The premise of Kiss Her Once for Me is unabashedly zany: girl meets girl over the last copy of Fun Home at Powell's bookstore, girl falls completely in love within a span of 15 hours before having her heartbroken, girl agrees to fake-marry a charming trust fund baby for a portion of his inheritance only to arrive at his family estate to discover her long lost love is her fake-fiance's sister. And while there are certainly moments of silliness (the boozy grandmas are among my favorite ever fictional characters), the core of the novel is a surprisingly sincere reflection on the way families come together, fall apart, and shape the way people move through the world. It's easy to root for Ellie and Jack, who, like all good romance characters, navigate misunderstandings, challenging family dynamics, and awkwardness in an effort to find their way to each other. I appreciated Cochrun's resistance to the romance writer's habit of using miscommunication to stand in for actual conflict: at points where other novels might have leaned into confusion to prolong tension, Jack tells Ellie that they're going to do the "queer-women thing," which is talk about their feelings. This doesn't eliminate all of the angst, but it definitely made me feel less frustrated as a reader.

Kiss Her Once for Me weaves excerpts from a cartoon created by Ellie into the narrative in order to explain the beginning of her relationship with Jack. These segments are out of order, a choice I imagine Cochrun made to build suspense (we don't find out WHY their day took such a turn until late in the novel) but which I found a little confusing and disruptive to the flow of the larger story. I also sometimes struggled with the attention paid to Ellie's anxiety, which is likely a personal failing on my part. It turns out that, as an anxious person myself, exploring someone else's anxiety in excruciating detail took me out of the romantic vibe. These quibbles aside, Kiss Her Once for Me is cute and queer and easy to like. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

As the self appointed biggest fan of The Charm Offensive, I was dying to get my hands on literally anything else that Alison wrote but when I heard it was a queer Christmas book, I was even more excited and even with all of that anticipation, this book did not let me down! I loved every single minute of this book and it has officially made Alison an auto buy author for me! Alison has this way of writing the most messy, relatable, and lovable characters that are impossible not to root for even when you’re yelling at them to just talk to each other! I just loved this book so much and I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read it in November!!

I loved the characters, Ellie & Jack, of course but also Andrew and Dylan and Katherine and Meredith and Lovey and Meemaw and Ari! I loved how messy all of the characters were in one way or another. I loved getting to see everyone’s growth and how much every kind of relationship matters, not just the romantic ones. I loved getting to see Ellie and Jack, both in the past when they met and in the present when they were thrown back together. I loved getting to see Ellie realize how loved she actually is even if she wasn’t always able to see it. I love honestly loved everything about it!

I also really loved the twist on the fake dating trope! It was so fun and the love trapezoid was so messy in all the best ways and watching them all fumble through their feelings and how to navigate everything was wonderful! And also just like with Charm, mental health is such an important aspect of this book too and Alison writes mental illness in such a real and honest way! Honestly just very grateful to have gotten the chance to read this one early and I can’t wait to get my hands on everything she writes in the future!

Lastly, I just wanted to say thank you to Alison for writing characters that help me embrace the parts of myself that I’ve spent my whole life thinking we’re unlovable! I think being able to not only find yourself in books but learn and embrace parts of yourself is the most beautiful thing about reading and I’m very grateful to be alive at a time where I am able to do this through your characters. 💖

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun is such an adorable sapphic romance! This book follows Ellie, a young woman who fakes an engagement with the landlord of the building she works in in order to partially inherit some money she desperately needs. When she realizes that her landlord’s sister is the mysterious woman she fell in love with in a day the previous Christmas, Ellie has to decide if her feelings are worth risking the safety net the money will provide her with.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and the fact that it was set around Christmas made me love it even more! I also really enjoyed the romance and the representation that was present throughout this book and the central theme of how important it is to not let the fear of failure hold you back. I really found myself relating to Ellie as I was reading this book as she struggles with anxiety and has to work to not allow it to keep her from living the life she wants. This book also includes the found family trope which was super heartwarming to read!

There were a lot of fun moments in this and some decent character growth. Ellie drove me a bit nuts sometimes though. Mental health is addressed pretty well throughout the story. Overall, a good sapphic romance with holiday feels.

I’m a HUGE fan of The Charm Offensive, so I’m thrilled to begin my #holigays22 galley haul with a review of the next Alison Cochrun 💜 Kiss Her Once For Me is an inherently queer story that explores issues & ideas that feel both fresh & familiar to queer folk. Cochrun has honed her voice in this lovely homage to While You Were Sleeping––one of my favourite movies!!––and to the holiday romcom (The Family Stone vibes are strong).

The book also features the ✨best✨ demisexual representation I’ve seen in a romcom / possibly any book ever. These are the gay Christmas vibes Happiest Season thought it was giving us, without the trauma it *actually* gave us!

KHOFM’s supporting cast is delightful and noticeably more fleshed out than Charm’s, with secondary characters that have expansive & vivid inner lives. I was suuuuper invested in a certain romantic subplot that I will not spoil here, but trust me––it’s too good!! On my Christmas wishlist: a version of the book from that couple’s POV 👀

I will say that KHOFM weaves so many emotional threads that, at times, I almost wished it were an ensemble romcom with multiple POVs (possibly like Island Time?). I want to spend more time with Jack’s family & with Dylan & with Ellie’s chosen family, and I’d have loved to see the book further complicate Ellie’s relationship with her mother. This is a credit to Cochrun’s talent for creating interesting characters & dynamics, and I’m crossing my fingers for a bonus epilogue, or even a sequel/alt version in the future!

Alison Cochrun harnesses the enchanting lyrical imagery of Taylor Swift and heart -wrenching, -aching, -breaking and -warming powers of your favourite romantic comedies, encasing them in this snow globe of a holiday romance. Bundle up for a completely enchanting experience — upon reading the first page you’ll feel Cochrun gently tipping the snow globe allowing its technical/structural perfection and deeper meaning about finding hope and healing through love to sparkle as it gently snows down around you.

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘧𝘭𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘴, 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺.”
*Eyes fill with tears for the first of what will be upwards of 1,000 times while reading*

Cochrun’s sapphic dual timeline holiday rom com features poetic reflection about the world, deeply relatable characters, unparalleled mental health representation and adopts our favourite, beloved tropes (second chance romance, fake fating, one bed) with refreshing creativity.

Last Christmas, Ellie had a full heart and life with her dream job in animation and an enchanting bookstore meet-cute that ended in a whirlwind 24-our romance. This Christmas, 25-year-old Ellie finds herself single, working as a barista, longing for a life of meaning and purpose, desperate for money and en-route to her landlord Andrew’s family cabin for Christmas — as his fake fiancée.

“‘𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴…𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴…𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴…𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦. 𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩…𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴,’ 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, ‘𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴. 𝘚𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤.’”

Ellie’s holiday at the cabin is characterized by: beautifully eccentric Grandmas; a sweet & snowy immersion in family Christmas traditions; being embraced by a family like the one she never had; and the heart stopping revelation that Jack, her mysterious romance of Christmas Eve’s past, is Andrew’s sister.

“𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐’𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘺𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘻𝘰𝘪𝘥.”

Through clever, colourful, emotive and lively writing, you feel every emotion with your whole being. Cochrun gently and thoughtfully handles moments of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia while immersing you in a heartfelt holiday escape; being inside Ellie’s sweet, self-deprecating, sarcastic and humbly relatable mind is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever found myself as a reader.

“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩. 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴…”

I’m forever grateful we received an ARC of this fully-immersive escape so we could first digest it’s beauty for the purpose of reviewing during the summer, knowing we’ll get to revisit its beauty during the holiday season. Not even a little bit mad that it will undoubtedly take hours to transfer my endless e-annotations to my future physical copy.

This was so cute! A wonderful romance, filled with witty banter, delightful characters, and just enough steaminess. A must read for romance lovers!

An e-arc of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

“Is it weird? That I’ve never been in love love?
All types of love are love love.
We all experience attraction differently. Some of us fall in and out of love easily. Some of us don’t experience romantic love at all. Some of us have to fight to let ourselves be vulnerable enough to fall in love. Some of us have to fight to let other people love us.”

I have been so excited since the news about this beautiful book were first announced. I obviously had no idea what it was about then but just a holiday Rom-Com written by Alison Cochrun was enough information for me. ✨
I am going to tell you how much I love it in a bit but first let me just tell you the synopsis.
Ellie, the mc, is possibly in the worst emotional place of her life after losing her dream job, working as a barista to make ends meet and still thinking about last Christmas and the stranger she met that day as well as their unexpected but all-consuming relationship. Her parents have always been absent other than the usual “send me money” phone calls and shit just hit the fan since her landlord told her she will be getting evicted soon. That’s when Andrew comes in, handsome and wealthy and in need of someone to fake-date and marry so he can get his inheritance and at the same time Ellie needs money so why not pretend to date and kill two birds with one stone? And what started as a joke, drunkenly became a reality when he posted his “fiancé” on social media. Now all they had to do was spend Christmas week with Andrew’s family on their cabin and pretend to be a couple.. what could possibly go wrong? Hmm, I’ll give you a hint. Andrew has a sister and she is none other than Ellie’s Christmas mystery girl.

A few bullets points for the ones who were too bored to read the synopsis (I get it, it’s was long but I couldn’t help it, sorry) :
* Demisexual bi mc (Ellie)
* Bipoc lesbian mc (Jack)
* While you were sleeping retelling
* Second chance romance
* Captivating and humorous writing
* ADHD (Jack) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder ( Ellie)
* Found family
* A lot of queer characters with different queer identities : Dylan who is nonbinary, Ellie’s coworker Ari who is trans, lesbian and poly, Ellie’s housemate Winslow who is trans
* In general, a book you won’t be able to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.

3.5 stars! This is the sapphic Christmas romcoms of everyone’s dreams. The incredibly messed up family dynamic and the flawed but still likeable characters really made up the essence of this book. I will say there were parts that felt like the whole book was trying too hard to be culturally relevant which made me cringe, but they were few and far between which allowed me to ignore them for the most part. Jack and Ellie’s relationship was so up and down and it definitely played its part in keeping me engaged. And of course, how could I ever hate a book with as many Taylor Swift references as this one. I wish I could have read this for the first time mid December but I am excited for everyone who will do so.

This book has added Alison Cochrun to my auto-buy author list. Overall, it was a very cute sapphic rom-com, but it was the characters and representation that really drew me in. The story line was fine, but I grew to love both the main characters and the side characters, which helped me look past the insta-love. Cochrun writes diverse characters, particularly addressing acceptance and unique family dynamics. This is a great holiday read. If you enjoyed The Charm Offensive, I think you’ll enjoy this one even more!

*Alexa, play Evermore by Taylor Swift*

This book is unapologetically queer. It's literally a sapphic holiday romantic comedy??? I squealed with excitement way too many times to count. 🤩

Read if you enjoy:
💞 second chance romance
🥸 fating dating
🔺 love triangle
🛏 one bed trope
🕔 dual timelines
🎄 Christmas Eve meet cute

representation:
🤎🖤 API/POC cast
💚 anxiety/ADHD rep
🏳️‍🌈 bi demisexual MC
🏳️‍⚧️ nonbinary/trans rep

There are so many bookish tropes, but I promise not one of these will play out as you would think! It was so refreshing to see a fun, queer take on these beloved tropes.

I went into this book practically blind. I have never read the author's debut, The Charm Offensive (which I will have to change very soon). I was expecting a ✨cute, fluffy holigay✨ romance, but I ended up invested in a story about two women, both afraid of failure, who end up falling in love. It was beautiful!

Ellie and Jack, the two MCs, are lovable characters that feel so real and close to my heart. Both Ellie and Jack had their own fears and traumas which impacted them in different ways. The mental health representation in this book was *chef's kiss* 🫰.

Beware, there is some insta-love involved in this story. I'm usually not a fan of insta-love, but I think the author depicted Ellie and Jack's gravitation towards one another in such a beautiful way. I genuinely felt like the characters had known each other longer. The chemistry was off the charts between Ellie and Jack from the first time they met all the way to the last page. 🥵

All the supporting characters in this novel were strong, individualized characters. I loved every single one of these characters' personality, motivations, and individual quirks. I fell in love with the Kim-Prescott family through Ellie's POV. By the end of the book, I felt I knew these characters so well that I could guess each of their favorite Christmas songs.

The comedy was, again, chef's kiss. Prepare for many jokes poking fun as lesbian stereotypes.
Also, the Taylor Swift references and 2000s pop music references nearly sent me into an early grave. 🤣💀🪦

It was a privilege to read and ARC of Kiss Her Once for Me. Big thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Alison Cochrun for this wonderful story. I will be purchasing a copy for my shelves when it is released November 1st, 2022!

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CW: Swearing, sex, alcohol consumption, light drug use (weed), anxiety (specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder), depression, ableism
Negligent parents and familial estrangement, emotionally abusive parenting, biphobia and transphobia,
References to cheating and adultery

What an adorable read this was! Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun has everything you want from a holiday rom com and if it doesn’t get made into a movie, or something, I may lose my mind.

The story follows Ellie, an anxiety ridden animator who fell in love last Christmas with a woman named Jack, only to have it fall apart the next day. A year later, Ellie has lost her animator job, works in a cafe she hates, and is guilt tripped and manipulated to take care of a parent who doesn’t care about her. In walks Andrew, an investor bro who asks Ellie to help him win his inheritance from his jerk of a grandfather by marrying him. In exchange she will get &250,000. What starts is a wacky holiday ride meeting Andrews family, his ex, and most importantly his sister…Jack. Pretending to be in a fake engagement while pining after the woman who she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about for over a year…what could go wrong?

I could rave about this book for its anxiety rep, it’s butch lesbian rep, the clever dialogue and it’s pacing, but really it will amount to the same thing, I loved it all!

Kiss Her Once For Me was such a joy to read and I know the minute it is out I’ll be forcing anyone and everyone to read it. Now to run off and preorder my copy of this and order the Charm Offensive because I must own everything Cochrun has written.

A note about content warnings, Cochrun does list them all on her website with more extensive notes. I have minimilized them down due to word count.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars? 5 stars? Idk all the stars.

I looooved this book. The writing was so hilarious and real and I love when books are like that. When I can literally see myself standing in front of the characters watching the conversations and emotions in real time.

The queer rep, anxiety rep, family drama/struggles rep were all TOP notch and I officially only trust Alison to handle all those topics at once.

I’m also in the holiday spirit now. This was 100% a holiday book and it honestly helped give me all the feels while I read it in 95 degree weather in the middle of summer.

Anyways, yes I loved it and I hope everyone else loves it too!

Full full review to come on my Instagram @me_myshelfandi but I bet it’ll sound a lot like the above

This was a strong follow up novel! The queer representation was top notch and I love not centering the story on coming out. The messages about mental health and learning to take risks were a nice touch. I loved the interactions between our leads but wish we got a bit more family shenanigans at the family Christmas. Some of the phrasing also got a bit repetitive (half moon smile and “you’re perfect”). Overall a really enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC ebook!

Our POV character, Ellie, has lost her dream job and has had no romantic life to speak of since last Christmas when her heart was broken by Jack, the woman she had a one-night stand with. Her life is at a standstill and not following her ten-year-plan. She is unexpectedly offered an opportunity to earn a large sum of money through less-than-honest means, and takes the opportunity. Chaos ensues. You see the train wreck coming but cannot possibly look away.

I found myself completely engrossed in this story and all its characters. There is a myriad of LGBTQIA+ characters, along with a well-done representation of generalized anxiety disorder. Even the character I assumed would be the “villain” from his first appearance turns out to be a loving person with some complicated feelings. The real antagonist in this story is fear- fear of failing, or of not being enough, or of being rejected. It’s such a relatable culprit that it was impossible not to be taken in by this story.

Whip up a cup of cocoa, pull on your favorite cozy socks, cuddle up under a blanket and get ready - "Kiss Her Once For Me" is going to be THE book to read during the 2022 holiday season!

I loved the main character, Ellie, from the moment I met her. She is flawed and honest and real and I love that Cochrun portrays her this way without any apologies.

Everything Cochrun does to move the plot along is flawless, from the fake engagement between Ellie and Andrew, to Andrew's sister (!) unbeknownst to Ellie, being the girl she spent one magical snow day with the Christmas Eve prior.

Oh and the Kim-Prescotts. Ellie spends a week with them before Christmas and they are exactly the people she needs and readers will fall in love with.

Mark your calendars or set up your pre-order with your favorite bookseller. "Kiss Her Once For Me" is available November 1st and you won't want to miss it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Atria Books via NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! I really loved this one; a sapphic romance that definitely felt like it was ripped straight from a cheesy Christmas romcom, and I say that in the best way possible. It was so enjoyable to read. Characters I rooted for, a romance that starts in a bookshop (!), fake dating (fake relationship with landlord? Check), writing I loved, a love trapezoid, and the reminder that, sometimes, the plan goes wrong. The life plan, the fake dating plan, any plan. And that’s ok! As this book demonstrates, sometimes things have to go wrong to go right. Definitely have a few friends in mind who I’m going to gift this to for Christmas.

Last Christmas Ellie’s life had purpose and direction. Now, Ellie hates Christmas. She has to deal with her narcissistic emotionally abusive mother nagging her to pay back her own existence since she was 18, who she only wants approval from. She was fired from her dream job in animation and is now stuck at a hipster coffee shop and living in one of the smallest apartments possible in Portland. And she wants the perfect girl, but she already had that. Last Christmas Eve she met Jack, who spent she spent an amazing day with, an even more amazing kiss.... and other things, but then never saw her again.

The story goes back and forth between present and last Christmas. When it’s in the past Ellie uses her webcomics to tell the story of what happened between her and Jack last Christmas Eve. Back in the present Andrew and Ellie are fake engaged so he can get his trust from his grandpa. Showing up at his families lodge for Christmas Ellie sees Jack again for the first time in a year realizing that she is Jacks sister. Ensue the madness!

Andrew and Jack's Memaw makes the story🙌🏻

I love how the book discusses joy in your job and loving your work. Which we need to see more of in life and novels! The open dialogue about mental health, therapy, boundaries and healing yourself is so fantastic to see throughout it this book and one of the things I appreciated the most.


Rep and Tropes
Ellie: bi & demisexual (mid 20s)
Jack: Lesbian mid 20s
Trans les side rep, non-binary side rep
Found family
Fake dating
Marriage of connivence
Forced proximity
One bed
Sexy lesbian lumber Jack scene
Generalized anxiety disorder
ADHD

Cw
Emotional/ narcissistic abusive parents
Sexism
Alcohol
Slight child abuse
Biphobia
Ableism
Bullying
Toxic relationship
Cheating
Mental Health

If you're looking for your next sapphic romance then look no further than this adorable, adventurous, and steamy Christmas time novel! This was a 5-star read for me and if I could rate it higher, I would. I stayed up until 3:00am because I couldn't put this ARC down and I feel so privileged to have had the chance to read it early. Alison's Cochrun's first queer rom-com novel did not disappoint, and Kiss Her Once for Me went even above that - which I didn't think would be possible. I now know for a fact that I would buy any of Alison Cochrun's books blind (now in the same rank as Sarah J Maas, Tamora Pierce, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for me).

The ideal setting to read this novel is on a chilly November day, with a cup of hot chocolate by the fire under some blankets because you will not move all day until you finish it. I immediately fell in love with the two main characters: Ellie and Jack, and especially their meet-cute story. I loved that you got to know all of their quirks, flaws and superpowers but also gradually got to know about their past through Ellie's webcomic stories. From the very first page, I was hooked and went between a wide smile, tears, pain in my chest, and absolute laughter. If you're in your twenties and have any experience dealing with mental health issues (especially anxiety), you will relate to Ellie's storyline as an anxiety-ridden perfectionist. Even throughout that, it isn't a heavy book - it keeps it's lightheartedness while still providing a wide depth of emotions.

If you haven't gotten the message yet, I absolutely LOVED this book and I will recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's funny, it's sexy, and it's emotional - despite knowing a happy ending is coming, there are so many moments when your heart aches at what is happening. Alison Cochrun has struck gold twice writing both this and Charm; and I for one cannot wait to see what comes next!!

This is going to be such a hit near the holidays. I absolutely loved The Charm Offensive and this was a fantastic holiday romance follow up!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.