This book isn’t for everyone—myself included. It feels like it was meant for a specific audience, one that shares the main character’s trauma and grief, and would connect with the story on a much deeper level than I did.

That being said, the writing is stunning—florid and poetic. The setting is captivating, with its vivid descriptions, the unique talents of each character, and the magic woven into the whole place. These elements bring the world to life in a way that feels almost tangible.

But for all its beauty, the book has its drawbacks. Descriptive passages often cross into info-dump territory, dragging on to the point of frustration. The protagonist’s past is intentionally kept in the shadows, leading to a repetitive cycle of rediscovering the same fragments of their story over and over again. And then, there’s the excessive use of French phrases—mon ami, mon chéri, merde—which, rather than adding charm, felt forced and overdone.

Albeit the book wasn’t for me, I believe every book finds its reader. This one touches on important, often-overlooked themes, and for the right audience, it may be exactly the story they need.

What a charming read. I loved the focus on nature and plants as a way to carry the analogy throughout the story. It wasn’t the easiest read at points, but it was so sensitively handled that I was glad I was reading it. Beautiful.

First things first, a huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Second of all, when I picked this up, I picked this up for the cover and the description. The cover is jaw-dropping and the blurb sounded amazing. The Secret Garden meets Sarah Addison Allen, an author who writes magical realism and stories about women, an author whose work I have enjoyed. It seemed like something I would very much enjoy!

To continue, The Alchemy of Flowers is about a woman who moves to France to take care of a magic garden with a bunch of other people who need a little bit of healing in their lives. This sounded really nice and I was excited to read it. Except I was bored to tears, I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, and the writing was a touch too purple for me. However, I liked the magic and the found family aspect. There were some really good lines in the novel. But, ultimately, I struggled to finish this. It probably would have been a DNF if this wasn’t an ARC. I was really bummed because I so badly wanted to love this.

Overall, I’m unsure of whether or not I would recommend this. This didn’t work for me, but it might work for someone else.

4,5/5 stars

This was a lovely surprise. A delicate story about finding a family, about feminine power, and the trauma experienced when struggling with fertility. The symbolism of flowers and goddesses felt like a sensitive way to talk about such deep traumas, for Eloise and all the women in the book. The men are also interesting and have deep, and I soon found myself caring deeply about all the people of Paradise and their stories.
If anything, the aura of mystery in the first arc of the story - surely intended to hook us with the oddity of the gardens - stretched the build up for the reveals a tad long, to a point I questioned whether any questions would ever be answered. Fortunately, it payed off.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Truthfully, I did not think that I would get into this book until about third chapter. It was the way she was willingly able to leave everything just to go to this foreign place to find herself again because she seemed to be lost in the world. The chemistry between the other characters and the main character was a buildable moment because at first they seemed closed off and secretive and in reality they had no clue until the main character was more curious about where she was then them. it was a big healing experience for them all and the ending was a little dark and twisted. It made no sense for paradise to have rules .

The Alchemy of Flowers is a visually charming and fantastical read.

**We follow Eloise who, having reached rock bottom, seeks escape as she starts a new chapter in her life as the new gardener at Le Château du Paradis. There are few rules to follow in her new role, enforced by the illusion La Patronne, her employer, but the consequences of breaking them could be devastating.

Among the flowers (some more welcoming than others) she finds solace, companionship with her new colleagues, and more than a couple of dangerous secrets. **

The main character suffers from infertility and I believe that the author does a very good job of describing the soul crushing sadness faced by the millions of women affected by similar issues.

The side characters were well fleshed out with heart wrenching, truthful stories and I thought they added a huge amount to the story. Every single one of them felt real to me, and I loved that as the reader we peeled back more layers to their stories as our MC opened up and learned to love herself again.

I found the pacing a little staggered at the start and had a hard time connecting with this book until about 30% in where I was fully invested with the story. My only mild criticism was the inclusion of some French words, creating a mismatch of English and French, sometimes flitting back and forth in the sentence. I understood the inclusion when Eloise was struggling to place a word, or translate it into a similar English meaning, as this put us in her head, but the use of chocolat or other similarly recognisable French words was a little jarring to me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thank NetGalley, the publishing house, and the author for granting me access to this ARC.

The Alchemy of Flowers is an enchanting tale that seamlessly weaves together magic, mystery, and personal healing. Set in a secluded French garden with an air of quiet enchantment, the novel invites readers into a world where flowers hold secrets, and transformation blooms alongside grief.

At the heart of the story is Eloise, a protagonist whose journey from loss to renewal is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The novel beautifully explores themes of found family, resilience, and self-discovery, all against the backdrop of the mesmerizing ‘Garden of Paradise.’ The author’s lush, atmospheric descriptions make the setting feel almost tangible, transporting readers into a world brimming with magic and quiet wonder.

Beyond its whimsical elements, The Alchemy of Flowers also touches on deeper, more emotional themes, including loss and reproductive health. While these aspects add depth and richness to the story, they may be challenging for some readers.

With a blend of magical realism, mystery, and even a touch of horror, the novel carries a unique charm that may appeal to both adult and young adult audiences. Whether you’re drawn to witchy aesthetics, immersive settings, or deeply personal character journeys, this book offers a captivating and beautifully written escape.

‘The Alchemy of Flowers’ is the perfect read for anyone looking for witchy vibes and a whimsical world to fall into.

I really enjoyed this book. It utterly captivated me, and I was left wanting more with every chapter. This story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming as we follow the main character (Eloise) on a journey to recover from devastating loss with the help of her found family. It’s beautifully written and full of stunning descriptions that really helped to set the scene and transported me to the ‘Garden of Paradise'. Each character has their own set of complexities, which we get to learn about throughout the book, and I think most people will find something in a character they can relate to.

The only thing I would advise people to be mindful of when picking this up is that there are themes and topics throughout, including loss and reproductive health, which some people may find difficult to read.

I would like to thank Harper Focus / Harper Muse, NetGalley, and Laura Resau for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed the found family aspect and the flowers talking to Eloise. I wish I had a better background in French because I kept forgetting what some of the words meant. There's a lot of talk about "merde", which got a bit old/boring.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A magical garden in France with strange employment conditions. I loved the setting and the French language elements. Magical mysterious events take hold. Part magic, mystery, a little,sprinkling of horror and a female leads personal journey. Enjoyed it and wondered if it was pitched more to a young adult audience. Thank you to the author, thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

The Alchemy of Flowers is a gorgeous, atmospheric escape into a world of blooming magic and quiet self-discovery. Eloise’s journey—from heartbreak to renewal in a secluded French garden—feels both deeply personal and enchantingly mysterious. The lush descriptions transport you straight into the walled Jardins du Paradis, where secrets lurk beneath the petals, and the flowers seem to hum with their own quiet power.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley fro the ARC!

The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau is a masterpiece! I loved this book with my soul. I couldn't stop reading this. This author is a genious!

I was quite intrigued by the story of this magical realism book, where a woman rebuilds herself in an idyllic mystical garden in the South of France, cut away from all technology.
It had lots of potential, but I quickly realised I was not the audience as this felt more geared to the pure romance fan. So if you liked the movie Chocolate, or Eat, Pray, Love this is for you. If you're a fantasy fan first, you might find the book lacking.

Being bilingual, awkward French bothers me a lot... so that got on my nerve first.
However, I could have forgiven that if I had enjoyed the writing or the voice. But the tone was strangely immature. It didn't feel like the point of view of a deeply wounded 37 year old . I didn't connect with the main character, never believing her pain - despite the topics being trully tragic. Emotions were rather superficial and the immediate attraction love plot didn't help at all, it felt like it lacked tact.

The Alchemy of Flowers was an interesting read with elements off fantasy and reality intertwined. The characters were believable and the overall tone was consistent. I would recommend if you have a sensitivity to certain topics, to look into the book a bit more before reading. Overall, I enjoyed the story and was invested in the characters.

This was a really good book!! I love the themes this book covered, and I loved the way this book went. I do think this would be an amazing book to read for a book club. I recommend it to my book club!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I always enjoy books that balance magic and romance. The Alchemy of Flowers is an enchanting story with a strong FMC. I appreciated the struggles Eloise went through and how the author handled the topics of infertility, sexuality, and identity. The unique premise, Eloise traveling across the world to work in a mysterious garden, had me hooked. (She can talk to flowers—how cool!) But in the end, it left me wanting more from the story about this floral magic.

The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura is such a gorgeous, lush, whimsical story that just grabs hold and doesn’t let go.
This story is full of magical realism, ‘is this too perfect?’, found family, gorgeous setting that I’m still thinking about.

The Alchemy of Flowers releases June 29, 2025. If you loved the whimsy of The Night Circus and the relationships in Once and Future Witches, you are going to love Laura Resau’s* adult debut.

*cool factor moment, Laura is a former student of my mother. It’s amazing seeing a fellow Howard County alumni do amazing things.

Laura Resau's first novel for adults is enchanting and magical (and eerie). I particularly liked the main character Eloise and her "found" family, as well as the flowers (arguably their own main character). The mysteries and questions surrounding the chateau, the walled garden, and the various seemingly bizarre happenings and rules kept me turning the pages to find out more. Think of The Secret Garden x Kate Morton x Sarah Addison Allen. I hope Resau continues writing novels for adults, and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

Laura Resau is an award-winning author known for her rich storytelling and magical realism. Born in Baltimore, she spent her early years exploring the woods and discovering hidden places.. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and French, and later moved to Oaxaca, Mexico, where she taught English and immersed herself in the local culture
Her experiences in Oaxaca inspired her first novel, "What the Moon Saw." Resau's books often explore themes of human rights, immigration, and cultural identity, with settings in enchanting places around the world.
She currently resides in Colorado and teaches creative writing at Western Colorado University

There are many rules those who wish to live and work behind the mysterious walled gardens of Le Château du Paradis must follow. One must not gossip. One must not leave their room during dusk.


Eloise has had an awful time lately. After trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, having a child die because he thought he could fly like the penguin in her books., and now finding out her man is with another woman and she is pregnant.


Eloise doesn’t want to even see children anymore and a job where one of the “perks” is no children allowed.


There are a lot of seemingly silly rules. Three other adults work and live within the walled garden. And only Annabelle in the castle has a key to the gate.


Listening to flowers talk to her and making wonderful herbal and floral teas and potions sounds idyllic. Until you realize you can’t leave.


Ghostly goddesses roam at dusk but these goddesses can touch things and pick up things and is that a woodsprite? Is she losing her marbles in this lovely garden?


I did love this story. Sometimes you need to leave it all behind and go and talk to the fairies..er..flowers!


NetGalley/ Harper Collins Focus/Harper Muse July 29, 2025