I liked how this started and the setting. I was gifted a copy and did both audio and print but it just didn’t work for me. There was a disconnect with the story and the characters. Fine but not a good fit for me sadly.

Beautiful book in story line, and written descriptions, all with a twist of suspense, Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to "The Alchemy of Flowers". Listening to I felt like the only audience member in a well staged play performance. The descriptions of flowers, plants and their meanings I have long forgotten. The experience inspired me to bring out my grandmothers china cups, savor a good morning tea, and bring out my aromatherapy scents. when beginning to listen the story I found Ms Resau's characters intriguing, all hired to maintain the garden and follow the rules of Jardins du Paradis. Many rules they were given were vague except strictly no children allowed. Protagonist Eloise, handyman Raphael, Mina and Bao seem to each had past traumas that brought them to this mystical place. It becomes twisty as Eloise begins questioning her surroundings, and events that occur. Woven in you begin to feel that magical forces of both good and evil linger about, leaving me uncertain if fact or fiction in these encounters. For me if felt small elements of The Secret Garden & The Hotel California. The friendships of the four grow deeper. When a little girl "Wood Sprout" emerges as a living child in the land of forbidden children, the threads of honesty fade. Enjoyable and a story I still think of when I see Lavender or drink a peppermint tea.

She applies for a job she finds in a magazine and arrives at a château in Provence. Hoping to escape the memories of children and her past pain, she accepts the strict rules: no gossip, no children, and silence under La Patronne’s watchful eye. At first, the château feels like a peaceful garden, almost like paradise.
After that, Eloise meets three people who show her the true meaning of friendship. They remind her (and me) how important connection really is. And then comes Raphael, the handyman, who awakens feelings she thought were gone forever. For Raphael, Eloise also becomes a chance to begin again.
The gardens seem alive flowers whisper, enchant, and heal. At times, the story feels like stepping into a fairytale.
As Eloise looks deeper, she finds her own strength, there is a really good character development here.
When paradise starts to feel like a prison, she must protect the fragile bonds she has built and fight for her second chance at happiness. The difference this time? She is stronger, more aware, and her pain has made her resilient.
Coming to my personal thoughts I read the book at times, and towards the end, I switched to the audiobook. The narrator’s voice was truly captivating, which made me enjoy the story even more. I deeply felt Eloise’s pain, and there were moments that even brought me to tears.
The book included quite a lot of French, and when I shared this feedback with the author, she told me the tone would be lighter in the second book. While I was happy to pick up new French words, constantly checking the dictionary slowed down my reading a little.
In short, this book will stay in my mind as a fairytale-like, mysterious, and poetic story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free copy!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Alchemy of Flowers offers a refreshing twist on the typical chick lit genre, blending elements of fantasy and magic with the familiar tropes of women’s fiction. The premise was intriguing enough to pull me in, even though I’m not usually a fan of this genre, and I appreciated the author’s attempt to weave in fantastical elements like unspoken magic and ghostly presences. The story centers on Eloise, a woman who has recently been heartbroken after her ex left her due to their inability to have children. While the premise of exploring grief, loss, and second chances is compelling, Eloise’s character is tough to enjoy. Her internal monologue is often bogged down by self-pity and repetitive “woe is me” moments, particularly centered around her desire for motherhood. This internal struggle becomes the focal point of the narrative, overshadowing the more nuanced aspects of the plot and making it hard to fully empathize with her.

The romance between Eloise and Raphael, MMC, also feels unconvincing. While there is an attempt at developing their connection, I didn’t quite buy into the chemistry between them, especially with the focus on Eloise’s emotional baggage. Their relationship felt more like an afterthought than a natural progression, which further weakened the story’s impact. On the other hand, the world-building in The Alchemy of Flowers was one of its stronger points. The author does a great job of creating a world that feels immersive, with interesting magical systems and a sense of mystery. However, as the plot progresses, the story takes a strange turn, veering into wackiness that eventually becomes hard to follow. By the end, I found the narrative too convoluted, and the conclusion left me feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

Though the ending did offer a resolution of sorts, what with Eloise eventually becoming a mother, in her own peculiar way, it didn’t feel as fulfilling as I had hoped. The story’s oddities and scattered themes ultimately overshadowed what could have been a deeper exploration of personal growth and the joy of second chances. In the end, The Alchemy of Flowers may appeal to readers who enjoy a mix of women's fiction with a dash of fantasy, but for me, it was a strange, occasionally frustrating read that didn’t quite deliver on its intriguing premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for the audio eARC!

The Alchemy of Flowers is the kind of story that sweeps you away to another place entirely. Set within the mysterious Jardins du Paradis in the South of France, the book feels like slipping into a dream where beauty and unease entwine. I loved the way the author wove bits of the French language into the narrative. Those small touches had such a transporting effect, grounding me in the setting and making me feel the atmosphere of the country in a deeper way.

What really stood out for me was the magic threaded through the story. Sometimes it was a whisper, sometimes a shimmer, but always just enough to make me pause and smile. That little spark of wonder reminded me how much even a touch of magic can brighten our day.

The writing itself is lush and evocative, full of vivid imagery and poetic turns of phrase. Every page felt alive with color, fragrance, and texture—the garden itself seemed to bloom off the page. And while the story carries its darker threads, the heart of it is about healing, second chances, and the unexpected ways love and friendship can root themselves in even the most unlikely soil.

A beautifully atmospheric read for anyone who enjoys stories steeped in setting, tinged with mystery, and touched by enchantment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ALC.

This was a great audiobook! The narrator really captured the suspense as well as the main characters feelings throughout the story.

I went into this book completely blind (I just loved the cover, it sucked me in!) and I was very pleasantly surprised. It was squarely in the magical realism fiction genre and I found it interesting and charming (I adored all the French in it!!!). It also had a mystery element and even some thrills at the end. I enjoyed the characters too and it even addressed some real issues that many deal with (infertility and miscarriage, so trigger warning for that) in a very compassionate way. There was romance and found family elements too! This book truly had a bit of everything and I do think it’s best to go in mostly blind. All you need to know is that this story takes place in a magical garden in France that helps people heal from tragedies they’ve dealt with previously, but is there also something nefarious going on? Don’t be put off by the slower pace of this book, it does pick up speed eventually and everything is explained in the end. Overall, I’m glad I read it and enjoyed my experience with it.

I picked up this book because I was intrigued by it's promise of being "The Secret Garden for Adults". While I can see some of the comparison, this book has an eeriness that the other book lacks. I appreciate the depiction of grief and reconnection amidst infertility and I think those who have dealt with this would appreciate the book most. The book strikes a delicate balance of otherworldly mystery and character driven narrative as the strangeness of the space begins to appear.

The Alchemy of Flowers has a gothic vibe, mixing a touch of horror, a bit of fantasy, and definitely some found family. Focusing on the audiobook: I listened at different speeds—3x was way too fast, but up to 2x it was still clear and easy to follow. The narrator does excellent accent work, and I’d absolutely listen to them again.

I didn’t binge this one straight through; instead, I dipped in and out over about two weeks. Even so, I never had trouble keeping track of the story, which says a lot about both the narration and the writing. Overall, a really enjoyable listen!

Title: The Alchemy of Flowers
Author: Laura Resau
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5)
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Publication Date: 29th July, 2025
Publisher: Harper Muse Audiobooks

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Some books feel like an invitation to step through the pages. The Alchemy of Flowers was just that—a story lush with enchantment, titled with shadows, and humming with questions about identity, healing, and the unseen forced that bind us.

Eloise arrives at Paradise, a secluded souther French château, to tend its tamed walled gardens. At first, it feels like a dream: waterfalls, courtyards overflowing with blooms, a rustic treehouse lodging tucked into the ground. Yet beyond the gates there is not outside world they can access, and within the walls, beauty masks something stranger. The flowers whisper. Secrets coil through the air. And as Eloise is drawn deeper into the Mysteries, the whimsical turns quietly gothic, where deception roots itself beneath abundance.

This is a story of atmosphere—lush, lyrical, almost intoxicating in its rendering of landscape and sensation. The magical realism is delicate that then overwhelming, giving the sense of enchantment while still tethering the narrative to real-world pain. Most striking is how the flowers themselves become metaphor: vessels for grief, infertility, and questions of identity. Resau treats these themes with compassion, and while the symbolism is beautifully done, it carries weight that may be difficult for some readers.

**A note of caution: the novel explored infertility, loss, and sexual identity from grief in ways that are poignant but raw. Sensitive readers should be mindful before stepping into this beguiling garden.

Where the book thrives in setting and metaphor, it wavers in pace and character dynamics. Eloise is a sympathetic heroine, but her romance with Raphael felt more lust-driven than emotionally earned in the end, and too conveniently sweeping away struggles that felt unrealistic. At times, the pacing dragged, pulling me out of the story's spell. And while the ensemble cast added colour, many felt more decorative than fully realized.

Still, The Alchemy of Flowers shines as a mediation on beauty's duality; how it can both heal and deceive. The writing is lyrical and immersive, carrying a timeless quality that makes the story feel vivid and alive.

The audiobook narration by Cassandra Campbell was exquisite. Her performance infused the text with grace and resonance, capturing the delicacy of the French setting, and heightening the whimsical, eerie tone of the story. Her pronunciation, pacing, and subtle emotion added a richness that made the listening experience an undeniable highlight.

At its heart, this is a book about resilience, about finding light in unexpected places, and about confronting what beauty conceals. For readers drawn to gothic mysteries, lush atmosphere, and stories that balance whilst with emotional weight, The Alchemy of Flowers is a memorable Adult Fiction debut.

I rarely listen to audiobooks, but The Alchemy of Flowers was an instant hit for me. From the very first chapter, I knew it would be a five-star read.

What began as a cozy, cottagecore summer story gently unfurled into a haunting, emotionally layered thriller. It explores themes like fertility, parenthood, womanhood, friendship, belonging, and the elusive idea of “home”—all with a lyrical tenderness that never feels forced. The pacing is masterful: soft and fragrant at first, then suddenly sharp and breathless.

Eloise’s journey is one of quiet transformation, and I found myself deeply invested with every chapter. Cassandra Campbell’s narration adds a whole other dimension—her voice carries the emotional weight of the story with such nuance that I couldn’t stop listening. I took the audiobook everywhere: to the gym (where I literally stumbled on the treadmill during a jaw-dropping plot twist), while cooking, even while playing with my toddlers. It became a sensory experience, woven into my daily life.

What struck me most was how the story balances beauty and brutality. It doesn’t shy away from grief or longing, but it also celebrates resilience and connection. The floral metaphors are not just aesthetic—they’re symbolic, grounding the narrative in cycles of growth, decay, and renewal.

Huge thanks to Harper Muse for the advanced audiobook, and to Laura Resau for crafting such a powerful, emotionally resonant story. It was a blast.

5/5 stars!
TW: Baby Loss

Wow. This book was beautiful, magical and heartbreaking in the best way. I was skeptical of reading the book, as someone who has also lost multiple little ones, I wasn't sure if i was going to find it triggering. It was written in the most beautiful, and honest light. I could tell from the writing this was from the authors personal experience, as it felt like my own thoughts. very honest but respectful.

Also, as a avid gardener, I lapped up the beautiful world building in the paradise garden, and the gentle love story intertwined with it. I couldn't stop listening, and probably the quickest I've finished a book!

Very glad i had this in audio book form as I may have struggled with the french, but the narrator(s) read beautifully.
Thankyou so much netgallery for this Audiobook!

The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau was so much fun. It was a great mix of historical fiction, magical realism, romance and mystery. It was captivating as the story progresses and intertwines women's issues with Greek mythology. This story reminds me a lot of The Secret Garden. Which is a story I love. I was very fortunate to get an early copy of the audiobook, narrated by the amazing Cassandra Campbell and her incredible French accent. I will be recommending this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Although this isn’t necessarily one of my recent favorite reads, I did truly enjoy the narration and the way that the audio aspects brought the story to life. I would definitely like to read more from this author in the future.

Wow, such a beautiful story! The narrator took such care in reading this story, which was so nice to hear.

Magic and mystery mixed with a beautiful backdrop: literal paradise.. or so it seems. The mystery surrounding the garden in paradise was so intriguing and kept me hooked to this audiobook. It was a bit of a slow start, but painted an absolutely gorgeous background world while building up to the bulk of the story.

Topics of infertility are handled with such thoughtfulness while also navigating the idea of peace and hope separate from reproduction gracefully.

All in all, this was such a captivating audiobook! I highly recommend for anyone who loves a lush garden and French accents!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for ARC access to this book!

I think this book would work for someone who like small hints of magic. I was expecting more intense magical realism and was left feeling disappointed in the end. But overall, the book does have cozy undertones and is mostly a story of personal rediscovery and healing.

The Alchemy of Flowers is an intriguing and magical book, which keeps the reader guessing almost to the end. There is love, loss and healing as well as a darker undertone, which isn’t easy to fathom most of the way through the book. This suspense is to the book’s credit and I liked the ending a lot less than the bulk of the rest of it, which I had really enjoyed.
The characters are likeable and relatable in the main and the gradual revealing of their back stories is beautifully timed. The further on we read the more intrigued we become to know more.
The implied secret of the chateau and its garden is woven in throughout and the mysterious and seemingly inexplicable incidents that keep happening keep the reader in suspense, though some seem a little far-fetched or too coincidental.
That said, I happily and avidly kept listening and wanted to know the full story almost to the end. I found the ending a little disappointing however and couldn’t quite keep suspending my disbelief. But for all that it’s worth the read and I would recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved how the FMC learned to love an adopted child after being unable to conceive and carry one of her own. Even tho she escaped to the magical garden away from the thought of children, that little girl brought her so much love and joy. I liked the magical realism.

I went into this book with high hopes, because the synopsis promised something lush, layered, and mysterious. After reading the authors note, I understood why the she chose the direction she did, but, unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me.

The central message felt far too black-and-white: kids are good, those who love kids are good, while those who don’t are bad (and in this case also on drugs). That stark moral framing really narrowed what could have been a much more nuanced and magical story. Instead of exploring the complexities of human relationships or the mystery hinted at in the premise, the book leaned heavily into one note: kids, kids, kids.

Once Sabine entered the story, that emphasis only intensified, and I found myself wishing for more intrigue, more tension, and more of the mystical atmosphere that the title and setup suggested. The potential was there for something rich and layered, but it got lost in a message that felt moralizing and repetitive.

It reminded me a bit of how It Ends With Us is marketed as romance, when it really isn't. With The Alchemy of Flowers, I expected mystery and magic, but ended up with a simplified narrative that didn’t resonate.

A beautiful idea, but for me, the story lacked the depth and subtlety that could have made it fantastic. Or maybe different marketing, because my expectation was completely different than what I got.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

Eloise is in need of escaping. Escaping her life, her ex-husband and his pregnant girlfriend, and the children she so often encounters. An intriguing ad in a French garden magazine has her casting aside her former life, in favor of a beautiful and mysterious garden she will be caring for in France. There are rules in this garden however: no children allowed, do not gossip, be inside during the twilight hour, and don't break the rules. Le Château du Paradis is beautiful, lush, and magical, but also sometimes mysterious and a little bit sinister. However, with new friends made, good food to enjoy, and nature at her fingertips, perhaps Eloise can ignore the bizarre occurrences in the estate. Until she hears a little girl giggle...

Trigger warnings: pregnancy loss, infertility, sexual assault, death

I loved this book. The magic and mystery throughout were very compelling. The characters were well developed, and the hints at the truth behind Le Château du Paradis were well written. The narrator did a good job (to my less than fluent ear) with the French pronunciations. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of the audiobook from #NetGalley.