A review by slayergirl3281
You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
f you loved Schitt's Creek, this one is for you! Especially if you loved David and Patrick's relationship.
Janovsky knocked this Holiday time romance out of the park. The chemistry between Matthew and his love interest Hector is palpable. I think my favorite part of this book was the way Janovsky wrote and showed how Matthew struggles with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. So many people struggle with GAD and it isn't talked about enough. Throughout the book Matthew is shown going through panic attacks and his own coping mechanisms.
On top of that Hector is so understanding and empathetic to Matthew's anxiety, which is a first for him. Since Matthew comes from parents who shoved him off on nannies and didn't spend too much time with him, his anxiety is a big theme throughout the novel.
Matthew's coping mechanism is to start planning a party in his head when he starts feeling things spinning out of control. Which is very relatable to so many people who deal with GAD. They try to hold on to the things they can control in a situation that is spiraling.
On top of the amazing Anxiety representation Hector is not only bisexual, but Puerto Rican. There are side characters that are sapphic, and trans. And it normalizes therapy.
The spicy parts were both tender and realistic, from what I know of queer men having sex. I really enjoyed the narrator as well.
cw
abandonment
gaslighting
toxic friendship
toxic relationship
sexual content
Janovsky knocked this Holiday time romance out of the park. The chemistry between Matthew and his love interest Hector is palpable. I think my favorite part of this book was the way Janovsky wrote and showed how Matthew struggles with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. So many people struggle with GAD and it isn't talked about enough. Throughout the book Matthew is shown going through panic attacks and his own coping mechanisms.
On top of that Hector is so understanding and empathetic to Matthew's anxiety, which is a first for him. Since Matthew comes from parents who shoved him off on nannies and didn't spend too much time with him, his anxiety is a big theme throughout the novel.
Matthew's coping mechanism is to start planning a party in his head when he starts feeling things spinning out of control. Which is very relatable to so many people who deal with GAD. They try to hold on to the things they can control in a situation that is spiraling.
On top of the amazing Anxiety representation Hector is not only bisexual, but Puerto Rican. There are side characters that are sapphic, and trans. And it normalizes therapy.
The spicy parts were both tender and realistic, from what I know of queer men having sex. I really enjoyed the narrator as well.
cw
abandonment
gaslighting
toxic friendship
toxic relationship
sexual content
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Classism, and Toxic relationship