Such a cute, silly romcom. I love Cole & Hex

What I liked:

Cole is chaos and is such a good foil to Hex's restrained nature. There was a little forbidden aspect, and sneaking around is always fun.

There were some parts that were a little cheesy, but for me if a Christmas story doesn't have a least a little cheese, I don't want it.

I really enjoyed the narrator. I think the audio narration really enhanced the story.

What didn't work for me:

The characters felt like they were a bit young to me. It didn't take a ton out of the story, but there were a few times that I didn't love.

So this was utterly delightful. It was described as Red White and Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas and that’s pretty spot on. It absolutely exudes holidays aesthetic in the most fun ways and the characters are lovable and easy to get invested in. Details like the Merry Measure measuring the joy being created and the traditions and publicity that revolved around them and fashion were super fun and interesting. And while this story is lighthearted and funny it also explores deeper themes like living up to family expectations and loss and has some really emotional and tense moments. After reading this I really wanted to visit the lands of the other holidays and I hope we get a sequel where we visit the Halloween prince’s land next.🎃

I listened to this as an audio book with Ellis Evans narrating and his voice really suited the story and characters with warmth, charm, and nuanced emotion. The character voices were distinct and really expressed the their personalities. So I would definitely recommend this as an audio book.

The Nightmare Before Kissmass is perfect for those looking for a delightful holiday romcom with a dash of holiday spice.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

(2.5 rounded up) On its own, this is a good rom-com. The difficult relationships with parents and children, siblings, friends, and romantic partners were very well done and well-written. However this was a big downer. It highlights Santa as basically a corrupt CEO and takes every bit of joy I'm looking for in a holiday book out of it. I think this would have been a 4 or even 5 star read for me if these were just rival businesses or even general fantasy magic companies, but choosing holidays and then making them depressing was depressing to read.

Like the content but didn't mesh it with the premise.

the nightmare before kissmas by sara raasch 🌙 a fake competition between two holiday princes who can't keep their hands off each other over a marriage of convenience that no one wants 🎅🏻

WHAT TO EXPECT:
🕷️ m/m romance
❄️ found family
🕷️ insta-lust
❄️ single *christmas* pov
🕷️ opposites attract
❄️ the nightmare before christmas

this was a fun queer romance similar to red, white and royal blue! I loved the holiday mashup between halloween and christmas- even while uncovering all of the politics lying between the holidays royal families. I think this book would have benefited from some editing as some of the internal monologue was constantly repeated with no developments. I was hoping we got more cutesy holiday moments than we did opposed to the fantastical political talk.

sincerely, a human who has been & will continue listening to the nightmare before christmas album on repeat until further notice 🕯 thank you macmillan audio for an early copy! out 10/8 but I would wait until christmas to read! 3 stars!

A super fun queer holiday themed fantasy romcom that has an arranged marriage between the prince of Christmas and the Princess of Easter only to be thwarted as the Christmas heir falls for his one night stand, the Prince of Halloween in this paranormal romance that is great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Casey McQuiston and Timothy Janovsky. I'm so looking forward to what comes next in this new series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

This was so cozy, so adorable, perfectly spicy, and such a fun take on holiday romance! In the same way the Tim Burton movie operates as both a Halloween AND a Christmas movie, TNBK is the same! And if you’re not a super holiday romance reader, it’s not so much about the holiday as it is two princes from two different realms falling in love when they really probably shouldn’t.

The audio is delightful and I loved every second!

Want a funny, cozy love story between the princes of Christmas and Halloween? Found it!

This love story between Nicholas “Coal” Claus, the prince of Christmas, and Hex Hallow, the prince of Halloween, is so adorable. Coal is under a ton of pressure from his father, Santa, to uphold the Christmas holiday and joy, to the point he must marry Iris, the princess of Easter. Neither Coal or Iris are interested in each other but they are pressured by their fathers who see this marriage as politically advantageous. Then Hex shows up to challenge Coal for Iris's hand, but along the way they fall for each other.

This was such an interesting world, where each holiday acts as a country. The politics and social drama around the holidays and their royalty and courts drew me in. I also loved Coal and Hex! Coal is such a sarcastic fun narrator, who truly comes into himself over the course of the novel. Then Hex is a more understated person, who comes out of his shell in a great way. I also surprisingly loved how this book touched on topics of grief in a very nuanced way for such a fantastical world.

I really enjoyed this title! I didn’t find it to be a Christmas or Halloween romance, even though we were reading the story of the Prince of Christmas dating the Prince of Halloween!

I really liked the characters in this story, they felt relatable. They were flawed but they recognize it and are actively doing to work go correct it!

I’m excited for the rest of the series and can’t wait to see what’s next!

Who knew holiday politics would be so interesting?! This book is definitely for the holiday lovers and I can see it being a great read for the winter!

The romance was pretty cute and I really appreciated the conversations about consent and mutual respect in sexual situations specifically. Also, lube was mentioned, praise bless.

It’s not all happy go lucky as a big part of the plot is Coal working under the pressure and manipulation of his father, but I don’t think that made the book feel bleak. I wouldn’t say this has Red, White and Royal Blue vibes; yes there are royals for different countries but that is where the similarities end to me really.

I do wish the cultural and religious aspect of holidays was touched on, as that’s a huge component to them. Dia De Los Meurtos was mentioned but even then only in name. It would’ve added another layer to show the practices behind it, considering it was involved in Hex’s life.

I did enjoy this narration a lot and found it easy to follow at my normal listening speed of 2.5!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas follows a young man, Nicholas Claus, aka “Coal”, who is the next heir to Christmas. He is born to be the next Santa. After a poor decision on his part, Coal nearly ruins Christmas. Drunk at a bar after his mistakes, he ends up in a make out session with a complete stranger. Two years later and he thinks life is finally stabilizing his father announces to the entire court that Coal is courting his best friend, Iris, the princess of Easter. Coal can’t think of anyone but that mysterious man in the back alley of the bar. How is he going to marry his best friend?! Coal’s courting is challenged by the prince of Halloween, Hex, who happens to be none other than back alley make out guy!! Will his incessant daydreaming ruin yet another Christmas or will he pull it together for the sake of his duty?

This book was cute. It’s a bit all over the place and the in head narration gets old after a while. There are some holes with the magic system that could’ve used some fleshing out or simply not included as they don’t serve a great purpose within the story. The book was a lot more politically charged than I expected from a holiday fantasy rom-com. I do love Hex’s character. I’m a sucker for broody emo guys. Overall I would give this a 3/5 stars. All I keep thinking is, “this was cute.”

The narration was done very well!! I enjoyed that the most 5/5 for the narrator for sure.

I was so excited to receive this ALC of The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch! Described as “Red, White, and Royal Blue” meets “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” I knew I had to dive in.

Nicholas, aka Coal, is the heir to the Santa mantle, but his father has turned Christmas into a PR spectacle. Known as a jokester, Coal is actually a golden retriever type at heart, doing his best to make a difference. The plot thickens when he’s forced into an arranged marriage with his best friend, the Easter Princess, with whom his brother has been in love for years. Awkward.

Then comes Hex, the quiet, brooding, and darkly sexy Halloween prince, who declares his intent to court the Easter Princess. But his secret goal? It’s Coal. Coal and Hex can’t keep their hands off each other, and the story turns into a whirlwind of messy emotions, political alliances, and holiday drama. It feels like Christmas has been turned into a mafia-style operation as everyone scrambles to set things right.

This was such a fun, feel-good read! I want this to be made into a movie. Think “Red, White, and Royal Blue,” with a holiday fantasy twist. The romance is open-door, probably a two on the spice scale, and I was totally here for the sexy MM romance. Plus, a second book in the series is coming this spring, and it’s definitely on my TBR!

If you’re looking for a queer, heartwarming holiday romcom, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

Coal is the son of Santa. He is supposed to marry Iris who is the Easter Princess. Neither of them are interested in the marriage.

The narrator was great. Very interesting listen.

Christmas & Hallowe'en in one book?
Yes please!
I absolutely adored this book.
Giggles, queer love, fake engagement, holiday politics, fabulous friendships and cool plot.
The narration was perfect and I am super geeked for the next book!
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my ALC.

The Nightmare Before KissMas by Sara Raasch
Royals and Romance series #1. Paranormal, fantasy magic M-M romance.
Nicholas “Coal” Claus used to love Christmas. It’s his heritage. Being forced to marry Iris, the Easter Princess, to cover up getting caught making out with a beautiful man has made Cole unsettled. Neither Cole nor Iris want the marriage and now Hex, the Prince of Halloween, challenges Coal in the fake marriage contract. Poor Iris. Hex doesn’t really want her either. He wants Cole. It’s a public relations nightmare. But Santa is holding the reins and it’s going to be up to the next generation to figure out the holiday mixing.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this story narrated by Ellis Evans. The performance was fantastic with the two main characters having their own specific voices as well as several of the secondary like the sister being different. Emotions were clear as I heard hope, sorrow, lust and anger among others. The recording is paced well so there are no dragging spots or sound level variances. The audiobook held my attention although I did increase the speed to 1.5 which more closely matches my reading and conversational speed.

Holidays, hopeful, happy and honorable wins the hero. And the hearts.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for the complimentary audio!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is the book of the season!

This book is out Oct 8th.

Content Warnings from Storygraph:
(view spoiler)

The concept of this book was just so good! I love the idea of having Prince & Princess of holidays. And I am surprised that it hasn’t been done by now in the contemporary romance space (don’t come for me if there are others).

I love how the characters in the book all had names that played off their holidays. And that the families were like royalties. I will say for me it wasn’t always easy to follow the politics of what was happening but that is totally a ME thing.

"The fantasy of you was pretty great - but everything I've gotten to know about the real you is so much better."

Nicholas/Coal is the heir to Christmas (not Santa Claus) and I did feel bad for him because he did mess up a lot of times but he meant well by his actions. His dad has put SO much pressure on him (rightfully so for the position he will be taking at one point) but he is so young and his dad doesn’t seem to take in his feelings in anything.

My favorite relationship besides the couple is Coal’s relationship with his brother Kris. In the books I read, I don’t usually see brothers depicted in books so that was refreshing for me. Especially with how they needed to be a collective force to stand up to their dad (EVIL).

Hex and Coal - sigh. I love their meet cute and then watching them navigate how they could be a couple. They are just so hot together 🔥

I paired my reading with the audio and I thought Ellis Evans did a great job with the narration!

Can’t wait for the next one!

This was such a fun listen! I adored the characters. They all had likable qualities. I think the world is so unique. The royalty of all the holidays was so 🤌🏻 The politics I was actually intrigued to learn more about seeing is I'm not to big on political intrigue. This book gave me hallmark vibes in the best way possible.

Also, the chemistry between the princes 🔥 their romance was so good and just really great to watch develop. The opposites attract mix in a little forced proximity it's a recipe for success!

The narration was good. I just wish there was a dual narration or a little more distinction between characters.

Def recommend for the spooky/holiday season!

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted listeners copy.

Exactly what I needed to get me out of a bit of a slump so thank you netgalley for the audio arc. If you want the vibes of RWARB but still it's own story, this is the book for you then. I really loved the relationships in this between various characters and really connected with them with their own journeys. Even though this has smut in it, it didn't overpower the rest of the story which is what I like when I read a spicier book. I do wish the ending had continued a bit longer for the final conversation between the brothers but I presume that's where book 2 will pick up so I'm not wholly mad at it for leaving that off the page.

A steamy queer romantasy with the main characters being: Cole - the prince of Christmas and Hex - the prince of Halloween. Holidays have rulers, princes, politics, and hot crushes!

Cole is a moody delight with the true sense of Christmas. I loved how the author described his feelings and his thoughts. Hex could give me some wardrobe tips any day. And Santa is… well I won’t give it all away.

This was a lighthearted, funny read that will be absolutely perfect for the fall season. So many cute moments, so much cozy, and such a delight.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an audio ahead of the release date. P.S. The narrator was absolutely magnificent and embraced all the characters in the best way.

I really enjoyed this read! It was funny, charming, had a good plot, and made you love each character. It gave me vibes from some different holiday movies, while keeping it to its own course. I really enjoyed the relationship between Cole and Hex, they were so cute!

4.5 stars

There was a lot going on in this book in a good way. There are holidays, obviously, but also global politics, familial obligations, grief, love, love triangles (of sorts but not really?), and a coup. The political aspect of this holiday royalty situation was really interesting and it felt like Christmas was an allegory for maybe the USA. I felt the love story was really believable and the background love story definitely leads to thoughts on what a sequel might be. I also found the way the royal men reacted to their marriages ending (one in a divorce, one in a death) was a great way to show how differently people may react to similar situations. All around, I found the story engaging and the romance fun.

The narrator was really good and I felt the voice was perfect for a prince of Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!