That moment when you are reading a book and the main character represents your own sexuality so well that she articulates feelings and experiences you’ve never known how to put words to and teaches you things about yourself that you never knew you could learn and maybe for the first time ever in your life you feel seen and represented and that someone will love you in the future, because you are not broken.

Sweet and steamy. I really fell in love with these characters and thought the author did a beautiful job of navigating Angel’s sexuality and letting the story grow with her. I think some readers will be disappointed with the fact that Angel does fall into more of a Demi/grey sexual orientation and feel like their experience as an ace person isn’t reflected in the story. I found that I felt like I understood ace/aro/aspec and myself better after reading this.

✨To have my feelings returned is like someone starting a wildfire inside my chest.  I'm burning with want. I could so easily fall in love with her, if she’d let me. 
I want her to let me.✨

A light, breezy romance that also becomes hard-hitting and poignant when it needs to be. I had my ups and downs with this (especially when it came to the writing) but I ultimately REALLY liked this. I really didn't expect it to make me so emotional. Angela is a recently out (both to herself and others) asexual lesbian, who accidentally goes viral on TikTok for being never-been-kissed. As she cultivates an online ace community, she also starts organising a fun event to have her first kiss. She ends up being helped by Krystal, the cute bartender that she's been quietly crushing on for years. And Krystal, unlike Angela, is very much not looking for love.

I really love reading queer, romance that has a pointed focus on identity and self discovery, and I love it when all of that discovery doesn't happen before the story or at the end of the story. Angela, through the friends she makes online and the new experiences she opens herself up to, is learning what asexuality means for her, learning where exactly she fits on the spectrum. And it's lovely to see someone's own understanding of themselves shift as the narrative goes on. That hits harder at the end of the book, when certain conflicts come into play. I got so upset on behalf of the main character! It can be so infuriating when people take it upon themselves to define you without your permission, and I really liked how the author explored that experience. I will say, when you write about identity and definitions and labels like this, it can come across as a bit clinical, and that did sorta go there, from time to time. Certain conversations felt very, like... idk, staged. You could tell that it had been written for a book. But I found that easy enough to forgive, especially when juxtaposed with how much joy Angela, and other characters, got out of it.

The romance was everything I could have wanted; it made me giggle. Slow burn when it came to the kissing, but not much else. I would have preferred full-on slow burn, because I am who I am, but we did have a history of slow friendship and pining between the characters, which was delightful to me. I wouldn't have minded getting a few flashbacks, or maybe just a few more descriptions of their earlier dynamic. I loved Angela and Krystal so much. They both have reasons to be hesitant about a relationship, and it was lovely seeing them fall for each other despite it. They're also both pretty flawed characters who have made mistakes and bad decisions in the past, and I liked how the narrative didn't shy away from showing when they were in the wrong, but also giving them sympathy and room to grow. And look, sorry not sorry, I felt for Angela and Krystal WAY more than anyone they might have wronged. But I'm biased. I just really loved them. The chemistry was so intense, it was incredible, and they had a lot of quiet lovely moments to balance it out. 

The pacing did feel a little off near the end. A certain thing kept flipping back and forth, back and forth, and it got a little tiresome, to be honest. Certain conversations about coming out hit me the wrong way; I really don't like when it's framed as 'lying to other people' or 'lying to yourself' or 'hiding who you are'. It's subjective, of course, but it really bothers me.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Ruby Corazon, and I really liked it! She had a good range, and made every character voice distinct, even if she didn't change her voice much. I do wish there had been longer pauses for the sections breaks though; I sometimes couldn't tell when the scene switched, because it moved so fast. Otherwise, it was a great listening experience. And a great book! Definitely recommended for anyone looking for a light, sexy sapphic contemporary that still has great conversations and a lot of heart to it.

✨“She’s raging into love the way soldiers rage into war. Love is an act of bravery to this woman. It doesn’t make her weak or vulnerable. It makes her powerful. She’s offering up her heart like it’s a challenge to be conquered.”✨

✨ Review ✨ Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez; Narrated by Ruby Corazon

Thanks to Forever, Hachette Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book is so Puro San Antonio! It takes place during Fiesta and locals will find it even more delightful!

Angela accidentally goes viral on TikTok and uses the platform to learn more about asexuality as she creates a scavenger hunt to grant the winner her first kiss. When Krystal, her bartender crush, wants to help her plan the scavenger hunt, the two develop a close friendship, resulting in a steamy potential romance. Overall, this book has great asexual/aromantic spectrum representation as Angela sorts through this range of identities.

There's a lot of family drama as Angela's cousins don't understand her identity. It's also made messier by Angela's librarian boss interfering with her personal life and what she shares on social media (perfect commentary on the state of Texas honestly), and this book emphasizes growth as the characters change throughout.

The book slowed a bit in the middle for me, and started to feel a little drawn out, but otherwise, I loved the atmosphere of this book!

🎧 I really enjoyed the audio for this one. Great narration that was full of emotion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: f/f romance with asexual rep
Setting: San Antonio
Length: 10 hours 21 minutes
Pub Date: May 6, 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ asexual romance
⭕️ exploration of queer identity
⭕️ San Antonio
⭕️ murals, art, and bookstores

I had a little trouble with this one but I think my issues were my fault and a misunderstanding. I assumed that because one of the mcs is ace that the book wouldn't have a ton or spice but I was very incorrect. This book actually had way more spice than I am usually comfortable with and because of that I found myself skimming large chunks of this book. I am not someone who hates spice but I also don't really enjoy it (I'm a sex neutral asexual lesbian) so I just found that I was really bored. I fealt like to much time was spent on spice and on the main character thinking about getting in the other mcs pants. I think if I had gone into this knowing that the spice was such a prominent feature I would have liked this more. Because I was unaware i found i was dreading parts of the story because I could tell they were just going to devolve into spicy scenes.
All that being said I liked the main character. I did like seeing ace rep in a book and the frank talks about being ace and the different places on the spectrum. I loved the friendship between the main characters and the family drama. Overall this was a really good book. I liked the romance and the way it built from a friendship. If this book had less spice this would have been a perfect read for me. Because it doesn't this book was only okay.

🎧 ARC Audio Review:Kiss Me, Maybe 🎧
🌟🌟🌟

First off, thank you to the publisher and audio team for the advance listening copy of Kiss me, Maybe! This book had so many things I was excited about! Ace rep (a first for me!) , a sweet librarian protagonist, a scavenger hunt for her first kiss, and an unrequited love story.

The narrator did a solid job voicing Angela and honestly that was the highlight of the book for me! She made you feel like you could relate and understand Angela.

The pacing dragged, especially in the middle. There are long stretches where not much happens beyond internal monologue and event planning. I found myself zoning out during chapters that could have been condensed or tightened.

The scavenger hunt concept was a bit immature for me and at the end felt almost unnecessary.

I did learn a lot about the asexual community! Which I found super interesting and makes me even more interested in reading about their stories.

Read if you love:

🎧 Late bloomer ace rep
🎧 Longtime crush / friends-to-maybe-more
🎧 Scavenger hunt first kiss
🎧 Grumpy bartender x sunshine librarian

A true journey of self-discovery, this story offers a deep and honest look into the experience of an ace (asexual) woman exploring her identity and sexuality. If the broad spectrum of sexuality is something you're unfamiliar with, this book is a beautiful entry point—it dives into what the spectrum can look like and what it can mean for someone trying to understand where they might fit.

Our FMC, Angela, is in the thick of that exploration, and you’re fully immersed in her journey. You learn right alongside her as she navigates the fluidity of her sexuality with vulnerability and curiosity. I loved the connection between Angela and Krystal. They start out with this sweet tension—friends with quiet crushes—and it’s so satisfying to see their bond deepen. You can feel the attraction simmering between them, but more importantly, they become a safe space for each other to talk, grow, and explore. While the story centers mostly on Angela, Krystal is a steady presence and a beautiful catalyst in her journey.

The book handles topics of sexuality and queerness with such care—it’s both gentle and informative. It also examines the double-edged nature of social media: Angela finds her people and a supportive community online, but she also faces the cruelty of those who hide behind screens to spew hate. That contrast felt very real. I also have to mention how much I adored the librarian community in this book! The found family vibes are strong, and seeing Angela surrounded by people who truly have her back was incredibly moving. That kind of unconditional support is such a gift.

Ruby Corazon beautifully narrates Angela's character and bring authenticity to her Mexican roots. The vulnerability in her voice really brought Angela's character to life and felt realistic to her journey.

TROPES
🏳️‍🌈Ace Spec/Bi/Lesbian Rep
💞Friends to Lovers
🫶🏻Found Family
🗺️Scanvenger Hunt
📱Social Media
🇲🇽Mexican American Rep

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez!

GENRE
• Librarians in Love, book 2
• Adult
• Contemporary queer romance

SUMMARY
When Angela’s reel about her ace identity goes viral, she decides there is no time like the present to explore her feelings about romance even further. She pitches a scavenger hunt to her audience, one in which the winner would earn the honor of being her first kiss. What she doesn’t expect? Her long-time, unrequited crush Krystal offering to help organize the event. It turns out, Krystal is very supportive of love—even though she doesn’t believe herself capable of it.

REVIEW
Being ace-spec, I really enjoyed how far this book delves into the ace identity itself. I deeply appreciated the representation across the spectrum and the reassurance that it’s okay for identity to evolve with time and experience. Though predictable, the plot fully delivers on the promise of the premise, and I felt very satisfied upon reaching the end. The main cast is well-rounded and absolutely delightful. Their unconditional support of Angela is truly heartwarming. Plus, the audiobook swept me through the story with smooth and easy-to-follow narration. I definitely recommend adding this one to your Pride Month TBR.
4/5

This review is solely for the audiobook. The book itself was disappointing, and would probably get three stars from me. I think I would also give the audiobook three stars. I don't think it was terrible, but my biggest beef with it was how often I completely lost which female character was speaking. About half the time, the voices were different and then it would start to blend together. There were so many times I was so lost. However, I liked most other things about the narrator. I saw a review where someone said the narrator was so slow but I actually didn't think that at all. I personally would have rather just read the book, not listened to it.

3.5⭐️

Diversity in books is important. It educates, it fosters empathy, understanding, and acceptance, but most importantly it allows for everyone to see themselves in a book. Everyone should have the opportunity to identify with a character at some point in their reading journey and I think this book is a good representation of that.

Angela is an asexual lesbian and wondering if she will ever have her first kiss, let alone fall in love. Krystal is the hot bisexual bartender who has sworn off love after her last breakup.

When Angela launches a romantic scavenger hunt, in the hunt for her first kiss on TikTok, Krystal becomes her sidekick, “guiding” her along the way. What starts as friendship grows quickly into more and the two have to decide what they are both ready for.

Cute steamy story of self discovery in a world where not everyone is so kind.

This book has been on my radar for damn near a year. I have been not so patiently waiting to read it for almost that entire time. Since the cover reveal, I’ve been in love with these characters and their story, knowing NOTHING about them, but the absolute joy and love the artwork is serving… and it is SERVING!

Little did I know that what I thought was a Mexican sapphic story would be absolutely PACKED with asexual representation. I mean, it was still everything I had hope for, but now it got 1000 times better. This has the most well-versed (for those who don’t understand and need to be taught) explanations on the feelings, both sexually and not, of an ace spec person. Our MC, Angela, is finding herself later in life, so she’s also figuring out what it means to her to be asexual.

These kind of stories are so important, because not all queer voices are represented enough. While sapphics and achilleans are in mainstream media, the rest of the alphabet has been all but forgotten in that now cold soup. So I love getting a story where not only is the main character ace, but so many of the book’s characters are as well. It was like watching an episode of Oprah Winfrey’s show… And you get an ace! And you get an ace!! Oh! You too!

And let’s not forget the romance. You may be asking, “but haven’t you been talking about the characters being asexual?” BOOBOO! Ace comes in lots of shapes and sizes. Read this book for more info… also, if you want some ICONIC banter and HAWWWWWWWT spice, Kiss Me, Maybe is WHERE IT IS AT!!!! 🥵

Have you met a 27 year old asexual lesbian who has never been kissed? Well, meet Angela. She's battling going viral on TikTok while also trying to navigate her crush on a local bartender, Krystal. And how does she make it more difficult? By enlisting the internet on a scavenger hunt where the prize is....her first kiss!

This book had me squealing and screaming at my car sound system. I was introduced to more of the LGBTQIA+ community and I loved it. This book explored a lot of different sexual identities that I hadn't heard of or experience before and I'm grateful for that. I felt deeply for Angela and her story.

Thank you to @netgalley and @hachetteaudio for this gifted ALC. I had so much fun with it and thought the narrator was phenomenal. Hachette Audio, keep popping out these bangers!

Thank you Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the ARC! This was cozy cutesy cozy. A very predictable read but nothing beats gay yearning. I loved how the author highlighted all the different experiences some may face coming out to family. Angela’s character growth was absolutely unmatched and it made me root for her from the beginning. Sometimes characters like her fall into this helpless quiet narrative but Angela was vulnerable and got out of her own way.

Welcome to Kiss Me, Maybe, where Angela is a "late bloomer" who has never been kissed and is still trying to figure out her identity, all the while developing a para-social following on TikTok as she decides to "date the internet" to find a girl to have her first kiss with. Does that sound a bit messy? Probably, because it kind of is in parts. Mostly because Angela is a bit of a naive mess, multiple times during this story.
I want to be clear. This book has some good- Hispanic representation for one, and exploring different LGBTQ+ identities- taking us on Angela's journey as she moves from fully asexual to ace spec, all while trying to make others understand her comphet ways when she was younger. Also, I really wanted to like her for her whole "late bloomer" journey (as a fellow late bloomer, I felt like this author was saying "go late bloomers!" while also trying to act like not dating at 16 is being a late bloomer. Oh honey, I'm 30 and I'm still trying to figure it out).
BUT: I feel like all of the drama with her cousin (and specifically, the guy she brought to dinner) was kind of thrown in and it was a bit rushed, especially (again) the guy's part in all of this. I also really wanted more from Krystal. I mean I love dual POV but I know not all authors like to write from multiple perspectives for one story, but she was terrible at communicating so I was never sure where to take or leave things with them- I know I'm supposed to be rooting for them but it didn't always feel that way.
I'd also like to say that I received this as an audiobook, and it was not my favorite to listen to. There wasn't much emotion given by the narrator in the narration- even in the spicy scenes it felt kind of bland. There were no problems with pacing or sound quality, however. I'd probably give both the audiobook and the story itself 3/5 Stars.
Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of this book, this is my honest review.

Gabriella Gamez’s Kiss Me, Maybe is a heartfelt sapphic romance that delves into the complexities of identity, the dual nature of internet fame, and the importance of community, both online and offline. Set against the vibrant backdrop of San Antonio, Texas, the novel follows Angela Gutierrez, a 27-year-old asexual librarian who has never been kissed.

Gamez does not shy away from the complexities of identity. Angela's journey of self-discovery is portrayed with nuance, highlighting the spectrum of asexuality and the challenges of coming out later in life. Krystal's character adds depth to the narrative, as she confronts her own fears about love and vulnerability. Their evolving relationship underscores the theme that queer individuals exist everywhere, including in heavily conservative states, and that their stories are worth telling

The novel also emphasizes the importance of building community. Angela finds support among fellow queer individuals online, creating a sense of belonging that contrasts with the lack of understanding she faces from some family members. This duality showcases how online platforms can foster connection and empowerment, even as they expose individuals to criticism and scrutiny

If you love a dating competition and a book that is impacted by a character’s internet fame this book is for you!

Favorite Quotes: “Friend is too small a word a word for someone you love”
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age: Adult
Tropes: First Kiss, Dating Competition, Friends to Lovers, Long Term Crush
Spice: Had me blushing for sure. When I found out the main character was Asexual, I wasn’t expecting spice in the boo,k and wow was I WRONG. Such is the amazing thing about representing the spectrum of sexuality.
Themes: Re-discovering sexual identity, Learning to date, Influencer culture, finding a micro-label
Representation: Greysexual Lesbian, Mexican American MC, Curvy Bisexual Mexican-American
Read For: Netgalley
Obtained From: Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the Advanced Listening Copy of this Audiobook.
Song Recommendation for the vibe: (For Krystal) Crush by Fox Gunn, (For Angela) Sofia by Clairo

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kiss Me, Maybe
Author: Gabriella Gamez

Just finished Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez and it was such a pleasant, feel-good read! It follows Angela, a librarian who goes viral on TikTok and sets up a scavenger hunt to find someone for her first kiss—with help from her longtime crush, Krystal. I really enjoyed the TikTok and influencer vibes throughout, and the scavenger hunt was a super fun twist. Spice level was maybe a 3/5, just enough to keep things interesting. Overall, it was cute, modern, and sweet—solid 4/5 stars from me! Thank you so much Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

On the surface this a fun, cute sapphic romance that involves a scavenger hunt, social media and a first kiss. And this book is all of those things, but also so much more. This story is emotional and dives into self discovery and identity and labels and the pressure that people feel to put themselves in a specific box.

Angela is doing the best she can and we see her navigate dating and what love and sexuality mean to her. I loved the chemistry she had with Krystal…but that doesn’t mean their connection is simple or easy.

I have never read a book with ace spec representation and it felt very honest and authentic. We also see these characters dealing with influencer culture, how toxic it can be and the effects of going viral. There is a scene early on where Angela is called in by HR to discuss a video that went viral that had me raging on her behalf.

At times this story is a little messy and dramatic…but honestly so is life!

I thought the narrator did a good job with the voices and bringing these characters to life!

✨What To Expect:
💋Sapphic Romance
❤️‍🔥Friends to Lovers
🍻Librarian x Bartender
🏳️‍🌈Ace Spec, Bi, & Lesbian rep
⭐️Found Family
🧭Scavenger Hunt
📱Influencer/TikTok Culture
🔥Spicy Scenes…But No Kissing!

This was aa heartwarming rom-com, but with a nice blend of humor and emotional depth. Angela, a librarian and late bloomer, gains viral fame after coming out, and she decides to make the most of it by organizing a scavenger hunt where the prize is her very first kiss. Then, Krystal, the local bartender and Angela's longtime crush, agrees to help. What starts as a fun and quirky idea quickly turns into something deeper as their connection grows, and the chemistry between them is palpable. The story takes its time to unfold, but it was still nice as it developed.

I really appreciated the representation of asexuality here, especially with Angela still figuring out her identity. The author handles the complexities of love, family, and personal growth with a lot of care, and the dynamic between Angela and Krystal was both tender and charged.

If you're looking for a sapphic romance that has the right mix of humor, heat, and heart, this might be for you!

I received an audio copy of this book and the narrator did an excellent job!

Thanks NetGalley for the audio!

This was definitely a cute story! I hadn't read the first book in the Librarians in Love series and didn't feel like that hampered my enjoyment of this story.

Angela is a sweet and inexperienced young woman who has gone viral from a TikTok post related to her non-existent first kiss and her Ace sexual identity. Angela's new virality gives her a platform to meet more queer people and explore more of her feelings about her identity while also trying to find someone to help her have her first kiss. Krystal is the bartender of Angela and Marcela (book 1's FMC) favorite bar. Angela has had a crush on Krystal for a while but her TikTok video has finally given them a reason to get close to each other.

I thought this was a cute romance! Some of the plot points regarding Angela's ideas to finding her first kiss felt a little unbelievable but it was fun enough that I wasn't super bothered by it. Most of the characters were really well developed and I understood how and why they were making the decisions they did.

I listened to this story on audio and I really enjoyed the narrator here. She pronounced all the Spanish properly and really brought a great voice to this production!

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.

The narration was fantastic. I really enjoyed it and thought that Angela's voice was perfect for her.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever, and Net Galley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.