The Library of Botanical Witchcraft

by Jasmine Wigham

A plant-loving librarian and a standoffish witch team up to cure a botanical curse in this whimsical and charming fantasy perfect for fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and The Spellshop.
The Evergreen Conservatoire of Botanical Witchcraft is off limits to anyone without magical gifts.

But Thalia Sylvestre has just landed herself a prestigious job as an assistant in Evergreen's library, granting her rare access to this unique repository of botanical witchlore.

It's Thalia's perfect to be surrounded by gilded tomes of magic and enchanted plants with minds of their own. Most importantly, it gives her the resources she needs to research, in secret, a cure for the curse that afflicts her twin sister Hebe.

If only the place wasn't teeming with troublesome witches. Witches like August Hawthorne, a post-graduate student from a distinguished line of magical botanists. August is standoffish and clearly disdainful of Thalia. But his research could be the key to helping Hebe - if Thalia can stop acting so flustered around him for long enough to find out.

As Thalia and August grow closer, time is running out for Hebe. But within Evergreen are secrets yet to be unearthed . . .

If you

📚 Books
🌱 Plants
✨ Magic & whimsy
🎓 Light academia
💖 Blossoming romance

. . . then you'll be spellbound by The Library of Botanical Witchcraft!

Praise for Jasmine Wigham's enchanting
'High action and intricate plot twists are woven through the magical tapestry that Wigham conjures here, but the real sorcery comes from how she brings the characters and their relationships to vivid life . . . spellbinding' Kirkus Reviews

Reader reviews for Jasmine's novel Cradle of Secrets:

'I fell in love with the characters . . . The book flowed really well and I read it in two separate sittings because I just couldn't put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Fans of found family, misfit monster fighters and/or the Penny Dreadful TV show will adore the beginning of Jasmine Wigham's gothic fantasy series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'As soon as I started I couldn't put it down . . . I loved the detailed descriptions throughout which allow you to fully immerse yourself in the book and really brought the characters to life' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Academia, Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Magic

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

Jasmine Wigham grew up reading any book that she could get her hands on and fell in love with fantasy and its many worlds. She writes novels inspired by her home in County Durham and the people that she grew up with. She enjoys writing about local and regional areas that she doesn’t see very much in fiction.

She has loved writing ever since she was a child, but only recently started writing again after finishing her BA in History and English Literature. She was a recent finalist in the Penguin 2020 Write Now scheme, which aims to champion promising new writers who are so far underrepresented in the publishing landscape, with her debut crossover fantasy, CRADLE OF SECRETS (due to be published in May 2025).

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have Thalia, who becomes a library assistant with the hopes to help her sister that is cursed. She went for the Evergreen’s library with all the botanical books and a greenhouse where she hopes to find the right cure and help her sister get better as fast as possible. There Thalia meets August, the witch, Elio the baker, Quintin the librarian and she finds the friends she has been missing for so long.

This is a really sweet cozy and soft read with a lot of cute moments, romance brewing from the start with a lot of awkwardness before they talk to each other but once we hit the middle, the romance is in full progress. Thalia and August are quite lovely throughout the whole book, even if they were having their moments of relationship problems further in the book.

The side characters are great addition to the plot because they’re all having their own charms that grabbed me while reading it. We have something like familiars as well, in the form of a cat and thunderbird that are around Thalia’s sister Hebe and they have their owl little personalities.

I think the reason this one wasn’t a five star for me is that through it all, I was hoping for something a little more to happen between the coziness, which we had in great amount, and more magic, which we barely get outside of August. Other than that, this is indeed the perfect soft and sweet cozy read.

I was hoping for a little more detailed research and talk about what it could be the cause of the curse, especially with the academia setting we have, because outside of a little sneaking and some info dump from August, and mention of what they tried here and there, we didn’t get much of it. However, with the twist which I kind of guessed, it made sense why it was like this too.

Some of their tries against the curse were interesting. And some of Thalia’s decisions felt a little too reckless at moments too, even if it seemed like she did her research but still preferred going blind instead. Also it might have been because she’s desperately trying to help her sister?

On the other hand, Thalia got the close relationships and support system, she was missing from before becoming an assistant so that was very nice to read about. I think it helps her character’s grow and her confidence, with a strong improvement for her love life.

So I think if you like cozy reads that highlight on the love story and the friendships, this would work perfectly for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for approving me read this book in advance! I appreciate it!

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart and SOUL was invested in this book! Omg. It had such a beautiful feel to it, I not only loved the light academia vibes but all the characters completely had my heart.

I was rooting so hard for Thalia, I could have been cursed by dark magic myself! Once I picked up this book, the outside world was but an echo. I tore through chapters at a time and as I consumed more of the story, it got more cute, loving and it was so heartwarming. I love a found family theme and especially with Thalia, who was venturing out into the world, I just wanted to see her succeed. She’s head strong, incredibly loyal but also putting herself out there to make friendships and connections she’s never had before.

She’ll do a lot to save her sister, and if that means getting a job at the library so she can illicitly consume knowledge and discover the cure she needs to fight a dark magic curse, then so be it. That is what she does! I had so much admiration for her and the book really was just a delight from beginning to end.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is syrupy sweet in the best possible way, and while I would have edited about 76 pages in the middle, it was a fun magical romantic romp.

PLUS she ends with a plea to support children and raising readers for the next generation. Hard to beat that!

[Kira Sivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Jasmine Wigham, Headline Publishing Group and NetGalley for this free ARC.


'I'm a librarian not a gardener. plants and books do not mix'.


One of the secondary characters, Quentin says this line. While he was talking about himself ironically—given that he works as a librarian in an institute specializing in botany—I couldn't help but think it was and odd thing to say. One the one hand, I get Quentin is a meticulous, orderly individual, and nature is anything but. And yet, books themselves are literally made of plants! Also, maybe it's just me, but whenever I imagine botany or a botanist, I envision those vintage journals filled with intricate drawings of plants alongside their names and uses. Though I digress. On to the review!


✍🏽📖 The Reading Experience

As this was a story that featured a deadline for the climax, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it arrived on time. By that, I mean that in this type of plot, the pacing usually rushed, especially towards the end. Here, however, it kept the momentum steady throughout. That might sound boring to some, but when scenes actually have something to say, a reader will barely notice.


📚 The Story: Plants and Books do mix. Just Ask Academia!

Thalia Sylvestre loves her sister, Hebe. It's because of that deep love she has become the new assistant library at the prestigious Evergreen Conservatoire—a beacon for students studying magical botany. The sole reason she's there is for Hebe; her sister has been suffering through something terrible that's only getting worse, and Thalia is determined to find a cure to fix things. Whether that means sneaking into the library to read at night or covertly taking books home that's she'd 'forgotten' to sign back in, then that's exactly what she'll do.

If only one August Hawthorne wasn't always around! Surely, he has better things to do than to constantly attract her attention with his unwanted presence. And no, she didn't mean his looks. Not she she noticed them anyway—she definitely didn't.


🪄 The Magic System

Honestly, there was barely any magic cast in this book unless it was August casting one or two spells. This disappointed me considering the story is set in a magical school where the students are all witches! I suppose it could be argued that because Thalia is a non-magical, she wouldn't have much to do with magic herself. But we hardly have her even taking note of students or staff wielding magic around her. The only things about the magic system that we really learn are that it is inherited rather than taught, and that dark magic is completely taboo.


💡Themes

Nepotism & Expectations: Nepotism seems to be talked about more and more these days. Even though it's always existed and isn't exclusive to anyone one group—using connection to get ahead happens in all walks of life—it can be both a good and a bad thing. In the story's interest it's the same. Particularly with the Hawthorne family and their connection to the Evergreen Conservatoire. It's this influence and prestige that August had grown up with and benefited from, but it can be a double-edged sword. The weight of expectations to follow in a person's footsteps can be heavy and constricting. Then, there are also the expectations that a person puts on themselves, whether intentionally or not.

Inadequacy & Insecurity: These two traits go hand in hand, especially for our two main characters. So much so, that these traits more than any other directly impact their decisions and subsequently drive the story forward. Following them as they learn that they are capable of more than they thought, and that they are truly enough, was heartwarming to read.


👥 Characters

Thalia: Her biggest defining trait is her love for her sister. More so than her interaction with the characters, my favourite parts of the books were she and Hebe were together. At the start, it feels like the two are mirrors of each other, but as time went on, they seemed on more even ground, while keeping their core selves. Thalia was interesting because while she likes books, she has more of an interest in botany, as seen with her tending to her own garden and her yearning to visit the greenhouse. There's also a balance to her in that there are times where she's in willful denial. True, it's a coping mechanism, but it's also a defensive trait that—paired with her habit of not letting others finish speaking—frequently lands her in misunderstandings.


August: As I've mentioned August above, I'll just say here that I appreciated he acknowledged that he got where he was through his family's connections. He then uses that privilege to help Thalia and her sister. I caught some Mr. Darcy parallels to him as well. I also loved that he supported Thalia, never looking down on her or found her lacking for having no magic.


Elio & Quentin: These two are fun, loyal friends to have around. Quentin is less the 'fun; one and more the meticulous, slightly pompous friend. I loved Elio from the start; he was just like the kitchen he worked in—warm and welcoming. Quentin, on the hand, took some time to grow on me. That time being when he had a surprisingly Hermione Granger-esq moment regarding restrictions in the library.


Brontë & Caspar: I will never not mention the animal companions! Cats like Casper are par for the course in a witchy story, and maybe that was the reason he had less of presence overall than Brontë did. Brontë, on the other hand is a thunderbird who actually had much more of a role in the story other than being animal that Hebe took in when she was injured.


✔️ Final Thoughts

This a lovely story of a girl's search for a cure for her sister, which ultimately leads her to finding more of herself and helping others do the same along the way. What I loved most about is that it's a cozy fantasy, but it features an urgency to the conflict that feels refreshing for the genre. So if that's what you're looking for, you're in luck here! 😊.

[Karolina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Headline Accent for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book will be released on September 24, 2026.

This was a 4.25 ⭐️ reading.

Okay… when I received this ARC, I thought it would be all “cute witchy vibes with books and plants" and instead I somehow ended up emotionally living inside a cozy magical greenhouse with feelings I was absolutely not prepared to water daily.

This book pulled me in from the very beginning. Thalia and her twin sister Hebe immediately had my heart. Thalia’s determination to save her sister at any cost? Unhinged devotion (in the best possible way). Like, girl really said “I will become a librarian, infiltrate a magical academic institution and possibly bend a few rules of reality if needed.” Respect.

The setting of Juniper Grove and the Evergreen Conservatoire is incredibly atmospheric. It’s giving candlelight, old books, enchanted plants and quiet whispers of secrets tucked into hallways. I genuinely felt like I was reading under a blanket with tea I definitely forgot about getting cold beside me.

Thalia is such a strong but soft protagonist. She’s determined, loyal to a fault and honestly a little reckless when it comes to Hebe, but in a way that makes her feel deeply human. I loved watching her slowly step into a world she doesn’t fully belong in and still find ways to carve out her place in it. Hebe is the emotional core of everything. Thalia’s love for her sister drives the entire narrative and gives the story a real weight beneath all the cozy magic.

August… oh, August. At first, I completely understood Thalia’s “this man is annoying and way too arrogant” energy. But slowly, quietly and annoyingly charmingly, he starts revealing different layers. The kind of character development where you catch yourself thinking “oh no… I see it now… I like him.” Their dynamic is a slow burn full of tension, accidental closeness and those moments where you’re wondering why standing next to someone suddenly feels like a plot twist.

Also, the side characters like Elio and Quentin genuinely made the magical library feel alive rather than just a backdrop. They added warmth, personality, and that lived in feeling that made everything more immersive.

The romance is very much “I don’t like you” evolving into “wait… why do I trust you with my emotions and possibly my entire life?” energy.

It’s soft, awkward and full of that slow realization that neither of them is actually okay without the other. There’s a lot of quiet yearning, subtle tension in shared spaces and that gentle emotional unfolding that feels natural rather than forced. No big dramatic chaos here, just two emotionally confused people slowly orbiting each other until it becomes inevitable.

The writing is genuinely beautiful, vivid, immersive and so atmospheric it feels like you can almost smell the enchanted herbs and step directly into the library itself.

The botanical magic system is such a creative and engaging concept and the magical academia setting works really well. The library scenes in particular felt rich with history, personality and little pockets of hidden knowledge waiting to be discovered.

That said, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit slow for me, especially in the middle sections where the story leans more into description than progression. I still enjoyed it, but I did find myself occasionally thinking “Okay, Thalia, I love you, but can we maybe speed walk toward the cure now?”

I also personally wanted a little more time with Thalia and August together in higher stakes situations. Their romance is lovely, but I was definitely craving a bit more external tension alongside the quieter moments.

This book feels like a warm spell you didn’t realize you needed, cozy, emotional, softly romantic and full of comforting “found family and healing through connection” energy.

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Library of Botanical Witchcraft is a fantasy novel following Thalia, a young woman who gets a job at the local magical university’s library in order to find a cure for her sister’s curse. Hebe is slowly turning into a tree, and Thalia will do anything to stop it. Together with August, a magical scholar with a family legacy to uphold, Elio, a cook in the kitchens, and Quentin, Thalia’s boss, the group must work to unravel the curse and save Hebe.

This story was fun and engaging, though I think I expected it to be cozier than it was. The story leans into the sinister elements of Hebe’s curse and Thalia’s stress, without providing enough levity through quiet moments of comfort. I think a comparison to Emily Wilde by Heather Fawcett is very fair, as the story leans into both the academic elements and the various negative costs of magic. I would have liked more instances of enjoying the flavors of a baked good or time spent relaxing in the garden, as those would bring some of the warmth that this story needed amidst all of the stress.

The characters in this story felt well-developed, and Thalia’s characterization feels consistent and fleshed out. The side characters felt engaging and distinctive. The plot moved well, though did feel a little slow at the beginning. The romance plotline was well done, though I think that our characters needed to spend more time together in the second act to really emphasize their connection.

The third act conflict felt very frustrating because of all of the deceit involved. I understand why certain characters may lie, but to have so many characters hiding the truth from Thalia felt like a bit of overkill. Thalia was working herself to the bone and multiple characters were hiding vital information from her search for no clear reason. It felt frustrating and made Thalia’s community ultimately feel untrustworthy.

Altogether, this book was fun, with an interesting mystery to solve and solid discussions of class. The book wasn’t as cozy as it was described in the marketing, but it was engaging, with solid character development and a fun romance.

Thank you to Hatchette UK, Jasmine Wigham, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

[Kels Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Library of Botanical Witch - I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for granting me access to this ARC.

Summary - Desperate to find a cure for her sister Hebe, who is cursed by dark magic, Thalia lands a job at the prestigious Evergreen Conservatoire of Botanical Witchcraft. A place where only the best and most prominent witches learn. The plan is to use her job as a disguise to study the rare collection of botanical books, to hopefully find a cure once and for all. The only problem: The enigmatic August Hawthorn, who could be the key or hinder her chances of saving Hebe.

Thoughts - I went into a reading slump at the end of June, and it was not a good time to do so with so many ARCs I needed to read, this book being one of them. Well, this book surprisingly got me out of my reading slump. It was light, cozy, and easy to read. Unfortunately, there was something missing to make this a great read. I was waiting for this book to pick up, to have more interesting subplots, anything. But it just seemed to stay the same. I was also disappointed by the lack of botanical information; while there was a little, I was seriously hoping for a lot more. That was what interested me in this book to begin with. I also found Thalia extremely annoying. Why have all the books I have read lately all had annoying main female characters? Can no one write a good main character?
Now that I have the negative parts done, let's focus on the positive. The world-building was fun; the cottage the sisters live in was super enticing and cute. I loved the garden, the animals, and just the overall vibe of the cottage. I loved the town and the way the whole Juniper Grove was created and explained. Very quaint and super cozy. I think what plants and botanicals were explained were amazing and so interesting.
Now, characters I loved! Elio and Quentin were perfect, and I want more of them. So sassy, full of attitude, and the chemistry was chef's kiss! Unfortunately, while I love August, August and Thalia together? No thanks. I think August didn't have enough time on the pages, and when he was, it was focused on Thalia, without giving away the one twist that made me go "wow" is to do with him. He is key to this story, so more of him would have been nice. I think this book would have been a four-star read for me; however, it ended up being a three-star, which isn't bad—it was just a little disappointing. The ending, though, was still great, and overall the vibe of cozy was prominently there. I would still recommend this to a friend or anyone who is interested in reading this genre because I don’t think it is a bad read, just missing something.

[Orla · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚨🚨🚨 THE MMC BLUSHES I REPEAT THE MMC BLUSHES. ALL THE STARS FOR THAT ALONE🚨🚨🚨

The cozy fantasies this year have been Cozy Fantasy-ing to the absolute MAX this year and this is no exception to the rule. I was OBSESSED with this book right from the start, and I both simultaneously never wanted to put the book down but also never wanted to finish reading this story, because I didn’t want to leave Juniper Grove and the conservatoire and the wonderful characters.

Thalia was such a pure FMC, the love she had for her sister Hebe and her driving forces in this book was so beautiful to read, and also seeing her gain the found family that she so deserves made me want to cry happy tears for her. She learned that just by being herself she could find love in so many forms and it was just so lovely.

And August Hawthorne the MMC himself, he had me kicking and screaming and smiling like an utter fool while reading his interactions with Thalia. He was SUCH a cinnamon roll, and so adorably awkward, and watching him nearly combust because he simply laid eyes upon beautiful Thalia and he didn’t know what to do had me screaming. And did I mention he blushes? I feel this might be the most important part of the review. Bring back MMCs who blush like August, it was so incredibly endearing.

The romance was impeccable, slow burn and believable and the little cute gestures they would do for each other near killed me. I really didn’t think I would ever be obsessed with forehead kisses but here we are.

The side characters were so fleshed out and had really believable relationships forming between everyone, and what I would have given to spend my mornings in Elio’s kitchen with the gang having some freshly baked scones for breakfast.

The plot was brilliant, there were stakes that were raised as the book went along, but nothing too stressful. It had me smiling, laughing, sad, hopeful, and it did have me tearing up at points too.

Truly what a beautiful cozy incredible book!!!

Thank you to Net Galley for the arc, all views are my own.

[Emily Capri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC!

The Library of Botanical Witchcraft follows Thalia Sylvestre, a young woman starting a brand new job as a library assistant at The Evergreen Conservatoire of Botanical Witchcraft. Normally Evergreen is off limits to anyone without magical gifts/abilities, something Thalia doesn't have. While she's excited and curious about what she might see and learn, the reason Thalia sought out this job was to gain access to appropriate resources to try and find a cure for her twin sister, Hebe. It's been the two sisters in a cosy cottage just outside of town with an assortment of animals and different plants, veggies, herbs etc for a while now. Hebe unfortunately was cursed and time is fast running out to find her a cure. While working in her new job and trying to sneak research in, Thalia meets August, a graduate student witch at Evergreen. She also makes some unexpected friends and starts to find her world opening up in unexpected ways.

I found this book to be a nice mix of cosy and sweet with elements of high stakes and suspense. I wasn't expecting to have moments where i was holding my breath waiting to see what would happen and that was a fun contrast to the cosy world. I really enjoyed reading this book and I found myself sucked into the world very easily and quickly. The author was very descriptive and her writing style made it easy for me to really visualise Thalia's world. It all sounded so magical and beautiful, especially the library and the greenhouses. Parts of the storyline were a little predictable, but honestly it was executed so well that it genuinely didn't bother me. Hebe's curse was fascinating though and definitely a unique element of the story. I really enjoyed learning more about the world as the story unfolded and found myself wishing I could jump right into the book and join them! The only, minimal element of this book that sometimes frustrated me was just Thalia's back and forth about her relationship with August. Thalia could be a little frustrating at times with her overall indecisiveness but she'd grown a lot as a person by the end of the book.

I really loved all the characters in the book. While Thalia could be a little awkward and unsure at times but she was also so endearing and persistent. Her driving force for everything she was doing was her love for her sister and her desperation to find Hebe a cure before it was too late. Hebe herself was also a great character and the relationship between the sisters was so beautiful. August ended up being a really interesting character and I really enjoyed learning more about him while also watching his relationship with Thalia grow. It was also so beautiful to watch Thalia unexpectedly and unintentionally start to build more of a life for herself. Her friendships with Elio and her other co-workers was so sweet and it was so fun to watch her grow and build stronger relationships within her life.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a fun read filled with whimsy and magic. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this world and am grateful I was given the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Melanie Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Library of Botanical Witchcraft

​Jasmine Wigham’s The Library of Botanical Witchcraft is a whimsical, heart-warming escape that feels like a warm cup of tea. It is the perfect blend of light academia, cozy fantasy, and a sweet, slow-burn romance.

​The Story
Thalia Sylvestre, a plant-loving librarian, secures a position at the elite Evergreen Conservatoire. Her goal is secret and urgent: she must find a cure for the curse afflicting her twin sister, Hebe. Her journey forces an uneasy partnership with August Hawthorne, an aloof, brilliant student whose prickly exterior hides a much softer heart.


​What to Expect
• ​Atmospheric World-Building: The writing is vivid and poetic. From the sentient plants to the bustling, character-rich kitchens and libraries, the setting feels alive and deeply comforting.
• ​Adorable Romance: Thalia and August’s dynamic is full of delightful, awkward tension and genuine yearning. Their relationship develops with a natural, unforced rhythm that is incredibly satisfying to watch.
• ​Cozy with Stakes: While the overall tone is soft and inviting, the ticking clock of Hebe’s curse provides just enough urgency to keep the plot gripping.

​Closing thoughts:
While the pacing occasionally slows in the middle to linger on descriptions, and those seeking deep, intricate world-building might want more botanical detail, these are minor notes in an otherwise lovely experience. If you love stories about found family, magical libraries, and "fluffy kitten" levels of coziness, this is a must-read.

​Rating: 4/5 — A beautiful, feel-good escape that leaves you smiling

[the_bookishbee_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

•Review of advance copy received from publisher

4.5⭐️
I enjoyed this so much! The Library of Botanical Witchcraft is cosy, charming and will leave you absolutely enraptured <3. Thalia is a bookish plant lover (me too!) who lives in a little cottage with her twin sister Hebe…until a mysterious curse forces Hebe into hiding. Thalia begrudgingly takes a position at the prestigious Evergreen Conservatoire, with the hope of finding a cure to save her. The magical library within the Conservatoire is filled with enchanted books and strange flora, while the school is jam packed with academic intrigue and even more intriguing characters, just the way I like it!

Everything about this world is gorgeously imagined and immersive, I loved the time spent in the kitchen’s with Elio and of course the library with Quentin. You get a great sense of these characters and they play a real part in the story, it’s such a refreshing change to see them really fleshed out.

While navigating these new surroundings and people, Thalia’s search for a cure becomes both urgent and perilous and adds a layer of tension beneath the cosy softness and helps keep you gripped in the story.

Thalia’s teams up with August Hawthorne, an accomplished but initially aloof student, and their relationship slowly unfolds into something far more tender and romantic….and just plain adorable. Their dynamic is full of awkward humour, tension and yearning (we love yearning!). Their love grows with a natural rhythm, completely unforced and so makes the romance deliciously sweet and heart warming. I loved seeing them acknowledge their feelings and open up to one another.

The writing is vivid and poetic and creates a world that feels comforting and rich in life and detail. There are also some powerful themes of loneliness, found family and love woven through the story and all up, it makes for an inviting, feel good read that leaves you smiling when you reach the end.

[Melissa Cruickshank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Headline for my arc x

This book was so cosy and cute, if it was an animal it would be a fluffy, white kitten with a pink bow on it's head!

Thalia and Hebe, twin sisters, live together in a cute cottage tucked away from the nearby village Juniper Grove. Hebe is forced into hiding when she's struck down by a curse leaving Thalia to do everything she can to save her sister.

Thalia finds employment as a librarian at the local school for Witchcraft, Evergreen Conservatoire, a revered institution which educates the finest witches in the realm. She hopes that with her access, she'll be able to finally find a cure for her sister.

She meets August, an acclaimed student, who she finds arrogant and rude, but she gradually realises that there's far more to him than she first thought. Together they race to find a cure before the curse overcomes her sister.

This was such an enjoyable read. I loved Jasmine's writing style, it was so poetic. And I loved her descriptions, they really brought everything to life.

The book was full of wit and gentle humour, I found myself smiling throughout it. I loved the innocence of the two main characters, that we knew before they did that their feelings were reciprocated. It was such a sweet romance, with plenty of subtle yearning.

[Suraiya Srabon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into The Library of Botanical Witchcraft mostly because the combination of books, plants and witchy magic sounded like exactly my kind of cozy fantasy, and honestly, the atmosphere was my favourite part. The magical library, greenhouse, little town and all the botanical touches made the whole book feel really warm and easy to settle into. I also really liked how much Thalia’s love for her sister shaped the story. Her whole reason for getting into the library in the first place felt genuine, and I liked seeing her slowly make friends and find a little place for herself too.

The writing is really pretty and does a good job making the setting feel alive, but I did feel the middle dragged a little for me. I kept waiting for the mystery around the curse to move forward, and I honestly wanted more of the actual botanical magic because that was one of the things that made me pick up the book in the first place. I enjoyed Thalia and August’s slow burn relationship, though I probably got more attached to some of the side characters than I expected. Overall, it was a sweet, comforting read with that soft magical academia feeling, and I finished it with the kind of warm feeling I was hoping for.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This book was delightfully cosy and intriguing. I felt like a gardener myself, despite living in a first floor flat with not even a whisper of gardening space. It was engaging, whimsical, and honestly not frustrating at all. I get annoyed quickly at miscommunication tropes, but when the characters faced miscommunication, it was quickly resolved. The plot was loose and winding, focusing more on the vibes than anything else - something I appreciated greatly.

Things I loved: Quentin. My sweet angel. Mostly because he was described as a sharply angular person, and his characterisation throughout the book was so in line with that. I even said out loud to myself 'damn, Quentin is a great name for a man like this.' Not to mention his sweet romance that slowly developed throughout the book. I was more invested in him and Elio than the main characters.

Things I didn't love: I can't say that there was anything that particularly caught my eye in terms of dislike or disappointment.

Overall this book was sweet, quirky, and very well written. Not quite a five star read for me because I wasn't hungering for more, but I enjoyed it greatly.

[Entisar Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Headline for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book is pure cosy magic—Thalia is a wonderfully lovable heroine: bookish, loyal, quietly brave, and a little reckless where her sister's concerned. Thalia and her twin sister Hebe live in a cottage near Juniper Grove, until Hebe is struck by a curse. Determined to save her, Thalia takes a librarian job at the prestigious Evergreen Conservatoire, hoping access to its magical library will lead her to a cure. There she meets August—initially arrogant and insufferable, but slowly revealing hidden depths. Watching it evolve into quiet, yearning devotion is such a treat, full of awkward tension and gentle humour. Evergreen itself is richly atmospheric with secrets tucked into every hallway. Side characters like Elio and Quentin add warmth and life to the setting. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, and I wanted more high-stakes moments between the leads, but overall this is a warm, comforting read full of found family, soft romance, and enchanting botanical magic. Perfect for cosy fantasy lovers!

[Tory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book and for the opportunity to read it and review it.

Unfortunately I found this book a little difficult to follow (not because the story was complicated, but because I struggled to stay invested in it and found it quite boring at times.) Something that confused me was the age of the characters and the way they behaved, since the book gave me strong YA vibes, but as far as I know, it isn’t presented as a YA novel. I don’t remember whether the characters’ exact ages are ever mentioned, but I know that the male protagonist is a postgraduate. The characters often felt wayyy much younger to me. The way they talked, interacted with each other, and behaved around other people sometimes made them feel more like sixteen-year-olds than adults. If the book is actually intended to be YA, then this would make more sense to me, but if it isn’t, I personally felt that the characters acted too “childish” than their supposed age. I don’t think this is a bad book, I simply never became invested in the story or the characters, so this ended up being a pretty neutral read for me.

[Fleurtje Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of us humans need to be connected whether we qualify as witches or not. Most of us have insecurities and – like Thalia and August – we might think we are not good enough (for which I have a special shelf on Goodreads) or too much.

The Library of Botanical Witchcraft is a delightful story about a bookish girl who unexpectedly find friends when looking for a way to cure her twin of a mysterious and debilitating curse.

This would and could be enough to endorse the book, but admittedly the taboo, the loneliness, the fear, and the frustrations of navigating a chronic condition without having a clue how to undo this life altering illness was very close to home for me being ill with ME for over two decades. How painful it is to see history repeating itself when it comes to LC/PC.
Not having that many friends and family members left, I feel quite a lot of people cannot start to imagine what it is like to be housebound with only books and knitting for distraction.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Library of Botanical Witchcraft is warm, cosy, and utterly enchanting, with a world that blooms right off the page. Thalia is an instantly lovable heroine—bookish, determined, and quietly brave—and her new role in Evergreen’s magical library is a delight for anyone who adores stories about enchanted books and mischievous plants.

Her reluctant partnership with August Hawthorne is a slow‑growing pleasure to watch, full of awkwardness, tension, and gentle humour. Their dynamic adds a lovely emotional thread to the story, while the race to cure her sister’s curse gives the plot real heart and urgency.

Evergreen itself is a wonderfully imagined setting, full of secrets, strange flora, and academic intrigue. It’s the perfect backdrop for a tale that blends magic, romance, and mystery with an easy, comforting charm.

A delightful, feel‑good read for anyone who loves magical libraries, plant lore, and soft, whimsical fantasy.

With thanks to Jasmine Wigham, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first step into cosy romantic fantasy and boy was it a wonderful introduction!

I clicked with Thalia's character right from the start (librarians have to stick together!) and fell in love with all the other characters along the way!

The world building was really strong and I especially enjoyed the inclusion of annual events like Samhain and Yule to set the scene in the first half of the novel.

My one criticism, and it is a small one, is that some later dialogue felt a little bit rushed. As in our protagonist finds out something shocking about another character and barely blinks or takes any kind of time to process before she's responded and moves to act. A very minor thing but just made the interaction between characters slightly less believable.

Overall a wonderful cosy read I've really enjoyed spending time in 🔮🌿

Thank you so much to Jasmine Wigham, Headline and NetGalley for my e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

[Cate J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting somewhere between cosy fantasy romance and light academia, The Library of Botanical Witchcraft by Jasmine Wigham is a sheer delight.

The obvious comparison title is Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies, and readers looking for more along those lines certainly won't be disappointed, with similar whimsy and strong writing. The romance arc is more prominent here, and both Thalia and August are adorable, with enough depth that I was rooting for them all the way. The setting, Juniper Grove, comes to life from the immersive - but never overwrought -descriptions, and the wider cast of characters were also charming.

Readers have been devouring dark academia lately, and will continue to do so, but shift along on the shelf, dark academia; cosy academia needs a prominent position right next to you.

[Shelby Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly enough botany, books, or witchcraft…

This was a cute story, but with a title like The Library of Botanical Witchcraft, I was expecting the themes of botany and books to really play a key role.
Instead, it felt like they gave a setting for the book, which was primarily about our main female character and her relationships. The main character is relatable in that quirky, introverted way; I think many of us see ourselves in Thalia. And I enjoyed the plot that followed her friendships with multiple characters, not just her love interest. It was heartwarming to see an introverted character form friendships on her quest to save her sister.
Overall, it was bland; the ending wraps up too quickly and neatly to be believable. However, it was a nice, heartwarming read about friendship.

I read an ARC.

[Penelope · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Library of Botanical Witchcraft is a comforting and cosy fantasy centred around a sister determined to save her twin from a magical curse, while finding friendship, belonging and romance along the way. There’s so much to enjoy here, enchanting libraries, magical greenhouses, fascinating creatures, and a warm cast of characters that bring plenty of charm to the story.

I would have loved a little more botanical detail and plant-focused magic to fully satisfy my gardening soul, and perhaps a deeper exploration of the wider world beyond the main setting. Even so, this was a lovely, relaxing read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a gentle, magic-filled story with plenty of heart.

[Erika Hensel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect easy read to curl up with a pumkin spice latte as the leaves begin to change. Cozy and witchy, just right to get you into the autumn spirit- especially if you love plants. I loved the light hearted and light academia vibes combined with the focus on sisterhood and friendship. Thalia seemed like a real person as she was naive and socially awkward, which is a nice change from the "not like other girls, chosen one" main female characters. The supporting characters were even better and I honestly wish they had more time on page. The story took some turns and kept me engaged until the super cute ending. All in all it was whimsical tale that leaves you with all the right feels.

[CharlotteReadsFantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cosy fantasy was such a lovely read!

The magical university setting was really well done, and I could totally picture myself getting lost in the library! The broader world-building was light and easy to digest.

Thalia was a really easy character to connect with and I found myself rooting for her immediately. What I found pleasantly surprising was how easily I connected with all of the side characters too. Together they all made a wonderful ‘found family’ unit.

If you’re in the mood for a wholesome, light fantasy read, I can absolutely recommend this book! I would love to read more from this world 😍🤞🏻

A huge thankyou to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC 🫶🏻

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so beautifully whimsical and magical. It was everything I was looking for in a cosy witchy book.

The romance in this was so cute. Thalia and August are just so perfect together.

I loved the concept of magical botany and wished we got to understand more about this magic system.

As well as the romance there was such a great feeling of family love in this book between the two sisters. Thalia would do anything to help cure her sister from the mysterious curse that she suffers with.

This book is like reading a warm hug.

[Jenny T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy received from NETGALLEY

I loved this cozy fantasy story.
The characters were engaging and entertaining. The author’s writing style is really enjoyable, creating a very vivid and rich world that you just connect to immediately.

Thalia begins working in a magical library to save her sister; her only family. Only this must be done in secret and time is running out for her.
Throw in themes of loneliness, blossoming love and found family this is so immersive I just couldn’t put it down.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy fantasy romance story. There is magic in this book, probably focusing more on the romance than magic. But that’s there too.

This book has a slower pace than some as Thalia tries to solve a mystery and stop her sister, Hebe, turning into a tree.

Librarian August Hawthorn may have the answer to that, and Thalia’s longing to experience life and fall in love.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and thought the characters were well developed and interesting. The story line was good about twin sisters Thalia and Hebe. Hebe has been cursed and Thalia takes a job in a magical library to hopefully find a cure or reversal for the curse.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ruqaiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a whimsical and heartfelt story about sisterhood and finding yourself! I loved the world building; Juniper Grove felt so lived in and cosy, like it was unfurling before my eyes. The friendships that Thalia created as she blossomed were really sweet and felt natural.

The pace of this book was steady and while at first I thought the plot was going to go the typical route, I was pleasantly surprised.

[Paige Costinescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel centres around twin sisters Thalia and Hebe who live together in a cottage close to the village of Juniper Grove. The village itself is home to many witches who attend the Evergreen Conservatoire to study magic. After Hebe is struck by a curse, Thalia seeks employment in the library to search for a possible cure. Soon, she meets August, a member of the wealthy, prestigious and magical Hawthorne family. Whilst their initial encounter is fraught with tension – Thalia believing him to be arrogant – things soon heat up between the pair and they work together to find a cure for Hebe.

This book is exquisitely written. I felt vividly immersed in the story from the very first page. The magical setting of Juniper Grove was beautifully atmospheric, and the author created a world that felt both whimsical and comforting while still carrying emotional depth. The relationship between Thalia and Hebe was particularly compelling, with their bond adding genuine heart to the narrative and making Thalia’s determination to save her sister feel incredibly moving.

The romance between Thalia and August developed naturally throughout the novel, and I especially enjoyed their witty banter and slow shift from mutual irritation to trust and affection.

I also loved the magical academia elements within the Evergreen Conservatoire and the mystery surrounding Hebe’s curse, both of which kept me invested throughout. Overall, this was an enchanting and emotionally engaging read filled with magic, romance, and richly developed characters. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys cosy fantasy with a heartfelt romance at its centre.