Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is perfection in bringing Yardley and KC to life. This story is so much more than I expected with the Mrs. and Mrs. Smith vibes throughout. These two characters have been lying to and about so much that at this point they aren't entirely sure if they were ever truly living. Mae Marvel has a knack for storytelling that draws you in and won't let you go.

Thank you Net galley for the ARC!
I was hooked the minute tabasco and unicorn discovered who they were to each other.
I had all the feelings while reading this one.
the mention of the origin of the watch had me a little teary eyed.

If I Told You I’d Have to Kiss You is a fun sapphic spy novel with a unique premise — two women in a long-term relationship each hiding the fact that they’re spies. The setup is ridiculous, but kind of great, and I was on board for the mix of action, romance, and identity-reveal chaos.

The book blends sharp action sequences with relationship drama, and I appreciated that both sides of the story got attention. There’s some genuine emotional growth for both leads, and their reconnection felt earned. That said, the pacing was slow at times and I occasionally found it hard to follow what was going on — particularly in the more technical or twist-heavy moments. There’s also a fair amount of suspension of disbelief required, but that comes with the territory in a spy novel like this.

Some of the secondary characters stood out — Kris in particular was a highlight — and their interactions gave the story a bit more depth. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Mia Hutchison-Shaw, who did an incredible job with her narration. Both characters had their own distinct voice so it helped with knowing who was talking (as this book is written in third person POV).

Overall, it’s a clever, fast-talking spy romance that offers something a little different. Not perfect, but definitely entertaining.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Fun, fast paced, spicy. It had everything you want from a Mrs. and Mrs. Smith type story. And they actually talked about things instead of letting them fester, so refreshing! I was riveted the whole way through.

The narrator of the audiobook did a great job differentiating the characters by voice, so it wasn't too hard to figure out who was talking at any time.

Definitely recommend to those who want a fun, fast-paced, sapphic romance.

Received a free copy through NetGalley.

Spice Level: 1/5 Open / Closed Door

Yardley Whitmer, aka “The Unicorn,” is a CIA agent who has as many accents as she does wigs to provide cover. As successful as she has been in her “spy” career, she has equally failed in her personal life.

KC Nolan, aka “Tobasco,” is a CIA hacker AND tech guru who moonlights as a coder / developer. Just like Yardley, she has been successful in her “spy” career, but has equally failed in her personal life.

Another thing they have in common is that they have no idea what each other’s day job is and their secrets are what’s causing their relationship failures, even though they do have love for each other. Chance would have it that KC puts herself on the line to save Yardley from a sticky situation. Only, they learn at that time that they’ve been working together in the CIA. This dangerous situation leads to them trekking around Europe trying to stop a computer virus that could wreck a lot of infrastructure.

I “read” this as an audiobook. I definitely want to give credit to the narrator, Mia Hutchison-Shaw for the voicework on this audiobook. While reading, she swapped between different accents for the characters. Managing one, I imagine, is difficult enough, but at least 3 and sometimes two during one scene. Massive credit!!

The premise of the story was intriguing for me as I hadn’t come across many spy type books in the sapphic genre. That really gravitated me towards this story. I enjoyed the twists and turns that this book provided. I also really enjoyed the way that Yardley and KC were able to discover the love that they once held (and still do) for each other while trying to stop the havoc.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You has such a fun and promising premise—sapphic spies, secret identities, and a mission gone sideways? I was immediately intrigued by the concept, the title, and the vibrant cover.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to its potential. While the setup was exciting, I struggled to connect with Yardley and KC. Both characters felt a bit underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting more depth and emotional nuance from their relationship. I also think the story might have benefited from alternating first-person perspectives to bring us closer to each character’s inner world—third-person narration created a bit of distance that made it harder to fully engage.

That said, Mia Hutchison-Shaw’s narration in the audiobook was a highlight. Her performance added warmth and personality to the story, and I’d definitely recommend the audio format if you’re curious to give this one a try.

3 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #ifitoldyouidhavetokissyou #marmarvel #miahutchinsonshaw

“If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You” reads like a sapphic Kim Possible re-telling. This fun, action-packed story follows a super-spy and her ex-girlfriend/hacker extraordinaire. The two decided to go their separate ways… only for their secret missions to overlap and for the two to realize they still had a lot to learn about one another.

This one contained a bit too much action and spice for me, making it feel long. It’s a fun plot, but could have been significantly shortened.

Thank you to Mae Marvel, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

They're both spies!!! This was a good read. I definitely recommend it if you like this type of book.

This thrilling secret agent story is the perfect Pride Month read—combining edge-of-your-seat espionage with a heartfelt and passionate romance that breaks all the usual spy story molds. Set mostly across stunning European cities, the narrative sweeps you into a high-stakes race to save the world, but it’s the authentic, beautifully written love story that truly steals the show.

The romance here isn’t just a side note—it’s a powerful, genuine connection that adds real emotional depth to the fast-paced action. Whether it’s tender moments between missions or sparks flying during daring escapes, the relationship shines as brightly as the heroics.

Celebrating courage, identity, and love in all its forms, this story is a brilliant mix of suspense and heart, perfect for Pride Month and beyond. If you love your spy thrillers with a side of romance and representation, this one’s for you.

This book was a solid 3 star. I felt that this book could have given more. I felt that it was trying too hard to be a LGBT+ novel and then threw in the plot instead of having a solid plot and then expanding on that plot with the relationship between the two FMCs. I really wanted to get to know the plot and have a cool spy story but felt like that fell through the cracks a little.

Now for the narration. This was very well done. The narrator Mia Hutchison-Shaw did a great job bringing the story to life. such a well-done job.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

there's something appealing about the premise of this book. a sapphic spy comedy where two ex-girlfriends discover they've been working for the same secret agency? that should be a recipe for chaos and chemistry. mae marvel commits fully to the concept, pulling from the energy of films like this means war or mr. and mrs. smith, clearly has fun with it. the story is packed with covert missions, european hideouts, and enough lipstick and surveillance gear to make any reader lean in.

yardley whitmer, code name "the unicorn," is a second-generation superspy with society-girl poise and a steel spine. she's legendary at the agency, but less successful at home, where her relationship with her hacker girlfriend kc nolan has fallen apart under the weight of too many lies. what yardley doesn't know is that kc - known in the field as "tabasco" - has also been working for the agency all along. when an operation goes sideways, their paths collide and all the secrets come spilling out. now they're stuck working together, pretending they're over each other while trying not to blow the mission or their hearts.

that setup had so much potential. i was ready for messiness, repressed feelings, and enemies-to-lovers energy between two women who never truly stopped loving each other. unfortunately, the execution didn't quite deliver for me. the emotional connection between yardley and kc never felt real to me. we're told there's history, attraction, resentment, desire, but i didn't feel it on the page. the tension stays surface-level, and the romantic beats are rushed or underdeveloped. there are glimmers of something more, especially in moments when their past brushes up against the present, but it never deepens in a satisfying way.

another major hurdle was the pacing. the book is too long for the story it's telling. much of the middle blurs together with repetitive mission scenes and expository moments that don't drive the characters forward. while the spy world is fleshed out and inventive, it often pulls attention away from the romance instead of enhancing it. i kept waiting for the book to settle into a rhythm where the action and the relationship would push against each other in meaningful ways, but it never quite clicked.

what works in film doesn't always work on the page, and i think that's the root of this book’s unevenness for me. in a movie, you can coast on charisma and spectacle. in a novel, you need emotional depth to carry the tension, and that's where this story felt thin. i admire the ambition and i'm always happy to see bold, queer concepts get center stage. but for me, the romance didn't land, and the spy plot, while fun, wasn't strong enough to carry the book on its own.

i really do think this book will resonate with people that primarily read romance. this wasn't a bad read, just not one that lingered with me. the concept is a standout, but the delivery was too uneven to fully enjoy.

I loved the premise of this story - a pair of ex-girlfriends that didn't know each other were spies on the same team? Sign me up!

I’ve previously read work by Mae Marvel and enjoyed it, but I think the spy genre here wasn’t really for me. I found myself easily distracted and not fully involved in that part of the story, but I imagine other readers wouldn’t have that experience.

I think this was such a fun quick audiobook and I truly enjoyed it. It was easy to follow along with and the FMC was so cool

Okay, hear me out—this one had me at “sapphic Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” The concept? ✨Delightful✨ Two women. Both spies. Both in love. Neither knows the other is also leading a double life. 👀



The setup screams tension and danger, right? And while the emotional stakes and personal growth hit hard with a ton of internal conflict and romantic vulnerability, the spy side of things never quite brought the tension I was hoping for. I kept waiting for high-stakes moments where the mission might jeopardize their relationship or—one of their lives. But the danger just never dialed up.



That said, if you’re here for slow-burn romance with a bit of heat, queer representation, and emotional depth with a side of espionage, this will be a total win for you. Just don’t go in expecting non-stop spy thrills.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved Mae Marvel's first novel and was so excited to be offered another sapphic romance! This book had it all - mystery, intrigue, "enemies to lovers", and more! The characters were great, the story held my attention, and the spice was fun! The narration was great on this one.

Thank you again for the ARC!

If I Told You I’d Have to Kiss You, by Mae Marvel, is a different sort of spy story. Yardley Whitmer, known in spy circles as the Unicorn, is on the verge of a break up with her girlfriend KC Nolan, a computer geek. On a serious mission to discover the whereabouts of a computer code that can take down the grid, agent Tabasco guides Unicorn to gather information and evidence. When the next step is to meet with the seller of this code puts Unicorn in a precarious situation, Tobasco comes rushing to her aide, and the two women come face to face, exposing the secrets they each were keeping.

As Yardley and KC become embroiled in the mission and work with several others they can trust, they endeavor to recover the code, ensnare the traitors, and engage KC’s hacker counterpart from when they were merely teens.

In the style of all good spy stories, this novel follows suit, but in somewhat different ways. This sapphic tale brings a different perspective to this type of story and is a good choice for Pride Month to broaden horizons. It is a good story for those who enjoy this genre.

This was my first spy romance and I have to say it was a fun read. It had a good mix of romance and mystery. If you are looking for a spy plot with lots of twists and turns this is not it. But the relationship between or two FMCs was so good. The tension, draw and resulting spice kept you wanting to read more. If you are looking for a good sapphic book for pride month (or any month) I highly recommend picking this up.

Yardley Whitmer is a second-generation spy, code name “the Unicorn.” KC Nolan is a hacker extraordinaire, code name “Tabasco.” When an undercover operation goes wrong, Yardley and KC discover that they are Unicorn and Tabasco and have been working together with the agency for years. Can they salvage their relationship as they work together and get to know each other’s true selves?

I really loved the premise of this one. Sapphic spies that work together on a mission, sign me up. The cover and title also drew me in. Unfortunately, the execution fell a bit flat for me. I honestly didn’t love either character and felt they were both underdeveloped. I wish the story had been written from alternating first-person point of views instead of third person. I did enjoy the narration from Mia Hutchison-Shaw. I do recommend the audio if you want to try this one. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Unfortunately this book fell far short of what it could have been. I felt like the characters fell flat and the plot was boring despite being action/spy themed. Overall the writing style was not for me and if this were not an ARC that I was committed to finishing, I would have DNF’ed it.