One of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!! Sapphic! Library workers (not just a librarian!!)! Latine! Exploring asexuality! I loved this book so much. I really loved how this book was so much more than just getting Angela her first kiss/relationship and the incredible conversations around asexuality, coming out, and family. I definitely think the representation is where this shined. I have seen some comment on the lack of overt Latine rep and I actually found it really nice that it was Just a Fact, it wasn't a driving plot point although plenty of Latines will tell you that rampant homophobia runs in our culture and the pressure to just "take it because they're family" is incredibly overwhelming because of how family oriented Latine culture is. There was culture just maybe not what some hoped for, I guess? Either way I had no problem identifying Angela as brown. I loved how both Krystal and Angela had to grow but their growth never really took them away from each other. They loved each other before, through, and after all their conflicts

Gamez is an author to watch and I'll be front row her entire career.

Kiss Me Maybe

This book was such a fun and spicy read. It also took on some heavier topics but the balance between those topics and the romance was very well done.

Gabriella’s discussion of the Asexual spectrum throughout the book was enlightening and informative. The representation was very well written and I learned a lot along the way.

Angela as a character was a breath of fresh air and unlike any I’ve read before. Her chemistry with Krystal was off the charts, it’s like they were two magnets drawn together, it was really beautiful to read. I really enjoyed Angela’s friendship with her cousin Julian, the way that they were there for each other was really sweet.

I also loved that we got to see bits of Marcela, Theo and the library book club from Next Best Fling, Her first book that I loved!

This book was sweet sapphic romance, I recommend giving it a read!

3.5 stars ⭐️

One thing I know for sure is that I will always enjoy reading anything Gabriella Gamez writes.

Although this wasn’t a top read for me, I not only enjoyed reading but I also learned so much about sexuality. The representation in my opinion was beyond great and educational.

The romance was super cute. There were a couple of instances where Krystal confused me by sending some pretty mixed signals to Angela.

I love the representation of toxic family members and want it’s like to be in a Latinx household/ family.

I would 100% recommend this book with my whole chest especially to my Latinx LGBTQ+ friends

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Oh my goodness this was SO much fun!!!

This was my first read by Gamez and it definitely won't be my last! What I loved most about this book was learning so much about the queer community and just the amount of culture love here!!

I just loved Angela and her amazing energy. I loved Angela's exploration of her identity and finding more about herself. Just learned so much about the Ace community.

Thanks so much to the author and Forever for my copy!!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Greysexual Lesbian Mexican American MC, Curvy Bisexual Mexican-American LI, other LGBTQ+ and POC SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Influencer Culture, First Kiss, Sexuality Exploration, Messy Queer People, Found Family, Friends to Lovers, Bartender & Librarian, Friendships & Family

Kiss Me, Maybe delves into conversations on ace spec identity with openness and curiosity, reminding readers that there are many ways to be ace. Angela, after years of trying to cram herself into boxes other people wanted her to fit in, has come out as an asexual lesbian. Her journey of self discovery is one of the most beautiful parts of this story. Angela doesn’t have it all figured out. She knows she is not sex averse, but she struggles to find the micro label that best describes her specific kind of sexual identity, especially because there are only two women who have made her feel any kind of sexual attraction (and one is a famous actress). The other is her long time crush - the curvy, bisexual bartender at her favorite bar, Krystal, who is going through a process of her own in learning how to not force herself into boxes others created for her.

The chemistry between Angela and Krystal is obvious from their first on-page interaction, but they seem to spend more time running from it than embracing it. Even though it’s sizzling every time they decide to explore it. Most of their interactions revolve around this scavenger idea Angela cooked up as a way to use her newly (and accidentally) acquired influencer status to maybe get her first kiss, when it is clear as day that the only person Angela really wants to kiss is Krystal.

This book is unapologetically messy. Both Angela and Krystal have so many things they are working through from their pasts that have prevented them from being able to embrace their fullest and truest selves and feel worthy of love and affection. And while it is incredibly frustrating at times during the story when they keep fighting it and pushing each other away…I get it. Because I’ve been that messy queer person, too burdened by my past to see what’s right in front of me and believe I’m worthy of it. (I still am some days!)

I will say that, while this is an adult book with very (sexy!) adult content, it reads a lot more like a YA book. But part of me also wonders if that was intentional because throughout most of the book, both Angela and Krystal are very much defined by these younger versions of themselves and seem trapped by their pasts.

There is so much to unpack with this book and Gabrielle delved into A LOT in this story - sexual identity exploration, the toxic side of influencer culture, family relationship dynamics, asexuality and micro labels, trauma and healing, breaking out of the boxes others put you in, forgiveness, friendship. This story is about discovering who you are as a person and claiming that, no matter what other people might say or do to try to belittle you, erase you, or redefine you on their terms. And then finding the people who embrace the person you know yourself to be, messy parts and all, who you want beside you on this wild journey we call life.

Angela has never been kissed. She considers herself to be an asexual lesbian. She has a massive crush on her regular bartender, Krystal, but has never acted on it. When she decides to post about this on TikTok, she doesn't realize it will take off. Quickly, she is planning on doing a scavenger hunt for her first kiss and is planning it with the help of Krystal. But will all this time together cause those feelings to bubble over? What if the identity she has embraced is not the best fit?

I still have a lot to learn about the sexuality spectrum. This was a lesson, and wow, the yearning was HOT.

I thought this was an excellent romantic comedy, and it was neat to have a new type of protagonist.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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3 stars

I really enjoyed witnessing Angela explore and learn more about her identity throughout this book and I learned so much about the asexual spectrum. I liked Angela as a character and genuinely was rooting for her to have a happy ending. I think this book fell flat for me because of how it was executed versus the characters themselves. There were a lot of subplots that tended to be repetitive so the overall story felt like we were going in circles. I honestly could’ve done without the entire scavenger hunt aspect and mainly focused on Angela trying to choose between her existing feelings for Krystal and the new attention she’s gaining from TikTok. While this wasn’t my favorite read, I’d still recommend it for someone who enjoys reading about women loving other women, self-discovery stories, and sweet happy endings.

Wanted to love this one just as much as Book 1 but the storyline fell a little flat for me. I felt a bit lost with all the different characters at the beginning. The audiobook really helped me move along in the book.

I did love Krystal, the way she was dedicated to showing "Angel" her love, their dates, all of it was super cute. Loved Marcella's mentions. Angela's storyline and the way she's comfortable/proud of who she is.

Can't wait to read more of Gamez's work! Thank you to Forever Pub, Gabriella Gamez, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Overall 3.5

Chloe, a woman who’s a little wary of love after past heartbreaks, and Lucas, a charming guy who knows how to make a grand first impression. What begins as a chance encounter soon blossoms into a slow-burn romance that is sweet, funny, and full of heart. The chemistry between Chloe and Lucas is undeniable, making every interaction between them engaging and fun. The development of their relationship feels genuine, and the pacing keeps readers hooked, wondering when (and if) they'll take the plunge from "maybe" to "yes." The book also addresses themes of trust, personal growth, and overcoming fear of vulnerability.

This is a review of the audiobook.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book started out with a lot of promise. I loved the representation and I loved the scavenger hunt idea. Sometimes having modern social media in a book is cringe but in this case, I thought the incorporation of TikTok was the perfect amount to move the storyline ahead but not dwell on it. I liked the romance aspect but Girl whatcha mean they had sex before she ever had her first kiss?!?!?! That just baffled me and honestly if I wasn’t so far along in the book, it may have been a DNF moment for me. I’m glad I finished the book but I am sad that the reader didn’t get to see the scavenger hunt fully. Especially after it was hyped up and talked about throughout the entire book.

What a gorgeous and lovely look at a book exploring all types of queerness. This was my first Gabriella Gamez, and I will be reading more! I adored this couple, and the slow build of their relationships. They both had realistic baggage, and even though this book centers around going viral on TikTok, I don't think the viral nature of it took away from the characters or what was happening with them. Loved all of the talk about the complexity of the asexual sexuality, because so much of it is specific to the person or the circumstances. I felt like this book gave me steam that was great and tasteful as well. Nothing uncomfortable about them. Please read this book.

A sweet romance about finding yourself and exploring what it means to be in love.

Short Synopsis:
Angela didn’t mean for her latest video to go viral, but when it did, she realized that she had a platform that could be used to connect with others like her. When she starts posting videos that explore her sexuality, she finds a community of people just like her. But, she also gets more negative attention than she bargained for. When she starts planning a scavenger hunt that results in the prize of someone being her first kiss, she starts a journey that’s bigger than she ever imagined it could be. Will she get her first kiss? Or, will she get more than she ever dreamed possible?

My thoughts:
I enjoyed reading about Angela’s journey to find not only herself, but find a community of people that could be in her corner. I appreciated her parents and her cousin, Julian. Their relationships with Angela added another layer of depth to this story and was a heartwarming addition. I also loved the stories of her friendships with Marcela and Krystal. They were both so important to Angela’s growth as a character!

Read this one if you like:
✨ Sapphic romance
✨ Found family
✨ Self discovery

Thank you to the publisher, Forever, and the author, Gabriella Gamez, for a gifted NetGalley e-arc. All opinions are my own!

I had a hard time with this story. I enjoyed the overall premise but I was frustrated with the way the relationship was portrayed in this one.

I couldn’t resist this book as soon as I saw the main character was a librarian!

Kiss Me, Maybe follows Angela, a 20-something librarian who has never been kissed. She has also recently come out as asexual but is still exploring what exactly it means to be ace and is doing so on her Tik Tok. When her videos go viral and she starts to gain a big following, Angela decides it would be fun to use the opportunity to get her first kiss, and with the help of Krystal, a sexy bartender friend she has had a crush on forever, she creates a scavenger hunt that will take place during the city’s annual Fiesta celebration, the winner of which will get to kiss her. Krystal has always said that romantic love wasn’t her thing, but will working in close proximity with Angela change that?

I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of the scavenger hunt itself but I loved both Angela and Krystal & enjoyed watching their friends-to-lovers relationship blossom. I also really liked how Angela was able to use social media as part of her journey of self discovery and that she was also able to use it to build a community and meet so many others in the LGBTQ+ community. The author also does a great job of pointing out the flipside of putting yourself out there on social media. While you may attract a wonderful community, there’s always the risk of trolls and of others who know you finding your account.

I enjoyed this author’s writing, particularly Angela’s inner monologue because she just has so much going on in her head as she’s thinking about her identity & what she wants.

Overall, a fun, romantic, thoughtful read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Asexual representation, Mexican American women falling in love, a viral TikTok scavenger hunt—all of this can be found in Gabriella Gamez‘s new novel, Kiss Me, Maybe. This is the second in her Librarians in Love series, and even if you haven’t read the first book yet (I haven’t), it works well as a standalone romance.

What I Liked:
- Asexual identity. As someone who is on the asexual spectrum, I’m always happy to read romances that highlight ace people finding love on their terms. This is one of only a handful of ace-led romances I’ve read so far, and I appreciated how this one dives into discovering your identity, determining what your specific sub identity is, and exploring Angela’s particular experience with asexuality. In contrast to ace characters in other books I’ve read, Angela is more sex positive and does explore what sex with a partner means for her—so there is open door spice here!
- Queer identity and coming out. In addition to being ace spec, Angela is also a lesbian. Much of her journey is about coming out to her family and dealing with homophobia (her cousin, who is already out as bisexual, unfortunately had a more difficult time with his family).
- Connecting online and finding community. Since it can be hard to find fellow aces in the wild, Angela fosters community through her TikTok videos, hoping to connect with other ace spec people.
- Being a late bloomer. Hey, not everyone has their first romantic or sexual experiences in high school. Some of us don’t have our first kiss until our 20s (yes, another way I relate to Angela), and there is nothing weird or shameful about that. I enjoyed seeing Angela, 27, being so open about her lack of experience and desire to change that.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- The scavenger hunt kind of fizzled out for half the book. A major plot line at first was Angela’s TikTok scavenger hunt for someone to win her first kiss. Cute idea, but the whole middle of the book it seemed like this idea was quietly dropped as other (kind of unnecessary?) themes emerged. I wish the book had stayed more focused on the scavenger hunt and how bartender crush Krystal would factor into everything.
- Angela’s first sexual experience seemed advanced? Unrealistic? Maybe I’m naive or just a different type of person, but Angela’s very first time doing anything sexual with someone else seemed a little off to me. It took me out of the story a bit.

Final Thoughts
Kiss Me, Maybe is a delightful novel that highlights the asexual spectrum, late bloomers, and women finding love. While there are a few things I would have liked to see more or just portrayed differently in the book, it was overall enjoyable and honestly made me feel less alone in my own ace journey. It’s also the second in Gabriella Gamez’s Librarians in love series, so I’ll be going back to read Marcela’s own romance in The Next Best Fling.

Kiss Maybe by Gabriella Gamez is a coming of age romance... To be honest I could not connect personally, but this book will be for those who enjoy a cute meet cute, a journey of falling in love, and discovering self.

Kiss Me, Maybe is a delightful contemporary romance that stands out with its inclusive representation—featuring ace, bisexual, and lesbian characters in a thoughtful and authentic way. I especially enjoyed the viral TikTok storyline, which added a fun, modern twist to the narrative. The book was a light, engaging read with just the right mix of heart and humor. I love any book that has to do with a librarian so that was icing on the cake!

Thank you netgalley and forever for the arc.

After reading Gabriella's debut, Kiss Me Maybe was immediately on my radar! I absolutely loved the aspect of Angela taking everything into her own hands an auctioning off her kiss! The scavenger hunt aspect was so unique and I loved hearing about all the things that Angela loved and what made her "her" and why she wanted to put them in the scavenger hunt. Hearing Angela talk about the artist she loves and the art they create was one of my favorite moments of the story too. The way it was described made me see it so clearly in my mind and ugh. I felt the emotions that Angela felt. The open communication between Angela and Krystal are what DREAMS are made of, truly! Their talks about sexuality and labels/microlabels was so enlightening and beautiful. And the tension between them?? It had me SWEATING. I loved them for each other and I hope they made appearances in Gabriella's future novels!

This book is soft and spicy, vulnerable and funny, swoony and sincere—and I loved every second of it.

Angela Gutierrez is the kind of heroine who instantly feels like a friend. She's a book-loving, never-been-kissed librarian who goes viral after opening up about being a late bloomer and asexual. Her plan? Turn the moment into something magical with a public scavenger hunt where the winner gets her first kiss. But when her long-time crush, flirty bartender Krystal Ramirez, volunteers to help… things get complicated fast in the most delicious way.

Angela and Krystal’s dynamic is full of slow-burn tension, real talk, and some seriously heart-melting moments. Krystal is the ultimate emotionally unavailable “I don’t do love” type—who very clearly does, especially when it comes to Angela. Their chemistry sparks right off the page, but what really sold this for me was the way it explored identity, boundaries, and what love can look like when you build it with trust.

This is a queer romcom that gets it—funny, affirming, inclusive, and refreshingly real. It gave me Abby Jimenez-level heart eyes but with even more queer joy, messy feelings, and one of the sweetest first-kiss buildups I’ve ever read.

💌 Perfect for fans of: late bloomers, unrequited crushes that turn VERY requited, scavenger hunts with high-stakes kisses, and love stories that feel like coming home to yourself.

3.75 rounded up

Angela is a self-identified late bloomer. She created a video on social media to find a community. It went viral! With the new status of influencer, she decided to create an event where the winner would be her first kiss. Her long-time crush, Krystal, helped her plan this event. This was a cute book. I enjoyed going on Angela's journey of self-discovery and creating community. The story gave me Never Been Kissed vibes.