The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst is a cozy read about finding where you fit. The plot is believable and well-planned out but not overly complicated or stressful. There was just enough detail in the world and magic system to be interesting without being overwhelming and difficult to remember. If you want to read a book that feels like a warm blanket then try The Enchanted Greenhouse.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is set in the same world as The Spellshop which I enjoyed. They are separate stories but there are mentions of the characters from The Spellshop in this one. I enjoyed The Enchanted Greenhouse and really like the cosy atmosphere it has.

Terlu was the one who broke the law and made Caz from The Spellshop into a sentient plant and from the start of this book we see how unfairly punished she was by being turned into a statue. Reading the beginning of The Enchanted Greenhouse did feel a bit horrifying as we see Terlu's punishment play out and feel her thoughts and experience her emotions on it. Throughout the rest of the book you can feel how much that has affected her and made her wary of doing magic.

I loved the descriptions of the greenhouse and all it holds inside, this felt very atmospheric and cosy. I liked how the magic that held the greenhouse together was described and was intrigued by how Terlu was going to fix what was messing up the magic and making the greenhouse fail.

The history of the greenhouse and the island was very interesting and was one of my favourite parts to read especially reading more about, Laiken, the sorcerer who had created the greenhouse but was now dead. There is a lot more talking plants in this one and I really liked Lotti, the sentient rose. I liked the companionship Terlu and Yarrow had with each other as the book went on.

Overall I liked The Enchanted Greenhouse and think if you liked The Spellshop you'll most likely like this too. I loved the descriptions of the greenhouse and liked the history of how it was created. This book is a fun magical read with a cosy atmosphere.

(I was sent a Netgalley ARC of this book to review)

This is a book I want to reread! I didn’t read the spellshop and whilst it didn’t affect my reading I would love to go back and then reread and see if I can pick out bits and I also feel like it would help to seal my rating firmly for this book (I didn’t realise it was book 2).

I really liked this book. It was cosy and perfect. I loved the writing in this book. It did take a while to fully get immersed in to it. But I had a great time with this book.

The Enchanted Greenhouse is cosy fantasy perfection.
It's a warm and whimsical, magical story full of sentient plants, tiny dragons, and a flying cat.

The author mentioned in her acknowledgements that it's her "hope that this book can be a bit of light and warmth and a dose of kindness that a reader might need. and I feel like she fully delivered that.

I loved the gentle pacing, the whimsical setting, and how wholesome this book felt the whole way through.

Terlu is such an adorable FMC. I wanted to protect her from the start and was fully rooting for her. And Yarrow? Grumpy, patient, and soo quietly supportive. If you're looking for a green flag MMC, look no further.
Their relationship is full of care and respect, and I was SQUEALING when they finally kissed. That bed scene was everything. (no spice!)

The greenhouse itself also completely stole my heart. I could honestly read five more books set in this world and be perfectly happy. (seriously)

5 stars. I adored it.

Having read The Spellshop, I was delighted to find that Terlu was getting her own story, and this did not disappoint. As with her previous book, Durst treats the setting as another character unto itself, and all of the side characters were delightful - plant, animal AND mineral (one hundred percent counting a beautiful cave).

Cozy, low stakes and filled with kindness, this book was exactly what I hoped for and needed.

Actual Rating: 4.5⭐

This was my first read by Sarah Beth Durst, and even though I haven’t gotten to The Spellshop yet, I jumped straight into The Enchanted Greenhouse and had no trouble following along. Even so, I bet longtime fans will have extra fun spotting easter eggs woven into the story.

What I loved most ? Honestly, the greenhouse itself and all the magical, sentient plants totally stole my heart — pure cozy fantasy magic.
From tiny dragons and winged cats to dancing dragonflies and singing flowers, this felt like the kind of whimsical escape I’d happily move into.
Lottie, the sentient resurrection rose with a full-on sassy personality, lights up every scene she’s in — I adored her!

Character-wise, I really enjoyed watching Terlu come into her own. After years of loneliness, she finds a sense of belonging with Yarrow and the plants, and starts building confidence in her magic and spellcasting.
Yarrow, the grumpy greenhouse keeper, has a quiet but heartfelt way of showing love and support. I liked how Terlu’s sunshine energy slowly rubbed off on him — their friendship evolving into something deeper felt really sweet.

That said, I found myself wishing for more moments between Terlu and Yarrow. Their bond was touching, but I wanted extra layers of chemistry and emotional intimacy.
Moreover, Yarrow’s reconciliation with his family felt slightly rushed — I was hoping for more emotional buildup or tension before the resolution.

Still, this story is a cozy, heartwarming delight about healing, found family, and second chances.
If you’re looking for a gentle, low-stakes fantasy with lush worldbuilding and a big dose of comfort — this one’s for you.

P.S. I’m 100% grabbing The Spellshop next to meet Caz — the sentient spider plant sounds iconic and I need to know their story.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: confinement, war, abandonment, grief, death

3.75⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with this e-arc in return for an honest review.

Honestly, after reading the spellshop I knew I needed to pick this one up immediately. I love this cosy world.

Following Terlu the librarian who had been turned into a statue, im so glad that Sarah decided to give her her own story to tell us more about this character. Terlu is just positivity embodied and that is how these books make you feel after.

Not quite a 4 star as I did think it went on just a bit too long, the first 30% is Terlu just yapping and not much happening but honestly when you get to know her character more it just makes sense.

Cute, cosey and hearty just like a honey cake

The Enchanted Greenhouse is so utterly endearing that I couldn't put it down. This has everything I want from a cozy fantasy: a memorable and charming setting, kind hearted and thoughtful relationships that respect boundaries, magical creatures, an engaging plot... This is an easy five stars for me!

In The Spellshop, we met Caz, a talking spider plant that escaped the burning library and went into hiding on a remote island. In this sequel, we get to meet his creator, Terlu. Unfortunately, her use of the magic that brought sentience to Caz got her turned into a statue, but after six years of un-life, she's restored - but her newfound freedom comes with a failing greenhouse, a reclusive gardener, and a danger of repeating the past.

I sometimes struggle to feel a true sense of completeness with romance in standalone stories, but The Enchanted Greenhouse captured the dynamic between Terlu and Yarrow so well that I wasn't left feeling like I'd missed out. Of course I'd love to see more from these two in future, but the strength of their bond and the supportive relationship they have felt well earned and natural. And it's more than an opposites attract which I appreciated.

The themes were also very positive, but not reductive. Issues of forgiveness, trauma, self worth, and autonomy are explored thoughtfully without overshadowing the narrative.

But let's be real - the true magic of this story comes from the non-human characters. I am obsessed with the hilarity of the talking plants, I adore the treasure hoarding micro dragons, and I would happily spend my life cuddling Emeral the flying cat. I would love to be able to explore the varied rooms of the greenhouse, and could honestly see myself reading book after book centered around this one location as it's just that special. This is by far my favourite use of atmosphere and setting in a book this year.

For me, the slow and steady pacing, quiet and mindful character interactions, and hint of danger in an otherwise serene space made this a standout read. It has me hoping for more books set in this world in future, and I'll keep all my fingers crossed that this wish comes true!

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a cosy fantasy, with a sweet, soft romance on the side. It is a story of friendship, love and community. Our protagonists are trying to save the dying greenhouses and all the plants that live in them using illegal magic, so there are stakes, but the story manages to retain its cosy feel throughout. Terlu and Yarrow are an opposites-attract sort of romance with a classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic.

This works very well as a standalone, but I think it's even better if you've read The Spellshop. Knowing a bit of Terlu and Caz's history adds to the story. There is a very large cast of sentient plants in this story, and we don't really get the time to fall in love with them as I did Caz and Meep in The Spellshop, but they still add to the whimsical, magical feel of the island.

Recommended for fans of The Spellshop, and cosy fantasy in general.

I loved this. I adore cosy fantasy, and this one was amazing. If you enjoyed The Spellshop, you will love this second book. Set in the same world, it follows the story of Terlu, the librarian who created Caz. You don’t need to have read The Spellshop first to enjoy this book, but it definitely enhances the fuzzy happy feelings when you catch the little references to it.

I’ve been on the hunt for books with green flag MMCs, and this completely fits the bill. Yarrow was wonderful. Not perfect, he has some flaws, which is good, but he never uses those flaws as an excuse to treat Terlu poorly. That is something that drives me insane in a lot of romantasy books. I need more books like this to be written (maybe one about a certain sailor?). This book is truly like reading a hug. It is a friends to lovers story that is wholesome and healing. Bonus points for flying cats, tiny dragons, and lots and lots of honey cake.

I loved Terlu’s inner dialogue. Her personality is far from my own, but she was still relatable and likeable. Very well written. Lotti is adorable. I feel like her story and feelings could have been wrapped up a little more fully, but in the end it was not really about her, and it did not detract from the story at all. I really do hope we get another one.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored this. While it is technically a sequel to The Spellshop it can be read completely by itself which I love. But also features nice nods to the Spellshop for those who have read both. If the Spellshop is like drinking a hot chocolate, this is like being curled up under a blanket with a hot water bottle. It oozes coziness and charm and warmth. The new characters we meet are great and you instantly warm up to them and want to know more about them. We get even more sentient plants, magic and spellcasting and how there can be different approaches, mysteries to unravel and just this absolute uniqueness to the greenhouse. Every room holds something new to discover and fits so well into the main characters skill, cooking. I honestly felt I was right there eating those meals and could taste every bite. It was so lush and descriptive and immersive, I truly lost myself in the coziness of the world. A truly heartwarming story about second chances, and forgiving yourselves and others, and it has a magical cat and tiny dragons!? Can't recommend enough.

So cosy. I loved this one just as much as its predecessor. It had everything I loved about the first one. Absolutely magical and full of heart. I highly recommend both books in the series. I cannot wait to continue on and hope for more books.

A sentient spider plant, a spell gone wrong, and an island of magical greenhouses—what more could a reader want? 🌿✨

The Enchanted Greenhouse is a delightful return to the whimsical world of The Spellshop, but this gentle standalone offers its own blend of charm, wit, and quiet emotional resonance. Sarah Beth Durst has crafted a story that feels like a hug in book form—lush with imagination and steeped in compassion.

Terlu Perna is not your typical rule-breaker—but when loneliness drives her to enchant a spider plant, she’s punished with magical stasis, becoming a wooden statue tucked away in the Great Library. Years later, she awakens in an abandoned botanical wonderland and must confront a dying island, fading magic, and the question of whether she still has a place in the world.

The result? A gorgeously told story about second chances, found family, and the courage to begin again. From talking roses to honey cakes and winged cats, Durst infuses her fantasy with quiet joy and gentle humour. But beneath the cosiness is a surprisingly poignant meditation on loneliness, purpose, and making space for growth—both magical and personal.

💬 The Enchanted Greenhouse is as enchanting as its title suggests: a beautifully written novel that celebrates healing, self-forgiveness, and the kind of hope that grows slowly but roots deeply.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 — An utterly enchanting story. A must-read for cosy fantasy fans.

While it didn’t blow me away, this turned out to be a sweet and cozy read once it found its rhythm.

It took a while for me to feel any real connection—around 30 to 40 percent in—but once the sentient plants were awakened, the story finally came to life. The greenhouse setting is whimsical and charming, filled with imaginative details like singing flowers and miniature dragons, and there’s a gentle warmth to the way Durst writes about second chances and found family.

The romance is slow and subtle, leaning more toward soft companionship than swoon-worthy tension, which suited the tone but didn’t completely hook me emotionally. Overall, it’s a cute story with lovely magical touches, but nothing that felt especially fresh or groundbreaking.

If you enjoy cozy, low-stakes fantasy with heart and a touch of charm, this will probably hit the spot. For me, it was a pleasant read with a slow start but a rewarding second half.

Although this is the second book in a series, the story of this book takes place at the same time as “The Spellshop” which is, technically, the first book. In that book we met a librarian who escaped a revolution with a box full of books and a sentient plant named Caz. This plant is, actually, the link that connects both books, because our main character is another librarian who was punished and turned into a wooden statue, precisely, for giving life to Caz, using a magic spell that was forbidden to all except socerers.

Terlu Perna as a statue is sent to an island covered with greenhouses. It is a gigantic garden preserving plants, trees and flowers from all over the world and that was made possible thanks to the magic spells casted by an old sorcerer whose daughter adored flowers. But now the sorcerer has died and the magic is slowly fading away so the last gardener’s only hope is for someone who can restore magic. That’s why Terlu and a spell to bring her back to life, was sent to him. Yarrow lives in isolation with the sole company of a winged cat, but Terlu is now here and their first mission is, to wake up the sentient plants, starting by a rose called Lotti.

In her acknowledgments pages Sarah Beth Durst says that the main goal for her when writing a book is to give hope. This is the second book of her vast bibliography that I read and all I can say is that the goal has been achieved, twice (in my case). But that’s not all.

Durst gives comfort, peace, a much needed faith in the inner good, a strong sense of community and found family, magic, especially the kind that’s hidden in the little everyday things, love and compassion. For me, her books are the definition of “cosy fantasy” because she makes you feel at home in all of her worlds. She did that with “The Spellshop” and she’s doing it again with “The Enchanted Greenhouse”.

It is impossible not to fall in love with these characters and the wonderful whimsical world Durst has created for them. All of them, human, animals and plants, are adorable in their own unique ways. They are insecure but strong, they triumph and they fail, they never give up. They support one another and they accept things and people as they come. And they have so many quirks! They will stay with me forever.

In this book, however, instead of having Terlu join a community that was already settled, she begins her adventure in an island where only one man lives, Yarrow, the garderner. For most of the book they are alone together with a flying cat and some sentient plants, but the community develops and grows as the book progresses. For the first half of the story the pace is slow, almost lethargic, but fear not, it changes. The pace is a reflection of the state of the island and the mood of its inhabitants, in a way it’s like Terlu’s arrival wakes them from a long slumber, little by little. But the slow pace at the beginning represents loneliness and abandonment so as Terlu, Yarrow and the plants get closer and their bonding grows stronger, that obscure and gloomy feeling fades away, hope enters their hearts and the pace changes.

Sarah Beth Durst not only convinced me to read all of the books I didn’t know she had written before, but she has become an instant buy for me. She’s a balm for the soul.

💭 #QOTD  Would you rather have a "walking" talking plant or a plant that stays where it is but sings (nicely) 24/7?

Title: The Enchanted Greenhouse
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Pages: 384
Rating: 4/5
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷 - romance with no spice
#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 17th July 2025

Well this was just the sweetest read! For those who've read The Spell Shop. This is the next book in the series. And dare I say, even better than the first!!!

If you were wondering what happened to the librarian that was turned into a statue for creating Caz, then wonder no more.

The magical greenhouses were breath taking in how it was described. The book explores topics of isolation, fear, community and abandonment. I loved the aching slow burn, the gentle push of forced proximity, and of course the talking plants, flying cat and honey obsessed dragons! I was sad to complete this book and no longer have the magic of the greenhouses.

This is a cosy, low stake read. Perfect for in-between heavy book topics, taking on holiday, or just in need of a big ol comfort chick-lit hug!

You'll love this book if you like
- slow burn romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- sentient plants
- magical greenhouses
- Witches and magic
- who did this to you?
- witchy romance
- cosy fantasy

The flowers from Alice in Wonderland meets Kiki’s Delivery Service in this cozy fantasy about magical greenhouse. We follow Terlu, who was turned into a statue following breaking the law of using magic without any formal sorcery training. Terlu wakes up 6 years later, discovering she is no longer a statue and is on a different island altogether. She comes across a greenhouse, which is actually hundreds of different greenhouses, each with their own climate to accommodate different plants, created by magic. The sorcerer who created the greenhouse is long gone, and the only other person on the island is a lone gardener called Yarrow.

However, in some greenhouses the magic has begun to fail. In a race to save the plants and the greenhouses as a whole, Terlu ponders whether or not she was sent to this island for a reason. Battling with her fear of being punished for magic use again, Terlu must face her fears and use her knowledge to help Yarrow and the greenhouses.

This was such a cute story, with a lot of tropes I love; found family, grumpy x sunshine, sentient plants.

This was a little cheesy in parts, a little convenient and a little repetitive, but I still had a really good time overall! It was very sweet.

I loved the nods to The Spellshop which takes place in the same world. You don’t need to have read that book to read and enjoy this book, though!

Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect with this book - ultimately, it just wasn't for me. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.

Thank you to the publisher for the earc!

The Spellshop was one of my favorite books last year, so I was really excited to read the prequel. And it did not disappoint!

This time we’re following Terlu who created Caz (you remember Caz, right?) and later saved a greenhouse.

I was so happy to be back in this world, even though I still don’t really understand the magic system. It was just magical and happy. I really loved the way Terlu wanted to prove that she can do magic, but still felt guilt over doing illegal magic.

I loved the characters, I mean, we have humans, but a lot of sentiment plants! They are talking and signing and it was so hilarious. We also have a ghost of the magician who created the greenhouse. And also Yarrow. He acts like he doesn’t care about anyone, but still makes sure everyone is fed (with freshly baked honey cakes?!) and has a place to sleep. Yeah, it’s not really convincing. Oh and did I mention there are dragons? Tiny, adorable, treasure seeking dragons. Love them.

If you read The Spellshop and want more of the world, definitely add this to your TBR! You don’t necessarily have to read the previous book, but keep in mind it spoils a few things!

thank you netgalley for sending me an advanced readers copy:)

So.. as someone who grows and collects exotic houseplants, this is quite frankly just perfect. Yarrow (our male mc) lives the life i could only wish to have. I also really like how Sarah Beth Durst described the flora and fauna and make it really easy to imagine them in my head.

Overall this was a delightful easy cozy read and perfect to combat the current heat via escapism into that world ♡
Also the food they mentioned in that book did make me drool.. cookbook when?:D