A tender and utterly heartfelt debut novel, with magic bursting from the pages. There's so much to love here, in the magical world and especially the relationships: from Quill's complex family situation to the budding romance between him and Liam.

This was a strong debut novel, but still clearly a debut. To start with the things that impressed me: the magic system and characters. I was blown away by the development of the dryad magic and world. It was layered and nuanced, and information was well delivered over the course of the story. Alongside the magic, I also loved the characters. Quill was a great narrator and main character. He felt his age, and had great complexity. He also had amazing relationships with his mother, sister, and Liam, packed with love but also tension that made them very real. Of course, I found the romance adorable. I did not want to leave Quill and the magic when this book ended. However, there were things that I struggled with while reading the book. I felt plot wise that the entire thing was a bit rushed, and could have been slowed down to allow for more character development and a deeper dive into Quill’s family’s past. It also felt like there were some loose threads left unresolved at the end. But I would still recommend this book as a fun, quick, magical read.

The writing style of lovely and flows very well.

This story wasn’t for me though.
It had far more of certain contents than is my personal preference.

What a beautiful story. This is about a boy Quill, whose magical family hides him away for his own protection. When his mother allows a new neighbor to move into their building, Quill and newcomer Liam meet and sparks fly.

Now, experiencing things he has never experienced before, finding adventure with Liam, he finds a comfort in the other boy. He has never had any magic of his own, though his mother and sister tell him it will come in time.

But, fearing an intruder inside of the garden that holds their family’s magic upends everything his family has worked so hard for for so long.

Quill trusts Liam, but what is really going on? Is it all just too coincidental or is Liam someone who Quill can’t trust?

This was so beautiful. I loved Quill and Liam’s story. I loved the incredible nature magical element to this story and it was such a fun and modern take on The Secret Garden.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What a cute and magical story! I really appreciated the romance and how it moved realistically rather than the Insta love we sometimes get, especially when the romance is a subplot. I also enjoyed the magic system and learning about the plants.