Recommended: sure
For a low-key sad love story, for teen caretaker stories, for grief and trauma and pain

Thoughts:
This is one of those books where even though characters are in and around love of all kinds, it sort of breaks your heart the whole way through. It's not often a buoyant, easy love of light. It's a quieter, maybe more desperate love tinged with their shared histories and pain. A perfect quote to sum up the vibe:

Scratches give it character. Nothing in life comes out unscathed.



As you can probably guess from the title, there's a good amount of tension in their interactions given the six times they almost kiss. It's told in two timelines, with the current-day taking up some of it, and the reflections on past near-kisses and other dominating events alternating in. This worked for me in this story because it broke up some of the fear and worry of the current-day narrative with their moms getting surgery.

If you think there's going to be some lightness from the "forced proximity" trope, you're wrong. It was still a bit dark and hurtful in ways. Neither character embodied or created that themselves, but their situations just sucked for each of them. It felt like one was wrapped in thorns, and the other in barbed wire, and any attempt they made to free themselves or help the other just ended up making things worse for both of them. Yo, it was really hard to read. Was this book meant to be this sad?

The cover is misleading too, as cute as it is. This book deals with heavy, difficult topics. Like death, and depression, and chronic illness, and caretaking fatigue, and poverty, and homophobia, and class poverty, and blame, and like a million other things. They're all tied up in each other so much that it doesn't feel like it's trying to take on too much at once, but damn it was not an easy read for me.

All this is not to say the book is bad, or I didn't like it, or it shouldn't be read. It's just... know what you're going into. It's more bittersweet than just sweet, and the road there is not easy. For all that it covers, it's remarkably well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

Rating 4.5/5

I’m not going to lie when I saw the cover and read the description of 6 Times… I thought it sounded just ok, but the last book that I read by Tess Sharpe I loved, so even though this seemed like it was going to be very lighthearted and romantic and very different to the book I had previously read by her, I still wanted to give it a try. I have to say I have never been so glad to have been slightly misled by a blurb, this book is so much more than what I perceived it to be, and precisely the kind of brilliant story that I would expect from this author.

I can openly say that I was an emotional train wreck reading this book, some of the things that happen left me devastated, honestly, there were tears, and then there would be a moment between Penny and Tate and I would be back at the joyful happy place. This story is more than a kind of enemies-to-lovers romance, it is an exploration of the relationships between the girls and their mothers, it deals with trauma and grief and two families struggling with the difficult hands that they have been dealt, but still supporting each other. Don’t get me wrong though whilst there are some heavy topics covered in this story, it is also heart-warming and there was a lot that made me smile.

In the first few chapters, I found it difficult to understand the way Penny and Tate acted toward each other and wasn’t sure if I would be convinced that there was a spark between them. As the story progressed though and we got to jump back to the moments of the almost kisses and get to know both of them a little better, it became clear to see and I definitely got the little butterflies every time they got a little closer. It is a slow-burn romance but in the best way because the build-up was exquisite, we get time to know more about the characters, to see how their feelings develop and to experience all of the awkward tension in between moments and when they have to live together.

Whilst it made me feel very emotional, I really enjoyed reading about the relationships between the mothers and daughters. I liked that they were so different and not always smooth sailing, it added an interesting contrast to the story to see how Anna and Lottie were with each other and how they were around their girls. I loved Marion, Penny’s gran, because she treated Tate like she was also a granddaughter and was like a guiding hand for all of them whilst occasionally being a bit stubborn and sassy.

6 Times We Almost Kissed is beautifully crafted, heart-breaking and mesmerising in equal measure, with characters that I adore, and I would highly recommend reading it.

First and foremost, don’t go into this one thinking that it’s some cutesy romcom based off of the cover. It deals with a lot of trauma and heavy hitting topics…you’ve been warned.

Tess Sharpe knows how to write broken, complicated characters to the point that I felt like she ripped my own story from the depths of my soul, which is incredibly rude!

Anyways, I absolutely loved both Penny and Tate. Penny’s mom is neglectful and struggles with severe depression and other mental health issues. Tate’s mom has been battling with terminal illness. Their moms are best friends, but they can barely be in the same room as each other…that is until they forced to.

I honestly wanted to wrap the two of these girls in a huge hug and never let go. They are the epitome of how life is not fair, and how some people never get the opportunity to have an innocent childhood.

I loved the banter between Penny and Tate. There’s so much angst as well as begrudging respect between them because of their history, which was fun to watch play out.

This will probably be a top read for me this year, which is no surprise because Tess is that good!

Thank you The Novl for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own

I went in expecting a fluffy little queer romance and got absolutely hit in the chest with emotions. The story is interwoven with flashbacks to the rafting accident that led to the death of Penny's father and its aftermath, as well as the discussion of Tate's mother's illness and upcoming surgery. That's not to say it's all sadness - there's a lighthearted self-awareness of tropes (including my favorite, there's only one bed) - as well as the antics of their best friends to balance out all the heaviness.

I am in love love love with the writing. The words and how flashbacks are told, this young adult sapphic book is gorgeous.

Penny and Tate did never get along unless they are drunk or high on emotions. Unfortunately, they have to stay in same home since their mothers are best friends and Penny's mother decides to be a living donor to Tate's mom, for liver transplant.

This journey of playing nice for their moms and being in somewhat forced proximity have them acknowledgeding things they don't want to see. This is where we get enemies to lovers (somewhat) plot well done and that is unique and brilliantly written. I have highlighted so much in Kindle, it felt as if at some point I will probably highlight everything.

The dual POV was great and both of them had their own story to tell which I liked. Amazing bunch of characters in this one. Everyone had something to them making them relatable and lovely. I like the in between messages of Remi and Meghan. They are so cute. I want their story too.

It was refreshing, brave, emotional and honest. The flow was poetic. The author also addressed topics of trauma and other important ones in great manner.

I loved and enjoyed every bit of this book and highly recommend it.

Rating ~ 5✨

Favourite quotes ~

"that I’m sitting here, hanging on her words like she’s a cliff I’ve slipped from."

"moving in with the girl you’ve never been able to escape is a terrible idea. I’ve had all the het rom-coms forced on me, too."

"her skin had been so soft I sometimes think I had been drunk, that I’d imagined it."

"Scratches give it character. Nothing in life comes out unscathed."

"She smiles— one of those slow, hard-earned smiles that makes you feel like you’ve grasped starlight in your hand."

"I’ll remember long after the dried, pressed petals crumble, because some things grow brittle with age. But not this feeling. (Love.)"

"Being around you is like being dropped in a labyrinth with no guide, no string, and absolutely no sense of direction."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Penny and Tate together, how they both had complicated relationships with their mothers, and how they grow closer throughout the book. This is a heartwarming romance and the writing is beautiful. It's a wonderful coming-of-age story and there are funny moments sparkled throughout but it's also a story on trauma and identity. I highly recommend this YA.

Six Times We Almost Kissed is the angsty, emotionally charged story of Penny and Tate, whose lives have clashed many a times because their mothers are best friends. When Penny’s mother becomes a living liver donor to Tate’s mother, Penny and Tate decide to call a truce: no more drama, no more bickering, no more fighting the other. Forced to live together as the mothers recover, the girls’ truce needs to remain stable so everything runs stable at home and that also means letting go of the past events that divided them time and again. There’s just one little hitch: the two of them keep ending up almost kissing. Retracing six defining moments in their relationship, we follow Penny and Tate through the years as they keep on almost kissing and then blatantly pretending it never happened—but when the aftermath of their almost-kisses can no longer be ignored, the girls have to make a choice: to confront each other one final time or end up losing out on the chance for a happily-ever-after.

Sapphic slow-burn romances are my kryptonite. The tension, the back-and-forth banter and barbs, the will-they-won’t-they vibes, the crushing, agonisingly slow development of what is sure to be an absolutely entrancing romance? Yeah, this book delivered all of that.

Don’t be fooled by the cute cover though—this story packs quite the emotional punch as well. Sharpe doesn’t shy away from dark themes in Six Times We Almost Kissed. From the impending liver donation that finds emotions heightened all around to complex, fraught relationships between mothers and daughters (and the exact opposite that is reminiscent of Rory and Lorelai Gilmore’s relationship), unimaginable grief after the loss of a parent and harrowing financial struggles because of medical bills, there is a whole rollercoaster of feelings that accompanies (and powerfully nuances) Penny and Tate’s story.

While the story does feel quite lengthy at times (we do have to get through six almost-kisses and one actual kiss plus a whole lot of backstory), the way Sharpe writes definitely draws out the tension in the most delicious way and heightens the anticipation for when Penny and Tate finally pull their heads out of their…well, you know where I’m going with this. Really, Sharpe’s writing elevates this story every time you might get a bit frustrated with Penny and Tate’s stubbornness and instead draws focus to other important elements of their lives that binds them together—shared grief, fear of what their respective mothers might think about their relationship and how to overcome the chasm of hurt feelings both cling to for much of the story. Yet each new past moment that is revealed to the reader brings with it hope and promise for a future that might offer both girls a reprieve from the heavy weight they lug around on a daily basis. Ultimately, this is a story about the incredible inner strength it takes to survive loss, fear and illness and reminds us how important it is to have a good support system at your side when tragedy strikes.

Chronicling two girls’ rocky road to a more-than-deserved happily ever after, this captivating love story filled with tension, complex relationships and sharp(e) characters is perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Jennifer Dugan.

Penny and Tate have been stuck together their whole lives (their moms are best friends), and they would like very one to know that they definitely absolutely hate it and are totally not obsessed with each other or in love! The last few years have been difficult for both of them (Tate’s mom is sick, Penny’s dad died), which means constantly being exposed to each others’ worsts moments. When the girls are forced to live together because of their moms, they’re determined to ignore the thing between them and pretend everything is okay… should be easy, right?

This nod to fanfic manages to fit so much in! There is an enemies (but not really) to lovers romance running through the heart of the book, but it also incorporates difficult parental relationships, mental health and disability, class and rural healthcare access, as well as some chosen family vibes. From the blurb for the book I was expecting a slightly more romp-y vibe, which didn’t end up being the tone so I had to recalibrate a bit after I started reading. Still a lot of fun, it just has a bigger thread of navigating trauma than I expected going in (which was very well done, to be clear!). This was my first Tess Sharpe read, and I’m looking forward to more.

This is an incredible book! Had I not read previous books of Tess Sharpe's, I might have assumed (based on the cover and title) that this was a cute rom-com. It certainly has swoony moments, but it's so much more than that. This is the story of Tate and Penny, whose mothers are best friends. The pair experience various traumas throughout their lives and seem to always be there for each other. Part of the story is a serious of flashbacks of times the two almost kissed, but those are interwoven with them both processing fear, grief, and trauma, mostly surrounding their parents. I almost don't even know how to describe how well done this was and how compelling the story is. I rooted for Penny and Tate the whole time and my heart broke a little each time one of theirs did. Excellent character development, interesting and engaging structure, and a story I truly loved. I will be buying a copy for my classroom library!

“6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did)” by Tess Sharpe is just about as perfect as you can get for a queer young adult romance.

Do NOT let the cover fool you, this is not a lighted-hearted rom-com. I went into this with certain expectations and this quickly blew right past them, in the best possible way. This is an emotional story that had me crying from chapter two and onward.

Penny and Tate have known one another all of their lives. Their moms are best friends and they’ve grown up together whether they like it or not. They’re not really friends and they don’t hate each other either, but they definitely have some type of feelings for the each other. An incident forces them to have to live together and they agree to get along, at least in front of their mothers. This forces them to have to figure out how to coexist with each other and all the feelings they’ve spent years ignoring.

Penny and Tate are dealing with a lot outside of their relationship. Penny is dealing with a recent death of parent and Tate’s mom has been sick for most of her life. They would be the first person to tell you they’re not friends but they defend each other and are there for one another and I enjoyed them together and separately. They’re complete opposites but they’re exactly what the other needs.

Penny, in particular, had my heart. Her storyline with her mom was a favorite for me. Because of the death of her father, her relationship with her mother has become fractured. I loved how Penny learns to stand up for herself and demand what she needs so that she can heal.

I absolutely loved this. I stayed up until 2am so I could finish it. I just couldn’t go to sleep without getting my ending. What I loved about the ending is that while it felt fitting, it isn’t perfect. Everything isn’t wrapped up and perfect but it is hopeful.

While I highly recommend this, I want to point out that this isn’t an easy read. There are some trigger warnings such as death of a parent (on page), PTSD, and grief. The formatting should also be mentioned. It’s not linear, some of the chapters are flashbacks. They are dated and you do have to kind of pay attention to the dates or you could become confused.

I received an arc from Little, Brown Books for Young Reader via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 - “Scratches give it character. Nothing in life comes out unscathed.”

This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be, and I mean that in the absolute best way possible. The last sapphic YA book I read was underwhelming, but this was utterly outstanding.

Penny and Tate have always be entwined, simply because their mothers are best friends. They, however, do not share the same love for each other as their mothers do. Forced to live together when Penny’s mom becomes the life-saving donor for Tate’s mom. They agree to play nice and not agree out the moms, but there’s one big problem: they can’t stop almost kissing.

Penny and Tate have both had unimaginable difficulties in their lives, and instead of that bonding them it pushes them apart. Penny lost her dad young and Tate’s mom has been sick. They’re so young themselves and they’re navigating such difficult things the best way they know how. As they try to do their everything they can to help their moms, their chemistry and feelings keep simmering unedited the surface. I loved that they both felt really fleshed out and had such clear personalities.

I thought Penny was developed particularly well and her strained relationship with her mother is heartbreaking. After Penny’s father’s death that also resulted in her own serious injuries, her mother completely pulls away and they never have the conversations that they need to. Penny is barred from seeing her therapist who has been helping her cope and her mother doesn’t get the help she needs. When this finally comes to a head, it feels so cathartic to see Penny lay everything out and her mother finally realize what she’s done. And when it ended, it felt like they were on their way to resolution.

What I thought was really well done regarding the ending was that it didn’t feel like everything was wrapped up in a bow. The characters didn’t just suddenly resolve all of their deep-rooted issues, rather they were taking the steps to better themselves. It felt realistic, as did the entirety of the story. We never know how we’ll respond to trauma and I think the differences portrayed in that between Penny and her mother were well done.

I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s sad and heartbreaking, while also finding ways to be uplifting and hopeful. This is just such a beautiful story.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Little and Brown Books for Young Readers, and Tess Sharpe for an ARC of this book!**

Penny and Tate were destined to be around one another constantly....but they haven't always enjoyed each other's company. After all, their mothers have been best friends for ages, so they HAD to grit their teeth through many a movie marathon or playdate they would have rather avoided. Penny tragically lost her father, leaving her and her mother Lottie with a strained relationship, and it seems like this tragedy alone

But when Tate's mother needs a liver transplant, Penny's mom is all too ready to step in as a living donor. The second part of this plan, however, requires the two to move in together...which means Penny and Tate will now be living under one roof. Penny and Tate scramble to put together a pact based on their complicated history...and to try to prevent one more of 'those' moments...where they SOMEHOW almost kiss. Has fate shoved these two together, against their will and against all odds? Or will yet another tragedy drive these two apart...forever?

I'm new to Tess Sharpe, but comparisons to Jenny Han and Nina LaCour peaked my interest. In terms of a sapphic (semi)enemies-to-lovers story, this one is done well. Sharpe gives plenty of background on her characters, and their complicated emotional tangles. The narrative bops back and forth between Penny and Tate (with some interjected text message passages from their friends along the way) and I felt both women got their due in terms of storytelling.

What made this one a bit harder to get through, unfortunately, was in some ways, the premise itself. Sharpe alludes to it in her author's note, but structurally having the narrative hop around based on reliving the "6 Times" was at times difficult to follow and made the timeline feel a bit messy. It was essential to the story to explore all of these moments, but at times I couldn't tell if they were even being retold in order, not in order, or if the reader was supposed to figure that out. I also don't love big sections of text messages in novels unless they feel like they NEED to be included, and the side plot with felt like a bit of unnecessary filler at times.

Sweet and emotional, with just the right amount of longing and angst, 6 Times We Almost Kissed... will leave you CHEERING for the One Time We Did!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This was so much more than what it looks like, truly. I love the themes that were explored. It was honestly such a good ride, and I loved how everything panned out in the end. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This book! Let me start right here by saying this is not a romcom! This is a beautiful exploration of love, grief, anxiety and childhood pressure but this is not an easy read. This book deals with extremely hard subjects and while it is done beautiful and with great respect you should know that going in this book has some very serious triggers so please read with care.
Now that said I loved every second of this book. I was so attached to these characters from the very start I just wanted things to work out. I felt a beautiful connection with Penny specifically. I could feel her pain and her joy right along with her. My heart absolutely broke for her as we were told her story.
Tate as well was someone I adored. Her strength throughout this story was palpable along with her hate and anger. I felt myself longing to have her strength and stalwart personality.
Overall this book is absolutely breathtaking. I couldn't put this book as I read the story of this complicated but strong family. This is a book I would definitely recommend to anyone and I hope everyone gets a chance to read.

Tess Sharpe is a master at weaving together multiple timelines into a cohesive story. In this latest YA read, we alternate perspectives between Tate and Penny, two high school girls whose mothers have been best friends for ages but they can't stand to be in the same room together. When Penny's mom reveals that she's donating part of her liver to Tate's mom, the two families move in together to save money and help everyone recover. Tate and Penny have to put their differences aside to avoid stressing out their mothers, and attempt to never talk about the six times they almost kissed...

This book blew me away. It's a little bit sad, and includes the rather vivid on-page death of a parent, but doesn't have the same hard edge of The Girls I've Been (one of my favorite reads of 2021). This book likewise has a fraught mother-daughter relationship, multiple timelines, and sectioning, but it's a bit more Dahlia Alder's Cool for the Summer than Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. Despite the trauma, there's a sweetness to it, with a clear sense the two leads are destined to be together. A true love story at the heart of a lot of sh*t going on in these two girls' lives. I can't recommend it enough, and I will always pick up a Tess Sharpe book when given the opportunity!

Thanks to the publisher, Little Brown Books, for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 10/10

Many, many trigger warnings, including death of parent (on page, accident), parental cancer (past, recovered), parental illness (on page), etc.

While this isn't my favorite of Tess Sharpe's books, this was still a well written story that, unfortunately, failed to really grasp my attention.

I really liked Penny and Tate as our main characters, and had a lot of sympathy for what they were going through - especially Tate. I thought that their dynamic was really interesting and well written and I liked seeing how they grew not just as people but also together as the story progressed. However, I really deeply hated Penny's mom, and it was really hard to read how she treated Penny. I understand that we all grieve differently, and there's no right or wrong way to handle your grief because it is so deeply personal, but she really really upset me and at some points made it very hard to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-ARC to read and review. This book was absolutely stunning: it grabbed hold right from the beginning and maintained its power all throughout. It's about loss and grief and illness and trauma, but also hope and love and finding your way. (I almost think that the title/cover/marketing doesn't really sell it that way - it's hearty and packed with depth, more than cutesy rom-com or tropey fanfic for sure.) I love how it's simultaneously about how family truly lets you down but also how family (and friends) can bring you right back to yourself. It's also super messy, and you'll kind of be yelling at the main characters to just OPEN THEIR EYES but also it's so enjoyable and I'm glad I got to be along for the ride.

This book is about two girls with severe trauma, who were forced to grow up to soon, and how they were forever destined for eachother. Wow this was a heavy book. Trigger warnings for death, grief, bad parenting, and survivor's guilt.
I enjoyed reading about Tate and Penny and their slow burn romance. They're been in each other's lives since the beginning, because their mothers are best friends. They've had a rocky relationship but always seem to show up for each other and everyone else but them can tell that they are in love. What I liked more however was the focus on grief and healing and mental health. Penny and Tate have been through *a lot* and it has severely affected them. Each of them have been forced to grow up by their mothers (Tate's mom didn't have a choice but Penny's certainly did) and they both have to almost be the parent to their moms.
The slow burn romance was agonizing, but in a really good way. I was just screaming at them to kiss the entire time and when they finally did I was so happy. I was almost worried it wasn't going to happen! Overall, a deep and intense read about friendship, family, grief, PTSD and love. 4/5

I’ve loved Tess Sharpe’s other works, so I was excited to hear about her next release, especially since it’s a contemporary novel! I thought the “5 times” fanfiction structure also sounded very fun. 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) was a cute romance that also explores great character development along the way.

Penny and Tate have never gotten along, despite their mothers being best friends. When Tate’s mother Anna needs a liver transplant from Penny’s mother Lottie, the two households decide to combine so they can save money and help each other with the recovery from the surgeries. Penny and Tate then decide to make a pact to tolerate each other so as not to stress out their mothers; the only issue is that there’s an undeniable tension between the two of them that they might not be able to ignore any longer…

I liked the characters well enough. Penny’s and Tate’s characterizations were established very well; Penny is type A and always has a plan for everything while Tate takes things as they go and is very stoic. This is in part due to their relationships with their mothers. Tate is very close to her mother and has had to deal with Anna’s ovarian cancer and subsequent health issues since she was young. Meanwhile, Penny’s relationship with Lottie is tense, as she has to take care of the adult responsibilities in their household.

Part of the reason Penny and Tate don’t really get along is because they always see each other at their worst; however, this also means that they’ve always been there for the other in times of crisis, even if they don’t consciously recognize that. It’s obvious to everyone else but the two of them that they’re meant for each other, especially their two best friends.

Of course, it’s not a Tess Sharpe book without complex relationships with a parental figure. Like I mentioned before, Penny’s relationship with her mother is not the best, particularly because neither of them fully healed from her father’s death due to an accident that she witnessed. I liked that Penny gains the support she needs from other people instead, such as her grandmother, her best friend, and even Tate. She does eventually start the road to healing with her mother, even if it’ll be a long one.

Parts of the book didn’t really work for me though. The fanfiction structure was fine, I guess, but the writing felt repetitive in structure. It was really hard for me to differentiate between Tate’s and Penny’s chapters because they read the same. Any time they referred to “my mom/mother,” I’d have to take a moment to remember whose chapter it was (and this happened like five times a chapter at least).

The main way to tell the two apart was that Penny’s emotional beats came from single sentences in consecutive new lines while Tate’s tended to be in parentheses. I know this is a common writing technique in fanfiction, especially the latter, but it just didn’t work for me in a full-length novel because it happened much too often to me.

Overall, 6 Times We Almost Kissed was an enjoyable read that I think many others will like more than I did. I did like this book for the most part though! If you’re a fan of Tess Sharpe’s other works or are intrigued by a slow-burn sapphic romance in a fanfiction structure, you should give 6 Times We Almost Kissed a try.

Tess Sharpe definitely knows how to hook readers. A perfect mix of emotional gut punches and intense sapphic pining, 6 Times We Almost Kissed was one hell of a book to go through. It's about grief, healing, and growing up; it's about the ones who have your back through everything.