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!

You Had Me At Happy Hour by Timothy Javonsky follows Julien, an aspiring sommelier, as he struggles to help keep his family’s failing restaurant afloat all the while navigating his feelings towards Greg, a famous tik tok star who takes a job bartending to help promote business at the restaurant.

Not a lot of books can keep me as entertained and engaged as this one and after a while, I had a hard time convincing myself to put it down. The characters were all interesting in their own ways and I found myself rooting for them up until the very end. The author very clearly knew what he was talking about which was something I found very evident the further along I got.

I loved how the author handled the topics of OCD and anxiety and found it very heartwarming how much care was taken into account for every character who endured it. Would highly recommend.

Julien is a small-town sommelier looking to move toward bigger and better opportunities while Greg is a TikTok star looking to find a home and community that embraces him. When they come together to put on happy hour events to help promote Julien’s family restaurant, sparks begin to fly.
I think the leads are both well developed and have their own differing motivations which are strong and help make the story interesting. The spicy scenes were fun and at points more nuanced than some other similar books – especially while dealing with OCD, ED, and intimacy issues. As usual, when things fall apart, Greg and Julien both make choices that are disappointing, but I think that helps make the payoff at the end of the book more special.
With the clearly different motivations at the beginning of the book, it becomes apparent as you move through the book that what they’re actually looking for isn’t that different and I think that is part of what makes them so enjoyable as characters.
Timothy Janovsky is one of my favorite authors for this kind of book and this one doesn’t disappoint! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book!

If you love a good grumpy/flirty trope story that is delightfully spicy, with a side of anxiety, OCD, and parental issues, this is the book for you!

It can sometimes take me a bit to get into a book, but that didn’t happen with this one. I was hooked from the very beginning.

Julien and Greg have great chemistry together. The way they are able to accept each other’s insecurities is really nice. Both men have some mental health struggles, and they are able to be open with each other about them, which is refreshing to read.

Did I mention it was spicy? That part was very well written as well, if that’s your thing!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher providing the ARC for this book!

I have really enjoyed everything that I have read of Timothy Janovsky's so far and was very excited to be selected to get to read this new story. "You Had Me at Happy Hour" was just as great as everything else. I really enjoyed the discussions around mental health and mental wellness. It was refreshing to have characters embrace that aspect of themselves so fully. The character build up in this book was great. The spiciness was done very well. I gravitated more towards Greg in the story but definitely liked Julien by the end as well. Overall great read.

I recently read the book You had me at happy hour by Timothy Javonsky and found it to be an enjoyable and steamy romance novel. The story follows Julien Boire, an aspiring master sommelier who is focused on his career and avoiding distractions. But when he meets Greg Harlow, the hot new hire at his aunt and uncle's restaurant, he can't help but be drawn to him.

The characters in the book are well-developed, and I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Julien and Greg. Their chemistry is palpable from the start, and the author does a great job of building tension and anticipation as they navigate their no-strings sex pact.

What sets this book apart, however, is its focus on the world of wine and mixology. The author clearly has a deep knowledge of these subjects and incorporates them into the story in a way that is both informative and entertaining. I found myself learning about different types of wine and cocktails while also enjoying the romance between Julien and Greg.

Overall, I would highly recommend You had me at happy hour to anyone looking for a fun and steamy romance novel with a unique setting. The book is well-written and engaging, and the characters are likable and relatable. Whether you're a wine aficionado or just looking for a fun read, this book is sure to satisfy.

This LGBTQIA+ romance story serves its readers a delicious mix of rivalry and attraction. The characters go into emotional depth that, overall, was unexpected for them. The small town but big dreams is a trope I love to read about. It's always something I could kinda relate to. The story was so cute and such a great read for those struggling with emotional vulnerability.

A spicy workplace rivals queer romance between a bartender and a sommelier was the perfect nightcap to spend my evenings with! Greg and Julien were both relatable (in very different ways), and everyone will be able to find something of themselves in them.

I, like Greg, gravitate towards introverted people. I liked how Greg and Julien were able to recognize themselves in each other, even with their different personalities. We do get some classic romance novel tropes, but experienced through the lens of mental health representation- for example, how might a neurodivergent, OCD, or general anxiety disorder brain lead to the miscommunication trope?

The one area where there is no miscommunication is the sex - it was refreshing to have clear communication and boundaries between set by the characters to ensure everyone’s needs were met. The sex in this book is different than any other queer romance I’ve read before. Because of one character’s ED and the other’s OCD, there are lots of creative work arounds for everyone’s pleasure. This is definitely a harlequin romance!

I think this would make a great vacation read. It’s light and fun and makes you want to drink responsibly. A great summer read.

Thanks to Harlequin Books and Net Galley, I was able to secure an eARC of ‘You Had Me At Happy Hour’. #YouHadMeatHappyHour #NetGalley
•
Julien, a grumpy sommelier in training, is working as a server at his Aunt and Uncle’s restaurant, Martin’s Place. When the restaurant takes a dip in popularity, Martin hires Greg, a flirty TikTok mixologist, to help liven up the place. A few weeks into working together, Martin assigns them to create a series of Happy Hours, hoping they will further drive business. Neither Julien or Greg are looking for a relationship, but that’s doesn’t stop them from creating a no-strings sex pact.
•
The chemistry and banter between Julien and Greg is electric; I was locked in from the start! Rooting for and loving these characters comes so easily. Almost every interaction between the two had me giggling and kicking my feet. All of the characters felt like real and relatable individuals. I loved every second of this novel. ‘You Had Me At Happy Hour’ is a (very) steamy workplace romance with great OCD and anxiety representation. Be on the lookout for this new release on July 23!

You Had Me At Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky

The Boy Meets Boy series from Janovsky is very cute and sweet and I love it, but it is a bit low on the spice scale. And then he started writing for Harlequin and I was warned (promised?) spice. First was Fake Dating Game, which scorched my face off, while still having the same charm and heart of his previous books. You Had Me at Happy Hour keeps the high scorch and introduces toys. Yes, please, more toys in romance thank you. But still kept me engaged with very real people with real issues and heart. Balance! Like a fine wine. See what I did there?

Julien Boire is a sommelier at his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, the aunt and uncle who raised him after his alcoholic parents lost parental rights. And you go, what, he’s a sommelier? But the way Julien tries to control the world and his life so no other bad things can surprise him, it makes total sense. Enter Greg, a former TikTok star, and new mixologist at the restaurant. Greg is charming and Julien has no time for this. But then they are forced by his aunt and uncle to work together for the restaurant. I just loved these two. I also really appreciated a story that included the effects of SRIs on a sex drive and the very kind and judgment free way Julien approached that. And also the very hot way lol. And while yes this was sold to me as hotter than Fake Dating Game, this one really got me in the feels. There’s a scene where Julien is talking with his aunt and I just cried. Anyways, a full spectrum of feels going on in this book. PLUS A CHARACTER NAMED AFTER ME. How could I not mention that part? She’s pretty great. And sparkly.

You Had Me at Happy Hour is out July 23, 2024.

my opinions kept going very back and forth about this book from loving it to meh, and back and forth and so on. however, i did overall enjoy this one, the ocd and anxiety representation was really amazing and awesome to read.