In his debut novel “Never Been Kissed” author Timothy Janovsky taps into an intriguing premise examining identity, intrigue, and romance. These topics are explored through the likes of Jenny Han’s “To all the boys I loved before” plot device among others. Wren Roland is a film geek, optimist, and overall romantic. During high school he had developed crushes and would write them emails describing his feelings towards them. These emails were never sent and were saved in his inbox. In what would be a couple of years later he decides to take an active step towards expressing his feelings. Wren decides to send his crushes the emails. What could go wrong right ?! Wren has never been kissed and the closest guy to have kissed him is Derick Haverford. After learning Derick’s post-high school coming out gives Wren thoughts perhaps he may have his kiss after all. In this moderate paced novel the plot evolves to explore this relationship and the nuances of sexual identity. This novel was one I enjoyed and would recommend it to those who enjoy queer love stories. I gave this novel 3.5 out of five and a solid 3 stars on goodreads. I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

There’s something glorious about witnessing an all-time great cinematic kiss. Casablanca, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Slumdog Millionaire … if you’re not standing up in your seat by the end, where’s your soul? These picture perfect moments call to those looking for a whirlwind romance of their own.

Wren Roland is one such hopeless romantic. The only one of his friends not to have a first kiss at the ripe old age of 22, he is facing his last summer working at his beloved hometown drive-in movie theater. He can’t help but long for a kiss that lives up to his Hollywood dreams. But he’s never had the emotional connection he needs to make that moment happen — except with his old crush and former best friend Derick Haverford. It’s been years since an aborted romantic moment changed everything for Wren, and they haven’t seen each other since. One drunken night leads to Wren accidentally sending emails to all four of his “almost kisses” over the years, including Derick. Wren’s sure nothing will come of it (aside from his own embarrassment, that is). But when Wren’s boss hires Derick to help revitalize the dying drive-in, Wren soon finds that happy endings might not be just for the big screen after all.

For anyone who loves a good old fashioned romance, Never Been Kissed is for you. Wren is a cinephile, and his extensive references to film history are fun Easter eggs for any film buff. I adored a subplot involving an aging film director and Wren’s efforts to woo her into sharing her masterpiece for the first time. The novel’s plot is structured like a classic rom-com down to the summer setting and slow burn relationship. It’s like comfort food in an entertaining, earnest package, and it’s sure to delight readers with its small town charm.


But by far the best part of Never Been Kissed is the sensitive and loving way it portrays demisexuality. Wren’s journey to discovering a new facet of his identity feel organic and grounded in reality. Aside from some gentle ribbing from his friends, Wren is allowed the space to take his time, both with his relationship with Derick and with his growing realization that “gay” as a label doesn’t encompass all that he feels. Coming out later in life and developing a new understanding of one’s queer identity is common, but rarely explored with such depth. With identities under the asexual umbrella still severely underrepresented in media, it is all the more vital that stories like Never Been Kissed exist.

In Never Been Kissed, Timothy Janovsky creates a screen-worthy love story that also functions as a thoughtful exploration of demisexuality and the many ways we love each other. It is available now wherever books are sold. Never Been Kissed is the first book in the Boy Meets Boy series, with holiday romance You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince hitting shelves October 4, 2022.

4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I loved this book so much more than I expected! Part of that was because of the unexpected demisexuality representation, which I really appreciated. The main reason why this book isn't 5 star for me is because of the miscommunication issues throughout the book... I really dislike those personally, so yeah I just couldn't give this 5 stars.

But I do plan on buying it physically someday! Because like I said, I loved it a lot and the cover's also very cute!

Can't wait to see what other books this author writes!

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for the chance to review Never Been Kissed. What stands out to me most about this book is that it took, for me, common tropes in rom/coms (which I love) and placed them in the lives of LGBTQIA+ lives. I say this because, to a point, it is nice to see universal themes of romcom tropes within any identity and relationship (to a point because cis, hetero people and relationships have always had this space and freedom and stories should and must still honor the struggles many experience to share and live their identities safely).
This was an enjoyable quick read, I will note it took a little bit for the plot/engagement with characters to pick up but overall this hit the right notes for an inclusive summer read!

There are so many parts of this book that I just loved but there were also things that I couldn't get behind. I love this newer trend of giving us characters in their early twenties, people fresh out of college, new to adult life, people who are just trying to figure it out like the rest of us. That being said, for a book with 22 year-old characters it did feel very juvenile to me so much so that in my first draft of this review I called it YA but I'm pretty sure it’s categorized as New Adult.

The Characters: I love, love, love the representation and I think we desperately need more characters on the Aromantic spectrum. Outside of the our main character being Demi I was excited to see all of the LGBTQIA+ characters in different stages of figuring themselves out. I found myself very drawn to the 3BeeGees and while we did get alone time with them I wouldn't have minded a bit more.

The Story: Here is where I had my strongest dislike, I kept thinking to myself "have I read this before?" and I have. Is this just To All The Boys rehashed? Don’t get me wrong I love a good retelling but it needs to have a twist so it’s not the exact same premise of writing 5 letters/emails to the people you’ve loved, accidentally sending them and then it turning out for the best.

3.5 ⭐️

I wanted to love this book after seeing really great reviews for it. And I did like it, but wasn’t over the moon about it.

It was a cute story and the plot was a fun idea - think “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” but queer - but it was a little corny at times. I also so desperately wanted to read the letters that Wren wrote to his almost-kisses and was disappointed that they weren’t included.

I am really excited to read more of this author’s books, given that this was one of his firsts! I can see the potential for some really fun romances from him!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley from the author and publisher in exchanged for my honest review.

After requesting a review copy of the ebook I was also granted a review copy of the audiobook so my review below is more focused on that.

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 4
Performance – 4
Story – 4

I ending up liking this.

For some reason it took me a quite a few chapters before I really got into this story. Mark Sanderlin did a fine job with the audio but I honestly felt like his voice sounded too young for a 22-year-old and that may have been why it took me a bit to get into it. I guess I also felt like the characters acted a bit immature for their ages. The only thing I really have to base this on is myself; I was much more settled at that age with a good job, a husband and a mortgage.

As for the story, by about 50% into the book I was totally invested and couldn’t stop listening/reading. I loved Alice and how she interacted with Devin and Wren and how she helped them try and save the drive-in. This story really made me feel nostalgic for the days when my husband and I went to drive in movies. Alas there are no theaters left in the city where I grew up.

An advanced copy of this book/audiobook was provided to me at my request via NetGalley but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.

This book reminds me of the Drew Barrymore movie at first glance (probably because it's got the same name), but once I read the summary I had more of "To All the Boys" vibes. Neither of these things are bad because I loved them both separately, so I will love them together, right?

Uh... absolutely! Our main man Roland has a bit of an emotional night, sends letters "to all the boys" and in the morning, realizes the damage is done. When Derick enters the picture, the credits start rolling (this is a joke in direct relation to the fact they work at a drive-in...)

I really enjoyed this romantic comedy, just as I thought I would. It's not every day I read a romance written by a man, but I just might read more after this!

For full review see Smexy Books on 5/18
I have seen this book described as cute and sweet, which it is, and funny, too, but it is also a poignant exploration of how important what some might think of as merely “labels” – like asexual or demisexual – are to self-recognition. Once Wren knows who he is, he knows what to look for and ask for, so that that his first kiss and all subsequent ones feel right.
....
The ensemble of Wren and his friends is really entertaining, and I liked the scenes when they were all together. I didn’t have the easiest time connecting with Wren himself until midway through the book and in places his dialogue with Derrick sounded a little like an after school special. But I really enjoyed the way Janovsky showed us Derrick through Wren’s eyes, while still giving us clues as to Derrick’s real feelings.

This is really a slow, slow burn romance, but if you have any fondness for Drive-ins, I think it is worth the ride.

I loved this book! It was a rocky start for me, it didn't hook me right away, but once I got to know the characters I loved them. Definitely recommend if you want a fun read. It filled the void I needed filled after finishing Heartstopper, so if you enjoyed that coming of age story, you will enjoy this one!

This book is To All the Boys I’ve Love Before, but make it queer. This is a super cute, fun new adult romcom! It has summer vibes with a summer drive-in job setting. There is Demisexual rep (we need more of this rep!), exploration of identity, movie buff/pop culture references (shoutout to all the classic romcoms), and one bed/second chance tropes. If you want a mega cute summer read, consider picking this one up!

NEVER BEEN KISSED by Timothy Janovsky is a sweet new adult romcom and ode to classic cinema. Fresh out of undergrad, Wren Roland has been promoted to manager at the drive-in movie theatre in his hometown, where he's worked every summer for nearly a decade. Surprisingly, Derrick Haverford is also working there. Wren and Derrick have a history of unspoken, maybe-requited feelings and an almost kiss from their high school years. Combine those complicated emotions with Wren's quest to save the drive-in by screening of a lost classic by a reclusive director, and Wren is in for an unforgettable summer.

NEVER BEEN KISSED is full of quirky characters, classic film references, and all kinds of queerness. While it sticks to a standard plot structure and familiar tropes, it's the type of romcom the world needs in 2022. While Wren has already come out as gay, he has more to explore in his queer identity, which offers a refreshing perspective. As a result, readers who shy away from spicy scenes are in the clear, aside from a few innuendos. Some readers might connect deeply with the representation here, but overall this story reads as cute and breezy. A perfect beach read!

this book was soooo cute!! the pacing worked very well, it wasn’t too fast and it wasn’t too slow, and it didn’t feel rushed at the end or anything. this book parallels to all the boys i’ve loved before and it made me giggle when i realized how it did. this is a super fast-paced, light hearted queer romcom that kept me invested from the beginning.

i have mostly positive thoughts about this book. i loved the demisexual representation. i felt it was handled perfectly and was a good representation of what being demisexual feels like! the way wren came to terms with it and the way derick supported him made me want to cry (as someone who is also demi and wasn’t sure about the difference between romantic and sexual attraction for a while, i felt seen). i loved all the characters, but i felt that the roommates avery and mateo were lacking something. they weren’t fully fleshed out to me. another thing that didn’t feel fully fleshed was derick and wren’s first main conflict. i felt like it resolved too quickly, but at the same time i felt wren was a forgiving person by nature, so it didn’t bother me that much. i laughed some of the pop culture references, but i wasn’t too keen on how the friend group would say abbreviations out loud. it felt more cheesy than a romcom is supposed to feel.

overall, never been kissed is such a heartwarming letter to queer people who are still figuring themselves out, and that it’s okay to take it one day at a time. wren and derick’s relationship was super cute and i can’t wait to see what else this author writes!

A fun, heartwarming, and adorable read. I love seeing the representation of a demi-romantic/sexual character who goes through that phase of trying to understand themselves post-college. It really helps to see that romance/sexuality is a spectrum that not everyone is able to figure out right out of high school.

The setting of a drive-in theater was a nice touch that added some uniqueness to the story. Wren being a lover of classic movies and trying and failing to preserve the old times, while Derick is social media savvy and wants to bridge the gap between classic and modern. The two mesh well in that aspect and it works so well with the chemistry they have.

I was a bit confused with Wren and Derick's reunion after the email fiasco. I wasn't sure if Derick didn't have feelings for Wren but grew to see him in that way, or if he was just trying to push down his feelings from high school by saying the almost-kiss didn't mean the same thing to him as it did to Wren. I also thought the ending wrapped up a little too nicely, with the fate of the drive-in theater and Derick's relationship to his parents. I think the saving grace came out of nowhere and didn't give the characters a chance to explore other options that didn't include their small town roots.
Overall it was an sweet and wonderful story that really resonated with me and I hope to see more representation like this in more books.

Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky is a slow-burn romance between movie buff Wren and social media savvy Derick. Brought back together after losing touch during their post-high school years, Wren begins their reunion with an embarrassing email he never soberly intended to send to Derick about an almost kiss years ago. Embarrassed and saddened to learn that Derick didn't feel the same about him back then, Wren attempts to avoid Derick but of course that is not to be. Can the two of them manage their growing relationship and save the drive-in they work for at the same time?

Wren Roland has never been kissed. He’s come close a couple of times, but he’s waiting for that special someone to share his first kiss with and sparks will fly just like in the movies. After a night out with his friends and more than a few drinks on his birthday, he drunkenly decides to send out emails to all of his almost kisses. One particular response catches hie eye, Derrick Haverford. He’s even more surprised when he discovers Derrick will be working at the Drive-in he manages Wiley’s for the summer. As Wren and Derrick work together to save the struggling drive-in, their feelings are reignited and become harder and harder to avoid. Wren may finally get the first kiss he’s been dreaming of but this isn’t the movies and obstacles threaten to get in the way of Wren’s happily ever after.

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This was such a sweet new adult romance novel! I really enjoyed the Demi sexual representation in this novel as we read of Wren’s journey of not only figuring out his feelings for Derrick, but discovering his sexuality. I also loved all the movie references and the friendship between the 3B Gee’s: Wren, Avery and Mateo, his roommates. Reading this story was like being wrapped in one huge hug from beginning the end, the characters were funny and left impressions on my heart. This is not a steamy read and it’s not meant to be, it’s a sweet summer romance that had me feeling all the feels 😌😌 I would 100% love to see more of Wren and Derrick in the future I feel like this story was just the beginning of their epic romance. I would like to thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This title is available now for purchase!

I remember reading To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and thinking, this would be so much better if it were gay. Never Been Kissed proves that I was correct, and I absolutely loved it! I really needed a fun, light-hearted romcom, and this book was exactly that. If you’re looking for queer joy to pull you out of that post Heartstopper haze, this is the book for you!

Never Been Kissed takes the concept of sending off the embarrassing letters you wrote for past crushes and finds a new and unique voice. I enjoyed the fresh, new adult take on second chance love. My favourite thing about this book is how it discusses queer identity, and more specifically, how exploring your queerness does not have a timeline. Queer people often develop later than heterosexuals. Our first kisses are sometimes later than usual, a lot of us don’t get to have that senseless young love. Figuring out your identity can sometimes feel like a full-time job. I wasn’t expecting such a detailed exploration of demisexuality, but really appreciated what I found to be a nuanced representation of an overlooked identity. I loved how throughout the book Wren was slowly processing his current identity to make sense of his past. I really related to having that moment when you realise seemingly insignificant moments in your childhood may allude to an entire aspect of your identity you haven’t addressed. It can be so easy to label yourself too quickly, when you’re young and have not really had the time to explore your identity. When you realise your perspective of your own identity is evolving, it can also be scary to think about the new conversations you may need to have with those around you. Never Been Kissed represented that feeling brilliantly.

It can feel incredibly lonely when those around you are moving at an entirely different pace. I loved that the primary message of this book was – it’s okay to take your time! There is no rush to label yourself, and you certainly do not owe anyone clarity on something that can be so personal. When we label ourselves, we place markers on what we are allowed to feel. I’ve thought a lot about my own identity lately, and while I still haven’t figured it all out, Never Been Kissed is a reminder to myself that I’ll get there eventually. Being a man that likes other men is not as simple as I thought it was. Sexuality is so complex, and I don’t have to just be one thing.

Beyond the very important discussion of identity, this is such a well-executed romcom. Wren was the perfect disaster main character, completely oblivious to Derick’s advances. Their romance blossomed so slow and perfect, and of course, there were the classic romcom setbacks that make you want to scream in the best way. I also adored how this book had plot that was separate to the romance. As a huge film fan, I really engaged with the discussion of misogyny in the film industry and the treatment of female directors. I loved Alice as a character, and really enjoyed how this book represented multigenerational queerness. I want more books like this. I really do. Give them all to me.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca, the author and Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so much more than I realized! Wren has never been kissed and he's just about to graduate from college. College is the time where you have all your firsts but he is still trying to find where he is comfortable identifying. And he's had 4 almost kisses so when they are celebrating and had way too many drinks and he is about to go to bed, he looks back at his drafts of written emails to these almost kisses through the years seems like a great time to hit send on all of them.

Well one of them wrote back. Even though he's mortified and he finds out he has to work his usual summer job with him.

This story was so cute but also brought up so many ideas that make me angry about our culture. That there are different time lines for lgbtq and straight relationships cause unless you have an awesome inclusive family you are on your own trying to find resources and figuring out who you are and where you fit if you aren't in the cis bucket before you even can start to meet a compatible partner. ✨What if we just raised humans with all the possibilities and showed them all ways to live without shoving them into a label and assimilating them? Can I live there? I'm sure we would find some way to ruin it.✨

They are trying to save their drive-in which is their summer job and also, trying to film a formerly panned/blacklisted movie where the director was driven from Hollywood cause the rumors about her sexual orientation, #oldhollywood 

Getting to experience Wren discover new terms like Demisexual and research stories and feeling that pieces were falling into place was beautiful. 

Read if you like:
💋 Second chance at romance now that they are both in the same place in their journey
🎬 Cinema talk and drive-ins
💋 Sassy elderly female directors

Thank you sourcebookscasa and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Hi friends and Happy Saturday! What are y’all up to this weekend? If you’re looking for something to read, particularly a college age rom-com featuring a drive in movie lot I’d highly recommend the recently released #NeverBeenKissed by @timothyjanovsky 🚘📽 We follow film enthusiast Wren during another summer working at the local drive-in theatre when things take a number of interesting turns. First, he has never been kissed, and has been waiting for the perfect cinematic moment. So, the night before his birthday he sends out an email to his four almost-kisses in a moment of wanting to take charge of his love life. Morning brings a freak out as he’s fully realized what he did - such a cute, comedic moment! Enter Derick, almost-kiss #4 and the one Wren can’t quite get over who starts as the social media intern to try and save the drive in and angsty feelings are out in full force (the best!!). Together they embark on a special project that embodies Wren’s university work and love of the drive in: a premier for a 70s indie horror flick by a local female director who has hermited away after it never made it to the big screen. Ahh! I loved this story so much! The sweetest of slow burn romance, the backstory of a secretive filmmaker and her movie, and the atmosphere as unique & special as the drive-in theatre it features. We have Demi rep too which was so great as well as the drama that can come from a small town. I also really, really liked Wrens group of friends/roommates as well as the older gentleman who owns the drive-in and is a father-figure to Wren. I can’t wait for this author’s next book coming at the end of this year, but definitely go check this one out this summer if not sooner!! 4.5/5 ⭐️ Shoutout to @sourcebookscasa for an egalley copy in exchange for an honest review ❤️
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QOTD: What books are summer almost-reads for you? Comment below & let me know 😄
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Until next time, lovelies 😘

Thanks Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and Dreamscape Media for the ARC and audio ARC of this. I switched back and forth between formats while I was reading.

This was such a cute, queer, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before vibes story. Wren drunkenly sends 4 emails to the boys he almost shared his first kiss with. When one responds and mentions they’ll be working together that summer, he’s throw for a loop. I loved seeing a demisexual character! A perfect, light, summery read.