This book is absolutely adorable. The main characters are perfect together, and the cozy, low stakes fantasy world building is well done. (And I love the bonus content). I had a lot of fun reading this book, and it manages to pack in a lot of heart for a relatively short book.

The banter is fun and adorable. I loved their relationship progression. This romance occurs in a queer normative world. It features a highbrow x gardening witch, second chance romance. And the love admissions later in the story are just the sweetest and completely perfect.

Content: tf explicit s*x, manipulation, strong language

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Homegrown Magic is a cute, cozy, queer fantasy romance that I absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a low stakes, HEA storyline! I loved the relationship between Margot and Yael, and really appreciated the non-heteronormative approach to most of the romantic relationships in the story. The world itself and magic system are intriguing and unique. I docked one star because I appreciate a bit more of a fast pace (even in my cozy fantasy), and there were certain parts that read a bit slow to me. However, if you're looking to fully immerse yourself and love a story that focuses on the coziness in everyday activities and routine, this is the story for you!

This is a queernorm romantic fantasy with one nonbinary MC. The story was cozy but still had a compelling conflict and I wanted to live in this world in a cottage with strawberries and flowers and fancy dresses.

This is described as adult and it was well-written but I would say it reads more like a YA, with some "spice" that I honestly could've done without. I would've liked to see a bit more of the magic/potion-making and fleshing out some side characters like the other villagers. I also think the first time skip was a missed opportunity for developing their relationship as they're first working together and getting to know each other again.

Overall I was in the mood to read something cozy and this lived up to my expectations, with the queernorm being a nice bonus! I would read a sequel.

For fans of: Legends & Lattes, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

This is a sweet, cozy, paranormal romance. The chapters alternate between the two protagonists: Margot, an herb witch, daughter of a bankrupted family, and Yael, scion of the banking family who ruined Margot's family, with no magic of their own. A chance meeting brings the childhood friends together after many years apart, when Yael runs away from their graduation party and the bank job they're supposed to start the following day. Margot, who is running herself ragged trying to repair the family's fortunes by reviving her grandmother's magical remedy business, offers Yael a job in her greenhouses. As the two grow closer, Yael begins to take some responsibility and Margot begins to take time off now and then. Plot twists, steamy sex scenes, happy resolution, and a nice party. The two authors normally write YA fiction, and if I'm honest, this seems to be YA with steamy sex—not entirely a bad thing, but it's good to be forewarned.

This was an advance copy read via NetGally for no consideration other than an honest review. Publication expected in March 2025.

Review will post immediately on GoodReads and on Amazon as soon as I can get its system to cooperate with me.

This took me a long time to get through which is never a good sign. I ended up liking it overall, I just found the first half pretty slow so it took a while to get into. Once I got into it though I did enjoy it. Yael and Margot are a very cute couple and I'm glad the slow burn finally paid off with a little spice! Overall I would give it 3.5 stars 🌟

A predictable but enjoyable cozy fantasy romance. Fell a little too hard on the lack of communication trope-- but I'm a sucker for a queer love story with a cozy magical feel. Will buy for my collection and recommend to readers looking for cozy fantasy.

I received this book as an ARC and I am so glad I did! Otherwise I may have not known about it.

I LOVE how queer this book it, and how it makes it effortless (as it should be). A society where people accepted and respected for who they are.

The story was well written and paced, it was hard for me to put down because it flowed easily. I believe a couple wrote this and each character is written by one author. This makes the characters seem more genuine and different- sometimes when an author writes multiple characters they don't often get a good sense of different tone for each one. That being said- I loved the main characters for their own unique selves. Their motivations were their own- even if Margot frustrated me A LOT by just not speaking to Yael!!!!

This book has SOME spice, which is fine but I am pretty much not a spice person. Generally I may knock down my rating for too much spice but this was easily glanced over and didn't interrupt me too much from the plot. For others it might be the perfect amount or not enough- but I prefer a face to black situation. I will have to say putting spice in the END chapter wasn't my favorite...

The romance wasn't immediate and felt naturally paced. All in all I enjoyed this book and am going to look into more of these authors.

Loved this story of "getting out of the friendzone" and an adventure of coming into yourself story. Definitely not what I expected out of this book.

A big thank you to Del Rey Publishing for providing this advance reader copy of Homegrown Magic. This enchanting novel is a true sapphic gem.

Homegrown Magic weaves together an enchanting mix of magic, cottagecore charm, and the thrill of new love in this open-door romance. The story is filled with warmth, unexpected twists, and tender moments, leaving me wholeheartedly rooting for the couple from beginning to end.

At its heart is Margot Greenwillow, a plant witch living a tranquil life in her cozy cottage, creating herbal remedies and working in her greenhouses. Her peaceful existence is upended when her childhood crush, Yael Clauneck, unexpectedly arrives in town. Yael, having fled the overwhelming expectations of their family in the capital, is handsome, charismatic, and grappling with a sense of belonging in the family business.

From the moment Yael reenters Margot’s life, the spark between them is undeniable. Their chemistry is electric and instant, but in a playful twist, just as they embark on a one-night stand, Yael falls asleep, exhausted from their long journey. Despite this humorous interruption, the attraction between them simmers beneath the surface. As Yael begins working alongside Margot in her greenhouse, the tension only deepens. Margot, determined not to let her growing feelings for Yael interfere with their work, struggles to maintain her composure, but the pull between them proves hard to resist.

The love story is masterfully crafted, filled with playful banter and sizzling chemistry. Told from both characters' perspectives, the novel beautifully captures the sweet thrill of first love, wrapped in the cozy atmosphere of magic, lush greenery, and rustic charm.

Set to release in 2026, I cannot recommend Homegrown Magic enough! ❤️

Homegrown Magic is a cozy fantasy that is as sweet as the jam the main character makes. If you're not a fan of cozy stories, this one will likely be a slow read for you. Although there are certainly stakes, they stay low and easily resolved. This is a comfort story, not one to challenge. The magic system of the world primarily focuses around potions and are never really utilized. The elements are there, but they are not a main focus on the book.

The start and end of the book were slow, but the middle is as charming as you could hope. Definitely rounding up for the queer/non-binary rep. It's nice to see a magical world where nonbinary individual are simply a fact and not a cause for ridicule or shame.

Pros:
Non-binary rep!
Queer rep!

Cons:
Slow
Conflicts too easily resolved

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to sum up Homegrown Magic in one word it would be cute. Or possibly sweet, and I mean that in the best way. Yael and Margot’s relationship, from watching it build in the first half of the book and then develop as an actual romantic relationship, is delightful. That isn’t to say there’s no tension or conflict— there is, particularly in the third act— but that aspect doesn’t stick out to me as much as the charming nature of Yael and Margot’s relationship and the setting of Bloomfield.
The main thing about this book I really liked is the characters. Yael and Margot are what really pull the reader in. They’re both well-written characters with their own complex motivations that drive the plot. Even when those motivations cause them to act in a way that is not entirely aligned, they’re so easy to root for, both as individuals and as a couple.
There was only one little thing about the book that bugged me. There were certain parts of the description and internal monologue that I felt didn’t work written in present tense. This might just be personal preference, but I don’t remember feeling jarred by the use of present tense in other books. I particularly noticed this in Yael’s POV chapters. It didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story, but it broke my immersion.
On another positive note, I really appreciate the fact that this is a book with a nonbinary main character (one of the two main characters) but there is no transphobia in the book at all. This world seems to not have any concept of that at all. It’s refreshing.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighter read.

I received an advanced copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was adorably romantic. If anyone is searching for a whimsical, feel-good read about love and gardening, with a touch of found-family, Homegrown Magic is a definite fit. It has that cozy cottagecore vibe, complete with lush descriptions of gardens and plants, and a plethora of beautifully diverse characters.

I loved how queernormative both the story and world was. As a non-binary person, it was so lovely to see a they/them character totally assured with that aspect of themselves.

I think my only real issue was the lack of communication on Margot's part. I feel like so much of the tension and her anxiety would have been alleviated had she just talked to someone about what was going on.

And I see there's the possibility of a sequel! While I love Margot and Yael, I think it would be great to see a story from Sage and Araphi.

Thank you to NetGally and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.


This book took a long time for me to get through. I'm not one who will normally choose a YA novel, so I was weary about this one from the get go. I really enjoyed it surprisingly to me. The relationship was cute. My only grievance is that there wasn't that much magic in it. I woud like more elements in aa book with magic in the title.

Homegrown Magic is a queer romantasy that has found family, magic, and (spoiler) a third-act breakup.
Overall this was a fun read, but I was really missing the magic aspect of it. There just wasn’t a lot of it and I thought there would be more. I did like the relationship, the characters were fun and interesting, and so was the plot.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for accepting my request for an ACR of this book!
3.25/5
“To say yes to you, and to have a life together … The better part of me would be happier in a cottage in the woods with you for as long as you’ll have me there.”
I found that Yael’s darker vibes and Margot’s sunny personality made this the perfect blend of the grumpy x sunshine trope. Though one of my problems I had while reading it was that rhe book was advertised to have found family, with the book I feel that it wasn’t so much as found family, moreso they found each other. Or this could be me, because when I think of found family I think of a group of people coming together, forming a bond throughout the plot. The story overall was very cozy and spicy. That being said I don’t believe it was truly my cup of tea but I decided to give it a go because I’ve read other books by Pacton. Though I liked the story and characters I could care less for the spicy scenes.

This was a cozy, slow burn romance. In this world, some people are born with magic while others are not. Margot is the only child of parents that ran their estate into the ground after the death of the matriarch, promising to their creditors a potion to grant everlasting magic to anyone who takes it. Yael is the only heir to the creditors and unfocused. After running away, Yael stumbles upon Margot, who they knew as children, and starts to work with her in her greenhouses.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

A delightfully cozy romantic fantasy about a plant witch and her village. This book is full of plants, greenhouses, tea, taverns, strawberries, vines, and fabulous outfits. Fans of queer cozy fantasy will enjoy this book!

I do so wish it had more magical elements. We are presented with a handful of potions and a few other things I won’t say for spoilers. For a book with magic in the title it is woefully short of on page magic. However; Bloomington it is still a welcome world to visit for cozy novel fans. Just don’t go in expecting a lot of fantasy and magic.

P.S. The description says it’s the YA authors adult debut. It still reads like YA but with a touch of spice, and the characters are in their 20’s, so it is classified as adult. However; if it matters to your reading preference, these characters still read like those in a YA novel.

P.P.S. Please don't introduce a chicken witch in one sentence and then proceed to never tell us anything about her for the rest of the book.

Rating: 2.5 stars
Spice: 0.5 🌶️

I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. The authors set up the scenery and setting so well, and it was very cozy/light hearted. The cover art is also so darn precious and I love the whimsical style. There just really wasn't much plot to me, nor very much character development. This felt very YA with a smidge of spice.

Yael Clauneck (they/them) runs away from their high to do family, and their responsibilities as heir. They drunkenly leave their graduation party and travel to the small town of their former childhood friend, Margot Greenwillow.

Margot has been trying to do spell work to wake up her parents and save the town of Bloomfield, by making a potion that will help replenish powers. Basically She and Yael fall in love, but don't really confess their feelings until the end. Margot is later tasked by Yael's family to bring them back home, or face losing everything (her family is in debt to Yael's family). The 3rd act break up just seemed unnecessary and the ending was a little to easily wrapped up.

I saw there will be a second book, (I'm sure starring Sage (Margot's Best Friend) and Araphi (Yael's cousin)) to have their own romance. I do hope there will be a more significant plot and character development.
***If you're looking for just a light hearted read this may be a good choice. For me it fell short and didn't meet my hopes/expectations.

Homegrown Magic is a cozy and quick read. The two povs each have a distinctive voice and the ensemble cast, which could be better developed and explored, is likeable. The story goes at a leisurely pace which works well with the content and overall aesthetics; although some plot points were a bit contrived. It is an enjoyable choice when looking for something easy to read while relaxing, or a stopgap between longer series, albeit not a particularly memorable one.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I'm not huge on romance, but this one sounded amazing, so I wanted to give it a try. I'm really glad I did!

Overall, I was a huge fan of Margot and Yael's development. Mostly Margot, because she was able to get herself to trust someone else and fall for them, which at the beginning was obviously hard for her. Yael's evolution to finding how they can exist on a different path than the one their parents made for them was also really nicely done.

The only thing that sort of bothered me was how many times I wanted to read about something, like Margot training Yael in the greenhouses, and instead there was a time skip with a small summary. I really wish there had been at least one chapter from Margot's POV where she's teaching Yael about the greenhouse, just so we could have a bit more comedic fun with them and maybe see how Margot starts to loosen up. I also was kind of sad when Sage sort of disappeared at the end of the book. She seemed really cool.

This book was really well done, though, and this is coming from someone who doesn't read much romance. I even thought the spicy scenes were well done, and not overbearing.