What a treat to get to read this book pre-release! Calm, purposeful and deliciously wry. The first time I've ever seen the true horror of living under the so-called 'benefits' system represented in a piece of fiction. Lots of genuine laugh out loud moments and a gorgeous love story, and I learned a lot about plants against my will.

Five HUGE golden stars! Just be sure to be patient as the stars align...

You know that book that has the provocative tagline? Taglines with words like “hilarious” and “lough out loud” and “heart-pounding” and “gripping” and “xxx twist” … Like those.

The thing is, that naturally raises expectations. If they tell you it’s going to be hilarious then anything not as intensely funny is going to be a letdown. Right?

The Great Orchid Heist was a little hard for me to get into, initially. Sure, the narrative was immediately witty and engaging, and the lead character was … okay. But I was still waiting for the hilarity and any kind of heart-pounding. Don't blame me! They put it those in the top line of the blurb. I spent 25% of the book in expectation of … more. I’d give it till halfway, for sure. It’s only fair to give an ARC every chance.

Thank God I did! Because by the time you get to 33% of the way in, MC Phil is so down to earth, facing such a dilemma, that you want to hug her and tell her to have faith, while the object of her affections, Lily, is so tempting you want to go to Felborough and hang with her in the glasshouses. And nudge her and poke her to open herself up to people. People like Phil.

Invested much? Yes. Oh yes!

My point being THIS book is a book that sucks you in while you don’t even realize it. And more, after the final pages are done and Felborough and Lily and Phil are behind you and you’re somewhere else in some other pages … you wonder how the girls are doing.

And I didn’t even talk about the heist! Which itself is such fun! Fun tinged with Phil’s dilemma of what it means to go through with stealing the uber-rare orchid, of the fallout and the cost she knows will come. You want her not to do it, but you know she has to.

Dilemma much? Yep. If only because by now, you’re looking at how many pages you’re in and have left, watching the page count reduce while wishing the story could go on and on. Maybe a whole four seasons and another year. Or two, or three?

Can I just say that The Great Orchid Heist is um, blooming brilliant? No? Well, I’ll just say that Eleanor Vendrell has pulled off a remarkable debut here. Her narrative skill is undoubted, her setup and playout of that is addictive and clever, and her characters are organically… I don’t know—I miss them, so... I’ll go with “love-worthy.”

Sigh … I just miss them and the Gardens so much!

So, to conclude my garden amblings and review ramblings, I’ll tell you that it’s okay the story starts slowly. Very okay. It’s laying the foundations, avoiding many easy tropes and clichés in favor of developing the story and characters more organically. In the end this book, this heist, this love story is *everything* you hope it will be, and, yeah, that tagline actually delivers on its promises. Who knew? ;)

Thank you to the author and the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to ultimately devour this ARC and cry at the end.

This is literally about a heist to steal an orchid. It's fantastic.

Phil is persuaded to join the heist team by her best friend Chaz because she's so personable and good at getting people to open up. It's Phil's job to infiltrate the grand house (picture downtown abbey) as a volunteer and gather as much intel as possible, so that they can somehow pull off this impossible heist, steal the ultra rare orchid and get the £100k payment that will clear Phil's dad's gambling debts.

But when she begins volunteering Phil has to get close to the senior gardener - an icy cold, strong armed, plant wizard with a penchant for viking hair styles. Lily doesn't like to get close with any of her coworkers.

Fortunately Phil manages to crack her open a little, and their chemistry is <I>so</> compelling. i LOVED Lilly and Phil's relationship, and the closer they got, the more Lily started warm up, the more uncomfortable I got with the heist! At around the 50% mark I was literally biting my nails with concern about how they were gonna pull this off! And THEN I was fretting at how betrayed Lily would feel when she found out Phil was behind it...and SOMEHOW Eleanor Vendrell made it work!!

This was a fun, character driven rom-com with a cool setting (the plant stuff was genuinely cool and interesting!). Can't wait to read more from Eleanor Vendrell.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline in exchange for an honest review.

Eleanor Vendrell's The Great Orchid Heist is a delightful romp blending the high-stakes tension of a heist with the swooning charm of a sapphic romcom. Set against the lush backdrop of Felborough Botanic Gardens, this novel delivers a perfect mix of romance, suspense, and emotional depth.

Phil—never Philippa—is a sharp and resourceful protagonist whose motives for infiltrating Felborough are rooted in the pressures of family obligation and survival. The story captures her internal conflict beautifully: torn between loyalty to her gambling-addicted father and the increasingly undeniable pull of her feelings for Lily, the enigmatic assistant gardener. Vendrell skilfully explores this duality, making Phil both relatable and endearing as she grapples with the morality of her mission.

Lily, on the other hand, is a classic grumpy love interest whose guarded exterior conceals a deep passion for her work. Her banter and slow-burning chemistry with Phil are the beating heart of the story. Their relationship evolves organically, with moments of tension and tenderness that feel earned. The fact that Phil’s entire heist hinges on deceiving Lily adds an undercurrent of delicious angst to their romance, keeping readers hooked on how their story will unfold.

The heist plotline is equally engaging, adding a layer of intrigue to the romance. Vendrell’s descriptions of the rare Splendid Paradise Orchid and the meticulous operations of Felborough Botanic Gardens are vividly detailed, immersing readers in a lush and atmospheric setting. The stakes are high, not just because of the Orchid's rarity but because of what it represents for Phil: the key to saving her family home.

The supporting cast—including Chaz, the bad influence with a heart of gold, and the various quirky garden employees—rounds out the story with humour and warmth. Each character adds to the vibrant atmosphere, making Felborough Botanic Gardens feel like a living, breathing place.

With its witty dialogue, simmering romance, and a dash of nail-biting suspense, The Great Orchid Heist is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of sapphic romcoms will find much to love here, and the central themes of love, loyalty, and self-discovery add depth to this breezy, feel-good story. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a mix of romance and adventure with a healthy dose of botanical beauty.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Absolutely LOVED this - easily my romance read of 2025 so far. The voice is so specific but simultaneously easy to read, and Phil feels like a pal gossiping with you at the pub from page one. Add in a heist, which is always a winner in my book, and a grumpy/sunshine love story that feels completely plausible, and The Great Orchid Heist is a proper treat of a book. I didn't want it to end!

A great read I couldn’t put down. I really enjoyed the story and character development/interactions. A beautiful love story and moment that had me laughing out loud in my staff canteen.