This book was absolutely adorable. Have I been interested in spy romances before? Can’t say that I was, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only was it a fun read but I adored that both of our FMC were strong independent women, but they had character flaws too. Their relationship felt compelling as they worked through faults common in relationships - especially when as outsiders, people in the queer community tend to draw walls around themselves. The exploration of trust and how to build a relationship on trust was wonderful to see and I loved that it is explored. On top of it, I was raised with James Bond, and the classic spy thriller movies. This book hit the beats perfectly and I was on the edge of my seat to see how their missions would go! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book! I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review of this book. This review is my own thoughts and feelings, no one else’s though I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!

3.5
This had a lot of ups and downs for me. I didn’t really enjoy the first 75% of the book but I loved the last quarter. The story wasn’t easy to get into and the writing style felt a little confusing to me. A+ concept but execution could use some fine-tuning for my preferences. It also was a little more action than romance, so I feel it was possibly a little mis marketed.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You follows Yardley and KC, a couple who have been together three years but are on the verge of breaking up because of their jobs, except they don’t realize that they’re both spies for the CIA.

The relationship between Yardley and KC was cute and the spy stuff was very interesting, especially near the beginning. I also liked the side characters and the general premise. It was very fun to watch the relationship between Yardley and KC change once they knew they were both spies and how they were able to fall back in love with each other.

Even though I liked the dialogue between the characters and the relationship, I had a hard time believing that these two characters had been together for three years and had only recently broken up for the first time because they kept breaking up. But overall a very fun read with some spice and spies!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

3.5⭐️
Overall I really enjoyed If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You. I thought the characters were very dynamic and loved how diverse and unique even the side characters were. I’m not a personal fan of third person narrative and kind of wished we had gotten alternating chapters between the two main characters.

If you’re looking for a fun and pretty easy read, I definitely recommend!

A fun, easy-to-read romantic romp that provides a great way to escape from the world. At times, the pci g is a bit off but it is an enjoyable read overall.

This book was just fine. I thought it was fun that both Yardley and KC worked together, without ever realizing that they did. The spy aspect was super fun. I enjoyed the two having to work together on a new case, while on the outs with their relationship. I just had a hard time connecting to either character. The plot also didn't keep me super hooked.

I really enjoyed the romantic aspects of this book. KC and Yardley had good chemistry, and I loved the idea of reading a Mrs/Mrs Smith-type spy thriller. I do think some of the “spy” elements were a little repetitive, especially towards the middle, but that the romance aspects helped carry me through those spots.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc. This was an interesting second chance romance. However there was. It enough romance and too much spying. The story is interesting if romance isn’t your main draw for this book. The writing was good. The characters were well written. It was just lacking in romance for my taste.

This was like a sapphic Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The characters were likeable and having the story told through alternating POVs added depth and made it more interesting, especially throughout the first part when it also added suspense. The writing style managed to be funny while also moving the spy plot along quickly. I liked that the characters had distinct personalities and voices and their motivations made sense. The plot was a bit predictable and things got a bit repetitive in the middle, but that's not uncommon in the romance genre. Overall, it was like an action movie meets rom-com that was a pretty fun and easy read.

Goofy and delightful. Sometimes it gets a bit bogged down in the spy stuff, which can feel repetitive, but it is saved by genuine emotion and a well-written caper across Europe. James Bond WISHES he could have this much fun.

Side note: how lovely would it be to live in a country with its first black woman president, two lesbian spies with NB co-workers, and the leader of their mission is a proud gay man? That's a country I would LOVE to live in. In the mean time, we have sapphic romances with well-written characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What happens when legendary spy Yardley discovers her ex-gf has also been working as a spy for the same organization? This book covers all of that drama and more. Cute new take on a classic spy novel. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for a copy of this book for an honest review.

If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You starts with such a unique premise that you cannot help being hooked from the start. I did not want to put it down. Bullets are flying, yet the most dangerous thing the main characters do is finally reveal all they had kept hidden from one another. You could feel the magnetic pull between them from the start, and I loved the play between the chaotic risk of espionage and navigating insane chemistry with the ex at your side.

I thoroughly enjoyed Marvel's latest, If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You, a queer spy romance with lots of tongue-in-cheek humor. Yardley is a field agent who meets her match when her ex-girlfriend, KC, is similarly an agent, albeit one who works behind the screen. When they're thrown back together to prevent the sharing of a weapon sought after by friend and foe alike, the exes have a hard time ignoring their lingering feelings for each other...

As a queer person, I'm thrilled when sapphic novels (especially) aren't wholly (or at all) focused on coming out/someone hiding their identity/etc. Marvel has created an interesting enough story that, even when the writing is choppy and, at times, tedious, still feels enough like a romance. Yardley and KC had some significant differences to work through, and I appreciated that Marvel didn't take the Cinderella/easy way out with these characters' issues.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a slow burn for me. I liked the premise, but it took too long to get the story moving. Eventually the action kicked in and I was on board. Enjoyed the rich character development and supporting cast.

3.5/5⭐

Spy novels are my kryptonite so reading a sapphic one was so refreshing! I was expecting a little more from this book, but I found it lacking in some imporant places. It did great on the spy and action aspect, but the relaionship didn't feel quite right. It annoyed me to no end how the two main characters were so back and forth. I also didn't feel like I connected with the characters as much as I expected too. It was definitely a me thing and I wouldn't be opposed to reading more by this author.

Thanks to St Martin’s press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Mae Marvel has delivered yet another book full of rich storytelling, and interesting characters. I don’t usually go for spy novels, but the romance aspect had me intrigued! The story moved along quickly and made me want to keep reading!

I loved the sapphic twist on a spy novel, and felt myself rooting for KC and Yardley. A great read for anyone looking for a romance with a bit more substance!

Queer rep: sapphic main relationship, achillean side relationship, nonbinary side character

Summary: a technological weapon with the ability shut down all grids is deployed in Toronto, and super-spy Unicorn, aka Yardley Whitmer is on the case. However, her mind is not completely focused on the mission, as she and her girlfriend KC, whom she still loves, are going through a slow death breakup. When a meeting with a target goes wrong, tech agent Tabasco sweeps in to save Yardley, only for Yardley to discover Tabasco is none other than her (maybe ex) girlfriend, KC. Together, Yardley and KC must unravel both the mysteries of the mission, and also what went wrong in their relationship, if they have any hope of saving world and having a future at the end of everything.

Feedback: WOW!!!!!
This book is for you if you love:
- dynamic women characters who are strong, but nuanced
- super fun spy missions
- great banter
- surprise! Everyone is a little bit gay
- sapphic spice 🌶️
- something that is un-apologetically FUN
- dual, third-person POV

I admit I sometimes got a little confused with the spy mission and why they were doing things b/c it was kind of involved, but I will take that one on me because I read this with a "I'm here to have fun" brain and it blew me out of the water in that respect. I adored both KC and Yardley pretty much instantly, and I loved their story, especially the "I know I love her, how do I get back with her" aspect of it, compared to the usual spy story of "do I love them or is it the mission?".

SO MUCH FUN!

I will read anything Mae Marvel writes. This book had all the fun and suspense of a spy novel and the big swoony feelings Marvel is so good at writing. I will be recommending this to everyone I know!

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I really liked the characters but not so much the relationship or at least how it was presented from the beginning. I got bored halfway through the book, I think I was expecting more or maybe something different.

I will not be giving feedback for this book. I’m gonna start by saying this book was NOT FOR ME. I thought I was getting Mr. And Mrs. Smith but gay so I was expecting a breakup/ tension. I was not expecting them to start broken up and then keep on breaking up? Like they were in high school? Like yall are just fighting and hooking up, you’re both very clear you’re not together? Why are you counting your breakups? 🤣. I couldn’t stand them and it kinda ruined the whole book for me.