Full disclosure: I’m not usually a romance novel reader. Fuller disclosure: one of the women in the writing partnership Mae Marvel is a friend. Which leads to the final disclosure: most of the romance novels I’ve read in my life (particularly since age 16) have been written by one or both of these two talented women,

Several years ago, one of the Mae Marvel duo said to me that romance novels are usually a constructed around a fairly narrow set of criteria expected by readers: there must be a happy ending, usually preceded by conflict or tension; the lovers are the main aspect of the plot; and the story should include one of the common romance-novel tropes, like enemies-to-lovers, secret identities, or a love triangle. One of the reasons I love Mae Marvel books is that they work within the rules while creatively expanding them. In “Everyone I Ever Kissed,” the leads are beautiful, wealthy, star crossed lovers, but one of the central conflicts is the fear that one of the leads will be exposed as a normal, everyday person. The other lead has a viral TikTok where she kisses people on camera for a full minute. This provides much of the early sexual tension in a way that allows the two leads to explore their relationship in relative privacy - at least for a while. In the meantime, their relationship grows (and steams!) while they treat each other like adults and each respects the other’s journey.

The writing is wonderful- evocative, poetic, and intelligent. The lovers are deeply drawn, and create compelling narratives, especially as the book winds to its conclusion. And while there is struggle, the lovers never lose faith in each other, and the relationship comes to a beautiful happy ending. Romance novels are still not my thing, but this one is definitely worth reading..

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Mae Marvel and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Getting through this book was a bit of a struggle for me and I feel like part of the reason is timing. There have been many romance novels published in the past few months where the characters have high energy chemistry that is all encompassing. By comparison, Wil and Katie’s chemistry was not quite as dynamic and I had trouble connecting as a result.

I enjoyed the old friends to lovers trope; especially as each character began to understand the nature of their high school relationship. The author does a fantastic job of revisiting memories as Wil and Katie discover the nuances that they were unable (unwilling?) to recognize as teenagers.

I loved the Wisconsin references and particularly appreciated setting this sapphic romance in a traditionally conservative location.

Ultimately, I felt the book was a bit longer than it needed to be and, thus, felt like this contributed to the drag I felt at times. I would have preferred a quicker pace to hold my attention.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Ya know when you start a book and at first you are super into it and think it’s going to be amazing and then you slowly find yourself losing interest?

That was my experience in reading Everyone I’ve Kissed Since You Got Famous. I thought it was so good at first and sped read through the first 30% and then I just slowly started losing interest. I’m not sure if it was the fact that the story line just seemed to drag on but not actually get anywhere or that the communication between the two FMC’s seemed off.

For now it’s a DNF but I haven’t ruled out picking it back up in the future.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

My thoughts regarding Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous are… confusing. On the one hand, I genuinely loved some of the characterization of Wil and Katie. I love a good second chance romance, ESPECIALLY a queer one. Like, high school friends who always felt like they were meant to be “a little bit more” is forever and ever one of my romantic sweet spots. LOVE it.

However, there were a lot of parts in this story that left me scratching my head. The dialogue between the characters seemed at times like just a giant exposition dump and it didn’t feel natural. It sort of reminded me of the way that I used to write Glee RPs with my friends on Tumblr back in 2013.

I found myself skimming through the end, because it felt like so much of the story was just sort of all over the place. There were a lot of different plots that just sort of seemed thrown in or unnecessary.

…And did they have permission to write Busy Phillips in as a character? I don’t know how that works, but I was like, “BUSY PHILLIPS IS HERE?”

I have other thoughts, but I cannot seem to be able to string them all together.

I really enjoyed Wil and Katie’s love story and I enjoyed the quiet moments with them together. I have a particularly soft spot in my heart for Katie and her cats, especially Sue. But the rest of this left me mostly confused.

Thank you again for this ARC.

2.5 stars.

"Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous" by Mae Marvel is a mixed bag. I love sapphic romances so, so much. Some of my all-time favorite novels are sapphic love stories. Unfortunately, this one is as dry as a bone and boring as hell. The very beginning of the story makes it clear that the main characters, Wil and Katie, haven't seen each other since they were in high school over a decade ago. They were very close friends and then they were nothing. Katie went off to become a Hollywood starlet. Wil found success as a TikToker who kisses different people twice a week and uploads the videos online. The two are quickly thrust back into each other's lives when Katie returns home for the holidays as if no time has passed at all. That's where the crux of my issues lie. There is no sense of longing or pining because it doesn't feel like *any* time has passed at all! After this quick introduction to the story, the rest of the book unfolds so, so slowly... and not in a good way. It's less slow-burn, more turtle-slow-paced. It truly felt like this book never ended. There are a lot of other subplots going on in this book: Wil dealing with her grief after her dad's passing, Wil not doing what she really wants in life, Wil's TikTok videos, Katie's struggle as an actor, Katie's ongoing "feud" with her stardom and the paparazzi, Katie wanting to direct a movie, Katie's trauma at the hands of her ex, Katie's cats, etc. While Katie and Wil have excellently executed backstories, none of it matters if there's not a lot of chemistry, and I just didn't feel much of anything between them. I felt more of a spark when Katie was describing how she felt while watching Wil's TikTok videos than I did when Katie and Wil were in the throes of passion. I appreciate the conversations around gender and s3x, about identity and taking the time to explore a relationship, about establishing healthy communication as a partnership. In a better, less plodding book, I would have eaten this stuff UP. If I hadn't had an audiobook version of this story, I probably wouldn't have finished it. I have come to love second-chance romances, and while "Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous" had all of the makings of an instant classic, unfortunately, it just goes nowhere, isn't executed well, and lacks any sort of chemistry whatsoever.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mae Marvel, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I am unsure why I requested this book because upon reading I realized that just about every trope used here is not my favorite.

I do think that the actual romance was decent, but most of the outside plot was a little boring for me. Also the book went on for too long at the end.

I hate to do it, but I had to DNF. Still, very grateful to Netgalley for a chance at an early read of this one. I don’t know exactly how to explain, but the story is just doing nothing at all for me. Technically it’s a second chance romance, where two friends meet up in their hometown and realize they’ve had feelings all along, etc. But from the very start, they’re a combination of already besties again and flirting and touching a lot, and like? Where’s the story? Where’s the tension? One of the characters is a famous tiktoker and the other is an *EGOT* at the age of 31. There’s some potential for story - the actress’s backstory is alluded to, but whatever is really happening there hasn’t been fleshed out by this point. So instead these characters who don’t really know each other anymore are… driving around. I’m sure some people will really enjoy this, but I couldn’t make myself keep going.

This was a cute quick read! I loved that both women were strong in their own right; that they didn’t NEED a partner to fulfill them but they found someone who “got them” anyway. Books where two queer women can succeed and find love are a kryptonite of mine and this one was no different. Thank you for the advanced read!

A lovely second chance romance for Katie and Wil, These two have led different lives since high school- Katie is a Hollywood star, Wil is an attorney who kisses people-but their reunion rekindles their old feelings. It's nice to see two women who actually talk to each other in a romance, The characters (all of them) are well rounded, the plot familiar but fresh, and the storytelling is good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

DNF at 40%. Just could not get into the story. From what I read, nothing is wrong is the writing and I enjoyed the characters reconnecting but just didn't grab my attention.

Thank you @smpromance @netgalley @macmillan.audio for a copy.

I went into this book with high expectations--I have loved (LOVED!) Ruthie Knox's romances forever, and was over the moon to know she was (co-)writing romance again. And so reading this was like revisiting an old friend--not unlike how I imagine it felt for Wil and Katie to reconnect. I can't overstate how beautiful this book is. It says so much through the little things. It's about quiet moments, and words left unsaid, and the nuances of Midwestern hospitality. The writing is lush and piercing at the same time. If you are a person who wants to Feel Feelings, this is the book for you. It's romantic. And hot. And funny! And it will probably make you want to cry at least once. Could not recommend more!

A contemporary romance masterpiece. Exquisitely mortifying, in that “ordeal of being known” kind of way.

I’ll leave you this as incentive: “Katie knew exactly, exactly why in scripts, in these moments, one of the lovers would growl. She could feel that growl right at the base of her throat, where her clitoris had tossed it angrily.” And if that quote doesn’t hook you - that’s your problem!! Get hornier!!

This book did not land for me. It read like a YA books. I just didn’t like this. The characters had zero chemistry, which is wild because this book is all about them being reunited.

I found this book slow-paced and unengaging, but I’m sure others will enjoy it. The emotion is understated.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Katie Price is back home for Christmas. This may not seem like a big thing—adults visit their parents all the time for holidays—but Katie Price is famous. Hollywood famous. Has won multiple awards famous. No longer living in Green Bay, Wisconsin, famous.

And Will Greene hasn’t seen her in years.

They grew up in each other’s orbits—their mothers are best friends after all—but they didn’t get close until their senior year of high school. And after that senior year? Katie was off to Hollywood, and Wil hasn’t seen in her in person since.

Wil has her own fame now—not nearly as big as Katie’s, of course—but she does have a million followers on her social media account, where she kisses a new person in every single video she posts.

And Katie is ready to reconnect with Wil.

Highlights for me:
- The chemistry between Katie and Wil
- How easily they slip back into the comfort and banter of their friendship, even after all the years
- Both Katie’s and Wil’s support networks
- How at ease Wil can make people and how she really seems to see and understand everyone she meets
- Katie being ready to take charge of her career and her life again

What didn’t work as well for me:
- The bet regarding their former high school teacher’s love life (I understand they used this as an excuse to spend time together at first, but I feel like it took up more of the book than necessary.)
- Katie’s ex’s relationship with the press
- Something I can’t quite put my finger on that didn’t keep me as engaged in their story as I would have liked
- The cats and the communication board (This is a cute and quirky detail but feels like it doesn’t have widespread appeal for readers.)

I received an advance copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Katie Price and Wil Greene grew up together in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Their mother’s are best friends. They got close and became inseparable their senior year of high school. They don’t meet up again for over a decade.

They’ve each had their challenges. Wil’s beloved father passed away and she sort of gets stuck in place not continuing onto law school where she was accepted. She has a job she enjoys and has created a very popular social media channel that involves her kissing someone new weekly. Katie has fame, money and awards but is haunted by the famous actor that continually claims she owes her entire career to him even though she fled from him ten years ago. There is a lot of insecurity from her relationship with him. But she is on the cusp of wanting to start her own production company and wanting to direct films. It is a perfect time for these two friends to connect and recognize how strong their feelings once were for each other.

Both characters are very likable, smart and talented in their own ways. They are wonderfully talkative and honest with each other. And the attraction is there but Katie’s life is especially complicated by her fame. They put off kissing, building tension until they know they want a chance for more. There is a lot of light humor, especially in Katie’s runaway thoughts and comments when she is nervous. Side characters are there in the moms and Katie’s agent but the focus is on Katie and Wil. I enjoyed the chapters where the two were dealing with things on their own as well as their time together. It showed their progression and willingness to move forward towards their goals. The book does feel long but I just chose to enjoy the extra time with the pair. I’d consider this a second chance romance even though they never were really romantic the first time around.

I received an ARC of the book from St. Martin’s Press and a copy of the audio book from Macmillan Audio. I enjoyed alternating between both. The narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was great and I found myself reading words like "Katie Kat'' in the same voice she used. I can recommend either depending on your preference. This is a book I can easily revisit and read again.

This was an interesting read. I liked the dynamic between Katie and Will, a great representation of friends to lovers and childhood friendship. Some parts of their journey to lovers were so painfully human that they felt more substantial than the b plot surrounding fame.

This book was sapphic and hot and everyone should be reading it this summer! My only hang up was that Diana and Katie’s dad are made out to be such wonderful parents … so where were they during the three years of Ben????? That really confused me. But otherwise really loved the book.

I absolutely loved every second of reading this book. From start to finish, it was five stars all the way. It's rare in a dual POV book that I love both characters equally, but I adored both Wil and Katie. Their backstories both individually and as a couple were woven in deftly to the current narrative, and I just kept falling in love with them more as the book went on. I loved the way they gave each other strength to do the things they needed to do to move their lives forward. The tension between them was immediate and delicious and only built up more as time went on. The progression of their relationship felt natural and realistic without any of the contrived misunderstandings that are so common in this genre. It was beautifully crafted and beautifully written, and reminded me of why I love Romance as a genre -- the way it encapsulates raw, visceral emotions and helps us as readers feel seen. Definitely one of my top reads this year.

i've been swinging and missing within the romance genre lately, so this book was a pretty refreshing departure from low star ratings and the DNFs i've been experiencing.

here's the story of katie price, award-winning celebrity, actress, and filmmaker, but most importantly, childhood best friend of one very stuck wil price, grieving the loss of her father and not quite able to ignite her motivation to finish up law school. instead, she's reached her own level of fame - she's kissing strangers on the internet in sixty second clips she posts to tiktok in a project about connection and intimacy.

and connect is what katie and wil begin to do again. they've lost touch over the years for multiple reasons, some of them sabotage from katie's inner circle. via continued harassment via an older ex that's furiously clutching at katie's coattails to stay relevant in the media, katie's grown frustrated with her life, with the continued gossip circling around her and her private life, with her ex-boyfriend's lies threatening her chances at career growth.

i found this a pretty refreshing read. some parts of this book were a lil weird (did busy phillips consent to all that? lol) but one of my pet peeves with romance is when two people don't communicate and talk out their issues with adults. i can't really say that happened a lot here. sometimes i felt like katie should have spoken up, but a lot of her issues with communication lived with her trauma which i felt like the book did a good job of gently walking us through. even with sex - yes, i know - there was a scene where they asked each other if they were okay with penetration. especially with trauma in the mix, the existence of stone tops and touch-me-nots within the lesbian community, it was refreshing to see this written on page.

where i think this book struggled was with pace/length. this book was a lot longer than i think was strictly necessary, especially for a romance. i did zone out a little in places. also, maybe this is just me being single, but i'm not sure i understood the purpose of wil's kissing project other than to create chemistry between wil and katie. but even with that, i didn't mind. this was super cute and a recommendation from me.