A review by this_momma_is_booked
Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.0

I don't remember a whole lot about this book seeing as I read it months ago, so here's what I do remember based on a conversation I had with my friend about it immediately after:
  • It was cute, but I struggled throughout the entire book with something that irked me and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
  • I think part of the reason I didn't love this book is that everything felt very surface level. We didn't really dig deep into the feelings or situations present. 
  • It was never really explained why Hunter was into Kaivan, other than he was the only other gay guy in the vicinity. He was defensive the entire book about it NOT being a rebound when it so clearly was. 
  • The book just...ended. Like, there was no closure or explanation about everything that happened. It just ended. 
  • Hunter experienced a literal breakdown and the story glossed over it like, "he had a lot of bottled up emotions." Like what he experienced is entirely normal and a healthy part of growing up. 
  • The author himself is Iranian-American but the book is written from the perspective of the white guy in the relationship. Now, I'm not saying that just because the author is of this particular identity he has to write from the perspective of the other POC in the relationship - but there were so many instances of veiled racism in the text that were simply not explored BECAUSE it was from Hunter's perspective. I feel this is a missed opportunity. 
  • Basically this read as very surface-level One Direction fanfiction. 

If this is the kind of story you're looking to read, I would suggest reading If This Gets Out instead. 
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