review: the nightmare before kissmas by sara raasch 💕🎄🖤☠️🎃
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"i don’t think our purpose is to prevent all the bad things in the world. i think our purpose is to help people endure those things.”💬❤️

✨ MY THOUGHTS ✨

⚠️ cw: abandonment, emotional abuse, grief, car accident, & death of a loved one ⚠️

if you love red, white and royal blue, rise of the guardians, queer romance, grumpy x sunshine vibes, found families, political subplots, lots of magic, laughs and a bit of spice this book might be for you!

alexa play a nonsense christmas by sabrina carpenter 🎶

🌟 RATING: ★★★★★/5
🥵 spice scale: 🌶️🌶️ (a little bit of spice, one or two scenes)

coal & hex have stolen my heart!!! i thought i was getting a lighthearted holiday rom-com, but this book surprised me in the best way. the world-building was incredible!! i was so invested in the holiday magic world's politics!! the side characters, the adventure, and the love story all came together for a truly amazing read. i'm completely obsessed!! i cannot wait to read go luck yourself in march!! 💚🎄❄️🖤☠️🎃

The Nightmare Before Kissmas
Royals and Romance, Book 1

I Picked Up This Book Because: The cover was cute.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 11/22/24 - 11/25/24
Stars: 3 Stars
Narrator(s): Ellis Evans

The Characters:

Nicholas “Coal” Claus:
Hex, Prince of Halloween
Coal’s Brother (No, I can’t remember his name) and Coal’s BFF (The Easter Princess, can’t remember her name either), Santa, Christmas Court

The Story:

Writing: It was okay. Could have used some refining when it came to telling the story but I liked it overall
Overall Interest: This is the downfall. It was just much too long and I found myself zoning out often.
Length of Reading Time: As I said too long could definitely benefit from some heavy editing
Re-read-ability: No.

I know a lot of that sounded negative but I actually did enjoy the story. The characters were great. I love the supernatural parts. I do want to see what the next installment brings.

The banter. The chemistry. The heart. Who doesn't love a little Christmas romance? Especially when it's combined with the dark moodiness of Halloween. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one!

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC!

I was sold with the first line of the book blurb for THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMASS, “RED, WHITE, & ROYAL BLUE” meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in this sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Print of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.” Thank you for giving me everything I like. Then I met the characters with whom I truly fell in love, and this has become a new favorite book of mine!

I love holiday books, but if you can have a competition for a marriage of convenience and make it between the Princes of Halloween and Christmas who want nothing to do with the girl, you’ve written a rom-com that will bring me lots of joy. And THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMASS brought me lots of joy, lots and lots of joy.

Plus, the audio was perfection! Ellis Evans did an incredible job differentiating between Prince Coal and Prince Hex. You knew their voices, feelings, laughter, and afflictions—it was just excellent audio all around.

If laughter and joy are your thing and you are intrigued by the holidays competing against one another, pick this book up!

It's been years since I have picked up a Sara Raasch novel, but this brought me right back into her writing. I enjoyed the character dynamics and the magic of this story. Perfect for the holidays.

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK.
Nay- I'M OBSESSED WITH THE AUDIOBOOK!

THIS BOOK UNDID ME.
SARA RAASCH, YOU DEVIL.

The yearning, the romance, the earth-shattering heart-pumping senseless whole-encompassing and absorbing magnitude of experiencing falling in love...
HOLY HELL.

Ellis Evans, my man. Your performance was a gift from the Gods. THANK YOU, sir.

4 Stars

This was a super fun take on not only Christmas but all the Holidays. It read more like a cozy fantasy book which I loved. It was cute but also spicy. I enjoyed it a lot. I listened to the Audiobook and it was delightful! The narrator really pulled me in and made the book even more fun for me.

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This was a fun audiobook - super enjoyed this one. I definitely had a few laugh out loud moments, enjoyed the characters, enjoyed the spice and tropes.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I LOVED this book. Easily one of my favorites of 2024. The moment I finished, I wanted to turn around and start reading it again.

I started expecting a cute and silly romcom. But I was pleasantly surprised by the depth that Raasch added to the characters. Our main love interests are dealing with a lot of grief over different things and -no it wasn't the main point of the book- but it made the characters so much more real and relatable for me. The romance was exactly what I look for. This book contained the perfect level of spice for my taste and watching our two princes fall in love had me squealing and kicking my feet so many times. And you could tell that this WAS love for them. Often in romances, it seems too instantaneous to be love. They often read more like lust. And while there is an instant attraction between these two characters, I definitely felt their relationship was based on mutual love and respect for one another.

I really enjoyed Raasch's writing as well. Since I had the audiobook, I don't have any specific examples I can point to, but I feel that often romances can get a little repetitive. Raasch perfectly portrayed the awkward humor of the Christmas price, while writing the scenes between him and Hex with beauty and grace. This book has definitely made me want to read all the other books she has written!

I also cannot end this review without GUSHING over Ellis Evans' performance. If you are deciding between the physical and the audiobook for this one- I highly recommend the audio. Evans captured the humor, awkwardness, and charm of Coal so completely. And then he transformed when he read for Hex. It felt like two separate people. I also have been looking up the other books he has narrated as Evans has instantly became one of my favorite authors.

The only negative I can say is that I wish this book was longer (which I can't really count as a negative). I wish there was at least an epilogue to give us some closure between Coal and his family and maybe see him meeting the Halloween court. I know there is a second book coming out in March 2025, so I am hopeful Raasch will be tying up the several loose ends of the family drama in that book. That said, it appears to be focusing more on Coal's brother Chris, so I don't know how much more of Coal and Hex we will see in that book.

In closing, I can't say enough good things about this audiobook if you want a fun and festive read. Sara Raasch has become an autobuy author for me and I cannot wait for the next book.

I love love love this book! It pulls on your heartstrings but also made me laugh So much! The narrator did a great job!

I am absolutely enchanted! This audiobook is a whimsical blend of holiday magic and a touch of spookiness that kept me captivated from start to finish.

Raasch’s storytelling is both charming and engaging, perfectly capturing the essence of the holiday season with a delightful twist. The characters are wonderfully quirky, and I loved how their adventures unfolded in a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique. The narrator did an incredible job bringing each character to life, making the experience even more immersive!

What really stood out to me was the perfect balance of humor and heart. The witty dialogue had me laughing out loud, while the deeper themes of friendship and self-discovery added a lovely emotional layer. I found myself rooting for the characters as they navigated their challenges, and the festive atmosphere made it feel like a cozy holiday treat.

If you’re looking for a fun, festive listen that’s perfect for the season, "The Nightmare Before Kissmas" is a must! It’s the kind of story that leaves you with a warm heart and a smile. So grab your headphones, find a comfy spot, and get ready to be swept away into this magical adventure! 🎄💖

I loved this audio!! It was so well narrated and fast paced. I couldnt put it down! It is going to be a must read during the holidays. I would love to get more stories about these characters.

To say I adored this novel is an understatement. The romance was sweet and sexy, and the chemistry dipped off the page. The friend group was top-tier. Ellis Evans's narration is fantastic.

The idea of holidays as royal courts is such a unique premise. I was nervous about picking it up and kept putting it off because I was nervous that it would be overly cheesy, but Raasch executed it perfectly. The political intrigue was engaging and balanced well with the romance.

I also did not expect to laugh as much as I did, but the banter was fantastic. I love a good pun, and the text conversations between the friends did not disappoint.

Coal and Hex are so perfect. Their conversations were great. I loved how they worked through things together. Hex is the gothic character of my dreams - he wears a corset vest and is sarcastic as hell. I was born in the wrong era.

This story leans more into Christmas. So, it is an ideal romance for the holiday season. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A cute Christmas romance filled with magic and a touch of spice. I liked how it stayed campy but had a deeper story beyond the romance.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas- Sarah Raash
Narrated by Ellis Evans

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Narration 🎧🎧🎧🎧

This was so cute and funny and witty. It had a great message about what Christmas joy is really about and standing up for what’s right, even if it is against your own parents. And a fun love story along the way with the prince of Christmas and the prince of Halloween. I honestly can’t want for book two for Kris’s story!

Ellis did a great job narrating this one. It was single pov so he did a good navigating all the characters voices.

i saw this one getting hyped before it even released, and it did not disappoint. such a fun and magical read! it left me feeling warm and light of heart.

the place where this book truly shines is the romance. a missed connection meetcute at the beginning followed by some truly funny circumstances (the prince of christmas and the prince of halloween?? like it has me giggling) and some even funnier magic (iykyk). this was everything i needed to get some holiday cheer into my life. i can’t wait to read more from the series

Red, White, and Royal Blue is a good comp, but add in some holiday magic. I loved Nick and Hex (the prince of Christmas and the prince of Halloween). Nick's dad (Santa) is obsessed with power and is manipulating the other holidays to keep it.

The love story was fantastic. However, there was just way too much time spent on Nick's terrible relationship with his dad. I get it, he's evil and greedy. This book could have been half as long. Or the same length but give me way more Nick and Hex! The holiday plot was pretty YA but the bedroom scenes were definitely adult.

On the plus side, the narrator was fantastic!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch is one of the cleverest & unique romance that I’ve read in a long time. The concept of basically having royal families for all the major holidays is incredible. Then add in family turmoil, holiday struggles & a spicy romance between the prince of Christmas & the prince of Halloween & I am there with bells on.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is great for those looking to read..:
❤️ MM Romance
❤️ Holidays
❤️ Forced Proximity
❤️ Forbidden Romance

This has me in awe, smiles & giggles right from the start. This was such a fun story, even though it tackled emotional moments, drama & more so well. This was a breath of fresh air in the genre. I loved this world & there are so many other stories that I am anxiously waiting to read!

I listened to the audiobook of this one & it was so good. The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this intriguing , quirky & fun story to life. I listened at 2x & it was magic for my ADHD brain.

If you’re looking for Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas, I highly recommend the Nightmare Before Kissmas!

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio & Tor for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

This was a cute, fast read that had all the holiday elements you love to see. I enjoyed seeing the festivities happening at the North Pole for Christmas and thought the characters were all cute. What worked less for me was the corporate politics nature of this - I see what Raasch was trying to do but it didn’t captivate me as much as I want from a holiday rom com.

When Coal, heir to the Christmas throne, is forced into an engagement with his best friend, the Easter princess Iris, he doesn't see any option other than to go along with it. He's had too many screw-ups in the past to ruin this last chance of proving to his father that he can run Christmas. Then he meets the Halloween Prince. Hex is a committed to his holiday as Coal would like to be, but even with an engagement on the line, neither can ignore the sparks between them. So when it turns out Hex's presence there to "compete" for Iris's hand is just as much as sham as the engagement, they decide they might as well enjoy the time they have together. But does Coal really need to prove anything for his domineering father--or is it enough to take the reins for himself for once?

What an adorable fantasy holiday romance. I love an overdramatic king, and Coal is that on steroids. Obsessed with this book and the whole premise of holiday royals so much that I'm already reading the sequel about the younger Christmas prince, Kris, and his St. Patrick's Day rival. If Iris doesn't get a book after that and fall for, like, the New Year's Princess or something, I'll be deeply upset. But honestly I just want as many books in this series as Sara Raasch is willing to write.