Clara has always had a soft spot for her puppets, especially Pineo, the charming wooden man her father carved when she was just a girl. But when a wish on a star brings Pineo to life—as a full-grown man—Clara’s world turns upside down. Now, navigating his new human desires, he’s determined to win Clara’s heart, but the world throws obstacles in their way, making them wonder if they’ll be enough for each other. Clara and Pineo must saw through their fears to accept the true love granted by the stars.
G.M. FAIRY is a #1 best-selling, romance author who dabbles in Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and all things whimsical. She's best known for Get In My Swamp and Pounded by Produce. Her specialty is taking the stories we all know and love and ruining them in the best way possible.
2.5⭐️ Hard as Wood is one of the most unhinged (in a fun way 😅) retellings of Pinocchio I’ve ever read—equal parts spicy 🌶️ parody and chaotic fairytale fever dream 💫. The concept? A puppet-turned-real-man with a very human libido 😳. Creative? Absolutely. My vibe? Not quite.
Some of the dialogue and plot were a bit too stiff 🪵 (pun intended), and I found myself cringing more than swooning 😬. Still, G.M. Fairy clearly knows her audience, and her imagination is next-level 💭✨. I first came across her from her Shrek retellings I kept seeing ads for, which I still plan on reading at some point.
Even though this didn’t pull my strings 🧵, it’s short, silly, and is for a very specific group of people. If you’re into smutty satire, fairy tale chaos, and a whole lot of wood jokes 🤭🪵go ahead and let this one tickle your fancy.
I got this for review by G.M. Fairy on booksirens. Short, spicy and very sweet. Really enjoyed the Pinocio version and I love the fact that it isn't his nose that grows when he lies! Little over 50 pages so not much of a story but I would recommend it as a little pallete cleanser or when you are in the mood for a short pinocio retelling.
This got recommended in my feed after the Veggie Tales fanfic and I was not disappointed. It's all the best parts of a spicy fairytale condensed into a bite size novella.
OH GATHER ‘ROUND, my fellow millennial trash pandas and fairytale degenerates, because I have a freakin’ gift of a book to recommend
If you thought Pinocchio was just a sad wooden boy trying not to lie? BABY, think again.
GM Fairy, our certified smutty fairy godmother, said: “What if I took that wooden puppet and made him-sexy?” and she DELIVERED.
Meet Clara—she’s 5 foot nothing, tragic backstory included (dad’s dead, cue tears), lives in a town where she’s basically a ghost to everyone. So naturally she gets sad and makes a wish on a star. AND THE STAR SAID “BET”.
Suddenly her favourite puppet, Pineo, is VERY REAL, VERY HARD (ahem), and VERY ready to give her a tour of more than just the town.
We’re talking walking, talking, made-of-wood man who does not have a growing nose problem, but you KNOW something else grows when he lies. Wink wink nudge nudge, GM Fairy you absolute menace.
Listen. There’s oil. There’s emotional drama. There’s enough town-exploring and bed-exploring to make you both laugh and swoon. The line “Hey I’m a real boy!” now lives rent free in my unholy soul and I can never be cleansed.
AND THAT OIL SCENE? I laughed so hard I almost pulled a muscle. Who knew wood polish was so… versatile?
It took me an hour to devour it like the feral gremlin I am and I’d do it again ten times over.
Go read it. You deserve this. Your inner chaotic child deserves this. Thank me later.
Super cute, short extra naughty take on Pinocchio. Lonely Clara feels unseen in her tiny village, with just her late father’s handcrafted marionettes for company. One in particular draws her attention, especially when she’s in need of release. After lovingly touching up a chip in Pineo’s paint, a melancholy Clara falls into a fitful sleep only to wake up to a suddenly sentient Pineo, who is as shocked as she.
In this fairytale, however, it’s not a nose that lengthens when a falsehood is uttered… How on earth will this little drama be resolved? Leave it to G M Fairy to make it delightfully smutty and silly.
I received an advance reader copy from booksirens, and I’m sharing my honest review.
As a self-proclaimed brain rot enjoyer, this was a hard read, even for me, so to compensate everyone is forced to read wood-related puns throughout this review since this was effectively a PG-13 sex dream about an aged up Pinocchio.
Plot holes left me stumped. Wood not recommend. Smut was not tree-riffic. Entirely too much discussion of her father in the same sentence as the puppet despite its attempt at being innocent (no tree puns here I needed you to actually internalize this one).
3.75 stars. Am I embarrassed that I read this? Definitely. Do I regret it? Nope. This is a very weird take on Pinocchio, but I laughed out loud when his nose wasn't the appendage that grew when he lied. I don't think I will ever be able to eat maple syrup again without blushing, and I suspect I will think of this story every time I get a splinter.
Clara wishes upon a star that her favorite wooden doll would come to life because she is lonely after her father passed away. Pineo wakes up and realizes that he can move and speak. I struggled a bit with how child-like Pineo is when it started getting steamy, but I did laugh at how he processed all these new sensations. His inner monologue when new sensations happened was very funny. Crying Oh No because you don't know what's happening when an orgasm hits made me laugh, but was still a little weird.
This story was a great palate cleanser for when my 600-page fantasy novels get to be too much and I just need funny and mindless.
Thank you to BookSirens and GM Fairy for the free eARC.
G.M. Fairy has this magical knack for taking stories we all grew up with and giving them a spicy, grown-up twist we didn’t even know we were craving. 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝 is no exception—it’s a super quick, heart-tugging read that somehow manages to be fun, tender, and seriously steamy all at once.
The story follows Clara, who’s completely alone in the world except for the comfort she finds in the wooden dolls her father carved. Her favorite is Pineo—and let’s just say, after a wish upon a star, things get 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 interesting. What follows is a sweet, slightly whimsical, and totally adult journey that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
It’s got that fairytale charm, but with a deliciously hot twist, a warm emotional core, and a HEA that’ll leave you grinning. If you’re in the mood for a fast, feel-good fantasy with heart and heat, Hard as Wood is a fun ride you won’t regret.
Thanks to the author and Booksirens for the gifted copy 💕
G.M Fairy’s work is always a good time. They are so quick and light, you fly through them. And this one was no different, it is a Pinocchio retelling which drew me into it. I enjoyed the characters, even though it did feel like the FMC did have some childish characteristics but she was still enjoyable, and the MMC was interesting but I’m not entirely too sure on my feelings for him. The story itself is interesting and it is a short book, so you are thrown straight into the action and the connection between the characters.
I came into this completely unprepared. G.M Fairy's Hard as Wood: A Puppet Love Story is a unique take on Pinocchio. It is not appropriate for all readers, but the title says it all. Clara's wish is finally granted. Her love is reciprocated. The book is extremely descriptive. It's slightly smutty. It's also a short and quick read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Hard as Wood was such a fun read! It was silly, it was goofy, and it made me laugh out loud multiple times. I knew exactly what I was getting into when picking this up and it definitely delivered.
Chapter 1 & 2 were completely perfect! No notes! I really enjoyed the humour mixed with spice. Unfortunately, it felt like it lost some of its rhythm during/after Chapter 3. This was only a short read so when 2-ish chapters are dedicated to a little conflict, it feels huge. However, G. M. Fairy totally brought it back at the end!
I volunteered to review a free ARC of this book for BookSirens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily 1 Star
Ish... Let’s just say, this wasn’t my cup of tea. I did laugh throughout the book though, so there’s that! I should’ve read the synopsis, but I didn’t.
If you’re into books about wood and maple syrup… go ahead, I guess.
Hard as Wood was such a sweet and magical read. I loved how Pineo’s journey from being a wooden puppet to becoming human felt so tender and emotional. The romance with Clara was a slow burn in the best way—soft, whimsical, and surprisingly deep. It gave me all the cozy fairy tale vibes but with enough heart to stick with me after I finished.
this little pinocchio retelling was actually so sweet and cute! i loved it so much and even had hints of beauty and the beast vibes too! i loved that his nose wasn’t when grew when he told a lie (; hehe wow so silly, cringy and fun! i enjoyed it a lot and am looking forward to reading more of this author’s books! i received an arc from booksirens in exchange for an honest review
Honestly, this is my first time reading the work of G.M. Fairy and I didn't know what to expect but I was having a great, ridiculous time. It was a silly, goofy and the ideal palette cleanser after some really heavy and difficult reads !
Why is it that I only need to see one Instagram reel sharing an unhinged KU rec and I'm sat 😂 This is the craziest Pinocchio retelling I've ever heard of. Was this cringe? Absolutely! But it was also fun lol don't you dare judge me
Bit of a weird take on Pinocchio but I’m here for it!! Pineo was made for Clara (literally) their relationship starts off immediately upon him realizing he’s a man and not a puppet anymore. Hilarious wood puns and maple syrup 💦💦
This was such a fun and quick little read! I didn’t know I needed this Pinocchio reimagining, but I did and I devoured it!
We have our FMC, Clara, who is a bit of a loner in her town. One night she wishes upon a star and one of the wooden puppets her father made before his passing, her favorite he ever made, comes to life as the man of her dreams. Pineo, our MMC, has been obsessed with Clara from the shelf since he came into existence, and he isn’t going to squander his time with her!! I loved how obsessed he was with her and how even when he went to town and was able to see other people, she was the only one who caught his eye.
I loved that they were both inexperienced and explored everything together. It was done very sweetly and definitely endeared them even more to each other. HOWEVER! I freaking loved that Pineo had a dirty mouth!! His “good girls” and a favorite of mine “I only want to hear my name on your lips. I’m the one who’s filling you, not God” had me kicking my feet out of giddiness. Clara was no slouch though, she also had a few of her own delicious lines and “good boys” thrown in 😉
Goodies to expect: - Sentient Object, Wooden Puppet x Human Romance - Pinocchio Reimagining - Virgin FMC and MMC - “Good Girl” / “Good Boy” - Maple Syrup Cum - Something grows when he lies…
Thank you to G.M. Fairy for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
What if Pinocchio became a life-size, hot piece of wood? And I mean wood literally. Well, Clara's wish comes true when her cherished wooden puppet, Pineo, comes to life. He soon realizes lies really are a big deal. The situation gets hot quickly and warm, syrupy feelings ensue.
" 'Do they usually grow when you tell a lie?' Maybe I don't know everything about my p*nis." LOL
The character art cover got my attention and I visualized the story in this art style. The imagery of different scenes was more funny and ridiculous this way. It was a fun time! I was not expecting wood oil and maple syrup on my reading bingo card haha
I could have done with more Pineo navigating all the newness and less with Clara being insecure about the townspeople, but still enjoyed the naughty retelling. I will keep my eye out for this author in the future!
Overall, it's a silly and spicy vibe with a heart.
Thank you to BookSirens for the free arc <3 my review is voluntary and honest
Clara has always loved her puppets, especially Pineo—the wooden man her father carved when she was a child. When a wish on a star suddenly brings him to life as a full-grown man, everything changes. As Pineo learns what it means to be human, he’s set on winning Clara’s heart. But with challenges standing in their way, the two must face their fears and discover if the love written in the stars is strong enough to last.
This book is such a quick and easy read—short, light, and fun to follow, even though it leans heavily into smut. The writing is simple and flows well, making it a fast-paced story you can finish in one sitting. Plot-wise, it’s definitely unique and a playful take on a Pinocchio retelling, with Pineo as the wooden puppet who comes to life. While the spicy parts aren’t particularly memorable, I did enjoy how both characters approach intimacy almost like beginners—it adds a touch of innocence to the otherwise steamy scenes. Clara, as a character, feels very lonely, and her emotional arc is subtle but meaningful as she finds comfort in Pineo. Their dynamic is equal parts sweet and awkward, which makes the romance surprisingly wholesome despite the heat. The worldbuilding isn’t deep, but the magical twist of a wish-come-true puppet is creative enough to keep you hooked. Overall, it’s a light, slightly quirky story with a happy ending that ties things up nicely—perfect if you’re in the mood for something short, spicy, and unusual.
Thank you to BookSirens, to the author, G.M.Fairy, for providing me with this e-copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.