You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince

August 29, 2022
For this frothy Christmas romance, Janovsky (Never Been Kissed) exiles entitled 21-year-old socialite Matthew Prince, “New York City’s reigning Party Prince,” to the Berkshires for the holidays. As punishment for impulse buying an island, Matthew’s parents cut him off and cart him off to his grandparents’ cozy Wind River, Mass., cottage—where of course he’s a fish out of water. His professor grandfather has also offered a room to Hector Martinez, a financially struggling college student, who strikes up an immediate mutual dislike with snobby Matthew. The polar opposite roommates reach a kind of détente when Hector helps Matthew through a panic attack, each revealing hidden depths to the other. And when Matthew makes a plan to get them both home for the holidays by convincing his parents he’s changed his ways and regaining access to his funds, they become an unlikely team, baking cookies and planning the Wind River Holiday Charity Gala. As they work together, Matthew’s shocked to recognize himself “catching feelings” for his newfound friend. Janovsky is blatant about the “holiday romance magic” at work, but Matthew’s redemption arc is just as gratifying as the love story. The result is a sweet romance that’s sure to put readers in the holiday spirit. Agent: Kevin O’Connor, O’Connor Literary.