So It Grows

by Andie Burke

A cozy small town business-rivals-to-lovers romcom about finding joy where you least expect it from USA Today bestselling author Andie Burke.

Felicity Gallagher thought inheriting her aunt’s plant shop would be the fresh start she needed. She never expected that the trendy, mac and cheese themed restaurant next door–and its inconveniently hot chef–might be her downfall.

Nicholas Holm-Bozic is arrogant, presumptuous, and just flat out gets under her skin. Felicity has made ignoring him an art form—until the exploding popularity of his restaurant leads to renewed interest in Felicity’s quirky corner of Kansas. Now, a greedy developer is threatening both their businesses with a towering parking garage that could steal the sunlight from her plants. With her shop’s future in jeopardy, Felicity must join forces with her least favorite neighbor.

As the pair fight back, Nic and Felicity’s formerly contentious relationship blooms into something new, but hidden battle scars, old secrets, and a devastating storm threaten everything they’ve built. Will they choose to cut and run, or are they finally ready to put down permanent roots?

Andie Burke’s So It Grows is chock full of heat, heart, and humor, and everything in between.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

Andie Burke writes books with queer kissing and happily ever afters. She was originally an English major who decided to jump into a pediatric nursing career. Her writing is inspired by over a decade spent working in hospitals with patients of all ages. After the last couple years spent in the pandemic ER, she escaped to an outpatient pediatric sedation unit. Andie lives in a blue house in Maryland with an alarming number of books and an embarrassing number of ultra-fine point pens. When she’s not writing, she’s probably feeding snacks to the two small human creatures who live with her or trying not to kill her chaotic houseplants. You can find her on Bookstagram adding to her ever-expanding TBR or letting her ADHD brain happily dissociate while listening to Taylor Swift.

Reviews

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5 Stars
This is a vibe rating because I truly could not put this book down. I was really into it and thought it was a fun rivals to friends to lovers story and then we hit 67% and my jaw hit the floor and then it was two hours later (and who knows what time at night) and I have finished with no regrets.

You will probably like this book if you like:
💜 Business rivals to friends to lovers
💜 Plant shop owner FMC x Chef MMC
💜 Small town romance in Kansas
💜 Mental health rep (check the content warnings)
💜 Queer romance (bisexual FMC x pansexual MMC)
💜 Puns as a love language
💜 Found family

It starts out as business rivals who have to band together to get rid of a common bad guy who wants to build a parking lot next to a plant store and restaurant. They are business rivals and she really dislikes him and I had a whole diatribe about “how could you be so attracted to someone when you actually actively dislike them?” (I do not have those multi-tasking skills. When your girls feel rage, all she sees is red, not hot butts). But that said, to my friends who struggle with insta-lust in a book, all I can say is keep reading.

The banter was great. There were so many great food puns and an electric back and forth that I really enjoyed. Felicity and Nic have a ton of chemistry. I felt like the rival and dislike part was dropped pretty easily and I understand why on Nic’s part, but I am not sure that I fully buy it on Felicity’s part but again, I am down for the ride.

The book reminded me of Archer’s Voice in that it is a grand and epic love story with heavy themes, but I felt like the mental health and trauma aspects of this book were done way better (no tea, no shade, no pink lemonade to Archer’s Voice but it doesn’t even have content warnings which it desperately needs). This books explores assault, PTSD, suicidal ideations, addiction in thoughtful ways, but please take care of yourself while reading.

When the book wrapped up, I did still have a few lingering questions or a few things that just didn’t 100% add up, but if a book sucks me in, that gets big kudos from me.

I am so excited that I discovered Andie Burke. This book takes place in the same universe as two of her other books (though I don’t think you have to read them to understand this book) and I am excited to go back now and read her other work.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 22, 2026

⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a romcom, and So It Grows promised a cozy small town business rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romcom between a plant shop owner and restaurant chef.

I didn’t expect to read such realistic-feeling depictions of living with and/or reacting to neurodiversity, gender diversity, addiction, assault, depression, suicidal ideation, cancer, and death. I really appreciated Andie Burke's the straightforward approach to such serious topics wrapped with sassy banter and slow-burn romance between Felicity and Nic.

Before I continue, please remember, if you ever need someone to talk to about how you're feeling, the 988 Lifelife is available 24/7. Text or call 988.

Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, 988's counselors are there for you. You are not alone.

Now back to the book review. I would have preferred more tension and romantic acceleration between Felicity and Nic for a greater payoff after the slow burn. We have to wait till over 65% of the way through to experience a major pivot that turbocharged the story, when we start getting answers to the gaps the story had spun up to that point. In the end, I enjoyed the characters being able to open themselves up and not hide or make themselves small for fear of rejection or burdening others. Existing is enough.

Readers who like small town business rivals, shared rivalry, and lost and found love, and don’t mind steady, long slow burn will like So It Grows.

I finished the book feeling content and satisfied!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the chance to read an advance reader copy of this book!

Again, if you ever need someone to talk to about how you're feeling, the 988 Lifelife is available 24/7. Text or call 988. Support is always available.

Tropes
Small town
Found family
Slow burn
Business rivals to friends to lovers
Restaurant chef x Plant store owner
Shared rivalry
Lost love
Second chance love
LGBTQIA+

[Izzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up
note: Objectively, 2 stars, the vibes were a 3 star, therefore taking the average

this was the most filler ive ever read

that title includes the lovely amount of filler words used to complete my 5000 word essay

the redeeming quality, however, was, in true title form, a tree

take that how you will

PLOT REMARKS:
There were three main problems that I personally saw with this book, with the only redeeming quality (the occasional cute romantic moments) not being good enough to make up for it.
1) The pacing: This was a book of filler. Half of the plot points could have been removed and made it a lot less exhausting to read. It's not slow burn just because the story's slow! I think Felicity spent 50% of the book waxing poetry about Nic's thighs/abs/muscles/biceps/white t-shirt muscles.
2) The shit that didn't make sense: Love at first sight might exist, but love at first drunk dumpster encounter does not. (if you dont want to see the spoiler its a very ridiculous meet cute) At least in the way it was put! Because if this obsession was so fucking strong, then what do you mean they spent 13 years avoiding each other. Nic would've had to write 4745 letters . Which makes for the most ridiculous miscommunication trope that has ever been put on paper.
also i dont think its legal for toby to change the name of his company that many times
3) The whole thing about addiction: It was almost a plot device??? There's no backstory, no trauma, no emotions behind the encounter with substances. Instead, it's offered as a not-very-plausible explanation for said ridiculous miscommunication trope. Like yeah! "hey i didnt call u because i have issues so i will now avoid you like the plague"

So now you might be wondering... why the three stars?
First of all, Fanny the tree was the greatest romantic gesture of all fucking time, fight me on this.
Second of all (HELLO structure), the banter was funny and did make me smile.

ok Honestly, this was a vibes read, and I just had a good time at times.

CHARACTERS:
FELICITY: She's just another trying-to-be stubborn character. I love the LGBTQIA+ representation, but what I don't love is how she's just incapable of accepting help. Also the whole "pick-me girl" speech... do we know what a pick-me girl is??? Like hello???
also why the fuck didnt she accept nic's offer in the beginning. like i get the whole "wanna be independent" but at SOME POINT one needs to realize the PEN HAS A DENT IN IT NOW.
NIC: In the words of my best friend, "eh, he's aight". He has his moments (the fucking trend) and then just fizzles out.
AUNT JEANIE: Meddling old woman. I don't know how she got the nerve to do half the shit she did behind the scenes, but she actually rage baited me so bad. You can't just MANIPULATE SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU DONT THINK HES GOOD ENOUGH FOR... actually ykw. Grow the fuck away.

this book was like a very dry, very flaky croissant with lovely flavor.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

[Justina R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest—the beginning felt a little rough for me, particularly with the focus on empty lot politics and the pocket park grant. It took some time to settle into the story, but I’m so glad I stuck with it, because this turned out to be a truly heartfelt and rewarding read. Overall, I’d still give it 4.5 stars.

So It Grows follows Nic (Nicky, Nicholas, Nikolaj) and Felicity, business rivals in an cute Kansas neighborhood. Their early interactions felt a bit jarring, and Felicity came across as quite rude at first—but once Nic openly expresses that he wants to be friends, the tone shifts and the story really picks up .

Felicity was such a standout character for me. The ADHD and chronic pain representation was thoughtfully handled—it was present and meaningful without overwhelming the story. As someone who also lives with chronic pain, I found it incredibly validating to see that experience reflected so naturally. I also loved all the plant shop details—the puns, the history, the little facts—especially as a fellow plant lover.

Nic is one of the best book boyfriends I have come across thus far! He is the physical embodiment of "if he wanted to, he would." From the very beginning, his care for Felicity is unwavering. He never treats her differently because of her pain and consistently shows up for her in ways that feel genuine and deeply supportive. The structure of the book—split into three parts, including one set in the past—was a unique and effective storytelling choice. It added emotional depth and felt fresh and kind of mysterious at first compared to typical romance formats.

The mental health representation, particularly through Felicity, was also handled with care and really resonated with me. Both characters backstories make you really feel for them. They were so well written! This book definitely made me emotional more than once. (14 year old fiddle leaf fig tree is somehow alive!)

There were a few minor drawbacks. The number of side characters—many introduced with both first and last names—became a bit difficult to keep track of at times. I also would have liked more clarity around the resolution of the pocket park grant and empty lot storyline. And while I understand this is an uncorrected ARC, there were quite a few spelling and grammar errors that I hope will be addressed before publication.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and am excited to read Burke's other 2 books in this universe.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC—I’ll definitely be picking up a finished copy when it’s released.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

So It Grows has one of the more fun storylines I’ve read in a while with so many great characters! It follows the quirky Felicity who has a sassy personality that I thoroughly enjoyed! She had me chuckling several times at her different insults. She moves to Kansas to take over her aunt’s plant store where she runs into the overinflated chef next door, to her at least.

Let me start by saying there were many things in this book that I adored! I loved the idea of refurbishing an old church property into small businesses. I loved the family-oriented tight knit community and this was one you could really feel. I loved where the plot went and the unexpected twists we uncover. I also adored all the characters we meet along the way and I especially loved watching the friendship between Felicity and Nic. Their build up to friendship and following was executed wonderfully and their tension could be felt through the page.

With all that said, this book ended up being 3 stars for me. I felt there were too many acute scene changes that happened in the middle of the page rather than a page break or chapter change. Every time this happened it took me out of the story for a second and I felt I had to regroup. The timeline dragged a bit in the middle from event to holiday to event. Even though I felt the tension and buildup was amazing the leap from friends to more was abrupt and not as satisfying as the book was leading it to be. Following this climax the ending felt rushed.

There were some chapters towards the end that were so informative and I fell in love with the character they were about even more. Unfortunately, I felt the come down after some revelations could have been slower and more satisfying.

Regardless, I would definitely recommend this book for the story, humor and characters!!

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who loves a small-town romance, I was so excited to be given early access to this book. The characters were cute and quirky in the best way but not without their share of struggles. Both Felicity and Nic have been through their share of trauma, but small-town Kansas may just be exactly what they need to find themselves and truly start living again.

The plot overall was good. Towards the beginning, the interactions between the characters were laugh-out-loud funny (often at Felicity’s expense). I liked the use of the greedy developer plot-line in order to bring our love interests together as well. My main issue with the book was more in the way it was written. The plot seemed to jump forward randomly in ways that didn’t entirely make sense. Even within a chapter, the plot would suddenly jump forward an entire month which made it harder to follow and connect with the story. The friend relationship between Nic and Felicity was good, but the jump to something more just felt rushed. More time could have been spent on the transition instead of just BANG there it is. I was also left wanting more from the developer plot-line. They spend much of the book trying to outsmart the developer antagonist just for the ending to offer a two sentence resolution. I found myself confused. It seemed just thrown in at the end so the book could have a double happy ending.

Overall, the book was enjoyable. I loved the characters and felt that I truly got to know them over the course of the book. I just didn’t love how rushed the plot line felt or the lack of resolution in the end. I wouldn’t say it’s a must read, but it is a quick and cute story if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is probably more like a 3.5, but I rounded up because this book did something that very, very, very few romance novels have done for me -- it surprised me. Usually, romances are predictable -- AND I MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY! You know what to expect, and you know what you're getting. And that's not to say that you don't get that expected HEA with this book -- it just means that there was more that happened that had me actually shocked in such a refreshing, wonderful way. The kind of way that made me want to turn back to page one right after I finished it to hold onto that lovely surprise longer.

The book, as a whole, ebbed and flowed for me -- the beginning was what I was expecting based on the premise, and I thought that the characters went from enemies to friends a little too quickly, but that wasn't unforgivable to me by any means. The middle chunk went a little bit slowly, and I'm usually not a fan of watching time pass by via holiday after holiday, so that got a little bit tiresome for me personally, but that two-thirds/three-quarters mark absolutely changed the game for me. Like, to the point that even as I write this review, I can't believe how unique of a book this was in a totally and wholly unexpected way.

I really do think that everyone should read this book, because it's just the most unexpected, extraordinary love story, masquerading as something completely ordinary. The best things take you by surprise, and this really did, for me.

-------------

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

[Kaity Eskelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!!


Before I continue this review, please look into the content warnings! Some of the heavier
ones in this story include: mental health rep, grief, assault, alcohol and drug use. If you
or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please text or call 988 (the number
Lifeline, they’re available 24/7).


Who knew a mac and cheese chef could be so hot?!


Business rivals to- kind of friends?- to actually friends- to lovers? Yes, please! I felt as if this
story was more of a modern day, realistic hallmark move in the most rom com way. The humor
and comradery in the first bit of the story, I was a little bit worried that it come off as intsa-lust
because our FMC was DAYDREAMING about that ass in the chef’s pants. That kind of
attraction stays throughout the whole book, however, and isn’t acted upon immediately.


Our FMC and MMC band together along with a local bookshop owner and friend in order to stop
the pastiest, sweatiest chessboard-loving nerd from building a monstrosity of a parking lot that
would ultimately destroy their businesses. Well, mainly just our FMC’s flower shop.


If you are one of those readers that enjoy it when the two love interests spend time getting to
know each other and actually developing a foundation of trust and respect before jumping
straight into a relationship, then you will definitely appreciate what Burke does for her characters
in this story. I personally loved it, especially the acts of service that was shown between the two
of them for each other was very touching.

[Kat Reads Skulls · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was a bit too relatable at times lol

I’ll start this off by saying that I grew up in Kansas so it was a bit odd seeing our motto that most barely recognize being such a big part of the story. Beautiful, just odd. The weather being ridiculously unpredictable was absolutely on the nose, with the one exception being that most locals probably wouldn’t bother seeking a basement in a tornado until they got word it was actually near town. The stereotype of everyone out on their lawns watching is unfortunately very true.

As a person who is chronically ill and has chronic pain, I loved the depiction of how the MMC handled her pain before he had the full explanation and will be stealing the term “lizarding” for my heating pad time. More chronic illness rep!

The one issue I did have was that the author's writing style and timeline sometimes left me feeling like there were unintentional gaps in the story. The timeline jumps often and while I understand it from a practical standpoint, there were times I flipped back and reread parts where I felt I’d missed something. Especially in the chapters right before the tornado, in the transition between friends and lovers, I felt like I’d missed whole conversations and it was a bit confusing. The romance itself I loved, especially Nic’s side of the story, but it did happen a bit abruptly.

Overall, this was fun to read, heartwarming, and relatable. Would read more by this author.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own. 🖤

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary
Felicity inherits her aunt's plant shop and the teensy apartment above it. She thinks it will be a fresh start but finds herself butting heads with the chef at the trendy Mac and Cheese restaurant next door, Nic. She hates that she is attracted to him, but she has a thing for tall blondes. Soon they are both up against a villain developer who wants to put a parking lot there and will tear down the plant shop and the restaurant, which conveniently puts Felicity and Nic on the same side of this small town zoning suspense romance.

Themes and Tropes
-Business Rivals-to-Lovers
-Midwest Kansas Setting
-LGBTQ rep - Queer FMC and MMC but straight passing relationship
-Slow Burn
-Low Stakes Succession
-Stars Hollow Vibes

My ThoughtsI flew through this small town romance, which is 80% setting. I really appreciated the way that the author described and has a love for Kansas. Definitely felt that the town hall meetings were humorous and quaint. If you have read a lot of heavier books lately this one is a nice palate cleanser. However, this is not without heart and some plot surprises. I won't give anything away, but I was really intrigued by the elements that came in the third act. Both main characters are very well developed and the dialogue is believable.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for the ARC. #smpearlyreaders #gifted #partner Book to be published September 22, 2026

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you get when you mix hilarious  banter, a series of ramblings and tangents, a pinch of whimsy, and several jokes about cows? You get a cozy romance where rivals and gardening collide.

So it Grows has some of the snarkiest comebacks I have ever read, and the banter is what kept me in the book. The main characters are both hilarious, even though both are dealing with some trauma. Overall I though the story was fun.

I did feel that the story lost itself at moments. There are a couple continuity errors that pulled me out of the story and had me going back to ensure I was remebering what I had previously read. Having some parts of the story wrapped in a single paragraph was a little abrupt.

There are a lot of topics and representation brought up within the book. They inculude: LGBTQ relationships/identities, gentrification, mental health issues, abuse, physical illness/disabilities, the patriarchy, and more. Unfortunately a lot of these topics felt more like buzz words than an exploration of the topic. I fully understand wanting to keep topics light in a cozy romance however I prefer when these topics are handled with a little more depth.

Overall the story was cute and I appreciated the overall message of the FMC's "ah-ha" moment.

For a quick, funny read I do recommend this book. If you like a little more subtly, tension, and depth you may not enjoy this as much.


Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

[Abby Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book!
The wit and humor in it were so fun, but it also touched on some hard topics. Losing those you love and who you become on the other side of your own trauma addiction, a bad accident, finding love and family again after you’ve hidden yourself away. This book was beautiful. I loved the main characters; they were funny and headstrong, and their story was great. There were times that I wished the story would’ve stayed focused on them. We find out a lot about what everyone’s sexual identity is, and honestly, it wasn’t really relevant and got repeated a lot. I wish it would’ve just been stated and moved on with. Especially with the side characters, it just seemed irrelevant, and the main character, I felt like, why am I reading a love story about Nic and Felicity if you just keep telling me that she likes girls? It just didn’t really make sense to the overall story. I think that could’ve been used more to develop the overall plot of the story because once the book seemed more focused on the plot, it was amazing and beautiful, but there was also just so much information that seemed unnecessary.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for letting me read an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“So It Grows” was very humorous. Felicity starts out as a hot mess but a lovable mess. Her lack of a filter and penchant for unintentionally voicing her thoughts leads to some rather amusing moments, especially with Nic, the enemy next door who becomes a friend and then something more. Cousin Toby with his wacky business ideas is also a source of amusement. I liked the interaction between Felicity and Nic, especially the way they irritate and confound each other but also support each other and can make a good team. The author has a lot of fun with wordplay and innuendo.

The story seemed like it was setting up for the confrontation over the proposed parking garage that would ruin Felicity’s business and change St. Clare Circle for the worst. However, the story takes a very surprising turn and is so much better for it. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but I really enjoyed what this story arc showed about certain characters, connections between certain characters, and how much of a difference can be made in people’s lives by showing you care.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romance between Felicity, the owner of a plant shop that she inherited from her aunt Jeannie, and Nic, the head chef of the restaurant that shares the same plot of land.

Felicity is living with chronic pain after an assault. We learn that she was once an ER nurse before switching to nursing plants. From Felicity's perspective, it's an enemies to friends to lovers romance; in my mind, it's a friends-to-lovers. The book is charming and cozy, and I love anything that promotes community building and getting involved in local government! There is a very fun plot twist in here that turns the story into a second-chance romance, and I felt compelled to finish it. Loved the HEA, but based on the description of queer romance, I truly did not expect our story to be so...hetero. However, still a very cute book.

- Bonus points for including an "extremely attractive South Asian man" named Saj - we never get representation in romance, so this made me feel warm and fuzzy.
- Reading an ARC that mentions ARCs is completely adorable!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give it a good 4.5/5 stars.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, sweet, and romantic. It was a nice, easy read. Like others, I preferred the second half of the book more to the front half. It took a while for the plot and characters to build up. But once the story developed and the characters got into their rhythm, I was whole heartedly invested in these flawed characters and their developing relationship.

I thought Felicity was a lovable mess, and Nic had me swooning the way he took care of her. Their banter and humor had me laughing. I absolutely loved their dynamic. The story arc surprised me. And I always like a good surprise in a book. Albeit, almost a little not plausible. But a sweet twist nonetheless. I just wish we could have spent more time with the characters and their story at the end. It seemed a bit rushed and leaving me wanting more of them. Once I was into it though, I binged the end and couldn't put it down.

I received this book as a giveaway winner. Thank you to St. Martins Press, and the author for this ARC.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5


Felicity regresa a un lugar que solía ser su refugio, pero ahora todo se siente raro y pesado. Tiene que hacerse cargo del negocio de plantas de su tía, que está medio descuidado y lleno de problemas, mientras intenta no pensar demasiado en todo lo que trae cargando desde antes. Como si no fuera suficiente, aparece Nic, un chef bastante intenso que desde el inicio le cae mal y bien al mismo tiempo.

Lo que empieza como roces y discusiones se va transformando en algo más complicado, porque los dos traen cosas sin resolver y ninguno sabe bien cómo lidiar con eso. Al mismo tiempo, Felicity intenta salvar el lugar que ama de decisiones externas que podrían arruinarlo todo. Poco a poco, entre plantas, recuerdos y momentos incómodos, ambos empiezan a bajar la guardia, aunque eso signifique enfrentar cosas que han estado evitando.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

My rating is actually closer to 3.5 stars - this was a cute story, and it kept me captivated. But it really didn't pick up until after 50% of the way through. The early part of the book is kind of clunky, skipping forward in time awkwardly, but it more than made up for it with its twist and then towards the ending.

I'm hopeful that the actual released copy has a bit better transitions in the beginning, as it felt at times that chapters ended mid conversation and the next chapter was months later. I didn't really understand how quickly these two went from enemies to friends at a lightning pace, and then were suddenly best friends because there were so many gaps.

Still it made up for it in the end, and had me staying up past my bed time.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this 5-star, dreamy read! This story blends a soft, almost fairy-tale feeling with a second-chance connection that unfolds over time. Felicity inherits her aunt’s plant shop hoping for a fresh start, only to clash with her frustrating (and very attractive) neighbor Nic, a chef whose booming restaurant brings both attention and trouble to their corner of town. When a developer threatens their businesses, the two rivals are forced to work together, and their sharp banter and tension slowly turn into something deeper. I especially loved that Felicity takes on the grumpy role in this dynamic. This was a beautiful tale of figuring out life, second chances, and letting those you love help you when you're struggling.

[Jessica C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the span of 48 hours. I legitimately devoured it. The character development, the banter between Felicity and Nic, the raw emotional moments -- I can't even begin to express how much I loved about this book. I was laughing out loud one minute and nearly in tears the next. The strength and resilience that they both have after overcoming the challenges in their lives is phenomenal, and the portrayal of what they dealt with is so moving. It takes a lot of skill to write about hard topics and Andie nails it from the start. Also, the twist midway through was AMAZING - I didn't see it coming AT ALL and I think it added SO much depth to both their relationship and Nic.

5/5 stars, going to tell all my friends who love romance to read it.

[Kheyra Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley. I gave So It Grows by Andie Burke a full five stars because it is one of those rare, perfect reads that felt like it was written exactly for me. The emotional depth of the story blew me away; it’s so much more than just a romance, capturing the messy, beautiful reality of healing and self-discovery in a way that felt incredibly raw and honest. I was completely swept up in the chemistry between the leads, it was tender, high-stakes, and so deeply rooted in mutual respect that I found myself cheering for them on every single page. The lush, botanical atmosphere added such a unique and magical layer to the experience, making the whole book feel like a warm hug. It’s a stunning, heartfelt story that I know I’ll be thinking about and recommending for a long time.

[Reading Xennial · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a cute, funny rom-com with the premise being feuding shop owners must unite to stop the parking garage from stealing the sunlight for Felicity’s plants. It was more heartfelt than I was expecting. The humor was good and I enjoyed the banter between the main characters. There were some time jumps throughout which messed with the pacing a bit. I did get a bit bored in the middle and the ending felt rushed. I enjoyed my time overall and I would recommend this book for a palate cleanser or if you’re looking for a fun and heartfelt read.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a fun, sweet and romantic read!

I laughed quite a bit reading this book. I loved the banter and the dynamic between Nic and Felicity. I also enjoyed the ADHD representation.
I will say the first 60% dragged a bit and then there were quite a few parts where I was confused by the timeline. It would jump abruptly to different holidays or future dates. But I really enjoyed the last 40% of the book and my rating of the book definitely improved because of it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg Gallock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of So It Grows! I loved all the planty vibes in this book. Felicity taking over the plant shop after the passing of her aunt added so much to the journey of grief, trauma, and healing that is the backbone of this book. In the beginning, I couldn't really connect with the FMC or MMC, but the vibes and themes kept me wanting to turn the page. The way this story played out and unfolded was done so well, and by the end, I was in tears! I definitely recommend this book, but maybe make sure you have tissues, as there are some hard topics that are unfortunately common in this day and age. I feel the author handled these with grace and love!

[Laura Green · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book so much, I had had it on my TBR and was beyond excited to receive an advance copy from NetGalley.

Unfortunately, it was hard to get into from the jump with so much surrounding the legalities around the property. It was excessive how much into detail it went.

Additionally, I just didn’t find the humor in this book funny. I really kept picking it up and trying to give it a chance to get better, but it didn’t happen.

I love the idea of the book and perhaps will try to pick it up again when it’s released. I am so happy to see others are reading it and loving it.

A special thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Corey James · Rating 3 out of 5]

So It Grows was a cute, lightly spicy romcom with great banter between Nic and Felicity. I loved their dynamic..him giving total golden retriever energy while she was beautifully chaotic. Their chemistry really carried the story for me.

That said, the first 75% felt very slow, and it took a while for the plot and emotional depth to really pick up. Once it did, I found myself much more invested and enjoying the story a lot more. I just wish some of that deeper development had been incorporated earlier on. Overall, though, it was still a sweet and enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 stars, rounding up to 4 because the ending deserves it!!

I am a huge fan of small town enemies to friends to lovers stories, and this one is no exception! By far my favorite part of the story was part 2 because of the way it completely threw me off guard and surprised me! The FMC is not my absolute favorite, and there were times I felt her POV dragged on or was a bit repetitive, but I absolutely adored the MMC. Their story itself was so unique in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and the author for this ARC!

[Darci Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Business rivals who need to work together to fight a developer. Small town romance. Slow burn but steamy. A found family feel.

I don’t usually like flashbacks, but I enjoyed the way the author did this… almost like it was Felicity’s POV for the first half of the book, then Nic’e POV for the second half.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for So It Grows to come out September 22, 2026.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Andie Burke and I will absolutely be reading more. It blew me away. I connected so much with Felicity's journey and thought she was a wonderful main character who felt so raw and real. The romance had me giggling, kicking my feet, and at times crying. I will be thinking about these characters for a long time. I found the theme of healing to be so therapeutic. Love love love!

[TBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, relaxing, cozy, and unchallenging. This book is a great read for a Sunday afternoon or to the beach or on a vacation. The FMC is meant to be quirky and she was but it came across as a bit annoying at times during certain situations. The small town setting vibes are sweet and healing. The pacing was a bit slow throughout the entire book, but the ending felt a bit rushed. The MMC was a bit more likable in comparison.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

So It Grows follows the story of two flawed characters who grow and complement one another. No one is perfect or has a perfect life, but life goes on. These characters were easy to root for and kept you wanting to continue their stories. The characters were different and real. I really enjoyed the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book to read and review. It is a solid enjoyable 3.5/5. All opinions are my own.