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!!

**4-Star Review of *The Nightmare Before Kissmas* by Sara Raasch**

*The Nightmare Before Kissmas* by Sara Raasch is a delightfully chaotic holiday romance that perfectly blends Christmas cheer with a spooky twist. Nicholas “Coal” Claus, the reluctant heir to Christmas, is thrust into a whirlwind of festive obligations and romantic entanglements that are as unpredictable as they are entertaining. The story takes a turn for the unexpected when Coal’s mysterious behind-the-bar fling turns out to be none other than Hex, the Prince of Halloween. Their chemistry is electric, making for a steamy and unconventional holiday romance.

The fake competition for the hand of Easter Princess Iris, paired with the undeniable attraction between Coal and Hex, sets the stage for a sweet, sexy, and utterly messy love story. Raasch crafts a unique and playful narrative that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The characters are vibrant, and the mix of holiday traditions with a modern, inclusive twist adds a fresh spin to the seasonal romance genre.

As much as I enjoyed the audiobook, I found myself wishing for a dual narration to bring even more depth to the characters’ voices. Despite this, *The Nightmare Before Kissmas* is a fantastic read that’s sure to get you into the holiday spirit. It’s a festive, fun, and unforgettable story that will warm your heart and leave you smiling.

#NetGalley #BookReview #HolidayRomance #SaraRaasch #TheNightmareBeforeKissmas #ChristmasReads #LGBTQRomance #AudiobookLovers #HolidaySpirit #MustRead #FestiveFun

When Nicholas "Coal" Claus is commanded by his father to marry his friend Iris, the Easter Princess, he is anything but pleased. To make matters worse their courting soon becomes a fake competition with the prince of Halloween to see who can win her heart before Christmas Eve. Coal will do anything to prevent this from happening, and soon learns the secrets his father has been keeping about Christmas. Trying to stop a looming marriage and starting a secret relationship with the Halloween prince, may be more than this Christmas Prince can handle.

I can't stop thinking about this book! I loved every character and this storyline was perfect! I was fully consumed by this story and I found myself listening to it at every second I could. I loved Coal and his inner dialog, and it was brought to life in this audiobook! The chemistry between Coal and Hex was phenomenal and I loved the support they gave each other. This was one of my top reads of the year and I can't wait for the next book in this series!

This was the actual sweetest story and it makes me wonder why I don’t read holiday themed books!

When the Prince of Christmas and the Prince of Halloween are both competing for the chance at the hand in marriage of the princess of Easter, the tension and the attraction between the princes reaches its peak. And I loved every minute of it.

I have attempted to explain this book to a few people and it always sounds so juvenile when this book really and truly isn’t! The politics within the holiday system were really fun and inventive. I enjoyed everything about this book, though I wish we got more voices. The audiobook narration was spot on and gave such life to the characters.

I am absolutely obsessed with these two and the audio narration was so good I was actually shocked to see it wasn't dual narration. Coal and Hex are goals, they are everything. I want to live in their little holiday world. Yes, please.

This was so cute, fun, and ultimately sweet. It is a cozy LBGTQ+ holiday romcom. Set during Christmas it introduces a world where holidays are run by royal families. You get the see the court system, and some of the interaction between holidays, but the main focus is the Claus family and Christmas. A quick read, it does have a nice ending, but not complete closure. It sets up more to come from this series, and I will definitely be along for the ride.

The narrator did an excellent job. You quickly become engrossed in this world, and the lives of the characters.

This might be one of my favorite Arcs I've been lucky enough to get.

This book was such a fun read. I'm always a sucker for a cute queer romance, but this book knocked it out of the park. This book is a fun silly read. The banter between the characters is so fun, and made this book so fun to read. Very quickly I started to love Coal. He is such a fun loveable character. While he might be a little problematic he doesn't mean to be. You can't help but root for him the whole time. And then there Hex... Who doesn't love a prince of Halloween? If you want a cute holiday romance you need to add this book to your TBR right now!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan/Bramble for an advanced reader's copy of the book. I had a very hard time getting into this book. I dnfed it at the 20% mark as it was not holding my attention. While I love the concept of the book, I had difficulty wrapping my head and taking the plot seriously. Kingdoms representing holidays? There's mentions of the North Pole and magic but also contemporary college life. It just didn't gel with me. I also thought there were way too many trauma and problems of the main character to make this a light read, which is what I am hoping for. The book tries really hard to fit in the box of "Red, White, and Royal Blue" but it doesn't work as there is no rivals to lovers here. I did, however, like the audio narrator who brought the characters to life. The book just didn't leave a lasting impression and didn't hold my attention.

4.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Lgbtqia+ rep
Wholesome
Cozy winter romance

First I’d like to thank Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this arc for my honest review.
This book is so warm, cozy, and all around just so freaking cute! Honestly this is a perfect fall/winter read. Just grab some hot cocoa, a nice warm blanket, this book, curl up by a fire and you’ll be in for a relaxing, heartwarming, sweet experience.
The prince of Christmas father has decided Nicolas will marry the princess of Easter but then in a political stunt his father brings in the prince of Halloween to compete for her hand. But theres a twist the princes of Christmas and Halloween fall for each other, but they have to keep the charade up.
I will definitely be adding this to my shelf when it’s released and rereading around Christmas time for sure.

One of my favorite books of the year! I will be shouting from the rooftops how much I enjoyed this! I’ve picked up young adult fantasy books from this author but this blows them out of the water.

Rise of the Guardians meets Percy Jackson with romance, humor, and Christmas cheer!

The narrator did a great job embodying the main characters sass and embarrassment and I can’t wait for this book to release so I can buy multiple copies and force all my friends to read my new favorite romance!

ARC REVIEW 📚🥰 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️thank you to @netgalley for giving me this opportunity to listen to this wonderful audiobook. This book comes out Oct.8th of this year. this was a five star cozy read for me because I’m a fall and winter girlie until I die. This was red, white , and royal blue meets nightmare before Christmas. I WAS LOVING IT. It’s a warm cup of hot coco, sweet, addictive, and funny. Highly recommend for this year. Thank you to the publishers and the author for giving me this opportunity to read the book early.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio arc!

I thought this book was so much fun. It was advertised as Red, White, and Royal Blue meets Nightmare Before Christmas, and it really delivered on that energy! The characters were likable and made you want to root for them. The story was a unique take on the typical Christmas representation. If you’re looking for something life-changing, this isn’t that, but if you want a good holiday story with grumpy/sunshine tropes, cute romance, and complicated family dynamics, this is for you. I’m excited to read the next one.

This was my first audiobook experience and I loved every minute of it! The narrator had such a great voice and I loved how they captured the essence and emotion of the characters. The story was well crafted and I found myself just completely enthralled. I loved the dynamic and relationship of Coal and Hex. I just really loved this book! Can’t wait to read it again when I have the physical book in my hands! 😍