Wow, is Santa a complete and total asshole! Honestly, that is my main takeaway from this whole book (j/k!) I really really enjoyed this book! It was way more complex of a story then I thought it was going to be. I assumed it would be a cozy holiday romance, with the Prince of Christmas falling in love with the Prince of Halloween. And I do really love the romance between the two. Their banter is top notch. But there is so much more to the story! Mental health and self esteem issues are, in my opinion, handled very well. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of Cole's character, and how he really comes into his own in the book. I also enjoyed all the political intrigue and machinations in the book as well. The side characters were great, I loved the dynamics between Cole and Chris and Nora, some of their interactions made me laugh out loud. I cannot wait to see their story continue in future books!

TW: Parental abandonment and emotional abuse, sibling death (off page, in the past), sexy times

Nicholas, Coal, wants one things from this Christmas, not to think of all the ways he's fucked up in the last few years. Between his last failing relationship, bankrupting an entire country, and a kiss with a handsome stranger, he just wants to survive this holiday season. Until his father announces that he's courting his best friend, princess of Easter. And that there's competition in the form of the prince of Halloween. It all boils to a breaking point when Coal finds out the prince is the handsome stranger he kissed and that something is going horrible wrong in his holiday. What's a young man to do?

This book was everything I was hoping for. An anxious main character full of growth, camaraderie amongst family and friends, the joys of the holidays, and the swooniest romance. A perfect balance of court politics, holiday merriment, and flirtation so hot it makes ice melt. Quickly paced and a joy to read.

I loved this one so much! Hallmark with a bit more drama and a good amount more spice! The tagline of RWRB meets The Nightmare Before Christmas is spot on in a perfect meld of the Christmas Prince and Halloween Prince falling fast and hard for one another in this book!

Sometimes I'll read a summary and think, I'm so glad this author thought to write this because I never knew I needed it until now. Kissmas is a perfect example because it is exactly my type of story. Coal is a perfectly flawed but loveable character looking to better himself and live up to what HE wants from life, as well as his oncoming responsibilities as Santa's eldest son. I loved him as a narrator and every other character had just as unique of a voice that they all remained interesting and not one seemed to fall to the sidelines (Hex, Iris and Kris respectively).

I enjoyed the underlying politics of the holidays and how this world was crafted to incorporate them alongside the regular world. Absolutely looking forward to book 2 to follow Kris' love story next!

I had SO MUCH FUN listening to this book!!! This is a silly royal romantasy with a hefty helping of holiday spice.

The Crown Prince of Christmas, Coal (short for Nicholas) is kind of a f*ck up. (See that nickname, chosen expressly to annoy his father.) He's a bad student about to graduate with his bachelor's, dodging the holiday paparazzi and trying to forget the last time he took his job seriously because he almost ruined a whole country's economy. His father calls him home for the holidays and announces that he's arranged Coal's marriage to Iris, part of the royal court of Easter. Iris is his best friend, but Coal does NOT want to marry her ... but he can't see any way to get out of the situation without making things bad for her. When the Halloween court finds out about the possible Christmas/Easter merger, they protest. As a compromise, the Crown Prince of Halloween, Hex, is sent to "compete" for Iris's hand. But there's something rotten in the state of Christmas, and it's not just that Coal finds Hex irresistibly hot.

So yeah, this is an absolutely ridiculous setup. I know that I am on the record as someone who just doesn't love New Adult romances OR the first person, present tense POV that often goes along with them. And yet listening to this was a supremely enjoyable experience. Narrator Ellis Evans does the absolute most with Coal's dramatic/anxiety-ridden inner voice, and managed to sell me lines like "Joy tithes. These Holidays send a percentage of their accumulated joy to Christmas" with the perfect mixture of tension and a sense of the ridiculous. Truly, the narration adds a full star to my rating.

Look, this is fun, funny, has a lot of spice (my ears were burning), and takes itself exactly as seriously as it should (meaning that I believed that Coal realizing his dad was kind of a capitalistic Grinch was both a revelation to the character but also did not stop me from laughing at the whole situation. This is perfect for spooky season, Christmas, and all of the holidays in between.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

Fun queer holiday romance/Nightmare Before Christmas retelling that can be read anytime between now and Christmas.

I just loved this book so much! It's funny, it's sexy, it has substance...I'm thrilled it's going to be a series and I'm so ready for the next one!

This was good story. Not great, but good. I struggled a bit and I know this is a classic case of, “it’s not you, it’s me,” since everyone I know that read it, loved it.

Thank you @brambleromance @macmillan.audio #partner for the free copies of this book!

Oh. Em. Gee. This book! Committees for all the holidays coming together to save the joy in the world? All wrapped into a love story, laugh out loud one liners AND audio that was PERFECT for this book with a neat little Christmas bow on top?! Sign me up every time for Sara’s books! I LOVED this one! I cannot sing enough praise about this book. The humor alone puts this in a winning category! I don’t know but when I put this book down I felt like I wanted to give Sara a call and ask her to be friends with me! Ha! This book to me felt like the perfect holiday book…don’t get me wrong it may sound young however it was anything but. There is definitely some spice and the politics made this all adult but I’m telling you the romance and wittiness of this book is what sold me. It could easily be a holiday movie I’d watch! I need more of these characters and can’t wait for the second book! 5 stars from me!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
Narrator: Ellis Evans
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 10/8

Thank you to Bramble Romance for my gifted copy, and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook! #macaudio2024

Nicholas “Coal” Claus has mixed feelings about becoming the next Santa. He’s not feeling Christmas anymore, especially with his dad (the current Santa) forcing him into an arranged marriage with Iris, the Easter Princess—who also happens to be his best friend. But things get really interesting when Hex, the Prince of Halloween, shows up to compete for Iris’s hand. What starts as a competition quickly turns into something steamy between Coal and Hex, and you can’t help but root for them.

I loved this one! The dynamic between Coal and Hex is so well done. They have incredible chemistry and their story is full of sweet, sexy moments that make their connection feel real. Hex is everything you’d want in a Halloween prince—mysterious, witty, and totally charming—and he’s the perfect match for Coal, who’s trying to figure out his place in the whole holiday world.

The friendship and brotherly love between Chris, Coal, and Iris, is heartwarming, and I just loved how they were always there for each other. The banter and pranks were hilarious and had me laughing out loud.

The story has clever nods to holiday traditions, and the idea of how the holidays feed off joy is like a fun spin on Monsters Inc. (Which my son pointed out to me when I was explaining the plot of this book). It’s the perfect mix of romance, humor, and holiday magic. If you’re into Red, White, and Royal Blue or The Nightmare Before Christmas, you’ll love this one. It’s witty, heartfelt, and just the right amount of steamy—definitely a must-read for the holiday season!

I absolutely loved this book on audio! The narrator had the perfect tone for Coal and made this book incredibly fun to listen to.

Read if you like:
*The Nightmare Before Christmas
*M/M romance
*found family
*opposites attract
*single POV
*open door spice

This is a very entertaining story that is inspired by the traditions of Christmas and Halloween. The play on these holidays is cute and I enjoyed the personalities of Hex and Coal and the way they fell for each other despite their families being enemies. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and I'm hoping they get their own story. The audiobook was a delight to listen to and the narration by Ellis Evans is perfection.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas made my list of most anticipated new Christmas romance books for 2024 and it did NOT disappoint. Raasch wrote such a fun and unique holiday romance that will have you swooning at the love interests, laughing at her hilarious puns and really thinking about what the joy of every holiday means to you.

This was my first book by Raasch and I was blown away by her writing. Not only did she create such a fun story and have impeccable writing that made the story flow, but she made me laugh so hard in spots while also really making me ponder how the holidays have become so commercial losing their focus on the joy they are meant to inspire.

I’ve always loved the spirit of the Christmas season but I honestly never thought about the joy of Halloween like Hex outlined in this story. Halloween represents the joy that can be found even in the darkness and I guess I’ve never thought of it that way, especially for someone who is struggling with grief.

Raasch could have chosen to write your average MM romance but this was so much more and I devoured every page. I loved the twist on the arranged marriage between best friends when the real romance blossomed in the forbidden.

It was so easy to become obsessed with Coal. I loved this man who definitely came across as a hot mess in the beginning but he was someone who truly loved the joy of Christmas. It broke my heart how he viewed himself initially, but I loved how he pushed through his self-doubt and negative self-talk and worked to save Christmas.

And then there is Hex who also showcased how amazing Raasch is at characterization. As the Prince of Halloween he definitely had this air of mystery surrounding him but when he spoke and shared his darkest feelings, I fell so hard for him right along with Coal. I just wanted to swoop in and give him a big hug.

Their attraction was so believable even if quick and I absolutely loved the delicacy, consent and honesty that underlined every action of their relationship and intimacy.

I cannot recommend this book enough for the incredible storyline, the romance and the thought-provoking it inspires.

You’ll love this if you enjoy:
• Hilarious puns
• Texting that is both funny and hot
• MM romance with the sweetest of cinnamon rolls
• Spice with really hot consent

This book doesn’t quite complete two aspects of the story leaving you on a bit of a cliffhanger but there is no question that I’m reading book two in this series!

*Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I should have guess that this would be a gay romance. I would have been fine with it except that it felt so very juvenile and silly.

I would classify this as gay YA romance/fantasy

Thanks for the opportunity to read this title.

Since I did not finish the book I will not be leaving a review on any purchasing sites.

It has been a long time since a book had me actually giggling out loud, or staying up late to read. Perfect for people who loved RWRB and want a little more holiday spice thrown in! One of my favorites this year

Thank you NetGalley and Bramble for the ARC! Nicholas “Coal” Claus is having a rough night. He and his girlfriend have recently parted ways and he just messed up the whole economic stability of a small country in order to grant all of their Christmas wishes. Coal is the heir to Santa Claus and used to love Christmas. All he wanted was to get a bit of that love and magic back, but now he's seen as a screw up. Escaping to a bar, he ends up unloading his feeling on a handsome stranger and the two share a passionate kiss before the man vanishes from his life. Now a year later, Coal is still trying to rebuild his reputation and his father has come up with the perfect plan, Coal will marry his best friend Iris, the daughter of Easter (who Coal's brother has always had a crush on) united the joy of the two holidays. Coal relutantly goes along with it, but a wrench has been thrown into the plan when the Autumn holidays, lead by Halloween oppose the union. To quell the mob, Santa proposes that representatives vie for Iris's hand and she will choose who to marry. But when the representative from Halloween, Hex, arrives, Coal is shocked to discover that it is the handsome man from the bar that he hasn't been able to stop thinking about. Can Coal find a way to get the real joy back to Christmas, prove himself to be a worthy heir, and somehow win the heart of the man he loves? A delightful holiday romance!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🌈 Queer Romance
🎄 Holiday Princes
🫶🏻 Forbidden Romance
🔥 Slow Burn

Red White and Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect description for this quirky holiday romance!

If you love Halloween or Christmas, I think you will for sure enjoy this one. Those happen to be my two absolute favorite holidays which meant I looooved all the holiday lure. The main characters are named Coal and Hex. How could you not love that?

It was super interesting reading about a world where all the courts were basically all of the holidays.

Coal and Hex were adorable together. It was more of a slow burn but the chemistry was off the charts and the situations they ended up in were cute and funny.

The only thing I wanted more of was to see Hex’s Halloween court/home because I could always use more things spooky! 🦇🦇🦇

I wanted to love this book so much but I have to settle for just liking it. The main character is funny and sassy with a large failure complex which is relatable. I screamed when he finger gunned at his love interest and called him daddy. It felt like a personal attack because like Same!!!! My main issue is with the ending, it feels like there really isn’t one. It ends feeling unfinished. The main couple is together but the issues with daddy Santa and the winter holidays feels hollow and unresolved. Like not much actually resolved as it ends with the meeting about to happen. It feels like there should be more. I heard there is a sequel so maybe that is intentional but it felt cut off.

I’ve had this ARC for quite some time, more than 6 months to be exact, I don’t think I was ready in February to read a Christmas ARC. But holy cow, let me tell you. This was EPIC. Coal & Hex, Princes of Christmas and Halloween meet 1.5 years prior where they share a heated moment that Coal is convinced he might have imagined.

Fast forward when they reconnect, freaking MAGIC. Literally. I loved the politics of the holidays, the BANTER, oh the banter. This spice was mild-ish but it was fabulous. The curse words and the flying pumpkins and ghosts. It was amazing. I need an Iris and Kris story, please!

This book deserves the big screen!

This is the perfect and most hilarious holiday read you need to add to your tbr right now! I got an eARC from NetGalley and once I started reading I had the toughest time putting this one down. Raasch put a brand new spin on the holidays by turning them basically into royal courts where they are all competing to bring the most joy so they can have more magic. This leads to arranged marriages, scandals, and political intrigue as they fight it out. Of course Raasch tells the tale through Coal, one of the Christmas Princes, who prefers to laugh his way through life. I will straight up tell you I laughed out loud several times while reading this book. Oh and the best part is Coal is smitten with the Prince of Halloween, which is a big no no, because Christmas isn’t aligned to Halloween. Oh the intrigue and scandal! This was a 5 star read for me and I highly recommend you add it to your holiday tbr pile! 🎃🎄

DNF at 15%
I think the tone of this book is what is throwing me off. At first, it was like I expected- goofy and fun, but it quickly took itself VERY seriously. The Holiday Court machinations felt almost dystopian or high fantasy but the characters are using cell phones and followed by paparazzi. I think if it weren’t for the magical elements and it was fictional countries being discussed it wouldn’t bother me, but continuously hearing about how demanding of a father Santa is and how the rulers are forcing their kids to get married was unpleasant. I was looking for more levity and humor that just wasn’t there.

Coal is the Christmas Prince who can't seem to get anything right. And heavy is the crown.

But this romcom is anything but!

I loved it so much! I smiled throughout all of Coal's efforts and mishaps - and Hex is absolutely beautiful.

This world Raasch has fashioned is beautiful. These characters, the whole found family cast of holidays come to life, are amazing. Fanfiction, written well, and new adult enough to be fun without being too "cute". It's rough and dark, but sweetness and joy.

"I'm counting on joy to be stronger than whatever waiting for me."