Gina is having a very bad day...and knocks Izzy off her bike. leading her to lose her job as she hs broken her leg. This means her and daughter Kat lose their home, and move into Gina’s house to recouperate. A hilarious tale of new friendships, unrequited love and a sudden rise to fame means this is a brilliant funny read. Highly recommend.

I requested this book as I have read most of this authors work
Although I enjoyed the book I did have a few small criticisms
The book was well written and the characters were very well up together, described very well and you felt like you knew them
The storyline I felt lost its place at times and was extended past what was relevant
It was an easy read that you didn’t have to concentrate too much on
Overall enjoyable and as well written as previous works.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jill Mansell and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

Technically, this wasn't an ARC, as the original book was published back in 1993. It was still a good, entertaining story. I love everything Jill Mansell, so I'm a bit biased.

A perfect summer read! I can only imagine reading this on the beach and then giving it to my friends to enjoy as well. Emotions were real and it was great that all women characters were strong. Izzy never stopped believing in herself and that is a message that always resonates.

I’d like to start by saying I love Jill Mansell books and was amazed to find j hadn’t read this one as it seems to be an older book, re-released. There hasn’t been one of her books I haven’t liked or read from culver to cover in a sitting..until now. I am very sorry to say that this book wasn’t for me. I didn’t like any of the main characters, the story seemed dragged out in parts and it just took me so long to get into that I couldn’t really connect with it or enjoy it.

So this book was published in 1993, and boy does it show. I think a few times Mansell probably went through and tried to update (she brings up Harry Styles at one point) but other dated references are still here (a new release of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie). I could have overlooked that if the story had been good. Too bad it wasn't. I think it's been a while since I disliked every single character in a book. And it didn't help that there is a whole romantic subplot that no one called out for the horribleness that it was. It was just glossed over with people thinking the other party in it was a slut. This book also is not a good send up of what makes a good relationship at all.

"Kiss" follows several characters. Wanna be singer Izzy and her 17 year old daughter Kat. Gina who is newly separated. Sam who is friends with both Gina and her estranged husband. Andrew who should have been drowned at birth (estranged husband of Gina). A love interest of Sam who I can't recall and then another male character who I can't recall.

The story gets going after Gina leaves her house in tears after her husband Andrew comes home and tells her that he is leaving her for someone else. And not only that, Andrew's mistress is pregnant. Gina ends up in an accident and hits Izzy who was on her motorbike. Izzy is in her late 30s and still trying to make it as a singer. She has her 17 year old daughter Kat and two boyfriends (I think they were named Mike and Rich) and everything comes to an ugly head and I wish I could have laughed, but I honestly disliked Izzy and even Kat for making sure that the two men were unaware of each other.

Gina feeling guilty due to Izzy losing her apartment tells her that she and Kat can live with her. Then Gina's old friend turns up and moves in with them all. Then the whole book becomes a mess.

I honestly don't know what to say. Gina is awful. You are supposed to pity her. But seriously. She has no personality at all. She is bereft because Andrew left her, but then demands that Izzy not sleep with Sam while he lives there. It's none of her business and I would have laughed at her demands.

Izzy is also awful. Her hiding having two separate relationships made me hard sigh. She's not some teenager. She is in her late 30s. If both men knew about the other and were okay about it that be one thing. And her deciding she had a thing for Sam, but playing games so he didn't realize it and want her more? Are you serious. Also I found her whole story trajectory to be 100 percent unbelievable. The whole thing read as soap operaish in a bad way after a while.

Kat. Sigh. She's 17 and her whole "relationship" made me scream inside. Also I am guessing the age of consent in the UK is lower? Cause in America I would have hoped that her "lover" would have been reported to the police. And after that mess that goes on she has another love interest who plays mind games with her in order for her to "fall for him." Bah.

Sam. That's another no. At one point I just went what is the point of this guy and realized there really was none except for three separate women to be into him. His whole thing with Izzy was boring and the stupid why we can't really be together thing came out of nowhere.

Andrew was garbage.

The mistress was pathetic and also garbage. And there was some fat-shaming going on that made me cringe.

There are other people but my brain refuses to remember.

The writing wasn't as crisp as other Mansell books. She has definitely learned how to juggle multiple story-lines. After a while I wondered if this book was ever going to end since it just jumped from character to character with no forward movement until everyone ends up making disastrous choices. Then the book gets into what I would call it's third act and some people get their shit together and others it takes until the ending.

The ending. I just can't applaud it. Ninety-nine percent of the characters sucked and there was very little development of anyone. There also seemed to be an underlining message of lie and manipulate the person you love so that they fall for you. See Gina and Kat's "romances."

This book was well thought and the characters were well developed. I enjoyed seeing the dysfunctional parts of all of the relationships. This is the first book that I have read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading any additional books that come out.

This book focuses on two women at very different points in their lives who end up sharing a home after crazy circumstances bring them together. Izzy is a free spirit who is raising her teenage daughter (Katherine), juggling serious relationships with two different men and is also about to be evicted from her apartment. Gina is a woman who has sacrificed her life to be the model wife meanwhile her husband Andrew decides to up and leave her for another woman. During her meltdown, Gina manages to hit Izzy's motorcycle with her car. This inevitably ends up with Gina offering her home to Izzy and her daughter. Up until this point, I felt that this was an enjoyable read. However, the further I read, the more soap opera-like the plot became. There was way too much switching partners and romances gone wrong.that I felt like I needed a score card to keep up. I felt the plot kept getting more and more far-fetched and overall ended up skimming through a lot of pages hoping for it to get better. In the end, I am giving this book two starts because it had potential and some fun moments but was way too convoluted in the love department.

This book was fun but it had a LOT going on. It centers around 3 women, Izzy , Gina, and Kat. There are a LOT of supporting characters, to the point where it can get confusing at times to follow. But the story was good and everyone gets there HEA. thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

Enjoyablish story. I didn’t like it as much as some of her other books. I didn’t like the teen girl affair as it seemed a bit young but overall I enjoyed the storyline and mixing of characters.

I will always read anything Jill Mansell writes. Forever and ever. I actually already Owned this book in a hard copy but I’m so glad I got to read it via netgalley!! Keep it up Jill! You’re doing the greatest work!!

I am usually a big fan of Jill mansell but didn't find this one quite as good as the others.
This book explores a number of, at times, quite complicated relationships. It was difficult to warm to all of the characters and at times I got a little list with the storyline. Nice feel good ending though.

I typically love Jill Mansell books. I love how there are lots of complicated characters who are flawed but kind and loving.

This book was sort of just overly complicated and confusing and I never fell in love with anyone. I was happy to keep reading because I was waiting for that moment when the tide turned. It never turned.

I love Jill Mansell books, she is a brilliant story teller with interesting characters. What's not to love about Izzy, a wanna be music star with a teenage daughter just managing to make a living. On her way to work she is involved in an accident and with no way of earning a living her landlord gives her notice on her flat . With no place to live, no job or boyfriend the future looks bleak.

Gina wasn't concentrating on her driving after her cosy life was ripped apart by her husband telling her he was leaving to live with his pregnant girlfriend. She offers Izzy and her daughter a roof over their heads but how will that work out. Sam, is Gina's friend, who likes Izzy but he has a girlfriend, Vivienne.

I love the laugh out loud moments with Jericho the dog and also Lucille, the housekeeper. A fantastic summer read whose characters linger in your thoughts after the book ends.

Another fun beach read by Jill Mansell! (But I kept thinking I already read it. Then I realized that yes, I did! It is a reprint.) It is still good the second time around. TW: I would say that there is infidelity, cheating, and sex with an underage girl. Some might be turned away because of that, but it is only fair to be warned!


(will publish to Amazon and Goodreads on release date)

I thought the title sounded familiar and didn't realise it was a reissue. It was a long time ago that I read it first time round. Jill Mansell is one of my favourite authors and I've never been disappointed with a book yet. So easy to read with likeable believeable characters. Perfect for a relaxing summer read. Still enjoyable reading it a second time. 5/5

Fun summer read. Even though you know how it is going to end up, you still want to read the story until the very end. Jill Mansell is an entertaining, and clever writer. Her books are always a fun read.