I started this book without knowing the time travel plotline, so was surprised when the plot went down this path. It was a really charming book, and I enjoyed the themes of love being inevitable. I only wish we could’ve seen more of the happily ever after play out after her return to real life.

There were some really excellent moments in this book and both main characters were charming and lovely to read. I do, however, wish the alternate reality piece of the book would have been better fleshed out. The alternate reality takes up the majority of the story and it happened so fast I didn't even know it had happened. I had to go back and re-read and still didn't quite understand how it just flipped. Inside that reality was interesting and Jake Glaswell was book boyfriend extraordinaire and lovely but it didn't feel like the building to forever. Then once again abruptly we're back to normal and the end of the books comes. It felt rushed and a bit incomplete to me. There was such a gap between prom night and best friends wedding night that the ending felt unrealistic even with the alternate reality plot.

I am very afraid that the new book trend is going to be alternate timeline and time travel books. I hate so many of them so much. This book was no exception. I was not a fan of the timelines in this book, and I had a hard time reconciling the ending. The characters were fine, and initially I was happy with Olivia's decision in the end. I thought it was very sweet, and I did like her compassion.

I was very confused about how Jake was still just in love with her after 10 years and was so into just being kissed by her and that was the ending. I would have much rather seen the beginnings of their relationship. He's clearly been in the same circles as her for years because of Eli, and the fact that everyone seemed to know that he had feelings for her but had never tried to fix them up or repair the relationship just didn't seem realistic to me.

This felt like it came together really fast in the end. I wanted an ending that had more of a resolution rather than leaving so much up to interpretation. It felt very rushed, and I was not impressed. There's not a lot else that I liked about this book. It just was not my cup of tea.

"What's in a Kiss?" by Lauren Kate is a story of that “What if?” we all think about at some point in our lives. In this book, Olivia gets an opportunity to explore that “What if?” in real when her life takes an unexpected turn during her best friend Masha's wedding. That twist of fate sets up Olivia on a path exploring the possibility of true love, life, relationships, and the consequences of just one kiss.

Olivia was recently laid off from her job as a drama teacher. She becomes a Lyft driver to make money while she’s in between jobs. Olivia had graduated from high school with high prospects and an admission to Juilliard, but unfortunately, her life was nothing like what Olivia had hoped it would be. In a twist of fate, Olivia chose to defer her dreams of attending Juilliard to support her mother after a tragic incident. Driving Lyft, navigating a series of no-strings attached relationships, and planning her best friend, Masha’s, wedding becomes her new normal. As a maid of honor for Masha’s wedding, Olivia is shocked when Jake Glasswell, her nemesis from high school turns out to be the best man. Olivia and Jake have history from their high school Prom and a kiss that almost happened but didn’t.
What the reader and Olivia don’t know is how Masha’s wedding becomes the catalyst for Olivia’s journey into a parallel universe and gain everything she had once envisioned for her life. And it all begins with that one kiss on that Prom night, which in the parallel universe, does happen!

I was pleasantly surprised by the alternate reality plot. I have always enjoyed stories with parallel and alternate universes, so to read a rom-com in that setting was very interesting. I also enjoyed the chemistry between Olivia and Jake. The differences in the relationships Olivia maintains in each parallel universe and how they differ becomes the crux of the plot. The book was a slow starter so it took some patience to get into it, but once the jump into the alternate reality happens, the book picks up. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I give it 4/5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for sharing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

What’s in a Kiss by Lauren Kate is a super cute romance that answers the question “what if I had kissed the boy at prom?” The premise was unique and fun and the characters were lovable, especially Olivia. I was rooting for her the whole time. I would definitely recommend this one; it’s a wonderful look at love and friendship. Thanks Netgally for the eARC!

This was a fun story that took an unexpected twist and still remained captivating and enjoyable. I appreciated the descriptive details for the various settings of the story. The main character seemed very naive at the beginning of the book, but as the story unfolds she predictably sees more around her than just her self absorbed behavior at the beginning of the book. I would enjoy reading a sequel to this book to see what happens next with the characters, but at the same time the book ends with closure.

This book was cute. Based on the idea of what if? What if I had gone to college where I wanted, what if I didn’t go to the game? Would your life be different. Story of second chances.

My favorite thing about this book was Liv’s character. I loved her satisfaction with most aspects of her life and the relationships she had with her mother and best friend. I felt that the story was more about Liv coming to terms with how her life turned out following the unexpected death of her father than a love story. It was satisfying to follow along her journey of realizing that she was where she was exactly where supposed to be and come to terms with not having gone to NYC after graduation.

It was also satisfying to learn about Jake’s real motivations back in high school along with Liv. My only tiny quibble with the book was that Jake and their relationship was a little to over the top in the alternate reality,

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was well worth the read.

I loved the idea of seeing what life would be like from a parallel universe perspective and this sort of gave me that feeling but it wasn’t exactly what I was imagining. Starting off it was a little hard to get into; then it picked up a bit for a while but quickly drug out again for me. I had a hard time finishing this book but it wasn’t a bad read, just not my personal favorite read of the year.

I have loved everything written by Lauren Kate and this is no exception. Very cute book. Can’t wait for everyone else to read it this coming summer.

loved this romance that happened because of one kiss. It was like sliding doors and one life had friends and no job but one life had him as the husband but no mom or friend. Love that she was figure it out and have them both with one kiss and have her friend redo the ceremony how she wanted it. loved the romance.

This book spoke to me, as like Olivia, I’m a premature graying SoCal girl who grew up fishing on sportfishing boats and traveled to Catalina. I enjoyed all of the LA-area references, although I’m not sure that readers from other places will appreciate them as much. The writing was funny, and Olivia is a flawed FMC that will leave you frustrated, but it’s part of the journey.

While there is only one spicy scene, I found it raunchier than expected, just FYI. The romance was cute, but like all “what if?” romances, you want to see more of an epilogue to see how the couple comes together for real.

Olivia is on a mission to give her best friend the wedding of her dreams. The only catch is the best man being her prom nemesis Jake Glasswell.
With a fun twist, Lauren Kate gives us lots a heartwarming book that will make you laugh out loud.
What to extend
- enemies to friends
- Slow burn
- Secret pinning
- Banter

Embark on a heartwarming rom-com journey with "What's in a Kiss?" where Olivia's life takes an unexpected turn during her best friend Masha's wedding, setting the stage for a captivating exploration of love, choices, and the consequences of one fateful kiss.

Meet Olivia, a laid-off drama teacher turned Lyft driver, whose life hasn't exactly unfolded as she envisioned after high school. Deferred dreams of attending Juilliard to support her mom and navigating no-strings dates have become her new normal. However, the weekend of Masha's wedding, where Olivia is the maid of honor, throws her into a whirlwind when her high school nemesis, Jake Glasswell, 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 add a delightful touch to the narrative, making their interactions a joy to follow. Liv's relationships with her best friend Masha and her mom in the "real world" provide depth and warmth to the story. The exploration of the "switch" into an alternate universe, while enjoyable, leaves readers yearning for more details about the transition and the reasons behind the shifts in relationships.

Despite the desire for additional context, "What's in a Kiss?" stands out as a fun and charming exploration of the impact of one kiss on an entire life. The story skillfully 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. This rom-com with a magical twist leaves a lasting impression, prompting readers to ponder the significance of choices, love, and the people who shape our lives. So, buckle up for a whimsical ride through parallel universes and the complexities of the heart, as "What's in a Kiss?" invites you to savor the magic of second chances and the sweetness of unexpected love.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/ G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this heartfelt and smart book's digital reviewer copy in exhange my honest thoughts.

3.5 stars! I love the time travel and "what-if" tropes in a romcom, so I knew I was going to enjoy this one. It follows Olivia, whose life hasn't gone exactly the way she imagined since she graduated high school. She turned down her dreams of going to Juillard to support her mom, and has recently been laid off from her job as a drama teacher. At least she has her best friend, Masha. But now Masha is getting married, and Liv has to help make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch...which also means dealing with the best man and Liv's high school nemesis, the successful TV personality, Jake Glasswell. Liv and Jake haven't talked since a prom night kiss gone wrong, but when they share an unexpected moment during the wedding, Liv suddenly finds herself catapulted into a totally different universe. There, prom night went right, Liv has a thriving acting career, and she's in a happy relationship with Jake. Everything is going perfectly...except her mom and Masha are no longer in her life. How can one kiss turn your whole world upside down?

This was such a fun, sweet read! I loved the chemistry and banter between Liv and Jake, and her relationships with her mom and Masha in the "real world." I really enjoyed Jake as a character, and struggled to connect with Liv a little bit initially, but I grew to appreciate and understand her more throughout the story. In terms of things I wanted more from, I wished that the whole "switch" had been expanded on a little more, and that there had been more of a transition from Liv's real life to the alternate universe. I also wanted to know more about why her relationships with her mom and Masha had taken such a turn for the worse in that world. They were so important to Liv in the real world, so it seemed a little jarring to see that they weren't close anymore and not fully understand why. Still, I thought What's in a Kiss? was a super cute and engaging read, and really enjoyed it overall! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

4.25* Such a fun Rom Com. This book has spice, romance, mystery , conflict and love. It’s a time warp book showing what could have been and what could be if reactions to certain events and chance encounters would have been different. It’s a fun, can’t put it down kind of read that really makes you think.

Summary:
Olivia is the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding—and the best man is her high school nemesis. But when something crazy happens at the wedding and she wakes up in an alternate reality, where her nemesis is her loving husband, can she figure out how to get back to Real Life? Does she even want to try?

Title: What’s in a Kiss?
Author: Lauren Kate
@laurenkatebooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️ 2/5

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Soulmates/Meant To Be
Slow Burn
Sliding Doors/Alternate Reality

Triggers:
Parent loss mentioned
Miscarriage mentioned


Whitney’s Thoughts:
What a sweet HEA with Sliding Doors/Freaky Friday vibes! This was a fun and super quick read that serves as a perfect “palette cleanser” between fantasy reads. I love a soulmate trope!

any story with time traveling is a yes for me, but this one - hmmm. i'm not sure. i did enjoy the story, but i found our FMC liv to be ~literally insufferable~ and genuinely hard to feel connected to. it just felt like she was trying really hard to make this character quirky and it didn't come off as cute. the arc of the story was interesting and kept me engaged, but the ending gave very little resolution, which was frustrating.

I really did “fove” this book (IYKYK). I went in blind so the magical part of the story was unexpected but so well done. The humor in it lightened some of the heavier topics at just the right moment. I love Lauren Kate and while the previous books I’ve read have been wildly different from this book, I was not disappointed at all.

As a huge fan of the Fallen series, I was excited to read Lauren Kate's most recent romance book.. What's in a Kiss by Lauren Kate is a cute romance that I would recommend for young adults and adults of the like. I enjoyed the character development, story line and ultimate parallel universe of a true loves kiss. I enjoy the authors style of writing a d stayed interested throughout the book. I really enjoy books like this and highly recommend this book. I would not be surprised if Lauren Kate wrote more books similar to this stand alone.