"You want to get out of debt by infiltrating a rare garden, but get caught in a bisexual love triangle – protective gardener or slick co-conspirator, who do you choose? "
I really loved this warm, charming romcom debut from Eleanor Vendrell. We’re immediately thrown into the dilemma Phil faces: trying to get her dad out of debt, slick Miles persuades her and her tech-wizard best friend that they can also get back at the gentrified elite who would gatekeep a rare orchid in the first place. Seeing quaint Felborough through Phil’s infiltrating eyes, we get to enjoy the beautiful, whimsical, historical setting while also feeling cynical about it. I enjoyed how the heist is a mix of both haphazard and skilful, allowing the reader to suspend disbelief while also feeling like "yay, this is a cool sexy heist". Vendrell expertly builds higher and higher stakes for Phil, increasingly torn between who to lie to, who to let down, to follow through on the heist but lose the ability to form an honest relationship with the woman she’s falling for.
Of course, I’m delighted that the character named Lily is so completely desirable – Vendrell has created such a glorious romantic interest to pine over, the consummately capable, seemingly stand-offish, passionate gardener, with her long blonde hair in a messy plait, her loyal dog Eva at her feet, telling Phil off for not being able to tell plants apart, while being, almost against her will, supportive and kind too. Full of great throwaway lines, like ‘My hunch is that Miles is too hot to be any good in bed,’ there are also cinematic set-pieces like the romantic setting of the garden when the orchid is nestled, and Lily’s luscious plant-filled bath.
| Primary Genre | Romance / Relationship Stories |
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