The Merriest Misters

I received this book as an advanced reader's copy from the publisher. This book was a treat to read in the midst of summer. Basically Christmas in July. The story was very cute and gave off Hallmark vibes. It was a nice change from all the clichés of Hallmark movies, where this book focused on the LGBTQ married couple of Patrick and Quinn. It was refreshing reading a story where the couple did not have to fight for acceptance and instead focused on building healthy relationships and loving yourself.

In a Nutshell: A Christmas MM romance-drama with a married gay couple at the centre of attention. Fabulous inclusivity, a plot with some atypical writing choices (especially considering the genre), shallow main characters, somewhat YA/NA in tone. Might work better for you if you like NA romances.

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Plot Preview:

Patrick and Quinn have been married for not even a year and the cracks have already begun showing up. Patrick is very work-obsessed, which leaves Quinn feeling neglected and frustrated at having to handle the domestic chores alone.
When Patrick ends up hitting a “burglar” with a frying pan on Christmas Eve, they both are stunned that they’ve knocked Santa Claus unconscious. Santa’s flustered

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assistant, an elf named Hobart, insists that one of the two men take over Santa duties to save Christmas. Little do they realise that their duties weren’t meant to last only till Christmas morning. Will their struggling marriage be able to handle this added pressure?
The story comes to us in the alternating first-person perspectives of Patrick and Quinn, from two timelines.

This is my first proper M/M romance novel. For some reason, I have never found M/M blurbs appealing, though I have read and enjoyed plenty of F/F love stories. This book’s blurb reminded me of Tim Allen’s ‘The Santa Clause’ movies, which I had really enjoyed back in the day. Though the book didn’t entirely satisfy me, it is partly due to my reading preferences, and I hope I have a better experience with the next M/M story I might happen to pick up any time.

Bookish Yays: show less

In a Nutshell: A Christmas MM romance-drama with a married gay couple at the centre of attention. Fabulous inclusivity, a plot with some atypical writing choices (especially considering the genre), shallow main characters, somewhat YA/NA in tone. Might work better for you if you like NA romances.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plot Preview:

Patrick and Quinn have been married for not even a year and the cracks have already begun showing up. Patrick is very work-obsessed, which leaves Quinn feeling neglected and frustrated at having to handle the domestic chores alone.
When Patrick ends up hitting a “burglar” with a frying pan on Christmas Eve, they both are stunned that they’ve knocked Santa Claus unconscious. Santa’s flustered

show more

assistant, an elf named Hobart, insists that one of the two men take over Santa duties to save Christmas. Little do they realise that their duties weren’t meant to last only till Christmas morning. Will their struggling marriage be able to handle this added pressure?
The story comes to us in the alternating first-person perspectives of Patrick and Quinn, from two timelines.

This is my first proper M/M romance novel. For some reason, I have never found M/M blurbs appealing, though I have read and enjoyed plenty of F/F love stories. This book’s blurb reminded me of Tim Allen’s ‘The Santa Clause’ movies, which I had really enjoyed back in the day. Though the book didn’t entirely satisfy me, it is partly due to my reading preferences, and I hope I have a better experience with the next M/M story I might happen to pick up any time.

Bookish Yays: show less

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky
Holiday diverse M-M paranormal romance. Dual POV.
Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller have been married for less than a year and with a cumbersome mortgage and jobs neither are fully happy with, their relationship is suffering. Their lives are Interrupted when Patrick knocks out Santa with a frying pan and has to step into the role to save Christmas. They agree to stay at the North Pole for a year and become busy with making the toys and all the tasks needed for the job. Their relationship doesn’t take thrive which puts the magic in jeopardy. Will Christmas survive? Will they?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The recording was performed by Mark Sanderlin and Zach Barela who each show more takes on one of the POV’s. I did speed up the playback to 1.5 to better match reading speed and conversational comfort. The audiobook was easy to follow even when it switched to a memory as chapter changes and time changes were announced.
Because of the memories and flashbacks, the print version may be easier to read for some.

The story was sentimental with adult issues. I expected it to be happier simply because of the premise of Christmas and the North Pole and the cartoonish cover. It is not a comedy at all. It is a romance so hea, but I shed some tears as they both recognized their own needs as adults and living life. Romance hea.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio. show less

This book was a very short DNF. I love a good holiday romance novel. They’re like a Hallmark movie for the ears. And while yes, I should understand a couple trying to find each other. I just don’t find it something I want to listen to at the holidays. This book starts out with our two misters. Their relationship is on the rocks because they’ve been married, but don’t make time for each other. Well, I know the description tells me that they end up taking over for Santa Claus and decide to give each other a year to make the relationship work. I never got to any of that because them not having time for each other was a depressing way to start a romance novel.

I’m starting my winter holiday reading season with a magical rom-com. Read my full review here.

Publication is expected October 1.

#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #TheMerriestMisters