A Mannequin for Christmas
by Timothy Janovsky
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A Christmas romance for Barbie fans who wished Ken and Allan got their own love story.
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 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?
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781250338952
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Timothy Janovsky
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Griffin
- Published Date
- September 30, 2025
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 352
- Physical Info
- 8.24 in L x 5.48 in W (0.65 lb)
A Mannequin for Christmas is a really cute Christmas read and would make an absolutely adorable movie. I really enjoyed how this story balances the cute and funny with some more serious emotions and the past traumas of the main character.The idea of the mannequin come to life wasn't exactly a new concept- not even for a Christmas story, but this one does some really unique things. Particularly with addressing the fact that the Mannequin would have no life experience outside of what the main character exposes him to. That has always bothered me with these sorts of stories and so KUDOS to the author for delving into that.I did find the ending to be a little too rushed, and a little too perfect...but this is a story about a wish that brings a mannequin to life at christmas, so really maybe it's perfect.Christmas Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄/5(Only rating how the Christmas holiday features/influences the story)This one centers pretty heavily around Christmas. There's lots of mentions of christmas movies, displays/decor, parties, and gifts. A cute holiday read
Timothy Janovsky has outdone himself with this original love story. Who would expect a mannequin to be a central character in a love story. The story has wonderful family interactions and unexpected twists and turns. I read a lot of gay M/M romance and this is one of the best.
Cute story, ending needs some more work.
A Mannequin for Christmas is charming and adorable and everything you love in a cozy holiday romance. Timothy Janovsky said “holiday heartbreak, magical wish gone sideways, and oh yes, the mannequin comes to life,” and somehow it just works. Henry, our lost but lovable main character is reeling from all the cards that life has dealt him. His last boyfriend cheated, his aunts legacy of a store is struggling, and he feels underwater (a very relatable feeling for this point in life). All of this culminates in the most adorable of meet-cute or meet-creations. Aidan enters the window of the story (lol) and it’s a rush of emotions. This story is adorable and lovable and it just will have you feeling a gush of emotions.What I loved most is how Janovsky doesn’t shy away from the bittersweet parts that present themselves. Mourning past loves, caring for an aging family member (I’m still feeling all of the emotions of this as I write this review), and messiness of finding a “perfect love.” All of this rolling into some complex family dynamics, and heartache whose source can’t exactly be pinpointed. This might be one of the most complex emotional stories that I’ve read by Janovsky and I still loved it. And right alongside the feelings, you get pure holiday rom-com chaos, misunderstood appliances, mannequin logic meets real-world heartbreak, and a ticking clock toward New Year’s that keeps things cozy but urgent. If you’re craving something festive, queer, funny, and just magically unhinged enough to distract you from real-life seasonal nonsense, this is the warm-cocoa-with-a-shot pick. Just prepare to feel unexpectedly emotional about a mannequin.
Wonderful read - much deeper than you think at first glance. It’s about the desire for perfection in your dream lover and also in yourself. Worth the time easily.
