I was such a huge OG fan of Lauren Kate’s Fallen series and loved the fantasy elements - so was intrigued by this contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance (with a multiverse twist!) Sadly I couldn’t connect with the characters and the overall story fell a little flat for me. Great premise - a ‘what if’ timeline following the FMC as she is plunged into a new life part way through. However the timing of the plunge was poor - we missed any of the actual enemies-to-lovers part, and landed well past any relationship building. Aka - the reason we all read contemporary romance. The characters were likeable enough but i still scratch my head at several plot points (what was with that joint? Why all the pics in the set trailer but not at home). I wanted so badly to like this but couldn’t get there.

I've been a long time Lauren Kate lover since her days of Fallen and I felt like What's in a Kiss is in a similar vein. It didn't feel quite like an adult romance novel, more of a young adult romance. It's sweet and I enjoyed the "what if" aspect of the storyline.

So, I finished this one, started a new physical book, then picked up my Kindle and saw this at the top, and assumed I hadn't finished it yet. I had. So that gives a little insight into how it didn't stick with me.

I feel like that describes how much It was a little blah to me. I enjoy magical realism, and I love the "Sliding Doors" concept in books/movies/shows, but this fell flat to me. Part of it was just how it happened... Like why? Obviously it is not a realistic story, but it didn't seem to have a purpose or understandable precipitating event for happening. It was a rivals to lovers story, but I also never understood that either. It seemed to be mostly one sided. And truly based 100% on a miscommunication that, if the characters were remotely mature enough, could have worked through many moons ago.

I've said before and I'll say it again -- I love a good "what-if" romance, and I especially love how many authors are now delving into this subgenre. Lauren Kate did a phenomenal job with WHAT'S IN A KISS!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Lauren Kate does it again! I knew I needed to read this romance after her last one blew me away. I love how incredibly Kate navigates between genres, always allowing her voice to change with genre and being true to the characters in her development of their storylines. I am happily a Lauren Kate fan from now until always.

Somehow I missed the memo, this was a rom-com but it was a pleasant surprise! The banter between the two main characters had me giggling.

I love when nemesis from the past come together and their lives are not what they seem. The whole premise of the power of a kiss is such a fun and unique idea.

Such a heartwarming and endearing romance from Lauren Kate!

Super sweet heartwarming romance with great banter. It had all the pieces I enjoy in a great romance. I think there were still some parts to this book that left me with questions unanswered but overall I enjoyed it!

I've been finding lately that magical realism is very hit or miss for me. Unfortunately this one was a miss. I had a hard time suspending belief to get through this one. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to be an early reader, all thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars!
this book is a cute love story that had me rooting for the two main characters the whole time, and loved the magical realism aspects it included! however i felt like i was missing information that could have helped the story feel a little more flushed out. i also went into this thinking it was enemies to lovers, so it was a little disappointing when it was more rivals (maybe?) who are ignoring how obsessed with each other they were.

thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion

I love Lauren Kate’s books- this one knocked it out of the park in almost every way- the build up to the ending was a little slower than I expected but overall another fantastic read from this author!

What’s in a Kiss by Lauren Kate is a captivating exploration of love, identity, and the transformative power of a single moment. With her signature lyrical prose and rich emotional depth, Kate takes readers on a heartfelt journey that lingers long after the final page.

The story centers around the main character, whose experiences with love and relationships are both relatable and profound. The narrative expertly weaves together themes of self-discovery and the complexities of connection, showing how a kiss can signify so much more than mere attraction. Kate beautifully captures the butterflies of first love, the pangs of heartbreak, and the exhilarating rush of new beginnings, making this a truly immersive read.

One of the standout elements of the book is Kate’s ability to create vivid and relatable characters. Their struggles and triumphs feel authentic, drawing readers into their world and making us root for their journeys. The supporting characters also add depth and warmth, enriching the story and enhancing the overall experience.

Overall, What’s in a Kiss is a delightful and poignant romance that perfectly balances humor and heart. Lauren Kate has once again proven her talent for crafting stories that resonate deeply with readers of all ages.

A special thank you to Lauren Kate, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

ROMANCE QUEEN!!! I read "By Any Other Name" last year and really enjoyed it, so being approved for this ARC was too exciting to me. Lauren Kate does not disappoint, writing laugh-out-loud funny love stories, I was giggling and kicking my feet. The concept? Chefs kiss. The chemistry? WHOA. Not to make comparisons, but she serves like Emily Henry and I was eating it up. I will say, I was a little disappointed in the lead-up to the ending, but that's because I could have read about our main couple for another 100 pages and not gotten bored. I love them, 10/10 ship. No notes.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book. The blurb quickly brought to mind Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow (which the book actually mentioned). Jake and Liv had but a moment in high school and things went awry pretty quickly. I'm thinking that Liv, even at 18, was still quite childish at that point and while she had tragic things to deal with in the 10 years since, she may not have grown up much, meaning I still found her quite childish. However, I DID like how she finally grew up in the High Life and truly took stock of what really mattered in her life. While an epilogue is not necessarily needed in most books (my husband doesn't bother reading them lol), this one could have used one, in my opinion. The ending fell very flat for me. All in all, not a bad story...3.5 stars.

Oh how I enjoyed the majority of this book. The enemies to lovers trope is one that I always find myself loving as it really is one of my favorites thanks to the tension, drama, and eventual (hopeful) HEA. I truly enjoyed the writing style in this book, and the characters won me over very quickly. The opening pages/scene were some of my favorites and the relationship between the FMC and her best friend was truly beautiful. The alternative life and the time travel really fell a bit flat - it was rushed at times, dragged at others, and overall left me feeling rather frustrated. At the end of the book I was left with numerous questions, no answers, and no real satisfaction with a few of the answers that were provided. The romance however was top notch and left me swooning more than once.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the sake of rating.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Kate, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

What's in a Kiss? is a captivating, funny enchanting story about a woman whose future was extremely promising, until it suddenly took a horrible turn. As she prepares to marry off her best friend since childhood and see the handsome crush she almost but did not kiss back in high school, who is now famous, she begins to feel she has nothing to show for her life since her promising high school years. For her, she's never been able to get past the "what-if's" and that kiss that never happened.

Liv is a Lyft driver who lives in the same place she grew up. She lives with the love of her life...her dog, Graham Parsons. Her best friend Masha is still the best friend she had when she was in kindergarten, and her mother is the love of her life. She feels content, well sort of.

The reality is during high school she had a promising future as an actress. She had been accepted to Julliard and was looking forward to the move to New York. Unfortunately, something devastating happened and that ended her dreams and she chose to stay with her mother and her best friend.

So although she is excited that her best friend is getting married and she is the maid of honor, she begins to relive her past as well as the crush she had on one Jake who is the best man in the same wedding, who is a famous podcaster and of course, dating a model. She's not jealous! She always regrets that she had that one chance at prom to kiss him, but for some reason it never happened. But she still carries this with her even in the present.

So, when she picks up a fare and it's Jake, their meeting does not go very well. She's embarrassed and he's just plain obnoxious. How she's going to be able to put up with him in the next few days is beyond her.

But, something happens during the wedding ceremony which changes her life...literally...as Masha and her fiancé are about to say I Do, Liv catches Jake's eye and her head begins to spin, and she thinks she's going to faint. She comes out of this trance in a very different reality!

In this new reality, Liv is a popular actress, living in a mansion, Masha refuses to talk to her, her mother is not in her life and acts as if she hates her and oh, she married to Jake! As for Jake, he adores her and is the opposite of what he was in high school. He is so supportive, handsome and puts her career first. Clearly in this reality that prom kiss did happen...but what happened after that??

Although Liv enjoys being with Jake, she needs to go back. She wants Masha to be her best friend again and of course she wants her mother to love her again. But going back will mean she loses Jake.

What should she do?

What's in a Kiss? is a hilarious, heartwarming and romantic story. Wouldn't we all want a do-over about something from our past if we could?

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam'sSons #LaurenKate #What'sinaKiss? for the advanced copy.

After reading the description of this modern love story about Jake and Liv and their second chance at love, I was so excited to receive an ARC of WHAT'S IN A KISS from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publishers!!

WHAT'S IN A KISS is the first book I've read by Lauren Kate and I will likely seek out her other work - I really enjoyed her writing and the world she built for Liv and Jake. I thought this book had a lot of heart and was a fun take on wondering about the path not taken. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Kate's writing, and of those who enjoy romance with a little magic/alternate reality elements!

This one took me a long time to get into. I am not a big fan of the 13 going on 30 trope. Add in the forced proximity and I am bored. But this is a fun easy read. If you like Sliding Doors, you should give this a go.

I have never read anything by Lauren Kate but was interested in giving it a try.
Liked the concept of alternate realities, was a unique twist on a rom-com which can typically seem similar.

This was a fun and unexpected read! I enjoyed the alternate reality take on your typical rom-com.
I found the beginning to be a little slow, however it definitely picked up through the middle and into the end. I loved the love and "fove" between Olivia and High-Life Jake and was truly enamored by how genuine their relationship was in her other reality, but how it really carried through to her real life as well. It rings true of how sometimes the choice we make lead us on unexpected paths, and it's refreshing to see the real time struggle that we often go through when we're trying to choose happiness.
I found the whole Rabi Dan and weed part to be a little bit much for me, but I saw how it added an eccentric twist to the "alternate reality" portion of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.