Sometimes all i need in life is a charming relatively low-stakes cosy fantasy. Adding in garden-witch vibes and a whole village of found family and i was very happy with this one.

Heads up that this is spicier than is often the case with this genre, and there are some characters who are introduced with a lot of potential, and remain very superficially filled out - is this where i advocate for a sequel following sage and adelphi?

A DND-inspired cozy fantasy? Sign me up!

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

After her family lost their fortune, Margot, a young plant-witch, is running out of time to keep their debt-keepers at bay. Overwhelmed by the maintenance of her grandmother's greenhouses, when her childhood friend, Yael, shows up at her doorstep, Margot has to make some difficult decisions, and reveal secrets she would rather have left buried.

Margot and Yael were both such likeable characters, and the dual narrative blended their differing perspectives perfectly. Their relationship builds really nicely throughout the story, and I loved the cozy nature setting. There were a few areas that didn't quite work for me, and I would have loved to see more of Margot and Yael's other friendships, but overall, this was a really fun read!

Perfect spring vibes, and one to try for your next cozy fantasy fix!

Books with similar vibes - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, The Stormborne Vine by Tilly Wallace, Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree, and Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne.

This was such a cute and cosy book, the perfect story as we head into spring.

I absolutely love fantasies that have queer-normative worlds where every relationship is accepted without question. Having a non-binary main character was also fantastic and shows just how easy it is to write using they/them pronouns.

The world building was lots of fun and the magic system was interesting. The idea that magic can be gifted to those who don't naturally possess it was done really well and added to the drama.

As this is a cosy fantasy (with a bit of spice) the stakes are reasonably low. It's essentially a story of a simple but lovely way of life under threat from greed and capitalism. This is all tied in with a sweet and inevitable romance to create good vibes and a book that delivers warm fuzzy feelings.

I had a lot of fun with this book and these characters and can see myself re-reading in the future.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Penguin, for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Let's start positively; the story was enjoyable and intriguing. The plot had a nice flow and was paced adequately enough. Additionally, with the dual POV, I loved Margot's POV. The premises of a queer cosy romantasy will always catch my attention.

Yael and Margot, childhood friends, meet again after nearly ten years of not seeing each other when Yael gallops back into Margot's life. Yael has fled home with no possessions and no plan. Margot, lonely and in need of help after her grandmother died and her parents lost the family fortune, offers Yael a job. What Yael doesn't know is that Margot is trying form a plan out how to take back everything that was stolen from her by Yael's family. But plans are notoriously unreliable, unlikely to survive a swiftly-blooming mutual attraction, not to mention the machinations of parents determined to get their heir back—no matter the cost.

I finished the entire book, but not without quite a few struggles. The premises was 100% up my alley, but the execution was far below my expectations. Therefore, I give the book a generous two-star review based purely on the few positives mentioned earlier.
Let's start with the book's conclusion. The story was building up to an exciting climax with Yael's family, but it rushed past it, leaving me feeling a bit let down. It felt like the climax was skipped, which was a shame.
The romance was definitely passionate, but there were so many intimate scenes that it almost felt like the book needed a content warning. A little steam is great, but this felt excessive—almost like the intimate scenes were prioritized over the emotional moments rather than enhancing them. It got to the point where it felt like every alone moment had to turn physical.
I had a hard time with Yael's POV. They felt a bit one-dimensional and didn’t have much depth or growth. Compared to the other characters, Yael felt underdeveloped and a little frustrating, like they were just there to move the plot along rather than being a fully realized person. They felt weak and made a lot of questionable choices without much development.
The book relied a lot on telling rather than showing, making the writing feel flat in places. I would have loved more depth and immersion in the storytelling. Instead of letting the reader experience things naturally, it was often spelt out. This made it an easy read, but at the same time, it felt a bit too basic and lacking in nuance. Since the writing was a bit unpolished and simplistic, making it hard to engage fully, the story's full potential was missing.
The book strongly emphasizes identity politics and social justice, which is very in tune with today's cultural shifts. However, it is executed in a way that feels more like a statement than a story; some might love it, and others might find it a bit much. Additionally, how this book introduced and reinforced nonbinary characters felt a little heavy-handed, making it more distracting than organic. It felt unnatural, almost like it was trying too hard to ensure the reader got the message instead of weaving it seamlessly into the story.

This was not the book for me, but I am sure there will be others who enjoy it.

This was such an adorable, wholesome read with incredibly lovable main characters, interesting, descriptive world building, and complex character relationships. The book was just really cosy and had so much charm about it, was easy to read and perfectly paced.

Cosy fantasy is my favourite recent genre, and this is a great entry. It has all the hallmarks; a greenhouse with magical plants, a frankly unhealthy amount of focus on food, a pining relationship and a village who collectively adopt one of the main characters. This is the kind of read you can get lost in for quite a while!

There's a lot of discussion in here about what you 'owe' to people in your life and what they can reasonably ask of you, but it's never too heavy or difficult. There's plenty of space in the plot for fun outings and beautiful descriptions of friendly spaces. There was a moment of 'why aren't you talking to each other!' near the end, but that's so common in novels I often don't notice any more!

If this is the kind of novel we're getting, the genre is safe for a good while yet. Long may it last.

Book Recommendation: Opinions differ on whether Legends and Lattes is the first of this genre, but it certainly solidified a lot of the conventions of it, and any fan should give it a try.

Movie Recommendation: Now hear me out on this one; Practical Magic has the same cosy, gentle feel as this, despite being set in the 'real' world rather than a fantasy realm.

There’s no question, 2025 has very much proved to be a year of cottage core and cosy reading for me and I have zero regrets, the world is a bonfire right now, my own life is so up in the air I can’t see it for the clouds, so for me reading is the escape and Homegrown Magic truly gave me an escape from reality.

I’m not saying that Homegrown Magic is all twee and cosy and nothing ever goes wrong, seriously what would be the point of reading that, there’d be nothing to pin my hopes to, no one to root for and hope that their dreams come true. With definite rival family Romeo & Juliet vibes, opposing characters uniting against a common foe and of course the drama of a puzzle/potion to solve and a village to save, Homegrown Magic delivers. And, I haven’t even mentioned the non-binary character the diverse relationship and truly wide representation, which only added to the story in my eyes.

Yael Claunek, primary heir of the obscenely wealthy banking family isn’t happy. They feel alone, distinct and not a true member of their family whose only passions are power and money. On the evening of their graduation party, seeing no alternative to a confining future in the family business they take the impulsive decision to run away on a mechanical horse. With no plans or thoughts for where they are going to run away to or what they are going to do they find themselves in Bloomfields, the home of Margot their estranged childhood playmate. Margot Greenwillow is a tired and weary plant witch, since the loss of her grandmother and her grandmother’s estate due to her parents failed efforts to succeed and rise in business and society has been spending all of her time and effort to try to save her family business and grandmother’s legacy from the Claunek family. As the deadline approaches Margot becomes ever more desperate to save her family’s legacy, and now finds herself with a new and totally unexpected gardening assistant...

This would be the perfect audio book, it meanders a little at the start but, truly provides an opportunity for a great narrator to bring it to life, but, reading it, I actually took pleasure in just how explicit the author was in their explanations – not normally something I appreciate but, my head is rather full right now, however, for me it worked but, for others it could be a little irritating. Despite this the story soon took flight and I found myself invested in the will they/won’t they of Yael and Margot’s relationship.

I truly delighted in the little easter eggs (D&D references,) that were sprinkled throughout the story, they totally brought a little smile to my face and didn’t feel at all out of place in Margot and Yael’s world. I adored the characters, disliked the baddies (I know – old school!) and can truly see opportunities for other stories in this world – I’ll keep my fingers crossed on that one.

The imagery, society and world-building were truly wonderful, from the polite terms and references that indicated how representationally inclusive this society is, to the truly luscious, picturesque descriptions of the landscapes, city and outfits – this even included references to binders, that I don’t recall ever seeing in any other specific books.

A book that is truly diverse, loveable, engaging, cosy and truly a delight to escape the realities of life with, I totally recommend it to ALL readers, there is something in this story for everyone looking for a truly cosy romantasy with witchy, cottagecore, diverse and truly loveable vibes…although, I must say that I cannot be held responsible for the urge you’ll have for strawberry jam on toast!

Thank you so much Penguin, Random House UK, Cornerstone Books and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

this was so cute! i love our main characters, and the lgbtqia+ rep throughout the whole book! the setting in the little village was perfect, and the villagers themselves has such found family vibes. i love them. the main plot i feel was not as prevalent as i think it could've been, it was just kind of pushed aside after Yael turned up, and then was just over a little too quickly - but maybe that would've spoiled the vibe of the story. I also would've liked to have seen how Margot came about finding the cure for her parents as well. Honestly, an extra 50-75 pages could've giving us a lot of answers. like, where is Sage? did she get eaten by bandits? did aphari marry that dude? i have so many questions.
anyway, i had a fun time with this. i loved the relationship between the main characters, and definitely look forward to more of their story.. if there is going to be more.

“Is it possible to create something that makes the world a more fair place?”

I ADORED Homegrown Magic, and it’s now one of my absolute favorites.
It is, first of all, delightfully cozy. The magical system is super interesting and SO linked to privileges that it makes a great metaphor for our world. I loved the writing, and the present but not overwhelming world-building (with a special mention for the mechanical horses and… the plant magic –honestly this book has it all). Margot’s village is adorable and became one of my preferred places in fantasy –one I would dream to visit. The story’s purpose is for her –and Yael– to fight to save the place and I totally understand why.
Speaking about Yael, they have a great character ARC. After running from their graduation party, they learn what “real life” is, and how responsibilities can be so different from what they were taught before. I love how they untie themselves from Magic at the beginning of the story, thanks to their privileged status, and how they stay tuned to their values once they find a meaning to their life. Even though they are clumsy and have everything to learn, they aren’t the usual “rich scion who needs to learn how hard life is” that you can see in many stories. I loved the NB representation, which was helped by the queer-normative world. It was, honestly, my favorite one so far and I could completely identify myself to their experience.
But I loved Magot too. She carries the weight of the (her) world on her shoulders, and hides everything to the people around her. Her ARC answers to Yael’s as she learns to let go.
Their relationship is not so complicated in the end, and super cute, and a great help for their respective evolutions, but (and I loved that) not the only one. Their opposite side cause sparks to fly, but –mostly– is the instrument of their success, as they complement each other. I loved the dynamics, and how they have the same goal –refusing statut quo– and how it helped discuss unfairness, social status, but also ethics in sciences and even some kind of colonialism.
But “despite” that (or thanks to, IDK), this story was first and foremost such a balm for the heart, a cozy place to retreat to recharge your batteries, in which the community and mutual assistance take all their significance. It was a true breath of fresh air, and I’m certain I’ll reread this book more than once, should I need to escape (I know I will). I’ll take raspberry jam, though, and will keep Margot’s strawberry one for broken hearts.


Thank you to the authors, Delrey and Netgalley for the eARC. My opinions are my own.

This was an absolutely delightful cosy fantasy, the only reason I didn’t give it 5⭐️ was the level/amount of spice. We don’t always need to get so much detail, especially in cosier titles, or maybe it’s just me.
I loved everything else though, the romance was delightful, the characters were just wonderful and I loved how they were both determined to make the right choices. Lots of gorgeous descriptions and an interesting magic system.

A beautiful addition to the cozy romantasy genre. Slow-burn friends to lovers romance that allows for a bit of self discovery in the way.. Queer and non-binary representation without the need to over explain, I loved it. Will leave you wanting to plant plants and eat strawberry jam!

Homegrown Magic is an excellent addition to the queer, cozy fantasy sub-genre that I'm so fond of.
Margot is a weary witch trying to save her family's legacy from the corrupt Claunecks.
Yael is a privileged member of the Clauneck who wishes they could reject their family legacy but doesn't know how to escape the grasp of their family's patron. When a chance encouter leads to the pair reuniting for the first time since Margot's family succumbed to scandal when she was just a girl, they become entangled in love and lies.

I feel slightly conflicted about this one because while I did enjoy it overall, I did feel like I was missing something that would have connected me to the story a little more. I can't quite pinpoint what it was, I think maybe the writing style just wasn't my jam (it wasn't bad by any means, I just don't think my brain was able to get in the flow of it), and while I loved Margot and was rooting for her completely, I wasn't as invested in Yael's story and plight. Also, the beginning of the story felt a tiny bit slow, and then the ending seemed to fall into place very quickly and I'd have liked a little more conflict and confrontation to make it feel more satisfying, rather than all being wrapped up off page or via a couple of letters.

That being said, I did really enjoy the story, it was cosy and I loved how effortlessly queer it was. It's definitely one to give a go and see whether you connect with it. Thank you to Random House for the opportunity to read and review this story!

I was approved for this book on Netgalley but my opinions are my own.

When I read the blurb of this book I immediately thought it was right up my street. It had Romeo and Juliet vibes with two people from rival families being thrown together despite their differences, and a non-binary main character (which I love to read more of, when it’s done well). Add to that some magic and a dramatic deadline to save a town and I was hooked.

It took me a little to get into though, hence the four stars, there was a little bit over explanation sometimes - I found myself reading a line and going “I know! I just read it!” A couple of times. This might have also contributed to some of the Yael chapters feeling a bit jarring at first, the repeats and many they’s just confusing me for a second. But this could have also just been me getting used to being in a non-binary character’s perspective - which could be helped by simply more representation.

Either way, I stopped feeling this way at around the 1/3 mark so the rest of the book just zoomed along nicely.

I really liked how the D&D references were sprinkled in (bag of holding, etc.) which was really nice as a player myself. It felt like we were just comfortably embedded in that world, and it made me smile every now and then too.

The main characters were easy to like and bond with, and I really cared for them by the end.

Little things I also loved were the honorific “sir’ram” in place of sir/madam, showing how inclusive this world is in terms of gender as well as sexuality, it really made a nerdy lesbian like myself feel warm and welcome - and is the goal for the real world too in my opinion.

Another thing was the outfits described, the red suit Yael wears at one time with black floral embroidery and a deep v neck showing off their black linen binder nearly made me swoon and/or go out shopping for myself!
Plus it was great to see a binder just casually mentioned and worn in a book, lots of things I just wish I saw more of elsewhere, especially if they were handled and shown as well as they were in Homegrown Magic.

Overall I loved this book, and will recommend it to all my queer and non-queer friends alike.

If you liked Legends and Lattes then this is a fantastic book. I personally love cosy fantasy but there was something about Legends and Lattes and Homegrown Magic that just didn't click for me sadly.
I think I like cosy fantasy with a plot with a beginning, middle and an end. I couldn't say what the main plot was for this book. It felt mundane at some points, like I could skip a chapter or two and still nothing important happened.
But that's a personal thing. If you love cosy fantasy that's a warm hug. I recommend a hot chocolate and your favourite chair for this book.
For me, I was more invested in Margot's story and the village.

Yael Claunek is the heir to an obscenely wealthy banking family. After finishing their education it's time to fall in line and join the family business. Except they'd rather not, and impulsively run away on a mechanical horse during their graduation party. There's not much of a plan, but luckily Yael runs into childhood friend Margot in the Bloomfiels village pub. Margot is a plant witch desperately trying to keep her family business afloat, and Yael decides to stick around as her gardening assistant...

I really wanted to love this book, and it has a lot of elements to it that I do love, but unfortunately it just never fully clicked for me. The world it is set in is really cool, the story was interesting, and the main characters likeable, but the writing style just did not work for me.

I think the authors created an incredible queernormative society. The magical world was also really interesting, and I would have loved to see more of it embedded in the story! The story itself was really sweet, and I especially enjoyed spending time in Margot's greenhouses and the village of Bloomfield.

The writing style unfortunately just didn't really work for me. It felt a bit like the old advice to 'show, don't tell' had gotten misinterpreted. Instead of telling a little and implying more depth, there was a lot of visual description 'showing' the world. The end result is sweet, but a little superficial. This is to a large extent a matter of taste, and I know there are readers who will love this book exactly because of it's beautiful descriptions - the writing style just doesn't fit my reading style. I probably won't purchase the sequel myself, but I'll happily borrow it from the library if they have a copy.

This was a lovely, cosy book - perfect for all times of year.

I found the witchy, cottagecore atmosphere to be very endearing. The chemistry between the two main characters was on point and the resolution in the book couldn't be more perfect.

I really hope there is a part 2 soon, I don't think I'm ready to leave this cosy world back yet!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for approving my ARC request!

Homegrown Magic is a cosy, cottage-core queer fantasy. Once I started to get to know the characters, I definitely became invested in Margot and how she was going to save Bloomfield. The relationship between Margot and Yael developed quite simply, but there was a good amount of slow burn to keep me interested. There are a few spicy scenes too for anyone wondering!

I though the setting of this book, and the ideas of magic were wonderful. I would have loved to learn more about the magic, and see Margot's grow even more. I loved the village of Bloomfield and how coy and self sufficient it was. I would love to visit those greenhouses and the development of Margot's business through Rastanaya was great to see.

I thought it was great to have a main character in Yael that was non binary. It took me a few chapters to get used to how this was written, but it all fell into place very naturally, very quickly.

A very enjoyable, cosy book that I would have happily read more of!

I am not sure what stars to give to this book, because even though it is well enough executed, I didn't enjoy it that much. Let's say it is a four stars in execution and a three stars in enjoyment for me.

"Homegrown Magic" is very cosy story, with a magical setting that doesn't change that much from our world a few centuries back, tough there are mechanical steeds (and of course magic). The book is full of tea, beautiful gowns, strawberry, and of course romance.

I must say that, for an adult book, the romance and its characters feels rather YAish, which isn't a problem if you like these kind of things, with all the huge emotions and littles dramas it entails. Sure, the characters have to deal with grown ups issues, but it still feels quite... young. Given that I genererally don't understand teenager's reactions (even when I was a teenager), it was a bit of a struggle for me to care about the stakes the characters have and the decisions they make, even though I understood why it mattered to them. Again, not a real execution issue I think, it is more a "me" issue here.

The plot is rather simple, streaming slowly, with some time jumps and a resolution that felt quite anti-climatic, because it was obvious (and because I wasn't invested).

I do wish magic would have been present on page. It is fueling the world, it is also a major plot point for one of the character, but we don't see that much magic. It is a choice, and I respect it, but it means my interest deemed a little.

Overall, a nice queer cosy fantasy romance if you like YAish characters, calm stories and sweet romance!

For all of my fairy cottagecore bibliophiles who love a swoonworthy, nice-as-pie romance with a dash of adventure, a sprinkle of drama, and a hearty helping of magic, this romantasy is for you. Homegrown Magic is as sweet as sugar and absolutely perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and TJ Klune. The story meanders a little, but honesty, I can't fully disapprove because the prose is so amusing and whimsical. The characters blossom like the flowers in the MCs greenhouse - Yael maturing from a spoilt, unreliable charmer to a young person with a purpose, and Margot finding her confidence and learning to share her burdens with friends. The stakes are low - à la cosy romantasy - and while I ached for some climactic drama, I thought the quiet and dignified approach the characters took against the antagonists was actually very charming. But the pièce de résistance was the queernorm imagined world. It's a safe place for the readers and the characters alike, to love and adventure, grow and enjoy themselves without the shadow of bigotry. Of course, Bloomfield isn't entirely safe since mammoths, salamanders and other fantastical beasts roam free, and if I was a character in this book, I would probably get stung or bitten because I would absolutely need to befriend and pet everything!! Speaking of, my need to become a reclusive plant witch (albeit a crankier one than Margot!!) has only strengthened!!

If you're a certified fairytale enthusiast, lover of LGBTQIA+ character arcs, and friendly fantasy universes, you will adore the natural whimsy of this novel. It ignites such delightful childhood nostalgia, so if you're inner child has been a bit neglected lately or you're seeking dreamy, flower-filled escapism, then brew a nice cup of ginger and hibiscus tea and grab your own copy of Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos March 13th, 2025.

🍓 Friends-to-lovers
🍓 Rival family drama
🍓 Found Family
🍓 Lots of magic!!
🍓 Non-binary MC
🍓 Queernorm
🍓 Riches-to-rags

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House UK, for giving this romantasy lover the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for approving my request to read an arc of this book.

Homegrown Magic sounded like an absolute delight, and so I requested right away. I was so excited for plant witches and for a main nonbinary character. It all sounded amazing!
Unfortunately I did end up dnf’ing after 74 pages. I gave it a try to see if I could get into it, but I just found the writing a little difficult to read and there were so many characters that it was a bit overwhelming at times. I’m sure that many others will love this book though, I just struggle with some writing styles due to part of my disabilities and so I found this one was not the right fit for me. I’m still rating four stars though because I’m so happy that this book exists and I think in the right hands, it could be someone’s favourite book