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kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you like Schitts Creek (especially David Rose), then you might just love this book. The first 5-10 chapters are very David Rose-esque. Such a good book! Love love love!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Outing
casdelvo's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
cozycritiques's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
“Never in my life has someone come for me so directly like this. Everyone hides behind their computers, writing articles and mean tweets they think I’ll never see, but here’s this stranger unabashedly going toe-to-toe with me. Fuck. Do I find that…refreshing?“
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/Sunshine
Representation: Mental Health (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), LGBTQ+ (Gay and bi), BIPOC (Puerto Rican-American)
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶
CW: Mental Illness, Panic Attacks, Mentions of Outing, Toxic Friendship, Gaslighting
This was my first book by Timothy Janovsky, but I will definitely be going back to read his first book now. You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince was utterly delightful. It had all the warm, heartfelt vibes of a Hallmark Christmas movie but with depth and steamy chemistry. The small town setting was perfect, and I loved getting to know all the side characters.
I tend to prefer dual POV when it comes to romance novels. However, I think this book is one of the rare instances where a dual POV may have detracted from the story. Although clearly spoiled and snobbish, Matthew was a surprisingly likable character, something I think can be attributed to the first-person single POV. Because we only see the story through Matthew’s eyes, we can fully understand his struggle with anxiety and the character growth he goes through throughout the book.
My only complaint was Hector’s overuse of the word “dude.” However, I must admit that by the end of the book, I started to find it as endearing as I did annoying. So do with that information what you will.
Overall, if you’re looking for a sweet and funny read with witty banter and a Schitt’s Creek feel, look no further than You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/Sunshine
Representation: Mental Health (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), LGBTQ+ (Gay and bi), BIPOC (Puerto Rican-American)
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶
CW: Mental Illness, Panic Attacks, Mentions of Outing, Toxic Friendship, Gaslighting
This was my first book by Timothy Janovsky, but I will definitely be going back to read his first book now. You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince was utterly delightful. It had all the warm, heartfelt vibes of a Hallmark Christmas movie but with depth and steamy chemistry. The small town setting was perfect, and I loved getting to know all the side characters.
I tend to prefer dual POV when it comes to romance novels. However, I think this book is one of the rare instances where a dual POV may have detracted from the story. Although clearly spoiled and snobbish, Matthew was a surprisingly likable character, something I think can be attributed to the first-person single POV. Because we only see the story through Matthew’s eyes, we can fully understand his struggle with anxiety and the character growth he goes through throughout the book.
My only complaint was Hector’s overuse of the word “dude.” However, I must admit that by the end of the book, I started to find it as endearing as I did annoying. So do with that information what you will.
Overall, if you’re looking for a sweet and funny read with witty banter and a Schitt’s Creek feel, look no further than You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship
mattyb's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol
ladythana's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
“I sigh, realizing that the boy I'm talking about is a different iteration of myself from a separate past life, removed from who I am here. All the previous me's have been chunked off, lopped into little figurines in a Dickens-style display that represent old hurts. Oh, how I want to take a bat to the table and smash them all to smithereens.”
➽ You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince is technically part of a series, but they are all independent standalone books! If you love unlikable main characters this is perfect, as Matthew Prince is a rich, entitled young man who has all the makings of a real Scrooge. However, after one too many scandals, he's forced to spend the holidays with his modest grandparents in their quite small town. Matthew is less than thrilled but has no choice if he wants to save his image. That doesn't stop him from being grumpy at being denied his usual privileges and having to spend Christmas away from the big city. Despite being a bit of a snob, Matthew quickly grew on me, as he's in a situation that quickly humbles him and makes him understand how horrid his attitude is. I also felt bad for him, as his parents are neglectful and very much absent - it's clear that they care little about how their actions affect Matthew. Even worse, he has a number of entitled friends, who only care about image and drop him the second he's no longer in good graces!
➽ I also loved the hate-to-love romance! Matthew is forced to spend some time with Hector, a local who has a good relationship with his grandparents. From being forced to share a room together to having to work on the charity gala, there's a lot of forced proximity. Hector is unimpressed with Matthew's antics and is very down-to-earth and modest, a very clear contrast. I loved their (acidic) banter, but also their growing relationship!
➽ You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince is technically part of a series, but they are all independent standalone books! If you love unlikable main characters this is perfect, as Matthew Prince is a rich, entitled young man who has all the makings of a real Scrooge. However, after one too many scandals, he's forced to spend the holidays with his modest grandparents in their quite small town. Matthew is less than thrilled but has no choice if he wants to save his image. That doesn't stop him from being grumpy at being denied his usual privileges and having to spend Christmas away from the big city. Despite being a bit of a snob, Matthew quickly grew on me, as he's in a situation that quickly humbles him and makes him understand how horrid his attitude is. I also felt bad for him, as his parents are neglectful and very much absent - it's clear that they care little about how their actions affect Matthew. Even worse, he has a number of entitled friends, who only care about image and drop him the second he's no longer in good graces!
➽ I also loved the hate-to-love romance! Matthew is forced to spend some time with Hector, a local who has a good relationship with his grandparents. From being forced to share a room together to having to work on the charity gala, there's a lot of forced proximity. Hector is unimpressed with Matthew's antics and is very down-to-earth and modest, a very clear contrast. I loved their (acidic) banter, but also their growing relationship!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Toxic friendship
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Cute and fun holiday romance! Loved the Schitt’s Creek vibes and really enjoyed getting to have a classic holiday rom-com with lots of queer folks in the lead. No other thoughts— nothing groundbreaking, just a good time and a perfect holiday read. Points removed for the overuse of the word dude, though.
Actually! One additional thought: This kind of felt like what Paris Daillencourt could have been like or wanted to be. They both feature rich gay leads with absent parents and anxiety disorders, but Matthew Prince dealt with it in a much better way and much stronger writing.
Actually! One additional thought: This kind of felt like what Paris Daillencourt could have been like or wanted to be. They both feature rich gay leads with absent parents and anxiety disorders, but Matthew Prince dealt with it in a much better way and much stronger writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
morganperks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Well, I'll be darned if the small-town romance didn't thaw my stone-cold heart and make it grow three sizes. 5 stars. Only cause I'm feeling sappy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Outing, and Gaslighting
tuliptohru's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
ggreen1379's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Outing and Toxic friendship