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.

Read if you like:
🖤 Black Love
😘 Fake Dating
🚀 Astronauts
⏳ Time Limited Arrangements
🔥 Slow Burn

When Amerie spills coffee all over a stranger, she would never expect her life will change all because of that mishap… but when her ex walks in with his new girlfriend she quickly dives into pretending she is dating the man she just met, and if the stars couldn’t have aligned at a worse time, his sister who he has been lying to walks in and Vincent gets trapped into his sister thinking this is the girlfriend he has been mentioning for a while.

So when a moment of fake dating turns into a mutually beneficial arraignment to last for the next three months before Vincent is set to go off to space to calm his mom down, they get much more time together than they initially planned for.

This was a cute slow burn romance that I really enjoyed as I always love some fake dating!

Thanks so much to Berkley for my ARC and PRHA for my gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was super cute and for a debut novel, I was incredibly impressed! I loved the idea of an astronaut and event planner fake dating for mutually beneficial purposes. I loved Amerie's character and found her to be super relatable and real. However, I just really struggled to connect with Amerie and Vincent as a couple. I think maybe had we gotten a Vincent POV that would have helped, but he just felt like a very one-dimensional character and I just wasn't invested in him as a love interest.

But beyond that, I think Etta Easton is an author to watch out for and I'm very interested to read her future works!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I didn't know exactly what to expect but the fake dating had me willing to read. Amerie has really had the worst luck and poor timing. She is smart, competent and hard-working. It's seriously wrong that a company where she did outstanding work for years had such limited backup support for emergencies and stuck her with the blame. I get her having a douche boyfriend when she is more career focused plus with the threat of possibly losing her Mom, she is not the most trusting of relationships.

Vincent, the astronaut, is also very focused on his work. He doesn't want distractions of dating right before his 6 month moon mission but in trying to get his Mom off his back, he trades one diversion for another. He's a cinnamon roll nerd. Vincent is kind and the fake dating is a safe space for them both from the judgement of others.

Overall I liked both their parents and families. I wasn't as partial to Amerie's best friend Gina. Amerie's business startup was difficult as I would expect, but on her own I was worried she would end up with more troubles. She didn't seem to have as much marketing and business expertise as I would have hoped. Although she was very skilled at her role in a larger firm.

Of course, the pretending gets real as they happily spend time together. They are lovely together and have some heartbreak with coming clean. But it's what they both need and so right for them both. I appreciate their maturity and honesty as they navigate the reality of their relationship. I enjoyed The Kiss Countdown and the feels it brought.

The Kiss Countdown
by: Etta Easton
Berkley Publishing Group / Berkley
Pub Date: April 9, 2024

As a member of the Berkley Besties group, I had the privilege to read an advance copy of this charming, captivating spring release. Thank you, Berkley Besties!

Etta Easton's debut novel gave me lots to love, starting with the gorgeously romantic cover. Main characters Amerie and Vincent embrace against a city nightscape of the Houston setting under the moon, stars, and a rocket ship. This struggling event planner and handsome NASA astronaut meet at a coffee shop, and a fake dating relationship begins.

Told from Amerie's point of view, the plot is delightful with Etta's engaging writing style. I love the career and family components within the story. Congratulations to Easton on this wonderful debut, and I look forward to her next work.

I received a gifted advance listener's copy from Net Galley, Berkley Publishing Group / Berkley, and Berkley Besties Group. My review is my own.

Amerie and Vincent meet at the coffee shop near her house... and it doesn't go all that great. But the SECOND time they meet, she needs to come up with a boyfriend to prove to her ex that she's moved on, and Vincent just happens to be conveniently at hand. Turn out he's also in need of a fake girlfriend to get his mom off his back. Amerie and Vincent decide to mutually meet each other's fake relationship needs. It doesn't hurt that they each think the other one is really, really hot.

For me, a first person, single POV contemporary romance has a very high bar to clear. Unfortunately The Kiss Countdown didn't quite make it over the hurdle for me. That said, this is a fun book, and if you like fluffy contemporary romcoms, you'll probably want to pick this one up.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I loved this story! It's was a true second chance romance and I love the circumstances that brought them back together.
I do with there was a little more chemistry before them as adults though. I feel like the fire burned the brightest during their flashbacks to high school.
Otherwise, I would be very interested to read more from this author!

Adorable book! I enjoyed this read. It gets better the further you get in the book. These two started with a 'fake' relationship that built from there. The obstacles were believable and added to the story. I was overall pleased with this read. Thanks to the NetGalley for providing this read.

Amerie Price is beyond down on her luck after losing her job, breaking up with her boyfriend and struggling to launch her own business. When she runs into her ex and his new girlfriend at a coffee shop, she pretends to be dating the handsome stranger she accidentally spilled a coffee on. Astronaut Vincent Rogers plays along and then asks Amerie for a favor of his own. He wants her to pretend to date him so his family will stop bothering him and allow him to focus on his upcoming mission.

This is such a charming and fun debut from Etta Easton! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and I loved the way it was done here. Having Amerie move into Vincent’s house was a perfect way to drum up some forced proximity feelings. The chemistry between Amerie and Vincent was palpable from the start and the tension builds up during the slow burn to a perfect payoff moment. I will definitely be reading whatever Etta comes up with next!

Recommended for romance readers who enjoy: 🚀 astronaut heroes 📆 fake dating 🏡 forced proximity 💍 overly involved families ↕️ opposites attract 🔥 slow burn

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Amerie is an event planner who is struggling to get her business started and needs to find a new place to live. Vincent is an astronaut who is getting ready to leave for a launch. He has a spare bedroom and a mom who really really wants him to find a girlfriend. You know where this is headed - a fake dating arrangement!!

I am always here for that and there’s a lot about this story I really enjoyed. I didn’t love the pacing and some of the over the top moments near the end - but overall would recommend this as a fun read! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review!

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

‘When midnight strikes, kiss that astronaut until he sees stars”

I LOVED IT!!!!

So we have Vincent, the dreamy and charming astronaut. He's all about exploring the great unknown, but underneath that adventurous exterior lies a guy who's dealing with some heavy stuff(the loss of his brother). And then there's Mimi, the sassy event planner who's got a bit of a grumpy facade, but deep down, she's sweet and selfless and is also dealing with some tough stuff of her own(her mom's battle with sickle cell). Now, when these two meet and in a stroke of fate (more like just sheer craziness), they decide to fake date each other and sparks starts flying. And let me tell you, watching these two navigate their way through fake romance and eventually real feelings is like watching fireworks.

I really enjoyed this story. Mimi and Vincent were such lovable characters. They were cute and sweet and their bantering was top notch. I loved how Vincent's sweetness and thoughtfulness perfectly complemented Mimi's sarcasm and independence which in some odd way created a dynamic that was equal parts hilarious and heartwarming.

And although the story tackles tough topics like grief and sickle cell, it’s also infused with so much heart and humor that you can't help but smile through teary eyes. So if you're in the mood for a feel-good romance that'll leave you with a goofy grin plastered on your face, this one is definitely for you.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Delightful, relatable, and swoony!

As soon as I heard about this book last summer, it immediately went on my TBR, so I was thrilled to receive an eARC.

Amerie was so relatable; the feeling of having ambitions and dreams but struggling to fully realize them is REAL. Amerie loves her people fiercely, but also struggles with letting others love her as fiercely. She’s stubborn, hard working, and desperate to make her recently launched event planning business a success.

I loved how she really met her match with Vincent, another stubborn person who also loves his people deeply. While their relationship starts off on shaky ground and pretending to date, the sparks were there from the get go and it was so much fun to see how their relationship would unfold.

I enjoyed how Amerie and Vincent challenged each other, but also provided support and encouragement, becoming champions for the other.

There were plenty of swoony moments, especially the picnic - bestill my heart.

The climatic reunion at the end was perfection - there was drama, humour, and the obvious willingness to jump right into a future together.

Thanks to Berkley for an eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

I am Obsessed! I loved this book so much.

This was a slow burn, fake dating, forced proximity black romance. The Chemistry between Vincent and Amerie was next level. The tension was everything and this book had me kicking my feet and giggling the whole time. Amerie is an event planner who lost her job after a failed event and went on to start her own business. She feels the weight of the world on her shoulders as her parents travel the world after her ill mother has a near death experience. She also just broke up with her long time attorney boyfriend. When she runs into her ex and his new girlfriend at a coffee shop she claims that the man she threw coffee on the day before is her new man (I mean no one wants to lose a breakup). Vincent is an astronaut that has a tense relationship with his family after continually choosing his career over his family. Vincent plays along and everything snowballs into an elaborate fake relationship.

I can't wait to read more from this author. She was able to weave these words together in a beautiful way that just pulled me into the story. These characters are all so wonderfully done and the motives for them going along with this fake relationship were believable (which isn't always the case with fake dating).

Everyone needs to read this book because it was next level!

This is a strong debut with a fake dating/fake relationship trope. When Amerie runs into her terrible ex-boyfriend at a coffee shop, she pretends to be in a relationship with the staggeringly handsome stranger she spilled coffee all over yesterday. Vincent, the staggeringly handsome stranger, plays along and impresses by being an honest-to-goodness astronaut... and having a fake girlfriend is just what he needs.

I thought this was pretty cute and the author has a ton of potential. Vincent is clearly gone for Amerie, and I would have loved this as a dual POV so we could see inside his head. It's low heat, but not no-heat.

Reading this, my interest started to flag after the halfway point. I think it was because of the awkwardness of lying to Vincent's family (including a fairly big event at a birthday dinner). I was excited to read an astronaut book, and I wish there had been a bit more astronaut-ing.

All-in-all, a strong first book and I'll check out what the author does next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

2.75 stars

I could not get into this book for the life of me. The storyline was really intriguing and I think this is the first astronaut MMC that I've read, so I was excited for that portion.

But I could not get behind either character for some reason. I enjoyed both of them at the beginning, but I don't think they really got out of two dimensions once the story started progressing.

This may just be me. Other than the above, it was your typical fake dating story so I think a lot of people will still like it, but it was missing a lot of marks for me 🤷‍♀️

This was a snappy, voice-y romance with PLENTY of great nerdy material for readers like me who swoon over anyone who can talk about star clusters and work a telescope. Aside from my complete obsession with Vincent, our astronaut MMC, I really loved how Mimi interacted with everyone in her life in a really natural and realistic way -- she was honest, she was raw, she was a woman fiercely becoming herself and pushing past well-grounded fears.

I really enjoyed this debut and look forward to what Easton writes next!