It’s 1981 in Texarkana, Texas, and Noah Ellis is trying hard to remember. Still reeling from the loss of his father in a suspicious tragedy, Noah is in a tragedy of his own—one that results in another inexplicable death, this time leaving Noah to suffer from severe amnesia.
After that day, everything changes. Noah becomes an unwitting star in a highly publicized trial. Girls start to notice him, and kids who once bullied him now allow him to run with their pack—at a cost. Standing as always in his big brother’s shadow, Noah also has a little sister he must look out for. But Noah’s still stuck on that day and the accident he can’t remember. As town secrets come to light and summer draws to a close, Noah must find a way to salvage all that he’s lost, and to learn what is truly precious.
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!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker is narrated by Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his narration of queer romance and authentic character portrayals.
He gives protagonist Dario a soft, introspective voice that perfectly conveys his vulnerability, anxiety, and reserved nature, while Charlie is portrayed with an expressive, grounded tone that captures his warmth and emotional openness—emphasizing the opposite attract trope! His portrayal of Dario makes the character’s mental health struggles—including panic attacks and agoraphobia—truly come to life, allowing listeners to feel the intensity of his stress and the weight of his family pressures. By the end of the story, Sanderlin shifts his performance of Dario to make him sound more self-assured and optimistic, making his journey toward opening up and trusting others (and himself) clear and very satisfying. For Charlie, especially during his inner monologues, Sanderlin uses an honest-sounding, uncertain tone to emphasize his willingness to take a chance on love and unwavering loyalty to his family, which makes the character relatable and instantly likeable!
Sanderlin handles the Italian phrases with impeccable pronunciation and an authentic accent, keeping the story’s Italian setting—from the villa to the city of Perugia—fully alive and true to life. He also seamlessly incorporates German, Spanish, and French for the other contestants, creating a multilingual performance that enriches the story and distinguishes each character. Combined with expert pacing, distinct voices for the eclectic cast, and heartfelt delivery of the meaningful dialogue between Dario and Charlie, Sanderlin’s narration perfectly balances tension, humor, romance, spice, and emotional depth to create an unstoppable listening experience!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin elevates One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker into a fully immersive, emotionally rich listening experience, bringing the characters and the Italian setting vividly to life with emotional nuance and sun-soaked Italian vibes. This audiobook is a must-listen for listeners who enjoy queer contemporary romance with unique, heartfelt storylines and single-narrator performances that bring each character to life with emotional authenticity, linguistic flair, and expert pacing!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker is narrated by Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his narration of queer romance and authentic character portrayals.
He gives protagonist Dario a soft, introspective voice that perfectly conveys his vulnerability, anxiety, and reserved nature, while Charlie is portrayed with an expressive, grounded tone that captures his warmth and emotional openness—emphasizing the opposite attract trope! His portrayal of Dario makes the character’s mental health struggles—including panic attacks and agoraphobia—truly come to life, allowing listeners to feel the intensity of his stress and the weight of his family pressures. By the end of the story, Sanderlin shifts his performance of Dario to make him sound more self-assured and optimistic, making his journey toward opening up and trusting others (and himself) clear and very satisfying. For Charlie, especially during his inner monologues, Sanderlin uses an honest-sounding, uncertain tone to emphasize his willingness to take a chance on love and unwavering loyalty to his family, which makes the character relatable and instantly likeable!
Sanderlin handles the Italian phrases with impeccable pronunciation and an authentic accent, keeping the story’s Italian setting—from the villa to the city of Perugia—fully alive and true to life. He also seamlessly incorporates German, Spanish, and French for the other contestants, creating a multilingual performance that enriches the story and distinguishes each character. Combined with expert pacing, distinct voices for the eclectic cast, and heartfelt delivery of the meaningful dialogue between Dario and Charlie, Sanderlin’s narration perfectly balances tension, humor, romance, spice, and emotional depth to create an unstoppable listening experience!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin elevates One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker into a fully immersive, emotionally rich listening experience, bringing the characters and the Italian setting vividly to life with emotional nuance and sun-soaked Italian vibes. This audiobook is a must-listen for listeners who enjoy queer contemporary romance with unique, heartfelt storylines and single-narrator performances that bring each character to life with emotional authenticity, linguistic flair, and expert pacing!
The audiobook of One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker is narrated by Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his narration of queer romance and authentic character portrayals.
He gives protagonist Dario a soft, introspective voice that perfectly conveys his vulnerability, anxiety, and reserved nature, while Charlie is portrayed with an expressive, grounded tone that captures his warmth and emotional openness—emphasizing the opposite attract trope! His portrayal of Dario makes the character’s mental health struggles—including panic attacks and agoraphobia—truly come to life, allowing listeners to feel the intensity of his stress and the weight of his family pressures. By the end of the story, Sanderlin shifts his performance of Dario to make him sound more self-assured and optimistic, making his journey toward opening up and trusting others (and himself) clear and very satisfying. For Charlie, especially during his inner monologues, Sanderlin uses an honest-sounding, uncertain tone to emphasize his willingness to take a chance on love and unwavering loyalty to his family, which makes the character relatable and instantly likeable!
Sanderlin handles the Italian phrases with impeccable pronunciation and an authentic accent, keeping the story’s Italian setting—from the villa to the city of Perugia—fully alive and true to life. He also seamlessly incorporates German, Spanish, and French for the other contestants, creating a multilingual performance that enriches the story and distinguishes each character. Combined with expert pacing, distinct voices for the eclectic cast, and heartfelt delivery of the meaningful dialogue between Dario and Charlie, Sanderlin’s narration perfectly balances tension, humor, romance, spice, and emotional depth to create an unstoppable listening experience!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin elevates One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker into a fully immersive, emotionally rich listening experience, bringing the characters and the Italian setting vividly to life with emotional nuance and sun-soaked Italian vibes. This audiobook is a must-listen for listeners who enjoy queer contemporary romance with unique, heartfelt storylines and single-narrator performances that bring each character to life with emotional authenticity, linguistic flair, and expert pacing!
