Ugh. You guys. It was so good. Honestly.
I went into reading this book blindly. I never read the summary because just based off the title I knew I would like this book, and I did love it!

Here I was reading the book thinking it's a regular romance when all of a sudden, bam I'm like what am I reading?

I was instantly sucked into the world, and couldn't put the book down 😂

The plot, the characters, the heart breaking new reality. Ugh cried my eyes out and loved it!

10 out of ten would recommend, y'all.

This was a short, fun read. I typically don't like stories where adults are continuously thinking about things that happened in high school, but for this plot those issues helped the characters grow over the course of the story. I enjoyed the overall concept and liked all the characters a lot. I do wish we learned more about Liv's background in her alt-timeline especially why her mom and best friend are no longer a part of her life. This book could have been 40-60 pages longer to help build out Liv's alt-universe but a fun read overall.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for early access to this book.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this book. Different timelines tropes can be a hit or miss for me. There were moments that I felt nothing and moments that tugged at my heartstrings. I loved how the idea of "soulmates" exist. Saying that these couples are met for each other in every life. I do love stories that basically show how strong and powerful the love is that is expands beyond all and any potential versions of life.

This novel examined the relationship between Liv and Jake and the different versions of life they live depending on whether - or not – they kiss at their high school prom. It had a real Sliding Doors feel and while I enjoyed the banter between the couple, the stress of not knowing which path they would end up on got a bit old for me at times. Kate’s writing was witty, the format felt original, and I liked how everything came together in the end.

"Here. There. Everywhere. All the where's in all the worlds. Always."

What's in a Kiss is super cute romcom that explores the question "what if". What if one kiss changes your entire life. The FMC goes on a freaky Friday adventure in an alternate universe and answers that question, and while having to face the reality that not everything is good in the "high life". Just one kiss doesn't have to be had at the exact moment for true love to find it's way.
I absolutely loved reading about Liv falling in love with Jake and reading about her relationship with her mom and BBS. Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

It took me a very long time to get into this book and a shorter to understand what happened when an alternate reality kicked in I was confused for a second but then it was a pretty good book, I loved the book before and this author is a good writer I wish the beginning was a bit more and you got to see more of Jake olivia at the end in the now

➵ 4.25 ⭐️

Shockingly this was the first book I've read by Lauren Kate even though I've had Fallen on my shelf for years.
What's in a Kiss? did not disappoint.
It gave me Just My Luck meets Woke Up Like This vibes and Liv and Jake really reminded me of Charlotte and J.T. and I adored that.
I loved Liv an her banter with Jake was hilarious. I loved the side characters, Liv's relationship with her bff Masha and her mom Lorena, I loved how they were her rock and they supported each other through everything.
I only wish some of the side characters were more fleshed out and I wish we'd found out more about what happened between Liv and her mom and Liv and Masha in the alternate timeline. Though it is understandble why we don't since we only know what Liv does and she can't exactly ask too many questions and it is hinted i just wish we knew more.
The romance between Liv and Jake gave me "I love you in every universe" energy and OHMYGODS, that had me sooooo weaaaaaakkkkkk. Absolutely adored this, and I think we needed more "real world" love on the page. The ending came too soon, we should've had an epilogue at least for my sanity.

All in all, this was fantastic, it has many of the elements I love in romance books, and I'll be reading more books by LK!

eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

This was a delightful read! I love how the relationships were portrayed and have been thinking back on the book days after finishing. It took a while for me to get into it, but I'm glad I kept going because I was quickly invested in Olivia and Jake's story once we got to the twist of fate. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Spoilers ahead:
-I loved the honest portrayal of Olivia and Jake's relationship in the alternative timeline. They loved each other, but it didn't mean they didn't go through hard times. Olivia realizing what love and marriage can be was refreshing to read.
-The first part of the book was oddly paced to me. I felt like Olivia's misfortunes were too strung out and that it took too long to get to Jake and the alternate timeline. I was not invested until then which was 25-30% of the book.
-I wish there was slightly more at the end so we could see them after the main events of the book. Olivia and Jake had a history in the alternate timeline that we got glimpses of and I would've loved to see how their relationship worked in the real timeline.

An endearing story of love, friendship, and the road not taken. Olivia "Liv" is fully focused on giving her best friend the best intimate wedding possible, but dreading the best man, her high school nemesis, competitor, and the one that got away. With his return, she can't help but revisit her life choices and dwell on what might have been, but what happens if you wake up in an alternate reality/dream, and you now have everything that you thought you wanted?! It's a classic tale and forgiveness, self-acceptance, love, and appreciation, told in a modern day rom-com. I'm a fan of Lauren Kate's writing and witty banter, and this one did not disappoint! Thanks so much to Lauren Kate, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc!

Thank you for the ARC!

This book was wonderful! It took me a couple of chapters to really get into it but once I was in I was HOOKED! Loved witnessing the growth of the main character. By the end of the book I was totally rooting for her which surprised me because I didn’t love her in the beginning.

In the second half of the book there were so many quotes I saved because they made me emotional! Also the main male character is AMAZING! Loved him from the first page we met him on!

Overall it was such a fun story with the perfect amount of emotional rollercoaster and drama to still be a lighthearted read. Will recommend to all of my friends! Will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for my bookshelf!

I read this in a day! I truly enjoyed it. I have to admit I haven’t read anything by Lauren and now I’ll be seeking out her others.

I LOVED this version of an enemies to lovers story. I loved the twist of fate. I didn’t even see it coming. I loved the journey Olivia took in both storylines to start her healing process over loss & to open her heart to Jake. I loved that the two worlds collided where she was able to see a life with both worlds and their outcomes but then still ending up back in reality. For being willing to make the jump & take the risk! I just hope she continued that after! I would have LOVED to see an epilogue of where they were in their real world journey a year later!

I appreciated the depth of each character. I enjoyed the storylines of each running parallel to Olivia’s. I liked we got to know each of them a bit. I absolutely loved the Yogi Dan character I was laughing so hard over the weed shop portion!

All in all it’s a lot of love, a little classy smut which I truly appreciated, & a story of the journey sometimes we wish we could take when figuring life out!

Thank you for sharing this story I Loved IT! Huge thank you to Penguin Group, Lauren Kate & NetGalley for this early reader copy!

4.5 ⭐️

This books was just amazing!

We have the chance to know the story of Liv, a girl who’s celebrating the bachelorette party of her best friend of all time and who’s pretty close with her mom (this is important), but turns out that she has to see her high school sweetheart in her best friend’s wedding because he’s he the best man, and even if she doesn’t want to see him again, she has to.

The reason she finds want to see Jake is because, in the high school prom, they went together and he didn’t kiss her 🥲 and this where all the story starts.

I just loved LOVED, how the author built this story or stories I might say, because the plot here is, going through all the “what if’s” that Liv have in her life, and how even the small decision can have a huge impact in her life, to me, this was a very special and emotional reading because I went through a very difficult situation a couple years ago and the first thing that I though when I was living that was precisely “what if…” so obviously I cried my eyes out because just like Liv I wish I could have that chance, the chance of choose and see what would that choice will be.

And the best part is, we also can choose which life we want Liv to stay in!!! This was a very amazing reading and very personal too so, please read this ✨

Despite occasional perplexities and a less-than-ideal conclusion, this book left a positive impression, echoing the sentiment of a great read. Many thanks again to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC experience!

The friendship between Masha and our main character Liv was really cute, and it made for a nice story arc alongside Liv and Jake.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

great premise but this one left me with a few unanswered q's. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What's in a Kiss? is a fun read that looks at how one moment/one decision could change your life. When Olivia winds up in an alternate reality, she begins to question everything she knew was true. Is it possible that her arch nemesis is actually her soul mate? Does loves have to involve sacrifice? How many alternate outcomes could there be? Lauren Kate does a great job developing likable characters and keeps you guessing along the way.

I could not get enough of this book! It consumed my time until I finished. I really enjoyed the story, the only thing that I felt was lacking is that I wish that there had been an epilogue in regards to what happened after Jake and Olivia kiss.

It was a fun story - I feel like the jumps between present day and future could’ve been explained better. They were super quick and I found myself going back to reread what exactly happened.

DNF at 36%.

I think the overall idea behind the book and the kind of “13 going on 30” idea was great! I did get really confused when the switch into this alternate reality happened since it was just in the middle of a wedding so that was a little odd.

I HATED Olivia. That might seem like strong wording but I could not handle her character from the beginning. It felt like I was reading from the point of view of a 12 years old holding grudges over the boy that didn’t kiss her. She flipped everything that Jake said into something negative, always doubting that he was being genuine. She was overly jealous of his life and I couldn’t stand to read her negativity any longer.

I don’t know if the book got better and maybe by the end she was more grateful for her life and the people in but I didn’t get very far.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a cute premise, but there were some major plot holes that were so distracting that it was hard to really invest in the story.


*****SPOILER ALERT*****





1) When they "almost" kiss at prom, Jake says that it would be a waste. We never really find out why he said that.
2) We never find out why Jake never asked her out in high school
3) Jake says his dad dies in the "real life", but was he lying? If so, why and what was the point of mentioning this? Also, Jake's estrangement from his family is mentioned a lot, but the reasoning is never fully explained. The author mentions that the father didn't approve of his career choices, but once again, it seems there should be more too it for there to be no relationship at all.
4) The author alludes to the fact that Jake might not be happy in the "real life" with his fame and career, but it's never explained.
5) Olivia's mom hates her in the "high life" and a "loan" is mentioned, but the falling out was never really explained and so it just didn't make sense that something that catastrophic could have happened to ruin the mother/daughter relationship.
6) Masha hates Olivia in the "high life", but the only reason given is that Olivia didn't have time for her once she left for New York and became famous. I'd understand that this is a reason for them to grow apart, but it doesn't makes sense for that to be the only reason that Masha hates her to the extent written.

Overall, the authors writing is good and it's easy to get into her story. That being said, I think this would have been better as a "enemies to lovers" trope, rather than a alternate reality one. The "high life" part really dragged and became repetitive. Also, the purpose of that timeline just didn't seem necessary as these are usually used for the purpose of character growth and awakening. None of that really seemed to happen, with the exception of Olivia discovering that Jake is awesome. Had she regretted not going to NYC in her "real life", then perhaps the second timeline would make sense because she would see that that life wasn't all she thought it could be. However, Olivia always stated that she was perfectly happy in her original life.

I think this book could have a lot of promise with some hefty editing, but as it is now, it just didn't work for me.