No shade being throw on this garden but it wasn’t what I was in the mood for and I just wasn’t vibing. May this book bring joy to someone that is not I.

This wasn't for me. I think it was wrong book/wrong time. I appreciate the world building attempt and do think the writing was good, the content just wasn't engaging.

2/5⭐

This was just not for me. I didn't like the story and characters in general.

The narrator needed time to get used to her.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this book. Harriet is an outcast and I loved her. The narrator was fantastic and the story was great.

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I gave it some time to sink in and develop an opinion of what I just read.

At its core, It’s the plight of a women who is doing just fine on her own, but feels the need to marry when her father disappears, which upended everything. All of this is right up my alley.

But, this is why I pause:
There is promised magical realism tied to her garden. I really wanted to explore this more. It felt like the magic of the garden was thrown in here and there. Such a missed opportunity to really elevate the story.

If the garden was a main character and interacted more with the story, a a promised by the title and cover story- this would have been a five star read.

So I’m going with a 3.5 star rating and rounded to due to the excellent audio narration.

4.75

Harriet Hunt finds herself alone in a dilapidated estate after her abusive father’s sudden disappearance. She lives a reclusive lifestyle to avoid suspicion and to protect others from the manor’s sentient garden that protects her and feeds off her emotions against her will. Harriet has lived most of her life grieving her mother and trapped with a father threatening to send her to a mental institution, so this newfound freedom is hard for her to fathom. In an attempt to solve the mystery of her father’s whereabouts and clear her name, she has to learn to trust again when a charming suitor promises to help.

This is a beautiful mix of magical realism and domestic thriller and it definitely went in directions I wasn’t expecting. This whole atmosphere is super lush and I loved the connection and relationship between Harriet and the garden. Harriet lacks confidence and the ability to stand up for herself at the beginning of the book due to a traumatic upbringing and the garden has grown to protect her from those who wish to bring her harm. I’ve never read a premise quite like that so I was invested from the first page.

Harriet as a main character is very complex and I think the author has done a great job or showing how trauma shapes people and how victims fall into cycles of abuse. I found her really loveable and it’s gut wrenching when you discover things aren’t going the way she deserves. The villain of this story was pure evil and my heart was RACING at times. This book does contain themes of domestic violence and sexual assault, so fair warning, and I wasn’t genuinely scared of the perpetrator. I also appreciate that the author didn’t take a traditional thriller route with such a heavy topic, this book allows the reality of domestic violence to speak for itself.

Always a big plus, the ending is VERY satisfying and the message was clear without being on the nose.

As for the audiobook, I really liked the narrator for the first 80% or so and then towards the end you can hear A LOT of swallowing which kinda of gave me the ick.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for this Audio ARC Copy!

I do not know what I expected from this book but it was nothing like I expected. I heard it was like Emily WIlde's but it was nothing like that at all for me. I enjoyed the story but it took a while to get into, the pacing was a bit off and some of the filler at the beginning could have focused more on the garden, but I do understand the authors reasoning.

This is not a story of a beautiful garden and a neurodivergent girl who has some struggles in her life. This is a window into the trauma and cruelty that so very many women have faced at the hands of men through history. How women are faced to make important and impossible decisions based on their situation because there is literally no better option and how hard it can be to escape those decisions, and those horrible men.

All in all I enjoyed this story, and though it could have been tightened up in some places, it is still an impactful and worthwhile read.

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.

3 1/2 stars. A slow burn book with a slight magical feel. Although it had lovely writing, it did take a bit to really get into the story.

I adored the parts with the garden. I loved that mystical element however it ended there and was never really explained or embellished upon. Was it just Harriet who had the ability and if so, why?

Harriet herself was a hard character to love. She's had an awful upbringing and her new life is not much better but there's not a lot to like about her. I wanted to like her, know her, feel for her but she just...was.

The author has a beautiful, descriptive writing style and the idea of the book was brilliant. It just needed a bit more happening in the middle to keep me fully engaged.
The narration by Anna Burnett was very well done.

There is a good book in here somewhere. The concept of a sentient garden is so unique and creative!

The pace did plod along at times. Harriet seems awfully passive for a main character. I was frequently frustrated by her lack of action - it felt like it was mainly other characters or events outside her control that moved the plot forward.

Abandoned by her abusive father months ago, Harriet Hunt is all by herself on the family's estate and has only a cousin and a magical garden for company. When her cousin moves away, she accepts a hasty marriage proposal and finds that she might never be able to leave Sunnyside House alive. Aided by her garden and her housemaid, Harriet sets out to uncover what happened to her father and learn a secret that her mother took to her grave.

This book was so painfully slow in parts, but I liked the concept of the book and the elements of magical realism. It seemed like the action was very stop and go throughout. The audiobook narration was a bit plodding with many unnecessary pauses; hearing the narrator trying to quietly smack her lips was odd.

All in all, a fascinating tale...but could have been better executed.

3.5 stars.

Tw: domestic violence.

There’s a quiet yet undeniable power in this book that had me thinking about it long after I’d finished it. Like a song you can’t quite get out of your head, and which you find yourself absentmindedly humming throughout the day.

Harriet and her garden just stick with you.

First, I must say that Anna Burnett was the perfect choice for narrator! I don’t think I’ve heard her work previously; she was captivating. Something that was different with her versus other narrators I’ve heard, is that she did not dramatically change her tone or accents for each character. And yet somehow it just…works. Every character felt unique and - BONUS - there was no dreaded “man voice” taking me out of the moment. She was truly excellent.

As for the story, it follows Harriet Hunt, a young woman who’s been isolated her entire life. She’s living alone in a large house after the death of her mother and disappearance of her abusive father. Her only company is her sentient garden. The plot quickly kicks off when an inspector comes around asking questions about her father and a handsome new neighbor wants to court her.

Although written in third person, this FELT like a first person POV, which I love! I felt what Harriet felt and never felt detached from her character or the plot. Her social awkwardness was understandable given her isolation. That made her choices more understandable rather than frustrating, which I find happens often. I also love that the romance was a true plot driver versus an inauthentic contrivance. And thank you, Chelsea for not shoving unnecessary spice down our throat!

I absolutely love Amelia! Out of all of the secondary characters, she had the most depth, and I wish we could see more of her. The remaining secondary characters were a bit flat for me, but served their roles and moving the plot or Harriet’s character growth forward.

The pacing around the revelation on how Harriet‘s mother died, as well as her father‘s disappearance was handled well. It wasn’t rushed, nor did it drag on unnecessarily.

At first, I felt that the third act was anti-climactic. Things happened TO Harriet versus her, making them happen. Even her escape was a product of other people helping her versus her helping herself. However, after a few days, I realized that it could not have happened any other way. Harriet’s conflict had always been in believing in herself, that she deserved love and happiness, and in recognizing what those even were. It was never about beating the bad guy. When I look at it that way, the ending is perfect. Especially the final two chapters!!! <3

I will absolutely recommend this book to my book friends and can’t wait to read Iversen’s backlog!

I loved Chelsea Iversen's The Witches at the End of the World so I jumped at the chance to read her newest title, The peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt.

We find our protagonist, Harriet, wandering around her home in Victorian London, after her father left to visit relatives and never came back. Harriet has never quite fit in with stolid Victorian society and so she's happy to while away her days, working in her garden.

What at first seems like a peaceful life for Harriet, soon turns tragic, as she's suspected of being behind her father's disappearance. She quickly takes up with Mr. Comstock, who she thinks will help her navigate these troubled waters. But Comstock is not what he first appears to be to Harriet and she is once again dragged under the spell of men's influence in the lives of women in Victorian England.

There were some weak spots in The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt, especially plotwise. The narration of the audio version was perfect and I would highly recommend reading it in that format. I think the narration managed lulls very well and improved on the pacing.

This is a fun, if at times uneven, fantasy story and a great exploration of women's rights in fiction.

Actual Rating 3.5

This work is somewhere between historical fiction and magical realism, which is a wonderful blend that the author managed well. While the source of the magic is never really explored or explained, it didn’t feel like the book really needed that to happen. The work moves at a slow but steady pace, and never felt like it dragged. I did want a bit more from the broader setting to help situated the book, but the immediate settings were written quite well.

The characters were well written overall. Harriet was an excellent protagonist, and though she made many questionable/silly mistakes, it made sense based on how sheltered and gullible she was. One thing that didn’t quite work was that the antagonist felt a little too cookie cutter, which was largely because their motivations weren’t exposed until near the very end of the work. I think if we’d been given a reason for their actions sooner it would have made them a stronger villain. This work also does delve quite heavily into women’s lack of agency during the nineteenth century, which is one of the major themes.

If you enjoy slower, character-driven works of historical fiction with a touch of magic, then you’ll likely enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A hauntingly beautiful tale of resilience, mystery, and quiet magic.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt transports readers to Victorian London, where Harriet’s magical garden serves as both sanctuary and prison. Abandoned by her father and trapped in a life controlled by men, Harriet must unravel dark secrets while finding strength in her enchanted garden.

The story unfolds slowly, reflecting Harriet’s gradual awakening as she learns to reclaim agency. While her reserved nature may frustrate readers, it poignantly mirrors the societal constraints of the era. Harriet’s quiet endurance and eventual growth create a unique, compelling protagonist.

I experienced both the book and audiobook, and Anna Burnett’s narration was mesmerizing, bringing Harriet and her eerie, vibrant garden to life.

For fans of character-driven stories with lush settings and feminist undertones, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a rewarding modern fairytale about discovering the power within.

This book was slow and a bit heartbreaking. It felt much darker than i was expecting. I had thought it would be more magical, but it was mostly just about abuse.

The narration for this audiobook was nicely performed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of the audiobook.

The premise is excellent: a young woman whose father mysteriously left and is being harassed by a suspicious detective. Add to that the fact that she has a mysterious connection to her garden that grants her powers. But the fact is that the best parts of the novel aren’t explored enough. Instead, this is more of a story of a coming of age of a woman during the 19th century, being controlled by the masculine figures in her life. Which is fine, its just not what I was expecting. Plus, how she has her powers is never fully explained.
It picked up very quickly during the second half and I really enjoyed that part. This wasn’t a bad book, just middle of the road. I think if this was a series instead of a standalone it would have been better.

I was really excited to love this book….

I enjoyed the author’s first book, The Witches at the End of the World soooo much. I thought it was such a beautiful story about sisterhood and growing up.

I was so happy when I was approved for the ARC on NetGalley. Needless to say, I went into this one with high hopes.

(Slight Spoilers, nothing explicitly spoiled but definitely hints at spoilers if you enjoy going into books completely blind)

I feel like this story is what people accuse Weyward of being… a woman suffering for the sake of suffering. There was no retaliation or retribution. This man did horrendous things to Harriet and her friend but the only punishment was for him to be mildly scared of the garden???

(Yes, I finished the book and yes, I know how it ends. I just don’t understand why she never stuck up for herself or at the very least let her garden stick up for her……)

This was a 2✨ read for the first 3/4 of the book. The last 1/4 gained another star. I’m really glad I finished it and i enjoyed the last bit being focused of female friendship and how we pick up the pieces when terrible things happen.

This wasn’t a bad book, that’s not what I mean to imply. There were many aspects I enjoyed but the fact that Harriet kept making awful decisions and never stuck up for herself or her friend just made me sad.

Thank you to NetGalley, Chelsea Iverson, and the Publisher for this ARC!

In a life marked by hardship and isolation, young Harriet Hunt faces numerous challenges. Following her mother’s death, she resides with her cruel father, who views her as a witch. When her father mysteriously disappears, suspicion turns towards Harriet, leading the local inspector to suggest she be institutionalized. Her only refuge is a magical garden where the ivy and roses react to her feelings. To evade the inspector’s watchful eye, she marries Comstock, a man who feigns honor but proves to be more malevolent than her father. Harriet quickly becomes entangled in a dark scheme, targeted by the very men she believed would protect her.

This compelling narrative requires Harriet to muster her bravery and wit to outsmart those who wish to dominate her. Set in a time when women had limited power, the story chronicles Harriet’s transformation from oppression to empowerment. With the help of new female friendships, she uncovers her inner strength and unique abilities, ultimately reclaiming her agency. This beautifully crafted novel is a poignant tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the value of true friendship. Harriet’s journey encourages readers to believe in themselves and their capacity to overcome challenges.

Harriet Hunt has lived her entire life at Sunnyside under the oppressive thumb of her father, who has recently disappeared, giving her what should be her first real taste of freedom. And while her very best and only friend, Eunice, has recently moved away Harriet has found herself being courted by a hansom young man, something she could never have ever dreamed of while her father was at home. And while Eunice has some apprehensions about Harriet's young man, Harriet has agreed to marry him, if only to stop that Inspector from coming by and asking questions about what happened to her father. She knew she shouldn't have told Inspector Stokes they had argued that evening, but she did and now he's convinced that something very sinister is happening at Sunnyside and that Harriet is at the heart of it.

This is essentially any other book with a young woman who comes into money and the evil scheming men around her who plot to get her thrown into an asylum. Except the girl can control plants. Which simply wasn't enough to save this from being predictable to the point of not holding my interest for about 85% of the book.

Overall, I think people will enjoy this because of its predictability. However, that's the reason I found myself bored. It was too predictable, which I found was a waste of adding in the whole sentient garden thing. I would have loved to see that portion of this be something more than a euphemism of Harriet's anxiety.


As always, thanks to NetGalley