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The Great Orchid Heist
LOVE CAN BE A STEAL . . .
Phil, never Philippa, is getting to breaking point with her dad and their mounting debts from his gambling problem. But when best friend and bad-influence Chaz offers a brazen solution – a heist of a rare orchid due to bloom for the first time in captivity – she obviously thinks he’s joking.
Phil’s mission is clear: infiltrate the renowned Felborough Botanic Gardens as a volunteer, befriend the employees for intel, and on the big day make it out with the orchid.
But falling head over heels for Lily, the grumpy head gardener’s assistant, was not part of the plan, and as the heist approaches, Phil is faced with a dilemma: steal the orchid and break Lily’s heart or risk losing everything . . .
THE FIRST RULE OF THE HEIST . . . DON’T FALL IN LOVE
Phil, never Philippa, is getting to breaking point with her dad and their mounting debts from his gambling problem. But when best friend and bad-influence Chaz offers a brazen solution – a heist of a rare orchid due to bloom for the first time in captivity – she obviously thinks he’s joking.
Phil’s mission is clear: infiltrate the renowned Felborough Botanic Gardens as a volunteer, befriend the employees for intel, and on the big day make it out with the orchid.
But falling head over heels for Lily, the grumpy head gardener’s assistant, was not part of the plan, and as the heist approaches, Phil is faced with a dilemma: steal the orchid and break Lily’s heart or risk losing everything . . .
THE FIRST RULE OF THE HEIST . . . DON’T FALL IN LOVE
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2025
11 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
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September 11, 2025A thoroughly enjoyable sapphic romance, in which Phil (desperate for money because her gambling addict father is going to lose the house) gets roped into a plan to steal a rare orchid, but accidentally falls in love with the head gardener protecting it.
It's very British and slightly nuts in the best way, but very much underpinned with real feeling. Phil is a capable woman stymied by having to parent her father, and we see the awful push-pull of love and despair. Lily is relatably bad at people while her passion for plants comes across strongly. I am also a huge fan of Chaz, the bestie, who is both asexual and amoral ahaha. There's also a strong theme of how much upper class entitled British men suck, which is always welcome.
Highly readable, very feelgood, a ton of fun.
It's very British and slightly nuts in the best way, but very much underpinned with real feeling. Phil is a capable woman stymied by having to parent her father, and we see the awful push-pull of love and despair. Lily is relatably bad at people while her passion for plants comes across strongly. I am also a huge fan of Chaz, the bestie, who is both asexual and amoral ahaha. There's also a strong theme of how much upper class entitled British men suck, which is always welcome.
Highly readable, very feelgood, a ton of fun.
November 21, 2024
˚୨୧⋆｡ 4 ☆
🪻 ꒱ this was absolutely beautifully written. from the first page this sucks you in and before you even know it you’re at the end of the book.
🌷 ꒱ Phil and Lilly have my heart. This is my first ever lgbtq+ read and I absolutely devoured it and will be looking forward to reading more! I can’t wait buy myself a physical copy when it is released to add to my shelf!
🪷 ꒱ If you want a funny rom-com and an adventure pack heist but also dissolves itself into the everyday trauma that happens in people’s lives this is the book for you!
────୨ৎ────
☆ Publish Date: 13th March 2025.
☆ thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for gifting and allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest rating and review.
🪻 ꒱ this was absolutely beautifully written. from the first page this sucks you in and before you even know it you’re at the end of the book.
🌷 ꒱ Phil and Lilly have my heart. This is my first ever lgbtq+ read and I absolutely devoured it and will be looking forward to reading more! I can’t wait buy myself a physical copy when it is released to add to my shelf!
🪷 ꒱ If you want a funny rom-com and an adventure pack heist but also dissolves itself into the everyday trauma that happens in people’s lives this is the book for you!
────୨ৎ────
☆ Publish Date: 13th March 2025.
☆ thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for gifting and allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest rating and review.
November 20, 2024
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.
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.
March 24, 2025
this was an utter delight to read! crafted full of wit and magic with each page feeling like a hug, I loved every moment I spent in the felborough universe. Pls can the author produce a sequel asap as we need way more phil/lily/eva content! cannot recommend enough!
April 16, 2025
I absolutely loved this fun (with serious tones) read!
A crime caper, filled with wit, a country house, plants, obnoxious rich guys, dogs, more plants, and romance! I mean what's not to enjoy.
Phil bounces through life, not really finding her feet in jobs nor love until she walks into the pub one night and gets the offer of all offers from Miles and also meets Lily! Are the two connected? Of course not, but fate weaves a complex web, and it's not long until Phil is working at the grand Felborough Hall, alongside Lily and plotting the botanical heist of the century.
I loved the pace of the book and also the tone. It dealt with issues carefully and wittily but didn't make you feel like you were being lectured!
Thanks to Netgalley and Mountain Leopard Press for my free copy, I LOVED IT!
A crime caper, filled with wit, a country house, plants, obnoxious rich guys, dogs, more plants, and romance! I mean what's not to enjoy.
Phil bounces through life, not really finding her feet in jobs nor love until she walks into the pub one night and gets the offer of all offers from Miles and also meets Lily! Are the two connected? Of course not, but fate weaves a complex web, and it's not long until Phil is working at the grand Felborough Hall, alongside Lily and plotting the botanical heist of the century.
I loved the pace of the book and also the tone. It dealt with issues carefully and wittily but didn't make you feel like you were being lectured!
Thanks to Netgalley and Mountain Leopard Press for my free copy, I LOVED IT!
January 24, 2025
I would like this author to know I hold her directly responsible for the fate of the orchid I'm about to acquire and fail to keep alive.
Alright, now that that's out of the way, onto the actual book.
Phil is having a bit of a rough time. Her dad seems to have started gambling again and seems likely to lose the house. So when best friend Chaz suggests they steal a rare (and very pricy) orchid from the Felborough Botanic Gardens, she's in. The Great Orchid Heist is a go. Her role is simple: infiltrate the gardens as a volunteer and 'case the joint'. Turns out gardens are kind of cool, and one of the gardeners is pretty cute...
This book slowly sucked me in until I accidentally unlocked a new special interest (unrelated, when is the best time of year to visit the botanic gardens?).
It's delightfully silly, the writing is engaging, and the characters are just so fun (even if the villains are a perhaps tad one-dimensional).
If you're the type of person who'd pick up a queer rom-com about an orchid heist, you're the type of person who'll enjoy this book! I love when judging a book by its cover works out. (That's the whole point of a book cover!!) I had a great time, will now be spending some quality time with Sir David Attenborough as he tells me about cool plants 🌺
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this!
Alright, now that that's out of the way, onto the actual book.
Phil is having a bit of a rough time. Her dad seems to have started gambling again and seems likely to lose the house. So when best friend Chaz suggests they steal a rare (and very pricy) orchid from the Felborough Botanic Gardens, she's in. The Great Orchid Heist is a go. Her role is simple: infiltrate the gardens as a volunteer and 'case the joint'. Turns out gardens are kind of cool, and one of the gardeners is pretty cute...
This book slowly sucked me in until I accidentally unlocked a new special interest (unrelated, when is the best time of year to visit the botanic gardens?).
It's delightfully silly, the writing is engaging, and the characters are just so fun (even if the villains are a perhaps tad one-dimensional).
If you're the type of person who'd pick up a queer rom-com about an orchid heist, you're the type of person who'll enjoy this book! I love when judging a book by its cover works out. (That's the whole point of a book cover!!) I had a great time, will now be spending some quality time with Sir David Attenborough as he tells me about cool plants 🌺
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this!
February 26, 2025
If the first rule of the heist is not to fall in love then I failed :(
January 8, 2025
Reading this book felt like being wrapped inside a blanket knitted with absolute love and care - I never wanted to step out of it. Bags of wit, intrigue and tenderness expertly woven together. I cannot wait to pick up this book and dip back into my fav moments whenever I need a moment of comfort. Oh and ofc a shoutout to Eva, the best book dog of all time. If you read one book in 2025, make it this one!
January 17, 2026
Ahhh I don’t even know where to start because this was just such an enjoyable read. Look, it’s all a bit silly… but in the best way, and I loved every minute of it. It’s funny, charming, and maybe I found it extra funny because I too can relate to being briefly attracted to a man and then immediately being grossed out with myself 😅. Plus the eternal queer dilemma of is this girl straight, are we just friends, or are we 👀 friends?
The queer representation was fantastic and felt really accurate, which I don’t always find in this kind of book, so that added massively to my enjoyment. It felt natural, messy, and relatable rather than performative.
There’s also a lot of super specific detail in here, which made it clear how well researched it is but never in a tedious way. It has that energy of someone passionately explaining their niche interest to you and it’s the sexiest thing alive.
Would absolutely read this author again, and I’d recommend it if you love a low-stakes heist, found family vibes, and awkward queers doing their best 🌿💚
The queer representation was fantastic and felt really accurate, which I don’t always find in this kind of book, so that added massively to my enjoyment. It felt natural, messy, and relatable rather than performative.
There’s also a lot of super specific detail in here, which made it clear how well researched it is but never in a tedious way. It has that energy of someone passionately explaining their niche interest to you and it’s the sexiest thing alive.
Would absolutely read this author again, and I’d recommend it if you love a low-stakes heist, found family vibes, and awkward queers doing their best 🌿💚
August 8, 2025
good fun read. i liked the characters and the plot. it didnt grip me as much as similar ones i have read (see the phoenix keeper), but i enjoyed it none the less.
the best character was eva the dog- she was a sweetheart and i loved her.
charming is the right word for it, and i found it to be entertaining but not life changing. good, light entertainment for sure.
no thoughts, just vibes. that seems to fit well with this book.
the best character was eva the dog- she was a sweetheart and i loved her.
charming is the right word for it, and i found it to be entertaining but not life changing. good, light entertainment for sure.
no thoughts, just vibes. that seems to fit well with this book.
April 5, 2025
The Great Orchid Heist is a wonderfully clever romcom full of banter, romance &, of course, a genius heist!
Read
August 20, 2025Very silly, very fun.
October 29, 2025
God that was a slog. Romcom where? None of the fizz and sparkle I want from a heist, no comedy in the romance. It's fucking depressing.
April 26, 2025
Currently googling "botanical garden volunteer opportunities near me"
June 23, 2025
full of twists and didn't expect any of it 🐕🌺💰
January 10, 2025
4⭐️
The Great Orchid Heist by Eleanor Vendrell is a slow-burn sapphic romcom.
I love how the author organized the heist and how she balanced the heist part with the romance.
Phil and Lily felt very realistic, and I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship.
I also loved Lily’s relationship with Chaz and the aroace-coded representation. Additionally, I appreciated how the author dealt with themes such as addiction.
The Great Orchid Heist by Eleanor Vendrell is a slow-burn sapphic romcom.
I love how the author organized the heist and how she balanced the heist part with the romance.
Phil and Lily felt very realistic, and I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship.
I also loved Lily’s relationship with Chaz and the aroace-coded representation. Additionally, I appreciated how the author dealt with themes such as addiction.
April 17, 2025
What a beautiful book! The characters are so well rounded and their bonds are so genuine - particularly the apprehensive but impossible to ignore connection between Phil and Lily, but also the adorable friendship between Phil and Chaz. And the setting is so beautifully imagined (it is impossible to read this and not want to spend the summer in Felborough, but it almost feels like I have). I’m only sad that it doesn’t read as though there will be a sequel, as I’d love to spend more time with Phil as she continues to find herself, but one can live in hope!
April 20, 2025
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this because it just sounded fun, and it was queer which is always a bonus. Plus I love heists. That said I really didn’t know what to expect from this. Were we cheering them on in the heist? Did we want it fail? So I walked into this a little apprehensive but still expecting a good time. And it would be more than fair to say that’s exactly what I got!
This is not quite a heist book, or at least the thieves are a little bit incompetent but that’s totally what makes it work. It’s very endearing. Phil def needs a big hug and someone to talk to, as well as to tell her she’s good. Chaz’s varying levels of competence with hacking was mildly concerning for those of us invested in Phil’s stress levels. And Lily is really sweet when she mellows out and I’m glad we got to see some of that.
I really like the ending (and no I won’t hint at how the heist goes, that’s not really the point of the book, ironically) and the implications of everything.
The book isn’t perfect - there’s a lot of self doubt going around, some 2d villainisation, and a lot of miscommunication. But it is fun. And the heist is a great backdrop for a book large about the characters in it.
4 stars.
I requested this because it just sounded fun, and it was queer which is always a bonus. Plus I love heists. That said I really didn’t know what to expect from this. Were we cheering them on in the heist? Did we want it fail? So I walked into this a little apprehensive but still expecting a good time. And it would be more than fair to say that’s exactly what I got!
This is not quite a heist book, or at least the thieves are a little bit incompetent but that’s totally what makes it work. It’s very endearing. Phil def needs a big hug and someone to talk to, as well as to tell her she’s good. Chaz’s varying levels of competence with hacking was mildly concerning for those of us invested in Phil’s stress levels. And Lily is really sweet when she mellows out and I’m glad we got to see some of that.
I really like the ending (and no I won’t hint at how the heist goes, that’s not really the point of the book, ironically) and the implications of everything.
The book isn’t perfect - there’s a lot of self doubt going around, some 2d villainisation, and a lot of miscommunication. But it is fun. And the heist is a great backdrop for a book large about the characters in it.
4 stars.
April 25, 2025
A slow burn, green fingered heist saga. I can honestly say I loved every minute of this. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an opportunity to read this for an honest review. This book was a delight, reading this in a rather chilly February wrapped me up in a coziness that I was not expecting.
A heist to nab a new and rare orchid to the UK, brings an unlikely trio of Phil, Chas and Miles on a quest to steal this but as predicted not all is as it seems. Enter the grumpy Lilly and her dogo Eva who developing show burn friends to something more with Phil is generally lovely and all the guilt Phil has to overcome.
There is some serious notes which included gambling addiction, guilt over parent vs child relationship dynamics and the feeling of being lost that includes what the world perception of you is.
Wonderful read would highly recommend this when this comes out soon!!
A heist to nab a new and rare orchid to the UK, brings an unlikely trio of Phil, Chas and Miles on a quest to steal this but as predicted not all is as it seems. Enter the grumpy Lilly and her dogo Eva who developing show burn friends to something more with Phil is generally lovely and all the guilt Phil has to overcome.
There is some serious notes which included gambling addiction, guilt over parent vs child relationship dynamics and the feeling of being lost that includes what the world perception of you is.
Wonderful read would highly recommend this when this comes out soon!!
August 1, 2025
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood because it dragged so much, the romance was not that great and I didn’t like the moral implications of it
January 27, 2025
What do you get when you combine an impossible heist, an ultra-rare orchid, a gambling debt, and a slow-burn romance? You get Eleanor Vendrell’s The Great Orchid Heist, a dazzling, character-driven rom-com that left me completely hooked from start to finish.
Phil’s best friend, Chaz, ropes her into joining a heist team to steal a rare orchid worth £100,000 - a sum that could clear her dad’s gambling debts.
Phil’s role? Infiltrate the grand estate (think Downton Abbey) as a volunteer, gather intel, and pave the way for the heist.
What Phil doesn’t anticipate is Lily, the senior gardener who’s as frosty as she is fascinating.
With her Viking-inspired hairstyles, unmatched plant expertise, and strong, guarded demeanour, Lily is a force to be reckoned with - and Phil is tasked with getting close to her.
The romance between Phil and Lily is the heart of the story, and oh, what a heart it is!
Their chemistry crackles, and watching Lily’s icy exterior thaw as Phil wins her trust was utterly delightful. But with every step closer they grew, my anxiety about the heist soared.
I was completely torn - rooting for the budding romance while dreading the inevitable fallout when Lily learned the truth about Phil’s motives.
The tension was palpable, and at the 50% mark, I was literally biting my nails.
What sets this book apart is how effortlessly Vendrell balances the high-stakes tension of the heist with the emotional depth of the romance.
The plant-based setting was surprisingly fascinating, and the detail about the orchid world added a unique flair to the story.
And somehow, despite all the tension, betrayal, and moral quandaries, Vendrell delivered a satisfying conclusion that felt earned and left me grinning.
If you love character-driven rom-coms with a cool, unconventional setting and a heist twist, The Great Orchid Heist is a must-read. I can’t wait to see what Eleanor Vendrell writes next!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Phil’s best friend, Chaz, ropes her into joining a heist team to steal a rare orchid worth £100,000 - a sum that could clear her dad’s gambling debts.
Phil’s role? Infiltrate the grand estate (think Downton Abbey) as a volunteer, gather intel, and pave the way for the heist.
What Phil doesn’t anticipate is Lily, the senior gardener who’s as frosty as she is fascinating.
With her Viking-inspired hairstyles, unmatched plant expertise, and strong, guarded demeanour, Lily is a force to be reckoned with - and Phil is tasked with getting close to her.
The romance between Phil and Lily is the heart of the story, and oh, what a heart it is!
Their chemistry crackles, and watching Lily’s icy exterior thaw as Phil wins her trust was utterly delightful. But with every step closer they grew, my anxiety about the heist soared.
I was completely torn - rooting for the budding romance while dreading the inevitable fallout when Lily learned the truth about Phil’s motives.
The tension was palpable, and at the 50% mark, I was literally biting my nails.
What sets this book apart is how effortlessly Vendrell balances the high-stakes tension of the heist with the emotional depth of the romance.
The plant-based setting was surprisingly fascinating, and the detail about the orchid world added a unique flair to the story.
And somehow, despite all the tension, betrayal, and moral quandaries, Vendrell delivered a satisfying conclusion that felt earned and left me grinning.
If you love character-driven rom-coms with a cool, unconventional setting and a heist twist, The Great Orchid Heist is a must-read. I can’t wait to see what Eleanor Vendrell writes next!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2025
A sapphic rom-com against the backdrop of a botanical heist sounds almost too good to be true, and alongside the beautiful cover I was a little scared this book would disappoint me and fail to deliver on its incredible premise. Luckily it was absolutely amazing! This is such a sweet, witty, compelling read that I really really enjoyed.
Phil is such a great POV character. You completely understand her conflicting motives and why she makes all the choices she does, even when you're mentally screaming at her to stop. Her humour and banter with Lily were also so genuinely funny, and their relationship was developed so well and felt so real. They were both characterised so well and their chemistry was written amazingly. I love how the romance and heist elements were perfectly balanced with each other, and the two plots were interweaved brilliantly to keep the pacing working for both storylines.
I do think that the romance plot was just a little stronger and the characterisation of Lily worked better than any of the characters involved with the heist. I also think the heist plot is quite predictable, but seeing as how this is a romance and not a thriller I don't think it matters that much, and certainly didn't prevent me from absolutely loving this!
This is such a wholesome book with so much heart and character and absolutely one I would recommend for anyone looking for a sapphic romance with a twist!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this eARC in return for my honest review.
Phil is such a great POV character. You completely understand her conflicting motives and why she makes all the choices she does, even when you're mentally screaming at her to stop. Her humour and banter with Lily were also so genuinely funny, and their relationship was developed so well and felt so real. They were both characterised so well and their chemistry was written amazingly. I love how the romance and heist elements were perfectly balanced with each other, and the two plots were interweaved brilliantly to keep the pacing working for both storylines.
I do think that the romance plot was just a little stronger and the characterisation of Lily worked better than any of the characters involved with the heist. I also think the heist plot is quite predictable, but seeing as how this is a romance and not a thriller I don't think it matters that much, and certainly didn't prevent me from absolutely loving this!
This is such a wholesome book with so much heart and character and absolutely one I would recommend for anyone looking for a sapphic romance with a twist!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this eARC in return for my honest review.
March 18, 2025
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭
𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
(AD/PR product) Huge thank you to @headlinebooks @mountainleopardpress for sending me out a copy to review. It's out now! @eleanorvendrell
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
✿ Enemies To Lovers
✿ Grumpy x Sunshine
✿ Childhood Friends
✿ Sapphic
✿ Only One Orchid
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The Great Orchid Heist is such a fun and charming romcom. I loved Eleanor's writing and the British humour. It turns out a botanical garden is such a cool book setting, and I really enjoyed that unique aspect of the book. I completely fell for the charm of Felborough 🌷
The friendship is what stood out for me in this book, childhood friends to heist partners, it was just so fun! Not to forget how cute Phil and Lily were, the absolute sweetest 🥹
Perfect for fans of sapphic romance with a mix of adventure, friendship and suspense 💕
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
Phil, never Philippa, is getting to breaking point with her dad and their mounting debts from his gambling problem. But when best friend and bad-influence Chaz offers a brazen solution – a heist of a rare orchid due to bloom for the first time in captivity – she obviously thinks he’s joking.
Phil’s mission is clear: infiltrate the renowned Felborough Botanic Gardens as a volunteer, befriend the employees for intel, and on the big day make it out with the orchid.
But falling head over heels for Lily, the grumpy head gardener’s assistant, was not part of the plan, and as the heist approaches, Phil is faced with a dilemma: steal the orchid and break Lily’s heart or risk losing everything . . .
𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
(AD/PR product) Huge thank you to @headlinebooks @mountainleopardpress for sending me out a copy to review. It's out now! @eleanorvendrell
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
✿ Enemies To Lovers
✿ Grumpy x Sunshine
✿ Childhood Friends
✿ Sapphic
✿ Only One Orchid
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The Great Orchid Heist is such a fun and charming romcom. I loved Eleanor's writing and the British humour. It turns out a botanical garden is such a cool book setting, and I really enjoyed that unique aspect of the book. I completely fell for the charm of Felborough 🌷
The friendship is what stood out for me in this book, childhood friends to heist partners, it was just so fun! Not to forget how cute Phil and Lily were, the absolute sweetest 🥹
Perfect for fans of sapphic romance with a mix of adventure, friendship and suspense 💕
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
Phil, never Philippa, is getting to breaking point with her dad and their mounting debts from his gambling problem. But when best friend and bad-influence Chaz offers a brazen solution – a heist of a rare orchid due to bloom for the first time in captivity – she obviously thinks he’s joking.
Phil’s mission is clear: infiltrate the renowned Felborough Botanic Gardens as a volunteer, befriend the employees for intel, and on the big day make it out with the orchid.
But falling head over heels for Lily, the grumpy head gardener’s assistant, was not part of the plan, and as the heist approaches, Phil is faced with a dilemma: steal the orchid and break Lily’s heart or risk losing everything . . .
March 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ Well, this was an absolute joy to read! The Great Orchid Heist is a heartwarming, funny, slow burn, sapphic rom com, and I loved it!
In the story, we follow Philippa (Phil for short) who desperately needs extra money to support her struggling dad and their mounting debts, so agrees to team up with her friend Chaz and a guy called Miles to undertake the only thing you can when life gets tough: a heist.
However, this isn’t just any heist. It’s a heist to obtain a rare, beautiful, expensive orchid. In order to get close to the orchid, Phil takes up volunteering at Felborough Botanic Gardens, the place where it’s kept, but the task isn’t as easy as meets the eye.
For one, she might actually start liking the place and the people, and two, she might actually start liking the grumpy head gardener’s assistant, Lily, who cares an awful lot about keeping the orchid safe.
Honestly, this book is just so much fun. I adored Phil and Lily so much, the tension and chemistry was *chef’s kiss* and the storyline just felt really fresh and different. It’s also genuinely laugh out loud funny, I loved Phil’s humour and felt like I could relate to her a lot too.
The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because it took a while for me to properly get into it, but when I did, I was hooked! Also, a liiiittle bit more spice would’ve been great after the build up for me personally. Nonetheless, I really did love so much about the story and the characters.
Highly recommend grabbing a copy!
In the story, we follow Philippa (Phil for short) who desperately needs extra money to support her struggling dad and their mounting debts, so agrees to team up with her friend Chaz and a guy called Miles to undertake the only thing you can when life gets tough: a heist.
However, this isn’t just any heist. It’s a heist to obtain a rare, beautiful, expensive orchid. In order to get close to the orchid, Phil takes up volunteering at Felborough Botanic Gardens, the place where it’s kept, but the task isn’t as easy as meets the eye.
For one, she might actually start liking the place and the people, and two, she might actually start liking the grumpy head gardener’s assistant, Lily, who cares an awful lot about keeping the orchid safe.
Honestly, this book is just so much fun. I adored Phil and Lily so much, the tension and chemistry was *chef’s kiss* and the storyline just felt really fresh and different. It’s also genuinely laugh out loud funny, I loved Phil’s humour and felt like I could relate to her a lot too.
The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because it took a while for me to properly get into it, but when I did, I was hooked! Also, a liiiittle bit more spice would’ve been great after the build up for me personally. Nonetheless, I really did love so much about the story and the characters.
Highly recommend grabbing a copy!
December 22, 2024
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 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 publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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 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 publishing in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2024
Phil joins her best friend and a stranger in a heist plan to steal a rare orchid from a research garden in order to solve the money problems caused by her father's gambling. The joy she finds in volunteering at the garden and in a potential relationship with one of the gardeners make her question whether or not she should go through with the plan. The book has elements of both romance and coming-of-age stories, both of which work really well with the characters.
I really enjoyed this story, although I should say that the "heist" of the title is a bit of an exaggeration - fans looking for a queer Leverage story should look elsewhere. Phil is a sympathetic and likeable character, and her problems feel intractable so that you really care how things turn out. The romance between her and Lily is also cute, and I loved the secondary characters and the depth they were given.
My main sticking point was that, at several points, the plot hinges on miscommunications or failure to communicate (e.g., not texting someone with a short explanation). Some of them made sense with the characterisation, but others felt contrived.
On balance, the book is funny and has loveable characters, and should appeal to fans of lighthearted queer romance.
This review is based on an eARC from NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this story, although I should say that the "heist" of the title is a bit of an exaggeration - fans looking for a queer Leverage story should look elsewhere. Phil is a sympathetic and likeable character, and her problems feel intractable so that you really care how things turn out. The romance between her and Lily is also cute, and I loved the secondary characters and the depth they were given.
My main sticking point was that, at several points, the plot hinges on miscommunications or failure to communicate (e.g., not texting someone with a short explanation). Some of them made sense with the characterisation, but others felt contrived.
On balance, the book is funny and has loveable characters, and should appeal to fans of lighthearted queer romance.
This review is based on an eARC from NetGalley.
March 27, 2025
𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕕.
ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕘𝕘𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕒𝕕, 𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕗 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕖𝕤. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕟, 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕫 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕦𝕡 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕒 𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕪 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣, 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕞𝕤. ℍ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣, 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖, 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪? 𝔼𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕃𝕚𝕝𝕪 – 𝕒 𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕘𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕪 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕤 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟.
𝔽𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕒𝕝𝕝, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖. 𝔹𝕠𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕪 𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤; 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤, 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝. 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕 ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄ℂ. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖. 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖, 𝕖𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕃𝕚𝕝𝕪.
𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕄𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕕 ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕡𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜. 𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕠𝕨𝕟.
ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕘𝕘𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕒𝕕, 𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕗 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕖𝕤. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕟, 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕫 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕦𝕡 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕒 𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕜𝕖𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕪 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣, 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕞𝕤. ℍ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣, 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖, 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪? 𝔼𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕃𝕚𝕝𝕪 – 𝕒 𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕘𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕪 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕤 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟.
𝔽𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕒𝕝𝕝, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖. 𝔹𝕠𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕪 𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤; 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤, 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝. 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕 ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄ℂ. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖. 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖, 𝕖𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 ℙ𝕙𝕚𝕝 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕃𝕚𝕝𝕪.
𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕄𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕃𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕕 ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕡𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜. 𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕠𝕨𝕟.
April 6, 2025
I received an ARC through NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Phil is far from a hardened criminal, but with her father's debt and illness hanging over their head, she needs money, fast. So when her hacker friend gets an offer to steal a priceless orchid from a botanical garden, what can she do?
The real shining light of this book for me is Phil and her father's relationship. I really felt the desperation and anxiety of having to be a parent to your parent, of having to be the 'adult' in the room and carry all that weight for them too. And the shame on the part of her father, who also knew this wasn't right. It was a very real and interesting dynamic. Every time when Phil wanted to back out, she stayed in for her father.
Of course, I also loved Phil and Lily's relationship, and as an extension Phil's genuine growing interest in the gardens and their history. Basically, I just think Phil was a great character and her character arc was amazing to read.
The side characters like Chaz and HG also shined, and I'm very fond of them.
Phil is far from a hardened criminal, but with her father's debt and illness hanging over their head, she needs money, fast. So when her hacker friend gets an offer to steal a priceless orchid from a botanical garden, what can she do?
The real shining light of this book for me is Phil and her father's relationship. I really felt the desperation and anxiety of having to be a parent to your parent, of having to be the 'adult' in the room and carry all that weight for them too. And the shame on the part of her father, who also knew this wasn't right. It was a very real and interesting dynamic. Every time when Phil wanted to back out, she stayed in for her father.
Of course, I also loved Phil and Lily's relationship, and as an extension Phil's genuine growing interest in the gardens and their history. Basically, I just think Phil was a great character and her character arc was amazing to read.
The side characters like Chaz and HG also shined, and I'm very fond of them.
February 10, 2025
The Great Orchid Heist is a sweet, funny, sapphic romance. Phil, desperate for money to save her family from her dad's gambling problem, is convinced into taking a job with the sole purpose of getting close enough to steal a rare orchid. Along the way, of course, things go wrong and heat up and she falls for senior gardener Lily. I really liked this setting of Felborough Botanic Gardens, and I fell for its charm just as Phil did. The heist is pretty low-key and I would've loved more as a fan of criminal heist shenanigans, but the romance was lovely and there was enough mystery to keep me intrigued. A character-driven story that romance fans will enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy.
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy.
June 10, 2025
I knew I loved Eleanor’s voice before going in — after all, I read her newsletter religiously, whenever it comes out — but it was such a treat to get to enjoy it for a full-length book. It’s witty and smart and conversational, and pulled me right into this wild story about Phil who finds herself inmidst planning a heist to steal a rare orchid, as a way to clear her dad’s gambling debt.
You know what else this book has? Plant nerds, a budding (ha!) romance, great character development, and a dog called Eva that I’d love to take home, thank you very much. I loved hanging out with Phil and everyone else at Felborough, and see her slowly thaw Lily’s heart, and now I kind of feel like volunteering at a botanical garden, too (though not to steal anything, I swear!).
You know what else this book has? Plant nerds, a budding (ha!) romance, great character development, and a dog called Eva that I’d love to take home, thank you very much. I loved hanging out with Phil and everyone else at Felborough, and see her slowly thaw Lily’s heart, and now I kind of feel like volunteering at a botanical garden, too (though not to steal anything, I swear!).
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