I enjoyed this book! The characters sung and the plot flowed well. I love how this author incorporates humor into everything she writes. I think I'll pick up anything she publishes at this point!

I loved DAKPAW, but unfortunately this fell short for me -- I struggle to find a friends-to-lovers story compelling, and an already slow pace was bogged down in detail. I'll keep trying Chencia!

I am so happy I was able to read this ARC! I have been waiting on a follow up from Chencia since D'Vaughn and Kris plan a wedding. Have Black Queer, specifically wlw romance is SOOOOO important to me.

A Little Kissing Between Friends is a big change of pace from D'Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding, in some ways better and in some ways ... just different. I still finished them both in one night though lol. The one thing i can say i appreciated deeply was leveling up the spice babyyyyy. It was my literal ONE grip with DaKPaW, like those characters had so much chemistry and i do believe we should have got to experience that chemistry spilling over on the page more. So I was super happy that Jucee and Cyn were on the page multiple times having very good spicy scenes lol. I loved the supporting characters and I *do* believe that Cyn and Jucee love each other and could figure it out ... but ... their miscommunication felt a little ... odd to me. like it never curled quite over. when they were having an honest conversation about it i said "huh?" because i didn't exactly read that in their behavior. Like Chenica really had to TELL it to me because i didn't see it. All in all, i thought it was fun all though Cyn got on my nerves deeply in how she handled a conflict with a different character! Will for sure read again and i'm praying that i win a paperback because this cover is STUNNINGGGGGG

There's excellent representation in this book and the spicy scenes were 🔥, but I just never felt connected to the characters and I was so frustrated with the way Cyn/Poppa was acting. I think this book just wasn't for me. I had high hopes because I absolutely LOVED D'Vaughn and Kris, but this just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity!


This was a wonderful friends to lovers sapphic romance!
It made me so happy to see these characters find one another, as they were perfect for one another.
Writing was also so beautiful just like I expected it to be.

I enjoyed the character, the spice, and the representation of this story. I don't think there was too much of a plot. The story was just a miscommunication between friends turned lovers.

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me! This is a friends to lovers story (love this trope); I liked the characters however this book was not for me.

Queer, poc, fat? Awesome. I'm here for this.

So, lets look at the good things in this book: no bi-erasure, found families, a look into a culture and space that often doesn't get much light in this genre, the hot as a fuck sex, and the appearance of women with legit sex drives that aren't ashamed of it.

These were great and they were all there. The problem for me is the sex was hot as fuck, all the elements that needed to be there were there, but it was just... not engaging at all. The plot was A to B to C, relying on miscommunication and pretty standard tropes. It was just fine.

If you want a nice, light read about families and women who want sex and aren't ashamed of it, with great body positive rep, this is for you.

3.5* rounded down.

Overall: 4/5
Spice level: 3/5
Tropes: best friends to lovers, found family

Representation: Sapphic story, Black romance, fat FMCs, bisexual FMC

This was a fun and sexy sapphic story between besties Cyn and Jucee. I absolutely loved the ease and closeness of their friendship and how it evolved. It felt natural.

Cyn's game playing and indecisiveness about her romantic interest in Jucee put me off of her character some, along her internalized biphobia. But her grand gesture in the end redeemed her. 

Jucee was my favorite. She had a heart of gold and was an amazing mother to her kiddo. 

Found family was an important aspect of this story, which I absolutely loved, and it's always a fun time to read stories set in my city.

"A Little Kissing Between Friends" by Chencia Higgins is a captivating tale that delves into the complexities of friendship and love. Set against the backdrop of true Houston club culture, this novel beautifully navigates the blurred lines between platonic affection and romantic attraction.

The story follows the lives of two best friends, whose bond is put to the test when they find themselves entangled in a web of emotions they never expected. Higgins skillfully crafts relatable characters with depth and authenticity, making it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in their journey.

What sets this book apart is its honest portrayal of the intricacies of friendship evolving into something more. The author masterfully captures the tension, longing, and vulnerability that come with realizing romantic feelings for a close friend. Through well-paced storytelling and realistic dialogue, Higgins keeps readers engaged from start to finish, rooting for the protagonists as they navigate the unfamiliar territory of romantic love.

Moreover, "A Little Kissing Between Friends" tackles important themes such as self-discovery, communication, and the importance of embracing one's true feelings. Higgins effortlessly blends humor, heartache, and hope, creating a narrative that resonates long after the final page is turned.

Overall, "A Little Kissing Between Friends" is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that celebrates the transformative power of love and friendship. With its charming characters, engaging plot, and poignant message, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt romance with a touch of realism. Chencia Higgins has undoubtedly crafted a gem that will leave readers eagerly awaiting her next literary offering.

This book was completely inappropriate. I understand that some authors want to be “woke” and write about LGBT stories. And while I don’t approve, I sometimes read books with very low level LGBT talk. Sometimes they’re even great books. My issue is that the first chapter begins with a fourth grader talking about being a lesbian. That’s entirely too young to be worried about LGBT stuff!

Higgins does a great job creating individual perspectives for her characters and painting the picture of not only a love story, but of a community and a family. I was swooning a bit when these two interacted, and it was genuinely so refreshing to see a character in sex work that is not shamed for or struggles with that job- it’s what she does, and it doesn’t oppose her role as a mother, a friend, a family member, or a partner. I really enjoyed this. I do prefer D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, because I liked the reality tv set up of that one, but this was genuinely such a good time.

A Little Kissing Between Friends is a fun, swoonworthy romance novel with a lot of heart. If you enjoyed Higgins previous novel, D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, rush to your nearest bookstore to grab this one!

This was my first read by this author and it definitely turned out to be an interesting one. This turned out to be a really good book. I enjoyed reading about these characters I’m happy that I read this one and I recommend it.

Thank you to to Harlequin - Romance for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review but the writing style this is very hard to digest.

Harlequin - Romance, Carina Adores and NetGalley provided an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

When the “Friends to Lovers” trope is done the right way, it is one of my all time favorite tropes. This author knocked the story of Cyn and Jucee out of the park. I think strong character development is why this story works so well; we really get to know the main characters through their inner dialogues, conversations, and interactions with loved ones. There were times when I wanted to shake sense into both main characters, but I never stopped rooting for them.

I can’t wait to re-read this with my friends.

The witty banter and hilarity make this book so very entertaining and worth reading. The only reason I couldn't bring myself to give it five stars was because there was little to no real plot and not a whole lot of character development.

Cyn is an up-and-coming music producer who is best friends with her Muse, Jucee. I love how supportive Cyn's family, in particular her dad always is.

Jucee is a bisexual exotic dancer who's not at all ashamed of what she does she's quite proud of herself (which was quite refreshing to read) who loves art, her son and her friends.

One of the things I loved most about this book was actually the relationship between Jucee and her ex, their ability to maintain friendship and co-parent their son in a healthy and supportive way.


Overall if you are looking for a fun, hilarious, Sapphic Romance that traverses the world of friends to lovers you'll enjoy this book.

Thank you to Harlequin romance for this eArc! This was a perfectly enjoyable book. The relationship is layered and you can tell they are important to one another which is always nice. There isn't much else going on plot wise that draws you in besides the relationship. It would have been nice to see a little bit more of Papa's music career or of Juccee having more time with her son and seeing more of that relationship. Nothing bad it would have just been nice to see a little more!

relationships and emotional dynamics. While the novel introduces many characters, the plot needs more depth to navigate their intricate connections.

One notable aspect of the book is the author's attempt to delve into the complexities of friendships and romantic entanglements. However, the abundance of characters may contribute to a sense of confusion for me.
A more focused or streamlined storyline could have enhanced the novel's overall impact.

Despite the challenges, the book brings attention to the theme of romantic connections between friends, which can offer intriguing insights into human relationships. The author's attempt to navigate this theme is commendable, even if the execution may not have resonated as strongly with some readers.

I LOVEDDDDDD D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding. So as soon as I saw the arc for A Little Kissing Between Friends, I came running because I was ready to swoon again. And honestly, Chencia did not disappoint. I loved that Jucee didnt have a conventional job. I loved how out of the norm her life was but how accepting everyone was of it. Every time she called Cyn “Poppa”, I blushed. And the spice? Chileeeee. More than a little kissing was going on & I was here for it!

I really like the story I loved D’Vahughn and Kris Plan Wedding So I knew I needed this as soon as I saw it and it did not disappoint this book is much more of a character driven which I really liked it's about two friends just figuring out Their relationship and the complex nature behind it. I will say my only critique of the book is the last like 20% Heavily relies on the miscommunication but I was also kind of confused throughout the long drawn back and forth. Thank you to Netgally and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.