Member Reviews
I gave up on this one- 1) it was too occult-themed, and 2) it sounded too juvenile (yes, I know this is YA, but it sounded like 13 year old's).
It was so hard to stop reading this to do other things. I genuinely love pretty much everything about it, though I was honestly hoping that True's romance would be queer given how hard the "I'm so over boys" thing was. I still like where it went, don't get me wrong, but I was hoping she'd find someone who wasn't a guy to fall in love with.
The characterizations are simply incredible, which is why I just love it. Everyone feels so realistic and the relationships are so interesting and sweet (for the most part) and relatable. This is definitely a story I can see many kids seeing themselves reflected in. It also gives fairly healthy look at romantic relationships and what love should feel like. [Spoilers] The love potion wasn't really necessary in anyone's but maybe Onny's relationship. Ash and True didn't even do anything with it before they come to mutual understanding with their partners, but the potions are supposed to be a catalyst, so I can forgive that--especially since it's basically saying you don't need a love potion to find your true love. [End of Spoilers]
I enjoyed the format of the book too; instead of breaking everything up by chapters, it's broken up by sections within parts. It made it a little hard for my brain to accept breaks as stopping points because of this, but it made me feel at ease that there wouldn't be jumping back and forth between characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters and the entire theme, so this is a recommendation from me!
Honestly this book was a great start to my Fall reading list! It's light yet full of magic, friendship, romance, and a little bit of witchcraft.
I love the bond between Onny, True, and Ash. Each character was distinct from the other and had their own voice to lend to the story. It was such a treat to see them all fall in love throughout the short course of the book.
Despite talk of a love potion nothing felt instalovey, which was a relief! It was clear that these characters all had a long history with each other and we only got to see the culmination of that history.
In addition to the romance there's also just an undercurrent of action and excitement since all three stories are happening simultaneously during the course of one night. There's also exploration of grief, loss, and acceptance.
I really enjoyed the setting of the mansion Halloween party. It sounds like such a blast and I definitely wish that I could have attended. The legend of the Lady of Mood Ridge added that extra magical charm to the book.
I really don't want to spoil anything- there's a lot that happens during just one night and it was so fun to read about. I really did read this book in a very short timeframe, it really just sucked me in with the writing style and the excitement of everything taking place before midnight.
I would definitely recommend giving this a read, as well as the other books by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, and Evelyn Skye. This book is a magical read to add to your autumn tbr!
This was such a cute and perfect read with fall being right around the corner. It was adorable, romantic and the perfect atmosphere and setting. I loved the magical aspects of the story and how it impacted all 3 characters/stories in this book. It was truly a perfect story to go into September with. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.
Three authors that I really enjoy writing about magic and cute high school romance? YES.
Onny, Ash, and True are best friends. They call themselves The Coven, and have been close since they were young. Onny is the most spiritual of the bunch, and is determined that the three of them will each use the love potion that her grandmother left her on the night of her parents party to celebrate the town of Moon Ridge. Ash is an artist, shy and sweet and sensitive, and he has had a crush on the girl next door - but every time he tries to talk to her, he freezes up. True is the scientist of the group, committed to what she can see and know and prove. But maybe this is the night that she begins to believe in a bit of magic.
I read a lot less MG/YA than I used to, but this book felt like I was back in ninth grade on my old red couch reading something cute and fun - often by one of the three authors of this novel. This was a covid read for me, and I really enjoyed it as a reprieve from the boredom and general awfulness of what was going on in my life. I’m not the target audience for this book as much as I used to be, but I still loved it in a very nostalgic way.
The magic is fun, the characters are adorable, and the book is well written. Definitely check this one out if you’re looking for a fun Halloween-y read!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin’s Press for sending me an advance copy of this book for review!
This was a sweet read! I enjoyed the whole story, though the one with True and Orion was a little bit harder to believe because at least Onny and Ash knew their companions previously. This book still put a smile on my face and I loved the appearances of the Lady of Moon Ridge, just in time to help Onny, Ash and True make the right choice at this critical 400 year celebration of true love and finding your soulmate. Plus Mayor Grimjoy and Mr. Brightside were a lovely couple and it was fun to see their interactions with the three teens as well.
If you are looking for a quick read by some good authors that will leave a smile on your face, then this book is a good choice!
An interesting, creative, and unique plot that drew me in from the blurb all the way to the last page!
*Note: For this review, since it’s technically three separate (yet interconnected) stories in one, I’m going to be dividing my thoughts for each into three separate sections!*
❝THREE KISSES TILL MIDNIGHT❞ BY ROSHANI CHOKSHI
Starting off this cozy autumnal anthology is none other than Roshani Chokshi! Three Kisses Till Midnight follows Apollonia (Onny) Diamante, a young Filipina teen who wants nothing more than for her long-time crush, Alexander, to finally notice her. Her solution? A magical love potion, whose recipe was passed down to her by her late Filipina grandmother. 💖 But when her rival, the infuriating Byron, accidentally drinks it instead, it’s up to both of them to team up to gather all the ingredients before the clock strikes midnight. 🕰️
This short story has it ALL: academic rivals/enemies to lovers, forced proximity, the sunshine x grumpy trope (vaguely reminiscent of Lorelai & Luke from Gilmore Girls), and a couple I truly could not possibly adore more. It’s quaint, charming, enchanting, and has all the cozy autumnal vibes—what more could you possibly want? This is undoubtedly not only a story that I will be rereading again in the future, but also the easiest five star rating I’ve given all year! 🌟
(also side note: let’s just say that if you’re on Team Devi & Ben for Never Have I Ever on Netflix, there’s a 99% chance that you’re going to LOVE this short story!)
— final rating: 💖💖💖💖💖+
❝TWO KISSES TILL MIDNIGHT❞ BY EVELYN SKYE
Next up in this autumnal anthology is Evelyn Skye with Two Kisses Till Midnight! Her story centers around Ash, a shy, nerdy artist with a passion for designing Venetian masks. 🎨 He’s also hopelessly in love with Cassidy, cross country runner & the girl next door 👟🎀 (who, according to Ash, doesn’t even know he exists). But when Ash and Cassidy have to work together to repair a broken fence between their homes, will the stars finally align & give Ash the love story he’s dreamed of?
One of my favorite aspects of this story was how it featured chronic illness rep. When Cassidy was in middle school, she was diagnosed with a degenerative lung condition, which later led to her needing a lung transplant at age 14. 🫁 It’s not often that this kind of representation pops up in YA, and while I can’t speak personally, from an outsider’s perspective…it felt so real and wholesome and pure. ✨
While this story wasn’t an immediate favorite for me like Roshani Chokshi’s was, I still very much enjoyed it! This story is perfect for fans of the girl next door trope and anyone craving a story brimming with heart.
— my final rating: 💖💖💖💖
❝ONE KISS TILL MIDNIGHT❞ BY SANDHYA MENON
And last—but most certainly not least!—closing off the anthology, we have One Kiss Till Midnight by Sandhya Menon, a spooky story which True, a girl of science who also happens to be a *bit* of a cynic. 🧑🔬🧪 But after receiving a visit from a…ghostly apparition that she can’t immediately discredit, True decides to team up with Orion Parker, a teen paranormal investigator and vlogger behind Ghost Boosters, a YouTube channel with a small-but-mighty following. 👻
While they are investigating, True and Orion are also tasked with retrieving a life-size doll known as Wicked Wynona. Unfortunately, as they discover, Wicked Wynona was stolen by True’s jerk of an ex-boyfriend (and a few of his guy buddies), which makes things…well, more than a little awkward. But going on a scavenger hunt throughout Onny’s castle-like house does come with its perks, and soon True starts wondering if maybe she’s finally ready to open up her heart again.
And okay, while I’m (usually) not a fan of the insta-love trope, I actually have to admit that I really enjoyed the relationship development between True and Orion (who was truly adorable and an absolute cinnamon roll, if you ask me! 🍁). If you are a fan of the cynical x hopeless romantic trope and don’t mind having a little insta-love, this is definitely the short story for you!
— my final rating: 💖💖💖💖.5
my overall rating:
💖💖💖💖.5
Perfect, sweet, romance. I can't get enough of these blended stories, especially with 2 of my favorite women of color authors!!!!
Three Kisses, One Midnight is a super cute witchy novel that is a great light fall read! This story follows a trio of friends as they search for their true love and seal it with a kiss before midnight. In my opinion, this book leans more towards the younger YA side of the spectrum, so don’t go into it expecting a mature story with older characters. However, it’s a fun, cute read that is worth checking out. If you’re looking for an easy, quick read with witchy vibes, this is the book for you. Three Kisses, One Midnight reads as if it is 3 novellas–one for each friend. My biggest complaint about this book is how the authors chose to co-write it. I feel like things could have been blended better. I could esaily tell which parts one author wrote. Other than that, I enjoyed this book!
✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨
🍁 What books are on your TBR for witchy season? I wanted a sweet romance to get me in the mood for all things Fall! Three Kisses, One Midnight was the perfect way to start!
📝 The town of Moon Ridge was founded 400 years ago and boasts one of the most romantic legends. Rumor has it that every 100 years, The Lady of Moon Ridge will appear to help others find their one true love. 💗 Three best friends, known as The Coven, decide that this Halloween night 🎃 would be the perfect time to use Onny's Grandmother's love potion. 🧪 At the town's masquerade ball, will Only, Ash and True find their special love?
What I 🤍:
💕 3 Short Story Romances
🥰 Sweet, Feel-Good Love Stories
🧖🏽♀️Paranormal Vibes
😱 Not Scary, (Won't Keep You Up)
🃏 Tarot Card Readings
✨ Astrological References
I really loved how this was a collaboration between three authors! There is an overarching story, but within that, there are three short-stories following either Onny, Ash or True and their journey to find love. So many troupes are hit in this book, so there's bound to be one that you'd enjoy.
Onny ~ Enemies to Lovers, Love Triangle
Ash ~ Long term Pining, Girl Next Door
True ~ Instant Attraction/Love
Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steaminess: 🔥 (Kisses)
Read If ➡️: You Like YA Romance, Clean Romance, or a book to get you into the Witchy Season.
Two things bothered me about this book. The first being that there were only 4 chapters in this book! It really made the pacing challenging for me. Next, I felt the stories had details that didn't match. For example, a character's height is different in two stories, and how to take the love potion is also different in one story vs. the other two. There's also a mention of a cat, but when that character had their story, the cat wasn't mentioned. I know it's hard to collaborate on these, yet I felt the editor should have caught those things.
Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for a #gifted copy of this book!
🌟 #threekissesonemidnight is available now!
An adorable, laugh out story that filled my heart with an immense amount of joy!!
This book was AMAZING!!! All three of these authors did such an amazing job in telling this story! Now I need another collaboration by these 3 amazing women! I've already been a big Roshani Chokshi fan so I already knew that this book was gonna be great but I've never read any books by Evelyn Skye or Sandhya Menon so now that I know they are amazing writers I had to go out and buy some of their other works! Eagerly waiting for them to arrive! Now back to the review hehehe! First I'd like to say that the first story (Onny's story) had Roshani all over it and if it turns out that that wasn't her POV I'm gonna throw my copy of the book out the window cause it was PURE ROSHANI! Anyway... this was an adorable, laugh out story that filled my heart with an immense amount of joy!! I highly recommend that everyone check this book out if you're looking for a story to fill your heart with a joy unlike any other!!!
Thank You Wednesday Books for the ARC!!!
So cute!! I love that the book is broken up into three stories, each following one of the trio of friends. I enjoyed each story for different reasons, but the first story was my favorite because it reminded me of the Netflix show Never Have I Ever and how she thinks she loves one boy when all along the one she was meant to be with was in front of her the whole time. So cute!!
I enjoyed these stories and the magic love and friendship they offered. This is a great magical ya I think onny and trus were my favorites
Three Kisses, One Midnight follows a group of three friends, Onny, True and Ash, on their journey to find love. When Onny's grandmother passes away, she leaves her a recipe for a love potion as her parting gift. This spurs Onny to brew it up for her and her friends to use on the biggest night of the year in Moon Ridge - the night when the Lady of Moon Ridge is said to descends briefly to earth to help foster love connections in the locals. The book is then broken into three sections, each following one of the groups individual love adventures.
This book was very well written and cute. Definitely meant for a young audience but still enjoyable as an adult! I would definitely recommend this to YA readers!
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC!
Three Kisses, One Midnight is exactly what it promises to be: a cute and lighthearted witchy, YA romance. It follows three friends, Onny, True, and Ash, who, at Onny’s suggestion, have brewed a love potion to help move their love live along in the night of the town biggest and most magical celebration. However they all have different expectations of how the well the potion will work.
If you are looking for a fun and cute YA romance to read this fall, then Three Kisses, One Midnight is a great option. It was lighthearted and cute. Everything I want from a YA romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with and eARC!
I read a pre-release version of THREE KISSES, ONE MIDNIGHT. I loved the stories and the ways they connected together. The formatting was a little strange, but I feel like that’s something I’m hesitant to assume is the way the published version of the book will be.
The story gives us the point of view of Onny, Ash, and True, but each in turn. So the first third of the book is Onny’s story. Then Ash’s. Then True’s. I recently read another book that was written that way, and I really enjoyed it, so it was fun to read another book written with the point of view split up that way.
I wish each section had individual chapters, though. Each point of view section is probably close to 100 pages. In the ARC, it’s broken up with scene breaks (little stars across one line), but each section is basically formatted as one long chapter. That wasn’t my favorite. It feels weird to me to stop reading at a scene break instead of a chapter break. But on the whole, that’s a minor thing, and the final version of the book may not be formatted that way. The sample section available on Amazon shows some scene breaks but not any chapter breaks.
Anyhow. One of the big reasons I wanted to read this book is because I’ve read other books by Roshani Chokshi (pretty much an auto-buy author for me at this point) and Sandhya Menon, whose books have been so much fun! I’m not totally caught up on her backlist, but I’m sure I will at some point. The only one of the trio that I hadn’t read before is Evelyn Skye, and I’ve got a couple of her books on my To Be Read list. So I was excited about getting to read something by her, too.
THREE KISSES, ONE MIDNIGHT delivered all the things I hoped for from the authors. It’s fun and romantic, but I felt like the characters were deep, too. I loved all three stories. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes, so I especially loved seeing that one in there.
I thought the party and the town’s lore about love were really great elements, too. All in all, I probably enjoyed this book more even than I expected to, and I expected it to be a fun read.
I think fans of Sandhya Menon’s other books or books by Kasie West will love the sweet tales of romance in THREE KISSES, ONE MIDNIGHT.
This was a super quick read, but it is a really adorable story about love, friendship, and believing in just a little bit of magic. I could really feel the different authors unique voices and writing styles, but the three stories also had a seamless, cohesive feel. The stories were somewhat predictable, but also very cute and fun to read.
Three kisses, one midnight was such a magical masterpiece by three authors. A perfect magical start to the witchy season. Each story is a tale on its own but they’re all perfectly woven together. I really enjoyed this and you can’t tell whether the authors wrote together or separately either way it doesn’t matter you’ll be hooked. A must read for fall
Three Kisses, One Midnight was such an interesting read! It features an overarching story and then three novellas told by different characters and authors. A very unique idea!