I was dazzled by this book. It has everything I want in a romance comedy. We start off the book as Liv is preparing for her best friend’s wedding. She’s the maid of honor and the best man is the high school rival that she almost shared a kiss with on prom night. Now he’s famous, and she deferred Juilliard and drives for Lyft. When her best friends say “I do” Liv is transported to another reality. A reality where she and Jake have been in love since high school and she’s the famous one. Perfect, except for her best friend isn’t talking to her and something is up with her relationship with her mom too! What’s in a kiss? In Liv and Jake’s world it is everything. To put it simply I adored this book.

This was a cute read and perfect for your next poolside/beachy vacation. You definitely have to suspend your grasp on reality and lean into the alternate reality trope, but this was super cute and overall a really enjoyable read.

What's in a Kiss? stars Liv and Jake, who met in high school, and are reunited for their respective best friend's wedding. Ten years have past since high school but yet neither have fully moved on from their feelings. At the moment their friends are about to get married, Liv is taken to an alternate reality where her life has taken a different course. She are Jake are married, her career is extremely successful, but she is no longer close with her best friend or mom

Personally, I struggle with books that include alternate realities but Lauren Kate did a good job with this one. The chemistry between Liv and Jake was palpable and it was interesting to read how Liv was navigating this new reality. Liv learned somethings about herself and her relationships and was able to implement them once returning to reality.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A decade since high school, 'most likely to succeed' Olivia Dusk's life is not what she planned while her nemesis and fellow 'most likely to succeed', Jake Glasswell is a popular TV celebrity. Olivia is still nursing a grudge after feeling humiliated from an almost kiss at their prom. Thanks to a stoner yogi celebrant, she ends up in an alternative universe where she's a successful actress and married to Jake.

This book has a great premise, getting a chance to change a past moment to see how your life might have been after seeing your peers pull ahead from you. I really enjoyed the journey Olivia goes on in the 'high life' version of herself and discovering how she's completely misinterpreted Jake. Jake was just a fantastic partner, supporting Olivia. I loved the banter and spark they had with each other (even in the real world). I think its their pairing that is the strongest part of the book which kept me turning the page. There's nothing sexy like a man who emotionally available and communicates clearly.

However, while I enjoyed this book, at times it felt like an incomplete draft. It seemed like once Olivia got back to the real world, the author ran out of steam. I would've loved extra chapters exploring how Olivia moves forward in her professional life as well as her love life. Additionally this story was marred by uneven characterisation and incomplete world building with many loose plot threads thrown in without real explanation or resolution.

For instance, while I understand 'getting what you wish for' means downsides, I'm baffled by the superficial reasons for her best friend Masha and her mother Lorena cutting her off. Masha won't speak to her because they grew apart and Lorena cut off her own daughter for getting a loan to go to Julliard. Yet in the real world Olivia says her mum would've been happy for her to go. I also didn't understand why Jake's father died when he was 18 (which Olivia never heard about, so did he lie?) and in the high life they're estranged. Given the high life stems from Olivia's decision to kiss Jake, there wasn't a need for two different experiences.

Finally, this book would've benefited from fleshing out Olivia's return to the real world long after the wedding. The only real thing Olivia really seems to learn is how great Jake is but there's zero indication she's going to start making changes to change her life. For instance, recognising her co-dependency with her mother and setting boundaries (the end with the binoculars? not cute). Importantly, her own career plans . She had the chance to be a highly paid working TV actress, how did that not motivate her to start at least looking for an agent? If Jake in the high life finally came around about putting himself out there to advance his career, surely Olivia would've realised she should too?

I should add, while I have a lot of issues with this book I still had an enjoyable reading experience. I breezed through this book as I was kept interested to know what happens next. If you like books with a '13 Going on 30' concept, I still recommend giving this a go.

Thanks to Putnam/Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

The thing that I loved and also hated about this book was the rapid transition between Real Life and High Life. It felt very jarring and confusing for a long while. While jarring, I love the rapid transition because the confusion I felt gave me a sense of understanding for what Liv’s character was experiencing.

I really enjoyed how Liv figured out who and what was important to her. I especially loved the flash’s she got into her life as a teen and young adult that could have changed everything for her in so many ways. These flashes really helped me as a reader love the ending more. While implied Jake and Liv’s love would be inevitable it was fun to see how it could have happened in so many timelines.

I love the characters. Liv is so funny and relatable. I feel like her inner dialog is so similar to mine. Her relationship with her mom is the kinds I wish for all mother’s and daughters. I found it so heartbreaking that in the High Life reality that she and her mom were not speaking. I cried when she called her mom for advice. I love Jake’s character in the High Life. He is the most supportive husband. I really enjoyed how Liv got back into Masha’s life by knowing her best friend in the most detailed ways. I wished we got to know Fenny more and yet I get why we didn’t.

I am excited to recommend this book to friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion! I adored the chemistry between Liv and Jake (Glasswell!), rivals/enemies-to-lovers is truly one of my favorite tropes. The author did an amazing job of showing the longing that both characters had for each other over the years, and I really think that Liv had so much character development and self-learning while she was "living the high life". The only part of this novel that stops me from giving the novel a 5 star review is the lack of real explanation we were given as to why Masha and Liv's mother were estranged from her in the "high life" timeline. I think it was highly out of character (from all the info were given about the personalities of these women) that their relationships would have fallen as far apart as they did. Overlooking that detail, I think the story was very well-written and it was a super fun and enjoyable read! Out of the two time travel/alternate timeline books I've read in the past year, I vastly preferred this one. I definitely look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!

What's in a Kiss? by Lauren Kate is written in present tense, which is something I really don't like. It started slow, and the transition between the Real Life and High Life was confusing. It wasn't made clear right away that Olivia wasn't in Real Life anymore. However, it did get exciting a few chapters in and it stayed consistently exciting for the rest of the book. Starting in chapter 20 and ongoing for a few chapters it was really sad, and made me cry in a good way.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of what’s in a kiss.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I liked the really stark differences between the two timelines. I definitely sped through this book to find out what happens

I definitely recommend

I wanted to love this book so badly but unfortunately I didn’t. I was intrigued by the concept- similar to 13 going on 30, it seemed like a fresh idea for a romance. Unfortunately not having proper context for each “reality” made it hard to connect with the characters and really root for any of them. I also felt the original offense by Jake wasn’t enough to warrant Olivia’s hatred in the first part of the book and that was hard to get over. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

What’s in a Kiss? is a sliding doors/freaky Friday story. What if the boy you thought was a jerk in high school was really the great love of your life? Lauren Kate does a great job giving us a believable turning point in the relationship and her handling of it is a great reminder that things are always the way you remember it. I will say that it was a bit black and white in terms of her relationship with her best friend and mom. It seemed to be a bit of a stretch that she would be so disregarded in one reality and not the other. (It is hard not to give spoilers). Overall the writing was good. I think most of my issues come from holes in the premise. But it was a fun read, I would recommend it to anyone that goes for the true love through time and space trope. (I received an ARC)

I really enjoyed reading what’s in a kiss. If you’re a fan of romance books but looking for something a bit different than this is for you! Liv’s adult life doesn’t look quite how she planned when she was in highschool. One day she wakes up and everything is different. She gets a peek into what life would have been like had it gone according to plan. Now she’s faced with a choice, stay here and give up relationships with her mother or find a way back and give up the love of her life? Can she find a way to have the best of both worlds?

Lauren Kate did a wonderful job writing this novel in a way to keep the reader invested throughout. I found myself hooked wanting to know what was going to happen next.

"What's in a Kiss?" by Lauren Kate is a charming romantic read that captures the essence of young love and self-discovery. While not without its flaws, this novel presents an enjoyable narrative with a heartfelt storyline.

The characters are relatable and endearing, each grappling with their own insecurities and personal journeys. Kate does an excellent job of portraying their emotions, making it easy to connect with their experiences and struggles.

The romantic tension between the main characters is palpable and keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. The gradual development of their relationship feels authentic and adds depth to the plot.

The writing style is engaging and immersive, allowing readers to easily lose themselves in the world crafted by the author. Kate's descriptive prose brings the setting to life and sets the stage for the blossoming romance.

While the book offers an enjoyable and heartwarming read, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit uneven, and certain plot elements could have been further developed for added depth.

In conclusion, "What's in a Kiss?" is a delightful novel that captures the innocence and excitement of first love. Despite a few pacing issues, the story's charm, likable characters, and touching romance make it a worthwhile read for fans of young adult romance.

★★★★ Recommended for those seeking a sweet and engaging romantic tale!

You always wonder if one single action could have the power change the course of your life. This story explores that possibility and how much of your lives are connected, inextricably, as they are meant to be.

Loved the book and I couldn’t put it down. I I’ve read books and seen movies with a similar premise, but this book was well written and an easy read.

This book was a really enjoyable read overall.

What if the one kiss you didn’t have changed everything? What if you could see your life differently if you had gotten that kiss? Which life would you pick?

I wanted to like this book more but I found both of the leads a little unlikable . I liked the magic aspect of this story and am all for changing your life for the better. I just had a hard time connecting with this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguins Putnam group for the ARC.

If you don’t believe in life altering kisses, Lauren Kate will make a believer out of you. I couldn’t put this down as I immediately fell in love with this single POV and with MCs Olivia and Jake.

Masha tells Liv: “You go out of your way to help other people like it’s your job.” While calling her out for avoiding her own heart. Liz has perfected the art of not getting her heartbroken. She watched her mothers heart break following her dads heart attack and has been content finding minimal romance with lackluster guys who she knows there is no future or feelings with. But… the one that never was/dismissed her before there could have been a kiss is back in her life, moving back to the West Coast and is immediately under her skin.

The Moon Zappa in “Valley Girl” reference was *chef kiss*. My favorite Frank Zappa song as a kid. So many superb references throughout this book.

The twists and turns this took. Love spanning parallel universe, with a dog keeping you tethered to reality. A heartfelt reminder not to take from granted all that you have/the grass isn’t always greener. I have to note the initial transition between the universes is confusing. I had to go back and read twice making sure I didn’t missed something as high school sweethearts Masha (Olivia’s BBS) and Eli’s (Jake’s bff) ceremony ended.

Setting: LA

Tropes:
High school rivals
Enemies to lovers
Famous main characters

Trigger Warning:
Off page passing of a parent
Off page miscarriage

Thank you NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. How interesting would it be to see a different version of your life? Olivia gets a view of the “what ifs” of her life. Let’s just say, she learns a lot. The story between Olivia and Jake is a good one. I just wish there would have been more to the ending. I need a sequel!

Olivia and Jake were sweet and fun, and it made it easy to fall into the romance between them but the time traveling back and forth made the story hard to keep up with and left me with question How does this happen? Why would a mom absolutely refuse to try reconciling with her for moving across the country?

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was a very cute rom com with a great enemies to lovers trope.

We follow Olivia as she plans her best friend Masha’s wedding. Olivia loves her best friend but she’s as single as they come. During the wedding weekend olivia has a run in with the best man who is her arch enemy from high school and it does not go well.
At the wedding, after the kiss, Olivia is transported into an alternate reality where she is happily married to the love of her life, but has lost her best friend and mom in the process. Will she get back to her real life, and will her relationship make it once she’s back “home”?
This was my first read by this author and I liked it and would recommend this book!

I enjoyed the close female and mother daughter relationships. The "what ifs" in this book are true to life. What if my high school rival and I kissed and we were together? What if I was able to visit that world and we were together but other relationships were not like before? What would you do when you had to decide upon life with this love or the one where he was a "rival" but you had your BBS and mom? How could someone choose between these two worlds? Cute story with good banter between the two main characters. Would have loved an epilogue to see how these two and the other couples turn out.....

3.5 ⭐️ Thank you #netgalley #penguinrandomhouse and #laurenkate for the ARC read. This book was a cute and delightful read. A blast from the past, and a book of what ifs. What’s in a Kiss made me laugh out loud, cry, smile, and reflect on past experiences. A quick must read on a nice summer day.