Thank you so much for an e-ARC! I went into this blind and I'M SO GLAD I DID.

I absolutely loved this story so, so much, and I think it's a perfect holiday book! Think The Santa Clause, but make it queer with some marital strife and a HEA - SAY. LESS.

I really loved every aspect of this book, and read it in less than 24 hours because I genuinely could not put it down. I felt nostalgic at times and filled with Christmas wonder and magic - to be fair I am absolutely a queer Christmas elf, so I am the target audience for this book through and through. I think Janovsky does a phenomenal job of carrying the tension of situations throughout the story while also upholding the magical ones, which I believe can be such a difficult feat. I was invested in Patrick and Quinn from page one, and couldn't help but root for them throughout. I really loved that aspects of their struggles as a couple were SO relatable, and then we as readers were carried through this with Christmas magic, helping us to not get too pulled into the very real issues Patrick and Quinn were working through.

All in all, I absolutely ADORED this book, and think it is a perfect holiday book!

The Synopsis 100% gave off Santa Claus vibes. While it was cute and I loved all of the Christmas vibes, it was also about finding yourself and the magic in every day. Imagine though... Waking up to an intruder, taking their clothes to finish Christmas deliveries, and realize you are now Santa and the first ever Merriest Mister! Tell me that doesn't sound like a movie.

Also I think this would be good on audio.

Thanks to St Martins and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This book made me wish it was already Christmas!! It was atmospheric and warm, and I loved the descriptions of the magic system and love powering everything in the end. Quinn and Patrick were beautiful, well-rounded characters and I loved their vulnerability as the book went on. This one will be a hit for the holidays!!

This book & love story could warm even the Grinch’s heart.

I loved the setting of the North Pole and how creative Timothy was in creating not only the “magic” of the North Pole but also how it all operates & could actually make sense. It obviously was very similar to the Santa Claus mixed with your favorite Lacey Chabert hallmark movie.

Some of the plot point did seem a little rushed and I wanted maybe more from those scenes overall it was a magical story. Not only did it explore their relationship but also the complicated relationship queer people have with their families.

Can’t wait to read it again this holiday season.

The Merriest Misters, is basically a retelling of The Santa Clause, told in dual pov from 2 mmc Quinn and Patrick. While enjoyed through each of them really fell into their true self, I feel like lacking and kind of boring. 3 stars.

In all honesty, I did not read the description of this book. I never do because I find that they can give away too much of the books. Here is what I knew going in, it is a Christmas book and it is gay. Great. So when Patrick knocked out Santa Clause and then he and Quinn had to fill in for the night, I was absolutely shocked and unsure if this was going to be too silly for me or not.
Well, yes, it was very silly but I was not at all mad at it. I was in the right mood for a lighthearted Christmas book with whimsy and some real relationship problems. I enjoyed Quinn and Patrick's love story and how it evolved. I loved that they found a solution that was not the "traditional" norm for a married couple.
It was cute. It was fun. It was silly. It was enjoyable.
Spice level- Zero.

Coined as "The Santa Clause meets Husband Material," Timothy Janovsky's upcoming holiday release follows the story of Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller, who have been married for almost a year. Their romance begins to strain under the pressures of life, from burdensome mortgages to unrealistic expectations from their in-laws. On Christmas Eve, Patrick believes someone is breaking into their home and attempts to stop them, leading him to believe he has killed the intruder. However, Quinn discovers that the supposed burglar is actually Santa Claus himself. An Elf appears and reveals that the faith of Christmas is now in their hands. Patrick puts on the Santa suit and, together with Quinn, completes the Christmas rounds. They are then faced with a decision: to become Santa and the First Merriest Mister or to continue living their lives as usual. Will their marriage might be in jeopardy the begin to wonder if spending time at the North Pole, away from everyday stressors, will help improve their marriage, or is the damage irreparable? "The Merriest Mister" by Timothy Janovsky is set to be released on October 1st, 2024. It promises to be a funny and joyful read, filled with moments that will make you laugh, scream, and even swear (you'll see why). Overall, it's a great story that will get you in the spirit for the Christmas season.

2SLGBTQIA+ Holiday Romance in which a married couple whose relationship's rocky find themselves filling in as Santa Claus for a year and getting a chance to save their marriage.

5/5 stars: This is Janovsky's 2SLGBTQIA+ Holiday Romance stand-alone that follows a married couple, a teacher and architect, whose relationship's hit a very tough and rocky rut personally and professionally as they find themselves filling in as Santa Claus and his Merriest Mister for a year or Christmas will be canceled. The two will spend the next year relearning to be themselves and finding their way back to each other. The magic of the North Pole, Christmas and the Santa Claus transformation is charming and full of holiday cheer. Janovsky's take on Tim Allen's classic movie The Santa Clause hits all the right notes. Written in dual POV, Janovsky's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Patrick and Quinn are great, the two learn some important lessons indivually and as a couple and that love doesn't mean that marriage isn't work. I really like the included flashback chapters to Patrick and Quinn's early days, it provides insight into their relationship and individual backgrounds. The sex scenes are fade-to-black but there's plenty of the swoony banter. While there are plenty of heartfelt and humorous moments, Janovsky does takes on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. A great holiday read that will tug on your heartstrings.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

What a festive and magical Holiday read! 🎄🎅🏼This book will be perfect to read in the Christmas season!
I loved seeing the memory chapters and reading about how Quinn and Patrick met and fell in love.
Merriest Misters was a cute Christmas story that felt nostalgic. Quinn and Patrick accidentally knock out an intruder in their home Christmas Eve. The intruder happens to be Santa Claus himself and after he quits it’s up to Patrick and Quinn to deliver all the toys. After agreeing to become the new Santa Claus and the first ever Merriest Mister for a year Quinn and Patrick must work on their marriage so they can save Christmas.

Patrick and Quinn have been married for less than a year, but their relationship is less than perfect. With Patrick constantly worried about their extravagant mortgage and Quinn tired of not having his partner by his side, their once passionate romance has become stale. When Patrick accidentally knocks out Santa Claus, Patrick and Quinn are given the chance to become Santa Claus and the first ever Merriest Mister. Will this new opportunity allow them to revive their failing marriage or ruin it forever?

This was a fun book to listen to. I loved the two narrators and preferred the audiobook over the physical copy. The character growth of the two main characters was one of my favorite parts of this book. Not only did Patrick and Quinn grow as a couple but individually the learned what they needed to be happy in their life. Overall, this was a fun Holiday read focusing on the rediscovery of love for your partner and yourself.

The Merriest Misters comes out on October 1st.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review The Merriest Misters. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a miss for me. I think my biggest problem with it was it never felt like a romance when that's what I thought I was signing up for. I didn't buy the characters or their motivations. I didn't care about them and they kind of just annoyed me. They didn't really even seem to like each other. It was all problems and conflict and then they decide to just... live apart for awhile. Which is fine but not what I was wanting to read.

The whole Christmas plot was sort of hackneyed and didn't really work for me. Maybe I'm just not a fan of Christmas books but I've read and loved others so I don't think that's it.

The audiobook narrators annoyed me too and I was actively avoiding listening.

*Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy for review.

As a millennial, I am really enjoying this era of being pandered to. Nostalgia is great! Of course, I want to revisit all the things that brought me joy when I was young and full of hope!

So obviously, I was very excited to dive into this updated queer, marriage-in-trouble take on The Santa Clause. I also really enjoy Timothy Janovsky's writing so this was pretty much a comforting slam dunk. Thankfully in this version no Santas have to die for beleaguered architect Patrick to don the festive cloak that ultimately whisks him and his husband Quinn off to the North Pole. The only question now is where this new magical vocation will save their relationship on the rocks or just speed up their split?

In the highest form of praise, this book was exactly what it says it is and what I wanted to read at the time. I loved how we got little flashbacks throughout that provided helped context to their relationship and individual pasts and all of the little jokes and nods to the original source material.

If you love the movie The Santa Clause but always wondered if Santa could be gay, then this is the book for you. Picking up the Santa suit on Christmas Eve turns one man into Santa and makes his husband “Mrs Clause.” I thought it was quite an interesting premise and an unexpected plot all the way through. I liked that the couple was already married and trying to rekindle their relationship. Although I would have appreciated some spicy scenes, I did love how both characters grew and went on journeys of self-discovery. It did not have a completely predictable ending either!

Sorry to say, this was a DNF for me (50%). The premise is kind of fun, but by 50%, I just found I still wasn’t connected to the characters, and did not want to continue.

The highlights of the first half for me were definitely the flashbacks to when they first got together. That was the only time I was really feeling the romance, but then we’d go back to the present and this couple just didn’t seem like a good match (communication was sorely lacking, and that is something I don’t enjoy reading about). It didn’t help that I very much blamed one of the two for most of the problems, so really was not rooting for him.

This adorable second chance romance focuses on aspiring architect Patrick Hargrave and his adorable husband, second grade teacher Quinn Muller. Nearing a year of marriage, their relationship is suffering from Patrick's long hours and secret-keeping and Quinn's passive role. After a string of bad luck caused by Patrick's own choices, Patrick and Quinn struggle to even stay in the same room. When Patrick inadvertently causes Santa Claus to quit on Christmas Eve, Patrick sees an opportunity - to save Christmas, save his career, and save his marriage. Quinn isn't as excited, but he will do anything to preserve his marriage.

This is one of the least romantic romances I have ever read, they start in a not great place and continue to be for most of the book, they grow, somehow, as a couple, apart, but even when they were at the same place they did everything independently of each other. It was kind of sad and not even the Christmas spirit made it more cheerful, despite the title being Merriest Mister, they really weren’t very merry.

This book was so cute. Like a gay the Santa clause. I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of this book, but did get a touch bored with some of the middle. Not a typical love story, kind of a re-falling in love story and it really resonates to those who are in long term relationships/marriages about keeping the spark alive and meeting people where they are. Really great Christmas story. Can’t wait for others to read this one!

What a fun read! Seriously this book has all the Christmas magic bundled up into a cozy cute romance. This book combines all the charm of a hallmark Christmas movie mixed in with some true emotional depth and character growth making for a truly wonderful reading experience!

3.5 ⭐️

The Merriest Misters is a story about a married couple who met in college and are currently going through a multitude of marriage issues less than a year after tying the knot. I hate to say it, but Quinn was presented as the “woman” of the relationship as he did the cooking while Patrick is handy, the provider, and the protector. They took on a traditional, straight couple relationship. Patrick’s mother reinforces this by calling Quinn the homemaker. Quinn also likes feminine clothing, jewelry, and painted nails. Patrick gets fired from his job, they’re overworked, in a house they hate, and are about to lose their marriage, when they get thrust into a unique job opportunity to become Santa and the Merriest Mister. This requires a lot of adjustments since they’ve been assuming Santa’s partner is Mrs. Claus.

I loved how Timothy Janovsky created a queer friendly North Pole including an account of Quinn helping a trans/non-binary elvan child. For added representation, Quinn has a sapphic friend and Patrick has an ace brother. I liked reading about how Quinn creates outfits from Mrs. Claus’ closet and wants to wear pretty clothes. I loved seeing him gain confidence in what he wears as he embraces himself and Patrick loves his outfits.

I liked how they use their individual skills to improve the North Pole. Quinn is a 2nd grade teacher while Patrick is an architect who gets fired from his job very early in the book. It goes a little bit into the struggles of being a queer teacher. Their thoughts are altered by their respective careers which brought a bit of realism to this unrealistic novel. I also liked learning about the North Pole and Christmas magic.

As for the negatives, I found the pacing of this story very awkward. It spans a year, but includes many time skips so you only get a brief glimpse into what’s happening before moving on. There’s also frequent backstory chapters in chronological order detailing their life before the story started. I didn’t enjoy the emphasis on marriage including how they didn’t make love until they were married. I also found it really unclear how many years they were together since Quinn is 26 and they met when he was a sophomore, so they should have been together for 6-7 years but it seemed more like 3-4 years. They are incredibly bad at communication, which becomes the main conflict in the novel. Quinn always lets Patrick pick their life for him as he’s scared of saying no in fear of Patrick leaving him. On the other hand, Patrick strives for validation from his parents.

Overall, I found the book kind of boring and frustrating, particularly in the middle of the book where they settle into their new jobs and don’t communicate despite needing to be married. It gets more interesting when they finally resolve their issues. They reflect on who they are and who they want to be as they reconcile with their family. Their separation helped them find themselves and each other. In that respect, it was satisfying reading them finally discover who they want to be. It also had a lovely ending where they both get what they want and the North Pole makes some changes for the future. However, the book’s positives didn’t outweigh the negatives.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Very silly premise, and I like the core relationship between Patrick and Quinn, though it got whimsical enough that when things get a little more serious, I think I had a bit of trouble accepting the tonal shift and taking it seriously. It's a book that will live or die for you based on how interested you are by the synopsis, and I guess I am not the target audience for this one.