This book was so good! It was a great mix of spicy and cozy and held my attention the whole way through. Highly recommend.

Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky is a contemporary romance. On the closed door/open door/in the room/in the bed heat scale, this book puts you in the bed with the main characters.

What I loved:

I always love Timothy Janovsky’s characters, and Taylor and Ethan are two more delightful guys I loved watching fall in love. Ethan has ADHD that's only recently been diagnosed. He's spent a lot of his life feeling like his challenges with executive function are moral failings, and especially like his ex-wife Amy saw them that way. He's a dad who lives on the opposite coast from his daughter, which breaks his heart a little all the time. He's bi which sets him up for frustrations when he tries to date, as the men he meets are always surprised by this and often aren't comfortable dating someone who is also attracted to women. He is deeply lonely.

Taylor is the second oldest kid in a family with many siblings. His older brother took off young and his parents are inattentive and flakey, which leaves him as the primary caretaker for all his sibs. He's very good at taking care of people. He's been working as Amy’s assistant for three years, waiting for a promotion, and quietly making sure she has everything she needs to keep her business running smoothly. But it seems like no one ever takes care of him.

In my favorite romances, the people in the relationship each are able to be exactly what the other person needs. Taylor is able to meet Ethan’s ways of coping with ADHD with compassion. Ethan shows Taylor that he deserves to be cared for as much as he cares for others. I love how these two are like puzzle pieces specifically carved to fit together.

I also love the way fairy tales suffuse the story. The resort where it's set is inspired by fairy tales. Taylor and Ethan read fairy tales together. Taylor starts out their time together staying in the Snow White Cottage. I'm sure Timothy Janovsky chose this fairy tale to highlight her specifically. I'm choosing to imagine it's because he is a Disney fan and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first Disney fairy tale feature adaptation.

What I wanted more of:

There's nothing Timothy Janovsky left out. I would just be happy to spend more time with these guys.

What I need to warn you about:

Timothy Janovsky includes warnings at the beginning of the book, so check those out. There is biphobia and some judgmental responses to Ethan’s ADHD. There's also discussion of Ethan’s father living with MS that has progressed so far as to limit his mobility.

Who should read this book:

People looking for a low-conflict, high heat contemporary where two charming men connect and complete each other's lives.

Book: Once Upon You and Me
Author: Timothy Janovsky
Publisher: Afterglow Books by Harlequin
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Pages: 288
Age Range: Adult

"Once Upon You and Me" follows Taylor, a hardworking personal assistant as he flies across the country to prep for his boss's daughter’s sweet sixteen at the Storybook Endings Resort. Taylor is excellent at his job—except, he’s probably not supposed to flirt with the resort’s mountain man of a manager, Ethan. Because the rugged older man is also the birthday girl’s father, aka his boss’s ex-husband. Oops.

For Ethan, his divorce seemed like the bad ending to his romantic story. And now, making his daughter’s sweet sixteen dreams come true is the closest he’ll get to the kind of magic happiness in fairy tales. Until adorable Taylor has him wondering if maybe this is just the beginning of a more erotic kind of bedtime story.

This book was sooooo cute! I loved the setting SO much. The chemistry between Taylor and Ethan was adorable and sexy. I loved the fact that this book contained both bisexual and ADHD representation. Such a fun little romance to quickly read between other books!

I love books by Timothy Janovsky and anything from the Harlequin Afterglow line. It was no surprise that this was another fun one. I really liked seeing these two opposite characters find each other and find love. it was authentic and believeable.

I loved the representation in this book and the realistic look at queer characters but the story itself didn’t grip me. But just because it didn't for me doesn't mean others won't love it.

If you're into age-gap romances with a dash of forbidden chemistry, Once Upon You and Me is a delightful pick. Taylor Frost, a charming event planner, heads to the Storybook Endings Resort to organize a sweet sixteen party for his boss's daughter. There, he meets Ethan Golding, the rugged resort manager—and his boss's ex-husband. Sparks fly, but so do complications.

This book blends sweetness and spice effortlessly. Ethan and Taylor's chemistry is undeniable, and their witty banter keeps things light and engaging. The setting adds a touch of whimsy, and the characters' personal growth adds depth to the romance.

If you're looking for a feel-good read with heart, humor, and a hint of heat, this one's for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was, I think my second novel by this author and it will not be my last. The writing style, the characters, the representation? My goodness, it was just SO SO good. I really loved seeing a plus sized bi-rep in an older male - throw in the forbidden romance vibes and I am giddy.

Taylor and Ethan are adorable and I love absolutely loved how Taylor really helped Ethan explore and have his bi-awakening so well done. Their personal lives are a mess, but hey, the romance and spice was fun! Their dynamics just brought me so much joy.

The only thing that fell flat for me was the connection was really superficial at most - I kind of wanted a bit more than that, but it's alright!

Timothy Janovsky is an author I can rely on to deliver a solid queer romance, but this one was unfortunately a miss for me. I could see other folks enjoying it, but I just didn't get lost in the world or the characters.

I think my main issue was probably the way Ethan and Taylor communicated. I thought it was very odd, especially since they seemed to be capable of good communication, but then they frequently assumed the worst/weirdest possible meaning behind innocuous comments.

I'm not automatically opposed to the miscommunication trope because I do think that miscommunication is a common source of conflict in real life, so stories reflecting that makes sense! But it has to be done well and make sense for the characters. In this case, both Ethan and Taylor are full adults who demonstrate introspection and in-depth understandings of their own selves and the circumstances that shaped them. So it really didn't make sense to me that they would so frequently miscommunicate.

And logistically, the miscommunications weren't necessary for the story, imo. You already have an excellent source of tension from the taboo-ness of "the boss's ex," and there's also an age gap that could be explored and navigated by the characters.

Although I will say that I felt the whole "boss's ex" thing to be a bit overblown... Like yes, it might be awkward and require navigating difficult social situations, but Taylor's constant fear of losing his job felt... Bizarre. You can't (or at least *shouldn't*) be fired for something that doesn't impact your job performance, endangers anyone, creates conflict of interest, etc. I could understand Amy being upset or feeling awkward about Taylor and Ethan's relationship, but it honestly isn't any of her business?? Ethan and Taylor don't have a boss/employee relationship and haven't even met in person until this point, so I honestly don't see how them dating could be a problem (aside from making Amy mad, I guess??)

Unfortunately, I never got entirely lost in the story, probably due to the characters lacking a lot of depth. Even the MCs felt a bit tropey more than actual people. And the SCs felt especially one-dimensional.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the eARC of this title. All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinions.

Once Upon You and Me is a charming, whirlwind romance set against the whimsical backdrop of the Storybook Endings Resort. Timothy Janovsky delivers a swoony, steamy tale packed with chemistry, emotion, and just a dash of fairy-tale flair.

Taylor Frost, loyal assistant and party-planning extraordinaire, is sent to the Catskills to organize a sweet sixteen—but instead of a smooth work trip, he finds himself falling for the resort’s ruggedly irresistible manager, Ethan Golding… who just so happens to be his boss’s ex-husband. Cue the delicious tension.

Taylor and Ethan’s connection is immediate and electric, with plenty of sweet (and spicy) moments to keep the pages turning. While their romance unfolds quickly—maybe too quickly to feel entirely believable—it’s heartfelt and laced with vulnerability, especially in Ethan’s honest portrayal of living with ADHD. His struggles and the way others misunderstand or dismiss him add depth and emotional weight to what could have been a lighter romp.

However, not everything in this fairytale sparkles. Amy, the ex-wife and boss, borders on villainous, and her character lacks the nuance needed for a proper redemption arc. Her presence as an obstacle feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out antagonist.

Despite the rushed timeline, Janovsky’s storytelling is witty and warm, with just enough heartache to balance the happily-ever-after. If you can suspend disbelief and enjoy a forbidden fling with fairytale vibes, this book offers a lovely escape with a strong emotional core.

This is an absolutely charming M/M romance complete with a fairy tale resort and an age-gap budding relationship with possible work conflicts. Taylor and Ethan have chemistry, but they are both concerned about Amy (Taylor's boss and Ethan's ex-wife), and everything will reach a crisis point at the celebration of 16-year-old Samara's birthday celebration. The characters and the setting contribute to making this a fun and appealing read. Recommended.

Ethan and Taylor both love fairytales. From the romance to the grim tales. I love the romantic fairytale between these two that are happening. Their connection between each other is so real. They both are learning to navigate new feelings. They very patient with each other. Like that they got to build relationship. To be able have happy endings.

Open up this bewitching book that reveals that love truly can have a fairy tale happily ever after!

Y’all, it’s no secret that I am a fan of my friend Timothy Janovsky’s romance novels, and his newest, ONCE UPON YOU AND ME, might be my favorite one yet. Janovsky’s newest, part of his steamier works published with Harlequin Books, has one of his most clever setups, and a couple worth rooting for until the very last page.

Happily ever after is a great thing to aspire to, but what if you could visit it any time? Well every visit to Storybook Endings is a chance to immerse yourself in the fairy tales you know and love. When Taylor Frost is sent by his boss, Amy, to check in one the hotel chain’s first location to prepare for her daughter’s Sweet Sixteen, Taylor has no idea how freeing it is to be out from under his boss’ thumb. Only, it might be a little too freeing, because he’s fallen for the location’s manager, Ethan, who... just so happens to be his boss’ ex-husband, and the father of the young woman he’s here to celebrate. But can big, burly Ethan open himself up to the charming, intriguing Taylor? Throw in a leaky roof, a failed attempt to bond with children, and archery classes armed by Cupid’s bow, and, well, you’ll have to see what happens next.

Once you get a bite of this not-poisoned-apple of a book, you’ll want to devour the whole thing real fast! Taylor and Ethan are expertly drawn out here on the page, with relevant backstories, experiences navigating mental health issues, and enough repression to make their fiery nights on the picturesque property really, REALLY pay off. This age gap romance offers far more than the standard fare, and though you’ll be able to finish this brisk novel, quickly, you’ll feel wholly satisfied and, like Taylor and Ethan, ready for another round with it real fast.

I loved this read! The characters were so lovable and I wanted to fit into their cozy camp (though minus the tree -iykyk). I cannot wait to read another from Timothy, a quick instant buy author!

Taylor Frost is not sure what to expect when his demanding boss sends him across the country to lead the planning for her daughter’s sweet sixteen at a resort in the Catskills. He certainly does not expect to be powerfully drawn to the resort’s manager, Ethan, who also happens to be the ex-husband of Taylor’s boss. Neither Taylor nor Ethan can ignore the chemistry between them, even as both question whether falling for each other is a potential happily ever after or the recipe for disaster.

Charming and full of captivating characters, this heartfelt story will keep you fully engaged and hoping for a fairy tale-like ending.

Highly recommended!

I liked this book. It was a cute and cozy romance that was very fun to read. The characters were well written and I enjoyed the banter and the relationship they developed. Very fun

Thank you to Timothy Janovsky, Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was really enjoying this book up until about ~12-13% in. Then the author had to go and trash talk large families and inferring that having a large family "might have more to do with deep-seated immaturity rather than firm beliefs in destiny and fate". As a mother of 7 children myself, this was a sentence that immediately put a bad taste in my mouth and really changed my views on the book as whole.

DNF at 16% when I couldn't force myself to read anymore of this book without finding it childish, insta-lovey and overall "meh"

Taylor's organizational skills are unmatched. That's what makes him a great PA. So it's perfectly natural that his boss, Amy, sends him cross country to get things set up for her daughter's sweet sixteen. What he doesn't expect to find at Storybook Endings resort is his boss's burly ex-husband, Ethan. Ever since his divorce, Ethan has thrown himself into managing Storybook Endings. The thought of romance never entered his mind. But when circumstances force Ethan and Taylor to share a cabin, the thoughts entering Ethan's mind aren't fit for storybooks. The only problem - what happens when Amy finds out.

I really wanted to like this book. The setting sounded perfect for romance, the premise fun, the characters intriguing, I was disappointed it didn't deliver. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. They were bland and superficial and lacked any kind of depth . All we know about Amy is she is stereotypically a type "A" personality who lives for her job. Ethan comes off as lifeless and dejected. We know nothing about the divorce, how Amy and Ethan might feel about each other or how they interact now. We don't even know much about the daughter. Taylor is the only one who has the slightest bit of personality which we discover when he considers goals and plans and how to best reach them.

There could have been so much more to this story. I would like to have seen more interactions between Ethan and Amy, maybe some scenes with Amy, Ethan and their daughter. Why was there no strong reaction when Amy found out about Taylor and Ethan. The story didn't just lack strong emotion, it lacked any emotion at all.

I liked the two main charaters and janovsky renders them well and full enough to get past the very immature misunderstandsings that build the conflict.

I loved this. The story was a lot of fun and also really heartwarming. The characters were definitely opposites but they fit together so well. This book is a great summer read and will have you wanting to take a vacation to the mountains asap!

3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book and the characters relationship. Each character had a believable story and development arc, with relatable traits. The setting was so magical, which really contributed to the overarching fairytale theme. I do wish we got more scenes of Ethan with Gabriel as he is described as the best friend and yet there are only approximately 4-5 scenes where they interact. Although the final scene of them together with the voice memo fulfilled that wish a bit.