I've never read a book that broke me like this one. This love story was the best one I've ever read. This book broke my heart into a thousand pieces. I love how much Rune and Poppy loved each other. I was scared to read this because I knew it was a sad book. But I wasn't expecting something like this. This book was sad but at the same time so beautiful. The last chapter was what I needed. It was so perfect and for that I'm grateful. It's crazy to think that two people could love each other so much. I give this book 5 stars and I feel like it isn't enough. This deserves a billion stars. I am for sure buying the paperback. I cannot wait for Savannah's story.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this amazing book.

This book broke me heart. All the love, angst and teenage drama. I loved it! I knew the end was going to break me but I wasn’t fully prepared. Have tissues!

I dnfed this one at 20%. I knew I wasn't the main target audience for it and wanted to give it a try because it sounded interesting. However it just couldn't keep my attention. It's nothing against the book or the author. I really wanted to enjoy this one, but sadly wasn't able to. I still however will be recommended it to those that want to give it a try.

If you need to cry, read this book.
I haven't cried so much since reading The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult!
This YA is beautiful and heart wrenching.
I thought it would be light and fun. Nope. Cried my eyes out.
Recommend though.

A Thousand Boy Kisses is a beautiful and heartbreaking novel that will make you cry, laugh, and smile. It is a story of true love, loss, and hope, that will touch your soul and stay with you long after you finish reading.

The novel follows the lives of Poppy and Rune, two soulmates who met when they were five years old and swore to be together forever. They share a deep and passionate connection, and they embark on an adventure to collect a thousand boy kisses, each one more meaningful than the last. They are happy and in love, until fate intervenes and separates them for two years.

When they reunite, they are not the same people they were before. Poppy is hiding a devastating secret that will change everything, and Rune is angry and bitter, having lost his faith in love. They have to overcome their pain and resentment and rediscover the magic of their bond. But time is running out, and they have to make every moment count.

The novel is written in a simple and poetic style, with alternating perspectives from Poppy and Rune. The author captures the emotions and thoughts of the characters with honesty and sensitivity, making them realistic and relatable. The author also creates a vivid and enchanting setting, using the contrast between the colorful and lively Georgia and the cold and dark Norway. The novel is filled with memorable scenes and quotes that will make you feel everything the characters are feeling.

The novel is not just a romance, but also a celebration of life and its precious moments. It teaches us to cherish every kiss, every hug, every smile, every tear, every breath. It reminds us to live fully and love deeply, even when it hurts. It shows us that true love never dies, but lives on in our hearts.

A Thousand Boy Kisses is a masterpiece of young adult literature, that will appeal to readers of all ages. It is a novel that will make you cry your eyes out, but also fill you with joy and gratitude. It is a novel that will inspire you to live your best life, and find your own thousand boy kisses. It is a novel that you will never forget.

I always love finding a great YA read, and that's exactly what this is! This story was so beautiful to read ,and I feel in love with the characters- something that is really hard for me. I loved how the story ended and wrapped up, and I know this one will stay with me for a long time. Recommending to all of my friends!

This is simply one of the most breathtakingly, beautiful, love stories I have ever read!!!

I wish I had the ability to articulate how utterly remarkable this book is. Unfortunately, after bawling my eyes out for the majority of the book, I do not have the mental capability to do so. Instead I will restate Tillie Cole’s dedication, this book is an epic, soul-shattering love story!!!

With that being said, it was an absolute privilege to read Poppy and Rune’s story. Their journey solidified them as a one of my Mount Rushmore couples. I will think of them and this book often.

I can’t wait to check out more of Tillie Cole’s books. I especially have my eye on the upcoming sequel, A Thousand Broken Pieces set to release in 2024.

If you are fans of YA or Jamie + Landon in A Walk to Remember and Hazel + Gus in The Fault In Our Star, I highly recommend reading this book.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Tillie Cole, and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have wanted to read this and have been putting it off all at the same time. I knew going in that there would be sad moments but this book made me cry multiple times before even getting half way through. There was also so much happiness and pure joy in the midst of life altering situations. I did do a combination of audio listening and physical reading and I enjoyed both and think that it added another layer of emotion. There were a lot of life lessons entwined in this story and although they are in highschool I do think that anyone can learn from some of them. I am still not sure how I feel about the epilogue. I feel like instead of bringing things all together, it actually makes me have more questions.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this is a voluntary honest review.

I am not sure why I had this book. I thought YA, light, cute....WRONG!!! I don't know when I have bawled so much. I found the story beautiful and heartbreaking. Poppy and Rune meet at age five when Rune's family moves next door to Poppy. They become inseparable best friends. At age 15, Rune's family needs to return to Norway for his Dad's job. Poppy and Rune are devastated, but promise to keep in touch. Several months later, Rune is ghosted by Poppy. Then when he is 17 he moves back with his family. Make sure you have LOTS of tissues!! I loved all but the ending.

4.25 stars This was both heart-bursting and painful to read. The main characters, Poppy and Ruin, are just two everyday kids who have to deal with the hardest thing imaginable. I sobbed and I'm probably never going to not think about this story again.

"and my heart almost burst" <3

this book absolutely destroyed me! I never thought a book could affect me this much which speaks to the writing and storyline because it had me genuinely sobbing.

the story itself is simply so emotional and heartbreaking and I could not put it down! starting when poppy and rune are just little kids, following them through their childhood and into adolescence, this is the true childhood friends to lovers story as you watch them grow up. their connection is simply unbreakable even as they go through countless challenges but they always find their way back to each other in the end.

this book was genuinely just so impactful and had me thinking about it for weeks because of how much if affected me. if you are looking a hard-hitting, emotional YA love story that will make you cry, this is the one!!

I don’t think I’ll ever be the same person again , I feel like I just have a hole in my heart now 😭😭😭😭😭
..................................................................................................

Okay it has been a week since I've read this book and here's a little update on how I'm doing. I still think of the main characters Poppy and Rune every day. Also, I have been listening to the 'Thousand Boy Kisses' Spotify playlist all week to and from work. I'm legit obsessed with this book.

Tillie Cole has written this book in such a spectacular manner making it truly an unforgettable read. The writing is beyond beautiful and the way she created these characters is honestly astounding. You're instantly in love with the characters right from page one where you are introduced to them when they are 5 years old, right up until the very end. The constant rush of emotions was so raw and real that I can't even put into words how I felt reading this. I completely bawled my eyes out reading this - like I'm talking FULL HEARTBREAK UGLY CRYING. There's only ever been one other book in which I cried like a baby to and that was Colleen Hoover's 'All Your Perfects' , but damn 'A Thousand Boy Kisses' definitely knocked that book down a notch and took the overall trophy of saddest and most memorable book I've ever read.

I cannot give this book enough praise, I could go on and on about it. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND. Go read it when you're in need of a good cry and wanting to read a love story like no other.

I'm glad I read this now so that I have some time to heal before the second book comes out 'A Thousand Broken Pieces' in June of 2024!

I absolutely wept through this book. Who allowed Tillie Cole to write a book this heartbreaking? I genuinely was unconsolable for a few days haha. Read this if you want a good solid cry.

I don't have the slightest clue what to do with myself after reading and finishing this book. I feel like curling into a ball in a dark corner somewhere and rocking like a crazy person. I went into this book knowing it was sad, but damn, I didn't think it was going to be that heartbreaking. I feel dehydrated from the amount of years I cried. I thought Poppy and Rune's story was told beautifully. Thank you Tillie Cole for sharing their story with us.Now I'm going to go find that dark corner and cry again.

This was a breakdown of my review when I first read Tillie Cole's A Thousand boy Kisses. I'm telling you, if you are triggered by cancer and fighting it at a young age, I would highly recommend you go into this novel with your eyes wide open. In all honesty, this is the first novel I read that had me bawling through my entire reading process. I loved Rune and Poppy, I cried for their friendship, for their relationship and for their tragedy. My heart literally was in pieces this second time around reading.

Tillie Cole definitely knows how to bring her readers to the infamous Ugly Cry Breakdown mode. I will be, once again, recommending this book to all readers looking for a ton of angst and a lot of heart in their story. I loved this coming of age romance, it was everything I've come to expect from Tillie Cole, plus so much more!

If you're looking for an emotional novel, with chemistry, friendship, and angst... look no further and pick up A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole. My heart loved every word, every emotion, and every tear that was shed through my reading. Rune and Poppy still hold a place near and dear to my heart. This novel is unforgettable!


Peace, Love and Happy Reading
~Alecia @ The Staircase Reader

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!!! I felt everything that a person can feel while reading this book and I wish I could've read it in one sitting.

I'm going to start this by saying I love romance, and I love YA books. I appreciate what the author was attempting (A Walk to Remember-esque tale), but it really missed the mark for me. It felt overly dramatic in a way that didn't feel real at all. I genuinely could not picture any of the characters because the dialogue was just so unreal. Sure, they were described in a way where it sounded like a person, but then they would open their mouths and become caricatures of actual teenagers. Part of me gets it, I was once a dramatic teen, but I think even my teenage self would find this book to be a bit absurd. I also think the relationships that Rune and Poppy had with their family members felt a little stilted. The author made a point to mention the various family members but then we rarely saw them interact with Rune or Poppy, and when they did it felt like they were the parents in the Peanuts, especially Rune's dad. I understand that Rune is angry and large, but I have a hard time imagining a world where a parent lets their kid talk to them like that and kick them out of their room without ever pushing back or reminding them that it's their house, and they won't be kicked out of a room. I don't know. I almost put this book down a million times but I've seen so much hype about it that I figured I should finish it, especially since I'm a YA librarian. I am interested in discussing this book with teens now that I've read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC.

I must confess that I've largely moved away from young adult fiction as my reading tastes evolved, but when it comes to Tillie Cole, she's an exception. Her writing has a magnetic quality that draws me in every time, so when I picked up A Thousand Boy Kisses, I knew I was in for something special.

This is a story that beautifully captures the essence of first love, and it does so with such a heart-wrenching, soul-stirring depth that it transcends the typical young adult romance. Poppy and Rune's journey, which begins with their friendship at the tender age of five, takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions. It's a love story filled with passion, joy, pain, and every other emotion in the spectrum. While I won't give away any spoilers, I can say that their story is a journey worth experiencing without preconceptions.

Poppy and Rune are incredibly endearing characters, and you'll find yourself falling in love with them just as they fall in love with each other. Poppy's spirit and Rune's heart make them unforgettable, and their journey is a testament to the enduring power of love. A Thousand Boy Kisses is a book that will touch your soul, make you cry, and leave you with a profound sense of the beauty and intensity of love. If you're hesitating because of the age of the characters, I urge you to cast those doubts aside and let yourself be swept away by this emotionally charged tale.

This book 😭 I’ve never cried reading a book until now. This book was so heartbreaking. I cried the WHOLE time. It was not at all enjoyable, but it was beautifully written I couldn’t stop. But I don’t think I ever want to read another heart wrenching book like this.

A heartbreaking but beautiful story. Many tears were shed. Beautifully written. I'd recommend some tissues when you read this book!

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

Rating: 4 stars

Footprints In The Sand

Blurb: It begins with one kiss with a boy and a girl. They have a bond that started when they first met, and last a decade. Rune returns from his home country Norway and is thinking about one thing, Poppy. What happens when he comes back to find out Poppy his other half cut him off without an explanation. The truth on why she did might lead to even bigger heartache.

-Mini Spoilers-

Review: I would like to start of by saying I'm a wimp. We got two POVs which are our main characters, Rune and Poppy. I will say in the beginning I thought there was a lot of repetition, but when you get farther into the book I didn't mind it a lot because of some dialogue between characters. I was very shocked to see why Poppy cut ties with Rune when he had to go back to Oslo, like I wasn't expecting that at all. I will say a warning the last few chapter made me cry like a baby so if you're a softy like me get the tissues ready. The love story of Poppy and Rune was cute and they are definitely soul mates. The epilogue man it had me going back and forth on what was happening, but it ends in a cute way. I know I say this about some books but I feel like I can relate with what's going on with the characters in this the most out of the other books I've read. But if you need a good cry this could be the book for you. And I'm excited for the next book that comes out June next year.