What great ACE rep this book had. The story was so relatable even though I don’t identify as ACE. I felt like it showcased how much of a spectrum being ACE can really be like and I know it’ll really help someone out there soon. I definitely would suggest this to anyone who is looking for a semi slow burn sapphic romance. I immediately suggested it to all the booksellers I work with and our store owner

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC*

Sapphic scavenger hunt shenanigans? Yes please! I loved all of the ace and aro representation and the important discussions within this romance. As someone definitely on that spectrum, it felt true to my lived experience. The incorporation of TikTok was fun, both in the initial premise of a "dating the internet" series and the conflict it generates. It absolutely got STEAMY, even with Angela still holding out on her first kiss. The narration did detract from the book at times - the vibes just didn't quite fit the moment (be it feeling cheesy during the sexy scenes or too serious in the happy ones). But overall, the representation and premise was great.

Thank you to Forever for the arc!

DNF @ 15%

I would recommend this if you like books about self discovery, especially being an asexual lesbian, and “late bloomers” having their first kiss. I also think you’ll like this if you’re a fan of highly focused plots, lighthearted and low-angst romances, and introspective main characters.

One of the FMC’s, Angela, has a crush on the hot bartender at a bar she frequents. I love an unrequited crush, but when Angela and Krystal started talking, it was very casual and didn’t have the angsty tension I like at the start of a romance.

There also doesn’t seem to be any conflict beyond Angela having never been kissed. She posts to TikTok? It goes viral. She wants to set up a big scavenger hunt? No problem, the hot bartender will help. Everything is coming too easily to her and there’s no tension.

I used to really like super low-angst romances like this, and I might come back to it when I’m in the mood for an over the top plot, and a low angst mood.

The narrator did a great job with the mood of the story and creating unique voices for each character!

This is a great story about a young woman who is trying to be true to herself as she opens herself up to new experiences. After multiple incidents, our FMC is finally going to throw herself out there and experience all life has to offer her, no matter what. This book is perfect for anyone who is afraid of going for what they want for fear of rejection. It had some funny moments, some gut wrenching moments, and of course some spicy scenes as well.

Narrator did an amazing job I enjoyed the speed at which they spoke. She brought the FMC to life and kept me wanting to know more. A really beautiful story about experiencing your firsts with someone who makes you feel completely comfortable and safe.

Thanks to Caroline at Forever for the eARC and Net Galley!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook!

Kiss Me, Maybe is the second book in Gabriella Gamez’s Librarians in Love series. It follows librarian Angela Gutierrez as she seeks out a unique experience to gain her first kiss, alongside long-time crush Krystal Ramirez. Things don’t go according to plan, and both Angela and Krystal realize there is a lot more to each other than they thought.

I’m a huge fan of Gabby’s writing and was so excited to get my hands on this book! I learned so much about asexuality through this book. I thought I understood it in theory, but Gabby’s exploration of Angela’s sexuality and romance preferences showed me so much that I didn’t know. It was beautiful to see Angela allow herself the freedom to learn herself and change her mind and she discovered new things.

That said, Angela was not a perfect FMC. She was flawed and often immature. I didn’t fully understand her desire to keep her first kiss reserved <spoiler>while experiencing her first sexual encounters with Krystal. It felt disingenuous, which I think Angela figured out.</spoiler> I felt like Angela was a little sister that I wanted to shake sometimes, but in a way that just endeared her to me more.

Krystal had her own struggles, too. If she had been honest both with herself and Angela about her past, a lot of pain would’ve been avoided. Sometimes it felt like the characters in this book were almost too realistic - avoiding their problems and conversations like pros. 🥴 BUT, I was proud to see her character growth in the end, owning up to her mistakes and making better choices.

Now, if you think having an ace FMC means there’s no spice, you would be wrong (and in fact this is a huge part of Angela’s self-discovery). Gabby writes some of the STEAMIEST spice, and this book is no different.

I was hoping for a bit more of a showcase of San Antonio based off the cover art - it looked like it was going to be set during Fiesta! Maybe that’s a niche complaint, but as a San Antonio resident my immediate thought was that there would be more Mexican heritage shown.

The audiobook narrator and publication were top notch. I liked her portrayal of Angela.

The characters frustrated me sometimes, but I still really enjoyed the book overall. Imperfect characters make for a relatable story, and I’m all here for character growth!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC of Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez in exchange of an honest review!
Since I got and audio copy, the first thing I need to mention before I get into the content of the book is the absolutely amazing narration by Ruby Corazon. They made me feel every emotion lived by the characters, and the performance was perfect.

Now, into the book itself. Kiss Me, Maybe is a beautiful queer romance about Angela, an ace-lesbian librarian-influencer who has never been kissed, and Krystal, a bi bartender who thinks love isn’t for her but still wants to help Angela organize a scavenger hunt to get her first kiss.
I must admit that even though the scavenger hunt is part of the central storyline in this romance, most of the time I found it pointless and unnecessary. I really didn’t care for it. Still, the romance completely compensates with endearing, funny, real characters, a well written story, very hot steamy scenes, incredible queer representation, and an amazing narrator. It also hits a very soft spot for me, which is people struggling with figuring out their identity when they are already adults, and a happy ending after that.

At the end of the day, I would recommend people to read this book, and thankfully it comes out in a couple of days for everyone to do so! Be ready on May 6!

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC!

I loved the discussion and representation in the book and I honestly learned more about ace-spec identities. I also loved the idea of her using social media to reach out and connect with others that she can relate to. However, this was definitely a "It's not for me" thing, because Angela and the whole scavenger hunt thing felt very young adult and made me believe she was no younger than 18, only to find out she was 27. She was very adamant about this scavenger hunt and having her first kiss but was ok doing things with Krystal but also still want to do the hunt, just put me off.

One of the reasons that I was holding out for, for the rest of the book...was that I was hoping that we would get some resolution with her issues with Esme. I'm glad it got cleared up with Breanna and they were able to talk it out, however, the thing with Esme was never resolved. I wanted to know why she was this hateful towards Angela because I find it hard to believe it was because Esme had a failed Youtube career and that her white lie made that much of an impact on Esme to be that hateful.

There were times where it was confusing whether we were listening to dialogue or narration, which happened on often, but that's another "it's me thing"

The beautiful cover art initially drew me to Kiss Me, Maybe, and the 'librarians in love' theme deeply resonated with me. This novel centers on Angela Gutierez, a 27-year-old library assistant, student, and TikTok influencer navigating self-discovery. Gamez's story is both sassy and grounded, effortlessly immersing the reader in Angela's world.

The story thoughtfully explores the societal pressures surrounding dating and the expectation for young women to settle down. What particularly stood out was Angela's journey in understanding her experiences as someone who distinguishes between sexual and romantic attraction, a perspective rarely centered in mainstream romance.

While trying not to reveal too much, I truly appreciated the depth of Angela's emotional exploration and her vision for a future relationship. The book thoughtfully portrays the challenges of modern romance, particularly the added layer of seeking relatable connections when one's experiences fall outside conventional norms. Angela's longing for Krystal resonated deeply with me, especially the difficult understanding that life rarely aligns perfectly with our desires. Furthermore, the spicy scenes between Angela and Krystal felt significant in the growth of their relationship and their own journeys.

Despite enjoying the story, the audiobook narration fell short for me. While it wasn't a major detriment, the dialogue between characters came across as somewhat stilted and robotic.

Kiss Me, Maybe is a standout due to its diverse representation, writing style, and relatability of the main character (a refreshing departure from many mainstream romance novels). Gamez skillfully examines the nuances of self-identification and the fluidity of human nature. Angela's character, while feeling like a late bloomer, is portrayed with insightful maturity.
I sincerely recommend this book to readers who enjoy queer romance and those seeking authentic and diverse representation in their stories.

3.5 stars

This was such a lovely romance full of self exploration and all kinds of love.

The audiobook really added to my overall enjoyment of the novel. While there is only one narrator, there is also only one POV so it feels fitting and the narrator is phenomenal. Ruby Corazon expertly depicts all the characters, making them feel individualized yet put together into one seamless narration. She places emphasis in the right places and heightens the emotions of each character in a perfect way. She makes the dialog feel incredibly natural.

As for the social media aspects, the narration actually does a really great job of depicting what is happening in the story, or in this case, on the screen, without it feeling overly repetitive or odd and misplaced. I never felt myself growing confused or lost within the narration and followed along with the story seamlessly on the narration alone.

Audiobooks that play a bit of music right at the beginning and again at the very end are some of my favorites, and this one had a lovely little ditty that really set the vibe for the book to come.

As Angela sets off on a self discovery journey of her sexual identity, she takes to TikTok to share her journey and build an online community. What starts off as harmless fun soon spirals out of her control and turns into a scavenger hunt where the winner gets to be Angela's first kiss. In the process of planning the scavenger hunt, Krystal, Angela's long-time crush and favorite bar tender, becomes a close friend and maybe something more.

The characters are the shining star of both this book and Gamez's writing as a whole. They are so well developed and fully realized that even the side characters feel like fully formed individuals that really strengthen the story and add to the world building.

Following Angela on her self discovery journey was truly heartwarming. The way her and Krystal work together to uncover parts of Angela's identity, talk through everything and display beautiful consent was by far my favorite aspect of the story.

That being said, I did not love this plot as much as I wanted to. While I think the social media aspects were done really well and in a timeless way (as much as can be done when the pot hinges on TikTok), I just did not love the scavenger hunt/online presence aspects of this novel. However, Angela's friends are also skeptical of her online presence and kept the story feeling grounded. All the build up for the scavenger hunt felt like a bit of a let down in the end, even if I did enjoy why that was the case. If you like stories about social media, I think this will really work for you, but if you don't typically love stories with a strong social media presence, this will probably not work for you. Despite that, I do think that the characters really shine, and provide enough substance that the plot kind of falls to the wayside and you can just enjoy the character growth without needing too much from the plot.

Overall this was such a fun read with Gamez's typical flair for the dramatic that had my jaw dropping, and my heart thundering. While I didn't enjoy it as much as The Next Best Fling, it was still a delightful read and I can't wait to see what this author does next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🫑

First I want to thank Netgalley and Hachette audio for allowing me to listen to this incredible audiobook ahead of its release!

I loved this book. I think it might be one of my new favourites. What I liked most about this book is how a ton of different identites on the asexual spectrum are touched upon and explained. The main character is still on her own journey of discovery and I thought it was really interisting to see how she goes through that process.

The main character goes viral on tiktok and the story partially revolves around her building a community online. I usually don’t like when actual social media apps are mentioned in books, but this was written so well that I didn’t mind. I love how we got to see both the positive and the negative aspects of her internet fame.

The love story in this book was EVERYTHING. I love how both the main characters were so understanding with each other, regarding past experiences but also regarding Angelas relationship to sex. What I was kind of annoyed by was how long it took for them to actually kiss each other but I think that was just the slow burn working a bit too well.

The audiobook experience was amazing btw. The narrator is now one of my favourites. She managed to bring the characters to life in a way I think I would have missed if I had read it instead of listening to it. Her voice was sooo soothing! I often have a problem of not being able to pay attention if the narrators voice is too calming, but Ruby Corazon somehow walked that thin line perfectly. The audion was CRISP too. Also, does anyone else love the intros and outros of hachette?

Finally lets just take a moment for that GORGEOUS COVER! My favourite detail has to be the flower crowns in the colours of their sexualities flag! And the way they are so close to kissing but not quite???? I love Leni Kaufmann.

I will definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen (and maybe also those who won’t)

Thank you to to Netgalley, Gabriella Gamez & Hatchette Audio for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

I really liked this story. I was really invested in Angela and Krystal right from the beginning. Which, I'm not always this invested in a potential love interest straight away. But I loved the connection between Angela and Krystal. It was also very interesting to learn more about ace-spec folks. Even though I do know some things about asexuality. It's always nice to hear more from people. Even if these characters are made up, I'm sure the author pulled information from real people and their stories.

Also, I would just like to say, the narrator of this book, Ruby Corazon really had me hooked from the start as well. I am going to look into what else they have narrated for. I hope there's more. I may have a tiny crush on their voice. Please narrator every book from now on. Lol

4.5/5 stars

Angela is in her late 20s and has never been kissed. Yes, you’ve read that correctly, never been kissed. She is ace and she is ready to lose the stigma of never being kissed. She is ready to find that certain someone to be kissed by. She goes about finding a perfect suitor for a kiss by posting a TikTok that ends up going viral.

Krystal is a bartender in her late 20s as well. Angela has had a huge crush on Krystal for about 5 years. Even though she has been jilted by a past lover that has ruined the sanctity of love for her, she helps Angela in her endeavour to find her first kiss. What Angela doesn’t know is that Krystal has also had a crush on her. Who will be Angela’s first kiss?

I had a lot of ups and downs about this book and the downs honestly had nothing to do with the MC not having been kissed into her late 20s. What I do have a problem with **spoiler** is the fact that there are some scenes where Angela and Krystal get together in a very sexual manner before Angela is willing to kiss Krystal. Angela has a death grip hold on her first kiss and refuses to give it up before and even during her encounters with Krystal. My thing is if you’re willing to go all the way, then, to me, it’s a little unbelievable at this point that she wouldn’t have kissed Krystal before the literal end of the book. **end spoiler** Just my opinion so please take it with a grain of salt.

One thing I absolutely LOVED about this book is the talk of the ever changing sexuality spectrum. On her journey, Angela believed she was ace, by the end of the book and her journey, Angela realized she is graysexual. A lot of people out there have one sexuality and that is where they stay their whole life. A lot of people out there, their sexuality changes and that is okay. Our brains are ever changing and that is okay. I love the author’s exploration with Angela in realizing her change in sexuality and exploring it.

Lastly, because this was an ALC, the narrator. This was a tough listen, for me, because her cadence while reading was a little off. She would make pauses in sentences where there wasn’t a period. I wouldn’t say she was very monotone but she didn’t have much inflection in her voice so it was very one note during scenes that could have used a range of tone.

I did think the premise of the book was fun with the scavenger hunt. I enjoyed the parts of the story that featured her friends and family, and felt those could have been explored even more. I also appreciated that there was ace/aro representation, because it is very rare in romance. However...

I felt that her vibe was very immature, to the point where her being like 21/22 would be more believable. I also struggled to believe her relationship with Krystal. It moved very, very fast once they started hanging out. For being ace, the book got spicy like, really fast, and how she was like only Krystal can touch me like this for a girl she didn't know that well. IDK, it was a little weird to me how quickly they moved for someone who needs to build a strong connection first.

As for the audio portion, I liked the voice/pacing of the book but I would have liked a little more differentiation between the voices. It was hard to tell people apart during dialogues sometimes.

Kiss Me, Maybe is a sapphic romance that offers a refreshing look at identity, self-discovery, and life in the spotlight. Angela, the main character, is figuring out what being on the asexual spectrum means for her—both romantically and sexually. Gabriella Gamez handles this exploration with clarity and care, making it easy for readers to understand what that journey might look like for someone in real life.

If you're into social media and influencer culture, this book gives a pretty honest take. It shows both the sense of community and connection that can come from being online, as well as the pressure and backlash that often come with it.

It’s also nice to see returning characters like Angela’s best friend Marcela and her cousin Julian. Their support adds warmth and familiarity, especially for readers who’ve followed the series.

There's an intimacy that develops between Angela and Crystal as they truly open up to one another and start to realize that they are the ones they truly want. Their relationship needs both of them to work through their own issues and claim their love for one another.

I thought the narrator had a great voice to listen to, but I would have appreciated a bit more difference in narration of the two leads voices to understand a bit better as I listened.

Thank you to Forever and Hachette audio for the eARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

My first foray into ace romance! This was a wonderful first step into a different spectrum of sexuality for me and damn, it was a good time.
Angela has never been kissed and is beginning to tire of not experiencing the many “firsts” she feels she should have had by now. With the help of a very beautiful, emotionally closed off bartender, she goes on her own personal scavenger hunt (iykyk) to find out maybe she doesn’t need to meet anyone else’s expectations, just her own.
I learned a lot from this book and I am so looking forward to more by this author and of this genre.
Trigger warnings: acephobia/arophobia, homophobia, bullying

Angela has never been kissed and she shares this, her ace identity and her interest in a first kiss with her social media followers, creating a scavenger hunt where the winner earns her first kiss. Krystal, a bartender that’s she’s had a crush on for years, offers to help her with the scavenger hunt and their relationship heats up.

I really enjoyed the character development and growth throughout the book, the open dialogue between characters and learning more about the ace spectrum. I would have enjoyed hearing directly from Krystal as well, to get deeper understanding into some of her challenges and a second perspective, but overall it was an engaging and thought provoking read.

The narration of the audiobook seemed to match the characters and enhanced the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hatchett Audio and Gabriella Gamez for the advance reader copy.

What a fabulous audiobook! I read the ebook of this and then listened to it and the story was even more amazing the second time around. There was a lot going on in the story and I felt like it may have dragged a bit here and there but overall I really enjoyed the characters and found a lot of her internal struggles relatable. The plot was fun and interesting without feeling like it was something I’ve read before. Big fan of Gabriella’s writing and cannot wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the eARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

Did Not Finish.

There are many good things in this one. The open discussions about the spectrum of sexuality and identity. The realities of growing up in a homophobic family. But there was a revelation about Krystal midway through the story and I honestly can't get over it. It changed how I view her as a love interest. And Angela continuing on with a scavenger hunt (with the prize being her first kiss) despite falling for Krystal made me feel icky. Sorry but I'm doneskis.

This book was so cute! A variation of the movie Never Been Kissed in the TikTok era, it was fluffy and spicy in all the best ways. I appreciated the asexual and bisexual mess representation, and being in the midst of defending your orientation to people who don’t deserve your explanations. It was a joy watching Angela become a more confident version of herself while exploring her sexuality and watching Krystal forgive herself through her attraction to Angela. Overall, it was a breath of fresh air.

🗓️ out 5/6

Honestly taught me some great things about A sexual and the LGBTQ+ community.
A super fun scavenger hunt storyline! I laughed out loud a lot as well.

💜 Romcom
💜 a sexual rep
💜 tiktok/ social media plot line
💜 super slow burn
💜 pining


Thank you @readforeverpub and hachette audio