Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Kiss Her Once For Me

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a holiday romance, and this book was no different.
The dynamics in this book, between all the family members, the “love trapezoid” and platonic soul mates were hilarious, perfect, and heartwarming. I loved watching pieces slowly fall into place, maybe not perfectly and smoothly, but eventually clicking together.
And even though we all think we know how a romance book will end there were a few times I doubted it,

(in a book revolving around failure and big emotions, there were times I thought it was possible we wouldn’t get a happy ending)

but I thought the book tied up so nicely. Definitely adding this to my holiday reread reading list :-)

Content Warnings

myfbusters's review

Go to review page

emotional tense fast-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

Nota bene, i'm writing this review while high at 12:30 AM. I just read this book in a three-day flurry because it's the selection for Queer Book Club and I too suffer the yoke we call ADHD

I'm somewhat conflicted about this book, mostly in that I found the plot a little too over-the-top but the individual characters were compelling. I don't read a lot of romance novels, so maybe I am not the best judge here. The scenes between

Ellie and Jack, when the overzealous pretense of the story fades to the side, are the highlight here. I felt a tenderness between them, an authenticity that spoke to my own experiences loving, and being loved.

I guess my one quibble is that

I didn't like the role that Ari was given in the narrative. This book was tagged "trans representation" by the book club and I went in with hopeful expectations, but overall to me she leaned a little too close to the catty "gay best friend" trope often seen in TV shows with a (cis) woman as protagonist. as a polyamorous trans lesbian myself yeah, I know this girl, I've been this girl, but when she's given such a small role, the "come move in with my four roommates, we read tarot and do gay art" reads less like accurate representation and more like a parody out of a Reductress article.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, and I can't wait to get on a zoom call and rant to my gay coworkers about it

Content Warnings

maregred's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

cassielaj's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

100 ⭐️
This book is perfect and sweet and cozy and funny and will make you grin like an idiot and maybe cry a little and I love it so damn much

Content Warnings

More...