This is a powerful book. Black and queer and unapologetic, I really loved it. It was one of my favorite reading of the year. A friend to lovers romance fill with joy and a little bit of angst, but especially joy.
I love every bit of it. Thank you for writing it. And thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

“A Little Kissing Between Friends is a cute and easy read. I loved the body positivity represented in the story with a Black bisexual femme and a fat masc lesbian. The fact that one of the characters is a sex worker also a plus. Add in the supportive family and hilarity and this book has so much potential. They really had a great friendship and it showed by the way they interacted and supported each other.

My love for this author knows no bounds. The absolutely INCREDIBLE weaving of romance? Personality? Flavor? DELICIOUS. Jucee and Poppa’s relationship was so much fun to read about, the characters were all so fleshed out I could imagine that I was in the room with them every scene, I want to hangout with them!! Also, the narrators were PERFECT. The audiobook was the perfect reading experience. Wow!

This book follows Cyn Tha Starr, a successful music producer who is sought after by many beautiful women, and Jucee's, her best friend, who works at a prominent strip club. They have been friends for years, but when they begin to explore their attraction to one another, their friendship is tested.

The beginning of this book started off so strong, and I loved it. If you have watched P-Valley, that is exactly what it reminded me of. With this aspect also came the amazing queer representation, and with that representation, you are also seeing the supportive community that they have around them. However, this was not enough for me to overlook all of the issues that the novel presented.

All in all, this book was extremely childish. Cyn was horrible to Jucee in every way, and because of this, I did not find the romance believable at all. In my opinion, they had no romantic connection besides their sexual relationship. Also, the third-act conflict was so aggravating to me that I almost DNF'd at the 80% mark. Unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. Especially being a huge fan of Higgins' previous novel.

This book was all character, minimal plot - and I didn't mind it one bit. I really liked the dialouge and the familiarity the two characters have with one another. I also loved their separate family dynamics! I'm super grateful to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC of A Little Kissing Between Friends - it was perfect to kick off my pride month reads!

A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins is an adult contemporary romance that follows Cyn and Jucee – two best friends who slowly find out there’s a lot more between them than platonic feelings. It is a Black love romance with a lesbian + bisexual pairing, and amazing positive fat representation as well.

As a best friends to lovers stan, I was ready to dive into this book, and I read it in two sittings. It is a very fast read (around 300 pages), it’s fun, sexy, and lighthearted. Cyn is a music producer and Jucee is a dancer at a strip club, and I felt like both of those jobs added a lot to the story, and felt like an important part of the characters. They have known each other for a long time, their families are close, and a lot of people around them assume they’re together even though they’re not (yet). Then lines begin to blur in their friendship towards something more, and both of them try to fight it until they can’t resist the pull anymore.

I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for adult sapphic romances, and want to read one that is fun, realistic, spicy, sex-positive, and quick to read. There is quite a lot of miscommunication in the story, and some of the conflict feels a bit repetitive, but I felt like it was realistic to include it because it happens in real life a lot. So go add this book to your TBR!

I have been looking forward to this one since I read D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding over 2 years ago and it did not disappoint! The dedication to bi and pansexual made me cry on page 1. :’) I loved Cyn and Jucee and thought they were perfect for each other! Overall I really enjoyed and will recommend to friends and followers :)

Love a friends to lovers. They were both on the same page in the bedroom but in public it got muddled.
Love Juleesa/Jucee she knew who she was and had so many healthy relationships. Cyn/Poppa was a stud and got a lot of attention so it was hard not to get a little jealous. Hate the fans that hang on just trying to get to the talent but use you in the process.
Read if you are looking for a sapphic/bi friends to lovers in the music industry. With some good family characters/advice and I want that strawberry wine.

Cyn and Jucee, who were once best friends, unexpectedly began seeing each other in a new light one day. As Cyn grappled with her emerging feelings, it triggered some challenges for Jucee as well. Witnessing their journey to resolve these issues and find common ground was truly enjoyable for me.

I have been anticipating this book since it was first announced. I’m so glad I got to enjoy it.

Cyn and Jucee were best friends that suddenly one day started looking at each other differently. Cyn struggled with her new feelings and that caused Jucee to have some issues as well. I really enjoyed watching them work things out between them.

This was a really good book. I enjoyed it a lot.

Cyn and Jucee are amazing.

This was a really fun, really hot journey that these two friends went on. Who would have thought a short work trip away would have you coming back and realizing that your best friend is actually someone that you definitely want to bang? Not Cyn, I can tell you that. But that's exactly what she realized. And what do we do when we realize that we have sexy feelings for our best friend? We make out and hook up and then panic and avoid one another for a while! Duh! Everybody knows that.

I'm obsessed with the way that Houston strip clubs are described in this book. And just the view of sex work in general that's portrayed in this book. This is Jucee's career. She's not working her way through school or using the club as a way station until she moves on to bigger and better things. She's a dancer and this is her way to dance and do what she loves. It's incredible.

I also really love that these are fat women. Not just "curvy" or "voluptuous" but fat. And still super hot. Top of their games hot. And they celebrate their bodies and each other's bodies. It's really a beautiful study in body positivity.

Thank you to Carina Adores and NetGalley for this ARC.

A steamy friends to lovers Sapphic romance with great Fat rep and BIPOC rep that was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Talia Hibbert and Denise Williams. I loved the dual narration by Lauryn NicholA and J. Shani Michaels. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Danille Williamms.

This is the story of two best friends, Cyn and Julessa, who finally see each other as people and not just their bestie. I truly fell in love with how the author penned Cyn to express love by way of musicality. Calling someone your personal metronome speaks to my own music heart. This book definitely reminds me that love is not linear and communication is key. This book deals with emotions, identity and life while being a love story. I also enjoyed that this book showed love to my hometown Houston.

I loved how unapologetically black queer this book was. I love a friends turn lovers ESPECIALLY when they are already acting like they are dating. Papa was really driving me crazy. I do find it odd when best friends who can complete each other sentences suddenly can’t communicate correctly with one another but in the end, I loved the book!

I really like this author and her style, I loved the last book I read and I knew I was going to love this one. This friends to lover’s trope was EVERYTHING!!! They both didn’t want to risk their friendship, and can they be any more BADASS!!!!! This one was fun and steamy…

“Our mouths seemed to fit like the most important pieces of a heart-shaped puzzle.”

I received an eARC of A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C Higgins from Carina Adores in exchange for an honest review. Here are my thoughts!

🎵 Cyn Tha Starr has a successful music career that has led her to fame and fortune and a rotating door of beautiful women. Jucee is a single mother who has taken a break from dating to focus on taking care of her son all while being one of the most popular dancers a prominent strip club. Jucee and Cyn have been friends for years, but when they start to see each other in a new light will their friendship be able to survive their attraction? 🎵

I have gushed about D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding so many times that I was thrilled when I got my hands on an arc for Higgins new book - A Little Kissing Between Friends. Unfortunately I ended up barely being able to make my way through this one.

Before I talk about what I didn’t like, let’s focus on what this book did well - the representation.

Cyn and Jucee are both Black, Cyn being a lesbian and Jucee being bisexual. There is an interesting dynamic referenced a few times - Cyn coming from a very accepting family, and Jucee not. Both women are queer, but have had different experiences within their queer identities. There are other queer characters, and a lot of great references to building a community which I loved.

The rest of the books though? I was just not a fan. There will likely be some light spoilers from here on out - so be wary of that!

My first major complaint is that Cyn and Jucee’s relationship seemed to just change out of nowhere. There was nothing that seemed to lend itself to their feelings morphing from platonic to sexual and romantic, so I had a hard time believing in their romance.

The next complaint I have is that Cyn and Jucee both felt underdeveloped outside of their relationship with one another. Jucee is constantly mentioning that her son is everything to her, but for most of the book he’s never at home with her. I felt like more interaction between Jucee and her son would’ve helped to round out her character a bit more. Similarly, Cyn’s music career felt nonexistent. Yes, she spent time in the studio but it usually seemed to be only to create a scene for Jucee to bring her a meal. Outside of that it seemed pointless for her to be there.

I feel like I could have ignored all of that if I’d actually believed that Cyn and Jucee were in love…but I just didn’t. From the get go there are awkward moments of jealousy and possessiveness, but those emotions didn’t seem to be coming from anywhere. The arguing and the angst didn’t feel tantalizing or rewarding as I read - it just felt painful and boring.

So, yeah. This one didn’t work for me. I think it needed a lot more time developing the characters rather than a vague situation, because there’s a good story hidden in there somewhere. I just had a hard time finding it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cyn and Jucee’s story! I absolutely loved reading about queer Black love and the bisexual and plus size representation was a wonderful added bonus! I definitely recommend this book for folks who are fans of sapphic romance novels!

**spoilers**
This was truly such a good book. I've never read anything by this author before this, so I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but UGH Chencia C. Higgins can WRITE. It was just so good, I don't know how else to say it. The pacing was literally perfect and had me hooked on every word just needing to know more about Cyn and Jucee's individual characters, their friendship, and their relationship. Friends-to-lovers just does not get enough praise IMO because the tension and angst that comes with characters realizing their falling for their bestie??? Them feeling like they have to hide their feelings so they don't ruin everything but simultaneously having their feelings written on every inch of their face when they think no one is looking??? Impeccable and this book did it so well: the angst, the jealousy, the confusion, the pining. The character building (is that the phrase?) is just so good, too. Each character (main and side) has well-thought-out and unique personalities with unique flaws that make them more relatable and IMO more likable than if they were "perfect". For example, the way Jucee worries so much about collateral losses when she and Cyn fight and starts to try to pull away in advance to avoid any other issues is just too relatable. Same with how Cyn is essentially oblivious to how actions that seem meaningless to her are huge to Jucee and needs a firm but gentle nudge in the right direction to figure it out. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book to any and everyone who wants an amazing friends-to-lovers and dancer x music producer romance, 10/10.

3.5 Stars
I previously read Kris and D’Vaughn Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins and really liked it so when I saw this one was on Netgalley I knew I needed to read it. I was lucky enough to be approved to read this one.
This story was much different than the other one I read by this author and to be honest I didn’t like it as much. This one was really fast paced which I’m not complaint about but I feel like everything happened fast. I found this one to be spicier.
I liked the friends to lovers storyline between Cyn and Jucee. I just didn’t connect with these characters but I still enjoyed the story. I found Cyn’s grandma to be the most intriguing character, I’d want more on her story and how she raised everyone essentially.
This was a spicy, sapphic read and everyone who likes those stories would love this one.

Thanks again to Netgalley and Carina Adores for the copy.

There was a lot to love about this book: the sense of community, the characters both central and side, the absolutely bonkers and hilarious similes, the extra-spicy spice... This was great.

My one complaint, which is very much personal preference, was the depth of the miscommunication that drives the conflict. Cyn/Poppa kept doing dumb s*** (and she knew it), but in ways that didn't always make sense with her character. There were times when Jucee did things that I didn't fully understand until we were reminded of her backstory, but at least that was in character. Miscommunications tropes are a pet peeve for me so this may not bother other readers.

Bonus points for the way food is discussed in this book, because I wanted to eat ALL OF IT. I liked that Jucee in particular was kind of obsessed with good eats. I know some authors shy away from showing a bigger character enjoying food on this level, and the fact that she didn't talk about food as a guilty pleasure made me really happy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book as an ARC. I already bought the author's debut novel because this one was so much fun. :)