Goldy Moldavsky's Of Earthly Delights is a captivating YA gothic romance that skillfully weaves together themes of love, loss, and dark family secrets. With its atmospheric setting and compelling characters, this book offers a mesmerizing journey into a world where desire and mystery collide, leaving readers questioning the boundaries between love and obsession.

The story centers on Rose Pauly, an aspiring artist whose life is turned upside down when her family relocates from bustling New York City to a small town in Connecticut just before her senior year. Rose’s initial resistance to the move is palpable, making her encounter with Hart Hargrove all the more impactful. Their instant connection feels both inevitable and charged with an electric tension that forms the heart of the story.

Hart Hargrove, with his mysterious charm, introduces Rose to a world she never expected—his family’s expansive and enigmatic private garden. The garden, lush and otherworldly, serves as the perfect backdrop for their whirlwind romance, and as the summer unfurls, the two fall deeply for each other. However, as Rose is drawn further into the garden’s secrets, she begins to sense that something is off, something hidden beneath the surface of the Hargrove family legacy.

What makes Of Earthly Delights truly engrossing is how Moldavsky slowly unravels the layers of mystery surrounding the garden and Hart’s past. Rose’s growing suspicions about the true nature of her relationship with Hart add a sense of dread and anticipation that keeps the pages turning. Moldavsky’s use of gothic elements, like the decaying mansion and the garden’s eerie beauty, intensifies the sense of unease, drawing readers into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

The central question of the book—whether love can truly exist in a world built on lies and dark secrets. Rose’s internal struggle between her growing love for Hart and her need to uncover the truth about the garden creates a tension that is both heart-wrenching and thrilling. It’s a narrative that will resonate with readers who enjoy exploring the complexities of love and desire, especially when they are tinged with mystery. For fans of dark romance and mystery, this book offers a captivating escape into a world where love may be eternal—but at what cost?

If you’re looking for something fun with a little of romance and a smidge of mystery, this book is for you! It’s YA rated so teen friendly! It’s about this senior in high school who falls in love with this girl and he will do anything to be with her. Anything.

This book is an absolute trip. Wild ride from beginning to end. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

"A contemporary YA Gothic romance about a dark family secret, a lush, mysterious garden, and a love that never dies, from New York Times bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky.

Aspiring artist Rose Pauly is not happy moving from her home in New York City right before her senior year of high school. But on her first miserable day in Connecticut, she meets Hart Hargrove. The two share an immediate, undeniable connection.

Hart introduces Rose to his slice of paradise - the immense private garden nestled behind the Hargrove family mansion. There, the two spend a fever dream of a summer together. But as their bond blossoms into love, Rose can't shake the feeling that all is not as it seems.

When Rose uncovers the truth about the garden, she's forced to question how genuine her love story truly is. But Hart can't bear to lose Rose, and he will stop at nothing to save their relationship.

Posing haunting questions about beauty and desire, this is an atmospheric and darkly romantic tale that will enthrall readers."

The perfect time of year to get lost in a book about a summer in a mysterious garden.

A story like no other—equal parts haunting and hypnotic. This book drew me in with its lush prose and moody atmosphere, then shattered me with a twist I never saw coming. It’s a contemporary YA gothic romance that weaves together mystery, heartbreak, and an unforgettable garden that feels almost alive.

Rose Pauly’s world is turned upside down when she’s uprooted from New York and dropped into the eerie quiet of Connecticut. But everything changes the moment she meets Hart Hargrove. Their connection is instant—intense, dreamy, and a little too perfect. As their love blooms in the enchanting garden behind the Hargrove estate, it feels like a fairytale… until it slowly turns into something else entirely.

There’s a secret buried in the soil of that garden, and when Rose starts to dig, what she finds will make you question everything. Is their love real? Or just another illusion hiding in the shadows?

This book is soaked in longing and laced with dread—perfect for fans of twisted love stories, slow-building suspense, and gothic vibes. You’ll finish it with your heart in pieces, wondering if beauty is ever really innocent.

I have read and enjoyed a book by this author before so when I saw that this was a gothic tale, I had to read it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. It’s not a bad book at all and I imagine it’ll be widely loved, I just couldn’t get invested in the story.

Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky drew me in with its haunting beauty and eerie charm. Rose’s discovery of the magical garden and her intense, enigmatic relationship with Hart felt like stepping into a dream you’re not sure is safe. The blend of romance, mystery, and dark twists kept me hooked. It’s the kind of book that lingers with you, like the scent of flowers that are just a bit too sweet. I loved it!

4.5 ⭐️
I am crushed. I was so close to crying and being emotional over this book. At first, I got the feeling this book was going to be the creepy sort, but I enjoyed getting to know Rose while slowly discovering the mystery of the garden along with her falling in love with Hart. Then I thought ‘wow this is a full love story about these two’ then when I learned about the garden, i was very much surprised because it was not what I suspected. The mystery of it made it creepier than it was, but the lesson behind it was actually kind of a cynic view of reality. You can make a decision and wish for something but you always have to think your actions have consequences. I really liked this message with a bit of magic.
Then, 180 turn and the tragic hits. I was so heartbroken for Hart but at least some of the weird scenes? Flashbacks? (Idk what to call them) made more sense. It was kind of beautiful that he just wants to be with her over and over again, but again that has consequences, one of them being Heather. Heather was such an interesting side character and you don’t really get her truth depth until you see her reasons at the end, and they are valid. The conclusion of the book was also shocking, I really thought they would move on but Hart is obviously set on thinking his happiness is based in his one love. So, the end end of this book was even more because I have questions and need to know if he finally broke the cycle. Loved this book, what a rollercoaster of emotions.

Of Earthly Delights is a twisty, original story that kind of blew my mind.
It is a story of grief, love, and greed.

When Rose's parents get divorced, she's uprooted from her life in NYC to live in a small town in Connecticut. She meets the Hargrove twins, whose family's garden parties are the stuff of legends.
I feel like saying any more will ruin the experience.

Release date is May 13
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing for an early copy to review.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This is my honest review and is spoiler free.

I finished this book in 3 days, and that is uncommon. This was a page turner and had me urning to know what would happen next.
The pace was consistent from start to finish and each character had layers that were more than surface level. If you are a fan of the show Angel, this would be like reading Season 1 Episode 8- heartbreakingly tragic but strikingly beautiful all at the same time.
I'd like to finish by saying the cover of this book is STUNNING!!

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Spice: 1 Bell Pepper
Tearjerker: 3/5 Tears

Favorite Quote:
"That summer, Rose and Hart came together in a kaleidoscope of colors."

Huge thank you to NetGalley for my ARC copy!

Thank you Net Gallery for granting me a copy of this arc.

“I have a theory… that it’s more than just a garden.”

This is a gothic contemporary romance book set in a small town in Connecticut. Rose Pauley has moved there with her father after her parents divorce. She is not thrilled about the move but very quickly meets the charming Hart. He invites her to a party. At the party she meets her new bff Lowell and his sister Heather who tells her she’s a “dead girl.” Things get mysterious, wild, and twisty after that.

I didn’t really enjoy this read for myself. It had a good premise, but I just couldn’t get into it.

🪻Enchanted Garden
🌷Star crossed lovers
🪻A hedge maze
🌷Gothic YA romance
🪻Dual POV

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS by Goldy Moldavsky

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan (Henry Holt and Co) for the earc (May 13)

Rose isn't happy to leave NY for Connecticut, but when she meets Hart Hargove, everything changes. She comes to know Hart, to love him, but when she learns the truth about the garden, she's filled with more questions than answers.
Talk about a shocking read. OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS is an explosive read full of romance, gardens, and desire. But it goes deeper than that. This book takes everything to a whole new level. It wickedly dark and propulsive. It left me with questions that led me to devour the book, cover to cover.
There was something about OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS that was just so good. I loved the two different pov's that led to the intertwining of the storylines. There were also tims were I was flabbergasted, talk about a twist.
OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS has been my favorite read by this author. It leaves you perplexed, hopeful, and kind of sad. 10/10 would recommend.

interesting gothic-feeling thriller that was definitely worth a read. the unsettling vibe is IMMEDIATELY present. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I think there are a lot of people that will like this book, unfortunately I was not one of them. Some of Rose's chapters had weird skips in time through the summer making the story feel disjointed and incomplete. Between Rose's description of Hart looking relived to see her when he walked in though they had never met before and Heather's odd comments that night I knew we were dealing with some type of time travel shenanigans which I very rarely like if ever and was not anticipating based on the books description. It became even more evident with the randomly placed scenes depicting events between the characters in another time line which outside showing that everyone seemed happier did very little in terms of the story. Because of the odd skips in events it felt like we didn't get any real character development, the FMC and MMC are rater flat and I didn't overly care about their romance there was no real tension before the point that it no longer mattered. I think that's because it all happened in a timeline we just get snippets of and boring ones at that. Lowell and Heather were far more interesting as characters and toll the story had on them was far more impactful but not nearly explored as deeply as they could have been.

I was initially drawn in by the premise of this book and its description as a “gothic romance”. Told in two perspectives, Rose Pauly’s and Hart Hargrove’s, the narrative quickly turns from a strange meet-cute in a convenience store to a burgeoning love story between two teenagers set against the backdrop of a dark family secret. However, it quickly becomes apparent to Rose that everything is not quite as it seems at the Hargroves’ estate, Hemlock Hill.

I really enjoyed having access to Hart’s point of view following Rose’s in this novel. I started to suspect the twist based on the flashback or alternate reality seeming scenes that were included occasionally. This book is an excellent reminder that you should be careful what you wish for!

I was HOOKED from the first chapter, I haven’t been so quickly invested in a book in a long time, and I inhaled this book in less than 24 hours. From the very start you get the vibe that something isn’t right. Something is off, but you don’t know what. There’s so many subtle clues that maybe people are lying to Rose or like maybe everyone knows something that she doesn’t. I loved it and kept me turning the page way into the night wanting to know what was going on.

There are so many twists and layers to the story, and the author did an incredible job bringing everything together by the end, even insignificant details could now be seen as breadcrumbs and clues. This is definitely going to be a great re-read.

There was so much emotion written into this story, I found myself grieving and raging right along with the characters. There’s so many heavy themes like grief, greed, vanity, control, love, obsession, and so much more, and it felt so authentic to the highschool and college years of angst, young love, and indulgence.

I am hesitant to call this a romance even though it is labeled as such, I’d classify it more as a YA dark romantic thriller. I will absolutely be recommending this to my friends and mutuals. I highly recommend going in blind if you are someone that is comfortable doing that, and enjoy this fever dream of a story.


Infinite thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Henry Holt and Co. for providing an early digital copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.

This contemporary YA gothic romance is one I'll be thinking about for days. It has a mysterious garden with a sinister secret that the twins, Hart and Heather, are desperate to keep. Of Earthly Delights showcases what greed, love, and grief can do to a person and will have you shook by the end.

Rose moves to Connecticut to start her senior year following her parents' divorce and meets Hart. They begin a whirlwind fever dreamlike romance that seems too good to be true. As she begins to spend more time in Hart's family garden, she is determined to uncover its secrets unaware of how dangerous they are.

There were so many twists I did not see coming. This made me cry and oh my gosh that ending. I was internally yelling at my book by then. I want to immediately reread because it was so good.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rose Pauly has spent her entire life living in New York City, but thanks to her parents' recent divorce, she is going to be starting her senior year in a new town in Connecticut. On her very first night in town, Rose finds herself angry and she just takes off. She finds herself in a convenience store where she literally bumps into Hart Hargrove. They quickly form a bond, but Hart's twin, Heather, does not seem to like Rose very much. Rose and Hart spend an amazing summer together, but Rose keeps sensing that Hart is keeping something from her. When Rose does discover the secret that Hart has been keeping, she must decide if this is the life she wants. Hart is determined to hold on to their love by any means necessary. Another page-turning gothic thriller from Goldy Moldavsky.