Assistant to the Villain Book Club Kit

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is the official October 2025 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club for Recovering Readers.

A copy of Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer sits on the table.

Here at the Peanut Blossom Book Club, I try to make sure we have a long list of fun books to read. How we define "fun" can differ from reader to reader so I try to include a little something for everyone.

October comes with "spooky season" but not everyone loves a gripping thriller or suspense novel. This year I thought I'd switch things up and offer an alternative.

The world is offering enough suspense these days, right? How about a cozy fairy tale parody instead?? This lighthearted novel explores what happens when the Villain isn't exactly what the fairy tales usually tell us he is.

Want to know what I thought of the book? You can read my Assistant to the Villain book review here.

P.S. Just joining us? Don't miss the full list of 2025 book club book picks.

Peanut Blossom Book Club

This book club pick is one of the awesome books from our eleventh year of book club.

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What is Assistant to the Villain About?

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Get Your Copy

A copy of the book Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer sits on the table.

Genre:
Humorous Fantasy
Romantic Fantasy

Pages: 352

Get Your Copy:
Paperback | Kindle | Audiobook

Assistant to the Villain Discussion Questions

I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.

You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!

Question 1:

Did you enjoy reading fairy tales as a kid? Which ones were your favorite and why?

Question 2:

Why do you think the author flipped the fairy tale formula and made the villain the hero? Was he what you expected when you started the book?

Question 3:

There is a large, colorful cast of characters in this story. Which one did you find most relatable, which one did you enjoy reading about most?

Question 4:

If you had to label the genre of this book, which one do you feel fits it best: (Defend your answer!)
1. Romantasy
2. Fairy Tale
3. Work Place Romance
4. Comedy

Question 5:

Discuss Evie's character arc. How does she change from the beginning of the story to the end? Where do you think her story goes after the end of the book?

Question 6:

If you could change one thing about the story, what would you have done differently?

Book Club Party Menu

I think it is so fun to plan your book club dinner menu or dessert list based on the theme of the book.

There are a few book club dinner-friendly dishes mentioned throughout the story, here are a few I'd choose if I were hosting the party:

"His imagination made her taste like vanilla. Probably because of the ludicrous amount of vanilla drop candies the woman ate throughout the day."

Old Fashioned Vanilla Creme Drops

Evie is obsessed with vanilla drops throughout the book and eats so many of them she smells of vanilla. You can order a few bags of this classic old fashioned chocolate coated candy and arrange them in pretty bowls on your party table.

BUY HERE

"She'd been munching on one of Edwin's newest creations while sipping her morning brew. It was a confection of fried dough fashioned into a ring. He'd frosted it, and Evie was quite certain that it was the best thing she'd ever tasted."

Try going with an office break room themed party menu. Serve a simple DIY coffee bar and platters of donuts.

If you have a few extra minutes, you could give the donuts a little flair:

Villainous Donuts

Grab a box of donuts from the store and you’ll be ready to make the cutest Halloween donuts you’ve ever seen in just minutes. There are 10 easy variations that would be perfect for a spooky themed book club party.

GET THE RECIPE