life.
Eli also writes YA Fantasy under the name Elias Cold. Their YA debut, The Duke Steals Hearts, is available now from Page Street Kids.
Their work tends to center queer and neurodivergent characters, as these are the perspectives they experience the world from. When not reading or writing, they should be checked for signs of life.
Eli also writes YA Fantasy under the name Elias Cold. Their YA debut, The Duke Steals Hearts, is available now from Page Street Kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
September 8, 2026
A bit of a mixed bag! What started out strong didn't quite keep the same pull through the second half. I originally tried picking this one up earlier in August and wasn't feeling it, but decided to give it another go. I ended up enjoying the first half quite a bit, but found myself less drawn in as the story went on.
This is a futuristic, dystopian tale complete with 'otherworldly' audio narration , bio-bots, magical elements, and a unique post-apocalyptic history. Set in the megacity of Asperia, the story blends plant magic, a high-stakes power struggle between a ruling regime and freedom fighters, revenge, and a touch of romance.
While the world-building, unique magic system, and distinct character perspectives were intriguing, the pacing just couldn't quite sustain its momentum all the way to the end for me.
This is a futuristic, dystopian tale complete with 'otherworldly' audio narration , bio-bots, magical elements, and a unique post-apocalyptic history. Set in the megacity of Asperia, the story blends plant magic, a high-stakes power struggle between a ruling regime and freedom fighters, revenge, and a touch of romance.
While the world-building, unique magic system, and distinct character perspectives were intriguing, the pacing just couldn't quite sustain its momentum all the way to the end for me.
February 6, 2026
Guys, I love gay people. I love stories about gay people, and plant magic, and enemies to lovers. I'm also quite gay. But for some reason, I just could not get into this book, and I'm upset about it!!!
I loved the main characters: they're complete opposites and their banter is quick-witted and funny, but I found the world and plot to be underdeveloped and confusing. It felt like the story did not truly begin until the 50% mark but by then, I had lost interest. The romance also read strange to me; Purcell and Cyprin would be thinking about how much they hate each other but then suddenly be like "wait, she's actually really hot," so the relationship came across as a little too "insta-lovey" and heavy-handed.
Publishing, I know that I wrote a pretty negative review but please publish more books about gay people having magical romps and falling in love in nature worlds!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
I loved the main characters: they're complete opposites and their banter is quick-witted and funny, but I found the world and plot to be underdeveloped and confusing. It felt like the story did not truly begin until the 50% mark but by then, I had lost interest. The romance also read strange to me; Purcell and Cyprin would be thinking about how much they hate each other but then suddenly be like "wait, she's actually really hot," so the relationship came across as a little too "insta-lovey" and heavy-handed.
Publishing, I know that I wrote a pretty negative review but please publish more books about gay people having magical romps and falling in love in nature worlds!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh, how I wanted to love this one. The Divine Gardener's Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun unfortunately fell flat for me. I didn't really connect with it, it didn't really grasp me like I want my books to do, and it ultimately wasn't for me (or maybe I wasn't the right audience for this one).
I was psyched for the queer cozy romantasy/sci-fi vibes promised in the synopsis, but instead I got a strange, dissatisfying amalgamation of fantasy botanical horror-esque sci-fi with an unconvincing romance, AI/Bots, genetic mutations, and magic. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all of these aspects individually, I just don't think they worked well together here and that there was far too much going on. At about an hour left in the audiobook and 5-ish minutes remaining in the chapter I was up to, it felt like the story could have been ending in a ridiculously dissatisfying/not what I was expecting and very confusing manner. Like there's so much happening, but not enough? Like the characters are flat and the world building is more implied than shown.
Sometimes being in a characters head was confusing; I as a reader/listener knew what was happening, but the character was trying to convince themself (and us) that another thing was happening, but their delusion was convoluted and forced. There are other things that happen with characters in the plot that I just don't understand and are probably unnecessary, but were how the author got from Point A to Point B. There were two characters that were looped into something else later in the plot that I found strange. Like I understood the reason it was happening, why the author did it that way, but I couldn't connect why the character themself would have done it.
I could not for the life of me find the chemistry between Cyprin and Purcell. There was a strange insta-lust and insta-hate that didn't really make sense to me thrust upon the reader in such a redundant manner that I just stopped caring about it. The subtitle of "Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun") feels misleading as there was no real relationship between the two MFCs for the majority of the book. It's a grab-tactic that sucked me in and left me wanting.
I also had issues with the timeline in the story. Things felt to drag on, go so quickly, have a deadline that was arbitrary or not mentioned again, and I had a hard time keeping up with the "when" of the plot. There were so many places we went to where the time to travel there and back was brushed off, never mind the description of where we were felt lacking to me. I just couldn't picture it.
While on the hunt for the "why" (literally part of the story), I was left asking "why" about so many things myself. I still sit with so many questions that I cannot go into detail about because of potential spoilers.
The narration was done very well and I liked the cadence of the audiobook. I think it was well produced, the sound quality was consistent between the perspective changes, and I'm glad I had a change to give this one a listen.
In my effort to avoid spoilers, some of my above statements may be confusing in their vagueness and I apologize for that. This was a little rambly, but I'm just trying to get all my thoughts down and not miss anything while it's fresh. Overall I struggled with rating this read; the vibes of this one were maybe a 3 if I include my hopes and dreams of what this could have been, but the execution was a 2, so I'm going with a 2-star rating. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this one and I'll look for other things Eli Snow puts out in the future as this is a debut, but I'm sat about the results here.
I was psyched for the queer cozy romantasy/sci-fi vibes promised in the synopsis, but instead I got a strange, dissatisfying amalgamation of fantasy botanical horror-esque sci-fi with an unconvincing romance, AI/Bots, genetic mutations, and magic. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all of these aspects individually, I just don't think they worked well together here and that there was far too much going on. At about an hour left in the audiobook and 5-ish minutes remaining in the chapter I was up to, it felt like the story could have been ending in a ridiculously dissatisfying/not what I was expecting and very confusing manner. Like there's so much happening, but not enough? Like the characters are flat and the world building is more implied than shown.
Sometimes being in a characters head was confusing; I as a reader/listener knew what was happening, but the character was trying to convince themself (and us) that another thing was happening, but their delusion was convoluted and forced. There are other things that happen with characters in the plot that I just don't understand and are probably unnecessary, but were how the author got from Point A to Point B. There were two characters that were looped into something else later in the plot that I found strange. Like I understood the reason it was happening, why the author did it that way, but I couldn't connect why the character themself would have done it.
I could not for the life of me find the chemistry between Cyprin and Purcell. There was a strange insta-lust and insta-hate that didn't really make sense to me thrust upon the reader in such a redundant manner that I just stopped caring about it. The subtitle of "Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun") feels misleading as there was no real relationship between the two MFCs for the majority of the book. It's a grab-tactic that sucked me in and left me wanting.
I also had issues with the timeline in the story. Things felt to drag on, go so quickly, have a deadline that was arbitrary or not mentioned again, and I had a hard time keeping up with the "when" of the plot. There were so many places we went to where the time to travel there and back was brushed off, never mind the description of where we were felt lacking to me. I just couldn't picture it.
While on the hunt for the "why" (literally part of the story), I was left asking "why" about so many things myself. I still sit with so many questions that I cannot go into detail about because of potential spoilers.
The narration was done very well and I liked the cadence of the audiobook. I think it was well produced, the sound quality was consistent between the perspective changes, and I'm glad I had a change to give this one a listen.
In my effort to avoid spoilers, some of my above statements may be confusing in their vagueness and I apologize for that. This was a little rambly, but I'm just trying to get all my thoughts down and not miss anything while it's fresh. Overall I struggled with rating this read; the vibes of this one were maybe a 3 if I include my hopes and dreams of what this could have been, but the execution was a 2, so I'm going with a 2-star rating. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this one and I'll look for other things Eli Snow puts out in the future as this is a debut, but I'm sat about the results here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
The prose is too clunky for me, and too often there were images that I couldn’t make any sense of. Please bear in mind that I’m quoting from the advanced reader copy, so there’s no telling what might change between what I read and the final version. Typos and things are often caught and removed before a book’s release day.
What does ‘mushroomy’ mean? You’ve already used ‘bioluminescent’, which makes ‘mushroomy’ a separate descriptor – this phrasing does not imply bioluminescent mushrooms, which would make sense. So if we’re not talking about bioluminescent mushrooms, how is a glow ‘mushroomy’?
When Cyprin pictures the Gardens being full of carbon-copies of this person she doesn’t like, we get this line
I have no idea what this means, and I say that as someone comfortable with how Tumblr warps language.
Don’t know what this means either. Is it winding like knocked the wind out of her? Or winding like twisting? Neither makes sense to me.
Hilarious image, I love it, but the chunk of sentence after the last comma is way too long. Needs more commas or rephrasing.
That ‘does’ pings as wrong to me. Shouldn’t it be ‘did’?
Awkward phrasing. Just removing the ‘doing’ at the end would help a lot.
That is an incredible comeback, especially given who’s saying it! But shouldn’t it be ‘me neither’, not ‘me too’?
Except we’re not talking about a liquid, so this makes no sense?
Velvet doesn’t sparkle.
Awkward phrasing.
I don’t think stifling is a verb, so I’m not sure what’s going on here.
This is all without going into how Cyprin’s reasoning for a) taking part in the flower show and b) her strategy for winning make no sense. Her reasoning is ridiculous, to put it mildly. And the jumps in reasoning from point A to point Q happen constantly, like Purcell’s reasoning for not telling anyone she can talk to plants because someday she will Fail At Life. What??? I need you to explain how we got from one thing to the other!
This reads like something trying to be bonkers for the sake of it rather than something that is, naturally and objectively, bonkers. The jokes either make no sense or are very weak (like the attempt at poking fun at Purcell because…she’s using manure as fertiliser? How exactly is that funny? She’s a gardener, it’s a very basic thing for a gardener to do, isn’t it? Calling it poo rather than fertiliser doesn’t make it funny). It’s entirely possible than there will be shocking revelations about the worldbuilding later, but from what I read there’s nothing too unusual about the setting if this isn’t your first SFF novel, so the attempts at Being Weird felt very forced, not justified by the premise or the characters.
Really disappointed, but this one’s definitely not for me.
The prose is too clunky for me, and too often there were images that I couldn’t make any sense of. Please bear in mind that I’m quoting from the advanced reader copy, so there’s no telling what might change between what I read and the final version. Typos and things are often caught and removed before a book’s release day.
The bioluminescent mushroomy glow of a headlamp
What does ‘mushroomy’ mean? You’ve already used ‘bioluminescent’, which makes ‘mushroomy’ a separate descriptor – this phrasing does not imply bioluminescent mushrooms, which would make sense. So if we’re not talking about bioluminescent mushrooms, how is a glow ‘mushroomy’?
When Cyprin pictures the Gardens being full of carbon-copies of this person she doesn’t like, we get this line
Cyprin pictured them as little marshmallows she would pop in her month one by one until she was sick.
I have no idea what this means, and I say that as someone comfortable with how Tumblr warps language.
Purcell gasped and stepped back, winding herself on the wall.
Don’t know what this means either. Is it winding like knocked the wind out of her? Or winding like twisting? Neither makes sense to me.
Purcell edged closer, her fingertips on the tools in her pockets, ready to quick-draw her pliers gunslinger-style in case he tried any plant-god nonsense like in the stories where he became a golden shower and harassed some poor girl.
Hilarious image, I love it, but the chunk of sentence after the last comma is way too long. Needs more commas or rephrasing.
Her home needed mood lighting, the way a good soap opera does.
That ‘does’ pings as wrong to me. Shouldn’t it be ‘did’?
Amanda let herself in and started nosing around the apartment, the way only a person who’d known Purcell from childhood could get away with doing.
Awkward phrasing. Just removing the ‘doing’ at the end would help a lot.
“Right. I’m not in the mood for games.” Cyprin stood up and brushed the crinkles out of her knees, reading to leave.
“Me too, but no one seems to ever let me off the board.”
That is an incredible comeback, especially given who’s saying it! But shouldn’t it be ‘me neither’, not ‘me too’?
the spirit of blood and rubies distilled
Except we’re not talking about a liquid, so this makes no sense?
petals so lush and hydrated they sparkled like velvet in the sun.
Velvet doesn’t sparkle.
He sounded like he was trying to be jokey and put her at ease, but the words rubbed salt into all Cyprin’s psychological wounds.
Awkward phrasing.
Then the day recommenced stifling.
I don’t think stifling is a verb, so I’m not sure what’s going on here.
This is all without going into how Cyprin’s reasoning for a) taking part in the flower show and b) her strategy for winning make no sense. Her reasoning is ridiculous, to put it mildly. And the jumps in reasoning from point A to point Q happen constantly, like Purcell’s reasoning for not telling anyone she can talk to plants because someday she will Fail At Life. What??? I need you to explain how we got from one thing to the other!
This reads like something trying to be bonkers for the sake of it rather than something that is, naturally and objectively, bonkers. The jokes either make no sense or are very weak (like the attempt at poking fun at Purcell because…she’s using manure as fertiliser? How exactly is that funny? She’s a gardener, it’s a very basic thing for a gardener to do, isn’t it? Calling it poo rather than fertiliser doesn’t make it funny). It’s entirely possible than there will be shocking revelations about the worldbuilding later, but from what I read there’s nothing too unusual about the setting if this isn’t your first SFF novel, so the attempts at Being Weird felt very forced, not justified by the premise or the characters.
Really disappointed, but this one’s definitely not for me.
November 28, 2025
I received an ARC of this book and didn’t know what to expect. I found it to be quite enjoyable. The rivalry between Cyprin and Purcell was fun. The magical world was different from what I have read before. I would recommend trying out this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is a sci-fi dystopian love story. I was immediately pulled in by the title and the concept of the gardener.
I am currently struggling with a nasty cold so I might not have had the full patience required to map out this world. However, I still found the story quite difficult to follow. I want to give kudos to the author for making plants and their properties the mainstay of the plot. The concept felt truly novel and that is reflected in my rating.
Unfortunately the rest of the book did not work for me. The story starts as if the reader already knows the inner workings of the world. It felt disjointed and clunky. I really wish I could have liked this one more.
Thank you to Saturday Books and St. Martin's Press for the copy.
I am currently struggling with a nasty cold so I might not have had the full patience required to map out this world. However, I still found the story quite difficult to follow. I want to give kudos to the author for making plants and their properties the mainstay of the plot. The concept felt truly novel and that is reflected in my rating.
Unfortunately the rest of the book did not work for me. The story starts as if the reader already knows the inner workings of the world. It felt disjointed and clunky. I really wish I could have liked this one more.
Thank you to Saturday Books and St. Martin's Press for the copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
8.18.26 happy pub day to this fun and funky little queer scifi romance!
3.5. Delightfully weird and gay.
I’m seeing a lot of people complain about this book’s worldbuilding (or lack thereof) and I agree, to an extent, in the sense that I was absolutely desperate for more of it. I love this book’s weird fiction sensibilities - its mycelial power system, its skyscraper megacity and layers of undercity, the divinity of plants and gardens. I wanted it to push more. I wanted more exploration, history, lore, etc. Now, to an extent, the book is withholding those things for a reason, to set up some reveals at the end of the story. But a lot of it also just isn’t ever explained or played with. That was a little frustrating to me, but I also found it kind of funny in its realism: none of us interrogate the mundane realities of our daily life much, do we?
So the characters in this book are just like: “Ok I’m going to go see God, AKA The Great Petaled Divine, to apply his petal mail before he dies at age 42.” And you, the reader, go: “Oh? Elaborate?” And they’re like: “No 💖” and then they never do. And you know what? Fair. Great Petaled Divine. Sure. That’s just life. Proceed.
It’s not perfectly executed, but to me this is a lesser sin than hand-holdey fiction that over-explains itself lol.
I did find the relationships progressed a little too quickly and easily, with a dash of insta-lust, but I can also forgive that because I really enjoyed both main characters. Cyprin and Purcell were both so incredibly awful and annoying in ways that made me love them dearly (and I really recommend the audiobook, which is dual-narrated. Both narrators capture their characters’ personality perfectly.) They also felt really well balanced, with strongly carved out personalities and complimentary flaws and strengths. This book had an excellent grasp on what drew them together, what they liked about each other, and how they challenged each other, which is something I find a lot of romances (particularly debuts) are lacking.
I’m not one hundred percent sure how I feel about the ending, which glosses over some extremely weighty events; I think this book is ultimately ill-served by its need to return to baseline coziness, and I would have liked to see it punch up the drama and horror throughout the story. Altogether, though, this was a really fun time.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5. Delightfully weird and gay.
I’m seeing a lot of people complain about this book’s worldbuilding (or lack thereof) and I agree, to an extent, in the sense that I was absolutely desperate for more of it. I love this book’s weird fiction sensibilities - its mycelial power system, its skyscraper megacity and layers of undercity, the divinity of plants and gardens. I wanted it to push more. I wanted more exploration, history, lore, etc. Now, to an extent, the book is withholding those things for a reason, to set up some reveals at the end of the story. But a lot of it also just isn’t ever explained or played with. That was a little frustrating to me, but I also found it kind of funny in its realism: none of us interrogate the mundane realities of our daily life much, do we?
So the characters in this book are just like: “Ok I’m going to go see God, AKA The Great Petaled Divine, to apply his petal mail before he dies at age 42.” And you, the reader, go: “Oh? Elaborate?” And they’re like: “No 💖” and then they never do. And you know what? Fair. Great Petaled Divine. Sure. That’s just life. Proceed.
It’s not perfectly executed, but to me this is a lesser sin than hand-holdey fiction that over-explains itself lol.
I did find the relationships progressed a little too quickly and easily, with a dash of insta-lust, but I can also forgive that because I really enjoyed both main characters. Cyprin and Purcell were both so incredibly awful and annoying in ways that made me love them dearly (and I really recommend the audiobook, which is dual-narrated. Both narrators capture their characters’ personality perfectly.) They also felt really well balanced, with strongly carved out personalities and complimentary flaws and strengths. This book had an excellent grasp on what drew them together, what they liked about each other, and how they challenged each other, which is something I find a lot of romances (particularly debuts) are lacking.
I’m not one hundred percent sure how I feel about the ending, which glosses over some extremely weighty events; I think this book is ultimately ill-served by its need to return to baseline coziness, and I would have liked to see it punch up the drama and horror throughout the story. Altogether, though, this was a really fun time.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
Normally, I'm all for a sapphic romance and, going into this book, that was the primary draw for me. Unfortunately, that was one of the things I liked about this book the least (which feels terrible). Cyprin and Purcell--the two main leads--are both absolutely insufferable in vastly different ways. If their relationship only developed into a grudging friendship (or at the very least, respect), I actually might have liked this a little better. Unfortunately, the two of them didn't really have that romantic chemistry I was hoping for. Instead, there was inta-lust, for seemingly no good reason? The two of them had good reason to dislike one another, though Purcell was, by far, the more infuriating of the two. Her character archetype is very much like Rachel Berry from Glee--haughty, nosy, and frustrating to be in the head of. There was an attempt by the author at a character redemption arc, but I feel like it fell very flat.
Which leads into my second biggest issue: the pacing. The pacing was a little all over the place. I think there was an interesting story underneath the romance, but because I didn't like the romance (which ended up being a large focus), it felt like the more interesting plot beats got side-lined. Honestly, even if I had liked the romance, I would have wanted a bit more world-building and plot development; it just felt more egregious to me because the romance felt like it dragged.
Overall, this was not my vibe. The tone also felt a little dissonant at times and both the romance and ending felt rushed. I think the concept was interesting, even if I didn't enjoy the execution.
Normally, I'm all for a sapphic romance and, going into this book, that was the primary draw for me. Unfortunately, that was one of the things I liked about this book the least (which feels terrible). Cyprin and Purcell--the two main leads--are both absolutely insufferable in vastly different ways. If their relationship only developed into a grudging friendship (or at the very least, respect), I actually might have liked this a little better. Unfortunately, the two of them didn't really have that romantic chemistry I was hoping for. Instead, there was inta-lust, for seemingly no good reason? The two of them had good reason to dislike one another, though Purcell was, by far, the more infuriating of the two. Her character archetype is very much like Rachel Berry from Glee--haughty, nosy, and frustrating to be in the head of. There was an attempt by the author at a character redemption arc, but I feel like it fell very flat.
Which leads into my second biggest issue: the pacing. The pacing was a little all over the place. I think there was an interesting story underneath the romance, but because I didn't like the romance (which ended up being a large focus), it felt like the more interesting plot beats got side-lined. Honestly, even if I had liked the romance, I would have wanted a bit more world-building and plot development; it just felt more egregious to me because the romance felt like it dragged.
Overall, this was not my vibe. The tone also felt a little dissonant at times and both the romance and ending felt rushed. I think the concept was interesting, even if I didn't enjoy the execution.
September 20, 2026
Recommended: no - DNF'd at 70%
Not for any driving plot, the title event takes forever to happen, the enemies and lovers portion of enemies to lovers is weak as hell, and the world is pretty familiar for class divide setups. At best I can rec this if you like characters who will destroy themselves for the sake of petty revenge, or if you... like flowers? I guess?
Thoughts:
Oh my god, look, I really tried to read this book. I went away from it and forced myself to come back at least two or three times, which is a lot more than I would normally do. If a book ain't catching me, I am pretty quick to tap out and move on without wasting worry on it. But this one was an ARC, so I gave it my damnedest, but holy shit I just couldn't care about anything happening in this story.
My main issues were, in this order, the characters and the plot. The setting was ok. So running through them:
The characters are just so fucking annoying. Both of them, I despise. They are each selfish, chaotic idiots. They alternate between having awareness of how bad their decision is and then deliberately choosing to do it anyway, or else they are thinking that it is the ONLY logical choice for them while it is actually way out of character for them to that point. It's weird that Purcell is not even mentioned in the blurb other than vaguely as Cyprin's rival, given that maybe half the book is narrated by Purcell. Huge gap there.
Then this also suffers from one of my GREATEST peeves with any kind of "rivals to lovers" setup, which is that the reason for them to hate each other was so tiny. Purcell interrupts Cyprin during her job interview. Yeah, that's quite rude. But the reactions that follow are so completely insane I just don't know how to read the rest of the book with any kind of belief.
Onto the plot. It meanders. My god. The title of the book is "MY GIRLFRIEND TURNED OFF THE SUN." I think I'm justified in assuming that might have been a significant portion of the plot and something we spend time on. This didn't happen until about 70% of the way through the book, at which point by the way, they are definitely not "girlfriends" in any way shape or form? So it's not even accurate? OH MY GOD. It was so infuriating, I waited all this time for the title event to happen and then when it did I still didn't care because the journey to get there was infuriating. I quit the book. No thank you, don't care, everyone can die, let's move on.
The setting was moderately interesting. There's a fancy garden run by god, and everyone else is a poor schmuck living in a burnt out tech-pocalypse shit city. It's nothing especially new, but I was hopeful it could bring a unique or tense element to it. Maybe it did, slightly, but not nearly enough to overwrite anything else in it.
Also realizing now that the blurb even tells you straight up "God is just some guy with a great garden." I mean, take that literally. For all the aching they do about if God is actually a god or just someone well trained, it's wild that if I had just paid attention to the blurb, all of that mystery would have been totally moot as well. As it was, that was the only thing I was kind of engaged by, and it ended around 40% through, and the blurb already told me the outcome, so... yikes.
Overall, this book was absolutely not for me. I found the characters annoying and inconsistent, the rivals to lovers element was weakly established and I never even got to the "lovers" portion, and the plot is a wet fart. I'm not usually so mean about a book but I am so annoyed that I spent so much time on this one, with such high hopes, and this is all I got. UGH.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy. This is clearly my honest review.
Not for any driving plot, the title event takes forever to happen, the enemies and lovers portion of enemies to lovers is weak as hell, and the world is pretty familiar for class divide setups. At best I can rec this if you like characters who will destroy themselves for the sake of petty revenge, or if you... like flowers? I guess?
Thoughts:
Oh my god, look, I really tried to read this book. I went away from it and forced myself to come back at least two or three times, which is a lot more than I would normally do. If a book ain't catching me, I am pretty quick to tap out and move on without wasting worry on it. But this one was an ARC, so I gave it my damnedest, but holy shit I just couldn't care about anything happening in this story.
My main issues were, in this order, the characters and the plot. The setting was ok. So running through them:
The characters are just so fucking annoying. Both of them, I despise. They are each selfish, chaotic idiots. They alternate between having awareness of how bad their decision is and then deliberately choosing to do it anyway, or else they are thinking that it is the ONLY logical choice for them while it is actually way out of character for them to that point. It's weird that Purcell is not even mentioned in the blurb other than vaguely as Cyprin's rival, given that maybe half the book is narrated by Purcell. Huge gap there.
Then this also suffers from one of my GREATEST peeves with any kind of "rivals to lovers" setup, which is that the reason for them to hate each other was so tiny. Purcell interrupts Cyprin during her job interview. Yeah, that's quite rude. But the reactions that follow are so completely insane I just don't know how to read the rest of the book with any kind of belief.
Onto the plot. It meanders. My god. The title of the book is "MY GIRLFRIEND TURNED OFF THE SUN." I think I'm justified in assuming that might have been a significant portion of the plot and something we spend time on. This didn't happen until about 70% of the way through the book, at which point by the way, they are definitely not "girlfriends" in any way shape or form? So it's not even accurate? OH MY GOD. It was so infuriating, I waited all this time for the title event to happen and then when it did I still didn't care because the journey to get there was infuriating. I quit the book. No thank you, don't care, everyone can die, let's move on.
The setting was moderately interesting. There's a fancy garden run by god, and everyone else is a poor schmuck living in a burnt out tech-pocalypse shit city. It's nothing especially new, but I was hopeful it could bring a unique or tense element to it. Maybe it did, slightly, but not nearly enough to overwrite anything else in it.
Also realizing now that the blurb even tells you straight up "God is just some guy with a great garden." I mean, take that literally. For all the aching they do about if God is actually a god or just someone well trained, it's wild that if I had just paid attention to the blurb, all of that mystery would have been totally moot as well. As it was, that was the only thing I was kind of engaged by, and it ended around 40% through, and the blurb already told me the outcome, so... yikes.
Overall, this book was absolutely not for me. I found the characters annoying and inconsistent, the rivals to lovers element was weakly established and I never even got to the "lovers" portion, and the plot is a wet fart. I'm not usually so mean about a book but I am so annoyed that I spent so much time on this one, with such high hopes, and this is all I got. UGH.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy. This is clearly my honest review.
August 18, 2026
4.5 stars. What a super cute sci-fi/dystopian romance.
I will admit that it was the cover (GORGEOUS) and the title (what is even that subtitle) that drew me in. As a professional gardener, I was invested in seeing how Cyprin and Purcell's Head Gardener rivalry would play out! And excited to read about plants.
I've noticed some of the reviews are like "I don't understand why they hated each other so much." Girl, when you're competitive, a perfectionist, highly neurodivergent, and GAY, things happen. They both make mistakes and mess up, and I appreciate the realistic humanity in that. Also, I could relate to Cyprin's tendency to shove any emotion away behind humor and making light of situations - while it was annoying, as a trauma response, it felt realistic to me, especially given her past.
The plot was wild and I wanted WAY more worldbuilding. We got virtually no explanation as to why the Diving Kingdom of Verdure was the way it was, why the Divine gardens... why anything. So if that bothers you, steer clear of this one. I DO wish we had more about... the plants? Like, absolutely no offense to the author whatsoever, but I don't think they are a gardener. Either that or their editor made them cut the nerdy gardener stuff.
The best part was when Purcell was conjuring up plant babies towards the end... can I have a sequel of this please. THE MOLD WAS SO CUTE?! (a sentence I never thought I would ever say?)
From the publisher: "In their own words, Eli's inspiration for Cyprin and Purcell's relationship was, "what if, instead of arguing, my Autistic side and ADHD side fell in love?" I FELT THIS. I WAS HERE FOR THE VIBES.
Thank you to Saturday Books and Macmillan for the advanced reading copy!
I will admit that it was the cover (GORGEOUS) and the title (what is even that subtitle) that drew me in. As a professional gardener, I was invested in seeing how Cyprin and Purcell's Head Gardener rivalry would play out! And excited to read about plants.
I've noticed some of the reviews are like "I don't understand why they hated each other so much." Girl, when you're competitive, a perfectionist, highly neurodivergent, and GAY, things happen. They both make mistakes and mess up, and I appreciate the realistic humanity in that. Also, I could relate to Cyprin's tendency to shove any emotion away behind humor and making light of situations - while it was annoying, as a trauma response, it felt realistic to me, especially given her past.
The plot was wild and I wanted WAY more worldbuilding. We got virtually no explanation as to why the Diving Kingdom of Verdure was the way it was, why the Divine gardens... why anything. So if that bothers you, steer clear of this one. I DO wish we had more about... the plants? Like, absolutely no offense to the author whatsoever, but I don't think they are a gardener. Either that or their editor made them cut the nerdy gardener stuff.
The best part was when Purcell was conjuring up plant babies towards the end... can I have a sequel of this please. THE MOLD WAS SO CUTE?! (a sentence I never thought I would ever say?)
From the publisher: "In their own words, Eli's inspiration for Cyprin and Purcell's relationship was, "what if, instead of arguing, my Autistic side and ADHD side fell in love?" I FELT THIS. I WAS HERE FOR THE VIBES.
Thank you to Saturday Books and Macmillan for the advanced reading copy!
August 26, 2026
See my thoughts in my weekly roundup for 8/24/26-8/30/26!
Did Not Finish
August 21, 2026DNF at 30%. This was just too unserious to me and the writing style was overly silly and over the top. There wasn't ANY worldbuilding, which is a shame, because this seemed like such a unique world. There's little to no romantic chemistry and it seemed like it was going down the path of insta-love/insta-lust, which isn't for me.
Thank you to Saturday Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!
Thank you to Saturday Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!
June 30, 2026
This was a combo of too quirky and too cozy for me.
I was eager to read this because it was marketed as a book for those who love Rebecca Thorne (which I do heavily).
Plot:
How do I describe this? It was weird chaos. Okay, I try. Cyprin wants to escape her humdrum life for a chance to be the divine Gardner for god. She enters a flower pageant, historically won by Purcell, and plays dirty to secure her victory. They have a rivalry that slowly becomes a romance and they also team up to usurp God.
Thoughts:
Expanding on what I said above, this was chaos to me. Not only was the story one that I was uninterested in, but the relationships of the characters felt forced? Anytime romance was brought up, it didn’t feel necessary.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the alc and arc in exchange for my honest review.
I was eager to read this because it was marketed as a book for those who love Rebecca Thorne (which I do heavily).
Plot:
How do I describe this? It was weird chaos. Okay, I try. Cyprin wants to escape her humdrum life for a chance to be the divine Gardner for god. She enters a flower pageant, historically won by Purcell, and plays dirty to secure her victory. They have a rivalry that slowly becomes a romance and they also team up to usurp God.
Thoughts:
Expanding on what I said above, this was chaos to me. Not only was the story one that I was uninterested in, but the relationships of the characters felt forced? Anytime romance was brought up, it didn’t feel necessary.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the alc and arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 23, 2025
Sorprendentemente, devo dire che mi è piaciuto molto! Molto lontano dai sotto generi a cui sono abituata, ma l'autrice ha saputo caratterizzare bene ogni singolo personaggio presentato e il messaggio morale dietro al romanzo fa riflettere molto su ciò che sta accadendo oggi, nonostante tutti gli errori commessi più e più volte.
Giudizio positivo!
Giudizio positivo!
August 25, 2026
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is exactly the kind of wonderfully strange book that is equal parts quirky, cozy, and thought-provoking. The humor and absurdity early on made the more serious moments hit even harder, while specific throwback references to our own world made the futuristic setting feel oddly recognizable. Beneath all the weirdness is a story with a lot to say about society, progress, and what it really means to build something better.
Cyprin and Purcell both have plenty of baggage behind their actions and their pasts have heavily shaped the women they've become. Cyprin is cocky, stubborn, and fueled by a rooted need for revenge and plenty of unresolved anger. Purcell is sweet, determined, independent, and infuriatingly adorable, with her sights set on proving she’s still the best gardener in the Divine Gardens. Their histories are just as complicated as they are and their motivations run much deeper than they first appear.
Cyprin and Purcell’s dynamic is where so much of the book’s humor comes through. Seeing them constantly poke at each other, challenge each other, and try to one-up the other was so entertaining. Neither of them wants to be the first to cave and admit their feelings for the other resulting in an angsty, teasing slow burn. The romance is more like a thread woven through the larger story as their rivalry slowly starts to shift into an alliance—and eventually something more—neither expected.
The dystopian plot weaves together some really interesting ideas, particularly the story’s take on God and the Divine itself. What initially appears to be a celestial Eden reserved for the chosen gradually becomes something much less straightforward. The city’s literal construction reflects the larger issues within its society, with generation after generation continuing to build on top of the rubble of what failed instead of clearing it away to create something better. That idea carries throughout the story as the characters begin challenging what they’ve always known and working toward a future built on collaboration rather than continuing the cycle of destruction, erasure, and rebuilding.
The dual narration was such a great fit for these characters. Jess Nahikian gives Cyprin a gritty, sultry voice that matches her sharp edges, stubbornness, and underlying vulnerability. Ellie Gossage brings Purcell a sweeter, lighter, more optimistic tone that fits her warmth and determination. Both performances feel authentic to the women they’re portraying, and I loved how naturally each narrator settled into their respective character’s personality while still making the two voices distinct from one another.
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is clever, heartfelt, and completely unapologetic about being a little unhinged, with a surprisingly thoughtful message underneath all that chaos. Those ideas extend beyond the society Cyprin and Purcell are trying to change and are reflected in the ways they both have to question what they thought they knew and what they thought they wanted. It’s a story about breaking cycles, challenging assumptions, and choosing to build something better together, giving all the wonderfully strange chaos a surprisingly powerful purpose.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this ALC!
Favorite Quotes:
"Each generation standing on the backs of successive generations sounded impressive until you realized everyone composted together and no one made it out of the dirt."
"None of us will ever make it out of the bucket if the rest always pull them back down."
"She was imagining the glorious power of erasing everything off the face of the map and starting from scratch. The only way to truly make life fair."
"She was thoroughly enjoying this—but also was deflecting to humor. Making fun of someone else’s feelings was a defense mechanism. If everyone was laughing their feelings off all the time, there’d be no more acute disappointments."
"You started at the top of the staircase and you think just because the steps look the same, it's no big deal for people that have to start from the bottom."
"[She] pushed her and challenged her. She saw her—all the pain and aspirations, the raw meat of her—and she had liked her despite all of this. That was something worth fighting for."
"The problem with being too radical was you forgot about people and started to love ideals. Ideals could never love you back."
"We don't 'believe in,' we allow for the 'possibility of'."
Cyprin and Purcell both have plenty of baggage behind their actions and their pasts have heavily shaped the women they've become. Cyprin is cocky, stubborn, and fueled by a rooted need for revenge and plenty of unresolved anger. Purcell is sweet, determined, independent, and infuriatingly adorable, with her sights set on proving she’s still the best gardener in the Divine Gardens. Their histories are just as complicated as they are and their motivations run much deeper than they first appear.
Cyprin and Purcell’s dynamic is where so much of the book’s humor comes through. Seeing them constantly poke at each other, challenge each other, and try to one-up the other was so entertaining. Neither of them wants to be the first to cave and admit their feelings for the other resulting in an angsty, teasing slow burn. The romance is more like a thread woven through the larger story as their rivalry slowly starts to shift into an alliance—and eventually something more—neither expected.
The dystopian plot weaves together some really interesting ideas, particularly the story’s take on God and the Divine itself. What initially appears to be a celestial Eden reserved for the chosen gradually becomes something much less straightforward. The city’s literal construction reflects the larger issues within its society, with generation after generation continuing to build on top of the rubble of what failed instead of clearing it away to create something better. That idea carries throughout the story as the characters begin challenging what they’ve always known and working toward a future built on collaboration rather than continuing the cycle of destruction, erasure, and rebuilding.
The dual narration was such a great fit for these characters. Jess Nahikian gives Cyprin a gritty, sultry voice that matches her sharp edges, stubbornness, and underlying vulnerability. Ellie Gossage brings Purcell a sweeter, lighter, more optimistic tone that fits her warmth and determination. Both performances feel authentic to the women they’re portraying, and I loved how naturally each narrator settled into their respective character’s personality while still making the two voices distinct from one another.
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is clever, heartfelt, and completely unapologetic about being a little unhinged, with a surprisingly thoughtful message underneath all that chaos. Those ideas extend beyond the society Cyprin and Purcell are trying to change and are reflected in the ways they both have to question what they thought they knew and what they thought they wanted. It’s a story about breaking cycles, challenging assumptions, and choosing to build something better together, giving all the wonderfully strange chaos a surprisingly powerful purpose.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this ALC!
Favorite Quotes:
"Each generation standing on the backs of successive generations sounded impressive until you realized everyone composted together and no one made it out of the dirt."
"None of us will ever make it out of the bucket if the rest always pull them back down."
"She was imagining the glorious power of erasing everything off the face of the map and starting from scratch. The only way to truly make life fair."
"She was thoroughly enjoying this—but also was deflecting to humor. Making fun of someone else’s feelings was a defense mechanism. If everyone was laughing their feelings off all the time, there’d be no more acute disappointments."
"You started at the top of the staircase and you think just because the steps look the same, it's no big deal for people that have to start from the bottom."
"[She] pushed her and challenged her. She saw her—all the pain and aspirations, the raw meat of her—and she had liked her despite all of this. That was something worth fighting for."
"The problem with being too radical was you forgot about people and started to love ideals. Ideals could never love you back."
"We don't 'believe in,' we allow for the 'possibility of'."
August 21, 2026
This was so close to being 5 stars but that last third or so didn't quite stick the landing. Don't get me wrong - still a very good read, but ahhhhh if it just had a little bit more work done it could have really been great! One thing's for sure now - I am so excited to see what this author cooks up next after this debut.
The Divine Gardener's Handbook is set in a future where a densely packed city is overseen by a picturesque garden that exists to serve God, the Divine responsible for the sun rising and falling and all of the life it supports. Our main characters are Cyprin, who cheats her way into a position at the Divine Garden as part of a two-pronged revenge scheme against the man who abandoned her as a child and the Gardener who challenged her during her failed interview, and Purcell, the self-same Gardener who has just been appointed as Head, discovering that God is not quite who she expects. As the rivalry between the women escalates and the time for God to be "renewed" into a youth again approaches, the secrets of the Garden, its lies, and the city it supports are exposed.
Before I get any further, I want to make a criticism on the marketing of this book that will not affect my rating. I don't like holding authors accountable for these choices since they're rarely their own (except in the case of indies, but hmmm interestingly, you don't see this particular issue as much in marketing for indies), but this is the second book in a row I've read with a misleading tagline or subtitle. I commented on this already, but for anyone perusing reviews: the subtitle to this book does not become relevant until the final third of the book. As I explained in the original comment, I have nothing against dramatic irony, but in this case, the inclusion of the "Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun" implies that the book is about that "what to do." It's not. It's more about the lead up to the incident than anything else, and as I'll discuss later, I do think the "what to do" portion is the weakest section of the book. And the "girlfriend" thing comes even later than that. I can see this discrepancy between marketing and contents causing frustration with some readers, and unfortunately, I expect it will affect the ratings on this book even though there's a strong chance that this was not Snow's decision. So this is your warning if you haven't read it yet to please adjust those expectations.
To comment on the book itself, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is so much fun, defined by uniquely voiced POV characters and a truly one-of-a-kind concept. Cyprin and Purcell are such unapologetic gremlins in their own way, and watching them interact with and try to one-up each other is so very delightful. I have never read characters who are not explicitly stated to be neurodivergent who come of as relatably and organically neurodivergent as these two. Are they a little annoying at times? Yes, and I love that and can acknowledge that I also get a little annoying if you catch me in a specific mood or challenge me on specific topics. Let them be annoying! They deserve it! It's fun!
Also, I've commented on this already, but I do quite enjoy stories where God is just Some Guy™️. Honestly, shoutout to God, his trashy novels, his occasional overindulgence in alcohol, his desire to be loved, and his own specific brand of gremlin energy. (Because Snow really sat down and said, "I'm going to write a book with only the most trouble-seeking POV characters in the world." And they were so right.)
In terms of the secrets that our characters learn, and what that exposes about the worldbuilding.... Ohhhh, it's so interesting but nearly impossible to discuss anything besides the obvious without getting into late book spoilers! The way that was wonderfully seeded by repeated parallels the narrative drew was utterly exquisite. As for the city's history and the origin of the Gardens, I'm shocked how thoroughly I buy the explanation of , considering that I find that conclusion was significantly less well-seeded. And the fact that the solution to that was really, really works for me.
To revisit what I indicated about a portion of the ending being poorly seeded, particularly the background of and resolution to the more tangible plot of this novel... Despite feeling like the presented solution made a lot of sense within the context of the story, it was written in a way that it felt like the solution was being explained to us in a single go rather than organically uncovered by the characters. There were some elements that were hinted at, but nowhere near with the level of grace and skill as most of the story's other revelations. To that end, despite the resolution feeling fitting, it didn't land as wonderfully as it could have. It's a shame, because I think with just a few more revisions of the last third or quarter of the novel, it could have easily been there.
To name a read-alike for this book: if you enjoy The Locked Tomb series, particularly Nona the Ninth, I'd give this a try. The plotlines are dissimilar in most ways, but the story deals with some similar theme and the narration and knowledge level of the characters is evocative of Nona. Also, I do think Snow will end up resolving into a similar storytelling style as Tamsyn Muir if they keep publishing after this debut, with genre-bending worlds and out-of-the loop characters that refuse to explain themselves to the readers. Yes, there was a bit of a fumble at the end, but for the most part, this novel followed a similar trajectory, I had a lot of fun, and I have very high hopes for this author's future!
Absolutely give this one a shot!
The Divine Gardener's Handbook is set in a future where a densely packed city is overseen by a picturesque garden that exists to serve God, the Divine responsible for the sun rising and falling and all of the life it supports. Our main characters are Cyprin, who cheats her way into a position at the Divine Garden as part of a two-pronged revenge scheme against the man who abandoned her as a child and the Gardener who challenged her during her failed interview, and Purcell, the self-same Gardener who has just been appointed as Head, discovering that God is not quite who she expects. As the rivalry between the women escalates and the time for God to be "renewed" into a youth again approaches, the secrets of the Garden, its lies, and the city it supports are exposed.
Before I get any further, I want to make a criticism on the marketing of this book that will not affect my rating. I don't like holding authors accountable for these choices since they're rarely their own (except in the case of indies, but hmmm interestingly, you don't see this particular issue as much in marketing for indies), but this is the second book in a row I've read with a misleading tagline or subtitle. I commented on this already, but for anyone perusing reviews: the subtitle to this book does not become relevant until the final third of the book. As I explained in the original comment, I have nothing against dramatic irony, but in this case, the inclusion of the "Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun" implies that the book is about that "what to do." It's not. It's more about the lead up to the incident than anything else, and as I'll discuss later, I do think the "what to do" portion is the weakest section of the book. And the "girlfriend" thing comes even later than that. I can see this discrepancy between marketing and contents causing frustration with some readers, and unfortunately, I expect it will affect the ratings on this book even though there's a strong chance that this was not Snow's decision. So this is your warning if you haven't read it yet to please adjust those expectations.
To comment on the book itself, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is so much fun, defined by uniquely voiced POV characters and a truly one-of-a-kind concept. Cyprin and Purcell are such unapologetic gremlins in their own way, and watching them interact with and try to one-up each other is so very delightful. I have never read characters who are not explicitly stated to be neurodivergent who come of as relatably and organically neurodivergent as these two. Are they a little annoying at times? Yes, and I love that and can acknowledge that I also get a little annoying if you catch me in a specific mood or challenge me on specific topics. Let them be annoying! They deserve it! It's fun!
Also, I've commented on this already, but I do quite enjoy stories where God is just Some Guy™️. Honestly, shoutout to God, his trashy novels, his occasional overindulgence in alcohol, his desire to be loved, and his own specific brand of gremlin energy. (Because Snow really sat down and said, "I'm going to write a book with only the most trouble-seeking POV characters in the world." And they were so right.)
In terms of the secrets that our characters learn, and what that exposes about the worldbuilding.... Ohhhh, it's so interesting but nearly impossible to discuss anything besides the obvious without getting into late book spoilers! The way that was wonderfully seeded by repeated parallels the narrative drew was utterly exquisite. As for the city's history and the origin of the Gardens, I'm shocked how thoroughly I buy the explanation of , considering that I find that conclusion was significantly less well-seeded. And the fact that the solution to that was really, really works for me.
To revisit what I indicated about a portion of the ending being poorly seeded, particularly the background of and resolution to the more tangible plot of this novel... Despite feeling like the presented solution made a lot of sense within the context of the story, it was written in a way that it felt like the solution was being explained to us in a single go rather than organically uncovered by the characters. There were some elements that were hinted at, but nowhere near with the level of grace and skill as most of the story's other revelations. To that end, despite the resolution feeling fitting, it didn't land as wonderfully as it could have. It's a shame, because I think with just a few more revisions of the last third or quarter of the novel, it could have easily been there.
To name a read-alike for this book: if you enjoy The Locked Tomb series, particularly Nona the Ninth, I'd give this a try. The plotlines are dissimilar in most ways, but the story deals with some similar theme and the narration and knowledge level of the characters is evocative of Nona. Also, I do think Snow will end up resolving into a similar storytelling style as Tamsyn Muir if they keep publishing after this debut, with genre-bending worlds and out-of-the loop characters that refuse to explain themselves to the readers. Yes, there was a bit of a fumble at the end, but for the most part, this novel followed a similar trajectory, I had a lot of fun, and I have very high hopes for this author's future!
Absolutely give this one a shot!
September 2, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.
I didn't finish this book. I kept looking for reasons to do anything except read this and at the 60% mark, decided to call it. There were things I liked about it, but a lot of it didn't work for me.
I was intrigued by the concept, the title and the cover. I thought there were some great ideas in this book, and it's a unique world. But a lot of it just didn't work for me. I was distracted by the idea of a mega city of 7 billion, which was repeated a couple of times. Like does the author actually know how many people that is? That's almost the population of the entire planet. I found the two main leads frankly unappealing and insufferable. I didn't understand their instant hate for each other, and not buying the lust aspect (I can't really call it romance, it just felt very lustful, esp with the repeated mentions of the Lust Island TV show). I tried to keep reading it, but to be honest, I also wasn't sure what kind of book this was meant to be. It definitely comes across at least from the cover as a cozy and has some cozy vibes, but from what I read it's not at all a cozy. But then I struggled to feel the high stakes that were involved.
I didn't finish this book. I kept looking for reasons to do anything except read this and at the 60% mark, decided to call it. There were things I liked about it, but a lot of it didn't work for me.
I was intrigued by the concept, the title and the cover. I thought there were some great ideas in this book, and it's a unique world. But a lot of it just didn't work for me. I was distracted by the idea of a mega city of 7 billion, which was repeated a couple of times. Like does the author actually know how many people that is? That's almost the population of the entire planet. I found the two main leads frankly unappealing and insufferable. I didn't understand their instant hate for each other, and not buying the lust aspect (I can't really call it romance, it just felt very lustful, esp with the repeated mentions of the Lust Island TV show). I tried to keep reading it, but to be honest, I also wasn't sure what kind of book this was meant to be. It definitely comes across at least from the cover as a cozy and has some cozy vibes, but from what I read it's not at all a cozy. But then I struggled to feel the high stakes that were involved.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review from NetGalley
I made it through to 79%, couldn't even round it to 80% with 2 hours and 25 mins left. I WANTED to DNF at 59% but was hanging on to a blade of grass hoping it would get better.
I really tried with this one. The title, cover, and premise all sounded so interesting I was hooked. The delivery? Flowers you got from your aunt that she bought last night (and didn't put in water but left them on the kitchen counter) and then kept in the hot car for hours before she gave them to you for being in the school play where you were Tree Number One. Pretty at very first glance but immediately wilt before you even get home, and are dying by the next day.
I found myself tuning out, dreading turning this back on, and not caring if the two wildly erratic FMCs got their shit together. I HATE DNFing a book and have suffered through worse, but I sadly have to say Please Save Your Money and don't read this.
I made it through to 79%, couldn't even round it to 80% with 2 hours and 25 mins left. I WANTED to DNF at 59% but was hanging on to a blade of grass hoping it would get better.
I really tried with this one. The title, cover, and premise all sounded so interesting I was hooked. The delivery? Flowers you got from your aunt that she bought last night (and didn't put in water but left them on the kitchen counter) and then kept in the hot car for hours before she gave them to you for being in the school play where you were Tree Number One. Pretty at very first glance but immediately wilt before you even get home, and are dying by the next day.
I found myself tuning out, dreading turning this back on, and not caring if the two wildly erratic FMCs got their shit together. I HATE DNFing a book and have suffered through worse, but I sadly have to say Please Save Your Money and don't read this.
August 23, 2026
This is such a good book!!! ...As of about 65% in.
The first half is such an unfortunate bore, considering the second half is so good I couldn't put it down until I finished at 4:30am.
I had anticipated, in thanks to the title, that the MCs would be, y'know, girlfriends. I was wrong. They aren't girlfriends until the last few pages, and conversely spend a solid 70% of the book hating one another. Look; I love enemies to lovers just as much are the next guy, but this was a bit much, considering there wasn't even anything going on in the plot.
It certainly wasn't helped by the fact that, for the first 53% of the book, the two only see one another in the occasional passing; nor that they spend another very large chunk of the second half separated again. Thankfully, by that point, the plot has sped up, the stakes are dramatic, and the setting becomes so interesting it feels criminal to have left it untouched for so long.
The characters themselves are interesting and likeable, with Cyprell in particular feeling blessedly fleshed out and real. The narrators are well chosen and the voice acting is great.
Honestly, this book has soooo much potential to be the read of the season, but it wastes too much time meandering around establishing characters and living out a secondary, uninteresting plot with an abrupt, dramatic end. The second half is absolutely incredible, bumping it up to a 4 star that I wish I could give a 5 star to; but I can't ignore the absolute drag of the first half of the book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC.
The first half is such an unfortunate bore, considering the second half is so good I couldn't put it down until I finished at 4:30am.
I had anticipated, in thanks to the title, that the MCs would be, y'know, girlfriends. I was wrong. They aren't girlfriends until the last few pages, and conversely spend a solid 70% of the book hating one another. Look; I love enemies to lovers just as much are the next guy, but this was a bit much, considering there wasn't even anything going on in the plot.
It certainly wasn't helped by the fact that, for the first 53% of the book, the two only see one another in the occasional passing; nor that they spend another very large chunk of the second half separated again. Thankfully, by that point, the plot has sped up, the stakes are dramatic, and the setting becomes so interesting it feels criminal to have left it untouched for so long.
The characters themselves are interesting and likeable, with Cyprell in particular feeling blessedly fleshed out and real. The narrators are well chosen and the voice acting is great.
Honestly, this book has soooo much potential to be the read of the season, but it wastes too much time meandering around establishing characters and living out a secondary, uninteresting plot with an abrupt, dramatic end. The second half is absolutely incredible, bumping it up to a 4 star that I wish I could give a 5 star to; but I can't ignore the absolute drag of the first half of the book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sadly, I do not think this is the book for me. I finished this book and immediately thought I'm not sure what I read. And I sat with it for a few days and I'm still not positive on what I read. Parts of the story I loved and other parts didn't hit in the way I was hoping.
One of the best parts about this book was Cyprin and Purcell. They are the epitome of opposites attract when it comes to lovers. Cyprin has a devil may care attitude and Purcell is rule follower to the depths of her soul. They shouldn't work but in their own way they absolutely do work. But where I struggled was the lack of development of the relationship between the two characters. There were glimmers in the enemies to lovers snark and sass. There were glimmers in each character's quiet moments of reflection and vulnerability. But I don't feel it fully came to fruition and it made it hard to root for them as a couple. But as separate entities I had fun with both of them. I enjoyed Cyprin and her lackadaisical attitude. She also appealed to me in her desire to simply find her place, her home, and the people who will love her. Purcell and her rule following heart had me itching to give her a hug. I wanted her to step outside of her boundaries so bad. And when she did it was so epically bad, you couldn't help but love that Purcell wanted to fix it in the way she was accustomed to. I also felt for Purcell because she had the weight of familial expectations and history weighing her down. So much so that it felt that Purcell didn't know if she was allowed to be her own person or have friends. And that broke my heart.
Where this book truly fell short for me, was the dystopian world and plot. I don't feel that I got enough time to spend with the world to truly understand it. I wasn't sure if I understood about the "Divine" and their purpose. I wasn't sure about how we got to the dystopian world and the world order that had been established. Was I supposed to hate the gardener's? Root for those outside of the garden? Was there another government entity pulling the strings that was the actual big bad?
I wish that there had been a solid through line throughout the story. But instead, it felt a bit chaotic. I wasn't sure what was up and what was down. I definitely felt that there was times where I was invested in the story. Primarily the story between Cyprin and Saul. I wanted to know more. I wanted that story to expand and grow. It was those small glimmers of the story beneath that had me reading on and hoping I would find more. It had a lot of promise, but in the end, this book did not deliver for me.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the early release digital arc. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.
One of the best parts about this book was Cyprin and Purcell. They are the epitome of opposites attract when it comes to lovers. Cyprin has a devil may care attitude and Purcell is rule follower to the depths of her soul. They shouldn't work but in their own way they absolutely do work. But where I struggled was the lack of development of the relationship between the two characters. There were glimmers in the enemies to lovers snark and sass. There were glimmers in each character's quiet moments of reflection and vulnerability. But I don't feel it fully came to fruition and it made it hard to root for them as a couple. But as separate entities I had fun with both of them. I enjoyed Cyprin and her lackadaisical attitude. She also appealed to me in her desire to simply find her place, her home, and the people who will love her. Purcell and her rule following heart had me itching to give her a hug. I wanted her to step outside of her boundaries so bad. And when she did it was so epically bad, you couldn't help but love that Purcell wanted to fix it in the way she was accustomed to. I also felt for Purcell because she had the weight of familial expectations and history weighing her down. So much so that it felt that Purcell didn't know if she was allowed to be her own person or have friends. And that broke my heart.
Where this book truly fell short for me, was the dystopian world and plot. I don't feel that I got enough time to spend with the world to truly understand it. I wasn't sure if I understood about the "Divine" and their purpose. I wasn't sure about how we got to the dystopian world and the world order that had been established. Was I supposed to hate the gardener's? Root for those outside of the garden? Was there another government entity pulling the strings that was the actual big bad?
I wish that there had been a solid through line throughout the story. But instead, it felt a bit chaotic. I wasn't sure what was up and what was down. I definitely felt that there was times where I was invested in the story. Primarily the story between Cyprin and Saul. I wanted to know more. I wanted that story to expand and grow. It was those small glimmers of the story beneath that had me reading on and hoping I would find more. It had a lot of promise, but in the end, this book did not deliver for me.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the early release digital arc. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 31, 2026
🌟3.75 stars 🌟
I'll be honest the first portion of this book read like all the middling cozy fantasy romances I've read this year, however once we reached the POV chapter from God things started getting weird in the best way. My initial lack of interest came from a struggle to believe that Purcell and Cyprian should have any attraction to each other. It felt like the narrative was forcing the two of them together because they fell into an enemies/rivals dynamic with no build up. Frankly I think the romance is the weakest aspect of the story, but the weird post apocalyptic sci-fi setting made up for it. I wish that we had spent even more time with the Underground wandering through the eerie Undercity. I think that Snow could write a really compelling sci-fi story and that they should make romance more of a C-plot. Though this wasn't perfect, I'll definitely be checking out Snow's next book to see what wacky ideas they come up with.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I'll be honest the first portion of this book read like all the middling cozy fantasy romances I've read this year, however once we reached the POV chapter from God things started getting weird in the best way. My initial lack of interest came from a struggle to believe that Purcell and Cyprian should have any attraction to each other. It felt like the narrative was forcing the two of them together because they fell into an enemies/rivals dynamic with no build up. Frankly I think the romance is the weakest aspect of the story, but the weird post apocalyptic sci-fi setting made up for it. I wish that we had spent even more time with the Underground wandering through the eerie Undercity. I think that Snow could write a really compelling sci-fi story and that they should make romance more of a C-plot. Though this wasn't perfect, I'll definitely be checking out Snow's next book to see what wacky ideas they come up with.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a digital and audio ARC of this title.
This is one of those times the cover got me. I really thought I would enjoy this book, but it just didn't keep my attention. There was too much going on. And the "romance" was kind of cringy.
I think the author had great ideas, and the writing style itself wasn't bad, but the author may need to reign themselves in with the next book and stick to just a few ideas.
This is one of those times the cover got me. I really thought I would enjoy this book, but it just didn't keep my attention. There was too much going on. And the "romance" was kind of cringy.
I think the author had great ideas, and the writing style itself wasn't bad, but the author may need to reign themselves in with the next book and stick to just a few ideas.
August 2, 2026
Going in, I was not expecting to read a sci-fi dystopia, but the more I read, the more I fell in love with The Divine Gardener’s Handbook and both our sapphic disasters, Cyprin and Purcell.
I don’t know why I was expecting a cosy sapphic rivals-to-lovers fantasy with some gardening, but immediately in the first chapter, this felt more sci-fi than fantasy. Then I checked the blurb and saw the comp to Tamsyn Muir, and realised I must have gotten the wrong impression somewhere along the way. I’m so glad I picked this up, because The Divine Gardener’s Handbook completely exceeded my expectations!
I loved Cyprin right from the start, and grew to love Purcell along the way. The book starts off on a lighter note, focusing on the rivalry between our two main characters, while still showing us glimpses of the dystopian world they live in. However, the plot really starts to shine in the latter half, when Purcell accidentally turns off the sun and stars and everything goes horribly wrong. At this point I could also see why somebody had thought of Tamsyn Muir, because even though this is very different from Gideon the Ninth , it gave me the closest feeling to that book that I've had while reading anything else. When Cyprin and Purcell explore the city of Asperia, it feels very much like the crumbling First House in Gideon.
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is not a romance novel, although there is a romance between the main characters. It’s an apocalyptic sci-fi dystopia, with messed-up but lovable main characters who need to save the world, and who find themselves and each other in the process. Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher (St. Martin's Press / Saturday Books) for the ARC.
I don’t know why I was expecting a cosy sapphic rivals-to-lovers fantasy with some gardening, but immediately in the first chapter, this felt more sci-fi than fantasy. Then I checked the blurb and saw the comp to Tamsyn Muir, and realised I must have gotten the wrong impression somewhere along the way. I’m so glad I picked this up, because The Divine Gardener’s Handbook completely exceeded my expectations!
I loved Cyprin right from the start, and grew to love Purcell along the way. The book starts off on a lighter note, focusing on the rivalry between our two main characters, while still showing us glimpses of the dystopian world they live in. However, the plot really starts to shine in the latter half, when Purcell accidentally turns off the sun and stars and everything goes horribly wrong. At this point I could also see why somebody had thought of Tamsyn Muir, because even though this is very different from Gideon the Ninth , it gave me the closest feeling to that book that I've had while reading anything else. When Cyprin and Purcell explore the city of Asperia, it feels very much like the crumbling First House in Gideon.
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is not a romance novel, although there is a romance between the main characters. It’s an apocalyptic sci-fi dystopia, with messed-up but lovable main characters who need to save the world, and who find themselves and each other in the process. Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher (St. Martin's Press / Saturday Books) for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Divine Gardener's Handbook by Eli Snow.
I kept hearing about this book when reading about 2026 releases, and I do think it is a book that cozy fantasy readers will enjoy.
For me, it ended up being a bit of a miss. I thought it was going to be more of a what the summary states - a woman who is trying to get her dream job with some workplace shenanigans and romance in a divinely based garden setting while tackling a rebellion -- it reads like it is supposed to be a comedy. The sub title line also makes it sound like it's much more about the dating of the main character's and trying to save the world in a whimsical way.
Instead it was about one woman set on revenge for trauma she refuses to process, and another woman who is elitist and obsessed with her own legacy and trauma she refuses to process, a god who is manipulating both of them to find a larger truth about their world, multiple plots to control the city/overthrow ruling parties, historical issues with AI, and more. While it does make a cohesive storyline, much of the subplots and character developments felt minimally thought out -- enough to get from point to point, but without the depth to truly think about the implications and issues and history and meaning behind the way this world is structured and how Cyprin and Purcell deal with their own personal histories. And, considering some of these developments are very dystopian and fairly dark, I wish they weren't couched in jokes about marshmallows and office work competition. Maybe I'm just struggling with if this is meant to be cozy and suspending disbelief about the horrors of a world without sun, or if it's meant to be a deeper cut on on a dystopian level with a romance for levity.
It's okay that it wasn't a fit for me, and, again, I think there are many readers who will really enjoy this, it just wasn't quite what I expected.
I kept hearing about this book when reading about 2026 releases, and I do think it is a book that cozy fantasy readers will enjoy.
For me, it ended up being a bit of a miss. I thought it was going to be more of a what the summary states - a woman who is trying to get her dream job with some workplace shenanigans and romance in a divinely based garden setting while tackling a rebellion -- it reads like it is supposed to be a comedy. The sub title line also makes it sound like it's much more about the dating of the main character's and trying to save the world in a whimsical way.
Instead it was about one woman set on revenge for trauma she refuses to process, and another woman who is elitist and obsessed with her own legacy and trauma she refuses to process, a god who is manipulating both of them to find a larger truth about their world, multiple plots to control the city/overthrow ruling parties, historical issues with AI, and more. While it does make a cohesive storyline, much of the subplots and character developments felt minimally thought out -- enough to get from point to point, but without the depth to truly think about the implications and issues and history and meaning behind the way this world is structured and how Cyprin and Purcell deal with their own personal histories. And, considering some of these developments are very dystopian and fairly dark, I wish they weren't couched in jokes about marshmallows and office work competition. Maybe I'm just struggling with if this is meant to be cozy and suspending disbelief about the horrors of a world without sun, or if it's meant to be a deeper cut on on a dystopian level with a romance for levity.
It's okay that it wasn't a fit for me, and, again, I think there are many readers who will really enjoy this, it just wasn't quite what I expected.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review Details?
-no spoilers!
-ebook (ARC)
-3.75 (out of 5)
Fanta-SciFi-ness?
-the world we visit in The Divine Gardener's Handbook leans toward soft sci-fi in that the world is driven by character choices and decisions, though we ultimately have a central problem/solution rooted in technology.
-the story takes us to a few core locations in a large city split into haves and have-nots. the descriptions and world-building elements of this book are some of its absolute highs. that said, though the book is vivid and fun in its presentation, the language used can sometimes work against the feeling of immersion (e.g., "shoot your shot").
-the sci-fi system is a fun one, though it is never completely clear what its core rules are.
-with just a few small edits, one chapter near the end of the book (Chapter 42) could stand alone as a very gripping short story.
Complexity?
-we (mostly) follow 2 central characters, Cyprin and Purcell, who are rivals with an attraction. they both have interesting moments, but I felt that the characters--both individually and as a duo--mostly hit the same notes until the final 1/5 of the book. it is all subjective, but I would have liked to see a more linear progression. in addition to these two, we follow some core secondary characters who are fairly engaging (especially Saul).
-the overarching plot is an interesting one, but it is straightforward and easy to follow.
Keep it Coming?
-despite any gripes I may have, I ultimately felt a hunger to keep reading. again, the world and its lore are fun and fascinating.
-chapters seemed to be roughly 5-10 pages for the most part, including chapter breaks, which helped to stoke the "just one more chunk before bed..." feeling.
-no spoilers!
-ebook (ARC)
-3.75 (out of 5)
Fanta-SciFi-ness?
-the world we visit in The Divine Gardener's Handbook leans toward soft sci-fi in that the world is driven by character choices and decisions, though we ultimately have a central problem/solution rooted in technology.
-the story takes us to a few core locations in a large city split into haves and have-nots. the descriptions and world-building elements of this book are some of its absolute highs. that said, though the book is vivid and fun in its presentation, the language used can sometimes work against the feeling of immersion (e.g., "shoot your shot").
-the sci-fi system is a fun one, though it is never completely clear what its core rules are.
-with just a few small edits, one chapter near the end of the book (Chapter 42) could stand alone as a very gripping short story.
Complexity?
-we (mostly) follow 2 central characters, Cyprin and Purcell, who are rivals with an attraction. they both have interesting moments, but I felt that the characters--both individually and as a duo--mostly hit the same notes until the final 1/5 of the book. it is all subjective, but I would have liked to see a more linear progression. in addition to these two, we follow some core secondary characters who are fairly engaging (especially Saul).
-the overarching plot is an interesting one, but it is straightforward and easy to follow.
Keep it Coming?
-despite any gripes I may have, I ultimately felt a hunger to keep reading. again, the world and its lore are fun and fascinating.
-chapters seemed to be roughly 5-10 pages for the most part, including chapter breaks, which helped to stoke the "just one more chunk before bed..." feeling.
May 28, 2026
4.25⭐️ Cyprin lives in a dystopian future, one where she is part of a trodden-on class who lives in a crowded, dirty city while an upper class of people, Gardeners, live in a lush oasis cultivating a beautiful garden for the Divine Being. When an opportunity arises for Cyprin to change her circumstances (and get revenge on an old enemy in the process) she will stop at nothing to get her way. That is until the Head Gardener, infuriatingly adorable Purcell with a secret of her own, starts to complicate matters.
This book was refreshingly original and the perfect amount of bitter to sweet. Both main characters felt fully fleshed out and had plenty of character flaws and growth. The magic/sci-fi of the world was a little looser than I would have preferred, and there were quite a few awkwardly written scenes. But on the whole I greatly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes sapphic romance and sci-fi
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
This book was refreshingly original and the perfect amount of bitter to sweet. Both main characters felt fully fleshed out and had plenty of character flaws and growth. The magic/sci-fi of the world was a little looser than I would have preferred, and there were quite a few awkwardly written scenes. But on the whole I greatly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes sapphic romance and sci-fi
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
July 12, 2026
Thank you Macmillan audio for the ALC! This was unfortunately not for me. I really struggled with the narrators and the story premise. I followed along with our two man characters and was excited for a cozy queer fantasy book, but then some of the plot points got a bit weird and I was so confused and felt like things didn’t make any sense. I’m still a bit confused by the AI plot point and I just am not sure if besides all the funny lines I ever felt connected to the book!
September 16, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books and NetGalley for this E-ARC. All opinions are my own
The Divine Gardener's Handbook was what I can best describe as a subtle ride that in the end turns into a very fast rollercoaster. I enjoyed my time reading this book, but I will forewarn that I found the story from around 30-70% to be very slow and although I think necessary for setting off the payoff it did take me a while to read.
This book is told through multiple POV's but the main two are Cyrpin and Purcell. Cyrpin is from the city, she's scrappy, love starved and has a chip on her shoulder the size of the Grand Canyon. She is a gardener at an orchard and has her eyes set on the highest of highest employment- working in the Divine Gardens. Purcell is the new head gardener, she's a perfectionist, a touch neurotic and has never left the gardens. The two meet and start off on the wrong foot. But, through Cyprin's maneuvering they become co-workers and now serve the God of the gardens together. The problem is that there is more to this garden that meets the eye. Things are not at all what they seem.
In the end, I had to reevaluate everything I had read and ended up liking the book more than I had while reading it. I enjoyed the very subtle clues and worldbuilding we get throughout this book. Once everything clicked, I was able to go back and relook at all my highlighted questions I had while reading. In that way I think the story telling is masterful and I won't go into too much more details for fear on spoilers. I found that the character development of our two main MCs came in spurts and were interesting arcs from how they had grown up. I wish we would have had more time to go more into the lore of certain characters and plots, but I still think what we got was very interesting. I personally don't really get the big romance between Purcell and Cyprin- even Cyprin at one point admits to almost to playground pulling of pig tails. But I guess if that works for them kudos?
Overall, I would give this book a 3.75 rounded up to a 4 just for the wrap up of the story. I didn't really see it coming and would still love to know more about the undercity and its history. I think this is a good palate cleanser of a book for me personally as it was extremely unique in a cyber punk botanical kind of way?
The Divine Gardener's Handbook was what I can best describe as a subtle ride that in the end turns into a very fast rollercoaster. I enjoyed my time reading this book, but I will forewarn that I found the story from around 30-70% to be very slow and although I think necessary for setting off the payoff it did take me a while to read.
This book is told through multiple POV's but the main two are Cyrpin and Purcell. Cyrpin is from the city, she's scrappy, love starved and has a chip on her shoulder the size of the Grand Canyon. She is a gardener at an orchard and has her eyes set on the highest of highest employment- working in the Divine Gardens. Purcell is the new head gardener, she's a perfectionist, a touch neurotic and has never left the gardens. The two meet and start off on the wrong foot. But, through Cyprin's maneuvering they become co-workers and now serve the God of the gardens together. The problem is that there is more to this garden that meets the eye. Things are not at all what they seem.
In the end, I had to reevaluate everything I had read and ended up liking the book more than I had while reading it. I enjoyed the very subtle clues and worldbuilding we get throughout this book. Once everything clicked, I was able to go back and relook at all my highlighted questions I had while reading. In that way I think the story telling is masterful and I won't go into too much more details for fear on spoilers. I found that the character development of our two main MCs came in spurts and were interesting arcs from how they had grown up. I wish we would have had more time to go more into the lore of certain characters and plots, but I still think what we got was very interesting. I personally don't really get the big romance between Purcell and Cyprin- even Cyprin at one point admits to almost to playground pulling of pig tails. But I guess if that works for them kudos?
Overall, I would give this book a 3.75 rounded up to a 4 just for the wrap up of the story. I didn't really see it coming and would still love to know more about the undercity and its history. I think this is a good palate cleanser of a book for me personally as it was extremely unique in a cyber punk botanical kind of way?
October 15, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy!
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off The Sun
✍🏻 Eli Snow
📝 Publishing Date: August 18, 2026
🎧Narrator: Ellie Gossage & Jess Nahikian
This one hooked me with the stunning cover and concept of plant based magic! This started out strong for me, the world was intriguing, the magic unique, and the characters entertaining. I loved the Jenga-style layering of the world, the dystopian vibes, and the plant based magic system. The banter between our two main characters set the scene for the enemies to lovers sapphic romance. I just felt like the pacing was off across the board, from the plot to the relationship building. I’m not sad to have read it by any means, I just feel like it could have delivered a bit more!
🎧 Ellie Gossage & Jess Nahikian were great in their narration here!
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off The Sun
✍🏻 Eli Snow
📝 Publishing Date: August 18, 2026
🎧Narrator: Ellie Gossage & Jess Nahikian
This one hooked me with the stunning cover and concept of plant based magic! This started out strong for me, the world was intriguing, the magic unique, and the characters entertaining. I loved the Jenga-style layering of the world, the dystopian vibes, and the plant based magic system. The banter between our two main characters set the scene for the enemies to lovers sapphic romance. I just felt like the pacing was off across the board, from the plot to the relationship building. I’m not sad to have read it by any means, I just feel like it could have delivered a bit more!
🎧 Ellie Gossage & Jess Nahikian were great in their narration here!
Did Not Finish
October 11, 2026Really really wanted to like this
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