I’m completely in love with this book! The author’s first novel, The Spellshop, got me totally hooked on cozy fantasy, and The Enchanted Greenhouse was just as good—maybe even better. Reading it felt like curling up in front of a crackling fire on a cold, bleak winter’s day, with rain pelting down in a ceaseless onslaught. All you want at that moment is a fluffy blanket fresh from the dryer, a warm cup of tea, and something delicious to snack on. This book is like slipping into that perfect moment.
I loved that the book continues in the same world as The Spellshop, weaving in some shared history and events, while still being its own unique story with new characters and a beautiful setting. It reminded me of The Night Circus in the best way, with each enchanted greenhouse offering a unique and captivating vibe. The journey through these spaces as the characters try to prevent the magic from failing was magical and immersive.
There’s also a gentle, thoughtful exploration of the main couple’s relationship, as well as the complexities of family and community. The reflections on growing up and how it shaped both characters—sometimes in similar ways, sometimes not—felt very real.
All around, this is a warm, thoughtful, and enchanting read. I’d strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy.

A lawbreaking librarian, a grumpy gardener, with a massive greenhouse full of enchanted plants. What is not to love? This book was captivating for my book loving, plant nerd self. It was everything I enjoy wrapped into one. Both Terlu and Yarrow have their own trauma and flaws. Will they be able to get along in the small isolated space the are trying so hard to save? She was supposed to be his miracle, yet Terlu has no idea what has been going on in the world for the last 6 years.

I loved this book as soon as I found out it was going to give me more insight into the librarian Terlu that made my favorite character from, "The Spellshop" novel. Caz talked so fondly of her that I was excited to know more about her. I didn't know what to expect but it was better than I had imagined. I didn't know what to think of Yarrow at first, but I really grew to understand him, It was nice to see his character growth and personality revealed slowly throughout the story.

I hope there are more books coming from this world. There is massive potential just waiting to be unlocked. I am looking forward to reading more from Sarah in the future. If it includes more about books and plants all the better.

I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this book especially with the talking plants. I felt it made it come alive more listening to their words while also reading along. It is a good combo experience to have both.

This is the best book I’ve read so far this year. Our main character was a librarian who brought a spider plant to life. As her punishment, she was turned to stone. When she awakes, she’s on an island with magical greenhouses and a very grumpy gardener.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a story of second chances, learning to ask for help, forgiveness, and hop. It’s magic and whimsy from start to finish and an absolute must read.

A librarian turned convicted criminal after her illegal use of magic and a lone gardener must team up to save a slowly dying enchanted greenhouse in this delightfully charming cozy fantasy perfect for plant-lovers and hopeless romantics. This book had me hooked from the opening scenes of our librarian's trial to the very end. It was filled was interesting characters of all sorts, including sentient plant-life, and I couldn't get enough of them. The romance was slow burn and closed door, and the friendships and family dynamics are top-notch. I want to spend hours, days, weeks, maybe more wandering through the enchanted greenhouse and meeting each and every one of the characters that populate this book in person. It's a wonderfully described, luscious experience of a book that is not to be missed especially for fans of cozy fantasy.

I went into this story with low expectations, solely because I loved The Spellshop so much, I thought nothing could top it. I was so pleasantly surprised. Not only did I love this short in its entirety, but I actually enjoyed it even a touch more than The Spellshop.
It is a lovely, cozy story. About courage, selflessness and forgiveness.
The narrator did a phenomenal job! Her narration was reminiscent of Daniel Henning in The House in the Cerulean Sea. Her voice reminded me a lot of Elizabeth Evans, another god tier narrator!
I have zero criticisms for this book. It was an absolute delight and I will absolutely read it again!

I enjoyed this book much more than The Spellshop! This author has really built a clear and cozy world. It had the same feeling to it as playing The Sims, to be honest. We got a lot of detail about the everyday tasks and interactions, and we followed the main characters while they completed their to-do lists. It was just very simple. While there were larger plot points happening - the war, the MCs both dealing with trauma, family relation issues - everything worked out in the end and they'd truly built a little happy hamlet.

This is definitely not a book for anyone looking for action, romance, intrigue, or any big emotions. This story was so cozy and relaxing and sweet, buuuuuut nothing really happened. Similar to playing The Sims for hours, the reader of this book should prepare themselves to lulled into a relaxed state with a slight feeling of doing something productive by proxy.

My one thought is that the story was a little long for what it is. I think it could have been 30-50% shorter and still given the same vibes/impressions. That said, it was fun for what it was!

This was such a cute and cozy little fantasy novel. And I really enjoyed it!

Now I have to read the book she released before this (I have also heard many great reviews for it, so I am excited)!

This story follows our main character, Terlu. Terlu, as punishment, has been trapped in a statue. But she finds herself no longer in statue form, but in a magical greenhouse (hence the name of the book).

Terlu comes across a gardener, an adorable little cat, and some sentient flowers (that very much remind me of those singing flowers in Alice and Wonderland). They work together to figure out what's going on.

I don't want to say anything else because I think that anything else I could say would be entering spoiler-y territory and I am very anti-spoiler. But just know, this is a very fun and easy book. I don't often have success with cozier fantasy novels or cozy mysteries, but this was such an exception. I loved it. I would highly recommend this for any sort of fantasy reader!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

A wonderfully colorful and enchanting story. Amazing narration that made me feel like I was in Terlu's place along with realistic anxieties and doubts in the face of seemingly impossible tasks. But a reminder that you're never really alone .

I thought I couldn’t be more in love with Sarah Beth Durst’s fantasy world after The Spell Shop but I was very wrong! This story was perfectly matched in tone to the first book - utterly charming, cozy, and lush. I couldn’t get enough! Like a warm hug in book form.

The second in a series, The Enchanted Greenhouse can be read as a stand alone story. I will note that there is a lot of explanatory world-building in the first book which is missing from the second book, but I think it would still be easy to jump in plot-wise even if you haven’t read the first.

Read if you like: Plant daddies, Just one bed, quiet longing, wholesome sentient plants, grumpy+sunshine, family reunions

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4.25⭐️
Terlu Perna was a lonely librarian who broke the law by casting a spell to create a sentient spider plant so that she could have a friend. As punishment, she is turned into a statue and placed in display. One day Terlu wakes on an island full of magical greenhouses- however, it’s soon obvious that something might be off with the island and Terlu not only needs to know who woke her, but why?

You guys, this book was so cute! I was such a fan of The Spellshop- so when I heard that another book was coming out, I just couldn’t wait to read it. I received an advanced audiobook and it was very well done- the authors writing style flows well, is easy to follow and she has a way of bringing you right into the story. The characters were fun, likable and I loved the island full of beautiful greenhouses. This one was slower at times and sometimes I had trouble feeling the chemistry between the two main characters, but overall, I really enjoyed the magical world and all of the creatures within. Especially the cute little dragons and all of the talking plants! Definitely recommend!

Read if you like:

🩷 Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷 Sentient Plants
🩷 Slow Burn
🩷Whimsical Worlds

A big thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and the author for the advanced audio copy of this wonderful book! 🥰

I have mixed feelings about this one.

On one hand, it is your classically cute cozy fantasy. There’s beautiful description of the greenhouse plants (who are sentient with personalities of their own!) and the ending was *chef’s kiss*… adorable.

But the characters were difficult to attach to. The plot was slow for the majority of the book and picked up right at the end. If you’re someone who isn’t plot driven, that may not bother you but given I was having a hard time caring deeply for any of these characters, I was leaning into the plot to carry be through and didn’t find it. The audiobook specifically may have contributed to it to some extent as the narrator’s voice seemed to infantilize the main character a bit.

There were definitely some aspects I enjoyed but for the most part this one didn’t hit for me.

The story was very cute. Cozy romantasy is not my genre, but I still enjoyed it. The world was unique and cute, and I will always be sold on something with talking plants and a cat. I also enjoyed how this book overlapped with The Spellshop. My critique is that the FMC in this book and The Spellshop felt very similar and some elements felt like rereading the first book.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a magical second chances story. We start with Terlu Perna being turned into a statue for creating a sentient spider plant that I fell in love with in book 1. Imagine her surprise when she awakens back as a human freezing in the snow and stumbles her way into a magical greenhouse. She meets a gardener that is trying his best to keep the greenhouses alive all by himself. Terlu joins him and a sentient rose to figure out the spells that maintain the greenhouses before they all fail.

Sarah Beth Durst writes such beautiful cozy fantasy books. The characters are loveable, and you wind up cheering them on with every page. There is a dash of romance mixed into the story as well, which was a nice touch. These can be read as standalones so do not worry if you have not read book 1 yet. If you are looking to try out an amazing cozy fantasy, you should read this book!

Caitlin Davies did a fantastic job at the narration. She brought the characters to life and her voice was expressive. I always knew who was talking too which is a major plus.

I enjoyed The Spellshop, but I LOVED The Enchanted Greenhouse. You can read one without the other, but I did love the subtle crossovers. All Terlu has ever wanted was a purpose and someone to share her life with. Yarrow is a reclusive gardner who turns into Jackson Belleville from Gilmore Girls when he talks about vegetables. It’s very much giving “he’s sleeping with the zucchini!!!!” There’s a winged cat, talking plants, and sorcery gone awry. This is a warm hug disguised as a book. I really enjoyed the audio narration!!!

“I never joke about pollinators”

I loved this! It was just so cute and cozy. I love that we got another quiet mmc and a quirky fmc. They were perfect! And ask the magical creatures interactions were so fun. This book was the perfect sequel

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC! I fell in love with The Spellshop and had been counting down the days to return to its world. This sequel did not disappoint. If anything, I found myself even more swept up in the love story, tender, genuine, and full of quiet magic. Terlu’s journey is one that will speak to anyone who has ever feared being too much. I adored watching her come to the realization that she’ll never be too much for the right people. The greenhouse setting is lush, whimsical, and full of warmth; I wanted to linger there, tucked among the leaves and magic. The audiobook narrator delivers a stunning performance, breathing life into every character with heart and nuance. I’d gladly listen to her again and again.

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⭐️