Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky

4*

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.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Afterglow Books/Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.