You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky
Narrated by Mark Sanderlin

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Afterglow Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Rivalry never tasted so good.

O’ little town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—it may be charming, but Julien Boire can’t wait to get out of there. Soon he’ll be leaving to take an advanced wine course that will put him on track to become a master sommelier. Meantime, his OCD demands he keep clear of distractions, especially the hot new hire at his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, Martin’s Place.

Which should be easy, because Greg Harlow is as ill-suited to Julien as a bold cabernet is to a delicate salmon entrée. As charismatic and confident as Julien is tightly wound, Greg is a TikTok mixologist who could charm a paper bag. One thing they do have in common: neither wants a relationship.

Greg’s history with dating is…complicated. Yet working together isn’t. First, they’re teaming up to launch a series of happy hour events at Martin’s Place. Then they’re agreeing to a no-strings sex pact that involves new worlds of experimentation. Nothing is off-limits. Except a future.

It’s exactly how Julien wants it. Except for the little part of him that wonders if maybe he’s about to lose the kind of happy that could last much longer than an hour…

My Opinion

Timothy Janovsky was a new author going into this and this was one of those books that I was able to listen to easily. I really enjoyed the way that Timothy has used dual perspectives to bring this story to life.

Rating 4/5

I loved the premise of this; an uptight neurodivergent sommelier must work with a flirty TikTok famous mixologist in order to revamp a crumbling restaurant's rather lacklustre happy hour.

Neither are looking for a relationship; Julian is counting the days until he can sit for his advanced sommelier certificate and leave small-town Pennsylvania and Greg has his own issues that prevent him from investing in anything serious. What's two hot, sexually frustrated guys to do but to come up with a no-strings attached pact where both parties can explore their sexuality without any judgement and messy feelings getting in the way?

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting this title to be so spicy! Their sexual encounters were definitely hot, incredibly detailed and appeared to be realistically portrayed. This book normalises a lot of issues which I've never seen openly addressed before, such as the use of SSRLs to manage anxiety disorders and the side effects they come with; such as erectile dysfunctional in men and the way this can affect their performance and confidence. 

I felt that Julian's OCD was carefully and sensitivity portrayed and I adored watching them both carve out their own safe space in such an intimate and gentle way. The patience and understanding they shared throughout was a really beautiful thing.

Both characters were clearly very cleverly and thoughtfully written. I appreciated the dual POV as it helped me develop a better understanding of Julian's perspectives and inner turmoil whilst also lifting Greg's carefully crafted mask.

The inevitable third-act breakup did rub me the wrong way. Greg returning to his own life and finding himself in his ex-boyfriend's apartment so casually seemed like a massive betrayal. I know in reality Julian pushed him away and they were never officially in a relationship, however, the whole encounter left a very sour taste in my mouth. As a result, I found the reconciliation and final chapters frustrating and difficult to digest.

I also wish that the audiobook had been dual narrated in order to distinguish clearly between Julian and Greg. However, once I listened to the audiobook whilst also reading a physical copy I really enjoyed Mark Sanderlin's portrayal of both characters.

Despite this, I adore these two endearing, flawed characters and how realistically their relationship was portrayed. The mental health representation was incredibly well written. Sometimes I feel like MH issues are simply tagged on or swept aside, however, theirs were intricately woven into their personality and  day-to-day life which made me appreciate both Julian and Greg on such a deeper level.

This book is a happy romance that combines heartfelt and humour to create an engaging read.

The author’s ability to balance humour with genuine emotion was remarkable. The lighthearted humour and laugh -out -loud moments are complemented by a deeper more sensitive themes of disability and vulnerability. Greg and Julien have a strong chemistry, and their relationship grows in a way that feels natural and rewarding. The book didn't want to end, for some reason.

This book was a super fun listen! It took me a little while to adapt to the narrator but once I was in then I enjoyed, I followed along with the physical book whilst listening which helped but enjoyed this story!

ND rep
Genuinely great mental health Rep

Really had no idea what I was getting into with this. I saw Timothy Janovsky and requested the ALC. The author has a great ability to make the characters feel real. I was listening to this in the garden and found myself just sitting and listening.

I just wish that it had been dual narrated. I really like Mark Sanderlin but I would like him even more as only half of the duo.

I love the premise that both dudes love being touched and that is the foundation of their situationship. Which is true romance style turns into something a whole lot more than just a FWB situation.

A huge plus for me is that this book has a wonderful use of seggs toys. Not just as something to add a bit of fun to seggsy time, but an extension of Greg, to sweep in for the assist when needed. It normalises that things aren't ideal 100% of the time and that it shouldn't stop you and your partner from getting the most out of any opportunity to be intimate, playful, and adventurous.

Every now and then I like to check NetGalley to see what audiobooks are available to review, as those are the books I’m likely to get through fastest. When I saw a new Timothy Janovsky, I was definitely interested in giving it a go.

This book follows Julian, a sommelier in training who wants out of his hometown and Greg, a TikTok famous mixologist who begins to work in his family’s restaurant. The two have a rocky start and Julian is certain he won’t get distracted by Greg. But when the two begin a no-strings-attached sexual relationship, things begin to grow into something neither of them will want to lose.

I had a fun time with this book, but I also liked that it dealt with some serious themes. Julian has pretty bad OCD and Greg is dealing with anxiety. On top of that, Greg’s medication means that he deals with erectile dysfunction, something that has meant that his relationships were suffering. Can’t really have a one-night stand if you don’t want to explain that you can’t get it up.

Though this book was entertaining and I did like the characters, neither of them particularly stuck out to me. I did enjoy the familial relationships on the side, but the romance was definitely the main focal point. So outside of that, I don’t really have very much to say.

The third-act breakup was very much a result of failed communication and mixed messages. Both are pretty anxious so neither of them really knew what to say to make the other certain that being together was what they wanted. And that did mean that the ending felt a little much? Like, okay, at least they’re moving in together but it felt pretty serious considering how little time they’d really known each other.

So, yeah, I did have a good time. And I was laughing whilst I was listening. Plus if you’re looking for a smutty book, you’ll definitely get a lot of that in this book. With a lot of toy usage to help Greg out where couldn’t always hold an erection. But that did help the two learn each other’s bodies in a pretty fun way to read.

A good book, but not one I think I’ll be thinking much about in the future.

This book was an enjoyable read, the characters really bounced off each other in a fun way. really fun quick read.

A really fun, lovely and heartfelt romance. But it does.deal with some pretty heavy topics, such as mental health issues, alcoholism, ED and parental neglect. There are a full list of potential triggers in the front of the book.

I really loved the character dynamics, each relatable in their own way, and each dealing with their own issues. The miscommunication trope is here, but dealt with in a way that feels realistic and with the best of intentions.

It's sweet and kinda hot and it's just a really good romance that doesn't shy away from dealing with realistic issues that people actually have to grapple with. Another hit from Mr Janovsky in my opinion. I'll continue to read everything he writes!

Timothy Janovsky is a new author to me, and I can’t lie this one didn’t blow me away by any means. I loved the characters of both Julien and Greg but at times found the plot a bit lacking and boring. The pacing was also a little confusing as it seemed to move slowly for around 2/3 of the book before rushing to a finish. Having said this, I did like the representation of mental health, and thought this done pretty well.
Overall, I don’t think I’d ever pick this one up again, but I am open to trying other books by Janovsky.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

You Had Me At Happy Hour
Timothy Janovsky

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


Back in March, I read The (Fake) Dating Game by this author and really loved everything about it - so when I spotted this new release, I jumped at the chance to dive right in.

This book was a similar genre and it was clear from the start where we were all heading - but I don't say this as a bad thing! Just because we know the plan, doesn't mean that we won't have a great time along the way - and I loved the way that Julien and Greg's relationship developed.

The characters were so well presented from the start and I was instantly rooting for them both.
I loved the representation in both main characters.

Greg - the seemingly super confident tik-tok sensation, but underneath, his mental health issues, medication, the side effects and subsequent treatment from his ex had worn him down.

Julien and his OCD - bravo!!
It's not every day that you get a true representation of this condition.
It's so often mentioned but not in a true sense and to see it written here - with sensitivity, truth and empathy - it really showed this in a positive light - which I don't think I've ever seen in fiction.
You might guess that my son suffers, hence my love!
But I'm so glad and grateful that so many people (especially boys/men) will relate to this and see that it really doesn't have to be judged in such a negative way always!

I loved the way the characters developed their friendship, sexual encounters and later, relationship in such an understanding, accepting and supportive way which encompassed each of their issues in order to make things work for them both - it was truly delightful!

Once again, this one got pretty spicy and sometimes graphic, so do check whether your comfortable with this level of detail.
I was fascinated by this one and loved the information about the aids that were used to help Greg find pleasure too.
Obviously some of these were completely new to me - and wouldn't be something I'd feel comfortable asking about - however, having that knowledge to help my children (if ever needed), I value lots.

Another brilliant read and I can wait to see more from this author.
The perfect romance, great characters and a fun and easy writing style that you can't help bingeing!



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Really good romance book with a high level of steam. This is a male male romance so the sex scenes, if you are a prude, are a little graphic. I really enjoyed the book. The only downside for me was the narrator. I felt it needed 2 voices, one for each character.

This was a cute and quick read/listen.

I really liked the positive way in which the mental and physical problems of the protagonists were portrayed. In my opinion it is really important to showcase that even though one might be burdened with trauma and side effects of medication to cope with your trauma and issues it is totally valid to go through these experiences and that that’s nothing to be ashamed about.
I think this was done really well in “You Had me at Happy Hour”.

The spicy scenes were really refreshing because, due to Greg’s struggles with ED they had to approach it from another angle. I also think that the intimacy and trust between Greg and Julien made the spicy scenes very enjoyable.

All in all I liked it and would recommend for anyone who’s in need of a quick sweet and spicy story without too much unnecessary drama.

You Had Me at Happy Hour is a sweet, cute romance.

We follow Julien, a sommelier, and Greg, a tik-tok famous cocktail artist. Greg comes to work at the same restaurant as Julian and they are forced together to create a happy hour for the struggling restaurant. Their personalities don't initially mesh, but once they spend time together things begin to blend better.

I loved the OCD and anxiety rep in this novel. I also enjoyed the way Julien and Greg got to know each other slowly over time, which felt very real. My biggest hold up was I did not feel like the narrators voice matched this narrative. I think I may have enjoyed the book more if I read it vs listened to the audiobook.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook ARC copy.

3.5 stars

I listened to the Audio Arc from NetGalley and, despite some initial negative impressions, ended up enjoying it. The characters were sweet and likeable and I was rooting for them. The plot is pretty light - it's really just a story about 2 guys meeting and overcoming some personal issues to get together, but I enjoyed it. Great narration.

I really enjoyed this story a lot. It was really cute and the characters were great. It was a great mix of fluff and spice and a loooot of feelings. Also the narrator was great.

Narration: I listened on 1.5 speed which was a great pace for the story. I enjoyed the narrator’s style however I wish they had a deeper voice since it’s mainly male dialogue.

Story: Excellent character development and the story moved at a good pace. I liked how character flaws were explored and how this affected their interactions. Overall a heartwarming story. I must say I didn’t really feel too much intrigue, as in I wasn’t rushing back to listen to more.

"You Had Me at Happy Hour" by Timothy Janovsky is a delightful contemporary romance that combines humour & heart to create a truly engaging read. Janovsky's writing shines with wit and charm, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their journey

One of the standout aspects of the novel is the author's ability to balance humour with genuine emotion. The witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments are perfectly complemented by deeper, more introspective scenes that explore themes of disability and vulnerability. The chemistry between Greg and Julien is palpable from the get-go, and their relationship develops in a way that feels both organic and satisfying.

Tropes:

-OCD Representation
-Anxiety Representation
-LGBTQ+
- 🌶️🌶️
-Restaurant Setting
-Instant Attraction they try to deny
-He (Greg) falls first

I really liked this one. While it is the typical "small town" romance where someone from new york starts a new life and finds more meaningful connection in the new place, it had some really nice elements.
For one, of course there was the grumpy sunshine and coworkers trope. But the characters both also had to navigate their own and each others' mental health issues.
The way they accommodated each others' needs, both with OCD and Er. Dysfunction with understanding and positivity was great.
The narration is done well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Such a beautiful and gentle romance.
I loved the actor´s voice and I was so captivated I couldn´t stop listening to it!

I really liked Timothy´s writing in New Adult and this book was just a confirmation of it! I absolutely love how he treats some pretty difficult themes in such a delicate way and even though this attention is there for the length of the book I still had my stomach in knots during the third act not really break-up.

This book was quick and cute. I loved how both characters were flawed but still so open and ready to listen to each other's needs. The representation was spot on!

Recommended for any lover of sweet yet spicy mm romances.

Thank You HarperCollins UK Audio for the ALC.

I requested the audiobook from Netgalley and Harper Collins audio because I felt a good, lighthearted lgbtqia+ romance was just what I needed.

Sadly, the dialogue didn't work for me on this one and the plot wasn't interesting enough to pull me through. I was hoping for cozy, but I got cringey and shallow.

I appreciated the author addressing subject matters like OCD and erectile dysfunction, but these didn't feel authentic, more just that they were thrown in.

I actually DNF'd at around 30%, so I can't say about the romance element. Overall, I'd rate it 1.5 stars, rounded to 2 because I didn't finish it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins audio for the ALC.