This book is so well-rounded. There is an exploration of friendship, brotherhood, grief, family duty, finding one's place, and reframing what brings you JOY!

This book opens with so much juicy, hot mess drama that leads Coal, the Prince of Christmas, to drunkenly kiss a stranger in a bar ally after he accidentally granted an entire country's Christmas wishes leading to chaos. Fast forward to a year or so later when Coal begrudgingly goes home for the holiday seasonal duties and his father springs an arranged engagement to the Princess of Easter (one of his BFFs). To prevent this alignment between a spring and winter holiday, in comes the Prince of Halloween, Hex, to also try and win the Princess' hand in marriage. Unbeknownst to all the scheming adults fighting over power and monopoly over joy, Coal and Hex were the ones who shared that kiss that neither can seem to forget, and are both 100% down bad for one another. Thus unfolds a few weeks of sleigh rides, ice skating, holiday movie marathons, secret hook ups, and all the cozy holiday magical feels. But there are real threats here, as both Coal and Hex are torn between family honor/duty while trying to navigate court politics and posturing. Both men are also grieving and wanting to redefine how their holidays can create joy for everyone beyond the commercialism. Coal's relationship with his brother Kris was so solid and full of love, and I adored them standing up for each other and cannot wait for Kris' book which is next in the series!
This book will have you cackling over hilarious group chats, witty banter, and fun holiday competitions, but will also warm your heart. Such a fun concept, unique magical world, and full of heart!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced readers copy of this audiobook.

Will the Prince of Christmas finds his own "ho ho ho" in the Prince of Halloween...?
Yes and so much more!

While this holiday-themed romcom might seem like all sugar plums and candy corn on the outside, there's a darkness at the center of the story. A tale of devious politics and manipulative parenting under the cloak of cute holidays.

The current Santa is determined to strongarm the other holidays to fit his agenda, co-opting all the joy, all while maintaining his title of controlling father. The eldest Prince of Christmas, Coal, is the self-proclaimed family failure, hellbent on being the disappointment everyone expects him to be. Followed with younger brother, and Spare Santa, Kris bringing up the rear (always so dependable!)

Enter Hex, the Prince of Halloween. The instant connection between Hex and Coal is enough to make anyone feel all tingly inside... and turn everything Coal knows about himself - and Christmas - on it's end. With the declaration of the arranged marriage between Coal and the Princess of Easter (his BFF and brother's love), Christmas will never be the same.

Major points for the fluidity of the sexuality among the characters (Hooray for Bi-representation!) and eventual acceptance and processing of parental trauma. We love to see supporting friends and family along with people getting to be their true selves.

Also, I'd love to see someone fashion sketch all of Hex's ensembles. *swoon* (I'm a little jealous of all the corset vests, TBH.)

Overall, 8/10 - cute, deep, spicy, and now I'm ready for Halloween!
Ellis Evans gets a 10/10 for the narration!

📚Trope(s): He falls first, Secret relationship, MM, HOLIDAYS!
What you get: 🎅🏻🎃🐰🍆✨
⭐️Plot: 4/5
🔥Chemistry: 4/5
🌶️Spice: 4/5

5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Holiday romance
Christmas & Halloween
Arranged marriage
Secret relationship
LGBTQIA rep
Single POV

I had so much fun with this one. There was definitely room for more stories to develop from side characters, and I'm so excited to see what the author releases. Coal and Hex were just adorable together. They had instant chemistry, and their interactions were sweet and spicy. I loved how they came together and worked together to bring joy back to the holidays. This was a fun twist on the holiday theme and the Christmas legacy. Overall, I just really enjoyed the vibes, and the narrator did an amazing job bringing all the characters to life.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

This was such a cute and quirky romcom and I'm here for it! I loved the holiday world that Sara Raasch has created in this story and has me wanting more stories about all the holidays! I appreciated that the holiday world and the real world were mixed together but still felt like two different worlds.

The relationship between Christmas Prince Coal and Halloween Prince Hex was perfectly written and gave me all the "Red, White, and Royal Blue" feels. This books also brought more spice than I expected and I am here for it!

While I really enjoyed this book I do wish there had been Hex's POV through this book.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the performance by Ellis Evans.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 463 / Genre: Romance
Audiobook Narrator: Ellis Evans
Duration: 12 hours 23 minutes
Release Date: October 8, 2024

In this fun, inventive Christmas story, Santa is an evil PR madman, who wants to capitalize on the joy from all the other holidays by creating a powerful alliance with Easter. Unfortunately, this means marrying off his eldest son to the Easter princess, even though he has fallen head over heels in love with the Halloween prince.

This sexy little romcom is filled with hilarious characters and witty banter. And the representation of all the holidays in human royalty family form is such a fun and unique perspective. I loved it!

I listened to the audiobook and Ellis Evans did a great job narrating.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @macmillan.audio, and @Sara_Raasch for my gifted copy.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was not this! I was pleasantly surprised with the story and the characters. It was fun mixing in other holidays and showing that Santa is not necessarily the nice guy he is always portrayed to be. Loved the romance and the mystery, and I look forward to another story in this world!

Ok - I wasn't excited for this one, but dang was it fun and good!

It was such a pleasant surprise and will be so perfect for cozy season. It was funny, cute, quick, and just like a warm hug. I'm so in love.

Is this book for real? It was AMAZING. I couldn’t get enough of Nicholas and company. This book was so good! I feel it almost bordered on YA because I automatically connect it with my childhood’s Nightmare Before Christmas, but at the same time here I am a grown adult still watching NBC almost weekly. The themes of the story are perfectly appropriate for the upcoming fall and winter month reads. And the narrator? Ellis did a fantastic job.

The conflicts in the story are what keep the story on the adult side, in my opinion. I absolutely loved the world Sara created and wanted to live in this world though, I wanted to be best friends with Easter and go gaga over Halloween.

It’ll suck you in from the start. I wasn’t expecting it to begin the way it did, but I think the confusion of that is what kept me invested.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Festive and fun with a wonderful voice and perspective, I love seeing where the characters finally ended up and will reread around the holidays

This was so fun! I love all the holiday fun and the puns, oh the puns! It was a bit spicier than I expected, but I’m not complaining—Hex and Coal’s chemistry was intoxicating. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio galley of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This book was so much fun. Not only was a cute and cozy fantasy read but it was quirky with tons of banter and just the right amount of sexy!
I had not ever listened to books by this narrator before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Let me tell you, Ellis Evans had the perfect voice for this story. If I didn't want to give the story 5 stars before, Evans's narration would have pushed it there. He has just the right amount of tension to make you fall in love with the main character, Nicholas "Coal" Kringle. I also enjoyed how he changed his voice for the other characters in the story but it wasn't cheesey. I will be looking into other books by this narrator as I really enjoyed how he brought this story to life.
The premise of the book with it's roots in holidays is truly unique. I loved the idea of holidays being courts ruled by royalty. It reminded me a bit of fae courts. Even the magic the characters exhibited by the characters had a sort of fairy quality to it. I will say I would have liked to see this idea explored a bit more. While the story line was good, I feel like the world building needed to be tightened up a bit. The idea of Santa being a king and Christmas ruling all the other holidays was nothing like any other book I've read. But a background of the courts and how they came to be would have been a nice edition to the storyline.
I enjoyed the LBGTQ+ representation in this one, as well. The characters were very fluid. And I didn't feel like their sexuality defined them but was just a part of who they were.
The interesting part of this book for me was the fact that Raasch grounded a lot of the story in reality by including things like college and majors and what life will look like after graduation. It really cinched the coming of age portion of the book by showing these young adults who are still trying to find their place in the world. The depiction of their confusing emotions as they try to navigate adulthood is spot on.
Raasch fleshes out her characters very well. Coal is the "screw up" of the family who is set to inherit the position of Santa. But he's not sure what that entails as he's really been kept out of the loop by his dad. His brother, Chris, is truly his best friend. The tenderness and bond in their relationship is palpable throughout the story. Iris I liked but wish I could have seen more from her. While she's also Coal's best friend, I feel like she was more of a background character in this book. Her character is not as fleshed out as the others. Almost like Raasch is saving that for the next story. And Hex, my goodness, talk about swoon worthy. He knows all the right things to say but is also just shy enough to keep you wondering where he'll go next when he speaks.
The pacing of this story if fairly fast. Each chapter moved along at a good clip and I was never bored. Raasch gave us drama and mystery and humor all rolled into a cozy blanket of fun holiday fantasy.
I think one of the best parts of this book was how detailed the author was with her descriptions. When the characters were in the Christmas palace, it was so easy to picture it in my mind. When they were outside in the cold with snow falling, I could feel that chill. She did a wonderful job with putting me in the thick of things as the reader.
The romance was tender and sweet but also there's a quite a bit of spicy to it that had me squirming a bit. I think I may have even blushed! But the connection between Hex and Coal is very solid so their experiences together are all the more heightened for it.
There is a lot of hope in this book. Hope that Coal and Chris will be happy. Hope that Hex and Coal will work out. Hope that Coal can change the climate of his holiday by standing up and enacting change.
The story is fun with a lot of humor, a bit of drama and mystery, plus a whole lot of fun sexy times. It blends the spooky season of Halloween with the joyful season of Christmas in a way that me want to experience all the joys those holidays bring right now! I'm really looking forward to more installments in this series; there have to be some, right? because the ending of this book totally leaves you hanging for what other characters might experience in the future! If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with some spice, this one is a great pick!

I had SO MUCH FUN listening to this book!!! This is a silly royal romantasy with a hefty helping of holiday spice.

The Crown Prince of Christmas, Coal (short for Nicholas) is kind of a f*ck up. (See that nickname, chosen expressly to annoy his father.) He's a bad student about to graduate with his bachelor's, dodging the holiday paparazzi and trying to forget the last time he took his job seriously because he almost ruined a whole country's economy. His father calls him home for the holidays and announces that he's arranged Coal's marriage to Iris, part of the royal court of Easter. Iris is his best friend, but Coal does NOT want to marry her ... but he can't see any way to get out of the situation without making things bad for her. When the Halloween court finds out about the possible Christmas/Easter merger, they protest. As a compromise, the Crown Prince of Halloween, Hex, is sent to "compete" for Iris's hand. But there's something rotten in the state of Christmas, and it's not just that Coal finds Hex irresistibly hot.

So yeah, this is an absolutely ridiculous setup. I know that I am on the record as someone who just doesn't love New Adult romances OR the first person, present tense POV that often goes along with them. And yet listening to this was a supremely enjoyable experience. Narrator Ellis Evans does the absolute most with Coal's dramatic/anxiety-ridden inner voice, and managed to sell me lines like "Joy tithes. These Holidays send a percentage of their accumulated joy to Christmas" with the perfect mixture of tension and a sense of the ridiculous. Truly, the narration adds a full star to my rating.

Look, this is fun, funny, has a lot of spice (my ears were burning), and takes itself exactly as seriously as it should (meaning that I believed that Coal realizing his dad was kind of a capitalistic Grinch was both a revelation to the character but also did not stop me from laughing at the whole situation. This is perfect for spooky season, Christmas, and all of the holidays in between.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

This was kick-your-feet good fun. I was a big fan of Red White and Royal Blue, and this was exactly what my holiday-heart wanted. It's SO PERFECT to read this time of year (entering the Halloween season, of course with Christmas on the horizon) since it covers both holidays! The prince of Halloween and the Price of Christmas? Can you say gay-Nightmare-Before-Christmas vibes with so much heart, giggling good fun, and all the magic of both holidays? My gosh I absolutely loved this. Audiobook was chef's kiss!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute and funny! I ate it up in one sitting! The different holiday characters were such a fun concept. I could not get enough of Coal and Hex.

Nicholas “Coal” Claus, the Christmas prince, is kind of a hot mess and can’t seem to please his father. Coal is heir to the Christmas throne, but he can’t seem to behave long enough to prove his competence to his father. With a father motivated by magic and controlling more than just his fair share of holidays, Coal finds himself betrothed to his best friend Iris, the princess of Easter (who his little brother is in love with). Once the announcement gets out, the Halloween court sends in one of their own to fight for the hand of Iris. Enter in, Hex, the forbidden prince of the Halloween court, whom Coal drunkenly kissed one night a year ago. Not knowing who he was. Thus ensues a steamy secret romance, while Coal tries to find his own way amongst his court and to stand up to his father. Delicious steamy spice that had me kicking my feet and squealing. A tender romance. Parental hidden agendas for controlling more magic. Holiday world building and details. This was such a good read and the start of a new series I will absolutely be watching out for. And okay fine I’ll go read Red, White and Royal Blue because I see people comparing these two.

This book was really fun. The world was super creative - the holidays are courts with kings and princes and they survive on joy. The book centers around a Christmas prince and his family, an arranged marriage with the Easter court, and a love affair with the Halloween prince. The book is told in first person POV from Nicholas "Coal" Claus, and it trends young adult/coming of age based on his maturity level and what is going on in his life. There were some steamy scenes between our two princes, made more fun by the fact that they were publicly competing for the Easter' princess' hand. It was both heartwarming and entertaining, and I can't wait to read the next one. The audio was also really good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

What a CUTE book! Halloween and Christmas are my two favorites, so bringing them together in a book filled with holiday traditions and love?! Yes! I started this on audio and then flipped back and forth between physical and audio. They’re both perfect! The narration was so good, even at 2 times speed, I followed along just fine! This book had me laughing out loud, for real, the wittiness is unmatched! It is like no other book I’ve ever read, with the holidays coming together to usurp Christmas’s hold on all the joy in the world. It’s such a fun, entertaining read that at the heart is about finding true happiness not only during holiday seasons, but in life, and standing up for the right thing. So while it seems light and fluffy, there are definitely some deeper messages at play and the love storyline delivers some spice!!

This is possibly the cutest book I’ve read the whole year. I told my buddy read chat that I was giggling and kicking my feet while listening.
We get two princes “vying” for the Easter princess. Too bad neither of them want her. They want each other. Nicholas, aka Coal, is the Prince of Christmas and Hex is the Prince of Halloween. There’s politics, family issues, and holiday magic. The romance was so cute and I enjoyed every second these two spent together. And I couldn’t not mention Coal’s brother Kris. He was such a great side character and I can’t wait to see more from him.
I found the magic centered around holidays and joy so creative and delightful. I highly recommend this story.

🎧Ellis Evans was an amazing narrator. Hands down helped in my enjoyment of this book. Coal is a mess and a little dramatic, and the narration had me laughing out loud multiple times.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for the alc.

This book had a lot of features I really enjoy in books. Great relationships between differing people, Gay love, and holidays(more then Christmas!). The general plot of the book I also really enjoyed almost like a royal family coup but not real life royalty. I will say I was not able to get over the fact that Santa Clause was not a good person, and that really affected how much I liked the book. Overall, I would recommend and will definitely share with my book friends who are looking for a christmas/Halloween read!

This was very cute and fun listen. I liked the story having the holidays as the main characters. It reminded me of the Rise of the Guardians movie. I thought the banter was fun and the politics were interesting.

*ARC Review*

This was so fun!!! When I first read the premise of this book I thought it was so hilarious and ridiculous, something lighthearted and silly (maybe even just smut with little plot) however this was SO good it surpassed any expectations I had.
Cole was such a well developed character and his inner monologue was so heartbreaking at times I couldn’t help but want the best for him. Him and Hex were everything and the flirting and banter had me giggling the whole book. I also loved the side characters like Kris and Iris and I hope they get their own book. This book was the perfect combination of lighthearted happy cute silly romance and deep thoughtful healing characters development and I loved it all. Knocked it down half a star because the ending felt a bit rushed and I would’ve liked to have some more answers before we wrapped it up so quickly but since there is going to be more books I guess it’s just building anticipation. Also would’ve liked to see more of Hex’s family and Halloween as a holiday in general (maybe see Hex’s little brothers interact with Cole).
The narrator did such an amazing job at giving so much life to each of the characters and making this book so entertaining. His voice changes were amazing and it truly elevated my experience of this book.
I said this before and I will say it again this book might have been written by the Grinch because I have never hated Santa more (and I do mean this as a compliment). If you like Red, White and Royal Blue then definitely give this a chance because you will have fun (and also maybe want to cry a little). I recommend you grab a warm cup of hot cocoa and dive into this equally heartwarming and fun story with truly delightful characters. (Except for Santa)