this was such a fun read. i loved katie & her cats so much!! oh and wil was also there. lol overall, this was a very enjoyable read. some of the chapters were a little too long and dragged a little, but i still really enjoyed this book. the narrator did a phenomenal job & was probably one of the only reasons i kept listening. overall, it was okay, but not my favorite.

This could have been a really good book but even with suspension of disbelief this was just to unrealistic. It felt very 90s to me in just how inhuman everyone was. It felt like now one was a real person. It was very odd. All of it just felt to odd.

I know this one has received quite a bit of praise, and I was looking forward to reading… but I struggled to get through! I couldn’t connect to the writing, the storyline or the characters. That is unusual for me! I can’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but I really struggled. This book isn’t bad, I just didn’t enjoy it. It felt pretty immature and you could really tell the author wasn’t very experienced (I’ve read many debut novels before with various degrees of talent, and this one is probably in the middle - Marvel’s not an untalented author, just needs more time … though is this a cowrite from experienced authors?). The emotional abuse that one character suffered in a previous relationship wasn’t really handled or explored very well.

I picked this title up because the premise sounded like it was unique and I generally do enjoy sapphic romance. As it took me two weeks to get through and I had to keep coming back to it (if it wasn’t an arc, I probably would have DNF by halfway because I was so uninterested, and uninvested). I did make it through, but never managed to find any interest in Katie, the actress, and her terrible past and conflict with her ex, Ben, who after a decade was still trying to control her life in Hollywood… or Wil (Willifred), and her super weird tiktok show about kissing strangers (totally creepy). The pair was besties in high school, their mom’s are besties, and yet Katie’s mom would never let Wil near her or speak to her after she left for Hollywood… also extremely weird. After they reconnect when Katie finally comes home for Christmas and they realize they were really always meant to be… yeah - It never got better.

I think the narrator, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, was the only saving grace for me. She is an unfamiliar voice but definitely does save what was otherwise a difficult, slow-going, difficult story that I had high hopes for.

I received an advance read and listen copy from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin) and Macmillan Audio, and this is my honest feedback.

It was cute. Was it the best book I’ve ever read? Probably not. But for a girl that doesn’t typically pick up a lot of romances, this one kept my attention and had endearing enough characters that I did find myself invested in their outcomes.

My biggest issue was that the “will they won’t they” part of the book resolved too quickly which left the second half of the book feeling a bit disconnected from the first half.

3.25 stars.

Famous movie star Katie Price returns to her hometown in Green Bay for holiday and at her parents' holiday party she reconnects with her high school friend Wil Green, an Instagram sensation for her twice weekly often hot & steamy kisses with random strangers. Both have had a lot of things happen in their lives in the past ten years, both good and bad, and as they share bits and pieces of the lives with each other they realize there is definitely chemistry between them. Can their budding romance survive Hollywood? Should they even attempt a relationship? Can they make law school work for Wil while Katie moves her film career in a new direction? Will they deal with their pasts in order to have a future together?

This is an unexpectedly, totally enjoyable, witty, emotional hot romance that is well-written as well as captivating. One of my favorite things about this book is that two young adults deal with their pasts, issues, budding romance, and their problems by talking things through, asking the other to describe her needs, and actually communicating with each other in a mature, respectful manner!

Loved this sweet audiobook about Katie and Wil. Best friends from a young age they reconnect after more than decade during which Katie became a famous A list actress. While they were best friends as kids they are now….more than friends. Wil has a lot going for her, too, in her own way - she’s TikTok famous for kissing a new person every week. I thought this book was thoughtful, deep, and lovely. It was a believable romance and I really enjoyed it - I can’t wait for readers to get to meet Katie and Wil and experience this moving friends to lovers story, too. I love the narration and how it kept the story moving along!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC! Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is out now!

This second chance story was all about the anticipation... It's about growing up in parallel and not fully seeing another person until it's almost too late. It's about the time in between leaving the place a person calls home and all the times they return. It's about finding new ways to explore oneself when you're a bit lost and alone. It's about lost loved ones and delayed opportunities. It's about trauma and learning to find and trust yourself again. It's about quiet but fierce queer love, that despite time and distance doesn't diminish.

It's not about the kind of man who sees something special and tries to take advantage of it and cling to relevance, no matter how much he may want it to be about him.

This audiobook quietly builds but was persistent in my brain. The narrator perfectly captures the anticipation and slow edge to this story, showcasing the drive, fear, and love throughout.

I loved the audiobook version! Great narrator!

Fun, witty banter and full of SPICINESS so tantalizing! I really enjoyed this cute read! I love second-chance romance and especially one with your very first love, perfect! This queer romance really HOOKED me and kept me turning pages!

Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel
Narrated By: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Narration: 5/5
Length: 13h 35m
Genre: Contemporary LGBTQ+ Romance

I can't believe I've never read Mae Marvel before! Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous won’t be my last! This sapphic romance is funny, emotional, and full of lovable characters. The narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was wonderful! It was so easy to separate the two main characters and feel their emotions.

Wil Greene and Katie Price, best friends from high school, reconnect after ten years apart. During those ten years, there was a viral video, a public breakup, and a whole lot of internet sleuthing so neither would forget each other. Wil starts a kissing series on social media, kissing a new person twice a week, making her a viral sensation. Her journey through grief, unrequited love, and self-discovery is powerful. Celebrity Katie’s story is darker, dealing with trauma from being an overnight celebrity at such an early age and those who were supposed to look after her. Reading about her growth is remarkable.

Everything about this story made my heart flutter. The mature handling of their past traumas and the refreshing communication between all characters were impactful. The book avoids the miscommunication trope—one of my least favorites—and instead, offers genuine, heartfelt dialogue.

The tension!!!! OMG, the tension was too much for me. I was screaming when they finally got together—so steamy! While there were a few parts that jumped around quickly, causing some confusion, overall, it was an easy read, full of love and great character development.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I immediately liked Katie. A small-town Wisconsin girl who became an A-list Hollywood star who has a lot of similarities to the life of Taylor Swift (which I loved), she must decide between having an uncomplicated career and her feelings for her childhood best friend Wil. I understood Wil's character less; her thing with kissing random people on TiKTok was honestly a little strange, but her chemistry with Katie was palpable. I love a good second-chance romance, and this had all the elements of a great one. Really enjoyed this one!

Thank you so much for an opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed this book once I got a good idea who everyone was. It took a minute to actually to actually figure out all the characters were since it is written in third person and I find that writing perspective a bit harder to get into. There was tons of new age references like TikTok and honestly didn’t mind it whatsoever and felt it made the story most understandable. This story was fun once I got a feel for it but I really had to work to get there.

*3.5

It’s a cute book, but I was expecting a little more, maybe because I’m a huge fan of Hollywood romance and second chances! The characters are adorable, I really enjoyed them and their relationship. The romance is very well written, and I swoon for them!
Unfortunately, I think that the themes of the book are a little off, a little superficial and that’s a pity. This book could really be astonishing, but it’s just cute.
However, I enjoyed it and I want to read more of this author.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THE ARC!

Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous had a fantastic premise and cover. I was instantly intrigued with the history between Katie and Will- what really happened to make them not talk to one another for 13 years? Also, who doesn't live a midwest town that scorns lgbtq-- so realistic in today's society and relatable! However; I couldn't get behind the third person point of view for this one and wish it was (in this case) in either character's head but not both. I found myself bored and wanting to "skip to the end" at the 25% mark as the book seemed lengthy and not well paced out. I would definitely try another by author Mae Marvel and those who enjoy second change LGBTQ may enjoy!

**3.5-stars**

Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a sex positive Sapphic Romance story. While it had some slight pacing issues for me, I'm glad I read it. I def had fun with the characters.

This story follows A-list celebrity actress, Katie Price, who returns home to Wisconsin for the holidays and ends up reconnecting with her long-lost best friend, Wil Greene, a budding internet star known for kissing strangers. It may have been a decade since Katie and Wil last connected, but once they do, it's like they never left each other sides. The mutual attraction is undeniable.

Each of the women are going through some personal struggles, and we do get keyed into those things. So, while there's a lot of cutesy romance moments, there's also some substance and relatable life issues. I really enjoyed the start of this, meeting Katie and Wil, as well as learning their thoughts and feelings on one another. I was immediately struck by the amount of chemistry the authors were able to create between these two women.

There's something so sexy about mutual attraction that hasn't culminated yet. The pining for one another, as they get reacquainted. I feel like the authors really nailed that feeling. I felt it in my stomach, the butterflies. I also really enjoyed the last 20%, including the overall conclusion. Sadly, the middle bit did drag for me. Some of it, the thoughts of the MCs, in particular with regards to one another, started to feel repetitive and I wanted more consistent forward motion with the plot.

It made the story feel longer than it actually is. The middle of the story just failed to capture my attention and keep it, unlike the beginning and the end. I enjoyed Katie's perspective a little more than Wil's, so that also added to my sense of unevenness with the book. With this being said, overall, I feel like this is a fun, oft-steamy, female-female romance that a lot of Readers are going to enjoy. There are many different aspects of this to connect to, and for the right Reader, at the right time, I can see this becoming a new favorite Romance story for them.

I appreciated how open Marvel made these characters. They talked through everything. Their past, their wants, their fears; they even had close relationships with their Moms. That was a treat to see. At the end of the day, while this didn't necessarily knock my socks off, I'm excited to see where these authors go from here. I will def check out whatever they write next.

Thank you to the publisher, Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. I hope Katie and Wil live happily ever after!

I can see why this one has a lot of buzz but I personally didn’t love it. It tried to expose a lot of things but it sometimes felt like too much at once. The author was tackling both characters realizing they loved each other years ago on top of the corrupt Hollywood network. I’m happy the characters found their true selves, but other than that this one was ok for me.

🌀Synopsis
Katie price was a small town Wisconsin girl but now she made it big. She’s so well known that everyone in America knows who she is. Which is why Will is a bit surprised that she’s getting invited to her hometown holiday party. Surprised and excited.
Will and Katie were best friends their senior year, they did everything together. It was right after that when Katie left and the two didn’t keep in touch. Now they’re reconnecting after all of these years and realizing what they felt so long ago was love. That love is still there but their lives are much more complicated. What’s sweet is that they are both willing to set their lives aside to give it a chance. It’s rocky, but they are determined to make it and shake up Katie’s industry in the process.

Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous

By Mae Marvel-new to me author

Publication 6-11-24, Read 6-12-24

Genre: Adult/Women's Fic, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: sapphic romance, 2nd chance romance, celebrity romance, friends to lovers, small town, Christmas, mental health, grief, in love w/ my BFF

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC and ALC💚! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌎Setting: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Format: e-book and audiobook

🏃🏾‍♀️Run time: 13:34

Rating: 3/3.5 ⭐

🗣️Narrator: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw does all characters with dual POVs. The voices fit the characters perfectly with Wil's the most distinct because of her sensuality, but I could tell the difference between all characters. The reading style brought the story to life especially with its slow pacing . The narration and the author were in sync, but it could have been one hundred pages lighter. The narrator paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.


Summary: Katie Price is an A-list actress turned producer/director. She returns home for the holidays hoping to see Wil Greene-her BFF from senior year of high school. They rode around in Wil's Bronco until they graduated. At eighteen Katie hooked up with Ben Adelsward who took her to Hollywood to become a famous actress. He was thirteen years older, a leading man, and left her heartbroken three years later. When Katie and Wil reunite sparks fly, and both have to confront past hurts and grief.

🤔My Thoughts: I'd recommend the audiobook just to move the story along. It was pretty long but nostalgic with "the one who got away" trope. Katie and Wil re-entered each others lives like no time passed. I felt Katie's pain about Ben, and she really did the work to get over the trauma he caused. Wil's TikTok fame for kissing a new person twice a week was pretty strange, and she offered no real explanation so I'll move on. Their mothers Diana and Beanie were sweet and motivated them to be together.

Thank you Mae Marvel, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this beautiful book. I wanted to make sure I diversified my reads more, especially in honor of Pride Month and this was just so wonderfully written. This second chance love story shows the power and depth of true friendship being at the root of intimacy and touches on so many important subjects in such a tactful way. The characters make you FEEL and they’re likable and entertaining. Overall a great read!

This was a cute, entertaining read. I enjoyed the humor and the overall tone of writing. The characters were well developed and the scenes played out beautifully in my mind. I highly recommend! The narration was great and I did not notice any errors.

i’d give this a 3.5ish more or less! i really enjoyed it and i loved watching katie and wil’s journey back together! it was genuinely such a heartfelt story and had so much depth! i also really loved how unique it was!!! wil’s tiktok is something i can certainly say i have never seen or even considered being a thing? but it worked so well and i loved so many of the tension filled conversations about it, especially between wil and katie!!!

however, the pacing wasn’t quite right for me. i was super hooked at first, and then the further in i got, the less i wanted to listen/wanted it to be over. it felt like there was a lot of fluff that didn’t need to be in the story as well and made it feel super long (and i was listening to the audio at almost 2x speed!!). at around 60% i felt like the book could’ve been ending and then we still had a whole other plot to get to. but it did pick back up and i’m really glad we got that whole last plot it was just hard to see it through?

the writing, at times felt very overly melodramatic and while the two were pretty great communicators there were also some big things they also just didn’t talk about so i was expecting a hugeeeee crash and burn and i was SCARED! that def had a hand in me dragging my feet.
but i will say the ending was really great and i did really enjoy this despite everything. and the audio was so great! i’m never not so insanely impressed when one narrator can pull off 2 povs and extra side characters and still make them all feel so distinct and separate.

The concept of this was great, but it was soooo slow with so much internal dialogue. I also just simply did not find the interactions between the main characters to be believable.