This is a cute story, but sometimes it left me with more questions than answers and at times was confusing.

I always enjoy alternate universe second chance books and What's in a Kiss was no exception. I enjoyed the main premise and getting to see how different Liv's life would have been had one night gone differently. This was a quick and fun read and I liked the writing style. My only real complaint was that we never got an explanation about what the falling outs between the FMC and her mom and best friend were found it hard to believe there was something so bad her mother was refusing to talk to her. Rating this one 3/3.5 stars and would read more from Lauren Kate. I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Parallel universe stories can be such a good time. And there were definitely some cute and fun parts, but I had to ask "BUT WHY?!" way too many times while reading this. Why was the mom so dang pissed? Why was the best friend so outwardly hostile? Was it just because they stopped talking that much when she got famous? Like, what exactly did Olivia do to completely and absolutely wreck these relationships? I wanted to know some examples and I wanted the "real" Olivia to be horrified by her alternate reality self!

I also didn't understand why Jake had loved her all this time...(but that one was easier to just shrug my shoulders and carry on).

There were also some scenes where I was a little confused. Like the taco scene? That was a strange way to try to highlight just how good Jake was at "peopleing".  That scene read like a fever dream tbh.

I really enjoyed the IDEA of this book. Olivia finding herself suddenly very famous was probably my favorite part.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the pleasure of being able to read an ARC of this book so that I may give my honest feedback and review.

I loved the last Lauren Kate romance I read, and so I had good hopes for this one. It's got a second chance and alternate timeline plotline which sounds interesting and what initially drew me in. However, I was struggling at reading this primarily because of Liv's character. I couldn't get myself to finish it (DNF @ 30%).

This wasn't for me, but others might enjoy this romcom read.

I couldn't get into this - I'm so sorry! The writing was stagnant and it was hard for me to visualize and hear the characters and their surroundings. I ended up stopping. Regardless, I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam.

What's in a Kiss? was such a cute and fun read! I loved the banter and dynamic between Olivia and Jake, and loved the alternate timeline!

Such a cute rom-com, this was fun , nice and easy to read, enjoyed the characters and the story. The whole setting was nice . Looking forward to check more books of this author.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Have you ever wondered what would happened if one small decision changed the course of your life? Liv and Masha are THE best friends. Liv is the kind of gal who drops everything for the people she loves, even ten years after her father’s tragic death. When Masha gets married, Liv is her biggest supporter as Maid of Honor and nothing will stop her from standing by her bestie’s side…not even the best man who brings a lot of emotional baggage from high school days. When a moment in the wedding ceremony flips the whole history into an alternate universe, life for everyone looks very different! This group of friends from high school are written so wonderfully that you feel like part of the crew! What’s in a Kiss is a feel-good rom com that examines the trajectory of life in a totally different, cosmic way. Lauren Kate creates a story that is so hypnotizing and fun that time flies by and sucks the reader into their own parallel timeline, an absolutely engrossing and light-hearted read!

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date.

IF a first kiss, could talk or be a person this is what it would be. "What If" Jake & Liv had a prom night did or didn't go awry and this is their story ten years later. Or so it seems? I was kind overwhelmed by the wedding and suddenly Jake being in love with Liv and not Masha. It was confusing how they could get to the altar and that far and yet just switch to a different girl. I love Lauren Kate and was a huge fan of the FALLEN series. This gives Christina Lauren Vibes with alternate reality, and contemporary romance. Thank you so much to the wonderful Lauren Kate, the publisher, and Netgalley for letting me read this!

This was a fun alternate timeline novel. I loved the banter that was between Olivia and Jake. But my favorite part was Olivia getting to discover herself and realize how life may not be as bad as she thought. This story was humorous and emotional all at once.

Jake and Liv were everything! I loved the story of this book. Jake was such a green flag and supported Liv through anything. Their parallel stories lined up beautifully and I enjoyed every second of reading this!

I really enjoyed reading this book!! The couple’s chemistry is so good and I loved seeing how no matter what, they love each other (wanted to be somewhat vague for future readers). My only issue is the tension between Olivia and her mom in the “high life” part. I wasn’t buying that part of the story. An epilogue would also be very nice to read.

I received an ARC from netgalley and the publisher.

Thank you Penguin group Putnam for the ARC for my honest review.

This book may have not been the best read for me, as I am really picky with time travel/alternate universe etc., especially in the romance genre. When i go on a space time continuum adventure with my MC, I really need to enjoy my time with them. And I didn't connect to our heroine, Her professional life is in the dumpster, but she has a great relationship with her mom and best friend. And her arch nemesis from high school, Jake, will be at her best friends wedding. She is not looking forward to seeing him because he is a thriving talk show host, and she had to give up her acting dreams because of a tragedy that happened after her prom. A prom where here and Jake did not kiss. But at her best friend's wedding, Liv enters some sort of fever dream where suddenly she is in a universe where her and Jake did kiss at prom. And now they are married, she is a famous actress, but her best friend and mom have severed their ties with her.

So, back to not connecting with Liv. I feel like there was a lot of telling and not showing in this character. I didn't get a sense of who she was as a person, and what she wanted out of life. I especially did not feel invested in the romance. I liked the dog though.

Rating: ⭑⭑⭑.5

This was a cute story! To be honest, I was very confused at the beginning and found myself having to re-read it because I was that confuse! 😅 The story is giving 13 going on 30 and Freaky Friday vibes! Lol. Really give you the perspective of “what life” in life. What if I did this a different way? Will the outcome be different? Will I like the result? That sort of thing.

Lives life is a HOT MESS but being brought to an alternate universe and showing her how her life could be if she have chosen a different path for herself. Being married to her rival Jake but not having a relationship ship with her best friend and her mom. Will she choose to stay in the current universe? Honestly though, I found myself saying “why not stay in the current universe you’re in and just fix what needs fixing?” 🤷🏻‍♀️

I love the banter between Liv and Jake! I was swooning over him! I also love Liv’s relationship with her mom and her bestfriend. All in all, this is a cute and fun read!

I thought this book was a cute, easy read. I liked the concept of Liv traveling to another reality and seeing what her life could have been like had she kissed Jake at prom. This is definitely one of those reads I don't have to pay all that much attention to, or that I read in between heavy, dense fantasy books as a palate cleanser. Overall it was sweet, and I enjoyed reading it.

I usually love an alternate reality story, but this felt a bit clunky. The reasoning why Olivia transferred back and forth never made sense and I feel we never got real clarity on why some of her relationships (namely with her mom) struggled so much. I also wish we got a bit of an epilogue that showed what she learned/how she fixed her present. The romance in this was hard to get into since I didn’t see it before the swap and then it’s thrust on us. This was just ok.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a super cute and swoonworthy read. If you enjoy classic romances like When Harry Met Sally or Sleepless in Seattle, I can almost guarantee you will love this book!

Read if you like 90s rom coms
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↠ 3.5 stars ⭐️

This was cute! I always love stories like this—ones that explore the impact that the choices in our lives have, and how one decision can alter the trajectory of our lives entirely. This has always been a theme/storyline that I enjoy and find incredibly thought-provoking.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the main character. Olivia annoyed me at the start. She was mean and hated Jake for absolutely no reason, and I found it to be quite childish. But, she did grow on me a bit eventually. However, I loved sweet Jake from the beginning, as well as his and Olivia’s banter.

While I liked this, I did feel like there were a few plot holes and things left unexplained. There were a few things that could have been explored a little deeper, such as reasons why certain relationships deteriorated and what really triggered the alternate reality. And I was really bummed there was no epilogue! I was left wanting more.

Regardless, this was a fun, cute, and thought-provoking read. Fans of TJR’s Maybe In Another Life and 13 Going on 30 would love this!

Big thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kate's writing is lyrical and evocative, with vivid descriptions that bring the small town setting to life. From the sun-dappled streets to the starry nights, she captures the sensory experience of adolescence in a way that is both nostalgic and immersive. Through Olivia's eyes, readers are transported to a world of first kisses, stolen glances, and the exhilarating rush of young love.

At its core, "What's in a Kiss" is a story about the transformative power of love and the courage it takes to open your heart to another person. It celebrates the beauty of human connection and the profound impact it can have on our lives. Whether you're a hopeless romantic or simply looking for a heartwarming read, "What's in a Kiss" is sure to leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

***Thank you to Putnam Books, NetGalley, and author Lauren Kate for this advance read***

My Grade: C ⭐️⭐️⭐️ An overall interesting premise, but too many plot holes that became very distracting and ending up making this a difficult and confusing read.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 5. Very steamy and some graphic sexual scenes, but fortunately didn't get too pornographic.

***A few spoilers below***

The Good:
-The alternate universe trope is one of my favorites.
-Enemies to lovers. Another great trope.
-The chemistry between Olivia and Jake in the "High Life" was strong. Very sexy!
-Jake in the "High Life" really had me crushing! His thoughtfulness, the way he worried about Olivia, and how the character genuinely loved his wife was a beautiful thing to read. The sweet moments of them together really saved this book for me and I absolutely wanted more.
-Gram Parsons had me smiling so much. When Olivia gets to the "High Life", I could feel her pain, and the reunion....I had tears in my eyes!

The Meh:
-Way too many confusing plot points and situations. I had to go back multiple times to see if I missed something because the reasoning as to why Masha and Olivia's mom literally hated her in the "High Life" made absolute zero sense. This was just one of many, and I feel that this just brought down my overall enjoyment of the book.
-Olivia in the "real life", especially her interactions with Jake, was pretty terrible. Her character very unlikeable and cruel, and it was only when the story got past the halfway point that her character finally had redemption.
-I wish the sex didn't happen. The book was pretty sexy without it, and the slow burn was lovely. I think the sex scene happened out of nowhere and the story would have been better without it.