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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Sweet seventeen and never been kissed but this was Scarlett Hunter’s year, and she knew just who she wanted her first to be, Axel Stevens, the boy she’d grown up with, who she’d loved since she was three. She was tired of waiting for him to make a move and now sans her new contact lenses, heels, and short skirt she was about to take control of her destiny…. If only someone hadn’t stolen it out of her hands or perhaps that should be lips but who was it? Axel? Jacob? Or some other teenage boy who has lusted after her from afar. Does she have a secret admirer or is it a stalker, there’s a thin line between the two, so she better hurry up and figure it out before her uber protective dad finds out.
I’m surprised by just how much I loved this book; it had me smiling throughout my read. I might not have gone to a school like Empire High but lets face it the obligatory mean girls are universal no matter what kind of school you attend and Scarlett and the Kiss Thief brought back so many memories of rolling up my school skirt the minute I was out of the house and more importantly out of my dad’s sight. I also loved Scarlett’s relationship with Sophie who was definitely a ‘ride or die’ kind of friend and every girl needs to have a bestie like her to take you out of your comfort zone and give you that shove just when its needed and as for their younger brothers… well I don’t know whether to applaud their ingenuity or fear what they’ll be capable of as they get older. I just know I’ll be stalking Ivy Smoak to find out when the next book will be released. I can’t wait to read more of Scarlett’s adventures in love.
Firstly I’m so grateful to have received an arc for this & secondly WOW I absolutely devoured this the same day I could not put it down. I was hooked the whole way through. The cliff hangar toooo
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was blessed to receive an ARC of Scarlett and the Kiss Thief by Ivy Smoak, and I absolutely loved it! I originally discovered Ivy’s Hunted series back in the end of 2020. Now almost 5 years later, I get to go back where it all began, but with their children!
Scarlett James is 17, and starting her senior year in high school. For as long as she can remember, she’s had a crush on Axel Stevens, but he never seemed to notice her that away before. After a summer of changes, she’s ready for him to finally notice her. First day of school comes, and he finally notices her, but not the way she wants him too. However, someone else does notice her, Jacob Miller, Axel’s best friend. Scarlett finds herself confused over her feelings for the boys, when an unknown guy kisses her in the close, stealing her first kiss. Can Scarlett discover who the kiss thief is before she falls to hard for one the boys?
The chaos in this book had me cracking up. Getting to learn about the original 4’s children brings back so many emotions. The children share qualities from their parents, making the original story seem alive again. I absolutely loved finding random things throughout this book relating to other books from Ivy.
All in all, Scarlett and the Kiss Thief was better than I expected. With the way the book ended, I can’t wait to read book 2. If you haven’t read at least the Hunted series, I’d go back and read that series first. However, Ivy connects most of her books so you’d probably want to read the Hunted series, the Empire High series, and the Men of Manhattan series. These three series will give background on most of the adults mentioned.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This book is an absolute delight, filled with romance, mystery, and a touch of humor that makes it impossible to put down.
Going to the next generation of Empire High students, Scarlett, is a high school senior who has never been kissed. She’s been saving her first kiss for her best friend, Axel Stevens, who she’s been in love with forever. Scarlett reinvents herself over the summer, hoping to finally catch Axel’s eye. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, a mysterious masked stranger steals her first kiss in a dark closet at a party!
Scarlett’s journey to uncover the identity of her kiss thief is both hilarious and heartwarming. She’s determined to find out who he is. The twists and turns in her quest keep you on the edge of your seat, and the chemistry between Scarlett and her mysterious suitor is electric.
All the characters within the story are fantastic, especially Scarlett’s cousin Sophie, who is her partner-in-crime throughout the story. Their bond is beautifully portrayed, adding depth and warmth to the narrative. You get to have some moments from the other characters from the previous series, and see all of your faves! The high school setting is vibrant and relatable, making you feel like you’re right there with Scarlett as she navigates the ups and downs of teenage life. Being back at Empire High is like a nice warm hug.
The plot is perfectly paced, with just the right mix of romance, comedy, and drama. Ivy Smoak’s writing is engaging and full of heart, creating a story that feels both fresh and timeless. The mystery of the kiss thief keeps you guessing throughout the book! I can not wait for the second to come out!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was like a love trapezoid… or is it?! Uncovering who The Kiss Thief has to be in the next book, right?!
I enjoyed the hot nerdiness of Scarlett. She’s a very good girl, a rule follower, who doesn’t realize how attractive she is.
I am fully team Jacob right now, whether or not he is The Kiss Thief. Axel is just so manipulative… but mysterious and a bit dark… which is also a vibe. But so many mind games.
I’m a little obsessed with the parents. So you know I am about to dive into the parents stories series! Hopefully I can read them all before book 2 comes out!
I enjoyed the hot nerdiness of Scarlett. She’s a very good girl, a rule follower, who doesn’t realize how attractive she is.
I am fully team Jacob right now, whether or not he is The Kiss Thief. Axel is just so manipulative… but mysterious and a bit dark… which is also a vibe. But so many mind games.
I’m a little obsessed with the parents. So you know I am about to dive into the parents stories series! Hopefully I can read them all before book 2 comes out!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Expanded from the original novella, this is the first full novel of Scarlett Hunter's senior year and the dilemma of who stole her first kiss.
Scarlett and the Kiss Thief contained all the angst, comedy, and shenanigans that go hand in hand with an Ivy Smoak novel. Scarlett is the daughter of James and Penny Hunter, who are no strangers to what occurs in high school, and to say that James is a bit of an overprotective parent would be an understament 😂. It's Scarlett's senior year and she's never been kissed, but with the help of her best friend, who is also her cousin, Sophie Hunter (Rob's daughter), Scarlett plans to finally be kissed before the year ends, but who will be the man to finally have that honor? The boy she's been in love with her entire life, Axel Stevens, or one of her best friends, Jacob Miller?
It's hard to believe that the Hunter children have grown up to the point where they are experiencing things like kissing, but it's fun to watch this next generation experience everything new. Even better is seeing James, Rob, Matt, and everyone else as parents.
While some themes in this book feel eerily similar to Matt and Brooklyn's love story, and I'm referring to the love triangle aspect of it, everything else is zany and wild, which feels more like the Girl Code books. It's definitely a good mix of everything that Ivy brings to all of these interconnected worlds, while still giving Scarlett her own plot line.
Scarlett truly is torn between two guys; Jacob Miller and Axel Stevens, but honestly my favorite parts of this book revolve around her family. Sophie is a total hoot and her brother Liam and cousin RJ add a lot to the crazy shenanigans. 😂
I now can't wait for more to come in the next book.
Scarlett and the Kiss Thief contained all the angst, comedy, and shenanigans that go hand in hand with an Ivy Smoak novel. Scarlett is the daughter of James and Penny Hunter, who are no strangers to what occurs in high school, and to say that James is a bit of an overprotective parent would be an understament 😂. It's Scarlett's senior year and she's never been kissed, but with the help of her best friend, who is also her cousin, Sophie Hunter (Rob's daughter), Scarlett plans to finally be kissed before the year ends, but who will be the man to finally have that honor? The boy she's been in love with her entire life, Axel Stevens, or one of her best friends, Jacob Miller?
It's hard to believe that the Hunter children have grown up to the point where they are experiencing things like kissing, but it's fun to watch this next generation experience everything new. Even better is seeing James, Rob, Matt, and everyone else as parents.
While some themes in this book feel eerily similar to Matt and Brooklyn's love story, and I'm referring to the love triangle aspect of it, everything else is zany and wild, which feels more like the Girl Code books. It's definitely a good mix of everything that Ivy brings to all of these interconnected worlds, while still giving Scarlett her own plot line.
Scarlett truly is torn between two guys; Jacob Miller and Axel Stevens, but honestly my favorite parts of this book revolve around her family. Sophie is a total hoot and her brother Liam and cousin RJ add a lot to the crazy shenanigans. 😂
I now can't wait for more to come in the next book.
Scarlett & The Kiss Thief
High School
Friends to Lovers (ish)
Love Triangle
Hidden Identity
YA
This book is a rewritten, extended version of the previous novella that Ivy published. Reading this gave me déjà vu a couple of times!!
Ahhhhh who is Scarlett's Kiss Thief?
This book ends on a cliffhanger that had me screaming to know more!!!
I love seeing more of the OG characters! It's been a while since I read Empire High and I've missed them!
Roll on book 2 😍
High School
Friends to Lovers (ish)
Love Triangle
Hidden Identity
YA
This book is a rewritten, extended version of the previous novella that Ivy published. Reading this gave me déjà vu a couple of times!!
Ahhhhh who is Scarlett's Kiss Thief?
This book ends on a cliffhanger that had me screaming to know more!!!
I love seeing more of the OG characters! It's been a while since I read Empire High and I've missed them!
Roll on book 2 😍
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I've been looking forward to this book for a while now and it sure didn't disappoint. I of course have read the Hunted Series and Empire High along with Men of Manhattan and The Society, (ok let me be frank I've read all of Ivy Smoak's books) but what I'm saying is that I very connected while reading Scarlett and The Kiss Thief. The whole time I felt like a proud Auntie seeing her babies all grown up. The writing was magnificent you just can’t help but connect with the characters throughout the story and like always laugh along with them. I loved seeing each one of their different personalities and how much they are like they parents (poor Daphne 😁). I also love the little surprises that where thrown throughout there's one too many times I jumped up screaming from excitement from the revelations. If you're a fan of the Hunted Series you'll definitely love Scarlett's story. And if you haven't read it then what you waiting for go and and start the series.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“What if it wasn’t Jacob? Or Axel? No matter what, my first kiss had just been stolen by a...a...a dirty kiss thief!”
This was such a fun read! I loved going back to Empire High and hanging out with the new generation. I read the novella for this years ago and was so excited when Ivy Smoak announced she’d be releasing a full novel.
Scarlett and her cousins and friends are seriously all over the place. I laughed so many times at their hijinks. Scarlett has had a crush Axel for forever and she has decided that this year, their senior year, is the year they will finally be together and the year she has her first kiss from him. So she and her cousins Sophie formulate a plan… a plan to get the guy. This is where all the crazy begins. In the middle of putting their plan into motion someone kisses Scarlett in the dark, stealing her very first kiss. Now she’s on a mission to find out who it was!
This is so reminiscent of Ivy’s Empire High series. When I received the ARC of Scarlett I had only read the first four books in the series. So after reading Scarlett I went back to finish the series, reading books 5-8. There are so many details in Scarlett’s book that throw you back to the Empire High series, which makes total sense since these are the children of all our favorite characters from Empire High. So if you love interconnected stories and you’ve enjoyed Ivy’s previous books, you’ll definitely enjoy diving into this new generation. There’s a little love triangle between Scarlett and her two friends, Axel and Jacob and honestly I’m rooting for Jacob because I was team his father for the Empire High series. :)
*Thank you Ivy Smoak and Grey’s Promotions for providing me with an eARC for review. All thoughts are my own.*