One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker

by Timothy Janovsky

The spiciest risks lead to the sweetest rewards

in this delicious, MM retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Dario Cotogna has a problem. Per his late grandfather’s wishes, if Dario’s not married by his thirty-second birthday, his family’s chocolate empire will go to his philandering little brother. To make matters worse, Dario’s agoraphobia keeps him locked away from the rest of the world. How can he put himself out there and meet “the one” if he literally can’t put himself out there?

The solution? A global competition. Five lucky contestants get an all-expenses-paid trip to Dario’s luxury Italian villa for a chance at becoming his lawfully wedded spouse.

But aspiring tattoo artist Charlie Moore isn’t looking for love—he’s looking for a miracle. As his grandparents’ sole caregiver, he’s desperate to keep their bill collectors at bay. Marrying into the Amorina Chocolate fortune could save his family home from foreclosure. But when Charlie meets the brilliant heir, their attraction is instant—and very, very real.

After a whirlwind week of wine, indulgence and temptation as spicy as it is sweet, will Dario and Charlie melt under the pressure…or find a love that’s truly worth savoring?

From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles…

The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky

You Had Me at Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky

Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Adult, M M Romance, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, love. Where do I find it, this unexpected all-consuming magical kind where you visit another country and truly immerse yourself in something splendorous! Perhaps it's all imaginary, but it still makes you swoon and find those unforgettable first-experience moments. From chocolate to romance to sex to intimacy... there's enough to go around in spades. Didn't love the competition setting, mostly because it felt contrived, especially since 4 of the 5 'contestants' found reasons to go a different path, but then again... if true love is meant for just 1, aren't we supposed to root for that magic to happen naturally? Great dialog. Hot scenes. Intense moments with emotions. I can relate to agoraphobia, tho for me, I function well.... but poor Dario had a difficult case. I wish I could help him! But I also found myself falling for the blue-haired tattoo artist - Charlies was lovely in all ways. So many things to compare and contrast with the other chocolate-making movie (more about kids and goals and dreams coming true in a very different way)... that said... Janovsky continually shows me why he's a great romance author, with m4m his primary focus (despite the pansexual and bisexual characters, he really writes the male lust scenes so well). Just bought the remaining 2 I haven't yet read (other than the Boy series, which will come in time). Good reading!

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very sweet. It's short and emotional, perfect for a palate cleanser.
One week to win the chocolate maker is exactly what it sounds, a competition to be chosen by the heir of a chocolate factory and marry him. But it was done in a cheese way that I actually liked. The length of the novel also helped because we didn't have much drama so it was just a nice read.
I liked how Charlie's money problems and Dario's anxiety were handled, it's an important part of the story. The spicy scenes were a little more explicit than what I've come to expect from Timothy but they were good.
Overall this was a very good romance, I highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC!

[Lenore ⸆⸉]

I’ve never see Charlie and the chocolate factory so wonder what this will be like


Thank you to the author for sending me the arc

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a swoony story, I loved every second! MM retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

We are introduced to Dario, an Italian heir to a chocolate empire and Charlie, an American working a job he hates for shitty money at an off-license/liquor store.

Charlie receives a letter from the bank, declaring that his family home (currently housing his parents, grandparents, and himself) is going to foreclose due to payment issues.

In the same week, he opens a chocolate bar, revealing a competition to vie for the heart and marriage of Dario, the reclusive and handsome heir.

Winning the competition, Charlie is flown to Perugia, Italy to spend the week with Dario alongside the other competition winners to fight for Dario’s heart (and hand in marriage).

I thought this was such a sweet, cosy read which had some great spicy scenes 🌶️
This has the most wonderful, whimsical style of writing. I loved that there was pansexual (and agoraphobic) rep at the forefront. Dario, an honourable short king 👑 I definitely plan to read more from Timothy Janovsky.

Reviewed as part of an ARC from NetGalley

[Senne ┃ Bridge Burner Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

A sweet mix of The Bachelor and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, but it never felt original or convincing to me.

Dario, heir to a famous Italian chocolate empire, has to marry fast if he wants to stay in charge of the family business. Not an easy task when he’s constantly battling anxiety, so he creates a competition to find a future partner and secure his position.
Enter Charlie, who’s hoping to marry rich to save his childhood home and support his financially struggling family.

It reads very easily, but there was nothing refreshing for me. The competition was very superficial and the side characters were one-dimensional. I kept waiting for creative challenges or meaningful interactions, but those never happened.

You need a big dose of suspension of disbelief to get through this story, and that made it hard for me to fully invest in the romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this arc.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some Timothy Janovsky and this book may just be the best thing Janovsky has ever written.
There is a great plot, fabulous location, adorable characters and kisses.
Traveling across the planet to meet the love of your life is bananas, but oh how I loved reading someone else do it.
Charlie & Dario were delightful and I adored this new take on Charlie & the chocolate factory.
Changing the competition to one of love instead of inheritance was a fabulous twist.
Much love to Harlequin and NetGalley for my ARCs.

[Ri]

MM romcom retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

. . .I’ll bite.

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is really hard to rate - there were some elements that I really enjoyed but some that were just not my cup of tea.

Things I liked:
- I enjoyed the locations; run-down Pennsylvania vs the beauty of Italy.
- We get lots of lovely descriptions of the countryside and towns in Perugia, where the majority of the book is set.
- It’s a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory retelling, so we had a trip round the factory (although it’s not nearly as exciting as Willy Wonka’s!)
- The focus on family, and the family drama.
- Charlie’s tattoo artist aspirations and the meaning behind his artworks.
- The depiction of an MC with agoraphobia (although this book did slightly fall into the trap of ‘love will cure your mental illness’, which made me roll my eyes a little).

Things I didn’t enjoy:
- The author uses the most bizarre similes at the weirdest times, especially during sex scenes. It got kind of cringy.
- There is a lot of casual cheating in this book (between side characters, not between MCs) which just felt unnecessary at times.
- Insta-love… but not believable to me? They fall in love in a week, all the while Dario is also wooing four other suitors?Plus, Charlie is initially only in it for the money, then suddenly falls in love with Dario via what feels like very minimal interaction? If I was Dario, I’d be very suspicious…
- The concept of Dario’s grandad, who supposedly loves him, hinging his whole inheritance on marrying someone within three months?? Psychotic!!
- Dario’s grandad’s letters were extremely specific, considering they were written by a dead man.
- The sudden and slightly non-sensical 180 in personality that Dario’s brother has at the end of the book.

There is a lot in this book to love, but also a lot to dislike (for me!). I think a lot of people will adore this, especially those in to quirky contemporary romance!

Thanks to Afterglow Books for an ARC! It’s available on the 27th Jan 2026 💕

[sunnoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

so !!! this is definitely a hit for me haha

i loved this book so much, even tho i don’t like chocolate at all i enjoyed reading about it 😭😭 and charlie might be my favourite character !!!!! this was really good and i was a little worried that it wasn’t going to be for me but ended up being marvellous

as someone with anxiety (not quite the same as Dario) i understood how he felt at times and i was very stressed at moments when someone was asking him to go somewhere when he didn’t want to ): im glad he found someone who understands this and helps him to explore and go back to the world little by little.

thanks harlequin & netgalley for the arc 🫶 !!!

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute story. The central premise didn't quite make the most sense; one would think that the folks behind setting up the "chocolate maker" with potential soul mates would have come up with better choices! I couldn't always get past what I saw as a misstep in concept, but otherwise found this a solid enough book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Week to Meet the Chocolate Maker may just be Timothy Janovsky’s most fun book yet. Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets The Bachelor meets a spicy, heartfelt queer contemporary romance set in an idyllic Italian villa. The story is fast-paced and has just enough character depth and compelling themes, including mental health and loss, to make the characters relatable and keep readers invested in the romance. It’s also worth noting that the spicy scenes come later in the story and never overtake the plot but will still fully satisfy spicy romance fans.

The story is told from the shifting third-person perspectives of Dario Cotogna, heir to an Italian chocolate empire, and Charlie Moore, a tattoo artist from small-town Pennsylvania struggling to keep his family home from foreclosure. After his grandfather’s death, Dario must marry by his next birthday to keep the business out of the hands of his devious brother—a nearly impossible task given his agoraphobia. In true fairy-tale fashion, his late grandfather arranged a solution: a contest where five contestants win an all-expenses-paid week at Dario’s luxurious Italian villa to vie for his heart (and hand in marriage). Charlie, a huge fan of the family’s Italian chocolate, enters the competition hoping for a possible chance at love and to save his family’s home. With five contestants living under one opulent Italian roof, battle lines are drawn, tensions rise, and soon real feelings begin to simmer between Charlie and Dario.

This is a true opposites-attract romance. Charlie and Dario are very different men thrown together by circumstance, yet their shared values and undeniable chemistry allow their connection to develop quickly and naturally. With his tattooed body and blue hair, Charlie isn’t exactly the suitor Dario—or his family—ever envisioned him marrying, but his fierce loyalty to family and surprisingly grounded attitude win over not only Dario but also his eccentric family. Completely out of his element, Charlie has rarely travelled beyond his home state and wears his vulnerability on his sleeve—and watching him evolve from a cautious dreamer to someone willing to risk his heart is satisfying! Dario’s journey is just as compelling. His struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia—combined with intense familial pressure—make him very guarded and hesitant, but as his bond with Charlie deepens, he learns to open up and trust not only others but also himself. The way both men push each other beyond their comfort zones feels authentic and makes their romance one readers can’t help but root for!

The secondary cast adds even more charm and depth, especially Charlie’s fellow contestants: a trans woman model from Spain, a female fashion student from France, a man band member from California, and a dubious man from Germany. Along with Dario’s eclectic family and staff, the characters add texture, humor, and a fun multilingual flair to the story.

There’s so much Italian culture and charm in this book. For real Italian speakers, there are lots of Italian phrases and short bits of dialogue scattered throughout the story—mostly coming from memorable members of Dario’s family and his feisty personal chef, Paola. The family villa resides in the Italian province of Perugia, which is the real-life home of the world-famous Baci chocolates, and the chocolates in this book feature a similar special surprise—an embedded, unique inspirational love note inside each wrapper. Dario’s lavish family villa is beautifully described, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the story and feel as though they’re getting a tour of the adjacent chocolate factory, with strong Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes. Charlie also ventures out into the historic city of Perugia, where brief references to real historical sites add even more Italian charm.

The pacing of the story makes it perfect for a single-sitting read. The opening chapters introduce the contest along with both Charlie’s and Dario’s struggles and family backstories before quickly moving into the high-stakes competition and the contestants. There are unexpected surprises that shake up the stakes for the contestants and allow Dario and Charlie more time alone—just like an episode of The Bachelor! The ending beautifully ties up the characters’ emotional arcs and delivers a heartwarming, authentic happily-ever-after.

Overall, One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker is a highly original and fun queer romance with a playful premise, lush settings, and memorable characters who have real emotional depth. If you’re a fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (or its retellings) or love cozy, feel-good romances with some spice and plenty of sun-soaked Italian vibes, then add this book to your TBR pronto!

[Vito · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Week is a cute, The Bachelor meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (after dark) and it’s mostly successful even if it’s just a by the numbers MM romance.

We follow Dario in Italy, the son of a famous chocolate maker whose recently passed grandfather has left the family chocolate factory to him IF he marries someone before his quickly approaching birthday. Across the globe, Charlie is down in the dumps, working at a drive through liquor store to pay for his dreams of one day becoming a top tattoo artist. That is if he can ensure his family don’t lose their home — yes, like the book / movie this is somewhat based on, he lives with his parents and grandparents in a home that is about to be foreclosed on. That is until Charlie discovers an ad on a chocolate bar detailing a contest to meet and marry Dario. You know where this is going…

While there are no short workers here (Dario is a short king, however) nor any contestants who are turned blue or sucked up a tube (there’s some sucking happening elsewhere though,) the inspiration of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory looms large with modernizations and more honest and tender conversations about loneliness and mental heath.

Despite the ending being very clear from the opening pages, you should know it’s the journey not the destination that matters. That journey is sweet like chocolate and spicy in other spots like Arrabbiata sauce (that’s spicy sauce for those who’ve never ventured past marinara sauce.) Yes, I can also litter text with Italian words like our author. It’s those little touches that brought a smile to my face but understand if it’s not everyone’s cup of espresso (dang, did it again.) Speaking of the spice — it’s there but it’s a 3 out of 5 on the scale and sometimes give “Men At Play” suit s*x and all (yeah, don’t look that up on a work computer).

There are also some tropes here where kilometers will vary — one such trope / plot device is communicating from beyond the grave through daily letters that find themselves explaining predicaments Dario finds himself with clues of solutions in between the lines. Again, cute but might not work for all.

My thanks to the publisher Harlequin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dev (lit.lark) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harlequin for this early copy! 3.5 stars rounded up

This was my second book by this author and I can definitely tell he has a distinct writing style. It’s very whimsical and almost a little silly (complimentary). I think this story requires a bit of suspension of disbelief in order for it to work but luckily for me, I can easily do that and it made this one pretty enjoyable.

I knew going in this was going to be a quick story timeline wise and I do wish it had maybe been drawn out a little longer, but overall the almost fairytale like quality of it was fun. It’s sickeningly sweet in the best way and just a feel good story. I enjoyed both MMCs and how quirky they were. The side characters and some more serious aspects of this story were not explored super in depth but I think it worked for what this was: a sugary, quick romance where everyone ends up happy. All the notes of Charlie and the chocolate factory were hit and since I love that movie I adored that aspect of this story.

(One note I have to mention: Charlie is from a small town in PA - and gosh do I love when PA makes an appearance in my books - but I got really hung up on the fact that his job is an OVERNIGHT clerk at a drive thru liquor store. Pennsylvania liquor laws do not allow that (liquor stores are all state owned and closed by 9/10pm to my knowledge and I’ve NEVER seen a drive thru lol). PA liquor laws are notoriously some of the strictest in the country and apparently THAT is where my suspension of disbelief ends 🤣 it obviously wasn’t a deal breaker for me but it sat in the back of my head the entire time I was reading so I had to bring it up)

[ChristineReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, if Timothy Janovsky wrote it, I am going to read it, and likely I am going to love it. This latest book was very cute and sweet and this does such a great job capturing what mental health struggles can look like.

We meet our main characters, Dario, our chocolate maker, and Charlie, our contest winner as they both are trying to solve respective problems in their lives. Dario needs to marry to keep running his chocolate factory, Charlie needs money to help keep his parents and grandparents a float. But both have their own struggles which can impact their future happiness.

Dario silently struggles with agoraphobia, and Charlie doesn't know if he can open his heart. What we get is a sweet romance where the two learn to love and support each other. If you are looking for a sweet romance, with a happily ever after and good mental health representation. I reccomend this one! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

OF COURSE THIS BOOK IS ABOUT CANDY WITH HOW SWEET IT IS!!!! I absolutely adored Charlie and Dario, they were both so well written and I got a clear understanding of their mindset and motivations. As all Timothy Janovsky books I loved the mental health rep in this. Mark Sanderlin always does such a good job with Timothy's audiobooks too, and I loved getting to hear him speak Italian as Dario.

Thank you Harlequin, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC & ALC of One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker.

[Eden]

DNF @32%

I didn’t like the ““Willy Wonka” main character. He didn’t have much to make him relatable or to make me sympathetic towards him. I really liked Charlie, but I didn’t like how he was being treated. The dating scenario was fun, but people get to stay even if they make it obvious they don’t want to date the WW guy…? Like no? Why are we wasting time on them?? And then there was a miscommunication scenario that was starting that I found so infuriatingly ridiculous. So it’s a DNF from me.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin romance for this eARC! What a sweet treat of a book. A lovely twist on a Willy wonka tale with the addition of love and family and steam coming out your ears. Ever the PA boy we love to see the commonwealth be the home base for the loving little family that could and the sprawling Italian countryside with a sweet chocolate factory just elevated this story so much.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for early copy for review*

This is not great. It is not a great a good retelling. It is not a great romance. Filled with a lot of selfish characters wanting to use each other. It was at least decent until the couple chose each other then it just got worst. Would not recommend.

[Sharon Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and cute story based on Charlie and The Chocolate factory. I love how Timothy wove the original story with a modern twist of a short king who needs to get married before his 32nd birthday in order to inherit his grandparents beloved chocolate factory 🍫🍫

Thank you to Edelweiss for an advance copy.

[Kyle Macdougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book.
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UfyLtd/

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker a cute M/M romance about inheriting a chocolate factory, and finding love with unexpected people.

I love the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set up and vibes of this story. MMC Dario will be inheriting his grandfather's chocolate company, Amarina chocolates, but only if he gets married by his 32nd birthday, otherwise it passes to his brother. In an unexpected turn, Dario's grandfather has set up an elaborate match-making event for Dario, in which 5 contestants from around the world will win a "ticket" to his Italian home, and hopefully one of them will become his betrothed. Dario goes along with the plan, without expecting much of an outcome. MMC Charlie, down on his luck and his family in desperate need of money to prevent a foreclosure, buys a chocolate while working his overnight shift, and decides to send in his contestant applicant, not expecting to be chosen. As luck would have it, Charlie is chosen as a contestant, and now has one week to win the chocolate maker, and save his families home.

I really enjoyed the modern day take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets the bachelor, except without any cameras or media attention! As Dario takes the contestants to the Amarina factory, it seems Charlie is the only one interested enough to stay with Dario until the end of the tour. Everyone else is so caught up in themselves, and what they want, they set Charlie up to be the front runner in this "competition." Charlie soon realizes that yes, it would be great to have access to the monetary aspects of Dario's fortune, he actually really enjoys Dario's company. Dario and Charlie are just so cute together, both shy and not sure of themselves at first, but very quickly have some spicy encounters as they continue to get to know each other.

As Charlie comes to really like and enjoy Dario's company, he feels guilty for his original motive of wanting to win for money, and is worried what Dario will think. With ulterior motives from pretty much all the contestants, will Charlie be able to win Dario's affections?

Read Charlie and Dario's journey, in a wonderful story of delicious food, beautiful scenery, and unexpected love.

Some fav quotes:
"Dario likens Charlie's eyes to molten chocolate, so brown and rich."

"The pink flush that instantly appears on Charlie's cheeks coupled with his blue hair makes him look like a delicious tower of cotton candy."

"He chooses his own simple message: I hear love in every step when I walk beside you."

"Some families have a coat of arms; the Cotognas have this-a chocolate-covered heart that represents over a century's worth of love and legacy."

"Dario clearly cares about the world at large and is kind of a nerd about it, which is...hot? Dario licks his pink lips. Oh, yeah. Definitely hot."

"It's the kind of kiss he could never come up for air from. He'd happily drown inside this moment."

"The kiss is so spectacular that it ruins Charlie for all future kisses."

Thank you so much to Harlequin, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a couple of books by this author and really enjoyed them but this one was not for me. One thing I do not like in a book is when a will has a ridiculous stipulation. I have read three books recently with a ridiculous will and I do not like them. One of them the person would only inherit the money if they lived forever in a specific town. One of them the daughters would only receive their inheritance if they lived under the same roof for three months. One of them lived in a different state, with you know, a job and pets. I mean no judge is going to go along with these stipulations. So now, this book. Dario will only receive his grandfather's chocolate empire if he marries within a year. So let's just throw love right out the door. So I am already not happy about the premise. Next, the grandfather had thought it would be fun, after his death, to make a competition out of it. So people can apply to be Dario's future spouse. The top 5 applicants will get to spend a week in Italy with Dario and fall in love. That's right. One week to fall in love. Now, this might have gone somewhere if the top 5 actually wanted to get to know Dario. Whoever the committee is that chose the top 5 should be fired. They did not do due diligence and chose the most self-absorbed people and this is who they thought should marry Dario? I would have been furious with them! Dario was going off somewhere and one of the girls just wanted to stay in and watch TV. What?! You only have one week to impress this guy! Also, the dead grandfather had left letters for Dario all about finding your one true love. Well, maybe you should have let Dario find them, instead of giving him 5 people and he has to marry in a year. So, all that to be said, I enjoyed the last 20% when it was just Dario and Charlie falling in love.

-Mental illnesses don't just go away because you wish them to.

-"If you can find even one reason to think the best, you can keep the faith."

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh goodness, I really wanted to like One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker and had really high hopes, but unfortunately it was just an okay read for me.

I loved the premise as someone who loved the classic Gene Wilder film and as someone who loves a good romance (straight, queer, I'll take it all). I enjoyed the characters of Charlie and Dario and thought they were both interesting and well written. I liked the setting. I liked the fish out of water vibes even.

There were a couple areas where the book lost me though. As someone who has spent dozens of hours in a tattoo chair I know Charlie would have spent a lot of money on his tattoos. If money was a concern for his family, it's hard to imagine the character spending that much on himself. I think something like having him create art for tattoo artists to help offset the costs would have been a cool way to make his tattoo work fit his character better. Also, reading about Charlie's upbringing and circumstances hit so many poor folks tropes that it started to feel disingenuous. I think there had to be a way to make his position in life clear and mirror the original story, while also not falling into so many poor stereotypes.

Other thoughts: How did he get a passport so fast? Why is everyone so down with cheating and not saying anything? Why did you hire someone who can't speak Italian as your factory floor manager?

Overall, I think the book is okay. I think there are a lot of people who would really like it. This one just isn't high on my likely to re-read list. I definitely would like to give the author another try though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for a chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator has voiced another of Janovsky's books and they are an excellent choice to tell his stories. This particular story includes Italian and he hit it out of the park. I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook and managed to binge it in a day!

This story follows Dario and Charlie and told in dual POV. Dario has just inherited the family's chocolate business with one catch...he must marry. The family decides to select five eligible people to come stay for a week hoping Dario will fall for one of them. One contestant, Charlie, is hoping the chocolate heir will fall for him so he can save their family home. One by one, we see the contestants fall out, but will Charlie be the one for Dario?

I loved this story! The way Janovsky took Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and made it his own was excellent. Dario's five picks mirror the Golden ticket winners in some way and Charlie's story matches that of the original character. The similarities between the two stories are mostly in the first half of the book. I wouldn't call this a retelling.

Janovsky's characters always feel like real people you would meet in your day to day life. Even the smallest side character has a personality that adds to the story. These are characters that you can't help to feel something for and become invested in.

If you enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory even a little, you will love this modern version! Highly recommend!

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

[Cori Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, light-hearted M/M retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and I was very much here for all the sugar and added spice.

Sensible changes have been made to the original to make this a cute mature romance: we do not have parent/guardian chaperones, Dario's chocolate factory is staffed by Italians not Oompa-Loompas, and the competition (which I was nervous about, a winner-takes-all proposition doesn't strike me as at all romantic) was well-handled and grown-up, not childish. Yes, I still needed to bring some suspension of disbelief to the proceedings, but no more than any other shmoopy romance. Dario and Charlie come across as kind-hearted people who genuinely bring out the best in each other, though I did find most of the other characters rather thinly drawn.

The book is more diverse in various ways than I was expecting, yay! and credit too for bringing up sustainability (though it's still a billionaire romance, don't expect too much.) I was mostly glad the book wasn't intense drama, but would have liked slightly higher stakes / deeper conversations. The happy-ever-after feels earned, but perhaps a little too easily.

All in all, if you're looking for a light chocolatey read with on-page spice, definitely consider this one.


This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher. Release currently planned for 27th Jan 2026.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timothy Janovsky does it again!

This book gave me the vibes of a reality dating show without the actual creepy invasive parts of TV.

Dario goes to the reading of his grandfather's will, prepared to take over the family chocolate business, only to find out his nonno had a stipulation that he must be married to inherit it. Thus, his nonno created a contest for five strangers to come to the family villa in hopes of one of them being a good partner for Dario.

Charlie has never left PA. He spends his days as a caretaker for his grandparents, swapping care over to his parents at night, when he works at a liquor store. When he finds out their house might be foreclosed, he is determined to figure out a way to save it. When he sees a contest that could result in him marrying someone with the money to save his house, and gives him the opportunity to travel outside of the country, he takes it.

I loved both Dario and Charlie and how unique they were. One of my favorite aspects was Dario's agoraphobia - it was handled so well and I love that it wasn't a one-dimensional look at it.

Highly recommend - a cute romance that will make you crave some chocolate.

The audio was done well, really pulling you into the story even more so. The audio really immersed you into the story and I truly enjoyed the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC & ALC.

[Lou Nova]

I conquered Edelweiss to get this book. Thank you Edelweiss and thank you HarperCollins!! (And thank you Vanessa for holding my hand through the scary trek of Edelweiss. I couldn't have done it without you girl!!)

To quote one of my friends when I told them the plot of the book I was reading... "omg they finally made charlie and the chocolate factory queer thank god"
This book is such a good time! It's camp and funny but also has so much heart, has mental health rep, and just the right amount of spice...at least I thought so until I got to the 90% mark. I'm sure other readers will love it but for me I felt it was crammed in for spice's sake and also was a lot harder to read than the others that had proceeded it. But if that's the only bad thing I have to say about it then it's a winning book for me! I still highly recommend it because I know I am a variable when it comes to spicy scenes lol.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better way to start the new year than to read such a wonderful soon to be published booked.

Charlie is tatted, blue-haired, and doing his best to keep his family out of financial trouble.

Dario is agorophobic, stylish, and looking to take over his families global chocolate business.

Dario's grandfather passed and has left him an unconventional request - you must marry to inherit the family business. With everything already organized, Dario only has to agree to the terms of the competition.

Set against the italian backdrop, we learn the stories of both characters. Their interests, their hopes, their dreams, and all of the things that have hurt them. As contestants start leaving, the sparks fly between Charlie and Dario.

I think one thing that Janovsky always does well is tie in difficult topics into his characters lives in a way that makes them realistic. He writes romantic comedies in a way that it almost could be real life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the advance readers copy to enjoy and review.

[Herbibliomaniac · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟

A sweet adult retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate factory with a touch of deeper struggles.

Dario needs a spouse and Charlie wants to help his family. What follows is a contest with 5 potential spouses to spend time with Dario in hopes of marriage. Their mutual falling for each other was adorable and felt real. I'm hit or miss with retellings, and this one does it so well. One of the parts I really enjoyed was actually the cast of side characters and how their personalities matched those in Charlie and the Chocolate factory.

The narrator fit the characters well, did a great job with the flow of the book, and helped bring this story to life.

Thanks to Netgalley, Timothy Janovsky, and Harlequin Audio for sending me an Alc to review. Narrated by Mark Sanderlin

[Nikki | Nikkimariereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big thank you to @netgalley and @afterglow_books for the eARC & ALC of One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker in exchange for my honest review!

I adore Timothy Janovsky books and this has the same level of charm and whimsy that I have come to expect from his romance novels over the years.

This is a fun mm romance retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that is chock full of mental health representation as well as spice & banter. If you are looking for a not very serious read that still touches on important topics, I’d recommend giving it a go!

I will say, I’m so sorry because I love Timothy, I have to take a couple of points off this one for the incessant use of the pet name candyman 🫣 As someone who loved Willy Wonka growing up, this was a step too far for me for some reason lmao

The narrator for this book sounded very young and this was distracting at points so I would likely recommend an eyeball read if this is one that catches your eye. It is out now!