Nicholas “Coal” is the heir to Christmas, and a little bit of a hot mess. He’s fairly well known for being a screw up. When his father, Santa, publicly announces that Coal is engaged to marry his best friend, Iris, the princess of Easter, Coal is outraged. Iris is Coal’s brother’s crush, and Coal has no desire to marry her. He’s still swooning over a guy he drunkenly kissed in an alley over a year ago. Even more chaos ensues, when that guy, the Prince of Halloween, shows up to compete for Iris’ hand in marriage.

This book was full of Christmas puns, hysterical banter, and fun. I loved that each holiday had their own royal family and that there were some politics involved too. The friendship between Coal, Kris, and Iris was absolutely adorable. While the romance between Hex and Coal felt a little bit insta-lovey, it was paced well enough that it wasn’t a turn off for me. There was so much tension between them! I also loved all of the Christmas vibes and magic sprinkled throughout this book.

Ellis Evans did a fantastic job narrating the story and creating clear voices for each character.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy!


This review will be posted to my instagram page (@babsreads18) on release day.

Wow, is Santa a complete and total asshole! Honestly, that is my main takeaway from this whole book (j/k!) I really really enjoyed this book! It was way more complex of a story then I thought it was going to be. I assumed it would be a cozy holiday romance, with the Prince of Christmas falling in love with the Prince of Halloween. And I do really love the romance between the two. Their banter is top notch. But there is so much more to the story! Mental health and self esteem issues are, in my opinion, handled very well. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of Cole's character, and how he really comes into his own in the book. I also enjoyed all the political intrigue and machinations in the book as well. The side characters were great, I loved the dynamics between Cole and Chris and Nora, some of their interactions made me laugh out loud. I cannot wait to see their story continue in future books!

The narration of this book was amazing, the narrator really brought Cole and the other characters to life.

TW: Parental abandonment and emotional abuse, sibling death (off page, in the past), sexy times

I really had no idea what to expect going into this book but as someone who begins feeling in the spirit for Halloween July 5th, this was a funny, easy and delightful descent into the holiday season madness.
Holidays being run by royal families, a fake competition for the Princess of Easter's hand in marriage, family secrets, bi/gay joy... what's not to like.
There is shockingly very good detail into the royal system setup. I loved the silent pining between the prince of Halloween and prince of Christmas. Definitely a slow burn with a good pay off.
Think of this as an emo Halmark movie with a little more 🔥
A solid listening experience 4/5 content & book 4/5

I had the privilege of receiving a free audiobook ALC from #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio

This was cute! I enjoyed the narrator and the clever world-building of the holiday courts. The concept is so fun! However I wanted more character development - some of them just sort of fell flat for me. I also felt like the pace slowed way down about halfway through, when I really wanted things to be ramping up. Despite that, it's an enjoyable holiday(s) romance.

This book was absolutely ridiculous from start to finish in the best way possible. The themes of family and healing and dedication are serious but balanced perfectly by holiday drama and sibling rivalries. This is the perfect hallmark-meets-emo bridge between Halloween and Christmas reads.

Thanks to McMillian audio, Sara Raasch, and Netgalley for the ALC.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas has such a wonderful premise! A chaotic good main character, who is often misunderstood, paired with someone who always follows the rules.
I loved seeing the relationships and friendships bloom so naturally. Nothing seemed forced.
The story is unique, while also feeling familiar. It felt like a warm hug while listening. The narrator was pretty good but I would have loved hearing a duet style narration.

What a fun Holiday Romcom 😍
Literally got sucked in from page one! It’s so chaotic and I loved every bit of it!
I mean, I had an inkling I was gonna like it since I read the synopsis… A prince of Halloween, a prince of Christmas, it’s gay, fake competition… you know I’d be interested 😂
Coal gave me such Dee vibes from Voyage Of The Damned! They’re both chaotic, loyal and want to do good and that made me like Coal even more because of that! And Hex needs to drop us them corset links so we can match.

Make sure to preorder your copy if the below is up your ally:
🎄 Queer Romance
💀 Bisexual MC
🎄Holiday Magic
💀 Rivals
🎄 Fake Competition

2.5 stars rounded up.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book - holidays being run by royal families who have to make political alliances in order to curate joy. Sounds like fun!

I liked MMC and his background of being the "family failure" who wants to prove that he's so much more. I praise the pairing of Christmas and Halloween - my two favorite holidays. However, for me, this book went on for a bit too long. The length contributed to the plot feeling a little all over the place as layer upon layer of story that was added. I felt the author could've pulled back and focused in on the romance more because the chemistry was hot and cold. We also lose two of the side characters who seem to play important roles in the beginning, then fade into background for the rest of the novel.

Overall, it's a nice mlm holiday romance and I will consider reading the next book in the series.

This was a wonderful story that had me laughing throughout. The Prince of Christmas and the Prince of Halloween are a such a cute couple and I really enjoyed the personality of Coal, he was my favorite. All the side characters were great too. The narrator for this did an amazing job! I could tell the difference between the characters and was never confused on who was talking and I would just get lost listening to the story. Would definitely recommend and advise on keeping it so you can enjoy it every year.

This was ADORABLE! I love the trope of the screw up with a heart of gold and is paired with the straight-laced guy. The narrator brings the story to life and I love the banter. Please read this if you enjoy Red White and Royal Blue and Boyfriend Material!

This is one of my new favorite comfort books! Every time I read a holiday themed romance book, it's always cringey or ends up becoming boring. This story was so good all the way through, I just wanted to keep reading. It's so much like the Nightmare Before Christmas meets Red, White and Royal Blue, and I am a huge fan of RWARB, and this seemed so similar in the best ways. The world building was great, the holiday themes and how they were holiday families were great, the characters were amazing and it just made sense. I loved the romance and the narrator was perfect for this book. Overall, it was just so good and I can't wait for the sequel already announced!

Thank you for the chance to listen to this ARC.

It took a bit to separate the different characters by the narrator but he did do an excellent job with emotion and narrating Coal. The characters were only a little different so it took a little while to be able to differentiate who was talking sometimes if I wasn’t too focused on the audiobook.

The book was lighthearted and funny, but it did feel more of a Christmas book to me than wanting to read it for Halloween time. The world building felt more like needing a bit of hand waving and imagination that wasn’t clearly stated in the book but it was a light enough read that it didn’t feel entirely necessary. Overall an enjoyable read for the holidays!

What a cool book! The Nightmare Before Kissmas was such a great listen. I couldn’t put it down! A five star rating!

I loved this book. It was such a delight to listen to from start to finish. The narrator was incredible and perfectly suited for the book. This book was so well written. It was witty, heartfelt, and full the holiday spirit. I can’t wait for more of the series to come out!

Nightmare before Kissmas is such a cute and fun holiday centered rom com. It’s like Nightmare Before Christmas meets Red, White, and Royal Blue. A perfect, fresh approach to the timeless classic style with a dash of current,’popular and familiar. The world building leaves enough questions and enough room for another (or multiple) books to be set in the world. The character building was wonderful, and well done.

Cole and Hex are wonderfully thought out, complex characters who’s romance, while brief, leads you to cheer them on and wishing for their happily ever after even more than they do.

The narrator perfectly captured Cole’s personality, making him playful and thoughtful, and deeper than the character himself would let on (as I believe was the intention). Overall a wonderful execution.

First things first,

Thank you Macmillan Audio, Sara Raasch, and Netgalley for an ALC of this book. I want to keep this as spoiler free as I can so we basically follow Coal, our prince of the kingdom of Christmas and his love interest is the Prince of Halloween. To be quite honest the world building needs so much work because that was the only thing that confused me, because it follows a mythical kingdom but also is on modern times? BUT ignoring all of that and just enjoying the gist of the story, it was a good time! I think Coal was a very good main character and his inner monologue was really funny. Ellis Evans did so well narrating and their voice was really nice to listen to that I will be listening to more audiobooks of theirs. Overall this is a solid read and I would read more of Sara Raasch's books. I would recommend reading this on Halloween or Christmas to be in the mood!

Sara Raasch’s book brings joy with its unique premise of royal holiday families restoring joy to their lands. The story, featuring college-aged heirs and a sweet romance between the Christmas and Halloween Princes, is filled with strong friendships and entertaining twists. I’m excited for a potential sequel in this fascinating world!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is a delightful mash-up of holiday cheer and romantic comedy, blending the magic of Christmas and Halloween in a heartwarming and hilariously unexpected way. This book needs to be on your Christmas list this season!! Sara Raasch brings a colorful cast of characters to life, each shining brightly in this festive fantasy.

Coal is the sunshine of this story, radiating golden retriever energy and using humor to mask his insecurities about being a disappointment, which he hilariously makes up about 80% of his personality. He’s full of Christmas puns and is shockingly the one with the dirty mind, despite being the heir of Christmas and Santa's eldest child. Coal's joyful disposition and hilarious dialogue, mixed with his unexpected spiciness, make him an absolute delight.

Hex is the perfect counterbalance to Coal with his cool, calm, shy, and collected demeanor, exuding black cat energy. Imagine a goth pirate, vampire, and Loki all rolled into one insanely attractive package (complete with a corset vest). Though he is the heir of Halloween, Hex is sweet at heart, always wanting the best for his people. He cares for his family and knows how important they are to his life. He presents himself as serious and professional when it comes to his holiday, but beneath the mask, we see a different and softer side: a lover of Christmas rom-com movies, Disney jokes, and the blending of Christmas and Halloween traditions (think Halloween-decorated trees, gingerbread zombies, and jack-o-lanterns with Santa hats). Hex’s layered personality makes him just the sweetest guy out there.

As a side character, Kris plays the role of the supportive brother, often in the background as the "spare son." Though he feels a bit bland compared to the main characters, his bond with Coal adds depth to the story. Iris, the responsible and beautiful Easter princess, is committed to doing what’s best for her people. While her character is sometimes treated more as an object than a person, her presence adds an interesting dynamic, and I hope to see more of her and Kris in future books as they could be quite cute together.

The book is a treasure trove of beloved tropes, including grumpy/sunshine, golden retriever/black cat, rivals to lovers, forbidden romance, holiday romance, love triangle, and love at first sight. All these tropes are my personal favorites, so of course I loved this story! One of the most charming aspects of the story is the way it explores the concept of joy. I love the way the characters described what brings them joy about their holidays and how the holidays should be about bringing joy to those around you. This is beautifully illustrated in scenes like movie marathons, town sneak-outs, holiday romances, and fun holiday traditions like snowball fights. The quote "I can’t help this insufferable need to witness every shade of joy on your face" perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the book and the spirit of love!

The romance is sweet, and the spicier scenes are well-written, striking a perfect balance of being cheesy in a fun, rom-com way without crossing into cringy territory. The make-out scenes, in particular, are described well and add to the overall charm of the story. In this story, spice was present but not in an overburdened or cringy way.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is like a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day—adorable, funny, and deliciously comforting. It’s a blend of Rise of the Guardians meets Red, White, and Royal Blue, with a dash of April and Andy from Parks and Rec. This book is perfect for anyone looking for a cozy and joyful holiday read with a bit of spooky flair.

This book isn’t what I quite expected, but it was a very enjoyable. For once I could do without the spice, but enjoyed the banker and angst between the two characters. It’s a cute story that’s great for the up coming holidays

4.5⭐️
Reading wasn't enough..I'M GONNA EAT THE BOOK😭❤️🙌

Was it a literary masterpiece? No. But was it EVERYTHING TO ME? Yes🫶

It's so cute, so fun, and actually so emotional.
There was a really good story beyond the romance that dealt with grief and abuse, etc etc. I'm so impressed with how the topics were handled.

I went in thinking I'd be reading a dumb little Christmas romcom (which I was hyped for and still got) and ended up with a very interesting and insightful story.

I also need to give kudos to the author for pulling off a good point of conflict for the couple. Most of the time, I dread the third act shit shows, but she did a really good job.

I'm beyond excited for book 2!!