This was an adorable holiday romance with one of my favorite tropes: an established couple stumbling, but ultimately renewing their love for each other. (It’s not a spoiler, it’s a romance book, after all!) While I did get annoyed at Patrick and Quinn’s lack of communication, their love for each other was evident on every page, even if their actions were a little misguided. One thing I loved was the emphasis on finding out who you are outside the context of anyone else. It has no bearing on how much you love your spouse, but it’s really important for the health of the relationship overall. I think the pacing could have been a little better. The middle third dragged a bit, but all in all, this was a sweet queer romance for the holidays!

This book was just so much fun. It took so many fun turns, and some not so fun. I really enjoyed every single character and all of their growth. This may just be my favorite holiday book of the year.

I usually don't expect to be blown away with christmas rom coms, but they're just fun and easy to read! This one sadly was not lol I thought Patrick and Quinn were toxic for each other and I just hated the dialogue tbh

This was the most surprising and delightful holiday read. Timothy Janovsky really can do no wrong, but I adored these characters and their dual POV let us into their thoughts.

Patrick and Quinn's new marriage is already struggling with the pressures of owning a fixer upper and both working demanding jobs, but when they accidentally attack Santa Clause and have to take over his job, they're forced to take a break from their life and their problems. But even in someplace as magical as the North Pole, they have to figure out how to fix their relationship.

I thought this was a fun holiday read. I occasionally got frustrated with Patrick's choices, but I loved the way the story wrapped up.

If you've lost your childhood love of Christmas, you may just find what you need in The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky!

This delightful little story starts after the typical "happily ever afters" have finished, making it a fun twist on the norm! Quinn and Patrick's relationship being on the outs means their happily-ever-after is that much more satisfying! Individual and separate character arcs were so heartwarming!

What else?

The gender and sexuality representation was incredible!

Janovsky weaved such magical imagery, which was exactly what I'd expect from Santa land!

This book had me chuckling to myself, jolly as old St. Nick himself!

My hat goes off to Janovsky for teaching me that "travelators" is an actual word!

Mark Sanderli and Zach Barela did an outstanding job with this audiobook narration! Perfect character casting!

This book was like The Santa Claus but for grown-ups. Absolute perfection!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

DNF

1 – one of the main characters is complaining because his husband doesn’t “leave his work at work” and yet he himself is a teacher so obviously you also bring work home so what’s with the double standard
2 – the premise starts with one husband agreeing to host and cook Christmas for his family at their new house without even consulting his husband that’s an immediate no for me like that’s not how relationship works and the husband says oh I’ll let it go because a spouse‘s job is not to create unnecessary drama

When I grabbed this book, I was just looking for new holiday reads - I had NO idea I was going to laugh this hard! This was the perfect blend of cozy mystery and light hearted holiday romance I didn’t know I needed!

This story is told in dual alternating first person by Quinn and Patrick, a couple approaching their first wedding anniversary that are struggling with their connection. For traditional romance readers, this might be a departure from the 'they got married and lived happily ever after', but I really enjoyed the story and how it acknowledges that real life takes continuing compromise and adjustments. Not only is this couple struggling with their relationship, but they also have individual personal and professional issues.

Patrick previously went against his family’s expectations to pursue an architecture degree and now has a position at a big corporate firm, but his creative needs go unfulfilled despite all the hours he puts into rote designs that have no imagination. Patrick also struggles with feeling he should adhere to the traditional man of the household example that his father set. I was a little annoyed with him at times for not considering that he is half of a partnership.

Quinn is an elementary school teacher and while he loves children and teaching, lately the school seems to be doing everything to tie his hands rather than focus on learning, and to suppress his personality. He used to dress feminine and flamboyant but has felt pressured to tone it down over the years due to perceived family and professional expectations until he seems to be just a shadow of his former self.

Their story has a bit of The Santa Clause movie plot to it in that Patrick injures Santa and must choose to take his place or cancel Christmas. I love that movie, and I thought it was cleverly worked into this story of a struggling relationship with two complicated individuals just trying to figure it all out.

I really enjoyed watching this couple reconnect and work things out both individually and as a couple. Their resolution wasn’t any more traditional than the story and while I’ve seen some mixed reviews about this, I thought it was well done and reflects the real life of a lot of couples with jobs that require something other than a traditional 8-5 workday.

Recommended to holiday romance readers looking for something a little different with heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for a copy provided for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the arc I didn't get to in time. This was so cute, I love Timothy Janovsky's novels and this was no exception. I also really love established relationship romances and navigating the after of the happily ever after. A queer riff on The Santa Clause was exactly what I needed and more. I loved both of these characters and how they grew over the course of the story. I listened to the audiobook and really recommend it, both narrators were excellent. If you are looking for a festive queer story I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARCH and MacMillan Audio for an ALC.
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The Santa Clause is one of our family’s favorite Christmas movies and this one gives those vibes. If Scott Calvin had a Merriest Mister instead of a Mrs. Claus.
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I loved Patrick and Quinn. And while their story was fun, it also had its serious times. Mark Sandrelin and Zac Barela did an excellent job narrating and I enjoyed the dual narration.
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Loved the whole North Pole scene, the elves, the family. Especially loved the growth of both Patrick and Quinn throughout their journey, both as a couple and independently.

Quinn and Patrick's marriage is on the rocks. Less than one year in and a divorce is looking more likely than an anniversary celebration. When they knock out a would-be burglar who turns out to be Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, they spend one frantic and magical night forced to work together to keep Christmas from being ruined. Is filling in for Santa really the way to save their marriage, though? Patrick seems to think so. And sure, life at the North Pole is like one big romantic getaway. But Quinn isn't ready to give up his life in the real world for a fantasy. Will working to save Christmas save their marriage--or just push all their problems out into the open?

This was a really well-done second chances romance. I especially enjoyed the fantasy aspects of life at the North Pole and all the Santa Claus lore.

The merriest misters by Timonthy Janovsky is a m/m romance novel that is a holiday story and it was super cute and heartwarming but also hard hitting at the same time! We follow two main characters Patrick and quinn, they met in their college years and fell in love ever since but it's been two years and their relationship is rocky! Patrick gets fired from his job and gets offered a new job. Quinn wasn't a fan of the new job but ended up loving it!!(:
This was a super cute and fun read with some hard hitting topic and I enjoyed it imensley!! I can't wait to read more from Timonthy!! 5 out of 5 stars

The Santa Clause has always been my favorite Christmas movie so this sold me immediately. this was seriously everything I want in a holiday book. like, could not as for better Christmas vibes. I loved Quinn ❤️ Patrick I mostly felt frustrated by. I was honestly on track to give this 5⭐️ for most of it but the last 20% kind of lost me and it ended up feeling a bit long. overall though, I HIGHLY recommend this especially if you love the Santa Clause as much as I do! thank you to @netgalley and @timothyjanovsky for the gifted digital copy ✨

Timothy Janovsky has done it again! I have never been disappointed by his books and this is no exception!

The Merriest Misters is basically the plot of The Santa Clause but with a gay married couple, which is basically the only way that movie could get any better. I loved every moment. The pacing was so good, taking us through so much time without feeling like we’d skipped a beat. The alternating POV chapters intertwined with memories throughout their relationship was absolutely beautifully done.

I felt a little bit like Timothy Janovsky played a bit fast and loose with the rules of Christmas and magic but honestly who am I to judge? It didn’t have any effect my reading speed or want to finish the book. And I’ve seen some people say it was too predictable? Okay? It’s a romance! I loved it regardless!

Anyways if you need a magically sweet Christmas read, grab The Merriest Misters!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🎅🏼 LGBT rep
🎅🏼 M/M love story ❤️
🎅🏼 Christmas movie references
🎅🏼 dual POV
🎅🏼 dual timelines

I had definitely heard of this author before and have been meaning to read one of his works, and I am so happy that this was my very first Timothy Janovsky 💕
The Santa Clause movies are my absolutely favourite holiday movies 💕💕 so I knew before I even started that I was going to love this book ❤️💚❤️💚 This book also referenced many of my favourite Christmas movies! So I knew I was in for a treat 😁
I really really enjoy this author’s writing style! I love the humour and the snark ❤️❤️ if makes for a very enjoyable read!
I loved all the puns and jokes in this book 🤪🤪 It was exactly my humour and I was laughing-out-loud multiple times throughout the book 🤣🤣
I was really happy to see that all the chapters had titles ❤️❤️ We rarely ever see that anymore so any time I do see it it brings me back to reading books as a child when they always had chapter titles ❤️❤️ Little added details like this make the book so much more enjoyable to read ❤️ I really appreciate the author putting in this extra work to make a truly enjoyable reading experience.
I really liked all of the characters in here they were all so sweet and nice! I obviously really loved all the elves at the North Pole ❤️❤️ I always knew that I was going to enjoy this author, and now I am so excited to read the rest of his books!

This book was beyond cute and so much more Christmas-y than I expected !! Patrick and Quinn have a dilemma after they knock out Santa - uh oh , which one of them will take on the job of being the new Santa ?!

I loved how Quinn and Patrick’s relationship evolved to exactly what they needed by the end, they created their own unique lifestyle that worked for them rather than following through with the “traditional” way a relationship is expected to roll out. So heartwarming!

Filled with Santa, elves , and all the Christmas magic you can imagine. Perfect little holiday read!

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky
Pub Date: 10/1/24 - out now!
Format: ebook/audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Ho ho ho it’s another queer holiday romcom recommendation! This is an adorable (closed door) romance from Janovsky and it was chock full of humor and heart!

It took me a minute to get into this book due to my grinch like abilities and the need to truly suspend your disbelief with the magical realism aspects of the novel. It felt a little rushed in points and between that and them literally being whisked to the North Pole, I was a little bit skeptical to say the least.

As the book continues on though, I fell in love with these characters (main and supporting) so much and was obsessed with the way Janovsky gave his merriest misters a HEA that fit their characters to the core.

Highly recommend giving this one a go if you need an extra sprinkling of holiday joy! Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ear.c in exchange for an honest review!

Ironically, I'm writing this review while watching The Santa Clause, which probably tells you all you need to know.

THE MERRIEST MISTERS is the fanciful story of Quinn and Patrick, who are struggling after their recent marriage. Quinn is the stressed out teacher pretending to be something he's not, while Patrick, a recently fired architect (something he's keeping from his husband) just wants to make everyone happy (major daddy issues) and to "support" Quinn as the breadwinner.

However, those problems get set aside when they clock Santa with a frying pan on Christmas Eve and one of them must put on his golden cloak and take over Santa duties at the North Pole.

This story is cute and a bit cheesy--it certainly would work well as a Hallmark or Netflix movie. It has heavy queer Santa Clause vibes. On the positive side, it has such a wonderful, diverse cast--yay for holiday inclusivity! It explores being yourself and non-traditional gender roles, as well as the importance of being there for queer youth. It's not quite as Christmas-y as more a look into relationships, with plenty of focus on the issues in Quinn and Patrick's marriage. It's fantastical but an enjoyable holiday romance.

A fun and festive story to keep me in the holiday spirit. I liked the play on The Santa Claus movie and the flashbacks to the beginning of the MCs. I did find the miscommunication between the characters frustrating and irritating at times, but that may be my dislike of the trope more than the usage of the trope itself.