So I read this a little bit ago. And I thought I should post about it because it was a really good book and today is the re-release day. This book is very emotional but it is definitely worth the read. The way the author writes this book is really powerful and beautiful. The main character in this book is determined to live life to the fullest and not waste any time thinking about the negative things that are happening in her life. When I read this, I was crying almost the whole entire time because the story is very moving. It makes you look at your life differently, and it makes you grateful for what you have. It also shows you that even if you don’t have the best situation you can rely on others to help make it better. This book is just a very beautiful love story between two very young individuals. The amount of depth and passion the author put into this is story is astounding. This book will be in my head forever! Please read this book if you haven't.

I am not sure where to even begin with this book. I did feel like I struggled half way through this book, but I’m glad I finished it.

Rune and Poppy share a deep bond that transcends time and distance. When Rune returns to their hometown after years, he's determined to understand why Poppy, once inseparable from him, suddenly cut off all contact. As he uncovers the truth, Rune realizes that their connection is still fraught with heartache.

From the beginning, I did not feel a connection of any kind to the characters. I think this is why I struggled so much to connect to the story.

This book was beautifully written and I loved the sweet aspects of it. I do believe the overall writing style might have not been for me. I felt the story was a bit repetitive and I did find the characters to be pretty cringey at some points.

The story and the details were really cute. The whole cherry blossoms, the jar from her mamaw, it was all a very cute and meaningful touch.

The ending completely baffled me and I did find myself with teary eyes towards the end of the book.

Overall, I would recommend this read and I will be reading the second book when it comes out.

Thank you to the amazing publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Loved the first release and love the extended version. If you want a good cry and some self reflection this is the book for you.

Heartbroken.

That is how I felt when I finished this book.

The story follows Poppy and Rune who meet at such a young age and become best friends. But after an inseparable friendship, Rune's father gets called back to work in Norway and Rune has to move away. Poppy and Rune continued to talk and write to each other until one day Poppy suddenly ceased all contact. A couple years later, Rune moves back to town from Norway. He's now considered a bad boy, not the sweet boy he used to be after he had his heart broken when Poppy stopped responding to him. But once he moves back into town, he finds the truth of Poppy's silence. And his heart breaks even more.

At first I didn't know if I would like this book because it is very much tailored to a young adult audience. However, as the story unfolded I was deeply invested. Too invested. This story does not end in a happy ending, no matter how much you would wish it to. Once Rune came back into town and found out the truth, I don't think I stopped crying until I finished the book.

This book is beautiful and devastating. I warn anyone who plans on reading it to do so in a comfortable environment, because you will be heartbroken.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’ve had this book on my TBR for a while, but I keep postponing the reading because I knew I would end up sobbing and I was right 😭

The story is about Poppy and Rune. They met when he moved in next door and since then they have become inseparable. Until Rune’s dad had to return to Norway due to his job, Is it then that Rune can’t get in contact with Poppy. Two years later, Rune’s family went back to Oslo and everything was different.

I can’t put into words how the story made me feel, just that I went from smiling to crying. Also, I really liked how, despite their young age, they loved each other so intensely 🥺 Despite the fact that I liked and enjoyed the book, I found that both were quite dependent on each other. And because of his stubbornness, Rune occasionally acted in an immature way.

In general, I enjoyed the book and the love story between Poppy and Rune, but I felt like something was missing or maybe it was because the book was fast-paced 🤔 Yet I ended up sobbing while reading the final chapters 😭

This was an amazing love story!!! The author, Tillie Cole, took you on an amazing journey with Poppy and Rune and their love story that began when they were young and only deepened as they grew older. I cried, laughed, and cried some more. This is the type of story that you develop such a connection to the characters that you feel their joy, pain, and love as they make their way through the many twists and turns of life and their relationship. I strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I had a strong relationship with my grandmother growing up and Poppy and her grandmother’s relationship was so familiar to me. This story will definitely stick with me. Thanks to the author, Tillie Cole, for this wonderful look at life and its many adventures and obstacles.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bloom Books for the reader's galley in return for an honest review of this book.

This book – it's a rollercoaster of emotions that left me both amazed and slightly conflicted. Kudos to Tillie Cole for crafting a story that had me in tears, truly "ugly crying." Poppy and Rune's love story is unforgettable; it seared right into my soul.

But here's the twist (pun intended): there were aspects that prevented me from giving this a full five-star rating. When I uncovered the storyline's unexpected turn, I almost threw in the towel. I usually read to escape reality and feel good, not to bawl my eyes out. However, I persevered and found some profound moments and beautifully crafted words that I'd have missed otherwise.

Now, let's talk about the ending. At some point, it felt like things were dragging on, and then they got excessively mushy. I even considered closing the book. The last few "situations" seemed unnecessary, especially after my emotions had already been through the wringer.

One more bone to pick: some parts felt a bit too reminiscent of other books or movies, but I'll keep it vague to avoid spoilers.

In the grand scheme, Tillie Cole did a commendable job. Young Adult fiction suits her well, and I see a promising future in it for her. However, if you're not a fan of super emotional, love-drenched narratives, you might want to steer clear – especially because it gets syrupy towards the end. As for me, it was an emotional journey, and it turns out I do have a heart because this book finally wrung some tears out of me!

This book has emotionally DESTROYED me and I'll never be the same. As I sit here processing the incredible love between Poppy and Rune, my eyes are burning from all the tears I've shed. To witness all that they go through as they live side by side from early childhood right until the end... it's enough to bring anyone to their knees. But more than anything, I'm hopeful that we all get to experience a love as all encompassing as theirs was. To find the beauty in the every day moments whilst we're here. Because we never know when it's our time to go.

I have had this book on my TBR for awhile and was lucky enough to receive an ARC through Netgalley as part of its re-release with Bloom books. My anticipation was high but it met every single one of my expectations. What a perfect ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read: I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I cursed the universe at the tricks fate can play. I highly recommend this book but suggest you have the tissue box ready and ensure you can give yourself the space to be emotionally invested as it's intense in the best way!

3.5/5 stars! I have heard so much about this story on TikTok, so I decided to check it out myself. Did I enjoy this story? Yes. Do I think it lived up to all the hype? No. It felt like it was trying to elicit the same reaction as books like "Five Feet Apart," "They Both Die at the End," or "The Fault in Our Stars." The story was sad and it made me feels things, but not at that level. For me it was a purely average read.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

4/5 ⭐
0/5 🌶️
4/5 🎧

This story is freaking tragic. In my opinion it does not have a happily ever after, which is usually my whole jam in this genre. Thankfully I knew that ahead of time and so I went in with expectations of my heart being shattered, and broke my heart was.

I really loved Rune and Poppy. They're very young, and their naiveity shows, but honestly they're both quite mature for their age, especially in the second half of this story. Was Rune your typical angsty teen in the beginning when things began to unravel? Absolutely. But it didn't bother me too much and I enjoyed watching him grow and fix his relationship with his dad.

This is my second book from Tillie and while it's vastly different from the first of hers I read (Sick Fux) I've absolutely loved her writing. While this story isn't one I'm likely to read again, it really was a beautiful story about young love, tragic as it was. It is a little God/heaven heavy, but even as an atheist it wasn't so heavy that it bothered me. I'd definitely recommend this story to anyone in need of a good cry.

This book starts off pretty sad. When Poppy and Rune are five they meet and become best friends. A few years later Poppy’s grandma is really ill and passes away. She tells her she wants to fill this jar of hearts with 1000 boy kisses that make her feel special. Years after that Rune and Poppy are separated and Poppy becomes ill. Rune starts to spend all of his time making Poppy’s dreams come true for her short life.
This book is really cheesy and it is kind of hard to believe how young they are. It also kept me crying for the majority of the book but especially at the end. It is unclear if it’s a happy ending or a sad one.

I don’t think I can stop crying. This was a well-written and lovely, albeit, terribly sad story to read. It took me longer because I had to take breaks since I no longer could see the pages through my tears. By the end I was hiccuping crying. It was the hardest book for me to get through because it pulled at all the heart strings.

Rune was a great character and fit perfectly with Poppy. He held onto her so tightly, even when he lost her. He gave her all her wishes and made her so happy with the short time she had left.

Poppy, god, Poppy. She will be a main character I will never forget and probably burst into tears just thinking about her. She is one of those people where you think, “Why are the good ones always taken away early?” She loved life, even for how short she had with it. She was such a beautiful soul and even though I knew it was coming, like her family, I was hoping for a miracle because it was awful to experience that. It felt oddly real.

This was an incredible story about the power of young love, about going at life full speed from the very start, and to not let the bad things in life end your happiness. It was beautiful and tragic. I’m so heartbroken, I feel like I actually lost someone in my life.

Wow! This book really had me on an emotional roller coaster! This emotion was just spewing off the pages! To say Tillie Cole is an amazing author would be an understatement. This book was written sooooo well I didn't want it to end. I kept hoping that there would be a treatment for Poppy and she would make it through. I wasnt ready to say goodbye to Poppy or Rune. What a love story! I have never boo hoo cried this much throughout a book. But this book had so much emotion, love, honor, forgivenes and acceptance. Hands down this book is a must read!

This book absolutely broke me. I cried mostly through the entire book. I got so attached to the characters and the plot was fantastic. I loved this even if it broke my heart

I was in tears from chapter 2 pretty much through the whole book! If you need a good cry this book is for you!!!

Give me a thousand kisses, then another hundred,
then another thousand, then for the second time a hundred,
then another thousand more, then a hundred.
. (Catullo - Vivamus mea Lesbia)
Even if I'm not a fan of this book I think it's the book that would have made me cry bucket when I was a teen and I read Prevert or Catullo's poems.
There's the sense of just-you-and-me that is typical of first love. The rest of the world is not important, just a sort of scenery.
That said the adult me found it a good YA romance, a bit ove the top as I would prefer something less intense but funnier.
Well written, emotionally charged.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"A Thousand Boy Kisses" is an ABSOLUTE MUST-READ!

This poignant narrative revolves around Poppy and Rune, who share a history dating back to childhood. Their lives were intertwined until Rune's departure to Norway, which prompted Poppy to sever all ties. Two years pass in silence until Rune returns to their hometown, haunted by questions about why Poppy distanced herself. However, the truth behind their separation only becomes clear to Rune as the story unfolds.

Tillie Cole's prowess as a writer shines brilliantly in "A Thousand Boy Kisses." I was utterly captivated by this book, shedding tears from the first page to the last. While many books might elicit a tear or two, this masterpiece had me weeping as though my heart were truly breaking in two.

Poppy and Rune's journey has left an indelible mark on my heart. This book ingrains itself in your thoughts; I'll forever cherish their relationship and the flawlessly executed ending. Overall, this book is a marvel, a recommendation I extend to anyone seeking an emotional catharsis and a taste of heartache.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

a thousand boy kisses
thank you to bloom, netgalley, and the author for the arc copy for the re-release!

everyone dreams to be loved the way rune loves poppy. that boy adored her with every fiber of his being. everything he did he did with poppy in mind. they were truly 2 halves of a whole. the kind of best friend you have once in a lifetime. what every girl and woman looks for and may never be able to find. this is the kind of man they mean when they tell you to never settle. but this man probably doesn’t exist in real life. which hurts me personally because …. ow.

this hurt me in so many ways. it wasn’t a story about death or fearing it it was about taking what life has given you and making the most of it.

i do not cry easily when i’m reading. i’ll tear up, maybe drop a tear or two, but a couple of blinks and i’m back to normal. that was not the case here. i have been chasing a high like this since i read the fault in our stars by john green when i was 13. i had tears running down my face to the point of reading and re-reading paragraphs because i couldn’t see them through my tears.

my criticisms that take this from a 5 star to a 4.75 star: these r some kids that are WAY beyond their years. the 5 year olds were talking like 8 year olds. the 8 year olds like 13 year olds. and 15 year olds were like 20 year olds. everyone was wise beyond their years.

sometimes rune’s anger issues genuinely had me scared of him. i was almost waiting for this to take a DIFFERENT tragic turn. he was a little TOO intense at times i think. they did get better as the story went on but damn i was a lil scared for a second.

i’ll leave you with some beautiful quotes and quotes that broke me, these do include some minor spoilers so beware:

“Why does it take a life ending to learn how to cherish each day? Why must we wait until we run out of time to start to accomplish all that we dreamed, when once we had all the time in the world? Why don’t we look at the person we love the most like it’s the last time we will ever see them? Because if we did, life would be so vibrant. Life would be so truly and completely lived.”

“This moment, given to me by you, I will remember always. I will take it with me to…wherever I go.”

“This life’s final adventure. Because I know, with unwavering faith, that we’ll be together again. Even when this adventure is over, a greater one awaits us on the other side. And Rune, there would be no heaven if you weren’t back in my arms someday.”

“I really believe that tales of loss don’t always have to be sad or sorrowful. I want mine to be remembered as a great adventure that I tried to live as best as I possibly could. Because how dare we waste a single breath? How dare we waste something so precious? Instead, we should strive for all those precious breaths to be taken in as many precious moments as we can squeeze into this short time on Earth. That’s the message I want to leave behind. And what a beautiful legacy to leave for those I love.”

“Poppy believed her spirit always knew she’d die young. I was starting to think that maybe mine did too.”

“It was apt that Poppy left the same day that the cherry blossoms lost their petals too. They were guiding her soul home.”

“Forever always.”

I am SOBBING 😭😭😭 This romance story was breathtakingly beautiful. I haven't read something soo heartfelt since a Walk to Remember. This book will be forever on my mind and is NOW one of my favorite romance novels. Excuse me while I continue to sob from this incredible story 😭❤️❤️

Very predictable story line but so, so sad. Normally when people say this on TikTok or socials it ends up not being try, they are exaggerating… but no this book was devastating to me. It’s definitely middle age/high school reading level.

Poppy and Rune are inseparable once Rune moves in next door…….Until his dads job relocates his family back to Norway after ten years of living state side. Poppy and Rune promise to stay in touch, but Poppy ends up cutting Rune off with no explanation. Two years later, Rune is back and wants to know what happened.

Family quote: “I wish…. I wish that people realized how this felt everyday. Why does it take a life ending to learn how to cherish each day? Why must we wait until we run out of time to start to accomplish all that we dreamed when once we had all the time in the world? Why don’t we look at the person we love the most like it’s the last time we will ever see them? Because if we did, life would be so vibrant. Life would be so truly and completely lived.”

Masochists. That’s what we are. We see someone post a video crying saying “this book broke me” and we read it anyway. What is wrong with us? Haha I have never cried so much while reading. I definitely recommend if any of the above speaks to you!