Homegrown Magic is an adorable cozy fantasy romance!

Yael and Margot were once childhood friends, but now they live entirely separate lives. That is until Yael, the heir of the wealthiest banking family, escapes their responsibilities and finds refuge in Margot’s tiny town where she’s using her plant magic to keep her family business (and the town itself) afloat.

This story was delightful! Margot lives in a cottage in a tiny town and has a greenhouse where she makes magical strawberry jam… truly, what more do you need! The plant magic element was so fun and made it feel like it would be an especially perfect springtime read.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for access to the eARC in exchange for my review!

I want to live in this world and never leave. Yael and Margot have a piece of my heart. Both characters have strong, individual voices and felt as thought they were crafted with so much love and care.
If you’re looking for a good queer cozy fantasy, this is it.

Homegrown Magic is a cozy low stakes fantasy with plant/gardening magic. A cute read with solid non-binary and queer representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eArc.

This is cozy fantasy and coming of age and discovering oneself and a bit of a love story all combined. When Yael needs to escape the box their family is trying to make them live in, Yael runs off and finds themself in a small village, which happens to be the hometown of Margot, a childhood best friend. Margot is exhausted trying to keep up the family business and keep the village safe when Yael stumbles into town. It turns out they may be just what the other needs - if they can be brave enough to open up to those possibilities.

I really enjoyed reading Homegrown Magic. I think the characters felt very vibrant, and the tension built well throughout the book. By the end of the book, I cared a lot about Yael and Margot, and I would definitely read another book just about Yael and Margot, or more about their childhood friendship. Both Yael and Margot had very distinct narrative voices, which I felt remained very consistent throughout the book.
The one part that was a little confusing for me was keeping track of how much time had passed. While the time jumps did make sense for the plot, the time jumps felt a little haphazard, and sometimes I didn't realize that a time jump had happened until a few pages into the chapter. While I always figured it out eventually, some of the time jumps, particularly the first one, were not very smooth for my reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book!
Rating: 4.5/5

If you’re in the mood for a delightful escape filled with plant magic, cozy vibes, and a sprinkling of queer romance, look no further! This book is like the perfect cup of herbal tea: warm, comforting, and just a tad whimsical.

This book is a cozy gem, perfect for curling up with on a rainy day (or, let’s be real, any day). The descriptions of greenhousesI and whimsical flowers are enough to make you feel like you’re frolicking through a pastel fairyland. And with a pansexual main character and a nonbinary love interest, it checks all the boxes for a fabulously inclusive read.

I am excited to see what the authors do in the future, because despite being marketed as their debut adult novel, it did still read a little closer to YA for me. Not that that's a bad thing in the slightest!

This was such a cozy fantasy and I wish everyone could read this right now! I love that the main character is pansexual and the love interest being nonbinary. The whimsical settings, lovable characters, and a healthy amount of conflict!

This was swoony and romantic and very much the perfect cozy romance. The spice was very tasteful and the chemistry between Yael and Margot was off the charts.

The conclusion maybe felt a little too easy (as was the ease with which Yael broke down the spell they opted into), but I can't complain too much since I was kicking my feet by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for allowing me to read this book!

I feel terrible, as I'd been looking forward to this for some time, and was hoping the "cozy romantasy" aspect would work for me, although it typically doesn't. I did love the queernorm world of it all, and Yael being called "Sir'ram" (something I liked to say as a kid).

But I do think that was... mostly it. The book read fairly YA, even middle- grade save for the semi-explicit romantic scene, and I often found myself forgetting the characters were adults. I feel too, the main conflict was solved far too easily and conveniently, and Yael's sacrifice brushed over in so few words that it felt the purpose of it was to provide conflict for a third act break-up.

It'll be good for some, I think. Just not me.

This book is absolutely adorable. The main characters are perfect together, and the cozy, low stakes fantasy world building is well done. (And I love the bonus content). I had a lot of fun reading this book, and it manages to pack in a lot of heart for a relatively short book.

The banter is fun and adorable. I loved their relationship progression. This romance occurs in a queer normative world. It features a highbrow x gardening witch, second chance romance. And the love admissions later in the story are just the sweetest and completely perfect.

Content: tf explicit s*x, manipulation, strong language

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Homegrown Magic is a cute, cozy, queer fantasy romance that I absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a low stakes, HEA storyline! I loved the relationship between Margot and Yael, and really appreciated the non-heteronormative approach to most of the romantic relationships in the story. The world itself and magic system are intriguing and unique. I docked one star because I appreciate a bit more of a fast pace (even in my cozy fantasy), and there were certain parts that read a bit slow to me. However, if you're looking to fully immerse yourself and love a story that focuses on the coziness in everyday activities and routine, this is the story for you!

This is a queernorm romantic fantasy with one nonbinary MC. The story was cozy but still had a compelling conflict and I wanted to live in this world in a cottage with strawberries and flowers and fancy dresses.

This is described as adult and it was well-written but I would say it reads more like a YA, with some "spice" that I honestly could've done without. I would've liked to see a bit more of the magic/potion-making and fleshing out some side characters like the other villagers. I also think the first time skip was a missed opportunity for developing their relationship as they're first working together and getting to know each other again.

Overall I was in the mood to read something cozy and this lived up to my expectations, with the queernorm being a nice bonus! I would read a sequel.

For fans of: Legends & Lattes, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

This is a sweet, cozy, paranormal romance. The chapters alternate between the two protagonists: Margot, an herb witch, daughter of a bankrupted family, and Yael, scion of the banking family who ruined Margot's family, with no magic of their own. A chance meeting brings the childhood friends together after many years apart, when Yael runs away from their graduation party and the bank job they're supposed to start the following day. Margot, who is running herself ragged trying to repair the family's fortunes by reviving her grandmother's magical remedy business, offers Yael a job in her greenhouses. As the two grow closer, Yael begins to take some responsibility and Margot begins to take time off now and then. Plot twists, steamy sex scenes, happy resolution, and a nice party. The two authors normally write YA fiction, and if I'm honest, this seems to be YA with steamy sex—not entirely a bad thing, but it's good to be forewarned.

This was an advance copy read via NetGally for no consideration other than an honest review. Publication expected in March 2025.

Review will post immediately on GoodReads and on Amazon as soon as I can get its system to cooperate with me.

This took me a long time to get through which is never a good sign. I ended up liking it overall, I just found the first half pretty slow so it took a while to get into. Once I got into it though I did enjoy it. Yael and Margot are a very cute couple and I'm glad the slow burn finally paid off with a little spice! Overall I would give it 3.5 stars 🌟

A predictable but enjoyable cozy fantasy romance. Fell a little too hard on the lack of communication trope-- but I'm a sucker for a queer love story with a cozy magical feel. Will buy for my collection and recommend to readers looking for cozy fantasy.

I received this book as an ARC and I am so glad I did! Otherwise I may have not known about it.

I LOVE how queer this book it, and how it makes it effortless (as it should be). A society where people accepted and respected for who they are.

The story was well written and paced, it was hard for me to put down because it flowed easily. I believe a couple wrote this and each character is written by one author. This makes the characters seem more genuine and different- sometimes when an author writes multiple characters they don't often get a good sense of different tone for each one. That being said- I loved the main characters for their own unique selves. Their motivations were their own- even if Margot frustrated me A LOT by just not speaking to Yael!!!!

This book has SOME spice, which is fine but I am pretty much not a spice person. Generally I may knock down my rating for too much spice but this was easily glanced over and didn't interrupt me too much from the plot. For others it might be the perfect amount or not enough- but I prefer a face to black situation. I will have to say putting spice in the END chapter wasn't my favorite...

The romance wasn't immediate and felt naturally paced. All in all I enjoyed this book and am going to look into more of these authors.

Loved this story of "getting out of the friendzone" and an adventure of coming into yourself story. Definitely not what I expected out of this book.

A big thank you to Del Rey Publishing for providing this advance reader copy of Homegrown Magic. This enchanting novel is a true sapphic gem.

Homegrown Magic weaves together an enchanting mix of magic, cottagecore charm, and the thrill of new love in this open-door romance. The story is filled with warmth, unexpected twists, and tender moments, leaving me wholeheartedly rooting for the couple from beginning to end.

At its heart is Margot Greenwillow, a plant witch living a tranquil life in her cozy cottage, creating herbal remedies and working in her greenhouses. Her peaceful existence is upended when her childhood crush, Yael Clauneck, unexpectedly arrives in town. Yael, having fled the overwhelming expectations of their family in the capital, is handsome, charismatic, and grappling with a sense of belonging in the family business.

From the moment Yael reenters Margot’s life, the spark between them is undeniable. Their chemistry is electric and instant, but in a playful twist, just as they embark on a one-night stand, Yael falls asleep, exhausted from their long journey. Despite this humorous interruption, the attraction between them simmers beneath the surface. As Yael begins working alongside Margot in her greenhouse, the tension only deepens. Margot, determined not to let her growing feelings for Yael interfere with their work, struggles to maintain her composure, but the pull between them proves hard to resist.

The love story is masterfully crafted, filled with playful banter and sizzling chemistry. Told from both characters' perspectives, the novel beautifully captures the sweet thrill of first love, wrapped in the cozy atmosphere of magic, lush greenery, and rustic charm.

Set to release in 2026, I cannot recommend Homegrown Magic enough! ❤️

Homegrown Magic is a cozy fantasy that is as sweet as the jam the main character makes. If you're not a fan of cozy stories, this one will likely be a slow read for you. Although there are certainly stakes, they stay low and easily resolved. This is a comfort story, not one to challenge. The magic system of the world primarily focuses around potions and are never really utilized. The elements are there, but they are not a main focus on the book.

The start and end of the book were slow, but the middle is as charming as you could hope. Definitely rounding up for the queer/non-binary rep. It's nice to see a magical world where nonbinary individual are simply a fact and not a cause for ridicule or shame.

Pros:
Non-binary rep!
Queer rep!

Cons:
Slow
Conflicts too easily resolved

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to sum up Homegrown Magic in one word it would be cute. Or possibly sweet, and I mean that in the best way. Yael and Margot’s relationship, from watching it build in the first half of the book and then develop as an actual romantic relationship, is delightful. That isn’t to say there’s no tension or conflict— there is, particularly in the third act— but that aspect doesn’t stick out to me as much as the charming nature of Yael and Margot’s relationship and the setting of Bloomfield.
The main thing about this book I really liked is the characters. Yael and Margot are what really pull the reader in. They’re both well-written characters with their own complex motivations that drive the plot. Even when those motivations cause them to act in a way that is not entirely aligned, they’re so easy to root for, both as individuals and as a couple.
There was only one little thing about the book that bugged me. There were certain parts of the description and internal monologue that I felt didn’t work written in present tense. This might just be personal preference, but I don’t remember feeling jarred by the use of present tense in other books. I particularly noticed this in Yael’s POV chapters. It didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story, but it broke my immersion.
On another positive note, I really appreciate the fact that this is a book with a nonbinary main character (one of the two main characters) but there is no transphobia in the book at all. This world seems to not have any concept of that at all. It’s refreshing.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighter read.

I received an advanced copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.