A Garden of Dark Secrets: A Review of Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky
I’ve always been drawn to tales that blur the lines between reality and the ethereal, and Goldy Moldavsky’s Of Earthly Delights deftly plucks at those strings. This haunting modern gothic romance enveloped me from the first pages, inviting me to step into the mysterious grounds of Hemlock Hill—a place where desires bloom amidst dark secrets and love teeters on the edge of obsession.
Set against the deceptively tranquil backdrop of small-town Connecticut, the story unfolds through the eyes of Rose Pauly, a New York City transplant grappling with her family’s upheaval. Upon arriving in the pristine Meadow Falls, she meets Hart Hargrove, a boy whose beauty is rivaled only by his passion for the garden he tends. But what begins as a simple teenage romance quickly spirals into an unsettling exploration of the nature of desire and love. The moment Rose encounters the infamous "Wish Garden," I felt a rush of anticipation. There’s something irresistible about a garden with the power to grant wishes, yet Moldavsky masterfully infuses a sense of foreboding that lingers as the narrative unfolds.
The characters are as vibrant as the flowers in Hemlock Hill. Rose, painted in the chaotic hues of her New York background, learns to adapt in this seemingly perfect environment—yet it’s her relationship with Hart that reveals her true depth. Hart is charmingly enigmatic, but as his motivations come into question, I found myself grappling with the idea of love versus obsession. This duality is echoed in the dynamics of Hart’s twin sister, Heather, whose chaotic energy serves as a stark contrast to Hart’s gentleness. Their interactions and contrasting approaches to grief brought a rich emotional complexity to the narrative that resonated deeply with me.
Moldavsky’s writing style is both accessible and richly evocative. Her descriptions of the garden are sensory feasts—I could almost smell the intoxicating fragrance of the flowers and hear the whisper of leaves. One moment that stayed with me was when Rose experiences the “Wish Garden” for the first time, overwhelmed by a cacophony of sights and sounds. It felt like walking into the heart of a dream: beautiful yet unsettling. Such vivid imagery layered with intricate details exemplifies the author’s talent for building atmosphere, inviting readers into a world that feels both enchanting and perilous.
However, the narrative isn’t without its thorns. The initial pacing felt a bit slow, and at times, the secondary characters, particularly Rose’s father, lacked the development I craved. While the plotting remained compelling, the rules of the Wish Garden sometimes felt inconsistent, leaving me with lingering questions. Still, the unsettling effect of the cyclical conclusion, mirroring the novel’s opening, aligned perfectly with the themes of love, loss, and the price of our desires.
Of Earthly Delights is not your typical love story; it’s a haunting meditation on what it means to desire deeply, and the heart-wrenching consequences that might come with it. It prompts readers to ask if love influenced by magic can ever be deemed real or genuine.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark romantic tales laced with elements of fantasy. Perfect for fans of gothic literature and those who appreciate stories that challenge their perceptions of love and loss, this novel left me pondering long after I turned the last page. Goldy Moldavsky has created a rich tapestry that encourages us to explore the beautiful yet treacherous landscape of the human heart. Reading this book was both a delightful and haunting experience, and I suspect many will find themselves entranced by its bittersweet allure.