**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Timothy Janovsky presents his newest contemporary romance novel Once Upon You and Me. Readers follow alternating perspectives from our two main characters. Ethan, general manager of Storybook Endings Resort in the Catskills, is divorced from his wife, Amy, with whom he built the business. Taylor, personal assistant to Amy with dreams of working in hospitality, has been tasked with arranging the sweet sixteen party for Ethan and Amy's daughter at the Catskills resort. Despite the age gap and employment circumstances, Ethan and Taylor have an instant connection. Ethan and Taylor must decide if their happily ever after is worth fighting for.

This story was a sweet and spicy contemporary romance that leaned into genre conventions and a plotline that would not have been out of place in a Hallmark movie. Both of our main characters are competent in their chosen fields, but seem to suffer from some self-doubt in their personal lives. Both men are true cinnamon rolls with a mutually supportive dynamic that comes across as healthy and respectful of each other.

I definitely enjoyed my time with this story, though it did not necessarily stand out among its peers. I would happily recommend it as a feel good, no thoughts romance read.

Another great Timothy Janovsky book! I enjoyed this M/M romance with tropes of forbidden romance, bosses ex, age gap, and forced proximity, the Bi and ADHD representation are great.

Thank you HTP and The Hive for my gifted copy.
Available April 29.

Firstly, I want to thank @htp_hive and @htpbooks for the eARC and ALC. Another great read from Timothy Janovsky, and as always, I am never disappointed. This book features a perfect blend of spicy romance, heartwarming comfort, and a dash of family drama. The premise of "Falling for Your Ex-Wife Assistance" is scandalous and had me locked in! Yall know I love a good messy book🤣.

I absolutely love the chemistry between Taylor and Ethan. The fairy-tale-style resort described in the story makes me want to visit one immediately. Timothy does an excellent job of transporting you to this resort, making you wish it were a real destination.

Additionally, the representation of an adult with ADHD is commendable. Knowing individuals who struggle with this, I found Ethan's challenges to be very accurate compared to what I have observed in others navigating similar experiences. The age-gap relationship is significant but doesn’t overshadow the overall storyline.

I actually think the writing was well done, unfortunately a little too graphic for me. I realize I probably was not the intended audience, but nice story line and well written.

This was such a cute and fun romance. As a 27yro (for now) I have a pet peeve where people in their late 20s are either written as children or like they’re already middle aged, but I was pleasantly surprised that Taylor actually felt like an authentic man in his late 20s.

There’s also a cute dog, and that’s always a win in my book!

I liked this M/M age gap, dual POV romcom but I wouldn't say it was my favorite by Janovsky. There's great ADHD rep, a parent with Multiple Sclerosis and a complicated love interest involving the assistant of the love interest's ex-wife. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like M A Wardell. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was my second Janovsky and now I'm determined to go back and read the rest. This book was overwhelming sweet, but with a decent amount of spice, and I couldn't stop reading.

Thank you to Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Once Upon You and Me, Timothy Janovsky’s new queer romcom is here, and it’s as sweet as pie, and filled with enough charm, steam and heart to satisfy any romance reader. Hearts collide in this idyllic meet cute when Taylor is sent to Storybook Endings Resort to prep for his bosses’ daughter's sweet sixteen. The property is owned by said boss… and her ex-husband, the rugged and friendly Ethan, whom Taylor should definitely not be coveting. As Taylor and Ethan work together on the celebration, sparks fly, and the name of the resort may prove more genuine than expected.

This one has so many different tropes–age gap, forced proximity/sharing space, second chance love–and more! Taylor and Ethan are immediately attracted to each other but forced to work through some personal issues before being able to fully claim their love; it’s a fairly low-stakes game, and one that's pretty easy on the eyes. I don’t know that it changed my life, but it put a smile on my face and helped me escape for a few hours into something nice. Sometimes we feel like storybook endings are confined to pages, unlikely to find us in life. But maybe we just have to believe, given time, we’ll find something so simple and right.

Once Upon You & Me is an adorable queer age gap romance. Timothy Janovsky creates the best characters, and it’s a delight to watch them find their HEA.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Taylor isn’t sure what to think when his boss sends him to a Catskills resort to plan her daughter Samara’s sweet 16. After all, he’ll be spending a week with Samara’s dad, who is also his boss’s ex. He certainly doesn’t expect to feel a magnetic pull towards Ethan, a golden bear of a man who run the Storybook Endings Resort. For his part, Ethan hasn’t dated much since his divorce five years ago, but he can’t ignore this attraction to younger, sunshiny Taylor. Can these two navigate their feelings and their complicated relationships?

Ethan and Taylor are great together. I love the way Taylor nudges Ethan out of his comfort zone. For his part, Ethan shows Taylor his worth, and that he deserves happiness and professional success too. I also need to shout out Nana, the Newfoundland, who I want to take home and keep for myself.

If you are a fan of forced proximity, age gap romances, Once Upon Me & You is a treat you shouldn’t miss. Timothy Janovsky once again works his character magic, along with steamy chemistry and some terrific ADHD rep too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I LOVED this book. It is my first Timothy Janovsky book and after finishing it I immediately went in search of more. I enjoyed his style of writing. I fell in love with both Ethan (immediately) and Taylor soon after. This was a short and not overly complicated read but there is a genuineness to it that left me wanting more. I'd be first in line for a sequel.

I received a free early copy of this book for review. This is my own opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and Afterglow by Harlequin for the opportunity to review!

<b>Genre:</b> MM contemporary romance

<b>Tropes:</b> only one cottage, retelling lite, golden retriever x orange cat

<b>Spice Level:</b> 2.5/5

<b>Content Warning:</b> I cant immediately come up with any but if I do I’ll update

I have read several Timoth Janovsky books over the years, and I think my favorite thing about his writing is the depth of his characters. They feel real and lovable, like I actively want to be friends with these people and that’s not something I say light or often. There are so many little details (like Ethan’s one unruly lock of hair and Taylor’s socks and Birkenstocks) that feel so REAL. And I always love them.

Once Upon You and Me is low angst, spicy, soft, and sweet. The setting of a fairytale resort is so lovely I need to go to the Catskills immediately to find the Snow White cottage.

I would compare this to a lighter version of Helena Greer’s Carrigans series. (There’s a whole lot less self loathing in these but the tension and setting have similar vibes.)

Thanks again to Afterglow/Harlequin for the arc!

cute enough story. The author used very strange metaphors. It is what it says on the tin, low stakes age gap romance in the Catskills. Not great, but not bad. I appreciated the take on dealing with ADHD.

Once Upon You and Me was cute and had some solid rom-com charm, but the vibes didn’t totally click for me. I loved the idea of a fairytale-esque resort and the age-gap, ex-wife’s-assistant drama should’ve been messier in a fun way, but it all felt a little too neat and safe. Taylor was likable, Ethan had his gruff-dad appeal, and the spicy moments were definitely there—but I didn’t feel super swept up in the emotion or the stakes. It’s giving cozy weekend read with a sprinkle of forbidden romance, but not one I’ll be rereading. That said, if you're into soft gays, sweet settings, and a hint of scandal, it might still be your jam!

4⭐️ first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last! This book was so easy to read and the romance felt like it progressed at a really natural pace. If you are looking for a book with Bi/Gay rep, plus size mc, ADHD rep, and a little secret/forbidden romance, this one is for you! Only reason it was a 5 star was bc of the third act breakup and the way the ex wife reacted.

What a lovely way to introduce Timothy Janovsky works to my library.
First things first, I appreciate the trigger warnings. Sometimes you start reading a book and are blindsided by certain topics so it was nice to see them mentioned beforehand so as to not be surprised.
A wonderful story that had me cheering on the main characters. Timothy does a good job in fleshing out their personalities and you really feel for them and their situations.
Overall I had a nice time reading this and will give it 3/5 stars ⭐️
Thank you Afterglow and NetGalley for the E-Arc!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7419266479

This was a sweet, fairytale style romance that warmed my heart. For starters, I instantly fell in love with Storybook Endings Resort and the nearby town of Calico. I loved the wholesome small town vibes, beautiful wilderness, and overall picturesque setting. I also loved the characters. Ethan was a giant teddy bear and so easy to love, with his devotion to his home and family. It took me slightly longer to warm up to Taylor, but in the end I loved him for his drive to fulfill his career goals. Both Taylor and Ethan had amazing development as they examined what they wanted from their lives and their future. I will say I struggled a bit with their initial chemistry. It took me a bit to buy into and support, but in the end I loved their relationship. I also liked all the opportunities for angst, and I wish more of them had been capitalized on. In the end the conflict was very predictable and could have been stronger. The only other thing I wanted was more of Ethan and Samara’s relationship. But overall this was a lovely read and I recommend it.

Another delightful, tender novel from Timothy Janovsky! Set in a fairytale-themed Catskills resort, Ethan, the burly resort general manager and ex-husband to resort chain CEO, and Taylor, the tidy on-time twink assistant to resort chain CEO, are forced together into a shared cabin by Mother Nature.

You spend the whole novel charmed by and rooting for each and every character. It’s both sweet and spicy. Tender and tangy. A fairytale like those you’ve read before!

I enjoyed and devoured this book. My only wish is that Janovsky trusted his reads a bit more. Sometimes when our main characters are experiencing hardship or emotion as a result of something which has already been explained to us, the explanation awaits again in the next sentence.

Thank you Afterglow and NetGalley for the E-Arc! Pick up this book!

I adore almost all of this authors books! I had fun nd li laughed and tiered up. There was so much beautiful heart I am so happy I got to reward this story and smile like a dork.

Thank you so much for the arc!

💙📖✨ BOOK REVIEW – ONCE UPON YOU AND ME by Timothy Janovsky ✨📖💙

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Huge thanks to Afterglow Books, Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC! This was an incredibly engaging read. Janovsky delivers another charming, heartfelt romance, this time set against the dreamy backdrop of a New England resort. Ethan and Taylor’s chemistry is undeniable, and I loved watching their connection deepen as they navigated family complications, self-discovery, and just the right amount of forced proximity. Some of the ADHD representation felt a little forced at times, but overall, this was a sweet, satisfying story with plenty of warmth, humour, and swoony moments. If you love age-gap romances with great banter, a touch of angst, and a big-hearted Newfoundland named Nana, this one’s for you!

#OnceUponYouAndMe #TimothyJanovsky #QueerRomance #LGBTQBooks #NetGalley #RomanceReads

A cute premise with a sweet sense of humor. Taylor and Ethan are both charming, and they were undeniably adorable together. Their immediate physical and interpersonal chemistry felt authentic, and I appreciated Ethan's growing acceptance of his own neurodivergence and Taylor's efforts to move beyond his childhood emotional scars. I think for those looking for a mostly light and fluffy, Hallmark-style romance will be delighted.

Overall, however, the execution fell a bit flat for me. The main obstacles to their relationship -- their age gap and Ethan's obnoxious ex-wife -- didn't feel sufficiently weighty, so I found the third act frustrating. "Evil ex-wife" is a trope I can live without, especially with a bisexual main character, and Amy was so aggravating that I didn't find her either believable or sympathetic. In fact, there weren't any other characters in the book who felt fully drawn besides Taylor and Ethan. Some of the writing felt overworked, like there'd been too much consultation of the thesaurus. I wanted to like this one, but it was just so-so for me.