Laurie's books have taken me a bit to get into but once I do I'm all in. The same was true for this latest fairytale retelling. I enjoyed it. The cover is a gem and the writing is excellent. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

🧡 Big Bad Wolf 🧡

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Small Town Romance
• Fated Mates
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Forced Proximity
• Found Family
• Cozy Paranormal
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Harper 360, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

LOVED this one!! Laurie is so talented and this world is very fun. A little sexier than her other series. Highly recommend.

Holy moly!! I was already a Laurie Gilmore fan, but I was not prepared for this!

So different from her Dream Harbor books. Dark, magical, werewolves, seers, witches… and somehow it still has all the things she does best ✨ Found family, small town vibes, and two people who feel completely inevitable.

I was genuinely giddy reading this. Could not put it down, flew through it, and immediately wanted to start over again.

Ruby was everything 🖤 Strong, a little outcast, fully herself, and learning she’s not as alone as she thinks. I loved her. And Rafe… the hot and cold nearly took me out, but I felt every bit of Ruby’s frustration, which made it work.

The vibes are unreal 🍂 Not cozy sunshine, but wrap up in a blanket, it’s raining, slightly dark and magical kind of cozy.

And that ending??? I usually hate a cliffhanger, but now I just need the next Maple Hollow book immediately.

Huge thank you to Laurie Gilmore, HarperCollins, and Harper 360 for letting me be part of the early reading team 🥹 I am completely obsessed and already counting down to the next one ✨🐺🍂

I enjoyed reading this story about Ruby and Rafe and how he was there to protect her from harm from everyone who thought that she was her twin

My ARC list of September releases is out of control but when I was asked to review Bug Bad Wolf, I jumped at the chance and moved it immediately to the top of my TBR. And boy am I glad I did!

A lot of my friends know that Dream Harbor is my non-so-secret guilty pleasure. I loved each and every one of those books but I’m not really a pure romance reader. Add werewolves, witches and nymphs and you’ve got a combo that is out of this world.

This definitely had the Dream Harbor feel but mix it with Once Upon a Time and some secrets in a sleepy old town and I’m obsessed!!

Did it get corny at times? Absolutely. Was I there for it? Yep! I cannot wait to head back to Maple Hollow! Also, this ends on a cliff hanger so I’m not sure it’ll be interconnected standalones like Dream Harbor. Also, shout out to the DH mention!

Thank you Harper 360/Harper Collins, Laurie Gilmore and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

If you're a fan of cozy fantasy, small-town vibes, and werewolves, I think you'll really enjoy this one. The story follows Ruby, who's grown up hearing the local legends her entire life, only to discover there might be more truth to them than she ever imagined. When she crosses paths with Rafe, the chemistry between them is immediate, and I loved watching their relationship unfold against the backdrop of all the mystery surrounding the town.

What I enjoyed most was that it wasn't just a romance. The side characters each have their own personalities and storylines that kept me invested, and the world feels like one you want to keep coming back to. There are plenty of twists along the way, and by the end I was already wondering what will happen next.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early. I loved the small town feels with a twist of creatures and suspense. I felt like this was a slow burn with Rafe and Ruby. It felt nostalgic reading this book because I grew up reading and watching tv shows with mystical creatures, vampires, wolves, harry potter ,etc. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and the hardships Ruby experienced and it made the book feel real. There was a slow build up to the big events and I was rushing to get to the solution. :)