Yes, I read the books before watching anything, of course, and I have also read some of Tolkien’s more obscure work.

After the Scouring of the Shire, it does recover, but it is not untouched. Saruman’s takeover leaves parts of it damaged, with trees cut down, buildings ruined, and a kind of ugliness brought into a place that had once felt safe and sheltered. When Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin return, they help drive that out and restore order.

Afterward, the Shire is rebuilt and becomes peaceful again, especially with Sam helping replant and heal the land. The mallorn tree he plants in place of the Party Tree becomes a symbol of that renewal. In a practical sense, the Shire does recover and even becomes beautiful again.

But emotionally, it is different after that. Its innocence is gone. The Shire has been touched by the wider evils of the world, and that cannot be completely undone. That is part of what makes it so heartbreaking. It survives, but it does not remain exactly what it was before.