Charlotte is a British student taking classes in New York City, and she is planning to return to the city for her college education, but then her boyfriend dumps her. Then her flight home for Christmas is postponed due to bad weather, and she is stranded in New York for a day and night. Through a series of events, she meets Anthony, someone else who has been dumped, and both of them decide to follow the steps in a self-help book in order to get over their exes. What follows is an experience neither one of them is expecting...
I really did enjoy this book. I cared about what happened to Charlotte and Anthony, and I liked reading about the adventures they had together. The romance was sweet, and I think the ending was my favorite part of the story. The dog was an added plus! I didn't care for the profanity that was used - I think it took away from the story, which can stand alone and would be better without the profanity. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and the Christmas setting. I recommend this book for young adults and those who enjoy YA fiction.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Because October isn’t too early to start celebrating Christmas, we plucked another holiday-themed book from our to-read pile this week.

This one, Kiss Me in New York, was a fluffy and fun YA novel attributed to Catherine Rider (you’ll see why I’m saying attributed to instead of by in a bit here).

The premise of this book is pretty simple – although not entirely believable.

Two teens, Charlotte and Anthony, meet at an NYC airport on Christmas Eve.

Charlotte, an exchange student from England, is heading home for the winter holiday (why she’s waited until Christmas Eve to travel, couldn’t tell you. You’re gonna have to suspend disbelief for pretty much the entirety of this book). She’s a bit down in the dumps because she was recently dumped by her boyfriend. Now she’s questioning her prior plans to return to NYC for college (because there is no reason to go to a prestigious college if you have to be single while doing so, apparently).

The other half of our duo, Anthony is at the airport to meet his girlfriend, Maya, who’s returning from college to celebrate Christmas with her family (again, why this is happening on Christmas Eve… but, whatever). Anthony’s excited to spend the holidays with Maya, but she doesn’t reciprocate. Instead, she dumps him for another man. At the airport. With her new boyfriend standing right there.

Charlotte’s flight gets delayed (naturally, it’s Christmas-fucking-Eve) and, in classic rom-com, meet-cute fashion, she meets Anthony and the two end up gallivanting around NYC, following steps in a self-help book that promises to assist them in getting over their exs.

The story is laid out for the reader in chapters that alternate in perspective, some from Charolette’s point of view, and others from Anthony’s – which, TBH, is a pretty common narrative technique now-a-days. One that I generally enjoy.

So, aside from the aforementioned questionably realistic points, there are a few other things that I found even harder to believe.

These ones *contain spoilers* so don’t read on if you don’t want to see ‘em.

1) Anthony’s girlfriend dumped him on Christmas Eve. But, as we come to find, this isn’t just any Christmas Eve. It’s the eve of the one year anniversary of Anthony’s mother’s death. I mean, here’s the thing… I don’t care how heinous a bitch someone is, I find it very difficult to believe that a girl would break up with a boy on the day before the one-year anniversary of his mother’s Christmas death.

2) After trekking all over the city, the pair finally decide to go to Anthony’s house – and arrive there at midnight. When they get there, they find his family sitting around the dining table with food (albeit cold food, but food none the less) still laid out. Um… Why are they still at the table? I could believe them all being in the family room, playing drunken Scrabble and arguing about whether kerfuffle is a word, but not still around the table.

3) As the plot progresses and our characters realize what we all realized from page 3 – that this is a fucking romance – they start to drop the L-bomb. But, here’s the thing. They’ve known each other for like 8 whole hours. Love? Mkay, kiddo.

*Spoilers End*

All the requisite suspension of disbelief aside, the book grew on me.

At the start, I wasn’t that invested in Charlotte or Anthony, but the more I learned about them the more they started to seem like real people and the more I actually cared.

Though, I must say, I had a strong preference for the chapters written from Anthony’s perspective. The voice in these chapters just felt more – colorful. The thoughts and emotions expressed seemed more realistic.

It wasn’t until I came to the end of the book and was reading the concluding material that I discovered that this book was actually co-written (Catherine Rider is the pen name of Stephanie Elliott and James Noble). This leads me to assume – again, it’s just an assumption – that, in the grand tradition of David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, all of the chapters from Catherine’s POV were written by one of these co-authors, and all of the ones written from Anthony’s POV were written by the other.

This, of course, explains this stark contrast in style and…honestly…quality.

All factors being considered, I felt that this was a reasonably strong holiday romance. While there wasn’t anything particularly profound about this book, by the end it had put me in the holiday spirit and it did elicit some emotional attachment to the characters.

For people looking to pluck a simple, light holiday read from the YA section, this one will certainly get the job done. I give it 3 out of 5 cocktails.

Kiss Me in New York is a Young Adult romance. It tells the story of Charlotte, 17, who spent a semester of her senior year in New York. Everything was going great until she gets dumped by her boyfriend and now all she wants is to go home.
The book starts as Charlotte is at the airport, about to go home but it turns out that she cannot because of a blizzard. Also, it’s Christmas Eve.
While she’s at the airport, she sees a guy getting dumped. Later, he’s still there, all pathetic and shit with his roses and whatever and she goes to talk to him but he is just rude to her.
But obviously, the story doesn’t stop there and they become unlikely allies, trying to get over their respective ex.

This story was entertaining. It got me through a night of overthinking and it was a very fast read. The characters were cute and loveable and the plot interesting. I loved visiting New York that way.
I enjoyed how it was told thanks to a self-help book. This was kinda fun but the story was still kinda predictable.
All in all, a cute, short winter romance, perfect for spending a cold afternoon in bed with a cup of coffee (while it snows outside).

Can someone please take me to New York and kiss me…like now!

Oh be still my heart, Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider is like one gorgeously long meet cute. Charlotte and Anthony meet in inauspicious circumstances but being in one of the most magical and romantic cities in the world (and at Christmas time no less) works its power.

Charlotte and Anthony’s epic adventure sees them traipsing the city on Christmas Eve following a self-help book’s advice. It really is a charming story that I was unique, fresh and seriously entertaining.

If this is the type of YA novel that we can come to expect from Catherine Rider then I am very excited to see what else she has in store.

Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider is available now.

For more information regarding Catherine Rider (@CRiderYA) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Kids Can Press (@KidsCanPress) please visit www.kidscanpress.com.

I love Christmas time romances. And I enjoy YA books also even though I am a bit older than that range. Put them both together and you get this enjoyable read perfect for curling up with a good blanket on a relaxing afternoon. I don't want to say much about this book to not give too much away, but I think many people would love to cozy up with this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

After her boyfriend broke up with her a couple of weeks ago Charlotte is looking forward to getting back home to her family in England and enjoying the holidays. However, the weather has other plans and decides to strand Charlotte in New York over night. Well, at least she's a little better off than that guy who's girlfriend just dumped him in the airport after he showed up as a surprise. Not only dumped him, but left with the guy she was cheating on him with.

A chance encounter between these two sets them both off on an adventure around the city following a "How To (Get Over Your Ex in 10 Easy Steps)" Guide. As they run through the city on Christmas Eve, getting over their exes seems plausible as both Anthony and Charlotte start falling for each other. But when their separated right before Charlotte's plane is ready to leave, will they be able to tell each other how they feel before it's too late?

I thought this was a pretty cute read. The fact that everything takes place in a single night makes for a pretty quick pacing, but it also, at times, tended to speed over some of the issues I wish would have been prolonged such as when we meet Anthony's family.

I loved the "tour" of New York especially with the Christmas holiday enhancing the setting. It really sets the mood for the upcoming holiday season with the craziness of last minute shopping to the almost startlingly deserted snow covered streets as the day progresses and people head home to be with loved ones.

Overall, this was a quick and sweet read. Something to curl up with on a chilly evening and just enjoy the wonders of getting over a broken heart and finding love in an unexpected place.

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

This was a really cute and fast read, I finished it one sitting.
The characters were well developed, in my opinion they were one of the best features of the book. I also loved the way the magic of New York and the Christmas atmosphere were embroidered in the text, I could practically smell winter. The dual-POV was pulled off masterfully too, and not a lot of writers can do it so well.
I did find the plot slightly clichéd, but it was still fun to read; I was on the hunt for a fluffy rom-com, this book came at the perfect time. However, and I can’t really drop this, it was a little too insta-love for my liking.
Now, if you don’t mind insta-love stories, this book is a perfect read for you. If you do, I still think it’s worth to witness the POVs and the portrayal of the atmosphere.

Charlotte and Anthony are heartbroken and meet each other at the airport, she willing to venture into New York because of the delay in her flight and he was devastated to have just been dumped by his girlfriend .
She is sure that she loves Colin and thinks he loved her too when she wins from a guy the ten-step book to overcome the ex, she thinks about seeing what can happen by following each step of it.
Asking for Anthony's help, Charlotte will visit several New York locations in the middle of Christmas Eve, and both will rediscover and approach a way that will change their lives.
I love this type of book, perfect cliché with couples who know each other and soon fall in love, especially if throughout the plot we can perceive it because they who were previously in love with other people realize that they have much more affinities with the person they have just met .
I can not forget to talk about the little dog Mistake who steals the scene at several moments mainly in the Empire States building
Although the plot is very different, it reminded me a lot of Nick and Norah's infinite playlist by David Levithan, another book I love.
I loved the ending and I was dreaming of a continuation.
5/5 stars

I don’t usually read Christmas stores, but the publisher KCP Loft sent me an arc copy. Kiss Me in New York ( referenced as Kiss Me for the rest of this review) is meant to be read at Christmastime. It is one of those sweet and magical stories that you go all ‘goo goo’ for.

Kiss Me reminded me of a couple of movies: Before Sunrise and Serendipity. I need to watch both again and finally watch the sequel that was made after Before Sunrise! Kiss Me is more similar to Serendipity to me as it takes place in New York as well.

Kiss Me is an enjoyable journey as we meet both Charlotte and Anthony as they get to know each other over the span of a few hours. It is a quick read at 200 pages. The chapters rotate between Charlotte and Anthony as narrators, so we get to see both sides of the story. As they both work to get over their exes, the both begin to wonder what the other one is feeling.

It is recommended if you enjoy Christmas stories or are a fan of sweet YA novels. This could be a novel one reads every Christmas. I hope there will be a sequel as I want to know what happens next!

Thank you to KCP Loft for sending me an arc copy to review!

I'm sorry, I couldn't read past the first chapter. This story might just not have been for me. I couldn't relate to the MCs, whom I didn't like either, and the writing didn't draw me in either.

Charlotte, a British exchange student who is still reeling from her breakup with her boyfriend, is stuck in New York City on Christmas Eve. After witnessing Anthony breaking up with his girlfriend in the airport, the two decide to explore New York together. This paint by numbers romance is told in alternating chapters by Charlotte and Anthony in the first person. Yet their first person narration veers dangerously close to third person omniscient with their descriptions of thoughts and actions that neither could possibly know. Their narration is easy to read and the characters are easy to relate to but there are not many surprises in this Christmas romance. If you want a romance that is quick to read then this book is for you but don't expect anything more from this book.

It was still summer when I requested this book on "NetGalley" a few months ago. I know, how can I think about a book set around Christmas when it's still summer! That's what I thought too, but I couldn't pass on this opportunity, the blurb sounded too cute. Plus, if the shops put out their 'Spekulatius' (almond cookies) as early as September, I think it's OK to read a Christmas-y book also. ;)

After the worst school semester of her life, exchange student Charlotte can't wait to go back to England. What she didn't expect was the blizzard hitting NYC and making her spend Christmas at JFK airport.
Anthony is a native New Yorker and about to pick up his girlfriend from the same aiport. The reunion, however, is anything but romantic: Anthony gets dumped and is left to pick up the pieces.
After running into each other, they decide to make the best out of it. With Charlotte's book 'Ten Easy Steps for Getting Over Your Ex' in hand, they hit the City in hopes to turn their unlucky night into a lucky one.

OK, I lied. As much as I loved the blurb of this story, the cover was what initially drew me to the book. Two words: New York. Even better: Christmas in New York! If you haven't been to New York but want to go one day, you have to go in December. Well, you actually need to explore the City during all the months, but New York during the pre-Christmas-period is magical. What I could've lived without, were the many tourists strolling through the streets. No, I wasn't a tourist myself, I lived there. Well, on the other side of the Hudson, but close enough to see the Empire State Building from the park in my 'host hometown'. ;)
Anyways, back to 'Kiss me in New York'. I was really excited to dive into this book because I couldn't wait to discover New York during Christmas all over again.

Charlotte and Anthony's adventure through the City was fun and exciting. I loved to see them both getting to know each other. With each new step in Charlotte's book to get over an ex, they grew more comfortable with the other. Speaking of the 'Get over your ex' book, Catherine Rider was kind enough to write down the steps for the reader with small excerpts and explanations of why this step is so important.

Most YA I have read in the past few years have been really cheesy and not believable through most of the story. There was too much insta-love for my taste. 'Kiss me in New York' doesn't fit in this catergory at all, which I really appreciated.
The story is light, funny and really sweet.

If you are looking for the perfect and cute Christmas story, this one is for you.

Brokenhearted Charlotte is grounded in New York for Christmas. She just wants to get home and tend her wounds from her recent break up with her American boyfriend. As Charlotte attempts to work through her breakup, she runs into Anthony, who is working through his own breakup. Together, using a self-help book, they will get over their exes by completing tasks around New York City.

This novel is super cute. It is a book you will want to curl up with and read on Christmas night, or really any night. It is a great fast-paced read.

This was such a cute read - I flew through it really quickly while I was on a train ride commuting. The characters have both experienced heart break and the way they come together to form this unlikely friendship that blossoms amidst a NYC blizzard is just magical and adorable.

There's no denying that the premise of this novel is sweet, but it definitely wasn't one of the best books I've ever read. The characters were super annoying, and I couldn't help but want to reach through the book and slap some sense into both of them.

I really struggled to find something that I loved about this book, and felt really disconnected from it the entire time I was reading it. That could partly be because I was reading it during the hottest.summer.week. ever and it is set over Christmas but I was left wanting so much more out of this story.

well that was a very quick read. a sweet but totally unbelievable story of strangers meeting at the airport after both being dumped. they spend Christmas Eve in New York City. it was cute and made me smile. thank you to Kids Can Press via Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review

I don't tend to read many contemporary novels, not for lack of interest, but more because I tend to gravitate towards other genres - contemporary can sometimes be too realistic when I am reading as a means of escape, but I really enjoyed this one.

Charlotte is getting ready to fly home to England on Christmas Eve after a semester (in high school) abroad in the United States, where she just had her heart broken. Anthony is a freshman (?) in college coming to surprise his girlfriend at the airport as she flies home for the holidays. After Charlotte's flight is cancelled and Anthony is dumped for another guy at the airport, they run into each other and decide to hang out in the city together, following the steps of a book that Charlotte accidentally acquires: Ten Easy Steps for Getting Over Your Ex.

This story is super cute and super cheesy but in a good way, and I love how Anthony and Charlotte come together and help each other through their respective breakups. There are both sad and happy moments, but it all seems to fit together nicely, even though the story takes place over only about 12 hours.

I found that while I was reading, I never actually wanted to stop (the only reason it took me a few days instead of just one to finish is because I was going to just read it on my breaks at work, until I decided that I couldn't wait the whole weekend to finish it up). There were some unexpected twists and turns, but none that I felt were uncharacteristic for the story as a whole, and it made me want to keep going to find out more.

I recommend this to anyone who likes contemporary YA fiction. It's a cute story (and a quick read) that is enjoyable and fun.

Kiss Me in New York is about two people whose heart is broken by the person they thought will be the love of their life. Somehow, the two of them met at the airport and after what had happened, they go for one night adventure by referring to the books - Ten Easy Steps for Getting Over Your Ex.

First of all, this is my first time reading a novel written by Catherine Rider. It is a very light contemporary reading. The adventure both of the main character embarks to - is wonderful. I love how they follow the tips from the book that Charlotte has.

How at first the two main character - Anthony and Charlotte were very awkward to each other. There is no relation nor love at the moment except sharing the same heartbroken cause by the person they thought would be the love of their life. Even how awkward they are at first, somehow through the journey they are taking together, they start to be really comfortable.

The plot of the story flows at a good pace. The only conflict occurs in the book was the moment when Charlotte went to a party organized by her friend (or so called a friend, I thought) who right now is in a relationship with her ex-boyfriend. But that was that. I'm hoping she could stand for herself. I do understand she is trying to move on but you know, you need to show how strong you are. That's what I want from the book, to be honest.

Overall, it's a good reading. I truly enjoy the adventure from the both of them on how to get over of your ex. I do know it is hard but eventually, you will able to overcome it and live your life happily meeting someone who is worth your time and truly loves you for who you are.

"Looks like a bookish crowd," he mumbles. "Theoretically, we should fit right in, don't you think?"

This was a super adorable book. I can definitely see it being made into a movie. It took me awhile to get into it but it's a quick read and once I got a few chapters in I read the book in one sitting. It's a light, fluffy read with no real angst. I loved the Christmas in New York setting. And I especially love Mistake.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.