This book felt like a warm hug wrapped in wild vines and second chances. Violet’s struggle to shed her villainous past and grow into something new was so beautifully done. And Nathaniel? The ultimate grump with a soft center. Their banter, their chemistry, and their growth had me hooked. Plus, the cozy magical setting and that sassy houseplant? Perfection. If you love grumpy/sunshine slow burns—don’t miss this one!

Release Expected: 11/18/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own!

No one deserves a redemption arc quite like Violet Thistlewaite!

This is the sweetest cozy fantasy, with a swoony romance, so much emotional depth, and a bit of mystery!

If you loved A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, you should absolutely check this one out.

What’s to love…
- A grumpy alchemist MMC, with distractingly sexy arms
- A sunshiny former villain FMC who wants to spread joy with her flowers
- Forced proximity (he’s her landlord and they share a bedroom wall)
- He is down BAD, but he won’t admit it
- the cutest rock creatures
- found family
- a murderous sentient pothos
- a dragon!
- dueling shop signs complete with illustrations!
- gorgeous prose + imagery

What’s not to love…
- this one was just a tiny bit too cozy for me. If you don’t mind a bit slower of a plot, you’re going to LOVE this.
- Overall pacing wasn’t terrible but the ending did feel a bit rushed

I need Pru to get her own book next!

🌶️- one very mildly explicit scene

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Berkley for an e-ARC!

Violet Thistlewaite was formerly known as the Thornwitch, right hand woman to the evil villain Shadowfade. But now he's dead, and Violet wants to start over. So, she takes herself down to the nearby town of Dragon's Rest, rents a shop space from a grumpy (but still very handsome) apothecary and his twin sister, and opens a flower shop. But there are still issues. Another of Shadowfade's retinue has arrived in town and is surely up to no good. A blight is killing plants around town. Her landlord Nathaniel won't stop making snide remarks at her. What is she to do?

Y'all, THIS is what a cozy fantasy rom-com is meant to be. There's a depth to Violet and Nathaniel's characters as both of them have to come to terms with their pasts. There are wonderful and kind and supportive side characters. There are cute pets. There is longing and yearning in the romance. There's GOOD humor. There's still something at stake to keep the tension going. There's Violet and Nathaniel having battles with their shop sign advertisements, and it's illustrated!

The ending wraps up everything with regards to Nathaniel and Violet, but leaves some questions unanswered. I suspect a sequel following Nathaniel's twin sister is in our future, and you can BET that I'll be giggling and kicking my feet the whole time I read it.

Unfortunately I dnf’d at 50%. I enjoyed the setup for the story and the town and everyone there except for the FMC and MMC. I found Violet a little flat and not as remorseful for what she’s done as much as she says she is. The whole “sweep my past under the rug” thing as she deceives this entire town she helped harm didn’t sit well with me and I know that’s the point and it’s part of her journey. I just couldn’t move on from it. I did enjoy her powers and how she currently uses them. The biggest reason I decided not to continue with this book is Nathaniel, the MMC. I found him to be extremely rude and hard to like and it was just written off as his “quirk”. “Oh, everyone knows his deal” type of thing. The way he treated Violet was unwarranted and did take me out of the story. The relationship that began to grow between them felt forced and just because because this is also a romance story. I think having Violet like someone who during every interaction was so nasty to her was a not so great move. It just really took me out of the story/world. We were also introduced to a lot of problems very early on in story so it felt a bit overwhelming.

This book is a delightful read, though maybe a bit too quick. I appreciate the way Krempholtz introduced us to this world in the aftermath of the fight against The Big Bad Guy (sorry, had to) and how things don’t instantly get better in his absence. I loved Violet’s new neighbors in Dragon’s Rest and wish I got to know them a bit more. This goes double for Bartleby, the sentient and murderous pothos plant. What we did learn about the people of Dragon’s Rest was so intriguing, I would have been pleased to get a little bit deeper with their backstories. Overall, this felt cozy, but not shallow, and I was rooting for everyone in it.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a fabulous romantasy and as cozy as promised.

I loved the characters, especially Pru. She was a ball of sunshine to her brother's grumpiness. Violet was wonderful and I enjoyed watching her and Nate not only grow and develop over the story, but also falling in love.

Krempholz has a winner with Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore. The world the author created is excellent. I loved getting to know Violet and watching her powers come to life. The whole town is delightful. Every secondary character is fun, even the curmudgeonly dwarf. I'd also love to have a sentient pothos with an anger issue. Learning the backstories of the townsfolk was eye-opening and unexpected. I laughed and cried, often at the same time. A perfect combination of lovable characters and world-building makes this book a must-read.

5 stars! Because Head Witch in Charge is everything I want in a witchy rom-com: sharp banter, sizzling tension, magical chaos, and two heirs who would definitely stab each other if they weren’t so busy making out. 🔥

Yes, this a spicy romance + I'm all for it. I can't even believe someone complained about that - just fast-forward...aka turn the page.

Leona is the kind of hyper-responsible, type-A witch who has color-coded spellbooks. Erik is her family’s worst enemy… and her surprise husband. 😬 Cue a spellbook heist, a cursed road trip, and every mythical creature you can imagine crashing the journey.

Yes, their emotional baggage repeats a bit. But who cares when the vibes are this chaotic and the chemistry is this good? The magic system is clever (every witch has a signature scent? Obsessed), the world is rich, and it was a fun read

Fans of enemies-to-lovers, morally gray charmers, and forced proximity shenanigans—this one’s for you. I’m already waiting at the curb with my broomstick for the next Sherwood sister’s book. 🖤✨

As the tittle suggests the story follows Violet, who after the death of the evil sorcerer who raised and controlled her decides to settle in town and start a new life. She rents a room and half of a green house from the sibling owners of the local apothecary and starts working towards opening her own flower shop. The initial reception from Nathaniel (one of the siblings) and neighbors wasn't the warmest as they are still on edge after been under Shadowfade's rule for so long but she slowly starts to gain their trust. Some strange things start happening around town and there are worries that someone is trying to take over the town again. With the help of friends and townspeople Violet and Nathaniel join forces to figure it out while also developing feelings for each other.

This was a very delightful story, with magic, bit of whimsy, a cozy vibe and a great cast of endearing characters. From rock goblins to a grumpy gnome and even a pothos plant with murderous tendencies named Bartleby. I liked both of the main characters I think they complemented each other very well, Nathaniel being more serious and Violet being more open and trying to be a better person in turn helped him come out of his shell. I will say the story was a bit slow in the pacing so it took me a while to get through it. I loved the illustrations between the chapters of the message boards Violet and Nathaniel would write each other, it was nice touch to give more insight into their relationship. Also the notes they would leave in their work tables. Overall I enjoyed this book very much and will look forward to any future works of the author.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will say, that it had a very strong start but teetered off toward the middle--the pacing slowed to a snail's crawl.

I really didn't care for Nathaniel--Violet's love interest. He was a total jerkwad and wouldn't stop whining every 5 minutes. I didn't really like their relationship as a result--I feel like Nathaniel was just so rude and nasty toward Violet for most of the book. And weirdly enough they immediately got together and his whole personality changed.

I can't really call it cozy because Violet's PTSD and the metaphorical ghost of her adoptive evil father made the book a bit stressful. Cozy fantasy to me is low-stakes, low-stress, and this book was not that.

Despite my complaining, it was a fun read. I hope we see more books like this in the future, redemption is always a fun concept to explore.

Violet Thistlewaite is not a Villain Anymore. I mean, she used to be but that time is past her. Truly, you need to believe me. She is new to Dragon’s Rest and starting over as a florist. When you were the former Thornwitch using magic is easy, right?

Violet is making her way in a new town with a new landlord, new business and new problems. When a new love comes along as well things get complicated.

This book was so much fun. From beginning to end it was entertaining and enjoyable. There are so many lovable characters to get attached to! There is a fantastic narrative that (in my opinion) leaves room for a sequel (please?).

If you like lighthearted, cozy fantasy with a great underlying message, this is the book for you. Looking forward to more from this bright new author!

I would like to thank Ace, Penguin Random House, the Author and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital arc for review purposes.

What a fun, lighthearted and cozy read this was! I love a whimsical witchy romance, and this Violet Thistlewaite definitely didn’t disappoint. This story reminded me of The Spellshop (by Sarah Beth Durst) and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (by Sangu Mandanna), two of my favorite cozy fantasies!

The world, magic, and characters were all fun and quirky; each added something special to the story. Emily Krempholtz created more than just your typical cozy fantasy here. She tackled some darker themes and the resulting traumas the characters dealt with. All of the characters had depth and development that me rooting for them from the very first page!

This was a delightfully heartwarming read, and I highly recommend you add it to your TBR this fall! The expected publication date for Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore is November 18, 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Ace Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the advanced release copy. I enjoyed this very much.
This was cute, well-written, and filled with adorable word play. This cozy fantasy does not become too relaxed, which was a worry of mine. The book starts out very cozy. Violet moves her new florist shop Rough Around the Hedges next door to Nathaniel's apothecary in Dragon's Rest. Violet has just left the evil sorcerer and is determined to be good, even when Nathaniel turns out to be a cranky curmudgeon and skeptical of her plant magic. Their first date is hunting for crow moss, and there's a small-town cottage-feel. Before things get hot and heavy in the greenhouse for Violet and Nate, Sedgwick opens an alchemy shop down the road. Not only is this competition for Nate's apothecary, but Sedgwick wants to resurrect the evil sorcerer and is taunting Violet about her shameful past. Turns out Violet was in denial, and had some dark power to confront. This never got boring, and still stayed cute throughout, I loved it. Very happy for Violet and Nathaniel. A great cozy fantasy.

Thank you very much #netgalley for the arc!

This was a cozy, soft fantasy with a lot of heart — but it took me a while to get into it. The story had such a great premise: a reformed plant witch trying to start over in a charming small town while keeping her mildly homicidal houseplant under control? Yes, please.

That said, Violet’s backstory felt a little rushed at the start, and it took until about 30% in for me to really feel connected to the characters and the world. It’s definitely a slower-paced, character-driven read, which I typically enjoy, but I think the pacing might’ve thrown me off here.

The writing itself is lovely and cozy, and I appreciated Violet’s journey of redemption and the sweet, tentative romance with grumpy alchemist Nathaniel. Once the magical plague mystery kicked in, the stakes felt a little higher, and I was more engaged.

Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect fit for my usual pacing preferences, I’m still grateful for the ARC and would happily check out more from Emily Krempholtz in the future — especially for fans of cozy fantasy with plant magic, redemption arcs, and soft, small-town charm.

This book is like if Legends & Lattes got tangled up with Howl’s Moving Castle and a witchy cottagecore aesthetic—but it’s also about healing. Violet is trying to outgrow the darkness she was raised in (and occasionally hexed people with), and watching her bloom into someone worthy of love, community, and self-forgiveness? Utterly magical.

Reading this book, it had grumpy/sunshine, dragon/witch, with a little bit of romance and for it characters Nathaniel and Violet confront their fears and their past. I happily cheered in the end for Violet for finding a great support group of people and love!

I love a reformed villain and this did not disappoint! Good slow burn, a little enemies to lovers and found family. This was lighthearted for the most part but does deal with some heavy topics. Can't wait to hand sell this one!

I received an eARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR: Main characters kind of boring but the side characters won me over; loved the action/adventure at the end.

I liked this book, but I will be honest that I was not in the mood for a cozy fantasy. I think if I re-read this in the future my rating might increase because I'll know going into it that it is a cozy fantasy. I think I also expected there to be stronger romance or fantasy more than just this kind of slice of life vibe. I enjoyed the murderous golden pothos (aka Bartleby) and I would have loved more about him in the story. The main male lead, Nathaniel, kind of annoyed me. He seemed kind of self-involved and seemed to have an inflated sense of self-importance that was portrayed in his assertion that he (and his way) was the right way. Violet was okay as our FMC but I found her also kind of boring. Both our main characters spent the entire book agonizing over who they are and their pasts. They both were looking to have a brighter future. Honestly, the pothos and Nathaniel's sister Pru were far more entertaining and interesting in my personal opinion.