Review by zluvsreading - The Kiss Countdown

zluvsreading 's review for:

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

Wow wee, this may now be one of my favorite romance novels of all time. I loved it so much.

So first, let’s talk a basic summary of what the book is about. First we have Amerie, who is an event planner and is very risk averse due to how she grew up, etc. Then she meets Vincent who is an astronaut and his passion is space and he just wants to make a difference in the world.

Their meet cute was so funny!!!!! I loved it so much and was in line with Gina’s line of thinking for sure. So they meet, and one thing leads to another and they have to fake date for two specific people in that moment.

One thing leads to another and it actually turns into a real fake relationship deal until his next launch, which is three months from now (here’s where the title comes in!!!!!)

Now, I went into this completely blind and I’m so glad about that. There’s so much in this that I personally love in a novel (fake dating) but it also dives into emotional topics such as illness, grief, and loss of a loved one.

Amerie was hilarious and I just want to give her a big hug. The way she grew up is not necessarily sad, but it also sort of is.

You can see she had to hide her vulnerability, like her mom said, because she thought she wasn’t allowed to be sad and thought she had to be strong, even when she was a young child.

Her relationship with her mom and dad was beautiful, albeit not without its complications. Throughout the entirety of this novel, we hear from her parents through calls and texts because they are on a trip around the world.

The storyline of how her mom is really doing once she gets back from said trip is so sad, but it’s also just extremely real. It’s hard on Amerie because of course, she was under the pretense that all was well.

Her mom is dealing with, if I’m not mistaken, sickle cell anemia/disease. I think it’s mentioned towards the beginning of the book. I will correct this if I find out it’s something different.

I see both sides of this lie and understand it from her parents perspective. They know that Amerie worries and she wouldn’t have been able to live her life as freely as possibly if she knew her mom was in a wheelchair now. I love that the parents thought of her and just didn’t want to take herself away from her life, while she was trying to sort it all out. From what she had told them, it seemed as if her life was going well. Her mom didn’t want to ruin that.

But I also understand from Ameries perspective, the absolute whiplash and surprise of seeing her parents for the first time in a while and seeing her mom not able to walk around a lot because it drains her energy so she now has a wheelchair. I would be more mad about the lie but also sad to see my mother aging in front of my eyes and realizing that there may not be too much time to spend with her.

I love that they resolved in the end and realized that they sort of had the same line of thinking. I also loved how the baking show (which 100% was Nailed It, which I ADORE), had a bunch of metaphors for Amerie and how she was feeling.

Now, Amerie and Gina???? Such a cute friendship I have no complaints. They were an absolute hilarious duo and I’m glad they had each other through all of the chaotic moments and such.

I do really like that Amerie

stood her ground and told Gina how she felt about her going off to her sisters instead of talking to her about Gina and Mack, but I’m glad it all worked out for everyone.

I would love to see a book about Gina and Mack in the future!!!!!!!! They seem like such an interesting couple, especially with the way they

almost were done and he showed up to her sisters house. Like yes!!!!! Love that!

Amerie and Vincent were everything to me and let me tell you why.

They’re complete opposites but also so deeply the same.

Amerie grew up as an only child, while Vincent has two sisters and a brother. He grew up in the same home for all of his life, if I’m not mistaken. Amerie has never lived in a house, but instead kept moving from apartment to apartment because it’s all her parents could afford with the medical bills of her mother.

I love opposites because I just think the perspective and understanding they give to each other, while having no idea what the other person has been through is unreal.

From the beginning, their banter and playfulness with each other made me laugh so hard. I liked how smug he was and how teasing her made her cheeks blush.

I liked that they sort of came to enjoy each others company before they acted upon their desires and wants. Ameries thoughts were hilarious to read about because she was so real and HORNY because Vincent is one tall dark and handsome fella. HES ALSO SMART!!!! And a true cinnamon roll if I’ve ever seen one.

He also has some grief inside of him and walls that get knocked down as the story builds and him and Amerie build up to what they have by the ending of this book.

I really liked how the author wrote about the temporariness of his job and how that may affect any relationship that he had, romantic or not. It was painful to read about but once

Amerie realizes that losing him forever was worse than not seeing him for a couple months or weeks on end, I was crying and so happy for her.

The growth of Mrs. Rogers, Vincent’s mom is so beautiful to me. She was above all just a concerned mother trying to protect her son after she already had to go through something traumatic before, but I like that she realized his happiness was more important than what she wanted. Also the fact that she made Amerie think he was leaving THAT NIGHT???? Hilarious. 10/10. So worth it.

I really loved his sisters and Lance as well. Also Sheba, the beloved dog. Their family just seemed like a family anybody would want to be a part of, even with the fights and drama sometimes.

I’m really excited to read Brianna’s story because I felt for her when I was reading this. She seemed so shy and I was instantly like, oh yeah I want more out of this one.

I liked that Amerie got her own business up and running because GOOD FOR HER!!!!!! Her old business should be ashamed of themselves for leaving HER photos up on their website when they know damn well she doesn’t work for them anymore. Smh.

There was really nothing I didn’t like about this novel, which is why I’m so close to debating on whether this is an infinity read, or a five star read.

Oh, wait, there was like two Starbucks mentions, which is really disappointing as someone who supports Palestine and this was published in 2024, but if it’s early 2024, I can understand a bit. Still don’t like it though.

The spice was so well done. Also can I just say I absolutely love when it’s one bed and they go to sleep on opposite sides and then wake up with their limbs tangled together. It’s so hot for no reason. I simply cannot be tamed when I read a scene like that.

The potential to use

the double shower heads was THERE!!!!! However, I’m glad they used the tub.

😁

Overall, such a good romance with just the right amount of humor, spice, and deep topics!!!!! Love!!!!!

Content Warnings