Are you ready for a magical read? Check out The Alchemy of Flowers. You won’t be able to put this one down.

THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS is an enjoyable read that would work well for book clubs. The themes and subject matter are serious, particularly with respect to infertility, but there is a simplicity to the narrative that should appeal to readers who are not looking for anything deep or complex.

The relationship that Eloise develops with Raphael goes through its ups and downs, and sometimes the miscommunications can be a bit frustrating.

I enjoyed the magic and Eloise's ability to speak to the flowers.

This is not a thriller, and I hope it is not marketed as such. However, this story should appeals to fans looking for a cozy read with fantastical elements and a strong romance subplot.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

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

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.

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!

‘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.

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.

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.

A terrific combination of magic and compassion. A woman goes to a mysterious, magical garden after a difficult loss. The story is a lush, mysterious vibe, but explores an often talked about grief of infertility.
This book is truly not for everyone, but for the right audience they will be rewarded with strong messages of found family and working through our issues.

Thanks to Harper Focus / Harper Muse and NetGalley,

I had the honor of being an early sensitivity reader on this book and fell in love then. Now I had the chance to read the final edition and just fell in love all over again. This book was for me THE SECRET GARDEN meets A GREEN AND ANCIENT, set in the South of France. It weaves the hard work of healing within the landscape of a mysterious job in the gardens of a locked castle, scrumptious dinners under the stars, flowers that whisper to to those who can hear, and secrets held and revealed. Preorder now!

Needing an escape from her life, Eloise takes a job at a mysterious garden in France because of one strange rule. No children allowed.
The gardens can heal, but they can also harm. Can Eloise ignore les bizarreries and just exist in this little heaven on earth with her new friends?!
This book is part magical realism, part mystery.. It's cozy, emotional, and terrifying. The characters are lovely, each trying to escape their own trauma. The food sounds delicious. The gardens are a dream. I loved every second of this book.

Thank you, Laura Resau, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for the early preview of this book.

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

Title: The Alchemy of Flowers
Author: Laura Resau
Format: e-book

Review:

Eloise is an American woman who finds herself moving to France to escape the hell that she has found herself in at this point of her life. She is recently divorced and there’s a backstory that we eventually piece together to see exactly why she moved to this estate for the “no children” rule. Some important trigger warnings should be included, not limited to:
-infertility
-miscarriage/loss
-rape
-murder
-child marriage

These trigger warnings are present throughout the story, but are thoughtfully explained.

This story has so many beautiful messages throughout and I really believe it can be enjoyed and appreciated by all, even if you didn’t connect via the personal problems that the main character experienced. Love can be found in many ways and many different relationships, even when you may have lost hope.

Laura Resau’s writing beautifully flows to illustrate vivid scenes throughout this book. I was completely captivated and felt as if I could not put this down! I loved the touch of French phrases throughout, although we know they were speaking in French throughout the story. My few years of taking French in school appreciated and enjoyed it. I found myself saying phrases and looking forward to having some literal interpretations explained.

I was blown away that I could connect and be interested in learning about each of the characters. Many times I was surprised by what happened and loved how each character fit so beautifully in the plot. I appreciate the realism of these characters holding on to past trauma and being hesitant to share their stories with Eloise.

I found myself questioning why this book was titled The Alchemy of Flowers, and slowly the reasoning trickled in. It really made its point in the last 50 pages. Maybe there could have been more to show how Eloise used the magic of the flowers in the gardens to heal. However, I don’t feel that is NECESSARY.

I loved the ending and felt that I got everything that I wanted out of this story.

The Alchemy of Flowers has a whimsical Secret Garden-esque French setting, which is as fantastic as it sounds. But be warned...this book has some dark and disturbing overtones. The juxtaposition of warm coziness with delicious creepiness makes this book a compelling read!

As someone who loves the magical realism genre, The Alchemy of Flowers was an enjoyable tale in which to be immersed. With magical realism, we have a real world setting but also have a main female character who has the unusual ability of being able to hear flowers communicate. And again, as is the case with magical realism, we also experience the heartbreak and bitterness of the real world. In the case of The Alchemy of Flowers, the heartbreak we explore surrounds pregnancy and child loss.

There is more information on my blog HERE; www.wilsonhillworks.com/reviews/alchemyflowers

This does have a bit of what I would consider "open door spice" but it is fairly minimal and is an important part of the healing process of the characters so that its role in the plot and character development feels purposeful and not gratuitous.

Content: child loss, pregnancy loss, cancer loss, emotional abuse of some characters, child marriage, cultural discrimination, LGBTQIA+ representation

Thank you to Laure Resau, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

What a joy it was to read seasoned author Laura Resau's adult debut, THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS. This book made me want to sleep in a hammock in a treetop bungalow surrounded by the Jardins du Paradis, the novel’s lush, magic-steeped gardens. It’s atmospheric, poignant, and dreamlike in its weaving of the sights, scents, and flavors of Southern France. Eloise, the book’s heroine, is a woman nursing heartache and deep loss, and her journey to healing will resonate with anyone who’s suffered pregnancy loss or infertility struggles. Every character in the book harbors a secret, and the haunting childlike laughter and footsteps that echo through the gardens add to the suspense. The garden in and of itself is a beautiful, if sometimes dangerous, character in the book, and the enigmatic estate owner and her acerbic assistant Antoinette heighten the story’s mystery. Eloise’s journey to healing is poignant and tender—a testament to the strength of love, the power of tending to earth and growing things, and found family.