I didn’t think it was possible, but I loved The Enchanted Greenhouse even more than its predecessor, The Spellshop. It’s essentially the scene from Beauty & the Beast where Belle first sees the enormous library, on repeat, mixed with simmering romance, heaps of magical creatures and flowers, and infinitely more talking plants. I felt wonder with each new piece of the story, excited for what waited through each new door. Sarah Beth Durst was able to create a universe on a tiny island in a forgotten corner of her world and it’s truly a wonder to read and experience. At the end of the day, any book with tiny honey-obsessed dragons is a win by my standards.

The Best Bits

A Few of My Favorite Things

A Statue Come to Life

We first heard Terlu’s story in The Spellshop, the long lost creator of Caz, the beloved talking spider plant, who had been sentenced to an eternity as a statue. The Enchanted Greenhouse is the story of her rebirth into the land of the living, and she dives right into a strange world filled with wondrous things. I loved getting to know this character, watching as she returned to her social ways and engaged with everything around her in a sensitive and caring manner. She completely makes sense as the creator of a talking spider plant, and she fits perfectly alongside the grumpy sole gardener who is trying to keep dozens of greenhouses from falling into disrepair. She helps the gardener to open himself back up to the world and falls in love along the way. The progression is perfect and I applaud Durst on how perfectly she captures the cozy fantasy aesthetic mixing just enough seriousness with fluffy calm. 

So Many Talking Plants

I was obsessed with Caz in The Spellshop. Just imagining this ball of dirt and leaves swinging around was fascinating to me and such an original creation. In this second book, Durst outdoes herself with a dozen talking plants, all of them with unique personalities. While the rose is the real star of the talking plant show, I found myself obsessed with Dendy, the slow talking, wise Rhododendron who steals all of his scenes. I never would have imagined being thrilled at the prospect of talking plants, but here we are and it’s magical.

The Food

So much of this book followed the lines of Studio Ghibli – the wonder, the magic, the characters with things to learn who just want to better the world. In true Ghibli fashion, food was front and center and Durst’s descriptions are mouthwatering. The grumpy gardener has chef-level talents in the kitchen and imagining his baked goods made me want to put down the book and start baking. I’ve never tasted a dish that embodied an entire season, and now I’m inspired.

Breathtaking Greenhouses

Clearly I expected there to be greenhouses aplenty, but that descriptor doesn’t do the book justice. I knew I’d be seeing magical plants, maybe even a couple of creatures, but Durst has created dozens of magical worlds, bringing together so many ideas into one space. I found myself pausing to reread descriptions, just so I could imagine them fully. From the sunflower maze populated by tiny dragons (a third mention!) to the galaxy of starlight flowers to a room housing flowers whose scents create beautiful dreams – it was all breathtaking to behold.