I loved the idea of seeing what life would be like from a parallel universe perspective and this sort of gave me that feeling but it wasn’t exactly what I was imagining. Starting off it was a little hard to get into; then it picked up a bit for a while but quickly drug out again for me. I had a hard time finishing this book but it wasn’t a bad read, just not my personal favorite read of the year.

I have loved everything written by Lauren Kate and this is no exception. Very cute book. Can’t wait for everyone else to read it this coming summer.

loved this romance that happened because of one kiss. It was like sliding doors and one life had friends and no job but one life had him as the husband but no mom or friend. Love that she was figure it out and have them both with one kiss and have her friend redo the ceremony how she wanted it. loved the romance.

This book spoke to me, as like Olivia, I’m a premature graying SoCal girl who grew up fishing on sportfishing boats and traveled to Catalina. I enjoyed all of the LA-area references, although I’m not sure that readers from other places will appreciate them as much. The writing was funny, and Olivia is a flawed FMC that will leave you frustrated, but it’s part of the journey.

While there is only one spicy scene, I found it raunchier than expected, just FYI. The romance was cute, but like all “what if?” romances, you want to see more of an epilogue to see how the couple comes together for real.

Olivia is on a mission to give her best friend the wedding of her dreams. The only catch is the best man being her prom nemesis Jake Glasswell.
With a fun twist, Lauren Kate gives us lots a heartwarming book that will make you laugh out loud.
What to extend
- enemies to friends
- Slow burn
- Secret pinning
- Banter

Embark on a heartwarming rom-com journey with "What's in a Kiss?" where Olivia's life takes an unexpected turn during her best friend Masha's wedding, setting the stage for a captivating exploration of love, choices, and the consequences of one fateful kiss.

Meet Olivia, a laid-off drama teacher turned Lyft driver, whose life hasn't exactly unfolded as she envisioned after high school. Deferred dreams of attending Juilliard to support her mom and navigating no-strings dates have become her new normal. However, the weekend of Masha's wedding, where Olivia is the maid of honor, throws her into a whirlwind when her high school nemesis, Jake Glasswell, emerges as the best man. Little does Olivia know; this wedding will be the catalyst for a journey through parallel universes, where a missed prom night kiss with Jake becomes the starting point for an alternate reality.

The chemistry and banter between Olivia and Jake add a delightful touch to the narrative, making their interactions a joy to follow. Liv's relationships with her best friend Masha and her mom in the "real world" provide depth and warmth to the story. The exploration of the "switch" into an alternate universe, while enjoyable, leaves readers yearning for more details about the transition and the reasons behind the shifts in relationships.

Despite the desire for additional context, "What's in a Kiss?" stands out as a fun and charming exploration of the impact of one kiss on an entire life. The story skillfully combines elements of romance, friendship, and self-discovery, offering an engaging read that keeps you rooting for Olivia and Jake from the very first page. This rom-com with a magical twist leaves a lasting impression, prompting readers to ponder the significance of choices, love, and the people who shape our lives. So, buckle up for a whimsical ride through parallel universes and the complexities of the heart, as "What's in a Kiss?" invites you to savor the magic of second chances and the sweetness of unexpected love.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/ G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this heartfelt and smart book's digital reviewer copy in exhange my honest thoughts.

3.5 stars! I love the time travel and "what-if" tropes in a romcom, so I knew I was going to enjoy this one. It follows Olivia, whose life hasn't gone exactly the way she imagined since she graduated high school. She turned down her dreams of going to Juillard to support her mom, and has recently been laid off from her job as a drama teacher. At least she has her best friend, Masha. But now Masha is getting married, and Liv has to help make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch...which also means dealing with the best man and Liv's high school nemesis, the successful TV personality, Jake Glasswell. Liv and Jake haven't talked since a prom night kiss gone wrong, but when they share an unexpected moment during the wedding, Liv suddenly finds herself catapulted into a totally different universe. There, prom night went right, Liv has a thriving acting career, and she's in a happy relationship with Jake. Everything is going perfectly...except her mom and Masha are no longer in her life. How can one kiss turn your whole world upside down?

This was such a fun, sweet read! I loved the chemistry and banter between Liv and Jake, and her relationships with her mom and Masha in the "real world." I really enjoyed Jake as a character, and struggled to connect with Liv a little bit initially, but I grew to appreciate and understand her more throughout the story. In terms of things I wanted more from, I wished that the whole "switch" had been expanded on a little more, and that there had been more of a transition from Liv's real life to the alternate universe. I also wanted to know more about why her relationships with her mom and Masha had taken such a turn for the worse in that world. They were so important to Liv in the real world, so it seemed a little jarring to see that they weren't close anymore and not fully understand why. Still, I thought What's in a Kiss? was a super cute and engaging read, and really enjoyed it overall! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

4.25* Such a fun Rom Com. This book has spice, romance, mystery , conflict and love. It’s a time warp book showing what could have been and what could be if reactions to certain events and chance encounters would have been different. It’s a fun, can’t put it down kind of read that really makes you think.

Summary:
Olivia is the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding—and the best man is her high school nemesis. But when something crazy happens at the wedding and she wakes up in an alternate reality, where her nemesis is her loving husband, can she figure out how to get back to Real Life? Does she even want to try?

Title: What’s in a Kiss?
Author: Lauren Kate
@laurenkatebooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️ 2/5

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Soulmates/Meant To Be
Slow Burn
Sliding Doors/Alternate Reality

Triggers:
Parent loss mentioned
Miscarriage mentioned


Whitney’s Thoughts:
What a sweet HEA with Sliding Doors/Freaky Friday vibes! This was a fun and super quick read that serves as a perfect “palette cleanser” between fantasy reads. I love a soulmate trope!

any story with time traveling is a yes for me, but this one - hmmm. i'm not sure. i did enjoy the story, but i found our FMC liv to be ~literally insufferable~ and genuinely hard to feel connected to. it just felt like she was trying really hard to make this character quirky and it didn't come off as cute. the arc of the story was interesting and kept me engaged, but the ending gave very little resolution, which was frustrating.

I really did “fove” this book (IYKYK). I went in blind so the magical part of the story was unexpected but so well done. The humor in it lightened some of the heavier topics at just the right moment. I love Lauren Kate and while the previous books I’ve read have been wildly different from this book, I was not disappointed at all.

As a huge fan of the Fallen series, I was excited to read Lauren Kate's most recent romance book.. What's in a Kiss by Lauren Kate is a cute romance that I would recommend for young adults and adults of the like. I enjoyed the character development, story line and ultimate parallel universe of a true loves kiss. I enjoy the authors style of writing a d stayed interested throughout the book. I really enjoy books like this and highly recommend this book. I would not be surprised if Lauren Kate wrote more books similar to this stand alone.

A cute rom com with magical realism.

This story follows Olivia, who is a laid off drama teacher and a current Lyft driver. Her life didn’t go the way she wanted it to after high school. Her best friend Masha is getting married and she’s all about giving her the dream wedding she wanted. That’s where she runs into Jake again. She’s the maiden of honor and he’s the best man. They don’t have a great history with each other. When their friends say I do, Olivia’s world gets turned upside down. What would have happen if her and Jake would have kissed at prom? What if she did go to Juilliard after all?

I liked the idea of this story but I felt like it just kinda jumped into the other world. There were parts missing of why her and Masha weren’t friends anymore and what happened with her mom. I wanted a little more explanation of that. I really liked the main character and I loved Jake from the start! Overall, it was a good romcom.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for my arc copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Liv, Lyft driver by day, laid off drama teacher also by day, has been dreading seeing her high school nemesis at her best friend's upcoming wedding. Jake, a now successful TV personality, and an almost high school kiss, just happens to schedule a ride as Liv's Lyft passenger.

However, soon after, Liv wakes up in an alternative universe where her life has took a completely different turn, and Jake is the love of her life?

Lovely story of friendship, finding love, and finding what matters most.

I absolutely adored this book!!! Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. From the banter between Liv and Jake, to the once. in a lifetime kind of love, to the hardest decision of one’s life, I was holding on to every word to see how everything would unfold. One kiss can really change the whole trajectory of a life, one small change in a person’s perspective can create a world where you are truly happy. We often times can be our biggest barrier and this book highlighted that truth. Olivia learned about herself, how to be happy, and most of all how to love. Jake throughout the whole book just put a smile on my face! The alternate reality really threw me for a loop but I am so happy I got to see that world!! I was rooting for Liv and Jake the whole time, I just wish there was more to read once Liv was back home!!!

This was a 3.5 star read for me!

The main character and her friend had such a heartwarming relationship in the beginning. The characters had depth and the friendship felt real!

The romance was based off of a misunderstanding several years prior - I was rooting for them from the beginning!

The book threw me for a loop when we all the sudden went into an alternate reality. It was such a unique story and I haven’t read anything like it.

The ending left me feeling good. This was such a cute and enjoyable read!

A fun romance with a magical premise. Liv's life has not turned out according to plan. She had to drop out of Julliard and is currently a Lyft driver. One of her passengers is Jake, her high school prom date who is now a wildly successful TV personality. As it turns out, she is the maid of honor and he is the best man at her best friend's wedding. When the bride and groom kiss and say I do, Liv's world turns magical, and she gets the chance to see what life might have been like if her prom night had gone a little differently.

I really enjoyed Lauren Kate’s last book so I was really excited to read this one too.

But, I really didn’t like Olivia from the very start, she was awful. I felt like the switch from one universe to the other was lackluster. At about 40% I almost put it down.

But I pushed through, and actually really liked the ending. I do wish we had gotten more after the final kiss.

What's in a Kiss ended up being a cute read. Olivia finds herself in an alternate universe where she's married to her high school nemesis,Jake, but loses her friendship with her best friend and mother. I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book and thought it was very cute, but the author never explores what went wrong with her mom and her best friend, Masha. I was left wanting more background and information, and maybe I would have cared more about the characters. I enjoyed the ending and overall thought the story was cute! 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book! The idea that one kiss could change your whole life is so interesting. Everything Jake said/did had me swooning and giggling, and I'd love a man like that in my life ;) #pentagasmftw I would love another few chapters about their relationship after. I just love them so much!