Not just a beautiful cover! This is the first "cozy" romance I've truly enjoyed. Following Terlu Perna as she recovers from a terrible fate, born from loneliness, was deeply moving. The world of magical greenhouses and talking plants created by Sarah Beth Durst had me wishing I could jump into the book and never leave. The audio by Caitlin Davies was delightful. This is the perfect listen for spring or summer.

A charming blend of magic and heart, this story reads like a fairytale crafted for adults. With endearing characters, whimsical talking plants, and an enchanted greenhouse at its center, it captures everything cozy fantasy should be. There’s a gentle undercurrent of romance that adds to the warmth without overwhelming the plot. Even though it’s a sequel, it stands perfectly well on its own. If you’re craving a beautifully written, comforting escape into a magical world, this book is a perfect pick.

***note that I am not including in the review below because it may be just a 'me' thing. I am hyper-aware of noises (eg. I can't stand to hear someone tapping nails, or crunching chips, etc.) and when listening to this audio I found the intake of breath to be jarring at times. Again- it could be an idiosyncrasy with me, but I just wanted to mention it as feedback.***

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ 4.5-Star Audiobook Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
Narrated by Caitlin Davies

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a charming, whimsical return to the world of The Spellshop, and Sarah Beth Durst once again proves she’s a master of cozy, heartfelt fantasy. This standalone installment is perfect for anyone who dreams of quiet magic, overgrown gardens, and the gentle strength of librarians who refuse to give up—especially when narrated with such warmth and clarity by Caitlin Davies.

The Story
This time, we follow a different librarian—one who stumbles onto an isolated island that seems frozen in time, its once-vibrant greenhouses wilting under the strain of failing magic. The cottages stand empty, the magical flora is dying, and the only other soul in sight is a gruff but undeniably handsome gardener who expects her to fix it all. The problem? She's just a librarian.

But as with all good stories, it turns out that librarians are never just anything. Through spells tucked between pages and knowledge hard-won through years of quiet study, our protagonist finds herself rising to the challenge. What follows is a lovely tale of restoration—of plants, magic, and people—where every chapter feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day.

The Narration
Caitlin Davies brings this gentle story to life with a voice that’s both soothing and engaging. Her narration perfectly matches the tone of the story: cozy, introspective, and quietly magical. She gives each character distinct personality, especially capturing the emotional growth of the protagonist and the subtle charm of the gardener. It’s the kind of performance that draws you in and makes you want to linger in the story’s soft spell.

Why 4.5 Stars?
This book is nearly perfect in its execution of the cozy fantasy genre. It’s not a tale of grand battles or epic destinies, but rather a quiet celebration of knowledge, patience, and reconnection. The only reason it doesn’t earn a full five stars is that it may feel too gentle or slow for listeners expecting more urgency or high stakes. But for those who appreciate a thoughtful, low-conflict fantasy with heart, it absolutely delivers.

Final Thoughts
The Enchanted Greenhouse is a balm for the soul—a story about growth, magic, and the quiet power of being exactly who you are. With Sarah Beth Durst’s lyrical writing and Caitlin Davies’s inviting narration, this audiobook is a must-listen for fans of cozy fantasy, magical realism, or anyone who ever wished a greenhouse could whisper back.

Let’s start with the good. The plot reminds me a lot of House in The Cerulean Sea in some ways. It’s very cutesy with just a dash of peril (although no peril to the human characters in this book). Terlu just wants to have friends but people tell her she’s just too much. When she ends up on a mysterious island with only a large greenhouse in sight, her life changes forever. She meets Yarrow, who begins as a rather aloof character, but together they change the fate of the greenhouse and the island. If not for the fantastical characters, I would classify this is magical realism, but there’s too much magic, so it’s solidly fiction for me.

The characters are a lot of fun and cause utter pandemonium pretty frequently. It makes for a fun story with plenty of personality. Each character (and there are A LOT) has its own story and personality, which is impressive.

The writing is fun and flowy, descriptive but not overbearing. There is a lot to take in in each greenhouse and Durst does a great job describing without getting lost in the details. The reader does feel immersed in the book and can picture clearly each description.

Onto the mixed review bit. The narrator does an excellent job using an obviously different voice for each character. Terlu’s narration annoyed me a bit when she got stuck in her ramblings, but I think that adds to the story truthfully. The one that really irked me was Lottie. She is a bit haughty at first, which is fine, but her narration was entirely too screechy for me and I had to turn my volume down several times where she had lots of lines. This is really my only problem with the whole book, but it’s a significant one since she has a significant part.

All things considered, I enjoyed this! 3.75⭐️

I had a fun time reading this. I became really invested in the characters and loved seeing their journey together. I am very introverted so I admit that the FMC's constant talking was a bit much for me. I would have been running for the hills if she did that to me even though she didn't mean any harm. But I can understand why she was so talkative and desperate for interaction so I couldn't hold it against her.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is one of those rare books that can easily be picked up solely because of the gorgeous cover. Like The Spellshop before it, it contains a wonderfully charming story within. The genre is Cottagecore, which encompasses a connection to nature, simple living, and relaxing hobbies such as gardening, baking, and long walks.

The story begins when former librarian Terlu awakens in a strange place several years after being turned into a statue, which was her punishment for having used magic. Not knowing where she is, she goes searching for anyone who can explain what happened. To her surprise only one other person is on this island with hundreds of greenhouses. Yarrow is the grumpy gardener who stayed behind on the island to tend to the plants and gardens. Many of the greenhouses are failing, killing everything inside. Terlu was sent to Yarrow in hopes that she can help prevent other greenhouses from failing- even if it means learning to cast spells that she was once forbidden to do.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by Caitlin Davies, who performed amazingly. Trust me, The Enchanted Greenhouse is truly delightful and you won't regret picking it up!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Cozy, Sweet, and Even Better Than the First!

I absolutely loved The Enchanted Greenhouse! Both books in the series are heartwarming and cozy, but this one really stood out for me. It had all the charm and magic I hoped for, with even more depth and warmth than the first. The setting is beautiful, the characters feel like old friends, and it’s just one of those feel-good books that leaves you smiling. A perfect escape when you need something comforting and uplifting. Can’t wait to see where the series goes next!

Great easy read. This book was a wonderful take from another perspective from the first book. Very enjoyable laidback vibe.

Sarah Beth Durst is the definition of cozy fantasy. Each of her books in this series were like curling up in a warm blanket with a cup of coffee and a book. This one was better than the first.

Sarah Beth Durst gives us the story of Terlu Perna in The Enchanted Greenhouse!

I have been waiting to know what happened to Terlu since Caz and Kiela mourned her in The Spellshop. In The Enchanted Greenhouse, Durst opens with Terlu waking up in a freezing forest where she had just been de-statue-fied. Terlu is still suffering PTSD from her time as a statue and the loneliness of the Great Library. The magic greenhouses on the island are failing, and thus Terlu must figure out how (or if) she can help the cute gardener.

I love these books. Durst has crafted a wonderfully cozy setting, populated by complex characters who just want to be accepted. Also, there is talking plants.

I love this cozy world.
Yarrow and Terlu are precious
Lottie has never done anything wrong in her life

If you like:

Talking plants
Pack full of second chance
Sweet romance
Finding oneself
Baker & Gardener themes
Lots of magic

I just can't believe that I was able to get my hands on this early. I have pre-ordered this book and was fully prepared to wait for this to come out, but when I saw it pop up on netgalley I just had to request it. Once again I was so shocked that little ol me was approved. Big thank you to all who were involve in that process.

What can I say, Sarah has done it again! So where can I get an Enchanted Greenhouse and a gardener / baker? I will have to say Spellshop is probably my favorite out of the two so far but this book was still so cute!! The last book gave me summer vibes, this one gives me winter. It was a bit deeper than I was expecting from a cozy read. I hope we get more from this world!

Sarah if you write it I will read it!

A fun, Cozy mystery that keeps you reading past your bedtime! This Book was so charming and well written it was very easy to read in one day!

This is such a great cozy fantasy!
I loved the first book of this series and loved how the heart of this carried on beautifully here but with someone elses story, and i definitely didnt expect it to be Cas’s creator but someone else bit closer to Baltree
Overall, i enjoyed it, took one star off just because of the MMC’s grudge holding and the refusal from him to let it go and welcome his family back😄

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the early audiobook of this incredible adventure!! I absolutely adored the Spellshop and couldn’t wait to read this. It has been a rough couple months for reading for me and this completely took me out of my slump. I have never wanted to jump directly into a book so bad. To visit all the magical greenhouses and talk to plants?? The dream.

I adored the complexity this book offered: the characters, the desire to fix a problem but recognizing there isn’t a solution, the fact that maybe the problem is rooted in trauma that cannot be undone. These are all very complex things that you don’t really find in cozy fantasy and I really admired how Durst tackled them. I loved Caitlin’s voice and her acting is just superb. I loved how all the plants had different characteristics and loved the unique way that Durst writes them. Her writing is simple yet conveys such beautiful stories. I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next!! This book feels like a big warm hug!

Unfortunately I believe this is not the book for me. Terlu was a very frustrating protagonist. She repeated herself constantly and the insta lust she felt for Yarrow was shallow and boring. The greenhouse descriptions felts overly long and detailed, especially at the beginning when it first begins. It did not hook me at all. The narrator herself was good, no issues with her audio performance.

I can't believe I was able to go back to this world. This is such a beautiful world. Where people can be any color and anything can really happen.

In this book we follow the life of Terlu Perna from the Great Library of Alyssium after she breaks the law. She's punished by being turned into a wooden statue and place in the North Reading Room and used as a warning to all new Librarians as they come through. She never expected to be woken up in a cold winter island but there is basically no other person here with her but a lonely gardener who reached out for help with his islands magical greenhouses. All he got was a wooden statue and a spell from the Great Library of Alyssium.

With everything that is needed safe the greenhouses sentient plants and other magical creatures in the greenhouses, Terlu is worried. She's been punished for unlawful magical use but was sent to help by using magic. Unsure of it all, Terlu feels the need to help and enjoys helping only if it's kept under wraps. She learns more about the original magician who created the lovely home he made and why. It's warm, heartfelt and sad rolled into one. He had a family of gardeners who loved the greenhouses that he sent away. Yarrow, the gardener who woke her, family who left him and he's hurt as he felt this is their home and all was abandoned by his family including himself.

Filled with second chances and learning to accept help from others. That life changes and sometimes family with be there for you. This cozy fantasy is a definite must read and I can't wait for more from this world. They make you feel everything and ended with happy tears for me!

Quote: “If you’re hurt, you’re hurt; it doesn’t matter if anyone else thinks you have a good enough reason. Pain doesn’t require approval.”

Thank you to @netgalley & macmillan audio for the advanced listener copy.

I absolutely LOVED The Spellshop, so when I saw that this one was up to request on Netgalley, I HAD to request it. I loved every second of this audiobook. It was such a sweet, cozy fantasy.

In The Enchanted Greenhouse, we follow Terlu who was turned into a statue after having cast a spell on a spider plant. This book gave me all the good cozy feels. All the while Terlu learns to love herself as she is. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a cozy fantasy & wants a feel good story about second chances.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a follow up to The Spellshop. I loved The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse didn't disappoint. This book had me laughing, crying tears of joy, and kicking my feet with the biggest smile on my face. The FMC and MMC were adorable and sweet while both coming to grips with their tragic pasts. There's more sentient plants, a whole hoard of them even. And the ending. OH the ending!! I hope Sarah keeps us in this world because I will never get enough of it.

Terlu Perna broke the law out of loneliness. Her punishment was swift: transformed into a wooden statue and hidden away in an alcove of the North Reading Room in the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story…

Terlu awkens on an island with a series of mysterious greenhouses, uncertain of where she is or how long it has been since her trial. There she meets the grumpy to her sunshine, a lone gardener left behind to take care of the failing enchanted greenhouses. Terlu sets out to save the place where she woke up, regardless of the cost.

This book absolutely was not for me… I think I might need a little more out of my cozy fantasy. Terlu as a character was hard to read, and I even though there was a first person perspective I didn’t feel like I really got to know her. I felt her perspective only lent to sharing her anxieties and not her personality.

I had a difficult time getting through this book as very little happens and I didn’t really feel any build up for the romance. I found myself enjoying the characters and setting in the last 20% of the book because there is a little bit more going on. I wish the author had spent more time on the characterization or world-building in the first three quarters of the book. There was a lot of potential to get to know some of the peripheral characters but I feel like she barely touched on them or the greater world around the island.

This book is for:
-Slow cozy fantasy lovers
-Lovers of copious descriptions of food
-Very slow burn romance with no steam