4/5

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a beautifully crafted tale of second chances, self-forgiveness, and quiet companionship—all wrapped in a soft blanket of magic and greenery. As the second book in the Spellshop series, it builds on an already enchanting world with more sentient plants, hidden magic, and emotional depth.

Terlu, once a lonely librarian who created a living plant companion out of desperation, is now trying to find her place in a world that punished her harshly. After six years as a statue, she awakens to a world she no longer recognizes—and is sent to a distant island to help save its failing magical greenhouses. She meets Yarrow, the last gardener, a man who values peace and solitude but finds his world upended by the talkative, kind-hearted Terlu. Their dynamic is charming: she’s bright and eager, he’s reserved and cautious. But through shared struggles and small, meaningful interactions, they discover they have more in common than either expected. Their romance grows not with dramatic flair, but through patience, trust, and mutual respect. The true star, however, is the setting. Durst’s greenhouse system is breathtaking in its creativity—palaces of glass and flora where each greenhouse has its own unique magic. The sentient plant Lotti is a delightful addition, as are the many charming creatures that inhabit this island oasis.

Caitlin Davies’ narration enhances the emotional arc of the story, capturing the tenderness and magical realism at the heart of it all. Her voice fits the tone perfectly—gentle, expressive, and warm.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Well that was just cozy and delightful. It wasn’t perfect of course. The main character felt way too similar to the FMC in the first book (though maybe because I just finished reading that one a few days before jumping in here) and I didn’t really grow super attached to any of the characters here. There certainly weren’t many major points of plot tension so on occasion it felt just like an excuse for the author to write about another crazy wild magic greenhouse room. But overall it was a nice boon to zone out to for a few days.

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst is the perfect book to cozy up with on a cool autumn evening. The mysteries of the seemingly endless greenhouse mixed with forced proximity on a nearly abandoned island make this cozy romantasy unputdownable!

This was such a cute and cozy time! I loved learning more about Caz's backstory and seeing more magical plants. The FMC was interesting to follow and brought more information to the political unrest in this world. The greenhouse setting was comforting and nostalgic for me.

The audiobook narrator did a great job of differentiating between all the different characters. Between the FMC and MMC and all the plants brought to life, she did an amazing job!

I adored this even more than book 1! Its like we've taken all of the most charming bits of the spell shop and turned them up to the very max!

This is such a blast, and has lots of little nods to book 1, but stood surprisingly well on its own as well. This story sees Terlu, the librarian who created a certain familiar talking plant, tackle an ailing (and secret) greenhouse on a remote and freezing island. Its so incredibly cozy, as the spell shop was, but its somehow even funnier and more heartwarming. Terlu was a truly delightful MC, and I so enjoyed watching her stumble over herself for her stoic gardener. I enjoyed the mystery of what was going wrong with the greenhouse, and the antics with the flowers, personalities, and family dynamics, as well as how all of this culminated to be effected by the politics of the world and laws about magic.

I'm so glad to have found Sarah Best Durst, and that it seems as though she keeps getting better! Can't wait for the next release in this series. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this early audio copy!

I loved coming back to this world—it gave me the same feeling as The Spellshop! It’s just as cozy, but with even more magic and talking plants! Even though it’s its own story, you can tell it’s from the same universe, and it was such a treat to hear mentions of familiar characters.

It’s a grumpy/sunshine cozy romantasy full of heart, second chances, and learning to believe in yourself.

Big thanks to @macmillan.audio for the early access to the audiobook—I had the best time listening!

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst is everything I could have asked for a sequel to Spellshop. (Note: you do not need to read this book after Spellshop but it is beneficial.)

This book is whimsical and cozy while still having the tension in a good story. It follows Terlu who was turned into a statue for illegal sorcery by creating Caz, a sentient spider plant (and my favorite character in Spellshop). A lonely gardener revives her and she realizes it is imperal to help the Enchanted Greenhouse's plants that are dying.

The romance is cute and fluffy and not spicy and is in every way beautiful. Every description of food sounded delicious. If you're looking for a good easy read I recommend you trying this book out.

Thank you so much macmillian for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

If you read The Spellshop, I think your enjoyment of that book will tell you how much you'll enjoy The Enchanted Greenhouse because the two are not at all the same, but the two do have the same type of vibe. They have a very contained magical world with a pretty set character list where there is exactly one potential love interest on the entire island and while it's not exactly smooth sailing, it's not exactly rough waters either.

What I liked a lot about this book is that the stakes are clear from the beginning. There are dying greenhouses and it's not clear what is causing this to happen. Terlu was turned into a statue for doing magic, but now she's on a deserted island being asked explicitly to do magic, which technically speaking, she doesn't exactly know how to do. And Yarrow has been alone on this deserted island for years, so he doesn't exactly remember how to human, but he's desperate for help. The two of them slowly make inroads to both forming a relationship and figuring out the magic situation. The book is extremely cozy, and a small part of me did wish for a little more stakes. That said, this book did exactly what it set out to do and I would recommend it if cozy is what you're in the mood for.

Readers seeking a lighthearted, cozy read will enjoy this companion book to The Spell Shop. Set in the same world but featuring different characters, the narrative is marked by its charming, unique characters and vivid descriptions. Furthermore, the audiobook is of high quality.

I was so happy to be back in this literary world. The cozy fantasy genre is a new favorite of mine! I enjoyed the various personified animals and plants in this sequel. The love story was cute and the writing had a unique and engaging quality.

𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘓𝘊 🫶

📋 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒔
Genre: Fantasy, 2nd in a series
Length: 375 pages / 13.5 hours
Vibes: Cozy, Magical & Hopeful
Rating: I LOVED it!

⏩ 𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑺𝒚𝒏𝒐𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒔
After spending years as a statue for creating a sentient plant, lonely librarian Terlu awakens on a faraway island. There, she discovers hundreds of wondrous greenhouses, a surly gardener with a fondness for honey cakes, and a failing enchantment that needs fixing if the island’s magic is to survive.

🎉 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚 "𝒀𝒂𝒚!"
- Returning to the world of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 felt like going home and getting snuggled by a winged cat. Pure bliss!
- The whimsical island setting is fantasy at its best. I loved exploring the greenhouses, each a magical land in itself.
- If you were a fan of Caz from book 1, then wait until you meet the plants in this book! There are a LOT, including an uppity rose named Lotti.
- The book features heartfelt themes, including self-forgiveness and how some of the best family members are the ones you choose.
- There are some fun hints at the end about what Kiela and Caz have been up to since book 1!

🤔 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚 "𝑯𝒎𝒎..."
I wish the stakes had been a tad higher like in the first book, which involved the larger world around the island. While enchanting, this plot didn’t get me in the feels as much and felt more isolated in its scope.

🎧 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
I’m so glad Caitlin Davies returned to narrate this second book! Each of the characters felt fully realized, and I loved the happy energy she brought to Terlu.

❤️ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑰𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆
🌿 Cozy nature vibes
🪴 Talking to plants
🧑‍🌾 Grumpy gardeners
🪽 Cats that can fly

Once upon a time, Terlu was lonely because people always thought her “too much” and she used magic when she wasn’t supposed to (because magic is reserved for the “well schooled”) and created a sentient plant to keep her company. She was discovered, made an example of, and harshly turned into a statue and stuffed into a closet for years. This all happened previously and is spoken of in “The Spellshop” (which you don’t have to read in order to enjoy this story but you'll probably love it if you enjoy this one). This story begins when Terlu is awakened six years later.

There’s a lot of bad self talk going on in Terlu’s head. She feels she’s too much, and that she pushes her friendship on people when they don’t really want it and she beats herself up a whole damn lot. She doesn’t come across here as annoying or too pushy so I think much of it may be all in her head because she tried to befriend terrible people. I thought she was likable and bubbly and I’d definitely be the first to complain if she was an annoying MC. Anyhow, she finds herself alone on an island of greenhouses that are mostly in disarray, disrepair and various states of decay. Turns out she’s not completely alone. A bewinged cat claims her and soon enough she stumbles upon a very grumpy but very handsome gardener who turns out to have some insecurities of his own. Together the two form a tenuous friendship and go on a journey that transforms the greenhouses and begins to mend some of the wounds in their hearts.

This was such a whimsical, charming story. If you’re looking for escape from this mad world we live in, and enjoy a cozy story filled with magic and warmth that just sort of goes where it wants to and may meander a little bit, I can easily recommend this one. I listened to the audiobook and narrator Caitlin Davies is the perfect choice and has the ability to bring all of these enchanted beings to life with unique voices. I could seriously listen to this type of story all day but especially on those days when the world feels hopeless and gloomy.

I loved the first Spellshop book. This isn't really a sequel just a story in the same universe. It started out strong and I was really interested in the cursed librarian storyline and then it quickly became mainly fluff, which isn't bad at all but I needed a little more plot. I think I would have enjoyed the physical book more than the audio for this particular story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

This is an interconnected standalone, but really, it's a full standalone almost as there is hardly any cross over between the characters. The plot starts to pick up in the last 1/3 of the story, and it's a super cozy, cottage core style vibes for the plant lover with a slow burn, for the one who's always been too much and never fit in.

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst — Narrated by Caitlin Davies

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a whimsical, cozy escape into a world of magic, mystery, and just the right dash of heartwarming charm. Sarah Beth Durst crafts a lush, imaginative setting where plants have secrets, magic lingers in the air, and the greenhouse itself feels like a living, breathing character. The story blends gentle adventure with emotional depth, making it perfect for fans of light fantasy that still offers a few twists along the way.

Caitlin Davies’ narration is a highlight—her warm, expressive delivery brings the characters to life and captures the story’s enchanting atmosphere. She shifts seamlessly between voices, making the listening experience immersive and easy to follow.

While the pacing leans a little slow in places, it fits the book’s cozy tone, and the descriptive writing invites you to linger in its magical world. This is the kind of audiobook you can sink into on a rainy afternoon, cup of tea in hand.

Overall, it’s a charming, feel-good listen with just enough intrigue to keep you hooked. If you love magical realism with a gentle, uplifting spirit, this audiobook will make you feel right at home among the flowers. 🌿✨

Such a fun cozy fantasy!!! I love the idea of talking plants and the winged cat. The romance was paced perfectly, and the building tension was palpable. The story line added depth to the first Spellshop book. I was so happy to be back in this world.

I am hoping we see a book that will pull the islands together. I want to see Terlu and Kaz reunited!!

Caitlin Davies did a fantastic job narrating. Inflection where it was needed, depth where it was needed, and even some embarrassment.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book.

I thought The Spellshop was cute, (also a 3 star read, for many of the same reasons I'll list below) so I had similar expectations when I saw the sequel was based on the librarian who created Caz.

Terlu is lonely, and she casts a spell to turn a spider plant into life. Since that is all sorts of illegal, she is turned into a statue (so harsh). Six years later she mysteriously wakes up on a random island full of magic greenhouses. The island contains one winged cat, one grumpy gardener, and tons of plants.

This book oozes coziness. It is extremely low stakes, with just enough of a plot and a romance to keep you interested. The concept was creative, the setting idyllic, and for the most part, the book was totally charming and exactly what I want from a cozy fantasy.

BUT OMG IT WAS REPETITIVE. we can't go a page or two without Terlu repeating her fears of getting arrested again. We get it girl. Being a statue sucked. But who is going to arrest you on an island that no one ever visits, seriously? I think we could have saved about 50 pages with some good editing.

Thank you for the ARC!

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Terlu Purna has spent years as a wooden statue, her punishment for illegal uses of magic. She finally awakens from her imprisonment to find herself alone in the woods. When she seeks shelter in the first structure she comes to, a large greenhouse, Terlu finds that she is not as alone as she previously suspected.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is the second book in the Spellshop series. I would highly recommend reading the books in this cozy fantasy series in order.

The MCs in this book are so skillfully written. As opposites, they balance each other so well. Even the sentient plants had me emotional but, to be fair, I adored Caz in the first book. The story itself is nicely layered. I like that the author gives little bites of background history as the plot moves along rather than dumping all of the history at the beginning. It almost adds a kind of mystery.

The audiobook is beautifully done. Caitlin Davies, who also narrated The Spellshop, does a wonderful job bringing all of The Enchanted Greenhouse characters to life. She has a very soothing voice that goes well with the overall mood of the book.

I don’t know if we’re supposed to get any more books in this Spellshop universe but I hope we do. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing what Sarah Beth Durst has next for her readers.

This cozy magical story is filled with lots of curious sentient plants and a lovely couple with the slowest burn that has ever burned! Loved the personalities of the plants and the way the ice melted between the love birds.

In the Enchanted Greenhouse we follow Terlu who after dealing with loneliness working a library brought a plant to life, in the after math of being caught for the crime of unsanctioned spell casting she was turned into a statue. When one day she finds herself no longer a statue on an island filled with magical greenhouses. Terlu think there must be some terrible misunderstanding when she meats the gardener who woke her hoping she was a sorceress who can stop the greenhouses from failing.

This one was really delightful, I adored Terlu she’s a very fun and bubbly character and her interactions with the quiet and reserved yarrow were sweet. Getting to see her work past her spell casting related trauma was also really wonderful. I loved the call back to the Spellshop and getting to see the kind of person and why they would create Caz.

The narrator Caitlin Davis does a fantastic job as always.