Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

This was a cute rom com that I finished on a 3 hour flight- if you’re looking for a quick sweet read- check this out.

This was a sweet take on the do over trope - I liked that it went in depth with their relationship in the two lives and that Olivia really had to weigh her relationships with the important people in her life against each other. Great dialogue for parts as well. Thanks to Net Galley for letting me read it!

Had such a fun time reading this enemies to lovers second chance romance book ! Swooned completely ! Definitely recommend to any romance readers looking for a fast and quick read.

This was a very good and quick read! The idea of if one thing was different in your life how would your entire life change was such a good idea. I liked the relationship between Olivia and Jake… I almost thought it was too good to be true at times in their High Life… just the love they had but was happy to find that’s just how they are together. The ending with glimpses of how their lives changed because of the kiss was very enjoyable and such a good element to include. I thought there could have been more detail in why her mom and masha hated her in the new life but still thought it was a great book!

"In love with you. Here. There. Everywhere. All the wheres in all the worlds. Always.” UGH SWOON!!!

Main tropes:
-Enemies to lovers
-Second chance romance
-Parallel universe/alternate reality/magical realism

I had such a fun time reading this and would recommend for any romance lovers!

What's in a Kiss? A tall Glass[well] of Jake, that's what… But seriously, What's in a Kiss follows the "alternate timeline" trope of a chance missed in one lifetime, and what that life would have looked like if the moment had gone differently.

The story follow's Liv who had to make some harsh life decisions after the passing of her father, and is now living in the shadow of those choices, "happily" but no, not happy. Not at all. Liv was awful, let's be honest, and if I was Masha I would have flicked her in the nose. I really could not get behind her and it took me 1/2 to 3/4 of this book to care at all which was all Jake's doing… I was in it for his happy ending, not Liv's.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read but there were some weird moments that just didn't click for me, Liv's personality as a whole for one, the mysterious joint she needs to smoke after she finds the mysterious man who altered her timeline… that was just random AF but fun and different I guess, I can give credit for that.

I will give Lauren's books another shot, since this was light and fun, and I think on a personal level I just couldn't click with the story here. The writing and pace were all done well, and I think NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read What's in a Kiss? In exchange for an honest review.

XoXo

"What's in a Kiss?" by Lauren Kate is a captivating exploration of the "what if" moments in life, blending romance and the allure of parallel universes. Liv, a recently laid-off drama teacher turned Lyft driver, finds herself facing her high school nemesis, Jake Glasswell, as the best man at her best friend Masha's wedding. An unexpected twist occurs when and suddenly, she's living in a reality where the prom night kiss that never happened becomes the starting point of a beautiful love story.

The author skillfully weaves a tale of love, choices, and consequences, reminiscent of films like "13 Going on 30." The chemistry between Liv and Jake is palpable, adding depth to the narrative. The alternate reality plot introduces a delightful element of surprise, making readers ponder the impact of pivotal moments on the course of one's life.

I gave the book 3.5 stars, as it was difficult connecting with Liv for a portion of the book. However, as the story unfolds, her character gains depth and relatability. The transition between realities and the strained relationships in the alternate universe could have been more thoroughly explored, yet the overall experience is enjoyable.

"What's in a Kiss?" offers a whimsical journey through love, time, and the choices that shape our lives. The delightful romance, paired with the allure of parallel universes, makes this book a charming read. Whether you're a fan of Romcoms or intrigued by the possibilities of alternate realities, the book will have you entertained!

Thank you so much to Netgallery and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

This book was fun! It had 13 going on 30 and The Good part vibes. It was cute and while there were things about the alternate universe I still questioned, I liked the way it ended. Selfishly, I would have liked an epilogue, but I did like the flashbacks that Olivia sees when she returns.

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Olivia finds herself in another world answering many what ifs but it comes at a cost. The romance is cute, the emotions are real, and I couldn't put this book down.

while reading this i forgot what the plot actually was and i think i was just as confused as olivia was at the wedding
40% in - not sure how i feel about this book like i kind of have no connection to any of the characters and could stop reading at any moment but it's entertaining
70% in - i think i'm leaning towards a 3 star rating. i enjoy the plot but some of it feels hard to follow. every now and then i come across a book and i feel like i would enjoy it so much more as a movie and this is one of those for me. i'm at a point in it now where i'm excited for the ending and i will definitely finish but i'm just hit absolutely loving it the way i wish i was.
after i finished reading i listened What was I Made For? by Billie Eilish and i think it bumped the rating up to 3.5, still not quite a 4 but i feel like the song helped me understand a deeper meaning in the book that i sort of overlooked
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this early

Enemies to lovers, what a treat! I loved the nostalgic vibes and the romantic storyline. Would recommend to any fans of romance.

I am deeply, passionately, uncontrollably in love with this book and these characters!

I am a romance girly all the way but sometimes when a little sci-fi gets mixed in I lose interest but let me tell you, that is absolutely not the case here!

What’s in a Kiss? Is the story about Olivia and ho has to see her long time rival, Jake, at her best friends wedding where she is the maid of honor and he is the best man. Olivia’s has not seen Jake since high school when they almost kissed at prom and since then, her life went in a direction she never planned for including not attending Julliard after her father passes away. Her time seeing Jake, she wants to seem put together considering he is now a Hollywood star but all that goes to crap when she turns out to be his Lyft driver from the airport. Once at the wedding, the magic occurs and Olivia is thrown into a new reality, one where she did kiss Jake at prom and they end up happily in love and married… only everything else that meant so much to Olivia is no longer in her life.

Can one kiss, or not kiss, really have that big of an impact on your life? And if so, how do you choose which reality is the one you want to keep forever.?

Ugh just such an amazing book that I wish never ended. I cannot wait to read more by Lauren Kate in the future!

Thank you so much to the author and the publisher Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced readers copy!

this book was so cute and kept me entertained. i loved the enemies to lovers trope, there’s something so exhilarating about it. thank you so much to the author, publishers, and netgalley for this opportunity

I felt like this romance had a lot of potential but it was incomplete. I like that the heroine's teenage crush stepped into her Uber (also that she drove Uber for extra cash to make ends meet) but I didn't understand why in the alternate future her BFF and mom hated her so much they wouldn't even speak to her. That just made no sense and it was never explained.

I really enjoyed this book! Liv and Glasswell make a decision that changes the course of their lives. To kiss or not to kiss? That kiss takes you on a journey of what could have been between the two main characters. If really makes you think about what could have been with each decision you make. What’s in a Kiss? Great title for this romance novel. Will they end up together and live happily ever after?At what cost her relationship with her mon and best friend Masha? This book kept me sucked in to see how it all ended! (And it was a nice ending!)

Thank you Netgalley for this eArc for my honest review!!

✨3.5✨

“In love with you. Here. There. Everywhere. All the wheres in all the worlds. Always.” 🫠💓🥹

What’s in a Kiss is a great contemporary romance that will have you questioning the “what ifs” in life. I laughed, cried and smiled while reading..what more can a girl want in a rom com 💜

Fans of 13 Going on 30, it’s a wonderful life, Freaky Friday, and The Family Man will LOVE this book! 💜

Summary: Liz is planning her best friend Masha’s wedding. The best man is Jake her high school nemesis and prom date who humiliated her years ago. Since that night nothing in her life went as planned..her dad died and she never went to school to follow her dreams. It’s been 10 years since that night and something happens as Liz stares into the eyes of Jake as her best friend says I do at the wedding. The universe shifts on its axis and Jake is now the love of her life..the only problem is Masha and her mom hates her in new life.

Olivia is a hot mess. She’s an Uber driver and is behind on bills. She’s no where near where she thought she would be in life. I couldn’t get a real connection with her in neither reality. She was kind of annoying but sis also had a lot going on. Jake is so sweet and loveable. I seriously couldn’t help but smile in every scene with him.

Tropes
🧡Enemies to lovers
🧡rivals
🧡 second chance romance
🧡parallel universe\alternate reality

Things I Love/ Things to Note
💟 80s and pop culture references
💟 Liv’s friendship with Masha and her mom 🥹 I live to see strong female relationships
💟 Liv’s secret diaries
💟 the banter and playfulness between Liz and Jake had me smiling and giggling
💟 Shakespeare references

It’s crazy how one small detail can change your life so drastically. If she would have kissed him how different her life would have been. You can’t live life with regrets and that is why it’s important to live life to the fullest EVERY SINGLE DAY. Olivia learns a lot about herself as a person and also learns to be happy/grateful for her current life despite its imperfections.

Things I didn’t Like
💟 There was missing information in the alternate universe that would have gave a better understanding of her new life…like why was her best friend and mom upset with her?! I NEEDED DETAILS.
💟 NO EPILOGUE!! I need answers on what happens to them after the real kiss 😭😭😭 How dare you leave me smiling and end the book like that.

Overall I really enjoyed it and thought it was a unique take on romance and second chances.

Spice Rating
🌶️/5

Thank you so much to Netgallery and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC! All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of What's In a Kiss? In exchange for my honest review.

This story follows Liv, a broke wanna-be actress, as she helps plan her best friend's wedding. She has her beloved dog, her soul-mate of a best friend, and a loving relationship with her mom. She's not thrilled with where she is in life and that becomes even clearer when her arch-nemesis Jake, who has had great success in his life, is the best man in her best friend's wedding. Their rivalry starts in high school and comes to a head when Jake doesn't kiss her at prom.

During the wedding ceremony something strange happens and she realm hops to a different alternative life, one where Jake and Liv do kiss at prom. In the alternative life she's married to Jake, is a successful actress, her best-friend hates her, and she has no relationship with her mom. She has to figure out which realm she wants to live in and what aspects of life are most important to her. Can she live in a world where she doesn't have her mom and best friend? Or a life where she doesn't love Jake?

I liked the premise of this book and the butterfly-affect aspects. How can one event change the course of your life storyline always interests me...BUT....there were a lot of things that confused me. What happened during the wedding ceremony triggered the realm switching? What powers did Yogi/Rabbi Dan have to trigger this? I didn't understand why her mom, in the alternative life, would cut off her daughter for getting a loan and following her dreams. Seems a little extreme. Also, why do Liv and Masha have a falling out? Because Liv became famous? I did feel like the realm hopping happened so abruptly that I was confused as to what was happening and it frlt a little disjointed to me.

⭐⭐⭐

I am pretty unsure of what I wanna say about this book cause on one hand I had fun reading it but also it wasn't too impactful a story. The premise of this is great and I love time travel romances so I was excited for this too but I think it fell somewhat flat in the execution and didn't love up to its full potential. Nevertheless an easy and quick read so I don't have too many complaints.

Love conquers all, in many forms. I really liked this book, it was unique in the different versions of reality and the focus on what is truly important in a happy life. I will definitely read more by this author!

Thank you netgalley for this early title. What’s In a Kiss is a fun twist on enemies to lovers that contains a little magical realism’s in the form of an alternate timeline. It was fun and totally unbelievable. I enjoyed the story while suspending my disbelief. 3 stars from me.