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reggie8799's review
2.0
This book disappointed me, it felt very choppy, not my typical Renee Carlino reading experience.
woahandreading's review
5.0
I’m surprised I finished this book so quickly since I could barely see with all the tears flooding my eyes for the second half of the book! So frustratedly good. My heart was aching terribly from the first page.
beckyrendon's review
4.0
I started this book with youthful optimism and a romantic's outlook. As I continued to be a part of Penny and Gavin's past, both my optimism and romanticism grew. As I was forced to endure their present my heart broke, my optimism withered, and my hope shriveled. This book is not an easy read. It's not unicorns and butterflies. Nothing is easy except that kiss.
Blind Kiss has an unusual meet cute. It's exciting, nervous, and the stuff romance novels are written about. Every crazy heart filled wish springs from that kiss. And yet, reality gets in the way. Life happens. Doubts, fears, and bad choices spring up. Love is misguided by pride, hurt, and loneliness.
This book will hurt the optimistic romantic. It will dull your shine for a bit. But you can't give up, there will be no quitting. Blind Kiss redeems it's depressingly realistic story with an incredible surprise.
Join me in a toast...to love!
Blind Kiss has an unusual meet cute. It's exciting, nervous, and the stuff romance novels are written about. Every crazy heart filled wish springs from that kiss. And yet, reality gets in the way. Life happens. Doubts, fears, and bad choices spring up. Love is misguided by pride, hurt, and loneliness.
This book will hurt the optimistic romantic. It will dull your shine for a bit. But you can't give up, there will be no quitting. Blind Kiss redeems it's depressingly realistic story with an incredible surprise.
Join me in a toast...to love!
dinx219's review
4.0
This book tore at my heart strings. I loved Gavin so much. My heart was so sad for him. I wanted Penny to give in and love him back the way he deserved, because he loved her so perfectly and sweetly with no regard to his own feelings. She was bound and determined to keep him in the friend zone, even though she was completely in love with him. So much time was wasted. Thank God they both finally got their shit together and on the same page. But it took a damn long time. Phew. That sexual tension was killing me. Lol. This is definitely worth reading. Renee Carlino's books always are.
caseroo7's review
5.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
I love Renee Carlino’s writing style and her stories are always so captivating. I couldn’t wait for Blind Kiss, and she definitely didn’t disappoint! With each new book from her, she just seems to get better and she always exceeds my expectations, delivering solid and unique stories that you can’t help but feel emotionally invested in. Blind Kiss is one of those books that will hook you from the start, and stay with you long after you have turned the last page .
Penny is a housewife that spends her time dreading her son leaving for college and sitting outside a sandwich shop that used to be her dance studio. Her marriage is failing and she can’t help but remember a time when things were different. When she was in college she was asked to undergo an experiment where she was blindfolded and asked to make small talk and kiss a stranger to see what natural chemistry was like without seeing or knowing the other person. It was intense and something that never was far from her mind, especially since it introduced her to Gavin. But what could have been so much more between them was made to be only friendship after Penny made a decision that changed everything. After 14 years though, it will be Gavin’s turn to decide what happens next as both of their lives are about to drastically change yet again.
I will admit that these characters had me experiencing all the emotions. While I loved them and felt for them, there were times that they pissed me off and frustrated me. The one thing I can say for sure though is that I couldn’t get enough! I couldn’t put the book down and I felt everything so strongly! I was invested in them and really felt as though I was having my heart broken at the same times they were. I never stopped hoping that they would figure things out, and I will say that there was a lot of angst and push and pull here. While that usually gets on my nerves, it was different here. Renee Carlino writes like no one else, and she always has a way with words that is different from anyone else.
Overall, this book was fantastic. While I know some readers will have some issues with the characters and story, to me it was one of Carlino’s very best! It was everything I have come to know and love from her, and impossible for me to put down. I never wanted it to be over and I was lost in this world the entire time I was reading it. I can’t recommend it or any of her books enough! To me, this is a must read!
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
I love Renee Carlino’s writing style and her stories are always so captivating. I couldn’t wait for Blind Kiss, and she definitely didn’t disappoint! With each new book from her, she just seems to get better and she always exceeds my expectations, delivering solid and unique stories that you can’t help but feel emotionally invested in. Blind Kiss is one of those books that will hook you from the start, and stay with you long after you have turned the last page .
Penny is a housewife that spends her time dreading her son leaving for college and sitting outside a sandwich shop that used to be her dance studio. Her marriage is failing and she can’t help but remember a time when things were different. When she was in college she was asked to undergo an experiment where she was blindfolded and asked to make small talk and kiss a stranger to see what natural chemistry was like without seeing or knowing the other person. It was intense and something that never was far from her mind, especially since it introduced her to Gavin. But what could have been so much more between them was made to be only friendship after Penny made a decision that changed everything. After 14 years though, it will be Gavin’s turn to decide what happens next as both of their lives are about to drastically change yet again.
I will admit that these characters had me experiencing all the emotions. While I loved them and felt for them, there were times that they pissed me off and frustrated me. The one thing I can say for sure though is that I couldn’t get enough! I couldn’t put the book down and I felt everything so strongly! I was invested in them and really felt as though I was having my heart broken at the same times they were. I never stopped hoping that they would figure things out, and I will say that there was a lot of angst and push and pull here. While that usually gets on my nerves, it was different here. Renee Carlino writes like no one else, and she always has a way with words that is different from anyone else.
Overall, this book was fantastic. While I know some readers will have some issues with the characters and story, to me it was one of Carlino’s very best! It was everything I have come to know and love from her, and impossible for me to put down. I never wanted it to be over and I was lost in this world the entire time I was reading it. I can’t recommend it or any of her books enough! To me, this is a must read!
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
eyleen's review
4.0
So, in general this was a quick and entertaining read with lots of emotional moments. I even teared up a bit at some scenes which I hardly ever do while reading.
However once again the main "problem" in the book is no problem at all, but self-inflicted drama that makes no sense at all à la "I can't be with you, because I think you would leave me after having sex with me". These ridiculously close best friends pretty much torture each other for decades while pining for each other, but marrying different people they don't really like. This is a trope I always find aggravating and uninspired.
However once again the main "problem" in the book is no problem at all, but self-inflicted drama that makes no sense at all à la "I can't be with you, because I think you would leave me after having sex with me". These ridiculously close best friends pretty much torture each other for decades while pining for each other, but marrying different people they don't really like. This is a trope I always find aggravating and uninspired.
readfrenzy's review
3.0
The premise of Blind Kiss is intriguing, and I confess I expected there to be some angst. What I didn’t expect was for the book to leave me mentally exhausted and exasperated.
The book opens with high intensity in the present day. There’s so much raw emotion and crazy behavior that I couldn’t help but get sucked in. I wanted to know what led the characters to such a desperate point in their lives.
Rewind to fourteen years ago and we see how Penny and Gavin met. This was one of the most enjoyable parts of the book. They are paired up as subjects in a college psychology experiment that tests whether or not you can be physically attracted to someone you haven’t seen. It’s funny and sweet. Gavin’s quirky personality and caring nature are clear from the start, and I instantly fell in love. I was drawn to Penny’s complexity.
They rapidly become best friends who have a whole lot of sexual tension between them. I envied their strong bond. I understood Penny’s reasons for placing Gavin in the friend zone initially, but I grew weary of all the years of pining and denial. It stopped making sense after awhile. As the story flip flops between past and present, the characters are surrounded by toxic influences and are prone to melodrama.
Honestly, most of this soap opera is rather depressing and predictable. I felt tortured by and for these characters up until the extremely rushed ending. Ultimately, I was left drained and had a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m giving the book praise for the strong beginning and the writing style, but unfortunately it just didn’t live up to my expectations.
The book opens with high intensity in the present day. There’s so much raw emotion and crazy behavior that I couldn’t help but get sucked in. I wanted to know what led the characters to such a desperate point in their lives.
Rewind to fourteen years ago and we see how Penny and Gavin met. This was one of the most enjoyable parts of the book. They are paired up as subjects in a college psychology experiment that tests whether or not you can be physically attracted to someone you haven’t seen. It’s funny and sweet. Gavin’s quirky personality and caring nature are clear from the start, and I instantly fell in love. I was drawn to Penny’s complexity.
They rapidly become best friends who have a whole lot of sexual tension between them. I envied their strong bond. I understood Penny’s reasons for placing Gavin in the friend zone initially, but I grew weary of all the years of pining and denial. It stopped making sense after awhile. As the story flip flops between past and present, the characters are surrounded by toxic influences and are prone to melodrama.
Honestly, most of this soap opera is rather depressing and predictable. I felt tortured by and for these characters up until the extremely rushed ending. Ultimately, I was left drained and had a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m giving the book praise for the strong beginning and the writing style, but unfortunately it just didn’t live up to my expectations.
*I received an early copy of this book. It does not affect the content of my review.*