Book Review: A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Rating: 9 out of 10
Spice Level: 1 out of 5
Cover Grade: A-
Audiobook Narrator: Excellent Performances by Lee Osorio & Mark Sanderlin
Synopsis
In this charming holiday romance, Henry Aster's love life takes an unexpected turn when his desperate wish for "The Perfect Man" manifests in the form of a mannequin come to life. A Mannequin for Christmas begins after a devastating breakup leaves Henry facing another lonely Christmas with his family, his magical wish transforms a display mannequin from his vintage shop into Aidan Smith—a stunningly handsome but utterly clueless man who must experience genuine love before New Year's Eve or return to his inanimate state forever. As Henry teaches Aidan how to navigate human life and pose as his boyfriend for family gatherings, their growing connection raises profound questions about the nature of authentic love. This whimsical premise explores themes of perfection, vulnerability, and what it truly means to be human in a relationship.
Strengths: The narrative arc is well-defined. The story unfolds organically, and the resolution is satisfying. The author has an authentic voice, is witty and humorous. The book as a whole is deeply human and relatable, effortlessly readable, highlights the power of love, is laugh-out-loud funny, and uplifting and hopeful.
Weakness: A novel has to have some serious flaws for me to even notice, and I got nothing. Perfect contemporary holiday queer Christmas.
Verdict
This was my holiday and wholesome read for the year, and boy, did I pick a good one. The love story is adorably sweet. So many comical moments. I adored Aidan, the former mannequin, and his list of “things that can kill me!” Before Kim Cattrall was a Sex and the City goddess, she starred in the 1987 movie Mannequin, where she came to life after closing. This book has a touch of that, with a splash of Tom Hanks’ Big, and a dash of Will Ferrell’s Elf. Many laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt, great characters, and still has a life all its own. I need this to be made into a Christmas movie! (9/10)
Thank you, Timothy Janovsky, St. Martin's Griffin, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley & Libro.fm. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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From the Publisher:
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin | Macmillan | Macmillan Audio
Paperback | Audiobook
ISBN: 9781250338952 | 9781250415714
352 pages | 9 hours 16 minutes
Narrated by: Lee Osorio & Mark Sanderlin
Fiction / Romance / Holiday
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Fiction / Romance / LGBTQ+ / Gay
Description:
The second of Timothy Janovsky's queer Christmas romances with a speculative twist! A Christmas romance for Barbie fans who wished Ken and Allan got their own love story.
He was a mannequin... Now he’s the perfect man.
Henry Aster swears he is unlucky when it comes to love. He thought he’d finally found The One, but a sudden break-up has left him hopeless right before the holiday season.
Facing another family Christmas alone, Henry makes a wish on “magic hour” for “The Perfect Man.” The next morning, when he arrives at the Jersey Shore vintage shop he manages, he finds one of the male display mannequins has sprung to life and entirely wrecked the place.
The magicked man is gorgeous, of course, but he comes with a Cinderella-style caveat: If he doesn’t experience true, human love before the midnight chime on New Year’s Eve, he will turn back into a mannequin for good.
Now Henry doesn’t have to show up to family Christmas alone. The catch? This new man—self-named Aidan Smith—knows nothing about being a human. Henry has one month to teach Aidan how to be a functioning person in the modern world and the swoony boyfriend that will win over his family. It’s an arduous task that draws them close together... but can human love ever really be true?
Author Bio:
TIMOTHY JANOVSKY is a queer, multidisciplinary storyteller based in Washington, DC. He is the author of Never Been Kissed (Booklist starred review), You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince (AudioFile Earphones Award), and New Adult (2024 ALA Alex Award Nomination). He is an inaugural author for Harlequin's new, inclusive spicy romance line Afterglow Books. Find him on social media for more!
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