Aside from Alex's arc, most of the other characters in the novel are not overly likable. They either don't respect themselves the way you'd expect someone in their position to (Madison) or obsess over an Ivy like a cliche YA protagonist (Zoe). And the weird sibling/girlfriend/parent triangle is just...a lot. However, Alex's arc is enough to keep me engaged. Others may be more receptive to the melodramatic pieces, but to me, they felt like overly trodden ground.

Hilarious texts and awkward moments, The Night When No One Had Sex is a series of unfortunate events that may keep all of these teens from having sex.

A group of high school friends all make a pact to have sex with their significant others right after prom in this comedy of a novel. For me, the best parts of this book happened when the entire cast of characters were texting in their group texts, interspersed throughout the novel. They felt honest, humorous, and perfectly encapsulated the drama of all the events that unfold.

It is refreshing to read a book that sets the stage for sex and the complications or difficulties that might come up when the couples try to have sex. Throughout, there were these laugh out loud moments, these hilarious back and forth be it the text messages or a certain couple finding ways to get aroused, as well as genuine concern for each other, particularly for Alex and his grandmother, as things progress over the evening.

With multiple character points of views, Miller’s debut is a combination of the unpredictable and interestingly hilarious take on teens and their night after prom.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

This fun, quirky and very relatable cast really had me laughing and cringing in the best way.

Nothing ever goes like the movies, especially a friend pact to have sex the night of prom. But Julia and her friends all still hope and as each one faces a problem that hinders their goal, remember you don't need to have sex to prove you love someone, prove a relationship is strong, or to feel ok. Just having someone romantic or platonic is a vital thing.

This book is extremely realistic, and if my friend had done this, it would have gone like this.
There are some ridiculous problems, but they are done charmingly, and even when I didn't love how the character responded or acted, I could see their side, and I enjoyed them otherwise.

This was such a fun read! The characters were so entertaining. All of the different scenarios were either hilarious or heartbreaking. I do wish we had gotten to maybe spend a little more time with the characters, maybe an epilogue that showed where and how each of the characters are in a year. It's definitely a finished story, but I always appreciate epilogues showcasing the characters a year or so later. I do with some of the character names had been more unique. Some of them are quite similar which almost makes it difficult to remember who is who at the beginning, but they definitely grow into their own characters as the story progresses.

This was a fun and breezy teenage romcom-esque adventure that was funnier than I thought it would be with more heart as well. Each of the separate plot lines were engaging and fun to follow, with the culmination being worth the read.

Full of humor, romance, and a wonderful examination into the troubled thoughts of teenagers anticipating life after high school, Kalena Miller’s novel The Night When No One Had Sex is a hilarious story that depicts a group of friends that try - and fail - to enact a sex pact on their prom night. As the title suggests, this night obviously does not go as planned. Yet, by the end of the novel, you are still left fulfilled by the resolutions that the teenagers reach about relationships, friendships, family, and what will happen during college and beyond.
While the initial plot of the story appears to be a group of teenagers looking to fulfil a sex pact on their night of their prom, the evening takes a turn toward the inquisitive pretty quickly. The question of what will become of relationships and friendships within the group once they attend college is brought forth, and these teenagers’ resolve in sticking together is extraordinarily admirable.
Kalena Miller interjects sections of the teenagers’ group chat, and many times, this is where a lot of the characters’ personalities shine through. Sporadically intercut with emojis and ALL CAPS EMOTION, these chat threads felt like a true group chat shared by seniors in high school. The care and affection that they all share with one another is also apparent in these threads and it feels like such a genuine group friendship.
The Night When No One Had Sex also has a good amount of representation. There is a sapphic couple - Zoe and Morgan - that have a healthy relationship with one another, and even their arguments are punctuated with the fierce love they have for one another. Madison, Morgan’s twin sister, is chronically ill with lupus, and the novel dives deep into how this affected her life and mentality.
The story makes a point to directly note that Kevin is a bigger man, but there is an underlying message of body positivity whenever this is brought up in the book, both directly and indirectly. Alex is an Asian-American man, and while he undergoes a journey in figuring out who he is outside of the boundaries of his room, he is extremely close with his family and appears to make an effort to understand the language of his culture.
Kalena Miller’s The Night When No One Had Sex is a feel-good story full of good-natured humor and If you are looking for an uplifting read, this is a great book to start of your September.

I am LOVING this new trend in YA where authors dive into real things that teenagers think about and experience aka sex and the concept of virginity

Told through multiple POVs and the group chat, we follow a friend group on the night of their senior prom, attempting to complete a Sex Pact. Pretty quickly hijinx ensue and the rest is pretty amusing.

This was a really quick and witty read that I greatly enjoyed and will definitely be recommending

This is so fun and funny. I think it perfectly sums up how whenever we make plans, they always fall apart. Expectations ruin so much when you’re in high school because so much of the reality of life has yet to sink in even when you believe it has.

A huge thank you to Albert Whitman Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️ 2🌶

This was such a cute, fun and light read that I enjoyed devouring within hours! I think the fact that the events in this book took place in a span of one night made it fast-paced but quite enjoyable!

I liked how I got to explore all these interesting storylines from the multiple POVs of this group of friends as they spend the night at a secluded cabin for their planned sex pact after prom night. It was so easy to get to know each of the characters really well so I didn’t get too confused from all the alternating chapters. Though I found some storylines to be more interesting than the others, I liked how there was a balance of laugh out loud, ridiculous moments and those heavier moments where serious topics were explored especially with the pressure they of having their first time that night, their plans after high school and all their individual issues. I enjoyed Alex and Leah’s storyline the most as it was exciting and sweet all throughout! I also loved how teen sex positivity was highlighted in this book!

Overall, this was such a quick, entertaining read about teenagers dealing with the problems life throws at them! I highly recommend this if you’re looking for a light, fluffy read!

this was cute and fun, but there was no substance to it. dnf at 25% because every character felt/sounded the same, and I got tired of the constant whining. I’m sure this book is decent, but I like books that are a little deeper. so it was good, just not the right read for me

This book was truly something different, truly delving into the experience of being a teenager by focusing on the stories of several individuals. Kalena Miller crafts so many unique characters, nuanced, whether or not we ge to se the story from their point of view. Instead of focusing on attempting to create teenagers that are very timely, this group is relatively timeless, and even if there isn’t one specific character that fits all your experiences, you will find someone to identify with here.

THE NIGHT WHEN NO ONE HAD SEX tells the story of a group of teenagers in the hours after prom. They all made a pact to have sex that night in a cabin in the woods (not as horror movie-esque as it sounds), but when various personal issues arise, from a grandmother’s heart attack, a chronic illness flareup, the secret of surprise acceptance to Yale, and getting locked into a closet while roleplaying, the pact quickly falls apart.

This book is highly character driven in all the best ways, not only does it completely delve into each and every one, but Miller accomplishes the difficult task of both making each and every one individual while also beautifully illustrating how intertwined they are. TNWNOHS was such a fast paced read, and considering that the story takes place over roughly 8-10 hours maximum, not a minute is wasted. Every character’s story intrigued me, especially with the interweaving of the groupchat within the story.

Speaking of the groupchat, this book is truly something in that it accomplished fairly realistic teenagers, especially in a story centered around teenage experiences. Kalena Miller doesn’t rely on current slang or trends to portray this teenagers (which is completely to her benefit), instead going to the core of what makes a teenager a teenager. The slight taste of autonomy, the yearning and anxiety about what comes next, and ultimately the awkwardness. It’s easy to picture book characters as these idealised humans, but Miller makes sure we as readers don’t forget that these characters are just teenagers. They’re good people, but they’re not perfect. They get excited about perfectly mundane things, and so much more. This characters are so beautiful and nuanced and clearly written with so much love. And I think someone reading this book in ten years could feel exactly the same way.

Ultimately, one of my main qualms was with slight difficulty in keeping up with individual characters at the beginning of the story. While I appreciate the way that this book doesn’t weigh itself down with exposition in the describing the setting sense, there are moments where I kind of forgot who I was reading about, especially in the text messages. And while the character development was top tier, there were a few storylines that ultimately ended up feeling a little rushed (primarily when it came to Alex and Leah).

I really enjoyed this book, and I never wanted to put it down. It’s so realistic and beautiful, and clearly heartfelt. Really the epitome of what a stand alone book should be. A beautifully character-driven book in the best way possible and an absolute recommendation all-around.

Thank you so much Albert Whitman & Company and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review.

When Julia and her friends make a sex pact, involving a secluded cabin in the woods, no parental supervision and condoms, they expect to have a fun night, but nothing goes as planned. Alex's grandmother is undergoing emergency surgery and his date, a girl he barely knows, decides to keep him and his family company, Zoe is struggling with her college decisions, Morgan, her girlfriend, is obsessive about her twin Madison, who has a chronic illness and who only wants to live without fear and like a normal teenager with her boyfriend and Kevin and Julia are trying to have sex, but she ends up locked in a closet. So, what about having the sex pact?

I loved reading The Night When No One Had Sex! It's funny, it portrays realistic relationships, between siblings, friends and lovers, common teen fears and doubts and it's really sex-positive. The story is hilarious, told by different POVs and their funny and brilliant group chat, while they navigate this disastrous night, their relationships with one other, fears, doubts, desires and strong bonds, family's issues and pressures. The characterization is brilliant, they are complex and relatable, funny and moving, their interactions well written and realistic in their intricicacies and dramas and desires. Zoe with her doubts and her strong relationship with Morgan, who is supportive and a bit obsessive, Madison, who is struggling with her disease and desires, Julia and Kevin and their strong bond, made of laugh, understanding and love, Alex with his family's problems, his relationship with his parents and grandmother and they navigate their own problems, expectations and unexptected problems on their prom night.

The story is really good, hilarious, sometimes moving and utterly amazing. I totally recommend this book to those who wants to enjoy a funny book, well written characters and plot.

And there is also a Demon Cat in this story, so what are you waiting for?

This is what I think prom night is for most kids. Everything that can go wrong does and it turns into a hilarious rom-com of teens realizing that maybe sex on prom night just isn't in the cards for them. No matter if you are a teen getting ready for your prom night or you're an adult that already had one. This book is a fun read that will have you laughing and crying all at the same time. Although this book was totally ridiculous it was such a fun read and learning about each couple. I would love to see this one the big or small screen.

This was a fun book to read! The story follows a group of high schoolers the night after their prom who have all made a pact to have sex that night. What could have been full of cliches and weirdly focused on teenage sex lives was an interesting look at relationships, stress, life changing decisions, and youth. I thought maybe the title was going to be a bit of a spoiler by nature, but Kalena Miller's fun, lighthearted storytelling made it a compelling read! Although at times it could be a little adult pretending to be a teenager-like, the characters were all fairly likeable and the story definitely avoided a lot of cliches I was expecting. If I could give half stars, I would say this book falls more at a 3.5 than a 4, but worth the round up since I have to choose.

This is one of the most fun books I've read in a long time. I love the conflicts that played throughout the condensed timeline. I LOVE how well-developed each character was, including their hopes/fears/wounds/wants. I truly could not put this story down and I can't wait to tell my students about it.

This book, which is half romance and part modern friendship narrative, is deserving of all the excitement it will receive when it is released. I’m in the same year as the protagonists in this book, so it was incredibly wonderful to have so much of the plot revolve around college plans and concern about the future.

Julia Harmond has arranged for her entire group of friends to accompany her in losing her virginity on the night of her senior prom, after gaining access to Zoe’s uncle’s lake house. However, she is frustrated because her previous attempt was too painful, and she is keen for things to go according to plan. There’s also the issue of Zoe’s uncle abandoning his cat at the house, which Julia is terrified of.

She spends many hours imprisoned in a closet with her boyfriend, Kevin, as they try roleplaying for the first time.

Zoe Blackwell and her partner, Morgan, have been having sex for nearly a year, but she’s delighted to go along with Julia’s plan since she needs a break after her recent Yale acceptance (where she is a legacy student). She doesn’t know how to tell Morgan that she might be moving across the country, and telling her family that she might not want to go after all will be much more difficult. (In fact, her uncle’s house has an entire bedroom dedicated to Yale memorabilia.) Yale has always been her ambition, so it couldn’t possibly alter now, can it?

My favourite aspect of this novel was that, despite the fact that it appears to be about love relationships and friendships, the most of the drama stemmed from other sources (like college plans, pressure from family, and chronic illness). There’s no misunderstanding or “everything goes wrong” moment in this story. There isn’t a single instance where the group is engaged in a major battle.


Also, NO EXTREME PARTY CULTURE IS ALLOWED! I was hoping it wouldn’t be an over-the-top party with everyone getting drunk and high on the nice furniture because the majority of the story takes place at a lake house with no parental supervision. No, it’s not at all unrealistic.

Even though they primarily just sit around and talk, they’re more interesting to read about than any other “crazy party” in any book.
And then there’s the GROUP CHAT. There are multiple situations where the characters have a group chat, and the names they come up with are hilarious.

If you’re nearing the end of high school, a student who is worried about the future, or if you simply miss your adolescent years, read this.

This is a cute story. Alex's is going through a bit of a tough time at the moment. Leah am not kean on. Julia was talking about a sex pact? So a pact what could actually go wrong or right. I like the progressive in this book it flows very well.

I almost DNF The Night When No One Had Sex. I skimmed through some of it, and Zoe's chapters I simply only read the dialog. I powered through, though, because some of it was interesting.

Julia and Kevin might've been my favorite couple of the book, followed by Alex and Leah. Although Alex and Leah got a little repetitive, and there wasn't a whole lot going on between them . . . it was still cute watching them developing the feels. The situation that Julia and Kevin got themselves into was both equally funny and serious. I love how sweet and caring Kevin was during the whole thing.

Morgan and Madison really bothered me. I get that they're sisters and they protect each other. However, it just got to be too much. Yes, your sister has lupus and can have a flare at any moment. However, you need to just let her live Morgan!

A lot of things that happened that prom night had me shaking my head thinking none of this stuff actually happens in real life. Then I stopped and thought about how things aren't the same as they used to be when I was a teenager. Anything can happen these days! It was a nice change in pace to see a group of teenagers hanging out without any alcohol involved, too.

There was a lot of ridiculous laugh out loud moments, followed by a few heart to heart and serious conversations. What started out as a pact between a close friends group of seniors in high school ended in a whole lot of mishaps and drama.

I wanted to love this book but I couldn’t do it. Part of it might be that it was weirdly formatted in the ARC, but I also don’t think there was enough distinction between characters and their voices

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Julia made a sex pact with her friends (eight in total) and went to Zoe's uncle cabin in the wood without parents supervision to have the best night of their lives but will they?

Alex and Leah: They couldn't join with the pact because Alex grandma is in hospital and they have to go there. Alex found out that Leah is a daughter of a millionaire and freaked out that her father is a mortal enemy of his grandma.

Madison and Jake: Madison and Jake tried to have a sex but Madison lupus flare comes in between and they cannot have, much to their disappointment. So they took Cheetos and went to house roof to have a romantic night. They had a hard time climbing up and down the grass-filled trellis. Jake is naked and Madison while climbing down isn't a good idea because her flare isn't cooperating at all.

Morgan and Zoe: Morgan and Madison is a twin and whole night she is worried about Madison's health. On other hand Zoe didn't like the idea of her accepting to Yale University and she wants Morgan to say she don't want her to go but seeing Morgan's supporting her isn't what she's expecting at all!

Julia and Kevin: Zoe's uncle has a cat which Julia despise cats so much. They closed their door blocking the entry and try to do elfish role play for sex when Julia ends up locking in a closet when Kevin accidentally breaks the lock.

All of them really want to have a best night of their lives in the night of their senior prom but it seems like they are going to learn a lot of things.

From each of the characters perspective narrate their own thoughts and story about their uncertainty of their life after high school and transition into adulthood.

I really loved this book and enjoyed every pages and the scenes and the hilarious dialogue of course! Every part of the book is so relatable, funny, and emotional. It really shows the life of young people and how they see things from their eyes.

This book is so gonna be the best book of 2021 for me.