The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a beautifully atmospheric historical fiction novel that transports readers to Victorian England, blending mystery, family secrets, and a touch of botanical magic. Joanne Rock’s storytelling is evocative and rich, creating a world that feels both vivid and haunting.

With themes of healing, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt was a fascinating story. It follows a girl with a unique gift and all the magic.

*many thanks to RB Media and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt, a novel about a young woman who is learning to heal from her traumatic upbringing, while also trying to locate her missing father as suspicion about his disappearance lands on her, is a marvel and was an emotional, enchanting, beautiful, and ultimately hopeful read. The narrator was perfect as was the writing, plotting, and characterization. I'm only sad that I can't read it again for the first time.

Could the - no, hear me out! - could the secret and uncontrollable magic garden behind Harriet Hunt's house be a metaphor for something? Something about neurodiversity and/or feminism??? Huh????????? How unheard of!!!

I got the audiobook from NetGalley.
When Christian met Harriet for the first time, I was like aw. When he asked for him to marry her really quick I was like, okay maybe he just falls in love super easily. BUT AS SOON AS IT WAS THEIR WEDDING NIGHT?!?! I KNEW that man was trash. I was explaining him to my sister and she was like, Hans energy. And I totally agree but he's worse than Hans and I hate him.

I feel like the first half could have been a few chapters. I loved the narrator!! The story dragged on to the point I found myself fast forwarding pretty early on.. I feel like there was so much potential however it didn't " get good " until almost the end.

Thank you for the opportunity to review

This is not my normal read...the idea of a magic garden! I'm so glad I took the chance to read this! Harriet did not have the normal childhood and my heart broke for her and everything she had to deal with alone while trying to find her way into the world. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was good. Reflecting back now, the audio wasn’t my favorite, but the story was intriguing and twisty. I imagined this to be magical realism, but the mysterious components were done well. It was slow, but overall I enjoyed it.

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Title: The Peculiar of Harriet Hunt
Author: Chelsea Iversen
Page Count: 309
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Number: 42
Dates Read: 3/18-24
Review:
I received this free advanced copy, I leave this review voluntarily.

Another magical realism novel that sucked me in. It's a slower read, but I started to really enjoy the characters and story. The ending was one I did see coming, but I enjoyed it all the same. I will be buying a copy, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes magical realism.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!

i am soft dnf’ing this for now — i am too consumed with sunrise on the reaping and cannot invest any emotional energy into an audiobook right now, but i may return to this read

as for the narrator, i’ve been enjoying their narration so far!

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt was a decently entertaining story about a girl, wandering alone in her house and garden. I wanted to feel the magic of this story, but I couldn’t quite connect with Harriet, and the story was a bit heavier than I’d anticipated. Still a worthwhile read when you’re in the right mood.

Anna Burnett does a decent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Chelsea Iversen, RB Media, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

THE PECULIAR GARDEN OF HARRIET HUNT by @chelseaive is a story of a woman coming into her own in a world that tries to suppress her. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @recordedbooks for the audio ARC.

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Harriet Hunt has not seen her father in weeks. He left her alone with his sizable debts without saying a word. She spends her days cultivating her sprawling enchanted garden that keeps her company, knowing this may have been the reason her father fled. When she is swept off her feet by a charming Christian Comstock, she agrees to marry quickly in hopes that tying herself to a man will relieve her of her troubles. Instead, Comstock becomes increasingly cruel and domineering forcing Harriet to cull her garden even as she hears it screaming in pain.

This was my second Iversen novel and I am enamored with the fierce female characters she brings to life on the page. Her stories focus on female agency in everyday ordinary women with extraordinary gifts. I was invested in Harriet's journey as she learns she will need to choose between financial security and personal atonomy. I thought this felt a bit like a mashup of WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE meets WUTHERING HEIGHTS. I loved the feminist urges, the poisonous plants, and the increasing understanding of the power of self.

If you want to be enchanted by a woman and her extra-special garden as they fight the patriarchy together, give this one a go.

From the cover to the inside, the book pulled me in and didn't let go. I felt for Harriet and her garden. The emotional rollercoaster with twists and turns you didn't see coming. Look forward to move by Ms. Iversen!

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It’s a unique plot, but I could kinda guess what would happen so it felt like it was trying to have mystery but it didn’t. Cute atmosphere though. It’s just not incredible and I felt like zoning out at points.

No shade being throw on this garden but it wasn’t what I was in the mood for and I just wasn’t vibing. May this book bring joy to someone that is not I.

This wasn't for me. I think it was wrong book/wrong time. I appreciate the world building attempt and do think the writing was good, the content just wasn't engaging.

2/5⭐

This was just not for me. I didn't like the story and characters in general.

The narrator needed time to get used to her.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this book. Harriet is an outcast and I loved her. The narrator was fantastic and the story was great.

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I gave it some time to sink in and develop an opinion of what I just read.

At its core, It’s the plight of a women who is doing just fine on her own, but feels the need to marry when her father disappears, which upended everything. All of this is right up my alley.

But, this is why I pause:
There is promised magical realism tied to her garden. I really wanted to explore this more. It felt like the magic of the garden was thrown in here and there. Such a missed opportunity to really elevate the story.

If the garden was a main character and interacted more with the story, a a promised by the title and cover story- this would have been a five star read.

So I’m going with a 3.5 star rating and rounded to due to the excellent audio narration.

4.75

Harriet Hunt finds herself alone in a dilapidated estate after her abusive father’s sudden disappearance. She lives a reclusive lifestyle to avoid suspicion and to protect others from the manor’s sentient garden that protects her and feeds off her emotions against her will. Harriet has lived most of her life grieving her mother and trapped with a father threatening to send her to a mental institution, so this newfound freedom is hard for her to fathom. In an attempt to solve the mystery of her father’s whereabouts and clear her name, she has to learn to trust again when a charming suitor promises to help.

This is a beautiful mix of magical realism and domestic thriller and it definitely went in directions I wasn’t expecting. This whole atmosphere is super lush and I loved the connection and relationship between Harriet and the garden. Harriet lacks confidence and the ability to stand up for herself at the beginning of the book due to a traumatic upbringing and the garden has grown to protect her from those who wish to bring her harm. I’ve never read a premise quite like that so I was invested from the first page.

Harriet as a main character is very complex and I think the author has done a great job or showing how trauma shapes people and how victims fall into cycles of abuse. I found her really loveable and it’s gut wrenching when you discover things aren’t going the way she deserves. The villain of this story was pure evil and my heart was RACING at times. This book does contain themes of domestic violence and sexual assault, so fair warning, and I wasn’t genuinely scared of the perpetrator. I also appreciate that the author didn’t take a traditional thriller route with such a heavy topic, this book allows the reality of domestic violence to speak for itself.

Always a big plus, the ending is VERY satisfying and the message was clear without being on the nose.

As for the audiobook, I really liked the narrator for the first 80% or so and then towards the end you can hear A LOT of swallowing which kinda of gave me the ick.