Timothy Janovsky is an auto buy author for me, I always love his books! Meet Me at Happy Hour might be my favorite of his so far.
Julien Boire is a sommelier at his aunt and uncle's restaurant. He is an introvert with OCD that demands he steer clear of all distractions that could get in the way of him becoming a master sommelier. He is intent on getting out of this town and on to bigger and better things.
Enter Greg Harlow, Tikitok mixologist. He is hot, charming and confident. All things Julien is not. But Greg struggles with his anxiety and recently left the city to get away and try to start over and get out of debt.
After a rocky start, the two are forced together to host a couple of weekly happy hours, to help improve traffic to the restaurant. They find they hit it off better then they thought and they start to trust each other. Julien's OCD means he has very specific needs in the bedroom. And Greg's anxiety meds effect his libido, and causing ED that he is self-conscious about. But both of them agree they don't want a relationship. So they agree to a no-strings attached sex pact. But of course things start to feel more than just sex really fast.
I appreciated so many things about the mental health representation. Especially showing how your sex life can be effected by your meds. You don't see couples talking about that enough. Julien is so understanding and I love how he helps Greg try new things in the bedroom to improve his confidence. Their sexual chemistry is amazing! I really liked both of the MCs separately. They both had interesting backstories and I wanted to see them happy.
I did have a couple of complaints. *SPOILERS* The miscommunication trope where they keep putting off talking about their feelings to each other was maddening. And when Greg was effected by one thing Julien said he went all the way back to NYC and was going to start his life over again. He went back to his ex and all these things that felt so out of character after all his growth. So the whole third act pseudo break up thing was kinda annoying. But once they were reunited I loved them together so much I didn't really care anymore. I couldn't put it down until I was done. I loved the epilogue.
So if you like enemies to lovers, with mental health rep and very steamy bedroom scenes then you will love this one.
A huge thank you to Harlequin Afterglow and the author for this ARC.

This review has some spoilers!
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1. I love me a good gay romcom where NONE of the conflict comes from their queerness itself.
2. It had really good neurodivergent and mental health rep in it. One main character had anxiety and depression and the other had OCD. And it actively affected how they behaved and interacted with each other in a realistic way.
3. The guy who had anxiety and depression was on an SSRI that regularly caused him ED issues and made him self conscious in the bedroom. But he wasn't willing to go off the meds because he knew he needed them. But the other main character was so supportive and understanding and showed him how much fun they could have regardless of his erection or ability to get off. I feel a LOT of people would have felt seen through that entire plot line.
4. The spice was more than I expected and it was 🔥🔥🔥

My only critique was that some of the internal monologue did get a bit long and repetitive at times. It felt like I read the same thoughts over and over in certain parts. However, that also makes sense given the anxiety and OCD the main characters had. So while it did get a bit boring in those parts, I also felt it was accurate of those brain patterns.

Overall, LOVED this.

Small town, enemies to lovers, Mental health rep (anxiety, OCD), MM romance

Julien is trying to keep his head down, work as a sommelier in his aunt & uncle's small-town restaurant and save money for the next sommelier class.

Greg is new to town, staying with his cousin, and will be the new mixologist at Martin's Place. He's got issues of his own and seems to be running from something.

They are forced to team up for 2 nights a week - one wine happy hour and one mixed drink happy hour. They also come to a FWB agreement with lots of rules and boundaries.
 
The twist here is that neither of them drink - for different reasons but to be in the beverage industry and not drink is wild to me.

Great writing and chemistry! Watch out for the 3rd act though!

Timothy oh Timothy you did it again! You knocked it out of the park! The chemistry between Greg and Julien was on point, the progression of the book was great as well. The build up to their hea was perfect.

A fresh new take on the enemies-to-lovers romcom with mental health rep and more complexity! I enjoyed the unique characters and the depth behind the sweet story, but I felt that the chemistry between the characters was lacking, that some of the choices made were not okay and that the pacing from slow burn to sudden lovers was a bit off.

This is a dual POV story following Julien, who is a sommelier at his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, and Greg, who is a TikTok famous bartender looking for a fresh start from his financial and relationship problems. Both of them also struggle with mental health issues, with Julien having OCD and being neurodivergent, and Greg having chronic anxiety and taking medicine which causes libido problems. When Greg is hired to help Julien’s family’s restaurant to get more customers, the two of them clash and turn into work nemeses. Even though, of course, they both find the other one extremely attractive…

Greg was easy to root for already from the beginning, whereas it took me much longer to warm up to Julien. He came across as a bit whiny and stuck up. I especially had a problem with his sommelier manners. I’m very interested in wine myself, and I can understand where he comes from. But even though there certainly are wine and food combinations that are objectively “correct” or at least more accurate, you should never tell the customer they are wrong or look down on their wine choice if they choose not to go with your recommendation. We all have different palettes and wine is supposed to be fun, so Julian’s wine snobbery didn’t sit very well with me. It also felt like a very strange career choice wanting to be a sommelier when he’d had such a bad childhood experience from alcohol and didn’t drink at all himself.

On that note, I was also quite taken back by the scene where Greg tried to force Julien to taste his cocktail. On that note, I was also quite taken back by the scene where Greg tried to force Julien to taste his cocktail. Both Greg and Julien made a lot of questionable choices throughout this book that made it hard to fully root for them at all times, and I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them. I enjoyed the slow burn to start with and the fun work nemeses part (even though it was obvious from the start that they would soon hit it off) but then it suddenly went from friends to lovers and the creation of a sex pact almost out of nowhere. And then the third act with the sudden miscommunication, almost (?) cheating and out of character behavior is just… best left without too many comments.

But I enjoyed the story overall and how it felt more complex and with more depth than your average romcom. I really appreciated the sex positivity with the new take on what satisfying sex can look like, especially the consent parts in both physical and emotional aspects, and the authentic way in which the problems that OCD and medicine can cause in all aspects of life was described. There was a pretty good character growth towards the end and I loved how they eventually dared to be vulnerable and take a leap of faith for each other.

I also absolutely loved Julien’s aunt and uncle and Greg’s friends! They were all so supportive and loving, and the story of how Julien became the child his aunt and uncle couldn’t have themselves was so heartwarming.

So, even though I had some issues with this story, it was all in all a fast-paced, sweet and enjoyable read!

You Had Me at Happy Hour is a tantalizing tale of rivalry and unexpected connections in a quaint Pennsylvania town. As Julien and Greg navigate their complex relationship, readers are drawn into a world of passion and uncertainty. With intriguing characters and surprising twists, this novel is full of delight.

This is the third Timothy Janovsky I've read and he is very consist with mixing light heartedness with more difficult topics. This one in particular has a MC with OCD and one with depression and anxiety.

Things I liked:
Greg's character
Julian's Aunt
The mental health rep and tackling of more difficult topics

What I didn't care for:
Julian- I really struggled to like his character and I think it's because he's written very well and he's just the type of person I wouldn't get along with well (so this is actually a positive on the characterization front.)
The at times choppy pacing
The 3rd act conflict drove me bonkers-this was very heavy on the "we just aren't going to talk to each other so now there's all of these misunderstandings" plot device
Greg hooking up with his ex while in New York, that one really made me sad
The ending in general felt off, something about the pacing and it felt almost rushed

Overall this is a good romance, not a new favorite but I'm going to put it on my recommendation shelf at my library because I think this will appeal to many romance readers!

This was a fun read - I was hooked pretty quickly and fell in love with Greg right away. It took me a little longer to love Julien, but when he did I was rooting hard for them.

Things I loved:
Neurodivergent Rep
Anxiety rep
Medication for mental health
ED rep
Sex toy rep (but like.. For functional use because of the ED)
All the sex talk around the ED rep
Juliens patience and reassurance in the bedroom (he was so sweet!)
Russell & Jessica
Once they started kissing (cute cute cute!)
Julien’s aunt & uncle
the ending & the grand gesture.

What I didn’t love
How some of their relationship development/friendship growth was really fast forwarded over. It felt a little like they suddenly were besties, and ole’ friends with benefits.
The Whiplash, when Greg suddenly was wanting his NYC life back, the third act breakup (sort of?)
Maybe some cheating, or at least walking a fine line of it. All because of some miscommunications, or omissions. (my least favorite trope)

A fun overall read - kept me hooked until the last 25%, and then I was just like ugh, miscommunication breakup!? I still wanted to finis and see their HEA/HFN, and if this is your jam you’ll love it! Overall -- I say... Fun vacation read, lots of great rep that we need in books.

3.5 Stars
3.5 peppers for spice

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin for the ARC copy of this book

A Light-Hearted Spicy Rom-Com with Charming Characters:

"You Had Me at Happy Hour" by Timothy Janovsky is an endearing rom-com that follows the journey of two protagonists, Julien and Greg, as they navigate love, friendship, and personal growth. Julien, a sommelier-in-training, grapples with extreme OCD while dealing with neglectful parents. He finds solace in the supportive home of his aunt and uncle. Greg, a mixologist and TikTok influencer, faces challenges with anxiety and prescriptions that affects his libido. Together, their contrasting yet complementary personalities create a delightful romantic comedy, with some spicy bits.

While the story presents opportunities for emotional depth and character exploration, it occasionally falls short in its execution. Julien's sommelier course is depicted as a pivotal moment in his life, causing him to hesitate about a long-term relationship with Greg. However, since the course only requires him to be away for four days, the buildup surrounding it seems overemphasized and anticlimactic. This lessens the impact of the conflict between Julien and Greg and leaves the reader wanting more depth in the narrative.

Janovsky's writing style captures the essence of a light-hearted, enjoyable rom-com. However, the initial meeting between Julien and Greg could benefit from a smoother approach. The first few chapters, where the characters meet, include frequent backtracking to capture each character’s thoughts during their interaction. This technique can disrupt the narrative’s pace and make the conversation feel choppy.

Despite these minor narrative challenges, the novel offers an engaging experience with a heartwarming happily ever after. For readers seeking a sweet, easy-going romantic comedy that brings smiles, "You Had Me at Happy Hour" is an enjoyable choice. Its quirks and charming moments make it a worthwhile read for those looking for an escape into a world of love, passion, and humor.

Thank you Afterglow Books by Harlequin, NetGalley, and Timothy Janovsky for this eARC

I devoured this book!! This is an auto read author for me now. I loved the very different personalities and getting to really see what was going on. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

This really should have been an easy receive for success. Close proximity, sort of rivals to lovers, and mental health rep? Exactly what I look for in a book but unfortunately, it all felt too rushed for my liking. The transition from sort of work nemesis to friends, didn’t make sense to me. It felt like they both just forgot why they avoided each other and didn’t actually unpack anything. It was even more abrupt when it went from friends to lovers. I was taken aback almost by it and I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two, outside of the sexual context.

And as someone with a rather heavy mental illness, I did like certain aspects of the representation here (the OCD, the intrusive thoughts, the impulsive actions) but when it was hindering the plot, it was glossed over. Love doesn’t stop those compulsions from happening. It doesn’t make those things go away forever and that’s almost how it came across.

I will say that in general, it was a sweet and spicy romance. The banter had its moments and Julian and Greg weren’t terrible characters. Unrealistic, maybe but if you can look past certain parts, it was pretty formulaic and there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that. I hope whatever comes next from this author is a little more creative.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've said it before and I will say it again, Janovsky does. not. miss. It really scratched a specific I've been watching a lot of bistro huddy and want a romance that feels like that itch I've been having. I was left just wanted a little more angst at the end, like I just wish it had been pushed to some big dramatic rather than a reasonable talk resolution. It was super sweet, and I was glad they got past the he doesn't want me he's going to New York but God I really was hoping for a hallmark ass fight where they didn't realize they were saying i love you till they had said it. But I was still kicking my feet all the way through this book and I will continue to happily read whatever Jaovsky writes next because there is always just some secret sauce in these books.

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book! I already loved Timothy Janovsky's writing/storytelling from You're A Mean One, Matthew Prince (a great holiday tale, if you're looking for one), so I feel very fortunate to have gotten an early read of this new one!

This story follows Julien, a sommelier working at his uncle and aunt's restaurant in Pennsylvania, who's saving up money to continue his studies and become a master at his craft. He soon meets Greg, a TikTok-famous mixologist who's left the big city for the small town for a bit of a fresh start. Julien's uncle and aunt are hoping Greg will be just the exciting bartender their struggling restaurant needs to take off. When they're tasked to work together, the two don't hit it off right away. I would call this a full enemies-to-lovers story, but there is some initial dislike... and honestly it's all because they're both judging each other on first impressions!

But seriously -- Greg and Julien are both so so sweet. They each genuinely want to get to know the other and are constantly taking each other's feelings into account. The mental health rep in this book is fantastic. Greg struggles with anxiety and Julien has OCD, and while these things could make it harder for the men to let each other in, it's fantastic to see how they open up to each other and become so comfortable both in and out of the bedroom.

This isn't a *holiday book, per se, but some of it does take place during the Christmas/New Year's season and there are some cozy holiday vibes! I would definitely recommend this one!

Timothy Janovsky's You Had Me at Happy Hour was a great fun read, 4/5 stars!

Plot: Julien, on his way to becoming a master sommelier, currently works at his aunt and uncle's restaurant, Martin's place. However, as business is declining at Martin's Place, his family decides to hire Greg Harlow, a charming TikTok famous mixologist. While neither are looking for a relationship, they set up a friends-with-benefits sort of arrangement together.

Characters: I really loved both Julien and Greg, as well as their story together. Their respective diagnoses were portrayed as a major part of their life, which makes a lot of sense, and was written well. Both characters demonstrated growth in their new relationship pertaining to both their personal stories and potential external factors. However, at one point I was slightly caught off by Greg's seemingly sudden character shift in the last part of the book. The conflict felt rather forced in this way, since the conflict was exacerbated by actions that didn't align with the previous writing.

Thoughts: I thought the mental health representation was depicted well, because even though I don't have these experiences specifically, they seemed genuine and well thought out. Also, since I usually end up reading 1st person POVs, just because the majority of contemporary romance books seem to be 1st person, I was wary at first of the style, but ended up really enjoying it!

I really enjoyed this book, though some parts felt a little off. I would recommend this book though, for anyone looking for a cute vacation read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book was such a good one! I was invested in the story of Julien and Greg, who both work at a bar and restaurant that is struggling a bit. They have to work together to help out the restaurant and life happens. I like this author and will continue to read books from him :)

OKAY. I started this last night at 11pm and stayed up until 8am to finish. I just fell in love with Julien and Greg so quick they refused to let me go.

This was such a lovely little MM romance. It was giving small town, rivals to lovers, all the best tropes. I also really appreciated the neurodivergent rep. That’s what hooked me to these characters because I could really relate to them; their troubles, their successes, and their anxiety 🤣

Nicely fast paced without feeling rushed and the spice was perfect. Not too overwhelming and very well written. I was so sad to let these characters go and would HAPPILY read a follow up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Afterglow Books!

While I don't see the appeal in men named Greg, and I do think that Julien was a little pretentious arguing with a paying customer over what wine they should drink, I really appreciate the anxiety rep in this book. It was really comforting seeing myself in a character like that.

This was another great M/M romance by Timothy Janovsky. Like the previous books of his that I’ve read, this offered a really insightful look into what a relationship may look like between two neurodivergent partners, and even included ED representation, which I rarely see in a romance.

This is giving all the small-town feels, opposites-attract, rival coworkers-to-lovers in a sweet and spicy short novel! I enjoyed this even more than The Hating Game, but it’ll appeal to any fans of Janovsky’s previous books.

Cute, fast-paced, heartfelt rom-com. Rarely do we see stories that focus on neurodivergent characters. Julien and Greg were well flushed out and the stories pacing kept you rooting for them the whole time.

This was such a cute and quick read. I felt like the story was so unique and I love the wine vs cocktail debate that was going on throughout the book. Although, I’m a little upset that we never find out if Julian becomes a master sommelier. This book had its ups and downs and I did find the first quarter of the book to be a little slow. But I loved the spicy scenes and how nothing felt forced when it came to the relationship or the sex between Julian and Greg. I did find it funny to be reading a romance book that mentioned TikTok so much (what a world we’re living in these days). Overall, I loved this book and wanted to be trying the wine and cocktails that were mentioned throughout the book. Plus the fact that it had a happily ever after was the perfect garnish on the cocktail!