This was a fun, enjoyable, and feelgood romance. Timothy Janovsky mentioned it had Schitts Creek vibes, and I definitely felt that, with the supportive small town meets out of touch rich kid. I especially liked how Matthew's skills are recognised and developed, giving him that the chance to redeem himself from a unpromising start! There is also a good range if secondary characters, some more fleshed out than others but all that added to the story.

This definitely fits in the NA category as Matthew especially is very much in that impulsive, bad-decision-making early 20s period, and I did have the urge to beg him to stop and think!

I also found the details with his parents interesting at the end, and I actually found myself wanting to know more about his mum. I appreciated that Janovsky aimed to give her more depth as a character, I'm not sure this completely worked due to the limitations of having Matthew's pov, but I definitely finished longing fir a kind of deep dive into her past and future!

Overall, a fun small-town Christmas romcom!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC*

You’re the Mean Once, Matthew Prince is a holiday book that should be kept on the shelves to be read throughout the months of November and December.

Matthew Prince is young and entitled: he just bought an island with his money. TOTAL press nightmare. His parents have decided they have had enough of their sons scandalous action and shipped him off to his grandparents small town for the holidays. Prince cannot try to come back before he proves to everyone that he has changed for the better.

What Prince doesn’t expect to find in the small town is Hector Martinez. Hector, the local strapping gentleman who could care less about Matthew’s social status and impressive money bags. Another thing he doesn’t expect is for the town’s charity gala host to drop out. Looks like Matthew’s charity plan has fallen right into his lap. But will he stay a mean one?

I had high hopes for Timothy Janovsky’s sophomore title: You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince. He is a very creative person and I couldn’t want to listen to story. While I enjoyed the narrations by Mark Sandelrin, the book was very long and details dragged.

THIS BOOK IS SO FUN!

It starts a little slow but quickly picks up pace. It's got small town vibes. It's a little bit Gossip Girl MC meets Cowboy. It's got close proximity, and it's got CHRISTMAS.

I laughed. I cried. I absolutely loved this book!

This was a very sweet holiday romance.

The book takes place over 3 weeks, but it felt much longer, since so much happened during that time frame.

Matthew Prince’s character was terrible, and the author did an excellent job of changing my mind. I absolutely loved the mental health rep, seeing how Matthew worked on himself, while also explaining how his GAD affected him to Hector was so helpful as a reader.

Though there is some spicy scenes in this book, they felt very mellow, with not a lot of tension buildup. Which is why this holiday romance felt more sweet to me.

If you’re a fan of the Grinch, or especially The Christmas Carol, I would definitely recommend this book!

This is basically a Schitt’s Creek Christmas AU. The narrator, Matthew, is so clearly written to be a David Rose-style spoiled brat that I could only picture the character as Dan Levy. He was so unlikeable it took me quite a while until I became invested. I actually considered quitting several times before the 25% mark. (Then again, it took me a long time to warm up to Schitt’s Creek as well.)

Matthew learns things about himself during his exile to his grandparents’ home. As he spends more time in the small town and with Hector, he learns that the life he previously knew was not a good one despite all its material rewards. Hector helps bring him down to earth and keep him there. Matthew’s struggles with anxiety also helped humanize him and soften his rough edges. I generally appreciate anxiety/mental health rep but it almost felt like a cheap ploy here to make Matthew likeable. It wasn’t until he let Hector’s influence inspire him to work hard and for something other than himself that I began to warm up to Matthew. His personal conversations with Hector were the best part of the book for me. They’re very sweet together and make a cute couple.

Overall it was unoriginal but had several cute sweet moments. Everything after the third act breakup (the last 30% or so) was the most emotionally compelling of the whole book. It won’t be on my list of favorite Christmas romances but it was an okay read. Matthew’s personal growth and his sweet relationship with Hector and his grandparents were highlights.

3.5 stars out of 5

Book Review
Your a Mean One Matthew Prince
By Timothy Janovsky

What Its Got
Small town trope
LGBTQIA2 characters
Happily Ever Afters
Mental Heath Awareness
Sweet grandparents
Rich people and not so rich people

Thoughts
All I could think of while reading this book was its Schitts Creek vibes
Matthew is totally a David (season 1 version) spoiled, privledged, entitled, fashion forward ….
Hector is a hardworking English lit Student . He’s Kind and compassionate and loves helping others.
Wind River Is the small town where they collide (specifically in Mathews grandparents basement bunkbeds)
Got a visual? Cause I cant unsee it in my head! Filled with strong secondary characters (Noelle) , coffee, and holiday spirit (have you read A Christmas Carol)
This book is a perfect gift!

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for my gifted copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

You're a Mean one, Matthew Prince was a 3.5 star read for me.
I struggled with the first 25-30 percent of this book, simply because I couldn't relate to Matthew the main character. Matthew, who gets sent to a small town to live with his grandparents right before the Christmas holidays, to prevent bad PR due to his purchase of a small island.
In this book Matthew learns to adjust to small town living, much different from his New York apartment, make friends that he can rely on, reunite with his grandparents and maybe fall in love. Hector, who Matthew is forced to share a room/bunkbed with, is a hardworking college student following in his mothers footsteps far from home. The splash of enemies to lovers at the beginning was lots of fun, but I really enjoyed reading about these two developing a great friendship while planning for a charity gala to help support the small town.
Matthew does have his struggles including living with generalized anxiety disorder, and dealing with two parents who are not the most supportive. Matthew does bring some problems onto himself, but through the true magic of Christmas, as well as some amazing friends and family to support him, Matthew learns to step outside of his "rich boy" image and learn to embrace himself and grow as a person.
The side characters were lots of fun, and really added to the story. I enjoyed the references to different Christmas books and movies, and would recommend this if you are looking for a cute, queer Christmas romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m going to be honest - this book was not for me.

With a catchy title, a wholesome premise, and charming cover art, You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince seems like the perfect holiday read. Partnered with shining a spotlight on anxiety and highlighting the LGBTQ+ community, this book made me scream to read it. Of course, I requested an arc right away.

However, I realized You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince, was not what I had pictured. Janovsky had the formula for a hit, but failed to reach the stars. I will not be adding You’re a Mean One Mathew Prince to my collection of holiday classics.

A tale reminiscent of Schitt’s Creek was the pitch for You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince. Young, rich, and privileged, Matthew is a man thrust into the life of your average, everyday Joe. Left with no money and no chance for escape, Prince finds himself in the tight-knit community of Wind River. All the while, staying with his grandparents and their infuriatingly attractive lodger. This Christmas is one for the books. That is the book of utter and complete failures.

Forced to play nice, Matthew finds each day more insufferable than the last. Home seems a light year away. Every second is a reminder of his loss of familiarity and comfort.

In fact, organizing the town’s charity gala is the only card left to play. His one chance to prove himself worthy of returning to his life. Paired with his grandparents’ lodger, Hector Martinez, the two put their differences aside and work to gain their tickets home.

In opposition, change can be freeing. Maybe Matthew isn’t the Grinch he has always appeared to be. Possibly, the “bah humbug” attitude is an act to cover personal hurt.

Furthermore, could Matthew’s initial imagined future take an alternate route?

Likewise, will the town of Wind River be a blessing rather than a curse?

Perhaps the people Matthew meets along the way will melt the ice encompassing his heart.

Overall, You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince took too many wrong turns along the way.

First, the story lacked appeal. I hoped to fall in love with these characters; the possibilities were endless. In theory, Matthew and Hector’s relationship could have been the next David Rose and Patrick Brewer. However, You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince never reached its potential. Sure, there was romance, but no spark. I kept awaiting the book to ignite, to dazzle, and stand out from the rest. Thus, You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince wasn’t the diamond in the rough I expected.

Second, the steamy scenes were, for a lack of a better term, distasteful. Certain descriptions pulled away from what should have been an intimate and passionate coupling. Each romantic entanglement entailed was misguided.

Last, the epilogue. No matter how hard I try, I can’t understand the choice of tale Janovsky told. It had no relevance to the story. In addition, it highlighted the wrong things. Giving nothing away, there are fade to black moments one wishes Janovsky elaborated. In contrast, there’re moments that needn’t be displayed. On the whole, what Janovsky focused on was lackluster when I dreamed of a different ending.

Overall, You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince is an adequate read. I can imagine many people will enjoy and appreciate it. However, it was not my cup of tea. I didn’t connect with the material in the way I had hoped.

In conclusion, writing is only as good as the care it is given. I wish Janovsky would have kept stoking the flames. His work indicates he has the talent and potential to succeed. With this in mind, my greatest wish is that Janovsky continues to write. Nobody’s writing is perfect and no author’s career should be judged upon their first few books. I believe that with experience and finding his stride, Janovsky will one day write a book I can enjoy. I look forward to that experience.

I started this book thinking I wasn't going to like Matthew all too much. He's pretty vain, self-absorbed, and just not ultimately a character I thought I'd enjoy. But by the end of the book I was definitely his number one fan! (OKay, maybe Hector gets number one, but I'm in solid second). This book was just so incredibly sweet and really made me feel like it was the holidays. The cheer, the festiveness, the love I felt it all so intensely I really did struggle to put it down. And Hector was such a perfect love interest for Matthew. He was solid, steady, and just grounded in a way that Matthew needed to realize that who was was more than enough and he didn't need to put up any sort of a mask with those who really mattered. The side characters were awesome too, from Grandma and Gramps and they're comforting loving ways, to Noelle who showed Matthew what true friendship looked like, and all the small town residents met along the way who just added flavor and fun to the whole story. Did this book break down walls with new and unique ideas? No, it didn't, but it really didn't need to. It was one of those holiday stories that felt warm and comforting and one I definitely will add to the seasonal rotation.

Well this was an absolute delight to read! I didn't binge it but I see how if you were in the right mood this book would/could go down as easy as Grandpa Doug's special egg nog!

Matthew Prince, party boy who has maybe just purchased an island (!??!) is shuttled off to his grandparents in advance of the holiday season where he's instructed to sit tight and play nice without his wallet or social media in order to hopefully win back his parents trust.

He didn't count on Hector: quiet, serious, wood chopping, English degree winning, ride-share driving Hector. And did we mention that Hector, like Matthew is interested in guys?

The two start by sharing a bunk bed but that's not even half of it as they have a few perfect and not-so perfect holiday moments together: Christmas tree "shopping" (and chopping), gala planning and of course movie watching.

This has some of the In the Event of Love vibes but is quite a bit tamer in terms of the spice level but it's just right for what it is!

⭐️: 4.5/5

When Matthew Prince finally takes it one step too far and buys an island, his wealthy and influential parents ship him off to live with his grandparents in their small, unassuming town, in hopes that he’ll learn some humility and get back in touch with reality. Matthew is determined to hate it there and get back to his party lifestyle in NYC, but then he meets Hector, a student who’s staying with his grandparents while going to school at the local college. What starts as a deal between them to plan the town’s holiday gala to show his parents he has learned his lesson may turn into a lot more once the two get to know each other better.

It’s only September, but this book has me READY for the holiday season! It has major Schitt’s Creek vibes, to the extent that I was literally picturing David saying Matthew’s dialogue. That may have honestly been the intention, and if so, bravo. The chemistry between the two of them was so well written, and I really appreciated how it wasn’t insta-love based on only looks, but they actually had things in common that made them more attractive to each other. Matthew’s internal dialogue was so relatable and made him such a really unique main character, and the balance of absurd comedy to heartwarming real-ness was perfect. Also, who doesn’t absolutely live for a winter town fair scene in holiday romance books and movies?? By 60% through I was already dreading the third act breakup, because I could just feel that it was going to be devastating to both the characters and myself as a reader. The main thing this book did NOT have going for it was the title honestly 😂 it’s super cute, but the punny nature and wordiness of it almost does a disservice to the book itself. BRB while I do a Schitt’s Creek rewatch!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. A lovely holiday love story between two boys. HoliGAY all the way. Makes me want to drink coco by the fire

*thank you sourcebooks and netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review :) *

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!

This book has everything that you would want to read in a rom-com perfect for the holidays i can't help but swoon over story. I loved our main characters, Matthew Prince (what a distinguished name) and Hector. Both of them are going through their own self-discovery and happen to meet one another at a growing period in their journey.

We have the CLASSIC slowburn, forced proximity opposites attract and slight enemies to lovers. So this book is jam-packed with our FAVORITE tropes.

This book is told from first person subjective; which means we get to view the story from one person's perspective--in this case the perspective is Matthew's, which I enjoy. We get to live through the story as if we are Matthew, we see his inner dialogue, his reactions, his interpretations of the other characters---how HE interprets their feelings. And I love this book for that. Also, Matthew has G.A.D which is generalized anxiety disorder and the representation was spot on. We got to see him open up with Hector about it and seeing the way Hector was so understanding and constantly trying to help Matthew was so sweet.

There's so much more to the book than what I wrote but just know that this book gets my stamp of approval! A great feel-good romance mixed with mental health awareness and hallmark/lifetime/abc family (ik that's the author's favorite) type of feel!

4/5 stars

4.5 stars
I was not expecting to read a holiday/Christmas book even before I started my spooky books this year, but the Netgalley gods shined upon me.
This book had such great Christmas vibes, but at the same time Scrooge vibes. I loved the small town setting which seems very like where I live. It's the perfect setting for Christmas magic!
So honestly, I liked Matthew from the very beginning. He comes off as a Scrooge character who is rich and spoiled (he buys an entire island just because he was dumped). But there is just something about him even through all of that that I just had to like. I really loved a lot of these characters. Hector, Matthew's grandparents, Noelle and Matthew's nanny turned chef (I don't know how to spell her name because I listened to the audio). They all just warmed my heart. (I hated Bentley though, ugh)
Matthew has very bad anxiety and panic attacks. Since his mom is famous, everyone has kind of tried to hush it up. There was an extreme (and intentional) difference between how his family and friends in NYC treated his anxiety versus how his family and friends in small town MA treated his anxiety. Living with someone who goes through the same things, it felt so real to me. It was handled so well with extremely positive therapy rep.
There is also great LGBTQ+ rep in this book. Matthew is gay, Hector is bi, Noelle is queer, Matthew's therapist is non-binary. It wasn't in your face, it was just a fact. I loved that it didn't feel over the top, yet we got everything.
I think my favorite thing about this book is that the typical "big conflict" was not happily resolved in the blink of an eye. There were discussions, realizations that maybe the other person isn't the problem, acknowledging that sometimes it's ok to not be able to forgive someone for hurting you right away but wanting to work toward that forgiveness.
When I started this book, I thought it was just going to be an average holiday romance, but I really fell in love with the characters. I loved how Matthew and Hector came together to create an amazing gala for the town and how Matthew came to realize his passion. Matthew really showed amazing growth and it didn't seem cheesy. It seemed real.
100% recommend this one if you are looking for a good Christmas romance this year!

This book is basically if Schitts Creek and hallmark had a baby. I thought it was pretty cheesy throughout most of the book. It was also pretty predictable. I wanted some kind of twist or unique story line but never got that. The character development was well rounded and the final message at the end was great. It just felt like the writing was lacking some kind of oomph. Overall an okay read. 3 ⭐️

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jolly good fun, both grump/sunshine (or should I say melty/snowfall). Who knew a fictional grinch retelling of sorts could be both jolly, holly, and queer?

This was so cute, and definitely made me want to rewatch Schitt's Creek. I think anyone who enjoyed the show will absolutely LOVE the book, and I really appreciate it being told from Matthew's perspective. While he was a really (really) hard character to like, by the end of the book, I was absolutely rooting for him. At 21, finding out who your friends are is a hard lesson everyone has to learn, and to do it in a big spotlight would make it even more difficult.

I started You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince worried I wasn’t going to like it, but came out like the Grinch at the end of the story—with my heart feeling fuller and bigger, reminded of the happiness of the holidays! Matthew Prince is young and spoiled and after a PR misstep his parents can’t ignore, he’s went to live with his grandparents parents in their small town where he’s forced to shred a room with Hector Martinez, a student who his grandparents are helping for the holidays. Matthew’s growth in this was really impressive. This story starts with what feels like a little too much introspection from a main character that feels super spoiled and immature. It was a little hard to get into, but worth the journey. His emotional growth is so strong, the anxiety rep is beautifully done, the acceptance from the community is lovely, and the chemistry of the characters develops into something special. It’s a great holiday read with some wonderful moments of vulnerability and some steamy moments with this enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance. Each side character really adds a lot. Noelle was a favorite of mine. It felt like a kind Schitt’s Creek story and it was just a story with a lot of heart! Really a great holiday book!

2.5 stars.
I was expecting to like this book as much as I liked the author's other book, but sadly enough I didn't...

Took me awhile to get into the plot and then when I finally did, I felt almost no connection to the characters. I also felt that the last 20% of the book where so drama filled, that it just felt a bit overwhelming. I liked how the family issues where handled tho! That's one aspect of the book I really liked, I thought it was really well done and realistic. The anxiety rep was good as well. But yeah, I just didn't connect to the characters as much as I would have liked.
I will continue to read books from this author tho! I feel like they have a lot of potential!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc of this book.
Also this review is a whole mess because I'm in too much pain to think straight, but I don't wanna put off writing this review because then my memory issues are gonna make me forgot what I wanna say about this book...

This Schitts Creek-inspired rom-com is perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and TJ Klune! This book was so wholesome and heart-warming and made me want to laugh out loud a few times. However, it also touches on a few serious topics surrounding mental health and toxic relationships with family/friends that gave the book more depth than I originally expected.

Overall, I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a holiday read with the "big city/small town" romance trope. You will fall in love with the characters (the main character will grow on you) and leave feeling warm and fuzzy. :)