This was such a cute, cozy read! It was exactly want I wanted and needed.

This is a true cozy fantasy. There is a bit of "action" but the stakes stay low enough that it doesn't make the book unenjoyable. Even with that, "Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore" is a character driven story at it's core. It's definitely about their journey of healing.

The 3rd person narration threw me off at first - I would have expected 1st person - but I got used to it quickly.

Rated 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

My thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I love cozy books about people who decide to run away to a new town and build a new life. I’ve read about bakeries, chocolate shops, and lots of bookstores, but this is the first story about a magical flower shop. Nathan is a grumpy alchemist working to save his family’s struggling apothecary. Violet was a woman raised to be an evil terror - but was given a second chance and is trying to be a good person. Their romance is set against a backdrop of a magical blight, rock goblins, the legend of the eye of the serpent that grants power and immortality, an evil face from her past, and learning to ignore the selfish voices of those that raised us.

This was just such an enjoyable book from start to finish. I want to call this a cozy fantasy, but it has surprising emotional depth as the characters deal with their anxiety and stress while trying to move forward in their lives and become better people. Violet is the former evil henchman known as the Thornwitch whose Villainous boss, Guy Shadowfade is now dead. She decides to move to a nearby small town and become a Florist. Violet deals with her anxiety and guilt over her role in Guy's evil plans, as she works to become a "good" version of herself.

Violet rents a home and story from Nathaniel Marsh, a grumpy Alchemist who has returned to run his parent's apothecary. They get off on the wrong foot, but as weird events start happening and a suspicious person moves down, they begin to work together to try and save everyone.

I enjoyed the growth of the main character, as well as the development of the supporting cast. While the plot followed a basic guideline for this genre of book, the twists and turns gave it a spark that made it enjoyable. The worldbuilding was well crafted, and it was easy to read. I prefer a slow-burn romance, and the pace was a bit fast for me, but anyone who wants a faster build-up would enjoy this.

I have been on a roll with cozy fantasy lately and this one has to be one of my all time favorite ones! I loved everything about this book. The magic, characters, romance, and plot was fantastic. This was the perfect palate cleanser that I couldn’t put down and finished in less than 24 hours!

The main character Violet Thistlewaite is the star of the show. The now reformed villainous Thornwitch is trying to start fresh and use her magic for good. Her story and journey is emotional and so unique. I loved seeing her become more confident in herself as she develops her plant shop and begins using her magic to grow instead of destroy. Her relationship with grouchy alchemist Nathaniel Marsh was so sweet to read about. I loved how their romance developed and felt so natural. They really balance each other out and at the end the little found family they have going was perfect.

I loved the ongoing plot with the blight and darkness from Violet’s past. This really added to the cozy fantasy while further leading Violet in her journey to change. There is such a whimsical element in this book with all the magic, stories, and creatures. I loved everything about this and would love to see more from this world, especially Karina the Tempest!

Great addition to growing cozy fantasy genre! Interesting characters, found family and an enemies to lovers romance. For fans of the Spell Shop and Legends and Lattes.

What an incredible read. For one, I am in love with the premise of a reformed villain or a villain who is putting in effort to reform. I find that it reflects reality quite well, in how anyone who has been some sort of "villain", can grow and continue living in a growth-centered manner. I also find that this book reflects reality in how not everyone is willing to accept them right away. Despite Violet, our main protagonist, hiding her old villainous history, I find that her overall struggle to change is realistic and I can really feel for her. At the same time, I can also relate to Nathanial, her landlord who is having trouble accepting her into their tight little town. I also relate to him quite strongly as I also have a bit of a combative personality who is quick to judge despite having some problems myself. Nathanial and Violet are such realistic yet vibrant personalities and they are the perfect people to follow this book with. From their initial meeting to the end of this story, they held my heart in their hands. The story itself is realistic, understandable, and as hopeful as people can be after a tragedy. I highly recommend reading it.

Easily a 4 star read! Grumpy alchemist & Plant witch? LOVE. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. I mean a stabby plant sidekick?Yes. Of course yes.. Adventure & slow burn with some forced proximity fighting a common enemy just makes this a great cozy and fun fantasy.
This book doesn’t come out until November which is honestly the best time for because it’s PERFECT for fall and winter

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the arc of this book In exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

This book was as much fun as the title promised it would be! Violet is a great main character. I think we can all feel a kinship to someone trying their hardest to choose kindness even when meanness would be so easy (and probably a lot more fun!) I enjoyed the townsfolk of Dragon's Rest and Violet's relationships with them. There was a lot of pun and sass in this story, which made it a fun read.

I think people who enjoy T.J. Klune's books would like this one, too. A nice mix of banter, sweetness, and heart... I recommend this one! 4.25 stars.

I absolutely loved this cozy fantasy—it was such a fun and heartwarming read. Violet was a wonderful main character, and following her journey of starting over and choosing to be good was truly a joy. The town was filled with charming, quirky characters that made the world feel alive and inviting.

And the romance? A beautifully crafted slowburn with the grumpy alchemist who completely stole the show. I adore a tortured male lead, and his dynamic with Violet was everything I wanted. This is a lovely story about change, second chances, and how it’s never too late to begin again.

What a delightful read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, found family, and slowburn romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ace Books for the gifted ARC.

I loved everything about this! The characters were real and lovable. I especially loved the little violent plant! The cozy feel of this was also nice. I recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy and romance.

Violet Thistlewaite was the Thornwitch, sidekick to the villainous Shadowfade, until she betrayed him to his death, became good, and nestled herself right into the community most harmed by her former father figure.

This was a very sweet, cozy read that had some serious moments but never left us in suspense for too long.

If you like found family, grumpy and sunshine, and an interesting but not agonizing exploration of how badly a terrible father can mess up his daughter’s idea of herself, this is the book for you. Oh, and a really charming cast of side characters, stabby plants named Bartleby included.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy of this book!

A powerful plant witch and a grumpy alchemist must work together to save their quiet town from a magical plague in this debut cozy fantasy romance about starting over, redemption, and what it really means to be a good person.

If you like cute, grumpy x sunshine, and a former villain trying her very best to be good by opening up her own flower shop, then this novel is for you.

Violet is an intriguing character to read about. She understands the wrongs that she has done in the past, and struggles with trying to reform herself into society without being recognized.

Nathaniel is the grump in this duo. What's interesting is that at first, he only views Violet as a tenant. Yet, as he continually interacts with her, his thoughts of her start to change and blossom.

We get both of these characters viewpoints and their emotions. The way that the author writes is simplistic, and straight to the point. The story itself is medium-paced. It's one of those cosy stories that you curl up to while sitting out in the back garden.

This is a fun cozy fantasy romance that is, as the title suggests, about the difficult task of reinventing yourself. Specifically, of changing your behavior and actions, and trying hard--your very hardest, because it is unimaginably difficult to change who you are--to be a good person after having been raised to be an evil villain. Honestly, the first chapter didn't win me over, but it was there to set the stage for the change to come and I recognized that and stuck with it. And I'm glad I did. The book was funny, a bit witty in the romance area, and oh-so-relevant as folks realize they've perhaps been less than kind to others. And while the resolution might be a wee bit too hopeful to be entirely believable, I still loved it. Because who doesn't want to be seen as flawed, but changed for the better, especially after having undergone a major mindset shift and behavioral change? We're all allowed to change, right? "Let's remember that, and grant one another a bit of grace if one seems to be trying" is what this book is saying. And I'm on board with that.

A little magic, a little romance, a quirky village full of lovable weirdos, and a former villain trying her best to start over (with a sentient murder plant by her side). Violet is messy, morally complicated, and genuinely trying to be better—which made her journey so compelling. Her dynamic with Nathaniel, the grumpy local alchemist, was such a cozy grump x sunshine vibe that completely won me over.

The writing balances whimsy and emotional depth, touching on themes like trauma, identity, and second chances without ever feeling too heavy. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a comforting read that still has a bit of bite. Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the ARC!

What a cute and wholesome cozy fantasy. This one was so hard to put down and I loved every moment of it! The world, the magic, the characters. It was just so so good. I would love to read more about these characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the eARC!

Absolutely loved this story! Violet may have been the baddest villain in the realm. However, we learn that a lifetime of manipulation can force people to do bad things. When she gets a second chance to be good, she takes it. Plant witch by trade, she decides to become a florist with only her landlord Nathaniel for support and the townspeople of Dragon's rest. Nathaniel is a grumpy ex alchemist who has hurt in his past and doesn't trust easily. While Violet has secrets and untamed magic to deal with. When a mysterious blight happens in the cozy town, they work together to solve it. However, violet may not be as good as she appears. At least subconsciously. Will the town and Nathaniel turn away from Violet when they learn the truth? Read and find out!

Violet is a wonderful character, full of promise and light - her desire to "be good" is rooted in a life of tragedy and evil, which has turned around. I so enjoyed her struggle and her success in reinventing herself, being part of a community, and finding relationship! Nathaniel is great, another complex character with thoughts and feelings that clash with Violet as they learn to get along, then fall in love. A wonderful story, full of twists and turns that I did not expect, with just the right amount of love scenes thrown in!

If you're a plant mom who loves to sit in the sunbeams with a hot cup of tea and a good fantasy or romance book, this book was written for you!

After the thornwitc's life is spared on the condition that she leaves behind a life of villainy, Violet Thistlewaite reinvents herself as a pleasnt village florist. She must learn to overcome her violent urges to see if there is a creature worth loving underneath all her thorns.

This delightful romcom set in a cozy, high-fantasy worl is a wonderful light read. Between Violet's plant magic, the grumpy x sunshine emerging, and the search for healing and a new start, there's so much to love about this book. Reading it felt like a warm cup of herbal tea coated in magic. Truly delightful, I absolutely loved it. The story added enough depth to make it compelling while keeping it within the realm of cozy fiction. It explores themes of healing from trauma, abusive grooming, and high expectations of self. The side characters make up a quirky and wonderful village with rich personalities. Definitely give it a read!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for a free copy of "Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore" for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Let me start by saying, I don't think this was really my type of book.. I'm sure this book could be five stars for someone else. This was a really cozy, cute love story.

I struggled to finish this one. There is a lot going on here—the blight, trying to find the eye of the dragon, saving the apothecary from the bank. Even though all that was going on, it still felt really low-stakes. I was bored. I think this was intended to be a book about self-reflection and personal growth; I felt like the plot was just an afterthought..