The Nightmare Before Kissmas

This was adorable. I love a good, cute, gay rom-com and this definitely delivered! The holiday fantasy elements were a great backdrop to this sweet 'star-crossed lovers' romance, but what really stole the show for me was Hex's character. I mean, anyone who knows me at all would NOT be surprised to hear that I adored the Prince of Halloween, but that's beside the point. 🤣 He was SO funny and precious and soft, and I just loved him to bits! I can't wait to continue the series and I really hope we get cameos of Coal and Hex in future installments.

✨ Representation: bi MC, queer love interest, queer side characters, Mexican love interest, Black side character

✨ Content warnings for: loss of a sibling, loss of a parent, abandonment from a parent, grief, insecurity, emotional and verbal abuse from a parent, mentions of physical abuse, mentions of toxic relationships, alcohol, vomit, blackmail

A true delight of a romp. The world building is just the right amount to paint a picture and give some structure without bogging you down with too many details or taking itself too seriously. Very “if you're wondering how they eat and breathe and other science facts, just repeat to yourself it's just a show; I should really just relax.” I had a thoroughly great time.

3.5 stars. The world-building in this queer fantasy romance was incomprehensible and the use of magic completely underwhelming. But the royal boy-meets-boy dynamic was a delicious mix of thirst and insta-love (I usually dislike the latter, but it's the eve of 2025 and I need something soft). Plus the ride-or-die relationship between Nicholas (“Coal”) and his younger brother Kris made my heart grow three sizes larger. Forget about the weird fantasy stuff; The Nightmare Before Kissmas gave me the best [b:Red, White & Royal Blue 41150487 Red, White & Royal Blue Casey McQuiston https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487.SY75.jpg 61657690] vibes I have felt since the original.

Might've been a 4 but of course we hate a 3rd act breakup and honestly the second half dragged for me. Could've done with about 100 less pages tbh

I liked the setting of holidays as different cultures, but this couldn't decide if it wanted to be a rom-com or political/royal intrigue or musings on family trauma and support systems. It was fun, but the romance was serious really fast, kinda off-puttingly so, and it definitely is aiming at a sequel rather than feeling like matters are resolved even a little for Christmas. 

Loved the premise of this one

"The Nightmare Before Kissmas" promises an enchanting holiday romance that blends the magic of Christmas with queer representation but, unfortunately, falls short of delivering on its potential. This YA/New Adult novel, which follows Nicholas "Coal" Claus, the reluctant heir to Christmas, attempts to merge holiday whimsy with political intrigue but ultimately creates a messy, overlong narrative that loses sight of its core romantic elements.

The premise is appealing: a Christmas prince who falls for the Halloween prince while navigating family expectations and an arranged marriage—however, the execution has much room for improvement. At over 350 pages, the story feels bloated and meandering, with repetitive internal monologues and political subplots that detract from rather than enhance the central romance.

The world-building, while creative in concept - with different holiday courts each having their own royal families - never quite coheres into a satisfying whole. The attempt to critique capitalism and commercialization through Santa's empire-building ambitions feels heavy-handed and at odds with the lighter romantic elements the book aims for.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment is the romantic relationship itself. Despite being marketed as a rivals-to-lovers story, Coal and Hex's relationship lacks genuine conflict or tension. Their attraction is immediate and largely surface-level (they 'bump' into each other, and immediately start making out), with their interactions often devolving into cringeworthy dialogue and purple prose, particularly in the intimate scenes. The promised rivalry never materializes, leaving readers with an underdeveloped romance and lacking emotional depth.

The book does have some bright spots. Some of the familial relationships, particularly between Coal and his brother Kris, are well-drawn. There are moments of genuine humor, and the representation of queer characters in a holiday setting is refreshing. Afterall, that is what drew me to this book in the first place.

However, these positive elements can't overcome the fundamental pacing, plot structure, and character development issues. The third-act conflict feels contrived, and the resolution could have been more complex. The book's attempt to tackle serious themes about tradition, family expectations, and the meaning of holidays never quite lands, instead feeling superficial and disconnected from the story's romantic core.

While "The Nightmare Before Kissmas" might appeal to readers seeking holiday-themed LGBTQ+ representation and those who enjoy elaborate fantasy world-building, it ultimately fails to deliver a compelling romance or a satisfying fantasy narrative. The book would have benefited from tighter editing, more focused storytelling, and a clearer sense of its identity - whether as a light romantic comedy or a more serious exploration of holiday politics and family dynamics.

The Nightmare before Kissmas by Sara Raasch


The Christmas Prince is being forced by his father to marry the princess of Easter... But Halloween isn't happy about the arrangement and sends in the prince of halloween to vie for her hand. Trouble is, both princes have met before and shared a steamy kiss. Can they keep their growing attraction at bay to keep the peace in the lands?

This book was funny! I loved all the banter. I loved every loaded second. The group chats were my very favorite parts!!!

I loved all the holiday politics. It was awesome. It was a lot of fun and watching the book blend two of my favorite holidays in this cute read made my day! Could have done with some more backstory though on the brothers and Cole's engagement to Iris.

-Holiday Romance CHECK
-Forbidden Love CHECK
-Mixing genres CHECKKKKK

4 stars and the audiobook was phenomenal!!

I am ready for Christmas to be here after reading this. I was lucky to get the audio version through NetGalley, which is worth every minute of the book. For the first time, I will say I hated Santa. You'll love some characters while hating others. I understand the comparison between Red White and Royal Blue, but in my opinion, this one is better. I loved both and this one just makes you want to celebrate both Christmas and Halloween together. As someone who doesn't usually get hooked right away into books this had me going from the first minute. There were some cringy times but those are made better by the character realizing what he said is cringy.

I am unsure what the author put into this series, but I am ready for the next one.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is set in Christmas Land. In the world of the book, each holiday is a kingdom, using magic to keep their existence hidden. The King of Christmas decides to match his son, Coal, with the Princess of Easter, Iris, who also happens to be the prince's best friend. The Prince of Halloween, Hex, is invited to court the princess as well. While they have to pretend they're competing for the princess, the two princes get more and more close.

I loved this book! I seriously can't wait for the next one. Something about the writing really resonated with me, sucked me in and didn't let me go. I read it all in one sitting.

The premise is so cute and fluffy, that I thought the book was gonna be a fun and silly (in a good way) read. Which it is, but it's also, so full of passion and love, and it is so evocative, earnest and at times quite deep. While the romance is the main plot, the story is also about family and loss and there are messages in it about the corrupting influences of power and capitalism.

With audiobooks I don't usually highlight sections because it's just annoying. But so many times while listening to this book I had to pause, rewind and replay over and over until I could write them down.

The romance in this is the best. It had delicacy, vulnerability and authenticity. And Coal and Hex are just so frickin cute!! I always love a forbidden romance, with the yearning, the stolen touches and the secret meetings and this was done REALLY well. Their chemistry, banter, and tension, all of it was just so good. Their baggage and misgivings felt very genuine as well.

I loved most of the side characters as well: the Princess of Easter, the other Prince of Christmas, and staff at the palace. I especially loved the brother relationship between Coal and Kris. And together with Iris they make a great trio.

Unlike the movie it's named after, this leans more Christmas than Halloween, in case you like reading books close to their holidays.