Love Janovsky always. Another cute queer romance that had me smiling from ear to ear! A must read author for me.

Ethan Golding is the general manager of the Storybook Endings resort in the Catskills. He used to co-own the resort with his ex-wife, Amy Lu, but he sold his rights in the divorce and she has since expanded the business. While Ethan knows the marriage was definitely ready to end, it is hard for him to have his daughter across the country with Amy. And while he runs a resort themed around fairy tales, Ethan feels his own opportunity for a happy ending has passed him by.

Taylor Frost works as Amy’s personal assistant at Storybook Endings. Taylor hopes to one day get a job in hospitality, and Amy had indicated this position could be a starting point for advancement within the company. However, it’s been a few years and Taylor is still doing the same job. He loves helping people and he is invested in the company, but this isn’t the job he wants long term. Still, Taylor is excited when Amy’s change of schedule means he is tasked with heading to their Catskills resort to help prepare for Amy’s daughter’s sweet sixteen party, as well as to do some site inspection.

Ethan and Taylor have interacted via email over the years, and both men have noticed the other’s attractiveness, but they aren’t prepared for their feelings upon seeing one another in person. And when circumstances lead Ethan to need to host Taylor in his own cabin, it gives the men a chance to get to know one another better. Both guys know that getting involved with one another would be a supremely bad idea. Taylor works for Ethan’s ex-wife and Amy would definitely not be happy to find the two of them sleeping together. But the chemistry between the men is too strong and they find themselves acting on their attraction. And it doesn’t take long before feelings are involved. However, with Amy due to arrive any day at the resort, and the men living on opposite sides of the country, finding a way to make a relationship work between them seems impossible.

This is a cute story that’s aided by the charming setting of a fairytale-themed resort. I enjoyed getting to see the various aspects of the resort and the way the fairytale and “happy endings” themes then carry over into the story itself with some nice little touches. There is also an interesting through line involving archery, which is a sport that Ethan learned from his father and which he now teaches at the resort, and which he then shares with Taylor. So I think Janovsky does a nice job here both creating the setting and then building the elements of the resort into the larger story.

For me, Taylor was the more developed of the characters, and while the story shares POVs, it felt like more his journey, perhaps because he was more fleshed out. Taylor is one of many children of flighty parents and he grew up as a caretaker. We can see now how that carries over to both his job with Amy, as well as his ultimate goal of working in hospitality. But Taylor also puts his own needs aside much of the time — except when he decides to start things with Ethan — and he has to work to find some balance between all or nothing. So I felt like Taylor had some good character growth over the story. Ethan wasn’t as well developed for me and, while we do get some backstory, including learning he was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I don’t feel like I had as much of a sense of him as a character. He makes a major decision at the end of the book that I would have loved to understand better or see rooted a little more in the story itself. The guys are sweet together and I think have a nice connection, though I’m not sure I’d call this a “spicy bedtime story” as is described in the blurb. There is some steam, but I guess I was expecting something with much higher heat based on it being specifically called out in the blurb.

Where I struggled here is that the book tells us there are these two big conflicts for the guys that never really feel enough like conflicts. The main one is the fact that Taylor works for Ethan’s ex, something both men agree makes their relationship taboo. But they fall into bed together easily and with little angst, so it doesn’t translate into something that is really weighing heavily on either of them. I think this lack of conflict is exacerbated by the fact that Taylor seems so informal and not really like he is there for business purposes, but more like he is a guest there on vacation. He is there to do a specific job for a very demanding and exacting boss, and yet he shows up at the resort in a rainbow hoodie and sweats tight enough they make clear he has on no underwear. Not that I expected him to wear a suit during cross country travel, but I would have expected something at least a little more professional to indicate he is there to do his job. He spends the next day not working and once more lounging around in sweats and a hoodie, again with no underwear (we are told that he doesn’t ever wear any). He is asked to show ID to check in (despite Ethan knowing who he is), then he signs the guest book, again all as if he is there on vacation and not for business. At first, I couldn’t figure out why this bothered me, given I know it seems so trivial, until I realized it’s because it never feels like Taylor is really “at work” while he is there. We get a few token notes that he is doing some shopping or planning for the party, but most of the time, he is hanging out with Ethan and participating in resort activities. So we are told that Taylor is having this taboo relationship that puts his job at risk, but it didn’t have the same punch, because he seems more like a guest than someone actually there for work.

The other conflict is ostensibly the 13-year age gap, which we are told bothers Ethan. Given that the men are 27 and 40, the age difference doesn’t seem like a huge deal, honestly. But if it was, I wanted to see evidence of it in the story. Examples of where the difference in age or experience impacts their dynamic, or in some way help us better understand Ethan’s concerns. But we are told it is a problem without ever knowing why or seeing it have any impact on their relationship. I think these aspects just made the story feel a little flatter and then the ultimate conflict toward the end feel correspondingly extreme in comparison.

This story overall is cute and an easy read, and there are some fun moments relating the resort and the theming. And there is a very sweet dynamic between the men that has some nice and touching moments. I wanted a little more development of the characters, as well as the conflicts, to really make this one a total hit for me, but overall it is an entertaining story.

Ethan Golding and his ex-wife, Amy, founded the Storybook Endings Resort before their split ended up with them on opposite coasts. Ethan stayed on to be manager, and Amy went on to expand the business. Taylor Frost is Amy’s personal assistant and is sent to the Catskills to work on setting up for their daughter’s sweet sixteen. Any romance seems doomed to fail, but maybe storybook endings aren't fictional.

This story is a pretty standard romance where A meets B, A and B fall in love (or lust if you prefer), something comes between A and B before they are finally able to reconcile in the last few chapters. The romance overall had some good establishing scenes between Ethan and Taylor but between the short timeline of which they meet and separate seems too quick to develop the feelings they had for the subsequent level of commitment that follows.

There were two things that I really enjoyed. One was that this was a fun themed small business resort that did suffer from the overused trope of a struggling business that needed to be saved. Another was the family dynamics between Ethan, Amy, Samara and Taylor. While Taylor is Amy’s personal assistant, he partially acts as Samara’s nanny, and their connection is cute and sincere. Samara also keeps a good relationship with her dad despite being on opposite coasts, so it was nice not to have an estranged father-daughter relationship to add to the mix as conflict. Amy has a little more trouble connecting with the other three because of her need to push the business to the next level, but by the end, you can see she really does love everyone, just doesn’t always show it in the right ways, but is willing to keep working on it.

This was a simple but cute story, so you really can’t go wrong with reading it, especially if you want a hit of nostalgia.

#netgalley #harlequin #onceuponyouandme

If you are looking for a quick summer queer romance, I would highly recommend Once Upon You and Me! Janovsky is one of my favorite authors when it comes to MLM books. The immediate chemistry between the main love interests, Taylor and Ethan, was perfection. I especially loved the relationship Taylor had to Ethan's daughter and ex-wife, and their ability to work through life's speed bumps in order to have that happily every after.

Taylor is focused and professional, flying across the country to organize a sweet sixteen party for his boss's daughter. Ethan is the rugged, recently diagnosed-with-ADHD resort manager who also happens to be the birthday girl's dad.

Their connection is instant and surprisingly easy, and the way their personalities complement each other was one of my favorite parts.

The setting at the Storybook Endings Resort added a perfect bit of magic. It gave the characters time and space to build something real. There was no drawn-out awkwardness, just a natural bond that felt honest and grounded. Ethan’s quiet loneliness and struggle to reconnect with life after divorce made his emotional growth hit especially hard.

The ex-wife dynamic was definitely uncomfortable at times, but it created tension that felt believable. The romance stayed the focus, and watching Ethan and Taylor find comfort and understanding in each other was really satisfying.

Anthony Myatt did a great job narrating. His tone, pacing, and delivery pulled me right into the story.

This one is warm, reflective, a little spicy, and full of hope. A lovely story about second chances, quiet bravery, and finding love in unexpected places.
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Thank you to Afterglow by Harlequin for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

I really like Timothy Janovsky's other book that I've read, so I was super excited to pick up this romance set at a romantic resort in the Catskills, especially with my own experience with working in the hospitality business.

There was a lot to like in this one: I loved the ADHD representation and I especially loved the open communication these two had in the bedroom regarding their preferences. It was refreshing to read a book with an unique pairing in a lot of ways: age difference, size difference, plus the fact that Ethan was Taylor's boss's ex.

However, I think this book felt a little bit rushed and I wished it had a little bit more time to bake. I think we could have had more a build up between these two before they were intimate because I craved a little bit more bonding scenes to really amp up the chemistry.

Overall, I had a fun time and I did really enjoy the dynamic between these two. I can't wait to continue to read Timothy's future releases too!

This book was so good! It was a great mix of spicy and cozy and held my attention the whole way through. Highly recommend.

Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky is a contemporary romance. On the closed door/open door/in the room/in the bed heat scale, this book puts you in the bed with the main characters.

What I loved:

I always love Timothy Janovsky’s characters, and Taylor and Ethan are two more delightful guys I loved watching fall in love. Ethan has ADHD that's only recently been diagnosed. He's spent a lot of his life feeling like his challenges with executive function are moral failings, and especially like his ex-wife Amy saw them that way. He's a dad who lives on the opposite coast from his daughter, which breaks his heart a little all the time. He's bi which sets him up for frustrations when he tries to date, as the men he meets are always surprised by this and often aren't comfortable dating someone who is also attracted to women. He is deeply lonely.

Taylor is the second oldest kid in a family with many siblings. His older brother took off young and his parents are inattentive and flakey, which leaves him as the primary caretaker for all his sibs. He's very good at taking care of people. He's been working as Amy’s assistant for three years, waiting for a promotion, and quietly making sure she has everything she needs to keep her business running smoothly. But it seems like no one ever takes care of him.

In my favorite romances, the people in the relationship each are able to be exactly what the other person needs. Taylor is able to meet Ethan’s ways of coping with ADHD with compassion. Ethan shows Taylor that he deserves to be cared for as much as he cares for others. I love how these two are like puzzle pieces specifically carved to fit together.

I also love the way fairy tales suffuse the story. The resort where it's set is inspired by fairy tales. Taylor and Ethan read fairy tales together. Taylor starts out their time together staying in the Snow White Cottage. I'm sure Timothy Janovsky chose this fairy tale to highlight her specifically. I'm choosing to imagine it's because he is a Disney fan and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first Disney fairy tale feature adaptation.

What I wanted more of:

There's nothing Timothy Janovsky left out. I would just be happy to spend more time with these guys.

What I need to warn you about:

Timothy Janovsky includes warnings at the beginning of the book, so check those out. There is biphobia and some judgmental responses to Ethan’s ADHD. There's also discussion of Ethan’s father living with MS that has progressed so far as to limit his mobility.

Who should read this book:

People looking for a low-conflict, high heat contemporary where two charming men connect and complete each other's lives.

Book: Once Upon You and Me
Author: Timothy Janovsky
Publisher: Afterglow Books by Harlequin
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Pages: 288
Age Range: Adult

"Once Upon You and Me" follows Taylor, a hardworking personal assistant as he flies across the country to prep for his boss's daughter’s sweet sixteen at the Storybook Endings Resort. Taylor is excellent at his job—except, he’s probably not supposed to flirt with the resort’s mountain man of a manager, Ethan. Because the rugged older man is also the birthday girl’s father, aka his boss’s ex-husband. Oops.

For Ethan, his divorce seemed like the bad ending to his romantic story. And now, making his daughter’s sweet sixteen dreams come true is the closest he’ll get to the kind of magic happiness in fairy tales. Until adorable Taylor has him wondering if maybe this is just the beginning of a more erotic kind of bedtime story.

This book was sooooo cute! I loved the setting SO much. The chemistry between Taylor and Ethan was adorable and sexy. I loved the fact that this book contained both bisexual and ADHD representation. Such a fun little romance to quickly read between other books!

I love books by Timothy Janovsky and anything from the Harlequin Afterglow line. It was no surprise that this was another fun one. I really liked seeing these two opposite characters find each other and find love. it was authentic and believeable.

I loved the representation in this book and the realistic look at queer characters but the story itself didn’t grip me. But just because it didn't for me doesn't mean others won't love it.

If you're into age-gap romances with a dash of forbidden chemistry, Once Upon You and Me is a delightful pick. Taylor Frost, a charming event planner, heads to the Storybook Endings Resort to organize a sweet sixteen party for his boss's daughter. There, he meets Ethan Golding, the rugged resort manager—and his boss's ex-husband. Sparks fly, but so do complications.

This book blends sweetness and spice effortlessly. Ethan and Taylor's chemistry is undeniable, and their witty banter keeps things light and engaging. The setting adds a touch of whimsy, and the characters' personal growth adds depth to the romance.

If you're looking for a feel-good read with heart, humor, and a hint of heat, this one's for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was, I think my second novel by this author and it will not be my last. The writing style, the characters, the representation? My goodness, it was just SO SO good. I really loved seeing a plus sized bi-rep in an older male - throw in the forbidden romance vibes and I am giddy.

Taylor and Ethan are adorable and I love absolutely loved how Taylor really helped Ethan explore and have his bi-awakening so well done. Their personal lives are a mess, but hey, the romance and spice was fun! Their dynamics just brought me so much joy.

The only thing that fell flat for me was the connection was really superficial at most - I kind of wanted a bit more than that, but it's alright!

Timothy Janovsky is an author I can rely on to deliver a solid queer romance, but this one was unfortunately a miss for me. I could see other folks enjoying it, but I just didn't get lost in the world or the characters.

I think my main issue was probably the way Ethan and Taylor communicated. I thought it was very odd, especially since they seemed to be capable of good communication, but then they frequently assumed the worst/weirdest possible meaning behind innocuous comments.

I'm not automatically opposed to the miscommunication trope because I do think that miscommunication is a common source of conflict in real life, so stories reflecting that makes sense! But it has to be done well and make sense for the characters. In this case, both Ethan and Taylor are full adults who demonstrate introspection and in-depth understandings of their own selves and the circumstances that shaped them. So it really didn't make sense to me that they would so frequently miscommunicate.

And logistically, the miscommunications weren't necessary for the story, imo. You already have an excellent source of tension from the taboo-ness of "the boss's ex," and there's also an age gap that could be explored and navigated by the characters.

Although I will say that I felt the whole "boss's ex" thing to be a bit overblown... Like yes, it might be awkward and require navigating difficult social situations, but Taylor's constant fear of losing his job felt... Bizarre. You can't (or at least *shouldn't*) be fired for something that doesn't impact your job performance, endangers anyone, creates conflict of interest, etc. I could understand Amy being upset or feeling awkward about Taylor and Ethan's relationship, but it honestly isn't any of her business?? Ethan and Taylor don't have a boss/employee relationship and haven't even met in person until this point, so I honestly don't see how them dating could be a problem (aside from making Amy mad, I guess??)

Unfortunately, I never got entirely lost in the story, probably due to the characters lacking a lot of depth. Even the MCs felt a bit tropey more than actual people. And the SCs felt especially one-dimensional.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the eARC of this title. All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinions.

Once Upon You and Me is a charming, whirlwind romance set against the whimsical backdrop of the Storybook Endings Resort. Timothy Janovsky delivers a swoony, steamy tale packed with chemistry, emotion, and just a dash of fairy-tale flair.

Taylor Frost, loyal assistant and party-planning extraordinaire, is sent to the Catskills to organize a sweet sixteen—but instead of a smooth work trip, he finds himself falling for the resort’s ruggedly irresistible manager, Ethan Golding… who just so happens to be his boss’s ex-husband. Cue the delicious tension.

Taylor and Ethan’s connection is immediate and electric, with plenty of sweet (and spicy) moments to keep the pages turning. While their romance unfolds quickly—maybe too quickly to feel entirely believable—it’s heartfelt and laced with vulnerability, especially in Ethan’s honest portrayal of living with ADHD. His struggles and the way others misunderstand or dismiss him add depth and emotional weight to what could have been a lighter romp.

However, not everything in this fairytale sparkles. Amy, the ex-wife and boss, borders on villainous, and her character lacks the nuance needed for a proper redemption arc. Her presence as an obstacle feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out antagonist.

Despite the rushed timeline, Janovsky’s storytelling is witty and warm, with just enough heartache to balance the happily-ever-after. If you can suspend disbelief and enjoy a forbidden fling with fairytale vibes, this book offers a lovely escape with a strong emotional core.

This is an absolutely charming M/M romance complete with a fairy tale resort and an age-gap budding relationship with possible work conflicts. Taylor and Ethan have chemistry, but they are both concerned about Amy (Taylor's boss and Ethan's ex-wife), and everything will reach a crisis point at the celebration of 16-year-old Samara's birthday celebration. The characters and the setting contribute to making this a fun and appealing read. Recommended.

Ethan and Taylor both love fairytales. From the romance to the grim tales. I love the romantic fairytale between these two that are happening. Their connection between each other is so real. They both are learning to navigate new feelings. They very patient with each other. Like that they got to build relationship. To be able have happy endings.

Open up this bewitching book that reveals that love truly can have a fairy tale happily ever after!

Y’all, it’s no secret that I am a fan of my friend Timothy Janovsky’s romance novels, and his newest, ONCE UPON YOU AND ME, might be my favorite one yet. Janovsky’s newest, part of his steamier works published with Harlequin Books, has one of his most clever setups, and a couple worth rooting for until the very last page.

Happily ever after is a great thing to aspire to, but what if you could visit it any time? Well every visit to Storybook Endings is a chance to immerse yourself in the fairy tales you know and love. When Taylor Frost is sent by his boss, Amy, to check in one the hotel chain’s first location to prepare for her daughter’s Sweet Sixteen, Taylor has no idea how freeing it is to be out from under his boss’ thumb. Only, it might be a little too freeing, because he’s fallen for the location’s manager, Ethan, who... just so happens to be his boss’ ex-husband, and the father of the young woman he’s here to celebrate. But can big, burly Ethan open himself up to the charming, intriguing Taylor? Throw in a leaky roof, a failed attempt to bond with children, and archery classes armed by Cupid’s bow, and, well, you’ll have to see what happens next.

Once you get a bite of this not-poisoned-apple of a book, you’ll want to devour the whole thing real fast! Taylor and Ethan are expertly drawn out here on the page, with relevant backstories, experiences navigating mental health issues, and enough repression to make their fiery nights on the picturesque property really, REALLY pay off. This age gap romance offers far more than the standard fare, and though you’ll be able to finish this brisk novel, quickly, you’ll feel wholly satisfied and, like Taylor and Ethan, ready for another round with it real fast.

I loved this read! The characters were so lovable and I wanted to fit into their cozy camp (though minus the tree -iykyk). I cannot wait to read another from Timothy, a quick instant buy author!

Taylor Frost is not sure what to expect when his demanding boss sends him across the country to lead the planning for her daughter’s sweet sixteen at a resort in the Catskills. He certainly does not expect to be powerfully drawn to the resort’s manager, Ethan, who also happens to be the ex-husband of Taylor’s boss. Neither Taylor nor Ethan can ignore the chemistry between them, even as both question whether falling for each other is a potential happily ever after or the recipe for disaster.

Charming and full of captivating characters, this heartfelt story will keep you fully engaged and hoping for a fairy tale-like ending.

Highly recommended!