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.

A love story with big feelings, bigger beards, and absolutely no fade-to-black.

If you like your romance with charm, heat, and a touch of emotional mess, Once Upon You and Me might just be your new favorite weekend escape. It's sweet. It's horny. It's full of yearning, fairy tale signage, and just enough snark to keep the sap in check.

This is a story about second chances, midlife desire, and being very gay in very straight-coded spaces. Ethan, a divorced dad and bisexual handyman at a Catskills wedding resort, is trying to keep his dignity and sanity intact while his ex-wife expands their shared business empire. Enter Taylor: her personal assistant and walking thirst trap, wearing form-fitting gray sweatpants through which Ethan can basically see the outline of the poor life choices he's about to make.

Who it's for:
- Adults 18+ who enjoy romance with real emotional stakes and real bodily fluids
- Readers who appreciate stories about queer self-acceptance, body-positivity, and sex-positivity
- Anyone who's tired of seeing fat, bi, or middle-aged characters treated as sidekicks or punchlines
- Fans of steam that's both explicit and respectful—think emotional nudity and actual nudity

Who it's not for:
- Anyone squeamish about sex on the page. This book does not cut away when the shirts come off.
- Readers under 18, or those looking for YA-level content. The characters are 27 and 40. Their issues—and sex lives—reflect that.
- If you need a romance without emotional baggage, this one might feel too real at times.

The spice level:
Janovsky doesn't shy away from what happens when two grown men like each other a lot. There's oral tradition, manual labor, private browsing... and refreshingly frank depictions of ongoing and enthusiastic consent which, for me, meant nothing felt gratuitous. The sex is part of the story. It's how these characters heal, connect, and reclaim parts of themselves. It's tender. It's joyful. It's sometimes messy (yup, in all the ways). No vague metaphors or (in)conveniently placed blankets here.

The vibe:
- Fairy tale branding wrapped in small-town queer angst
- Therapy...only the therapist is a very large dog who doesn't believe in personal space
- Exes with unresolved tension and matching branded fleeces
- Blankets, bourbon, and bisexual panic...peppered with the sort of dialogue that lets the feels sneak up on you

This isn't just a book about finding love. It's about letting yourself be seen—beard, baggage, and all.

Once Upon You & Me is a swoony age-gap romance with gay and bi MMCs.

Their romance is a touch taboo both with age-gap... and the fact that one of the MMCs technically works for the other MMCs ex-wife (workplace, adjacent if you will) 🤭

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet from page 1. First of all, it's FUNNY which to be fair is not shocking from Timothy Janovsky but it's still so appreciated. Second of all, the tension is OFF. THE. CHARTS. I bet you could feel that lusting from a mile away 🥵

I loved how into each other Ethan and Taylor were from the moment they met each other. They were the couple that didn't want to say goodnight and I was so into it. As you can tell, I'm still obsessing about it.

The setting for this book was also amazing! Where do I find this fairytale getaway? One of my favorite things that contemporary romances can do is give me that fantasy feeling where you want to literally escape into your book. I felt that so much with Once Upon You & Me. I think the last time I felt that was in Casey McQuiston's The Pairing with the European Food & Wine tour. All the details in this book were perfection! Princessy themes and storybook cottages and cheesy names like "evil queen bed" were laced throughout the story and I couldn't get enough of it. This book was truly a love letter to fairy tales.

As for the family dynamics, I thought everything was dealt with really well from separated parents to having a child you don't see often. The commentary on all those relationships was well done even though I still don't like Amy. ADHD with late in life diagnosis was represented as well. I loved how it was addressed in regards to those relationships and it made Ethan very relatable to adults with ADHD.

It may sound odd but Ethan reminded me sooo much of my partner. (But he's a 6'5 bi bear not a 6'6 one.) It made Ethan all that more endearing to me. Taylor and I had some similarities too, growing up with bigger families and becoming the eldest as the older ones moved out. I really feel like I got to know and relate to these characters so much, I miss them already.

Thank you so much to Harlequin and Timothy Janovsky for this ARC through NetGalley!

"Charming fairy tale meets spicy bedtime story in this deliciously enchanting age-gap LGBTQIA+ romance."

Sadly this book was not for me and I didn't find the same emotional connection I had with some of this other books. Would give it another try tho.

This was such a heartwarming and enduring story. I found both of the main characters to be well done and their relationship progression felt genuine and real. I liked that the book while romantic and wistful was also reality based enough to give it just that extra believability. I loved this so much apparently I am making up my own words! I will definitely be picking up another book by this author.

4.5/5

Ethan Golding's divorce soured him on happy endings and love ever after, despite his job as the manager of Storybook Endings Resort. Once his love letter to his wife and daughter, Ethan's ex-wife Amy has expanded into a resort chain and his daughter Samara is growing up hundreds of miles away. His personal mission is to make Samara's sweet sixteen as memorable as possible for her and her friends. Amy sends her personal assistant Taylor Frost ahead to the resort to scope things out and help with preparations for the party. Taylor is an excellent personal assistant, and he is eager to keep proving himself so he can finally be promoted, but his attraction to his boss' ex husband could throw that plan into chaos...

This book was genuinely so warm and fun to read. Although there was some miscommunication between the characters during the story, it felt so genuine and the both Ethan and Taylor worked to communicate. Watching their relationship develop and see how they each grew alongside it was lovely. The relationship between Ethan and Samara was so sweet and really showed him grappling with being so far from her and missing seeing her grow up into a teenager.

I especially appreciated the way the book handled their relationship toward the end of the book, and I felt it did justice to both of their interests and goals rather than have one (or both) of them sacrifice their ideals or life plan for the sake of their relationship. I will definitely pick up more Timothy Janovsky moving forward!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Timothy Janovsky is an author I adore, so it's no surprise that I loved this. The Harlequin romance brand is strong, and so when I needed an escape, well, from everything, I felt confident that this would be an enjoyably sweet romance.

Once Upon You and Me takes place in a literal fairy tale land and features a lovely age-gap romance between a single dad and the personal assistant to his ex-wife. There's the right amount of drama and an overabundance of swoony moments. Even when it could have been easy to villanize certain characters, Janovsky deftly finds a way to avoid this and find rewarding character arcs for all.

This was short, sweet, and too the point. I enjoyed the dual POV and think it really helped with the storytelling. I'm a fan of Janovsky and compared to some of their other work, this one wasn't among my favorites but still enjoyable nonetheless!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.