The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne by Summer N. England was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I've followed Summer England on social media for a while—her neighbor stories, if you know, you know. I originally wanted to read this novel to support her, but I quickly came to realize that she might be a new instant-buy author for me.
The story follows Clara Thorne, Moss's town gardener, as she's chosen by the Goddess to embark on a journey to the cursed town of Dwindle. Along with her companion hedgehog, Warty; Hesper Altanfall, the woman assigned to accompany her on her mission; and Edge, a talking bird, Clara must leave the only place she's ever considered home and grow a garden in Dwindle within a month.
Clara was such an interesting protagonist. Each chapter begins with a drafted first line from the novel she's attempting to write, and we really get to live inside her head and experience her struggles. Clara believes her magic is tied to Moss, so naturally, she's terrified that she'll fail this mission without it. The novel takes us on Clara's journey of self-discovery as she uncovers the truth about her magic and her childhood.
I genuinely enjoyed every part of this story. It was well-written, perfectly paced, and wonderfully spicy. Clara and Hesper have a delicious will-they-won't-they dynamic, and I loved their animal companions. The townspeople all seemed so warm and inviting that I honestly wouldn't mind living in either Moss or Dwindle.
I'm not usually drawn to cozy fantasy because I tend to find it too slow-paced, but this book manages to be cozy, spicy, perfectly paced to keep you invested, and beautifully written. I couldn't recommend it enough if you enjoy cozy fantasy, queer fantasy, or romantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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