Complete opposites attract in this slow burn holiday M/M romance. Spoiled, rich Matthew Prince is banished to the small town where his grandparents live & forced to share bunk beds in the basement with college student Hector Martinez. When the two are put in charge of planning a charity event to benefit the town's small businesses, they begin to realize they have more in common than they thought. This is a fun read that also addresses issues like a severe anxiety disorder. Recommended.

This is a very cosy, easy read with everything a festive romance needs: there’s the slow burn romance between Matthew and Hector, who grew up worlds apart but start growing together the moment they meet (even though they don’t like each other at all when they first met). There’s this beautiful, winterish small town full of wonderful unicorn people. And there were many valuable lessons to learn along the way.

I appreciate how Matthew’s Generalised Anxiety Disorder was displayed - it wasn’t glamorized, nor sugar coated, and knowing how his parents reacted versus Hector’s kind and soft approach was heartbreaking. I was really having a hard time reading about Matthew’s parents. They might be struggling too, but their behavior was nevertheless harmful.

While I loved the main and side characters, and I liked the overarching message of this story, I could have lived without the organising-a-charity-event plot taking up such a large part of the story. Matthew needed this gala to succeed, but it didn’t seem to take that much effort. I acknowledge that it is indeed hard work to organise a big event, but in Matthew’s case all went pretty smooth and easy. All he had to do was find people and ask - no one rejected his request and no real problem or issue arised. I think that part slowed the story a bit, and wasn’t as exciting as Matthew’s growth.

Matthew Prince is the David Rose of this funny, sweet Christmas tale. After spending far too much of his parents money, the twenty-something celebrity is shipped off to live with his grandparents for the holiday.

From the glam of wealth in the city to the small town, middle of nowhere home is quite the adjustment and Matthew needs to make it fast. What doesn't help is his surprise roommate - Hector. A man who is the exact opposite of everything Matthew stands for.

This unlikely duo ends up paired together for a series of holiday activities including throwing the annual fundraiser gala. Matthew is forced to stretch his skills and his sense of self, while Hector is forced to decide if his first assessment of Matthew was maybe incorrect.

I loved this book, completely and totally. Sped through it in a day because I could not get enough. Matthew and Hector were both such compelling characters (though no matter how many times the text corrected me I kept picturing David Rose and Eddie Munson in my head 🤣)

The little town has its own makeup of characters and its easy to fall in love with each one you meet. Noelle, the barista, being my favorite.

Matthew's claim to fame is having well off parents. His mother is a famous book author and that shaped his entire childhood. Learning who he is without money or fame to fall back on is a lovely journey to witness.

Like David Rose, the soft bits were always there. He just needed the right atmosphere to bring it out.

This book is set to release this October and I high key suggest you get your hands on it. The perfect mix of laughter and holiday softness, it's everything you'll need for the season!

Thanks netgalley for letting me read this one it was so fun to read and I really love a slow burn book that you can really enjoy and get to love the characters

I’ve wanted to read this book since I first heard the title, and You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince doesn’t disappoint. Timothy Janovsky crafts a satisfying queer holiday treat without it becoming too saccharine. The result is a holiday romance that will immediately put you in the mood for cookies and hot chocolate.

4.5/5 stars

Matthew Prince is a spoiled brat who’s gone too far and purchased an island, and now his rich and famous parents have sent him to spend the holidays with his down to earth grandparents in western Massachusetts. Matthew is furious about being exiled from New York, and loses what little cool he has left when he discovers he has a roommate. Hector is one of his grandfather’s college students who is living with them and helping out his grandmother’s bookstore as a way to make ends meet. Hector is hoping to earn enough to go home to Texas for New Year’s, but it’s not looking good. So he and Matthew strike a bargain: he’ll help Matthew plan the town holiday gala, and Matthew will buy him a plane ticket home (assuming he gets access to his money again). But as they work more closely together, will they act on their growing attraction?

Honestly I am a little tired of “embrace the holidays and you’ll be a better person” trope, but Matthew Prince is an exception. He’s so awful at the beginning of the story that he’s difficult to tolerate. But, Hector is so likable that if he likes Matthew, there must be someone worth spending time with underneath those couture clothes. At least there is a good and reasonable explanation for why Matthew is the way he is, and the book does a good job exploring both his anxiety and his relationship with his neglectful parents.

A huge plus for Matthew is that his sexually is simply a fact, not one of the many issues he copes with. In fact, the town of Wind River is heralded as a place where all are welcome. His grandparents are adorable, too, and I loved their reactions to Matthew and Hector’s relationship, along with their personal baking competition.

If you are looking for a great way to celebrate the HoliGays, look no further than You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince. Janovsky’s charming romance shows how to have an awful character redeemed by love without the story becoming too icky sweet. This Grinch is definitely a fan!

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

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a perfect cute light hearted read but it also deals with anxiety. I love how author Showed Matthew Anxiety. It was good that Matthew Confronted his parents.

Hector was so amazing. I don't why but he kinda reminded me of Henry from 'Red, White & Royal Blue' And I definitely love the baking scene!

It was a slow burn. But I think book was too long. There were some unnecessary parts.

Perfect for cosy Christmas Day reading curled up on the couch, 'You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince' is a bit like if David from Schitt's Creek was dropped into A Christmas Carol, with forced proximity romance and small town found family feels. Matthew Prince is young, rich, and incredibly spoiled. Cut off from his parents' funds and shipped to a tiny rural town to stay in a cabin with his grandparents and their houseguest, Matthew can't wait to escape. After all, he hates Christmas, and prefers the perfection of New York to the cramped double bunk beds of the Berkshires. Can Christmas work its magic on this anxious, lonely Grinch?

This book will give you absolutely everything you want from a Christmas romance. Easy to read, with a clear Jerk With a Heart of Gold MC, lots of found family, Christmas fluff, and a lovely setting contrasting the glamour of New York with the cosiness of the Berkshires. I thought it offered an interesting look into the life of someone privileged and financially spoiled like Matthew, who is also suffering enormous emotional deprivation and really needs a hug. Matthew is sometimes a difficult character to like, and I found it hard to empathise with him a lot of time time - although in his moments of vulnerability and anxiety attacks he is so relatable, and it's also interesting to see a character who has Generalised Anxiety Disorder who truly acts impulsively and recklessly, in a financial way rather than putting their body on the line, as you might find in a fantasy genre novel. The romance between Matthew and Hector is very soft and adorable, and their bickering at the early stages of the novel was so funny.

For me personally, I wasn't as engaged with the plot as I was with the characters. I really enjoyed the first part of the novel, and there were some meaningful interactions towards the end as well, but I was less interested in the plotline to do with the gala and Matthew and Hector working together to sort everything out. While I respected Matthew's maturity when it came to his feelings towards his parents, and especially his mother, I found their behaviour really difficult to read, and I thought his reaction was more charitable than they deserved. It's really good to see a character like Matthew in therapy, and working towards a happy, healthy relationship.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of 'You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince'. These opinions are my own.

This book was really cute, quirky, and romantic and I loved reading it! I loved their whole dynamic and can’t wait to add it to my physical shelf!

I was scrolling through NG and saw this book's title and had to request it! Nothing like a play on words mixed with Christmas in July. MC Matthew Prince is the definition of spoiled. His very rich parents money funds every whim that Matthew has and then some! I mean so rich...that he buys an island only to get cut off by his parents who then send him to live with his "not rich" grandparents. j

This is a romcom filled Christmas story. Matthew, though extremely spoiled is a love able character. Due to a big mistake, he is forced to give up his high on the hog lifestyle for a small town life, sans cell service (Ew, David vibes for sure LOL). But love does happen no matter where you are...and the slow burn relationship between Matthew and Hector is one you can't help but tooth for. I enjoyed this book from start to finish, it felt real and warm. I appreciate the queer aspect mixed in with mental health. We watch Matthew struggle, cope, accept, and get help dealing with his anxiety. If you are a fan of Hallmark-like, or ABC Family/Freeform, Christmas movies this is perfection.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince. My new fav queer romcom. Amazing mental health rep, lots of queer rep. Laugh out loud funny and a love story hasn’t made me melt that much since RW&RB

This was so much fun! It sucked me in so quickly. I loved Matthew so much. He was such a great character and i loved seeing how he really grew from page 1. As an event planner myself, it was so much fun watching him fall in love with planning events. I know that wasn't the main point of the book but it appealed to me!!! This is such a good book to fall in love with this winter. I really related to a lot of the anxiety that Matthew dealt with and i felt connected to him through it. I can't wait for everyone to love this book.

This book was absolutely addicting. I have never been so drawn in to a story before. It’s giving me It Happened One Summer and David Rose vibes. Matthew Prince is a spoiled rich boy who is banished to the Berkshires after spending a bit to much of his parents money. His misery loves company, when he arrives at his grandparents house he finds out that he’s not only stuck there but is also going to be sharing bunk beds with Hector, a college kid his grandparents took in. This book follows Matthew’s journey to self discovery and love in the small town Wind River.

Spoiled rich-kid Matthew Prince makes an impulsive, PR-nightmare kind of mistake that has his parents shipping him off to his (not rich) grandparents in small-town Wind River effectively cutting him off- no cell service, no credit cards. Will the winter wonderland and its people work their magic and bring the holiday spirit back into this Grinch's heart?

This queer holiday romcom was just delightful! It felt very sincere and heartfelt. Yes Matthew is image-obsessed and very spoiled, but he grows on you. That's the point right? His character growth was heartwarming to watch. And Hector...what a sweetie. An ax-wielding, flannel wearing sweetheart.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
Small town romance
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Opposites attract
Mental heath rep (GAD)
Diverse characters: Hector is Spanish and Puerto Rican, and bisexual. Matthew is gay. Many diverse side characters as well!
College-aged MCs

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙:
🦄 Noelle. What a genuinely kind soul.
🥲 Wind River
🧡 Grandma and Grandpa. What a difference an open heart and absolute and unequivocal acceptance makes to a person.
🎄 Christmas vibes throughout the book
🥺 The vulnerable and authentic connection that Matthew and Hector formed.

You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince would make an excellent addition to your holiday reading list! If you don't have one of those, well, I'd still recommend adding this to your TBR. Read when you need/want a feel-good book. 🧡

I loved this book! Gave me super christmassy feels, we all know a Grinch! Will definitely re read with a mug of hot chocolate by the Christmas tree

A rich Scrooge-esque character and the handsome working man working on small town gala…where could this story go wrong? Matthew Prince is sent away to his grandparent’s as punishment after Ill advisedly buying an island-yes, and island. The culture shock of going from islands and yachts to a small town without “decent coffee” made this such a a cute and light hearted read. Matthew could of been an unlikely character pretty easily, and it speaks a lot to the writing hat even when he’s being downright shallow and materialistic, he’s still endearing. He struggles with anxiety attacks, and it’s clear the author either has first hand experience with them or did very thorough research because it’s very close to how mine manifest, which was very nice to read. Hector…god how do I review Hector? He’s the small town man everyone wants to fall in love with. Hard working, kind to a fault, and just trying to be a genuinely good person. His influence on Matthew is insurmountable. Slow burn isn’t usually my thing, but it worked so well with these characters. Holiday themed books usually aren’t my thing, but this melted my ice cold heart and left me cheesy smiling on my patio when the book needed. Highly recommend if you like riches to rags, grinch, or holiday rom coms!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This had such a catchy title but the story didn't engage a such a significant hoped.

📚 Christmas in July Book Review 📚
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You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to @netgalley @sourcebookscasa and @timothyjanovsky for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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I had to end this July with a bang and what better way to do it than to talk about one of my most anticipated holiday reads 👀
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Guys, get your planners out and mark the date as “Day Timothy Janovsky became one of Adriana’s auto-buy authors” 🖊 My favorite thing about both of Timothy’s books is the way LGBTQ+ characters are represented with worries and flaws and aspirations and dreams and the ability to love and the experiences that come with simply being human. The rom-com of it all is obviously a huge amazing part of it, but I always stick around for the gut punches 😂
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Matthew should be insufferable, but he’s not. He grows on you as you get to know him and I think that’s the whole point. He’s rich and a tiny bit heinous, but ultimately he just wants what a lot of us want. To exist on his own terms and pave his own way. Hector wants much of the same thing, but he’s used to working for everything he has. I loved watching Hector fall head-over-heels for Matthew, hot pink pants and all! Watching them connect despite layers upon layers of hurdles was a heartwarming ride.
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The rep here is amazing. Hector is Puerto Rican and bisexual. Matthew is gay and has been part of a polyamorous relationship, a fact he’s not ashamed of or seen less for in the slightest. Matthew also has generalized anxiety disorder, something discussed with care and tenderness. I also really liked that Matthew takes into consideration all the intersectionality in his relationship with Hector, from their different social classes to their identities as gay and bisexual men respectively.
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I’m so glad I decided to end off this month with this book. It definitely made my Grinch heart grow three sizes too big. Or five. If you want a cute holiday romance that smacks you right in the feels, please pick up this book. You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince is available for pre-order now and will officially be released on October 4, 2022. 💚

You're a Mean One Matthew Prince gave me the same cozy soft warm feeling when I was reading it that I get whenever I watch an episode of Schitts Creek. This snarky, sure of himself rich boy has to lose everything and land in the warm embrace of a lovely little town to realize who is really is. The chemistry between our lead and love interest is so crackling. And the communication is SO wonderful. Of course they have their issues but when it comes to characters opening up about the serious mental health conversations with the person they are with and seeing how that person cares for and helps them in crisis moments, the way that is done in this book is remarkable. Also the Steam was turned UP in this one and oh boy was it a fun time. This is a christmas classic not unlike a certian Muppets special that will be wonderful to turn back to during the holiday season!

I loved every single thing about this book. I was hooked from the first sentence. You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince is the perfect Christmas romcom that evokes holiday joy, but also the loneliness one can feel during Christmastime.

Matthew Prince is the definition of spoiled, but Matthew and I have that in common, along with being an only child. Being an only child can seem so perfect and content until you’re suddenly surrounded by company. Matthew didn’t notice how lonely he actually was because it was all he’d known. I can sympathize with him. Being an only child is hard, especially during the holidays with hard-working parents.

Hector and Matthew start off on the wrong foot at first, but their growing connection throughout the story is so incredibly beautiful. Hector is extremely lovable. Matthew and Hector are complete opposites with similar interests. I have to say that they have an excellent taste in movies. (*cough* The Muppets Christmas Carol is superior *cough*) Noelle and Sienna are amazing and I would die for them. Matthew’s Grandparents are the absolute best characters. I literally love them and how supportive they are. Matthew’s parents play a significant role throughout the book. While they are flawed, they should not be seen as irredeemable villains.

I believe that the anxiety representation within this book was handled in a good way. It felt realistic and similar to my own experiences, however some readers may feel differently. There are on-page descriptions of these panic attacks, but in my opinion, they were handled appropriately. Showcasing how difficult it can be to live with anxiety, but learning how to cope is important.

Overall, this immediately became one of my favorite holiday books. It checked all the boxes; queer, romcom, and happy ending. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.".
Ding Ding we have a winner You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince. This book was all the emotions for me when a book can do that it's a 5 star read

Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review

Happy Reading Lisa 📚