Harlow Estrada’s world has turned up side down when she is fired from her dream job, then on the same day she learns how big of a jerk her boyfriend really and truly is. She decides that there is nothing more left in New York City, which leads her to go home to the Hacienda Estrada in Mexico. Harlow’s family has magic that is harnessed through flowers and the magic can allow to heal hearts, erase memories, and interpret dreams. The only problem that comes with this for Harlow is that she has zero ounce of magic. Harlow’s mother and Aunt need someone to look over the enchanted farms and the one to be chosen is by the flowers. When waking up, Harlow to her surprise is the one chosen, but she starts to panic over the fact that she is magicless and has no idea how she can be the one to take over this task successfully.

The Enchanted Hacienda definitely made me think of Encanto as I started reading the book. I guess the best way to say this book is like Encanto, but make it adult.

The reason why I say this makes me think of The Enchanted Hacienda as an adult Encanto is because in Encanto, Mirabella is the only one in her family that is not blessed with magic and goes on a self discovery quest of making peace with not having magic and knowing who she truly is. This goes the same with Harlow, but it goes further than that.

Harlow at the beginning always seems scared of taking jumps of faith/risks and one of those things is of her wanting to be a writer.

Harlow ends up doing a lot of growing in this book and I loved her and Ben and their meet cute that leads to their romance.

My only gripe about this book is that there was a lull in the story around the middle of it to where I started to feel bored and not wholly invested like I was in the beginning. Towards the end of the book, I started to become interested and invented more. Other than the small portion of losing focus and steam on the story, I ended up really enjoying this book.

This book explores self discovery, romance, family, and magic.

Do you need a book to escape from reality?
Read this one! Especially if you liked Encanto by Disney.


The Estrada women all have magic in their blood. Except for Harlow.


After being fired, and breaking up with her sucky boyfriend, Harlow goes back to her family’s Hacienda in Mexico. A magical place that sells flowers (regular or magical ones!). She tries to turn her life over, and of course, she comes across an awesome man. The only issue is, he doesn't believe in magic or happily ever after. Oh no!


What I liked:
The flower farm, omg. I wish I was able to enter the pages of this book, and just live in this magical flower farm. Can you imagine how incredible the smell would be?

It was predictable, but the setting is so beautiful that I just wanted to keep reading anyways.

Allll the magic and Encanto vibes.

The Enchanted Hacienda is the story of Harlow Estrada, the only member of her family not gifted with magical abilities. The story could have been called The Enchanted Garden- flowers and their meanings play an important role in the family’s business. Through the twists and turns that Harlow experiences after meeting Ben, she learns about her before-undiscovered gifts and the costs of her choices. A perfect choice to take with you to the beach!

A fun mix of magic and romance with an Encanto feel. However, the romance without magic didn't work as well for me and I felt like there were some bothersome loose threads left at the ending.

If you loved the movie Encanto, you should check this book out. An adult version of it, with romance, and grief, and magic mixed in. The writing and descriptions were absolutely beautiful, capturing the beauty and the hurdles of life perfectly. It did take a while to get through, but the magical world that was created made it so that I didn’t mind so much.

Harlow was born into a magical family that protects their farm of magical flowers. Everyone is named after a flower except her, and everyone has magic, except her. But when her life comes crashing down in New York, she runs to the family farm in Mexico. As she spends time on the farm, she fulfills orders for bouquets (magical and non-magical) and starts to try and write her book. And the guy she met at the coffee shop keeps popping up wherever she goes and she can’t get him out of her mind.

Magical realism done well, though perhaps a tad more fantastic than my usual MR picks. But, I'll take it because it was lush and romantic. I swear I could almost smell the flowers as I listened, probably thanks to Frankie Corzo's lovely narration. I loved that the story featured a cast of women who loved each other and were thoroughly different from each other. My only qualm was that it felt a little melodramatic in places specifically to do with Harlow's romance and the "love spell." That was just a little overdone for my tastes, but I think it was also very intentional on the part of Cervantes and I respect that choice.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an audioARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Genre: Magical Realism
Spice: Open Door (Minimal)
Review written by: M
Release Date: May 16, 2023
*Thank you NetGalley & Harper Audio for this Arc Audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

Plot:
Harlow Estrada’s life comes crumbling down after she is fired from her dream job and her relationship ends all within the same day. Needing to feel a closeness to home and family, Harlow leaves New York and flies back to Mexico to her family’s farm- The Enchanted Hacienda Estrada, where her family cultivates magical flowers for an array of situations.

Harlow, the only woman in her family to lack magic, begins to panic when she is asks to take care of the family farm. The story unfolds as Harlow begins to navigate the magic surrounding her and questioning what her true purpose is; especially when a handsome stranger collides with her life.

Thoughts:
The first thing I thought was that the “Encanto” vibes were pouring from every crevice of this cover, and I was here for it! After listening to the Audiobook, I was NOT disappointed, it is a solid 4 for me. The narrator did a great job of carrying me off into this magical world.

It did give off “Encanto” vibes but for a more mature audience! It was an utterly magical story, from its story line to the author’s exquisite way of describing feelings, emotions, and settings! The Spanish heritage was seeping through the pages and enticing me at every corner to connect with my Latin Heritage. I was absolutely loving the strong central theme of family and the power that comes from working together as a family.

It is a beautiful story of believing in yourself, and the magic that we all have within ourselves if we just choose to open our eyes to see it. Important life lessons are sprinkled throughout the book about hope, pain, grief, and acceptance. This is one that I will continue to recommend.

Romance with a little magic/flowers. The characters were interesting, the story was well paced and the narrator did a nice job of capturing the emotions in different situations.

Magic. Family. Romance. What more could you want? This book is like three different stories combined.

First, there is a the story of magic. The book begins with Harlow being the only woman in her family who does not control magical abilities connected to flowers that runs in her family. Some major life changes bring her abilities to the surface. We get to see her magic develop, how it changes her and how it affects everything else in her life. The magic itself is so fun--connected to flowers, but varies depending on the practitioner. Anyone who has had even a passing interesting in flowers and their symbolism will be drawn to this book.

Second, this is a story that is bound together with family. The bond between Harlow and her family is intense and magical (literally). We talk about feeling in tune with the people we love, but what if it was a magical connection that crossed borders? Harlow is always supported by (and supportive of) her family, but we get to see her find her place and make a life of her own.

Third, this is (and if I'm reading it it's got to be) a romance. Are they chance encounters or is it fate? This is basically an insta-love situation, but still fun to watch unfold. The conflict in the relationship is unlike one I've seen before--heartbreaking, but begs the question "what can love overcome?"

There is something about a book in which everything in the MC's life gets burned to the ground in the beginning and we get to watch them put everything back together--for the better, of course! It's so satisfying to see to where Harlow starts and where she ends in this book.

The description of the Estrada farm and the surrounding town was such a treat! It is easy to imagine yourself among the flowers. One of the biggest drawbacks was how much time is spent off the farm. Every time we left the farm I was itching to get back. If there is an enchanted hacienda involved, I don't want to be anywhere else!

This book feels like adult romance meets Encanto, and I loved it! The Enchanted Hacienda follows a family of magical women with an enchanted hacienda in Mexico. Each woman in the family has the power to harness magic in the hacienda's flowers, EXCEPT our main character Harlow who doesn't have any magic. When Harlow returns to her family farm after she loses her job in NYC and ends her relationship, she finds she may have powers after all, and it might not be as great as she expected.

This book is perfect for fans of contemporary romance, magical realism, and Encanto! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a unique, light-spice romance. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for the advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Magical flower? Encanto vibes? Steamy romance? I AM HERE FOR IT. Thank you for writing this. So so good!

Harlow loses her job and breaks up with her boyfriend the same day. She returns to her family’s farm in Mexico, a place of flowers and magic, to rest, recover, and try to write a book as she’s always wanted. But magic is unpredictable and a great responsibility. Magic and romance abound in the beautiful story. There are some loose threads toward the end of the story, but it’s still a great read.

“I will bloom even in dark times”

“You have to jump from the hugest cliff that makes you sick to think about…and if it doesn’t make you sick, then the cliff isn’t high enough”

I finished the Audiobook ARC of this book in less than 48 hours. If I could have found a way to listen 🎧 uninterrupted it would have been devoured in one sitting. This book was enchanting and heartfelt and I didn’t want it to end.

If you love rich character development, strong familial connections, beautiful love stories, unique magic and self discovery themes… you will LOVE this book. I see it compared to Encanto and I have to say (even though I adore that movie) I feel like that doesn’t really fit. The only similarities are the family relationships and magic. Other than that… this is completely different.

The story is a beautiful mix of magic and fiction but it’s not fantasy and it’s not just fiction! It’s a beautiful blend of both. J.C. had me enthralled in the first 5 minutes. Also have to say I immediately went and searched fro more audiobooks narrated by Frankie Corzo. Such a wonderful narration.

I will be buying a physical copy and adding this to my comfort read favorites list! Not to mention the story pace and writing style was absolute perfection.

I almost want to just read it again… right now. I will be thinking about this book for days!

Family of women of magic that use their talents to enhance flowers and gardens. Finding yourself and embracing who you are. Romance finding it way within the contraints of a magical family.

Absolutely loved this book. I'm a big fan of magical realism, especially with a Latin flavor. The genre is tricky; creating a fun and interesting story without being too "woo woo". Cervantes nails this one. The story of Harlow and her family's magical blooms and gifts is...enchanting. (Sorry. But it's the perfect word.) Harlow is incredibly likeable and relatable. The love story is warm and passionate. I can't recommend this one enough!

Harlow's family owns an enchanted farm in Mexico, and all women in Harlow's family possess a magic connected to specific powers. Weirdly enough, Harlow do not have any magic herself, but she is deeply connected to the land and her family. The lack of magic is hurting Harlow's self-confidence and she doesn't have the courage to pursue her dream of writing a book. But then she meets a tall, dark, brooding stranger!
I found the premise of the magic flowers, and Harlow searching for herself interesting and entertaining - but the romance between Harlow and Ben had me rolling my eyes so hard I almost twisted my neck. I found it childish and clichéd. Which pulled this review down from a solid 4 stars to 3.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Atmospheric and unsettling! A glimpse of Mexican family traditions turns into a horror story set in a gothic house filled with secrets. Thoroughly enjoyed the characters especially the relationship of the sisters. Such a satisfying twist!

The cover gave me Encanto vibes and I knew I needed to read this. The Enchanted Hacienda is a book filled with magic, family, and romance. I loved the Estrada family and I loved how they were all connected with each other. Harlow was living her best life-until she realized she truly wasn’t living her life and was ready for something more. Then we’re off to a meet cute with a cutie and a sweet story. A bit of mystery and I was hooked. The words are spellbinding and I could picture the Estrada Hacienda and their garden and flowers. It was fascinating learning the meaning of flowers.
The narrator, Frankie Corzo was an amazing performer. She elevated the story and I loved every second of it. She used a variety of tones and inflections and it was easy for me to distinguish who was speaking.
Fans of coming of age, family, romance and magic will enjoy this one.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the gifted ALC.

This gave Encato/The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina. So sweet and magical. I do wish there had been a little more drama with the journalist. Other than that, another great magical realism book to add to your list!!

The Enchanted Hacienda was a very sweet book. It would be a good beach read this summer!

Harlow Estrada loses her job, throws a drink in her now ex-boyfriend’s face, and goes home to her family’s flower farm in Mexico.

The farm is a magical place where the women in her family have been keeping secrets and making the world better with magic for generations. Harlow has always felt left out of the magic. However, when she returns, she discovers maybe she possesses a magic she never knew she had and begins writing, which she has always desired to do. She meets a beautiful elderly couple and their grandson, Ben. Ben will make her confront her magic and whether their relationship is the result of magic or real.

I rounded up to a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It was probably more a 3.5 for me. The narrator, Frankie Corzo, definitely enhanced the experience. The writing was pretty. It was a sweet story. I just felt there could have been more. The reporter line seemed weak and I would have liked more magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.