"The Enchanted Greenhouse" is a delight. If "The Spellshop' was Stardew Valley in book form, this is reminiscent Studio Ghibli, especially with the many depictions of food. I's a cozy book for sure with not much Impending Doom Plot, and the actual crisis of the plot has no... real impact on the main character? So that's an interesting way to do it, but it works. The enchanted greenhouses of the book's title are dying, and the main character's time is spent trying to save them and figure out the spell that created them, but it has no real weight on her and her life as someone who just arrived on this island. She could've just said "This isn't my problem" and hopped on the next boat out of there, but she decided to stay and *care*, and that's the crux of the plot. "The Enchanted Greenhouse" is so cozy and sweet and if you liked "The Spellshop", you'll definitely like this one! (Although reading the other is not a prerequisite at all.)

I had the pleasure of reading an advance reader copy of The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, which releases today, July 15th. Set in the same whimsical world as Durst’s bestselling adult fantasy novel The Spellshop, this new installment follows Terlu, an eccentric librarian who created Caz, the sentient spider plant from The Spellshop.

Unlike epic fantasies which are action-packed, The Enchanted Greenhouse settles into a slower, cozier pace. While some readers may find this pace too slow, fans of Durst’s signature warmth, charming worldbuilding, and wholesome romance will enjoy this. The story centers on Terlu and Yarrow, who spend most of their time alone on the remote island with magical greenhouses. As a result, much of the novel unfolds through Terlu’s inner reflections and narrative, and the delightful banter between her and Yarrow. Their romance develops quickly (in what some might call “insta-love”) but it feels fitting given the isolation on the island. After all, they are the only two humans living there! .

Though character-driven, the novel isn’t without stakes. The central conflict revolves around the urgent need to preserve the island’s failing magic, which threatens to destroy the enchanted greenhouses and with them, the lives of the sentient plants who live in these magical greenhouses.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a tender, heartwarming fantasy that reads like a warm mug of rich hot coca on a snowy evening—comforting, whimsical, and full of charm.

Longer Review HERE: http://wilsonhillworks.com/reviews/theenchantedgreenhouse

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

A great follow up to The Spellshop! Durst has created such an interesting world, and I hope we get to see more of it in the future.

This series is one of my new favorites. I love the cozy, feel good vibe Sarah Beth Durst creates. Her vivid world building, emotional depth, relationships, and storytelling are wonderful. It’s like a fantasy Hallmark movie at times. Terlu had a wonderful balance of growth and self doubt without being over the top. Yarrow developed and changed in a believable way. And small peeks of the capital and characters from the last book were appreciated. I hope there will be more!

Talking plants and magical greenhouses? Yes!

Okay this story was so cozy and I had a wonderful time listening and reading the ebook. The way that this author writes really makes you imagine and feel like you are in the story and the places always feel so cozy and enchanting. I had fun!

A wonderful followup to The Spellshop. I love the world Sarah Beth Durst has created and was excited to explore more of it, especially following the fate of another librarian, and loved her connections back to the first book. This book had important themes on finding yourself, finding forgiveness, and moving forward that were woven in beautifully with the story. I can't wait for another book in this series to explore more of this world, but in the meantime I'm going to reread The Spellshop again!

Cozy fantasy, however not my personal favorite, I think if you loved the first book or are looking for books like legends and lattee then this is for you@

I think I’m in a reading slump so I feel like I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I could have. I love the characters and gosh the feeling of loneliness I could feel through the book. It enjoyed the romance and all the lovely plant friends.

While I kind of enjoyed this, I think I am done with this series. Just not for me. I kept wanting more action, which I know is not the purpose of cozy fantasy. My attitude towards this book is on me not loving the cozy fantasy genre. Could be really great if I was in the right mood. Maybe I will try again in the fall/winter.

I very much enjoyed revisiting the world of the Spellshop, which was one of my favorites last year! This one is just as cozy as the previous, and as ever I find standalones preferable to series (and they are easier sells). I wasn't obsessed with the romance, but overall this was a charming a relaxing read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble and Ms. Durst for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This was beautifully written, and I'm sure will be received with delight by many readers, but I just... didn't feel it. It's definitely a "cozy" fantasy, heavy on the cozy, with a romantic element that seemed somehow both too much and too little. The FMC even points out that the MMC might be interested in her solely because she's the only other one there, and that never really gets addressed to my liking.

Terlu, the FMC, is a librarian who dabbles in forbidden spellwork to bring a plant to sentient life and keep her company. Terlu is that rare extroverted librarian who desperately wants a companion but instead of, IDK, bringing home a cat, she brings a spider plant to life and names it Caz. For this crime Terlu is summarily turned into a statue and spends 6 years as a decoration. She awakens alone on an island filled with magical greenhouses and eventually finds Yarrow, the lone human caretaker on the island, who had written to the capital requesting the help of a sorcerer to fix the damaged greenhouses.

Despite the imminent magical failure of the greenhouses, the story seemed relatively low-stakes overall, and the attraction between Terlu and Yarrow seemed strained. Unfortunately Terlu is the sort of extroverted character that is CONSTANTLY TALKING and tbh more than a little insecure about how much others like them (or not) and is frankly exhausting. Terlu's incessant monologue, whether inner or outer, really dampened my ability to enjoy the charming bits of the story, like the dragon pollinators, the wonders in the various greenhouses, the delicious-sounding food, and Yarrow's occasional moments of charm.

If you can get over Terlu, there's a lot to enjoy here.

⭐⭐⭐

This was by far, one of my top five books of the year in 2025. Though I did not read The Spellshop which seems to be an accompanying novel, they certainly are independent of each other and can fully stand alone, It is so cute, cozy, and heartfelt, that I really loved every minute of it.

Terlu was a librarian who accidently (on purpose) broke the law of using magic because she was lonely. She had a hard time making and keeping friends so she makes a spider plant sentient. We learn this is a reference to The Spellshop which has a sentient spider plant named Caz which is adorable. Caz is sent away but Terlu is punished and made an example of by being turned into a wooden statue.

A few years later, she finds herself being turned back into a human and in front of an enormous greenhouse surrounded by snow. She does not know who returned her to her human state or why but she is grateful. She does eventually find Yarrow who is the soul gardener and a bit grumpy. It seems as though the magic may be fading or changing or even being sabotaged as greenhouses start to fail and now Terlu has to try and use the bit of magic she was able to learn to try and save the remaining greenhouses.

There's a bit of cozy romance and lots of cozy fantasy. There are talking plants, grumpy sunshine, and lots of magic. I don't want to say too much because I want you to pick this up and read it as soon as you can.

Cozy fantasy standalone set in the world of Spellshop, Durst paints a vivid world with quirky characters who are trying to save the enchanted greenhouses. Themes of redemption and belonging are woven into this tale with a lot of heartfelt understanding. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an advanced copy for a honest review.

In The Enchanted Greenhouse, Sarah Beth Durst revisits the universe of her gorgeously written The Spellshop. Cozy fantasy is having a moment but no one is doing as well as Durst.

The Enchanted Greenhouse starts with Terlu casting a harmless spell to conjure up a magical spider plant. As punishment, she is transformed into a wooden statue and forced to watch the world, stuck. When she awakens one day and is welcomed into the home of Yarrow, she realizes that the magic of the greenhouse around her is failing and she knows she must once again break the rules.

This was cozy and spectacular. My heart lightened reading this and I know many readers like me are out there looking for a book that is life-affirming. Push this one into their hands!

Thank you @brambleromance #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

Last year, The Spellshop swept me away with its magical world (and Meep the talking cactus forever has my heart 🌵), so when I saw The Enchanted Greenhouse, I knew I had to leaf real life behind and dive in.

Now listen — I am not a greenthumb. If it can wilt, I’ve probably killed it. But Sarah Beth Durst paints such a vivid, enchanting picture that I felt like I was right there alongside Terlu, misting mystical blooms, trimming viney beasts, and trying not to get eaten by a plant with too many teeth. 😂 The setting is perfection once again— cozy, atmospheric, and so wildly creative I wanted to pack a bag and move in.

The story itself is a heartwarming little sprout of second chances, slow-growing love, and the sweetest found family of oddball creatures, sentient plants, and a cantankerous gardener with a soft spot you know is hiding under all that prickly bark. 🌸

Durst always makes me feel like I’ve stepped into a magical Disneyland garden — where there is always a problem to be solved, but friendship and love bloom when you least expect it. If you’re craving a cozy, plant-filled fantasy that’ll make your heart grow three sizes, this one belongs on your shelf. 🌿✨

The Enchanted Greenhouse was easily a 5 star read for me. This book had all the cozy fall vibes for me but it still hit just right reading it right now too. First of all the characters were amazing and I now I want to personally identify as Terlu. She was such a real character with the struggles she faced. She was a overthinker and dealt with anxiety but she also was strong and so fun to be around. Yarrow was also the grumpy MC that we all know and love but he also opened up a lot by the end and truly became who he was always suppose to be. This book had so much growth in it and it was so amazing to read. The storyline was also just so entertaining. Like a sassy talking plant?! SIGN👏🏻ME👏🏻UP👏🏻 If you haven’t checked out The Spellshop you should definitely check out both of these books! Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an arc, I’m forever grateful!

Audience: Adult
Plot: 5.0 out of 5
Characters: 5.0 out of 5
Spice: 0 out of 5
Keywords: Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Gardeners, Magic, Librarians, Talking Plants, Cinnamon Roll MMC

Tea Pairing: Evening in the Garden (Herbal) by Plum Deluxe

Favorite Quotes:
“I haaave seen curious humans beeefore […] they typicallyyy end up married.”
“‘Words matter.’ The right words could heal shattered glass. And hearts. And families. And lives.”
“It’s my duty – in fact, I believe it’s every person’s duty, especially those in power – to reject unjust laws. To choose kindness and empathy, whenever we can.”

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Tor Publishing; and the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

Terlu Perna, former librarian and creator of Caz (Spellshop), has woken up on an island with magical greenhouses. The gardner, Yarrow, is in need of a sorcerer to restore their failing magic.

The pacing was on-point, there was just the right amount of emotional connection with action. Terlu and Yarrow made the best couple – who doesn’t love a man who bakes? Ha! Some of my favorite characters were the secondary ones, especially Lottie and Dendy. I felt that Durst gave a lot of attention to the side characters, which added to the richness and depth of the story.

Even though this is the second book (after Spellshop), it can still be read as a standalone. The audiobook narration (also with Netgalley), by Caitlin Davies, was so enjoyable that I couldn’t stop listening, and kept telling myself ‘one more chapter.’ Davies was able to transform the story through her use of unique voices to capture the cast of characters' individual style and personality.

What else can I say about this book, other than it was absolutely delightful! I loved listening / reading every minute of it. This book is the definition of a cozy fantasy for me. It had everything that I was looking for – sweet Hallmark-vibes romance, mixed with a dose of magic, a dash of winged cats, and even some tiny dragons. It was a perfect read with a cup of tea and a slice of honey cake.

Sarah Beth Durst is the Countess of Cozy Romantasy! I was so excited to return to the magical realm that she introduced us to in The Spellshop, but this time, we got to meet Terlu and Yarrow. And not to mention a menagerie of magical creatures and plants. Cozy fantasy normally isn't my genre of choice, but Sarah Beth Durst has this gentle way of incorporating some words of wisdom and heavier emotional depth within her stories that make the stakes high, but you are being wrapped in a warm-hug the whole time.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC of The Enchanted Greenhouse! I cannot wait to see where SBD takes us next.

Terlu Perna has been condemned to live her life as a wooden statue. Terlu’s crime? Using magic to create a sentient spider plant named Caz. Terlu isn’t sure how much time has passed when she finds herself awake, human, and seemingly alone in the woods outside a rather large collection of greenhouses. Gardener Yarrow is expecting a sorcerer to awaken from the statue, so he is equally surprised to find Terlu. The magic on the greenhouses is failing and if it’s not fixed soon, all of the plants will die. Terlu is sure she can fix it - she’s a librarian after all!

As someone who doesn’t usually like cozy stories, I have to say Sarah Beth Durst may be the exception. I loved returning to the magical world of the Crescent Islands. Terlu was such an easy character to relate to. All she wants is friendship and to be loved for who she is. Yarrow is a great match for her. He has stayed behind even when his family left so that he can continue to care for the greenhouse. His isolation may be self-inflicted, and he may be a bit grumpy when they first meet, but he is quick take care of Terlu and welcome her into his home. Their love story was such a treat to read - though now I am craving both soup and honey cakes.

While I missed Caz, there is not shortage of magical companions to be found in The Enchanted Greenhouse. There are SO many talking plants and each has their own distinct personality. Durst really gave life to each of these characters, especially Lotti, and they felt like true secondary characters. The audiobook narrator did such a great job voicing all of them! The chapter where the plants are woken up was a particular favorite of mine. We also encounter gryphons, small dragons, and a flying cat named Emeril. I hope that if this series continues we learn even more about the creatures and the other islands.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for a review copy.

𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I want to live inside this book. I want a room in one of the greenhouses, a seat at Yarrow’s kitchen table, and a tiny dragon or flying cat to curl up on my lap while I cry about how emotionally safe this story made me feel(at least my tears could be used to water all the plants).This felt like how exhausting it is to feel like you're “too much” and how healing it can be when someone says, you’re not.

Terlu might be one of my new favorite characters in cozy fantasy. Her loneliness, her guilt, her need to be useful even when she's unraveling. And Yarrow? The emotionally constipated gardener with secret cinnamon roll energy? I love him. I forgive him for his awkwardness because he bakes honey cakes. Low key have never needed anything more in my life. I was drooling everytime honey cakes were brought up and still am thinking about it now. There’s found family, romance, literal plant sass, and the world is like someone crossbred Animal Crossing with a greenhouse and i've never needed anyone to build a game like that more than now.

I haven’t read The Spellshop yet (don’t yell at me), but now I NEED to go back and read it if only to live in this world a little longer. Honestly, I don’t even care that they made some questionable science choices. Light a fire in a low-oxygen environment? Sure. If it gets me more cozy island magic and a sarcastic rose named Lotti, I’ll allow it. This book felt like coming back to yourself and finding your home. Super cute.