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.

DNF at 64%. Perhaps I just read this at the wrong time, but I'm just having difficulty connecting with this one.

I am a huge Timothy Janovsky fan and was looking forward to reading his latest. His books are sweet and are always filled with heart. This book was a bit different in that there wasn't as much snappy dialogue and a bit less snark and self-deprecating humor than in his prior books. The focus here is more on the feels and the growth of the two MCs. The theme of the book (clear from the title) is fairy tales, but this is more like Wicked than The Wizard of Oz; he uses the darker tales of the Brothers Grimm to connect his two lovers. Set in the Catskills at Story Book Endings Resort. the fairy tale references are plentiful. Ethan is the forty-year-old general manager who divorced six years ago from his wife who is now his boss. His wife, Amy, has the drive to develop and manage a chain of these resorts while Ethan is content to stay in the original one but longs for more contact with this teenage daughter who lives full time with with her mother in California. As CEO, Amy has become Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. Taylor, Amy's erstwhile 27-year-old personal assistant, comes to the Catskills resort to plan and supervise the daughter's sixteenth birthday party. Taylor and Ethan hit it off.

There is a medium amount of spice here but the focus is really on Ethan, who has ADHD, opening up and finding out what he wants to do with his life and Taylor finding that he can be the care-receiver as well as the caregiver and gaining the confidence to pursue his dreams. They bond initially over archery and fairy tales. Their relationship develops quickly and then, after a third-act break-up, it heals over months. Both of them are so sweet and I shed a few tears as they made their way back to each other. I did wonder about Amy's turn-around at the end--it need more explanation. I did miss some of the snark, sass, and humor of some of the author's earlier books. Overall, though, this was a well-written and cute read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Cute and fluffy m/m romance. If you are looking for something light and sweet then definitely check it out.

It felt a little bland to me, it was supposed to be forbidden but it wasn't really forbidden, so there was no angst or really a lot of emotion at all,, which is my preference.

But again, if you are looking for no-angst and light then it's worth checking out!

This was my first book by this author, and I definitely think I’ll seek out others.

I really wanted to like this book, and I was so excited when I got the ARC. Ultimately, the story just wasn’t a fit for me. Taylor and Ethan, I think probably make a great couple, the premise of their story is fresh, but it ultimately just did not land for me. Something about these characters and their story felt underdeveloped.

The book is not terrible, I’d still recommend readers giving it a try. I’m certainly going to give the author’s other works a chance because I really do think the general concept behind this story was promising.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

4 stars.

Timothy Janovsky's "Once Upon You and Me" is a charming and lovely age-gap, forbidden-ish romance that is equal parts emotional and spicy with a little baggage thrown in for good measure. I admit it was a bit slow to start, but it picks up around 25% in and then doesn't let up until it finishes. I really liked Ethan and Taylor! I loved the concept of Ethan running a storybook/fairytale-themed resort. It made the story feel fun and whimsical in and amongst the relationship/family drama and turmoil. Great setting here! The forbidden aspect comes from Taylor being Ethan's ex-wife's assistant, so when they find an attraction to one another, it's a little scandalous! Ethan is a plus-sized bi-sexual MMC with ADHD and a lot of love to give. He's grumpy and lovely and I adored him. Taylor is a steadfast, hard worker who is rarely acknowledged by his boss, Ethan's ex-wife. He's at Storybook Endings to help Ethan throw his and Amy's daughter's 16th birthday party. The attraction between Ethan and Taylor is dynamic and instant and a little messy! I don't think I ever felt the stakes a whole lot, meaning I had no doubt that they would get their HEA despite the nature of their precarious situation. Regardless, I found this book to be the perfect palate cleanser. It's a quick read with a lot of heart and heat. I will say, I didn't love or hate the audiobook narration. While Anthony Myatt does a great job narrating the story, his voices are not distinct enough between the characters, I had to back up the audiobook several times to make sure I was getting it right. Still, I recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Timothy Janovsky, Harlequin - Romance, and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This book was a perfect mix of forbidden chemistry and a steamy age-gap romance. Taylor and Ethan’s connection was intense, and I loved the tension between them—especially with the whole “forbidden” aspect, considering Ethan’s ex-wife is Taylor’s boss. The setting at the Storybook Endings Resort was enchanting, and I enjoyed how the romance played out against that fairy-tale backdrop. If you’re into older-man-younger-man dynamics and a bit of a spicy bedtime story vibe, this one’s a must-read!

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it!

Even with the age gap and forbidden romance aspect, I found this story to be SO cozy! The setting, characters, and general storyline were all the cozy vibe. The age gap and forbidden aspect (Taylor is Ethan’s ex-wife’s assistant… say that 5x fast 😆) helped balance out the Disney/fairytale feel of the story so it didn’t feel too over the top.

The forced proximity in this story worked so well. It really helped the almost insta-love part of this make sense. And forced proximity always gives a story the besttt tension. That on top of the opposites attract vibes between Taylor and Ethan - it really was just *chefs kiss* I loved the spicy scenes, they were written so well and I especially loved the vulnerability Ethan showed in them.

Enter Amy - because every fairytale needs a villain right? I enjoyed the way her character played into the dynamic between Ethan and Taylor and it was important in how both of their development played out at the end. I do think Amy could have been a little… more. She felt kinda flat but at the end of the day it didn’t really take away from the story.

I did want MORE of Ethan and Taylor post reconciliation, to see how they functioned as a couple day to day without sneaking around but overall the story was just so cute and enjoyable and I definitely want to read more from this author!

Thank you to Harlequin Romance, the author, and netgalley for this arc! All thoughts are my own.

Very sweet, steamy age gap romance set in a fairytale resort in the NY Catskills. I love a story where the main characters open up to each other and build a relationship based on mutual respect and care. Taylor and Ethan are absolutely adorable together. Generally, I’m not a fan of love at first sight, but Janovsky managed to make me forget that their time of forced proximity together was so short. Between story hours gone wrong, archery lessons with sizzling chemistry, and working together to put on a fabulous sweet 16 party for Ethan’s daughter Samara, their connection is obvious to almost everyone around them. Unfortunately, Ethan’s rather shrewish, emotionally distant ex-wife Amy Lu is Taylor’s boss, so they don’t see a future together.

Ethan has ADHD which his ex misunderstood and criticized, whereas Taylor, with his closest sibling also being neurodivergent, is fully accepting and supportive. He also has a wonderful relationship with Samara which is a comfort to Ethan since he doesn’t see her often being 3000 miles away. Although, on the surface, it seems like a case of opposites attract, it’s really the emotional connection between them that makes them so perfect for each other. If you like MM romance that’s relatively low on angst, pretty steamy, and heartwarming, I highly recommend this delightful book.

This book is full of so many cute and romantic moments. Ethan is a manager of a resort owned by his ex wife. When her personal assistant, Taylor arrives as a party planner for an upcoming event there, sparks immediately fly between the two of them. As much as they try to resist this forbidden relationship, neither men can help falling, with dramatic consequences.

I felt the romance between Ethan and Taylor happened far too quickly. Considering they had been communicating via email for something like 3 years, I really felt there was a missed opportunity here to give them a deeper prior relationship (mutual long pining) before they finally meet face to face.

That said, this is a very cute winter romance full of mishaps and shenanigans. Taylor is adorable and Ethan's grumpiness melts quickly under Taylor's sunny personality.

Amy, the ex wife, felt a bit too evil and unredeemable as a character, and came across as rather flat, as did Samara the daughter and Gabe the best friend. Fleshing out the side characters would have helped the depth and tension in this story.

I loved the ADHD rep here and how it impacted Ethan's life and relationships. I also loved Ethan and Taylor's communication during the spicy scenes, especially when the sex isn't immediately magical. The ending was very fitting for the story and the individual characters.

Overall this was a very cute romance and definitely worth reading but it was quite a short book and felt a bit rushed.

Thanks to Harlequin Romance for the gifted copy. Thoughts are my own.

What a cute little read.

And also the bisexual energy in this one was a really great time. The messiness of the overlap of the relationsips but also just knowing that you kinda sorta found their person, was enticing. The small town feel of having a place like the fairytale resort is excellent and the way that PA assistants are really making the entire world run and aren't appreciated enough.

Their relationship was cute, and the added bonus of him being a good dad, was everything I needed it to be.

The narrator did a good job, and I would recomment the audiobook.

Thank you to Harlequin Afterglow, Harlequin Audio, and Netgalley for an early copy.

Alright, this book was the sweetest. This story follows Ethan, a single dad who is five years post-divorce and managing the resort he co-founded with his ex-wife. When the plans for his daughter's sixteenth birthday fall into the hands of his ex-wife's assistant, Taylor, these two seeming opposites make a connection neither is fully prepared for.

What follows is an endearing forced-proximity, forbidden, age-gap romance, with plenty of humor, character development, and love throughout. I loved Ethan's gentle spirit and clear sense of self, and Taylor's genuine kindness and care for others before himself. Both MMCs are top tier and so easy to root for.

I've been a fan of Timothy Janovsky's since his debut and every book is different, yet I love every single one!

This book had me constantly wanting more. I could not put it down (and I didn't want to!) because I was loving every moment of it. I loved getting to know Taylor and Ethan and how, while they are so different, they had their similarities that they could bond over. How friendship could turn to more so seamlessly, even in a situation that it really shouldn't have coexisted. I loved both of the characters, I loved the growth we saw, and I loved seeing how much they cared for each other! With the location being Storybook Endings Resort, I loved the nods to fairytales, and how much they were interwoven into the story. It was done so well that I felt nostalgic while reading and felt pulled into the book even more so.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the later in life ADHD diagnosis and seeing how Ethan was learning his own brain and doing what he could. It was so insightful to see him call the things out, even just in his head. And the way that Taylor treated his ADHD was absolutely beautiful.

Highly recommend picking up every Timothy Janovsky book, but absolutely loved this one!

Little synopsis in my own words:
Ethan has been on his own for the past 5 years after his divorce. His ex-wife and daughter moved to CA, across the country from Storybook Endings resort, and their own little cottage. He's still managing the location while his ex-wife continues to grow the business they started together, but separated from during the divorce. He has his best friend, and employee, Gabriel, and his dog, Nana. Besides that, he has the calls with his daughter, and the resort to take care of.

Taylor has been the assistant of Amy Lu for the past few years, hoping this'll open the doors to a job in hospitality. He becomes a trusted part of her life, which is why she trusts him to go alone to their first location to set up for her daughter's sixteenth birthday party, and do the various admin things necessary. He flies across the country just to be met with Ethan. He knows only what his boss has shared about her ex-husband, and not all of it kind. But he takes this assignment seriously, this could be his way to prove he would be a great asset to the new location opening soon, so he can't let anything, or anyone distract him.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Romance, and Timothy Janovsky for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Okay- could the setting BE anymore.. fun? ...Whimsical? Disney Adult? Timothy really gave us a fairy tale themed resort for all sorts of visitors and occasions. FUN!

This MM, age gap, somewhat forbidden (young gent is the assistant to older gent's ex wife.. who is ALSO his boss!) romance was so enjoyable. I loved seeing the growth in our older gent as he learned from his past relationship AND began to take care of his mental health. Gave himself grace, got himself an ADHD diagnosis and deployed tools and coping skills.

Smol spoiler (but you already know you're getting the HEA sooo just chill!?) What I love about many of Timothy Janovsky's third act break ups is that he gives them time. For growth, reflection and healing and for coming back together. The HEA in this one absolutely was not thrown together in one passionate moment. It came together through conversation and time. I LOVE THAT.