Lauren Kate’s books are so, so adorable and sweet. And I just love them. 💖

Short Synopsis:
Liv’s best friend is getting married. She’s helped her plan her small intimate beach wedding. But the one thing she didn’t plan? Picking up MegaSuper Star Jake Glasswell as her Lyft passenger - AKA The Best Man - AKA her high school nemesis. In this life, she’s a mess and broke but has her mom and her best friend. But when time slips she’s transported into a world where SHE is the famous one, doesn’t have her mom or sister but has Jake. Which alternate reality is best for her?

My Thoughts:
I adore Lauren Kate’s books and did not even read a synopsis before starting. 😂 So imagine my pleasant surprise to learn it’s magical realism - one of my favorites. (If you like The Good Part, then you NEED this one!)

It was everything I want in a magical romance - sweet with tension, humor, amazing best friend, longing, just all the good things.

What You’ll Find:
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🪄 Magical realism
💕 Second chance romance
🚪 Sliding Doors - ish
🗣️ Banter

I am generally a sucker for rivals to lovers, a second-chance romance, and a sprinkle of the supernatural, so What's In a Kiss? seemed very up my alley.

Following Liv, who works as a Lyft driver, co-hosts a podcast with her mother, and rues the existence of Jake Gladwell, her rival from high school, who has become wildly successful, the book imagines what might have happened if she and Jake had kissed at prom. When Liv wakes up in an alternate reality, everything she knows has been turned on its head – and she has to decide if she truly wants to give up the life she could have had.

While there is lots happening in What's In a Kiss? that is fun and compelling, I felt that the book spends too much time in the alternate version of reality. I wanted a bit more relationship development between Liv and Jake in their "real" timeline, and because we didn't get that, I ultimately felt like the HEA wrapped up too quickly.

4.0

When I glanced at the summary before diving in, I thought “What made me say I’d read this”. Maybe it was the name–Lauren Kate. It’s a mashup of other authors I like like Christina Lauren and Kate Clayborn and I realized I hadn’t actually read any of this author’s books before.

That aside, I’m not often a fan of those situations like “Sliding Doors” where one character is in some sort of limbo that nobody knows about or believes and sometimes, as in this book, they have to try to assimilate into someone else’s life. OK. Got all that? However, as I started reading, it wasn’t too bad. In other words, I wanted to keep reading.

I’m also not the hugest fan of characters who just can’t catch a break, as Olivia’s real life is. So when Olivia‘s life shifts, you wonder whether the High Life or Real Life is better, assuming she can even things out. I don’t understand how Olivia‘s mother and best friend and family are so hostile. It’s one thing to grow apart, but this doesn’t seem to fit, especially if Jake is still friends with Masha and Eli and, unlike other similar storylines, the new Olivia doesn’t seem to be an awful person with a reputation the interloper has to rectify.

All that aside, it’s a cute story. I enjoyed it. There’s plenty of sex. That’s more of an FYI in case that matters to you, not the reason I said I enjoyed it. Guess I’ll look and see what else Lauren Kate has written!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is for all the overthinkers out there who wonder what their life would be like if they had taken a different path. I really enjoyed the parallel world aspect of this novel and think it added a fresh twist to a somewhat standard romance tale. I’m also a sucker for the concept that two people are fated to be together no matter what, so that made me swoon.

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes ever, but it is so hard to really get it right, and this one did not disappoint! And although it’s a romance story, it offers lots of thought provoking questions.

Romcom girlies add this one to your never ending TBR!

In a tale of "what if?", Liv blinks at her best friend's wedding and finds herself in an alternate universe where she's not only famous but married to her high school rival, Jake Glasswell.

This was such a good book! Here's what I loved:

The Time of it all. I love books that play with time and space. Lauren Kate does this so well with this tale. Giving Liv a chance to live a different life really works. But it's not all great. She may get the fame and the love, but at the cost of other things in her life that she loves. This gives her a really good dilemma to work through. What does she want more?

Liv and Jake. LOVE these two. Liv is funny and sarcastic while Jake is her perfect match, even when they aren't together. They just work so well together. I adore Jake. New book boyfriend 100%.

The side characters. I loved Masha--the best friend--and Liv's mom. Both gave a lot of depth to the story.

All in all, I really enjoyed this romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy.

3.25 stars

Thanks NetGalley and Putnam for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I wasn’t exactly sure what the point of the book was until the latter half. I enjoyed the characters and the idea of the plot, but I wish we would have had more of a plot in the present timeline for the characters. Even in the alternate timeline that takes place during the book, the love between Jake and Olivia seems too insta love for me, especially with 10 years having passed since they last saw each other. The overall character depth wasn’t where I would have liked it to be, though as I mentioned I still enjoyed the characters. There were scenes throughout the book that were very weird and wacky, which was in contrast to the slightly more serious/deep meaning of the book.

Spice: 🌶️

Read if you like:
❤️ Heartwarming reads
💍 Weddings
💋 Consequences of a Kiss
😠 Nemesis to Lovers
✨Alternate Reality
🥈 Second Chance Romances

Olivia’s life hasn't exactly unfolded as she envisioned after high school because she deferred her dreams to support her mom. However, the weekend of her friend’s wedding, throws her into a whirlwind when her high school nemesis, Jake, emerges as the best man.

Little does Olivia know; this wedding will be the catalyst for a journey through parallel universes, where a missed prom night kiss with Jake becomes the starting point for an alternate reality.

The chemistry and banter between Olivia and Jake were so well done!

The story m combines elements of romance, friendship, and self-discovery, offering an engaging read that keeps you rooting for Olivia and Jake from the very first page.

A rom-com with a magical twist is always something I enjoy immensely and this was no different! It leaves readers to ponder the significance of choices, love, and the people who shape our lives.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for gifting me my ARC in exhange my review!

I'll say this, this book didn't hit a lot of the times for me. There were a lot of aspects of this book that just made me uncomfortable, I think it was mostly the fact that she didn't tell anyone that she was from a parallel world, and just continued on as norm. Especially when it came to the "love of her life".

Like I just didn't like the vibe of this book. I did finish it. It was okay, not for me.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one was sweet but left a lot unanswered. I wanted to know a bit more about the world building behind the switching timelines.

3.5 stars rounded up.

What happens when you didn’t kiss a boy on prom night, go on to hate him for a decade while living your life with you mother and your best friend as the great loves of your life, stare him down as the Best Man to your Maid of Honor at your best friend’s wedding, and then wake up in an alternate reality where you’re happily married to that man…but your best friend hates you and you are estranged from your mother?

That’s what Olivia has to figure out in this book. It was a really intriguing premise to me, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. She had to face a lot of self-realization and reflection in her alternate reality. It helps her appreciate the things she had in her ‘real life’ and also come to terms with things she has in the alternate reality that could make that real life even better if she allowed them to. We don’t really get to know ‘real life’ Jake well, but alternate reality Jake is a man in love and devoted to Olivia in good times and bad.

I wish the timeline had been slightly different. Olivia doesn’t land in the alternate universe until after 40% into the book, so we only get her disconnected relationship with Jake for that portion, and then, without spoilers, after decisions were made of “stay or go”, things get resolved in very short order. I would have liked a little less time in the beginning, and a little more of that time devoted to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3⭐️

The premise is cute and I liked the magical realism aspect of this book. Seeing what life could have been like if one moment in life had been different. The gains but also the overall losses.

However I find that it's rare that a book truly pulls off this freaky Friday trope. I'm always disappointed when real life comes back and every thing quickly wraps up in a chapter less. I'm left wanting more and wishing there was more time spent in the ending. I don't like the neat packaged bow story:

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this advanced reader copy. This review is voluntarily my own.

I am a sucker for alternate reality romances and this one was so cute!

At first, I wasn’t convinced about the male love interest, but found myself (like the female love interest) liking him more and more. I enjoyed seeing both the alternative reality and actual reality relationships. The ending did feel a bit rushed, but overall this was very cute!

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Portal/Alternate reality
Forced proximity
Hurt/healing
Single POV

This one had me hooked from the beginning. I was really annoyed with Olivia in the beginning, but I knew it was setting up for character development. I loved the concept of different realities... something we'll never really know if it's is true or not. I felt the hurt and emotional journey Olivia had to go through. But I was happy how she grew to see how wrong she was about Jake from the start. My only gripe is that the ending was waaaay too rushed for me. I feel like more could have happened to tie everything up for the HEA.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and was completely invested in the MC's character development.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

I loved this story. As soon as I saw who the author was I had to read it. It did not disappoint! The plot was well-written and the romance was good.

I was drawn to this book because I really enjoyed The Good Part by Sophie Cousens and this felt along the same lines. What’s in a Kiss absolutely blew me away, it was so good.

I love a second chance trope, and along with the magical realism element, this was amazing. I really felt for the MC, Liv through everything. She had a lot of hard decisions to make starting at a young age, and upon seeing what life could have been like, she still has to choose between the impossible yet again.
I did really enjoy her realizing that her perception had been wrong the whole time and she and Jake should have been together all along, and that they, assumedly, got their HEA.

I loved Liv and Jake in the alternate timeline. Their marriage and love was everything, it made me a little sad that they didn’t have it the whole time, in reality. Their banter, their inside jokes, just KNOWING each other, was the sweetest.

I’m so glad I chose to pick this up, it was very much for the 13 Going On 30 fan in me and I was sucked in immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and the author for this ARC.
Publication date 7/2/24

In "What's in a Kiss," Lauren Kate spins a charming tale where unexpected love blooms amidst laughter and quirks. Imagine waking up married to someone you can't stand – that's the delightful predicament our protagonist finds herself in with Jake.

Kate's storytelling is like a warm hug, whisking you away into a world where romance and humor collide. This book is a quick and delightful escape, perfect for anyone craving a dose of heartwarming romance and a good laugh. So, if you're looking for a feel-good read that'll leave you smiling, "What's in a Kiss" is the perfect choice.

3 stars is generous. I wish I could really nail down why this book didn’t do it for me. I think it comes down to some unclear plot points and wanting more of a conclusion. This could be a “mileage may vary” book for others who catch on to what is happening faster than I did but I spent the first 40% of the book confused.

Summary- Olivia gave up her dreams of going to Juilliard when her dad died and has always been jealous of her *almost* prom kiss HS rival Jake for becoming famous. When they stand across from each other at her best friend’s wedding (and his) the mysterious words of the Yogi officiant cause a reality/life altering switch to occur. Now Olivia is the one who is successful and Jake…. Well their relationship is certainly different!

"What's in a Kiss" offers a delightful journey through parallel universes, reminiscent of the concept in Gwyneth Paltrow's "Sliding Doors." With just the right touch of magic, this book intricately weaves together the paths of its characters, prompting readers to appreciate the power of love and the importance of loyalty. It's a heartwarming tale that reminds us to cherish the ones who stand by us, no matter the twists and turns of fate.

4.75 stars

I feel like this is the 3rd new alternate universe/time travel romance I've read this year and it hits every time! I love seeing how one small interaction could change the entire trajectory of your life. Seeing another life that may be better in many ways (fame, finances, career, even love) but missing some other important things can show you what you are most grateful for yet may be taking for granted. I really enjoyed this novel and getting to see a lot of the MC in both of the very different realities. I like that a good portion of the first 1/4 of the book was in the current reality before moving to the AU, it gave you a good feel for how different they were. The only reason I knocked .25 stars down is I wish there was an epilogue showing us the other universe and what happens next there, though I guess as yogi Rabbi Dan said, it's not for us to know.

Also, Jake, what a complete cinnamon roll. Very much a he-falls-first, it's always been you feel throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!