This book was a little confusing of the events leading up to when Olivia was sent to her alternate reality. One minute it was real time at her best friend’s wedding and poof she’s in her new reality. Floundering for the answers she fakes it like a champ. Trying to decide which is the right life for her has her questioning everything. Sometimes you have to have faith that you can have the best of both worlds. How can you not fall in love with Jake in either scenario. He made the book! Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Second time reading something from Lauren Kate and it did not disappoint! I love her writing style and the plot was sooooo good. I’d definitely recommend this book!

Lauren Kate wrote a great “Freaky Friday” second chance romance. A quick read but I was hooked.

Liv gets a chance to see what the alternate universe looks like where she gets all the success, but at what cost? Her journey helps her see what’s important in her real life and that she can have everything she wants.

Would definitely recommend picking this one up when it comes out in July and I’m looking forward to reading Lauren’s other books!

Kate knows how to write! I adored this story. The plot was fun, and I wanted to know what was going to happen to our main character right away. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked the alternate universe, second chance, 13 Going on 30 themes that the book had. I really enjoyed some parts of the book: the relationship between Olivia and her best friend/her mom, Jake in general, the fun-loving scenes in the alternate universe, and I will always always love the dog in a book. Gram Parsons is an excellent sidekick for Olivia.

But there were parts of the book that I was left confused by. When Olivia ended up in the alternative universe I was so confused how/when/why that happened I had to go back and reread. There wasn't a smooth transition for me. I didn't like/really understand the outright hatred from Olivia's best friend AND her mom in the alternate life. It was so opposite of their "real" personalities and the reasoning behind the hatred just didn't make sense. And ten years seems like a long time to hate the MMC and hold a grudge just because some dude didn't kiss you at prom.

But all-in-all, I like Lauren Kate's writing style; the book was easy to get through. I would recommend this book to others wanting to read this genre. And I will be reading more from Lauren Kate in the future.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book!

I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately the execution did not do it for me. I liked the 13 Going on 30-esque premise, but I felt as though there were drastic differences between the timelines that were unrealistic, such as the relationship between Liv and her mother. Not a bad book, but also not my favorite.

We start off with Olivia taking Masha, her best friend, out for a day of fishing (their own version of a calmer and more Masha bachelorette) the day before her wedding. Masha’s got cold feet because her family is trying to make the wedding into a giant event that she wants kept small and intimate. Secretly, Olivia is dealing with the same cold feet. She’s dreading having to face Jake Glasswell, the groom’s best man, America’s sweetheart and the guy who humiliated her their senior year of high school. She’s never been able to let go of their almost kiss and rivalry.

Losing her dad three days post humiliation didn’t help. She couldn’t leave her mom and attend Juilliard like she was supposed to, and now knowing how successful he is she’s struggling to face him. Yeah, she may not have the same success (a furloughed drama teacher, Lyft driver and waitress), but she has incredible relationships with the people important to her in her life. So, when Jake climbs into her Lyft as she’s watching YouTube videos of him she’s a little more than embarrassed. She’s incredibly flustered. The rival has returned and they are right back where they left off senior year, pretending the almost kiss never happened.

Wedding day arrives and something magic happens. In the middle of the vows for her best friends, Olivia is transported to an alternate reality at this same wedding where she did kiss Jake the night of their senior prom. What’s in kiss? A lot. And, a lot can change.

If you liked the movie Sliding Doors, Freaky Friday and 13 Going On 30, this book is for you. It was so delightful to see the other side of what could have been and what could still be. This is my first time reading a rom-com from Lauren Kate. I was a huge fan of her back when she wrote the Fallen series. I had no clue she continued on to write contemporary romances. This book delighted, made me laugh, see the importance of deep relationships and self discovery, but most of all that love comes to us in so many different ways. Our way isn’t the only way.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Lauren Kate for giving me the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished "What's in a Kiss" by Lauren Kate and loved the premise of altered timelines—the concept was brilliantly captured. However, I found Olivia's obliviousness to Jake's feelings a bit frustrating, and the drastic change in her relationships with her mom and best friend in the new timeline seemed unrealistic to me. Despite these flaws, I still enjoyed the book and its exploration of the consequences of choices.

The prom kiss that never was set Olivia and Jake Glasswell on track to be enemies for life. Until, Olivia comes face to face with her enemy for the first time since high school and everything changes.

Olivia was broadway bound, until her dad died. Dreams were dropped to stay home and support her mom, while Jake ended up the famous one. And she hates him for it.

But after locking eyes with Jake from across the aisle at her best friends wedding, Olivia is transported to another life. One where the kiss DID happen, and led to a life with Jake she never could have imagined. The only problem is, her best friend hates her now. And so does her mom.
How does Olivia navigate this new world, where Jake is her soulmate, without her two most prized loved ones. Can she get back to where she came from, without losing love in the process?

Lauren Kate is awesome. I’ve loved her work since the Fallen series. I thought this plot line flowed very well, timing was perfect, I couldn’t put it down and never felt bored with the story.
My only flaw is that it seems very YA so the spicy scenes do not make sense to me. They come on a little strong for the lovey dovey romance that plays throughout the rest of the book. I honestly could (and probably would prefer to) do without them and still love the story.

Regardless, I would recommend this one!!

This book just felt like it was missing something to me. i loved the idea of the book and the plot but something was missing from it that made me dislike it.

What's in a Kiss? was a short and sweet read but it left me feeling like I needed more. I didn't understand how she got from one world to the next? I also didn't understand how her mother in the other world could just refuse to even try to reconcile with her... and over her leaving for New York and taking out a loan? I just can't imagine cutting my own child out of my life over that.
I think there is quite a bit that could've been explored and more detailed.

I would rate this a 2.5 stars. I really liked the idea of the story but the overall execution of the story fell a bit flat for me. I really liked the writing from the author but it just felt a bit drawn out and confusing. I will probably read this again at some point in the future and see if a second read makes it a higher rating for me!

Ahhhhhhhhhh this gave me nostalgia. I love 13 going on 30 type of stories. I love the take of love that this gave…

I love that it didn’t have your typical bachelorette party- it instead took the peace to clear your mind.

This was a fun enemies to lovers / dual reality book. The beginning is all enemies to lovers, and has the best banter; I really loved the first few chapters.

The ‘what if’ was fairly typical, but was well written. I enjoyed watching the other timeline unfold, seeing the alternate reality, and the the FMC finding herself and what she wants in life through exploring what she did and did not have.

It did feel like it ended rather abruptly, and I would have loved at least an epilogue.

From kind of rivals and not quite enemies to lovers in an alternate reality. The MMC Jake was a super swoon worthy, golden retriever who gave me butterflies. I liked the Sliding Doors vibes. How one kiss can change your whole life but in both worlds they were meant to be. I was utterly charmed by this fun and flirty read.

I wanted to love this book so much but it just fell short for me.

Liv is a complex character, I feel like the revelations were too late and drawn out. The premise of the book is amazing but lacking.

Jake is an ok character.

Overall the relationships in the story are ok. Just something about it and I can't put my finger on it about why it was a miss for me.


Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

The book started off really cute and I was excited to get into it, but once the storyline changed to what her life could have been I was thrown off and struggled a little. The ending was great and I did enjoy the read for the most part once I figured out what was going on.

I enjoyed this book but felt like it was lacking more information and just clarity. I love a rom/com but I wish I knew more about where the relationship went with our characters!

Although, the story was well thought out it just missed the mark for me a little bit.

Me fue imposible creer que Olivia y Jack se amaran, lo que ella sentía por él era envidia.


La mayoría de los capítulo fueron del otro mundo, o sea que esas interacciones entre Liv y Jack realmente no pasaron. Y las pocas interacciones reales que tuvieron fueron de ellos llevándose mal, de ella teniendole celos por su éxito y de él molestandola, entonces, lo que paso en el último capítulo no fue nada creíble.

El comportamiento de Olivia deja mucho que desear.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Have you ever pondered the what if? Or wished you could get a glimpse of that alternate reality?

What’s In A Kiss tackled just that in Lauren Kate’s newest contemporary fiction/ romance read. It gives solid Sliding Doors, 13 Going On 30 type vibes as it tackles the whole alternate paths trope.

Personally I’m a sucker for this trope - I’m definitely one who ponders the what ifs of life at times or wishes I could “see” the other path 🤷🏼‍♀️ So, the premise of this one was super intriguing to me - add to that my previous experience with this author and I knew this was a must have.

The story was fun and gave some good opportunities for thought and discussion throughout. I enjoyed seeing both versions of Olivia (and others), though she could be a bit much at moments overall I grew to really appreciate her. I really enjoyed the Olivia and Jake versions and interactions. This one left me wanting a bit more at the end, so I was kind of hoping we would get an epilogue.

Overall I found this one to be an enjoyable and charming read. I can’t to see what this author does next, and definitely recommend this one for fans of the alternate timeline trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions shared are my own and freely offered.

3.5 ⭐️