Falling for your ex wife's younger assistant is definitely not what this resort owner had on his agenda. Ethan Golding is dealing with a failing resort after his wife divorced him and took his resort and made it into her own enterprise and his daughter as well. Ethan's Storybook Endings Resort in Catskill isn't the happily ever after he had wanted it to be but then something magical happens when his ex wife's younger assistant, Taylor Frost appears to help plan Ethan's teen daughter's sweet sixteen...and Ethan is starting to fall for him despite how forbidden it might be. Taylor Frost dreams about getting a bigger job from his strict boss Amy, he dreams about making his place in hospitality... and when his boss asks him to plan her daughter's birthday at her ex's resort he can't say no, what he doesn't expect is to be working with the hot rugged older man... who is his boss's ex. Ethan and Taylor are perfect together... but if Amy finds out than not only will Taylor be fired but it could spell even bigger disaster for everyone. Yet Taylor and Ethan can't seem to stay away from each other... but can they make a relationship work when so much is at stake? This was an okay romance for me, I wasn't sucked into the romance despite being a huge fan of forbidden and age gap romances. I wish I did like it more but it just felt okay for me. I do think others will have a fun time with it but it just didn't hit the mark for me necessarily. It's not bad, it just didn't wow me.

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

New to Timothy Janovsky's work, I was excited to read another MM romance written by a queer man! While I absolutely love MM romances written by women, one of the common criticisms I’ve read from the queer community is that female authors sometimes have a tendency to romanticize these relationships rather than keeping them true to life. Of course, as contemporary romances are works of fiction, that is bound to happen regardless of the author's identity. Still, I was curious to make a comparison.

Once upon a time, there lived a man who had lost faith in happily-ever-afters five years ago. Divorced and separated from his daughter, Ethan spent his days managing Storybook Endings Resort and passing the time with his loyal dog, Nana. Then, one day, a handsome assistant to his ex-wife arrived at the resort to plan Ethan's daughter's sixteenth birthday party.

As far as Ethan was concerned, Taylor was the fairest in the land - but completely off-limits. Yet a smile, a glance, some wine, and a violent storm later, the magic of Storybook intertwined the hearts of the resort manager and the personal assistant.

But would their connection survive the disapproval of Taylor’s boss - Ethan’s ex-wife? Or would she forbid them from finding their own happily-ever-after?

I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the characters. Ethan wasn’t some heartthrob with a perfect figure, chiseled muscles, or the kind of looks you'd see in a magazine. He was simply a man trying to navigate life after his own happily-ever-after came to an unexpected end. I also really enjoyed how much depth we were given about each character in the story - learning what shaped them and made them who they were.

As much as I’m all for an MM romance, this one didn’t quite resonate with me. The story had a very passive tone, focusing on two people whose lives revolved around pleasing others. While the premise - two people who always put others' happiness first finally deciding to prioritize themselves - was sweet in theory, it didn’t fully capture my attention and, at times, felt a bit underwhelming.

Even the steamier moments carried the same reserved energy as the rest of the book. While they aligned with the characters' emotions, the passiveness of their personalities seeped into these moments as well - evoking more of a yawning effect than a yearning one.

That being said, I did admire how the story delved into the consequences of being a people-pleaser.

While I did enjoy Once Upon You and Me, the slower, more anti-climactic pace of the book felt underwhelming compared to other MM romances I've read, whether written by queer men or women. Still, while this will likely be the only book I read by Timothy, I genuinely appreciated the heart and soul of his characters. They felt like people I could walk past on the street - real people with real problems forming real connections. And that authenticity is what leaves a lasting impression.

A story of a storybook vacation resort manager and the personal assistant to his ex wife. This is described as age and gap and the second I see "age gap" as a descriptor I go oh no. But then as it's done here, it was not an issue at all. 27-40 didn't bother me. Especially when you have two men really bringing communication and maturity to the situation. What I love about a Janovsky book is of course the romance but also the vulnerability and kindness. You root for everyone. He could have easily made the ex wife a villain, but you like her and understand her by the end. And that's a gift. I loved having a 40 year old divorced father as an MC. I loved that he's this big guy that people expect such roughness from and he's so clear that he wants tenderness and the way that was handled. Taylor spent his whole life caring for others, raising his siblings, so having him cared for here was so touching. I really loved this book.

Once Upon a You and Me is out April 29 and you do not want to miss it!

I enjoy Janovsky generally, but wasn’t 100% certain in this one because sometimes I don’t love age differences? But it did work for me. I truly enjoyed both of the MCs, and the cast of supporting characters. It was the lighthearted romance I needed this month in a setting I genuinely enjoyed.

“Once Upon You and Me” by Timothy Janovsky is one of the cutest and most charming books I’ve read in a while. It’s a spicy age gap MM romance with a touch of fairy tale magic that made me smile. Taylor, a 27-year-old assistant, is sent to a dreamy resort to help plan a sweet sixteen party, but things get tricky when he starts falling for Ethan, the resort’s rugged manager. Ethan is also the birthday girl’s dad and Taylor’s boss’s ex, which makes things complicated and a little forbidden. Their connection is instant and adorable, and even with the obstacles in their way, I found myself completely rooting for them. The story is cozy, funny, and full of sweet moments that made my heart melt.

Taylor and Ethan are such a lovable couple, and their relationship grows in a really natural and believable way. The spice is there and it’s definitely hot, but still pretty light, which is common in traditionally published romances. I also really appreciated how the book shows Ethan’s ADHD in a respectful and thoughtful way. It felt real without being heavy. Taylor’s backstory about always putting others first added so much to his character and helped explain his actions. The age gap between them is handled well, with honest conversations and emotional maturity on both sides. The fairy tale theme running through the story is super cute and adds a magical touch. If you’re looking for a sweet, cozy, and slightly spicy romance that will leave you grinning, this one is perfect.

When Taylor Frost’s boss, Amy, flies him across the country to prep for her daughter’s sweet sixteen at the Storybook Endings Resort in the Catskills, the solo mission is well within his wheelhouse. Taylor is excellent at his job—except, he’s probably not supposed to flirt with the resort’s mountain man of a manager, Ethan Golding. Because the rugged older man is also the birthday girl’s father, aka Amy’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…

Janovsky does it again! I love the vibe, the characters, the setting, the representation. Not super thrilled with the ending, but hey - can't have everything! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Timothy Janovsky books are a joy to read. He's a gifted writer and I love the creative worlds he builds within his stories.

ONCE UPON YOU AND ME is the fairytale-infused tale set at the aptly-named Storybook Endings Resort in the Catskills; it's a forbidden romance between resort manager Ethan and his ex-wife's assistant Taylor, complete with bedtime stories, magic, and possibly...happily ever afters?

Fun, sexy, and smart, with a cohesive (if at times a little overdone) theme. An enjoyable read! I look forward to many more of Tim's stories.

Thank you to Afterglow Books by Harlequin and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. ONE UPON YOU AND ME is out 4/29/25.

I'm not a fan of the age-gap trope, so I went into this book a little hesitant. This sounded fun, though, and I was excited to read my first Timothy Janovsky book since I have a few of his novels on my TBR.

This story follows Ethan, a bisexual 40-year-old resort owner. His ex-wife's assistant, Taylor, who is 27, is sent to assist in planning a party, and romantic sparks start flying.

Taylor was immediately likable. He's an older sibling who helped raise his younger brothers and sisters. This helped him grow into a thoughtful and nurturing adult. One of my favorite things about Ethan is that he's been recently diagnosed with ADHD. One of Taylor's siblings also has ADHD, so he understands some of what Ethan struggles with.

There are lots of great supporting characters in this. Ethan's best friend, Gabriel, is a fun addition to the book. Samara, Ethan's and Amy's daughter, is also an enjoyable character. While the summary above may make it sound like Amy is a villain, she's actually a well-rounded but flawed character. There's a lot of wonderful character development in this, too!

The romance between Ethan and Taylor is steamy. They are each other's types, so the attraction is immediate. The "forced proximity" trope pushes the two closer, and their relationship takes off quickly. It's not just a physical relationship; these two build a solid relationship that I was really rooting for by the end.

This was such a fun, spicy, and romantic book. This was exactly what I needed to cheer me up from a stressful week. I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, feel-good queer romance. I'm really glad I finally read one of Timothy Janovsky's books, and I'm looking forward to reading more!

An absolutely adorable and engaging love story. That gives you all the Hallmark feels you are looking for. The storybook resort as a backdrop was just the right level of sugary sweet. While the complex nature of Taylor and Ethan’s initial connection adds in just enough conflict to keep their budding love story interesting. Delivers on the need for a short and sweet romance. With low stakes and low angst.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for gifting this to me early.

Ethan is the manager of a fairytale themed resort when his Prince Charming appears in the form of his ex-wife’s personal assistant, Taylor. There is quite the age difference but the two immediately form a connection. This is a sweet romance with great supporting characters and a lovely setting. I received a digital arc of this book from NetGalley.

Once Upon You and Me is a contemporary age gap romance about Taylor, a personal assistant who is tasked with arranging his boss’s teenage daughter’s birthday party. The party is going to be held at a fairytale themed resort managed by her ex-husband, Ethan. After a storm damages the cabin Taylor is staying in, Taylor moves into Ethan’s cabin and tension builds between them. Taylor is hoping to advance in the hospitality industry and getting caught with his boss’s ex isn’t the best idea for his career.

I liked the premise well enough, but I didn’t especially love the writing style or pacing of the story. There were times when the dialog felt unnatural and some of the phrases felt cliched. I think the phrase “and some change” was used to describe an approximate amount of something three times, which bothered me for some reason. Even though it wasn’t my favorite book, I thought the main characters had chemistry and I found the ending satisfying.

Super sugary sweet cinnamon roll story with an ooeey gooey center best describes the story of Ethan and Taylor. When do you stop doing everything for others while letting your wants and needs go in the wayside? That is the central theme of the story. Set in an amazing fictional theme resort, we learn to live and love our own fairy tales, no matter who we are or who we love. I enjoyed the spicy seasoning to what could have easily been just your average fairy tale but the seasoning ups the flavor.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the audio and eARC of this!

I've really enjoyed Janovsky's books in the past, but this one took the cake. I loved the characters, the setting, the pitch perfect angst, and the narrator did a great job.

Ethan was an excellent main character and I enjoyed seeing his second chance at love. He is older than the typical romance protagonist, fat, and bisexual, with ADHD. I found him especially relatable. Everytime his weight was discussed I was happy again to be seeing the representation. Also, I feel like typically when I see a bisexual character in a romance it's a woman protagonist, though perhaps I just haven't been seeking them out well enough. This discourse about his sexuality was well done. I also liked the age gap, it felt like it added well to the story, without being questionable. Taylor was so sweet and I loved the way the two of them interacted throughout the whole story, they were very easy to root for a happy ending for.

The setting was such a neat thing, I definitely haven't read something set in a fairytale themed resort. It added to the romance, giving the feel of fairytales without leaving the real world. I liked seeing the different activities that they got up to there.

I'm a sucker for angst that feels like it goes well, if I have to cry at a book it's almost always five stars. I thought the upset made tons of sense with how the story was set up, and getting a resolution after made it all the sweeter.

Respectfully, this was disappointing and I struggled heavily. I couldn't finish reading the whole story. The characters were bland with no complexities. Nothing stood out that would keep me engaged.
Thank you Harlequin Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! The fairy tale references were so much fun, but what really made this book was watching Ethan and Taylor's love blossom. They were so sweet, the banter was fantastic, and the steam was top notch. This was a really fun read, perfect for summer!

I absolutely adore Timothy Janovsky! He is such an incredible writer of romantic, LGBTQ+ fiction. Great job Tim!!!

I had high hopes for this book, based on the description, and expected a hot, fun romance. Alas, this was a little disappointing for a couple of reasons...

First off, the characters were bland and underdeveloped, and in the form of the ex-wife rather one-dimensional. Neither Ethan nor Taylor ever moved beyond their initial description, and there was no real growth for either of them.

Secondly, I didn't warm up to either MC, and I didn't buy their romance - it seemed that it was more of a forced proximity kind of relationship than something that really developed over time. It just didn't convince me that they had actual feelings for each other that would be worth risking their jobs, seeing how they're both employed, more or less, by Ethan's ex-wife.

Thirdly, even though I was promised steam, there wasn't much of it to be found in the pages of this book. And while I don't need steam to enjoy a romance novel, I do need the blurb to set expectations appropriately, and the promise of a "spicy bedtime story" was not met here.

I did enjoy the setting of this book in an enchanted wonderland created by Ethan and his ex-wife, a magical fairytale resort, and I quite liked Ethan's interactions with the guests.

The obvious conflict was as expected, and I did appreciate the solution the author gave his MCs. Overall, this book comes in at three stars.

‘Once Upon You and Me’ is a sweet MM love story and overall I enjoyed reading it. I liked the premise, even though I’m not normally interested in age-gap stories, but some of the execution wasn’t my favorite. The conflict in their romance felt a little immature and the pacing could be a little slow, especially in the beginning. While this wasn’t my favorite book, I would try another from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC.

I was excited by the blurb, but it ended up being more interesting than the book itself.
The characters fell flat: I expected them to be more dynamic and lovable, and while they had there moments they came across as "meh".
The reading experience felt like I was being told a story, but not brought into it.

This book may land better for those that enjoy tropes like forced proximity and forbidden romance but if you are looking for an age gap romance (as billed) it may miss that mark. Although there is an AG between the leads, it is a fact but not a factor in the story.

Overall, this book was a swing and a miss for me.

(The archery lessons earn it an extra star though, that was cute)

What an absolutely delightful novel! An age-gap romance that treats adults like adults. The romance felt authentic and had you rooting for them. I also appreciated the ADHD and bi rep and how well it was done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.