I will not be reviewing this book fully, as it is published by HarperCollins, and their union is currently on strike.

I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. I absolutely adored this book so much. While I do stand for the HarperCollins Strike, I believe that this book needs to be known about. That this book do well and others read it. Catherine Bakewell did an amazing job with this book and I could not get enough of this book. I loved Clara and Xavier, the progression they made as a person and with their magic was beautiful. I am so excited for this book to come out and have it on my shelf.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC.

"YA Cottagecore romance fantasy" sure is an attention-grabbing description of Flowerheart. While romance and fantasy felt accurate to me, YA cottagecore did not. The story centers on a young witch named Clara whose magic is volatile and unpredictable. She accidentally harms her father, and makes a deal with her childhood friend Xavier to heal him: Xavier will help her cast a healing spell in exchange for her own magic. This terrible pact complicates her feelings towards Xavier - and rightfully so. He takes advantage of her desperation to heal her father to exploit her. Not such a great beginning to a love story. Unfortunately, this Little Mermaid like contract spoiled the book for me. The writing felt much more targeted towards a Middle Grade audience than YA, with clunky dialogue and prose that didn't flow very well. World-building is minimal at best. There were several subplots that needed more context (Clara's renegade, estranged mother who shows up towards the end) to tie everything together. The beautiful cover perhaps oversells the cozy cottagecore element. Hope to read more developed, adult-focused books in this genre!

Things I loved about Flowerheart:

- The cover is to die for. I love the artistry, the flowers, and the red hair.
- I loved that Clara's magic manifested in flowers, and that she was so in-tune with the flowers' meanings
- Overall a cute, magical read.

Things I didn't love:

- Everything felt underdeveloped: the world building, romance, and especially plot.
- Speaking of plot, it wasn't tense. At all. Even when the stakes were supposed to be high, I was never invested.
- The romance felt like instalove because there wasn't enough development.

This book had potential, but it just didn't deliver for me. I think it would be better as a short story instead.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Harper Teen and NetGalley, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: depression, parent sickness and wounds

cute, cozy, and makes you feel good. It has the flavor of a Miyazaki film, or as some people have said 'Howls Moving Castle'. However, with this book I actually understand and can follow the narrative better than I did with Howl.

The flower references in this book make me want to do more research on Victorian Flowers meanings. It's such an intriguing way to work nature into a magic system and it hooked me from page one. The mc is amazing and her personality is sweet. I love the the male lead is shy and stumbles over his words it makes him more relatable as a character. However, the mother I can't decided If I see her reasoning or if I want to kick her in her knee caps.

Flowerheart is a warm, gentle, magical novel about dealing with hard things (magic that is dangerous in its power and speaks to the main character in a nasty little undercutting voice, the absence and betrayal by parents, the boundaries of proper control and poisonous restriction). I think the scene where Clara, the main character, accidentally poisons her father while trying to help him, and the symptoms are him coughing up flower petals (which are poisonous because they're azaleas and damaging his heart) gives a good sense of the way this book works: it's magic via flowers, and there are plenty of loving relationships (father and daughter, teacher and apprentice, old friends), but there's also a lurking potential for danger (Clara's mother has abandoned her, and is not the good kind of outlaw, and she's not the only bad parent in the novel, some of the flowers are poisonous and at least inconvenient as they reveal what Clara is feeling, and while potions can cure, the Council refuses to address illnesses of the heart and mind, and one of the central problems in the novel is a potion gone wrong called Euphoria that is instead a dangerous drug).

Many readers will enjoy the coziness of this novel; it asks to be read with a cup of (non poisonous) tea, and it is pleasantly LGBTA+ positive (Clara is bi, and minor characters are trans and nonbinary). I wish it had dug in a little more deeply into the underlying issues of power (between student and teacher, Council and potential magic users, magical and non magical people) that lurk beneath the story, and it feels like everything is worked out a little too conveniently and quickly. It is a good book for when you want to curl up and be comforted.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the chance to read an EARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for lending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story is essentially about a young girl trying to control her magic, even more so when she accidentally poisons her father with it.

Pros:
It’s a short read

Loved the fantasy, witch vibes. I wasn’t confused with the magic system or the political side of things.

It has a balance of fluffy and angsty moments (I can’t say this book is ultimately a cozy read with all the stress Clara was going through tryna save her dad)

I really like how strong and determined Clara was.

Leans more toward the younger side, so I’d recommend it to a younger audience.

Cons:
This book was a bit of a struggle for me to connect. I’d find myself skimming during some scenes just to get to the point.

I didn’t feel the love Clara was claiming she had for Xavier. Yes, they were friends and slowly rekindle throughout the book, but with Xavier’s intentions when it came to the deal they made and how he went about it, I don’t know how Clara could forgive him that easily. She was so stuck on the idea that she knew him well because they were friends as a kid and he comes off a shy and respectable, but the dude was using her, and he was being very shady. They’re cute together, don’t get me wrong, but the “I love him, I love you” felt rushed/sudden.

Ahoy there mateys! I clicked on this novel because of the beautiful cover.  I requested it because the book was described as being similar to a favorite, Tamora Pierce, and because it dealt with flower magic.  I enjoyed this book even though it is not like Pierce's work at all and the magic is the least interesting aspect of the novel.

So the negative of the magic is that it really didn't make much sense to me.  The magic talks to the user and is difficult to control.  It seems like to use the magic, practitioners have to bend it to their will.  The main character, Clara, has magic that makes flowers.  I did love that the flowers that she was able to produce had meanings.  However the practical effects of the magic like portals, potions, etc. were not very exciting.  How Clara learns to control her magic was also silly and not that interesting.

What I did really enjoy about the novel was the fast pace and the relationship between Clara and her old best friend Xavier.  They haven't seen each other in five years.  Once Clara's magic hurts her father, Xavier takes Clara on as an apprentice.  He does have ulterior motives.  What was unique about this story in the YA market is that the two characters actually talk to each other about their feelings and concerns.  They both make mistakes, through good intentions, but ultimately apologize.  They support each other.  It was great to have the relationship deal with actual problems rather than silly angst.

I also adored and loved the unexpected ending.  How Xavier and Clara relate to each other and the hope for their future was heartwarming.  I wish I could explain more but for major spoilers that the reader should enjoy for themselves.

I do think that if I were younger, this book would have been an even better read.  It is likely that the flaws in the magic system wouldn't bothered me much and I would have focused on the lovely relationship that develops between Clara and Xavier.  Arrrr!

I loved this book so much. I loved everything about it, from the characters, the plot, to the writing style. The romance was chef's kiss and I also liked the worldbuilding. The plot was super fun and exciting, and the characters were all likable and well-developed.

5/5 stars! This cover was so pretty. That is what made me want to pick up and read this book. I'm also a huge 'Sorcery of Thorns' fan so I was really hopeful about this. This felt like "Enchantment of Ravens" meets "Howl's Moving Castle." There is something so cozy about this book. I don't even know how to describe it because it's challenging not to spoil anything. But both Clara and Xavier are the sweetest cinnamon roll characters underneath their hurts and struggles. This book was so snuggly and I loved it.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This book had a lot of potential but was betrayed by very dull writing. I did not enjoy the writing style of this book and felt it didn't match its magical setting and story. This book was written more like a realistic fiction novel even though it was a fantasy. I found the dialog in the book hard to get through because it felt so stilted and scripted. The concept of this book was really promising and I did appreciate that the author tried to incorporate mental health issues into a fantasy book, but the writing just was not my taste.

Flowerheart follows a young (not quite) witch whose magic is working against her, going so far as cursing her father with a mere touch. Reuniting with a lost childhood friend, Clara puts her hopes and dreams on the line in order to save her father.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book. I was instantly pulled in with its vivid descriptions and likeable characters. As the story progressed I never felt confused or bored, however I never felt challenged either. For me this was a perfect cozy weekend read, but that may not be what everyone is looking for in their fantasy novels.

It's descriptions of 'cottagecore' was exactly how I would describe it. It had all the warmth and heart of a ghibli movie (Howls Moving Castle especially), with more diverse characters. This book is perfect for reads young and old, and I cannot wait for more people to get the chance to read it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC!

Book Review:

I was absolutely SOLD when I read that this was a COTTAGECORE FANTASY ROMANCE! And to make it even better, magic, spells, secrets, and twists fill the entire book!

Flowerheart is a YA fantasy about a girl with very powerful, wild, and uncontrollable magic. When Clara's magic causes harm to her father, she seeks help from her former best friend, Xavier, who wants something shocking in return. Since Clara will do anything to save her father, she strikes a deal. As they work together and reconnect, Clara starts to recognize the pieces of the boy she once loved, but also learns more about the darkness and secrecy surrounding him and realizes her magic might be the only way to stop it.

I really loved this book. The story is simple, but in the BEST way; the kind of story where there's just enough of everything to make it close to perfect. This book has fantasy, romance, witches, wizards, friends to strangers to lovers, queer representation, mystery, twists and turns, magic, and lots and lots of flowers! Flowerheart is so many wonderful things all wrapped up in one.

Make sure to mark your calendars for March 14, 2023! Happy reading!

This book was a cozy fantasy very reminiscent of a studio Ghibli film based on the flowery imagery, the rural setting, the witchy vibes, the whimsical magic, and the plot! I enjoyed reading it from the first chapter to the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25

Flowerheart follows Clara Lucas as she learns to control her unwieldy magic. In danger of having it taken away she accidentally curses her father and embarks on a quest to learn to control her magic in order to bless him and reverse the damage she's caused.

What follows is a heartwarming cozy, cottagecore fantasy about coming into ones own and accepting the darkness and melancholy that lives in each of us. This is also an adorable childhood friends to lovers with plus size and LGBTQ minor characters. I loved that Clara's magic manifested as flowers with different meanings which added an additional layer of complexity to her emotional journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen* for the e-ARC.

*As of writing this review HarperCollins workers are still on strike fighting for competitive wages, better working conditions, and union security.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/1187f756-ae4a-4ddc-a839-e6d6b33b67d5

This is a lovely YA witchy fantasy romance, following an MC who's struggling to master her magic. In an unfortunate turn of events, her magic spins out of control and curses her father, and the only way to save him is to learn to use her magic and bless him. For this purpose, she makes a bargain with her estranged childhood best friend, now a proficient wizard, someone who has dark secrets of his own. As they work and learn together, they reconnect and also heal from their respective traumas, and their whole story is extremely wholesome (with a very lovely hea 😭).

I loved the storytelling and the emotions in this book, and the inclusive queer representation amongst the side characters was really heart-warming. I also loved all the magic described, especially the descriptions of all the flowers she produced! If you like YA fantasy/witchy books, definitely read this one! It's out in March 2023!

---- ty to the author and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

This is such a wholesome and addicting story!
From the beginning you enter this world that’s full of magic where Clara is striving to become a witch that can help others. Unfortunately, her power constantly fights her to the point that she accidentally curses her own father! Fearing her fathers death, Clara makes a bargain with her former best friend, Xavier, who agrees to help her but at a steep cost. Clara thought she knew him, but as she learns more about her powers she also discovers things that perhaps were better off kept secret.

I loved this story so much because it reminded me of a Studio Ghibli film, but in a book. As I kept reading I also couldn’t stop picturing two actors playing the characters. Truly though, a book that gives you a bit of its magic in each page. The only fault I have with it is that I wish it was longer to tie in some loose ends.

Clara has always had uncontrollable magic. It hasn’t been much more than an inconvenience until she accidentally causes poisonous flowers to bloom within her father, slowly killing him. Casting a Blessing is the only way to save him, and the only person who is willing to teach her how is her ex-best friend. As the two reunite and begin working together, Clara suspects that her friend is keeping some dark and dangerous secrets that may threaten life as they know it.

The author did an excellent job at including detailed, vibrant descriptions that brought the world and its locations to life. I could visualize Clara’s house as well as Xavier’s, and there were some creative and intriguing touches (such as the wishing cabinet). I enjoyed how heavily plants/flowers and their meanings were incorporated throughout the story, which added a fascinating element to the plot and Clara’s character.

While I enjoyed the work, it did read as though it was targeted for a younger audience than I was expecting (almost middle grade rather than YA). The writing was relatively simplistic, as was the worldbuilding and character development. The timeline of the work was quite short, which made Clara’s astounding progress with her magic and her falling in love unbelievable. There were also some interesting topics broached that weren’t examined in much detail, which led to me wanting more from the book. It was still enjoyable, but it was lacking the substance that I was hoping for.

This was a cozy read full of plants and magic that was enjoyable overall. Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for allowing me to read this work, which will be published in March 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What a fun and sweet and cozy story with lots of magic and mystery! It’s a clever storyline with fun and mystery. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.