I requested the audiobook because I was enjoying reading the ebook and was curious. The second half of the book, I listened from audiobook and my thoughts on the story are the same. It's beautiful with a touch of whimsy. This book made my heart ache, bloom, and laugh—often all at once. The author painted such a vivid picture of those gardens that I wanted to just go and live there...lol....It’s a cozy mystery wrapped in floral silk with a side of WTF is going on in those hedges? oh!!! and the treehouse........I want one now...

If you’re a fan of magic realism, slow healing, and flowers that may or may not whisper your deepest truths back to you, The Alchemy of Flowers is a book worth getting lost in.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book wasn't really what I was expecting, despite that it was a very solid read. I felt like the sensitive materials/topics in the book were treated with respect. I kinda wish there was more magic in the magical realism. The narrator, Cassandra Campbell, was lovely. Her voice was airy and fit the atmosphere and whimsical tones of the story and Main Character.

Um, yeah solid book, nicely written, likable characters, just not my fav, but that's really just a me thing.

3.25-3.5 (rounding up)

There were two things about this that caught my eye on NetGalley when I requested this audio ARC.
1. The cover art! 😍
2. The Secret Garden vibes??? Yes PLEASE! That's one of the first chapter books I remember reading on my own and so it will always be a fave hehe

For a majority of this book, I was just listening and ~chillin~ but then the last maybe 25% things picked up and moved FAST. So, for me, the pacing was a little off from where I would have wanted it, but that's okay! This is the author's adult debut so that means there's room to grow! 😊

This book does have content of child loss and miscarriage, so heads up with that! In that same space, a LOT of this novel comes back to a lot of feeling talk and emotional processing for the characters. Which could also tie back into the first part of this novel feeling slow. Most of the things that were happening was just the FMC, Eloise, going through a lot of internal processing of her life before coming to the garden and questioning what she was seeing around her within it.

Eloise's employment at the garden was contingent upon her following a list of fairly odd rules, but the other three employees there were wonderful. I loved all of them and it made me want to force Eloise to actually follow the rules (because more often than not, she didn't 🤦🏻‍♀️).

This book has a sense of the fantastical throughout, but everything is pretty firmly based in reality. It's got some romance, it has found family, it has whispers of magic, it has some mystery. I don't know what exactly to categorize this as than maybe lit fic. Which is super generic, but that's the best I can come up with 😂 That being said, I'm not sure what kind of audience I'd recommend this to, but I think it's something most people could read and enjoy to some degree, as I did.

This was a lovely audiobook - great narrator with a soothing voice that paired very well with the story. I felt this story unfolded beautifully, and I was definitely hooked on the gorgeous explanations. I was drawn to this book as The Secret Garden was my absolute favorite novel growing up, and this one offers a similarly enchanting backdrop. An altogether engaging book!

Be warned, the book does talk about infertility and pregnancy loss. If those are sensitive topics for you just be aware that they are discussed.
This book was great, the ending made me cry a little too. I do recommend reading it if you liked the secret garden, it was a little similar but very different. I loved the little journey they went on and finding out the stories of the other characters.

What an interesting fantasy realism book. As the cover can attest to, this book and its characters revolve around a garden of paradise where everything is ideal. Characters have gone there to escape their lives and start afresh so that they can heal from their past.

Our main character arrives to the garden after answering an advertisement for a job posting, heartbroken and stuck in her life. As the story progresses we understand the heartache that she went through and the obstacles she was unable to overcome in her old life. She forms new bonds and attractions and starts to feel better everyday. The only catch is she's also starts to feel suspicious. There are strange rules attached with this striking the perfect opportunity, and questions are not only unanswered but hostily shut down. There are many things to uncover in the garden of paradise. Peace Love and violence.

What a beautiful story.
I loved the atmosphere of it. It was enjoyable to listen to and very uplifting as well. Well written and great narration.

I went into this story blind, with only a general idea of the plot. This ended up being one of those stories that lined up with what was going on in actual my life. Perfect timing universe.

I was greeted with a warm, healing retreat in the French countryside. There was beautiful mental imagery of the scenery, and all of the food descriptions made my mouth water.
Then slowly, it started to become a little darker. As time goes on in this healing estate, it becomes obvious that there is something wicked lying beneath the surface of this healing garden.
It was witchy and therapeutic at times, with some magic realism.

A beautiful book about healing with some fun horror twists and deep takeaways about mending your spirit after traumas.

4.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for this arc and allowing me to provide my honest opinion.
I received an audiobook version but I’m definitely buying this upon release. It HAS to be a part of my collection.

Very whimsical and captivating story. Every character had a heartbreaking story that led them to the secret garden on the road to recovery and a heartwarming found family..

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I had a very difficult time maintaining focus for the first 60%. Part of me wonders if I’m just not the intended audience. I can certainly see this book offering a kind of community for those struggling with fertility issues, but personally I think a book should offer you more. In short, it was a bit boring and pretty predictable.

A very unexpected read for me! Truly a magical walk through paradise!

I can feel how impactful this story will be to the right person. Overall, I think Laura Resau has a way with words that is particularly kind and gentle in their handling. I really appreciated this novel and found it to be privilege to read it.

Eloise, looking to escape some personal pain, impulsively applies to and gets a job in France as a gardener. She is escaping a failed marriage and infertility and the helplessness that leaves her with. Laura Resau obviously put a lot of personal connection into making Eloise and it shows in the best way possible. Eloise's struggles feel so natural and real. Her trauma is so tangible that, despite the fact that I will personally happily never have children of my own, I could feel myself aching for her and mourning her loss with her. It is felt very deeply and it's about so much more than just not having a child.

Eloise speaks at length about this loss and to some readers, I can understand why it seems like too much, but in my personal opinion that is an output of not having the right expectations for a novel before beginning it. It is absolutely worth noting that this story is very centered around this specific trauma, it isn't a side plot or a simple event that affects things, it IS the vehicle for which this story is told through and therefore it will be prevalent and heavy handed on the topic. The metaphors between the garden, Eloise's body, motherhood, femininity, and female disenfranchisement are really well done and beautifully handled. Laura speaks from a place of personal understanding and pain and that shines through beautifully.

While I didn't have a personal connection beyond sympathy for a fellow woman's pain regarding Eloise's infertility, what really rocked my core and touched me personally were her relationships with other people. The relationship that ends well and almost hurts so much more because of it, the friendship that never goes wrong but you personally hurt too much to have in your life so you let it go, the tentative and horrifying first steps into new connections that are so, so tenuous... all of it coming together to form a truly heartbreaking human experience. What was objectively a very short part of the book had Eloise's new friends in the gardens keeping her at arms length with no prior notice and I personally had to put the book down to sob. I have recently experienced a complete fallout in my life of some connections I had held very dear to me and I relied on, and to have Laura express Eloise's pain in this moment expressed so viscerally and in such relatable terms that I almost couldn't bear it. Eloise is much stronger than I and how the situation gets handled leaves me with so much admiration for Laura Resau herself. She wanted to write a book about healing from a fairly specific trauma and ended up nursing a completely different trouble through the power of her words. And this is the crux of how I know this novel needs to meet the person who needs it right now, I think the relatability presented will be incredibly meaningful to someone in the right headspace to explore their pain and healing through story.

While I loved Raphael, I didn't believe the romance very well but honestly I don't think this detracts from the novel much at all. Unless you are reading for romance, in which I think you should look elsewhere, the romance in this novel is really gentle and I don't mind the tropes around it. Yes, they are very forced proximity attraction but also this book wasn't meant to spice you up and the conflict was never going to be centered on their romance. (yes, there is a very minor conflict in between them but truly the issue is never between them and its all circumstance) That being said, I really just adored how gentle our characters were with each other because it was so healing to read.

This book was magical in a very grounded way. While the garden wasn't literally magical, the manner in which healing occurs through community feels like magic. I highly recommend this novel to those looking for something easy to read that transports you somewhere else for a little while. Somewhere that feels like magic but is comfortingly familiar.

The climax was exciting and stressful and I was locked to my seat while Eloise made her way to the conclusion with the help of her new friends. Laura Resau manages to get you to feel connected to her characters without needing much time with them and it’s very easy to feel like you belong in community with them. I’d love to recommend anyone to give this book a shot, with the knowledge of what the core centers around!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an advance copy of the audiobook.

The Alchemy of Flowers, wonderfully narrated by Cassandra Campbell, is a beautiful story of pain, healing, and hope.

Following her divorce, Eloise moves from Colorado to France after accepting a job at a secluded garden chateau. The living will be off grid, peaceful, and quiet. This is exactly what Eloise is looking for after her painful marriage.

She's promised healing and solitude, but there are rules. No talking about the chateau with outsiders. Don't be outside at dusk. Absolutely no children.

Despite the strangeness of the rules and remote location, Eloise quickly bonds with the other workers, and she feels herself start to heal.

Until she hears the giggling voice of a child in the woods.

This is such a beautiful tribute to mothers and motherhood, grief and healing, and hope.

The characters are all so pained and full of regrets, but in sharing that pain with their friends, they find it easier to start healing.

That message should speak to so many of us. because we all just want to feel seen. Pain and all.

What we have here, and I say this with affection, is the inevitable Cozy Horror novel. I suppose it could also be called Cozy Gothic, but I usually have less patience for Gothic literature, and I really like what the author did here. There is magical realism and reality appearing to be magic at first glance, which doesn't normally work in a book (I generally prefer the author pick one or the other), but this book really works.

Also, I enjoyed the moments when phrases didn't quite translate, it's one of those details that American authors usually forget to add when they have Americans communicating in another language, while American writers do like to put non-Americans speaking English as a second language in this position all the time. It's much more realistic for Americans (and English-speakers in general) to have this difficulty too.

An unusual want ad in a gardening magazine puts Eloise on the path to Paradise - as a gardener for the remote French estate where children are forbidden. Paradise is the answer Eloise has been looking for as a reprieve from her infertility and broken marriage in the States. Here she meets three others who have been living and working under its strict rules to abide or face banishment. Eloise acclimates to the fantastical nature of her new home and it is both everything she’s wanted and a prison to the whims of Antoinette, the matron of the estate. As Eloise develops feelings for Raphael and starts seeing a childlike wood sprite, she borders on breaking the rules and facing consequences far more serious than banishment.

This was a well done and well delivered audiobook. The narrator captures the feeling of the French locale with a perfect accent to pull you right into the setting and also into Eloise’s experience. I easily listened at 1.5x speed.

I enjoyed this novel. More than anything it truly was a novel about coping with infertility and similar issues of loss. The author walks you through the insecurities of the four characters working in the garden. Then provides the foundation for each to overcome their personal reasons for seeking out Paradise and heal what was broken or hurt within them. The fantastical nature of the garden gives an interesting and engaging thread to weave experiences together. It also ultimately provides a common goal and catalyst for the climax of the story threads. A good read. 4 stars.

Based on an Advanced Audiobook provided by Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

I want to start off by saying that I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to receive an arc for this audiobook.

Now where to start... I'm very conflicted. I ended up dnf'ing this audiobook around 60% because I don't think this was written for me. I went in thinking it was more of a fantastical cozy book similar to The Spellshop or The Honey Witch, but I ended up being wrong which is absolutely okay! There are a few parts that are saving this from being 1 star. I did enjoy the fact that we had an older FMC. If I remember correctly, she was in her late 30s. I also appreciated the representation of women's health, miscarrying, and how that can affect your life and the relationships around you.

On the other side, I didn't like how much the miscarrying and fertile issues were brought up in the story. I know that it's a big part of the plot and the reason why she decided to go to these gardens, but I feel like everything was involved around it. I don't remember like anything about the other main/side characters because all I can remember is this. The start of the book was a little harder for me especially with the French that's thrown in. I don't know French and it can be frustrating not knowing what's being said as it may be important to the story, but there's no translation or anything for the audiobook. I can't look it up either because I'm horrid at spelling. I also think the story was just a little too slow paced for me.

It stinks that I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. It's just not cup of tea and that's okay. I know that there are other people that are receiving the arcs and there will be people that will read it in the future that will absolutely love and adore this book.

Happy reading everyone! :)

ARC from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and publisher.
Publish Date: Jul 29 2025

Rating: 2.5/5

Initial thoughts:
Initially, I thought this was going to be a fantasy novel. I don't see it as such. Are the flowers magical, or is it just Eloise's internal dialogue?

Plot:
Eloise is an American gardener who is looking for a fresh start. Her struggles with building a family with her ex and health issues have left her a broken woman. So when a job ad catches her eye, with the promise of paradise in France, she jumps on it. Although there are odd rules to follow at the estate, she fits in instantly with her co-workers and the gardens, especially connecting with Raphaël.

Soon Eloise experiences sightings of mystical creatures and they notice her as well.

Praise:
- Deals with difficult subjects well
- “Wood sprite” character is cute

Critiques:
- One dimensional characters
- Superficial relationships
- Mostly predictable
- Knowledge on wounds and how they effect the body was needed

Fav Quote:
There was nothing I found that struck me.

I listened to the audiobook version of Laura Resau's The Alchemy of Flowers and really enjoyed this compelling novel! Cassandra Campbell narrated performing all the characters in differing voices and demonstrating appropriate emotions when the story necessitated them.

The story centers around Eloise who suffers from manic depression after experiencing several miscarriages and the end of her marriage. She's always loved gardening and has the ability to "speak to flowers" like most of the great gardeners of the world. To basically escape her miserable life, Eloise applies for and accepts a job as a gardener at Le Château du Paradis in the South of France. There seems to be a dark undercurrent, if not a curse that surrounds the chateau. There are also a lot of odd rules that come along with job, like no cell phones, no computers, and no gossiping. Besides herself, there are three other workers in and around the gardens, each with their own talents and unique living quarters. As the story develops we learn that all four workers found themselves working in the gardens after experiencing traumatic circumstances that require healing. I really appreciated the slow development of the characters, which added dimension to Eloise's healing process. She eventually opens herself up to friendship, if not love, and ends up saving herself and little girl to great satisfaction.

I definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys gothic novels, and look forward to future books by this author.

What a lovely read. The audiobook was beautifully read, full of emotion, and with proper French pronunciation! Trying to escape from her past and infertility issues, Eloise takes a job at a secretive French garden enclosed within the walls of a private estate. There are rules that are to be followed if one wants to stay in Paradise. No gossiping. No leaving one’s room during dusk. No children allowed on the premises. This story mixes mystery, magic, the heartbreaking journey of infertility, with found family and finding happiness again. I loved the characters and Eloise’s journey during her time in Paradise. A wonderful hug to those who have experienced a similar journey. Beautifully written and an impressive debut. Don’t miss this release on July 29th!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

There were too many themes going on in this book. The plot felt all over the place and was underwhelming.

Funnily enough, after having requested this book fro Netgalley, I found myself talking with a friend who's always been fascinated by Ikebana and flowers and recommending The Secret Language of Flowers by Diffenbaugh and The language of Flowers by Sally page and An Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim.

Having read this book now, I would recommend it if you love historical fiction, tales of personal growth and descriptions of flowers and their uses, but with a splash of the magical realism and a dash of gothicism about them.

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC.