This was a fun and cute story! I loved the fake dating aspect, would have died for Vincent's POV, and appreciated how some of the more difficult and emotional topics were handled. Vincent and Amerie's chemistry was instantaneous and I honestly loved watching Amerie try and convince herself that they were just friends. How they supported each other and their growth throughout the story was really beautiful. Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

Top Pick - 4.5 Stars

“His gaze is on me, I feel warm from my head to my toes, and like a miracle, all the fear and doubts are pushed to the back of my mind. While watching Gina try on wedding dresses, I couldn’t help but imagine myself in one, marrying Vincent. It’s so wild. Before, all I wanted to do was throttle him whenever we crossed paths. Now I see- recognize- that it wasn’t annoyance that set me on edge around him. At least, not all annoyance. It always caught me off guard the way my body went into hypervigilance mode when I saw him. No man has ever caused that reaction, and I didn’t know what to do with myself but push him away. Erecting a border around my heart made the most sense, but as I’ve gotten to know him more, it’s dissolved as easily as the walls of a sandcastle under the force of the tide. I don’t just want these three months with you. I want forever, he said. And now I want forever.”

Amerie Price lost her boyfriend and her job and is on the verge of losing her apartment when she meets Vincent Rogers, a real-life NASA astronaut. He instantly irritates her, but when she runs into her ex-boyfriend, she can’t help but use Vincent to make him jealous. Amerie doesn’t expect Vincent to request a favor in return. He needs a pretend girlfriend for the next three months to get his family off his back, and in exchange, he will let Amerie move into his home rent-free until he gets back from his mission to the moon.

If I’m being honest, I thought I was going to hate this book within the first ten pages. Amerie came off as ill-mannered and disrespectful, and I knew that if I didn’t like the characters, then I would not like the book. Jokes on me, though, because I really loved this one. Amerie grew on me, but she wasn’t the star of this book. That was Vincent. He was so sweet and genuine, and I could feel his love growing when the lines started to blur between their fake relationship. He is just an overall good guy, and I love rooting for the good guy. Amerie navigated his family and his mother so well and was very supportive of Vincent and his career. This was just overall a sweet love story, and I couldn’t get enough. It’s hard to believe it is a debut, but I won’t hesitate to read Etta Easton again.

If you’re a fan of love stories written by Kennedy Ryan or Farrah Rochon then don’t hesitate to give this debut author a try. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

~ Michelle

Well, this was adorable. The Kiss Countdown was a very lovable, funny fake-dating romance. I loved watching Vincent and Amerie’s relationship develop , and I loved the astronaut side plot. Whoever decided to release this the day after the eclipse earned their marketing degree.

I would have loved to get Vincent’s point of view during this, especially during a few key moments, but he was still fully fleshed out.

I will say that I didn’t always understand Amerie’s characterization. I never felt like her backstory really explained some of her actions throughout, and it just seemed like some of her reactions and decisions were over the top.

You ever just read a book that makes you feel all fuzzy inside? That’s what The KISS Countdown was for me. Let me start by saying this book was sooooooo incredibly cute. I’m talking kicking my feet and giggling cute. I’m not sure if it’s a romcom but it definitely made me laugh.

This was fake dating and close proximity and that’s an unmatched combo in my opinion. So we have Amerie aka Mimi who is not having a good time. Sis got fired and dumped and has taken on the responsibility of her mom’s medical bills while trying to start her own business. It’s a lot and she’s stressed out. She bumps into and spills coffee on Vincent, he’s an astronaut, one day at a coffee shop and it’s clear he’s interested but she is not. Then one day she runs into Vincent again and he is flirting again and she blows him off again only to then run into her ex and his new girlfriend. She panics and pretends Vincent is her new boyfriend. He plays along and it turns out he’s in the market for a fake girlfriend as well. Things takeoff from there.

I enjoyed this story and for a debut I think it was well written. We were very clear on who Mimi was but have to say I REALLY wish this was dual POV. I feel like I kinda know Vincent but I would have loved to hear from him, especially when he was all tense at the cabin. To be honest that’s the only thing I would have changed. The tension between Mimi and Vincent was *chefs kiss* I could feel that and then getting to experience them falling for each other, again it just made me feel all fuzzy inside.

I’m quite excited to see what else we get from Etta but if it’s anything like this count me in. Sometimes you just want to read a cute romance story and this one hit the mark for me!

Thank you to Etta Easton, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Kiss Countdown is a tender and fun romance following Amerie, a struggling events planner, and Vincent an astronaut getting ready for his next mission. When the two bump into each other over coffee, and Amerie runs into her ex, Vincent plays along as her new doting boyfriend. When they both realize they could use their fake relationship to help with work and family, they decide to stick it out until Vincent leaves for the moon. However, when their connection starts feeling real, Amerie must choose whether she is willing to risk herself and her newfound business on falling in love with a man set to leave for space.

I loved every minute of reading this fast paced, fake dating, slow burn romance! Vincent and Amerie were so much fun together, their banter and chemistry was everything. I loved how they each had their own struggles and reasons for pretending but were so willing to lean on each other and open up. Etta Easton did a wonderful job of balancing the sweet and lighthearted plot with some heavier topics, the raw and rough moments really contrasted with the warm and gentle connection Vincent and Amerie established. The only pause I have with this book is I wish is was dual POV; despite being an absolute cinnamon roll, Vicent is rather aloof and I would have loved to read his POV of falling in love alongside Amerie.

Amerie and Vincent are perfect strangers, but they need each other. Vincent needs a fake girlfriend and Amerie needs a place to live. They just have to keeps this up for 3 months. But a lot can happen in 3 months. Super cute read, loved Amerie and Vincent together. Good for romance readers.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes so I knew I had to pick up this book.

I really liked the characters and the romance here. It was adorable with just the right amount of steam. I liked that the MMC was an astronaut. Very different profession from the usual MMC. Both characters are likable and easy to root for. The romance could’ve happened sooner but otherwise I thought it was really well written. Especially for a debut author!

If you love romcoms and fake dating, this book is a must read!

Astronaut
Event Planner
Fake Dating

SIGN ME UP, okay!!!???? So super cute, I LOVED THIS 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

🌕 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 🌕
𝖤𝗍𝗍𝖺 𝖤𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗇
#BerkleyPartner #Berkley

What better day to post this review than on Solar Eclipse Day! North American is experiencing a total solar eclipse later today and I’m excited to get on my eclipse glasses and head outside later this afternoon. This was a super cute debut romance with a spacey twist…I mean how often do we get an astronaut MMC? The stars and space language that was woven in to the text was a nice touch. I think both Amerie and Vincent are dealing with lot on their own and in finding each other, they also find the perfect partner to help them along the way!

Struggling event planner Amerie Price finds herself in a precarious situation when she pretends to be in a relationship with the irresistible astronaut Vincent Rogers. What starts as a fake romance for mutual benefit soon becomes a journey of self-discovery as Amerie navigates between safety and taking a chance on love. Will she choose the predictable path or dare to reach for the stars with Vincent?

Read if you enjoy:
🧲 Opposites Attract
🚻 Forced Proximity
🛏️ One Bed
❣️ Fake Dating
🔭 Space Themes
🤓 Nerdy Cinnamon Roll MMC
🎉 Event Planning
💗 Female Friendships
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Family Dynamics

Thank you to @berkleyromance @netgalley and @ettaeaston for the advanced eARC of this book! Launch date is tomorrow April 9th!

The Kiss Countdown ☕️ 🚀
Etta Easton

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐ ⭐️ ⭐️
Steam: 🔥

📆 Release Date: 4/9/24
📚 Format: Ebook ARC
⏳ Length: 336 pages

💖 Tropes: Fake dating, forced proximity, opposites attract, slow burn
🌎 Reps: Black love, chronic illness

✨ Main Characters
FMC: Amerie (Mimi)
MMC: Vincent

👍 What I liked:
Space stuff
Side characters
Character growth
Cinnamon roll MMC
Strong independent FMC

👎 What I missed:
Pacing

💭 Final thoughts:
I really enjoyed this read! The book is fully the FMC’s POV, so a good portion of the story is internal, but Amerie is totally relatable and likable. Vincent was such a swoony MMC, and I only wish I had gotten more of him! The romance itself was a slowwww burn, but I liked that the evolution of Amerie and Vincent’s relationship was complemented by their own individual growth. Sign me up for future astronaut romances and Etta Easton books, cause I’m here for both!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the digital arc!

Etta Easton’s debut totally took me by surprise - our MMC is a freaking astronaut, how could he not be perfect?! The Kiss Countdown has the fake dating and forced proximity tropes, both of which I felt worked well in this romance.

I very much look forward to reading more from Easton in the future.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I really liked this book! It had tropes I usually don’t go for, but this was very well done.

I loved the characters relationship and pacing of this book. I loved that there were Black characters at its center and I loved the family dynamics for both characters.

Those who love slow burns, fake dating, strangers who to turn friends who turn lovers? Some steam? An easy read? This is for you.

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton is officially my whole personality and my book of the summer. I was excited to read this book and it exceeded all my expectations. The chemistry, the banter, the character growth. When I think of a fluffy romance this is exactly what I want. There is absolutely nothing I would change about this book. It was perfection. The only thing I wish is that it was longer so I could enjoy the characters a little bit more. I'm not even a person that enoys a "slow burn" trope, but it was done in a way that made me excited to keep reading but not to slow.


Usually I post a photo of the cover and write my review. But I loved this book so much that I am recording a video this week to explain how much I love this book. My usual reviews will not do this book justice and I need people to know how much I genuinely love this book.

The Kiss Countdown will definitely be one of my Top 10 books of the year, if not Top 3.

I ate this up!!! Fake dating would not be my chosen or favorite trope but this put such a funny spin on it I couldn’t help but be charmed. So Amerie is not at the level she wants to be in life for several reasons so when she runs into her ex at her favorite coffee shop with his new girlfriend, she ropes Vincent, the guy she had a meet disaster with, into being her fake boyfriend. But the ante is upped when said Vincent’s SISTER overhears and now what was supposed to be a 5 minute of convenient pretend she’s agreeing to keep up this ruse at a New Years Eve party.

This continues on and becomes more of a friends to lovers I’d say, probably why the fake dating part didn’t feel overly trope-y to me. There’s also so much I knew I was already going to love: roommates, forced proximity, only one bed, etc.

What is such a winner about this book is their CHEMISTRY. Single POV was perfect for this and I love when choices like that make so much sense to me. The whole time Amerie has to learn to trust and be vulnerable with others and when that HEA hits I’m just mush at that point. And the thing about Vincent is that he is not a perfect person. He has that hot NASA astronaut going for him but sometimes he says the wrong thing or is too abrasive and honestly those sides of him only endeared me more.

This is slow burn, open door, low spice (like 1-2) but def steamy with alllll kinds of chemistry between them.

The writing in this has humor written throughout, there is such a voice to this author and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC!

Book Review: The Kiss Countdown 🧑🏾‍🚀💕✨

“I could have wished on all the stars, planets and moons and still never could I have imagined being led to someone like you”
4⭐️

In the Kiss Countdown, we follow Amerie and Vincent- an event planner and an astronaut who hatch a plan to fake date for reasons beneficial for the both of them and the plot takes off from here.

I loved both Amerie and Vincent so much! I loved reading about an event planner and a black astronaut. Both experiences are extremely unique and I have yet to have read them in book form so I loved that. I also thoroughly enjoyed the family dynamics and friendships that we get to see. It made me even more invested in the plot and where the story would take them both.

Both characters were extremely likable but, my only gripe that I had with the book is that I wanted more from Vincent. Specifically, I wanted to know what exactly he was feeling or thinking from his POV. We know that he has feelings because Amerie described them but, certain things just aren’t fully fleshed out in regards to him.

I would also like to mention that if you are a fan of slow burns this book will not be for you. I love a good slow burn and I think this was done just right. Otherwise, this was just as cute and adorable as I hoped it would be and I would recommend this to any romance reader!

Title: The Kiss Countdown
Author: Etta Easton
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Kiss Countdown" by Etta Easton

My Thoughts:

'The Kiss Countdown' was an excellent fake-to-real dating story that has quite a turn to its story. How Amerie [an event planner] and Vincent [an astronaut] met was cute as he followed Amerie's plan to be her boyfriend. There was more to this as these two came together...Amerie meets Vincent's family. However, Amerie needed clarification, mainly due to her mother's illness.

Will these two come together by the end of the story? You must pick up 'The Kiss Countdown' to see how this author unfolds this cute, fantastic story.


Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

I have to be real with you……….. I didn’t find not a single thing wrong with this book. I loved this so much. I was listening to it any time I had a moment free. I let my son tear up my house because I was so into this book. It’s been a long time since I actively liked a book that was set in a place that I know very well.

Ok many of y’all know that my favorite trope in romance in Fake Dating. I love when they first decide that they’re going to lie and the way the person they’re lying with just decides eff it fine. And this one was even better because she decided she was lying to her ex. Those are my favorite because the exes are usually terrible people. And ol dude in this one definitely was. I also like fake dating because I like when they finally come to the realization that they actually do like each other. The denial is just ahh I can’t explain it, *chef’s kiss* For this one, the denial was so good. It’s always funny when everyone knows about it but them. And this one is no different. Idk how she didn’t see it, but whatevs lol

The next thing that made this book was the characters. Y’all I don’t know the last book I read where the FMC was this dramatic. And I say this solely because of the freaking way she acted during the grand gesture lol I was panicking for her. And ain’t no way she did that in a freaking evening dress. But I guess to be someone’s fake girlfriend and to trick his whole family and plan entire parties, you have to be dramatic in some ways. As for Vincent, he seemed so quiet. Definitely gave nerdy vibes. And I was here for it. And this man was very loud when he needed to be. (“Good eggs.” LORDT) And let’s be honest, this man did a story time……. I have seen what I needed to see. As a librarian, that legit made my heart stutter. I loved them so much.

The romance between the two of them was some of the cutest I’ve read in a long time. I loved seeing them fall for each other. And I want to especially say thank you to Easton for their very real chemistry. They immediately just fit together. I knew she was smitten from the nap she took on his sofa in the office. Just to be near him was enough. And this seems stupid, but I really liked the way he spoke to her. She mentions many times that science is not her strong suit and she doesn’t know much about the things that he was really interested in. But he was so patient and kind with her. He never made her feel less than for asking what something meant. He was smart, but he wasn’t overly smart, and if he was, he didn’t hold it over anyone’s head. I don’t know why I loved that so much, but I did.

I also loved the way she portrayed us Texans. FINALLY a book set in Texas where we don’t walk weird because we ride horses all day. FINALLY a book where we we don’t all have a super deep accent and talk with a slow drawl. SHE EVEN MENTIONED THE SALT WATER SMELL IN THE AIR. She has to actually be from Houston. Only people from here actually can tell the difference in the smell in the air. It’s unusual to talked about in a good way in today’s media lol Also, fun fact, she mentions a library that has him in to like do storytimes in Clear Lake and in my head I just kept picturing our library being the one that she was referring to. Does any of this have anything to do with the story? No, but it’s just another way I connected to this story.

This book, this book. There is no way this review did this book justice. I laughed, I got mad, everything with this book. The characters were amazing, the romance felt real, and just ugh it felt so real and I HOPEEEE y’all love this as much as me. Etta Easton deserves all that’s coming to her. And I’m not just saying that because I hope she goes to visit one of our libraries lol (No seriously, can we use a romance as a Gulf Coast Reads pick? Asking for a friend lmao)

This was a charming and sweet romance with great tropes, including fake dating and only one bed. It’s a pretty slow burn, with things not getting super spicy until close to the end of the book. I wish I knew a little bit more about Vincent’s life as an astronaut, but the book is from Amerie’s perspective, so it makes sense we didn’t see his job as much. I would recommend this to romance lovers!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Kiss Countdown follows Amerie and Vincent, who start fake dating since it will be beneficial for both for different reasons. Through the course of Amerie living with Vincent and them getting to know each other better, they start to form a connection that’s more real than they were expecting. I liked both main characters and I felt for Amerie and her worry over her mother’s deteriorating health. Vincent is an absolute cinnamon roll and seeing him be so determined in his career as an astronaut while also grieving and coming to terms with the shift in his family dynamic made me empathize with him as well. I just thought this was a cute romance and it really didn’t even feel like a debut. I just wish it was dual pov cause this could’ve benefited from more of Vincent’s thoughts/feelings. But other than that I enjoyed this and was rooting for these two to get together.

A decent debut. I was hoping to learn more about being an astronaut and event planner, but the book mostly focuses on Amerie's insecurities. While I was reading it, I felt like it would make a sweet movie, but without the sense you're reading something that was written to BE a movie.