This book was so freaking cute!!! I loved the relationship between Ellie and Jack. I also really enjoyed that the characters addressed their feelings and talked about things, instead of spending too much time in their own heads. The different family dynamics also added so much more depth to the characters. Also - drunk grandmas are the best.

My favorite line: “Miscommunication is for the straights. We are going to talk this out.”

If you love queer holiday romance, you’ll love this!

thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc in exchange for an honest review :)

Ok folks I’ve started my Holiday Reading early so you can know what books to pick up on your next book store trip!

Kiss Her Once for Me is the story of Ellie Oliver who moves to Portland for a dream job in animation. On Christmas Eve she has a meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money.

When acquaintance Andrew proposes a a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes. They make a plan to spend the holidays together but little does she know Andrew’s sister is her Christmas meet cute!

Y’all I loved this holiday story full of quirky family members including Grandma who is high the whole time. I just loved how all of the family interacted and their traditions were too notch. This one has all the Christmas Vibes and reminded me a bit of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Highly recommend this one for your holiday TBR!

I was looking for a fun holiday rom-com and when I read the synopsis for Alison Cochrun’s new novel, Kiss Her Once for Me, I immediately knew it was exactly what I was looking for. The story follows Ellie Oliver, a young woman who, a year ago, was on top of the world. She had just moved to Portland, Oregon for her dream job and on Christmas Eve, she has the most magical meet-cute in a bookstore with a woman named Jack. Ellie is convinced she’s in love, but things abruptly change the next morning, and Ellie and Jack part ways.

Things start to spiral and by the following Christmas, Ellie has lost her dream job and, desperate to make ends meet, is now working as a barista at a local coffee shop, hating her mean boss and just trying to get through each day. When Andrew, the landlord of the coffee shop, proposes a wild plan – pose as his wife for a year in order to help him secure his recent inheritance in exchange for 10% of the inheritance — Ellie thinks he’s crazy but is just desperate enough to go along with it. Imagine Ellie’s shock when Andrew takes her to spend the holidays with his family and introduces her to his sister, Jack. Yep, the same Jack from the magical meet-cute the previous year. And guess what? Those sparks are still there!

I’m such a sucker for a good second chance romance and for a great fake dating story, so this book felt tailor made for me. All the characters are so well drawn, complex and have these messy and very relatable issues that they’re dealing with. I adored Ellie, Andrew, and Jack and found myself rooting for all three of them to somehow end up with happy endings. I also loved that even though there were three parties involved, it wasn’t really a love triangle. This story was more about Ellie having to make the hard choice between sticking it out in a fake relationship with Andrew for some much needed financial security, or following her heart’s desire and trying to make things work with Jack.

I also very much enjoyed the balance between hilarious and cute moments such as Jack trying to teach a terrified Ellie how to ski and other more intense moments such as when Ellie has to contend with her horrible, unsupportive mother and again when Ellie and Jack have to have some serious discussions about what happened between them a year ago.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun and festive holiday romance that also has a side of drama to spice things up a bit.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an arc of this one.

Ellie's life didn't begin when she moved to Portland, it spiraled down the drain. She thought she was moving their for a great animation job and thought maybe she'd fall in love when she met Jack on a snowy Christmas Eve, but then Jack didn't last more than a night and she got laid off her job. A year later, she's working at a coffee shop for a horrible boss and is no longer interested in love. Enter Andrew, who proposes a marriage of convenience with Ellie so he can get his inheritance and she can get some much needed cash. When she goes to see his family for Christmas, who might Andrew's sister be? Surprise!

Ellie and Jack--loves of my life. The perfect holiday romcom does exist and it is Sapphic and set in Portland with events happening a year apart. It has a fake engagement and surprise exes and misunderstandings and a demisexual MC and a butch love interest and a snowed-in trope. Honestly it is perfectly lovely. I didn't want it to end. And the audio is so so good! Definitely recommend you read the audio version.

If you are looking for some Hallmark Happiness this winter you NEED to pick up this book. I am serious. It is so good. And Sapphic Christmas...*Chef's Kiss*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Infidelity, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Alison Cochrun wrote one of my favorite books of 2021, so her sophomore novel, Kiss Her Once For Me, has been high on my anticipated reads list. This slow burn, steamy sapphic holiday romance did not disappoint!

Last Christmas, Ellie Oliver had her dream job and met her dream woman in a bookstore. They spend a magical night together, only to have reality come crashing down the next morning. Flash forward a year later and Ellie's life is the complete opposite. She's working a dead-end job, strapped for cash and facing eviction. The only way out seems to be a marriage of convenience with Andrew, a rich landlord who needs to be married in order to gain his inheritance. When the pair spend the holidays with Andrew's family in their upstate cabin to keep up the charade, Ellie's mysterious love from last Christmas is none other than Andrew's sister.

Told in a fun flashback format mixed with Ellie's online comics, I absolutely adored the chaotic and crazy antics in the story. It has all the tropes I love - marriage of convenience, fake dating, forbidden love, second chance - plus enough Christmas and pop culture references to make my heart oh so happy.

The queer rep in the book was amazing and not in a cliched way. It felt so authentic and I loved how Ellie navigated her sexuality throughout the book, especially with her friends and family. The flashbacks had me guessing what went down between Jack and Ellie and I enjoyed them figuring their relationship out in the present day, despite all the complications. The love trapezoid was a fun twist in the romance.

The most fun about the book was the snow and holiday activities that took place at the family cabin. I adored Andrew's whole family (except his father). My organized heart loved the detailed and color-coordinated schedules for family fun. While I didn't love how the insta-love carried over from last Christmas, the forced proximity of the cabin helped build a believable relationship in the present day.

If you’re looking for an adorably sweet queer holiday romance with a beautiful found family - look no further!

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun was a cute romance but it also didn’t shy away from tough subjects like extreme self-doubt and awful parents.

I think a lot of people will relate to Ellie’s intense fear of failure because we all experience it at least once in our lives. The very real depiction of anxiety and negative thoughts was well executed. It was so great to see Ellie finally allow herself to be embraced by good people who only wanted good for her - it just warmed my heart so much.

Miscommunication did rear its ugly little head BUT it wasn’t to the extent of what we usually see in romance.

This is a perfect read to pick up during the holidays. And I by far recommend the audiobook

This is the perfect book to get you in the holiday season. It’s a sweet romance that takes place over Christmas.
Ellie is broke and isn’t sure how she’s going to pay next month’s rent. When Andrew the landlord of the coffee shop she works suggests a fake marriage to access his inheritance, Ellie is all for it because she has nothing to lose. The only problem is that when she meets Andrew’s family, Ellie finds out his sister is Jack, the woman she spent one magical day with last Christmas and haven’t stopped thinking about her.

I loved the characters and that it took place over Christmas. You have family drama, funny boozy grandmas and holiday traditions. Ellie’s character grew from being a quiet, 20 something woman struggling financially and dealing with anxiety and her toxic mother to a strong independent woman who faces her fears. I was cheering for Ellie and Jack to get together since chapter one. Their relationship was fun and flirty and the ending was perfect.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Am I about to set up my Christmas tree after reading this? Absolutely.

Alison Cochrun's writing immediately sent me into holiday mode and I am living for it!

*insert throwing my planned reading out the window for every holiday romance I own*

This book will guarantee you instant warm fuzzy feels. It's the sweetest love story. It transports you right into the magic that is the holiday season. The dialogue is hilarious. The characters are beyond delightful.

The real reason why I resonated so deeply with this book is my deep love for Ellie Oliver. I found a piece of myself in her character and it made me really love reading about her journey not only in love but becoming a more confident woman. Ellie's important storyline is that she is an artist who is deeply passionate about her drawing and animation skills although being fired from her job has made her feel anxious and unworthy of being amongst other talented people in her field. I loved being able to read about an artist especially an animator who was having self-doubts about her skills and talent. I understand that so deeply being a graphic designer professionally. There are so many moments that I have experienced in my career where I question whether I am going to be able to compete with every young person graduating art school as I continue to get older and my knowledge of the design world become archaic. Being an artist is competitive world to live in. I understand Ellie, I really do.

Not only is Ellie an artist but she is someone who deals with severe anxiety and overthinking. The way Cochrun wrote her anxious moments throughout the book was eye-opening and reassuring that feeling these pressures and self-doubt thinking is something that is experienced amongst the masses. I love that her romances always focus on making people dealing with mental health issues feel more normal and pushing us to seek help. It's okay to not feel okay but its so important to get the help you need when you're feeling deeply overwhelmed with your thoughts. I loved Ellie's character because she felt so normal in a sense that I found myself in her.

I'm sorry, I had to gush about how much Ellie Oliver truly means to me but this book is so wonderful outside of her character. It reminded me so much of an LGBTQIA+ version of the movie Love Hard. The fake dating trope is hilarious and Ellie's predicaments she gets herself into will suck you into the book. You will learn so much about mental health and the queer community.

Trust me, the charm and warmth of Alison Cochrun's "Kiss Her Once for Me" will bring you the magic of the holiday's at the crack of the spine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of "Kiss Her Once for Me" in exchange for an honest review. This was such a fun read. It definitely got me excited for the winter holidays. The next time I see Alison Cochrun on the shelves, I will definitely be purchasing. I appreciated how the story still had depth to it. I love the trope of found family during the holidays. I would recommend this.

As I began reading Kiss Her Once for Me, I was not sure if this novel would be a good fit, since I do not often read romance novels, but as it turns out this sensitive and wonderfully written novel is deeper and more complex than a romance. I could not stop reading. Author Alison Cochrun has a way of wrapping her words around the reader and refusing to let go. The central protagonists are more complex then a simple love triangle and far more interesting than a simple rom-com of fake romances strung together. Ellie and Jack hold central stage, but the supporting characters--Andrew, Dylan, the grandmas, mothers, work colleagues, and best friends, filled this novel with warmth, betrayal, and layers of complexity. Ellie and Jack have been damaged by family members, whose job should be to love these two women. Instead, the pain of rejection leaves each with a fear of failure and a sense of betrayal.

There was much to love in Cochrun's novel. The characters are multi-dimensional and interesting, including the weather and the city of Portland, which I also love, having grown up there. The dog is terrific, as well. The plot is captivating and holds the reader's attention. What doesn't work quite as well are the flashbacks. In many places, the flashbacks to December 2021 feel intrusive and distracting. I recognize the desire to connect the past with the current, but in some cases, a flashback interrupts a good narration and causes the story to lose momentum.

I want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read this wonderful ARC, in exchange for my honest review. And I want to thank NetGalley for introducing me to an exciting new writer.

This book was a delight!!!! It was so fun and it also told a deeper story about our 2 main characters. As always, for me, the supporting characters were what really made this book shine. Jack’s family was pure joy and I absolutely loved getting a glimpse of their family Christmas. I also thought the representation and explanation of demisexual was excellent. I loved this book!

Thank you so much to Alison Cochrun, Atria Books & NetGalley for this advance copy of your book!

"On a snow day in Portland, you could fall in love."

Kiss Her Once for Me was such a delight to read and gave me all the holiday magic feels!

Quick recap: Ellie met Jack last Christmas and after a magical 24 hours ago, she has never heard or seen from her again. Their paths never crossed until a year later when Ellie is asked to be fake engaged to Andrew the owner of property where she works only to discover that he is the brother of Jack.

I LOVE the concept of this book!! I have never seen While You Were Sleeping (which I definitely need to make sure I find to watch this holiday season) but I do remember seeing it listed on the TV Guide channel. This was also my first book that had the topic of marriage of convenience which I didn't think I would enjoy but I did. I am wondering if its because in this case it was link to fake dating which is one of my favorite tropes.

Cochrun has such a way with dialogue and banter that you can't help but smile while reading. The same charm is here as there was with her debut novel The Charm Offensive. You cannot help but root for the MC and her love interest, Jack.

"You have to stop letting your fear of failure keep you from letting people in."

My heart went out to Ellie because she was trying SO hard to just make it through life daily but always was getting knocked down. The growth from the beginning to the last 25% of the book made me so happy. I was happy she set a boundary up between herself and her mom. I am fairly certain my blood pressure rose every time she called Ellie. I was so happy she was able to take these small connections and develop this new found family that is supportive.

One thing that I love about Alison's writing and this was captured in her debut as well as in this is her way of having a lot of diverse characters. It is SO refreshing to see sexual identities that are not normally found in romance books. I look forward to seeing what she has up her sleeve next!

My only two small critiques were: The repetition of failure and then those around her constantly telling her how she didn't fail. I think it was done a little more than I needed. The other was the webcomic add ins as it told Ellie and Jack's story but I could have done without them. I found myself wanting to get back to the present day text. I understood the importance of both of these as it told the backstory and aided in the anxiety of why Ellie was the way she is.

The way Alison writes about the Pacific Northwest makes me want to travel out there even more than I already wanted to. It seems like such a beautiful place to visit and just to experience in person.

One of my favorite things that authors do is have some sort of media attached to their book that takes it outside of the book In this case, Alison has made playlist for not only the book for Jack's character. This playlist is referenced in the book so it's awesome to have it there to listen to. Just scanning through it, my little 90s-00s pop heart is bursting over the song choices that takes me back to simpler times.

PS: The line that I felt attacked by was: "Honesty game: what is your favorite Taylor Swift album, and why is it Evermore?" I mean come on, it clearly is her BEST album. It's also no surprise that I do this book as the author was inspired by Taylor's song "Tis The Damn Season" which is a top song of hers for me. Major kudos all around!

Rating; 4.5

This was so cute and such a fun concept. I loved the fact that Jack was her fake fiancés sister and I loved their whole family so much with their mom and grandmas. It was a really sweet book that gave you a little touch of Christmas and I just really enjoyed it!

This was a cute romance. The main character was slightly insufferable and definitely got on my nerves, but not enough that I wasn't rooting for her to get her happily ever after. I think this is one of my favorite Rom Com books I've read this year.

Alison Cochrun's latest, Kiss Her Once For Me, checked all the holiday rom-com boxes for me! The loveable characters, awkward moments, angst and winter cozies had a direct line to my heart. The flashbacks to last Christmas (cue music) were effortless and helped to provide more insight to the characters.
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I seriously loved all the characters (well except Ellie's mom and Andrew's dad - puke toxic). Ellie with her big ideas but small backbone, general anxiety disorder and so much love to give. Andrew, the typical (or not so) financial fuck boy who adores his family. Loud, stubborn and sweet Jack, with her questionable music tastes. Dylan, the blunt protector with soft and squishy insides. Plus all the rest of the Prescott-Kims!

The whole premise is about meeting that one special person who you just click with (yes, basically instalove) and how hard it is to let that go, even if you're demisexual and it scares the crap out of you. The plot wouldn't work if it wasn't meant to be love, but just be aware if that's not your bag.
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The rep: bisexual, nonbinary, demisexual⁠, general anxiety disorder⁠.
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Read if you like:⁠
- meant to be⁠ head over heels love⁠
- love trapezoids⁠
- artists & bakers⁠
- snow days & snow storms⁠
- fake engagement⁠s
- ridiculous grandmas
- open door scenes (two)
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CW: ⁠panic attacks, biphobia, homophobia, transphobia, toxic relationships, infidelity, alcohol, drug use

Miscommunications are for the straights.”

This was so fantastic. As someone with ADHD who also dreads failure and not meeting expectations, I really felt for Ellie’s career situation. Been there 😅

But more than anything, this book is fantastic because of the relationships. Family, friends, lovers, all given so much care and space to show their love for each other. The chaotic family gatherings, the fake engagement gone horribly wrong once Ellie realizes her “betrothed” is the brother of her magical snow day love, Jack, and the love trapezoid for the ages make this book so much more than just a Christmas romance. It’s about finding where you belong, allowing yourself to believe, and facing your fears.

I am filled to the brim with joy after reading this book, and I would highly recommend it.

Ok, I think I was sold the second I read that this was a queer While You Were Sleeping without the coma. LOVE.

PLUS they have a meet-cute at Powell’s! I loved exploring Portland and Powell’s books this spring while I was there!

Yet again, Alison delivers a delightful queer romance that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects like self doubt and shitty parents. Everyone needs someone to believe in them and these two heroines are no different. I loved each of them. I also adored the whole family… except Alan and grandpa… such douche-canoes.

This book was Christmas-y, but not overly so where it couldn’t be read any time of year. I held of reading it because I wanted to wait til closer to Christmas, but now I wish I’d read it sooner!

Kiss Her Once For Me is a queer Christmas romance that takes place in Portland, OR. This romance novel contains fake dating, forced proximity, and forbidden romance. I really loved The Charm Offensive so I had high exceptions for this one! I loved the music and pop references in the book. I think there should have been a playlist at the end of the book or something! The biggest part that didn’t work for me was the storyline The plot seemed interesting, but the storyline was an utter mess. There were too many subplots going on and the flashback section was so drawn out. I couldn’t get onboard with Ellie and Jack’s insta-love connection and the miscommunication of it all. There were so many times where one of the characters could have come clean and they didn’t. Overall, this wasn’t for me.

Every copy of this book should come with a complimentary package of tissues. Even just reading the prologue turned me into a giant weepy mess. It touched my heart in just the right way.

Cochrun told an absolutely beautiful story that pulls on your heartstrings and still can make you full-on belly laugh. Get ready to fall completely in love with this book and every character in it.

Full to the brim with Christmas magic, you definitely need to pick up Kiss Her Once for Me this holiday season.

I really liked this book. I loved the fake engagement but I love someone else story line it was different. I loved the happy ending. I just didn’t rate the book higher because compared to other books this one just didn’t compare to my 4 and 5 star reads. The author still did an excellent job.