Someone to Kiss

Even though Kate embarrased me several times in the story- I LOVED this book! The realness of the determination to find “the one” hit home for me.

Ben’s character reminded me of Calum Scotts “Dancing on my Own song:
I'm right over here, why can't you see me? Oh
And I'm giving it my all
I'm not the guy you're taking home, ooh
I keep dancing on my own.”

Julie’s role played a big part in the story. Sharing her secret to Kate ended up changing her life for the good.

Shout out to Netgalley for the read and review.I will be buying this book, and mentioning it in Book Club this week.

Loved it ! Characters and story are very touching. Reminds me of my life and what a hope can look like. It is funny and characters are really likeable.

Great book. The characters were lifelike even though it was fiction. I would love to read a book about what happens next for Julie.

Someone to Kiss by Jamie Anderson

A huge thank you to the author, publishers and netgalley for allowing me a review copy of what is now one of my favourite books of the year!

Kate is in her forties and after a drunken new years eve night ends in everyone seeing an embarrassing photo of her, she vows to change. This new year she wants to find someone. Someone to kiss at the end of it.
With the help of her best friend Julie she begins to navigate the world of online dating, telling herself all the dates will be worth it, when she finds that special one.

Although I'm not yet in my forties, I am a single lady still waiting for my Mr Right, so I connected so much to Kate, and her search to find that special someone.
All of the characters in this were written amazingly and I loved them all. I definitely had a crush on the sweet and shy Ben, and I'm so, so happy with how his story played out. Julie's story had a darker tone, but I felt for her throughout the book so much.

If you are a fan of romance novels, or rom-com movies I think you will love this one. I really liked that the characters were in their forties and I think it was refreshing to read a story where love isn't instant or easy.

I found this one hard to put down and like I said it's officially one of my favourite reads of the year, so I hope other readers discover this and love it too.

Trigger warning : brief mention of rape. Just in case that's an issue. Plus some swearing.

Effortless reading with a satisfactory end.

From early childhood, Kate, Julie and Julie’s brother Ben have remained close friends. Now in their mid forties and still single, each has personal problems.

The book opens with Kate attending a New Year's Eve wedding. At the reception and feeling desperately lonely, she drunkenly writes a promise to find someone special to kiss by the next New Year's Eve. At Josie's suggestion Kate signs up for internet dating. What follows is a year of disastrous dates for Kate, even nightmare speed dating, as she meets the self absorbed, liars and cheats in her attempt to find Mr Right.

A good choice for when you just want to be entertained.

ARC generously supplied by BookGoSocial and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

What a delightful story! This is a story about Kate who makes a promise to herself to find Mr. Right after an embarrassing episode at a New Year’s Eve wedding. She then spends the subsequent months trying online dating and learning a lot about herself along the way.

This was really well written and is a refreshing take on the story of finding Mr. Right. It was great to see characters in their 40s who were still trying to figure out what made them happy; I really connected with them. I also loved that I sometimes got Julie’s and Ben’s points of view as the story progressed. The author did a excellent job of portraying the ups and downs of finding love and I really felt like I was on the journey with Kate experiencing all her high and low moments.

Overall this was a really fun read and I can’t wait to read Julie’s story next because I am so invested in seeing how she progresses following all her life changes.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC - this review is my own.

Kate wakes up from a drunken NYE wedding to find pictures of herself on the floor, looking trashed and flashing her underwear, all over Facebook. She also finds a napkin on which she has written a pledge to find someone to kiss by next New Year’s Eve! So she calls her best friend, Julie, to help her navigate her way through the world of online dating in her 40s.
But whilst Kate wants to find someone she can have a relationship with online, Julie is just looking for a quick hook-up, so although she can help her with some advice, their experiences are very different! Add to the mix that she starts to question every previous relationship she has had, as well as her current guy friendships, including Julie’s brother, Ben, and her favourite barista, Jesse, and she ends up more despairing than before!
Meanwhile, Kate hates her job at the PR company, and in particular her toxic boss. When he reveals that his latest idea is to help people write their online dating profiles and asks her to create a workout plan for him, she steps up her job hunt. But is she brave enough to take a leap of faith, both in her career and in her love life?
I enjoyed this story a lot, particularly the way that Kate’s character was (mostly) honest and not trying to change herself for a man. In fact, the theme for all three characters was around learning to love yourself first and foremost, and it felt like a refreshing change from the norm.
I enjoyed the different narratives of Kate, Julie and Ben, although wish we could have heard more from Julie and Ben throughout rather than it being predominantly Kate. I also liked the jumping back in time to previous dates/relationships as it gave some good background information on current fears around dating and committing.
I did find myself getting a bit frustrated with Kate, especially when, even after realising her soul mate had probably been right there in front of her the whole time, she still wasn’t brave enough to do something about it. However, that also served to make her character more realistic! It was also sad when we learn the full extent of what Julie has been through and wish we could spend more time with her processing that.

Overall, it was a great, quick read

Have you ever stumbled upon someone’s journal and gotten a peek into their secret thoughts, unfiltered perspective, and the true rawness of how life is viewed from their own eyes? That is exactly how it felt to read Someone to Kiss by Jamie Anderson.

From the very first page, you feel as if you are reading over Kate’s shoulders while she documents the events of her life. From her New Year's Eve rock bottom that leads to a declaration of change by "getting back out there" after a 10 year hiatus, we have a front row seat of what seems like a promising disaster waiting to unfold. Anderson doesn’t hold back as the laughs start right out the gate. Kate’s sarcastic remarks, dry humor, and anthropomorphic cat Mittens will keep a smile on your face. If you ever considered the world of online dating (or have already dabbled), this book is for you!

What I liked about the book: This is NOT your typical romantic comedy. It isn’t full of cute moments, lightheartedness, and Hallmark clichés. Anderson gets real (and a little dark) with Kate, Julie, and Ben’s story. Life is not easy and nothing is as it appears. Sure, we start with the first few chapters of upbeat humor and laughs but we quickly pump the breaks when we get a behind the scenes (and honestly very unexpected) view of what’s happening with Julie. I loved how Anderson did this because, like we constantly see in today’s society, what someone presents to us may simply be a mask hiding how they really feel. From Kate’s perspective, there was absolutely no way to know what Julie was experiencing so to get that brief check-in with Julie and also with Ben, allowed a wide view of the entire story - of what Kate thought was happening and what was actually taking place. When all of their stories can crashing together and Kate was let in on what the readers knew all along, it was an insanely powerful moment.

I LOVED how Anderson tackled difficult to discuss struggles (mental health, emotional/psychological abuse, depression, anxiety, victim's perspective, and life changing traumatic situations) and didn’t sugar coat them for the reader. She showcased how they impacted the person, those around them, and the strength of a support system (as well as the resistance to allow yourself to seek support, especially if you don't believe you deserve to heal). Her message throughout the book was putting your mental health first. She paired this important theme with the true to heart aphorisms: you shouldn't lose/sacrifice yourself for the sake of others and you can't truly and fully love someone else until you love (and accept) yourself.

What I am indifferent about but feel I should mention: Keeping up with dates was a little bit cumbersome with the book. When Ben decided to take his leave and time moved forward, I had to go back through the book to see when he finally said enough was enough to truly feel the impact of his absence.

What I appreciated about the book: I honestly appreciated how Anderson didn't just allude to Kate's dating past. The way Kate hinted at it and then to actually go back 10 and 15 years to see what happened first hand was like night and day! I remember reading her first relationship and just saying "Wow!" because it in no way matched how she casually remembered/described it.

What I didn’t like about the book: I thought Ben was a little too accepting of Kate being with Jesse one minute and him the next. I understand he had been in love with her for thirty years but to just gloss over the fact that she had called him that morning to tell him she had found someone and then was kissing him later the same day was a little off-putting.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started Someone to Kiss but I am still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster it took me on. Yes, you will laugh but you will also gasp, tear up, get angry, (like wanting to cause bodily harm type of anger), feel your heart strings be pulled, and just about every feeling in between.

Kate is in her forties and after a drunken new years eve night ends in everyone seeing an embarrassing photo of her, she vows to change. This new year she wants to find someone. Someone to kiss at the end of it.
With the help of her best friend Julie she begins to navigate the world of online dating, telling herself all the dates will be worth it, when she finds that special one.

Although I'm not yet in my forties, I am a single lady still waiting for my Mr Right, so I connected so much to Kate, and her search to find that special someone.
All of the characters in this were written amazingly and I loved them all. I definitely had a crush on the sweet and shy Ben, and I'm so, so happy with how his story played out. Julie's story had a darker tone, but I felt for her throughout the book so much.

If you are a fan of romance novels, or rom-com movies I think you will love this one. I really liked that the characters were in their forties and I think it was refreshing to read a story where love isn't instant or easy.

I found this one hard to put down and like I said it's officially one of my favourite reads of the year, so I hope other readers discover this and love it too.

Trigger warning : brief mention of rape. Just in case that's an issue. Plus some swearing.

Yay for over-forty year olds being the main characters of a story! Honestly, that is worth mentioning. That said, thankfully, the book was about more than that: well-developed scenes with chapters that sometimes ended in a quest-mark for me, wanting to get to the next. And interesting characters with flaws like so many people has got, you cannot but warm to them. Self-sabotage, inner critic, anyone?!

It seems there will be a second book in this series and I cannot wait :)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

This was such a fun story! This was just a realistic take on online dating and how complicated being single can be. The only reason this wasn't a five star for me is because I had trouble relating to the main character as she was in her 40's. It was a main part of her character so I understood but being younger than that, I struggled a bit. But it didn't ruin the story for me, as I still had so much fun!

If you minus a few drinks, and add a couple extra cats, then I think I may have just seen my future play out in this front seat view to Kate’s dating life, unfolding in a splash of chaos and awkward memories.

Kate is desperate for someone to love her as fiercely as she loves, and, after a few too many drinks on New Years and an unconscious pledge scrawled on a napkin, she finds herself diving deep into the chaos of the singles scene in search of the one.

In this story about loving yourself as much as finding love in others, Kate and her friends embark on a journey of self acceptance and healing. Packed full of laughs, awkwardness, and unrestrained thoughts, Somebody to Kiss was an often light and entertaining read about the trenches of dating and the search for Mr. Right. A search that was in no way easy, and in many ways relatable as a reader.

I appreciated Anderson’s spotlight on mental health and anxiety, and the whispers of vulnerability disclosed through their use of different points of view allowed an additional insight into these heavy topics and the silent battles many fight. While I did like the few chapters from Ben and Julie’s POV, and the opportunity to explore their learnings in loving themselves, I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of the dual POV as it was and would have preferred to see a little more consistency in these to give it that seamless effect. As it stood, the scarcity left me craving more, and I hope we will be seeing more of Julie and the rest of her journey unfolding in future works.

Featuring all the laughs and awkward moments of your favourite rom-com, and a cast of 40+ characters, Someone to Kiss is suitable for all seeking that extra rush today.

TW: mentions of rape (recalled, not on page)

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. 3.5⭐️

Loved reading this book its described as a hilarious and  heartening romcom but it is definitely so much more, its like reading someone's journal knowing all their thoughts the highs and the lows, all the characters were so well written and you could feel how they were feeling at each point during the story. I was hooked from the start and could not put it down

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of "Someone to Kiss", writtne by Jamie Anderson. It was released on September 23rd, 2022!

Overall, I rated this novel a 4.5/5 stars!

This book tells the story of Kate, who is 40-ish years old, and makes a New Years' resolution that the following year, she will have someone to kiss on the special holiday so she doesn't actually feel so alone. This may prove to be more difficult than expected, though - because Kate's life is mainly focused on Netflix and spending time with her cats. Needless to say, she has no idea what she's getting herself into once she dips her toe into the waters of dating apps and speed-dating.

Will Kate have someone to kiss next year? Read to find out!

I was surprised by this author's committment to address tough issues in a what many would just consider another romance novel. But the layering of deep, mental health issues with the possibility of a true loving relationship was more than welcoming.

At times, it was a bit disjointed. However, it all came together in the end. A happy surprise of a book.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for providingan eARC for an honest review.

What a charming tale! Such a rollercoaster reading this book was. When Kate, who is in her 40s and is still unmarried, attends a wedding on New Year's Eve, she drunkenly makes a pledge to have someone to kiss the following year.

The protagonist Kate and her friends set out on a journey of self-acceptance and healing in the novel about loving oneself as much as finding love in others.

I truly appreciate Kate's character since she was genuine and didn't attempt to alter herself for a man. Even yet, I did find myself feeling a little annoyed with Kate, especially when she still lacked the courage to do something about the possibility standing in front of her the entire time. But it also helped to give her character a more grounded quality.

I really liked all of the characters in this since they were all so well crafted. Ben was quiet and how his tale unfolded. Although Julie's story had a harsher tone, I was deeply moved by her throughout the entire book.

I loved the author's focus too on mental health and anxiety, and the hints of vulnerability they revealed by using several points of view gave me more understanding of these weighty subjects and the hidden battles many people wage.

She demonstrated the effects they had on the person, people around them, the power of a support system, as well as the resistance to admit you need help, particularly if you don't think you deserve to recover.

Even if the writing style is not my favorite and has certain flaws, I believe you may still enjoy the story's tempo and narrative.

This book is certainly not the kind of romance you had hoped for at first, but in my perspective, it is more of a journey for someone who feels lost and behind especially given the pressures of their society and anyone might connect to it.

Nevertheless, everything worked out in the end. A delightful book surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and BookGoSocial for providing an ARC in return for honest review.

I absolutely adored this gorgeous romantic read. It was so charming. With great characters and a wonderfully romantic storyline that will have you smiling from ear to ear and your heart bursting with happiness if you are a romance fan don't miss this one.

This book is so relatable. I see myself in the main character. As I’ve gotten older I’ve found myself giving up on the idea of dating and sadly I don’t have my own Ben.

I absolutely loved all of Julie’´s dates. I’ve had friends who’ve had similar experiences to this. Why do I even need to go on actual dates when I can just read about them here?

I also want to note that I was proud of Julie. I could see her growth and I was internally screaming for joy at what she did at the end. I’m so pleased that despite her insecurities she does not remain a pushover.

I also like that we saw short glimpses of the other main characters lives and thoughts. It was just enough to know what they were going through without being confusing and taking away from the story.

I appreciate that this book was available on NetGalley and that I had the opportunity to read it.

Very good book, funny and cute story, highly recommended this one!
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the book

While the outcome was predictable by the time I finished the first chapter, I really enjoyed this book. Being a single woman in her 40s who hasn't had a date in a billion years...Kate, the main character in this book is pretty much me in a nutshell...Always imagining the outcome 20 years in the future when the first word or thought hasn't even been uttered, wondering why it's so hard, hoping to somehow run into the guy who is mesmerized by your quirks and charm, what's with "Hey" , "How's your day?", etc conversations (you'll get it when you read the book)...

Honestly, I think Kate is probably one of the most relatable characters I've ever encountered in a book I was reading, LOL. I don't know if it makes me feel better to be able to relate to the main character in this book so much because it means that it isn't "just me" or if I should feel bad because maybe we are the extreme end of the spectrum. I too can relate to Kate's best friend Julie, not her lifestyle, but her attitude towards men and wonder why other women feel it's odd that I would be totally fine just having someone to hang out with instead of looking for my everlasting love for life. I also related strongly to Julie and the fact that an event occurring so early in my life, had a lasting impact in my willingness to get close to men...probably even till this day.

I don't want to give away too much information, but if you are looking for a read that dives into both serious topics, one of the standard girl being totally oblivious to the obvious stories, which can also give you a good laugh, I would definitely recommend this book.

i think a lot of women who have experienced the joys of online dating (insert sarcasm) will enjoy this book.😅

while single at a wedding on New Years Eve, Kate drunkenly makes a pact with herself that she will have someone to kiss by the end of the year. with help from her friend, Julie, she reluctantly signs up for online dating in search of Mr Right.

💁🏻‍♀️what i liked
-the friendship between Julie and Kate
-Julie’s brother, Ben
-it was relatable, comical, and realistic
-the discussion about mental illness and the realities of living with it

This book just came out on September 23. I highly recommend picking it up!

This book was not what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. The main character, Kate, is a single woman in her forties. On New Year’s Eve, she drinks too much and pledges to find “somebody to kiss” by next year’s NYE. The book has several flashbacks for a few of the characters, which helps you to understand their actions and their mental health challenges. I enjoyed Kate’s journey as she explored online data, speed dating, friendships, and love (I mean, it is a romance novel). I appreciated that the author looked at mental health disorders is a mature and positive manner. In addition, not only did Kate grow in respect to her relationships, but she also learned to stand up for herself in her professional life. My only critique would be the way the different points of view were written. I enjoy books with different POV, but the chapters were randomly assigned. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the chapters had equally alternated between the three main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and BookGoSocial for the free copy in return for an honest review.

Such a unique book, I loved the plot and oh my god the characters we're so amazing!! I definitely will be recommending it!!

I am writing this review for Net Galley. I really enjoyed this romance story.

We are following two women who have been best friends since elementary school. Julie is confident, which Kate is not. This is just one example of how opposite these two women are. However, they are always there for each other through thick and thin. Kate is 43 years old and has not had a relationship in years. It never bothered her until she went to this wedding where she got very drunk and made a fool of herself. She decided to make a goal that she was going to find someone to kiss by the end of the year for New Years.

Kate's friend Julie helps her set up an online dating profile. She finds herself very busy going on lousy dates. During this time, we learn from Kate's past why she is content not being in a relationship. On top of her online dating, she is going to a job that she just hates every day. However, she has two good guy friends at her job that support her. Kate also tried speed dating.

This story was so cute. It reminds me of the movie Never Been Kissed. I loved main character Kate and how the author decided to portray her as 43 years old. I really appreciated that the author added some of Kate's past to the story to better understand why she was where she was in life. Overall if you are looking for a fun easy read then I highly recommend this.

What a lovely book ! You felt like you were one of the friends and I kept wanting to say to Kate open your eyes! Internet dating and all it’s pitfalls, friendship, heartache and life battles are all covered in a lovely and sometimes funny story.

Someone to Kiss was a book I stumbled across and really liked the premise.

Kate is a single 40 something looking for love and I couldn’t help but feel a kinship to her. The authors characters felt incredibly real with flaws and awkward encounters. She also touched on mental health very sensitively in the book as well. I appreciated the love story with realism, it felt very relatable.

There is a lot of point of view changes and flashbacks which I didn’t love but ultimately it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my review.

Characters had quirks and awkward interactions, and they felt really real. It
had me laughing at times as well. It was a sweet book. I'll definitely be recommending this unique book!

As the clock strikes midnight over a disastrous New Year’s Eve and happy couples celebrate all around her, Kate makes a resolution, hastily scrawled on the back of a napkin, that next New Year’s Eve she will have found someone of her own to kiss.
But when you’re a forty-something cat-mom who’d rather binge Netflix than brave the singles scene, finding someone to kiss turns out to be harder than it sounds. Kate is totally unprepared for navigating hook-up apps, speed-dating, and sliding into somebody’s DMs.
With the end of the year rapidly approaching, Kate seems further than ever from reaching her goal. As relationships crumble around her and dark long-kept secrets spill out, could Kate's fixation on her quest cause her to let true love slip through her fingers forever?
The secret Ben keeps is that he has been in love with Kate forever. Kate is in love with Ben too.
When they can no longer keep their secret from one another what will happen?
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

a fun and funny book that I couldn't put down

Kate is a 43 year old woman entering the world of online dating for the first time.

So the short of it is, I loved this book! 🇨🇦 Canadian, yay! It was light hearted enough to be enjoyable and a quick read, and yet there were some serious topics that were handled really well but not in a preachy way. Mental health, alcohol abuse, questionable decisions and the fallout from them are some of the topics touched upon, but the best part of all was that the main characters were in their forties! The whole novel felt relevant and current but handled everything with a realistic yet light touch so it still made an impact.

Thank you to Netgalley and Jaime Anderson for the opportunity to read this early. Would definitely recommend!

A great read. Kate is determined that next new years eve she will have someone to kiss. But has that person been there al along waiting for their chance?

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun easy read with some good humor!

As a single woman in her thirties I cannot explain how much this novel resonated with me, it felt real and hopeful. I loved the romance, the humour and often the embarrassing moments that makes you want to read through covered eyes. This was just what I needed to read, the one is out there... often where you least expect it!

Charming and sickeningly precious

Kate is a 40-year old who swore off dating a decade ago and drunkenly decides on new years eve that by the next year new years she’ll have someone to kiss.

Throughout the story we go through Kate’s year as she tries online dating and a surprising blind date while reflecting on her past relationships as Kate - who is very obviously a people pleaser - tries to understand where she went wrong.

I really fancied Kate and her narrative as she was able to realise what she truly wants in love and life and there was major character development in this story from both Kate and Julie, but unfortunately not from Kate’s boss who is actually worse than Michael Scott from season one of The Office - and no, he doesn’t move to season two.

It was inspiring to see Kate move from the indecisive character to a determined girlboss and I really adored Someone To Kiss.

Someone to Kiss is more than your typical romance. It's about finding yourself when you're on the verge of losing yourself. It's about loving yourself before you can love someone else. Even if that someone has loved you for as long as they can remember.

This story was fast paced and the characters were extremely endearing. One thing I wished we had more of though was Ben and Kate! I felt like Jamie Anderson gave Kate sooo many awful dudes and we learned so much about them all, but the Ben/Kate-ness happened behind the scenes.

Which, for a more mature romance is fine. And particularly for these two characters. They were more bashful, so I was not expecting any type of explicitly steamy scenes from them. But I felt like Kate's realization about "Ben being there," was just very sudden. Whereas from the few times we see Ben's POV, piney feelings are very strong. Not that Kate would've been pining for him, but I wanted to feel a little bit more tension from her regarding Ben.

I appreciated the multiple POVS though it was odd that Kate was first person and Ben and Julie were third POV. That's a personal preference though.

The things I disliked were super minor though. I loved the older MC. I loved that this is a critique of double standards that men and women encounter with online dating and/or dating practices in general. I loved how witty this book was and how relatable some aspects of it were (toxic work environment/hate your job, but you stay anyway, was just one that came readily to mind). I really think this is a great romcom, and if you want something feel good, this is one to definitely pick up!

“Someone to Kiss” is a delightful, hilarious, and heart-warming read. It starts with a laugh-out-loud opening scene that will have you dying of second-hand embarrassment. 40-something year old Kate gets insanely drunk at a New Year’s Eve wedding, and as she ushers in the new year, she makes a pledge to herself; by the next New Year’s Eve, she will have someone to kiss.

Kate turns to her friends for support and gets introduced to the world of dating. Online dating. Speed dating. Singles events. Jamie Anderson does an amazing job at showing us how exciting, awkward and (somewhat) disturbing the dating scene is for a single woman trying to navigate finding someone to love while simultaneously trying to figure out what exactly that looks like or means to them. As a single woman who uses dating apps and has done “singles events”, I found this novel extremely relatable, not just because of the kinds of men we encounter at these events or on these apps (glad to know I am not alone), but also because I could 100% relate to Kate’s character. Her thought process (past and present) felt like a snapshot of my own mind and the author did an amazing job at portraying the thought patterns of the anxious over-thinker.

I also enjoyed the characterization of the people in Kate’s life, and I appreciated how Anderson used each character to touch on important issues such as mental health, abuse, and assault. Each topic was dealt with in a very well-thought out and informative way. I loved that the character development wasn’t limited to Kate, but to her friends as well.

The storyline and pacing were well done and not too overwhelming. Seeing the expectation and disillusionment of Kate’s dating life and experiences, her career path over the course of the year, and the change in dynamics of her relationships/friendships felt realistic, and at no point did I think the story was unravelling too fast or too slow.

There is a reason why this book was a four-star and not five-star for me, and it’s down to personal preference. Personally, I found it a bit confusing when the chapters jumped from being first-person narration from Kate’s perspective to third-person narration by other characters in the book. In addition, I found the two time-jumps that took place at the beginning of the book (and then never again) a bit out of place. I think it would have been great if the novel used one narration style consistently and then either stuck to multiple POV or time jumps.

That being said, “Someone to Kiss” was a perfect and heart-warming read, and I can’t wait for the book to gain traction in the rom-com circles!! Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC!

Someone to kiss

A lovely sweet story.
This novel focuses on Kate, a single woman in her forties. On NYE, she pledges to find ‘someone to kiss’ by next NYE.

“You’re one of those sad women who would do anything for a guy. A woman who doesn’t have any opinions of her own. You want men to like you so much that you turn yourself into an extension of them”

This quote sums up the main character.
We go through her current goal of finding someone to kiss with some flashbacks of failed relationships where she usually got so needy. Cuts off everyone and is not surprising when they break up with her one way or another.

Her best friend Julie points out how threatened Kate is by her because Kate is so full of negativity towards her best friend as Julie has what she wants in life. All because Julie is actually nice to everyone (instead of pretending to be a good person), Kate misinterpret this due to her low self-esteem issues and thinks she’s flirting with one of the few guys she kind of likes although Kate made zero effort to show she is into whichever guy it is.
Another thing that annoyed me about Kate and her low self-esteem and jealousy is that when it comes to Julie’s brother Ben. How can she not see that she’s into him? She gets jealous once again that he doesn’t message her as much anymore and so forth. Perhaps take the hint and see he was into you. And the feelings you have obviously mean you have feelings of some sort for him too.

I wish the novel got to the point like others however at the same time I did enjoy exploring the online dating scene from all of the different points of views we got to meet along the way and it was hilarious the different types of weirdos out there ones you wouldn’t have put together or ones you were expecting.

From speed dating, real life, blind, to online dating it was a great mixture.
It was very enjoyable to read about. The characters were very developed I must say and it was written in a way that kept me reading which are the main things for me to read.

I really enjoyed reading about not only the dating aspect but the friendship aspect. Just because one person has more success naturally does not mean you have to have so much hatred inside you towards that person due to your own feelings about yourself. Be happy for the person and their success instead of being so immaturely jealous of them! Anyone can see how jealous Kate is and how unreasonable she is. Just makes her out to look pathetic that she cannot be her own person picking on Julie who everyone can see did nothing wrong at all as it is all of Kate’s actions. How does Kate not see her actions are showing everyone she’s being childish? You wouldn’t think these characters are in their mid-forties based on how they act and everything which again, was another aspect I loved in this read.

This novel covers many aspects from a few points of view overall I really did enjoy this.
Thanks to the publishers for sending me this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Kate, A single woman of 40, swears on New Year's Eve that by next year to have someone to kiss. This book that's you along on Kate's journey from all kinds of dating app with the ups and downs. The characters are well written and relatable. Some humor and lots of life! Made me look at myself and some choices I've made over the years! Thanks#netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It started relatively slow, and I did not think I was invested in the characters until I started crying toward the end. This book is about Kate and how she jumps into the online dating world in her 40s as she made a promise to herself that she will find someone to kiss on the next New Year's Eve. We see her go on multiple dates with sometimes questionable men, and through this, she goes on a journey of growth and self-love.

I love how the author handled heavy topics like SA, depression, anxiety, and alcoholism. As a person with depression and anxiety, I feel the issues were addressed tastefully and respectfully.

Overall an enjoyable read, and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Very enjoyable! There was so much to relate too! Lots of laugh out loud moments but also those sad moments. Very enjoyable. We definitely need more new years books.

This was an interesting story with some moments that I was not expecting. I enjoyed the characters and story and I just wish I could say more but a lot of my feelings are spoilers. Just read this book if you want a good story.

Kate drunkenly makes it her new year's resolution to find "someone to kiss" before the year is over. With the help of her friend Julie she gets herself signed up to Tinder and starts swiping. If it only was that easy to find Mr Right!

I enjoyed how the author tells the story from the view point of the three main characters Kate, Julie and Ben, allowing the reader to get to know all three of them, including the sides they are hiding from each other.

A thoroughly enjoyable read with relatable characters portraying the harshness of online dating.

I am hoping that there'll be further books where Julie will get her chance in the spotlight; it feels like hers is a really good story to come.

Hallelujah for a main character being single, 43, childless, and looking for love! While I love the genre of romance, I struggle with it. Almost every book is centered around young love, marriage in early adulthood, or life after divorce/ death of a spouse. There is not a lot of books written where I can see myself in the protagonist.

Someone To Kiss by Jamie Anderson was a relatable read! If you are seeking a significant other in the 21st century, you will enjoy reading about Kate’s journey. I found myself laughing at how realistic the social interactions online and dates were.

While this is a romantic book, it is so much more. I loved the introspective look at friendship, finding inner happiness, and navigating mental health. However, I don’t want to go too into detail here, for fear of spoiling it. Just know that this book isn’t afraid to tackle life’s biggest problems.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. I am also excited to see that Anderson is working on another book following Julie. Special thanks to NetGalley.com and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a fabulously fun read.

Someone to Kiss has some truly lough-out-loud moments as well as a great insight into the 'single and seeking' in today's world of online dating and social media. Been there, done that, met plenty of weirdo's too, so could totally relate to so much of the story, What I also loved was the differences in the three characters - how they saw each other and how they saw themselves, and how that evolved throughtout the story.

I did forget the main character was supposed to be in her forties, as to me she did seem so much younger, but I also do know people like her... My only other thought was the switching of POV (including both first person and third) and the timelines was a bit random in places. I would have prefered a bit more consistency.

A highly entertaining yet heartfelt rom-com I will be suggesting to others.

So cute and so relatable!

Kate, a 40-something single woman, makes a drunken pledge to herself at a wedding on New Year’s Eve. By the next one, she WILL have someone to kiss.

With the help of her best friend Julie, Kate begins her disastrous quest to keep her promise by online dating, attending speed dating events, and being set up on a blind date.

This book brought me back to my days before meeting my husband, navigating the horrible world of online dating 😂 setting up her profile, discussing types of men on there, and the messages Kate received were all too familiar!

Julie’s brother Ben was also super relatable for me, as someone living with anxiety & depression.

As a Canadian, I loved that this book took place in Saskatchewan - finding new Canadian authors makes me happy too!

Although I guessed the ending not too far into the book, I have to say I really enjoyed the storyline. This is an ideal book for curling up in front of a cosy fire with a lovely cold glass of wine. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Books Go Social for giving me the opportunity to read this super book.

A fun read with a cute storyline! Some of it was predictable, but I still really enjoyed the book. I liked that the authors ties in mental health struggles and writes a story about a seemingly real person. It's a cute book!

Thank you NetGalley and Jamie Anderson!

I am new to reading romances but have always enjoyed Holiday movies. Although this book was not a Holiday themed book, it did follow some of the similar tropes that I have grown used to. For example, it is very obvious who is going to end up together in the end. That being said, getting there was a lot of fun. I think this book also brought up some very important topics in a way that made it normal as opposed to preachy. In order to truly find your someone, you have to be OK on your own first. You need to know and accept who you are and most of all love yourself. You shouldn't blame yourself for things that are in no way your fault, aka what happened to Julie. Mental illness is as it states, an illness. It is ok to talk about and seek treatment for. Also, drinking may seem to help at the moment, but it really doesn't solve anything. And sometimes it can even make it worse. I honestly hated who Kate was at the beginning of the book and it was heartwarming to see her grow. I also liked that the romantic encounters were implied as opposed to explicitly explained. I will definitely be looking for more from this author in the future.

This books was so good and such a relatable read! I read it in one sitting and can't wait to find more by Jamie Anderson. I would recommend this to anyone that loves a quirky romantic comedy with a feel good ending.

Thanks NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the e-ARC of this book!

This book has people in their 40s as the main characters--which I rarely find, but intriguing for me to take a peek through the life of much adult age characters. I had some worries that I couldn't follow or relate to it, but I was wrong. Kate was determined to realizing her drunken new year's resolution which caused her to try online dating as an attempt to find "someone to kiss". I love how funny and quirky Kate is as the main character. Her thoughts and behavior are so funny, entertaining, yet pretty realistic. Of course this book highlighted various experiences of misfortunate dates through online dating app which is also quite realistic. I love how Kate is not only finding her true love, but also rekindling and find herself again. The slow-burn best friend turns lover trope makes me gasping for air because I really can't wait for them to be together ASAP.. But all the wait still worth it in the end!

Julie and Ben characters are adorable and makes me sympathize with them too. I really like how Jamie Anderson highlighting each of their issues, mainly mental health one. I can feel the message conveyed through this story, especially about struggling and supporting your bestfriend (heck! I'm so jealous of their friendship.. I want one too!!).

Overall this book is a heartwarming, quirky, and entertaining read, perfect for all rom-coms and true-love-is-actually-close-to-you type of love story suckers!

TL: mentions of anxiety, alcohol addict.

"When you're a forty-something cat-mom who'd rather binge Netflix than brave the singles scene, finding someone to kiss turns out to be harder than it sounds."

This was my first NetGalley read (ebook in exchange for review) and I can't say I'm disappointed. This book was engaging from start to finish. Written in a reflective style, the protagonist, Kate, was believable, likeable, and relatable right from the beginning. All she wanted was an equitable, loving relationship but life had other plans. She just kept falling first and falling hard. This book follows her journey from that first fateful New Years Eve, to its natural conclusion.

While I don't usually enjoy the reflective style of writing, brief POV changes to other key characters kept it interesting and the plot moving forward. The novel also dealt with real-life concerns in what I felt was a realistic and sensitive manner (TW: SA). All in all, Someone to Kiss was a cute read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys low-stakes Bridget Jones style stories.

A great entertaining novel. Perfect for a weekend on the sofa Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This is a wonderful book. It is full of hilarious turns of phrase, warm characters and realism. It was just so easy to read, in fact it took less than a week, I couldn't put it down.

I saw so much of Kate and Julie in myself and friends of mine, it easy to love and root for her. We've all been in her shoes and although it was painful to relive some of her choices, we had faith in her and her strength.

I loved that the book spanned out of a year, and we moved through the Canadian seasons. I often could smell the scent of the coffee shops, it was beautiful. and like I was sat with Kate and her friends.

I hope there is more from this author very soon. I would definitely recommend- in fact I have done so on Instagram.

I really enjoyed this book! I am a sucker for when the boy falls first and has loved her for a long time, she just needs to realize it. I am looking forward to reading a follow up about Julie. Overall, this book was very enjoyable.

Kate was at a wedding and very drunk when she decided she was tired of being single and wanted to find someone to kiss by next new years. Kate was so drunk that she passed out with her butt hanging out underneath a table. She did however wake up with the worst hangover.

Kate had told Julie about her resolution for finding someone to kiss. Julie thought it was a good idea. Kate showed her a dating site and Kate made a profile. She went on some dates with no success.

I really liked this book. The story was really great! The character development was spot on too. I had no issue understanding the issues the characters were dealing with. I couldn’t put the book down. I really like it a lot. I was hooked all the way to the end.

Thank you for the ARC!!
4/5 stars!!
this was a very quick read for me from start to finish it had me excited to read more.

I really liked this book. The story was really great! The character development was on point !! I laughed a lot and would recommend it!

Book description:
As the clock strikes midnight over a disastrous New Year’s Eve and happy couples celebrate all around her, Kate makes a resolution, hastily scrawled on the back of a napkin, that next New Year’s Eve she will have found someone of her own to kiss.

But when you’re a forty-something cat-mom who’d rather binge Netflix than brave the singles scene, finding someone to kiss turns out to be harder than it sounds. Kate is totally unprepared for navigating hook-up apps, speed-dating, and sliding into somebody’s DMs.

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, Kate seems further than ever from reaching her goal. As relationships crumble around her and dark long-kept secrets spill out, could Kate's fixation on her quest cause her to let true love slip through her fingers forever?

Someone to Kiss is a wry and witty romantic comedy, tackling serious issues with real heart. The perfect new read for fans of Beth O’Leary, Jennifer Weiner and JoJo Moyes

An oddly endearing book- a wonderful read.

Julie and Kate are best friends but completely opposite. While Julie is confident, sexy and likes to play the field, Kate is quiet, self doubting and just wants to be loved even if it means changing herself.

The characters in this story are so relatable that you are totally rooting for them. There’s a journey that each of the characters experience with a fitting and lovely ending.

Ms. Anderson is a new-to-me author, so I didn't have any particular expectations before reading. The cover is cute and the blurb was interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try and I was very pleasantly surprised. It was refreshing to read a story about an older character trying to find love, but also learning to first love and appreciate themselves. Kate's character was realistic and relatable and I enjoyed following her on her journey. She is in her 40's and still unmarried, and on a drunken New Year's Eve vows to have someone of her own to kiss by next New Year's Eve. And so begins her journey of self-discovery and self love. The story focuses more on Kate's journey and growth than romance, but that was not a deterrent for me. I also enjoyed the friendships that were portrayed and how they supported each other. Filled with laughs and some awkward moments and fun this was a satisfying and entertaining read and I would like to read more by this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I always enjoy a character that shares the same name as me. It was a different read for me, as most of the characters I read aren't in her age range. But, I enjoyed it. I felt like she was a well thought character, the plot was to the point and I thought the surrounding characters were well written.

I adore books where the main characters are 40+. Somehow I feel like the characters are more authentic and those books feel a little more real to me. Which is exactly why I loved this one as much as I did!

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

Predictable. Totally predictable. It is expected mostly with rom-com, and I just need to get it out of the way.

But for me, despite it being totally predictable, I still really enjoyed the story. The fact that it started with a new year's eve celebration is really interesting to me. I like the characters, I like their backstory and how they dealt with their issues in the end. I have to mention her "tinder dates" too, I have not experienced it so it's also very annoyingly entertaining as well. I think this book is mostly about loving and accepting yourself, standing up for yourself and for the people you love, and allowing yourself to heal and accept help. This is book is beautiful and probably a little help too, for some people. And just like the woman on the cover, this book is best paired with wine.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook. All views and opinions are my own.

💏Interesting trio of 40-somethings in a challenging year🙂

It's great having a romance focus on a more mature woman. Kate is still single in her 40's and she wants to find a partner but is a bit reluctant to make the effort required. Most of the novel focuses on Kate, her experiences with dating, the unequal relationship with her beautiful BFF Julie, and Julie's brother Ben who's long carried a hidden torch for Kate.

I liked the plot but not necessarily all of the main characters all that much. Julie and Kate's excessive drinking and partying made their emotional age seem a lot younger than their real calendar age. They weren't the most sympathetic female characters through most of the story. But Ben I loved. He's a gem that deserved better but never seemed to blame either Kate or his sister. I also really liked the Regina, Saskatchewan setting for the story and the author's writing style. Author Jamie Anderson kept the story focused and moving at a good pace, with a nice balance of dialogue and action.

Would I want to read more by this author? Yes, definitely.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

On new years eve Kate drunkenly writes a note that by next new years eve she will have someone to kiss. This is a totally predictable rom com but despite that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a lighthearted fun and easy read. I loved the friendship dynamics and the light humour was just the tonic I needed. I highly recommend this and I am really looking forward to reading what this author writes next.

I struggled to put it down! This was a fun, quick read about Kate - who felt she hit rock bottom in love and trying to find her special someone over the length of a year.

“Someone to Kiss” is a delightful, hilarious, and heart-warming read. It starts with a laugh-out-loud opening scene that will have you dying of second-hand embarrassment. 40-something year old Kate gets insanely drunk at a New Year’s Eve wedding, and as she ushers in the new year, she makes a pledge to herself; by the next New Year’s Eve, she will have someone to kiss.

I loved this book! It made me laugh and it even made me tear up. I loved the main character and was rooting for her the entire time. 5 stars!!

Kate wakes up after New Year's Eve with a massive hangover, a dubious photo, and a napkin where she has vowed to wake up the following year with someone to kiss! Her best friend Julie offers to support her, and helps her to create an online dating presence, whilst Julie's brother Ben watches over the two girls to ensure they are alright. Julie gives the appearance of being always fun, incredibly beautiful and sailing through life too easily, but is hiding a secret. Ben has been through troubles of his own but has arrived in a good place. All three are hoping for different things by the following New Year's Eve, and all want to find their own happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book, I loved it!

Kate is in her forties and on a drunken New Year’s Eve, decides that this year will be the year that she finds someone to kiss on the following New Year’s Eve. And so begins the perils of online dating, speed dating, blind dates and everything in between! Online dating is a minefield and the author’s depiction of that was absolutely spot on. It’s humorous but also a little bit scary at just how accurate it is!!

This was a really good story with so many funny, laugh out loud moments. Kate was so relatable. I am sure that most women could relate to her at some point in their lives. She has her two best friends, Julie and Ben. Both of which have their own issues and problems in their personal lives, but Kate is a little bit blind to that for a bit as she’s focused on trying to find ‘the one’. Julie and Ben are great supporting characters, and I was really rooting for Julie, so I was so glad when she finally opened up towards the end. Kate’s boss Terry was comically awful. He was just horrific and I was punching the air with joy when she finally told him about himself!!!

Some great explorations of mental health, functional alcoholism, past experiences of trauma and rape (it’s not in great detail but could be very triggering so please do be aware), and loneliness.

I really did enjoy this book, it was more than just a rom com, and the main characters were fantastic. My ONLY areal gripe with it is I knew exactly how this book was going to end by the time I’d read 8% of the book, and whilst I still enjoyed the story, I did spend the following 80-85% of the book just thinking OPEN YOUR EYES KATE!!!! 🤣 But a great read, and I would definitely recommend it!

Read if you like:
💋 multiple POV
💋 dual timelines
💋 mental illness representation

As the clock strikes midnight on a particularly terrible New Year’s Eve, Kate makes a promise to herself that this time next year she will have someone of her very own to kiss. She decides to give the online dating thing a try, but at 40 she is not quite prepared for the trials and tribulations that come with all that fun stuff 🤪
I had a tough time connecting with the main character I’m not sure why. Julie and Ben, Kate’s best friends were very likeable however. I enjoyed seeing these friendship relationships as well as romantic ones.
This book was FUNNY! I loved reading about all the terrible dates and terrible men the MC was experiencing 🤣 I love a LOL funny book so much!!

This was very much a book of two halfs for me: on the one hand it was very predictable and you know what would happen from the beginning pretty much, but on the other there was some ground-breaking dealing with real social issues and problems such as alcoholism and depression.
Our heroine is certainly genuine and relatable to, if prone to being rather self-centred but then who's perfect? She's a good person to have as a friend.
Some very clever writing alongside some that's more formulaic, but overall an entertaining and enjoyable novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for letting me receive this book as an ARC.
I love this take on a modernized dating over 40 romance. From a New Year's resolution that says she will find someone to kiss on New Year’s Eve next year, the main character Kate spends her entire year trying to find romance. For Kate, that means becoming more outgoing when going to speed dating events, hook-ups, and sliding into DM’s. I will not spoil the ending because I believe that everyone should find out on their own what happens. I will say that I recommend this book if you want something a little different than your standard romance.

A cutesy love story without the unneeded spice that so many rom com's have! It made me laugh and it even made me tear up. I loved the main character and was rooting for her the entire time. There were sweet parts, hilarious moments and it had easy flow. Funny and emotional good read overall, about friendships and finding love.

Fall in love with this searching-for-love story. Kate is a forty-three-year-old woman tired of spending her time alone. On New Year's Eve, Kate gets sloppy drunk and writes a promise to herself on a napkin that she will finally have someone to kiss by next year. Kate with the help of her childhood friend Julie jumps into the world of online dating. However, online dating when you are in your forties proves to be much more complicated than it should be. When everyone else your age is looking for a hookup or is married and searching for an affair finding the one seems to be impossible. Thankfully, Kate has her friends Julie and Julie's brother Ben to help her get through the tragic end of these dates each and every time.

This book was a wonderful read that I finished in one day. Reading this book made me feel like I was watching a Katherine Heigl romance. Each chapter had me waiting to see what would happen to Kate this time. The writing told the truth about what really happens in the world of online dating. While there are some relationships that do come from online dating more often such sites are used for quick hook-ups. The writing style of this book follows a general forward-moving timeline with a few flashbacks to help explain why Kate acts the way she does. Overall the writing style of Jamie Anderson was wonderful and had me consumed from the beginning.

Someone to Kiss is a delightful and relatable romantic comedy that offers a fresh take on modern dating. Kate's journey to find love as a forty-something cat-mom is both hilarious and heartwarming. The author skillfully explores the pitfalls of navigating hook-up apps, speed-dating, and online interactions, while also addressing deeper issues. With a blend of wit and genuine emotion, this book is a must-read for fans of Beth O'Leary, Jennifer Weiner, and JoJo Moyes. It's a charming story that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Addressing the topic of finding “The One” after 40 gives us a great story with Kate in the limelight after a drunken New Year’s party. This book was a sweet look into how sometimes the thing you are looking for is sometimes right in front of your face.

Hey there, fellow book enthusiasts! 📚✨

As the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, Kate jotted down a resolution: to find her very own smooch partner by the next year's countdown. But hold onto your cat memes, because this forty-something cat-mom's journey to find love is a hilarious rollercoaster you won't want to miss! 🐱💑

Picture this: Kate, Netflix aficionado and self-proclaimed avoider of the dating scene, dives headfirst into the world of hook-up apps and speed-dating. Cue awkward encounters, side-splitting misadventures, and a few too many emojis in her DMs. The author's witty prose takes us through Kate's relatable escapades, all while tackling serious issues with a heartwarming touch.

And oh, the characters! Julie and Ben's perspectives add layers of depth and laughs to the narrative. From high moments to those cringe-worthy lows, I practically joined Kate's quest for love. 🍿❤️

Hats off to the author for this refreshing, chuckle-inducing take on modern romance. Can't wait to dive into Julie's story next – I'm invested in her post-life-change journey! Thanks, NetGalley, author, and publisher for this delightful ARC – this review is all heart, just like the book. 💖✨

Am I allowed to relate to a character that's 15 years older than me? Because I sure did. I loved this book! I think most women want that special new year's kiss. But the hardest part is obviously putting yourself out there, especially when you're an introvert. I thought this was equal parts funny and serious. I'm glad the author discussed mental health and anxiety. Of course the ending is predictable, but isn't every rom com?

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

Wow, I loved it ! The characters and the story were very heartwarming. It reminded me what hope can feel like, and that's always something to achieve in a romance.

4 stars

I enjoyed this book! I really liked that the heroine is in her 40s and the FMC, Kate kind of gives me Bridget Jones’ vibes. The characters were well written and loved how the author wrote about mental health and anxiety.