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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
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
Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram is an adorable and heartfelt read with a main character, Hunter, that you’ll fall in love with from the first page. As the only openly gay member of the wildly popular boy band Kiss & Tell, Hunter is thrust into the spotlight, facing immense pressure to be the perfect queer icon. But life gets messy when Hunter goes through his first very public breakup, and the media starts scrutinizing his every move.
On top of that, Hunter finds himself navigating a budding romance with Kaivan, the drummer of their opening act. The book does a great job capturing the complexity of Hunter’s emotions—balancing his public image, heartbreak, romance, and all the drama that comes with being in the music industry. Khorram handles these themes with care, showing Hunter’s vulnerability and strength as he learns to define himself on his own terms.
If you love a good boy band story with plenty of drama, Kiss & Tell is a must-read. It’s a fun, emotional rollercoaster that tackles big questions about identity, relationships, and fame, all while keeping you hooked on the romance.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
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
emotional
funny
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Toxic relationship
Unflinchingly realistic and at times claustrophobic in depicting the pressures put upon its lead character, a member of an increasingly popular boyband who's out as gay and whose former and current relationship are gossip fodder. This book is really well done, but I did find the ending abrupt and kind of unsatisfying -- especially following the slow and deliberate pacing that led up to it.