Asks the question: what if? What if I’d made a different decision and altered the trajectory of my life? Olivia Dusk is faced with this reality when she finds herself living a different version of her life, when she’d made a different choice in high school, which changed the world she now knows - her job, her friends, her relationships with family and her significant other. But is the grass actually greener?

The writing is witty and fast-paced, the characters are flawed but likable, and the relationships between Olivia and Jake, Masha, Lorena (& Gram Parsons!) are what we strive towards in our own lives. Well written and thoughtfully conceived, I will be recommending this one to all my friends and fellow readers.

All the wheres in all the worlds. Always.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book in terms of characters and common romance trope execution, but wasn’t a huge fan of how few details we got in the alternate reality regarding key issues in the book. I don’t want to give away any spoilers with my review but it ended without closure on a few things that I felt were critical to engage more fully. I’m also not a huge fan of books that use a last name to refer to the main characters because it doesn’t happen much in real life. If it was more flushed out in those regards, I’d be able to give it a much higher review since the writing style is quite good, but as is it’s a 3/5.

This book was adorable, overall the story was cute and fun. It's and enemies to lovers second chance romance and gives exactly what you need when looking for a cute little romcom. As a lover of Lauren Kate from a young age, I was so excited to read this story as it was so different from the other books I've read by her. It is safe to say she impressed me with her ability to write both the series I was obsessed with in middle school AND a book I can enjoy at 22 years old.

Olivia and Jake were sweet and fun, and it made it easy to fall into the romance between these two! However, the time traveling back and forth made the story a bit confusing and left me with questions. How does this happen? Why would a mom absolutely refuse to try reconciling with her for moving across the country? If you liked 13 Going on 30, definitely give this a try!

What a beautiful journey I experienced with this book, I cried and laughed in equal parts, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

This is a friends to lovers, second chance, alternate realities story that I won't go into so as not to ruin the experience for anyone else, but I must say I absolutely loved the 90's pop culture references and the power they give to the stories that can happen from a kiss.

I think I would have liked it to be a little longer, it's light, but at the same time deep.
I really enjoyed it, thank you very much for the opportunity to read it in Arc.

4.5 stars

TROPES:
- Rom com
- “Enemies” to lovers
- One of us is famous
- Second chance
- Alternate reality

READ IF YOU LIKE:
- Close female friendship
- Close mother/daughter relationship
- Witty banter
- He falls first
- Sexual tension

This book caught my attention because of the beautiful colors on the cover. The synopsis also really intrigued me. I have never read a book, let alone a rom com, with the alternate reality trope. I can now confirm that I am a fan.

One of my favorite things about this book was the banter, especially in the beginning when they were “enemies”. I was laughing out loud at some parts! Even in the “High Life” when Olivia and Jake were civil towards each other, their banter was still funny and cute.

Another thing I really loved about this book was that Olivia was so willing to give up her “High Life” with Jake to get her relationships with her mom and her best friend back. That really showed how important those two women were in her life, and she was willing to risk the true love she finally found with Jake to get them back.

Something that I wish we got was Jake’s POV! You could tell he was so down bad for her since they first met. I would love to have known what he thought about her in his head. The man’s got a way with words. I also wish that we had an epilogue that showed us how their life looked now that they were together in “Real Life”.

I definitely recommend reading this book! It was cute, quick, emotional, and even got a little steamy at times!

Happy reading :)

Imagine entering a parallel universe where your arch nemesis is your husband, and your best friend and mother no longer speak to you. That's what happens to Liv in the middle of her (former?) best friend's wedding that she worked so hard to help plan! Now, she's suddenly married to Jake, who she definitely doesn't like and definitely didn't kiss at prom ten years ago, and needs to figure out how to get back home.

Liv gets to know Jake along her journey in the "High Life" and discovers who they could have been if they had taken that leap of faith ten years ago. Does she want to go back to a life without Jake? Is it worth losing her mother and best friend, possibly forever, if she stays? Is there a universe where she can have it all?

What's In a Kiss? is a beautiful story about the "what ifs?" we all come across in life, how one single action can change the course of life as we know it, and accepting the outcomes of those tough decisions we make, although they may have been hard at the time.

In this book, you'll enjoy getting to know Liv and Jake and seeing how some things aren't always as they seem on the surface. It will keep you on your toes and rooting for the possibility that Liv and Jake may have a future together after all. This was a very fun read for me and I'll definitely be recommending this!

Add this to your list if you like enemies to lovers, second chance romance, celebrity, or alternate reality tropes!

What's in a Kiss?" by Lauren Kate takes you on a whirlwind ride through missed opportunities and alternate realities. Follow Liv, a drama teacher turned Lyft driver, as she reconnects with her high school nemesis and unexpectedly finds herself in a parallel universe where a single kiss sparks a beautiful love story. The book skillfully blends romance, "13 Going on 30" vibes, and a dash of sci-fi, exploring the impact of choices and the allure of "what if." While Liv's character takes time to warm up, the palpable chemistry between her and Jake and the intriguing alternate reality make this a charming read. Perfect for fans of romcoms and those curious about the twists of fate, "What's in a Kiss?" will have you pondering life's possibilities. (3.5 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

This was a cute rom com that I finished on a 3 hour flight- if you’re looking for a quick sweet read- check this out.

This was a sweet take on the do over trope - I liked that it went in depth with their relationship in the two lives and that Olivia really had to weigh her relationships with the important people in her life against each other. Great dialogue for parts as well. Thanks to Net Galley for letting me read it!

Had such a fun time reading this enemies to lovers second chance romance book ! Swooned completely ! Definitely recommend to any romance readers looking for a fast and quick read.

This was a very good and quick read! The idea of if one thing was different in your life how would your entire life change was such a good idea. I liked the relationship between Olivia and Jake… I almost thought it was too good to be true at times in their High Life… just the love they had but was happy to find that’s just how they are together. The ending with glimpses of how their lives changed because of the kiss was very enjoyable and such a good element to include. I thought there could have been more detail in why her mom and masha hated her in the new life but still thought it was a great book!

"In love with you. Here. There. Everywhere. All the wheres in all the worlds. Always.” UGH SWOON!!!

Main tropes:
-Enemies to lovers
-Second chance romance
-Parallel universe/alternate reality/magical realism

I had such a fun time reading this and would recommend for any romance lovers!

What's in a Kiss? A tall Glass[well] of Jake, that's what… But seriously, What's in a Kiss follows the "alternate timeline" trope of a chance missed in one lifetime, and what that life would have looked like if the moment had gone differently.

The story follow's Liv who had to make some harsh life decisions after the passing of her father, and is now living in the shadow of those choices, "happily" but no, not happy. Not at all. Liv was awful, let's be honest, and if I was Masha I would have flicked her in the nose. I really could not get behind her and it took me 1/2 to 3/4 of this book to care at all which was all Jake's doing… I was in it for his happy ending, not Liv's.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read but there were some weird moments that just didn't click for me, Liv's personality as a whole for one, the mysterious joint she needs to smoke after she finds the mysterious man who altered her timeline… that was just random AF but fun and different I guess, I can give credit for that.

I will give Lauren's books another shot, since this was light and fun, and I think on a personal level I just couldn't click with the story here. The writing and pace were all done well, and I think NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read What's in a Kiss? In exchange for an honest review.

XoXo

"What's in a Kiss?" by Lauren Kate is a captivating exploration of the "what if" moments in life, blending romance and the allure of parallel universes. Liv, a recently laid-off drama teacher turned Lyft driver, finds herself facing her high school nemesis, Jake Glasswell, as the best man at her best friend Masha's wedding. An unexpected twist occurs when and suddenly, she's living in a reality where the prom night kiss that never happened becomes the starting point of a beautiful love story.

The author skillfully weaves a tale of love, choices, and consequences, reminiscent of films like "13 Going on 30." The chemistry between Liv and Jake is palpable, adding depth to the narrative. The alternate reality plot introduces a delightful element of surprise, making readers ponder the impact of pivotal moments on the course of one's life.

I gave the book 3.5 stars, as it was difficult connecting with Liv for a portion of the book. However, as the story unfolds, her character gains depth and relatability. The transition between realities and the strained relationships in the alternate universe could have been more thoroughly explored, yet the overall experience is enjoyable.

"What's in a Kiss?" offers a whimsical journey through love, time, and the choices that shape our lives. The delightful romance, paired with the allure of parallel universes, makes this book a charming read. Whether you're a fan of Romcoms or intrigued by the possibilities of alternate realities, the book will have you entertained!

Thank you so much to Netgallery and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

This book was fun! It had 13 going on 30 and The Good part vibes. It was cute and while there were things about the alternate universe I still questioned, I liked the way it ended. Selfishly, I would have liked an epilogue, but I did like the flashbacks that Olivia sees when she returns.

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Olivia finds herself in another world answering many what ifs but it comes at a cost. The romance is cute, the emotions are real, and I couldn't put this book down.

while reading this i forgot what the plot actually was and i think i was just as confused as olivia was at the wedding
40% in - not sure how i feel about this book like i kind of have no connection to any of the characters and could stop reading at any moment but it's entertaining
70% in - i think i'm leaning towards a 3 star rating. i enjoy the plot but some of it feels hard to follow. every now and then i come across a book and i feel like i would enjoy it so much more as a movie and this is one of those for me. i'm at a point in it now where i'm excited for the ending and i will definitely finish but i'm just hit absolutely loving it the way i wish i was.
after i finished reading i listened What was I Made For? by Billie Eilish and i think it bumped the rating up to 3.5, still not quite a 4 but i feel like the song helped me understand a deeper meaning in the book that i sort of overlooked
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this early

Enemies to lovers, what a treat! I loved the nostalgic vibes and the romantic storyline. Would recommend to any fans of romance.

I am deeply, passionately, uncontrollably in love with this book and these characters!

I am a romance girly all the way but sometimes when a little sci-fi gets mixed in I lose interest but let me tell you, that is absolutely not the case here!

What’s in a Kiss? Is the story about Olivia and ho has to see her long time rival, Jake, at her best friends wedding where she is the maid of honor and he is the best man. Olivia’s has not seen Jake since high school when they almost kissed at prom and since then, her life went in a direction she never planned for including not attending Julliard after her father passes away. Her time seeing Jake, she wants to seem put together considering he is now a Hollywood star but all that goes to crap when she turns out to be his Lyft driver from the airport. Once at the wedding, the magic occurs and Olivia is thrown into a new reality, one where she did kiss Jake at prom and they end up happily in love and married… only everything else that meant so much to Olivia is no longer in her life.

Can one kiss, or not kiss, really have that big of an impact on your life? And if so, how do you choose which reality is the one you want to keep forever.?

Ugh just such an amazing book that I wish never ended. I cannot wait to read more by Lauren Kate in the future!

Thank you so much to the author and the publisher Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced readers copy!