love how tender and tension-filled this is! what a delightfully grumpy man who loves plants and acts of service. what a headstrong, hyper-independent woman who loves her community and is doing her best for her daughter. the third-act conflict and resolution got a tiny bit too dramatic for me, but i did like the gestures.

Thank you to #NetGalley and publishers for the ARC read!

I think this book was my most anticipated read of 2925 because of how much I loved Take Me Home.

It did not disappoint! Melanie Sweeney has such a way with words and makes you feel literally every emotion while reading.

I loved every character and felt that they all were fully fleshed out and real. I loved the map of the gardens too, such a fun inclusion!

"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need". -Cicero

And this book melds these two places so effortlessly with Tansy and Jack's story. Set in Texas, the two main characters have seemingly divergent goals.

She's a spitfire, Tansy with a soft metaphoric underbelly. Her mama bear ferocity for her daughter, Briar and the strength she draws from her friends is present from start to end. Then there's Jack. Or, our seemingly gruff bear of a man whose rough edges hide tender spots.

There were many endorsements from well known authors in the field at the start of the book. The why is answered in this read.

Kids may have their fall holiday wish lists but its readers who proudly possess a tightly held list of TBR by ATF (Authors to Follow). This author is one to put on that coveted list given this read.

#WhereYourePlanted #NetGalley
This ARC was provided by the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, in exchange for an honest review.

Where You're Planted was a really special read. The relationship between the two main characters was believable (you know, in a romance novel kind of way!), and they were each fully-developed and interesting humans with flaws and trauma -- not one-dimensional at all, which I often struggle with in romances. I appreciated that this book included realistic, "real person" struggles with money and mental health, in a way that added depth to the people and their relationships without overpowering the warmth of the love story.

Beyond the main characters, this book also has so much other good stuff going on. The garden/library setting is wonderfully described and fun to get lost in, and the surrounding characters/community/family members were delightful and also critically important to the story. So often in romances we don't see the main characters have meaningful relationships with anyone other than the love interest, and that was absolutely not the case here. (My only critique, on that note, was that things felt a little bit unresolved with the Charlie situation -- but I suppose that's just how life is!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5) Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney. This book is releasing on July 8, 2025. Thank you @netgalley, @melaniesweeneywrites, and @putnambooks for the ARC!

I absolutely loved Melanie Sweeney’s debut novel, and had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint. 💛This was the cutest, most heartwarming book I’ve read all year!

I could literally yep all day about how freaking adorable Jack and Tansy are together! I loved everything about their relationship, there really life struggles, and funny moments. Tansy is so real for wanting to be independent, and having to learn to accept help. And don’t get me started on Jacks relationship with Briar!! 🥹🥹 it was so utterly adorable!

If you’re looking for a heartwarming book about a librarian and a gardener set following an hurricane this is the book for you!! 💛

Obviously I wanted to read this book because it has a librarian as a main character and as a person who loves books, I love to read about people who love books! I was even more in because I love a single parent book. I think it is so cute to see how the love interest and the kid interact. This book did not disappoint me at all in either regard! Tansy is a fiercely loving single mom to Briar who basically loses everything because of a terrible hurricane and flooding that destroyed the library she works at and her home. Jack is about to become the director of the botanical gardens where the library is temporarily moved AND he’s the guy who yelled at Tansy for going back to save birds from the library and helped her and her daughter get out of their home safely during the flood. When they have to start working together because of their proximity and to plan this festival to raise money for the garden, obviously there is bickering and tension. So yeah, their relationship was so cute and seeing them grow together was amazing. But so was seeing Jack just get Briar. If anything, I would have loved more of their interactions and see their relationship develop.

Yes, this book had an amazing love story between the main characters, buuuuuut what is super special about this book to me is the way this community bands together during hard times to support each other. I absolutely adored seeing the impact that Tansy makes on everyone around her and the effort she puts in to build a safe and welcoming community around her. It was so wonderful to see the library and garden employees building a community of their own together and see how they work together to meet everyone's needs and think outside the box.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for an ARC :) This book is expected to be published on July 8, 2025

First time reading something by this author and I’m impressed. This book was a very enjoyable quick read. Tansy and Jack were great characters. I find that I usually enjoy one of the mains more than the other but they were both relatable and had good story arcs. Tansy is single mom to her daughter Briar and works as librarian. Jack is the director of a botanic garden. After a hurricane damages the library, they’re forced together for a few months while they wait on money to fix it. The spice was also done very well (not cheesy and just the right amount for my taste, which is like 2-3 separate scenes. Took off one star because the last 50 pages were a little boring and predictable. Overall I’d definitely read something else by this author.

After reading Melanie Sweeney’s debut novel, I wasn’t sure how she could top it. This book was absolutely adorable! Jack and Tansy had such a unique chemistry from the moment you meet them. This was enemies to lovers in the best sense of romance!

Warm, witty, and with a touch of quirky charm, this story is the perfect escape for those who believe love can grow in the most unexpected places.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

After a hurricane wiped out her beloved library, single mom Tansy Perkins is forced to temporarily move her library into a shed in the county botanic gardens. Heads collide when grumpy gardener, Jack Reid, the man who also happened to rescue her during the flooding, is forced to allow the library to use his garden. When they’re forced to work together for the spring festival, they form a truce. Sparks fly as the two draw closer, but when the opportunity for a grant that could help both find the money they each need to rebuild will their loyalties lie with their needs or with each other?

I really enjoyed this book so much! No sophomore slump for Ms. Sweeney here. Tansy is a passionate and independent woman who deeply cares about her daughter and her community. Despite losing her library and having to rebuild her home, she still maintains hope. Her resiliency shines through, and while it may be easy to fall into despair and give up, Tansy forges on.

Jack is a lovable grump. He experienced a great loss, which causes him to shy away from people and relationships. He’s happiest in his gardens with dirt in his hands surrounded by plants and flowers. I loved that once he let his guard down, his vulnerability shined through. He is not afraid to admit his feelings and fight for Tansy.

Their chemistry was palpable. Sometimes in enemies to lovers, authors can go to an extreme, but that wasn’t the case here. There’s a fine line, and Ms. Sweeney walks it beautifully. I also really enjoyed seeing Jack’s relationship with Briar. It’s just as important and meaningful as his relationship with Tansy. The cast of secondary characters were delightful and well rounded.

Overall, this was a fantastic book, and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Sweeney!

It’s been quite some time since I read something of Melanie Sweeney but after I started this I remembered exactly why I love her writing. Melanie effortlessly transports you to the world she’s writing and she did just that with this book too. Tansy is an FMC I’d go to bat for because she felt like a part of me. Like Tansy, my brain is constantly in search of how am I going to handle everything and everyone while also not asking anyone for the help. Also, the book thing lol.

Once her and Jack came to terms with their budding attraction, I loved that they began to become each other’s person. Jack taking care of Tansy and Briar was a breath of fresh air because even though he fought it so much it was second nature for him. I loved that Jack gave Briar space and comfort to open up as well. I loved that Tansy had an amazing group of coworkers/friends who really knew her and when to step in and be there for her. This was more than a standard enemies-to-lovers. This is a very realistic natural romance that had the not only the thrilling feelings of falling in love but also the heart wrenching ones too.

This was a heartwarming story about two adversaries bumping heads in a shared workspace after a devastating hurricane/flood. While both characters were extremely hard-headed, once they softened up and worked together the romance was very sweet. Tansy is a single mom struggling to keep her and her daughter afloat while Jack is closed off after a traumatic divorce. I appreciated the bond Jack shared with her daughter Briar and how gruff, but caring he turned out to be to Tansy.

Perfect about of charm, angst, and depth to the story. I'll be looking forward to what comes next from Melanie Sweeney.

Melanie Sweeney does it again! I am solidified as a huge huge fan after reading this story and take me home. This story was one of finding hope and community after a huge natural disaster. It ripped my heart out and it was out back together seeing everyone come together and seeing these two stubborn people fall in love.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Where You're Planted is an easy read that was a super sweet romance. I loved the hurricane backstory and the community aspect of the characters and plot. I found the female main character to be a little difficult to like and understand her actions. Overall it was enjoyable, but a little predictable.

Where You're Planted was a great, light hearted read but still had plenty of depth. Tansy is fighting to be able to reopen her library that was flooded during a storm. Jack is running the botanical gardens whose funds are frozen while trying to make repairs from the previously mentioned storm. Their worlds collide when Tansy's library is temporarily moved to the greenhouse and it was definitely NOT love at first sight!

I absolutely adored this book! The chemistry between Jack and Tansy was undeniable pretty much from the start. It was light and funny with lots of banter, but still hit on some deeper topics. I absolutely LOVED that you saw a male character deal with an issue that is typically relegated to the female characters in books. The side characters in Where You're Planted added so much to the story. I loved them all but Irma in particular was a hoot! I can't wait to read whatever comes next from Melanie Sweeney!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tansy has to move her library into a shack in the gardens nextdoor to what used to be the library, but was ruined in a hurricane. But she has to deal with grumpy Jack.
As they get to know each other and help each other a spark blooms. They want the same things for the community and as they argue, but also find common ground they have to figure out what they both want.
A hopeful book about community, love, and finding your way after devastation.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this book! The two main characters had excellent chemistry and the general cast of characters were all great. This was a cute, light read in which there was a lot of depth and character growth.

Take Me Home is what convinced me to read more of this author, and Where You're Planted is what solidified me as a huge fan! Such a beautiful book about relationships, love, trauma, and found family. I love that Melanie makes the background characters an important part of the story, as it gives so much depth to the story as a whole.
Tansy is a children's librarian trying to save the library after a hurricane destroyed it. Jack works in the botanical gardens next door, which is also where her temporary library is located. Jack is grumpy, Tansy is sunshine, and all of their coworkers + Tansy's daughter are everything in between. The mix of tension, inevitable having to work together, and figuring out life together are just delicious in this book.
So thankful to have gotten an early E copy, and cannot wait to have the physical book in hand to reread this summer!

Thank you NetGalley and G.P Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This was a very cute and fun read! Jack and Tansy had great chemistry and I was vibing with them. They were the perfect amount of light and fluffy mixed with vulnerability. When you start the book, it's pretty slow and it took me a while to get into it but it starts to build when you're about 45% in and I promise you it's worth it. 

Read if you like
- Small town
- Dislike to lovers
- Single mom
- He falls first

ohhhh my goodness has melanie sweeney made it her mission to rip me apart every time she releases a new book?! i absolutely fell head over heels for her writing after reading her debut, and i was ecstatic to see i had received an arc of her latest release- spoiler alert, it didn’t disappoint! from beginning to end, i was entranced and my heart = warmed/wrenched.