3.5 Stars

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review this book.

I initially grabbed this book just based on the cover and it appeared to be sapphic, which it is but it’s more than that. The beginning almost lost me, it was slow there was a lot of words and it was slow but then it picked up thankfully. I liked the narrators voices, they did a great job with the characters voices.
Character wise I did enjoy the characters, I did think that they were way younger, so they read younger and I think with the social media as well. It read like a coming of age story but it was an older coming out story and finding yourself. I did think that the scavenger hunt was a neat idea, who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt.
I would recommend this read it just didn’t hit it out of the park for me.

A heartwarming, fun and empowering exploration of asexuality and self discovery, Kiss Me, Maybe was a true joy to read.

The amount of representation and nuanced conversation surrounding identity in this book was so natural and refreshingly written. I adored the characters in this and loved being reunited with Angela after adding her in The Next Best Fling (it was great to see Marcela and Theo again too!)

Overall this was a delight and has firmly placed Gabriella Gamez as an autobuy author for me.

Sometimes, having the audiobook it's so much better than having a physical copy. This is one of those times. I hate the main character with all my soul. I'm not saying she's a bad character, but we are different people, and her lack of decision-making bugs me a lot. I'm sure that if I had a physical copy, I wouldn't have finished it. The audiobook gave me a chance to enjoy such a character by giving her a voice. I still don't like her, but I can understand her train of thought. I ended up enjoying this book because I could see how this girl matures.
At the end of the day, I enjoy this experience. I hope the author and narrator can work together again because they make a good team.

A story of self-discovery, romance and friendship.

Angela was determined to break out of her shell and make a big change in her life. She had a few setbacks but ultimately the team that rallied around her had her back.

The relationship that blossomed between Angela & Krystal was wonderful to read about. They had liked each quietly and secretly for so long, never doing anything about it until circumstances aligned to bring them together. It felt very organic.

A story like this is also a great reminder that representation matters and if someone wants to label themselves that is ok but if the labels change for them over time that is ok too.

Unsure how many books this series will have but so far so cute and I’ll be going back to read book 1!

Really impressed by Ruby Corazon‘s narration, she captured both main characters personalities brilliantly.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this lovely ALC!

Kiss Me, Maybe had a cozy, queer rom-com vibe I was excited for, and while the story had its ups and downs, the narration carried the experience. Angela’s journey as a late bloomer navigating firsts was sweet and authentic, and the dynamic with Krystal had potential—even if the pacing sometimes made it feel like it took forever to reach its conclusion.
But Ruby Corazon? Total standout. She brought so much charm and personality to both Angela and Krystal that it helped smooth out the parts of the story that felt slower or repetitive. Her voice gave Angela the perfect mix of softness and inner strength, and she made Krystal feel warm and real, even when the character was emotionally distant. Honestly, the narration made the book feel a bit more alive than it probably would’ve thought on the page alone.

🎧Song Pairing: Femininomenon - Chappell Roan

💭What I thought would happen:

The title and cover honestly give me nothing to go on. I made zero assumptions except ooo colourful pretty cover!

📖What actually happens:

🌶️Spicy sapphic romance
🏳️‍🌈Bi + lesbian representation
🩷Aro/ace rep
💋Never been kissed
🩵Latin rep

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

If you saw my story recently, this was the book I was listening to when I got caught in the rain in my little white tank top and had to pass firefighter training where they could easily tell you the colour shape and circumference of my nipples..,anyways add insult to injury it was a particularly spicy scene as I was passing by so needless to say I’ll never forget this book 😂

Another wonder-gay-ful lesbian/bi romance! And I adored the aro/ace representation - I think this was my first book and I learned so much!

The drama in this book with a particular family member was peak yaaaassss. I love me some fam dram!

I wish it had been dual perspective. I’d have loved to have been in Krystal’s mind.

Sign me up for anything and everything written by Gabriella Gamez. While I think some readers are turned off by Gamez's quirky characters and storylines, I absolutely adore them. Kiss Me, Maybe is written for any one who has felt the pressure to discover themselves in private, without the support of family and friends. Its for the shy girls, the ones who are "late bloomers (though if there's a moral of this book, it's that the idea of being "late" to self discovery is nonsense), and to for those learning to prioritize their wants and needs. I saw another review that said something along the liens of Gabriella Gamez knowing that real life happens in the details -- the text messages, the internal thoughts, and small conversations -- and I could not agree more. Life isn't often full of big dramatic life changing moments, instead it's the little things that happen each day, and behind the scenes that make up our lives. I love how this is portrayed in this book. Additionally, as a San Antonian, I adored all of the references and settings throughout the book.

This is a beautiful sapphic story. And while sometimes the detailed definitions of queer identities felt a bit heavy handed, I felt like it did make sense in the context of the book -- since our MC is literally also figuring out her gender and sexual identity alongside the reader.

Thank you to Forever for the ARC of the audiobook of Kiss Me, Maybe. I adored the narration, and found it so fun to listen to. Would definitely recommend this book, and particularly the audio to readers everywhere.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review!

The narration was fantastic and reading/listening to this book at the same time was fun to do because of it. You can definitely tell that the author did a lot of research of the queer community, especially asexuality! I always like finding another book with ace rep that I can remind to my friends and followers.

Although, it was overall a good book, it wasn't a new favorite. I had a hard time liking and rooting for the main character so that definitely affected my rating. Overall, I would still recommend it, it just wasn't a new fav!

Angela has never been kissed which she announces to the world through a Tik Tok video. With the help.of friends, she begins a scavenger hunt quest, and the prize is her first kiss. Throughout the story, as the hunt is being set up, Angela is exploring their own identity and the concept of the fluidity of identity. I loved all of the main characters and supportive characters in this book! Angela's journey throughout the pages was full of emotions and reflection. I did not want to put this book down. I wanted Angela to find her happily ever after, not what is dictated by society and other's opinions. Thank you to Forever Pub and Hachette Audio for an advanced listening copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Kiss Me, Maybe is a swoony, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud queer romcom that beautifully blends coming-of-age self-discovery with irresistible slow-burn chemistry. Angela Gutierrez is a proudly ace librarian and late bloomer whose viral video turns into a delightfully chaotic scavenger hunt for her first kiss. But it’s Krystal—the sharp, guarded bartender with a soft spot for Angela—who steals both the show and her heart. Gabriella Gamez crafts a romance that’s as smart and spicy as it is tender and validating, giving readers a rare ace-centered love story without shying away from the complexities of desire, vulnerability, and identity. Fans of Talia Hibbert or Casey McQuiston will adore this fresh, funny gem.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Funny, heartfelt, and beautifully queer—Kiss Me, Maybe is another absolute gem from Gabriella Gamez

Gabriella Gamez has done it again—Kiss Me, Maybe is a pitch-perfect romance that balances humor, heat, and vulnerability with ease. This book is so much more than a cute premise—it’s an empowering, deeply emotional exploration of identity, love, and the very real messiness of late-blooming self-discovery.

💋 Why it’s a 5/5 must-listen:
Angela is everything. A proudly ace, awkward-yet-determined librarian who goes viral after opening up about her never-been-kissed status? She’s relatable, lovable, and refreshingly honest about her insecurities.

Krystal = crush material. Tattooed, emotionally guarded, and sneakily soft—Krystal’s steady presence and quiet yearning are addictive. The way she supports Angela without taking over? Swoon.

The scavenger hunt twist is genius. It adds a playful, rom-com energy to the story while sneaking in moments of reflection, flirting, and tension-filled will-they-won’t-they goodness.

Representation done right. Ace/gray-ace identity, emotional intimacy, queer friendships, and healthy boundaries—Gamez handles it all with nuance, humor, and care.

Ruby Corazon’s narration? Perfection. She brings warmth, vulnerability, and chemistry to every scene, making the characters feel so alive it’s impossible to press pause.

🧡 Final thoughts:
Kiss Me, Maybe is about finding love on your own terms, discovering your worth, and realizing that sometimes the perfect person isn’t the one you were searching for—it’s the one who’s been right there all along. This story will make you laugh, ache, and absolutely melt.

Five stars. Full heart. Forever recommending.

I actually adored the characters. This book may be fiction, but so much of it felt real. Like this could be your friend's experience. I was drawn in so quickly and devoured it in one sitting, staying up until after midnight to finish it!!

Highly recommend!!

This book I received the ALC but it disappeared from my NetGalley before I had the ability to review it. I was able to review the ARC to formulate my feedback on the writing of the book

Okay so… I really liked this. But it also felt a bit too telling, and not enough showing. I can’t quite say why or how- it’s just a vibe that doesn’t settle in the soft spot in my chest. It doesn’t resonate, like Crystal says about Natalia’s mural print.

I wish it did. Becuase the depth and richness in this story really deserves to be experienced.

Hum, un peu déçue de cette lecture. Tout d'abord j'ai trouvé la voix de la narratrice très robotique, parfois cela m'a empêchée de me plonger totalement dans l'histoire. Et le second point que je n'ai pas aimé, c'est la façon dont était abordé le sujet principal de ce roman : l'asexualité. Vraiment je pense qu'on aurait pu se passer des scènes olé-olé beaucoup trop descriptives avec ce type de sujet (d'autant plus qu'en audio c'est absolument cringe).

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!

“When a late bloomer goes viral for coming out, she decides to use her newfound fame to get her first kiss-with the help of a sexy bartender.”

Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez had a lot of things to like, but many things that didn’t quite work for me, too. I’ll start with the positives: Latinx rep and queer rep- specifically ace rep! Angela’s journey of self discovery and acceptance was lovely and I loved the way the tension between the two FMCs built. The banter was cute and I did plenty of giggling and kicking my feet! However, Angela often read as younger than the 27 she was supposed to be, and not just because she was a late bloomer. I also found the scavenger hunt aspect of the story line to be a bit…unrealistic and bizarre? Like don’t get me wrong, I definitely have parasocial relationships with content creators, but the idea that her first kiss would be given to the winner of the scavenger hunt felt very very weird. I also felt like the pacing of this book needed work or perhaps the author just got focused and sidetracked from the story? It felt like some pieces dragged and some were unnecessary. The smut was also kinda cringe 😬 also tell me why there’s no ace flag representation on the cover?? It’s so beautiful and intentional but this whole story focuses on the FMC exploring her asexuality- WHERE IS THE ACE FLAG?!

Overall, despite my complaints, I did enjoy this and thought it was a cute sapphic read!

3.5⭐️ rouded down to 3 for goodreads

I really loved the journey Angel went on in this book. It can be complicated to set yourself out amongst people who want to belittle you.
I loved both in the FMCs.
My only negative is completely me thing. I have difficulty accepting that a person can be this concerned with what strangers think of you.

"Kiss Me, Maybe" is a very solid romcom. The characters are fun and the plot is very enjoyable. Most of the conflicts in their relationship didn't feel like they were thrown in just for the sake of the plot, which is something that gets on my nerves a lot. There were a few times where the plot/conflict did feel a little drawn out, but overall it worked well.

As an asexual queer woman, that aspect of the story also felt very real and relatable to me. I appreciate that the main character's asexuality is a very important part to her character, but she also goes on a journey of finding exactly where she is on that spectrum. While it is true that a lot of asexual people don't have sex, a lot do and I appreciate when an author doesn't write asexuality like it means a character will be celibate forever. From some quick research it seems like the author is on the ace spectrum herself, which given the book makes a lot of sense and I always appreciate some ace rep that comes from personal experience. :)

Also, I really enjoyed the audiobook! The narrator made the characters feel real and I didn't notice any weird audio editing/mixing things. There were one or two times where I had a little trouble telling some of the side character's voices apart, but as long as the main characters are distinct I'm willing to deal with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for my Audio ARC!

4/5 Interesting take on the affects on Tiktok, going viral, and how it can affect and/or build relationships

First, the representation in this book is beyond important and well told. The idea of not knowing what to label yourself, wondering if you'll be wrong to change it, or if you'll ever find a place you "fit" and are fully accepted is a struggle many, including myself, have had or are having in the LGBTQ+ community. And Gabriella Games wrote that with grace and clarity. Getting into the romance and characters, both leads had strong growth and development, their pinning tension was STRONG, and their story was adorable. But, personally I never felt super connected to either character. I needed just a little bit more in some way to really be pulled into them. I loved them, but was never emotionally attached to them. I also hoped for a stronger resolution with the family drama side story.

Otherwise, the story was very well written and paced well too. I really enjoyed the approach to TikTok in a romance book since it is such a large part of todays world and not seen often. I think the author did a great job being creative with the pros and cons to being viral on a large social media app. I was rooting for the romance the entire time, as well as the relationships the main character had with her close family and friends. The relationship dynamics we're very well thought out.

This book was a fast, easy romantic listen and I really enjoyed the audiobook narrators. I will definitely be giving Gabriella Gamez more listens in the future!

Book Tropes: LGBTQ+ Romance, Pinning, Friends to Lovers
Spice Level: 3/5 - the spice is different due to character preferences, but well written and still very steamy.
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia

This was an ARC read in exchange for my honest thoughts. Thank you NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever Publishing for this audiobook ALC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kiss Me, Maybe is an amazing read. If you're looking for asexual representation, a scavenger hunt where the prize is a kiss, figuring out sexuality and discovering yourself then this one is for you. The audio was fantastic!

Highly recommend!

The audio version of this book disappointed me. I was really excited to listen to a latinx book written and narrated by POC authors, but it felt very robotic. I did not emotionally connect with the story, because most of the time it seemed like the narrator did not include any emotion in her voice. It was very flat during the whole the book and I even had a hard time separating different characters. There were no weird noises in the background and the quality of the recording was wonderful. It was very easy to understand the narrator, she spoke clearly.

This book has all the tropes for me: latinx, a librarian, a curvy bartender, two women falling in love, set in Texas, full of beautiful culture, incredible book cover. And yet it left me feeling like there was something missing at the end. I did appreciate it being written in first person, so I felt like we went on a journey with Angela trying to figure out her sexuality.