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Tree Daddy
Not yet published
Expected 23 Feb 27An ER nurse and a Bigfoot shifter must join forces to defeat monster hunters and save his valley in this playful paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author Molly Harper.
Fresh off a broken engagement, ER nurse Vivian Reeves is eager to prove to herself that she can step outside her comfort zone. An (unexpectedly) solo hiking trip in Kentucky’s Crooked Pine Mountains seems like the perfect place to start. That is, until she finds a huge, naked, half-comatose man sprawled across the trail.
Her medical training won’t allow her to just walk away. But when vicious, sword-wielding hunters attack, she realizes she’s sorely out of her depth.
As it turns out, Naked Guy, who identifies himself as Hank Hawthorne, belongs to a remote valley commune of Bigfoot shifters now under threat by monster hunters. As Viv is drawn into Hank’s world, she discovers her connection to the valley is far deeper than she realized.
With danger closing in and her bond with Hank growing impossible to ignore, Viv must decide whether to return to the life she left behind or embrace a new purpose and find her hairily-ever-after.
Fresh off a broken engagement, ER nurse Vivian Reeves is eager to prove to herself that she can step outside her comfort zone. An (unexpectedly) solo hiking trip in Kentucky’s Crooked Pine Mountains seems like the perfect place to start. That is, until she finds a huge, naked, half-comatose man sprawled across the trail.
Her medical training won’t allow her to just walk away. But when vicious, sword-wielding hunters attack, she realizes she’s sorely out of her depth.
As it turns out, Naked Guy, who identifies himself as Hank Hawthorne, belongs to a remote valley commune of Bigfoot shifters now under threat by monster hunters. As Viv is drawn into Hank’s world, she discovers her connection to the valley is far deeper than she realized.
With danger closing in and her bond with Hank growing impossible to ignore, Viv must decide whether to return to the life she left behind or embrace a new purpose and find her hairily-ever-after.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 23, 2027
About the author
Molly Harper
60 books8,362 followersMolly Harper is the author of more than 40 romance titles including the Half-Moon Hollow series, the Mystic Bayou, the Starfall Point series, and her first murder mystery, A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR. She lives in Michigan with her family. For more information, go to www.mollyharper.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This felt like a fever dream...and not in a good way.
My first question was what the heck is a "Tree Daddy"? My Google search was inconclusive and I was very confused on the significance of the title. Is it because they had sexual intercourse in a tree? Maybe.
Now getting into the heart of the issues. The insta-love was terrible. I'm actually the kind of person who can handle insta-love if it's done right. For example, if it's clear the two are obsessed with each other and have crazy chemistry, I don't mind insta-love. I actually eat it up like candy on a stick. But Hank and Vivian had NO chemistry before they kissed approximately 20% through the book. There was no lead up, no tension, and no real reason they should be kissing.
This could be forgiven if there was an outstanding romantic plot that followed. But no. Hank and Viv hardly even saw each other until about the 70% mark. There could be no romantic development because they basically had no page time together. Vivian soul-bonded to a magical rock, and she genuinely had more chemistry with the talking, magical rock, than with Hank. Sad, but true.
I'm not going to get into all the mystical creatures and elements of this book, but I will say they were fun to read about. My only problem is that they hogged all the page time and left practically no space for Vivian and Hanks love story. But all the mystical folklore made for some really entertaining fight scenes and some interesting Bigfoot politics.
Lastly, I really tried to like the found family aspect, but I did not feel connected to any of the side characters. While the Bigfoot politics were entertaining from afar, I didn't actually care about them because I didn't care about any of the side characters.
Overall, I was really disappointed by this book. If it wasn't an advance reader copy, I probably would have DNF'd it, but I make it a rule to never DNF arcs. This was ultimately not for me at all, but if you love mystical creatures and Bigfoot shifters, you might want to try this one out.
1.5 stars (rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
📆 Publication Date: February 23, 2027
My first question was what the heck is a "Tree Daddy"? My Google search was inconclusive and I was very confused on the significance of the title. Is it because they had sexual intercourse in a tree? Maybe.
Now getting into the heart of the issues. The insta-love was terrible. I'm actually the kind of person who can handle insta-love if it's done right. For example, if it's clear the two are obsessed with each other and have crazy chemistry, I don't mind insta-love. I actually eat it up like candy on a stick. But Hank and Vivian had NO chemistry before they kissed approximately 20% through the book. There was no lead up, no tension, and no real reason they should be kissing.
This could be forgiven if there was an outstanding romantic plot that followed. But no. Hank and Viv hardly even saw each other until about the 70% mark. There could be no romantic development because they basically had no page time together. Vivian soul-bonded to a magical rock, and she genuinely had more chemistry with the talking, magical rock, than with Hank. Sad, but true.
I'm not going to get into all the mystical creatures and elements of this book, but I will say they were fun to read about. My only problem is that they hogged all the page time and left practically no space for Vivian and Hanks love story. But all the mystical folklore made for some really entertaining fight scenes and some interesting Bigfoot politics.
Lastly, I really tried to like the found family aspect, but I did not feel connected to any of the side characters. While the Bigfoot politics were entertaining from afar, I didn't actually care about them because I didn't care about any of the side characters.
Overall, I was really disappointed by this book. If it wasn't an advance reader copy, I probably would have DNF'd it, but I make it a rule to never DNF arcs. This was ultimately not for me at all, but if you love mystical creatures and Bigfoot shifters, you might want to try this one out.
1.5 stars (rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
📆 Publication Date: February 23, 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Unique Shifter Concept with a Slow-Burning Mystery
Tree Energy introduces a fresh and unique concept to the paranormal romance genre. The idea of using Bigfoot as a shifter character was a brand-new concept for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the story.
I found the writing to be a little too wordy. The book relies heavily on background information, which unfortunately bogs down the pacing and fails to capture the core plot effectively. If you are going into this book looking for a fast-paced, instant "shifter-mate" connection, you won't necessarily find it here. While there is romance and a bond between the characters, it does not serve as the main storyline.
The author tied a bit of suspicion and thriller elements into the plot. It added as a nice layer of tension to the narrative and make Tree Energy a decent read with some creative ideas.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an advance copy to read and review.
Tree Energy introduces a fresh and unique concept to the paranormal romance genre. The idea of using Bigfoot as a shifter character was a brand-new concept for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the story.
I found the writing to be a little too wordy. The book relies heavily on background information, which unfortunately bogs down the pacing and fails to capture the core plot effectively. If you are going into this book looking for a fast-paced, instant "shifter-mate" connection, you won't necessarily find it here. While there is romance and a bond between the characters, it does not serve as the main storyline.
The author tied a bit of suspicion and thriller elements into the plot. It added as a nice layer of tension to the narrative and make Tree Energy a decent read with some creative ideas.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an advance copy to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When a book is called Tree Daddy, you just know it’s going to be fun. I received this eARC when it was on Read Now in NetGalley and I’m so glad I did! Molly’s books never take themselves too seriously, but contain so much heart. If you are into cryptid lore, or just enjoy a good paranormal romance and an excellent sense of humor, this is for you. It’s a fast read, perfect for lounging in something cozy while you enjoy badass female friendship and bask in the non-toxic masculinity of the Bigfoot community. Not a sentence I ever thought I’d write, but here we are. Go put it on your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It has been a long time since I have laughed out loud at a book like I did at the beginning of this novel. I was hooked!
You have a strong female who kicks her useless fiance to the side and within the same day finds herself kicking butt as she battles supernatural creatures. Vivian goes hiking and finds herself saving the life of a bigfoot shifter named Hank, who has been attacked. Vivian ends up becoming an important part of his community but she is suspicious that something nefarious is going on. Meanwhile she finds herself getting closer and closer to Hank. Vivian must decide what life she truly wants.
The first part of this book was so good. I loved the action and humor. As the book went on it was not quite as funny but became a solid romance. There were great characters and I loved reading about the Bigfoot community. I like that this book was different and a great blend of a lot of different genres.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
You have a strong female who kicks her useless fiance to the side and within the same day finds herself kicking butt as she battles supernatural creatures. Vivian goes hiking and finds herself saving the life of a bigfoot shifter named Hank, who has been attacked. Vivian ends up becoming an important part of his community but she is suspicious that something nefarious is going on. Meanwhile she finds herself getting closer and closer to Hank. Vivian must decide what life she truly wants.
The first part of this book was so good. I loved the action and humor. As the book went on it was not quite as funny but became a solid romance. There were great characters and I loved reading about the Bigfoot community. I like that this book was different and a great blend of a lot of different genres.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
August 25, 2026
I would definitely say this is more of a fantasy/mystery thriller than a romance—and a wild one at that. I mean, people who can shift into Bigfoot, being hunted by an ancient lineage of hunters, living in a hidden valley in the woods with blueberry muffins and a bartering system? **Can I join?!**
The plot twist was definitely not a twist at all. I was sitting there like, *lol, duh, Vivian had seen it the entire time,* so the reveal was pretty disappointing. But overall, the story was heartwarming and cozy. The romance, though, was definitely lacking. Vivian and Hank had the physical attraction, but there wasn't much time spent developing their emotional connection, so their relationship felt a little underdeveloped.
That said, I had a lot of fun with this one! The Bigfoot shifter premise was what initially pulled me in, and honestly, that part of the plot did not disappoint. If you're looking for a cozy mystery/fantasy with a quirky heroine and a very unique premise, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The plot twist was definitely not a twist at all. I was sitting there like, *lol, duh, Vivian had seen it the entire time,* so the reveal was pretty disappointing. But overall, the story was heartwarming and cozy. The romance, though, was definitely lacking. Vivian and Hank had the physical attraction, but there wasn't much time spent developing their emotional connection, so their relationship felt a little underdeveloped.
That said, I had a lot of fun with this one! The Bigfoot shifter premise was what initially pulled me in, and honestly, that part of the plot did not disappoint. If you're looking for a cozy mystery/fantasy with a quirky heroine and a very unique premise, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an experience. One I shouldn't have signed up for. And honestly I didn't even remember quickly request but clearly my sleep deprived mind overrode my good sense.
This is weird and rather whacky. But if any of that tickles your fancy, well. Climb that tree.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
This is weird and rather whacky. But if any of that tickles your fancy, well. Climb that tree.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A bigfoot shifter! Yowzers, this was zany and fun! Vivian is hiking in the forest when she stumbles on a naked guy in the woods. He’s hot, hairy, and yes, he’s bigfoot.
The story opens with a hilarious breakup, followed by Vivian discovering Hank, all beat up in the woods. She’s a nurse, so of course she tries to help him, only to be attacked by evil Ventham hunters. Next thing she knows, Hank is carrying her through the forest!
Vivian is so snarky and I loved all the quirky characters in Hank’s village. There’s magic, adventure, and romance with a little spice. The final showdown got a little zany to follow but I didn’t let that bother me. This unique bigfoot romance was a wild, furry, and entertaining read! Thanks so much to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads.com closer to the review date, Feb. 23rd.
The story opens with a hilarious breakup, followed by Vivian discovering Hank, all beat up in the woods. She’s a nurse, so of course she tries to help him, only to be attacked by evil Ventham hunters. Next thing she knows, Hank is carrying her through the forest!
Vivian is so snarky and I loved all the quirky characters in Hank’s village. There’s magic, adventure, and romance with a little spice. The final showdown got a little zany to follow but I didn’t let that bother me. This unique bigfoot romance was a wild, furry, and entertaining read! Thanks so much to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads.com closer to the review date, Feb. 23rd.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Molly Harper’s Tree Daddy is a fun single point of view paranormal romance about a human and her Bigfoot shifter love interest. Vivian is hiking in the woods to clear her head post-breakup when a naked man stumbles onto the trail in front of her, injured and being chased by sword-wielding hunters. Vivian is injured and is brought to Hank’s supernatural village in the woods, where she accidentally bonds with the magic relic that fuels the town. Antics ensue as our couple falls in love and as Vivian ingratiates herself to the town.
This story is cute, and fun, but way more violent than I expected. Between the monsters and the hunters and the mystery, there was a sinister undertone to this book that I didn’t expect for a book whose tagline is “you know what they say about big feet.” The marketing led me to believe this would be a fun monster romance between a Bigfoot shifter and a human, whereas the story mostly felt like a small-town fantasy with a romance subplot.
The romance felt much less developed than I expected given the emphasis of the story. Hank and Vivian barely know each other by the time they first engage in foreplay, and the couple doesn’t spend a lot of time together outside of intimate encounters. I would have liked more banter and connection, more of the two connecting. Instead, most of Vivian’s conversations seem to be with the two town matriarchs vying for power. The couple’s third act conflict happens when a secret gets revealed and the other person feels betrayed, but honestly I felt like the two had barely had conversations to justify any kind of betrayal. I wanted more connection and less intercourse.
There were many elements of the story that felt underdeveloped. The mystery was a general sense of unease until the height of the third act, when we have a character evil-villain-monologuing on page. Our main character gets a number of warnings from various mystical sources to trust the people around her and let them help, but it ends up being mostly unhelpful for the final conflict. The town itself was developed well, as was the general magic system, but our character feels out of place for most of the story. There are plotholes that never go addressed. There’s some inconsistencies in her characterization, like when she refers to herself as “bookish” and talks about her love of monster encyclopedias as a child, yet in earlier chapters says she has never read for fun. The book felt like it was trying to be a small town romance with a paranormal magical element and a mystery and the combination didn’t allow for any of them to feel settled.
Altogether, this is a fun concept, but it could have used some more refining. It feels like the author wasn’t sure exactly what book she had in mind and threw everything in but the kitchen sink. I’m definitely open to giving the author another try, but this book wasn’t one I would personally recommend.
Thank you to Molly Harper, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
This story is cute, and fun, but way more violent than I expected. Between the monsters and the hunters and the mystery, there was a sinister undertone to this book that I didn’t expect for a book whose tagline is “you know what they say about big feet.” The marketing led me to believe this would be a fun monster romance between a Bigfoot shifter and a human, whereas the story mostly felt like a small-town fantasy with a romance subplot.
The romance felt much less developed than I expected given the emphasis of the story. Hank and Vivian barely know each other by the time they first engage in foreplay, and the couple doesn’t spend a lot of time together outside of intimate encounters. I would have liked more banter and connection, more of the two connecting. Instead, most of Vivian’s conversations seem to be with the two town matriarchs vying for power. The couple’s third act conflict happens when a secret gets revealed and the other person feels betrayed, but honestly I felt like the two had barely had conversations to justify any kind of betrayal. I wanted more connection and less intercourse.
There were many elements of the story that felt underdeveloped. The mystery was a general sense of unease until the height of the third act, when we have a character evil-villain-monologuing on page. Our main character gets a number of warnings from various mystical sources to trust the people around her and let them help, but it ends up being mostly unhelpful for the final conflict. The town itself was developed well, as was the general magic system, but our character feels out of place for most of the story. There are plotholes that never go addressed. There’s some inconsistencies in her characterization, like when she refers to herself as “bookish” and talks about her love of monster encyclopedias as a child, yet in earlier chapters says she has never read for fun. The book felt like it was trying to be a small town romance with a paranormal magical element and a mystery and the combination didn’t allow for any of them to feel settled.
Altogether, this is a fun concept, but it could have used some more refining. It feels like the author wasn’t sure exactly what book she had in mind and threw everything in but the kitchen sink. I’m definitely open to giving the author another try, but this book wasn’t one I would personally recommend.
Thank you to Molly Harper, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
Want to Read
September 29, 2026i'm a simple girl, i see 'bigfoot-shifter' and i click 'add to cart'
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Vivian follows the advice of her therapist to get out of her comfort zone and plans a hiking excursion. She's done the research and purchased only the best gear, but what she didn't plan for is her fiancé's total meltdown over not having cell service and his refusal to go with her. This is the last straw for their relationship, but somehow she's not even sad. But settng off into the wilderness alone may not have been the best idea when a huge man, injured and unclothed, stumbles into her path and collapses at her feet claiming to be chased by hunters. What follows is surely a fever dream as Viv herself is attacked by nightmarish creatures while defending the unconscious man, being injured herself, and waking in the arms of a hairy Bigfoot with the same beautiful brown eyes as the injured man.
This story is as magical as the fairy tales I loved as a child, full of strange creatures, a beautiful hidden village, and an unlikely pairing that leads to a happily ever after. The book drew me in from the first and I found myself wanting to live in the story and never leave this wonderful, simple community. Get ready to embrace the ridiculous, hilarious, and heartwarming moments in this fun story.
Thank you Berkley for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”
This story is as magical as the fairy tales I loved as a child, full of strange creatures, a beautiful hidden village, and an unlikely pairing that leads to a happily ever after. The book drew me in from the first and I found myself wanting to live in the story and never leave this wonderful, simple community. Get ready to embrace the ridiculous, hilarious, and heartwarming moments in this fun story.
Thank you Berkley for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”
August 24, 2026
This book was such a fun mix of genres, but I think my overall takeaway is: a cute little cozy mystery monster romance? 😂 And honestly, I’m here for it.
Molly Harper absolutely nailed the setting. As an East Tennessee Appalachian gal myself, I thought she captured that mountain vibe so well. The whole book has this cozy, quirky, slightly wild Appalachian feel that made the setting feel like a character of its own.
And Vivian! I loved how spunky she is. That opening scene with her ex had me laughing, and what a way to kick things off! Hank is absolutely adorable, too. 🥹
I do think the description undersells what this book actually is. For about the first half, I found myself much more invested in Vivian’s journey than the romance. Getting to watch her find her footing, meet the full cast of characters in the “holler” (Seth was absolutely my favorite!), and settle into this strange little world was honestly one of my favorite parts.
By the end, we’ve got a solid monster romance + cozy mystery mashup, and the ending was SO satisfying.
3.5 ⭐️’s
1.5 🌶️’s
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Molly Harper absolutely nailed the setting. As an East Tennessee Appalachian gal myself, I thought she captured that mountain vibe so well. The whole book has this cozy, quirky, slightly wild Appalachian feel that made the setting feel like a character of its own.
And Vivian! I loved how spunky she is. That opening scene with her ex had me laughing, and what a way to kick things off! Hank is absolutely adorable, too. 🥹
I do think the description undersells what this book actually is. For about the first half, I found myself much more invested in Vivian’s journey than the romance. Getting to watch her find her footing, meet the full cast of characters in the “holler” (Seth was absolutely my favorite!), and settle into this strange little world was honestly one of my favorite parts.
By the end, we’ve got a solid monster romance + cozy mystery mashup, and the ending was SO satisfying.
3.5 ⭐️’s
1.5 🌶️’s
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Did Not Finish
September 5, 2026this book reminded me why insta-love is not for me. i’ve read very few books with that trope that i’ve actually enjoyed, and sadly, this was not one of them. readers have to actually feel chemistry and tension between characters first for a trope like that to work, and i felt absolutely nothing! also, why are we barely seeing an interacting with each other even though this is a romance between two characters? couldn’t tell you, but i couldn’t be bothered to follow such a bland storyline.
i felt like there was absolutely way too much happening in the first 20%-30% of the book to actually keep me interested. vivian being soul-tied or whatever to the mystical rock was enough for me to say no thanks to the rest of the book. i really wasn’t a fan of the writing either, as i found several (more than tbh) areas were written and read (imo) extremely immaturely. i trusted a cute cover and i haven’t learned my lesson, apparently. sad to say i had to dnf pretty early on for my sanity.
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the early copy.
i felt like there was absolutely way too much happening in the first 20%-30% of the book to actually keep me interested. vivian being soul-tied or whatever to the mystical rock was enough for me to say no thanks to the rest of the book. i really wasn’t a fan of the writing either, as i found several (more than tbh) areas were written and read (imo) extremely immaturely. i trusted a cute cover and i haven’t learned my lesson, apparently. sad to say i had to dnf pretty early on for my sanity.
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the early copy.
Did Not Finish
August 23, 2026DNF @ 27% - I didn’t realize this was instalove when I grabbed it. The relationship progressed crazy fast after she just left her fiancé.
I do love the idea of the Bigfoot shifters, I just couldn’t get past the romance happening so fast.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
I do love the idea of the Bigfoot shifters, I just couldn’t get past the romance happening so fast.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
August 26, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Vivian an ER nurse comes to the rescue of a naked man in the woods, fighting for both their lives from some monster hunters. Little did she know that dumping her fiancé and going camping on her own would lead to this situation. Hank, the naked man from the woods turns out to be a Bigfoot. After Vivian saves his life and gets injured in the process, Hank takes her to his Bigfoot community village. Chaos ensues and a love story blooms. This book is such a cozy easy read. Molly Harper’s new book takes you into her mystical world with a new set of rules. I personally really enjoy Molly’s books, they’re always a nice blend of romance, mystery and monster love. Tree Daddy follows along those lines, though I do wish there was a little more romance development between the two main characters. It was more of an insta-love without a catalyst to buy you in. The mystery was predictable but well done and made me want to root for Vivian and the other bigfeet. I can’t wait to see if she continues in this world.
Thank you to Molly and Berkley for the advanced copy through NetGalley, all thoughts and feelings are my own.
Vivian an ER nurse comes to the rescue of a naked man in the woods, fighting for both their lives from some monster hunters. Little did she know that dumping her fiancé and going camping on her own would lead to this situation. Hank, the naked man from the woods turns out to be a Bigfoot. After Vivian saves his life and gets injured in the process, Hank takes her to his Bigfoot community village. Chaos ensues and a love story blooms. This book is such a cozy easy read. Molly Harper’s new book takes you into her mystical world with a new set of rules. I personally really enjoy Molly’s books, they’re always a nice blend of romance, mystery and monster love. Tree Daddy follows along those lines, though I do wish there was a little more romance development between the two main characters. It was more of an insta-love without a catalyst to buy you in. The mystery was predictable but well done and made me want to root for Vivian and the other bigfeet. I can’t wait to see if she continues in this world.
Thank you to Molly and Berkley for the advanced copy through NetGalley, all thoughts and feelings are my own.
September 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers below!
This book was fine. I liked it all right, but I was under the impression it was a romance, and I honestly don’t think it should be marketed as such. It’s definitely much more of a sort of paranormal mystery with romantic elements—I don’t know that I’d even label it a paranormal romance. It has a little bit of everything so it’s hard to pin down.
Unfortunately, because there are spicy bits in it, it’s going to be called a romance (whether by the author or the publisher, I don’t know). In my opinion, this book should not have had the insta-love/lust that it did and instead should’ve been slow burn. I feel like it would’ve served the characterizations of the man characters (Vivian and Hank) much better given their pasts and experiences in other relationships.
Also? Contextually, the spicy bits happen at super weird and almost inappropriate times in the plot. 😬 Aside from the fact that they make out after their first real conversation with each other, the first time they get alone in the forest, Hank fingers Vivian to orgasm. Not a bad thing—except Vivian believes she’s being followed by Nate, the leader of the Bigfeet village. And she doesn’t tell Hank this either. She just hops into his lap, and they start going at it.
Later on, the perimeter guards of the village alert them to a possible sighting of the Venthams, the family of Hunters intent on going after Bigfeet. The entire town climbs up into the trees into these sort of deer blinds (essentially a camouflaged treehouse) to wait out the threat (so that if the Venthams find their village, they won’t find any Bigfeet). Vivian and Hank hide together in Hank’s tree blind to wait out the threat. And end up having sex up there. Personally, that just felt like a weird time to insert a sex scene. 🤷🏻♀️ and I have no problem with sex scenes in books; it just felt like this particular book would’ve been better without them, and concentrated on the characters getting to know each other while Vivian gets to know the village before anything happens. There’s so much going on already plot wise, that the romance ends up feeling suuuuper rushed with no actual build up before they’re all over each other.
(There was even a brief mention about how Hank’s previous girlfriend was his mate, but the way he and Vivian are with each other, I thought there’d be at least one discussion about how someone might have another mate if the first one dies. But Vivian being his mate was never once brought up! Seemed odd to introduce the idea of mates and not follow through with it.)
The other odd thing about this story is how trustworthy the entire village (save Nate lol) is with outsiders! They have absolutely no problem with Vivian knowing that both Bigfeet and witches live in their village, and Hank says at one point that everyone is free to leave whenever they want if they choose to. Given that they’re actively being hunted by the Venthams, why are they ok with everyone knowing their secret?? That seemed like a really weird thing to include.
So the book was ok. It kind of came across as a paranormal Hallmark mystery lol which isn’t a bad thing, but ultimately, the book could’ve been even better.
Spoilers below!
This book was fine. I liked it all right, but I was under the impression it was a romance, and I honestly don’t think it should be marketed as such. It’s definitely much more of a sort of paranormal mystery with romantic elements—I don’t know that I’d even label it a paranormal romance. It has a little bit of everything so it’s hard to pin down.
Unfortunately, because there are spicy bits in it, it’s going to be called a romance (whether by the author or the publisher, I don’t know). In my opinion, this book should not have had the insta-love/lust that it did and instead should’ve been slow burn. I feel like it would’ve served the characterizations of the man characters (Vivian and Hank) much better given their pasts and experiences in other relationships.
Also? Contextually, the spicy bits happen at super weird and almost inappropriate times in the plot. 😬 Aside from the fact that they make out after their first real conversation with each other, the first time they get alone in the forest, Hank fingers Vivian to orgasm. Not a bad thing—except Vivian believes she’s being followed by Nate, the leader of the Bigfeet village. And she doesn’t tell Hank this either. She just hops into his lap, and they start going at it.
Later on, the perimeter guards of the village alert them to a possible sighting of the Venthams, the family of Hunters intent on going after Bigfeet. The entire town climbs up into the trees into these sort of deer blinds (essentially a camouflaged treehouse) to wait out the threat (so that if the Venthams find their village, they won’t find any Bigfeet). Vivian and Hank hide together in Hank’s tree blind to wait out the threat. And end up having sex up there. Personally, that just felt like a weird time to insert a sex scene. 🤷🏻♀️ and I have no problem with sex scenes in books; it just felt like this particular book would’ve been better without them, and concentrated on the characters getting to know each other while Vivian gets to know the village before anything happens. There’s so much going on already plot wise, that the romance ends up feeling suuuuper rushed with no actual build up before they’re all over each other.
(There was even a brief mention about how Hank’s previous girlfriend was his mate, but the way he and Vivian are with each other, I thought there’d be at least one discussion about how someone might have another mate if the first one dies. But Vivian being his mate was never once brought up! Seemed odd to introduce the idea of mates and not follow through with it.)
The other odd thing about this story is how trustworthy the entire village (save Nate lol) is with outsiders! They have absolutely no problem with Vivian knowing that both Bigfeet and witches live in their village, and Hank says at one point that everyone is free to leave whenever they want if they choose to. Given that they’re actively being hunted by the Venthams, why are they ok with everyone knowing their secret?? That seemed like a really weird thing to include.
So the book was ok. It kind of came across as a paranormal Hallmark mystery lol which isn’t a bad thing, but ultimately, the book could’ve been even better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**ARC REVIEW**
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
Well I've read a lot of monster romance books, but never a Bigfoot one. Guess there is a first for everything?
The story starts with Vivian and her idiot (ex) fiancé getting ready for week long hike in the mountains. When Derek (the name alone makes him sound like an idiot) is more concerned about his phone not having connection than spending time with his fiancé, Vivian decides to just breakup in the parking lot. She decides to go on this hike to feel free of the shackles of her relationship.
While hiking she crosses her path with a naked man that turns out to be a Bigfoot shifter. Hank is being chased by a family of monster hunters and Vivian decides to help out a helpless man. Even though he can change in an eight foot Bigfoot.
Both of them manage to fight off the family and while Vivian is unconscious, Hank takes her to his village to be taken care of.
This village is away from the outside world and is basically going back in time. When Vivian finally wakes up, she find a glowing rock outside on a tree altar, she of course decides to touches it and the power of the hearthstone is transferred to her.
Vivian now has powers that she didn't ask for and according to the voice of the stone (Stoney) she has to fulfil her purpose in the village. Meanwhile Hank is overprotective and swooning for Vivian. Vivian is also falling for Hank and it doesn't take long before they start kissing each other.
There is a type of attraction to each other, like a bond, but it's never mentioned in the book as a mating bond.
Weird things are happening in the village, and Stoney tasks Vivian to figure out what to do, while also being on alert for the monster hunters.
This book is a fun and fast paced paranormal romance that has the MMC fall first and all the cryptids you can think of that roam North America. Maybe it could've been a bit slower as the romance happens too fast. Not that I mind, but I didn't see it happening this fast.
I hope we will get more books in this series as there are enough shape shifter cryptids that can have their own story.
Again, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC ❤️
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
Well I've read a lot of monster romance books, but never a Bigfoot one. Guess there is a first for everything?
The story starts with Vivian and her idiot (ex) fiancé getting ready for week long hike in the mountains. When Derek (the name alone makes him sound like an idiot) is more concerned about his phone not having connection than spending time with his fiancé, Vivian decides to just breakup in the parking lot. She decides to go on this hike to feel free of the shackles of her relationship.
While hiking she crosses her path with a naked man that turns out to be a Bigfoot shifter. Hank is being chased by a family of monster hunters and Vivian decides to help out a helpless man. Even though he can change in an eight foot Bigfoot.
Both of them manage to fight off the family and while Vivian is unconscious, Hank takes her to his village to be taken care of.
This village is away from the outside world and is basically going back in time. When Vivian finally wakes up, she find a glowing rock outside on a tree altar, she of course decides to touches it and the power of the hearthstone is transferred to her.
Vivian now has powers that she didn't ask for and according to the voice of the stone (Stoney) she has to fulfil her purpose in the village. Meanwhile Hank is overprotective and swooning for Vivian. Vivian is also falling for Hank and it doesn't take long before they start kissing each other.
There is a type of attraction to each other, like a bond, but it's never mentioned in the book as a mating bond.
Weird things are happening in the village, and Stoney tasks Vivian to figure out what to do, while also being on alert for the monster hunters.
This book is a fun and fast paced paranormal romance that has the MMC fall first and all the cryptids you can think of that roam North America. Maybe it could've been a bit slower as the romance happens too fast. Not that I mind, but I didn't see it happening this fast.
I hope we will get more books in this series as there are enough shape shifter cryptids that can have their own story.
Again, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC ❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is so much fun and it was so different from anything I’ve read in the romance genre, and I felt it was really refreshing and unique. I love folklore, mythical creatures, cryptids, and paranormal stuff, so I really gravitated towards this. There’s also magic, which I loved!
There is romance, but just a heads up, it is VERY instalove and feels pretty heavy in the first part or so. After that, the romance becomes more secondary to the plot and action, which I actually didn’t mind at all. Hank and Vivian definitely had chemistry though!
I will say Vivian had me questioning her choices a few times. Girl, you just got to a strange forest, found a strange man who is actually a magical creature, and immediately kissed him and hooked up with him?! And you JUST left your fiancé! I would be SO cautious in that situation, but you do you, girl. She definitely wanted a better man and she got one, but girl… you are in DANGER. Some of her choices were a little reckless and unsafe, not going to lie.
I also normally don’t gravitate toward third person POV, but I still really enjoyed it in this book. I loved the plot and storyline, and you can really tell how much research and passion Molly Harper put into this world. I also loved all of the side characters!
Vivian reminded me so much of Claire from Outlander because she’s an ER nurse who gets transported into this completely unfamiliar world full of magic and then starts learning about plants, herbs, and natural medicine to help the people there. That was such a fun similarity!
I really loved Stoney, the magical talking (in her head) stone! He’s basically the wise one giving Vivian advice, and some of his lines were hilarious.
Quotes I loved:
Vivian supposed it was a good thing magical entities couldn’t have social media. Stoney would have lived for TikTok.
“You know, for a primordial magical being, you can sometimes be an a-hole.”
“I didn’t give you magic to make pretty flowers grow,” Stoney told her. “Magic is a weapon as sharp as any blade.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Harper, and Berkley for the eARC of this book.
There is romance, but just a heads up, it is VERY instalove and feels pretty heavy in the first part or so. After that, the romance becomes more secondary to the plot and action, which I actually didn’t mind at all. Hank and Vivian definitely had chemistry though!
I will say Vivian had me questioning her choices a few times. Girl, you just got to a strange forest, found a strange man who is actually a magical creature, and immediately kissed him and hooked up with him?! And you JUST left your fiancé! I would be SO cautious in that situation, but you do you, girl. She definitely wanted a better man and she got one, but girl… you are in DANGER. Some of her choices were a little reckless and unsafe, not going to lie.
I also normally don’t gravitate toward third person POV, but I still really enjoyed it in this book. I loved the plot and storyline, and you can really tell how much research and passion Molly Harper put into this world. I also loved all of the side characters!
Vivian reminded me so much of Claire from Outlander because she’s an ER nurse who gets transported into this completely unfamiliar world full of magic and then starts learning about plants, herbs, and natural medicine to help the people there. That was such a fun similarity!
I really loved Stoney, the magical talking (in her head) stone! He’s basically the wise one giving Vivian advice, and some of his lines were hilarious.
Quotes I loved:
Vivian supposed it was a good thing magical entities couldn’t have social media. Stoney would have lived for TikTok.
“You know, for a primordial magical being, you can sometimes be an a-hole.”
“I didn’t give you magic to make pretty flowers grow,” Stoney told her. “Magic is a weapon as sharp as any blade.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Harper, and Berkley for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tree Daddy by Molly Harper was the whimsical romp through the woods my brain needed after a rough week. In this book we meet Vivian, an ER nurse who has spent her life working hard to prove herself while everyone in her life takes advantage of the help she gives, but no one really speaks up for or takes care of her in return. In a last ditch attempt to save her lack luster relationship with her fiancée, Vivian plans a remote hike in the woods to reconnect. Things don’t go as planned as she realizes this man is no longer worth her time and effort, so she goes on the grueling trek by herself. While hiking the intense trail, a burly, naked stranger gets attacked and she attempts to help defend & heal him. Once the adrenaline of the situation wears off she realizes this isn’t just any man. His name is Hank. He’s a very attractive Bigfoot shifter, who seems to connect with her more than anyone else in her current circle.
The story follows her growing friendship and instant attraction with Hank as she explores life in his village. It’s full of shifters living a technology-free lifestyle to help keep themselves hidden. It’s a fun story with magic, a number of different mythical creatures, some betrayal, a few steamy moments and even a few murders to solve to keep the story moving forward. My only real critique of the story was that genuine connections formed so very quickly. The relationship between Vivian, Hank and some of the other characters in the village felt like they'd known (and trusted) each other so much longer that I had to remind myself that many of these characters have only known Vivian a few days. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this quick and cozy paranormal read. I'm really looking forward to checking out the audiobook version once it's released in February 2027, as that has been my favorite way to enjoy a number of author Molly Harper's other books.
These opinions are my own and this review was in no way influenced by others. I received an ARC copy of this book on NetGalley thanks to the author and her publisher.
The story follows her growing friendship and instant attraction with Hank as she explores life in his village. It’s full of shifters living a technology-free lifestyle to help keep themselves hidden. It’s a fun story with magic, a number of different mythical creatures, some betrayal, a few steamy moments and even a few murders to solve to keep the story moving forward. My only real critique of the story was that genuine connections formed so very quickly. The relationship between Vivian, Hank and some of the other characters in the village felt like they'd known (and trusted) each other so much longer that I had to remind myself that many of these characters have only known Vivian a few days. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this quick and cozy paranormal read. I'm really looking forward to checking out the audiobook version once it's released in February 2027, as that has been my favorite way to enjoy a number of author Molly Harper's other books.
These opinions are my own and this review was in no way influenced by others. I received an ARC copy of this book on NetGalley thanks to the author and her publisher.
August 28, 2026
This is a generous 3.5 stars, rounded to four because I enjoyed parts of it.
Romance, mystery, cryptids, and magic. That's what the book is. Parts of it are done well-ish. The mystery was fun and low stakes. I figured out who "did it" well before Viv. Cryptids are always fun in my opinion, as a kid (now adult) that grew up watching documentaries about them. This was a unique idea that was moderately well done. Most of the cryptids are within their legends and the idea that they have a council is fun, along with the idea that they exist among us and we don't know.
The magic is where things start coming apart. Girl touches glowing stone in Bigfoot settlement because of course. Is imbued with its magic. Stone(y) is vague, but there's a quest! She gives back the magic at the end because I don't know why?
The romance is where this book goes wrong. Girl saves man from sword-wielding baddies--cool. Thinks he's hot, well of course. But then she randomly kisses him? He's protective of her, despite his #tragicbackstory of losing a girlfriend/fiancee/mate? Then they never see each other until they do hand stuff in a field. The side characters take up more space than the actual romance. I'm glad there was time given to Viv making friends and developing that sense of belonging, but it put the romance on the backburner so far that it froze. It wasn't believable, even for poorly done insta-love.
I liked the idea, but the execution left a lot to be desired. I enjoyed the setting, as someone who lives in the Midwest. We need more representation in books, lol.
If you like cozy, paranormal then you should given this a try. Found family is also a big theme, along with over-worked, under-appreciated, people-pleasing eldest daughter. If you identify with any of those, it may be worth a read when it releases. If you like insta-love in all its forms, definitely. If you do not like insta-love, perhaps skip this one.
Romance, mystery, cryptids, and magic. That's what the book is. Parts of it are done well-ish. The mystery was fun and low stakes. I figured out who "did it" well before Viv. Cryptids are always fun in my opinion, as a kid (now adult) that grew up watching documentaries about them. This was a unique idea that was moderately well done. Most of the cryptids are within their legends and the idea that they have a council is fun, along with the idea that they exist among us and we don't know.
The magic is where things start coming apart. Girl touches glowing stone in Bigfoot settlement because of course. Is imbued with its magic. Stone(y) is vague, but there's a quest! She gives back the magic at the end because I don't know why?
The romance is where this book goes wrong. Girl saves man from sword-wielding baddies--cool. Thinks he's hot, well of course. But then she randomly kisses him? He's protective of her, despite his #tragicbackstory of losing a girlfriend/fiancee/mate? Then they never see each other until they do hand stuff in a field. The side characters take up more space than the actual romance. I'm glad there was time given to Viv making friends and developing that sense of belonging, but it put the romance on the backburner so far that it froze. It wasn't believable, even for poorly done insta-love.
I liked the idea, but the execution left a lot to be desired. I enjoyed the setting, as someone who lives in the Midwest. We need more representation in books, lol.
If you like cozy, paranormal then you should given this a try. Found family is also a big theme, along with over-worked, under-appreciated, people-pleasing eldest daughter. If you identify with any of those, it may be worth a read when it releases. If you like insta-love in all its forms, definitely. If you do not like insta-love, perhaps skip this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Let me tell you I don't think I've ever hit the "request" button on Netgalley as fast as I did when I saw the words "Bigfoot-shifter romance".
This was an interesting read for me. I went in expecting a strong emphasis on the romance between the main character, Vivian, and the Bigfoot-shifter, Hank but this read more as a cozy mystery that happened to involve Bigfeet (?) with a dash of romance. Unfortunately, Vivian and Hank barely had any page time together. When they were together, I really didn't feel as though they had any chemistry. I was fully expecting insta-love/lust in this one and was okay with that but it was really lackluster. There was no tension leading up to their first kiss or any of their other firsts. It just felt kind of bleh to me.
The talk of making the Bigfoot man less hairy (shaving his beard) was genuinely distressing to me. Can we not enjoy a gloriously hairy man?
The mystery itself was interesting, despite the twist being very much apparent right away to both Vivian and the reader. I enjoyed spending time with some of the side characters and learning about how different cryptids worked in this world. There were two cryptid side characters that came in later on that I would honestly read an entire book about.
This did also suffer from some major info-dumping. There was a lot of information that Vivian -and the reader- needed to understand and that came through as other characters explaining things for pages. I felt at points that the only thing that I was doing during this read was getting info-dumped on.
This was a super cute read. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a quicky, cozy mystery with a bit of cryptid fantasy and romance thrown in.
*Netgalley arc revew
This was an interesting read for me. I went in expecting a strong emphasis on the romance between the main character, Vivian, and the Bigfoot-shifter, Hank but this read more as a cozy mystery that happened to involve Bigfeet (?) with a dash of romance. Unfortunately, Vivian and Hank barely had any page time together. When they were together, I really didn't feel as though they had any chemistry. I was fully expecting insta-love/lust in this one and was okay with that but it was really lackluster. There was no tension leading up to their first kiss or any of their other firsts. It just felt kind of bleh to me.
The talk of making the Bigfoot man less hairy (shaving his beard) was genuinely distressing to me. Can we not enjoy a gloriously hairy man?
The mystery itself was interesting, despite the twist being very much apparent right away to both Vivian and the reader. I enjoyed spending time with some of the side characters and learning about how different cryptids worked in this world. There were two cryptid side characters that came in later on that I would honestly read an entire book about.
This did also suffer from some major info-dumping. There was a lot of information that Vivian -and the reader- needed to understand and that came through as other characters explaining things for pages. I felt at points that the only thing that I was doing during this read was getting info-dumped on.
This was a super cute read. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a quicky, cozy mystery with a bit of cryptid fantasy and romance thrown in.
*Netgalley arc revew
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was absolutely unhinged in the best possible way. I mean, Vivian dumps her fiancé, heads into the woods alone, stumbles across a giant naked man being chased by monster hunters, and discovers said naked man is actually a Bigfoot shifter named Hank. And somehow that is only the BEGINNING.
I had so much fun with this one. It’s this weirdly perfect mashup of paranormal romance, cozy mystery, magic, cryptids, found family, and pure chaos. It knows exactly what kind of book it is and fully commits to it, which made it such a ridiculously entertaining read.
I became fully invested in this world. Cloudworn Valley is filled with all kinds of cryptids and quirky characters, and I loved getting to discover it alongside Vivian. The found family aspect ended up being one of my favorite parts, and honestly? Give me more books set here because I am not ready to leave these weirdos. 😂
Vivian was hilarious, capable, and just the right amount of girl WHAT are you doing?! And Hank?! This giant, sweet, protective Bigfoot man had absolutely no business being as adorable as he was. He falls first, he’s completely gone for her, and I ate it up.
The romance does happen fast, so definitely go into this expecting insta-attraction rather than a slow burn. And listen, y’all know I’m here for the romance, but somehow Molly Harper had me out here equally concerned with cryptid politics, magical rocks, and whatever the heck was happening in this valley!!
Basically, if you’ve ever thought, “You know what my TBR is missing? A sweet Bigfoot boyfriend, cryptid chaos, monster hunters, a magical talking rock, and a cozy little mystery,” congratulations. I found your book!!
Thank you so much to Berkley, NetGalley, and Molly Harper for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I had so much fun with this one. It’s this weirdly perfect mashup of paranormal romance, cozy mystery, magic, cryptids, found family, and pure chaos. It knows exactly what kind of book it is and fully commits to it, which made it such a ridiculously entertaining read.
I became fully invested in this world. Cloudworn Valley is filled with all kinds of cryptids and quirky characters, and I loved getting to discover it alongside Vivian. The found family aspect ended up being one of my favorite parts, and honestly? Give me more books set here because I am not ready to leave these weirdos. 😂
Vivian was hilarious, capable, and just the right amount of girl WHAT are you doing?! And Hank?! This giant, sweet, protective Bigfoot man had absolutely no business being as adorable as he was. He falls first, he’s completely gone for her, and I ate it up.
The romance does happen fast, so definitely go into this expecting insta-attraction rather than a slow burn. And listen, y’all know I’m here for the romance, but somehow Molly Harper had me out here equally concerned with cryptid politics, magical rocks, and whatever the heck was happening in this valley!!
Basically, if you’ve ever thought, “You know what my TBR is missing? A sweet Bigfoot boyfriend, cryptid chaos, monster hunters, a magical talking rock, and a cozy little mystery,” congratulations. I found your book!!
Thank you so much to Berkley, NetGalley, and Molly Harper for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was by far the weirdest book I’ve read so far in 2026. But before we get into it, big thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Now again this book was weird. And not necessarily in a fun weird way. I will admit this book starts out really strong our FMC is a nurse who’s out for a hike when she stumbles upon an injured naked man. She immediately goes and renders aid there she discovers this man is being hunted by Bigfoot hunters. Because as it turns out he’s a Bigfoot swifter. I mean come on!! This alone sold me. Plus I’ve never read a Bigfoot shifter romance so I was pumped. Except the execution just wasn’t it.
The book is pitched as a romance instead this turned out to be more thriller/mystery. And the romance we did get between Hank & Vivian felt extremely forced and underwhelming. To make matters worse their insta-love was off the charts.
I really wanted this book to dive more into the shifter compound life but instead we get a weird chaotic magic with a rock. I wish I wasn’t making this up. But sadly not. But wait there’s more we also have a murder mystery afoot. And the reveal at the end was the most predictable garbage. Like I had those two diggleberries figured out from the first chapter we met them.
Now the sides of the shifter compound we did get to see I did actually enjoy. The only slight problem I had with it is that we are introduced to a lot of characters and at times it gets hard telling them apart. Once I got them all organized i wanted more of them. Especially Seth he hands down was one of my favorite side characters and he always kept me laughing.
Overall, not my favorite by Molly. Sadly, I don’t foresee myself recommending which sucks cause I wanted so much more from it.
Now again this book was weird. And not necessarily in a fun weird way. I will admit this book starts out really strong our FMC is a nurse who’s out for a hike when she stumbles upon an injured naked man. She immediately goes and renders aid there she discovers this man is being hunted by Bigfoot hunters. Because as it turns out he’s a Bigfoot swifter. I mean come on!! This alone sold me. Plus I’ve never read a Bigfoot shifter romance so I was pumped. Except the execution just wasn’t it.
The book is pitched as a romance instead this turned out to be more thriller/mystery. And the romance we did get between Hank & Vivian felt extremely forced and underwhelming. To make matters worse their insta-love was off the charts.
I really wanted this book to dive more into the shifter compound life but instead we get a weird chaotic magic with a rock. I wish I wasn’t making this up. But sadly not. But wait there’s more we also have a murder mystery afoot. And the reveal at the end was the most predictable garbage. Like I had those two diggleberries figured out from the first chapter we met them.
Now the sides of the shifter compound we did get to see I did actually enjoy. The only slight problem I had with it is that we are introduced to a lot of characters and at times it gets hard telling them apart. Once I got them all organized i wanted more of them. Especially Seth he hands down was one of my favorite side characters and he always kept me laughing.
Overall, not my favorite by Molly. Sadly, I don’t foresee myself recommending which sucks cause I wanted so much more from it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Grateful to have received an ARC of this because it was truly a cute, fun read!
As it was labelled a romance, I was expecting that to feature more prominently but I would say it was really more of a secondary plot line. Vivian has more on page time with other characters than she seems to have with Hank (the love interest), so it felt underdeveloped to me. They seemed to go from meeting to being semi-involved almost immediately and I would have liked to see more of their playful banter to flesh out their connection a bit more - rather than it seemingly revolving around her saving him when they met.
The scenes with physical intimacy seemed to also be very rushed, i.e. going from them talking to him going straight to taking her pants off. It didn't seem totally natural to me but that could just be that I am used to more tension building (and perhaps that's just a personal preference).
Overall, I would say this is more of a self-discovery, found family type of story rather than what I think of as a romance. However, I really enjoyed the variety of characters that were created and seeing Vivian's personal character development and the development of her relationships to different people in the community. The world building and magic elements were incredibly neat and I think probably the best executed part of the book!
My biggest caveat is that I hope they do more thorough editing because there were a fair number of typos/grammatical errors and a couple references to things that were either not properly explained or were plot inconsistencies.
All in all, a cute (mostly cozy) fantasy that I would definitely recommend!
As it was labelled a romance, I was expecting that to feature more prominently but I would say it was really more of a secondary plot line. Vivian has more on page time with other characters than she seems to have with Hank (the love interest), so it felt underdeveloped to me. They seemed to go from meeting to being semi-involved almost immediately and I would have liked to see more of their playful banter to flesh out their connection a bit more - rather than it seemingly revolving around her saving him when they met.
The scenes with physical intimacy seemed to also be very rushed, i.e. going from them talking to him going straight to taking her pants off. It didn't seem totally natural to me but that could just be that I am used to more tension building (and perhaps that's just a personal preference).
Overall, I would say this is more of a self-discovery, found family type of story rather than what I think of as a romance. However, I really enjoyed the variety of characters that were created and seeing Vivian's personal character development and the development of her relationships to different people in the community. The world building and magic elements were incredibly neat and I think probably the best executed part of the book!
My biggest caveat is that I hope they do more thorough editing because there were a fair number of typos/grammatical errors and a couple references to things that were either not properly explained or were plot inconsistencies.
All in all, a cute (mostly cozy) fantasy that I would definitely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tree Daddy was a fun, quirky story that was a bit crazy but also a lot of fun! First of all, go Vivian for going on the hike by herself, she was strong and capable and it is not her fault she stumbled upon a hurt bigfoot and some nasty monster hunters! I love that even having limited weapons (bear spray), she still protected Hank literally until she almost died. Hank, having enough time to recover, was able to fend off the monster hunters and bring Vivian to his home valley to save her. (The jackalopes they encounter on their way to valley is literally things from my nightmares...)
I really enjoyed seeing how the valley was set up with shifters and some witches and the magic they had to help them survive off the grid and away from monster hunters and others that would wish them harm. It was charming and interesting to see how it all worked, although seriously, nighttime was INSANE! I loved the found family in the valley and I loved how the stone helped save Vivian and chose Vivian to help the stone save them all. Stoney and Vivian's conversations were some of my favorite moments.
I felt the chemistry between Hank and Vivian but I wish there was more depth to their relationship, more conversations, more connection other than sexual. I enjoyed their relationship but it was a bit too surface level to bring the rating up to a 5.
I did enjoy the side characters and the mystery of why odd things were happening in the valley. I loved seeing Vivian figure it out and work with the other villagers to save the valley, it was very sweet and empowering. I would love to see more books from this universe for sure! Especially would love to see Alena and Grady!
I really enjoyed seeing how the valley was set up with shifters and some witches and the magic they had to help them survive off the grid and away from monster hunters and others that would wish them harm. It was charming and interesting to see how it all worked, although seriously, nighttime was INSANE! I loved the found family in the valley and I loved how the stone helped save Vivian and chose Vivian to help the stone save them all. Stoney and Vivian's conversations were some of my favorite moments.
I felt the chemistry between Hank and Vivian but I wish there was more depth to their relationship, more conversations, more connection other than sexual. I enjoyed their relationship but it was a bit too surface level to bring the rating up to a 5.
I did enjoy the side characters and the mystery of why odd things were happening in the valley. I loved seeing Vivian figure it out and work with the other villagers to save the valley, it was very sweet and empowering. I would love to see more books from this universe for sure! Especially would love to see Alena and Grady!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
lol this was fun 😂 I read a lot of paranormal romance, but a romance book about Bigfoot was a first! First off be warned that the writing is very zany and also this book is about cryptids and Bigfoot so you’ll need to suspend your disbelief a little bit (unless your a believer 👀) but keeping that in mind this is definitely a fun read! The town the Bigfoot shifters lived in kind of reminded of the place The Smurfs lived in (girl who’s only seen the Smurfs “getting some real Smurf vibes from this”). I loved all the different character dynamics and seeing all the folklore and different cryptids in the forest and how they all played apart.
The love story was sweet I just wish we got a little bit more of them together. There’s a lot going on and I wish that we got to see more of how Vivian and Hank handled the situations together. I feel like we got a Vivian (FMC) and not a ton of Hank (MMC) and I love Hank! I also love Vivian so I’m not super upset. The humor in this book is also fantastic! There’s a lot of laugh out loud funny moments in this book that I really enjoyed!
This book also isn’t super long and has a lot packed in it! I definitely recommend it if you’re a cryptid fan or if you’re looking for a fun quirky read with a lot of fun characters! I do hope this ends up being a series! It would be so fun!
Read if you like:
Cryptids
Monster romance
Instalust
Paranormal romance
Fun character dynamics
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The love story was sweet I just wish we got a little bit more of them together. There’s a lot going on and I wish that we got to see more of how Vivian and Hank handled the situations together. I feel like we got a Vivian (FMC) and not a ton of Hank (MMC) and I love Hank! I also love Vivian so I’m not super upset. The humor in this book is also fantastic! There’s a lot of laugh out loud funny moments in this book that I really enjoyed!
This book also isn’t super long and has a lot packed in it! I definitely recommend it if you’re a cryptid fan or if you’re looking for a fun quirky read with a lot of fun characters! I do hope this ends up being a series! It would be so fun!
Read if you like:
Cryptids
Monster romance
Instalust
Paranormal romance
Fun character dynamics
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 6, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the eARC!
Tree Daddy by Molly Harper is a zany paranormal romance that takes you on a wild ride into the village of Cloudworn Valley, with a tumble of Bigfeet and an ER Nurse as they protect themselves from cryptid hunters. This story is a good blend of romance and mystery which makes it a fun-time and an easy read!
There’s a dramatic, if not too realistic, breakup that turns into Vivian Reeves soloing her first ever camping trip. Little did she know her hike would end when she stumbled into a naked, semi-unconscious man on the path. As an ER nurse she immediately begins to assess and try to help him, Hank, but then is attacked by a group of biker-looking, sword wielding hunters. One dangerous jaunt through the woods later and she awakes in a picturesque valley and set on a path of magic, a Bigfoot shifter romance, real friendships, and a threat on this community of crytpids she has joined!
Vivian is snarky in a sassy and sometimes vulgar way! I really enjoyed all of the characters especially the friendships and support they had with each other! Many of them are quirky and unique in their shifter or human abilities and it makes for a fun cast of characters to read about! There are some pretty eccentric points in the story where you really truly have to suspend your belief but overall this was a fun, cozy read and a perfect easy start into the spooky reading season!
Tree Daddy by Molly Harper is a zany paranormal romance that takes you on a wild ride into the village of Cloudworn Valley, with a tumble of Bigfeet and an ER Nurse as they protect themselves from cryptid hunters. This story is a good blend of romance and mystery which makes it a fun-time and an easy read!
There’s a dramatic, if not too realistic, breakup that turns into Vivian Reeves soloing her first ever camping trip. Little did she know her hike would end when she stumbled into a naked, semi-unconscious man on the path. As an ER nurse she immediately begins to assess and try to help him, Hank, but then is attacked by a group of biker-looking, sword wielding hunters. One dangerous jaunt through the woods later and she awakes in a picturesque valley and set on a path of magic, a Bigfoot shifter romance, real friendships, and a threat on this community of crytpids she has joined!
Vivian is snarky in a sassy and sometimes vulgar way! I really enjoyed all of the characters especially the friendships and support they had with each other! Many of them are quirky and unique in their shifter or human abilities and it makes for a fun cast of characters to read about! There are some pretty eccentric points in the story where you really truly have to suspend your belief but overall this was a fun, cozy read and a perfect easy start into the spooky reading season!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tree Daddy starts with Vivian breaking off an engagement at a trailhead before hoofing it into the woods on an emotionally charged hike. She's quickly introduced to the supernatural beings that live in the shadows of the forest. It's unclear if this trek was ultimately supposed to be an alpine divorce, because Derek never joins her, but I don't think it can be ruled out entirely...
Vivian winds up saving Hank (a Bigfoot shifter!) from some weird people in leather, and running from fanged bunnies. She's brought to Hank's home, treated for injuries, and accidentally becomes the holder of the earth magic that sustains the valley.
Vivian has to learn a lot about magic and herself in a very short amount of time, because the survival of the community depends on it. She folds into Hank's family and friend group easily, and has to grapple with the fact that she never had such a strong sense of community bonds in her life as a nurse.
Tree Daddy had an interesting take on a lot of Appalachian folktales. I'm definitely hoping we see more from Grady if this turns into a series.
We see more of Vivian's character growth and her interactions with Stoney (who I loved) and Nate (who I did not love), so the romance with Hank ultimately felt a little light since we did not get his POV. It was ultimately kind of instlalove-y and light on spice.
Third person single POV
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for ARC access 💕
Vivian winds up saving Hank (a Bigfoot shifter!) from some weird people in leather, and running from fanged bunnies. She's brought to Hank's home, treated for injuries, and accidentally becomes the holder of the earth magic that sustains the valley.
Vivian has to learn a lot about magic and herself in a very short amount of time, because the survival of the community depends on it. She folds into Hank's family and friend group easily, and has to grapple with the fact that she never had such a strong sense of community bonds in her life as a nurse.
Tree Daddy had an interesting take on a lot of Appalachian folktales. I'm definitely hoping we see more from Grady if this turns into a series.
We see more of Vivian's character growth and her interactions with Stoney (who I loved) and Nate (who I did not love), so the romance with Hank ultimately felt a little light since we did not get his POV. It was ultimately kind of instlalove-y and light on spice.
Third person single POV
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for ARC access 💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story is so chaotic, in the best way. Folklore meets creature legend meets magic stone. Are you into cryptids? This is for you! Vivian is on a solo hiking trip that she planned for herself and her self-absorbed ex-boyfriend when she finds a naked man in the woods. Hank (naked man) has been beat up and Hunters are chasing him. Vivian defends Hank and in the aftermath, he takes her back to his settlement in the forest.
He’s a Bigfoot, she’s a human. Their magical relic, the Hearthstone, binds its magic to her when she touches it because she was willing to shed blood to protect Hank, a member of the community. It talks to her and she names it Stoney.
Vivian’s journey was so much fun — she went from being helpful to everyone out of obligation to knowing she had a purpose in this Bigfoot/shifter community. I’m not always into insta-love, but in a paranormal romance like this one, it worked. I loved seeing how Vivian and Hank figured out how to make their pasts and differences into strengths.
The community was so great — Merrilee, Seth, Abel, Cal, and Olivia? The best. Others? Watch out for them. This is a paranormal romance mixed with a bit of a mystery and figuring out who the villain is. Overall, a good time and a fast read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book!
He’s a Bigfoot, she’s a human. Their magical relic, the Hearthstone, binds its magic to her when she touches it because she was willing to shed blood to protect Hank, a member of the community. It talks to her and she names it Stoney.
Vivian’s journey was so much fun — she went from being helpful to everyone out of obligation to knowing she had a purpose in this Bigfoot/shifter community. I’m not always into insta-love, but in a paranormal romance like this one, it worked. I loved seeing how Vivian and Hank figured out how to make their pasts and differences into strengths.
The community was so great — Merrilee, Seth, Abel, Cal, and Olivia? The best. Others? Watch out for them. This is a paranormal romance mixed with a bit of a mystery and figuring out who the villain is. Overall, a good time and a fast read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Off the top, I absolutely LOVE this book, I started recommending it before I even finished it. I hope my book club picks Tree Daddy because I’d love to talk about it!
I think Tree Daddy can stand shoulder to shoulder with books like Mate by Ali Hazelwood.
Things I adored:
- The creative and unusual magic system, social system, and lifestyle of the Bigfeet. This was very well thought out, and very well executed. I want to inhabit this world, those blueberry muffins sound incredible.
- The characters! They were very richly written, and incredibly lovable.
- Comedy. There were so many truly hilarious points. I worry about spoiling but you’ll get it!
I have finished this book sad to leave the valley and wanting more. When I read romantasy or paranormal romances, I often feel like the world building is secondary to the story, I just want the romance. Tree Daddy is the first time I have been as invested in the world and the other characters as much as I have been with the romance leads.
I hope Molly Harper continues this as a series because I am invested.
Huge thanks to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think Tree Daddy can stand shoulder to shoulder with books like Mate by Ali Hazelwood.
Things I adored:
- The creative and unusual magic system, social system, and lifestyle of the Bigfeet. This was very well thought out, and very well executed. I want to inhabit this world, those blueberry muffins sound incredible.
- The characters! They were very richly written, and incredibly lovable.
- Comedy. There were so many truly hilarious points. I worry about spoiling but you’ll get it!
I have finished this book sad to leave the valley and wanting more. When I read romantasy or paranormal romances, I often feel like the world building is secondary to the story, I just want the romance. Tree Daddy is the first time I have been as invested in the world and the other characters as much as I have been with the romance leads.
I hope Molly Harper continues this as a series because I am invested.
Huge thanks to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions here are my own.
I'm utterly and completely obsessed with this book, and I'm not even sorry! Seriously, I think Molly Harper just wrote one of my favorite books of 2026.
I'm a paranormal romance lover, so finding out this one was a Bigfoot romance made one girl (me) very, very happy! This was such a fun, immersive read, with a cozy aspect that surprised me the most. The book manages to mix humor, mystery, fun shenanigans, and adventure into one perfect reading experience. Hank and Viv were really fun, their chemistry was off the charts, and I loved seeing how well-developed our FMC was and how she overcame all her personal dilemmas. And the found-family trope was definitely one of the most pleasant surprises this book brought. Viv surely deserves her happily ever after.
Also, can we talk about Stoney? I really loved their character and wanted to see more of them by the end. But as the saying goes, all's well that ends well.
Overall, this was an amazing reading experience: really fun and adventurous, with the perfect amount of heart and mystery to make it a truly immersive read!
I'm utterly and completely obsessed with this book, and I'm not even sorry! Seriously, I think Molly Harper just wrote one of my favorite books of 2026.
I'm a paranormal romance lover, so finding out this one was a Bigfoot romance made one girl (me) very, very happy! This was such a fun, immersive read, with a cozy aspect that surprised me the most. The book manages to mix humor, mystery, fun shenanigans, and adventure into one perfect reading experience. Hank and Viv were really fun, their chemistry was off the charts, and I loved seeing how well-developed our FMC was and how she overcame all her personal dilemmas. And the found-family trope was definitely one of the most pleasant surprises this book brought. Viv surely deserves her happily ever after.
Also, can we talk about Stoney? I really loved their character and wanted to see more of them by the end. But as the saying goes, all's well that ends well.
Overall, this was an amazing reading experience: really fun and adventurous, with the perfect amount of heart and mystery to make it a truly immersive read!
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