If you want one more reason to love the fall and winter holidays, then this is the book for you. Achingly romantic and festive, Coal and Hex is the gift that keeps on giving in the opening chapter to this exciting new series.

This was a cutesy, cozy holiday romance full of family drama and the weight of responsibilities.

I'll have to say, I started this book in the middle of a heat wave and I was not feeling the holiday vibes. I was melting, but the deadline for review was looming 🫠 that, plus the first two chapters being quite long made this a rough start for me, though I found the premise to be cute and intriguing.

I finally switched to audiobook on publication day and that helped me get over the longer, slower beginning. While we got a lot of backstory for Coal and Nick, I wish we had gotten more from Hex and Iris. There are certainly backstories for each character, but I would've like to see more of their personalities.

Overall, I enjoyed the romance and the idea of holidays being ruling courts out of everyday human eyesight. The was a fun filler read!

Thanks to Bramble for the eARC and I think the eventual finished copy as well!

🎃The Nightmare Before Kissmas🎄 by @sara_raasch
Genre: romance novel/ romance fantasy

This book has fun idea to make whole word of different Holiday’s kingdoms! It felt so unique, refreshing and fun! You have Christmas Kingdom, it’s two princes and a king, Easter, Halloween Kingdom and others. The characters, banter and humor is just great!

This book has:
🎃LGBTQ (m/m) romance
🎄 found family
🎃opposites attract

If you need help to get into Holliday mood, this book will definitely help you!!

Also, look at this cover and red sprayed edges!! This book so cute, fun, and sexy all around!

Thank you so much @brambleromance and @torbooks for this gifted copy!! ❤️🎄🥰🎃❤️

I was really hoping to love this book, but it just didn't really come together for me.
When you compare a book to Red, White and Royal Blue and The Nightmare Before Christmas, you set really high expectations. I thought we were getting a paranormal romcom between the Christmas and Halloween princes. However, this wasn't as funny or cute as I wished it to be.

First, I found the dialogue very all over the place, like the main character couldn't keep to one track of thought. I felt that this could have been better with an auditory medium. Or even if this wasn't a book, but a movie. I had a hard time following the banter. Then, it leaned more into cringy than funny. I had many moments where I just wanted to face palm about how Coal was speaking to everyone.

This book is very political as well. I knew that we were going to have some sort of holiday hierarchy and system, since so many Christmas movies set in the North Pole have them. However, this was darker and more political than I actually thought it was going to be. Some characters that are supposed to be the good guys are horrible. So much so that there were no redeeming qualities and none of these plot points were in the synopsis.

I did like some of the romance here, but I felt that it took too long to get started, took a backseat to the political plot, and then proceeded too quickly for me wanting to actually see and experience the romantic build up.

Overall, I didn't necessarily hate this book. I just think that the writing style was not for me, and the synopsis did not completely let you know what you were getting into.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book! Personally, give me a silly premise (the Prince of Christmas falling in love with the Prince of Halloween) but a genuine, heartfelt romance between the two main characters and I’m going to be in heaven. The reason it’s getting 4 stars is just I felt there were some things left unresolved. I know there’s going to be a sequel, so maybe those resolutions are forthcoming. But overall, this was a fun book that actually had a lot to say about where we find joy and the ways in which love can change us.

4.5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

"He said joy creates a foundation, and we do create that foundation, every kiss and caress sets up a reality where the sun will rise tomorrow and I'll make him tea and we'll leisurely figure out what want to do with our day, no schedule, no events. We'll go down to North Pole City and buy ornaments and then come back and turn this bed inside out again. And in that reality, we don't worry about days passing. We don't worry about losing everything, because our everything is impenetrable, and we create and create with every shake and beg and heartbeat.
I love him.
I love him, and I can't put it into words with how big it is, so I keep talking, and showing, and creating with him."

What I expected: A fun rom-com about a prince of Christmas falling for a prince of Halloween.

What I got: That but also Family Trauma.

Nicholas, the oldest Prince of Christmas and next in line to be Santa, is struggling with his duties and responsibilities after losing the trust of his father, the reigning Santa. To make up for his past mistakes, Nicholas (Coal) is told he is to marry the Princess of Easter, one of his closest friends, despite neither of them wanting this. To make matters worse, ~For Press Reasons~ he has to fake-compete for his fake-marriage against Hex, the Prince of Halloween. A man he's only met once...in the back alley of a bar years prior.

This plot is so cheesy and stupid and I loved every minute of this fucking book. Coal and Hex are fantastic together and I loved their chemistry. I'm a little tired of third act breakups, but I see the appeal for a lot of romance writers.

I do think this could have done with a little bit more editing, a little bit of tightening up in some parts. But the prose can be beautiful at times, as evidenced by the excerpt above.

I enjoyed the concept of this book, and I loved the connection and inspiration to Nightmare Before Christmas. There were several good moments, and I appreciated the author’s attention to detail and world building. So, lots of positives! However, I found the central romantic relationship to be so incredibly repetitive and inner monologue heavy that I found myself speed reading my way through large sections of the book. I liked the romantic connection, but it felt was though it was shoved down the reader’s throat just a little to vehemently- and I’m speaking of the romantic bedroom scenes here in particular. Constant inner monologuing about the same, sappy infatuation sentiments made it difficult to completely invest in the love story.
However! I do think there’s good room to grow with this series and I may just be reading the sequel when it arrives next year! Thank you NetGalley & Publishers!

2.5 Stars
This was a cute and cozy read and would be a fun and festive book to read for the holidays. I didn't entirely love the way this was executed and the romance between the MCs didn't really hit the way I needed/wanted it to and I wish we got more of the backstory (what ever happened between Kris and Iris?? Did we ever find out and I just wasn't paying attention lol or is this going to be a plot point in the next book?). I did enjoy the narrator and felt that he did a great job at portraying Nicholas/"Coal" authentically.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!

Nicholas “Coal” Claus used to believe in the magic of the Christmas holiday. He saw and experienced that magic as a child when his father, Santa, showed him how it worked to bring joy. But somewhere along the way, things changed for Coal. Looking back, it might have been when his mother walked out on him, his younger brother, and his father. Now, Santa is obsessed with cementing Christmas as the biggest holiday. When he announces that Christmas will be partnering with Easter as a way to expand their influence, Coal balks. Not the least because part of this ploy will involve Coal marrying Iris, the Easter Princess, and the girl Coal’s brother’s Kris been in love with forever. It’s the last thing Coal wants, even as his father argues that the only way for Coal to contribute as future leader of Christmas is by marrying Easter to cement the holiday’s future.

When news of the impending union of Christmas and Easter gets out to other holidays, Halloween takes exception. But in order to have a shot at partnering with Christmas for a share of the joy the holiday generates, Halloween will have to send a diplomat. Enter Hex Hallow, the stunningly attractive heir to Halloween who is sent to Christmas to compete with Coal for Iris’ hand in marriage. As soon as Hex arrives at Christmas, however, Coal feels drawn to him. Over the course of the “competition,” Coal falls more and more in love with Hex. And when they steal moments together, they learn their approach to leading their respective holidays could be far more equitable than what the current Santa has in mind. As Coal and Hex resolve to work together to achieve that vision, Santa himself uncovers the plot and threatens to bring it all crashing down.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is a holiday-themed romance where the holidays in question exist as physical places and are organized like monarchies, complete with all the palace intrigue, power plays, and blackmail. It’s set in the current day and takes place almost exclusively in the North Pole and during the Christmas season. The story is narrated by Coal and starts with a short vignette taking place about two years prior to the main story. This short intro establishes Coal’s heart-felt views on what Christmas should be–a way for people to experience some real joy–and his exuberantly rash actions. It also establishes that Coal is at least bisexual and shares a kiss with a stranger that impacts him deeply.

The story feels like it is divided into two main themes: Coal and Hex’s relationship and Coal’s future as the heir of Christmas. For me, I really enjoyed watching Coal and Hex get closer together. Privately, they cannot deny the spark of attraction that flares between them. Both of them, along with Iris and Kris, see how well Coal and Hex fit together. There is quite a slow burn between them. Coal and Hex find ways to talk to one another and Hex’s explanation of how his holiday works as a collective with other holidays to equitably share the joy that powers their magic intrigues Coal. A combination of their shared leadership values and good old physical attraction help these two build a connection that eventually lets them be very vulnerable with each other and eventually fall in love.

As intense as Hex and Coal’s connection is, however, it has to be kept under wraps. Publicly, both of them are competing for Iris’ hand. That narrative is pushed hard by Santa himself, who has been using threats and blackmail for years to ensure his holiday gets the lion’s share of joy. Santa only wants a veneer of the competition to placate other holidays while, secretly, Coal and Iris are as good as wed. Over the course of the “competition,” Hex and Coal, with the help of Iris and Kris, work together to figure out how to free the winter holidays from Santa’s iron grip. For me, the political intrigue in the story takes up a lot of space. Personally, I thought it was a little exhausting trying to follow the justifications and explanations. When all is said and done, our MCs get a happily ever after, but I felt like the loose ends regarding Santa’s scheming were left unresolved.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas offers readers so much more than a sweet little holiday romance. In addition to the spicy, emotional bond that develops between Coal and Hex, there’s Coal’s personal struggle to find self-worth after years of his father reinforcing the notion that Coal is nothing but a screw up. If you’re looking for a story where a seemingly impossible love grows, even in the harshest environment, I think you’ll find a lot to enjoy in this book.

This was such a cute, fun, and creative romance with the different Holiday kingdoms! Christmas x Halloween was the perfect mash up of opposites attract. The romance was adorable and steamy! And I loved their little found family. But there’s also an important message of what spreading joy truly means, of the capitalism that is being peddled these days as joy. True joy comes from being with those we love. It also touches on deeper themes of grief and loss and mental health, of how these change us. I’m looking forward to reading more in this world!

Thanks to the publisher and author for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

1000% yes for this book.

This book is an absolute delight, even when it shattered my soul. Nicholas/Coal is a walking disaster put into a seemingly impossible situation when his father aka Santa forcibly engages him to the Princess of Easter to further extend Christmas' reach in what can only be described as holiday imperialism.

This all get turned on its head when the Christmas palace plays host to Prince Hex of Halloween, the person that Coal met one time and has been obsessing about for two years.

This book is full of amusing holiday charm and joy, a laugh out lead with a heart of gold, a stoic partner who is just begging to be mussed up a bit, and a coming of age tale that really makes these characters all the more endearing. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters and their shenanigans, the writing, and the story. It is everything I could have possibly wanted out of a rom-com and I am literally telling everyone I know about.

10/10, 5 stars, two very enthusiastic thumbs way up. I can't wait until book 2.

Nicholas “Cole” Claus is the first son of Christmas and heir to the Santa namesake…. But a lifetime of messing up and causing scandal has put him on his father, Santa‘s naughty list!

He’s been sent home for the holidays and if he doesn’t find a solution, he’s going to find himself walking down the aisle on Christmas Eve with his best friend, the Easter Princess!

When things seem to not be able to get any worse… in comes the dark and handsome Halloween Prince to also vie for the Easter Princess’s hand!

Too bad for the Easter princess, but it looks like both the Christmas and Halloween princes only have eyes for each other!

This was such a fun and quirky YA romance! I love the ultimate world of the Holiday states, and they are political intrigue! as a fan of the movie, the nightmare before Christmas I definitely found myself singing. This is Halloween, every time Hex, the Halloween Prince entered a scene!

I love to seeing these characters grow and develop their own maturity and respect for their individual holiday states. It was nice seeing the aimless Cole, find his purpose and take charge of his life!

This book was such a fun twist on a holiday romance! I loved the dynamic between coal and hex so much and there dialogue was top tier! I also loved the relationship between Cole and Chris as well, the family dynamic really added extra heart to the story, which I loved so much

It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did I was pleased. I love the little play on Nightmare before Christmas. This was a fun read with great character development. Cant wait for Sara’s next book!

Thoughts: I thought this was a very cute MM romance. With its tropes of fake dating and rivals to lovers be prepared for lots of laughs. In addition to the humor, there is a decent amount of spice for those looking for a spicy romance. Finally, with its themes of overcoming grief, sibling bonds, friendship and the meaning of holidays The Nightmare Before Kissmas makes for a great choice as a holiday read or just a pick me up when you need good vibes

Read if you like:
🔀 Opposites Attract
🤫 Secret Relationship
🏡 Forced Proximity
🎉 Holiday Romances
✨ Magical Realism
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ Romances

This book was so dang cute!!!! I really loved the way the opposites attract was done with the Prince of Christmas and Prince of Halloween and how they were brought together as part of a political move but they also have history when they met and made out n in a bar before being brought together over essentially a “which holiday will win” moment organized by Coal’s dad who is doing sus things to gain power for Christmas.

I loved how their romance grew while “competing” for the heart of the princess of Easter and while also trying to make things better for all holidays and fix the issues that they have uncovered with how Coal’s dad has gone about things with the other holidays.

All in all, it’s such a cute read and I truly can’t wait for the next installment and can’t wait to see Chris get his HEA too!

My one feedback is at times the pacing didn’t quite work, but reading via audio made this one thing easier to look past.

Thank you so so so much to Bramble for my ARC, finished copy, and audiobook!

Thank you to Bramble Romance & Macmillan Audio for the review copies!

This Nightmare Before Kissmas has some definite Red, White and Royal Blue vibes - the characters are just out of college aged and both the children of Holiday royalty!

If you’re looking for a romance that builds a full world and spends a lot of time on plots besides the main romance, I think you’ll really love this one! The book builds out a world where each holiday has it’s own kingdom, and the royals of each kingdom have magic that relates to their holiday.

The romantic tension between Coal and Hex was super well done - I was rooting for these two from the very beginning! Coal’s brother Kris and best friend Iris were also wonderful, and I loved spending time with all of them!

I felt like the magic system was under-untilized, and I was confused about how there were kingdoms, but also regular countries. It was explained that Halloween had close ties with Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, for example. To me, it almost felt like this inclusion was diversity for diversity’s sake - NOT that I think that it shouldn’t have been included - but it made me want to see MORE non-Christian holidays included. Does Diwali have a kingdom? Jewish holidays? Or if the holiday doesn’t have a non-religious following, is that the only time it gets magic? I would have loved to see more diverse representation in the holidays discussed!


There was a lot of infodumping about what parts of Christmas was being included in this world and what wasn’t. It felt like the book couldn’t decide if it was more magical realism and set in the real world or if it was more magical. The magic itself was only ever used as kind of a parlor trick, so I really wanted to see magic utilized if it was going to be introduced.

I think if this book had been edited down a bit I would have loved it instead of just liking it - it felt like there was a lot going on, and at times it was repetitive. If you are looking for a fun romance book that features both Halloween and Christmas, I do recommend it!

🎧 Ellis Evans does a fantastic job bringing this world to life. His narration gives each character their own unique voice. The book translates well as an audiobook, so pick your favorite format with this one!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

ok i am blown away at how good this was — i was expecting a silly lil goofy romcom (and believe me i totally got that and MORE? like the surprise SPICE??? immaculate!), but also got a very interesting commentary on how so many holidays have become commodified and no longer celebrated for their original (mostly religious, but also spiritual and cultural) reasons, thus lacking in that nostalgic sense of joy and wholesomeness.

this truly was very similar to rw&rb, but def spicier… no complaints here💗

i need book two IMMEDIATELY, thank you very much.

Here's the thing about this book. I actually had a super fun time! I liked the writing, the characters, the relationships, and the romance. I was pulled into the drama of the family dynamics and I thought the romance was very sweet. I did a combination of reading the eARC and listening to the ALC I have through libro.fm and really enjoyed the audio production and narrator as well! And, generally, I thought it was a really fun idea and liked the world.

But, my main issue I felt was kind of a big one. This book uses the holidays in general, particularly Christmas, as a stand-in for capitalism and talks a lot about the commercialization of the holiday, which I think is fair. And this idea is definitely critiqued, to an extent, within the book. However, in all the times that the King of Christmas talks about expanding Christmas's reach all around the world and spreading it to countries that don't celebrate it, there was never any discussion about the implications of Christian imperialism and colonialism that this goal feeds into. Just the issue with the commercialization and the way in which it is being done. And with that, there are no non-Christian holidays actually mentioned within the book. There's a few you can argue are secular, but outside of that, nothing. This feels especially strange, since there is no discussion of the religious aspects of the book and these religious aspects are, in fact, waved away by the narrator. It honestly feels like the author wanted to do this fun holiday book and wanted to talk about the commercialization of the holidays, which I totally get, but didn't trust herself enough to include the discussions of colonialism or religion outside of Christianity. Which I understand, but if you're going to set up this world with all of these holidays, but not include non-Christian ones, or have these discussions of Christmas, a holiday celebrated by Christians, being spread to other countries around the world, but not include discussions about the colonialism inherent to that, then it feels like the metaphor is half-baked. Especially since the four main characters all major in some form of Global Relations!! I know they know what colonialism and imperialism are!!

Anyway, those are my main issues, because otherwise I really did enjoy this book! I just felt these issues were big ones, unfortunately, which is why I gave it 3 stars.

This was the PERFECT romcom that I needed ❤️

The story follows Coal (aka Nicholas), heir to Christmas royalty, as he navigates his burgeoning attraction to Hex, a man he made out with at a bar who ends up not only being the hero to Halloween royalty, but also his competitor in a marriage competition for a woman who they both don’t want to marry. Antics ensue and we follow their journey as we figure out: can opposites truly attract?

I mean, no notes really. The worldbuilding was so amazing and was a beautiful rendition of a Nightmare Before Christmas meets romcom concept. This is absolutely perfect for those that prefer a light worldbuild in their romantasy.

The characters were all fantastic: I was rooting for all of them and the banter was all fantastically charming. The chemistry between Coal and Hex in particular was super cute and I was cheering them on all the way.

The plot was perfectly paced and the romance built up really naturally. There are still those romcom elements but it melded really well with the plot and didn’t come off as cheesy.

This was such a fun read and probably is one of my favorite reads of this year!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bramble Romance for the e-ARC!