I was genuinely pumped about getting to read the second Mae Marvel book. 💖 I'm not sure if it's me and my general malaise about the world writ-large, or whether there really was kind of a dip in the middle of the book, but until the last 20% or so, I was on the fence about the rating. It was heading for a 3.5, but the last bit saved it. I ended up crying happy tears, and so glad to see the FMCs really get the ending they deserved. Overall, it was well worth the read. 🥰

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You
By: Mae Marvel
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Category: Action/Adventure

Overall, this was a cute little read. Cute little spy book. Little hard to imagine two spies wouldn’t figure the other out after 3 years, but that’s book magic for you. I enjoyed the side characters. The plot was okay. Dual POV.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity.

If I Told You, I'd Have To kiss You" is an electrifying story of the love lives of undercover spies. This book follows Yardley, a second generation southern belle / badass agent, and K.C., insanely talented with tech / recruited into the agency under the guise of Dr. Brown.

First of all - a book following sapphic spies... yes please!!! At the start of the book, you learn that Yardley and K.C. are on their way out of a long term relationship, both feeling bitter over how it was ending, but knowing they couldn't go on as they were. After a "run-in" at a coffee shop, the two women are asked to set aside their complicated pasts, combine their talents, and work together for the future of their country.

It took me a bit to get into this read, but once the mission started I was completely hooked. I loved the travel aspect, showing just how big of a problem the tech was that they were trying to stop. It also kept the story going at an amazing pace. I also loved watching Yardley and K.C. get to know each other again, this time slowly and fully. The story was so full circle and ended perfectly. I specifically liked watching K.C. gain confidence within the field, and come into herself pretty quickly with an amazing team behind her. I think this was an amazing second chance romance with great pace, characters, villains, and so much more.

(I was rooting for the ring to match the watch once finding out it existed, but I don't think we got ring specifics! I'm dying to know!)

This was literally everything you’d hope to have from a spy romance novel!

We have lots of action and espionage, so much drama, coworker dynamics, double agents, the world is at risk - high stakes, and layed out in such a fun way that was also easy to follow.

The romance is hot and flirty, and makes it impossible not to root for their happy ending. We have coworkers, under cover relations, and reconciliation.

Overall this was such a fun book, and I definitely recommend picking it up!

DNF @ 35%. Extremely easy to read and enjoyable for the most part, but the extreme amount of repetition in internal and external monologue got old fast. The plot was pretty predictable as well, as I’m pretty sure I knew the plot twist by 5%. Really wanted to like this one more!

I really wanted to like this. The concept is amazing! I think overall though it just didn’t work for me. The pacing was too slow and it was like it couldn’t decide if it was a spy thriller or a romance. I also didn’t feel invested in their romance.

Wow!
absolutely amazing!
wlw I loved all the details 🙌🏼
every mission and all the love they both clearly had! Life is messy but when you find your person it doesn't have to be all bad

If you like spy novels, this book should be on your TBR immediately! If you took out the romance aspect of "If I Told You..." the mission KC and Yardley is on is so fun! I could easily picture this as a spy movie with all of the fun disguises and the world-is-in-danger stakes.

This is the kind of exes-to-lovers romance done right. It's clear the only thing standing in the way of KC and Yardley being together was the truth about who they are. They couldn't keep up their covers around each other, and it forced them apart. Every time they were in the same room together, there was delicious tension - thank you for pointing it out, Kris! And they have some phenomenal ~scenes~ in a linen closet and on a recreation of a Tudor Era bed. I promise it makes sense in context.
It was so fun to read a book written by a married couple!

I did call who the Big Bad was pretty early, but I really enjoyed how the reveal happened.

I really enjoyed Yardley’s sense of humor and admired her badass skills and spy personality. Her family sounded hilarious, I would have loved a detailed chapter of her bringing KC to a family reunion in North Carolina. While I liked some of the pining and teasing with KC, I did feel like it was more one sided in Yardley having to lustfully chase after KC which I didn't really like. While they each had their issues, I think it was KC who wasn't ready for the commitment that Yardley deserved. I know KC’s personality fit her character of being a secluded tech nerd/hacker, but I just felt it was harder to connect with her because she always felt so closed off and unwilling to compromise. Once you got the backstory behind KC, a lot of things about her made more sense, but even then, I wish she was more emotionally mature and able to face her feelings for Yardley more head on. Therefore I think that because their personalities were just so different, their chemistry didn't feel as strong, especially given that there was hardly any romance or spice compared to the plot being mostly focussed on the spy missions. I know it was part of the plot, but given how smart both Yardley and KC were, I found it hard to believe that neither was able to figure out that the other was a spy or at least worked for the agency in some capacity before it was revealed during the mission.

Just like the main characters, I didn't feel at all connected or emotionally invested in any of the side characters. I did come to like Kris Flynn by the end, but she didn't have a lot of screen time for us to get to know her much outside of her spy story. Julia also had a lot of potential because of her hilarious sense of humor, but again, no screen time or information given about her life. All the random information dumps and boring dialogue in the middle of the story could have been easily replaced by information that would have been more beneficial to the readers, especially more romantic moments. I also found that it was hard to keep track of who was talking, given that KC and Yardly’s point of views were quite similar and all the technical spy talk made it hard to fully understand what they meant or were talking about. It got tiring and frustrating to constantly have KC and Yardley’s thoughts and fights revert back to the same arguments and never being able to trust one another and move forward.

In terms of the action and plot, I found those scenes to be well written in the fact that I couldn’t fully predict the outcome and the stakes were high enough to feel invested in what was going to happen. I appreciated that it didn't feel too outrageous or unbelievable and that at times, the characters were able to find humor in the situation. I do also like the attempt to create a unique sapphic story centered around the spy universe that didn’t have all the typical plot, setting, and tropes that come with the predictability of the genre. Overall, while I enjoyed the unique story and message of fighting for a worthy love, I wish there had been more romance and emotional depth to the story and characters and better character development in regards to the side characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC of If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’m marking this as a DNF but want to share that it is not because it’s a bad book. I’m about 20% into the book and it’s just not holding my interest. It has an interesting premise but the build is slower than what I typically enjoy. I’ve been attempting to read this one for 10 days and by now I would normally have finished it.

If you enjoy spy books where the couple doesn’t know the other is a spy, you will likely enjoy this. Yardley and KC are breaking up because it’s easier than keeping the secrets. And they both seem miserable. I’d love to know how the fair, but I may have to come back to this one when there is an audio book I can listen to! I’m sure this is a good read for someone who enjoys a slow build.

The star rating is not an accurate reflection as I did not finish the book, but wanted to share a review based on what I did read.

I received an advanced copy of this book for review. This is my own opinion.

Gosh, this book is fast paced.

Yardley and KC have recently broken up because they have a hard time opening and telling the truth. Because the truth is that they both work for the CIA. And now they have to work together. What follows is a classic spy movie. It's constantly moving and we're constantly taken around twists and turns. I recommend reading this one in as few sittings as possible just to keep up with everything. I really liked all the characters, too.

This was a pretty fun read!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC!

Yardley and KC's relationship has been dying a slow death, in part because the two are keeping secrets from one another. But when they find out that they are both spies for the CIA, and must work together on an extremely dangerous and time-sensitive mission, they might just get another chance at love.

This was such a fun read! Fun and flirty spy romance with an engaging premise, loveable characters, and plenty of witty banter. The book really shines during the spy action sequences with the flirty banter and tension between Yardley and KC. There was a little too much introspection on both their parts that slowed the action down a little too much at points, but it was very gratifying to see their emotional growth throughout the story. The spy plot was well plotted but not too complex to follow and there was a good balance between the action and the romance elements.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No one is more disappointed in that review score than I am. Sapphic spies? I was frothing at the mouth when I read the description of this book, only to be incredibly underwhelmed.

The good: it’s sapphic! KC and Yardley are sickeningly sweet together, and I hope they have an amazing life together. Also the concept was amazing.
The bad: I was so bored. I predicted the villain in the first 20% and the only thing that surprised me about this book was how much I didn’t care for it.

I ended up skim reading the last 40% because I wanted to know how it ended but wasn’t invested in the story at all.

I’m certain there is someone out there who is going to love this book. That someone was not me. I received a review copy from the publisher, all thoughts are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All
Opinions are my own.

This was good! I enjoyed it. I read a lot of romance, but I always love new to me authors and this was one. I enjoyed the writing style and think this was super good! Definitely intrigued to read more.

I loved KC and Yeardley because they're sooo badass and so in love with each other. Such a delightful read and it was so full of humor and sexiness.

5/5 stars: This is Marvel's 2SLGBTQIA+ Steamy Romantic Suspense stand-alone that's set across the globe and follows a recently broken up couple, a second-generation spy and a hacker extraordinaire, who are unknowingly uncover CIA agents must work together, after their true identities are revealed when a mission goes bust, to recover a dangerous cyber weapon and catch the person behind it's sale. All while dealing with their undeniable chemistry and fighting through the betrayal and secrets that drove them apart, so that they can get to a place where they can fall in love with each other’s true selves. A non-stop action packed thrill ride, Marvel's masterfully crafted a suspenseful mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. I loved the hacking, spycraft and globe-trotting adventure these two take on in order to complete their mission and fall back in love along the way. Heartfelt, witty and smart, Marvel's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain incredibly likable. Yardley and KC are tough and I love seeing the two of them deal with the ramifications of their uncover identities being revealed to each other and overcoming them and getting to a place where they get their much deserved HEA. This second-chance / relationship in trouble romance is top notch with plenty of swoony banter with OPS scenes that are oh so steamy. Oh and the ambassador’s linen closet scene was indeed delightful. Overall, I enjoyed this so much; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You is an absolute delight. It’s fun, flirty, and full of heart. Mae Marvel has crafted a romance that feels fresh and effortlessly charming, with just the right balance of wit, emotion, and swoon-worthy moments.

The chemistry between the characters is electric, and their banter had me smiling the whole way through. I loved how the story mixed playful humor with genuine emotional depth, making the romantic payoff feel all the more satisfying.

Marvel’s voice is confident and engaging, and this book made me an instant fan. If you’re into smart, heartfelt romance with a fun twist, this one’s a must-read.

This was an absolute knock out for me. I was reading it backstage at work telling everyone I couldn't possibly do my next quick change because I needed to keep reading. Now they all can't wait for June 10 so they too can read KC and Yardley's story.
This is a great sapphic adventure/spy romance with SO much yearning and so many intelligent and highly competent queer women having emotionally hard discoveries and conversations. This is relationship in trouble/hidden identity/coworker/forced proximity romance to a delightful end.
I'm not even sure I can fully have further coherent thoughts about this book because it just made my brain buzz with delight the whole time.
Like do i rationally think those same highly competent queer women wouldn't have put together that the person they were dating for 3 years and also lived with was also maybe a covert operative just like they were? Yeah probably but also sometimes we're big dum dums in love. Am I a little nervous the title of this one is going to keep it from really being a smash hit? Yeah maybe a little to be honest. But I'm gonna shout about it to the roofs to try and make sure everyone reads it.

Due to Goodreads rating system I gave it a 3 star, however I would say it was more of a 2.5 star read.

I really wanted to like this book. But this book just wasn't for me. It took a long time for me to finish. It was somewhat challenging to follow along because of the sometimes choppy writing. It was difficult to understand because the chapters were lengthy and had a lot of information. Although the book had a great concept, it was a little dull. The primary spy mission was a bit obvious. The book's second half, in my opinion, was way more enjoyable. I enjoyed seeing KC and Yardley's relationship grow into something new and different. However, I wasn't the biggest fan of it overall.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Heat Index: 7/10

—Mr. and Mrs. Smith but make it sapphic

—relationship in trouble

—international nasty girl adventures, etc

The Basics:

Yardley and KC are freshly broken up and feeling it hard—when they discover that, throughout their three-year relationship, they've both been working for the CIA. KC is Tabasco, a renowned hacker, while Yardley is elite field agent the Unicorn. Too bad they don't have time to hash it out with a dangerous mission at stake. No choice but to work together! Which won't be weird or complicated at all, right?

The Review:

Another fun romp from Mae Marvel, this one with world-shaking stakes (that somehow don't offset the book's light, flirty vibe). And the Mrs. and Mrs. Smith inspo is heavy in a great way. In a lot of sense, I'd call this a real "marriage in trouble" book, even though Yardley and KC were never actually married. They were heading that way, and they had a lot of the issues classic to a for real, serious relationship breaking up. It wasn't one big fight, it was KC withholding, Yardley never being there due to her various "business trips".

Of course, both of them were hiding the whole super spy thing.

The book begins right when the breakup is fresh and they're definitely over (sure, Jan) but not fully practically disentangled from each other. And they're both grieving the relationship. It's not too angsty, in part because Marvel then shifts fairly early in the book to them discovering the truth (which was smart; I don't think dragging it out would've been a good idea) but it is wistful, and you really feel how much these two loved each other. And why it wasn't working.

As is the way of this type of secret identity book, finding out that they'd been essentially lying to each other the entirety of their romance is cause for both strife and a new spark. There are those little digs, that edge as they work on the mission together. These two are professionals, dammit! They're not going to compromise global security for the sake of bickering! Or kissing!

Except...

One thing I really liked about this are the character qualities specific to KC and Yardley. While neither is butch, I think it would've been easy to cast field agent Yardley as the more assertive and aggressive of the two—and a lesser book, or perhaps one written at an earlier time, may have gone for that stereotype. But Yardley is given the space to be a badass in the field with debutante qualities, and KC is a hacker nerd who's also pretty badass, actually. The power dynamics, in turn, are really even. You get the sense that these two are both capable of taking one another on—and devastating each other.

I will say this is quite espionage-heavy. It's not super complicated, and it's well-done. But I think I lean toward a bit more edge when it comes to espionage in romance—I'm rather picky with it. I would've liked to have it dialed back just a bit so we could focus more on the relationship stuff, but it wasn't by any means taking over the romance.

The Sex:

I found this one hotter than Mae's previous book—especially in the "we shouldn't be doing this but we're unable to keep our hands off each other" sense. There's a lot of delicious, pent-up desire that just BOILS OVER, and it's a great touch (again, very Mr. and Mrs. Smith). The epilogue is especially intense.

The Conclusion:

If you're a fan of spies and romcoms, I think you get a good bit of both here—with an added dose of light angst. Great fun for the summer!

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.