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

I enjoyed this book and to be honest I was not sure I would. I am not a huge fan of the alternate universe thing. I think Kate does it well and I would recommend this book.

This 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.

I really loved the idea of this book, but it got boring at times for me. Will definitely read this author again!

This was a fun and unique romcom. I was digging the enemies to lovers vibe with Olivia and Jake at their BFFs wedding. I could totally see it play out like a movie.

And then I thought I had missed a lot for it to be a new reality 😅 it was interesting to see what was the same or different.

I love Marvel movies with the idea of alternate realities and how one simple choice could alter everything. We just don’t know! Find joy, forgive others and say “I love you” with the time you have. 🤍

This book released earlier this year. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc copy. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

**Content: multiple F bombs, open door scene, adults drinking and smoking, rocky relationships

I love Lauren Kate's writing style, and this book was so much fun! I enjoyed the characters and the story immensely.

I ate up Lauren Kate’s adult debut and the promise of some magical realism had me sat. This book made me believe maybe love was a real thing.

I feel like sometimes I struggle with magical realism, but overall I enjoyed What's in a Kiss. Second chance romance, enemies to lovers, alternate universe tropes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

I was such a huge OG fan of Lauren Kate’s Fallen series and loved the fantasy elements - so was intrigued by this contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance (with a multiverse twist!) Sadly I couldn’t connect with the characters and the overall story fell a little flat for me. Great premise - a ‘what if’ timeline following the FMC as she is plunged into a new life part way through. However the timing of the plunge was poor - we missed any of the actual enemies-to-lovers part, and landed well past any relationship building. Aka - the reason we all read contemporary romance. The characters were likeable enough but i still scratch my head at several plot points (what was with that joint? Why all the pics in the set trailer but not at home). I wanted so badly to like this but couldn’t get there.

I've been a long time Lauren Kate lover since her days of Fallen and I felt like What's in a Kiss is in a similar vein. It didn't feel quite like an adult romance novel, more of a young adult romance. It's sweet and I enjoyed the "what if" aspect of the storyline.

So, I finished this one, started a new physical book, then picked up my Kindle and saw this at the top, and assumed I hadn't finished it yet. I had. So that gives a little insight into how it didn't stick with me.

I feel like that describes how much It was a little blah to me. I enjoy magical realism, and I love the "Sliding Doors" concept in books/movies/shows, but this fell flat to me. Part of it was just how it happened... Like why? Obviously it is not a realistic story, but it didn't seem to have a purpose or understandable precipitating event for happening. It was a rivals to lovers story, but I also never understood that either. It seemed to be mostly one sided. And truly based 100% on a miscommunication that, if the characters were remotely mature enough, could have worked through many moons ago.

I've said before and I'll say it again -- I love a good "what-if" romance, and I especially love how many authors are now delving into this subgenre. Lauren Kate did a phenomenal job with WHAT'S IN A KISS!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Lauren Kate does it again! I knew I needed to read this romance after her last one blew me away. I love how incredibly Kate navigates between genres, always allowing her voice to change with genre and being true to the characters in her development of their storylines. I am happily a Lauren Kate fan from now until always.

Somehow I missed the memo, this was a rom-com but it was a pleasant surprise! The banter between the two main characters had me giggling.

I love when nemesis from the past come together and their lives are not what they seem. The whole premise of the power of a kiss is such a fun and unique idea.

Such a heartwarming and endearing romance from Lauren Kate!