If I could focus a bit more on audiobooks than physical books than I'd have loved this book so much, but I didn't really have to worry about that because I was really engaged in this story for the majority of it. I thought it was really great. The aspect that stood out to me the most was the incredible world building. Whenever I heard a vivid description of the character's surroundings or just the atmosphere/location in general, I was locked in. Congratulations to the author on that. A few of the characters had great growth in this novel. Amazing supernatural imagery and elements with the garden. Some dark undertones with the evil, cruel male characters but the magical realism hooked me into a journey that was mostly beautifully written in my opinion, and I'm hoping to listen to audiobook again or read the physical novel!

2 tortured Stars - 1 of which is for the fabulous job done by the narrator of this audiobook (only 1 star for the written word).

The synopsis of this book sounds mainly magical, with a bit of bother heaped upon the main character, first by her father and later by her husband. Actually, it is more true to say that the first 3/4 of this book is ongoing, repetitive TRAUMA-PORN!!

Harriet is held captive by greedy, deceitful men, a fully traumatized perspective (skewed sense of guilt and “deservedness”), and the perverse mid 19th-century prospects of any woman. She has zero idea that she holds any power whatsoever, because she has been emotionally abused, physically held captive and gaslit for the majority of her life.

The very latter part of the book (last 1.5-2 hours of a 10.5 hour audiobook) allows some light into the darkest forest of Harriet’s and life…. though incredibly slowly.

The ONLY reason that I didn’t completely abandon this book a third of the way in is (1) I had committed to reviewing it and (2) it would have given me nightmares!

The written word itself was well rendered, but so incredibly repetitive that no true validation can be given. And while I understand that this is how a traumatized person continues to think, the author leaving her to stew in these toxic thoughts for the vast majority of a book was ugly and torturous. I also strongly question the mid 19th-century setting.

But as not every book read can be to any one reader’s tastes, I maintain huge gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher, RB Media, in exchange for my (likely far too) honest review.

Haunting. The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt effortlessly toes the line between magical realism and gothic horror.

Harriet Hunt has spent her whole life locked inside Sunnyside house with her abusive father, terrifying housekeeper, and the ghosts of her mother’s love. Her only solace has been the garden that seems to bend to her will and a cousin who refuses to give up on her. When her father goes missing and suspicion starts to turn towards Harriet, she must venture outside her garden gates to find the answers she seeks. When a chance encounter a handsome, kind stranger leads to a whirlwind courtship and marriage, she thinks her luck has finally turned- but her husband has secrets and she’s about to find them all out. In the end, Harriet has to choose- will she be the fragile, mad girl everyone thinks she is or is she brave enough to choose herself and her garden?

Filled with twists and tangled vines, this is the story of female rage, empowerment, and courage. I loved that throughout the story you are trying to figure out if Harriet is being gaslit by the men around her or if you as the reader are being manipulated and Harriet really is insane. Atmospheric, lyrical, and emotional, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a stunning ode to the classic gothic novel.

This was a hidden gem of a book for those who like a little magic realism and want a very character focused plot. It is definitely more of a slow burn of a story but it's hard to be bothered by that when the writing is so smooth and just thorough enough to be immersive without going overboard.

4.5⭐️s rounded up.
Story- 4⭐️s
Narration-5⭐️s

Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the advanced audiobook!
Narrator- Anna Burnett
I listened to this audiobook in tandem with an eARC.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a gothic-adjacent mystery with magical realism centering around Harriet Hunt herself.
Burnett was brilliant in bringing Harriet's voice to life. Having a physical book or ebook wasn't necessary to enjoy and keep up with this audio.
The sadness, helplessness, and anxiety was felt in full.
Abandonment, isolation, verbal and physical abuse are only a few of the horrors Harriet experiences at the hands of men that should love and care for her. The garden is her only constant friend yet also a huge source of anxiety. It was cathartic to follow Harriet's journey in opening herself up to trusting others and herself, all while avoiding an asylum and the limitations that society forces on women.

This would've been a complete 5 star read for me had we got to spend more time with Harriet's garden. Regardless, I'm still going to need a physical copy.

Harriet Hunt has always been known as an odd child- a spectacle of everyone around her. After a tragic accident as a small child she losses her mother and is left to be with her neglectful father. With no love she is forced to be alone with her magical garden and as she grows she accepts the loneliness. It isn't until her father suddenly disappears she is finally alone to be herself. Through a marriage with malicious intent she is forced once again in neglect by her now husband. if only she could be brave and finally leave him she and her garden to be wild and free. i absolutely loved the magical realism in this book and enjoyed getting to know and love harriet hunt.

This is a historical sci-fi fantasy that I really really enjoyed. This book had hints of many books that I have read, but the one that stood out to me the most was Jane Eyre. I don't really know why, Maybe it was just a feeling of a book or the feeling of Harriet, Her loneliness or her seclusion. But poor Harriet had rotten luck and a rotten father. I really felt sorry for her.

Many thanks to Net Galley and RB Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobooks can be a hit or a miss sometimes for me. The minute this one started, I was hooked. I absolutely love the narrators voice. I feel so bad for Harriet, her father is an abusive man. It’s definitely a bit of a dark story. I definitely think there should be some trigger warnings listed at the beginning. Harriet went through trauma which affects all parts of her life. I just wanted the best for her. I enjoyed the ending of the book. If it wasn’t for the narrator, I’m not sure I would have gotten through the book. She did a wonderful job. I personally could listen to her voice all day! Thank you NetGalley, Chelsea and RBmedia for the advanced audio copy!

It's 19th Century England, and Harriet's Father has disappeared. Her Mother passed away when she was young and she's doing her best to keep living in the family home on her own, selling anything of value and enjoying her new found freedom, especially in the garden that she has a very special connection with. However, a young woman can only get by for so long on her own before people begin asking questions, the debt collectors close in, and the funds run out.

I adored Harriet and I loved the connection she had with the flowers and plants in the garden. I do wish we'd seen even more of that through the book, but I loved exploring her connection to the flora around her. There was a mystery that ran through the story, as Harriet tries to find her Father, and there's also an undercurrent of tension and unease that builds steadily as it progresses. I was almost instantly hooked by this book, and by Harriet's character, and I really struggled to put it down.

I will flag however, that although it's described as a cosy fantasy, I'm not sure that really fit 'the vibe' for me. There are some heavy topics, and it's worth checking the trigger warnings before reading, especially if you find domestic abuse a difficult topic.

I listened to the audiobook (narrated by Anna Burnett) which was fantastic and wonderfully told.

This book has some wonderful themes of a character finding her own voice and power in the middle of what feels like a hopeless situation. The slightly spooky, Victorian era vibes would make it a perfect October read. That said, I would check the content warnings below for certain readers, as the main character Harriet goes through some brutal experiences (some of which felt gratuitous to me) to advance the plot. The middle third of the book felt like it plodded along a bit as we waited for Harriet to make the connections and find her strength, but it resolved well. I loved seeing her realize the resources she had at her fingertips all long, as well as the friendships she had-both known and those that revealed themselves.

The audiobook narrator was absolutely fantastic though, and made it a perfect listening experience!

CW:

Parental abuse, SA, attempted SA, murder, institutionalization

Thank you RB Media for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Let me start by saying this is the first fantasy book I’ve read in a few years. It was the perfect thing to get me back into reading this genre!

First, I loved the narrator! The thing that truly brings an audiobook together is the narrator and Anna Burnett did a wonderful job!

It was so beautifully written, and Anna captured the essence of Harriet so well that through her voice I could feel the sadness of Eunice’s departure affecting her. There were tears shed during this chapter on my part, I was completely and utterly moved.

I thought the novel was beautifully descriptive and captured the garden so well in both its kind and wicked ways. I really enjoyed the murder wink game chapter and the added fun, suspense it brought to the novel!

Overall, this was an amazing novel. I found a powerful statement in it on changing yourself to please other people. As well as the power women possess once scorned.

“Being a woman means being constantly vigilante”.

Thank you to NetGalley, and RBmedia. Chelsea Iversen, you have found a fan in me.

3.5 stars

I wanted so much more from this story. It actually took me longer than usual to read it because the other books I was reading kept pulling my attention away.

The first half of the book felt repetitive and I believe could have been condensed to allow the story to focus more on Harriet and her garden . The last 50-75% pulled me in and I enjoyed it much more.

I wanted the story to have more about Harriet’s garden. Specifically, how its behavior mimicked Harriet’s emotions.

The narration was amazing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Audiobook/Book Review 📖🎧🪴

Thank you so much partner @bookmarked @recordedbooks for the gifted copy and audiobook.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt
by Chelsea Iversen
Narrated by Anna Burnett

About the book 👇🏽

A lush, enchanting story of a woman who must use the magic of the fantastical plants that adorn her crumbling estate in Victorian London to thwart the dark plots of the men around her...

Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. She doesn't often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she's been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though – because, in her garden, magic awaits.

Harriet's garden is special. It's a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet's purpose.

🪴 My thoughts:

Not what I was expecting but surprises can be good! It was a little darker than I was ready for but the author is a beautiful writer. With the writing and fantastic narration by Anna Burnett, it set this story up for an overall enjoyable read. I ended up mostly listening to the audiobook over reading the physical book because I just loved the narrator. I also really enjoyed the idea of a magical garden and I thought that this story was done well. I highly suggest checking the content warnings if there’s subject matter you’re sensitive to, otherwise this is a pretty atmospheric read! The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is out NOW!

Happy reading 📖🎧🪴

This is a gothic, low fantasy mystery with magical realism.

Harriet's father has gone missing and the whole town thinks that she has something to do with it. The people in town have always seen her as a very odd woman, especially since Harriet is always spending time in her magical garden that responds to her emotions.

When a new neighbor moves in next door, she thinks that she has finally found someone who can accept her for who she is. However, this new man in her life begins to control Harriet just as her father once did. With help from her new friends and her garden, she begins to gain independence and learns to fight for herself while facing the many challenges of being a woman in a male dominated world.

I really enjoyed this book! The writing style reminds me of A. G. Slatter's gothic fantasies which are some of my favorite books. The magical garden in this
book also reminds me of the one in In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker which is also a good one :)

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and every character had their own distinct personality. I really liked the narration as well, it was very smooth and easy to listen to. Anna Burnett did a great job. I definitely want to read more books by this author in the future!!

**Make sure to check TW before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, and Chelsea Iversen for this book in exchange for my honest opinion!!

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt follows the titular character, Harriet, whose father has gone missing leaving her alone. She rarely leaves her house and instead spends time in her garden, a place that she has a special relationship with. Harriet meets a seemingly charming man and decides to get married but people aren’t all that they seem and she finds herself in a dangerous situation. How will she get out?

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio and Anna Burnett’s narration kept me invested in the story the whole time despite it having some slower moments. I loved Harriet’s connection to her garden. It added a layer of magic that I always enjoy. I love how this book delved deep into heavier subject material. I was expecting this to be much more cozy but it took some dark turns.

This book was pretty average for most of the book. I was enjoying it but I wasn’t loving it. But the way it ended felt so perfect, it really raised my enjoyment of the book! This is a book that has a lot of feminine rage but on a sort of quiet way that I don’t see often and I think it really worked for this story.

I would recommend this to people who enjoyed Weyward or The Magician’s Daughter from last year.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and recommend reading it for yourself! A beautiful and powerful story filled with magic. This book is a powerful example of feminine rage against being used, ignored, or neglected by men and society. It's about what it means to be different than expected societal constraints and how to find our strength here.

This was a book I really wanted to love. I don't often read summaries before I dive into a story, but I glimpsed the first few lines about "a lush, enchanting story of a woman who must use magic..." and I knew it sounded right up my alley for reading.

I give this book 3.75* but will round up to 4 since I can't give partial stars and don't want to round down to 3.

This book had so much potential with the allure of magic and a woman finding her way among men who are plotting against her. The issues I ran into were the magic was scarcely referenced and though it seems Harriet has had this "garden ability" nearly her entire life, she seems completely in the dark about what she can do and the magic she holds.. her naivety and helplessness starts to grate on my nerves as she seems to be able to do almost nothing for herself. She is able to go out and pawn or sell items from around the house to keep them afloat month to month, but after her father disappears, she acts as though she is completely helpless and ends up marrying the first man who even shows vague interest in her because she is scared to reveal anything about being alone.

She does have a cousin and a female maid do enter the picture which seem like stronger females for her to take the lead from, but she still floats through life, almost waiting for someone else to come along and save her from herself. We don't get a lot of resolution until the very end and I do feel as though some of it was rushed and not fully explained. We spend the whole book wallowing in self-pity with her but do not get time to share in the joy when things turn out for the best.

The plotting and planning as well as her mother's hidden secrets are fun storylines but I do wish Harriet had been a stronger more independent character.

What if your green thumb was so good that you could control your entire garden? That is the focal point for this Victorian Era story. Harriet Hunt is a quiet girl who really only has one friend, Eunice. With her father missing (and Harriet the main suspect) and Eunice moving off to the country with her husband, Harriet finds her self attracted to the almost too perfect Christian. As time progresses, she starts to wonder if Christian is more like her father than she thought.

I was intrigued by the idea of this story but ultimately it left me feeling as if I was consistently waiting for the next thing to happen. Personally, I felt as if the first couple of chapters could have been combined. It wasn’t so much that the story took a while to get started, but rather it felt as if I was given too much information. I know this might be a pro for other readers. I personally felt like I was internally wanting the story to “get to the point”.

I developed such a love hate relationship with Harriet. Sometimes I really loved how she put herself out there and didn’t care what people thought about her. Other times I struggled to understand why she ignored so many red flags from the people around her. Ultimately, I was able to understand that the abuse her father inflicted upon her did much more than just physical damage.

I loved every interaction with Christian’s cousins. Can I have a whole book about the two of them? The dynamic and confidence that they gave Harriet was amazing. This was my favorite part of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this opportunity to review.

I’ll begin by saying that this book was not for me.
Having read the blurb i thought this was going to be a cozy, magical realism book, so i expected the magical part being more relevant to the plot. I also didn’t like the narrator, in fact i couldn’t always follow along. If i had the physical version i would have probably enjoyed more, but since i didn’t i wasn’t even connected to any character.
For anyone interested in this book by the plot i would suggest reading it, and not listening to the audiobook.

A fantastical exploration of coming of age after long term abuse. Iverson's magical garden world and Anna Burnett's emotional narration hooked me from the first thirty seconds. I devoured this book in one day.
Iverson takes a heavy complicated subject, infuses it with magic, and produces a beautifully dark cozy story that keeps you reading. While I thought I knew what was going to happen from the first chapter, there were some surprises that caught me pleasantly off guard.
The main character, while often frustrating, was extremely well written and relatable for people with PTSD from long term abuse. The development of her relationship with people and the garden are very well written and beautiful.
I also really loved the exploration of how gender plays a role in abuse and recovery.
Overall, a hauntingly beautiful historical fantasy that leaves you feeling positive after a roller-coaster of emotions.