I loved this so much! It had everything that I enjoyed in a good romance novel: enemies-to-lovers, a grumpy yet swoony garden nerd against a sweet yet feisty librarian, vulnerability and growth from the characters, and apparently flirting by plants!

Melanie Sweeney’s writing is a delight and I loved how she crafted a simple enough story — a temporary relocation of the library to the gardens, leading to the inevitable clash of tempers (and feelings) between our main characters — and yet managed to slowly peel back and reveal the layers underneath our couple. The book unfolded in dual third person points of view (frankly, a criminally underrated style so thank YOU Melanie), and I thought the evolution of how Tansy and Jack viewed each other over the course of them getting to know each other was incredibly well done and organic. It felt realistic but also with tons of butterflies-fluttering-swoony-moments.

The home renovation? Top tier. Can’t recommend this enough.

3.5 stars!!

This book was a lovely read. The book's premise intrigued me, and I was excited to see that it was wonderfully executed! I truly enjoyed the dynamics within this book from the romantic relationships to familial relationships to the friendships/bonds between characters, it was so fun to follow! I also absolutely loved how well the author represented anxiety/ptsd, especially surrounding the trauma from a natural disaster.

I will say it was harder for me to connect with the characters at points due to the 3rd person perspective, however, I think that is more a personal issue that I ran into while I was reading! I feel like the dynamics between characters, their development, and the overall plot had more of a lasting impact on me than the romance, and honestly I loved that! Because of that, I would say this is a great romance book for those that enjoy women's fiction as well!!

Overall, I would recommend this book to others, especially if you enjoy adversaries to lovers!!

Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam, the author, and Netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Y’all, I adored this book! It’s about librarian Tansy whose world shifts after a hurricane and trying to rebuild afterwards. She gets saved many times by swoon worthy Jack, but of course she fights it along the way. I could relate to her so much in how stubborn she was about being helped.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Publishing Group for an advanced digital copy of this book.

When a hurricane destroys the public library where she works, Tansy Perkins is forced to relocate to a shed at the neighboring botanical gardens. The space is less than ideal, particularly because Tansy is now forced to work under the grumpy assistant director of the gardens, Jack Reid, who also happens to be her arch nemesis (despite the fact that he rescued her and her daughter from the flood). Jointly tasked with managing the town spring festival, the two are forced to call a truce and work together. Will a newly formed working relationship change the way they feel about each other?

This book gets five stars from me purely because of the way it made me feel completely warm and gushy inside after finishing it. This was my first book by this author, and I loved her writing style. Her words were light and breezy making for a fast read, but were also infused with so much sentimentality and heart. My attention was snagged literally from the first page, and it was one of those books I both didn’t want to put down, and didn’t want to end.

The characters in this book draw you in and make you want to be part of their world…

Tansy- She’s tenaciously strong, and will do anything for the people she loves. Fiercely independent, she tackles life with the attitude of someone ready to overcome any challenge.

Jack- He’s rough around the edges and hardened by life. After overcoming heartbreak, he’s afraid to put himself in a situation that risks him getting hurt again. Underneath the surface though, he’s a loyal protector with a heart of gold who is willing to tear down mountains for those who he allows to actually get to know him.

While both Tansy and Jack are bewitching on their own, the cast of characters surrounding them are equally charming. This is a book with a strong found family vibe, and it expands on that by showing the beauty of a supportive community.

There is so much to love in Where You’re Planted. It is the perfect romance story if any of the following apply to you: You love characters with believable chemistry, you love a grumpy sunshine dynamic, you are a sucker for single moms with cute kids, or you just feel like smiling today.

I really wanted to love this book. The description had me hooked.

I had a hard time connecting with the MC's. It felt like they spent so much time NOT liking each other that I didn't think they would ever connect.

I did like the secondary characters.

The writing was great! If you don't mind grumpy characters who are really, really grumpy, than this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own

Where You're Planted is one of the best sophomore books I have read from an author! I read Take Me Home, and enjoyed it. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Tansy is the FMC who is a librarian single mom whose love is changed after a hurricane hits Houston. Jack is the grumpy director of botanic gardens across from the library. Tansy's library is devastated by the hurricane and in order to save her branch, she asks the commissioner to give them time to essentially prove their worth and is approved. They are given a building in the botanic gardens that Jack is in charge of and this distracts him and turns his world upside down.

Tansy and Jack both have different past traumas that continue to affect their outlook on love and relationships. However, neither one of them can deny the spark between them especially after they learn more about each other. Male infertility is part of Jack's struggles and I thought that was very unique and something we usually only see from a female point of view in romance. I loved this story and Jack and Tansy's complex characters! Melanie Sweeney is definitely an auto buy author for me! Briar- Tansy's daughter and the gardens and library staff were just the cherry on top and added so fun color to this story!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Net Galley for thrnARC cooy.

This is my first Melanie Sweeney novel and certainly will not be my last. Enemies to lovers is my favorite genre and throw in a librarian and keeper of gardens and I am all in.

I found this book enjoyable and was a quick read. You can feel the emotions of Jack and Tansey and so enjoyed the cast of characters. A hurricane has hit and destroyed Tansey’s library and has forced her into a garden shed at the nearby botanical gardens. There she meets grumpy Jack who is in line to become new director of the gardens.They are forced to work together for a spring fundraiser and have made peace with each of their forced into situations. Tansey, a single mom, with a young daughter who has become obsessed with weather conditions, has taken to Jack and Jack to Briar.

It is just a wonderful story of how community can come together for those dealing with tragic events and how the library is such an invaluable asset to all communities. This book has you cheering for a HEA for both Jack and Tansey but can they both overcome their past relationships.

I was drawn to this book because I love stories centered around books, and the gardening & botanical aspect added an extra layer of charm. The writing was immersive, and the atmosphere beautifully crafted, making for a compelling read. The male lead was well-developed—charming, swoon-worthy, and easy to root for.

However, I struggled with the female character. Her pride and rigid mindset nearly led to devastating consequences, and at times, the political undertones felt forced rather than organically woven into the story. While these elements were frustrating, the overall plot was engaging, and the book had many redeeming qualities.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGn6b81JpP_/?igsh=MXF3amo2eHlxOThpaA==

Sweeney was born to be a writer, and she absolutely NAILED IT with her second novel, Where You’re Planted. Tansy and Jack are the most relatable couple I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting to know - and promptly falling head over heels for. I was hooked from the very first chapter (who am I kidding - Sweeney had me at natural disaster meet-cute! Spoiler alert: the birds were absolutely worth it 🫶)

Where You’re Planted explores different layers of human emotions and everyday struggles, and I found myself taking deep breaths and nodding along - just like I did while reading Sweeney’s debut, Take Me Home. You know those moments when a sentence hits so deeply that it tugs at your heartstrings, making you pause, close your eyes, and reread just to experience it all over again? Sweeney has done that to me too many times to count now. It’s one of the most magical things about her writing, and I have no doubt she’ll continue to wreck me in the best way possible for years to come ❤️

What’s more is the fact that she masterfully captures the most tender parts of the human heart and brings to life what it means to be in a healthy relationship - where real people, with real problems, lean on each other and make the equation exponentially better. Jack is one of the most authentic, soft-hearted MMCs I’ve ever encountered, and Tansy’s journey - embracing both the beautiful and messy parts of life, with Jack’s unwavering support - is what makes this one of the most anticipated love story of 2025.

I can’t wait for everyone to meet this unforgettable cast in just a few short months! Where You’re Planted hits shelves on July 8, 2025 - make sure you preorder your copy wherever books are sold. And if you haven’t yet read Sweeney’s debut, Take Me Home, I promise you with absolute certainty - you will not be disappointed.

love how tender and tension-filled this is! what a delightfully grumpy man who loves plants and acts of service. what a headstrong, hyper-independent woman who loves her community and is doing her best for her daughter. the third-act conflict and resolution got a tiny bit too dramatic for me, but i did like the gestures.

Thank you to #NetGalley and publishers for the ARC read!

I think this book was my most anticipated read of 2925 because of how much I loved Take Me Home.

It did not disappoint! Melanie Sweeney has such a way with words and makes you feel literally every emotion while reading.

I loved every character and felt that they all were fully fleshed out and real. I loved the map of the gardens too, such a fun inclusion!

"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need". -Cicero

And this book melds these two places so effortlessly with Tansy and Jack's story. Set in Texas, the two main characters have seemingly divergent goals.

She's a spitfire, Tansy with a soft metaphoric underbelly. Her mama bear ferocity for her daughter, Briar and the strength she draws from her friends is present from start to end. Then there's Jack. Or, our seemingly gruff bear of a man whose rough edges hide tender spots.

There were many endorsements from well known authors in the field at the start of the book. The why is answered in this read.

Kids may have their fall holiday wish lists but its readers who proudly possess a tightly held list of TBR by ATF (Authors to Follow). This author is one to put on that coveted list given this read.

#WhereYourePlanted #NetGalley
This ARC was provided by the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, in exchange for an honest review.

Where You're Planted was a really special read. The relationship between the two main characters was believable (you know, in a romance novel kind of way!), and they were each fully-developed and interesting humans with flaws and trauma -- not one-dimensional at all, which I often struggle with in romances. I appreciated that this book included realistic, "real person" struggles with money and mental health, in a way that added depth to the people and their relationships without overpowering the warmth of the love story.

Beyond the main characters, this book also has so much other good stuff going on. The garden/library setting is wonderfully described and fun to get lost in, and the surrounding characters/community/family members were delightful and also critically important to the story. So often in romances we don't see the main characters have meaningful relationships with anyone other than the love interest, and that was absolutely not the case here. (My only critique, on that note, was that things felt a little bit unresolved with the Charlie situation -- but I suppose that's just how life is!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5) Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney. This book is releasing on July 8, 2025. Thank you @netgalley, @melaniesweeneywrites, and @putnambooks for the ARC!

I absolutely loved Melanie Sweeney’s debut novel, and had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint. 💛This was the cutest, most heartwarming book I’ve read all year!

I could literally yep all day about how freaking adorable Jack and Tansy are together! I loved everything about their relationship, there really life struggles, and funny moments. Tansy is so real for wanting to be independent, and having to learn to accept help. And don’t get me started on Jacks relationship with Briar!! 🥹🥹 it was so utterly adorable!

If you’re looking for a heartwarming book about a librarian and a gardener set following an hurricane this is the book for you!! 💛

Obviously I wanted to read this book because it has a librarian as a main character and as a person who loves books, I love to read about people who love books! I was even more in because I love a single parent book. I think it is so cute to see how the love interest and the kid interact. This book did not disappoint me at all in either regard! Tansy is a fiercely loving single mom to Briar who basically loses everything because of a terrible hurricane and flooding that destroyed the library she works at and her home. Jack is about to become the director of the botanical gardens where the library is temporarily moved AND he’s the guy who yelled at Tansy for going back to save birds from the library and helped her and her daughter get out of their home safely during the flood. When they have to start working together because of their proximity and to plan this festival to raise money for the garden, obviously there is bickering and tension. So yeah, their relationship was so cute and seeing them grow together was amazing. But so was seeing Jack just get Briar. If anything, I would have loved more of their interactions and see their relationship develop.

Yes, this book had an amazing love story between the main characters, buuuuuut what is super special about this book to me is the way this community bands together during hard times to support each other. I absolutely adored seeing the impact that Tansy makes on everyone around her and the effort she puts in to build a safe and welcoming community around her. It was so wonderful to see the library and garden employees building a community of their own together and see how they work together to meet everyone's needs and think outside the box.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and the author for an ARC :) This book is expected to be published on July 8, 2025

First time reading something by this author and I’m impressed. This book was a very enjoyable quick read. Tansy and Jack were great characters. I find that I usually enjoy one of the mains more than the other but they were both relatable and had good story arcs. Tansy is single mom to her daughter Briar and works as librarian. Jack is the director of a botanic garden. After a hurricane damages the library, they’re forced together for a few months while they wait on money to fix it. The spice was also done very well (not cheesy and just the right amount for my taste, which is like 2-3 separate scenes. Took off one star because the last 50 pages were a little boring and predictable. Overall I’d definitely read something else by this author.

After reading Melanie Sweeney’s debut novel, I wasn’t sure how she could top it. This book was absolutely adorable! Jack and Tansy had such a unique chemistry from the moment you meet them. This was enemies to lovers in the best sense of romance!

Warm, witty, and with a touch of quirky charm, this story is the perfect escape for those who believe love can grow in the most unexpected places.

Wow!
This is my first Melanie book, and definitely wont be my last.

This book blew me away. You can feel the heartbreak that the people & community go through after suffering a hurricane.
Tansy & Jack both have been through trails in the past. You get a good description of their feelings and how they have to work to overcome then.

10/10 for this book. You'll laugh, cry, and sometimes want to hit them both upside the head and shout STOP BEING STUPID! lol

Thank you to #NetGalley and publishers for the ARC read! This is a book I will be able to read over and over.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

After a hurricane wiped out her beloved library, single mom Tansy Perkins is forced to temporarily move her library into a shed in the county botanic gardens. Heads collide when grumpy gardener, Jack Reid, the man who also happened to rescue her during the flooding, is forced to allow the library to use his garden. When they’re forced to work together for the spring festival, they form a truce. Sparks fly as the two draw closer, but when the opportunity for a grant that could help both find the money they each need to rebuild will their loyalties lie with their needs or with each other?

I really enjoyed this book so much! No sophomore slump for Ms. Sweeney here. Tansy is a passionate and independent woman who deeply cares about her daughter and her community. Despite losing her library and having to rebuild her home, she still maintains hope. Her resiliency shines through, and while it may be easy to fall into despair and give up, Tansy forges on.

Jack is a lovable grump. He experienced a great loss, which causes him to shy away from people and relationships. He’s happiest in his gardens with dirt in his hands surrounded by plants and flowers. I loved that once he let his guard down, his vulnerability shined through. He is not afraid to admit his feelings and fight for Tansy.

Their chemistry was palpable. Sometimes in enemies to lovers, authors can go to an extreme, but that wasn’t the case here. There’s a fine line, and Ms. Sweeney walks it beautifully. I also really enjoyed seeing Jack’s relationship with Briar. It’s just as important and meaningful as his relationship with Tansy. The cast of secondary characters were delightful and well rounded.

Overall, this was a fantastic book, and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Sweeney!