I really enjoyed this book! It was an engaging read from start to finish with a unique storyline. The writing was easy to follow, and I appreciated how the story kept me hooked without feeling overwhelming. Overall, it was a great read, and I definitely recommend it!

I've never read a rom com with alternate realities / a "what-if" storyline before, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had. What's in a Kiss is sweet, unique, and a entertaining, quick read. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!

What’s in a Kiss? by Lauren Kate is a whimsical "what-if" romance with a twist of alternate reality, exploring the butterfly effects of a prom kiss that never was. It's charming, sweet, and sprinkled with just enough magic to appeal to fans of light romantic comedies with a speculative twist.

The premise is undeniably intriguing: Liv, a recently furloughed drama teacher, is reunited with her high school rival, Jake Glasswell, ten years after a disastrous prom night. But thanks to a cosmic hiccup at a wedding, she suddenly finds herself living an alternate timeline—one where prom night went differently, and she and Jake have been together ever since. It’s the ultimate second-chance fantasy, the kind that makes you wonder: What if I had made a different choice?

The novel shines most in its concept. The sci-fi-lite take on fate, timing, and romance adds a fresh layer to the traditional enemies-to-lovers arc. Jake, in both timelines, is an absolute standout—charming, genuine, and definitely swoon-worthy. And Lauren Kate balances the whimsy with heartfelt emotion and some genuinely funny moments, which gives the book a light, enjoyable tone.

That said, the execution doesn’t quite live up to the promise. The bulk of the story is spent in the alternate reality, which makes the eventual return to the original timeline feel rushed and underdeveloped. The emotional payoff—particularly around Liv’s fractured relationships with her mother and best friend—lacks the closure and nuance it deserves. And for a story centered on love and connection, there’s surprisingly little real falling in love happening on the page. It’s all fast-forwarded, which left me feeling a bit disconnected from the romance itself.

I had very mixed feelings while reading. On one hand, the message that "they would choose each other in any life" is beautiful and genuinely made me smile. On the other, I found myself frustrated by the repetitive pacing, shallow character development, and the lack of depth in emotional moments. The book is short—mercifully so, in some ways—but also too short to flesh out the very ideas it’s built upon.

Bottom line? What’s in a Kiss? is a quirky, quick read that’s perfect if you enjoy romcoms with a dash of magical realism and don’t mind a story that prioritizes concept over character. It didn’t quite work for me, but it might hit the sweet spot for readers who are less invested in deep emotional arcs and more into fun, speculative romance with a dreamy twist.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing for my DRC.

What’s in a Kiss by Lauren Kate is a light, sweet romance about two people who share a kiss that changes everything. While the premise is charming, the story feels a bit predictable and doesn't dive deep enough into the characters' emotions. The chemistry between the leads is there, but it lacks the spark that makes the romance truly memorable. It’s an enjoyable, easy read if you’re in the mood for something light, but it doesn’t quite leave a lasting impact.

Thank to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of 90s style rom-coms you will enjoy this.

Liv and Jake have a lovely story. Loved the side characters!

The only negative was there was no epilogue.

Cute “Sliding Doors”/what-if love story. I enjoyed the story a lot! Really loved the MFC.

Was somewhat slow to start and didn’t grab me at first, but after “the kiss” I really couldn’t put it down

I really enjoyed this book! It was an engaging read from start to finish, and I found it incredibly accessible. The writing was easy to follow, and I appreciated how the story kept me hooked without feeling overwhelming. Overall, it was a great experience, and I definitely recommend it!

*What's in a Kiss?* by Lauren Kate is a lighthearted romance with a touch of whimsy, exploring the complexities of love, attraction, and the significance of a simple kiss. The chemistry between the main characters is sweet, and the story has its charming moments, especially for readers who enjoy romantic comedies with a hint of fantasy.

However, while the book has an engaging premise, the plot feels somewhat predictable, and the pacing drags in parts. The characters, though likable, are not as fully developed as I would have liked, and their emotional journeys lacked the depth to make their connection feel truly compelling. Some aspects of the story felt repetitive, which made it hard to maintain interest at times.

Overall, *What's in a Kiss?* is an enjoyable, easy read for fans of light romance, but it lacks the emotional depth or originality to make it stand out. It’s perfect for a quick, feel-good escape, but may not leave a lasting impact for readers seeking a more complex or unique love story.

This was such a sweet little 'what-if' second-chance romance! A super quick and enjoyable read. I would recommend to my book club.

Thanks netgalley for the ARC

The plot of this book was what really drew me in. The magical realism with an alternate universe was super unique and I had fun time seeing how things would play out!

A lovely contemporary romance that will have you questioning the “what ifs” in life. I laughed, cried and smiled while reading. Gave me such nostalgia to 13 going on 30

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

A romantic journey filled with emotional twists, heartwarming moments , and what ifs?.The humor and tenderness had me hooked.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a total delight of a book! this was previous, lovely and thoroughly entertaining. I absolutely loved it and look forward to more from Lauren Kate.

I adore Lauren Kate's contemporary romances. I first read By Any Other Name bac in 2022 and could not wait to read What's in a Kiss? It says it is an enemies to lovers romance, but I'd say it's more adolescent rivals to lovers with a little alternative reality throw in there.

Senior year of high school Liv was bound for Julliard until she chose to stay home and help out her mom. Instead of her becoming a star (she's not a furloughed drama teacher), her high school rival, Jake, did. 10 years later they're back for their respective best friend's wedding where they're the the maid of honor and best man. During the "I do's" Liv is glaring at Jake, and all the sudden Liv is living a very different life - she's famous, her mom and best friend hate her, and is WITH JAKE!

What is so fun about this novel is it has very well known and loved tropes, but I thought it was done very well. It's also giving vibes of 13 going on 30 or Freaky Friday. I like the characters that Kate creates and how she goes about telling a story. They are what I want when I'm not looking for spicy, but fun banter with loveable characters. I wish I had more to write on this, but I forgot to write my review after finishing and it has been a couple months. But I did really enjoy and am excited for whatever else Lauren Kate wishes to write!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/ G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advance ready copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute little what-if second chance romance. The overall message was beautiful, but I really don't like miscommunication and alternate realities. This was okay for a short read, but i'd really had struggled if it was longer. Thanks for the gifted copy!

I am not sure what to say about this story without giving the whole plot away. Essentially this is a what-if, second chance, alternate universe love story. A fateful night, a kiss, a heartbreaking miscommunication... they hate each other or do they? Now they are in the same wedding and fate has some plans for them!

I have really mixed feelings about this book. The end message was beautiful and dreamy -- the idea that they would choose each other in any life, with any scenario, no matter their level of success, is dreamy... I smiled, I sighed, I loved that. Yet I was miserable the whole book and wanted to quit reading, but that could very well be a me thing. I wouldn't have minded the alternate reality if it was just part of the book not the whole story with basically the final scene back to the original timeline. It made me feel like the falling in love didn't actually happen and the ending was rushed and manufactured.

I do think this story is good if you don't mind that. I still finished the book and I didn't resent it because it was thankfully short -- again probably because it all happened in that alternate state of life, that couldn't last too long I guess.

Rating: 3.5/5

Spice: .5

Primary Genre: Romantic Comedy

Plot: 4/5

Blurb: From # 1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate comes an enemies-to-lovers “what if” romance about a prom kiss that never was, and one woman’s magical chance to live what might have been.This is not how Liv wanted to see Jake Glasswell for the first time in ten years. Once her high school rival and the prom date who humiliated her, now a successful TV personality, he’s more attractive than he has any right to be. And he’s her Lyft passenger.Since the prom night kiss that never was, Liv’s life has not gone to plan. She deferred Julliard to be with her mom during a crisis, and now swears she’s happy as a recently furloughed drama teacher going on no-strings dates. This weekend she’s maid of honor to her best friend, Masha, and, of course, Jake is the best man. But when Liv glares into Jake’s eyes as Masha says, “I do,” the universe turns on its axis and Liv is suddenly living a version of her life where prom night was the beginning of her and Jake, not the end, and it turns out he’s the love of her life. The catch? Her mom and Masha hate her now. What’s in a kiss? Maybe everything.

The Good:

* I loved the sci-fi element/butterfly effect vibe of this book. It’s always interesting to me to explore the what ifs of your life.

* The writer was humorous without detracting from the serious emotions of the story. That’s a fine balance and Lauren was able to do so with poise.

* Jake Glasswell is one of my fave book boyfriends of the year. Jake in both timelines. You’re in for a treat there.

The Meh:

* I felt like the ending could have gone so many different ways and the direction that it took was a little lackluster.

* The book spent so much time in the alternate life that the ending felt very rushed and unfinished. This book could have used another chapter at the bare minimum.

* It irritated me to no end that the FMC never had a sit down with her mother to thoroughly explain what in the world was going on w/ that relationship in her alternate life. I need to know as a mother, because I can’t think of a single thing that would cause me to refuse to speak to my child when they’re trying to reach out to me

Bottom Line:

What a weird and unexpected little book. This storyline definitely didn’t exactly go in the direction that I thought it would but I think that is because the ending felt so rushed to me. I think if the ending was a little bit more drawn out and if there were a few more things explained I would have came away from this book liking it more. That being said, it’s a cute little romcom and a good read if you don’t need to overthink every plot point like I do.

slow start but LOVEDDDD the middle of this one! please god let me find a man like “high life” jake <3 the devoted, kind and patient husband! the only thing i found i disliked about this one was towards the end when there was more attempts to get home then being able to see olivia and jake’s relationship back in her “real” life. I felt like the story ended so abruptly too :/ i wanted to see MORE of them when she got back!!! i love their dynamic and chemistry and would have LOVED to see it play out when she got back! but all in all it was such a wonderful and surprising read! i didn’t expect to be so engrossed in it & even found myself staying up late to read it. It was wonderful and i would totally recommend it to anymore looking for a romance read 💗 :)

Book 31 of 2024 - ✅! Just under the wire….thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and Lauren Kate for an ARC of What’s in a Kiss? In exchange for my honest review.

I was excited to end the year on a rom-com note, and Lauren Kate’s What’s in a Kiss? did not disappoint. I’ve read a few books with the micro-trope of an alternate universe, and this was well-done by Kate. You can tell Kate has spent time in Los Angeles (or at least did her research) in the way she writes the city in her novel. The protagonist - Olivia - is an aspiring actress who’s recently been laid-off from her job as a drama teacher, and finds herself making ends meet as a Lyft driver. Her relationships with her mom and best friend, Masha, are unmatched, and in the real world, Olivia has a podcast with her mom. Enter: Jake Glasswell - Olivia’s high school rival (or so she thought…) who’s now famous with his own TV show. As they’re both standing up for their friends at their wedding, Olivia ends up in an alternate universe - one where she’s famous, married to Jake Glasswell (who’s not famous), and where she’s not speaking to her mom or Masha (best friend). After spending time in the new universe and enjoying parts of it, she must decide if she wants to stay.

I have a tendency to scrutinize elements of books that involve the TV or Film industry because that’s what I work in, but Kate did this quite well (the only minor note is that one of the characters would have used the term Showrunner instead of Head Writer on a scripted series when talking about their job…).

There are a few open-door scenes, but not nearly as many as other rom-coms, so I’ll give this a 2/5 on the 🌶️ scale, and 3.5/5 ⭐️ overall. 🔄💍🎭 #whatsinakiss #NetGalley