As cute as the synopsis was for this book it just was not for me and I gave up on it around 30%. The magical realism of the garden protecting Harriet was a fun concept but just did not deliver what I was hoping for in this one. Harriet's behaviour made me quite annoyed frequently. I might have to try it again when I'm not snowed in during the winter and can appreciate plant life a bit more.

Such a fascinating book. I loved it. I loved the written book and the audiobook. Some romance, some mystery and also supernatural all thrown in together. Lovely setting and interesting characters. Great writing. Really enjoyed this one.

Harriet Hunt is alone in her home. It's been months since her father suddenly disappeared after railing about his financial woes. He has kept Harriet isolated all her life, hating her strangeness, same as her mother before her, who was a gentle and kind person. Harriet's strangeness is a powerful connection to the plants in her beloved garden: her emotions affect the plants, and whenever she's upset or feeling threatened, the plants respond by growing ferociously or moving near what threatens her.

A policeman shows up, threatening her with the asylum unless she can tell him where her father is. Harriet has no idea, but tells him that her father left for Norway. When attempting to post a letter later, she meets an attractive young man and his friend. Harriet gets to know the young man better, and quickly marries him when she realizes that the marriage will protect her from the policeman's questions and threats. Of course, this proves disastrous, as there is more going on around the naïve Harriet, involving her fortune, and she soon finds herself in danger. Her only ally is a young woman whom she was forced to employ by her father's former cook, who held Harriet in contempt all her life for being unusual.

This book by Chelsea Iverson took a little too long to really get going. It was obvious what was happening from the novel's outset, then later between Harriet and her new husband. Harriet's extreme, enforced isolation growing up proved an easy predictor of her relationship mistakes, as well as her too easily given trust to clearly malicious people.

I did like Harriet's connection to plants, and could easily tell where the nasty men in her life ended up.

I liked the voice work of Anna Burnett (I switched back and forth between the book and audiobook), and thought her work elevated the book from predictable to moderately enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Sourcebooks Landmark and to RBMedia for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

What a unique premise! I am a big fan of magical realism done right and I think this book nailed it.

Harriet is a pitiful character at the beginning of this book but by the end we see lots of personal growth. We see her blossom (see what I did there?) along with her mysterious magic garden after a childhood brimming with trauma.

I will say that the beginning of this is rather slow. It takes awhile to get to any real excitement but, by the end, it’s full of action.

I also thought this was quite atmospheric and creepy at times! I was impressed by how dark this was in parts. It really keeps the story from being too cute and lends an element of depth.

Anyone looking for historical fiction with a twist of magic and darkness should read this.

I liked the book but didn't love it. The story of magical plants didn't di it for me, but an interesting idea.

I'm always so grateful to Netgalley and the publishers that grant me permission to read their ARCs. That's why I feel absolutely terrible when a book just doesn't work for me and I end up DNFing it. It could just be my mood (I am truly a mood reader) or if it's a slow start or any other factor that interferes with me enjoying a read.

Unfortunately that's what happened with this book. While I may give it another chance in the future, I just couldn't get through it this time. Still, I know it will find it's audience which is why I'm giving it 3 ⭐️.

I will start by saying that this wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
While I did enjoy this, it was difficult to stay with because the pacing was slow.
I also find books where the female main character has extremely low self-esteem for more than half of a book, difficult to relate to. I found myself wanting to yell at Harriet to DO something or oh noooo do NOT do that. It what seemed like common sense situations.
That being said, I found the plot interesting and I was invested and curious enough to keep reading. Harriet's relationship to nature was endearing as well. It somewhat reminded myself of Jane Eyre a bit.
I give this a 3.75 rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

A masterfully crafted and haunting novel, weaving together a narrative that is both profoundly unsettling and breathtakingly beautiful. It delves into the depths of human resilience, highlighting the extraordinary capacity to endure and persevere through unimaginable challenges. From the very first page to the last, I was utterly captivated. The author’s writing style is evocative and thought-provoking, immersing the reader in a world of darkness, nature, and intrigue. The pacing felt just right, and the message about dreaming of a better life and working toward it was both inspiring and beautifully conveyed. This is a book that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page, making you reflect on its themes and characters. I truly loved every moment.

i’ll start with what i did like. the garden and all of it’s little quirks and mannerisms. that was the most interesting bit to me. the rest… i was not entirely prepared for. to start, there are some heavy themes in this; a few noteworthy ones being attempted sexual assault and domestic abuse. do with that what you will. the story as a whole was only okay imo.

harriet is alone. having lost her mother at a young age and her father’s disappeared to who knows where, harriet is utterly alone. alone in a house that holds too many secrets in its dark halls with a very peculiar garden.. she seems to understand that she’ll have to stay at the house for the rest of her life because who else will care for her garden like she will?? until a curious investigator starts asking about the details of her father’s disappearance does her perception of anything beyond the garden suddenly shifts and changes.

i feel so ??? for harriet. this is set in a victorian era and women then were often painted as having bouts of hysteria by the male figures of their lives for whatever motive. but i wish harriet just listened to her gut more. also the repetition of “where did my father disappear of to?” slowed down the story a lot and at times i lost interest. thankfully it does pick up more in probably the last third of the book.

i’m not the biggest fan of magic realism and i think that plays a big role in my overall rating of this book but it’s not a bad book. there were just some things i could have done without. this wasn’t for me unfortunately.


ty to netgalley & the publisher for the arc ♡

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4 1/2 stars. I loved this book! I think I discovered how much magical realism works for me this year in my reading adventures. This story is about Harriet who has 'a way' with plants in her family garden. Her father disappears and this is the story of her hunt for him and the things that happen to her while she is living alone in the house. The local law takes an interest in her, a young woman living alone is scandelous and her father's absence itself is suspicious. Harriet needs to protect her garden, so she can't exactly run off on her own. This isn't an out the edge of your seat thriller or anything. Its a lovely story with a unique premise and a heroine you can't help but like. The resolution was satisfying and I had a great time with this one. I have read the author's previous book and enjoyed it as well, although I liked this one even more. I will continue to be on the lookout for more works by this author.

I just finished The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen and here are my thoughts..

Harriet has been controlled by evil men in her life and the unexpected consequences of her frustrations have a visible reflection in her wild garden.

Harriet has no faith in herself. It is sad to watch. The book is well written and really intriguing. I love the found family and the innate sense of loyalty that runs through the whole book.

The character development was well done. I loved how quirky and eccentric Harriet was.

I found the first half of the book a difficult read. It definitely got better in the second half for me. I loved the ending too.

4 stars.

Thank you to @netgalley @sourcebooks for my gifted copy

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a quiet, atmospheric story about survival, resilience, and finding your strength in the most unlikely places. Harriet, who has always been seen as peculiar, lives a lonely, sheltered life under her father’s cruel rule. Her only comfort is her wild, magical garden.
Her magical garden is an overgrown refuge that seems to respond to her emotions in ways no one can explain.

When her father mysteriously disappears, Harriet is left to fend for herself, drawing suspicion from the local inspector. Desperate for safety, she marries Christian Comstock, hoping for love and security but finding herself trapped in an even worse situation. Through it all, Harriet’s garden becomes her sanctuary, a symbol of her inner strength and determination to break free.

This book feels like stepping into a wild, dark fairytale. The writing is beautiful, the garden is enchanting, and Harriet’s journey from timid and isolated to brave and self-reliant is both heartbreaking and inspiring. If you love gothic stories with a touch of magic and themes of reclaiming power, this one will stay with you long after you turn the last page.


Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark

This was incredibly lovely, although it covers topics much darker than I anticipated!

From the very beginning, I loved Harriet and the connection she has with her magical garden. The whole concept is incredibly fun and interesting, and you would probably love it too if you love witchy characters! Harriet endured a lot during her life. I cannot say I loved reading her journey, since it was gruesome and troubling, but I did enjoy her embracing what she is and what she can do. The author made a magical story centered around the topic of abuse women used to (and still do) endure. This is a story about a woman simply wanting peace for herself and the little magic she possesses. As soon as a hint of her strength was shown, she was deemed fit to be sent to an asylum. The men in her life were, most of all, frightened. Because of what she might be able to do, because she wanted to be left alone with the one thing that brought her joy, because they felt threatened and could not let her live with what was her right. It's a story that makes it impossible not to want to make these cruel characters suffer. As soon as there was a possibility for Harriet to be independent and not squashed underneath them, they raged, and I raged because of them and for all of the Harriets out there. The unfairness of it all was stifling and much too real.

Highly recommend this one, for it is equal parts beautifully magical and hauntingly disturbing!

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen had an intriguing concept, but unfortunately, it took me longer than expected to finish. While I was initially excited about the idea of a magical relationship with a garden, I found the theme too subtle to fully satisfy my appetite for that kind of whimsy.The mystery plot added some interesting suspense, and I enjoyed the cryptic news story that kicks off the book. However, parts of the narrative felt drawn out, and by the time the big reveals happened, I found myself less invested.

I’d classify this as a cozy mystery—gentle and not too spooky or creepy. It strikes a balance, offering some exciting plot twists without being so intense that it keeps you up at night. For readers who enjoy slower-paced mysteries with a cozy vibe, this would be a great pick.
That said, while I usually love the coziness of this type of story, my current headspace was craving more twists and turns. Overall, it’s an easy, comforting read with a few surprises, but it may not be the right fit if you’re in the mood for something more thrilling.

Love a green witch story with magical gardens! This one a bit more deadly. The characters were nice and Harriet made me so so sad.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a digital copy to review*

Before I started reading I thought this was a cosy fantasy involving a garden and some magic. I was right about the garden and the magic but this story is more sad than I was expecting.

Harriet hasn't had the best life, from the way her father treated her growing up to the relationship she finds herself in which she hoped would protect her. For most of the book it just seemed like things just kept getting worse for her and it really felt like it dragged on and on.

Her connection with the garden is very interesting. They can read her emotions and are extensions of her. I don't think an explanation is ever given to why she can influence the plants which could annoy some people but I was fine with leaving it a mystery.

Harriet has good character development and at the end, I felt really proud of her in how she accepts herself and moves on from her past.

Harriet is a recluse who likes to nature watch, garden and spend time by herself in her victorian estate. She is shunned by society but she is above the opinion of others. However when her father disappears suspicion is cast on her and she has to divert attention by marrying someone. She chooses the worst possible outcome and she has to grapple with getting herself out of the mess she finds herself in.
She not only has to deal with the horrid husband but keep her magical garden in tip top condition so it wont overrun the neighborhood.
Absolutely lush writing and a book I will be sure to get a physical copy for myself to reread in the future.

THE PECULIAR GARDEN OF HARRIET HUNT by Chelsea Iverson

This didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I was hoping for a strong and independent female protagonist. Instead Harriet Hunt is painfully naive, broody, passive and fickle. I understand how she was sheltered by her abusive father, but I wish she possessed even a smidge of intuition or courage.

I did like how her magical and sentient garden was responsive to her moods. However, we are not provided a clear explanation or reason for the garden’s abilities or its connection to Harriet.

As a whole this was a good story. It has a cozy yet creepy gothic vibe, but it’s not a book I would enthusiastically recommend.


Rating: 3/5 ⭐️

This was a fun, magical, enchanting tale of a girl who must use her connection to her enchanted garden to protect herself from the men in her life who want to use her for their own selfish gain.

Unsettling and beautiful. This is a title that I will purchase and read again. My only regret is that I didnt read it earlier.