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Where You're Planted
From the author of the "phenomenal achievement" (Kirkus) Take Me Home, a children’s librarian must temporarily move her public library into a shed in the county botanic gardens, where her archnemesis is the assistant director.
Single mom Tansy Perkins only has room in her life for her daughter and her library. And maybe the next book to add to her collection. But after a catastrophic hurricane severely damages her library, she's forced to temporarily move her branch into the adjacent county botanic gardens, where Jack Reid—the world’s grouchiest gardener who rescued her and her daughter from the flood—happens to be the assistant director.
Jack has always preferred plants over people, having built a strong track record of avoiding relationships ever since his divorce six years ago. So, Tansy and her quirky band of bookish colleagues’ encroachment into his carefully-kept territory is a little more than irksome, especially when it means sharing his already-scarce resources.
When Jack and Tansy are tasked with working together on the spring festival, they have no choice but to call a truce. And soon their newfound professional partnership gives way to a deep intimacy that they've both been silently craving. But Tansy has lost too much to risk her heart, and Jack has sworn off real love. When an opportunity arises for funding that both the library and gardens need, will their loyalties lie with the futures they'd always planned for, or the new spark they've found with each other?
Single mom Tansy Perkins only has room in her life for her daughter and her library. And maybe the next book to add to her collection. But after a catastrophic hurricane severely damages her library, she's forced to temporarily move her branch into the adjacent county botanic gardens, where Jack Reid—the world’s grouchiest gardener who rescued her and her daughter from the flood—happens to be the assistant director.
Jack has always preferred plants over people, having built a strong track record of avoiding relationships ever since his divorce six years ago. So, Tansy and her quirky band of bookish colleagues’ encroachment into his carefully-kept territory is a little more than irksome, especially when it means sharing his already-scarce resources.
When Jack and Tansy are tasked with working together on the spring festival, they have no choice but to call a truce. And soon their newfound professional partnership gives way to a deep intimacy that they've both been silently craving. But Tansy has lost too much to risk her heart, and Jack has sworn off real love. When an opportunity arises for funding that both the library and gardens need, will their loyalties lie with the futures they'd always planned for, or the new spark they've found with each other?
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2025
76 people are currently reading
13220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
July 27, 2025
2.5 Stars (Outliner)
One Liner: You'll like it if you like the MCs
Tansy Perkins is a single mom whose focus is divided between her daughter and the library (where she works as an assistant director). But when a hurricane damages the library, she has no choice but to move the branch to the adjacent county botanical gardens.
Jack Reid is a grouchy gardener who loves the garden and his plants. When Jack and Tansy are asked to host the annual Spring Festival, they have to make a truce. Even as they fall for each other, they are wary of another chance at love.
The story comes in Tansy and Jack’s third-person POVs.
My Thoughts:
I requested the book since it combines two of my favorite topics – books and plants. Sadly, the characters weren’t good enough to pull off the enemies-to-lovers trope, which is tricky as it is.
What I liked –
Briar, the eight-year-old kid. Though we are told she is struggling with some issues, she is shown as a sweet, curious, and darling little girl.
Amy and Kia are the two side characters who could have carried the book better than the main characters.
The map at the beginning was very helpful in visualizing the entire setting and layout.
The discussion about plants, the aftermath of a hurricane, the politics in maintaining public properties, the lack of funds, and the power of the community.
The author’s notes at the end (both).
What didn’t work for me –
The thing about enemies to lovers is that the characters should hate each other, but the readers should like them. Here, it was hard for this reader to like either of them. Jack did get better, but Tansy got on my nerves.
I understand independence, control, and not wanting to rely on anyone. However, it is equally important to know where to draw the line. Don’t want to trust someone who let you down. Absolutely, makes sense. Don’t want to take help from friends when you clearly need it? That, too, because you don’t want to be obliged to help them at some point in the future? That too (three) when you have a child who needs a proper home and basic utilities to stay warm and eat healthy food? No. That’s being an idiot.
I hate asking for help, but even I know when I should ask for it instead of pulling my hair out. I don’t maintain a spreadsheet of these ‘transactions’ or worry about what I’ll do when I have to return the favor.
Multiple times throughout the book, the FMC chooses her pride over sensibility and her child. After a point, I couldn’t see why Jack was so attracted to her. I bet it was the kid, who is a real sweetheart.
Teaching an eight-year-old that independent women don’t need anyone can have long-lasting consequences, just like teaching her that a prince will save her. Both are extreme. If I have to psychoanalyze, the kid’s struggle with coping is due to the FMC’s control issues. Kids need to know they are loved and cherished. That’s their safety blanket. No wonder Briar gets attached to Jack, who gives her that without making a show of it and treats her like a normal person.
The thing with the FMC’s ex should have been more detailed. It’s just surface-level, with the guy trying to buy his way into the family he left.
The side characters had a lot more potential than they had been used for. However, they did play some role.
The MMC’s change of heart was a bit too abrupt. He went from so much unprocessed grief to offering free therapy for the FMC. Slow down, dude! You haven’t healed yourself yet!
To summarize, Where You're Planted has a great premise but falters in execution. Your enjoyment will depend on how much you like the main characters. Since I didn’t connect with them, it was a lost cause. Do check out other reviews, too.
Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
PS: Jack is described as a rugged and well-built guy who works outdoors all day. The one on the cover looks like a sleepless IT guy trying to stretch the deadline by stepping out for a smoke.
One Liner: You'll like it if you like the MCs
Tansy Perkins is a single mom whose focus is divided between her daughter and the library (where she works as an assistant director). But when a hurricane damages the library, she has no choice but to move the branch to the adjacent county botanical gardens.
Jack Reid is a grouchy gardener who loves the garden and his plants. When Jack and Tansy are asked to host the annual Spring Festival, they have to make a truce. Even as they fall for each other, they are wary of another chance at love.
The story comes in Tansy and Jack’s third-person POVs.
My Thoughts:
I requested the book since it combines two of my favorite topics – books and plants. Sadly, the characters weren’t good enough to pull off the enemies-to-lovers trope, which is tricky as it is.
What I liked –
Briar, the eight-year-old kid. Though we are told she is struggling with some issues, she is shown as a sweet, curious, and darling little girl.
Amy and Kia are the two side characters who could have carried the book better than the main characters.
The map at the beginning was very helpful in visualizing the entire setting and layout.
The discussion about plants, the aftermath of a hurricane, the politics in maintaining public properties, the lack of funds, and the power of the community.
The author’s notes at the end (both).
What didn’t work for me –
The thing about enemies to lovers is that the characters should hate each other, but the readers should like them. Here, it was hard for this reader to like either of them. Jack did get better, but Tansy got on my nerves.
I understand independence, control, and not wanting to rely on anyone. However, it is equally important to know where to draw the line. Don’t want to trust someone who let you down. Absolutely, makes sense. Don’t want to take help from friends when you clearly need it? That, too, because you don’t want to be obliged to help them at some point in the future? That too (three) when you have a child who needs a proper home and basic utilities to stay warm and eat healthy food? No. That’s being an idiot.
I hate asking for help, but even I know when I should ask for it instead of pulling my hair out. I don’t maintain a spreadsheet of these ‘transactions’ or worry about what I’ll do when I have to return the favor.
Multiple times throughout the book, the FMC chooses her pride over sensibility and her child. After a point, I couldn’t see why Jack was so attracted to her. I bet it was the kid, who is a real sweetheart.
Teaching an eight-year-old that independent women don’t need anyone can have long-lasting consequences, just like teaching her that a prince will save her. Both are extreme. If I have to psychoanalyze, the kid’s struggle with coping is due to the FMC’s control issues. Kids need to know they are loved and cherished. That’s their safety blanket. No wonder Briar gets attached to Jack, who gives her that without making a show of it and treats her like a normal person.
The thing with the FMC’s ex should have been more detailed. It’s just surface-level, with the guy trying to buy his way into the family he left.
The side characters had a lot more potential than they had been used for. However, they did play some role.
The MMC’s change of heart was a bit too abrupt. He went from so much unprocessed grief to offering free therapy for the FMC. Slow down, dude! You haven’t healed yourself yet!
To summarize, Where You're Planted has a great premise but falters in execution. Your enjoyment will depend on how much you like the main characters. Since I didn’t connect with them, it was a lost cause. Do check out other reviews, too.
Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
PS: Jack is described as a rugged and well-built guy who works outdoors all day. The one on the cover looks like a sleepless IT guy trying to stretch the deadline by stepping out for a smoke.
October 4, 2025
2.5 stars
I tried my best to make it work, but I disliked Tansy and since she’s the fmc that was a bit of a problem. She just rubbed me the wrong way, coming across as judgemental and entitled.
She got better towards the end, but that was too late for me.
Jack was the typical grumpy mmc. I guess he was okay, but nothing special either.
On top of that, their romance felt a bit rushed. They simply went from disliking each other for a while to suddenly being into each other. And at least to me the reason for this sudden change of mind wasn’t apparent. So that was a bit disappointing, too.
It was an easy but read overall, but not really for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
___
Please be cute ✨🙏
I tried my best to make it work, but I disliked Tansy and since she’s the fmc that was a bit of a problem. She just rubbed me the wrong way, coming across as judgemental and entitled.
She got better towards the end, but that was too late for me.
Jack was the typical grumpy mmc. I guess he was okay, but nothing special either.
On top of that, their romance felt a bit rushed. They simply went from disliking each other for a while to suddenly being into each other. And at least to me the reason for this sudden change of mind wasn’t apparent. So that was a bit disappointing, too.
It was an easy but read overall, but not really for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
___
Please be cute ✨🙏
July 5, 2025
You know when you pick up a book and you end up liking it more than you ever expected to? That was my experience here. I started it based off the single mom/librarian vibes and I stayed for the grumpy gardener, the found family and the messy, authentic and relatable characters. This was such a delight and the dual audio narration by two of the very best was perfect and captured the emotional complexity of the story and characters beautifully.
March 28, 2025
i was so very happily surprised by this librarian falls for the grumpy botanical gardens director romance. it gave me echoes of Nora Roberts with a flair of Anita Kelly + Kate Clayborn that really made me smile and tugged at my heart! And while a bit of a slow burn, it simmered and paid off soo well (sign me up for a romp in the green house bedroom please).
As a library worker, this is one of a few romances that I feel get the right vibe. This is a library branch that is threatened. This is a library worker who is fighting to keep her library, her colleagues, and protective of its patrons (yes, even the one who tries to summon satan). this isn't twee or silly (so grateful for this). Also, as a local government employee myself, I really felt the plight of both Tansy & Jack.
Jack's reasons for not wanting to ever fall in love again felt realistic too (see spoiler further down) and Tansy's inability to accept help and be so mad about it when she has to also felt honest, if frustrating for Jack. Her ex isn't evil, he's just not the right person for her, and I was glad to see the struggles with coparenting that never felt exploitive or evil, just hard. because it is.
Definitely give this author a try! I will be reading her debut ASAP.
Out in July 2025, thank you to the pub & author for the early copy; professional review to come for Library Journal
SPOILERS
As a library worker, this is one of a few romances that I feel get the right vibe. This is a library branch that is threatened. This is a library worker who is fighting to keep her library, her colleagues, and protective of its patrons (yes, even the one who tries to summon satan). this isn't twee or silly (so grateful for this). Also, as a local government employee myself, I really felt the plight of both Tansy & Jack.
Jack's reasons for not wanting to ever fall in love again felt realistic too (see spoiler further down) and Tansy's inability to accept help and be so mad about it when she has to also felt honest, if frustrating for Jack. Her ex isn't evil, he's just not the right person for her, and I was glad to see the struggles with coparenting that never felt exploitive or evil, just hard. because it is.
Definitely give this author a try! I will be reading her debut ASAP.
Out in July 2025, thank you to the pub & author for the early copy; professional review to come for Library Journal
SPOILERS
January 27, 2025
This book is near perfect. It’s such a human representation of love in modern times—amidst the floods and fires that come with climate change, the losses and the traumas that shape us, we rebuild ourselves. Together, better futures await us.
Jack and Tansy are so daring & so darling. That’s my favorite type of dynamic to read in a love story.
I have one qualm about the use of fatalities to describe discontent. I’m not a fan of this, regardless of the nature of a character. There’s a large part of me that wishes we could collectively agree to stop using medical conditions to describe exaggerated feelings.
Thank you #NetGalley for providing an ARC.
Jack and Tansy are so daring & so darling. That’s my favorite type of dynamic to read in a love story.
I have one qualm about the use of fatalities to describe discontent. I’m not a fan of this, regardless of the nature of a character. There’s a large part of me that wishes we could collectively agree to stop using medical conditions to describe exaggerated feelings.
Thank you #NetGalley for providing an ARC.
July 19, 2025
it’s summer and summer means a lot of things and one of these’s reconnect with nature and what a perfect opportunity’s to do it while reading about it too thanks to melanie sweeney that with her new story where you’re planted let us enter in jack and tansy world filled with books and a garden filled with lovely plants and flowers… isn’t one of the perfect set up for a cute story?
now… besides my initial ranting let me talk better about these characters and their story so be ready and read my thoughts :”) ⬇️
this is my first book by melanie sweeney and it was really a special surprise especially because this story was inspired by facts happened in real life so it made the story even more special :) we have our strong and caring librarian aka tansy and her daughter briar and well nature happened with a hurricane and our tansy’s library was unfortunately damaged and so she had to move with her colleagues but where?? yup, u got it! in the garden where our grumpy jack works and well he’s isn’t exactly delighted so it’s not like they will have the best of the interactions at the start… but what if i told that they met before ? and what if a thing called time combined with a various elements such as understanding, respect and dare i say looove happens? and as usual everything will change and it will be for the best and especially for the big family that will be created in the end :”) 💐💗☀️
what do i have to say more? honestly i laughed, i adored the relationships between a lot of characters and not only the main i could mention the friendships, the relationship between jack and her sister or i could talk about briar and jack and just add more details but i think that u don’t need those because in the end u just need to read this story and live it!
least but last a lot of thanks to harper collins uk for giving me the opportunity to read the e-arc of this lovely book in exchange for my honest opinion :)
now… besides my initial ranting let me talk better about these characters and their story so be ready and read my thoughts :”) ⬇️
this is my first book by melanie sweeney and it was really a special surprise especially because this story was inspired by facts happened in real life so it made the story even more special :) we have our strong and caring librarian aka tansy and her daughter briar and well nature happened with a hurricane and our tansy’s library was unfortunately damaged and so she had to move with her colleagues but where?? yup, u got it! in the garden where our grumpy jack works and well he’s isn’t exactly delighted so it’s not like they will have the best of the interactions at the start… but what if i told that they met before ? and what if a thing called time combined with a various elements such as understanding, respect and dare i say looove happens? and as usual everything will change and it will be for the best and especially for the big family that will be created in the end :”) 💐💗☀️
what do i have to say more? honestly i laughed, i adored the relationships between a lot of characters and not only the main i could mention the friendships, the relationship between jack and her sister or i could talk about briar and jack and just add more details but i think that u don’t need those because in the end u just need to read this story and live it!
least but last a lot of thanks to harper collins uk for giving me the opportunity to read the e-arc of this lovely book in exchange for my honest opinion :)
July 3, 2025
I'm a sucker for books about librarians, add in swoony, grumpy, anxious MMCs whose love language is acts of service and I'm a goner FOR SURE.
This sophomore, dual POV, enemies to lovers post-hurricane romance set in Houston stole my heart from page one and I just COULD. NOT. GET. ENOUGH!!!
I could go on and on and on about how much I fell for Tansy and Jack and the rest of their library/garden found family but I'll spare you.
All I can say is this is likely to be a very favorite book of 2025 for me and I can't wait until I can hold a physical copy in my hands. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!!!
⚠️CW: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, infertility
This sophomore, dual POV, enemies to lovers post-hurricane romance set in Houston stole my heart from page one and I just COULD. NOT. GET. ENOUGH!!!
I could go on and on and on about how much I fell for Tansy and Jack and the rest of their library/garden found family but I'll spare you.
All I can say is this is likely to be a very favorite book of 2025 for me and I can't wait until I can hold a physical copy in my hands. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!!!
⚠️CW: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, infertility
September 5, 2025
"Where You're Planted" by Melanie Sweeney is a charming and heartwarming read that at first glance, might seem like a typical enemies-to-lovers rom-com, but it's so much more. This delightful book goes beyond the usual tropes of a grumpy gardener and a sunny librarian to deliver a powerful message about community advocacy.
What truly sets this book apart is its passionate focus on the real-world struggles faced by public libraries and community gardens. Melanie Sweeney expertly weaves a tale that highlights the importance of these vital community spaces for all ages, from youth through seniors, tackling themes of underfunding and the fight to keep them open. This isn't just a whimsical story about how libraries can be cute and gardens are pretty; it's a gritty and resourceful one that celebrates the deep value these institutions provide.
The main female character, Tansy, is a fiercely independent librarian, and a single mom, whose unwavering determination to fight for the library's survival is inspiring. Sweeney does a fantastic job of bringing Tansy to life, making her an admirable leader who creates educational programs and rallies the community. She's got her own issues, but she's the heart of the story and this is where the story really shines.
I loved how the author created a hopeful story of resilience, by turning crushing situations into creative possibilities. It's a story of grit and resourcefulness, showing how using what you have at your disposal can lead to something beautiful—like community programs at the library and the botanical garden. The hopeful and uplifting tone is infectious, and the book's ability to mirror realistic societal issues while maintaining a sense of hope is truly refreshing and what makes it so irresistible.
Familiar tropes with a twist:
🙃 Enemies-to-lovers
📚 Books about books and libraries
📖 Librarian meets 🌿 Gardener romance
✨️ Fiercely independent female lead
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic
💖 Mental health & neurodivergent representation
🥰🌱 Found family and creating community
What truly sets this book apart is its passionate focus on the real-world struggles faced by public libraries and community gardens. Melanie Sweeney expertly weaves a tale that highlights the importance of these vital community spaces for all ages, from youth through seniors, tackling themes of underfunding and the fight to keep them open. This isn't just a whimsical story about how libraries can be cute and gardens are pretty; it's a gritty and resourceful one that celebrates the deep value these institutions provide.
The main female character, Tansy, is a fiercely independent librarian, and a single mom, whose unwavering determination to fight for the library's survival is inspiring. Sweeney does a fantastic job of bringing Tansy to life, making her an admirable leader who creates educational programs and rallies the community. She's got her own issues, but she's the heart of the story and this is where the story really shines.
I loved how the author created a hopeful story of resilience, by turning crushing situations into creative possibilities. It's a story of grit and resourcefulness, showing how using what you have at your disposal can lead to something beautiful—like community programs at the library and the botanical garden. The hopeful and uplifting tone is infectious, and the book's ability to mirror realistic societal issues while maintaining a sense of hope is truly refreshing and what makes it so irresistible.
Familiar tropes with a twist:
🙃 Enemies-to-lovers
📚 Books about books and libraries
📖 Librarian meets 🌿 Gardener romance
✨️ Fiercely independent female lead
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic
💖 Mental health & neurodivergent representation
🥰🌱 Found family and creating community
April 2, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for giving me access to this ARC!
Where You're Planted by Melanie Sweeney is going to be released on July 8th. After a hurricane forces single mom Tansy to relocate her damaged library to the county botanic gardens, she clashes with grumpy gardener Jack, who once rescued her and her daughter from the flood. Despite their differences, they must work together on the spring festival, leading to an unexpected and undeniable attraction. But when a crucial funding opportunity pits their dreams against their growing feelings, they must decide if love is worth the risk.
I tried several times to get into this book, but I just couldn’t. The MMC wasn’t just grumpy—he was unnecessarily mean to the FMC from the start, which immediately pulled me out of the story. If I can’t understand the attraction or feel the tension, the romance just doesn’t work for me.
Where You're Planted by Melanie Sweeney is going to be released on July 8th. After a hurricane forces single mom Tansy to relocate her damaged library to the county botanic gardens, she clashes with grumpy gardener Jack, who once rescued her and her daughter from the flood. Despite their differences, they must work together on the spring festival, leading to an unexpected and undeniable attraction. But when a crucial funding opportunity pits their dreams against their growing feelings, they must decide if love is worth the risk.
I tried several times to get into this book, but I just couldn’t. The MMC wasn’t just grumpy—he was unnecessarily mean to the FMC from the start, which immediately pulled me out of the story. If I can’t understand the attraction or feel the tension, the romance just doesn’t work for me.
July 3, 2025
men who love flowers, and everything botanical, are hot!!!
about two months ago i started this arc, read 25 percent and ditched it for no reason. obviously i am an idiot because this was so heartwarming, and oddly educational. i work in a library part time and even before that i have been a huge supporter of libraries. this book only solidified why they are so important in communities. like yes its a romance but we are in a time where libraries are being defunded and this book brings their need for funding to the forefront of the story which is greatly appreciated by me!
tansy is a single mom who gets caught in a hurricane and rescued by jack. they kinda have bad vibes of each other at the beginning but when tansy's library is temporarily moved into the gardens where jack works they have to work together to gain funding and save their businesses. i adored how normal every aspect of this book felt. the pacing of the relationship, the connection jack has with tansy's daughter, the work related drama, and the third act "breakup." this book just felt so cozy, i loved our characters and by the end they truly created a wonderful solution for their livelihoods which makes me so incredibly happy for them. like those are my friends...
after some research i found put this plot was slightly based on a true story that happened with a library after hurricane harvey. i think that is so commendable for the people involved who worked hard to ensure their community could still have the joys of a library. its so amazing that melanie is brining attention to this because we often look away from places that have been hit by hurricanes but the aftermath is just as important as the storm. FUND AND USE YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES PEOPLE !!!
*thank you for the arc netgalley and putnam! *
about two months ago i started this arc, read 25 percent and ditched it for no reason. obviously i am an idiot because this was so heartwarming, and oddly educational. i work in a library part time and even before that i have been a huge supporter of libraries. this book only solidified why they are so important in communities. like yes its a romance but we are in a time where libraries are being defunded and this book brings their need for funding to the forefront of the story which is greatly appreciated by me!
tansy is a single mom who gets caught in a hurricane and rescued by jack. they kinda have bad vibes of each other at the beginning but when tansy's library is temporarily moved into the gardens where jack works they have to work together to gain funding and save their businesses. i adored how normal every aspect of this book felt. the pacing of the relationship, the connection jack has with tansy's daughter, the work related drama, and the third act "breakup." this book just felt so cozy, i loved our characters and by the end they truly created a wonderful solution for their livelihoods which makes me so incredibly happy for them. like those are my friends...
after some research i found put this plot was slightly based on a true story that happened with a library after hurricane harvey. i think that is so commendable for the people involved who worked hard to ensure their community could still have the joys of a library. its so amazing that melanie is brining attention to this because we often look away from places that have been hit by hurricanes but the aftermath is just as important as the storm. FUND AND USE YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES PEOPLE !!!
*thank you for the arc netgalley and putnam! *
June 25, 2025
Thank you, @prhaudio and @putnambooks for the #gifted advanced listening copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2025!
Single mom and librarian Tansy and grumpy, divorced botanical gardens director Jack meet under less than ideal circumstances as a category 4 hurricane barrels down on Houston. Then, four months later, they are dealing with the aftermath that has forced the library to share space with the botanical gardens, both severely damaged in the storm. From their first interactions, they push all of each other’s buttons. Then Jack, Tansy, and their teams are forced to work together on a community festival, and they begin to begrudgingly realize, both personally and professionally, there might be a connection. But Tansy doesn’t have time for a relationship while raising her daughter, and Jack had sworn off relationships after his failed marriage. To make matters worse, they are up for the same grant funding that could decide which of their important community resources will remain.
Melanie Sweeney’s writing is utterly stunning. If you haven’t read her 2024 debut, Take Me Home, drop everything and grab it. She possesses a rare gift of infusing weight and depth into the everyday, crafting intimacy from kindness and emotional gravity from the smallest details.
I especially love how she writes messy, real characters with genuine emotional complexity. Jack and Tansy both grow significantly throughout the story - not just in their relationship with each other, but also in their self-awareness, their past, and their communities. The swoon is earned, the laughs are earned, and the healing is beautifully earned. (10h, 22 min)
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Brittany Pressley (iconic!) and Christian Fox (hello, The Deal) are a dream team here. They capture the exasperation, the vulnerability, and the quiet hope that builds between Tansy and Jack. A gorgeously performed dual narration.
Single mom and librarian Tansy and grumpy, divorced botanical gardens director Jack meet under less than ideal circumstances as a category 4 hurricane barrels down on Houston. Then, four months later, they are dealing with the aftermath that has forced the library to share space with the botanical gardens, both severely damaged in the storm. From their first interactions, they push all of each other’s buttons. Then Jack, Tansy, and their teams are forced to work together on a community festival, and they begin to begrudgingly realize, both personally and professionally, there might be a connection. But Tansy doesn’t have time for a relationship while raising her daughter, and Jack had sworn off relationships after his failed marriage. To make matters worse, they are up for the same grant funding that could decide which of their important community resources will remain.
Melanie Sweeney’s writing is utterly stunning. If you haven’t read her 2024 debut, Take Me Home, drop everything and grab it. She possesses a rare gift of infusing weight and depth into the everyday, crafting intimacy from kindness and emotional gravity from the smallest details.
I especially love how she writes messy, real characters with genuine emotional complexity. Jack and Tansy both grow significantly throughout the story - not just in their relationship with each other, but also in their self-awareness, their past, and their communities. The swoon is earned, the laughs are earned, and the healing is beautifully earned. (10h, 22 min)
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Brittany Pressley (iconic!) and Christian Fox (hello, The Deal) are a dream team here. They capture the exasperation, the vulnerability, and the quiet hope that builds between Tansy and Jack. A gorgeously performed dual narration.
June 7, 2025
This is my first book by this author and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Tansy, the FMC, is a single mom librarian struggling in the aftermath of a hurricane that has left the library she works at completely unusable and her home is all but unlivable. Due to her past baggage, she has trouble trusting in people and asking for help.
MMC Jack is the assistant director of a county garden and has his own emotional baggage to contend with. His marriage broke up because he couldn't father a child. He doesn't want to try for another relationship but despite his best efforts, Tansy and her daughter Briar both sneak past his emotional defenses.
I adored the pairing, the way Jack was with Briar and him having to grapple with his past was incredibly poignant. I adored the side characters and understood Tansy's reticence in asking for help. I even understood her willingness to work with Briar's dad in trying to coparent their daughter (despite Charlie's past behavior). If I have one complaint, it was a certain scene that involved Tansy and Jack and Charlie - I didn't particularly love Charlie to begin with (which is fine, he's not the MMC) but I didn't really love Jack's behavior either.
I do think both Jack and Briar are neurodivergent but nothing is explicitly stated in this book. Jack also has panic attacks and a fear of public speaking; Tansy was previously engaged to Charlie who abandoned her and their baby after his father died. It is also implied that Tansy has a difficult relationship with her parents.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
MMC Jack is the assistant director of a county garden and has his own emotional baggage to contend with. His marriage broke up because he couldn't father a child. He doesn't want to try for another relationship but despite his best efforts, Tansy and her daughter Briar both sneak past his emotional defenses.
I adored the pairing, the way Jack was with Briar and him having to grapple with his past was incredibly poignant. I adored the side characters and understood Tansy's reticence in asking for help. I even understood her willingness to work with Briar's dad in trying to coparent their daughter (despite Charlie's past behavior). If I have one complaint, it was a certain scene that involved Tansy and Jack and Charlie - I didn't particularly love Charlie to begin with (which is fine, he's not the MMC) but I didn't really love Jack's behavior either.
I do think both Jack and Briar are neurodivergent but nothing is explicitly stated in this book. Jack also has panic attacks and a fear of public speaking; Tansy was previously engaged to Charlie who abandoned her and their baby after his father died. It is also implied that Tansy has a difficult relationship with her parents.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
March 26, 2025
When Houston gets blasted by a hurricane resulting in a 1,000 year flood, Tansy encounters Jack not once, but twice, in her attempts to save everyone and everything important to her. The flood destroys everything, including Tansy and her daughter Briar’s home as well as the library where Tansy works. Fast forward a few months into the recovery, Tansy’s library gets a temporary (shed-like) home at the local botanic gardens where Jack happens to be the director. The two of them can’t stop getting in each other’s way and they’re not thrilled about it. But when it becomes clear that this could be a mutually beneficial arrangement for both of their organizations, they agree to a truce. What Tansy doesn’t know, however, is that Jack has also applied for the restoration grant that Tansy is banking on to save her beloved library. So as Jack and Tansy fall deeper into their enemies to lovers trope, shit goes bust when the truth about the grant is revealed.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read Melanie Sweeney’s sophomore novel! I loved Take Me Home and I really enjoyed Where You’re Planted. One thing Sweeney does really well is create a lot of nuance and depth in characters who have had a rough go of it. I loved that Tansy was so fiercely determined to not be a damsel in distress and also was a complete mess. While she got in her own way so much, it was clear where her heart was coming from and why she behaved the way she did. This isn’t exactly a positive trait but one that was relatable - she reminded me a lot of myself and my own mom in that regard. I loved the blue collar heart of this book and the grit of the middle class on display. It really told the story of how a community needs each other in order to survive, even when one member thinks they can carry the world on their own shoulders.
Let’s not overlook the fact that Jack also tried to carry the world on his shoulders. I like that they were both burnt by life and both carried that pain in their own stubborn ways. I loved this line from Jack: “After my marriage fell apart, I became too fucking much of the worst parts of myself.” It seems that this was quite true for both of them, Tansy’s life having fallen apart slowly then all at once over the course of Briar’s life.
The relationship both MCs had with Briar was such an excellent backdrop for this book. I think single moms will feel quite seen in this one. The protectiveness, the fear, the anguish of co-parenting — Tansy exuded those so well. I loved that Jack and Briar were so much alike - it made it so easy for him to relate to her and set her at ease.
The found family in this one was wonderful, the cast of librarians were such a bright spot in this one.
My nits on this book were that Tansy held onto her “I don’t need no savior” act for a little bit too long. I know that’s kinda the point of the grand gesture, but Jack tried the grown-up way (talking and clear communication) multiple times with her first before the grand gesture and she didn’t relent. That got a little old for me.
🫡Tropes deployed: enemies to lovers, natural disaster recovery, found family, forced proximity, single mom, messy FMC, grumpy MMC
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read Melanie Sweeney’s sophomore novel! I loved Take Me Home and I really enjoyed Where You’re Planted. One thing Sweeney does really well is create a lot of nuance and depth in characters who have had a rough go of it. I loved that Tansy was so fiercely determined to not be a damsel in distress and also was a complete mess. While she got in her own way so much, it was clear where her heart was coming from and why she behaved the way she did. This isn’t exactly a positive trait but one that was relatable - she reminded me a lot of myself and my own mom in that regard. I loved the blue collar heart of this book and the grit of the middle class on display. It really told the story of how a community needs each other in order to survive, even when one member thinks they can carry the world on their own shoulders.
Let’s not overlook the fact that Jack also tried to carry the world on his shoulders. I like that they were both burnt by life and both carried that pain in their own stubborn ways. I loved this line from Jack: “After my marriage fell apart, I became too fucking much of the worst parts of myself.” It seems that this was quite true for both of them, Tansy’s life having fallen apart slowly then all at once over the course of Briar’s life.
The relationship both MCs had with Briar was such an excellent backdrop for this book. I think single moms will feel quite seen in this one. The protectiveness, the fear, the anguish of co-parenting — Tansy exuded those so well. I loved that Jack and Briar were so much alike - it made it so easy for him to relate to her and set her at ease.
The found family in this one was wonderful, the cast of librarians were such a bright spot in this one.
My nits on this book were that Tansy held onto her “I don’t need no savior” act for a little bit too long. I know that’s kinda the point of the grand gesture, but Jack tried the grown-up way (talking and clear communication) multiple times with her first before the grand gesture and she didn’t relent. That got a little old for me.
🫡Tropes deployed: enemies to lovers, natural disaster recovery, found family, forced proximity, single mom, messy FMC, grumpy MMC
July 1, 2025
Perfection!
Maybe I’m biased because I grew up in Tansy’s world and can vouch for everything from the hurricane fears to addictive Shipley’s donuts, but this book just checks every single one of my romance boxes. Just go ahead and add Jack Reid to your list of book boyfriends now because he IS the grumpy bossy hot plant daddy you need. Whether he’s rescuing flood survivors in his boat, arguing over available space for the library’s storytime that won’t involve his gardens being trampled, or crushing hard for the whirlwind self-reliant librarian Tansy, Jack is is the distant rugged outdoorsy type personified.
Jack and Tansy’s disaster-cute involves him saving her not once, but twice during a hurricane, fueling their animosity towards each other when Tansy’s library branch sets up as a pop-up inside Jack’s botanic gardens. As all romance readers know, friction creates sparks that fly when conflict turns into chemistry. Surprisingly, the catalyst is Tansy’s daughter Briar. God I loved seeing her and Jack together. Kids can be such a miss in books, but Briar latches on to what’s safe and this translated into the most natural relationship between her and Jack. From the beginning I wanted their relationship just as much as I wanted a physical relationship between Jack and Tansy.
Melanie Sweeney writes perfectly imperfect characters so well. Tansy has had to provide for herself and Briar and is terrified that she might need rescuing—the thought of having to trust her career, her home, her child and her love life to another person makes her feel vulnerable in the most excruciating way. Tansy keeps the circumstances of her flood-ravaged home hidden from coworkers and has difficulty asking for help, even when it’s freely offered. In the same way, for all his surliness, Jack panics at the idea of public speaking. He has stopped living for himself since his marriage ended, under the guise of not being a “relationship person.” He doesn’t open up easily to his sister Amy and has wrapped his heart in caution tape, not even considering the idea of dating.
This book has the absolute best chemistry. Partially it stems from it being quite awhile since either Tansy or Jack have been intimate with another person, but also because when they allow themselves to give in to each other, it just unlocks a part of each of them that needs to be seen, touched, and loved. This translates into scorching hot sex. Having an uninterrupted week of all-the-orgasms ™️ should be part of every couple’s getting to know you phase.
I think the other thing I really enjoyed was how plausible the entire story felt. There were no big bad enemies, although Tansy’s relationship with her ex is at time frustrating. I found myself laugh-crying at Amy’s meeting Omar, I literally looked up videos about bee sex while reading (IYKYK), as well as what the paper bush plant looks like. Anytime an author can create such a vivid sense of place in my head, it just draws me closer to the characters that exist there. The library and botanic gardens were this for me. I can say without a doubt that the romances Sweeney writes are full of humanity and heart. I cannot wait to read more from her in the future. I received an early copy from Putnam. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭
Jack
Smells like: Hard work and sweat, dirt and sunscreen, the crispness of a tomato plant
Tansy
Smells like: Lemonade in your tea, airy line dried linen, paperbacks and pencil shavings
Maybe I’m biased because I grew up in Tansy’s world and can vouch for everything from the hurricane fears to addictive Shipley’s donuts, but this book just checks every single one of my romance boxes. Just go ahead and add Jack Reid to your list of book boyfriends now because he IS the grumpy bossy hot plant daddy you need. Whether he’s rescuing flood survivors in his boat, arguing over available space for the library’s storytime that won’t involve his gardens being trampled, or crushing hard for the whirlwind self-reliant librarian Tansy, Jack is is the distant rugged outdoorsy type personified.
Jack and Tansy’s disaster-cute involves him saving her not once, but twice during a hurricane, fueling their animosity towards each other when Tansy’s library branch sets up as a pop-up inside Jack’s botanic gardens. As all romance readers know, friction creates sparks that fly when conflict turns into chemistry. Surprisingly, the catalyst is Tansy’s daughter Briar. God I loved seeing her and Jack together. Kids can be such a miss in books, but Briar latches on to what’s safe and this translated into the most natural relationship between her and Jack. From the beginning I wanted their relationship just as much as I wanted a physical relationship between Jack and Tansy.
Melanie Sweeney writes perfectly imperfect characters so well. Tansy has had to provide for herself and Briar and is terrified that she might need rescuing—the thought of having to trust her career, her home, her child and her love life to another person makes her feel vulnerable in the most excruciating way. Tansy keeps the circumstances of her flood-ravaged home hidden from coworkers and has difficulty asking for help, even when it’s freely offered. In the same way, for all his surliness, Jack panics at the idea of public speaking. He has stopped living for himself since his marriage ended, under the guise of not being a “relationship person.” He doesn’t open up easily to his sister Amy and has wrapped his heart in caution tape, not even considering the idea of dating.
This book has the absolute best chemistry. Partially it stems from it being quite awhile since either Tansy or Jack have been intimate with another person, but also because when they allow themselves to give in to each other, it just unlocks a part of each of them that needs to be seen, touched, and loved. This translates into scorching hot sex. Having an uninterrupted week of all-the-orgasms ™️ should be part of every couple’s getting to know you phase.
I think the other thing I really enjoyed was how plausible the entire story felt. There were no big bad enemies, although Tansy’s relationship with her ex is at time frustrating. I found myself laugh-crying at Amy’s meeting Omar, I literally looked up videos about bee sex while reading (IYKYK), as well as what the paper bush plant looks like. Anytime an author can create such a vivid sense of place in my head, it just draws me closer to the characters that exist there. The library and botanic gardens were this for me. I can say without a doubt that the romances Sweeney writes are full of humanity and heart. I cannot wait to read more from her in the future. I received an early copy from Putnam. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭
Jack
Smells like: Hard work and sweat, dirt and sunscreen, the crispness of a tomato plant
Tansy
Smells like: Lemonade in your tea, airy line dried linen, paperbacks and pencil shavings
October 19, 2025
Ако Where You're Planted беше филм на Hallmark, щях да аплодирам, станала на крака. Само онези, които обичат да посещават обществената библиотека и да освобождават напрежението си сред паркове, градини и ботанически центрове, ще разберат очарованието на този сюжет!
Не е тайна, че обществените библиотеки в САЩ се борят постоянно със съкращенията в бюджета и са изправяни пред опасност от затваряне или ограничаване на средствата. А всъщност това са места, където хората могат да избират книги, да участват в клубове по интереси, да доведат децата си далеч от шума и опасността на улицата или да получат нова квалификация. Дори могат да избягат от самотата на дома си. Самата аз посетих предизборния офис кандидат за кмет на града ми. Имах няколко въпроса и питания за нашата библиотека. Отговорът беше тъп поглед, зад който видимо стоеше мисълта: други проблеми нямаме ли, че да ни е до библиотека? И понеже на днешните политици все не им е до библиотеки, образователни програми и поддръжка на общностите в малките райони, резултатите са страшни. На българските възрожденци от миналото явно всичко им е било наред, та са отваряли читалища и са градили школа! Но пък и самите ние трябва да изискваме да получаваме нужни услуги, щом плащаме данъци. Надзорът над политическите ни представители е сведен до 0. И ако си нямаме добре поддържана градска градина с места за отдих и забавление на мало и голямо; ако нямаме библиотека, която да ни представя нови възможности за самообразование и художествена галерия, където да се наслаждаваме с очите и духа си - какво правим в часовете извън работа, как прекарваме времето с децата и приятелите си? Аууу, минават ми няколко възможни отговора тука....
Ето такъв е сюжетът на Where You're Planted. Страхотни преживявания, наболели проблеми и валидни теми могат да се намерят не само в дебелите томове на класиците. Днес вълненията са различни. Нагласите изискват съвременен поглед. И браво, че освен романтика, уютни теми и страстни епизоди, днешните писатели успяват в 300 - 400 страници и меки корици да ни хвърлят в обществения живот и да ни накарат да имаме мнение.
Такава книга може да ни мотивира да отидем до градската библиотека и да дарим от личните си рафтчета нови заглавия. За да останат пари от бюджета й за други пера, други идеи, за нови програми. И да разходим децата си в ботаническата или градската градина и да им покажем цветята, езерото, водните обитатели и птиците в клоните на дърветата. Релаксиращо и полезно действие - и едното и другото!
* But you know what you can’t save?” “What?” “Something you don’t let yourself have in the first place.”
Не е тайна, че обществените библиотеки в САЩ се борят постоянно със съкращенията в бюджета и са изправяни пред опасност от затваряне или ограничаване на средствата. А всъщност това са места, където хората могат да избират книги, да участват в клубове по интереси, да доведат децата си далеч от шума и опасността на улицата или да получат нова квалификация. Дори могат да избягат от самотата на дома си. Самата аз посетих предизборния офис кандидат за кмет на града ми. Имах няколко въпроса и питания за нашата библиотека. Отговорът беше тъп поглед, зад който видимо стоеше мисълта: други проблеми нямаме ли, че да ни е до библиотека? И понеже на днешните политици все не им е до библиотеки, образователни програми и поддръжка на общностите в малките райони, резултатите са страшни. На българските възрожденци от миналото явно всичко им е било наред, та са отваряли читалища и са градили школа! Но пък и самите ние трябва да изискваме да получаваме нужни услуги, щом плащаме данъци. Надзорът над политическите ни представители е сведен до 0. И ако си нямаме добре поддържана градска градина с места за отдих и забавление на мало и голямо; ако нямаме библиотека, която да ни представя нови възможности за самообразование и художествена галерия, където да се наслаждаваме с очите и духа си - какво правим в часовете извън работа, как прекарваме времето с децата и приятелите си? Аууу, минават ми няколко възможни отговора тука....
Ето такъв е сюжетът на Where You're Planted. Страхотни преживявания, наболели проблеми и валидни теми могат да се намерят не само в дебелите томове на класиците. Днес вълненията са различни. Нагласите изискват съвременен поглед. И браво, че освен романтика, уютни теми и страстни епизоди, днешните писатели успяват в 300 - 400 страници и меки корици да ни хвърлят в обществения живот и да ни накарат да имаме мнение.
Такава книга може да ни мотивира да отидем до градската библиотека и да дарим от личните си рафтчета нови заглавия. За да останат пари от бюджета й за други пера, други идеи, за нови програми. И да разходим децата си в ботаническата или градската градина и да им покажем цветята, езерото, водните обитатели и птиците в клоните на дърветата. Релаксиращо и полезно действие - и едното и другото!
* But you know what you can’t save?” “What?” “Something you don’t let yourself have in the first place.”
August 17, 2025
Huge thanks to PRH Audio and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the free audiobook!
Warm and tender, this gentle romance features a grumpy hero who will steal your heart. He’s got his reasons for being broody, but is a gooey-hearted marshmallow deep down to his bones. I loved watching him fall for our single mom heroine and her sweet little girl. They meet under tense circumstances and then clash at work, before slowly discovering that they might just be perfect together. It’s a quiet story that felt like a warm hug, a solid 4 that never quite made it to 5 stars for me. I enjoyed it throughout and look forward to more from this author for sure.
The story follows Tansy, a librarian who has been parenting her daughter alone for years. When she takes a quick detour during a hurricane, she’s lectured by a gruff guy - and probably rightly so. After being rescued by the handsome stranger and dealing with the damage of the hurricane, Tansy is dismayed to discover that she’ll be forced to work closely with the man. As Tansy and Jack clash, sparks slowly build between them. Jack may claim that he’s not interested in relationships or family, but he shows with every action that the opposite is true.
I enjoyed Sweeney’s debut, so I was excited to dig into this. It’s another solid story that was so close to being great. I loved the chemistry and some of the quieter moments, as well as the introspective and warm feel. There were a few scenes that were a little slow-moving for me, but I’ve also been in a reading slump, so take that with a grain of salt. I sincerely enjoyed it overall and loved the originality. It’s a low angst treat with feel good vibes.
Audio note: The audio is good! It's dual narration, with Brittany Pressley and Christian Fox voicing the characters. As always, Pressley's narration is crisp and clear, with great emotive performances. I also enjoy Fox's voice, which is relaxing and easy to listen to. Their performances matched the vibe of the story, so the audio was great to experience. The runtime (10-11 hours) makes for the perfect length for bingeing. While there's a little bit of spice, it's a slow burn and pretty tame overall. Not a bad choice for a workday listen, as the overall tone is ideal for the format.
Warm and tender, this gentle romance features a grumpy hero who will steal your heart. He’s got his reasons for being broody, but is a gooey-hearted marshmallow deep down to his bones. I loved watching him fall for our single mom heroine and her sweet little girl. They meet under tense circumstances and then clash at work, before slowly discovering that they might just be perfect together. It’s a quiet story that felt like a warm hug, a solid 4 that never quite made it to 5 stars for me. I enjoyed it throughout and look forward to more from this author for sure.
The story follows Tansy, a librarian who has been parenting her daughter alone for years. When she takes a quick detour during a hurricane, she’s lectured by a gruff guy - and probably rightly so. After being rescued by the handsome stranger and dealing with the damage of the hurricane, Tansy is dismayed to discover that she’ll be forced to work closely with the man. As Tansy and Jack clash, sparks slowly build between them. Jack may claim that he’s not interested in relationships or family, but he shows with every action that the opposite is true.
I enjoyed Sweeney’s debut, so I was excited to dig into this. It’s another solid story that was so close to being great. I loved the chemistry and some of the quieter moments, as well as the introspective and warm feel. There were a few scenes that were a little slow-moving for me, but I’ve also been in a reading slump, so take that with a grain of salt. I sincerely enjoyed it overall and loved the originality. It’s a low angst treat with feel good vibes.
Audio note: The audio is good! It's dual narration, with Brittany Pressley and Christian Fox voicing the characters. As always, Pressley's narration is crisp and clear, with great emotive performances. I also enjoy Fox's voice, which is relaxing and easy to listen to. Their performances matched the vibe of the story, so the audio was great to experience. The runtime (10-11 hours) makes for the perfect length for bingeing. While there's a little bit of spice, it's a slow burn and pretty tame overall. Not a bad choice for a workday listen, as the overall tone is ideal for the format.
November 4, 2025
You know how sometimes you love a book and you know exactly why and other times you love a book and you're just kind of incoherent because it gave you feelings? This is a case of the latter for me. I let this refreshing contemporary romance wash right over me from the moment Tansy and Jack encountered each other during the flood. I loved it so much!
There's sexy bath time, DIY carpentry, and stray kittens. Even better: fantastic emotional arcs. I loved the emphasis on rebuilding their community after the flood. It left me wanting more contemporary romance like this, please and thank you.
That said, I do have a couple of nitpicks. There was also an unfortunate amount of ableist language and one odd and inaccurate line about feminism.
Don't miss the Author's Note: Baldwin Boettcher branch and Mercer Botanic Garden's partnership after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 inspired some parts of the book. Heroes all.
Characters: Tansy is a 30 year old white children's librarian. She has an 8 year old daughter named Briar. Jack is a 37 year old white Botanic Garden director. He adopts three stray kittens: Cece, Schmidt, and Winston. This is set in Houston.
Content notes: anxiety, panic attack, box breathing, acupressure, ableism, internalized ableism, codependency, Category 4 hurricane, flooding (home and library), boat rescue, past infertility (MMC and ex-wife), past vasectomy, lacerations (secondary characters), sprained ankle, past open heart surgery (MMC's stepsister), animal rescue, animal carcass, bees, rattlesnake, past divorce, FMC's fiancé's father died right before their daughter was born and he was absent for a while (this ended their engagement), financial stress, past debt (FMC's fiancé lost his job and didn't tell her), FMC's parents weren't supportive of her or the pregnancy, past temporary housing (post-flood), homeless mother and child secondary characters, past death of MMC's stepmother (genetic heart defect), pregnant secondary character, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, possible Harry Potter reference (bearded dragon named Draco)
There's sexy bath time, DIY carpentry, and stray kittens. Even better: fantastic emotional arcs. I loved the emphasis on rebuilding their community after the flood. It left me wanting more contemporary romance like this, please and thank you.
That said, I do have a couple of nitpicks. There was also an unfortunate amount of ableist language and one odd and inaccurate line about feminism.
Don't miss the Author's Note: Baldwin Boettcher branch and Mercer Botanic Garden's partnership after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 inspired some parts of the book. Heroes all.
Characters: Tansy is a 30 year old white children's librarian. She has an 8 year old daughter named Briar. Jack is a 37 year old white Botanic Garden director. He adopts three stray kittens: Cece, Schmidt, and Winston. This is set in Houston.
Content notes: anxiety, panic attack, box breathing, acupressure, ableism, internalized ableism, codependency, Category 4 hurricane, flooding (home and library), boat rescue, past infertility (MMC and ex-wife), past vasectomy, lacerations (secondary characters), sprained ankle, past open heart surgery (MMC's stepsister), animal rescue, animal carcass, bees, rattlesnake, past divorce, FMC's fiancé's father died right before their daughter was born and he was absent for a while (this ended their engagement), financial stress, past debt (FMC's fiancé lost his job and didn't tell her), FMC's parents weren't supportive of her or the pregnancy, past temporary housing (post-flood), homeless mother and child secondary characters, past death of MMC's stepmother (genetic heart defect), pregnant secondary character, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, possible Harry Potter reference (bearded dragon named Draco)
books-i-am-not-rating
July 13, 2025This one really pains me, it truly does, but I made it to 30% and have decided not to continue. I can see a lot of people loving this one but it's just not for me, at least not at this time. The plot has promise, a library and a park rebuilding after disaster and the bosses building a relationship and breaking down walls with each other, but both Tansy and Jack are just so angry from the get-go, and even one third of the way through the book this has not changed even a little bit. I want them to break down the harsh exteriors they have both built up way too high, as so far I don't see any kind of connection between them- their hardness towards each other has completely prevented any kind of relationship at all thus far. The entry of another potential plot conflict is what eventually has me saying goodbye to this one, as I can already tell that it is going to be used to increase problems between the MCs once they finally let down their guards.
Tansy's decisions during the flood were so frustrating, and reading this immediately after my part of Texas went through the devestating floods that took so many lives, I think it made it harder for me to sympathize with her knowing that she actually knew about the potential for flooding beforehand and still didn't make sure she and her daughter were safe. This sadly caused me to not really empathize with her from the get-go, and probably exacerbated my frustration with her in general.
I really love this author and am saddened that this book was not for me. If a reader really likes their enemies to be ENEMIES, and their grumps to be GRUMPY, this is probably going to be a big hit.
Tansy's decisions during the flood were so frustrating, and reading this immediately after my part of Texas went through the devestating floods that took so many lives, I think it made it harder for me to sympathize with her knowing that she actually knew about the potential for flooding beforehand and still didn't make sure she and her daughter were safe. This sadly caused me to not really empathize with her from the get-go, and probably exacerbated my frustration with her in general.
I really love this author and am saddened that this book was not for me. If a reader really likes their enemies to be ENEMIES, and their grumps to be GRUMPY, this is probably going to be a big hit.
June 16, 2025
I really enjoyed Melanie Sweeney's debut book “Take Me Home” so I was excited to read this. I thought this book was very cute and sweet. I liked both the main characters, even though some of the FMC’s hang ups frustrated me. The setting and plot were fun and fresh.
Third person point of view is not my favorite but that’s more of a personal issue for me. Can't wait to see what Melanie writes in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this title.
Third person point of view is not my favorite but that’s more of a personal issue for me. Can't wait to see what Melanie writes in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this title.
July 30, 2025
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really liked this one! The plot had a lot more depth than I expected—it tackled anxiety and the aftermath of a natural disaster in a really thoughtful way. I loved how Tansy and Jack met, and the tension between them was so good. Definitely a true enemies-to-lovers vibe.
I adored Jack—his backstory was heartbreaking, and he was just so sweet and loving. Tansy, on the other hand, frustrated me a bit. I get that it was hard for her to ask for or accept help, but it got to a point where it felt a little over the top. Jack was doing everything he could for her, and it was like pulling teeth to get her to meet him halfway.
That said, I still really enjoyed the book. Their banter and love story had me hooked!
I really liked this one! The plot had a lot more depth than I expected—it tackled anxiety and the aftermath of a natural disaster in a really thoughtful way. I loved how Tansy and Jack met, and the tension between them was so good. Definitely a true enemies-to-lovers vibe.
I adored Jack—his backstory was heartbreaking, and he was just so sweet and loving. Tansy, on the other hand, frustrated me a bit. I get that it was hard for her to ask for or accept help, but it got to a point where it felt a little over the top. Jack was doing everything he could for her, and it was like pulling teeth to get her to meet him halfway.
That said, I still really enjoyed the book. Their banter and love story had me hooked!
August 4, 2025
2.5 stars. It just wasn't working for me so I had to DNF.
September 19, 2025
Someone comped this to Nora Roberts and I said yes please and it WAS. Really, really enjoyed this book by a new to me author. If you like libraries and gardens and stubborn single parents and men who are afraid of feelings, this is a book for you.
November 30, 2025
dnf at 57% lol
March 8, 2025
3.5 stars!!
This book was a lovely read. The book's premise intrigued me, and I was excited to see that it was wonderfully executed! I truly enjoyed the dynamics within this book from the romantic relationships to familial relationships to the friendships/bonds between characters, it was so fun to follow! I also absolutely loved how well the author represented anxiety/ptsd, especially surrounding the trauma from a natural disaster.
I will say it was harder for me to connect with the characters at points due to the 3rd person perspective, however, I think that is more a personal issue that I ran into while I was reading! I feel like the dynamics between characters, their development, and the overall plot had more of a lasting impact on me than the romance, and honestly I loved that! Because of that, I would say this is a great romance book for those that enjoy women's fiction as well!!
Overall, I would recommend this book to others, especially if you enjoy adversaries to lovers!!
Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam, the author, and Netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a lovely read. The book's premise intrigued me, and I was excited to see that it was wonderfully executed! I truly enjoyed the dynamics within this book from the romantic relationships to familial relationships to the friendships/bonds between characters, it was so fun to follow! I also absolutely loved how well the author represented anxiety/ptsd, especially surrounding the trauma from a natural disaster.
I will say it was harder for me to connect with the characters at points due to the 3rd person perspective, however, I think that is more a personal issue that I ran into while I was reading! I feel like the dynamics between characters, their development, and the overall plot had more of a lasting impact on me than the romance, and honestly I loved that! Because of that, I would say this is a great romance book for those that enjoy women's fiction as well!!
Overall, I would recommend this book to others, especially if you enjoy adversaries to lovers!!
Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam, the author, and Netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 6, 2025
4 stars 🌟 need a hot gardener who’s love language is acts of service like jack RN!!!! jacktansy were sooooo sweet and i loved how obsessed jack was with tansy 🪴📚🌧️ i loved the week they spent together and how good jack was with briar! he was the perfect amount of overprotective and caring when it came to them 🤝
i sometimes felt like tansy was a bit too proud and it was kinda annoying when she wouldn’t accept the help she desperately needed but otherwise this couple was super cute 😊
a special thank you to netgalley and gp putnam & sons for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
i sometimes felt like tansy was a bit too proud and it was kinda annoying when she wouldn’t accept the help she desperately needed but otherwise this couple was super cute 😊
a special thank you to netgalley and gp putnam & sons for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
March 17, 2025
I adored Melanie Sweeney's book, "Take Me Home". It was one of my top reads of 2024, and I read about 100 novels a year. So, I was super excited to receive a copy of "Where You're Planted". I have to be honest that I have struggled to connect with this book. I love stories and books set in Texas, but maybe my trauma of living through the hurricane might be influencing my opinion of this book. I am having trouble finishing. I wanted to love it, but I am more in a "like" place with this book. Solid 3.5 stars for me.
August 27, 2025
There’s a beautiful nuance to the personal baggage that the characters bring to the table. Jack’s divorce – and the reasons for it – have made him shut down portions of himself, but at his core he cares deeply about his people (and people in general, but he isn’t going to admit to that) and is the sort of person who will go out and rescue stranded people in a flood because he has a boat and a best friend who is a firefighter and then be entirely perplexed that people want to recognize him for this work and needs to be tricked into going to a ceremony for responders. Tansy is a hyper-self-reliant single mom who had her sense of safety yanked out from underneath her by the hurricane just as she was getting her footing. Without going too much into it – yep, the various beats of that characterization rang true even if it was difficult to read at times. I fully understand readers who just can’t with Tansy, but I could.
Sweeney takes time to build the antagonistic relationship between Tansy and Jack and then unravel how its more about circumstance than anything else. It's never explicitly stated, but Tansy’s daughter Briar is likely on the spectrum, and the text is clear that she is dealing with PTSD from the hurricane. It's in that emotional place where Jack and Briar form a bond (he being the one who rescued them from floodwaters, likely also on the spectrum, definitely has his own PTSD) and Sweeney puts the fulcrum point in the plotting here – Tansy sees him another way and the walls start to come down. I don’t want to get too bogged down in the plot, but if this kind of storytelling works for you, then this book should be on your to read list. I can’t quite make myself round up to five stars, but this is on par with Out on a Limb and just behind In a Jam for favorite romances of the year for me.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
Sweeney takes time to build the antagonistic relationship between Tansy and Jack and then unravel how its more about circumstance than anything else. It's never explicitly stated, but Tansy’s daughter Briar is likely on the spectrum, and the text is clear that she is dealing with PTSD from the hurricane. It's in that emotional place where Jack and Briar form a bond (he being the one who rescued them from floodwaters, likely also on the spectrum, definitely has his own PTSD) and Sweeney puts the fulcrum point in the plotting here – Tansy sees him another way and the walls start to come down. I don’t want to get too bogged down in the plot, but if this kind of storytelling works for you, then this book should be on your to read list. I can’t quite make myself round up to five stars, but this is on par with Out on a Limb and just behind In a Jam for favorite romances of the year for me.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
June 10, 2025
ARC Review: Where You're Planted by Melanie Sweeney
Pub Date: July 8
Thank you GP Putnam for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When librarian Tansy's branch is shut down due to hurricane flooding, she has to move it to the nearby botanic gardens which just really isn't set up for small kids or any type of programming. In order to get what she needs for her patrons, she's forced to work with Jack Reid, the assistant director who is grouchier than anyone Tansy has ever encountered. Even she, who is always smiling and cheerful even when her life is falling around her, can't get him to loosen up. But as they are forced to work together on a festival, they realize that they make a pretty good team and that their initial impressions of each other may not have been the most accurate.
Ok ya'll, I absolutely LOVED this book! I also loved Melanie's debut last year and thought that both books tackle heavy topics with care but also levity and results in a book that doesn't feel too heavy and that is driven by the romance.
When I first started reading, I thought Jack's grumpiness was a little overexaggerated. But as I continued to read and realize that he was certainly neurodivergent and reacting to a change in his environment, I was able to see his behavior much more clearly for what it was. I thought both his and Tansy's daughter's neurodivergence were written very well - I super loved how much Jack was able to relate to Briar. I do wish their neurodivergence was talked about explicitly on page especially because I think a lot of readers might have the issue I had in the beginning.
Tansy is independent and used to being a single mother who has to get shit done - she is super resistant to help from anyone in her life. I loved seeing Jack break down her walls and help her renovate her house after the hurricane flooded it. And I loved seeing Jack realize that he is deserving of love and that he can trust someone else again. One of my favorite moments is when Tansy realizes that Jack actually adopted the kittens that she found at the botanic garden instead of taking them to the shelter - this is where she starts to realize that he's actually a huge softie on the inside.
I loved Melanie's authors note and knowing that something like this actually happened to her library branch! (The library moving into the botanic garden, not necessarily the romance!)
Also: I've read two books with a FMC named Tansy. Which is a little weird that it's happened twice!
Pub Date: July 8
Thank you GP Putnam for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When librarian Tansy's branch is shut down due to hurricane flooding, she has to move it to the nearby botanic gardens which just really isn't set up for small kids or any type of programming. In order to get what she needs for her patrons, she's forced to work with Jack Reid, the assistant director who is grouchier than anyone Tansy has ever encountered. Even she, who is always smiling and cheerful even when her life is falling around her, can't get him to loosen up. But as they are forced to work together on a festival, they realize that they make a pretty good team and that their initial impressions of each other may not have been the most accurate.
Ok ya'll, I absolutely LOVED this book! I also loved Melanie's debut last year and thought that both books tackle heavy topics with care but also levity and results in a book that doesn't feel too heavy and that is driven by the romance.
When I first started reading, I thought Jack's grumpiness was a little overexaggerated. But as I continued to read and realize that he was certainly neurodivergent and reacting to a change in his environment, I was able to see his behavior much more clearly for what it was. I thought both his and Tansy's daughter's neurodivergence were written very well - I super loved how much Jack was able to relate to Briar. I do wish their neurodivergence was talked about explicitly on page especially because I think a lot of readers might have the issue I had in the beginning.
Tansy is independent and used to being a single mother who has to get shit done - she is super resistant to help from anyone in her life. I loved seeing Jack break down her walls and help her renovate her house after the hurricane flooded it. And I loved seeing Jack realize that he is deserving of love and that he can trust someone else again. One of my favorite moments is when Tansy realizes that Jack actually adopted the kittens that she found at the botanic garden instead of taking them to the shelter - this is where she starts to realize that he's actually a huge softie on the inside.
I loved Melanie's authors note and knowing that something like this actually happened to her library branch! (The library moving into the botanic garden, not necessarily the romance!)
Also: I've read two books with a FMC named Tansy. Which is a little weird that it's happened twice!
July 16, 2025
When a hurricane strikes and causes damage to Tansy Perkins’ library and Jack Reid’s botanical garden, the two are forced to work together to rebuild what has once been. The only issue? They can’t stand each other. He thinks she is too quirky, she thinks he is too grouchy. Can they put their differences aside?
First off, I want to highlight how much I loved to read about the love and dedication the characters have for their respective jobs and how they both want to preserve things that are so valuable for the community. This book is a bit of a love letter to libraries and nature and highlights the importance of both.
Jack is a grumpy MMC who avoids relationships but once you take a deeper look, he is loyal to his core and an acts of service man (which is incredibly hot). I loved how his backstory was portrayed. Tansy, who is a single-mom, is a strong-willed FMC who would do anything for the people she loves. I love them both and I love them together. Two puzzle pieces, perfectly fitting together and completing each other.
Even though I think they were made for each other, I could not exactly follow how their feelings changed from hostility to love (though attraction was always present). I would have loved to see a „friends“-phase, where they realize that they were wrong about each other and then develop more romantic feelings. It went from „I don’t like you“ to „Let’s start some sort of relationship“ too quickly for me, personally. However, the author has given the characters incredible depth and touches on some important topics, in relationships, such as co-parenting and conflicted feelings, but also issues that arise after natural disasters and how they can change someone’s life in the blink of an eye. If you are a fan of single-parent, enemies-to-lovers or an acts of service man, or simply want a cozy and hopeful read, give this one a go!
„Where You’re Planted“ is out August 14th 2025!
Thank you to HarperFiction and NetGalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review!
First off, I want to highlight how much I loved to read about the love and dedication the characters have for their respective jobs and how they both want to preserve things that are so valuable for the community. This book is a bit of a love letter to libraries and nature and highlights the importance of both.
Jack is a grumpy MMC who avoids relationships but once you take a deeper look, he is loyal to his core and an acts of service man (which is incredibly hot). I loved how his backstory was portrayed. Tansy, who is a single-mom, is a strong-willed FMC who would do anything for the people she loves. I love them both and I love them together. Two puzzle pieces, perfectly fitting together and completing each other.
Even though I think they were made for each other, I could not exactly follow how their feelings changed from hostility to love (though attraction was always present). I would have loved to see a „friends“-phase, where they realize that they were wrong about each other and then develop more romantic feelings. It went from „I don’t like you“ to „Let’s start some sort of relationship“ too quickly for me, personally. However, the author has given the characters incredible depth and touches on some important topics, in relationships, such as co-parenting and conflicted feelings, but also issues that arise after natural disasters and how they can change someone’s life in the blink of an eye. If you are a fan of single-parent, enemies-to-lovers or an acts of service man, or simply want a cozy and hopeful read, give this one a go!
„Where You’re Planted“ is out August 14th 2025!
Thank you to HarperFiction and NetGalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review!
March 8, 2025
This has to be one of my favorite reads of the year. A heartwarming romantic comedy with a grumpy, botanical garden manager MMC and a stubborn and cheery librarian FMC who are forced to work together after a hurricane ravages their hometown in Houston, Texas.
Using third person narrative and a dual point of view, we’re able to jump between Jack and Tansy’s inner thoughts. She grapples a lot with accepting help and maintaining her position as a cornerstone for her daughter and her library coworkers. He falls first, and HARD, but their romance is so sweet and raw it makes your heart hurt. There’s also a pleasant found family through like that gives us a handful of very lovable quirky characters, including Tandy’s daughter, Briar.
This is such a great example of love in modern times, amidst disaster. This was my first book from Melanie Sweeney and certainly will not be my last. I was so engrossed in her story with her light, breezy narrative and charming characters, it was hard to put this down.
I’d compare her writing style to that of authors like Emily Henry and Cara Bastone, two authors I love for their abilities to make their characters feel real, and Melanie Sweeney will join that list!
Using third person narrative and a dual point of view, we’re able to jump between Jack and Tansy’s inner thoughts. She grapples a lot with accepting help and maintaining her position as a cornerstone for her daughter and her library coworkers. He falls first, and HARD, but their romance is so sweet and raw it makes your heart hurt. There’s also a pleasant found family through like that gives us a handful of very lovable quirky characters, including Tandy’s daughter, Briar.
This is such a great example of love in modern times, amidst disaster. This was my first book from Melanie Sweeney and certainly will not be my last. I was so engrossed in her story with her light, breezy narrative and charming characters, it was hard to put this down.
I’d compare her writing style to that of authors like Emily Henry and Cara Bastone, two authors I love for their abilities to make their characters feel real, and Melanie Sweeney will join that list!
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