NEVER BEEN KISSED is an adorable queer rom-com that follows a recent college grad working at a drive-in theater. I loved reading a romance about characters in this early twenties age range, since we don’t see a lot of stories about 20-23 year-olds. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of films, coming of age stories about adults, and the estranged friends-to-lovers trope. I also appreciated the late bloomer and demisexual representation! This was super cute.

Wren has never been kissed, but he has had plenty of 'almost-kisses'. When the drive-in movie company he works on falls on hard financial times, one of his almost-kisses enters his life once again.

This book was... not for me. It took me about two pages to know that the writing style was a bit too "Wattpad" for my liking, but still I pushed through in the off-chance that it would get better. But no, the writing did not get any better. It just felt very young, when this book isn't marketed as a YA. If it were I would understand a bit more and be more lenient.

Moving onto the plot, it was very bland in my opinion... There wasn't much to grab on to. Everything that happened seemed like it wasn't really important, and I had to stop myself from skimming a lot of the book. It was just overall boring.

I appreciated the demisexual representation, but even that wasn't enough to salvage it for me. I WILL say, while this book and it's style wasn't for me, I understand that books like it are very popular and might appeal more to those who like those types of books. Not me though haha.

Our store copies of this book arrived on Friday! It had been recommended so many times and I'm glad that I listened

of To All the Boys and for all the hopeless romantics out there! Goofy and relatable while still complex characters made this a very quick and enjoyable read! After all, who doesn't love a good happily ever after?!? Will definitely be checking out future books by Timothy Janovsky!

Never Been Kissed is a delightful book that I breezed through in just a few sittings. Janovsky's characters are well-developed and I really enjoyed watching the romance between Wren and Derick bloom. The protagonist, Wren, is demisexual and I really enjoyed seeing this part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum represented so well in the book. A fun summer read!

Wren is unkissed. There were few moments when he thought "Now", but then the moments were gone. But this summer will be the summer where he's got his first kiss. And maybe there is the perfect candidate waiting.
"Never been kissed" is a feel-good read! I really enjoyed the Kiss-Quest.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Wren Roland has never been kissed and he really wants that. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday he starts sending e-mails to all the boys he loved before he came out, only to regret it in the morning. After all, though, what could happen? Meeting again Derick Haverford, one of his pre-coming-out crush isn't in the plan, not it's working with him as new social media intern. Derick doesn't feel the same about the almost kiss as Wren does, though, so what could really happen? As their summer becomes consumed by a project that could save the struggling drive-in where they work, Wren and Derick start to spend more and more time together and Wren begins to think, maybe, he could have that famous kiss.

I absolutely loved Never been kissed! It was sweet, hilarious and so heartfelt! A feel-good summer queer read with unforgettable characters, a cute story and second chances. This book was lovely, truly amazing and I couldn't not devoured it right away. Wren is a brilliant character, I loved him so much and his bond with Derick, their feelings and thoughts and I couldn't wait to read what would happen in the next page.
A really cute romantic comedy, with sweet characters. I only wish they would have been developed more, but overall the book was pretty great.
With almost kiss in the past, friends to lovers, a plan to save a drive-in, Never been kissed was a really nice read.

Best book I’ve read in such a long time!! This story was so lovely, I had to read it a second time and the second time was even better! These characters are home to me now and I implore you to buy this book right this second.

This was a really cute rom com about trying to save a drive in from going out of business. Add in some enemies-to friends- to lovers and I was sold. There were some elements of this book I didn't like but most come down to characters needing to be developed more. (Also it's not a dodge Camaro, I am sad that this error made it into the print copy as well) Overall a good read and I look forward to reading more Timothy Janovsky in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I saw this book everywhere. Every queer person in my life was dying for this book to come out, which was the biggest stamp of approval you could ask for.

This is such a sweet, mushy-gushy romance, and I loved every minute. I loved the demi-sexual representation in this book. I love having this book in my toolkit when someone asks for awesome books with specific representation. The pacing was perfect, the comedy was so good, and the book was filled with some beloved tropes- it's everything you want.

I loved the idea that this book raises that it is never too late to fall in love for the first time.

This was one of my most anticipated released for 2022 and I was not disappointed! I love a good MLM romance and this one being about a queer boy who loves movies and trying to figure his life out post-college really hit home.
The writing is funny, the characters are funny and relatable and as someone who loves the to all the boys books and movies, this definitely lived up to the hype of being a queer version of that.
My only "issue" (and this is a serious nitpick) is that sometimes I found it a bit too predictable, but that's just me.
Overall, I loved it and, if I'm not mistaken, its the first in a series, so now I'm just eagerly waiting the rest of the books to come out!

This was so freaking cute!! At first, I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me. The writing style wasn’t working for me for the first couple of chapters. However, that all changed when Wren sent emails to the 4 guys he almost kissed. Needless to say, after that, I was immediately invested.

Never Been Kissed is a fun rom-com that celebrates movies, second chances, and figuring out yourself and your sexual identity in your own time. Wren has identified as gay, but he doesn’t feel like that is quite right. As the book progresses, Wren realizes he is demisexual. Once Wren figures this out, it’s like a lightbulb goes off. He feels like he understands himself and his romantic relationships a lot better. I love how the author writes this process. He allows Wren to figure things out in his own time and shows there isn’t a deadline to figuring out your identity.

If you’re looking for a romance book with great LGBTQIA+ representation, an adorable romance, and an endearing, funny main character, then give Never Been Kissed a try!

Never Been Kissed is a great summer romcom that combines the thrill of falling for someone with the adventure of self discovery. The romance between Wren and Derrick was sweet, but I think the best part had to be the exploration of sexual/romantic attraction. It was beautiful to see Wren learn about demisexuality and that multiple labels can be right for him, and Derrick respect his boundaries.

The drive in theater's story was so touching as well. However, the side characters could be a bit over the top and obnoxious at times which would really pull me out of what would otherwise be really nice moments.

eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This debut romance is full of heart and charm, perfect for fans of The Charm Offensive and Casey McQuiston. Wren is a 22-year old movie buff with a film degree who's never been kissed. When he accidentally sends out a series of draft emails to all of his almost first kisses (a la To All The Boys I've Loved Before), he's mortified. But his life only goes from bad to worse when he learns that the former best friend who ghosted him after an almost-kiss will be working alongside him at the drive-in movie theater this summer. I loved the dawning realization and acceptance of Wren's demi-sexuality and how he and Derrick figure out their relationship dynamics. Also the drive in and exhumation of a lost, local horror flick! Great, fun read. Also, a little bit heartbreaking since my local drive-in is closing soon, so that storyline really hit home.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA FOR THE ARC!

This book is adorable, a real comfort book. I’m really happy to have the chance to read it! Wren is a very relatable character and I felt for him, because I’m in the ace/demi spectre too. It’s the first time I see this aspect of me in a book in a such similar situation. I’m crying and I’m not the crying type.
The book is a little simple and I aspect Alice to be more reclutant and difficult because she’s a recluse and she never wanted to show her movie. So I quite don’t understand why she choose to say yes to Wren.
The romance in this book, however, is ADORABLE! I love the secondo chance trope and Wren and Derrick are just too cute! They have such an healthy relationship. Yes, they have some miscommunication problems and they are basically two idiots in love, but they also are sensitive, full of respect for each other, and really in love.
So I really hope this book will be loved, because it deserves it!

Really cute queer romcom. Light and easy to read with loveable characters and an adorable plot. Would make an excellent Hallmark movie, which I mean as a compliment.

Rating 4/5
Plot 4/5
Spice 2/5
Character Development 4/5

[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]

“Never Been Kissed” is the first book in Timothy Janovsky’s Boy Meets Boy series. This book tells the story of Wren Roland and Derick Haverford. Wren has never been kissed before and dreams of the movie-perfect ending with his soulmate. On his birthday, Wren decides to send an email out to all the boys he loved before he came out and had the chance to tell them. Wren doesn’t think anyone will respond, but oh boy is he wrong. Derick was one of Wren's first “pre-coming-out-crush”. When Derick and Wren both spend their summer at the drive-in, the two are drawn to one another, and Wren’s picture-perfect kiss is close.

This book was so cute! I loved the rom-com aspect and this book is filled with diverse representations from the LGBTQIA+ community (white gay demisexual questioning cis male main character, white sapphic cis female side characters, white bisexual cis female side character, white gay side characters, white achillean cis male side character). If you enjoyed “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before", “Red White & Royal Blue”, “Boyfriend Material", and “What If It's Us", you’ll enjoy this book!

"Never Been Kissed" is a cute, but sometimes slow paced novel that will be enjoyed by film history buffs. It did not captivate me as I was expected mainly because of the fact that I could not place the novel in either the adult or the young adult section. I think it's supposed to be the former, but the characters felt very young.
The romance did not convince me either, but I did enjoy the conversations revolving around heteronormativity, and labelling yourself. It is hard, coming to terms with one's sexuality and gender identity. It is a struggle even in a liberal environment.

I do think it would be great as a nice tv movie!

As a note, while this is technically a New Adult book as its characters are in their early-ish twenties, it reads young and is definitely appropriate for a Young Adult/Teen audience. I think going in expecting a sexy New Adult rom-com sort of messed with my expectations when it really belongs to a Young Adult audience. Overall, this rom-com was very okay for me. I didn't find it particularly engaging or any characters particularly lovable or any scenes particularly swoony, but it was a fairly solid rom-com, I guess. I won't be recommending it, but I also wouldn't jump in anywhere to say it's bad; I think the book and I just didn't mesh.

Cute and fluffy! Perfect for fans of To All the Boys and for all the hopeless romantics out there! Goofy and relatable while still complex characters made this a very quick and enjoyable read! After all, who doesn't love a good happily ever after?!? Will definitely be checking out future books by Timothy Janovsky!