I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

This was such a fun book! The christmas-y names/references/puns were used in ways that didn't feel overwhelmingly cheesy, and the main character felt so real. The other characters didn't feel as filled in, but if you're looking for a quick, uplifting, queer holiday romance, I would highly recommend this one!

1.5🌶

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: October 4, 2022

Spoiled, fashion-forward socialite gets financially cut off from his family and sent off to live with his small town grandparents to rehabilitate his image, only to find he has to share a room with a hottie student? What starts out as his nightmare changes course throughout—big David Rose vibes if you’re a Schitt’s Creek fan. The attitude in this audiobook was a bit much at times but its a fun one with lots of personal growth and holiday themes. My only complaint is the banal overuse of “dude” throughout.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I. LOVE. THIS. NOVEL.

Did I read it with more than 100 days until Christmas? Yes. Yes, I did.

To recap, I did read Never Been Kissed by this same author earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed that (4 stars in March 2022). There's something so wholesome about this storyline too.

I was a little skeptical (It does have a privileged rich boy as the main character) but ironically, I think people can relate to the "Prince who isn't very charming".

Janovsky does a fantastic job at putting Matthew's privileged-blind-spot on full display (especially in chapter one) that it makes his character arc ten times better. Although a part of me wishes we got a glimpse into Hector's POV, I loved that the reader was put in Matthew's headspace because of the mental health representation. Round of applause to Janovsky for not "curing" or minimizing Matthew's diagnosis by the end of the novel. His well-being was overall better than at the start but not erased. I find a lot of times authors might want to use mental health as a plot point and then that plot point suddenly disappears, and the character isn't the same character. That didn't happen here, we get to see how all the side characters interrelate with Matthew and we get to see his honest inner turmoil.

Matthew and Hector are the perfect grumpy-sunshine trope anyone's festive heart desires. The brewing of the relationship was done so smooth that I felt it was a bit of an authentic/realistic take to it. Yes, it's a Christmas novel that's liable to have its Hallmark-y moments but I think this relationship has enough realism that it could easily happen in real life.

This review is getting long but anyways I loved the duo and all the side characters too.

*Also read with the ALC (advanced audio copy). Perfect audiobook to cozy up with under a blanket fort with some chai tea eggnog sugar cookies ;)

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)

don't even get me started on this book!! from page one i knew i was going to fall in love with YAMOMP. matthew prince feels like a character that you want to hate but you can't help loving with all your heart <3 timothy janovsky crafted an amazing holiday romance with equal parts holiday magic, swoon worthy romance, and character development. an amazing sophomore release to follow up never been kissed!

This was pretty cute. Also pretty predictable but honestly, I'm not mad at it. I didn't love this one as much as Timothy's last book but it's still a super cute holiday rom-com and one that I think will be rereading closer to December. Maybe I'll be able to put more thoughts into a review then.

Gay MC, bi MC, anxiety rep

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablance for providing an e-arc in exchange of an honest review :)

This is such a great read for christmas!! the whole small town setting and winter vibes were really nice to read about. It does follow that enemies to lovers, opposites attract trope that I've seen done in many books this year but that isn't to say that is not well done. I really enjoyed the anxiety representation in the main character and the way he was able to get such a good support system in the love interest, Hector- I also think they had great chemistry :)
I would've liked to see a bit more growth in the mc, I really don't enjoy snobby rich characters, which I think is what made it hard to connect to him throughout the book and made me like it a bit less than I could have.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Dude (IYKYK), the lead in this book was so OTT, and I bloody loved every minute of it. A giant ✅ for this queer Christmas rom com - I can’t wait to add this to my bookshelf to read again over Christmases to come.

Matthew is a spoiled snob who parties hard and rocks designer gear harder, who ends up banished to a small town for buying an island and potentially causing a PR disaster. Hector is a hardworking college student living with Matthew’s grandparents in the town. The two end up combining forces to help plan a Christmas gala, and ugh. It is all kinds of delicious and sweet.

Things I liked:
- Matthew is so sassy and the banter in this book was excellent
- How OTT Matthew was. It was borderline ridiculous, but I laughed out loud many many times. His character growth was fabulous
- The way anxiety was addressed in this book - very well done!
- Quality steam for the NA bracket
- The gorgeous grandparent characters, they were adorable and a really nice element in this book
- The random tattoo “reading” scene - I got a kick out of that hah

Food for thought:
- I anticipated the complication at the end
- I would have loved to see some kind of resolution with the questionable party queen friend Bentley

In short: a jolly Christmas romp that I couldn’t put down. I laughed A LOT, and really grew to love a character who started off as a vapid dingbat. Cleverly written. Loved!

After reading and loving Janovsky's debut, Never Been Kissed, last year, I knew I had to read Matthew Prince ASAP, especially considering I LOVE The Grinch!

There were so many fabulous characters in this book, especially one of the MMCs, Hector! While Matthew was unlikeable at the beginning his character developed so much and so well and I couldn't help but root for him and love him by the end.

I loved the LGBTQIA+ & GAD rep in this book! This is going to be a perfect Christmas time read for so many people.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca & Dreamscape Media for advance copies in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: general anxiety disorder, panic attacks (on-page), toxic relationship with parents, classism, forced outing (past)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/m contemporary romance
-holiday romance
-only one bunk bed
-forced proximity
-appreciation for the Muppet's Christmas Carol
-small town romance

This was a cute holiday romance. Perfect for readers looking for low-angst, low-steam reads. Nostalgic and soft, with a bit of Schitts Creek David esqueness.

Steam: 2.5

Disclaimer: the author and I are social media mutuals

Janovsky continues to write smart, thoughtful romances that show a deep love for, and understanding of, the genre. Matthew's anxiety and his coping mechanisms unveil themselves slowly to the reader so that his character becomes more and more nuanced.

It's not often that I read a romance book with a main character that I don't adore from the get go. It means that the author must skillfully navigate an incredibly complicated person and not only change my mind about the character, but come to actively root for them before too long. Not many writers can do this while balancing the escapism required in a romance novel, particularly in a holiday romance novel.

Thankfully, Timothy Janovsky tackles these challenges with grace and a whole lot of witty banter that will make you laugh, groan, and fall in love with all the best parts of this book.

Many have already pointed out parallels to a certain Schitt's Creek character that can't fold in the cheese, but there is plenty of originality that makes this story feel as comfortable as a Hallmark film while being as fresh as a cup of coffee from Moon Beans. Would highly recommend grabbing a copy from your local bookstore ASAP!

I have never seen Schitt's Creek but from what I can glean while reading, this book is a mix of that series and The Grinch - therefore I think it will definitely appeal to anyone who loves either that series or the movie.
While I did really enjoy this book, I had the same issue that I had with the author's previous novel and that is the pacing. This story could have easily been told in half the amount of pages and you could often tell that..basically every time Matthew repeats the same feelings over and over again instead of actually, ya know, learning something.

What I enjoyed:
- the pop culture references
- the incredible generalized anxiety disorder rep
- Noelle and basically all the small town inhabitants
- the amazing Christmas vibes

What I disliked:
- the amount of times Hector said dude. I never want to hear, see or read that word again, so thanks for that
- the whole Richie Rich vibes. I mean I know what the premise of this story is but even when Matthew is "rehabilitated" he still owns tons of money and thinks about getting "a small business loan" from his grandmother to start off his new business idea not to mention finances his living expenses with the money from the island sale...this stank of Trump's "Oh I started at the bottom with just a small one billion dollar boost from my parents" and it made my skin itch

I actually had no issue with Matthew only reaching out to his friends when he needed them or the evil plotline with his parents because that felt very much necessary to the narrative - however, I do take issue with the amount of times the same dialogue and introspective thoughts were repeated in relation to Hector. If you cut that repetition from every other chapter, this book is under 200 pages long..which might have been nicer.

Overall, if you're a fan of Schitt's Creek meets a Hallmark holiday movie and don't mind slow pacing, then this book will keep you warm and fed this holiday season!

I keep going back and forth on this book between 3 and 4 stars so 3.5 feels right. After buying an island on an impulse, Matthew Prince, is cut off financially and sent to live with his Grandparents in a small town in Maine. While living there he is forced to share a room with Hector, a grad student, who is his opposite in every way. Matthew is a spoiled brat who must learn to appreciate the town and those around him. He and Hector work together to put on a gala benefiting the town’s small business organization and fall for each other in the process.

What can I say, the author did too good of a job at making Matthew unlikable. Not every main character needs to be likable, but there should at least be something compelling about them that makes me invested in them and I found that aspect lacking about Matthew until the last 25-30% of the book. I really wish this would have been dual POV or 3rd person omniscient because being in Matthew’s head for 300+ pages was exhausting. He is like if the worst parts of Alexis and David Rose from Schitt’s Creek were combined. The rest of the book was just a basic Christmas book with all the cliches.

I did like that Matthew’s struggles with anxiety were on the page and as someone with anxiety the depictions felt accurate. I also really really liked Hector. I liked Hector to the point that I wanted so much more for him than Matthew. I really wish we would have had some chapters from his perspective because he was by far the much more interesting and dynamic character. In fact I loved all the side characters and really enjoyed seeing all the lovely and accepting townspeople (again, very a la Schitts Creek). I did enjoy the audiobook and found that Mark Sanderlin really captured Matthew’s essence.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC, and Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, thanks so much for the advance copy of this book!

You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince is honestly like if Schitt’s Creek and a hallmark Christmas movie had a baby. A few things I really liked about this book are the overall storyline, the friendships made, and pop culture references.

Everyone loves a good romantic comedy and it’s even better when the characters are from different social classes. However, I didn’t like Matthew for a big portion of the book, he was just TOO out of touch with reality. Which I understand was the whole point. It makes sense for the plot but it did annoy me. That’s probably just a me problem. It’s a cute read regardless!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 3.5/5
You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince tells the story of Matthew who has made some poor decisions and is sent away to visit to his grandparents. An unexpected roommate makes for a difficult stay, but when himself and his roommate Hector are tasked with planning the community Christmas gala they begin to work together and bond in a way they never thought possible.

Pros:
-I really Matthew’s character development, at the beginning he isn’t the most likeable person but as the story develops he begins to learn from his mistakes and own up to his flaws
-I liked the Christmas storyline/elements, it made it exciting and different other romcoms
-the ending resolved nicely
Cons:
-as much as I loved the romance, there were times when it felt forced and I had a hard time getting into the story

Thoughts on the anxiety rep:
As someone who struggles with anxiety it was nice to see a book character who relatable to everything that comes with it. While I can’t say Matthew’s experience is exactly like my own I can say that I personally found the book handled anxiety in a meaningful and respectful way

*Review to be posted on Instagram at a later date closer to publication*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was like if you took a Hallmark Christmas movie and Schitt’s Creek and mixed it all up. Rich boy loses access to his fortune and gets stuck in a little town (during the holidays)? And then finds love (and himself)? Most excellent. A+. No notes.

Also, as someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder, the accurate and non-stigmatized depiction of anxiety and panic attacks in this book was extremely refreshing (and, dare I say, validating).

A very sweet read for the holidays, or for whenever you feel like being put in that holiday mood. And I can’t agree more with our protagonist and his love interest: A Muppets Christmas Carol IS the best movie adaption of A Christmas Carol, hands down.

✨Book Review✨

You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince
Timothy Janovsky
Pub Date: October 4th, 2022

⛄️ Synopsis:
Matthew Prince is young, rich, and thoroughly spoiled. So what if his parents barely remember he exists and the press is totally obsessed with him? He's on top of the world. But one major PR misstep later, and Matthew is cut off and shipped away to spend the holidays in his grandparents' charming small town hellscape. Population: who cares?

It's bad enough he's stuck in some festive winter wonderland-it's even worse that he has to share space with Hector Martinez, an obnoxiously attractive local who's unimpressed with anything and everything Matthew does.

Just when it looks like the holiday season is bringing nothing but heated squabbles, the charity gala loses its coordinator and Matthew steps in as a saintly act to get home early on good behavior...with Hector as his maddening plus-one. But even a Grinch can't resist the unexpected joy of found family, and in the end, the forced proximity and infectious holiday cheer might be enough to make a lonely Prince's heart grow three sizes this year.

💭 Thoughts:
I’m not really sure how to write a review for this book. It turned out to be very different than what I was expecting. I was excited after reading the comparisons to Schitt's Creek, but It’s not nearly as funny. I wish I had gone in more blind.

I definitely enjoyed the references to the holidays and all the magic that comes along with that time of year. I really like Hector’s character and wish he had been developed a bit more.

There were a lot of references to anxiety and panic attacks. It’s always great to see authors bringing awareness to mental health. I appreciated how Matthew evolved throughout the book and work through some of his anxiety.

Overall, the story was very predictable, lacking in some development, and just didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Thank you @netgalley, the author, and publisher for my advanced copy to review.

Rep: anxiety, gay MC, bi LI, queer side characters

It’s a tale as old as time. Every Hollywood movie ever. Metropolitan person goes home to the middle of nowhere for some reason or other, falls in love with the local sweetheart, some drama happens, they go back to the big city, only to realise they were so much happier with the love of their life they met two minutes ago in the old hometown.
This was the book. Only in gay.
I absolutely loved Timothy’s last book, you can tell he’s a movie lover and I don’t mind him implementing that in his books. Only it made this one VERY predictable.
The main problem though was that I didn’t love any of the characters.
Matthew, our MC, is a spoiled brat. He’s rich without ever having to do anything for it. He’s horrible to everyone. He’s a horrible friend, only calling when he needs something or someone to listen to his problems.
Every problem he has he solves with either money or his famous parents celebrity status.
No wonder Hector hates him on sight.

The promised hate to love was very short lived and for me there wasn’t enough of a “realinh the other guy is actually hot”/ pining situation to make the sudden romance believable.
Hector using “dude” in every SINGLE SENTENCE(!!!) didn’t make me love him any more. It’s not cute, dude. After a while I was very fed up with this.

I loved Noelle and her romance part had me more invested than anything else tbh. Go lesbians! 😂
I would have loved for the grandparents to play a bigger role in this, to see their relationship with Matthew get a little more attention.
His parents were horrible and the mothers actions were just absolutely shocking. Throwing your own son under the bus because of your anxiety? No mother should do that. You can have mental health issues and still be an asshole, it’s not exclusive.

All in all I felt pretty meh about this, I didn’t love the characters and the predictable plot didn’t make it any better. I wanted to love this, but I just didn’t.

“You’re A Mean One Matthew Prince” is everything we love about “Red White and Royal Blue”, “The Charm Offensive” and David Rose mashed into one magically festive book. The mental health story line as well as the character development was so incredible. I laughed, I cried, I recommended it to all of my friends and family.

cute, christmasy, and queer - the trifecta - but it got seriously bogged down in the middle pacing-wise which took me out of it a bit. Matthew’s grandparents own my entire heart now btw and I would like to nominate them as Cutest Married Couple in a Romance 2022, thank you for your consideration.

also major points to Timothy Janovsky for expressing only the most correct opinions about the Muppet Christmas Carol, it is absolutely the superior adaptation!