These are very endearing characters in a slow moving plot that is very cozy. There isn’t much fantasy world building and the plot is very focused on the two characters making it read much like a romance. It does seem like a queer normative society. The romance is very sweet and there are some spicy scenes.

In a desperate bid to embrace freedom while they still can, Yael flees their upper echelon family and stumbles upon an old friend, now the head of her family's greenhouses. It feels like the right choice to stay and learn to be useful, learn something that their family has never touched. And the fact that Margot's still as cute as they remember is really just a bonus. But Margot has ideas of her own. Having leverage over Yael's family might just help her win back her fortune, even if it will break her heart to do it. But it would definitely be worth it, right?

'Homegrown Magic' is a cozy fantasy about finding your roots and balancing the expectations of others with your own morals. Flirtatious Yael and anxious Margot are both decently likable characters, and the worldbuilding is interesting, leaning on political intrigue and various forms of magic. If you're familiar with TTRPGs, you'll find a few jokes and references in this one, as well. (Guess their classes, folks.)

Despite this, however, I felt the pacing didn't always work for me. Some of the themes in this book were slightly heavier than for the average cozy fantasy, but didn't always feel as well explored as they perhaps could or should have been, even in a cozy, cottage-core arena.

I enjoyed this a lot and it was certainly a good story with a lot of good world building. It didn’t hit the cosy vibes as much as other cosy fantasy have, which I think was partly due to the amount of depression surrounding both Margot and Yael in the first few chapters, but it made me want to run away to a greenhouse to grow strawberries, so I think it had the desired effect.

I enjoyed the queer representation in this book and I’m really glad that queer themes are so common in the cosy fantasy genre. I loved how Yael was so comfortable with who they were and that it seemed being non-binary was so normalised in this world. It’s really nice, with the way things are at the moment, to lose myself in a fantasy world where queer people just are and no one complains.

Overall, though as cosy as the greenhouses were, the background with Yael’s family controlling everything and the rampant capitalism kind of threw off the vibe a bit. It is a cosy fantasy book, but it’s also got some very bleak moments. I think I would have enjoyed it more without them, but at the same time they added a lot to the story and it would have been a very different novel without them. So if you’re reading this for the cosy vibes, just be warned there’s that in there too.

I would love to live in a town like Greenfield though. It sounds like the ultimate dream.

This was so so so GOOD!! I absolutely adore Romantasy in general, but this is my favourite this year! It was utterly addictive, sweet and perfectly paced. I adored the characters, and had so much fun getting to know them! If you enjoyed the Romantasy, then this absolutely must be on your TBR! Welcome to my mew Romantasy obsession of ‘25!!

This was a cute cosy fantasy,Margot was such an adorable character and I could have followed her around forever!

I was so excited for this book and ended up being so disappointed.

First, the antisemitism in this book was not it. One of the main characters is named Yael Clauneck, and they're from the evil banking family that secretly run the world. Honestly I'm not sure how this got published.

Aside from that, the rest of the book was very mid. The characters were bland and forgettable, there was no actual plot, the writing was clunky (a lot of telling and not showing) and it included a very ridiculous third act break up that made me so mad I almost rage quit.

No thanks.

Thank you so much to the publisher & NetGalley for my ARC!

I was really looking forward to reading this as I love the sound of a queer cottagecore fantasy but unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. I found it quite hard to get into the story and I struggled with getting through it but I did like the queer normative world and the language fitting non-binary terms was really clever!

I absolutely loved this queer, cosy, magical read! I don't know enough about fantasy to categorise but I'd say this was light fantasy which is perfect for me as it makes it nice and easy to follow, there's not loads of lore I need to keep track of to work out what's going on. Just a new map and some magic, a coupe of demons and some creatures mentioned. I loved the world it's set in, with a cute map, and not too many places involved in the story so it was easy to keep track of between the City of Ashaway and the lovely little village of Bloomfield which I would LOVE to visit!
Yael and Margot were such excellent characters. I loved their childhood friends-to-lovers romance as well as their own individual but interlinked storylines. I loved seeing Yael trying to escape the clutches of their awful family and enjoy a life they actually want for themself. And Margot had seemingly the perfect cosy life as a plant witch living in a beautiful cottage in a charming little village tending to her many plants and greenhouses. But she has troubles too (that I don't think are mentioned in the blurb so I won't spoil) and it's sad to see her trying to manage all of that on top of the day-to-day running of the whole gardening business. I wasn't sure throughout how the ending was going to go as there was no obvious outcome, it could have gone many different ways. Some aspects I wasn't surprised by but I still somehow was in little ways, and some I wasn't expecting at all, but it was perfect!
I've never played D&D myself but my husband has and they really seemed like D&D characters, I can so imagine someone playing as a little plant witch Margot. The writing was also excellent. I think the characters actually are Jamie and Becca's D&D characters so I don't know whether they each wrote their own character's chapters or whether they mix-and-matched but the writing flowed really well, you couldn't tell it was written by two different people. It was excellently done, I loved it so much and can't wait for book 2!

A wholesome story of women loving women. As always Jamie Paxton (and Rebecca Podos) writing style is amazing and makes you feel so immersed!

I love a cosy, queer fantasy tale as much as the next person, but this was not the one for me.

The cottage-core vibes were definitely there, but that was… basically all that was there. It was like a Pinterest board in book form. The aesthetics (as much as you can have aesthetics in a written-word format) were there, and the atmosphere, but not much else. The plot was flimsy at best, with a romance that was enjoyable but a bit too formulaic.

I’m not of the opinion that trope-based marketing is an inherently bad thing, but looking back at the marketing having read the book, it feels like the whole book was written to tick boxes on a trope bingo board. It’s cottage-core! It’s cosy fantasy! It’s found family! It’s friends to lovers! But beyond those descriptions there isn’t much else. It was hard to get really invested when it often felt very superficial.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, and there were elements that I did enjoy, but the book as a whole was a disappointment for me.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

magic and mayhem abound...

from childhood friendship to present day Yael Clauneck is looking for something meaningful in their life... and being part of the clauneck family isnt it... though they dont know how to change it

so running away is the answer ....

margot is a plant witch and is trying to save her village from the clauneck..... though nobody else knows this so when yael ends up working at her greenhouses she is worried.... but not before her feelings for yaek show up....

testing times for margot and yael as they feel the force of the clauneck breathing down their necks.....

its a great read... love a bit of magic and mayhem in books and i cant wait to read more books by these authors

3.5 stars rounded up

Cozy vibes, queer cuteness with a little bit of spice, and finding the strength to stand up for yourself - Homegrown Magic is the plant magic fantasy world to remind us that positive things can grow from even the darkest moments.

Told in two POVs that shift back and forth, the story follows the struggles of warlock Yael and natural caster Margot. One has riches and connections to rival even royalty, and the other has lost everything. Yet fate brings these two old friends together in their moment of need, and new possibilities blossom thanks to their unlikely partnership.

I really enjoyed the small village atmosphere - the greenhouse on the edge of the community, the tavern full of friends drinking and gossiping, and the idea of weekly meetings all had Stars Hollow vibes which was comforting. It would have been nice to see even more interactions with these people, but the story primarily focuses on the relationship between Yael and Margot and their internal thoughts rather than external actions.

The hints of magic were charming too (especially on the way to the festival!), though I was disappointed that the magic system was so underdeveloped. We hardly see spells or potions being used/made - just brief discussions of them for the most part.

This was my only real problem with Homegrown Magic - it's so cute, but it doesn't develop the world enough and left a lot unfinished. That being said, I really enjoyed the themes it explored - family expectations, seeking independence, inequality... It tackles a lot of deeper issues while still remaining positive and cheerful.

You NEED to read this book if you're a fan of cosy romantasy with the most delicious descriptions of food! As a huge fan of Legends and Lattes, i've been on the hunt for another book that gives me the same vibes. Homegrown Magic really hit the mark! ✨

Thank you to Jamie Pacton, Rebecca Podos, Netgalley, and Random House for a complimentary e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

- DNF'd at 68%

Homegrown Magic is a dual pov cosy fantasy following struggling plant witch Margot and rich scion, Yael. The two used to be childhood friends but haven't seen each other years and when Yael runs away from his own party one night, the two meet up again and start to rekindle the crushes they once had on each other when they were younger. All is not well however, as Yael's own family has Margot's livelihood in their palm of their hands as her parents made a bargain with them that Margot could produce a very valuable potion, which she has yet been unable to do, and the deadline for this is coming up fast.

Overall, I thought this was a cute storyline for a book and it did lean into the cosy fantasy genre with the two characters bonding as work partners initially before pursuing a more romantic relationship. Unfortunately whilst I really wanted to love this book as it sounded super cute and I love Yael identifies as nonbinary, I found both characters to be a little grating on me in terms of their personality as both were very anxious and stressed for the first part of the book. I also just didn't really fall in love with either of them or the storyline. The book time skipped a lot, for months at a time so we didn't really see Yael getting used to living a more humble life and them both navigating their new relationship and I also felt there was a lot of insta-lust between which is a trope I'm not fond of. I did like them both as characters but never really fell in love with either of them. The fashion show sub-plot was very fun though!
I think this is definitely a book that would work for other people but I just didn't connect with it and found the pacing issues put me off somewhat.

DNF at 24%. I can't resist a cosy fantasy book under normal circumstances but I sadly found this wasn't drawing me in at all. I wasn't particularly enamoured by the main characters and the plot was moving slowly. I had high hopes for the book so I am disappointed but I will say that the writing itself wasn't in any way bad as far as I'm concerned, it's simply not the right thing for me and I'm sure that many other readers will really enjoy this book!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Sometimes all i need in life is a charming relatively low-stakes cosy fantasy. Adding in garden-witch vibes and a whole village of found family and i was very happy with this one.

Heads up that this is spicier than is often the case with this genre, and there are some characters who are introduced with a lot of potential, and remain very superficially filled out - is this where i advocate for a sequel following sage and adelphi?

A DND-inspired cozy fantasy? Sign me up!

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

After her family lost their fortune, Margot, a young plant-witch, is running out of time to keep their debt-keepers at bay. Overwhelmed by the maintenance of her grandmother's greenhouses, when her childhood friend, Yael, shows up at her doorstep, Margot has to make some difficult decisions, and reveal secrets she would rather have left buried.

Margot and Yael were both such likeable characters, and the dual narrative blended their differing perspectives perfectly. Their relationship builds really nicely throughout the story, and I loved the cozy nature setting. There were a few areas that didn't quite work for me, and I would have loved to see more of Margot and Yael's other friendships, but overall, this was a really fun read!

Perfect spring vibes, and one to try for your next cozy fantasy fix!

Books with similar vibes - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, The Stormborne Vine by Tilly Wallace, Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree, and Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne.

This was such a cute and cosy book, the perfect story as we head into spring.

I absolutely love fantasies that have queer-normative worlds where every relationship is accepted without question. Having a non-binary main character was also fantastic and shows just how easy it is to write using they/them pronouns.

The world building was lots of fun and the magic system was interesting. The idea that magic can be gifted to those who don't naturally possess it was done really well and added to the drama.

As this is a cosy fantasy (with a bit of spice) the stakes are reasonably low. It's essentially a story of a simple but lovely way of life under threat from greed and capitalism. This is all tied in with a sweet and inevitable romance to create good vibes and a book that delivers warm fuzzy feelings.

I had a lot of fun with this book and these characters and can see myself re-reading in the future.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Penguin, for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Let's start positively; the story was enjoyable and intriguing. The plot had a nice flow and was paced adequately enough. Additionally, with the dual POV, I loved Margot's POV. The premises of a queer cosy romantasy will always catch my attention.

Yael and Margot, childhood friends, meet again after nearly ten years of not seeing each other when Yael gallops back into Margot's life. Yael has fled home with no possessions and no plan. Margot, lonely and in need of help after her grandmother died and her parents lost the family fortune, offers Yael a job. What Yael doesn't know is that Margot is trying form a plan out how to take back everything that was stolen from her by Yael's family. But plans are notoriously unreliable, unlikely to survive a swiftly-blooming mutual attraction, not to mention the machinations of parents determined to get their heir back—no matter the cost.

I finished the entire book, but not without quite a few struggles. The premises was 100% up my alley, but the execution was far below my expectations. Therefore, I give the book a generous two-star review based purely on the few positives mentioned earlier.
Let's start with the book's conclusion. The story was building up to an exciting climax with Yael's family, but it rushed past it, leaving me feeling a bit let down. It felt like the climax was skipped, which was a shame.
The romance was definitely passionate, but there were so many intimate scenes that it almost felt like the book needed a content warning. A little steam is great, but this felt excessive—almost like the intimate scenes were prioritized over the emotional moments rather than enhancing them. It got to the point where it felt like every alone moment had to turn physical.
I had a hard time with Yael's POV. They felt a bit one-dimensional and didn’t have much depth or growth. Compared to the other characters, Yael felt underdeveloped and a little frustrating, like they were just there to move the plot along rather than being a fully realized person. They felt weak and made a lot of questionable choices without much development.
The book relied a lot on telling rather than showing, making the writing feel flat in places. I would have loved more depth and immersion in the storytelling. Instead of letting the reader experience things naturally, it was often spelt out. This made it an easy read, but at the same time, it felt a bit too basic and lacking in nuance. Since the writing was a bit unpolished and simplistic, making it hard to engage fully, the story's full potential was missing.
The book strongly emphasizes identity politics and social justice, which is very in tune with today's cultural shifts. However, it is executed in a way that feels more like a statement than a story; some might love it, and others might find it a bit much. Additionally, how this book introduced and reinforced nonbinary characters felt a little heavy-handed, making it more distracting than organic. It felt unnatural, almost like it was trying too hard to ensure the reader got the message instead of weaving it seamlessly into the story.

This was not the book for me, but I am sure there will be others who enjoy it.

This was such an adorable, wholesome read with incredibly lovable main characters, interesting, descriptive world building, and complex character relationships. The book was just really cosy and had so much charm about it, was easy to read and perfectly paced.