Reviews

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

nelnor's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I wanted to like this contemporary sapphic romance more. Its lighthearted and cozy holiday vibes are great for when you want to just turn off your brain and enjoy the tropes. Unfortunately, Alison Cochrun’s writing is too self aware of the genre and the frequent references to the rom-com of it all took me out of the story. Ellie Oliver is your typical hot mess rom-com protagonist, full of insecurities and self sabotage. Her love interest Jack has kept important things from her and heartbreak ensues.  They reconnect a year after their initial meet-cute but Ellie is by then fake-engaged to Jack’s brother Andrew. An improbable “love trapezoid” occurs. The love story finds its footing by the end of the novel and it is ultimately worth the read if you’re in the mood for a Hallmark-holiday-type of romance (but with lesbians)

eunicedlt's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I nearly quit this book about 3 times. This book is just barely a step above fanfiction with what seems to be a self-insert from the author. If I have to read "quarter moon smile" or "love trapezoid" one more time, I am going to explode. The main character was an insufferable disaster girl, and most people in this story were annoying. All characters felt hollow. The diversity felt forced in this novel like the author was dedicated to checking off minority boxes rather than writing well-rounded, diverse characters. Additionally, there was barely any chemistry between the two main love interests and it didn't sit right with me that the main character is demisexual yet that doesn't apply in this situation?? Also this book feels like it was written in the girl-boss feminism mid-2010s era. There was literally a character wearing a fedora.

The only reason this doesn't get a one-star is because there were some parts of the book written well and made me laugh.

kjacobsdefaria's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

jenny0910's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol

exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition

3.0

Tropes/Themes:
-FF holiday romance
-One night stand leading to second chance a year later
-Marriage of convenience (FMC is fake engaged to the other FMC’s brother)
-Opposites attract
-LGBTQIA+ rep
-Low steam
-Standalone

Eh…this was a little too instalusty for my taste. I always find it weird when a character becomes so infatuated with someone after a one night stand and then are still hung up on them a year later. It just doesn’t feel authentic. But the writing was decent and it delivered on the holiday vibes.

Story: 3/5
Audiobook: 3/5 (narrated by Natalie Naudus)
Length 10h38min

courtney_90's review

funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

bookhouselibrary's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

In case you were wondering where the characters live in this book, the author tells you it’s Portland, Oregon— 39 times!!

(This was genuinely driving me crazy like, do not get me wrong I love portland representation as a Portlander but when every other word is Portland, my eyes just started to tweak lmao)

I genuinely enjoyed Jack and Ellie’s relationship and I found their chemistry to be really good and overall I think Allison Cochrun does such a wonderful job at writing addictive and fun romance books and this still falls under that category but I was just so irritated with this book more often than not.

Did I have fun and enjoy it? Yes but was it trying so hard to be quirky? Yes. 

ashley2109's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

kbarn97's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

The book was slower to get into than I wanted and it seemed like everyone was so focused on what everyone else was doing instead of their own stuff. Andrew was a really sweet character overall, but I didn’t love the other ones as much as I had hoped. 

josiecx's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5