Review: Gardens & Grudges

Gardens & Grudges

Amanda Pennington

Expected publication date: July 28, 2026

He stole her cat. Now she might steal his heart—if he doesn’t leave town first.

Sylvie Fogg is living her best quiet life in Southern Indiana. She has a steady job, a peaceful neighborhood, a flower garden in her backyard, and a semi-adopted cat.

Then Jack Murray moves in next door. He’s a famous chef looking for his own quiet life, far from the chaos of high-end restaurants and publicity. But he doesn’t expect a Type A neighbor who declares war the moment he starts spoiling her cat.

Their playful neighborhood rivalry turns into something neither of them planned: slow-burn chemistry, flirty banter, and a connection that feels dangerously real.

But when Jack is offered a high-profile cooking show that would put him back in the spotlight, he must choose between their blossoming romance and the fast-paced lifestyle of the rich and famous. And Sylvie would get her cat back, but she’d miss out on the man who knows his way around the kitchen—and the way to her heart.

Gardens & Grudges is a closed-door romantic comedy featuring enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn chemistry, and quirky neighborhood drama. Perfect for fans of clean rom-coms, cozy Midwest settings, and feel-good fiction with plenty of heart. - from Goodreads

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sylvie has created a cozy, drama-free life for herself, including starting a garden and sort-of adopting her neighbor's cat.  Then Jack, a famous chef, moves in next door, and starts feeding Sylvie's cat, inadvertently starting a rivalry between the two and upending Sylvie's quiet life.  But as she gets to know Jack, Sylvie wonders if it's time to open her heart.  

I've been a fan of Amanda Pennington's closed-door romances since her first book came out in 2022.  Gardens & Grudges continues her tradition of clean romances with relatable characters and settings.  Sylvie and Jack are new neighbors in a small Indiana town.  Sylvie has lived there for awhile, while Jack, fresh from big city life, is looking for a change.  They are drawn together when they both start feeding the same cat, and then further during the neighborhood association meeting, where they are tasked with working together on an adopt-a-pet event.  Although Sylvie is put off by Jack at first, she starts to see a different side to him.

I enjoyed getting to know Sylvie and Jack.  Pennington does a good job creating the backstories for each (a difficult family life for her, a chaotic career for him) that have ultimately led them to this place.  I liked the tension that Sylvie feels, trying to ignore her feelings for Jack because she's apprehensive about change in her life.  And I especially liked that Jack kind of falls first and is the one pushing for something more.  

But beyond crafting characters and fun storylines, Pennington's writing is the real star.  It's cozy, it's relatable, it flows well, and it feels like you're having a conversation with a good friend.  There's nothing outlandish here; it all feels so natural, and that's what makes reading her books such a treat.

4 stars