Title:
You’re a Mean One, Mathew Prince
Author:
Timothy Janovsky
Release Date:
October 4, 2022
Format:
E-Book
Genre:
Romance
Sub-Genre:
LGBTQ+, Holiday
Rating:
Read-A-Likes:
What I Liked: Matthew Prince himself was a VERY hard character to like at first. I know that’s the point of this story, but his entitlement and complete disregard for others was hard to read and I wondered how Janovsky was going to make him redeemable. However, his growth was slow enough to be believable and I appreciated that he admits the process to being a better person will be a long one and that he isn’t going to change overnight. If his change had happened too quickly, it wouldn’t have made sense. I also love that he has GAD (general anxiety disorder) and his panic attacks and overall mental health is treated with respect and care. Hector is a good foil to Matthew and isn’t without his own baggage but it doesn’t overtake the central story of Matthew’s growth. He doesn’t allow Matthew to get away with bullshit but also realizes that it’s not his job to change him. Their relationship growth from enemies to lovers, to friends, to lovers was a joy to read. To me, a successful holiday romance will have a solid cast of supporting characters and a setting that makes the reader want to visit or live there. In this regard, Matthew Prince is a winner. Matthew and Hector are strong main characters, but some of the others like Noelle, Siena, and Matthew’s grandma and grandpa make the story come to life. I would love to see another book that takes place in this world.
What I Didn’t Like: The end of this story felt way too rushed, even if I found it realistic. While most of the story took its time, it seemed that Janovksy tried to cram as much as he could into the last 40 or so pages. This is a small pet peeve of mine but if you’re going to include an epilogue in your book, it should take place a significant time after the main story. This book’s epilogue starts HOURS after the book ends-why not just include that in the main storyline? Even with the rest of the epilogue taking place a year later, the first part didn’t make sense. And even though I liked this book, it took me FOREVER to get through. I enjoyed the story but it wasn’t a book that I wanted to keep coming back to.
Who Should Read It: Enemies-to-lovers fans will like this book as well as anyone looking for a light Christmas romance. There are some heavy topics discussed but the overall story is fun and entertaining.
Review Wrap Up: Even though this book took me a long time to read, I ultimately ended up enjoying it and I thought Matthew’s transformation was handled well. Hector and Matthew made an adorable couple that I found myself rooting for and I liked the town and the supporting characters. And I loved that Matthew’s favorite Christmas movie is A Muppet Christmas Carol!
Favorite Quotes:
“The only time I’d cancel a party is if I died, and even then, I’d probably strike some deal with the devil to come back as a ghost to throw an epic funeral for myself.”
“Trends in fashion come and go, but feelings? Those fuckers are forever.”
“You helped me see that home is not a place. It’s people. It’s the people you choose to invest in, believe in-the people you let hold your heart.”
*Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
The Spinster Librarian 