The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch is an awesome choice for those who liked Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston or movies like The Santa Clause or The Nightmare Before Christmas. I highly recommend this book to adult romance/rom-com readers who are fans of LGBTQ+ love stories, shenanigans and mischief, and lovable characters.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

What is The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch all about?

Nicholas “Coal” Claus is the reluctant heir to Christmas, pressured into a staged PR marriage with the Easter Princess, Iris. But one wild kiss with a stranger behind a bar changes everything. That stranger turns out to be Hex, the Prince of Halloween… and Coal’s surprise rival in a fake courtship competition. Holiday obligations, magical mayhem, and forbidden feelings collide in this quirky, festive queer romance.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch Book Review

I think I’ve found my new favorite holiday romance.

Meshing the best parts of books like Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston along with movies like The Santa Clause and The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch was an entertaining, heartwarming and humorous book. Highlighting the best parts of the holiday seasons while also providing an engaging romance, I was hooked pretty early on.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch is set in a modern world setting complete with magical realism element, Nicholas or ‘Coal’ is the heir to Christmas. His best friend is the Easter Princess (whose sister is getting married and joining the Valentine’s Day court), and he’s completely against the PR nightmare his father has turned his once beloved holiday into. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to get things right and please his father (or the gaggle of holiday reporters that seem to follow him everywhere). A single drunken kiss in an alleyway complicates things though, as the man he can’t get out of his head is revealed as his ‘rival’ for his best friend’s hand, and the mysterious Halloween Prince.

The worldbuilding in this book was excellent. I really loved the references to all the different holidays, especially some of those that are not as mainstream (i.e. Día de Los Muertos). Hex’s perspective on his holiday was quite refreshing, especially as it played into how joy powers all of the different holidays. The references to the power of cursing, mistletoe, and various events each holiday likes to partake in were quite amusing. The characters came across as very compelling, and I found myself invested in them early on. I loved Coal and Hex, and Iris and Kris were right up there. There were also some side characters I found myself attached to, like Wren and Renee. I really hope I get to see Kris and Iris’ love stories play out in future books, and that we have the opportunity to explore some of the other holidays that were not featured.

Overall, The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch is an excellent read. I’m super excited for the next book in the series, Go Luck Yourself, though it’s unclear as to when that will be coming out. I highly recommend this book to adult romance/rom-com readers who are fans of LGBTQ+ love stories, shenanigans and mischief, and lovable characters.

About the Holiday Himbos Series by Sara Raasch

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch is the first book in the Royals and Romance series, a queer rom-com universe where holiday royalty collide, compete, and (inevitably) fall in love. Blending magical realism, campy chaos, and emotional heart, each book focuses on a different holiday prince, and the mischief that leads them to romance.

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