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Wildflower
A magical florist journeys from the kingdom’s capital to its wild woods to fulfill an unusual request, and stumbles upon friendship, conspiracy, and the buds of new love in this debut cozy fantasy.
The book contains hand-drawn floral sketches inside!
Cursed from birth to always tell the truth, magical florist Felicity “Fliss” Farrow chooses her words carefully to avoid trouble. But when she receives an anonymous request for a mysterious flower, her search leads her directly into trouble’s path: to Willoh Vane.
Fliss knows the outcast—yet teasingly handsome—sorcerer is rumored to have used dark magic to corrupt the northern forest five years ago. She’s witnessed the resulting feud with Prince Bastion, whom her best friend, Card, is soon to marry. Despite her divided loyalty, Fliss reluctantly accepts Will’s help with gathering rare flowers and finds herself increasingly drawn to him.
As the royal wedding approaches, Fliss fears the flowers she’s delivered are intended for a sinister purpose. But when her warnings are ignored, can she and Will save the kingdom from disaster, and ultimately discover what Fliss has sought for so long—the truth.
The book contains hand-drawn floral sketches inside!
Cursed from birth to always tell the truth, magical florist Felicity “Fliss” Farrow chooses her words carefully to avoid trouble. But when she receives an anonymous request for a mysterious flower, her search leads her directly into trouble’s path: to Willoh Vane.
Fliss knows the outcast—yet teasingly handsome—sorcerer is rumored to have used dark magic to corrupt the northern forest five years ago. She’s witnessed the resulting feud with Prince Bastion, whom her best friend, Card, is soon to marry. Despite her divided loyalty, Fliss reluctantly accepts Will’s help with gathering rare flowers and finds herself increasingly drawn to him.
As the royal wedding approaches, Fliss fears the flowers she’s delivered are intended for a sinister purpose. But when her warnings are ignored, can she and Will save the kingdom from disaster, and ultimately discover what Fliss has sought for so long—the truth.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The banter in this is SO GOOD!
Wildflower is a lovely cozy romantasy set in a queer normative world with epic banter, interesting magic, and enough stakes to keep you interested!
The cursed FMC gave me Ella Enchanted vibes, although their curses are quite different, being cursed to tell only the truth has gotten her into some interesting situations!
Definitely one to check out when you’re in need of a warm hug. That final climax scene had me bawling my eyes out!
Whats to love…
- queer normative world
- interesting magic and world (the FMC has plant magic!)
- found family
- trans love interest
- BANTER IS BANTERING
- laugh out loud funny
- complex characters
- TENSION!
- slow burn
What might not work for some…
- this is cozy, maybe even bordering on a little too cozy for my usual tastes. The stakes were enough to keep me interested but I think you’ll need to be in the mood for cozy to really enjoy this one!
🌶️- fade to black
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Wildflower is a lovely cozy romantasy set in a queer normative world with epic banter, interesting magic, and enough stakes to keep you interested!
The cursed FMC gave me Ella Enchanted vibes, although their curses are quite different, being cursed to tell only the truth has gotten her into some interesting situations!
Definitely one to check out when you’re in need of a warm hug. That final climax scene had me bawling my eyes out!
Whats to love…
- queer normative world
- interesting magic and world (the FMC has plant magic!)
- found family
- trans love interest
- BANTER IS BANTERING
- laugh out loud funny
- complex characters
- TENSION!
- slow burn
What might not work for some…
- this is cozy, maybe even bordering on a little too cozy for my usual tastes. The stakes were enough to keep me interested but I think you’ll need to be in the mood for cozy to really enjoy this one!
🌶️- fade to black
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
June 20, 2026
This is an adorable fantasy story, reminiscent of “The Faraway Inn”, Sarah Beth Durst’s latest book. Despite being marketed to adults, this is really more of a YA book. Fans of romance will find it lacking, and Jenkinson doesn’t add in any spice. I, on the other hand, was very appreciative of the romance taking a backseat to the plot.
Fliss runs a flower shop with her mother in a medieval-like kingdom. We learn early on that she grew up with a curse that compels her to always tell the truth. Even lie-adjacent statements can cause her tremendous pain. She can never say, “No, those jeans don’t make you look fat”, unless it’s actually true! So Fliss learned as a child that others will avoid her and be angry at her for opening her big mouth.
Fliss has a magical affinity with flowers and can add a touch of emotions to any bouquet or single flower. Her store has an anonymous box where people can submit requests when they don’t want the receiver knowing who they are, and this is where the story really begins. Fliss gets a request for a flower that she has never even heard of before. Since she is an outcast (except for her BFF, Card, who is about to marry the crown prince), Fliss is determined to go above and beyond for every customer, even if it kills her. And it might.
There are many misunderstandings throughout the story, and sometimes I wanted to yell at the characters to just TALK to each other already. Overall, this is a book about finding out who truly loves you, for YOU. It’s sweet and reads like a fairytale. Also, the acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people is so heartwarming—I loved that!
Although I enjoyed reading this, the book ended quite abruptly and unsatisfactorily. It really could have used a few more pages to bring everything together at the climax.
All in all, I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up. It’s a good debut cozy fantasy, and I think Jenkinson is well-poised to write a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
ETA: I loved the floral drawings at the beginning of each chapter! Such a cute way to set the tone.
Fliss runs a flower shop with her mother in a medieval-like kingdom. We learn early on that she grew up with a curse that compels her to always tell the truth. Even lie-adjacent statements can cause her tremendous pain. She can never say, “No, those jeans don’t make you look fat”, unless it’s actually true! So Fliss learned as a child that others will avoid her and be angry at her for opening her big mouth.
Fliss has a magical affinity with flowers and can add a touch of emotions to any bouquet or single flower. Her store has an anonymous box where people can submit requests when they don’t want the receiver knowing who they are, and this is where the story really begins. Fliss gets a request for a flower that she has never even heard of before. Since she is an outcast (except for her BFF, Card, who is about to marry the crown prince), Fliss is determined to go above and beyond for every customer, even if it kills her. And it might.
There are many misunderstandings throughout the story, and sometimes I wanted to yell at the characters to just TALK to each other already. Overall, this is a book about finding out who truly loves you, for YOU. It’s sweet and reads like a fairytale. Also, the acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people is so heartwarming—I loved that!
Although I enjoyed reading this, the book ended quite abruptly and unsatisfactorily. It really could have used a few more pages to bring everything together at the climax.
All in all, I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up. It’s a good debut cozy fantasy, and I think Jenkinson is well-poised to write a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
ETA: I loved the floral drawings at the beginning of each chapter! Such a cute way to set the tone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed (most) of this novel. There was some creative yet accessible worldbuilding, funny misadventures, and a serious through-plot that kept things interesting. I liked how this novel had several different things going on at once, kept my interest, and kept me flipping pages. The romance wasn’t quite what I was looking for, but the story was nice and I like flowers!
Highlights:
-The story hooked me immediately and I needed to know what was going to happen. There was never a single chance that I wasn’t going to finish this book.
-Several mysteries to be found. I wouldn’t call this a mystery novel, but there were questions I NEEDED answered.
-The flower magic was neat. It was original and interesting, yet also very easy to follow along with. I think I like protagonists who are florists; it keeps popping up in books I read and I'm going to be continuing the trend!
-I liked the trans representation.
-The “cursed to never lie” plot point has been done before, but I thought that the author did a good job with it and kept it feeling fresh an original all the same.
-Super cozy and fun.
Nitpicks:
-The romance was, in my opinion, weak. I honestly didn’t see anything particularly great about the love interest; for the first half of the novel the only good things I could say about him was that he “wasn’t an awful person, like most of the other people the MC knows”. That’s a low bar! I just didn’t really see any reason for the MC’s attraction in all honesty. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t do anything for me and was a missed opportunity.
-Such a small thing: I found myself groaning and frustrated at several points because the characters wouldn’t say “a thing” that I think any person in that situation would say, and it would solve things much more effectively. No spoilers sorry! It wasn’t too bad though.
-The amount of dumb luck required for this story to happen the way it did was quite considerable….but also not really a problem. I'm just already making a list so…..
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Highlights:
-The story hooked me immediately and I needed to know what was going to happen. There was never a single chance that I wasn’t going to finish this book.
-Several mysteries to be found. I wouldn’t call this a mystery novel, but there were questions I NEEDED answered.
-The flower magic was neat. It was original and interesting, yet also very easy to follow along with. I think I like protagonists who are florists; it keeps popping up in books I read and I'm going to be continuing the trend!
-I liked the trans representation.
-The “cursed to never lie” plot point has been done before, but I thought that the author did a good job with it and kept it feeling fresh an original all the same.
-Super cozy and fun.
Nitpicks:
-The romance was, in my opinion, weak. I honestly didn’t see anything particularly great about the love interest; for the first half of the novel the only good things I could say about him was that he “wasn’t an awful person, like most of the other people the MC knows”. That’s a low bar! I just didn’t really see any reason for the MC’s attraction in all honesty. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t do anything for me and was a missed opportunity.
-Such a small thing: I found myself groaning and frustrated at several points because the characters wouldn’t say “a thing” that I think any person in that situation would say, and it would solve things much more effectively. No spoilers sorry! It wasn’t too bad though.
-The amount of dumb luck required for this story to happen the way it did was quite considerable….but also not really a problem. I'm just already making a list so…..
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
August 2, 2026
I loved the premise of this book but the execution wasn’t my favorite 🥲
There are many aspects of this story that I loved. I really enjoyed the fact that the main character’s magic is tied to botany, and each flower and plant has its own magical properties in her hands.
The love interest has strong Howl Pendragon vibes 🤭 and the book even replicates one of the memorable scenes of the movie.
The found family and friendship themes were very sweet and heartfelt, and the stakes of the story were high enough that this book sits right at the edge of the cozy fantasy subgenre.
The downside for me was that I didn’t enjoy the writing. I felt that everything was over explained, and any action or character interaction prompted the narrator to go off on a tangent to give us context. At some points the narration halted so often to explain things that I forgot what was happening in the story.
My other complaint is that the "bad guys" felt really cartoonish, and the reason for their evil deeds were petty and sad, compared to the enormity of the consequences.
All the same, I'll be on the lookout for future works from this author. I'd recommend this book to lovers of cozy fantasy who enjoy higher stakes in their stories.
Thanks to Del Rey via NetGalley for providing an eARC
There are many aspects of this story that I loved. I really enjoyed the fact that the main character’s magic is tied to botany, and each flower and plant has its own magical properties in her hands.
The love interest has strong Howl Pendragon vibes 🤭 and the book even replicates one of the memorable scenes of the movie.
The found family and friendship themes were very sweet and heartfelt, and the stakes of the story were high enough that this book sits right at the edge of the cozy fantasy subgenre.
The downside for me was that I didn’t enjoy the writing. I felt that everything was over explained, and any action or character interaction prompted the narrator to go off on a tangent to give us context. At some points the narration halted so often to explain things that I forgot what was happening in the story.
My other complaint is that the "bad guys" felt really cartoonish, and the reason for their evil deeds were petty and sad, compared to the enormity of the consequences.
All the same, I'll be on the lookout for future works from this author. I'd recommend this book to lovers of cozy fantasy who enjoy higher stakes in their stories.
Thanks to Del Rey via NetGalley for providing an eARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎶 Just keep on keeping your eyes on me
It's just wrong enough to make it feel right 🎶
3.5-3.75✨ rounded up to 4.
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Del Rey for a chance to review this arc!
Wildflower was a sweet & cozy read. I really loved the artwork with the flowers & informations about each of them. It was such a thoughtful thing to add and I was looking forward to each chapter just to see what the flower would be & the little quotes.
We follow Fliss, the fmc, who is cursed to never lie. It made her life pretty complicated and a lot of people use her for it. At the start of the novel, she’s a people pleaser and she always thinks many times before speaking so she doesn’t inadvertently hurt someone. She had a lot of character development and I loved seeing her learn her worth through this novel.
The romance was actually really sweet and the banter was well done. I did feel that it moved too fast at some point and the ‘I love yous’ and ‘you’re my world’ gave me whiplash. It all happened under a month.
The pacing was on the slower side, which was okay considering it was a cozy fantasy. The writing was compelling. I will admit I found the ending was insanely rushed and the conflicts between the parents a bit annoying. It did feel that the children had to pick up all their parents messes. I hope the adults will find a way to rightly apologize for all the trouble they caused the children.
Overall, it was a cute & sweet read. I’ll look forward to the author’s next work!
It's just wrong enough to make it feel right 🎶
3.5-3.75✨ rounded up to 4.
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Del Rey for a chance to review this arc!
Wildflower was a sweet & cozy read. I really loved the artwork with the flowers & informations about each of them. It was such a thoughtful thing to add and I was looking forward to each chapter just to see what the flower would be & the little quotes.
We follow Fliss, the fmc, who is cursed to never lie. It made her life pretty complicated and a lot of people use her for it. At the start of the novel, she’s a people pleaser and she always thinks many times before speaking so she doesn’t inadvertently hurt someone. She had a lot of character development and I loved seeing her learn her worth through this novel.
The romance was actually really sweet and the banter was well done. I did feel that it moved too fast at some point and the ‘I love yous’ and ‘you’re my world’ gave me whiplash. It all happened under a month.
The pacing was on the slower side, which was okay considering it was a cozy fantasy. The writing was compelling. I will admit I found the ending was insanely rushed and the conflicts between the parents a bit annoying. It did feel that the children had to pick up all their parents messes. I hope the adults will find a way to rightly apologize for all the trouble they caused the children.
Overall, it was a cute & sweet read. I’ll look forward to the author’s next work!
June 19, 2026
I'm actually speechless, I do not even know what to write. It's currently 3am, an hour after I finished reading this in one sitting and had to stare into space for a bit.
I loved this so so much. The characters, the plot, the sense of coming together and healing together, the queer normative society... everything was just so fun and interesting. It's my first 5 star read of June and I couldn't be happier.
I know I'm a bit late and that the book came out 2 days ago but thank you Netgalley and Del Ray for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this so so much. The characters, the plot, the sense of coming together and healing together, the queer normative society... everything was just so fun and interesting. It's my first 5 star read of June and I couldn't be happier.
I know I'm a bit late and that the book came out 2 days ago but thank you Netgalley and Del Ray for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2026
350 pages of
ALSO! Wasn’t expecting some of the best trans rep of 2026 but always happy to get it 🙂↕️
ALSO! Wasn’t expecting some of the best trans rep of 2026 but always happy to get it 🙂↕️
June 21, 2026
This was such a nice ride. A cosy romance with a high-stakes plot where everyone definitely has family issues or is cursed.
Fliss has an affinity for magic—specifically, she's very good with flowers, focusing on running her flower shop and improving her enchantments. But she's also been cursed since birth—she can't lie. Physically, she just can't: there's a barrier in her throat that won't let her. And the Queen is exploiting that to spy on the citizens, which makes them suspect Fliss anytime they see her, with Card being her only friend (and, conveniently, the Crown Prince's fiancée).
Will, on the other hand, is known to everyone as the Crown Prince's ex-best friend who caused the old tree to go bad and spread dark magic to the surrounding areas. Did he really, though? And why do everyone's mothers seem to know each other but haven't spoken to one another for years?
We go on a journey of discovering ways to break curses, finding out the deepest secrets of families and the whole kingdom, as well as realising what toxic love can do to you and your surroundings.
I immensely enjoyed the banter between Will and Fliss (honourable mention to Pigeon!) and even though everything happens so fast, it didn't bother me the way the 'insta-love' trope usually does. It all makes sense here and progresses steadily, with both of them wary of their own feelings, based on their past experiences.
You'll laugh, maybe you'll cry, but it's definitely one to enjoy.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Fliss has an affinity for magic—specifically, she's very good with flowers, focusing on running her flower shop and improving her enchantments. But she's also been cursed since birth—she can't lie. Physically, she just can't: there's a barrier in her throat that won't let her. And the Queen is exploiting that to spy on the citizens, which makes them suspect Fliss anytime they see her, with Card being her only friend (and, conveniently, the Crown Prince's fiancée).
Will, on the other hand, is known to everyone as the Crown Prince's ex-best friend who caused the old tree to go bad and spread dark magic to the surrounding areas. Did he really, though? And why do everyone's mothers seem to know each other but haven't spoken to one another for years?
We go on a journey of discovering ways to break curses, finding out the deepest secrets of families and the whole kingdom, as well as realising what toxic love can do to you and your surroundings.
I immensely enjoyed the banter between Will and Fliss (honourable mention to Pigeon!) and even though everything happens so fast, it didn't bother me the way the 'insta-love' trope usually does. It all makes sense here and progresses steadily, with both of them wary of their own feelings, based on their past experiences.
You'll laugh, maybe you'll cry, but it's definitely one to enjoy.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
June 18, 2026
I received a free copy from Del Rey via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date June 16th, 2026.
The publisher asked me very nicely to review this book because I read (and adored) A Widow’s Charm, so I gave it a shot. In Wildflower, young florist Fliss is cursed to always tell the truth. An increasingly odd series of requests at her magic flower shop forces her to seek out the mysterious sorcerer Willoh for help—but Will is estranged from her best friend’s fiance, the prince.
Many people like to fling around accusations that books feel too young adult when they’ve never read a single YA book in their life. I, however, with my solid if outdated understanding of YA publishing, was genuinely surprised that this book was placed with adult fantasy. Yes, Fliss and her friends are all eighteen to twenty, but after all, Baru Cormorant is eighteen. What makes this book feel younger is the extreme youth and naivete of the protagonists. At one point Fliss declares that she thought she’d never love again after breaking up with her first boyfriend (of all of six months). Her truth curse is inconvenient, and I can see how she’d be unpopular as a child after adults used it to make her tattle, but her frequent exclamations that everyone hates her and she’s unloveable feel a bit extreme. Add that to the plot’s air of sneaking around behind the adults’ backs to foil their plans and the fact that all of the sex scenes are fade to black… What was marketing thinking.
The worldbuilding is brightly colored and gentle. Even though Fliss and others do get injured, I never felt that they were in serious danger. Meanwhile, the setting felt quaint and small in scope. I see why Jenkinson gave in to the urge to refer to her creation as a kingdom with a queen (much cooler), but I think the term she’s really looking for is “city mayor.” Everything in this book is max two hours travel away. That’s six miles, if you’re walking. Much of the magic we see on page is Fliss’ sweet gift for enhancing the emotions of flowers and matching them to customers. However, I soon began to suspect that I know more about cut flowers than the author (and definitely more than whoever did the very stylized floral chapter illustrations). Even the bandits that lurk in the wood had their sharp edges smoothed off. The kingdom’s rebels had less animating ideology than the average Star Wars plot (derogatory). In short, Wildflower lives firmly on the fluffy end of the worldbuilding spectrum.
Not at all to my taste. I know some of you will enjoy it, though—the style reminded me strongly of Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop, which has its share of fans. But fair warning for potential readers, you should be at least YA curious, because I think these kids should be at the high school, not the fantasy plot. Now excuse me, I am off to read something much less life-affirming.
The publisher asked me very nicely to review this book because I read (and adored) A Widow’s Charm, so I gave it a shot. In Wildflower, young florist Fliss is cursed to always tell the truth. An increasingly odd series of requests at her magic flower shop forces her to seek out the mysterious sorcerer Willoh for help—but Will is estranged from her best friend’s fiance, the prince.
Many people like to fling around accusations that books feel too young adult when they’ve never read a single YA book in their life. I, however, with my solid if outdated understanding of YA publishing, was genuinely surprised that this book was placed with adult fantasy. Yes, Fliss and her friends are all eighteen to twenty, but after all, Baru Cormorant is eighteen. What makes this book feel younger is the extreme youth and naivete of the protagonists. At one point Fliss declares that she thought she’d never love again after breaking up with her first boyfriend (of all of six months). Her truth curse is inconvenient, and I can see how she’d be unpopular as a child after adults used it to make her tattle, but her frequent exclamations that everyone hates her and she’s unloveable feel a bit extreme. Add that to the plot’s air of sneaking around behind the adults’ backs to foil their plans and the fact that all of the sex scenes are fade to black… What was marketing thinking.
The worldbuilding is brightly colored and gentle. Even though Fliss and others do get injured, I never felt that they were in serious danger. Meanwhile, the setting felt quaint and small in scope. I see why Jenkinson gave in to the urge to refer to her creation as a kingdom with a queen (much cooler), but I think the term she’s really looking for is “city mayor.” Everything in this book is max two hours travel away. That’s six miles, if you’re walking. Much of the magic we see on page is Fliss’ sweet gift for enhancing the emotions of flowers and matching them to customers. However, I soon began to suspect that I know more about cut flowers than the author (and definitely more than whoever did the very stylized floral chapter illustrations). Even the bandits that lurk in the wood had their sharp edges smoothed off. The kingdom’s rebels had less animating ideology than the average Star Wars plot (derogatory). In short, Wildflower lives firmly on the fluffy end of the worldbuilding spectrum.
Not at all to my taste. I know some of you will enjoy it, though—the style reminded me strongly of Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop, which has its share of fans. But fair warning for potential readers, you should be at least YA curious, because I think these kids should be at the high school, not the fantasy plot. Now excuse me, I am off to read something much less life-affirming.
January 24, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an E-ARC
2026 is the year of cosy fantasy
Wildflower is a well written debut novel that blends fantasy, romance and whimsy perfectly.
Felicity ‘Fliss’ Farrow can only tell the truth which is more than a minor inconvenience when she starts to fall for the kingdom’s worst enemy. But when the pair are forced to stop a plan to ruin the royal wedding, Fliss learns that she’s more than her curse and that some people will always see past it as well.
This gave me major Ella Enchanted vibes. Paired with the mix of botanicals and magic, this was a fast paced read that blended everything perfectly and didn’t fall into any of the typical tropes. I can’t wait to see what Becky Jenkinson writes next
2026 is the year of cosy fantasy
Wildflower is a well written debut novel that blends fantasy, romance and whimsy perfectly.
Felicity ‘Fliss’ Farrow can only tell the truth which is more than a minor inconvenience when she starts to fall for the kingdom’s worst enemy. But when the pair are forced to stop a plan to ruin the royal wedding, Fliss learns that she’s more than her curse and that some people will always see past it as well.
This gave me major Ella Enchanted vibes. Paired with the mix of botanicals and magic, this was a fast paced read that blended everything perfectly and didn’t fall into any of the typical tropes. I can’t wait to see what Becky Jenkinson writes next
June 16, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 ★ rounded up to 4 ★
There is something wonderfully fitting about a book called “Wildflower” being a little messy. Wildflowers, after all, are not carefully cultivated roses arranged into perfect bouquets. They grow where they want to grow. Sometimes they flourish brilliantly, sometimes they sprawl in unexpected directions, sometimes they surprise you by becoming the thing you remember most. That is very much how I felt about this book.
I have genuinely mixed feelings about it, which almost makes it harder to review than a book I either loved or disliked outright. There were stretches where I was completely immersed, turning pages quickly and thinking, “okay, now we're getting somewhere.” Then there were other sections where I found myself glancing at my reading progress and wondering how many chapters were left. It was a strangely uneven reading experience for me because the highs were genuinely high, but the lows felt noticeably slower.
What surprised me most, however, was not the romance, but the politics. I went into this expecting exactly what the cover, premise, and marketing suggested: a cozy fantasy with flowers, magic, banter, and a swoony romance. I was fully prepared to be swept away by the romantasy elements. And while I absolutely enjoyed those aspects, the thing that kept grabbing my attention was the political undercurrent woven throughout the story.
Anyone who knows me knows that I will happily consume social commentary and political intrigue in almost any genre. Give me fantasy, give me romance, give me science fiction. If there is even the slightest exploration of power structures, class divisions, institutional failures, generational consequences, or the ways people are harmed by those in power, I am immediately interested.
And Wildflower unexpectedly gave me that. Beneath all the magic and cozy aesthetics is a story that frequently asks who gets abandoned, who gets listened to, and who gets left behind. There are tensions between different regions of the kingdom, failures of leadership, inherited grievances, and wounds that have been allowed to fester for years because the people with power either refuse to acknowledge them or are unable to change them. I found myself surprisingly invested whenever the story leaned into those elements. They gave the world weight. They transformed it from simply being a charming fantasy backdrop into something that felt connected to larger questions about responsibility, privilege, and leadership.
That is not to say the romance didn’t work for me because it absolutely did. Fliss and Will are incredibly easy characters to root for. I loved that their relationship develops through conversation. I loved their teasing. I loved their shared sense of humor. I loved the way they genuinely seem to enjoy each other’s company. More importantly, I loved that the banter does not disappear once romantic feelings enter the picture. I feel like so many romances, whether in books, films, television, or even fanfiction, accidentally lose the thing that made the couple compelling in the first place. Two characters spend hundreds of pages developing an entertaining dynamic, only for all of that chemistry to vanish the moment they officially become romantic partners. But that never really happens here. The teasing remains, and the affection grows naturally out of friendship. The dynamic feels recognizable throughout the entire progression of the relationship. And because of that, some of the quieter romantic moments ended up being my favorites.
There is a tenderness running through this story that I found genuinely lovely. The romance is not built around grand declarations or overwhelming passion. Instead, it often focuses on acceptance. Being seen, being understood, and being allowed to exist as your full self without needing to shrink or apologize.
The book also deserves praise for its LGBTQIA+ representation. The world feels comfortably queer-normative, allowing queer identities to exist without becoming the sole focus of every character’s narrative. Representation appears both among the main cast and supporting cast, which was genuinely refreshing to see. Given that I read this during Pride Month, it felt especially fitting. And honestly, I think many readers looking for cozy fantasy with queer characters, gentle romance, and themes of acceptance will find a lot to love here.
I absolutely adored the chapter illustrations and the way flowers are integrated into both the worldbuilding and storytelling. There is something so charming about a magical florist protagonist whose craft revolves around understanding the emotional language of flowers. The concept could have felt gimmicky in less capable hands but here it becomes one of the book’s strongest identities. The flower sketches, the floriography, the symbolism, the magical enchantments tied to bouquets and petals and stems all contribute to a world that feels distinctly its own. Some of the most beautiful writing in the novel comes from these moments. When Fliss describes flowers carrying emotions, or when floral imagery becomes a way of understanding people and relationships, the prose often blossoms into something genuinely lovely.
That said, this is also where my biggest criticisms come in. I think the dialogue can be inconsistent. Sometimes it works wonderfully, the banter sparkles, the emotional scenes land, the conversations feel natural and heartfelt. Other times, however, certain arguments or exchanges felt oddly immature to me. I am struggling to articulate exactly what felt off but occasionally conversations reminded me of the sort of conflict you might find in a particularly melodramatic streaming series, where characters say things because the plot requires tension rather than because that is how people would realistically communicate. The dialogue is never terrible. It just occasionally feels less emotionally sophisticated than the themes surrounding it. And unfortunately, I think this issue becomes more noticeable during the latter half of the book. This is where my feelings became most conflicted. For roughly the first two-thirds of the novel, I was comfortably sitting at a perfect four-star rating, possibly even leaning higher, and then the final stretch happened. For me, the writing quality noticeably declined toward the end. The pacing became less focused, certain scenes felt overly drawn out or even rushed, some conversations started feeling repetitive. Instead of building momentum, parts of the final section felt like they were treading water. I also found some of the later conversations less cohesive than earlier ones. Characters occasionally seemed to be talking around each other in ways that felt more frustrating than meaningful.
None of this /completely/ ruined the experience but it did prevent the book from becoming something I truly loved. By the time I reached the final chapters, I found myself appreciating the story more than actively enjoying it. Which is why this ultimately lands at around 3.5 stars for me.
Still, despite my criticisms, I am glad I read it.
I think Wildflower succeeds most when it embraces its heart which is its belief in kindness, its celebration of acceptance, its understanding that healing is rarely immediate and that love often begins with simply allowing someone to be fully seen. It is a story about flowers, certainly but I believe it is also a story about growth. About learning who you are beneath other people’s expectations, about reclaiming the parts of yourself that have been buried for too long, about choosing yourself. And while I do not think every aspect of the novel worked equally well, there were enough beautiful moments, charming relationships, meaningful themes and genuinely lovely ideas scattered throughout these pages that I never regretted following them.
Like a wildflower, this story may not always grow in the direction you expect. But every so often, it catches the light in exactly the right way.
3.5 ★ rounded up to 4 ★
There is something wonderfully fitting about a book called “Wildflower” being a little messy. Wildflowers, after all, are not carefully cultivated roses arranged into perfect bouquets. They grow where they want to grow. Sometimes they flourish brilliantly, sometimes they sprawl in unexpected directions, sometimes they surprise you by becoming the thing you remember most. That is very much how I felt about this book.
I have genuinely mixed feelings about it, which almost makes it harder to review than a book I either loved or disliked outright. There were stretches where I was completely immersed, turning pages quickly and thinking, “okay, now we're getting somewhere.” Then there were other sections where I found myself glancing at my reading progress and wondering how many chapters were left. It was a strangely uneven reading experience for me because the highs were genuinely high, but the lows felt noticeably slower.
What surprised me most, however, was not the romance, but the politics. I went into this expecting exactly what the cover, premise, and marketing suggested: a cozy fantasy with flowers, magic, banter, and a swoony romance. I was fully prepared to be swept away by the romantasy elements. And while I absolutely enjoyed those aspects, the thing that kept grabbing my attention was the political undercurrent woven throughout the story.
Anyone who knows me knows that I will happily consume social commentary and political intrigue in almost any genre. Give me fantasy, give me romance, give me science fiction. If there is even the slightest exploration of power structures, class divisions, institutional failures, generational consequences, or the ways people are harmed by those in power, I am immediately interested.
And Wildflower unexpectedly gave me that. Beneath all the magic and cozy aesthetics is a story that frequently asks who gets abandoned, who gets listened to, and who gets left behind. There are tensions between different regions of the kingdom, failures of leadership, inherited grievances, and wounds that have been allowed to fester for years because the people with power either refuse to acknowledge them or are unable to change them. I found myself surprisingly invested whenever the story leaned into those elements. They gave the world weight. They transformed it from simply being a charming fantasy backdrop into something that felt connected to larger questions about responsibility, privilege, and leadership.
That is not to say the romance didn’t work for me because it absolutely did. Fliss and Will are incredibly easy characters to root for. I loved that their relationship develops through conversation. I loved their teasing. I loved their shared sense of humor. I loved the way they genuinely seem to enjoy each other’s company. More importantly, I loved that the banter does not disappear once romantic feelings enter the picture. I feel like so many romances, whether in books, films, television, or even fanfiction, accidentally lose the thing that made the couple compelling in the first place. Two characters spend hundreds of pages developing an entertaining dynamic, only for all of that chemistry to vanish the moment they officially become romantic partners. But that never really happens here. The teasing remains, and the affection grows naturally out of friendship. The dynamic feels recognizable throughout the entire progression of the relationship. And because of that, some of the quieter romantic moments ended up being my favorites.
There is a tenderness running through this story that I found genuinely lovely. The romance is not built around grand declarations or overwhelming passion. Instead, it often focuses on acceptance. Being seen, being understood, and being allowed to exist as your full self without needing to shrink or apologize.
The book also deserves praise for its LGBTQIA+ representation. The world feels comfortably queer-normative, allowing queer identities to exist without becoming the sole focus of every character’s narrative. Representation appears both among the main cast and supporting cast, which was genuinely refreshing to see. Given that I read this during Pride Month, it felt especially fitting. And honestly, I think many readers looking for cozy fantasy with queer characters, gentle romance, and themes of acceptance will find a lot to love here.
I absolutely adored the chapter illustrations and the way flowers are integrated into both the worldbuilding and storytelling. There is something so charming about a magical florist protagonist whose craft revolves around understanding the emotional language of flowers. The concept could have felt gimmicky in less capable hands but here it becomes one of the book’s strongest identities. The flower sketches, the floriography, the symbolism, the magical enchantments tied to bouquets and petals and stems all contribute to a world that feels distinctly its own. Some of the most beautiful writing in the novel comes from these moments. When Fliss describes flowers carrying emotions, or when floral imagery becomes a way of understanding people and relationships, the prose often blossoms into something genuinely lovely.
That said, this is also where my biggest criticisms come in. I think the dialogue can be inconsistent. Sometimes it works wonderfully, the banter sparkles, the emotional scenes land, the conversations feel natural and heartfelt. Other times, however, certain arguments or exchanges felt oddly immature to me. I am struggling to articulate exactly what felt off but occasionally conversations reminded me of the sort of conflict you might find in a particularly melodramatic streaming series, where characters say things because the plot requires tension rather than because that is how people would realistically communicate. The dialogue is never terrible. It just occasionally feels less emotionally sophisticated than the themes surrounding it. And unfortunately, I think this issue becomes more noticeable during the latter half of the book. This is where my feelings became most conflicted. For roughly the first two-thirds of the novel, I was comfortably sitting at a perfect four-star rating, possibly even leaning higher, and then the final stretch happened. For me, the writing quality noticeably declined toward the end. The pacing became less focused, certain scenes felt overly drawn out or even rushed, some conversations started feeling repetitive. Instead of building momentum, parts of the final section felt like they were treading water. I also found some of the later conversations less cohesive than earlier ones. Characters occasionally seemed to be talking around each other in ways that felt more frustrating than meaningful.
None of this /completely/ ruined the experience but it did prevent the book from becoming something I truly loved. By the time I reached the final chapters, I found myself appreciating the story more than actively enjoying it. Which is why this ultimately lands at around 3.5 stars for me.
Still, despite my criticisms, I am glad I read it.
I think Wildflower succeeds most when it embraces its heart which is its belief in kindness, its celebration of acceptance, its understanding that healing is rarely immediate and that love often begins with simply allowing someone to be fully seen. It is a story about flowers, certainly but I believe it is also a story about growth. About learning who you are beneath other people’s expectations, about reclaiming the parts of yourself that have been buried for too long, about choosing yourself. And while I do not think every aspect of the novel worked equally well, there were enough beautiful moments, charming relationships, meaningful themes and genuinely lovely ideas scattered throughout these pages that I never regretted following them.
Like a wildflower, this story may not always grow in the direction you expect. But every so often, it catches the light in exactly the right way.
February 6, 2026
Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson is a tender, emotionally rich read that lingers long after the final page.
This story is deeply character-driven, focusing on growth, healing, and the quiet bravery it takes to face both your past and your future. Jenkinson’s writing is gentle yet impactful, with moments that feel raw and heartfelt without ever tipping into melodrama. I especially loved the way relationships were explored - messy, imperfect, and very human.
While the pacing was a little slower in parts, it ultimately suited the reflective tone of the story and allowed the emotional beats to land with more weight. The themes of resilience and self-discovery were beautifully handled, making this a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys thoughtful, emotional fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A truly touching and meaningful book. 🌸
This story is deeply character-driven, focusing on growth, healing, and the quiet bravery it takes to face both your past and your future. Jenkinson’s writing is gentle yet impactful, with moments that feel raw and heartfelt without ever tipping into melodrama. I especially loved the way relationships were explored - messy, imperfect, and very human.
While the pacing was a little slower in parts, it ultimately suited the reflective tone of the story and allowed the emotional beats to land with more weight. The themes of resilience and self-discovery were beautifully handled, making this a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys thoughtful, emotional fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A truly touching and meaningful book. 🌸
July 31, 2026
DNF @ 17% / 5 chapters / 1:44 hours listened to
I'm just so frustrated. I knew better than to read a cozy again, but it sounded so interesting and I really liked the narrator. It was lovely to listen to on the way home, but I honestly could not stop thinking about how close all these distances were. Fliss walks and rides a carriage "for a few hours" to the mountains THE MOUNTAINS snowed over and icy when she lives in like a valley/forest? The rebels attacked -- I assumed this would be at least a days ride away but no, walking distance of maybe a few hours. wtf?
And some spoilers as I rant
I'm honestly so frustrated. Plus Fliss just picking these rare flowers without considering if they will grow back or if they are the only ones in the world. Also flowers with that much power and she's not concerned at all about someone asking her to go on these dangerous missions and what the flowers will be used for??? Nah fam, reliable reputation is more important. Set boundaries.
I'm just so frustrated. I knew better than to read a cozy again, but it sounded so interesting and I really liked the narrator. It was lovely to listen to on the way home, but I honestly could not stop thinking about how close all these distances were. Fliss walks and rides a carriage "for a few hours" to the mountains THE MOUNTAINS snowed over and icy when she lives in like a valley/forest? The rebels attacked -- I assumed this would be at least a days ride away but no, walking distance of maybe a few hours. wtf?
And some spoilers as I rant
I'm honestly so frustrated. Plus Fliss just picking these rare flowers without considering if they will grow back or if they are the only ones in the world. Also flowers with that much power and she's not concerned at all about someone asking her to go on these dangerous missions and what the flowers will be used for??? Nah fam, reliable reputation is more important. Set boundaries.
May 20, 2026
Thank you Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.
While cozy fantasy has elements that I really like, this book wasn’t for me. It felt boring, flat and the writing style and characters made me annoying while reading it.
June 15, 2026
Wildflower is such a lovely read. This is a cozy fantasy that brings the magic in flowers and love, as well as in healing and comfort. If you grew up adoring Ella Enchanted, trust that that same love will not only carry over into Wildflower, but grow as well. Blossom, in fact! Your love will absolutely blossom in reading this beautiful story.
A story that belongs to Felicity, or Fliss as she prefers!
Fliss has been cursed with only speaking in truths. She cannot tell a lie, not even a word of sarcasm!, all she can do is tell the truth. This has made her into an outcast. Some stay away from her in fear her curse could snitch on their truths. Some intend to use her curse against her for their own personal gain. Fliss has a very small circle of trust, including only a loving mother and a best friend in Card. And then Will appears. And through him Fliss finds herself being truly seen for the first time. As she finds a kindred spirit in Will. But that's not the only thing she's finding, or should I say looking for! Fliss’ magic is how she brings out the power of flowers, she is a magical florist and an anonymous client has charged her with finding very specific flowers. What they will be used for...well that's a mystery we'll just have to solve alongside our soft-hearted heroine!
This is a cozy fantasy slash fairytale slash swoony sweet romance! I adored fully immersing myself in this world. A very queer normative world, and the representation here is beautiful. Especially in a reveal in the latter half of the work. I won't say much else because there is a specific conversation that reveals a character's personal truth and I think that needs to be experienced in its moment. But I love how naturally it's built and explored in the narrative. The world is so inclusive in its representation. And thus, world-building? A million checks right there, it continuously hit the mark! Not just in representation but in its magic too. I really loved seeing the facets of the magic system, but I loved none more than Fliss' magical touch in flowers. In how flowers themselves can have their own power The magic is then woven into a specific mystery, one that is slowly built in the background but comes to a very satisfying resolution in the final world. All in all, the world-building *is* the magic!
And just as I love the world-building, oh how I loved Fliss and Will. It’s them forever and ever! There is a wonderful cast of characters (even those who got me mad at times, sorry but looking at you Card, ha!) but this work could have only followed Fliss and Will and I would be fully satisfied with that. With just them. My two lovely outcasts. Will has been marked as untrustworthy, conniving, and malicious, it’s how Fliss understood him to be…until she meets him. And sees a snarky, flirty, and confident young man whose heart is pure gold. Who protects, who stays true, who heals. She sees *him.* And he? He sees her! He sees her just as well. He doesn’t see her as a tool to use for her curse, he simply sees this soft-hearted girl with an amazing, caring heart who owes not a thing to anyone. Who deserves to live a life just as she deems worthy, without fear or hesitation of how she was cursed. The romance between Fliss and Will is a sweet slow burn. It’s something precious that first blossoms into friendship before those first careful steps are taking into that something more. Without a doubt, the romance between Fliss and Will is my favorite part of this work. I was equally charmed by both. The more time they spent together, the stronger the chemistry became, until it turned into a force to be reckoned with. That slow but steady, nurturing build up makes everything that goes down in the final act feel truly earned. I was properly impressed by the dynamic and romance of Fliss and Will. They felt like a warm, comforting embrace.
This is a work I really, truly loved. A work that transported me back to my childhood years of reading fairytale retellings with unique spins and takes. If there is one thing I’d change, it’s perhaps the pacing in the second half. It felt a touch disjointed, my engagement didn’t feel as seamless as it did in the first half. That said, when the ending came along, the ball was rolling better than ever and my attention was caught hook, line, and sinker!
Wildflower is your favorite flower in book form. There is so much to love!
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
A story that belongs to Felicity, or Fliss as she prefers!
Fliss has been cursed with only speaking in truths. She cannot tell a lie, not even a word of sarcasm!, all she can do is tell the truth. This has made her into an outcast. Some stay away from her in fear her curse could snitch on their truths. Some intend to use her curse against her for their own personal gain. Fliss has a very small circle of trust, including only a loving mother and a best friend in Card. And then Will appears. And through him Fliss finds herself being truly seen for the first time. As she finds a kindred spirit in Will. But that's not the only thing she's finding, or should I say looking for! Fliss’ magic is how she brings out the power of flowers, she is a magical florist and an anonymous client has charged her with finding very specific flowers. What they will be used for...well that's a mystery we'll just have to solve alongside our soft-hearted heroine!
This is a cozy fantasy slash fairytale slash swoony sweet romance! I adored fully immersing myself in this world. A very queer normative world, and the representation here is beautiful. Especially in a reveal in the latter half of the work. I won't say much else because there is a specific conversation that reveals a character's personal truth and I think that needs to be experienced in its moment. But I love how naturally it's built and explored in the narrative. The world is so inclusive in its representation. And thus, world-building? A million checks right there, it continuously hit the mark! Not just in representation but in its magic too. I really loved seeing the facets of the magic system, but I loved none more than Fliss' magical touch in flowers. In how flowers themselves can have their own power The magic is then woven into a specific mystery, one that is slowly built in the background but comes to a very satisfying resolution in the final world. All in all, the world-building *is* the magic!
And just as I love the world-building, oh how I loved Fliss and Will. It’s them forever and ever! There is a wonderful cast of characters (even those who got me mad at times, sorry but looking at you Card, ha!) but this work could have only followed Fliss and Will and I would be fully satisfied with that. With just them. My two lovely outcasts. Will has been marked as untrustworthy, conniving, and malicious, it’s how Fliss understood him to be…until she meets him. And sees a snarky, flirty, and confident young man whose heart is pure gold. Who protects, who stays true, who heals. She sees *him.* And he? He sees her! He sees her just as well. He doesn’t see her as a tool to use for her curse, he simply sees this soft-hearted girl with an amazing, caring heart who owes not a thing to anyone. Who deserves to live a life just as she deems worthy, without fear or hesitation of how she was cursed. The romance between Fliss and Will is a sweet slow burn. It’s something precious that first blossoms into friendship before those first careful steps are taking into that something more. Without a doubt, the romance between Fliss and Will is my favorite part of this work. I was equally charmed by both. The more time they spent together, the stronger the chemistry became, until it turned into a force to be reckoned with. That slow but steady, nurturing build up makes everything that goes down in the final act feel truly earned. I was properly impressed by the dynamic and romance of Fliss and Will. They felt like a warm, comforting embrace.
This is a work I really, truly loved. A work that transported me back to my childhood years of reading fairytale retellings with unique spins and takes. If there is one thing I’d change, it’s perhaps the pacing in the second half. It felt a touch disjointed, my engagement didn’t feel as seamless as it did in the first half. That said, when the ending came along, the ball was rolling better than ever and my attention was caught hook, line, and sinker!
Wildflower is your favorite flower in book form. There is so much to love!
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
June 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads!
Thank you to Penguin Random House, Del Rey and the author for my physical ARC. Wildflowers is a fun, Ella Enchanted like story about a girl named Fliss who is cursed to tell the truth. She spends her days working with flowers, whom she has a magical affinity for, and helping out people in anyway she can. Her best friend is set to marry the crown prince, who has an on going quarrel with a sorcerer named Willow, who is rumored to have used dark magic to poison the land. Fliss finds herself reluctantly needing the help of this sorcerer to collect three rare flowers in said forest for an anonymous buyer and realizes that what she’s been told about him and the kingdom are not the full truth.
This is a book with an exceptional amount of LGBT representation that flowed seamlessly 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. It’s really a perfect read for Pride Month.
The plot from start the finish was well done - you could tell it was really thought out, which I loved exploring. The mystery of the anonymous requests, what the flowers were used for, what happened to the forest, etc. kept my interest the entire time.
The magic systems were really cool as well. Fliss’s flower magic was unique and fun (though sometimes, the descriptions of the flowers and their uses became repetitive and would sometimes take me out of the story). Will and the other sorcerers magic also made sense and were well done.
That being said, for as much as I loved the characters, they are the weakest part of the story. Fliss fails to communicate effectively at some of the most important times when she hasn’t struggled before. Her relationship with Will felt rushed and I wish it had been more slow burn or even stayed as friends. Bastion (the prince) and Card (the best friend) are two of the most selfish people I have read in a long time. Additionally, the villain was not fleshed out enough. They were there and gone within the last third of the book.
This is the author’s debut novel and I enjoyed it enough that I would pick up something from her again. Thank you again to Penguin Random House, Del Rey and Becky Jenkinson for the ARC!
Thank you to Penguin Random House, Del Rey and the author for my physical ARC. Wildflowers is a fun, Ella Enchanted like story about a girl named Fliss who is cursed to tell the truth. She spends her days working with flowers, whom she has a magical affinity for, and helping out people in anyway she can. Her best friend is set to marry the crown prince, who has an on going quarrel with a sorcerer named Willow, who is rumored to have used dark magic to poison the land. Fliss finds herself reluctantly needing the help of this sorcerer to collect three rare flowers in said forest for an anonymous buyer and realizes that what she’s been told about him and the kingdom are not the full truth.
This is a book with an exceptional amount of LGBT representation that flowed seamlessly 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️. It’s really a perfect read for Pride Month.
The plot from start the finish was well done - you could tell it was really thought out, which I loved exploring. The mystery of the anonymous requests, what the flowers were used for, what happened to the forest, etc. kept my interest the entire time.
The magic systems were really cool as well. Fliss’s flower magic was unique and fun (though sometimes, the descriptions of the flowers and their uses became repetitive and would sometimes take me out of the story). Will and the other sorcerers magic also made sense and were well done.
That being said, for as much as I loved the characters, they are the weakest part of the story. Fliss fails to communicate effectively at some of the most important times when she hasn’t struggled before. Her relationship with Will felt rushed and I wish it had been more slow burn or even stayed as friends. Bastion (the prince) and Card (the best friend) are two of the most selfish people I have read in a long time. Additionally, the villain was not fleshed out enough. They were there and gone within the last third of the book.
This is the author’s debut novel and I enjoyed it enough that I would pick up something from her again. Thank you again to Penguin Random House, Del Rey and Becky Jenkinson for the ARC!
June 22, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
A cozy fantasy with a magical florist sounded pretty fun. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Fliss is a magical florist who enchants emotions and longevity in her flowers. She herself has a curse to always tell the truth. The queen (mis)uses this ability. When she gets anonymous requests for magical and unknown to her flowers she meets Willoh Vane. Willow is a sorcerer who is outcast for his supposed mishap with dark magic that still has a lot of consequences now. Together they find out a bigger plot against prince Bastion and his fiance, Card.
The first half of this book is solid and I was very interested in this world. Fliss, while naive in places, is okay to follow around and to show us how this world works. A fantasy world more on the medieval side where magic is accepted but darker magic is shunned. Unless it is convenient.
The second half of this book however falters. There is such a change in pace and feeling when we get the other characters more on the page with more conflict. Honestly, a lot of these side characters are pretty dense and even flat in places. There is suggestion of Fliss also being friends with Bastion but I don't actually see a lot of that on the page. The supposed bond that existed between Bastion and Willoh is also a bit flimsy. And considering the revelations, it really doesn't make sense for Bastion to go off at Willoh every time he sees him.
I also found that the rules around Fliss' curse was a bit wonky in places. Always telling the truth isn't the worst. We have many magical species that can't lie. But here it felt like the worst thing of ever. If adults can't see that other adults are misusing a child than I don't know what to say about that. And then when she is telling them something important, nobody wants to believe her even though she can't lie. Make it make sense.
It was a fine read for the moment but at the end it isn't very memorable unfortunately.
A cozy fantasy with a magical florist sounded pretty fun. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Fliss is a magical florist who enchants emotions and longevity in her flowers. She herself has a curse to always tell the truth. The queen (mis)uses this ability. When she gets anonymous requests for magical and unknown to her flowers she meets Willoh Vane. Willow is a sorcerer who is outcast for his supposed mishap with dark magic that still has a lot of consequences now. Together they find out a bigger plot against prince Bastion and his fiance, Card.
The first half of this book is solid and I was very interested in this world. Fliss, while naive in places, is okay to follow around and to show us how this world works. A fantasy world more on the medieval side where magic is accepted but darker magic is shunned. Unless it is convenient.
The second half of this book however falters. There is such a change in pace and feeling when we get the other characters more on the page with more conflict. Honestly, a lot of these side characters are pretty dense and even flat in places. There is suggestion of Fliss also being friends with Bastion but I don't actually see a lot of that on the page. The supposed bond that existed between Bastion and Willoh is also a bit flimsy. And considering the revelations, it really doesn't make sense for Bastion to go off at Willoh every time he sees him.
I also found that the rules around Fliss' curse was a bit wonky in places. Always telling the truth isn't the worst. We have many magical species that can't lie. But here it felt like the worst thing of ever. If adults can't see that other adults are misusing a child than I don't know what to say about that. And then when she is telling them something important, nobody wants to believe her even though she can't lie. Make it make sense.
It was a fine read for the moment but at the end it isn't very memorable unfortunately.
May 7, 2026
What a charming, cozy fantasy! I loved the style of this story - while very sweet and cozy, it also had some high stakes and romantic tension.
Fliss was a heroine you instantly want to root for. She's got a heart of gold and has been saddled with a curse her entire life. The best friend, Card, has his flaws and there's some tension between the two for most of the book. The love interest, Willoh, is hard to read at first, but soon becomes a great partner as Fliss goes on one impossible trek after another.
There are major themes of love, acceptance, and sacrifice here. The politics of the world in which these character live is another layer to the story, but the magic and relationships are front and center.
Fliss was a heroine you instantly want to root for. She's got a heart of gold and has been saddled with a curse her entire life. The best friend, Card, has his flaws and there's some tension between the two for most of the book. The love interest, Willoh, is hard to read at first, but soon becomes a great partner as Fliss goes on one impossible trek after another.
There are major themes of love, acceptance, and sacrifice here. The politics of the world in which these character live is another layer to the story, but the magic and relationships are front and center.
June 16, 2026
I can't talk about this book without mentioning how much I loved the floral magic system. As someone with a large appreciation for botany, I thought this was a beautiful idea! I also adored that each chapter came with a hand drawn floral image from the author, it made the book feel so well loved and personable to them.
The story was whimsy and cosy with some lovely moments between the characters, although the stakes do get high towards the end! We also had great queer rep and one character's journey through transitioning was spoken about in depth and I thought it was wonderful to have that discussion within a fantasy book.
And there was CATS.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book!
The story was whimsy and cosy with some lovely moments between the characters, although the stakes do get high towards the end! We also had great queer rep and one character's journey through transitioning was spoken about in depth and I thought it was wonderful to have that discussion within a fantasy book.
And there was CATS.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book!
August 10, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! This is a perfect magical, summer, romantic, cozy adventure.
The magic system and the world felt unique and well thought out. The FMC, Fliss, has flower magic that she uses to enchant flowers that will help people feel emotions. I loved hearing about her journey with flowers, her magic, and how much of a passion she has for both. Her flower shop was amusing to hear about and intriguing when you learn about the anonymous orders. There was even a fun mystery element to the story and it was cool to learn how everything was connected.
The dynamic between Fliss and the MMC was electric. I was eating up every single one of there interactions and still craved more. The banter, the internal pull towards each other, and the yearning were all executed perfectly. There's also wonderful LGBT representation! Only downside was that I felt like sometime the MMC had so much powerful magic that I would forget that Fliss also had powers, and it felt like she was treated a bit fragile at times.
Thank you to Becky Jenkinson, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an arc.
The magic system and the world felt unique and well thought out. The FMC, Fliss, has flower magic that she uses to enchant flowers that will help people feel emotions. I loved hearing about her journey with flowers, her magic, and how much of a passion she has for both. Her flower shop was amusing to hear about and intriguing when you learn about the anonymous orders. There was even a fun mystery element to the story and it was cool to learn how everything was connected.
The dynamic between Fliss and the MMC was electric. I was eating up every single one of there interactions and still craved more. The banter, the internal pull towards each other, and the yearning were all executed perfectly. There's also wonderful LGBT representation! Only downside was that I felt like sometime the MMC had so much powerful magic that I would forget that Fliss also had powers, and it felt like she was treated a bit fragile at times.
Thank you to Becky Jenkinson, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an arc.
April 27, 2026
I loved this cosy and whimsy fantasy so much. I loved Ella Enchanted as a child so this theme was so welcome and so well done in my opinion, I enjoyed the whole cursed aspect and the not being able to tell lies was so good and all the situations this got our FMC Fliss in. The banter in this book was incredible and I was genuinely laughing at times.
I loved the thoughtful LGBTQ+ representation. This story was well written and clearly well thought out too.
4 stars 🌟
Thank you NetGalley and Zaffre for my ARC copy
I loved the thoughtful LGBTQ+ representation. This story was well written and clearly well thought out too.
4 stars 🌟
Thank you NetGalley and Zaffre for my ARC copy
February 5, 2026
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this fabulous book. What a cosy and captivating read! I was hooked from the start and by the end I was on the edge of my seat when things got heated!! I adore Will and was so pleasantly surprised to see this book represented the LGBTQ+ community! I loved it!
July 16, 2026
Cute und cosy. Möchte die dezente representation und fand die Lovestory adorable :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75, rounding up to 4 <3
Such a cosy read! There was so much of it I enjoyed and the premise is so good.
I loved Fliss so much, the writer playing around with her sentances because of her curse was so interesting and fun.
Wills reveal was really unexpected but appreciated, I felt like it took the story to somewhere I did not expect it to go.
What I found really confusing is the world, because the e-arc did not contain a map I found the layout of the kingdoms and the places the characters were going to so confusing and it ruined alot of the immersion.
You can fly thru the last few chapters, all the secrets getting revealed and everything getting solved was such a satisfying thing to read about.
Such a cosy read! There was so much of it I enjoyed and the premise is so good.
I loved Fliss so much, the writer playing around with her sentances because of her curse was so interesting and fun.
Wills reveal was really unexpected but appreciated, I felt like it took the story to somewhere I did not expect it to go.
What I found really confusing is the world, because the e-arc did not contain a map I found the layout of the kingdoms and the places the characters were going to so confusing and it ruined alot of the immersion.
You can fly thru the last few chapters, all the secrets getting revealed and everything getting solved was such a satisfying thing to read about.
May 10, 2026
I really wish I had more to say about this, but im entirely apathetic. I spent most of it bored. Or confused. Our main character was constantly changing how she felt about someone (Bash) and it drove me nuts. And the actual plot was so lackluster. I wanted more flowers, a better romance, and a plot that at least was cozy. Not bland adventuring.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
May 21, 2026
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
An action-packed cosy fantasy perfect for readers looking for strong friendship themes, refreshingly original twists, and a romance that'll have you yearning alongside them!
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
4.5 ⭐
1 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
Will laughs and it's sweeter than any fruit I've ever tasted.
"You're hot when you're desperate... I want you to beg for me."
"Trust me," Will says, "you'll be the one begging when I'm done with you."
"I didn't realise someone so short could cause me so much trouble. You're a persistent little wildflower."
"Fliss." He says my name like it's the only word, like it eclipses the sun.
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When magical florist “Fliss” receives a request for a mysterious flower, she must accept sorcerer Will’s help. But as a royal wedding nears, Fliss fears a sinister motive and must team up with Will to prevent a dangerous plot.
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🫶 Found Family
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🌈 Queer Rep (incl. Trans Love Interest!)
🩹 Mutual Hurt/Comfort
💐 Mysterious Quest
👑 Royal Conspiracy
❤️🩹 Generational Trauma
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🪦 Parental Grief
💀 On-Page Death (not MCs)
🧠 Emotional Manipulation (not MCs)
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Action-Packed Story
+ Flirty Banter
+ Adorable Romance
+ Good Balance of Predictability and Twists
+ Relatable Character Growth
+ Wholesome Ending
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Slower Start
- Some Over-Explaining of MCs thoughts
- Some Dialogue felt out of place for Setting
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
This book came out of nowhere for me! It's not that I didn't think it would be good, but lately similar reads for me have been pretty average across the board. Average is not a word I could use to describe Wildflower!
The initial couple of chapters were a little slower just setting up the world, because while it was cosy there were lots of intricacies to the characters and the world that were laid out at the start. However, I found that I didn't mind this because shortly after the story immediately picks up!
I genuinely believed that Fliss' quest to find flowers for an anonymous collection would take up the entire book and I was pretty happy with this notion. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this story was jam-packed with action, plot, relationships galore! I couldn't help but keep turning the pages desperate to know what shenanigans Fliss and Will got up to next...
And oh my gosh, Fliss and Will. They're too cute! Immediately, Will sets about trying to rile her up and I love that she bites back! Their banter is so good, and it made the romantic moments even sweeter. I adored their slow burn from strangers to sort of allies to friends to something more. It felt authentic while still holding that dreamy whimsical quality of a cosy fantasy read.
I felt overall that this book struck a good balance between predictability and twists. Sometimes I thought I knew where the story was going and then I'd be gasping at my screen in surprise! I found Fliss' way of dealing with some dire moments to be quite fresh and unexpected, though I could understand why some may say she lacks independence. Fliss learns to ask for help in this book and it's great to see it in action to me!
Sometimes it seemed Fliss spent a lot of time in her head occasionally over-explaining certain thoughts. This could also drag the pacing for me at times but overall was minimal enough for me not to worry too much! Also, Will often refers to his cats when speaking to them as "my guy", which while absolutely true to his character, felt a bit out of place in the overall vibe of the setting!
I also want to express just how much I loved the ending. For anyone that's played/watched someone play Undertale, it gave me that same warm fuzzy wholesome feeling. It was perfectly sweet! And if you loved Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter, I think you'd love this too!
Thank you to Becky Jenkinson and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
An action-packed cosy fantasy perfect for readers looking for strong friendship themes, refreshingly original twists, and a romance that'll have you yearning alongside them!
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
4.5 ⭐
1 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
Will laughs and it's sweeter than any fruit I've ever tasted.
"You're hot when you're desperate... I want you to beg for me."
"Trust me," Will says, "you'll be the one begging when I'm done with you."
"I didn't realise someone so short could cause me so much trouble. You're a persistent little wildflower."
"Fliss." He says my name like it's the only word, like it eclipses the sun.
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When magical florist “Fliss” receives a request for a mysterious flower, she must accept sorcerer Will’s help. But as a royal wedding nears, Fliss fears a sinister motive and must team up with Will to prevent a dangerous plot.
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🫶 Found Family
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🌈 Queer Rep (incl. Trans Love Interest!)
🩹 Mutual Hurt/Comfort
💐 Mysterious Quest
👑 Royal Conspiracy
❤️🩹 Generational Trauma
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🪦 Parental Grief
💀 On-Page Death (not MCs)
🧠 Emotional Manipulation (not MCs)
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Action-Packed Story
+ Flirty Banter
+ Adorable Romance
+ Good Balance of Predictability and Twists
+ Relatable Character Growth
+ Wholesome Ending
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Slower Start
- Some Over-Explaining of MCs thoughts
- Some Dialogue felt out of place for Setting
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
This book came out of nowhere for me! It's not that I didn't think it would be good, but lately similar reads for me have been pretty average across the board. Average is not a word I could use to describe Wildflower!
The initial couple of chapters were a little slower just setting up the world, because while it was cosy there were lots of intricacies to the characters and the world that were laid out at the start. However, I found that I didn't mind this because shortly after the story immediately picks up!
I genuinely believed that Fliss' quest to find flowers for an anonymous collection would take up the entire book and I was pretty happy with this notion. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this story was jam-packed with action, plot, relationships galore! I couldn't help but keep turning the pages desperate to know what shenanigans Fliss and Will got up to next...
And oh my gosh, Fliss and Will. They're too cute! Immediately, Will sets about trying to rile her up and I love that she bites back! Their banter is so good, and it made the romantic moments even sweeter. I adored their slow burn from strangers to sort of allies to friends to something more. It felt authentic while still holding that dreamy whimsical quality of a cosy fantasy read.
I felt overall that this book struck a good balance between predictability and twists. Sometimes I thought I knew where the story was going and then I'd be gasping at my screen in surprise! I found Fliss' way of dealing with some dire moments to be quite fresh and unexpected, though I could understand why some may say she lacks independence. Fliss learns to ask for help in this book and it's great to see it in action to me!
Sometimes it seemed Fliss spent a lot of time in her head occasionally over-explaining certain thoughts. This could also drag the pacing for me at times but overall was minimal enough for me not to worry too much! Also, Will often refers to his cats when speaking to them as "my guy", which while absolutely true to his character, felt a bit out of place in the overall vibe of the setting!
I also want to express just how much I loved the ending. For anyone that's played/watched someone play Undertale, it gave me that same warm fuzzy wholesome feeling. It was perfectly sweet! And if you loved Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter, I think you'd love this too!
Thank you to Becky Jenkinson and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 25, 2026
Thank you to Becky Jenkinson and Del Rey for providing an eARC via NetGalley.
Wildflower is a cozy fantasy with romance, queer representation, and the perfect fairytale atmosphere.
Fliss is a florist at her mother’s shop, working her magic into every bouquet she sells at the citadel. Cursed to only tell the truth, she’s been exploited her whole life by figures of power, and feared amongst her peers. When her childhood best friend is about to marry the crown prince, she’s received some unique flower requests which may or may not push her directly into the arms of the alluring Willoh Vane.
There is a sweet essence to its core, even down to all the handrawn flower illustrations at the beginning of chapters. Yet in spite of the enchanting nature, the story lacks consistency in other aspects that diminished my immersion in this book.
The biggest issue for me was storytelling, specially world building. There were some key moments in which a significant amount of backstory was dumped into the narration, taking me out of the present moment. This happens quite often in the first three chapters, where we get more world building elements than action being taken in the plot. Furthermore, every time a new character was introduced, their entire physical appearance and character flaws could be delevered before they got the chance to speak.
Dialogues would sometimes be affected by this as well, trying to tie all the loose ends, without leaving space for interpretation from the reader. Since it is a debut novel, the author always has room for growth, and the writing shows enough potential for us to expect great things in future works. (I was particularly fond of the descriptions of spaces and objects)
For all this, the plot suffered in terms of pacing, and maybe some slight disorganisation. To be honest, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, because I could look past the technicalities and see the concept for the charm and comfort it was trying to achieve. Even though the execution wasn’t the best, I’d argue there is a lot to fall in love with in Wildflower.
There is a magic in withholding information, and leaving certain details to the imagination. When the idea is solid, everything else is possible to improve. After all, the soul of a storyteller cannot be taught, but technique to put your words into paper can.
⭐️⭐️💫
Wildflower is a cozy fantasy with romance, queer representation, and the perfect fairytale atmosphere.
Fliss is a florist at her mother’s shop, working her magic into every bouquet she sells at the citadel. Cursed to only tell the truth, she’s been exploited her whole life by figures of power, and feared amongst her peers. When her childhood best friend is about to marry the crown prince, she’s received some unique flower requests which may or may not push her directly into the arms of the alluring Willoh Vane.
There is a sweet essence to its core, even down to all the handrawn flower illustrations at the beginning of chapters. Yet in spite of the enchanting nature, the story lacks consistency in other aspects that diminished my immersion in this book.
The biggest issue for me was storytelling, specially world building. There were some key moments in which a significant amount of backstory was dumped into the narration, taking me out of the present moment. This happens quite often in the first three chapters, where we get more world building elements than action being taken in the plot. Furthermore, every time a new character was introduced, their entire physical appearance and character flaws could be delevered before they got the chance to speak.
Dialogues would sometimes be affected by this as well, trying to tie all the loose ends, without leaving space for interpretation from the reader. Since it is a debut novel, the author always has room for growth, and the writing shows enough potential for us to expect great things in future works. (I was particularly fond of the descriptions of spaces and objects)
For all this, the plot suffered in terms of pacing, and maybe some slight disorganisation. To be honest, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, because I could look past the technicalities and see the concept for the charm and comfort it was trying to achieve. Even though the execution wasn’t the best, I’d argue there is a lot to fall in love with in Wildflower.
There is a magic in withholding information, and leaving certain details to the imagination. When the idea is solid, everything else is possible to improve. After all, the soul of a storyteller cannot be taught, but technique to put your words into paper can.
⭐️⭐️💫
February 22, 2026
Felicity Farrow is a magical florist. And she’s cursed. Forced to always tell the truth means always carefully choosing her words, avoiding overhearing things that can put her in a predicament, and being avoided by most of the townsfolk. But life hasn’t made her bitter. Fliss is kind, smart and doesn’t back away from a challenge. She is always there for her best friend Card and her fiancée, prince Bastion. Even if that means crossing paths with Lark, her *awful* ex.
One day, Fliss receives an anonymous request for a mysterious flower. The hunt for this flower leads her straight to the towns outcast: Willoh Vane (my new book boyfriend). Fliss and Willoh quickly bond over adventure, doing the right thing and… well, each other! Willoh knows how to treat a cursed girl right, and Fliss doesn’t care about scars whatsoever.
Pretty soon, shit hits the fan and dear Lord, I held my breath more than once! The “stabbing incident”, the prison break, the possession… Cozy left the building there for a while! And then we learn the true reason for the trouble in the north, the broken friendships within more than one generation, and the true need for those mysterious flowers… For a little while I did not think there was the possibility for a happy ending.
And just like that, all these little details throughout the story come together. And it turns out that *love* is the answer.
🪻Outcast meets outcast and finds friendship, truth, acceptance and love.
🪻You’re never too young or too old to fix a broken friendship.
🪻 You can heal from trauma, and others can love the parts of yourself that you deemed broken.
🪻 Romantic. Emotional. Powerful.
🪻 Cats.
An early read via NetGalley — feelings included.
One day, Fliss receives an anonymous request for a mysterious flower. The hunt for this flower leads her straight to the towns outcast: Willoh Vane (my new book boyfriend). Fliss and Willoh quickly bond over adventure, doing the right thing and… well, each other! Willoh knows how to treat a cursed girl right, and Fliss doesn’t care about scars whatsoever.
Pretty soon, shit hits the fan and dear Lord, I held my breath more than once! The “stabbing incident”, the prison break, the possession… Cozy left the building there for a while! And then we learn the true reason for the trouble in the north, the broken friendships within more than one generation, and the true need for those mysterious flowers… For a little while I did not think there was the possibility for a happy ending.
And just like that, all these little details throughout the story come together. And it turns out that *love* is the answer.
🪻Outcast meets outcast and finds friendship, truth, acceptance and love.
🪻You’re never too young or too old to fix a broken friendship.
🪻 You can heal from trauma, and others can love the parts of yourself that you deemed broken.
🪻 Romantic. Emotional. Powerful.
🪻 Cats.
An early read via NetGalley — feelings included.
June 2, 2026
If you like cozy fantasy, I can’t imagine a better read for Pride Month.
Wildflower is whimsical, witty, & warm. The world Jenkinson grows here feels fresh and enchanting, with a floral magic system that is delightfully simple, as works for a book like this.
I absolutely adored the LGBTQ+ rep, here. The world itself is queer-normative, and there are several queer characters, including a wonderful twist that surprised me and was built in so beautifully, carefully and naturally. Truly a 10/10 there.
Fliss and Will were both delightfully sweet and charming and easy to root for, individually and together. Fliss, having been ostracized for a curse that forces her to always tell the truth, still had so much hope. She trusts easily and loves big. Will was giving yearning, stay-away-for-her-own-good vibes in the best way.
🎧 Beth Lilly brings the perfect posh, soft, British energy to this performance. She handled male voices brilliantly too. Great one to listen to.
The plot here was maybe where I struggled the most, particularly in the last third or so, but I’ll be honest—cozy fantasy often has me drifting off by the end, especially on audio. I just didn’t feel as invested as I might’ve liked to have been.
Still, this one was such a treat—especially for a debut author! Will definitely look for more from her.
Thank you Del Rey for the ARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!
Wildflower is whimsical, witty, & warm. The world Jenkinson grows here feels fresh and enchanting, with a floral magic system that is delightfully simple, as works for a book like this.
I absolutely adored the LGBTQ+ rep, here. The world itself is queer-normative, and there are several queer characters, including a wonderful twist that surprised me and was built in so beautifully, carefully and naturally. Truly a 10/10 there.
Fliss and Will were both delightfully sweet and charming and easy to root for, individually and together. Fliss, having been ostracized for a curse that forces her to always tell the truth, still had so much hope. She trusts easily and loves big. Will was giving yearning, stay-away-for-her-own-good vibes in the best way.
🎧 Beth Lilly brings the perfect posh, soft, British energy to this performance. She handled male voices brilliantly too. Great one to listen to.
The plot here was maybe where I struggled the most, particularly in the last third or so, but I’ll be honest—cozy fantasy often has me drifting off by the end, especially on audio. I just didn’t feel as invested as I might’ve liked to have been.
Still, this one was such a treat—especially for a debut author! Will definitely look for more from her.
Thank you Del Rey for the ARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!
July 3, 2026
''Although…’ He catches up to my side and leans forward. I throw him the smallest of glances. ‘Look at you, in your cute dress, with flowers in your hair. On second thought, by all means, keep going. When you faint, maybe you’ll fall into my arms.''
Wildflower, by @bybeckyjenkinson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 || 🫑
What a gorgeous book! Now, there are a LOT of books in my TBR pile that I shoved aside briefly because I couldn't resist bumping this one to the top...and I am so glad I did. Wildflower is a whimsical, magical, lovely romantasy about self- acceptance, friendship, and love. The vibes are cosy and there is an element of fairytale to it all - you've got curses, a magical tree, spells gone wrong and side quests for enhanted flowers. Occassionally, you will meet a sassy cat and you'll be happy about it. Will was handsome and witty, with excellent banter - and Fliss was the FMC who deserved a happy ending. At points, it felt like those two against the world, and I was rooting for them at every point.
The romance is slow burn and I'd probably class it more as YA than adult, but that doesnt take anything away from this book. I devoured it within 24 hours and it has put me in a thoroughly good mood for the day!
Thank you SO much to @zaffrebooks for the #gifted copy. Wildflower is out now! Go grab it if you love a cosy romantasy. ✨️❤️
Wildflower, by @bybeckyjenkinson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 || 🫑
What a gorgeous book! Now, there are a LOT of books in my TBR pile that I shoved aside briefly because I couldn't resist bumping this one to the top...and I am so glad I did. Wildflower is a whimsical, magical, lovely romantasy about self- acceptance, friendship, and love. The vibes are cosy and there is an element of fairytale to it all - you've got curses, a magical tree, spells gone wrong and side quests for enhanted flowers. Occassionally, you will meet a sassy cat and you'll be happy about it. Will was handsome and witty, with excellent banter - and Fliss was the FMC who deserved a happy ending. At points, it felt like those two against the world, and I was rooting for them at every point.
The romance is slow burn and I'd probably class it more as YA than adult, but that doesnt take anything away from this book. I devoured it within 24 hours and it has put me in a thoroughly good mood for the day!
Thank you SO much to @zaffrebooks for the #gifted copy. Wildflower is out now! Go grab it if you love a cosy romantasy. ✨️❤️
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