🧶🧶🧶🧶 4 Yarn Skeins

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

If The Spellshop was your comfort read, The Enchanted Greenhouse is its quieter, earthier sibling—rooted in heart, healing, and the magic of second chances. This book takes us into the life of Terlu, the once-petrified librarian who gave life to our favorite grumpy spider plant, Caz. It’s part prequel, part companion, and all charm.

The story unfolds gently, like leaves unfurling in spring. Terlu wakes up on a nearly empty island filled with magical (but dying) greenhouses. There, she meets Yarrow, a prickly but soft-hearted gardener, and slowly finds a purpose again—while bending the rules in the name of love, magic, and growth.

This book thrives in its quiet moments: sharing honey cakes, nurturing magic, building trust. The bond between Terlu and Yarrow is subtle and sincere—less fiery romance, more quiet companionship that blooms into something beautiful. The supporting cast (a winged cat! a sassy rose!) adds charm without ever feeling gimmicky.

The pacing is definitely on the slower side, especially in the first third, but once the stakes for the island and its magic rise, the emotional weight kicks in. Terlu’s journey isn’t flashy, but it’s real—about choosing to stay, choosing to help, and choosing yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

The most coziest book read of the year I have to say, if you love cozy vibes and talking plants this book is for you

I absolutely loved the coziness of the book, and the fact that it had aspects of the first book in this one, you kind of get a whole picture of how things started. The way this book had me kicking my feet and giggling is unreal. I am also in love with the fact of how the characters and the strangers to lovers aspects. the audible of this book is unmatched and the voice actors did a great job! Easily one of my top reads of the year

3.5 stars
First off, loved the narration. Great production!
I did wind up knocking my rating down because I thought this was book 2 in the series, so I read the first book before this one, but then the blurb gave the expectation that it was an entirely different world and then I realized that it was the same universe as The Spellshop. I dislike when publishers try to say things are standalone when they’re not. I would have been upset if I’d trusted the blurb that it wasn’t connected and found out later that it was connected, so it all worked out in the end.
That said, I enjoyed this cozy fantasy of a former librarian who finds herself on an almost deserted island with a grumpy gardener and a talking rose plant. There’s a crisis to be addressed and it will be all hands, and leaves, on deck to save the island. The premise was beyond cute. I did find in both books that the characters had the emotional maturity of middle school children, which grated over time. I’m not sure if they’re written to be neurodivergent or if it’s to convey how much more innocent people are in this world? 🤷‍♀️
I know this sounds like a lot of complaints but I do recommend both of these books and hope there will be more!
*Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's audiobook.

Once again, Sarah Beth Durst writes another story full of whimsy, magic and emotions! Terlu Perna is a lonely librarian who is condemned after casting a spell that turns a spider plant sentient. She awakes to find herself on an island with a grumpy gardener and hundreds of enchanted greenhouses. But the island is in turmoil, as the greenhouses are dying as well as the plants within. Terlu must put her worries aside to help save the greenhouses and all the while, she will also save the gardener, Yarrow.

This was once again an amazing audiobook! And the story just makes you smile, and makes you want to bake, and drink tea, and be kind to everyone, and get dirt under your fingernails. Durst, with her characters raw emotions finds a way to infuse her stories with hope, always.

The romance in this one was almost too sweet at times, but fits very well within the story and doesn't take up more time than the actual plot. That was very refreshing.

Another great one! <3

One decision changed the fate of Terlu Perna forever. In a world of forbidden magic and talking plants Terlu struggles to find her purpose. The Enchanted Greenhouse was a delightful, cozy story with an adorable grumpy/sunshine dynamic.

I was enchanted by SarahBeth Durst's world and writing from The Spellshop. The Enchanted Greenhouse is a standalone book that takes place in the same world as The Spellshop. It tells the story of a librarian, named Terlu Perna. Terlu uses a spell to create a friend. All magic is forbidden unless you're a sorcerer. The punishment was both swift and harsh. The story picks up after a brief history of that incident to when Terlu awakens from her punishment in a strange place she's never been. There she meets the caretaker of enchanted greenhouses. He's the only person on the island and he doesn't really have any answers. Just questions of his own to a pretty big problem. The Enchanted Greenhouses are failing. One by one. He needs a sorcerer, but Terlu isn't one. Is there a way she can still help though? She is willing to take the risks as she and her new friends tackle the problem.
I fell in love with The Enchanted Greenhouse and all its amazing rooms. I first read this book then I listened to the audio book. Both are great.

Adorable sequel to the Spell Shop. It was cool to see the political events unfold slowly in the background as a B- or C-plot. It’s unapologetically a romance first, and the focus is on the characters and their relationship.

I found the main character a little annoying, she’s the kind of nervous chatty person many of us probably relate to. But she is such a compelling protagonist, I was rooting for her the entire time. She’s clever and hardworking, and deeply kind. I might not want to be cornered by her at a party, but anyone would be lucky to have her on their side in a crisis.

My favorite part about the book was the dual truths of “you have to save yourself” and “you still need others to help.” It’s not one or the other, it’s both and. She creates the life she wants, but only has the chance thanks to others who gave her the opportunity. For a story with so much isolation, it’s still a story about community.

Sarah Beth Durst has done it again. This book was even cuter than the first one. As a plant lover, the idea of an enchanted greenhouse and talking plants brings me so much joy. The characters were loveable, and the character development throughout the book was well written. The narrator of the audiobook is wonderful, too. She really brought the story to life. Overall, I highly recommend this book if you love cozy fantasy and easy reads.

i loved the first book and loved this one even more!!! there wasn’t a moment where i wanted this book to end. it was magical and so vivid!!! played out like a movie in my mind. the writing is so captivating and the audio brought this book to life. the narrators did a fantastic job and brought so much emotion to this novel

Thank you so much to Macmillan for the alc, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the first book, The Spellshop, and was eager to learn more about Terlu and what happens to her after her statue incident. This book was just fine.. and slightly boring. This read more children's story vs a cozy romantasy aimed at an adult audience. The cast of sentient plants was cute, the romance very slight, and the closure at the end did make me tear up.

🌿✨ 4.5/5 stars! ✨🌿

The Enchanted Greenhouse is the perfect follow-up to Spellshop — and dare I say it… I liked this one even more! I seriously hope we get more stories in this magical universe! Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy like Legends & Lattes, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this story is a warm hug wrapped in magic, healing, and heart. 💚✨

This cozy fantasy had everything I wanted: charming sentient plants, faltering enchantments gone hilariously wrong, and the quiet, comforting magic of companionship. Terlu was such a relatable and lovable main character — her journey from lonely statue 😔🗿 to powerful island magician 💫🧙‍♀️ had me screaming out loud! YAS queen!

And the romance? Absolutely precious. Terlu and the gruff but soft-hearted gardener Yarrow 🧑‍🌾💚 gave me all the grumpy-sunshine slow-burn vibes. Their connection blossomed as sweetly as the dragon loved honey cakes in the story 🍯🍰 — warm, tender, and totally satisfying.

Yes, the plot was a tad predictable overall, but honestly? I didn’t even care. The characters, humor, and heart made it a total delight from start to finish.

Grab a warm cup of tea ☕, curl up, and let this enchanting tale sweep you away. 🥰📖🌸🍃

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, narrated by Caitlin Davies, is a delightful listen!

Terlu was introduced in The Spellshop as the librarian who created Caz, a sentient spider plant. It's a crime for non-sorcerers to perform magic, and she was punished by being "statuified." Six years later, she finds herself "unstatuified" and on an island unknown to her. This wintry island is inhabited by a grumpy gardener and an enchanted greenhouse, which really consists of many greenhouses connected by a series of doors. Each greenhouse holds different wonders, but the magic is starting to falter, and some of the greenhouses are dying—along with the plants inside. It's up to Terlu and her new friends to save them.

This book has a delightful cast of characters, from pollinating teacup dragons to a band of sentient plants. The characters are what I loved most about this story. If you want to read something that feels like a warm hug, this is it.

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst is a whimsical and heartwarming delight, brought vividly to life in Caitlin Davies’s enchanting narration. With her signature blend of magic, charm, and emotional depth, Durst crafts a cozy fantasy full of sentient plants, crumbling enchantments, and the quiet healing of companionship. Terlu’s journey, from lonely statue to unlikely heroine, unfolds with gentle humor and tenderness, while her growing connection with the gruff yet endearing gardener Yarrow offers a slow-blooming romance as sweet as the story’s honey cakes. Davies’s performance is pitch-perfect, capturing both the whimsy and warmth of Durst’s magical world. Ideal for fans of cozy fantasy, found family, and redemptive love.

Rate 3.5
I was excited to receive an early access copy of this audiobook. I found the first book to be entertaining. However, if I had to choose, I think I enjoyed this one more. It follows a very similar formula to the first one, which, as far as cozy fantasies go, is cute and easy to read.

Terlu is this talkative yet anxious librarian who was wrongfully punished for wanting a friend. Her story is very similar to Kiela’s; both feel the anxiety of being punished or discovered for having or doing magic, and also fear ending up alone. I thought Terlu was relatable, yet she had no filter. Understandable after she was stuck being a statue for so long.

I loved how Yarrow and Terlu interacted with each other. Not quite the same as other forced close-proximity stories. But a trope nonetheless. Parts might be cliche, but again, for a cozy read, I can forgive that. It is exactly what is advertised. Ultimately, the message I took was that you might fail at times, but if possible, try again.

This is the second book to the spell shop. This was adorable and if you love plants and magic and a little bit of mystery this is a cozy read for you. I was able to listen to the audio of this book and the audio narrator did a fantastic job bringing all of the characters to life.

I enjoyed the Spellshop by Durst, but the Enchanted Greenhouse was even more enjoyable. She wrote a good story with a well melded fantasy and romance mix. I look forward to recommending this book to customers and hope my coworker reads it soon so I can talk to her about it. Great storyline and character development.

Another great installment in this cute and cozy fantasy. If you enjoyed book one, you should like this one as we get more of the same here.

After creating a sentient spider plant, young mage Terlu is punished by being turned into a wooden statue and hidden away in a grand library. Later, she awakens on a mysterious island of magical greenhouses where she meets a gruff but kind gardener. As Terlu discovers the magic keeping the island alive is failing, she joins forces with some unlikely allies to uncover its secrets and save her newfound home.

What unfolds from there is an utterly charming and heartwarming story that swept me right into its magical world. I didn’t expect this to be my kind of book, but it was such a comforting and refreshing change of pace. It felt like a cozy little reset after some heavier reads, and I loved every minute of it.

What do you get when you mix a sentient spider plant, teeny dragons, a winged fairy kitty, a cranky-on-the-outside gardener with a soft heart, and a cheerful talking rose named Lottie? Add a tray of warm honey cakes, the feeling of finding your place in the world, and just a hint of romance, and you’ve got a perfect cozy fantasy recipe.

The whole setting felt like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for plant lovers. I was enchanted by every whimsical detail. As someone who adores plants, I wanted to spend a full day in those greenhouses. Just once, I’d love to see a yawning orchid or a slow talking philodendron in real life.

Beyond the whimsy, there are some genuinely touching messages here about kindness, forgiveness, personal integrity, and the quiet but powerful need to feel seen. The story never felt heavy, but it still carried emotional weight in the best way.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caitlin Davies, and she did a wonderful job creating a sense of magic throughout. I’ll admit that some of the higher-pitched plant voices, especially Lottie’s, were a little much for my ears, so I might have preferred reading the print edition. Still, the narration stayed true to the tone of the story and brought it to life beautifully.

Whimsical, warm, and full of heart, The Enchanted Greenhouse is a lovely little escape. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling and would be perfect for readers of almost any age.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook copy. All opinions are my own.

I liked The Spellshop just a bit more, but The Enchanted Greenhouse was still a solid, cozy listen. Sarah Beth Durst has a knack for creating the sweetest little characters—seriously, it's like a warm cup of tea in story form.

Caitlin Davies does a great job with the narration, giving the book just the right tone of gentle magic and charm. If you're in the mood for something light, whimsical, and full of heart, this one's worth a listen.

Unfortunately not for me, I wasn't able to finished it, despite going into it with a lot of excitement. It was almost too cozy. Just quite dull, and flat, and the pacing wasn't very strong. I was disappointed, I'm sorry to say.