A very special thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!!

Oh, this book had NO business gripping my heart like it did!! I was so not prepared!! For once, I felt like the description provided for this book gave very little away. "Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous" is so, so much more than what meets the eye (or synopsis). It's more than just a bet, or a famous actress coming home to Green Bay for the holidays and reconnecting with a childhood friend. It's a heartwarming story of love–two people finding what they need in another person, and communicating their feelings in healthy ways. 

I thought so much of this story was original, and was taken in directions that were wholly opposite of your typical, tropey romance. Wil is an effortlessly cool, internet famous TikTok star who's channel is just her kissing a new person from Green Bay twice a week. V interesting idea, but I love how it's more than just kissing–it's diving deep into who the person is that Wil is kissing. And Katie is on the verge of starting her own production company as an already successful actress, but comes with a lot of traumatic baggage. Both women are strong, powerful in their own ways, and aren't afraid to articulate their needs! We love to see it!! I also really loved that this story didn't follow the typical trope of what happens when one partner is uber famous, and a "regular" person is brought into their world (they usually can't handle it, and that "regular" person ends up being the one to blame? Never understood that!). 

My only downside is that the story felt a bit long, which is odd since it's only 368 pages. But regardless, the representation was done so so well. And also love setting such a progressive story in a conservative-leaning area–what a juxtaposition!!

There's a line in the author's note that I loved, which I'll share with ya'll:
"Keep working, protect and take care of others, make community and connections, include, learn, choose love, [and] put down attitudes and bias that don't serve."👏

Unfortunately I DNF this book. I liked the characters and premise, but it felt like it was moving so slowly. The chapters are very long & I just couldn’t get invested enough to finish.

This book has an audience, but it is not me.

Katie and Wil became best friends late in high school but have not seen each other for years. Wil would have gone to law school if her father had not died. Wil started a Tik Tok where she kissed two new people for 1 minute each week. Why would someone want to kiss and record that kiss twice a week? Made no sense to me. Katie is an actress, director, and a producer. They connect back in their hometown and sparks fly. During their high school days Mr. Cook was a teacher who bullied students. When Katie and Wil see him with two women, they decide to see what is going on. I did not think this activity really fit. The gals were very creative in their own way, and I did not think Katie’s mom should have hung on like she did. I also got very tired of Katie and her cats. I did enjoy watching Katie and her progress in writing and directing. She did show talent.

"Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous" is a charming sapphic romance that brings a warm, contemporary twist to the classic celebrity romance genre. Katie, one of our protagonists, doesn't fit neatly into traditional gender roles and is still on a pronoun journey.. Still, for simplicity's sake, we'll consider this wonderful novel as a piece of WLW/sapphic literature.

The story exudes a cozy, 1990s-2000s romantic comedy vibe, reminiscent of beloved films like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "America's Sweethearts." Katie and Wil's lifelong connection, strengthened during their senior year of high school, forms the foundation of the plot. A decade later, Katie is a famous actress transitioning into directing, while Wil leads a unique life as an insurance adjuster who runs a TikTok account where she kisses two new people each week. The stage is set for a delightful array of classic romantic tropes - from love rekindling at Christmas to second chances, friends-turned-lovers, and the intriguing dynamic between a celebrity and an "ordinary" person. And, of course, it's all delightfully queer!

In this modern love story, the language sometimes feels a tad too contemporary at times, featuring phrases like "sus" and "because Katie." While these expressions add authenticity, they might make you cringe a bit, especially if you're not a fan of too much millennial lingo. I didn't mind it in the dialogue so much, but when it crept into the narration, I wasn't a fan. Because reasons. ;)

What truly sets this book apart is the authenticity of its conflicts. Unlike many romance novels that rely on silly miscommunications or exaggerated reactions, "Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous" presents genuine, earnest obstacles, inner and outer, for both protagonists. Occasionally, the story ventures into the realm of after-school-special discussions, addressing important topics like consent, age gaps, white privilege, and emotional regulation with a heavier hand than I would prefer. While these discussions are commendable, they might feel a touch didactic at times.

Despite these minor hiccups, it's hard not to root for the queer cat-loving former best friends as they navigate the rocky road to rekindling their romance. The novel's charming and genuine approach to love and relationships makes it a satisfying read. If you're a fan of sparkling romcoms of days gone by, like those led by Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan, this is the book for you. While the romantic comedy genre may have lost its way on the big screen, it continues to thrive within the pages of books like this one.

Decided to give this book a chance because I'm very cognisant that I don't read nearly enough sapphic romance and one of my goals this year has to be to take more chances - and I'm so glad I did with EVERYONE I KISSED SINCE YOU GOT FAMOUS!

Celebrity romances can be hit and miss for me, but this one left a big grin on my face the entire time. This one ticked all the right boxes for a Christmas rom-com - witty banter, sexy tension, a healthy relationship!!!! It was a great take on "small town Christmas romance" and I think will be one everyone will love this season!

a cute short romance! i thought this book was a quick read and very sweet!

thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance E-Book copy of Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel in exchange of an honest review.
"Delving into the world of LGBTQ+ literature, 'Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous' by Mae Marvel proved to be an absolute delight. At its core, the novel tells the heartwarming story of Katie and Wil, a couple whose love for cats and each other is irresistibly endearing. The slow burn and second chance romance aspects of their relationship add layers of complexity and anticipation, as their secret affection from high school reignites after 13 long years.

One of the standout features of the book is the portrayal of their meddling yet lovable mothers. These 'nosy little mother hens' playfully push Katie and Wil together, while also expressing their genuine concern for their children's happiness. Their presence adds a warm and relatable dynamic to the story, proving that family can often be both a blessing and a source of support.

The author skillfully weaves a tale that captures the essence of love and second chances, while also celebrating LGBTQ+ representation. It's refreshing to see diverse narratives being portrayed with such care and authenticity.

Overall, 'Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous' is a captivating novel that radiates warmth and resonates with readers. Mae Marvel has crafted a touching and entertaining story that proves love knows no bounds. This book is a delightful addition to the LGBTQ+ genre, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a heartfelt and enjoyable read. Prepare to be won over by the adorable romance and the skillful storytelling of Mae Marvel."

Have to start by saying I LOVE the premise of this book. Hollywood starlet returns home and meets up with her high school crush. Twists (but no spoilers!) are that her high school crush is still pining for her AND is internet famous.
I have to say I like a level playing field, or level-ish when it comes to friends to lovers tropes because it’s clear they can help each other grow, but it’s not one depending on the other to pull them out of whatever slump.
Loved the FF romance aspect of this book and the journey is nice. There is some tension but it didn’t leave me panicked or anxious, and instead I got to enjoy the beautiful love story.
So happy I read this book! Thanks NetGalley for trusting me with this ARC.

Mild spice.
Love the cat “sidekicks”
Great supportive characters
Perfect romantic twist.

This was my first book by this author and there were things I liked about it and things I didn’t. I thought the storyline was very unique and the first couple of chapters were very strong. I found the idea of Katie teaching her cats to talk with the word buttons to be very interesting and also a little creepy.

What I didn’t like about the book and ultimately why I didn’t rate it higher had to do with both the writing and the way the humor was used throughout. What can sometimes happen with rom-coms is an overuse of humor at inopportune times which can detract from the serious/romance side of the story and I feel that happened here.

Another thing that I observed was an overuse of exposition and the writing was just very wordy at times, so much so that I found myself skipping paragraphs just trying to get to the point.

I also found that while the author was able to create a good amount of sexual tension and build-up between the two leads, something about their relationship just didn’t connect for me. Perhaps the overuse of humor hindered my ability to empathize with and take these ladies seriously.

Overall a solid effort but in my opinion would benefit from a healthy dose of editing.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, but this one wasn't for me. While there was great character chemistry and development, I feel like the plot lacked and the pacing dragged on. I would have liked a bit more conflict/drama to keep everything moving. Overall it was a cute, slow-burn story, but I preferred something a little faster.

Since graduating from high school, Katie has moved up in the world—made a name for herself as an actress, earned more money than she'll ever need, and more recently started to make a name for herself as a director too. Meanwhile, Wil has been quietly humming along in Wisconsin, having put her dreams on hold and never picked them up again. She's TikTok famous, making out with new people regularly on the Internet, but her plans (law school, for example, or living somewhere other than Wisconsin) haven't materialised, and she's not in a rush to change that.

But Katie's dreams—so tangible, and so close—are being consistently undermined by her ex, the truth about whom she's kept secret for years. And Wil's dreams aren't gone, but she's buried them deep. And when Katie comes home for the holidays and stays awhile, suddenly they're each in a position to help the other...

This was a lot of fun to read. The book is navigating and balancing a whole host of different things: Katie's career, Wil's double life as a TikTok sensation, #MeToo (though not in so many words), being a woman in Hollywood, grief, and on it goes. (Also: very, very vocal and—more to the point—eloquent cats. I am not convinced.) Their relationship, as it develops, is not without its difficulties, but I always appreciate it when those difficulties are more external than internal—that is, in this case, there's very little 'if we'd just had an honest conversation the book would be over already' and a great deal more 'even if our relationship is straightforward privately, it will be complicated publicly'. Both of them roll with it, which is also very satisfying.

A couple of quibbles: first, at times it felt like Wil was only becoming fully formed as the book went on—she gets more butch, I think, and while it's possible that I just missed the clues, it felt like something that was only solidifying for the author as time went on. Second, while the supporting cast is generally fab, I wouldn't have minded seeing some more complexity from them—they tend to be either diverse, liberal, smart, compassionate Wunderkinder or (admittedly and fortunately rarely) Just Generally Bad. And not to complain about having diverse/liberal/smart/compassionate Wunderkinder around...but I suppose it stays a bit surface. Finally: Katie Price is an odd choice of name for a character who is an actress when there is already a real-life person by the same name who has worked very hard to be in the public eye.

Altogether lively and on point, though. 3.5 stars and would read more.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

I loved this slow-burn romance that was easy to follow and the characters were so well-developed. I thought that the tension throughout the book was strong and I really appreciated all of the healthy communication between the two main characters.

Unfortunately I DNF'd this one. I had high hopes and really really enjoyed Wil and Katie but it was just dragging soooo badly

I do want thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC

A beautiful sapphic romance about two old friends reconnecting and navigating their present lives once they realize they're in love, and maybe always were. I loved everything about it. The characters and the plot were wonderful.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Really enjoyed this -- very sweet celebrity romance with a lot of witty banter. I also like that it subverts/dodges a lot of the more problematic romance tropes while still indulging in others. Both main characters were really relatable and engaging, and watching their budding romance was truly heartwarming. Highly recommend

Famous movie star Katie Price returns to her hometown in Green Bay for holiday and at her parents' holiday party she reconnects with her high school friend Wil Green, an Instagram sensation for her twice weekly often hot & steamy kisses with random strangers. Both have had a lot of things happen in their lives in the past ten years, both good and bad, and as they share bits and pieces of the lives with each other they realize there is definitely chemistry between them. Can their budding romance survive Hollywood? Should they even attempt a relationship? Can they make law school work for Wil while Katie moves her film career in a new direction? Will they deal with their pasts in order to have a future together?

This is an unexpectedly, totally enjoyable, witty, emotional hot romance that is well-written as well as captivating. One of my favorite things about this book is that two young adults deal with their pasts, issues, budding romance, and their problems by talking things through, asking the other to describe her needs, and actually communicating with each other in a mature, respectful manner!

This book is a remarkable departure from typical romance tropes, offering a refreshing tale of two female characters who communicate openly and honestly with each other.

This book’s portrayal of love and growth, without the usual drama, is refreshing. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the tension leading up to their first kiss is simply mesmerizing. This book is an absolute must read for romance fans.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC.

Read this as an eARC. I would give this more like 3.5 stars. I would have given it a 4 star, but the chapters were almost 20 ePages long each, so it felt very long-winded since this book was switching between two characters' perspectives. I typically love getting both perspectives but I think with this structure it didn't work as well for some reason. This is marketed as a romance, but I think it also has a significant coming of age aspect with the two characters trying to find their place in their respective fields which I did really like. I also haven’t read a romance with this type of plot before which was really cool for me because I've read A LOT of books. I think this had a really good story, but for some reason I just didn’t find myself really yearning to finish the book. I can’t really articulate what it was, but I wasn’t very attached to how the story would unfold like I am with many other books of this type. Overall, I think I would recommend for others to try it out, especially for the fantastic depiction of coming of age in late 20s/early 30s.

I loved this! More romance novels where the couple is functioning as a team instead of constantly trying their level best not to be one! The characters were thoughtful and nuanced and sexy—I often find that books this steamy are not delivering the substance I want, but this one really exceeded expectations. I loved all of the characters and I particularly loved that the Bad Men weren’t actually characters in the books, they were off to the side being terrible on their own time. I look forward to reading more from Mae Marvel (and I’m keeping my eye on the charming bi NFL player they slid in there for a scene)!

I loved the concept of this book. Small town girl becomes famous comes home and reconnects with her childhood friend who is now a relatively well known tiktok creator and it’s queer. The characters were deep and well thought out but I feel like they weren’t always well developed. There were so many times I felt like I was either hit with a wall of text explaining Katie’s life or just left to figure it out. Overall though, I had a good time. 3.5/5