Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Kiss & Tell

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Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram

39 reviews

1quillb's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-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

5.0

This was so good. The way it was written, with both a storyline and little snippets of news articles or interviews, made it a really interesting read that kept me entertained for the whole 6 hours that I sat on my bed reading it (I COULD NOT put it down!). I also loved the way relationships between characters were portrayed in such an honest way, showing that no one is perfect by any means.
I definitely recommend this to everyone. Also, if you liked this, a similar book is If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich, it’s a very similar concept!

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criticalgayze's review

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challenging emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

I will start by saying that this one got lost at the bottom of the barrel of me trying to get through the fact that I had taken on one too many romance books at one time. I binge-finished four different romance novels this weekend, and I think this one being the one I did on audio gave it short shrift.

I think all the kids here are really sweet, and I think the novel is much kinder than December's If This Gets Out by Cale Dietrich and Sophie Gonzalez. I think the situations are very believable that the characters are placed into, maybe even more so than the aforementioned title, and I like that this one had more moments of levity in the romance and more support for the love interests.

But I also think that this book tried to be kind and tough at the same time. I think the choice to tell this from a "nice white gay" point-of-view was maybe the wrong choice as it leads to too much equivocating by and forgiveness for this white lead. I also don't think that either of these two very similar books quite get at what a fully fleshed out performance of Queer + youth fame would look like, and I would love a novel like this from someone who was a Queer musician with some novel writing prowess. (Sivan? Lil Nas X? Are either of you good authors as well as musical artists?)

I will say that some of the more interesting parts of this for me that I think really got to something worth having a conversation about were the media interstitials Khorram weaved in, and he once again proves himself to have very interesting things to say.

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milkyboos's review against another edition

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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? Yes

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dododenise's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-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

4.5

This book was really fun! It tackles all the bits one would expect from a book about gay singer in a boyband: expectations of fame, pressure, homophobia, loneliness, stereotypes and being formed into something you’re not.
Next to it blossomed a beautiful romance. Those were the bits I enjoyed most with great dialogues that were so much fun and could get into some other themes. Really enjoyed the conversation about racism and privilege throughout.

I would have wished the other characters to be more fleshed out. I feel like I barely know anyone but Hunter and Kaivan. There were just glimpses of the others. Ashton and Ethan a bit more, but I really wanted to get to know the band a bit better.

Overall a really enjoyable read!

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theromanticace's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-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

4.5

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kcbookshelf's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

Honestly very disappointed with this book… I was so looking forward to it when I first heard about it and honestly I was confused with the start and then just got bored. I like the talking about being sex positive and there were decent one liners every now and then but otherwise I should’ve dnf’d.

From the get go it is was way too fast paced but then the romance element was quite stale.

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wrensandroses's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-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

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shamelesslyash's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Once again Khorram grabs me by the heart and won't let go! His writing is just so prefect. This was his first book out without Darius and it doesn't disappoint. The book is written through traditional chapters, interviews, gossip sites, and social media. It's a fun way to read the story of Hunter Drake.

Khorram doesn't shy away from what it's like to be young, gay, and famous. He brought out the truth and how it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I really like that Khorram also doesn't shy away from mental health in this book. I know in his Darius books there is talk of depression, so I wasn't sure if this book would also talk about mental illness, but it is brought up. Along with racism and some homophobia.

I really enjoyed this one. It's one of my top reads of the year.

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lapis's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

Very thoughtful book about privilege.

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obscurepages's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

This book just confirmed something for me: Adib Khorram is now one of my favorite authors! This book, just like his other works I’ve read and loved (Darius the Great books), is beautifully done. It’s a whole new different writing style, but the purpose and the meaning are evident and it is wonderful.

This book might seem simple, but it was anything but. Kiss & Tell tackled romance and boy bands, racism and privilege, the pressure towards queer people in the limelight. As well as the way people think they can dissect or stereotype celebrities and their lives, especially queer and people of color, and the way some people equate being gay to being promiscuous (it’s not), and then thinking sexual promiscuity is bad (it’s not). Even the unfair treatment of boy band fans and reducing them to teenage girls was briefly mentioned (as another fangirl and a part of the BTS ARMY, I know full well how this is). I was actually so surprised when I realized how much social issues this book highlighted, whether it be in a small or big way. It was poignant and relatable and thought-provoking in its own.

I also remember feeling so frustrated while reading this book. Not because it was bad (the total opposite), but because it showed perfectly how some people have a lot of ideas on the “proper” way to be gay and if you don’t meet that idea in their heads, you’re the horrible kind of gay and you’re now setting up a bad example for others. It was frustrating, yes, but it was an important discussion and I was so glad the author chose to point this out in the book.

Hunter, as a main character was both relatable and compelling for me. He is a character in the limelight, who has so much pressure and judgment on his shoulders, who still tries to do more in the best of his ability. I couldn’t help but feel for him and everything he went through, and everything he wants and aspires to be.

I also loved the way the author’s storytelling in Kiss & Tell. Not only did we have Hunter’s perspective, but the story can also be followed through the media articles and gossips, emails exchanged between music label executives, the social media reactions from both fans and the general public. This, for me, offered various other perspectives that added much more to the story. It provoked readers to think so critically, especially on how people think and act because of their own biases and prejudice.

As for the romance, I wasn’t completely sold yet with Hunter’s love interest, Kaivan. I wanted to see more moments with the two of them and see their relationship fully bloom. Still, they were cute, and Hunter deserves another shot at love.

Overall, Kiss & Tell is a beautifully written YA novel meant to capture hearts and make people think. It’s a well-thought out book and it deserves a lot of love.

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