I wish authors would ramp up drama with something other than the third act breakup, but other than that, I really enjoyed this! Both MCs are flavors of neurodivergent and they're both so likable as characters. I also really liked the conversations on mental health.

Timothy Janovsky's YOU HAD ME AT HAPPY HOUR is a one-sitting kind of read that's gay, steamy and explores topics like OCD, ED, abandonment, alcoholism and more. Ultimately the prose and writing style isn't necessarily a stand out for me, but I appreciate any and all queer stories. For the most part.

This just doesn't quite work. There are some good bits and pieces that could make for a lovely romance story, but it just really doesn't come together.

As some other reviewers have described -- the charater arcs don't quite... arc. The characters don't seem internally consistent sometimes / their goals & personalities too changeable. The romance itself is weirdly paced & also doesn't work. The early anticipation of Greg & Julien is good, but the way they intially get together and then how the relationship progresses kinda loses all spark. And the 11th hour 'obstacles' are just weird -- there's this big deal of Julien going away, but it's for a THREE day trip, and then Greg goes totally off the rails with his previously stated goals/new plans for his life & does a 180 to go back to NYC with very little deliberation or rationale. There's not even miscommunication during the latter part of the book - just NO communication.

And it tries to cover too much -- we've got OCD, Generalized anxiety disorder, childhood trauma, ED due to SSRI prescription ...... all legit representations, but perhaps trying to pack a bit much in, but then there's Julien having this passion to be a sommelier....but never drinking alcohol. I know we're in romance-land here, and we should all pursue our dreams but...... really?

I like the premise and the whole bartender/somm antagonism -- enemies to friends to lovers etc; and family restaurant, and even Greg's 'escape from the city' storyline and Julien's 'growing into taking over the restaurant someday' storyline could all work -- but some significant reworking/editing/changes from its current state would be needed.

Fun read - was able to read it in one quick sitting. Entertaining, but not something I am likely to re-read time and time again.

This was sweet and complex, with a lot to like. Julien is a sommelier at his aunt and uncle’s restaurant and feeling rather stuck, looking for a way to take the next step in his career. Greg is a TikTok famous bartender whose views have tanked and he’s looking for a fresh start. When he’s hired on at Martin’s Place to mix custom cocktails and hopefully bring in a fresh young clientele, he immediately clashes with Julien and it takes them a while to get comfortable.

I found Julien a bit hard to understand, and I think that was purposeful. He did not drink due to trauma from his neglectful, alcoholic parents, and mistrusts Greg on instinct due to his work with hard liquor. It felt a bit odd that Julien would choose a career as a sommelier which involved selling wine that he refused to drink. Julien also has OCD, fear of abandonment and some social anxiety, but he grew on you.

Greg was a little more straightforward, but had GAD and was facing some heavy debt he’d incurred living above his means. Sex was a challenge for him due to side effects from his SSRI. The beginning of his and Julien’s sexual relationship was basically like “hey, we’re both kinda quirky with sex, let’s see if our quirks are compatible” which was an odd beginning but it worked. Of course as they spent more time together, in bed, filming TikToks and hosting happy hours, they developed feelings.

I absolutely loved the mental health representation, and it was great to see characters with realistic sex issues still have great sex. They used a plethora of toys to make things work in the beginning which was a lot of fun to read. Also both had some character growth over the course of the book, although neither felt completely like the healthiest version of themself.

The book lost a bit for me because the characters have motivations that are never quite resolved- Julien keeps saying that he wants to leave but then he doesn’t, and Greg said all he wanted was to stay but he ran away at the first opportunity. I also didn’t love that Greg hooked up with an ex during the 80% breakup, it felt coerced and off to me. I still enjoyed the story and characters overall, though.

Timothy Janovsky had done it again! Honestly, by this point, I can't imagine one his books ever letting me down. You Had Me at Happy Hour won me over from the very first page and I was fully invested immediately. I absolutely adored the characters, especially Julien. They were so supportive and understanding of each other and I LOVED them both so much. I love the way Janovsky incorporated real life situations like Julien's OCD and family history and Greg's anxiety and trouble in the bedroom while still crafting a wonderful and captivating romance at the center that helped me escape the real world for a couple hours. As someone who is also nuerodivergent, I found the characters relatable and endearing.

This was honestly an amazing read and I cannot recommend it enough.

thank you to net galley and harlequin - romance for this eARC!

i enjoyed this book i think. it took a sec but by the end i was definitely having a good time. i think i had really high expectations and then the beginning just didn’t quite hit that. however i really dont think that the book is to be blamed, i think thats just how books are. especially because i didn’t love this writing style, i just didn’t know the characters well enough or care about them enough to be able to ignore that. that said, once i did care about them it was very easy for me to speed through the book. i do really like these characters, however i feel like the character development at the end was maybe a bit rushed? if thats the kind of thing you care about 🤷‍♀️ it didn’t really get in the way of my enjoyment. really, the book was good, i dont know if i’d read it again and the end was a little fast, but it was definitely good and i enjoyed myself.

Thank you to Harlequin Romance and Netgalley for this ARC. Timothy's writing is admittedly a little all over the place book to book. Never Been Kissed is probably at the top of my favorite queer books list while The Fake Dating Game would...not be on that list. This one falls somewhere between the two. Julien and Greg are nice and believable characters with interesting neurodivergent layers to explore. But miscommunication is my most loathed and upsetting trope and it played into this story in a big way. The spice was a nice touch that was complex and like nothing I've read before which was a great touch. The back third of the book just left me a little bit angrier than I would have wanted to be. Still an enjoyable read!

I read this in one sitting, it was that good. Such a cute story with lovable characters.

There was the grumpy x sunshine dynamic with the main characters so of course I liked this book. The relationship was written nicely and really showed how much they cared for and respected the other. Going from rivals to friends to having a sex pack, could it lead to more? No spoilers but the last few chapters were a bit of a roller coaster, though I think it ended rather well.

Overall, it was a pretty lighthearted and humorous read. Also the cover to this looks amazing, probably one of my favorite covers so far.

You Had Me at Happy Hour was objectively a good romance book.

It had all the right bits but somehow the sum of its parts didn’t entirely lead me to a satisfying whole. It’s difficult to describe why this has been my take but I’ve narrowed it down to the immediate attraction of it all. I highly enjoyed the fact that Julien and Greg were both messy characters experiencing completely different, but very realistic struggles. There was no overstated perfection that also really helped them feel real. I found the existence and eventual resolution of the plot behind the romance to be satisfying and important to keep up the element of realism. In short, this has a more plot-over-vibes approach which I think fits well into the narrative.

And yet I’m a thrill chaser. I wished there had existed more initial dislike, followed by eventual pining instead of vice-versa. I longed for more heated interactions or some slower development of their relationship. I did particularly enjoy the angst towards the third act, not the lack of communication per se, but I thrived in the hurt of it all (not sure what’s wrong with me either, sorry).

In all, I had a good time reading You Had Me at Happy Hour and I will be purchasing the physical edition of when it’s released in July 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing access to this ARC! What a fun romcom! The dual narrators, Julien and Greg, are equally endearing. The author did a good job portraying their neurodivergence and complexity amidst the lightness of the rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance. The predictable misunderstanding was predictably resolved but still enjoyable. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a book that’s both sweet and spicy. (It’s too spicy for my students but I’ll definitely recommend it to my friends and colleagues)

hey, hi, another big win for Timothy!

this book has a little enemies to lovers vibe to it, then morphs into a golden retriever bf/black cat bf kind of thing, and then turns into a very sweet story about the vulnerability of love and what it takes it open up to someone.

Julien and Greg are two wonderfully layered and dimensional characters. they're a lot better than your average romance protagonists, and further prove timothy's ability to create real people on the page.

there's some great mental health rep in there. Julien's OCD was woven into the story in a way that was understanding/accepting and not seen as some personal fault of his. and Greg's own mental health journey did an incredible job of deepening the story.

and let's talk about sex, baby. what i loved about these spicy scenes were how instrumental they were to the story and characters. they weren't plopped in there to fill some sex scene quota (which don't get me wrong, i enjoy) but they're designed and executed in a way to help understand these guys and their motivations and their growing relationship more. Timothy does a great job of introducing more realistic and diverse gay sex in this book!

i related to these guys a lot more than i expected and walked away feeling more seen that i've ever felt. it was beautiful!

available july 23 :)

I loved this book! Truly enjoyed it from start to finish. I picked it up expecting a fun little romance and instead found myself reading a book full of so much heart and real emotion. So many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read one of my favorite books this year a little early!
The characters in this story were so well done. They felt so real and fully formed to me. They were flawed and did not always make the “right” decisions at first, but watching them come to terms with that and grow past those choices really resonated with me. And truly made me love them even more! One of the best romances with neurodivergent characters I have ever read. If you’ve read and loved other books by Timothy Janovsky you will not want to miss this one!

You Had Me at Happy Hour follows Julien, an up and coming sommelier working at his aunt and uncles restaurant and Greg, the washed up TikTok star who is hired as the new bartender.

This story was so cute. I really enjoyed the characters and how real the issues they faced are. It gave them so much more depth and the problems they face, both alone and together, were things I find commonly skimmed over in MM romance novels. I appreciated the book tackling issues like mental health, ED, and OCD and how it can negatively affect dating within the queer community. It was the perfect blend of spice and feel good and I read it in less than a day. Julien and Greg are such interesting characters and they have such realistic quirks and personalities. I think a lot of queer people, gay men especially, will feel represented while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Timothy Janovsky, & Harlequin for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for my honest review ♡

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

I almost gave up on this book in the opening chapters as I thought “here we go, another enemies to lovers story where the enemies will be banging each other’s brains out soon and that will be pretty much it”. But I was wrong; I’m glad I didn’t give up; in fact this story had plenty of struggles and baggage on both sides, including some challenges with sex and intimacy. Eventually these were overcome and it was a rewarding journey. I’m happy to recommend this book!

Timothy Janovsky never misses! This book captured my attention from the start and kept me hooked the whole time. Definitely recommend reading any content warnings, but even though it deals with heavy topics, it felt well done and still overall light.

Julien wants to get out of PA, and his Sommelier classes are helping that dream. As he works on his qualifications, he gets the opportunity to travel to learn on his way to a becoming Sommelier Master. This is what he needs to get out of PA and away from the memories that are everlasting.

Greg needs to start over somewhere. He had his chance in NYC, but he needs something new. As a famous bartending TikToker, he finds the perfect opportunity to flee - a position at a struggling restaurant and a vacant room at his cousin's house.

Their first interaction is a meet-disaster, but they have to make things work out. After all, they work together and are both experts on their alcoholic beverages. After being forced to put on 2 Happy Hours a week, they get to know each other. And after some time, realize there could be a mutually beneficial arrangement between them.

The rep in this book was done beautifully! There is both Generalized Anxiety Disorder and OCD rep (one per MC), along with erectile dysfunction due to SSRI usage. Also discussions of alcoholism and the effects of alcoholic parents, including a previous car accident that is mentioned. Definitely recommend reading content and trigger warnings. I thought these topics were handled very well, and both MCs are/were in therapy and it is very clear!!

Absolutely recommend this book! I loved seeing their growth and ability to support each other and take care of themselves!

Thank you Afterglow Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

Timothy Janovsky had ME at Happy Hour in this newest swoon-worthy romance!

You Had Me at Happy Hour follows two main protagonists, Greg, a mixologist who seems to be having a pretty successful moment on TikTok, and Julien, a sommelier-in-training. Julien has worked at Martin's Place for a while and isn't having a great time lately. Enter Greg who has been called in to help drum up business for the restaurant. When the boys are forced to work together to ensure that the restaurant comes out on top, what starts as a rivalry soon becomes something more.

Just like in any Timothy Janovsky novel, I fell in love with the characters first. He has such a way of weaving characters together to make you fall in love with them and want to protect them from any harm that may come their way. Something somewhat different in this novel was that we got alternating perspectives from the characters. I really loved getting both perspectives and thought it made this story so fast-paced. I was racing to figure out how these two love birds were going to wind up.

Another component of this story that is NEXT TO NONE - is Timothy Janovsky's ability to make me tear up at the end. The character development and emotional impact of his books continue to just pull me in and not let me go. I can already tell you that these two boys will be taking up space in my brain for months and years to come.

This book is one that readers everywhere are going to enjoy. Fans of this author's other works and new fans alike will be racing to the shelves to grab this romantic comedy. Grab a copy, mix yourself a drink, and happy reading!

Thank you to Afterglow Books by Harlequin and Netgalley for this eARC.

I breezed through this one pretty quickly. This was my first book by Janovsky, and I can attest that he writes characters that are easy to know and come to love. The plot of this book was good, and then out of nowhere comes this third-act situation, that after getting to know the characters, I was confused how it even happened. It tackles some pretty heavy topics gracefully, such as ED, OCD, alcoholism, and abandonment. This one also has a great cast of side characters, and good level of spice.

I will definitely read Janovsky again, I think this mix just didn't itch the right spot in my brain, personally.

Thank you Afterglow and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A very enjoyable read! Julian lives in a small town in Pennsylvania, he works at his uncle and aunts restaurant and dreams of becoming a Master Sommelier. The problem is he has to work through the steps to get their and the money is steep. Plus he’s not sure how his uncle and aunt will take the news that he wants to leave. Not to mention that his friends with benefits just left town so he’s in a bit of a dry spell. With his OCD finding someone who meets his requirements is a difficult. Greg just started working at Martin’s Place. He just left New York where his TikTok career took a dive, his boyfriend dumped him because he couldn’t preform sexually, and he wracked up massive debt. But he’s a whizz at making cocktails. Now forced to work together Julien and Greg must come up with a way to make the happy hours at Martin’s Place the happening thing. The situation might just be what they are looking for as they embark on a friends with benefits situation. But with neither looking for a long term thing can they keep it casual? And how might their situationship impact their long term goals? Equal parts, sweet, charming, sexual, and funny! I always have a good time with a Timothy Janovsky book! I loved both Greg and Julien and the way they related to one another was so heartwarming! With disability representation that was relatable! If you enjoy steamy rom coms then I highly recommend this one!

*Thank you to Harlequin Romance for providing me an early copy of this book!

*TWs: Mentions of alcoholism, detailed conversation of mental illness (anxiety, OCD)

You Had Me At Happy Hour follows Julien (a sommelier with OCD who’s going through a sexual dry spot due to his rules for his partners) and Greg (a TikTok famous mixologist whose anxiety medication causes big problems in the bedroom) as Greg starts working at the same restaurant as Julien. To help each other out of their respective dry spells, they form an exclusive no-feelings-attached sex pact, but when new men and old flames pop up, they begin to question if feelings were ever really off the table.

This was cute! I’ve read a lot of books with the same basic plot structure lately, and this is one of the first to not sound tedious or dry. The plot points actually happened for a reason, and the characters drove them home with real ambitions and struggles.

The representation is also some of the best I’ve seen. Julien’s OCD isn’t made out to be a total character flaw, and it doesn’t magically go away when he’s with Greg. Same with Greg’s neurodivergence and anxiety. They’re both just people who also happen to have differences, and it’s never a problem in their relationship. They’re understanding of each other and willing to find ways to enjoy themselves alongside, not in spite of, those differences. The main thing being that Greg’s SSRI causes erectile dysfunction.

Julien is a sommelier who doesn’t drink. To talk about why this stands out to me, I need to spoil the reason he’s sober. So, minor SPOILERS for the duration of this paragraph. Julien chooses not to drink because his parents were both alcoholics, and when he was pretty young his mother got a DUI with him in the car. He’s likely genetically predisposed to addiction and doesn’t want to turn out the way his parents did. As someone also predisposed to addiction and who’s suffered abuse at the hands of an alcoholic, I’ve never seen a character like Julien on the page before. It’s always about religious beliefs or values, which don’t play a part in my decisions. I’ve never felt represented in that way before reading this.

I think the pacing was great—it’s easy to fly through without missing anything. The characters really were the highlight, especially their understanding for each other.

And the acknowledgements were cute, lol.

*Crossposted to GoodReads*