Perfection!
Maybe I’m biased because I grew up in Tansy’s world and can vouch for everything from the hurricane fears to addictive Shipley’s donuts, but this book just checks every single one of my romance boxes. Just go ahead and add Jack Reid to your list of book boyfriends now because he IS the grumpy bossy hot plant daddy you need. Whether he’s rescuing flood survivors in his boat, arguing over available space for the library’s storytime that won’t involve his gardens being trampled, or crushing hard for the whirlwind self-reliant librarian Tansy, Jack is is the distant rugged outdoorsy type personified.

Jack and Tansy’s disaster-cute involves him saving her not once, but twice during a hurricane, fueling their animosity towards each other when Tansy’s library branch sets up as a pop-up inside Jack’s botanic gardens. As all romance readers know, friction creates sparks that fly when conflict turns into chemistry. Surprisingly, the catalyst is Tansy’s daughter Briar. God I loved seeing her and Jack together. Kids can be such a miss in books, but Briar latches on to what’s safe and this translated into the most natural relationship between her and Jack. From the beginning I wanted their relationship just as much as I wanted a physical relationship between Jack and Tansy.

Melanie Sweeney writes perfectly imperfect characters so well. Tansy has had to provide for herself and Briar and is terrified that she might need rescuing—the thought of having to trust her career, her home, her child and her love life to another person makes her feel vulnerable in the most excruciating way. Tansy keeps the circumstances of her flood-ravaged home hidden from coworkers and has difficulty asking for help, even when it’s freely offered. In the same way, for all his surliness, Jack panics at the idea of public speaking. He has stopped living for himself since his marriage ended, under the guise of not being a “relationship person.” He doesn’t open up easily to his sister Amy and has wrapped his heart in caution tape, not even considering the idea of dating.

This book has the absolute best chemistry. Partially it stems from it being quite awhile since either Tansy or Jack have been intimate with another person, but also because when they allow themselves to give in to each other, it just unlocks a part of each of them that needs to be seen, touched, and loved. This translates into scorching hot sex. Having an uninterrupted week of all-the-orgasms ™️ should be part of every couple’s getting to know you phase.

I think the other thing I really enjoyed was how plausible the entire story felt. There were no big bad enemies, although Tansy’s relationship with her ex is at time frustrating. I found myself laugh-crying at Amy’s meeting Omar, I literally looked up videos about bee sex while reading (IYKYK), as well as what the paper bush plant looks like. Anytime an author can create such a vivid sense of place in my head, it just draws me closer to the characters that exist there. The library and botanic gardens were this for me. I can say without a doubt that the romances Sweeney writes are full of humanity and heart. I cannot wait to read more from her in the future. I received an early copy from Putnam. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭

Jack
Smells like: Hard work and sweat, dirt and sunscreen, the crispness of a tomato plant

Tansy
Smells like: Lemonade in your tea, airy line dried linen, paperbacks and pencil shavings

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam: G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read an advanced copy of this sweet and charming romance. I loved the characters single mom and librarian Tansy and Jack, the gruff botanical gardens director. They had a prickly start, and then it grew to romantic tension and then to love. The two are forced to work in close proximity to each other after a massive flood destroys the library on the outskirts of the gardens. Temporarily, they move a few librarians and resources into a space inside the gardens. As Tansy and Jack's romance builds they both must navigate their individual issues with not relying on others and being closed off and not open to love.
The story was cozy and light to read. The gardens setting was relaxing and picturesque. I enjoyed the perspectives changing between Tansy and Jack. Tansy's best friends and librarians were funny and entertaining. This was a lovely story of community, found family, and being able to be self-reliant but also allow others to help support and love you.

When a hurricane hits Houston, Tansy's life is uprooted - both her home and the library branch where she was serving as interim manager suffered catastrophic flooding. Without flood insurance, she and her daughter Briar are forced to live in a half-finished house while she saves up to make needed repairs. And her library branch is temporarily moved into a shed in the botanical gardens. Jack, the groundskeeper at the gardens, is not happy to have the librarians and their patrons taking over his space. Until her discovers how they can help each other - and how Tansy can help him learn to love again.

I loved Sweeney's last title "Take Me Home" so I probably went into this one with higher expectations. It's probably petty, but I was put off on page one with the names Tansy and Briar. Then Jack's feelings towards Tansy seem to turn on a dime for no real reason, and I did not get the chemistry between the two. The setting took me out of the story - most botanical gardens I've been to are flat, parklike grounds with a combination of indoor and outdoor settings. The descriptions read like more a national park/state park setting with bluffs and wild vegetation (there is a map in the front, but it was hard to flip back and forth when reading in digital). Also, the original branch of the library was already on the botanical gardens property, so why didn't Jack and Tansy already know each other or have some kind of relationship?

Honestly, I almost DNFed this one several times in the first 100 or so pages but I stuck it out because I liked her first book so much. Reading the Author's Note at the back, I felt bad for not loving a book born from the author's personal history with a natural disaster, but it doesn't change the fact that I wasn't really a fan. Hopefully her next book will be better for me.

Overall: 3/5
Spice: 2/3

This book made my children’s librarian heart so happy! Jack and Tansy were a delightful pair, and I love that the book was loosely inspired by real events!

✨WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED by Melanie Sweeney✨

TAKE ME HOME was one of my favorite books of last year, and Melanie’s sophomore novel did not disappoint!!! This is such a beautiful story of resilience and growth, and I absolutely could not put it down.

When a hurricane floods Tansy’s home AND the local library she runs, things feel dire, especially when the library is forced to move into a glorified gardening shed in the nearby botanic gardens. Even worse: she has to work with the super grumpy gardener who saved her and her daughter from the flood the night the hurricane hit. Tansy doesn’t want to relive that night, and she certainly doesn’t want to interact with Jack on a daily basis. But here we are!!! Tansy and Jack must work together to save the library and the garden, and lo and behold……..working together isn’t so bad after all.

Some little details I loved, in order of increasing niche-ness:
🎨Arts and Crafts
🍴Dinner Parties
💧Water Heaters
🔨Drywall Repair
🦊The Disney Robin Hood Fox

WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED is out on July 8!

4.5 star

✨I really loved this rom com that doubled as a social commentary and had all the heart! The importance of public spaces in a community including gardens and libraries were brought to life in these pages by the delightfully grumpy botanic garden director and the effervescent children’s librarian who were thrown together to share space after a devastating flood.

✨Houston author Melanie Sweeney is fast becoming a favorite for me. Think Katherine Center with spice. Everyone knows I prefer closed door romance, but it was easy to skip over the parts that aren’t for me without taking anything away from this lovely story.

✨I loved the Houston setting, the lovably quirky cast of characters, the found family, and the enemies to lovers workplace romance.

✨A personal note: The inclusion of the Peggy Martin rose (IYKYK) was so personal and real for my Gulf Coast living, hurricane and flood surviving soul. My own Peggy Martin is climbing a trellis in my backyard. 🩷

🌿Read if you like:
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Workplace romance
✨Grumpy sunshine
✨Found family
✨Anxiety rep
✨Houston settings
✨Open door romance
✨Angry girl rock/female rage songs

I was fully invested in this story, until the third act breakup. I thought Tansy and Jack were a great enemies to lovers representation. The spicy scenes were so good. But enter the ever polarizing third act breakup. My problem with this one was how incredibly stubborn and resistant to help Tansy was. It became repetitive and honestly, annoying. As a self-proclaimed “strong, independent woman” myself, there is growth and maturity in knowing when to not only accept a little bit of help, but in also recognizing that maybe, just maybe, someone wants to be there for you as a partner, not as your savior.

4 🌟

Can someone please build me a little library in a garden?!

This romcom was so so cute! My favorite part was not how Jack and Tansy came together for each other but the way they came together for the community. The way they both worked, usually together, to build back their community after a devastating hurricane had me falling in love with them.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I was given the opportunity to read Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney as an eARC from Putnam that is publishing on July 8th, 2025

This grumpy x sunshine romance follows single mom Tansy and introvert Jack, who are diametrically opposed from the beginning, but are forced to work together to make the park operate efficiently after a hurricane relocates Tansy’s library to the botanical gardens.
____________________________________________

My favorite character in the book was Tansy. I loved that she was a resilient woman who was having to learn to accept help from other people, she had to so much on her own for so long that relying on people wasn’t really an option. The storyline follow the organic unfolding of Tansy and Jacks relationship, but still touched on how to fit Tansy’s daughter into the relationship dynamic, while giving Jack space to cope with emotions left over from a previous relationship.

The book had an overall positive and heartfelt tone, but still made time to touch on the very real after affects of a natural disaster like a hurricane, and how its destruction ruins the lived of people in its path.

This had some of my favorite tropes, grumpy-sunshine, protective MMC, single-parent, and found family.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where You're Planted is a heartwarming grumpy-sunshine romance set against the charming backdrop of a botanical garden and a small-town library. The story follows Tansy, a determined single mother and librarian, and Jack, a gruff gardener with a soft side he keeps buried deep.
When a hurricane forces Tansy's damaged library to temporarily relocate to a shed at the gardens, she and Jack-who don't exactly get along-are suddenly stuck working side by side. What really made this book shine for me was the witty banter between Tansy and Jack. Their clashing personalities made for some hilarious and heartfelt moments, and I especially loved watching Jack slowly open up and show a more tender, vulnerable side. That said, I did find myself occasionally frustrated with Tansy's insistence on doing everything alone and not accepting help, even when it was clearly offered with good intentions.
The supporting characters were a delight-Kai, Marianne, and Irma, the other librarians, added so much warmth and humor to the story. The group scenes at the gardens/library were some of my favorites, full of community spirit and cozy chaos.
I'd definitely recommend this book to fans of grumpy-sunshine dynamics, slow-burn romance, and anyone who appreciates a good garden setting. It's a funny, feel-good read that plants itself firmly in your heart.

This was a strong concept and was engaged with the world and romance element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters were everything that I wanted from this type of book and was engaged with what was happening to them. It uses the public library and botanic garden locations perfectly in this and was everything that I wanted. Melanie Sweeney has a strong writing style and enjoyed how everything worked with the characters and this storyline.

Jack and Tansy meet during a hurricane where he berates her for being out to save her library’s birds. He then rescues her again later once her home has flooded and she, her daughter, and neighbor need help. They’re not off to a great start when they realize that her library is temporarily being housed at his botanic garden due to the flooding. Both of them hope to rebuild and restore their buildings.

I loved this story! I loved the main characters Tansy and Jack. Grumpy Jack was so funny when he would banter with Tansy. I loved how quirky and independent Tansy was. I loved how much depth both characters had and how their own struggles from the past really affected them. Tansy’s daughter, Briar, added some humor as well. I loved how she latched onto Jack so quickly. It was so sweet to see the grump be so kind with her.

The found family with the librarians and Ian from the garden were also a lot of fun. The characters were very unique.

I really enjoyed the ending as well! It was just a sweet story overall!

Thank you to Melanie Sweeney, NetGalley and G P Putman’s Sons for the early copy! This book releases on July 8th!

I liked this way more than I thought I was going too. Maybe it's because enemies to lovers is my favorite romcom trope or maybe it's because the FMC is a librarian and so am I, so I felt like I could relate. I wasn't quite sure about the story from the beginning, but as I kept going, I knew it was going to be a good one. I really like Melanie Sweeney's previous book Take Me Home, and this one didn't disappoint. I loved the premise of a library within a garden area and the grumpy gardener...it all was just swoon-worthy!

Thank you to Putnam for the advance reader copy of Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney.

The community Tansy lives in experiences a hurricane that damages her place of work, the library, and the home that she shares with her daughter. Tansy is rescued by Jack, gardener at county botanic gardens and these two don't get along. Jack and Tansy end up forced to partner together as they plan the spring festival.

This book is a slow burn and for me it took me awhile to get into it but I’m glad I kept reading as the story really picked up for me. When it did, I couldn’t put the book down until I finished. Tansy is a great leading character.

If you enjoy a rivals to lovers, forced proximity romance, this is one to check out!

This was such a beautiful slow burn book. I loved the dynamics with Jack and Tansy (I mean...give me a grumpy botanical garden worker any day of the week) and I loved their meet-disaster. More than anything, what Melanie does so well is build up the tension in a way that makes the pay off so great. These two took a while getting there, but when they did, it was so earned.

The perfect mix of plants and books! Melanie Sweeney combines just the right amount of emotional and challenging topics with sweet moments (as well as a few spicy encounters) and humor in this book. Ranging from natural disaster recovery to complicated relationships to government funding, the characters definitely go through real struggles and process realistic emotions along the way. This is balanced by the fun, supportive, and loving cast of characters that work together through the challenges faced and help each other grow and learn to trust. The combination of a library space with a botanical garden makes for a wonderful setting that I wish I could have jumped right into! I really enjoyed every element of this book with the story moving at just the right pace to process everything while staying engaged and wondering what was coming next. This is one of those books that I wish didn’t have to end!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a galley copy of this book!

<b>My Grade B 4.o stars. The chemistry and lovely slow burn made this book a terrific read that left me wanting more!

Spice Level: 3 out of 5 peppers. I was surprised at how sexy this book was. I thought the MMC Jack was so incredibly book boyfriend worthy, and I loved the way he pulled himself into the FMC Tansy's orbit.

Shelf Worthy? Yes! This book has earned a place on my shelf!!</b>

Thank you to Netgalley, Putnam Boobs, and author Melanie Sweeney for the ARC!

I am a huge advocate for mental health, and this book did an excellent job showing how PTSD and anxiety cannot only affect the person going through it, but also friends and family. I appreciate the realness that comes across the pages. There were moments where I found Tansy to be a bit frustrating to read, but as the story progressed I understood where her pride and anxiety came from.

The slow burn was so good! The connection with Jack and Tansy was perfection. Goodness that greenhouse scene was smoking hot!

I did have some confusion regarding Jack's backstory regarding his failed marriage and not wanting children. I also wanted a bit more in the epilogue, mostly I just wanted another scene with the kittens.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

After hurricane damage forces her library to relocate into a tiny shed at the local botanic gardens, Tansy Perkins fears she'll be rejected for the government funding necessary to rebuild this vital community resource. Despite her mountain of troubles, Tansy has a sunny disposition and moxie for days so she Is willing to do whatever it takes to see the library thrive. Her first obstacle? Reconcile how the man who saved she and her daughter from rising flood waters and the garden's surly director could be one in the same.

Jack has preferred nature to human beings since his divorce. He will soon be taking over an even bigger leadership role at the botanic gardens and simply does not have time for relationships with other people, especially the Tansy Perkins shaped people who have invaded his space. Unfortunately for Jack, the Commissioner has tasked he and Tansy with joining forced to host a big family festival to prove to the community has fully recovered...which it hasn't. But the Commissioner promised to commit to funding essential flood-mitigation projects if Jack complies, and he will do what he must to protect his community from another inevitable natural disaster.

Jack and Tansy's passion for rebuilding their own public spaces is not only the flint that strikes a mutual understanding, but a deeper connection that neither of them can deny. Too bad there is just not enough public funding for everyone...

This is honestly a perfect contemporary romance for anybody whose tummy hurts and is mad at the government. Ok so it actually won't do anything about your tummy except possibly redirect the aching to your head because the government is inept and the fictional plot is too real. Please know it is taking every once of restraint not to turn this review into a plea for unconditional FEMA support in the midst of rapidly escalating climate change. I can do brave things!

Yes--your rage against the government will persist. But the budding relationship between Tansy, an eternal optimist who no reason to be optimistic, and Jack, a big 'ol grumpy anxious man who doesn't want to get hurt, is SO freakin' swoony! Oh also I dare you not to weep while Jack forges a bond with Tansy's daughter Briar. What I loved the most was the way in which both Tansy and Jack were able to shed light on how absolutely critical free shared public spaces are to communities. Tansy was willing to go to bat for any library patron, even the ones attempting to summon the devil, simply because the library is a space for EVERYONE. Jack was already passionate about maintaining the botanic gardens as a safe space for native plants, but Tansy's influence helped him expand the garden's possibilities.

This is my first Melanie Sweeney novel and oh my god???? I grabbed my phone to put a library hold on her debut novel so quickly after finishing this book that I almost dropped it. I absolutely loved the hell out of Where You're Planted, and won't be shutting up about it anytime soon.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putman for the eARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

I really enjoyed Melanie Sweeney's debut book “Take Me Home” so I was excited to read this. I thought this book was very cute and sweet. I liked both the main characters, even though some of the FMC’s hang ups frustrated me. The setting and plot were fun and fresh.
Third person point of view is not my favorite but that’s more of a personal issue for me. Can't wait to see what Melanie writes in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this title.