Cuter than I thought it would be! Immediately added it to my cart. I need more books from Timothy Janovsky in my life! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I much, much prefer Own Voices MM romance, and I thoroughly enjoyed Once Upon You And Me by Timothy Janovsky!! I absolutely devoured it, and instantly added it to my B&N cart to have a physical copy.

There were a few moments that didn't quite hit for me. Taylor wasn't giving me twink vibes, so hearing him described as such was a little confusing. (And yes, I'm FULLY aware that "twink vibes" are based purely in stereotypes.) I wish we had gotten to see more of Samara's relationship with her dad, because once everything started to go down, she started to feel more like a plot point.

Ethan's discussion of his ADHD was so incredibly real, and was heartbreaking. I was also diagnosed late in life and had to go through the "why is my brain like this?" realizations. I do wish we would have gotten a deeper look into his experience as a bisexual man — what was it like when he came out? How has he navigated that with Samara/Amy?

And speaking of Amy... girl. Way to be a total hypocrite! Ugh, she annoyed me, especially with her total helplessness.

I will say, I love when a romance has a slightly different take on an HEA. I know some other reviewers weren't satisfied with the ending (and I'll admit, I was rooting for their career choices to go a different direction as well) but this ending felt a lot more reflective of real life.

All in all, this was a cute, sappy MM romance that made me absolutely want to go spend a week at an adventure resort/summer camp! I look forward to reading more from this author.

Once Upon You and Me is cutesy AF, in all the best ways. This fairy tale resort setting is absolutely not somewhere I would want to visit IRL, but I really enjoyed my time there in these pages. It’s complemented with some very subtle contemporary life nods to fairy tale storylines that are light and sweet, and never felt overbearing or saccharine. Similarly, the romantic touches, like the voice memos reading fairy tales out loud to each other is honestly the sweetest thing I could ever have imagined; what a touch! And finishing with the “fairy tale” of their very own story – my heart melted. I teared up; I couldn’t help it.

This was actually balanced in a really nice way with an incredibly steamy – right from the start – and later quite spicy relationship between Ethan and Tyler. It made what could have felt like a cloying story into something that felt much more adult. They were also a great opposites-attract situation, fitting each other perfectly. Plus, I personally love some steam and some spice in my romances. Of note, I thought the spicy scenes were really well-written, no cringe, lots of tenderness and communication, and, of course, hot.

The side characters, Like Ethan’s ex/Tyler’s boss, Ethan’s daughter, and Tyler’s sister, were woven in well. They weren’t super deeply developed, but they also didn’t feel too flat, and they added to the overall world/story in a way that worked for me. I will say, the writing felt a bit uneven/unpolished. There was nothing super wrong, and it sure as heck wasn’t enough to stop me from speeding through the book (the story was so good!), but it just wasn’t as finished/smooth as maybe it could have been. Perhaps the final edits will help that, since I did read it as an ARC.

Y’all, I *love* to see a late-in-life-discovery-of-bisexuality character, and a bisexual guy too (not a lot of that represented in the lit/romances I’ve read), so I was all the way here for that. And really, just, oh my heart: such a tender romance. Definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a cozy, but still heated, romance.

I would say that Timothy Janovsky is one of my fave romance/LGBTQ+ writers of a all time. His books are a must read for me and I own copies of most of these books. However I think the age gap trope is my least fave in any romance and that did come in play here. I liked the plot quite a bit. Ethan is the older man with a teenage daughter, who runs a resort that is also co-run by his ex wife Amy. Because Amy is busy with her own work, she charges Ethan with making all the preparations for their daughter's huge Sweet Sixteen birthday party at the resort. She doesn't completely trust Ethan so she has her own personal assistant. Taylor, go to the resort to help with all the arrangements. Taylor is gay and out. Ethan figures soon to his surprise that he is into Taylor. Adorableness ensues. I enjoyed the resolution of the story and really enjoyed the bit we get to see of the daughter interacting with both men. However, although Taylor is well beyond legal adult age, its still just not my personal vibe. Writing was as good as ever though and I do look forward to several upcoming releases from Timothy Janovsky.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the eARC. Here is my honest review.

This was my first book by Timothy Janovsky and overall I liked it. The two main characters, Taylor and Ethan fit well together and seemed to be what the other was looking for in a partner. The forced proximity was a fun addition to the story.

One of the things I liked most was how Ethan was portrayed. As a 40 year old bi person with a late in life ADHD diagnosis, I felt very seen and related to a lot of what Ethan was going through. Often I can relate to a character on just one of those things so to find a character who imbodied all three of those characteristics was really amazing.

That said, I felt like the ex wife Amy was very two dimensional. She's pretty awful through the whole book to her daughter, her co parent, and her assistant. And then she literally flips on a dime for seemingly no reason with no character development to get there and we are just supposed to forgive her? It doesn't make sense that both Ethan and Taylor forgive her so easily like he hasn't been awful to them both for years.

Overall, it was good and I rated it 3.75 stars. Unsure how likely I would be to recommend this as a must read.

In this fun new LGBTQ+ romance novel, readers follow Storybook Endings Resort manager Ethan Golding and PA Taylor Frost as they embark on a complicated and possibly forbidden relationship -- Taylor’s boss Amy is Ethan’s ex-wife. Forced together to plan Ethan and Amy’s daughter’s sweet sixteen party, Taylor is too good at his job and Ethan has lost faith in the magic and happy endings of fairy tales, so their relationship is going to grow whether or not Amy is okay with it. With a great cast of characters and great chemistry between Ethan and Taylor, readers will love this spicy and entertaining new LGBTQ+ romance novel from Timothy Janovsky. The characters are definitely the stars of the novel, and the setting of the Storybook Endings Resort and the various tropes alike add a lot of detail, drama, and tension to the book that romance readers will enjoy. The tension and drama, much of which Amy contributes, really helps the novel develop and forces Ethan and Taylor to go through some needed character growth. Packed with details, great characters, and an excellent emotional storyline, readers will love the tropey nature and incredible details in this fun, spicy, and entertaining new LGBTQ+ forbidden romance novel.

Once Upon You and Me was a fun and breezy spicy read that I genuinely enjoyed. While it wasn’t particularly groundbreaking, the story moved at a quick pace and was easy to get lost in—a perfect choice for when you're in the mood for something light and entertaining. That said, I do wish the book had been a bit longer. Certain moments felt rushed or glossed over, and a little more depth could have really elevated the story. The romance itself was sweet and delivered exactly what I expect from a short, steamy read. However, the ending left me slightly disappointed, feeling a bit abrupt and underdeveloped. Had the story taken a bit more time to breathe, I likely would have rated it higher. As it stands, it’s a solid 3-star read that hits the mark for a quick romantic escape.

Gosh this was so cute. The way this author chose to write this romance was really fun and engaging. I felt like I really got to know the characters and understand their motivations. The background plot was just ok. It kept me going through the story but wasn't as robust as I might have wanted.

Taylor Frost is anxious to impress his boss, Amy, and move from her personal assistant to a position within her resort franchise company that will further utilize his hospitality skills. When he has the chance to fly ahead to the Storybook Endings Resort in the Catskills to prep for her daughter’s sweet sixteen, he expects Ethan, her ex-husband, to be a pain to work with. But instead, Ethan is charming, warm, and adorably obsessed with the fairy tale theme of the resort that he still manages post-divorce. Ethan wants nothing more than to give his daughter the birthday of her dreams, but can’t help his growing interest in the younger man who should be off limits…

This is such a cute romcom that examines love post-divorce, and two people from wildly different worlds who understand each other so well. Taylor might be younger, but is mature, patient, and kind. Ethan is a dad who clearly misses his daughter living across the country and is struggling to balance personal and professional priorities. Maybe a few too many fairytale references for me, but such a great story and I will certainly be reading more from Janovsky!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Books for the chance to read and review this book!

Love Janovsky always. Another cute queer romance that had me smiling from ear to ear! A must read author for me.

Ethan Golding is the general manager of the Storybook Endings resort in the Catskills. He used to co-own the resort with his ex-wife, Amy Lu, but he sold his rights in the divorce and she has since expanded the business. While Ethan knows the marriage was definitely ready to end, it is hard for him to have his daughter across the country with Amy. And while he runs a resort themed around fairy tales, Ethan feels his own opportunity for a happy ending has passed him by.

Taylor Frost works as Amy’s personal assistant at Storybook Endings. Taylor hopes to one day get a job in hospitality, and Amy had indicated this position could be a starting point for advancement within the company. However, it’s been a few years and Taylor is still doing the same job. He loves helping people and he is invested in the company, but this isn’t the job he wants long term. Still, Taylor is excited when Amy’s change of schedule means he is tasked with heading to their Catskills resort to help prepare for Amy’s daughter’s sweet sixteen party, as well as to do some site inspection.

Ethan and Taylor have interacted via email over the years, and both men have noticed the other’s attractiveness, but they aren’t prepared for their feelings upon seeing one another in person. And when circumstances lead Ethan to need to host Taylor in his own cabin, it gives the men a chance to get to know one another better. Both guys know that getting involved with one another would be a supremely bad idea. Taylor works for Ethan’s ex-wife and Amy would definitely not be happy to find the two of them sleeping together. But the chemistry between the men is too strong and they find themselves acting on their attraction. And it doesn’t take long before feelings are involved. However, with Amy due to arrive any day at the resort, and the men living on opposite sides of the country, finding a way to make a relationship work between them seems impossible.

This is a cute story that’s aided by the charming setting of a fairytale-themed resort. I enjoyed getting to see the various aspects of the resort and the way the fairytale and “happy endings” themes then carry over into the story itself with some nice little touches. There is also an interesting through line involving archery, which is a sport that Ethan learned from his father and which he now teaches at the resort, and which he then shares with Taylor. So I think Janovsky does a nice job here both creating the setting and then building the elements of the resort into the larger story.

For me, Taylor was the more developed of the characters, and while the story shares POVs, it felt like more his journey, perhaps because he was more fleshed out. Taylor is one of many children of flighty parents and he grew up as a caretaker. We can see now how that carries over to both his job with Amy, as well as his ultimate goal of working in hospitality. But Taylor also puts his own needs aside much of the time — except when he decides to start things with Ethan — and he has to work to find some balance between all or nothing. So I felt like Taylor had some good character growth over the story. Ethan wasn’t as well developed for me and, while we do get some backstory, including learning he was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I don’t feel like I had as much of a sense of him as a character. He makes a major decision at the end of the book that I would have loved to understand better or see rooted a little more in the story itself. The guys are sweet together and I think have a nice connection, though I’m not sure I’d call this a “spicy bedtime story” as is described in the blurb. There is some steam, but I guess I was expecting something with much higher heat based on it being specifically called out in the blurb.

Where I struggled here is that the book tells us there are these two big conflicts for the guys that never really feel enough like conflicts. The main one is the fact that Taylor works for Ethan’s ex, something both men agree makes their relationship taboo. But they fall into bed together easily and with little angst, so it doesn’t translate into something that is really weighing heavily on either of them. I think this lack of conflict is exacerbated by the fact that Taylor seems so informal and not really like he is there for business purposes, but more like he is a guest there on vacation. He is there to do a specific job for a very demanding and exacting boss, and yet he shows up at the resort in a rainbow hoodie and sweats tight enough they make clear he has on no underwear. Not that I expected him to wear a suit during cross country travel, but I would have expected something at least a little more professional to indicate he is there to do his job. He spends the next day not working and once more lounging around in sweats and a hoodie, again with no underwear (we are told that he doesn’t ever wear any). He is asked to show ID to check in (despite Ethan knowing who he is), then he signs the guest book, again all as if he is there on vacation and not for business. At first, I couldn’t figure out why this bothered me, given I know it seems so trivial, until I realized it’s because it never feels like Taylor is really “at work” while he is there. We get a few token notes that he is doing some shopping or planning for the party, but most of the time, he is hanging out with Ethan and participating in resort activities. So we are told that Taylor is having this taboo relationship that puts his job at risk, but it didn’t have the same punch, because he seems more like a guest than someone actually there for work.

The other conflict is ostensibly the 13-year age gap, which we are told bothers Ethan. Given that the men are 27 and 40, the age difference doesn’t seem like a huge deal, honestly. But if it was, I wanted to see evidence of it in the story. Examples of where the difference in age or experience impacts their dynamic, or in some way help us better understand Ethan’s concerns. But we are told it is a problem without ever knowing why or seeing it have any impact on their relationship. I think these aspects just made the story feel a little flatter and then the ultimate conflict toward the end feel correspondingly extreme in comparison.

This story overall is cute and an easy read, and there are some fun moments relating the resort and the theming. And there is a very sweet dynamic between the men that has some nice and touching moments. I wanted a little more development of the characters, as well as the conflicts, to really make this one a total hit for me, but overall it is an entertaining story.

Ethan Golding and his ex-wife, Amy, founded the Storybook Endings Resort before their split ended up with them on opposite coasts. Ethan stayed on to be manager, and Amy went on to expand the business. Taylor Frost is Amy’s personal assistant and is sent to the Catskills to work on setting up for their daughter’s sweet sixteen. Any romance seems doomed to fail, but maybe storybook endings aren't fictional.

This story is a pretty standard romance where A meets B, A and B fall in love (or lust if you prefer), something comes between A and B before they are finally able to reconcile in the last few chapters. The romance overall had some good establishing scenes between Ethan and Taylor but between the short timeline of which they meet and separate seems too quick to develop the feelings they had for the subsequent level of commitment that follows.

There were two things that I really enjoyed. One was that this was a fun themed small business resort that did suffer from the overused trope of a struggling business that needed to be saved. Another was the family dynamics between Ethan, Amy, Samara and Taylor. While Taylor is Amy’s personal assistant, he partially acts as Samara’s nanny, and their connection is cute and sincere. Samara also keeps a good relationship with her dad despite being on opposite coasts, so it was nice not to have an estranged father-daughter relationship to add to the mix as conflict. Amy has a little more trouble connecting with the other three because of her need to push the business to the next level, but by the end, you can see she really does love everyone, just doesn’t always show it in the right ways, but is willing to keep working on it.

This was a simple but cute story, so you really can’t go wrong with reading it, especially if you want a hit of nostalgia.

#netgalley #harlequin #onceuponyouandme

If you are looking for a quick summer queer romance, I would highly recommend Once Upon You and Me! Janovsky is one of my favorite authors when it comes to MLM books. The immediate chemistry between the main love interests, Taylor and Ethan, was perfection. I especially loved the relationship Taylor had to Ethan's daughter and ex-wife, and their ability to work through life's speed bumps in order to have that happily every after.

Taylor is focused and professional, flying across the country to organize a sweet sixteen party for his boss's daughter. Ethan is the rugged, recently diagnosed-with-ADHD resort manager who also happens to be the birthday girl's dad.

Their connection is instant and surprisingly easy, and the way their personalities complement each other was one of my favorite parts.

The setting at the Storybook Endings Resort added a perfect bit of magic. It gave the characters time and space to build something real. There was no drawn-out awkwardness, just a natural bond that felt honest and grounded. Ethan’s quiet loneliness and struggle to reconnect with life after divorce made his emotional growth hit especially hard.

The ex-wife dynamic was definitely uncomfortable at times, but it created tension that felt believable. The romance stayed the focus, and watching Ethan and Taylor find comfort and understanding in each other was really satisfying.

Anthony Myatt did a great job narrating. His tone, pacing, and delivery pulled me right into the story.

This one is warm, reflective, a little spicy, and full of hope. A lovely story about second chances, quiet bravery, and finding love in unexpected places.
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Thank you to Afterglow by Harlequin for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

I really like Timothy Janovsky's other book that I've read, so I was super excited to pick up this romance set at a romantic resort in the Catskills, especially with my own experience with working in the hospitality business.

There was a lot to like in this one: I loved the ADHD representation and I especially loved the open communication these two had in the bedroom regarding their preferences. It was refreshing to read a book with an unique pairing in a lot of ways: age difference, size difference, plus the fact that Ethan was Taylor's boss's ex.

However, I think this book felt a little bit rushed and I wished it had a little bit more time to bake. I think we could have had more a build up between these two before they were intimate because I craved a little bit more bonding scenes to really amp up the chemistry.

Overall, I had a fun time and I did really enjoy the dynamic between these two. I can't wait to continue to read Timothy's future releases too!

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.