Storytime Stitching April book club Hobsonville

Hobsonville venue

April book of the month: Assistant to the Villain Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Celebrate April Fools’ Day with our April Book Club pick: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.

Who says being bad has to be serious? This month, we’re leaning into light-hearted humor and a bit of workplace chaos with a fantasy twist. Meet Evie Sage, a girl who desperately needs a job and ends up as the assistant to the realm’s most notorious (and surprisingly handsome) Villain. It’s a story filled with severed heads (in a funny way, we promise!), office politics, and a slow-burn romance that is pure, unadulterated fun.

Join us for a laugh-out-loud discussion about finding joy in the unexpected, the "villain" trope we all secretly love, and why sometimes, the bad guy isn't actually that bad. It’s the perfect read to honor the playful spirit of April Fools’—no pranks, just great vibes!

Each month, we’ll dive into a new book together and then meet at our cosy venue to share our thoughts, laughs, and favourite moments. Alongside the discussion, we’ll spend time stitching a custom embroidery patch onto our dedicated Storytime Stitching hoodie ... a creative keepsake that grows with every book we read!

Whether you’re brand new to embroidery or already love crafting, you’ll have the freedom to choose your own design — with inspiration, guidance, and tools provided to bring your ideas to life. This is less about being “experts” and more about enjoying time together as cosy crafters and page-turning pals.

💌 Before your first session, you’ll receive an email with:

• Video guides and embroidery tips
• Recommendations to get you started
• A warm welcome into our community of fellow readers and makers

🌸 Your one-time joining cost includes:

• A custom Storytime Stitching hoodie (your book club canvas!)
• An embroidery starter pack, including:
• • colourful threads
  • embroidery needles & threader
  • embroidery scissors & hoop
• A book club starter pack, with:
• nostalgic gel pen ✍️
• • book-tracking bookmark
  • transparent note tabs
  • pen-holding bookmark
  • custom Storytime Stitching stickers
  • a roomy tote bag
• Attendance at your first book club meeting, complete with:
• • a cosy venue
  • tea, coffee & light snacks
  • access to every colour thread you could need!

🌼 Ongoing cost:

After your first meeting, each session is just $22 — which covers venue, snacks, and continued access to all embroidery tools and threads. There’s no pressure to attend every month; come along whenever you can!

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Ella - story time stitching