The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau is a cozy yet darkly enchanting and mysterious read. It feels like walking barefoot through a forgotten garden, where flowers whisper secrets only you can hear. At its heart, it’s about healing, essentially turning merde into fleurs, taking the mess life gives us and growing something beautiful from it.

Eloise, heartbroken from years of failed attempts to start a family, retreats to a locked French castle garden, aptly named Jardins du Paradis (Gardens of Paradise). There, she begins to heal and forge new connections, though a strange darkness lingers, manifesting through a mysterious wood-sprite girl, the elusive La Patronne, and the haunting Dames Blanches.

The strength of the novel lies in its atmosphere: whimsical and lush, laced with a gentle eeriness that keeps you turning the pages. The magic is subtle, grounded in emotion, grief, and growth. This place feels like the perfect escape for healing and forgetting the outside world. I especially loved the small floral details, the tisanes (flowers have always had a special place in my heart), the endearing french terms such as "bricoleur", "sorciere de fleurs". They added an otherworldly charm to the story.

Themes of grief, second chances, and unexpected family give the book its emotional depth and magical realism essence. That said, the story offers breadcrumbs to its mysteries without always leading to resolution. The garden’s deeper magic—especially surrounding the “Goddess” and the little girl—felt more hinted at than fully developed, which left me wishing for more emotional clarity and payoff.

I also found the romantic undercurrent underwhelming. Given the healing themes, a deeper emotional connection could’ve elevated that arc.

Still, The Alchemy of Flowers offers a beautifully imagined escape into a world of magic, mystery, and quiet transformation, a perfect read for those who believe healing can come from the earth, the heart, and just a little bit of magic.

This review covers the audio book and the actual book, read on my tablet.
I want to start with trigger warnings, there is a focus on fertility difficulties and loss of babies during pregnancies throughout. There is also some exploration of past suicidal thoughts. There is also an exploration of the theme of child abuse which includes sexual abuse including incest. There is also mention of cancer, I know it’s not much but I would have struggled with it when I was in the middle of my treatment. I do hope there will be a way of warning people about the main triggers on the book before it is released. I’ve am sure some people will find it very helpful and I feel the author has considered this carefully and does explain her own “reproductive challenges “ I also know it can be very difficult to come across these topics in a book of fiction without knowing they are present. Films have this warning and if you know you have a sensitivity you can check before you watch. I think it would be handy for books to have the same, I guess that’s why I’m writing this.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My rambling opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was my first audio book for a long time. didn’t take long to enjoy it I found the French very pleasant to listen to. Reading the book I found the French more of a distraction.
I found the story interesting but so jarring when Eloise goes along with not being able to come and go as she pleases, or to ask questions. When her friends and herself appear to be in peril I struggled with her nonchalant response, often to just make tea and no matter how beautiful the description would be I would just be screaming do something!
I think this author is excellent and I would look at another adult book, I would love a book focused on the more magical aspects and descriptions as they were beautiful.

Tucked away in the south of France is a castle belonging to a mysterious woman known only as La Patronne. Surrounding her castle are the ancient walled Les Jardins du Paradis. Oddly enough, La Patronne finds suitable employees through advertisements she posts in gardening magazines. One requirement: they must be able to grow flowers with their own merde. Those she hires include Eloise, a woman who hears flowers speaking to her and Raphael, a handyman who builds amazing things including tree houses and a wonderful Gypsy caravan. Along with Mina and Bao, two other gardeners with their own special talents, they have all agreed to give up their past lives, live off the grid and never leave their garden quarters at dusk. Les Dames Blanche are rumored to walk the gardens at dusk.
The author Laura Resau has written a truly unique adult fairy tale. It is a story of contemporary social issues suffused with folklore and magic. The secret gardens she artfully describes contain flowers in all the colors of the rainbow, vegetables for sustenance and of course herbs and plants that can heal as well as those that are deadly. As Resau’s story unfolds we learn that all her well-written and interesting characters have been wounded in some way either physically or emotionally and were drawn to the gardens in hopes of healing and starting new lives. Their success, however, depends not only on their own actions, but on their ability to deal with the dark powers of La Patronne. I would highly recommend The Alchemy of Flowers to discussion groups. Discussion questions are included with the book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley from the publisher, Harper Muse. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Surprisingly lovely. I had absolutely no preconceived notions of this book going in and I ended up absolutely loving it. Supposedly a Secret Garden retelling although I feel as if it was more of an interpretation rather than a retelling. I found a lot to enjoy here: exquisite French garden setting, loveable and dynamic characters, surprising depth of themes, and a little action and romance thrown in for good measure. The romance was secondary to the plot which I found refreshing and I also thought it was well-done and fairly free of tropiness I hate. The absolute suspense and tenseness of the ending was completely unexpected.

Eloise is a broken woman in her late thirties, coming off a debilitating divorce and a slew of depression and anxiety looking for a fresh start. The only thing that gives her peace and calm is her penchant for gardening and her love for flowers, with whom her most private and intimate conversations are had. She finds an ad for a gardener in her french gardening magazine and applies, thinking living in the Garden of Paradise in France is the perfect fresh start she needs. When she gets the job, she finds herself a fish out of water in the immaculate gardens of Paradise and among the three other residents there, Raphael, Mina, and Bao. Having isolated herself from all her friends, her family, and from society in general back in Colorado after her divorce and a lot of trauma, Eloise at first feels this is the perfect place to start fresh. She finds the rules strange: no being outside at twilight, following the rules is an absolute must, and (the best for Eloise), no children are allowed. She quickly bonds with the other residents, finds attraction and chemistry with the enigmatic Raphael, sisterly friendship with Mina, and a feeling of safety and camaraderie with Bao. The descriptions of the French gardens and the foods they eat, the herbs they collect, an the flowers that are both beautiful and medicinal were exquisite and I couldn't help but become entranced.

The characters were surprisingly dynamic and I loved the layers of depth that came out about each one as the words peeled back. The romance was handled nicely and I enjoyed that Eloise and Raphael were friends first and got to know each other before finding love in each other. Their relationship also was pulled and shaped by trauma on both ends which was nicely handled. I don't want to share too much because the unfolding of this story without prior knowledge was what made it so magical to me. The writing was exquisite and reading how each broken character found peace and healing in Paradise was the bread and butter of this book. The ending was dramatic and surprising and tense and I raced to the end to see how it would all play out! I wasn't expecting some thriller aspects, though there were some allusions to some darker sides of Paradise sprinkled throughout.

There were some very minor magical realism elements sprinkled in which were nice, and though most of the magic was given realistic explanations towards the end, the mysteries of the gardens gave a beautiful darker tone to the novel that I enjoyed. Themes of loss, grief, trauma, bodily dysfunction, mental health issues, and identity were very prevalent throughout and I was not expecting to find such depth in these pages. Eloise's experiences with infertility, loss, and trauma were very realistically portrayed and her healing both inwardly and outwardly as well as coming to terms with her own failures and shortcomings provided a stark contrast to the loveliness of the setting. The magic touch of Eloise's ability to talk to flowers and plants and those plants being a part of her healing journey also touched on a lot of the right notes for me.

I am very interested in reading more of Laura Resau's books in the future. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did and I cannot wait to reread this and revisit it in the future.
4.5 stars and HIGHLY recommended!

Title: The Alchemy of Flowers
Author: Laura Resau       
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy    
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Here lie the bones of those who broke the rules . . ."

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.

And most importantly for the newest gardener, Eloise Bourne, children are forbidden.

Although she's locked inside the castle grounds and subjected to strange rules, Eloise's new home enchants her with otherworldly lodging and magical flowers. Best of all, her co-workers--who are also retreating from the world--spark her to heal both body and soul. And she feels surprisingly drawn to the intriguing handyman, Raphaël.

But when she starts glimpsing a mysterious child in the trees, she reels. Is this a human girl? Or a woodsprite? Is it her imagination, or is this place truly enchanted?

As the summer unfolds, Eloise begins to fear the child is in danger. It's not until she breaks the rules and risks her heart that Paradise becomes a prison. Eloise must unearth the gardens' secrets, fight for her newfound family, and ultimately, claim a second chance at happiness.

Who wouldn’t want to run away to a peaceful, magical, hidden garden…and live in a treehouse? This book felt like magic, and I truly enjoyed it. Life there sounded so simple and, frankly, too good to be true. There was enough mystery throughout to keep me engaged, and the magical surroundings kept me reading. I enjoyed the characters and learning about their histories, while rooting for their futures!

Laura Resau is an award-winning author. The Alchemy of Flowers is her adult debut.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins Focus/ Harper Muse in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 7/30).

I really did enjoy this story. The magical realism and setting is absolutely dream worthy. The mystery and plot was mildly confusing, but intriguing. This story was centered around the FMCs difficulties with child bearing, and was over done. How the characters backgrounds tied them all together was sweet and the found family was beautiful, but I could’ve done with less ruminating on the ‘broken womb’ aspect. The audio narration was really well done and kept me going even when the story lulled.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this story in return for my honest feedback.

Resau's "The Alchemy of Flowers" blooms with contradictions—a paradise that imprisons, a garden that heals while harboring secrets. Le Château du Paradis seduces with its Victorian splendor and magical flora, yet the strange rules cast shadows across its sun-dappled grounds. Stay inside at dusk. Don't ask questions. And absolutely no children allowed.

Into this beautiful cage steps Eloise, raw with grief over her lost dreams of motherhood and failed marriage. Her relationship with the gardens provides the novel's most tender moments—fingers trailing through lavender, whispered secrets to roses, the earth itself seeming to respond to her pain. This connection feels almost primeval, as though the soil recognizes something in her that others cannot.

The mysterious child glimpsed between ancient trees transforms the narrative from simple healing journey to something more haunting. Each sighting pulls Eloise deeper into the château's mysteries, each broken rule bringing consequences that ripple through the story with quiet devastation.

What lingers most powerfully is how the found family dynamic emerges organically from shared brokenness. These wounded souls seeking refuge create something precious together—a fragile community where healing becomes possible. Antoinette, the enigmatic overseer and antagonist, carries depths that are never fully realized. Her character, suggesting entire histories just beyond our reach, would have added depth to the unfolding story, since her experience of motherhood seems to be as dark and profound as Eloise's.

Campbell's audiobook narration breathes distinct life into each character, her voice capturing both Eloise's brittle defenses and gradually unfurling hope.

The novel's exploration of second chances doesn't offer easy answers—some wounds leave permanent scars. Yet in the marriage of magical elements with raw emotional truth, Resau creates a story that settles into your consciousness like soil under fingernails—impossible to brush away completely.

Special thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for providing the free e-book and audiobook for review, though all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The writing and the premise were great. The initial instances of magical realism were engrossing but eventually became undeveloped. The summary for the book feels a little misleading which may have contributed to some of my misgivings about the book. It felt as though there were too many genres crammed into too little space.

I will definitely give this author another shot as I enjoyed her structure and the way she built characterization. The subject matter of this one just wasn't for me.

Eloise answers an advertisement for a gardener in France. She is recently divorced and has lost several children to miscarriage. She finds the gardens magical and finds herself healing with the help of the other workers who have become friends. Beautifully written including tales of goddesses, potions, talking flowers, and romance.

I enjoyed tis book from the beginning until the end. The story flowed and relaxed me with the language of flowers, friendship, community and love. The mysterious weaving of goddesses and magic felt real and heartwarming. Second chances and hope is there if you believe and reach out to others. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Recommend!

Beautiful story about love and redemption and restoration set in the most enchanting gardens ever. I would love the chance to visit the treehouse and smell the lavender. The only thing better would have been recipes for the teas and tinctures!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse Audio and HarperCollins for a copy of this audio & eARC.
Thinking back on this book has been so enjoyable, it really hit so many markers of what I, personally, love as an avid reader. You’ve got exploration of grief & guilt, found family, healing, a lil romance, daring escapes with an eerie mystery lurking in the corner.
I truely loved the experience this book gave me, it was such an easy read story wise but still held so much depth to the character & plot development. I admit there were some moments where I would’ve loved aspects to be further explored; i.e. the triple goddess and magic system, but I loved it nonetheless!

I was completely captivated by the heartfelt beauty of this story. The setting blooms with vivid descriptions of flowers, nature, and small town charm. It’s like stepping into a living watercolor. The heroine’s gentle strength and passion for healing through plants create a soothing yet emotionally rich journey. The relationships, both romantic and familial, unfold with warmth and authenticity, bringing a sense of hope and renewal that feels deeply comforting. If you crave lyrical writing, a touch of nature’s magic, and characters who grow alongside the garden they tend, this book is a graceful joy to read.

I was excitied to read this book as I had heard it was a retelling of the Secret Garden, which I loved as a child. It was just okay, found it quite slow and didn't remind me of the Secret Garden. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Focus for ARC.

In many ways this book is beautiful, especially considering it is such a vulnerable telling and processing of the author’s own personal experiences. For that it should be commended. At the same time, I struggled to be drawn in by the plot and characters. Too many elements of the story felt random and out of place leaving me confused and disconnected from the story. Similarly, both the situations characters found themselves in and their reactions to those situations felt unrealistic, which distracted from the deeper themes of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me back to the secret garden which is one of my favorite reads and got me into reading. I loved the setting and world development in this book. I was drawn to this book by the blurb and beautiful cover. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this story. Each character has its own secrets and this story has a bit of mystery sprinkled into it.
I did feel the story was a little drawn out but overall a great read.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for gifting me a complimentary copy to read. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau is a charming, atmospheric novel that invites readers into a world where gardens hold secrets and blossoms have healing powers. I was immediately drawn to the lush, enchanting setting—Resau paints a world that feels both grounded and magical, and the floral imagery was nothing short of delightful. The whimsical nature of the flowers and their gentle influence on the characters’ lives gave the story a soft, almost fairytale-like quality that I really enjoyed.

The scattering of French phrases throughout the book added a lovely cultural touch, enhancing the romantic and dreamy tone. The sweet romance that blooms in the background was tender and believable, and I appreciated the slow, careful journey of healing that the female main character undertakes. Her growth felt genuine, even when it was subtle.

That said, the story didn’t fully come together for me. As the plot reached its conclusion, the pacing felt rushed and the narrative slightly chaotic. The unexpectedly dark turn in the ending also felt at odds with the cozy, hopeful tone that had been carefully built throughout, which left me feeling more disoriented than satisfied.

Grief-stricken American Eloise takes a mysterious gardening job in France after she literally burns down her life at home, a garden that promises to heal. She meets three other damaged souls in the gardens of a creepy castle, with work that fills her soul with beauty-- so long as she ignores "les bizarries" -- strange figures that haunt the grounds at dusk. Can beauty and newfound friendship and love be enough for Ellie to heal and make a new life? Or will "La Patronne" end her first when Ellie starts breaking rules? Gorgeous and atmospheric prose.

This book didn’t grab me the way I hope it would! It has everything I was looking for but I think the writing style was not for me.

First, thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the chance to read The Alchemy of Flowers in exchange or an honest review.

All in all, I feel like the blurb was not entirely representative of what the book was about. Whilst it properly hints the background of the main character, this book really is about dealing with infertility, child-loss, and other dark topics that I wasn't expecting-- I can't relate to these topics in a way other readers might. That said, I feel like it needed to be explicitly stated before you venture into this book because it's a topic that comes up on literally every other page.

I was looking for a story with more magical elements, and a greater focus on the fact she could speak to flowers. Instead, it's used more as a way for Eloise, our main character, to get information as the story continue because no one ever tells her anything.

That said, there are positives: the prose was great (no, like, genuinely. It's why I gave the book three stars last night before rereading the blurb once waking up this morning and immediately feeling betrayed because I thought I missed something.), the setting was great, and the French was integrated decently well (and so unlike Emily in Paris).

I don't like the romance; forced proximity has always seemed icky to me given the whole "forced" of it all, but it really didn't help that Eloise has no chemistry with the love interest. I also struggled with Eloise's friends, because their entire relationship is vaguely trauma-bond-eque, but I also admit to having to skim bits and pieces in the second half of the book.

There's also an underlying theme (with like 20 other themes, mind you. Why were there like 10 stories happening at once.) that rubbed me the wrong way. Due to the very frequent mentions of infertility, it felt like I was constantly being told that one's job as a woman was to create, which I understand is how Eloise feels but it was still a little too heavy-handed as the reader.

I also couldn't continue with the audio book after the awkwardness of the phrasing of "au-to pay" and "my stom-ach tight-en-ing" like five minutes into the audiobook.

All in all, I didn't have a good experience with the book. It took me almost a month to read, and though I can say the pacing sped up in the latter half, the general chaos of themes and plots, the mediocre and chemistry-lacking romance, and the semi-predictable conflict, I can comfortably say this book was not for me.