This book was outside my norm I will say before anything else. I might say I want to try cute little romance books, I may actually want to try them, I may even have a stack of them on my shelves I purchases in order to try them. But I just always have other things to read first and never get around to them.

I saw this title and cover while browsing Netgalley and was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I figured, an audiobook why not? Popped it on while doing some yardwork and omg. I found myself pausing a lot and just standing there to listen. From the beginning it was so so cute. The characters are well fleshed out, the setting is adorable, their interactions are adorable. The story has just enough drama and trouble to keep it interesting without going too wildly out there. I could absolutely see this as a Netflix rom com/romance movie. I say Netflix over Hallmark because for me Hallmark still tends to be very romance and very cheesy pretty often and this to me felt too fresh for that.

Liked it so much I went and preordered a physical copy.

4.5 stars

This was a really fun read. Ethan falls for Taylor, his ex-wife's personal assistant, when Taylor comes to Ethan's workplace to help plan Ethan's daughter's sweet sixteen. Ethan is quite a bit older than Taylor and confidently plus sized. The relationship between the two was so sweet and I felt like the ending was realistic while still being happy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC. This is my honest opinion.

5 stars

I have now read nearly all of Timothy Janovsky’s novels and while I enjoyed them, none previously really stuck with me. But this one was fantastic and I think it will be one that I remember and recommend for a while! First, love an age gap where both MCs are full adults. Second, a huskier MMC is so nice to see especially one that is soft instead of gruff and grumpy. Ethan is a complete Teddy Bear and I was so happy to see him find love again. Taylor is a perfect match for Ethan and I think they balanced each other really well. Both MCs went into things emotionally mature and with good intentions. There was never any meanness or cruelty. Any miscommunication was discussed. The 3rd act breakup did make me cry but it made so much sense in the situation and the reconciliation was SO BEAUTIFUL and also not just one grand gesture and all is better, they worked at it together before reuniting and I think that is sometimes rare in romance novels.

Regarding the audiobook specifically, the narrator and production was great though I wish the voice between the chapters was a bit more differentiated however it wasn’t such an issue with it being in third person.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

This had all the elements of the perfect romance. This is an age gap, grumpy/sunshine (my literal favorite) relationship between a hotel manager and his ex wife's personal assistant. The Disney-inspired hotel the story takes place in is all about "happily ever afters" and is based in the catskills so we get a strong small town vibe. Ethan is bisexual and neurodivergent so there's a lot of good rep. The problem is that, despite all the pieces being there, the story didn't feel very cohesive. The author did a lot of telling but not a lot of showing so I understood the characters' backgrounds and who they were meant to be but I can't say that I really felt it. I didn't feel their personalities or their attraction to each other beyond the physical. The age gap seemed so matter-of-fact without really adding anything to the story. The disney-inspired setting felt a little strange as well when we find out that Ethan didn't have any connection to it. Additionally, we keep being told that Ethan's ex wife isn't the villain in his story but what we're shown is a dragon lady who barely cares about anyone and is very clearly being portrayed as the villain.

I switched on and off between the audiobook and the ebook and really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator did a great job performing both pov's, making sure I was engrossed the entire time.

Overall, it wasn't a bad story but I can't say it was particularly great either. Ultimately, the way it was executed lacked some of the warmth and emotional connection that I expected going in.

3.5 rounded up

This was a super cute M4M romance. Taylor is Amy’s assistant and she sends him across the country to help her burly mountain-man ex-husband, Ethan, plan their daughter’s sweet sixteen birthday party at their family owned Catskills resort. But what happens when sparks begin to fly between Taylor and his bosses ex-husband?

What you’ll find:
⛰️Age gap romance (27 vs 40)
⛰️Bi-awakening
⛰️Workplace romance
⛰️Forced Proximity
⛰️Single dad/divorced MMC

A sweet and playful age-gap MM romance that’s as fun as it is heartwarming. You’ll love getting to know these two as they stumble into love and discover just how perfect they are for each other.

This was cute story! A little corny but it takes place at a fairytale wedding resort so I feel like that can be expected. I loved both of the characters and I was invested in their stories. Unfortunately I didn't feel like we got enough emotional development for me to root for their relationship. They're basically strangers when they meet and I needed to see them get to know each other better before the instalust kicked in. However, I will say the sex scenes had some amazing character development. I adore scenes where things don't go perfectly and characters need to communicate with each other. I love the realism and it also shows me that they are able to express their needs. They way they both were so thoughtful about making it good for the other person made me very emotional. While I wish that we had gotten more emotional development, the other parts of the story were very cute so overall it worked for me. I adored all the representation we got. It was so fun to see an plus-sized, bisexual man with ADHD find someone who appreciated all those parts of him. If you're looking for something quick and cute with some spice this could be a fun pick.

Tim Morgan did a great job bringing Taylor and Ethan to life! I had a good time listening to this audio and I'd definitely recommend it if you like to listen to books.

I don't think it possible to go wrong with a Timothy Janovsky book. He creates such loveable real characters you can't help but love and root for. Once Upon You and Me is a fun cute queer romance you for sure should put on your TBR

Narration: I didn't care for the narrator chosen for this story. He didn't give emotion or change enough to distinguish characters, which led to me not being engaged with the story. Having two narrators chosen for this story would have made it more interesting.

Story: The plot was too slow for me and didn't hold my attention. The characters seemed interesting, but I think because of the narration it wasn't enough to keep me engaged with them.

I know this author has amazing stories and I will continue to read and support his work. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

I love the premise and setup of this story, makes for a cute cosy romance story. However, the characters were both bland to me. We got a plus-size single dad and his ex-wife's assistant. Neither of them have any discernable personality besides having ADHD and being understanding.
My largest complaint was the smut in this one. I think this is a me thing as I don't seem to like the way that Janovsky writes his smut scenes. I am sorry but watching p*** together and... will never do it for me. Ended up skipping all the smutty scenes in this story as they were all just strange to me.
Tropes: Age gap, Single dad, fairytale camp, Smutty, 3rd act break up, forbidden romance, forced proximity
The archery lessons were done so well. That was the redeeming quality of this book for me.

If you're looking for a romance set in a wholesome environment with some dirty sex scenes, I have the book for you! I thought the environment of the fairytale resort was really cool, but I did have some conflicted feelings about our main character being at work at basically all times in the book and the fact that his love interest is his boss's ex husband. It just felt a little messier than I wanted.

I did think the audiobook was well done, though I wouldn't have minded more variety in the vocal choices between the two MMCs, On occassion, I had to really focus to know who was talking.

The narration was fine. The story was a bit boring and predictable. It was cute but nothing special.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!

Once Upon You and Me was a sweet, spicy, and short read. I enjoyed the neurodivergent representation for ADHD with Ethan, and how supportive Taylor was with Ethan’s needs. As a late-diagnosed AuDHDer myself, I always appreciate when authors portray all of the unseen ways this affects life.

I don’t normally enjoy instalove stories, but it worked well with the pacing of this story. The spice was great, although I do wish there had been a bit more tension and build up. But that makes sense given the length of the book!

I am normally a huge audiobook fan, and while I didn’t dislike this one, I did wish the narrator had a bit more variety in his delivery. It all felt very one note. That said, he is a good narrator and I enjoyed his voice as it was. But if you’re expecting a narrator who does a lot of noticeable voice changes, you might be disappointed by this audiobook

Taylor is tasked with planning his boss’s daughter’s sweet sixteen—only to fall for the birthday girl’s rugged dad, Ethan. Their chemistry is undeniable, but with Ethan’s ex (and Taylor’s boss) in the way, a happy ending won’t come easy.

This romance had all the ingredients for a charming, steamy read—an enchanting setting, a forbidden attraction, and an age-gap twist. Unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired.

Taylor and Ethan’s relationship had potential, but their characters felt underdeveloped. Taylor was reduced to a bundle of quirks without real depth, while Ethan never quite moved beyond the brooding mountain man archetype. The age gap felt like more of a marketing hook than an actual theme in the story.

To make matters worse, despite teasing a “spicy bedtime story,” the book barely delivered on the steam. The few intimate moments felt rushed and unmemorable, making the romance feel more lukewarm than fiery.

That said, the setting was charming, and there were some genuinely sweet moments between Taylor and Ethan that kept me engaged. I wanted to love this story, and while I enjoyed parts of it, I couldn’t help but feel it could have been so much more. With stronger character development and better execution of its themes, this could have been a truly magical read.

<i>As always, shout-out to my homies at Netgally and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin audio for the free alc. I love Timothy janovsky books they are tender, vulnerable and from time to time hot hot hot. I love his characters, I love their vulnerability I love how he takes tropes and makes them even better

4.5/☆

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.

The audio was well produced and Tim Morgan created great character vocalizations and his tone kept me engaged.

Thank you HTP, Harlequin Audio, and The Hive for my gifted copies.
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. The age-gap relationship is significant but doesn’t overshadow the overall storyline.

If you haven't added this book to your TBR, do so now! "Once Upon You and Me" will be on the shelf on April 29th, 2025.

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!