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Royals and Romance #2
Go Luck Yourself
Featuring exquisite emerald sprayed edges!
It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!
Someone has been stealing Christmas’s joy, and there’s only one clue to the culprit—a single shamrock.
With Coal busy restructuring Christmas—and their dad now having a full midlife crisis in the Caribbean—Kris volunteers to investigate St. Patrick’s Day. His cover: an ambassador from Christmas to foster goodwill. What could go wrong?
Everything, it seems. Because Prince Lochlann Patrick, Crown Prince of St. Patrick’s Day, happens to be the mysterious student that Kris has been in a small war with at Cambridge. They attempt to play nice for the tabloids, but Kris can’t get through one conversation without wanting to smash Loch’s face in—he’s infuriating, stubborn, loud, obstinate, hot—
Wait—hot?
Kris might be in some trouble. Especially when it turns out that the mystery behind Christmas’s stolen magic isn’t as simple as an outright theft. But why would a Holiday that Christmas has never had contact with, one that’s always been the very basis of carefree, want to steal joy? Can a spare prince even hope to unravel all this, or will Kris lose something way more valuable than his Holiday’s resources—like his heart?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!
Someone has been stealing Christmas’s joy, and there’s only one clue to the culprit—a single shamrock.
With Coal busy restructuring Christmas—and their dad now having a full midlife crisis in the Caribbean—Kris volunteers to investigate St. Patrick’s Day. His cover: an ambassador from Christmas to foster goodwill. What could go wrong?
Everything, it seems. Because Prince Lochlann Patrick, Crown Prince of St. Patrick’s Day, happens to be the mysterious student that Kris has been in a small war with at Cambridge. They attempt to play nice for the tabloids, but Kris can’t get through one conversation without wanting to smash Loch’s face in—he’s infuriating, stubborn, loud, obstinate, hot—
Wait—hot?
Kris might be in some trouble. Especially when it turns out that the mystery behind Christmas’s stolen magic isn’t as simple as an outright theft. But why would a Holiday that Christmas has never had contact with, one that’s always been the very basis of carefree, want to steal joy? Can a spare prince even hope to unravel all this, or will Kris lose something way more valuable than his Holiday’s resources—like his heart?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2025
681 people are currently reading
15780 people want to read
About the author
Sara Raasch
30 books7,425 followersSara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.
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November 3, 2024Her next book isn't about Iris. Love loses no one talk to me I'm unwell
September 20, 2024
I couldnt love this book any more. I am really hoping that Sara has plans to write more in this world.
March 20, 2025
4 stars. Delivering on the well-written Christmas camp and the emotional depth I’ve come to expect from this series, Go Luck Yourself is a holiday romcom in the truest sense: steamy, light, but just the right amount of emotional.
March 14, 2025
Not a single brain cell of mine was used while reading this and honestly it was wonderful.
February 25, 2025
Book 1: BANGER
Book 2: ANOTHER BANGER
The Royals and Romance has already catapulted itself to being one of my favorite series with just two books.
Oftentimes the romance dilutes the plot in romance books, however…THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE. The romance in this book is LOIN-QUAKING. The chemistry between Kris and Loch is everythingggggg. Then Sara gives us a “whodunnit, infiltration mission into another Holiday, amidst an already dire-straits situation in Christmas” plot-line and its ADDICTIVE! And it all starts with Kris heading to St. Patrick’s Day to help remedy some bad press he caused with the Prince WHICH…I KNOW, RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE VIBES EEEEEEEEEK!!! I love :) This book feels like being Eiffel-towered by an addictive plot and a fiery romance and I was NOT mad about it!
One of my favorite things is when a sequel includes the characters from the previous book, without taking the spotlight from the new MCs. And this book did exactly that! I was soooooo happy to see Coal and Hex again :) And while they weren’t the main focus, we still got to see a little continuation of their story, as we see Coal embrace his new role with his Halloween Prince by his side. As well as Iris, whom I love even more after reading this book!!! The book boasts such an amazing cast, so I’m glad we get to see the whole gang back together again, plus the addition of Loch and his sisters :)
The romance is perfect. The plot is perfect. Then we get such phenomenal character development paired with all of that! Kris is WALLED up. As he should be. Our sweet Christmas Prince has been through it…while Loch is introduced as a stone-cold, no nonsense Prince who keeps his soft side on check. Then our little lovebirds meet and little do they know, they’re exactly what the other person needs :) Kris begins to prioritize his own happiness. Loch begins to believe in himself a bit more and goes after the things he wants. And the result is just two of the most perfect little princes to ever grace my eyes :)
So in case it wasn’t obvious, I will read anything Sara writes, including her grocery list.
Thank you so much to Bramble for the gifted ARC :)
Book 2: ANOTHER BANGER
The Royals and Romance has already catapulted itself to being one of my favorite series with just two books.
Oftentimes the romance dilutes the plot in romance books, however…THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE. The romance in this book is LOIN-QUAKING. The chemistry between Kris and Loch is everythingggggg. Then Sara gives us a “whodunnit, infiltration mission into another Holiday, amidst an already dire-straits situation in Christmas” plot-line and its ADDICTIVE! And it all starts with Kris heading to St. Patrick’s Day to help remedy some bad press he caused with the Prince WHICH…I KNOW, RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE VIBES EEEEEEEEEK!!! I love :) This book feels like being Eiffel-towered by an addictive plot and a fiery romance and I was NOT mad about it!
One of my favorite things is when a sequel includes the characters from the previous book, without taking the spotlight from the new MCs. And this book did exactly that! I was soooooo happy to see Coal and Hex again :) And while they weren’t the main focus, we still got to see a little continuation of their story, as we see Coal embrace his new role with his Halloween Prince by his side. As well as Iris, whom I love even more after reading this book!!! The book boasts such an amazing cast, so I’m glad we get to see the whole gang back together again, plus the addition of Loch and his sisters :)
The romance is perfect. The plot is perfect. Then we get such phenomenal character development paired with all of that! Kris is WALLED up. As he should be. Our sweet Christmas Prince has been through it…while Loch is introduced as a stone-cold, no nonsense Prince who keeps his soft side on check. Then our little lovebirds meet and little do they know, they’re exactly what the other person needs :) Kris begins to prioritize his own happiness. Loch begins to believe in himself a bit more and goes after the things he wants. And the result is just two of the most perfect little princes to ever grace my eyes :)
So in case it wasn’t obvious, I will read anything Sara writes, including her grocery list.
Thank you so much to Bramble for the gifted ARC :)
November 3, 2024
A sequel that surpasses the first.
March 17, 2025
LOL ☘️🇮🇪☘️🇮🇪🇮🇪☘️🇮🇪☘️☘️🇮🇪☘️
June 20, 2025
"I’ve been so obsessed with various endings giving me closure or happiness that I’ve neglected the journey to get to any of them. Like putting words into a story, word by word."
The start was a little meh, but once I hit 50% I was all in.
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I finally have it! Almost two months! The wait is OVER!
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I need someone to explain to me how this book is out, and not in my possession. I just can't make sense of it myself.
The start was a little meh, but once I hit 50% I was all in.
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I finally have it! Almost two months! The wait is OVER!
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I need someone to explain to me how this book is out, and not in my possession. I just can't make sense of it myself.
March 25, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
A fun gay rom-com that didn't live up to the first book, but was still a good time! Go Luck Yourself is an enemies-to-lovers romance between the spare prince of Christmas and the crown prince of St. Patricks Day during a diplomatic mission to repair an unintended offense. (i.e. Lochlan kept stealing Kris's reserved study room at college and out of annoyance he filled the room with tinsel, not knowing who he was.)
These books are fun because they don't take themselves too seriously, though the main characters in this were a lot more immature in the way they interacted and handled things, which I did find annoying at times. Ultimately though, it's an entertaining romp with two knuckleheads who eventually find their way to each other and save the day. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
A fun gay rom-com that didn't live up to the first book, but was still a good time! Go Luck Yourself is an enemies-to-lovers romance between the spare prince of Christmas and the crown prince of St. Patricks Day during a diplomatic mission to repair an unintended offense. (i.e. Lochlan kept stealing Kris's reserved study room at college and out of annoyance he filled the room with tinsel, not knowing who he was.)
These books are fun because they don't take themselves too seriously, though the main characters in this were a lot more immature in the way they interacted and handled things, which I did find annoying at times. Ultimately though, it's an entertaining romp with two knuckleheads who eventually find their way to each other and save the day. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 24, 2025
finally free… the curse been been lifted ….
look. listen. if this book sounds cute and interesting to you, please do not let me being mean stop you from embarking on that journey. but please also know that i was PLANNING on being nicer. i promise. this book sat at a 3 star for SO long, because honestly? it was charming, i did like the characters, it was silly in a good way and i think a lot of things that i didn’t like about it were genre conventions and not an issue with the book itself. however. then we pulled some third act shit so egregiously cringe that i laughed out loud and could not lock back in for the life of me. i TRIED, man, but it just did Not End and i couldn’t get over how unsexy it all was. Anna tells me that somehow it was much worse in the first book, so maybe i should count my blessings, but i didn’t read that one so i’m being mean to this one instead.
Kris, you are charming but your tattoos are bad and your boyfriend is cringe and i’m not afraid to say it. GOD. i feel better now
look. listen. if this book sounds cute and interesting to you, please do not let me being mean stop you from embarking on that journey. but please also know that i was PLANNING on being nicer. i promise. this book sat at a 3 star for SO long, because honestly? it was charming, i did like the characters, it was silly in a good way and i think a lot of things that i didn’t like about it were genre conventions and not an issue with the book itself. however. then we pulled some third act shit so egregiously cringe that i laughed out loud and could not lock back in for the life of me. i TRIED, man, but it just did Not End and i couldn’t get over how unsexy it all was. Anna tells me that somehow it was much worse in the first book, so maybe i should count my blessings, but i didn’t read that one so i’m being mean to this one instead.
Kris, you are charming but your tattoos are bad and your boyfriend is cringe and i’m not afraid to say it. GOD. i feel better now
October 10, 2025
It really is 2 to 3 stars for the book and 1 for the narrator, because at this point, I’m not sure if I liked the book or just his voice.
This book feels like someone read The Nightmare Before Kissmas and said, this is sort of a good idea, but it reads ridiculous, so let’s make some changes and edit it better, and this is the result. I cannot stress enough how similar the plots are. Seriously, it’s like the first book, just a bit improved and without the annoying Coal monologues. Plus, Loch actually has a personality that’s more than just wearing corset vests.
Again, I have to ask how or why these brothers are friends with Iris. Seriously, their conversations are so cringe, and let’s be honest, nobody cares about her character enough to want to keep reading a new book about her.
This book feels like someone read The Nightmare Before Kissmas and said, this is sort of a good idea, but it reads ridiculous, so let’s make some changes and edit it better, and this is the result. I cannot stress enough how similar the plots are. Seriously, it’s like the first book, just a bit improved and without the annoying Coal monologues. Plus, Loch actually has a personality that’s more than just wearing corset vests.
Again, I have to ask how or why these brothers are friends with Iris. Seriously, their conversations are so cringe, and let’s be honest, nobody cares about her character enough to want to keep reading a new book about her.
April 9, 2025
Your honour, how could I not love them?
After I read the first one last December, I was very much looking forward to this one. I quite enjoyed the first one and was excited to see how Raasch would continue. She did an amazing job with this book; I love it so much. It is the perfect mix of silly, fun, swoon-worthy, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. How can you not love idiots falling in love? I was on the edge of my seat at the end and did not see that coming. What I enjoyed about this book was how both characters are not perfect, they are so realistically written. I just immensely enjoyed this book and will reread it in the future.
I'm looking forward to what more great books Raasch will write.
4.75 stars!
After I read the first one last December, I was very much looking forward to this one. I quite enjoyed the first one and was excited to see how Raasch would continue. She did an amazing job with this book; I love it so much. It is the perfect mix of silly, fun, swoon-worthy, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. How can you not love idiots falling in love? I was on the edge of my seat at the end and did not see that coming. What I enjoyed about this book was how both characters are not perfect, they are so realistically written. I just immensely enjoyed this book and will reread it in the future.
I'm looking forward to what more great books Raasch will write.
4.75 stars!
March 10, 2025
This series is so silly and fun! Listening to The Nightmare Before Kissmas brought me so much joy that I held out until I could listen to the audiobook of this one, too.
Kris, second son and heir presumptive to the Christmas Holiday (his brother was just crowned king), unwittingly provokes an inter-holiday scandal by pranking the Prince of St. Patrick's Day. Kris heads to Ireland to give the Holiday Press a wholesome story to print, since he feels like a jerk after making Prince Lochlann look bad. But that's not all - Kris is also "undercover" investigating the theft of some Christmas joy (a suspicious shamrock was left behind at the scene of the crime, pointing to the Irish culprit). But, surprise surprise, Prince Lochlann is really hot and, though grumpy, also really into making his holiday the best it can be.
I've read reviews of this series saying that the political stuff is taken too seriously, and I kind of get that? Because it's really hard to read a conflict hinging on the theft of Christmas Joy and treat it with the same gravitas that the book does. I personally just read it as something important to the characters that I just don't care about (like when I read about the horrors of the gin trade in historical romance). I do think it's really cool that Raasch is bringing characters with depression and anxiety to a silly-as-hell book, because those people deserve to be the stars of a hilarious holiday romcom, too.
Like I said up top, I listened to the audiobook of this one instead of reading with my eyes because first person/present tense New Adult (both MMCs are university students) works best for me that way. Narrator Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick didn't quite match the unhinged heights of Nightmare for me, but I still think listening is the very best choice. (That said, I was also VERY happy to have a print copy, because my ears were burning during the sex scenes!)
This objective review is based on complimentary copies of the audiobook and novel.
Kris, second son and heir presumptive to the Christmas Holiday (his brother was just crowned king), unwittingly provokes an inter-holiday scandal by pranking the Prince of St. Patrick's Day. Kris heads to Ireland to give the Holiday Press a wholesome story to print, since he feels like a jerk after making Prince Lochlann look bad. But that's not all - Kris is also "undercover" investigating the theft of some Christmas joy (a suspicious shamrock was left behind at the scene of the crime, pointing to the Irish culprit). But, surprise surprise, Prince Lochlann is really hot and, though grumpy, also really into making his holiday the best it can be.
I've read reviews of this series saying that the political stuff is taken too seriously, and I kind of get that? Because it's really hard to read a conflict hinging on the theft of Christmas Joy and treat it with the same gravitas that the book does. I personally just read it as something important to the characters that I just don't care about (like when I read about the horrors of the gin trade in historical romance). I do think it's really cool that Raasch is bringing characters with depression and anxiety to a silly-as-hell book, because those people deserve to be the stars of a hilarious holiday romcom, too.
Like I said up top, I listened to the audiobook of this one instead of reading with my eyes because first person/present tense New Adult (both MMCs are university students) works best for me that way. Narrator Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick didn't quite match the unhinged heights of Nightmare for me, but I still think listening is the very best choice. (That said, I was also VERY happy to have a print copy, because my ears were burning during the sex scenes!)
This objective review is based on complimentary copies of the audiobook and novel.
December 14, 2025
I listened to The Nightmare Before Kissmass on Christmas Day last year. I finally got my hold in for this Christmas meets St. Patrick’s Day book.
Sadly, this wasn’t as charming or funny as book one.
Kris Clause goes as a Christmas ambassador to investigate stolen holiday magic, only to fall for Prince Lochlan Patrick of St. Patrick's Day, his infuriating, rival enemy from university.
I just didn’t connect to the characters. I found them infuriating and I disliked the third act.
Whereas book one was goofy fun, this was goofy cringe.
I hate to yuck on the holidays, but Kris was written in a different font compared to book one and it did not ever feel festive - Irish or Christmas.
Maybe it’s because this was so similar to book one and didn’t pull it off as well.
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Sadly, this wasn’t as charming or funny as book one.
Kris Clause goes as a Christmas ambassador to investigate stolen holiday magic, only to fall for Prince Lochlan Patrick of St. Patrick's Day, his infuriating, rival enemy from university.
I just didn’t connect to the characters. I found them infuriating and I disliked the third act.
Whereas book one was goofy fun, this was goofy cringe.
I hate to yuck on the holidays, but Kris was written in a different font compared to book one and it did not ever feel festive - Irish or Christmas.
Maybe it’s because this was so similar to book one and didn’t pull it off as well.
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March 20, 2025
Kris’s story of how he realized he isn’t really in love with Iris and he is going to go undercover at St Patrick’s day to see if they are stealing the Christmas joy. The prince, Lach, is a classmate of his former Cambridge. Enemies to lovers and my LEAST favorite trope (won’t say which to not be a spoiler)
This is pretty spicy! I liked this a lot, only deducting a star because the plot was SO MUCH like the plot of the first book in this series.
This is pretty spicy! I liked this a lot, only deducting a star because the plot was SO MUCH like the plot of the first book in this series.
January 29, 2025
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
CW: toxic/abusive parents
I really loved this book! I liked this more than the Nightmare Before Kissmas, which is saying a lot, because I also loved that one. I think the reason I liked this one more is because it has my favourite trope, enemies to lovers, and as the story progresses, you really see that Loch is a good guy, doing his best for his holiday. So, maybe not so much of an enemy as Kris first thought.
I also thought that the mental health rep was quite good in this, in that it felt realistic for someone who is in denial about their mental health challenges. Kris quite obviously has anxiety and has been struggling with his mental health since his mom abandoned their family when he was young.
Reading about the toxic parent(s) was really challenging. As a parent, I don't know how someone could ever treat their kids in that way, regardless of their age. I think that Raasch did a good job of showing how important it is for some people's mental health to create boundaries, even when it feels like those boundaries are being mean to the other person. I think she also did a good job of the importance of wanting to be better for yourself, in addition to wanting to be better for the person you love. Finding that special someone doesn't cure you, but they can help you and accept you, which is better anyway.
So many things to love about this book, and I absolutely can't wait for more in the series!
CW: toxic/abusive parents
I really loved this book! I liked this more than the Nightmare Before Kissmas, which is saying a lot, because I also loved that one. I think the reason I liked this one more is because it has my favourite trope, enemies to lovers, and as the story progresses, you really see that Loch is a good guy, doing his best for his holiday. So, maybe not so much of an enemy as Kris first thought.
I also thought that the mental health rep was quite good in this, in that it felt realistic for someone who is in denial about their mental health challenges. Kris quite obviously has anxiety and has been struggling with his mental health since his mom abandoned their family when he was young.
Reading about the toxic parent(s) was really challenging. As a parent, I don't know how someone could ever treat their kids in that way, regardless of their age. I think that Raasch did a good job of showing how important it is for some people's mental health to create boundaries, even when it feels like those boundaries are being mean to the other person. I think she also did a good job of the importance of wanting to be better for yourself, in addition to wanting to be better for the person you love. Finding that special someone doesn't cure you, but they can help you and accept you, which is better anyway.
So many things to love about this book, and I absolutely can't wait for more in the series!
March 20, 2025
4.25**** stars
story: 4 stars / audio: 5 stars
The other prince of Christmas and the prince of St. Patricks in a quarrel.
Great story, great audio. Loved the narrator.
I only wished the whole situation with the Santa parents hasn’t been dealt with so disappointingly. The issues they had with their parents, for Coal in the first book mainly with the dad and for Kris with he mom here, have been such a huge thing for both brothers personally that I was very surprised that it wasn’t resolved more clearly. No, it honestly doesn’t feel resolved at all.
But well, at least the boys are happy now. ♡
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Royals and Romance Series
Book 1 - The Nightmare Before Kissmas - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Go Luck Yourself - 4.25 stars
story: 4 stars / audio: 5 stars
The other prince of Christmas and the prince of St. Patricks in a quarrel.
Great story, great audio. Loved the narrator.
I only wished the whole situation with the Santa parents hasn’t been dealt with so disappointingly. The issues they had with their parents, for Coal in the first book mainly with the dad and for Kris with he mom here, have been such a huge thing for both brothers personally that I was very surprised that it wasn’t resolved more clearly. No, it honestly doesn’t feel resolved at all.
But well, at least the boys are happy now. ♡
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Royals and Romance Series
Book 1 - The Nightmare Before Kissmas - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Go Luck Yourself - 4.25 stars
May 5, 2025
3.5
2025 reads: 102/300
i received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
this is the second book in the royals and romance series.
someone has been stealing christmas’s joy, and the only clue to the culprit is a single shamrock. coal and his dad are both busy—coal with restructuring christmas, his dad with having a midlife crisis in the caribbean—leaving it up to kris to investigate st. patrick’s day. his undercover plans go awry when he realizes that st. patrick’s crown prince, lochlann, is the student kris has been in a feud with. with the pre-existing tension, and now the growing attraction, between them, playing nice is going to be a lot harder than he thought.
i had a lot of fun reading the nightmare before kissmas last year, so i was looking forward to reading this book! i didn’t enjoy this one quite as much, but i still did have a good time reading it. i liked how the mystery of christmas’s joy being stolen unraveled and how this played into kris and loch’s dynamic. i really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop throughout the book. honestly, i didn’t really care for the intimate moments, and found myself wanting to get them over with. besides that, i liked this book!
narration: dylan reilly fitzpatrick narrated both kris and loch’s points of view. he did a great job differentiating the different viewpoints, even putting on different accents for our main characters. there was a lot of emotion imbued into the narrations, which helped me further immerse myself into the story.
i would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the nightmare before kissmas. i’m looking forward to book three!
2025 reads: 102/300
i received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
this is the second book in the royals and romance series.
someone has been stealing christmas’s joy, and the only clue to the culprit is a single shamrock. coal and his dad are both busy—coal with restructuring christmas, his dad with having a midlife crisis in the caribbean—leaving it up to kris to investigate st. patrick’s day. his undercover plans go awry when he realizes that st. patrick’s crown prince, lochlann, is the student kris has been in a feud with. with the pre-existing tension, and now the growing attraction, between them, playing nice is going to be a lot harder than he thought.
i had a lot of fun reading the nightmare before kissmas last year, so i was looking forward to reading this book! i didn’t enjoy this one quite as much, but i still did have a good time reading it. i liked how the mystery of christmas’s joy being stolen unraveled and how this played into kris and loch’s dynamic. i really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop throughout the book. honestly, i didn’t really care for the intimate moments, and found myself wanting to get them over with. besides that, i liked this book!
narration: dylan reilly fitzpatrick narrated both kris and loch’s points of view. he did a great job differentiating the different viewpoints, even putting on different accents for our main characters. there was a lot of emotion imbued into the narrations, which helped me further immerse myself into the story.
i would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the nightmare before kissmas. i’m looking forward to book three!
March 21, 2025
Kicking my feet and screaming a bit over this one, not gonna lie.
5 "You're my dream guy made flesh" stars
I LOVED "Nightmare Before Kissmas," so my excitement level for Kris' book to release was high. But I did not expect to enjoy this one even more than Coal's story.... how did that happen? Sara is an absolute magician when it comes to banter, pining and internal monologues-- "Go Luck Yourself" was SUCH a fun ride.
The plot here runs along similar lines to Kissmas- there is a mystery happening and it is threatening the holiday's joy- but this story felt a lot less "plot heavy" and more focused on Kris-- his emotional/mental health journey-- as well as his romance with Loch, the St. Patrick's Day prince.
GUYS- this book was HOT from the get-go. Lochlann, the ST. PADDY DADDY, as a friend of mine called him ever so accurately, was an absolute dommy, bossy, sexy delight. Every damn thing that came out of that man's mouth was pretty much my kryptonite. If Kissmas Coal was the hottest himbo to ever himbo in NBK, then in GLY the dommiest daddy to ever daddy award goes to LOCHLANN. Jesus Christ. HELLO, babyyyyy.
So the basic premise is that Kris is lost and floundering- he is back in college, but has no purpose, no goal-- when he is not helping Coal with Christmas, what is he even good for? Poor baby is in the middle of a big identity crisis. In a hilarious meet-cute, he and Loch meet one another in a war over study rooms, and the magical media has a field day painting Loch as the new asshole of the magic world. When mysterious findings in the Merry Measure cast suspicion on Loch's holiday- is St Patrick's Day STEALING MAGIC from Christmas?!-- Kris is sent to visit Ireland to get some answers.
And lemme tell ya.... the two of them together is absolute fire. From the very first moment Kris and Loch laid eyes on each other in the study room war, they have been fire. So pretend to hate one another all you want, boys-- it ONLY MAKES IT HOTTER.
Both boys are battling family demons- different demons, but demons. They could not be better suited for one another, with Loch needing to take control and Kris needing to relinquish it- needing to give it all up so he can finally relax. I absolutely loved the way they slowly gave in to wanting each other- and the way when they finally did, it just got better and better as they realized how well they complimented one another, in EVERY. DAMN. WAY.
"Ah, I think I know. You want me to decide, eh? You want me to take away the need to choose?"
My whimper this time isn't pathetic.
It's downright groveling."
Of course, there's some push and pull and political holiday drama-- but the supporting cast of siblings and friends on both Kris' and Loch's sides rounded all of that out beautifully, giving Coal , Iris (and Hex!!) a chance to shine in the supportive besties dept, and Loch's sisters making their debut as his support system (and future romance potential for Iris!)
I especially adored how Loch was able to be the person to finally get Kris through his anxiety- helping him see the root cause and support him- and Kris was able to be the one to finally pump Loch up enough to dare to stand up to his uncle and take back his crown.
BRAVO all around for this story- I loved every second- but especially the chemical connection between Loch and Kris. FIRE. SO WELL DONE and I can't wait to read it again!
"You aren't an awakening," I whisper. "You're the whole dawn. And I can't believe I ever thought I'd seen the sun before you."
5 "You're my dream guy made flesh" stars
I LOVED "Nightmare Before Kissmas," so my excitement level for Kris' book to release was high. But I did not expect to enjoy this one even more than Coal's story.... how did that happen? Sara is an absolute magician when it comes to banter, pining and internal monologues-- "Go Luck Yourself" was SUCH a fun ride.
The plot here runs along similar lines to Kissmas- there is a mystery happening and it is threatening the holiday's joy- but this story felt a lot less "plot heavy" and more focused on Kris-- his emotional/mental health journey-- as well as his romance with Loch, the St. Patrick's Day prince.
GUYS- this book was HOT from the get-go. Lochlann, the ST. PADDY DADDY, as a friend of mine called him ever so accurately, was an absolute dommy, bossy, sexy delight. Every damn thing that came out of that man's mouth was pretty much my kryptonite. If Kissmas Coal was the hottest himbo to ever himbo in NBK, then in GLY the dommiest daddy to ever daddy award goes to LOCHLANN. Jesus Christ. HELLO, babyyyyy.
So the basic premise is that Kris is lost and floundering- he is back in college, but has no purpose, no goal-- when he is not helping Coal with Christmas, what is he even good for? Poor baby is in the middle of a big identity crisis. In a hilarious meet-cute, he and Loch meet one another in a war over study rooms, and the magical media has a field day painting Loch as the new asshole of the magic world. When mysterious findings in the Merry Measure cast suspicion on Loch's holiday- is St Patrick's Day STEALING MAGIC from Christmas?!-- Kris is sent to visit Ireland to get some answers.
And lemme tell ya.... the two of them together is absolute fire. From the very first moment Kris and Loch laid eyes on each other in the study room war, they have been fire. So pretend to hate one another all you want, boys-- it ONLY MAKES IT HOTTER.
Both boys are battling family demons- different demons, but demons. They could not be better suited for one another, with Loch needing to take control and Kris needing to relinquish it- needing to give it all up so he can finally relax. I absolutely loved the way they slowly gave in to wanting each other- and the way when they finally did, it just got better and better as they realized how well they complimented one another, in EVERY. DAMN. WAY.
"Ah, I think I know. You want me to decide, eh? You want me to take away the need to choose?"
My whimper this time isn't pathetic.
It's downright groveling."
Of course, there's some push and pull and political holiday drama-- but the supporting cast of siblings and friends on both Kris' and Loch's sides rounded all of that out beautifully, giving Coal , Iris (and Hex!!) a chance to shine in the supportive besties dept, and Loch's sisters making their debut as his support system (and future romance potential for Iris!)
I especially adored how Loch was able to be the person to finally get Kris through his anxiety- helping him see the root cause and support him- and Kris was able to be the one to finally pump Loch up enough to dare to stand up to his uncle and take back his crown.
BRAVO all around for this story- I loved every second- but especially the chemical connection between Loch and Kris. FIRE. SO WELL DONE and I can't wait to read it again!
"You aren't an awakening," I whisper. "You're the whole dawn. And I can't believe I ever thought I'd seen the sun before you."
March 16, 2025
GIMME GIMME ☘️☘️☘️
December 20, 2025
4.5 stars
March 18, 2025
thank god there was so much less plot in this one (still too much, mind you) and so many less awful horrible no good sentences.
wow these books are bad, I'll take a thousand, thanks.
wow these books are bad, I'll take a thousand, thanks.
May 8, 2025
A lot more derivative and fanfiction-y than the first one in the series, and I say this with the highest of regards for good fanfiction. This is the kind that should have never made it out of AO3, for danger of being named "Red, White and Irish Green". That said, the banter between the cast of characters, old and new, was enjoyable enough for quick commute listen. A little too indulgently smutty of the kind with way too many under-negotiated BDSM elements for my taste. Overall, it could have used better pacing and character growth space in general, including my personal romance pet peeve, ONLY ONE POV, ugh!
March 28, 2025
˗ˏˋ ★★★★★ ˎˊ˗
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ !!
❝ There’s a moment. Where I’m staring at the door. And I think to myself, This is my rock bottom. But I might as well find out what the full depth of my rock bottom looks like. Maybe there’s something interesting down here, like my dignity. ❞
— Kris, p. 12
︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶
₊˚ପ⊹ OVERVIEW ;
Following the events of “The Nightmare Before Kissmas,” “Go Luck Yourself” follows Coal’s younger brother, Kris, and his journey toward self-acceptance. His love interest, Loch, is the prince of a sprig holiday: St. Patrick’s Day. Together, the two of them learn that self-love and happiness I s something you build over time with intention.
There are some triggers in this book, including:
- emotional abuse
- mentions of childhood abandonment
- mentions of parental death
- panic attacks
❝ […] there is poetry in mess, too. ❞
— Kris, p. 201
︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶
₊˚ପ⊹ THOUGHTS ;
Sara Raasch has done it again. She has this uncanny way of getting me to fully believe in this world where holidays are personified, magic is real, and most of the world is none the wiser.
“Go Luck Yourself” is an enemies-to-lovers romance that has a trope I normally don’t like: instalust. Not only do they fall hard, they fall fast. The whole course of the book takes place over several weeks (although I believe the first had a similar timeline). Maybe it’s because their meet cute was so memorable but for once, the instalust didn’t turn me off. Through all their bickering and banter, Loch and Kris have an undeniable chemistry.
Both of them are messy. They screw up, they argue, they (mild spoilers) have a third act breakup. But in that messiness is a genuine care. Both of them are so realistically flawed and hurt. The emphasis on building yourself back up after personal tragedy adds a layer of beauty to this otherwise standard romance book. It’s the character building, the friendships, the existing and developing outside of the relationship that makes these books so good. Of course the romance is amazing — it helps that they fit together so well, and both characters are so REAL — but what I find ruins most romance for me is the utter detachment from friends, family, hobbies, etc that exist OUTSIDE of the romance. Kris and Loch? They fit the romance around the rest of their lives. As it should be, honestly.
Not to mention the humor in these books has a mild chokehold on me. The spice scenes? Actually extremely enticing, I won’t lie.
The books aren’t perfect. I hope that there’s more progress regarding their parents as the series goes on… Both their mom and dad are terrible people — I feel, while that is a major point in Kris’ story, I still expected more. Specifically from Coal. These two deserve sooooo much better!
Overall, the book is a very decent read and I hope to see more from Sara Raasch in the future.
︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶
❝ I imagine myself both a bird and an egg, building this nest of creativity around my unformed and delicate soul, nurturing it with stories I still love. I barely leave my room, but even in that solitude, I’m taking up more space than I’ve ever allowed myself. ❞
— Kris, p. 280
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ !!
❝ There’s a moment. Where I’m staring at the door. And I think to myself, This is my rock bottom. But I might as well find out what the full depth of my rock bottom looks like. Maybe there’s something interesting down here, like my dignity. ❞
— Kris, p. 12
︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶
₊˚ପ⊹ OVERVIEW ;
Following the events of “The Nightmare Before Kissmas,” “Go Luck Yourself” follows Coal’s younger brother, Kris, and his journey toward self-acceptance. His love interest, Loch, is the prince of a sprig holiday: St. Patrick’s Day. Together, the two of them learn that self-love and happiness I s something you build over time with intention.
There are some triggers in this book, including:
- emotional abuse
- mentions of childhood abandonment
- mentions of parental death
- panic attacks
❝ […] there is poetry in mess, too. ❞
— Kris, p. 201
︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶
₊˚ପ⊹ THOUGHTS ;
Sara Raasch has done it again. She has this uncanny way of getting me to fully believe in this world where holidays are personified, magic is real, and most of the world is none the wiser.
“Go Luck Yourself” is an enemies-to-lovers romance that has a trope I normally don’t like: instalust. Not only do they fall hard, they fall fast. The whole course of the book takes place over several weeks (although I believe the first had a similar timeline). Maybe it’s because their meet cute was so memorable but for once, the instalust didn’t turn me off. Through all their bickering and banter, Loch and Kris have an undeniable chemistry.
Both of them are messy. They screw up, they argue, they (mild spoilers) have a third act breakup. But in that messiness is a genuine care. Both of them are so realistically flawed and hurt. The emphasis on building yourself back up after personal tragedy adds a layer of beauty to this otherwise standard romance book. It’s the character building, the friendships, the existing and developing outside of the relationship that makes these books so good. Of course the romance is amazing — it helps that they fit together so well, and both characters are so REAL — but what I find ruins most romance for me is the utter detachment from friends, family, hobbies, etc that exist OUTSIDE of the romance. Kris and Loch? They fit the romance around the rest of their lives. As it should be, honestly.
Not to mention the humor in these books has a mild chokehold on me. The spice scenes? Actually extremely enticing, I won’t lie.
The books aren’t perfect. I hope that there’s more progress regarding their parents as the series goes on… Both their mom and dad are terrible people — I feel, while that is a major point in Kris’ story, I still expected more. Specifically from Coal. These two deserve sooooo much better!
Overall, the book is a very decent read and I hope to see more from Sara Raasch in the future.
︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ֢ ⏝ ֢ ︶
❝ I imagine myself both a bird and an egg, building this nest of creativity around my unformed and delicate soul, nurturing it with stories I still love. I barely leave my room, but even in that solitude, I’m taking up more space than I’ve ever allowed myself. ❞
— Kris, p. 280
April 9, 2025
ALREADY PREORDERED OMGG💚💚🍀🎄
January 13, 2025
The worldbuilding will no longer give you a headache, but the writing out of Irish accents are there to make up for it instead!!!!!!!!!
June 2, 2025
Good god Sara put the pen down. This book was terrible. Now on some degree, that was to be expected. however Sara actually managed to surpass just how terrible it ended up being. In honor of it being Pride Month, I shall refrain from saying anything else mean in support of gay people. #ISeeYou
Whichever VanGoetz has the pleasure of reading this next.. godspeed soldier.
Whichever VanGoetz has the pleasure of reading this next.. godspeed soldier.
March 22, 2025
As of March 2025, you can find my reviews on…
→ booktube
→ bookstagram
→ hardcover
→ storygraph
→ threads
→ bluesky
→ blog
→ booktube
→ bookstagram
→ hardcover
→ storygraph
→ threads
→ bluesky
→ blog
March 11, 2025
I never knew I needed a St. Patrick’s Day MM romcom, but here we are. I ate up Nightmare Before Kissmas and as soon as I saw this book pop up, it was an immediate add to TBR.
Sara Raash, you just have a way with words. You can somehow blend achingly beautiful descriptions of love and feelings with witty and funny romcom banter.
Read this book and NBK ASAP, if you haven’t already.
Sara Raash, you just have a way with words. You can somehow blend achingly beautiful descriptions of love and feelings with witty and funny romcom banter.
Read this book and NBK ASAP, if you haven’t already.
April 2, 2025
Whatever this romance trope is, it is definitely not for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry in these two AT ALL and it’s been getting on my nerves how frequently spice is used to make up for the lack of it.
The way these two interacted made me mad and I felt like the story was so gimmicky and oversimplified.
The way these two interacted made me mad and I felt like the story was so gimmicky and oversimplified.
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