Rate: 4.75
Absolutely loved this book. And couldn’t stop thinking about it when I needed to put it down. I didn’t know much going into it and it surprised me with so many twists, turns and character developments.
The fantasy portion really brought the book to life and I could feel the emotions the author was conveying.
A book about overcoming self, obstacles and so many hardships.
I would love to see this book turned into a movie!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me this advanced read for my honest opinion.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt, by Chelsea Iversen begins with Harriet, a lonely young woman with a scarred face, who has been abandoned by her abusive, hateful father and housekeeper. She lived alone, in her home, for six months avoiding creditors and wondering where her father ran off to. Harriet’s life has been tumultuous as her father blamed her and her “peculiar” ability to control plants, flowers and trees, for the death of his wife, and Harriet’s beloved mother. Then one day she receives a visit from a local inspector who has been looking for her father and he threatens her with the knowledge that her father planned to send her to an insane asylum because she was a “hysterical” woman. As Harriet decides to determine where her father has gone off too, she combats her fear of the outside world (other than her garden) and travels to visit her former housekeeper. The housekeeper was as abusive and mean as her father but will eventually prove herself to be on Harriet’s side. Although the housekeeper has no real help for Harriet at the time, shortly after the visit, she browbeats Harriet into taking her teenage daughter as a maid. From there Harriet’s life begins to look up as she befriends the young girl, Amelia. Amelia helps Harriet in so many ways, she becomes a much-needed friend especially after Harriet’s best friend moves to the country, she helps Harriet look for her father and encourages Harriet to step out with the neighbor man who begins to take an interest in Harriet Through all of this, Harriet has kept her garden in control around all of these people who are new in Harriet’s life but that changes. Mr. Comstock shows much interest in Harriet and even offers to help her with the inspector, who is still looking for her father. After a short time, Mr. Comstock asks Harriet to marry him, and while she doesn’t love him, she knows being married will bring her respectability. Unfortunately for Harriet, her husband turns out to be just as cold and abusive as her father was, and Harriet will eventually realize that he married her for her money. Money that she did not know that she had, but that her father and Mr. Comstock, his accountant, did. In a turn of events, Amelia turns out to be her half-sister, her father returns, and Mr. Comstock and her father are taken care of by her magical garden. Harriet flees to her best friend in the country in the company of Mr. Comstock’s cousin. There, Harriet finds love and acceptance in more ways than one. The pacing and plot of this story are well done, the author keeps you guessing about certain events throughout the book, many until the end. Harriet’s character is strong but doesn’t know it as she deals with many of the issues women had to deal with in the late 1800s or early 1900s because men had control of their lives. I loved the way the story deals with magic, and how Harriet comes to love herself and others along the way. This book is intended for adults who like general fiction or just a little bit of fantasy/science fiction and historical fiction and is a wonderful read for people who meet that criterion. I highly recommend this book. I gave it 5 stars. If was a fast read and Harriet is a sympathetic character. You will find characters to hate and to love throughout the book.

Overall, this is a whimsical book; a great read that will have your emotions rocking as your cheer for Harriet and curse those who try to define her to their definitions of woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the ARC. The opinion is my own.

A gothic tale of a woman who has been isolated by her now missing father since childhood and whose only friend, her cousin Eunice, has to go away, leaving her to be alone with no friends in sight. It's a very low fantasy and slow paced which turns fast paced during the second half of the book.
Harriet Hunt has a peculiar garden indeed. The plums that grow there make you sleepy, the flowers turn to her when she comes and if she loses control over the garden bad things may happen. Her father's disappearance was a blessing to her, at least until her reclusive ways as a young unmarried woman known to be odd and wrong in all the neighboorhood starts bringing the wrong type of attention to her.

Despite the name, the garden, while always present if only in Harriet's thoughts, is not the focus, as one might expect by the name of this. Instead it is Harriet's inter-personal relationships and the evolution of her character over the length of the book that is the focus. There is no explanation of why the garden reacts this way to Harriet but personally that doesn't bother me. The twist at the end that explains why the antagonist did what they did was a bit weak personally but also did surprise me so I have a bit of mixed feelings. I did really like Harriet's discovery of positive relationships contrasting how she had been treated before and how, in the end, she wasn't as alone as she thought.

All in all, I really liked it and I think the author improved her pacing (though the first half is a biiiit too slow I think) from her last book.

Helen Hunt has been locked away in the house by her father and is considered by the villagers. Her cousin
Eunice ,her only outside contact with the outside world, will be moving to take care of her husband's aunt.
With the disappearance of her father six months ago, the police are investgating the case and consider Helen
a suspect. Due to the protection the garden provides her, Helen is afraid to leave the garden untended.
The man she marries has a hidden objective that bodes ill for Helen. Helen, along with her maid and the help
of new acqauiatances, seeks to break free and take control of her own life.
Story of having faith in oneself and knowing who one can trust.
#ThePeculiarGardenofHelenHunt #SourcebooksLandmark #NetGalley

Local recluse Harriet Hunt has spent her life shut away in her own home, growing fond of her wild and free garden as her father hides her away from the world. When her father mysteriously disappears, eyes fall to Harriet as a suspect. In an attempt to draw suspicion away from herself, Harriet marries the seemingly perfect Christian Comstock. But not all is as it seems, and Harriet soon finds herself caught in the dark schemes of her husband. As Harriet desperately tries to avoid being forcefully admitted to an asylum, she must hone a power she has kept buried since one fateful night which forever altered her life.

This book is a lovely mixture of historical fiction and fantasy. The plot kept me intrigued and I found myself unable to put it down during the last half of the book. I loved Harriet’s relationship with her garden and seeing her come into her power. However, the pacing of the book felt inconsistent and I wished there was a little more tension held out across some parts of the storyline. Overall, this book is still intriguing and fantastical, perfect for readers looking for their next historical fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Chelsea Iversen for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Stay tuned for the release of The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt on December 2, 2024.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt follows the titular character as she has to come into her own as a young woman in 1800s England. Harriet is different. She knows that. Her father knows that, and that's why he's left her behind. She's glad he's gone; it means she can be as eccentric as she wants, including tending to her abnormal garden. However, an investigator comes poking around, clearly implying that she had something to do with her father's disappearance, and then her only friend and connection to the outside world declares she moving away, and Harriet realizes that she's going to have to act.
Harriet is an intriguing character. She's very mysterious at the beginning, and the workings of the garden are given as breadcrumbs. It's a good mystery, too, with a lot of layers. The writing was a little dense at times, being historical fiction, but it was still very readable.

I loved this book. Beautiful writing, plot and characters, not to mention an incredible descriptive garden. I felt so warm reading about the element woven of friendship, companionship and loving emotions. The garden itself felt like a main character and I loved it so much.Reading about Harriett and experiencing with her some of her pain felt raw and emotional, beautifully written. I can already see how Im going to gift a copy of this book to,

3.5 stars. I wasn’t expecting this to be so dark, but there were some very upsetting parts dealing with abuse and neglect that were difficult to read about.

This was hard to rate, because for the majority of the book we didn’t see much personality at all for Harriet. I think some internal dialogue would have helped this immensely, but mostly we just read about her not knowing what to say or do in each situation, and it was frustrating.

The ending really turned this book around for me, and I liked how everything turned out. It ended on a happy and uplifting note that made the whole book seem better. By the ending I felt like we finally got to know Harriet and feel hopeful for her future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Mystery enshrouds this story from the outset, pulling readers into the enigma of a peculiar woman and the pain she endures. As the narrative unfolds and freedom seems within reach, the ending reveals a poignant journey toward healing and self-discovery. The story beautifully illustrates the transformative power of personal growth.

This was a quick read and found the storytelling of Harriet and her garden to be engaging. The story could’ve had a bit more plot but overall I enjoyed it.

Harriet Hunt is in a pickle ... her father is gone, his debtors are knocking on her door and her garden is out of control.

A story that covers grief, loneliness and finding your way in life.

My first note I made about this book was 'the writing is very flowery, which makes sense as it's centered around a garden.' The 'flowery language' stayed throughout the book and although at first it didn't annoy me, as I continued reading I found myself constantly tempted to skim-read as I learned most paragraphs weren't giving me anything new.

Although an overall interesting idea for a story ... yet it fell flat for me.

Other reviewers mentioned there were too many low moments, I'd say there wasn't enough! It's a gothic magical realism story, it's supposed to be dark and sad.

For me, there was something about this book that didn't 'click'. If you are okay with a little predictably and a garden that comes to life, romance, large victorian house, you will love The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt. A short-er book you can read in one sitting. Settle in and enjoy the magic.

Amazon Link - The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt By: Chelsea Iversen

Stats: 320 pages

***Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a  copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publishing Dec 3, 2024!

Copied from goodreads: As lovely as the writing was, I nearly DNF'd this book - very nearly nothing happens in the first half of the story and it dragged on for ages while Harriet stared wistfully out a window at her garden, dodges an inspector, talks to some people, then stares wistfully out the window again. Around the midway point, Harriet gets married (it's simultaneously a slog to get there but also it happens SO quickly) after disregarding all advice from her only friends, and suddenly the plot accelerates to warp speed... literally. Some of the scenes move so quickly that even as the reader, we're not seeing everything. Harriet's POV is shaky at best at times, hiding or running away from moments that would have made the stakes feel higher rather than abstract. Instead a random character shows up in the last dozen or so pages to explain the motive and everything is resolved neatly with a bow. I might check out future releases, but this one was not it for me.

Gardening brings joy to many and most, but much more to our Ms. Hunt. I picked this up because I am one of those who loves gardens as well, but her garden, in particular, is absolute magic on Earth. Unfortunately, this is a story of many lows also—trigger warnings for domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault.

Pacing-wise, it started gently and grabbed interest within the first 10-15 percent, which is ideal. It had quite a lull when the active male characters showed up, but once you pick up on some sketchiness, the interest returns, and you’re all in for the rest of the book. In my opinion, the women in the book are nicely developed. I enjoyed seeing different variations of anxious, tenacious, bold, and even mean-spirited ladies. This book was not all sunshine and rainbows for any characters, and no one was innocent from a reader’s wariness or frustration.

All in all, a great read! Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review this work!

I loved Chelsea Iversen's The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt! This gothic, moody novel introduces us to Harriet Hunt, a woman in late nineteenth-century England. The men in her life treat her poorly (to say the least), but her garden is her haven. As the story continues, Harriet discovers the power within herself to change her life and her landscape. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and suspense!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

Chelsea Iverson has written another wonderful book , so different from her last one but showcasing the same magical storytelling. The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a Victorian tale blending magical realism and the history of how patriarchy made brutality against women and the putting away of women- to protect society. of course- legal and commonplace. What would the world be like today if all the women throughout history and all the women alive today were encouraged to use expand their gifts instead of stifling them? This is a glorious story a woman whose magical gift, at times the thing she fears most , becomes her salvation. Everything blends in seamlessly with the story and it is an enjoyable read .

This was an intriguing read about Harriet Hunt and the mystery of her father’s disappearance and her wonderful and fascinating garden. The appearance of Christian Comstock changes everything and makes for a very satisfying story.

A beautifully hunting novel, gothic, delicate, both sad and uplifting, about the magic of a young woman who is trapped in a dark house.
I was immediately attracted to the cover and so happy to plunge into that novel and learn about Harriet.
This is for people who like their stories to slowly grow, the atmosphere to build up tensely until they discover they are completely tangled in the story.
We feel so much for Harriet who was robbed of her childhood and see, with horror, how she walks into traps because her lack of experience means she doesn't see the signs or misinterprets people.
The magic is very discreet for most of the book, and we are lulled in an almost magical reality where we do not know where the norm is and insanity might begin.
I would highly recommend to people who liked Mexican Gothic and Rachel Griffin's work.

Harriet Hunt lives alone in a cottage with her magical garden. Her father disappeared without a word. Harriet isn't sad about that because he was a horrible man. She is very happy with her garden that grows and moves with her feelings if perhaps a little lonely. Her only friend is her cousin who moves away.
One day an inspector comes around to ask about her father's disappearance. He doesn't believe he left without a word an Harriet being an isolated woman is seen as strange. Harriet realizes her predicament so when a man she meets wants to marry she says yes. She hopes the inspector will see her as a respectable woman. Unfortunately her husband is a monster. Harriet doesn't know how to get herself out of this marriage but her garden does.
Overall I liked this book and I loved the magical garden. I would warn readers about the physical abuse depicted.

This book is a very template gothic story. It was enjoyable to read, but it wasn’t exactly what i was expecting. i thought it would have been more about the garden itself. I still found it quite interesting though.

Was really hoping the Garden would have been a more main focus, even more of it's own character than it was.
Overall it was just okay for me. The writing pulled me out of the story here and there as well.

If you love a good gothic story though, I'd definitely give this a try, as I know many others loved the vibes of the book! :)