3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Happy pub day!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I Kissed a Girl follows special effects makeup artist Noa Birnbaum and B-list actress Lilah Silver on the set of their latest slasher flick. I expected just a romantic comedy, but this one also comes with a side of thriller! The thriller subplot fits in well with the horror movie setting. This book also has a nice variety of queer representation throughout the main two characters and their cast of friends. As a Jewish person, I was pleasantly surprised to have both main characters be Jewish, as I haven’t read many books with Jewish characters that aren’t just about them being Jewish, so that was a major plus for me! I was unimpressed with Noa’s ~not like other girls~ mentality, especially when paring her with a femme partner. While it is checked by her friend and herself several times throughout the book, it still came off as a bit grating and I didn’t connect with her as well as I did with Lilah.

Their story is fun and sweet and comes along with the expected funny moments and banter with forced proximity, as well as some fun behind the scenes moments into special effects and movie making. The story overall is a little underwhelming compared to what I was expecting from reading the blurb, but still makes for a cute weekend read. Also, having more sapphic rom-coms to choose from is always a plus!

Sapphic new adult rom-coms, how I love you so. Noa and Lilah are serving that amazing workplace-romance opposites-attract trope that I can't help but swoon over. I Kissed A Girl is written in a contemporary language and utilizes pop culture references without sounding unbearably millennial-trying-to-be-cool cringey, and contained some truly laugh out loud moments. The representation throughout the book was also appreciated- beyond the two main characters, one of whom is a lesbian and the other bisexual, both of whom were Jewish- there was a trans side character whose character did not revolve around her gender identity, which was entirely appreciated. This story was a funny, enjoyable romance in a fresh new setting that was truly a joy to read.

This book is like a Casey McQuiston world meets an Ashley Poston book.
I loved Lilah and Noa’s introduction and how painfully awkward it was because it was the perfect lead up to how the two would bond over the course of the book. I so loved seeing them grow more and more comfortable together on set and talking about their Jewish culture, which I thought was really special to see.
And as a bisexual myself I felt so validated by this book and Lilah’s statement about coming out and how she told Noa that coming out shouldn’t be a big deal. And I 100% agree and that part of the book made me feel so seen, and I feel like the author’s approach was so right in a plethora of ways, and I wound up heavily relating to Lilah as the story went on.
I also was not expecting this book to be so funny and there were parts or witty one liners that had be laughing out loud. That aspect brought this plot and characters all the more alive and made them all that more lovable.
I loved the slightly chilling presence of Lilah’s online stalker as well because it revealed the dark side to one’s seemingly glamorous fame and kept me on my toes throughout the book! Straying away from the stressful buzz of Hollywood it was so nice to get to know Lilah’s grandfather because he brought such a blissful feeling of warmth to the story. I also loved the found family that came with Noa and her circle of friends. And of course Rasputin who was a much needed addition to the story.
In all this book was such a wholesome read and Noa and Lilah truly have my heart and gave me lots of butterflies (pun intended) throughout the entirety of the book. It was super lighthearted and overall I really fun read to delve into.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly August New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for making this book available to me via #Netgalley
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I have been reading a lot of Lesbian romances in the past few weeks and this one was just beautiful. Filled with laughter and slasher horror scenes. Honestly, it is so funny even when the humour is just dark.

We follow Noa who is a special effects makeup artist. Instead of attending college as a medical student just like her parents wanted she decided to forge her own part in the horror genre makeup scene. This is when she finally meets Lilah Silver. Lilah is an actress who has long been trying to climb out of her B-list status. She no longer wants to just be the hot chick in the horror movie. She wants to be in a movie that the stabbing scenes don't live her drowning in stage blood. Oh, she is trying really hard. When Noa meets Lilah she is saying all the wrong things [because that is what you do in front of a very hot chick - Noa has no game]. The long hours on set keep bring them together and every encounter seems to drive them apart from each other until on faithful Kiss. A kiss that hints that the other girl might be more interested in the other!

I really enjoyed this book. There is something about forced proximity stories that you know will drive you to the edge of your seat. Combine that with celebrity status and you know that you have some high stakes relationship on your hands!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I listened to this audiobook in 2 day. I Kissed a Girl is a light and fluffy read with a jewish bisexual main character and a jewish lesbian main character! I really enjoyed Lilah's character, her coming out, and struggling with her identity. Lilah was very relatable especially as she learns that bisexuality is valid.
I enjoyed the book but sometimes there were useless details. It could have been a 300+ page book instead of 400+. I absolutely adore the characters

I really wanted to love this book, as the premise and character setup seemed right up my alley. Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed. I thought Lilah was a very dynamic character, and I found her to be engaging, captivating, and interesting to read. I liked Noa a lot as well, but the two didn't seem to have believable chemistry, making the romance plot fall short for me.

I truly was excited for I Kissed a Girl! The blurb seemed to be right up my alley!

I loved the multiple POV, I was able to get insight into the characters mindset while the dialogue was occurring and how they truly felt. I enjoy seeing their relationship and themselves grow. I absolutely loved Lilah. Noa came off as a bit too harsh, repeatedly. I struggled to connect with her character because of that.

I also felt the book was a little too long and seemed to drag on with the repetitiveness of the relationship dynamics.

I Kissed a Girl is by no means a bad read at all. I enjoyed reading it and will definitely be picking up Janet Alexanders next book.

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

Lilah is an actress hoping to get her big break, Noa is a makeup/special effects artist also hoping to land a more permanent job. When they are working together on a horror film, they begin to form a deep connection.

There was a lot going on in this romance:
-Fantastic representation: aside from the obvious LGBTQIA+ rep, both main characters were also Jewish. I also appreciated Lilah’s journey in her sexuality. She started as a struggling, closested bisexual, and to see her growth and her journey throughout the book was amazing,
-Stalker plot line: this added a bit of suspense and mystery and really kept the story moving for me.
-A lot of the book focused on the movie they were filming, and while that was interesting and I loved seeing the behind the scenes of how movies are made, it felt a little long at times because of that.
-And of course the romance, Noa drove me crazy at times because she felt a little judgmental, but overall I thought she and Lilah worked well together and I was rooting for them.

This one was cute read overall!

Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this book!

I Kissed a Girl follows Noa Birnbaum as she lands her first job as a makeup artist on a movie staring her celebrity crush, Lilah Silver. The women have a rocky start when Noa is assigned to work on Lilah - Noa repeatedly puts her foot in her mouth and Lilah seems standoffish at first -, but the two women quickly become close once Lilah reveals that she's bisexual.

I Kissed a Girl has great representation, Noa is a Jewish lesbian and Lilah is a Jewish bisexual woman. Noa's best friend Chrissy is a transgender polyamorous woman and I especially loved the small moments about her life. I wish there had been more about Chrissy, she was one of the most interesting characters but ultimately didn't serve a purpose except to prop Noa up. A side plot about Lilah having a stalker was an interesting parallel to the horror movie they're working on.

There were some really cute moments between Lilah and Noah, but overall this book left me feeling underwhelmed. The characters felt two-dimensional and their attraction didn't seem very deep. The pacing felt a little weird - while there were real stakes, they didn't seem very intense and ultimately didn't play a huge part in their relationship.

I Kissed A Girl was a delight to read from start to finish. I loved the premise—a young starlet and her horror-loving makeup artist meeting on set and finding love—and I connected quickly and easily with both Noa and Lilah, despite Noa's propensity to be prickly. In the end, it made her story arc all the sweeter.

These two women are, by turns, sweet, funny, and troubled, both trying to find their place in the world with futures uncertain. A dash of suspense and an eye-opening look at the behind-the-scenes of movie-making add to the overall feel of the book, making it one to savour. And that's not even mentioning the meta-esque ending.

This is my first read by Jennet Alexander—and yours, too, as she is a debut author—and I am looking forward to a long reading relationship with her. If this is what I get first time around . . . well, I can't wait for more!

i thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. lilah's character development was great to watch. not to mention well done and extremely satisfying. the twist in the end as to who the villain ultimately was turned out to be surprising, as i had many other suspects in mind. in this, i think the author did a great job developing the mystery behind the whole plot.

i did knock two stars off my rating because i felt that noa's character was poorly written. she remained judgemental throughout the entire book, never learning her lesson other than one throwaway line about her friendship with PJ. moreover, the issues with her family (and lilah's) are never discussed, explained, nor resolved which left an unsatisfied feeling.

I'm not a big horror fan (giant baby over here), but being behind the scenes of this dinosaur horror movie was fascinating. It helps that this is a romance and not actually horrific, excepting a stalker side plot that was alarming and ultimately action-packed. For our leads, we have Lilah Silver: actress, closeted bisexual, and former pageant queen. She's yearning for some queer friends and a feeling of community, a chance at acceptance. Then we have Noa Birnbaum. This is her first time on a real movie set working in makeup (she specializes in gore special effects), and she's dropped out of school to take this opportunity, much to her parents' distaste.

Ok, so there were a bunch of things I loved about this book. Lilah is paramount. She's sweet and kind and doing her best, but the patriarchy has squashed her into a little box as a Pretty Girl™, which only serves as fuel for her self-doubt. There's no room for her to feel safe coming out or sharing genuine feelings rather than what someone else wants to hear. She's targeted by creepy fanboys and boyfriends, but her concerns and fears are belittled by the (male) powers that be. I also loved a schnoodle named Rasputin, Noa's trans woman/chief meddler roommate, and the way Noa and Lilah bond over being Jewish.

There were also a couple major things I didn't care for. Mainly, Noa's arc. Many of her relationship decisions are characterized by harsh judgments, jealousy, and humor at others' expense. I don't expect her to be perfect, but she needed a bigger journey to work this out, in my opinion. A big fight resulting in a self-pity montage and a grand gesture in the final moments is certainly rom-com fodder. I recognize the playbook but wish it had been carried out with more heart and demonstrated effort towards personal growth. Also, this might be the first time I say a romance is too slow-moving. Roadblocks to the relationship took up way more time than romantic moments, and the horror movie and stalker plots ended up feeling more fully realized.

At the end of the day, Lilah Silver deserves to live her best life in the sun, vulnerable and free. The horror movie setting was fun and over-the-top. It's a solid sapphic romance touching on some big topics around identity and vulnerability. Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy. It's out on 8/3.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I Kissed a Girl is a sweet, lighthearted sapphic romcom, and while I’m glad we’re seeing more mainstream sapphic rep adult romance, this is one that sadly missed the mark.

It’s not all bad, as there are elements I liked here. The characters on their own have their charms, especially Lilah. I loved that she’s struggling with her bisexuality, and simultaneously trying to break out of typecasting in cheesy horror films, which presented many moments for comedy.

I did also sort of like Noa, even if I didn’t feel as invested in her as a character. It is nice to see different sides of the film industry, and the intimate bond that can form between a star and a makeup artist is fertile ground for a romance.

But it felt like something was missing throughout. Lilah develops feelings early on, and the bulk of the book is them kinda tiptoeing around each other. I understand the issues at play with the balance between professional and personal lives, as well as there being something of a power imbalance with one being “talent” and the other part of the crew, but I didn’t feel like these were made into sufficient enough issues to sustain the book.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped I would, and while it does sadden me, I’m also relieved to know I’m not alone, judging by the largely middling-to-negative reviews. This book has its moments, and if you’re in the mood for something fun and fluffy, you should give it a try.

I Kissed a Girl follows the romance between Lilah, an up-and-coming horror actress, and former pageant queen, and Noa, an aspiring special effects makeup artist with her first big break. I thought that overall this was a cute read, but was a little slow for me. It felt like the book was too long for how much was actually happening with the plot. I really enjoyed Lilah, but found Noa to be unlikable for the majority of the book (although I did enjoy her getting called out on some of her bad behavior and prejudices). Because of this, I didn't think these two really had much in common and I didn't feel very much romantic tension between them. Insta-love has never really been for me, so some more buildup to their feelings for each other would have made their relationship more belivable for me.
All of that said, I thought that the side characters were really fun and would have loved seeing more of them (particularly Tanner, Chrissy, PJ, and Lilah's roommates). I also really enjoyed where the story took place and learning more about special effects makeup and what goes into it. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the fact that it is own voices, as Jennet Alexander is queer and Jewish. The inclusivity of this novel is definitely a pro as well.
Overall, while there were aspects to it I enjoyed, this book didn't really do it for me in terms of the romance itself. I would still say give it a try if you are a movie lover or looking for an own voices novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Noa Birnbaum's dream is to work in the movies: in horror special effects and makeup. She finally gets a chance to work on a real movie (one step closer to joining the union), but it means dropping out of school, where she's earning her theater degree. Her parents won't be pleased. On the set, she's face to face with actress Lilah Silver, whom Noa has had a crush on for ages. Lilah has her own dreams, to move beyond B-list horror films and into true stardom. This starring role as the "final girl" could be her opportunity. When she meets openly out Noa, Lilah may finally have a chance to admit to her own bisexuality. But a relationship could have its own problems for both Lilah and Noa.

"Noa'd thrown away everything else in her life for this job. And now she was seriously considering throwing the job away for a chance at a girl? Stupid beyond words."

This is a cute story whose strength comes across in its representation--queer characters covering bi, trans, lesbian and more. There's also some excellent Jewish representation, as both Noa and Lilah bond over their religious beliefs. As a member of the LGBTQIA community, I love seeing stories that reflect myself and my friends. Watching Lilah grapple with her bisexuality and coming out and seeing Noa hang out with her friends, being openly out and accepted. These are still stories and characters we do not get to see and read about regularly. Even better, it seems like I read a lot of queer YA books, not a lot where the characters are adults (although they might not always act like it in this story, ha). It was fun and refreshing.

"Special effects artist had never been on the list of things Good Jewish Girls Did."

For me, this book was a little long. It could have been a bit shorter and would have felt more snappy. A lot of the focus in this story is on miscommunication, which is a pet peeve of mine. I just can't handle when so much of the plot could be avoided if the characters just spoke openly to one another. It's also not entirely clear why Noa crushes so much on Lilah, to the point that it seems that she can't rationalize clearly. A lot of this inability to communicate or think clearly leads to some back and forth storylines, so it seems like as if the plot zigs and zags. Up and down. Will Noa go for a relationship with Lilah or keep her job? Is Lilah willing to risk her career for her sexuality? Again, if things had been just a bit shorter, we probably could have skipped a bit of this.

Still, this is a fun story. While Lilah and Noa can be frustrating sometimes, they are engaging characters. The horror film set adds an interesting level to the book (there's another plot line involving Lilah and threats to her safety). It's a little long, but I appreciated all the queer and Jewish rep. 3+ stars.

I Kissed a Girl is a delightful sapphic romance! I’m a sucker for a good romance where one half of the pair is famous. And in this case the plot was made even better by the other half being her makeup artist and their story playing out on the set of a horror film! There’s romance and a dash of mystery as our heroine Lilah is being stalked by a fan. This was a fun quick read!
3.5 ⭐️

Listened to the audiobook, and absolutely adored it! loved the close proximity, loved the shared beds, and loved that this was all happening on a B-Horror Movie film set. It was a really fun rom-com.

received an e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like this book so badly!! The concept was right up my alley: a f/f romance on the set of a horror film!

The good: this book had awesome representation starting with the Jewish lesibian MC and extending all throughout the cast. Annnnddd... that's about it.

The bad: I found both main characters to be insufferable. Both of them were offended/put off by the smallest things, resulting in them clarifying every joke or comment. They tiptoed around each other the entire book and made for some really annoying dialog. I also didn't vibe with the insta-love. These characters had nothing in common and I can't see why they liked each other so much. The romance seemed much more fitting for a young adult book.
Also while I thought the stalker plot was a good addition to add some intrigue, I found it extremely predictable.

Overall I was underwhelmed by all aspects of this book

I found this book to be such a page turner! I could not put it down. Between the thrill of the horror scenes and the chemistry between the characters, I loved it! I also really enjoyed the pace of this book, it was not too fast or too slow. I really liked how this book touched base on the reality of stalking. It is terrifying and I liked how this book focused on this towards the end. I also really enjoyed the ending and liked how there was a happily ever after. Overall, great book! I would have liked a little more detail in some of the scenes and more of a build-up to the ending, but other than that I loved this one!