Audio Narration 🎧 4/5

While this book is not a sequel of The Spellshop, it is set in the same universe.
The Enchanted Greenhouse satisfied an itch I didn't know I had, following the story of the librarian who created the loveable Caz.

I love sentient plants, I fell in love with Caz and was ready to dive into the world once more but this one fell a tad short for me.
The story feels a bit muddled with repetitive internal monologue and the love story wasn't super compelling to me.

This being said, this world has a lot to offer us and I think Durst created one of the most compelling cozy fantasy settings I've read. I look forward to seeing more from this world.

I give this book a 3/5 stars

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a delightful follow-up to The Spellshop, this time turning the spotlight on Terlu Perna—the librarian who created the sentient plant Caz. After being punished for her actions and transformed into a statue, Terlu is shipped off to an almost-abandoned island. There, she’s freed by Yarrow, a quiet, grumpy gardener who loves to make tasty treats.

Together, they set out to save the island’s deteriorating magical greenhouses, each one more unique and enchanting than the last. I loved how every greenhouse felt like its own little world—full of life, secrets, and a bit of whimsy.

This book leans into one of my favorite tropes: the witty, determined woman paired with a gruff but secretly sweet man. Their dynamic added warmth and humor to the story and made their growing partnership a joy to watch unfold.

Much like I said in my review of the first book, this is the perfect cozy read for a rainy afternoon. I received an early audiobook copy from Macmillan Audio, and as always, their production was fantastic. Caitlin Davies brought the characters—and especially the plants—to life with charm and personality. I had a particular soft spot for the oldest of the plants!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

Brief overview:

After creating a sentient plant to cure her loneliness, Terlu is charged and sentenced to be turned to a statue for her crime. Years later, she awakes in a greenhouse with an offer of redemption and a few new friends.

My thoughts:

This was SO CUTE! The Enchanted Greenhouse had all the same charm and cuteness of The Spellshop, but with an added House in the Cerulean Sea vibe to it. Honestly I enjoyed this more than The Spellshop, it felt like it took all the elements we loved from the first (looking at you Caz) and elevated them, plus added some more themes of family and community. There was a cute love story that was not the primary focus and I really appreciated that. The themes of familiar struggles, bonds, and reuniting added a depth and made all the characters so loveable. The author has created a gorgeous, fantastically magical world to be drawn into, and the narrator absolutely knocks it out of the park! Full five stars from me! Most magical audiobook I've had the chance to listen to this year by far!

My sincere thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the chance to listen to this early!

Okay, full disclosure, I have not YET read The Spellshop. With that said, The Enchanted Greenhouse by @sarahbethdurst was AMAZING. It was so lighthearted and fun but with some good and well worked out serious bits. Terlu is brave and bold and still self-conscious, and I loved going on his journey with her. Yarrow is the definition of "strong silent type," and their dynamic is adorable. All the fun plant and animal friends had me giggling and rolling my eyes. This was such a cute read and now I've really gotta go read The Spellshop 😂

🪴 A Magically Sentient Spider Plant
🔮 A Late Sorcerer
📚 A Librarian
🪴 Enchanted Greenhouses
❤️‍🩹 Healing
💜 Finding Purpose

This book follows Terlu, the librarian who created our beloved Caz from The Spellshop.

This is an absolutely adorable cozy book! Terlu is given a second chance at life. Yarrow is learning to open up & forgive. Teamwork & restoration. A hint of romance.

*I received an advance review copy for free in the form of an audiobook (advanced listening copy) from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

I really love the dragons. And the winged cat. And all the descriptions of delicious foods like the honey cakes! 😍

This was a delightful addition to the previous book. The ending was perfection & so wholesome! 💜

Huge thank you to the author, MacMillanAudio, & NetGalley for letting me read & review this book. 💜

The Enchanted Greenhouse was just as spellbinding as The Spellshop. When I need a cozy, whimsical and heartwarming fantasy, I know that a Sarah Beth Durst story will satisfy my every need.

In a world of magic, second chances and an adorable romance, Terlu Perna has found a new home. After being turned into a wooden statue as punishment for creating a magically sentient spider plant, a special shout-out to Caz, Terlu ends up tucked away in an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library Alyssium where she believes she’ll be spending eternity.

Fortunately for Terlu, she does wake up. Unfortunately, though, she wakes up in the cold of winter on a nearly deserted island full of…you guessed it, greenhouses! She seeks refuge in one of the greenhouses only to encounter a grumpy gardener. I was giddy over this grumpy gardener, which leads me to one of the big reasons I loved this book, and all the books I’ve had the opportunity to read by Sarah Beth Durst: she is the queen at creating the most relatable and lovable characters. It’s an instant love for me with each story. I love a good slow-burn romance. I love the development of the relationship growing from zero to 100. The little sparks of the characters getting to know each other, and how one person’s passion slowly becomes the other person’s passion as they fall in love. It’s cute. What was unique about this story was the additional side characters, all of whom were plants, and I can’t forget about the flying cat, what’s not to love?

The characters had a great deal of depth, each striving to overcome their own challenges and growing both individually and as a pair as the story progressed. Terlu was having an internal battle over whether she should attempt more magic, given that her previous decision had ended in disaster, leaving her as a statue, so I understand her hesitation. I was stressed out for her, mainly because if I had the option to use magic, you can bet I would have been a wooden statue a long time ago. I love how easily I connect with these authors' characters; they stand out to me and stay with me for a long time, which is why I read.

Additionally, this was a listen for me, and the narrator, Caitlin Davies, did an exceptional job. She was a compelling narrator, and I believe that added even more magic to this whimsical tale!

Again, I feel that anything Sarah Beth Durst releases, I will instantly fall in love with, so I will never hesitate to recommend her books. I highly recommend giving the audiobook a try.

Ugh I am once again in love with the world Sarah has created. This was such a cozy story and I never expected to be emotionally invested in sentient plants but here we are. The world was rich and inviting without being overwhelming. I want an illustrated guide to the greenhouse because I NEED to see every single room. And I LOVED getting the Kaz lore. I hope Sarah writes more in this world! (Maybe about a snappy boat captain please please please)

The Enchanted Greenhouse
By Sarah Beth Durst
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book: 41
Favorite quote:
“How could anything be more important than bread, especially with honey butter?”

Thank you Tor publishing, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst.
The first half of this book was a bit hard for me to get into. I remember loving a SpellShop, I was very excited about this book. However, I started with the audiobook and I think that’s it was more of a focus thing. I treated it as a background soundtrack for my work day. However, once I started physically reading on my kindle, I could not put it down. Around 10:30 last night, I told myself one more chapter and then bed but then they were figuring out why the greenhouses were failing and I couldn’t just leave them waiting. I love the world that Sarah has created and man I hope that in the next book, Terlu and Caz are reunited.

I devoured The Enchanted Greenhouse! This cozy fantasy returns to the world of The Spellshop, but with new characters. The FMC Terlu, is the assistant librarian who originally created Caz, the sentient spider plant from book one. After being turned into a statue for using forbidden magic, Terlu wakes up years later on a nearly abandoned island filled with magical greenhouses and a grumpy gardener Yarrow who offers her shelter.

This book felt even cozier than The Spellshop, as there are no looming threats or dramatic twists. Just a cozy story about healing, connection, and second chances…and of course a little bit of slow burn romance.

The enchanted greenhouse setting is full of charming details (This book has tiny dragons!), and the slow unfolding of Terlu’s new life was heartwarming.

I was hoping Caz might make a cameo, but even without him, I was completely hooked. The ending wraps things up beautifully, but it also leaves the door open just enough for a future book…maybe even one that brings the two casts together?

I listened to the audiobook and Caitlin Davies absolutely nailed the narration. Her voice work brought the entire story to life with warmth and personality. I couldn’t imagine a better fit.

I do hope we get more stories from this world!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Publication date is set for July 15, 2025.

I loved The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, but I think this one much cozier. Set in the winter, Terlu is a statue because she broke the rule of magic. A gardener requests a sorcerer to help him on a secluded island by himself because the magic is going away which means greenhouses are dying. Terlu is awakened and lets the gardener know she is not a sorcerer. Durst does an excellent job of building characters and their relationships; especially, plants and humans! The winter cold, a dead sorcerer who may have been a part of why the greenhouses are dying, a whole host of sentient plants, dragons, a love story, family, and a flying cat. This book has it all. Durst's stories remind me of TJ Klune.

First off, let me just say that the narrator of this book, Caitlin Davies is simply amazing. The many voices and inflections she does for this wide cast of characters showcases her vocal talents. I would 100% listen to another audiobook she narrates. The story itself was also good. I'm just not a cozy fantasy reader, so really getting behind these sentient plants and that whole aspect of the story was hard for me. Also, the plot just didn't do much for me with the idea of saving a failing Greenhouse and love blooming between the two main characters. I need more conflict to really immersed myself in a story. I think cozy fantasy readers will love this book though.

I wanted an atmospheric magical greenhouse with a cozy story and that’s exactly what I got. This was such a great successor to The Spellshop. While both are standalones, I do recommend reading them in publication order.

Terlu Perna wakes up in the cold of winter after being turned into a statue as punishment for breaking the law. She finds a grumpy gardener in an enchanted greenhouse, and they need to work together to save the failing greenhouses.

Sarah Beth Durst has such a way of immersing you with the imagery of the world. It makes for such an atmospheric cozy read and was simply delightful. There are talking plants, a flying cat, tiny dragons, and lots of honey cake. The mystery kept me interested, and the romance was sweet.

If you enjoyed The Spellshop, you will eat this one up.

The audiobook was well made, and the narrator did a fantastic job with the tone of the book.

I found this book to be a nice cozy read! There was drama, twists and turns, but overall it was nice and heartfelt. I loved that it involved sentient plants with some serious personalities! A very good read!

This book is everything I wanted and more—a cozy, magical story about second chances, the power of community, and the healing nature of love. If you loved The Spellshop, this is a must-read sequel. It carries that same heartwarming, whimsical tone but stands beautifully on its own as well.

Terlu, who once broke the law out of loneliness and was punished by being turned into a wooden statue in the Great Library of Alyssium. But her story doesn’t end there. She awakens in winter on a nearly-deserted island filled with magical greenhouses—cold, hungry, and confused—and is unexpectedly welcomed by Yarrow, a grumpy (and charming!) gardener who offers her kindness, warm clothes, and honey cakes.

As she finds comfort in this new place, she learns that the magic keeping the island alive is fading. With Yarrow and a sentient rose by her side (yes, a rose!), Terlu embarks on a journey to save the island. I absolutely adored her determination and kindness, and the gentle romance that blooms between her and Yarrow was just the right amount of sweet. Terlu's and Yarrow's quiet romance that blossomed was sweet and satisfying.

The audiobook was a delight—vivid, atmospheric, and richly detailed. I could see every flower, feel the warmth of the greenhouses. Yarrow's connection with the plants and the care she poured into nurturing them was one of my favorite parts. The setting is enchanting, the characters are quirky and lovable, and the themes of belonging, forgiveness, and self-discovery are handled with so much heart.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is the cuteness and coziness book. It made me feel wrapped in magic and warmth. I missed Caz from the first book, and was thrilled to get a glimpse of how he’s doing. This is a beautiful, hopeful story about finding your place, being wanted, and letting yourself bloom again.

Caitlin Davies’s narration was perfect—warm, expressive, and totally brought the characters and setting to life. The audiobook added such depth to the story and made the whole experience even more vivid.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. I highly, highly recommend this one for fans of cozy fantasy, magical settings, and stories about finding your place and your people.

This is another sweet, cozy fantasy from the author of The Spellshop. The two books are very similar, so if you’re looking for something totally new and fresh, you’ll probably be underwhelmed by this. I think The Spellshop was better, but I’m a novelty addict, so treading familiar ground is less entertaining to me than it might be for others. Don’t get me wrong though, this is a wonderful book!

I think that 50 pages could have been purged to produce a tighter, snappier story. Again, this is just personal preference, and I’m sure the majority of folks will savor every minute they spend in this lush, magical world.

I will definitely read everything this author writes, and I can only say that about two others.

*3.5 stars*

This is just as fun and cozy as The Spellshop. While this is a sequel (although it seems to be occurring at the same time as the first book) I think it can easily be read as a standalone as well.

The main characters are sweet and the descriptions of the greenhouse, and food are delightfully magical. I think if you liked The Spellshop or the cozy fantasy genre I think this would be a hit.

The audio was well done, the narrator has a cozy quality that I think adds to the experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

"... a librarian who thinks she can study her way to any solution"

This was one of the coziest books I've ever read and a perfect companion to The Spellshop (kinda like a duology but not really, more complimentary). I adored this book and cannot believe I was lucky enough to receive an ALC (TEG was added to my TBR as soon as it was announced).

Without spoilers, cozy fantasy is the only thing I can think of to describe this book. I want to curl up with a cup of tea, cozy blanket on a nice winter-y day and reread this.

🎧 I love the articulation Caitlin Davies consistently gives (it allows me to adjust to any speed I need).

It's such a fun world that she's created that if this is all we get it'll feel complete but if there's more, I'm definitely going to get in line to read.

I had no idea The Spellshop was getting a sequel—what a wonderful surprise! The Enchanted Greenhouse is the second and (maybe?) final book in this charming duology, and it’s every bit as magical and heartwarming as the first.

The story follows Terlu, who was punished for practicing magic, turned into a wooden statue, and placed in the Great Library of Alyssium. One day, she awakens in a snowy forest surrounded by hundreds of enchanted greenhouses. The only other person she finds is a gruff but kind-hearted gardener, who offers her shelter, food, and a place to stay while she figures out how to return home.

As Terlu explores the greenhouses and encounters various magical creatures, she learns that the enchantments sustaining the greenhouses are failing. To help, she must consider breaking the very laws that led to her punishment and once again wield magic—this time, alongside the handsome gardener she’s beginning to fall for.

The romance is tender and beautifully developed, and it’s impossible not to root for Terlu and her grumpy companion. Sarah Beth Durst masterfully ties this story back to The Spellshop, creating a full-circle journey that feels rich, satisfying, and truly magical.

If you loved The Spellshop, you won’t want to miss this whimsical and enchanting companion novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Much like Spellshop, this book was a cozy low-stakes read. The narrator is perfect for this book. The only reason I have it 3 stars is because it’s personally not a genre I reach for. I enjoy more fast paced fantasy.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book in one of my favorite cozy fantasies. This book did not disappoint. I loved every minute of being in the world that Sarah created for us. This was truly everything I wanted it to be. I now long to visit the greenhouses and have the oddest craving for honey butter bread. Everything about this world feels fresh and cozy without the overwhelming feeling that can sometimes come with the world building in a new fantasy. Sarah just does it so effortlessly that the reader doesn't even realize that there is world building happening on the page. I felt like I didn't just read/listen to this book, but I fell into it. The descriptive writing is impeccable. I'm only sad now that I have to leave that world behind. I would like to also note, that the nods to the first book brought such happy tears to my eyes. There was the tiniest bit of spice and LGBTQ representation, but I would still give it a 0/5 spice rating. While there is a fantastic underlying romance, this book is so much more than that. If you enjoy cozy fantasies, this is a must read.