The Never Been Kissed storyline update that I've been waiting for (from the skeezy 90s movie). I adored how adorably sweet this book was from start to finish. I loved going through Angela and Krystal's relationship and seeing them grow with one another.

Finding diversity in "mainstream" books is harder than it should be but Kiss Me, Maybe is going to knock it out of the park. The LGBT and POC rep in the book is done well and realistically - I love that the characters aren't just stereotypes or thrown into a story to check a box. It's difficult to find Romance books that also dive into Ace representation and I felt like Gamez did a really nice job properly representing different sexual orientations and what that means within relationships.

I'm a sucker for all the tropes and friends to lovers is one that can be hard to do but Gamez does it in such a fantastic way that I'm dying for more. The found family aspects are always 10/10 and a great way to immerse readers into the story by making them also feel like they've found their people. The author also has a knack for slow burn tension, while this isn't particularly "spicy" the romantic tension is there and amazing.

Kiss Me Maybe has solid pacing and I never wanted to put the book down once I started. I adore the author and I can't wait to keep reading everything she puts out.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Pub for a chance to read this ARC.

This book follows Angela’s story. We first met her in ‘Next Best Fling’ she’s Marcela’s bestie. Both love to go to one particular bar in their town and for Angela - a special bartender there may be the reason why.
Angela accidentally becomes an influencer - and this turns into an elaborate idea to use her newly found social media fame to create a scavenger hunt so she can get her first kiss PLUS her favorite bartender Krystal is going to help.
Angela is spending more and more time with Krystal (which is bringing up so many new feelings) while also trying to figure out her identity and on top of that she’s dealing with the stress of having some family members who basically bullied her all her life.
There were parts of the book where I really wanted to give Angela a hug. In the end, I’m happy that stood up for herself and found her support group.

I really, really loved this story. I learned so many things about sexuality spectrums and I felt so much deep emotion for these characters. Seeing Angela’s journey to discover herself was heartwarming.

A lot of the social media stuff went over my head because I’m 35 LOL but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

Kiss Me, Maybe is one of those books that sneaks up on you with how much it makes you feel.

Angela Gutierrez is a librarian in her late twenties who’s never been kissed—ever. (Cue up Drew Barrymore’s “Never Been Kissed” soundtrack). After posting a video about being a late bloomer and identifying as ace, she goes viral. Suddenly, she’s got this big online following, and she decides to lean into it by setting up a scavenger hunt where the winner gets her first kiss. It’s quirky and bold, and I was hooked right away because who doesn’t love a good underdog story with a twist? Angela’s sweet but awkward, and you can feel how much she wants this moment, even if she’s not totally sure why.

Then there’s Krystal Ramirez, the bartender Angela’s been crushing on for FIVE YEARS. Krystal’s sworn off romantic love, which makes her volunteering to help with the scavenger hunt all the more intriguing. The chemistry between them is lovely—every time they’re together, whether they’re plotting clues or just chatting, you can tell there’s something simmering. Gamez does this thing where she lets their connection grow through little moments, like Krystal teasing Angela about her book obsession or Angela noticing how Krystal’s tough exterior softens around her. It’s subtle but electric.

The scavenger hunt itself is a fun backdrop—think clues hidden in library books and local spots around town. It’s got this playful, almost rom-com vibe, but the real heart of the book is Angela figuring out what she actually wants. At first, she’s all about the kiss, this big milestone she’s built up in her head. But the more time she spends with Krystal, the more she starts questioning if the hunt even matters anymore. (SPOILER: in one scene they’re sitting on Angela’s couch, surrounded by scavenger hunt notes, and Angela realizes she’s more nervous about Krystal leaving than about the event itself).

Krystal is a wildcard, though. While she's got this whole “I don’t do love” thing going on, and you can tell it’s not just a front; she really believes it. But then she keeps showing up for Angela, and you start wondering if she’s fooling herself as much as anyone else. There’s a moment late in the book where Krystal opens up about why she’s so closed off, and it’s raw and quiet and made me want to hug her through the pages.

Angela’s ace journey isn’t just a label, it’s part of how she navigates all this new attention and her feelings for Krystal. And the southern Texas setting? It’s not just a backdrop; it’s alive in the food they eat (hello, tamales), the music, the way people talk. As someone who’s lived a little north of Galveston, it’s nostalgic.

The pacing does drag a little during the middle. There’s a lot of planning for the hunt that could’ve been trimmed down. The ending is sweet, but I would have liked a little more time with Angela and Krystal figuring things out after the big moment.

Overall, KMM is a warm, funny, heart-tugging read. It’s about firsts—not just kisses, but figuring out who you are and who you want beside you. Angela and Krystal are the kind of characters you root for, flaws and all. If you’re into queer romance with a side of self-discovery, this one’s a must. I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars—Gamez is definitely an author to watch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve been going through my netgalley arcs and this one was one of my favorites. Beautiful representation of Hispanic culture, ave , and lesbian romance. Gabriella writes real characters and real scenarios that everyone can relate to tbats what I have grown to love about her books. Angela is an ace librarian who is a virgin and never been missed or had a real relationship she hires Krystal a bartender for an event to do a scavenger hunt and find love/ attraction. Such a cute read. Highly recommend. thank you netgalley

There's a real dearth of asexual representation in queer fiction, especially in queer romance — so, Kiss Me, Maybe is a welcome addition to the literary world! I've read a handful of books with asexual characters over the last few years, but none where the main character is looking for love and also trying to figure out exactly where the fall on the spectrum. I loved that Angela was open to exploring what her "microlabel" was, and that she talked to so many other ace folks who experienced their labels similarly and differently than her. Figuring this stuff out IS messy, and often these identities DO shift and evolve over time. Gabriella Gamez really got that right!

Angela and Krystal's connection was sizzling, another nice surprise in a book about an ace MC! I squealed when they finally kissed. And I found the family drama on Angela's side highly relatable and believable. I understand the impulse to have the TikTok fame and scavenger hunt drive the plot, but it was actually the least interesting part to me. A good set-up but I'm glad it fizzled as Angela and Krystal got closer.

Great cast of characters, fresh perspective, just a lovely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

okay i’m conflicted: i absolutely adored the ace and hispanic rep, especially in a queer romance! as someone with no romantic experience in their 20s myself, i felt like this book was perfectly curated for me. what (sort of) lost me was the scavenger hunt and the leading on-adjacent of a couple women-or one in particular- while also trying to navigate a more than friends but less than relationship with someone in real life. it was messy and sometimes SAD but never truly the most romantic thing to ever happen? i would definitely read more from gamez, but this one was mixed

This was a good follow up to the first book in the series. This is a sapphic romance that is interconnected but a standalone from Next Best Fling. This book has ace representation and also offers some education to the reader about acespec identities. I thought that it worked really well and made the information feel natural and not like the book is preaching to you or info dumping. I think this one leans a little further into women's fiction (a big focus of the book is self-discovery and personal growth and there are points when the romance feels secondary or irrelevant of the character's growth) but it definitely comes back together and the romance and tension shines through.

I really enjoyed this entry in the series and I'm excited to see what this author does next

I originally wasn't going to try this one out because the premise didn't seem like it was for me. However, when Netgalley had this one as a read now option, I decided to dive in because I've made it a goal to read more wlw books this year. Unfortunately, I was a bit let down with this one since I really enjoyed this authors first book.

I would write a premise for this book, but I feel like I won't describe it clearly and I would only confuse you trying to explain the plot. Overall, this book was just fine. Like I said before, I already knew the plot didn't really call to me, so is it partially on me that I didn't enjoy it much? Yes. However, I really want to dive into more sapphic books this year and I knew I enjoyed this author's writing.

One of my biggest icks is the overuse of social media/pop culture in books and tiktok was a central plot point for this book. The whole plot seemed like it would be something straight out of a YA novel, not an adult romance novel featuring a 27 year old main character. There are only a few books that have done the social media thing right for me and this one was, unfortunately, not one of those.

I am a person who does not have an extensive knowledge of different sexualities other people can identify themselves as, so I was looking forward to reading this and possibly learning more about that topic. I liked learning about Angela's ace identity, but sometimes it felt like I was being taught about asexuality in a classroom from a textbook rather than from her own words. It just felt clunky at times, especially when other terms were introduced at a certain point to only be mentioned once. And then only get a sentence for each term to help me understand what they are.

I don't know, man. I just really wanted to love this book, but there were a few obstacles hindering me from doing that. The writing was phenomenal and I think it's what kept me reading on.

I loved Krystal as a love interest. She was so different from Angela and so flawed, but I loved seeing her work through those issues and find closure. I loved the side characters and I really enjoyed seeing Marcella and Theo again.

Simply because I think this author has great writing, I do plan on continuing with this author books in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a cute story !!
And I love the representation! I highly recommend this story if you are looking for a cute read

Kiss Me, Maybe is an extremely charming rom com that offers some amazing Ace spec representation. Our lead is incredibly relatable and I love the open communication that centers our main couple. There were moments where I wished this story was a dual POV as I found myself compelled with Krystal’s perspective as someone who doesn’t believe she can fall in love. Overall, this book has a lot of heart and a lot of steam, making it a pretty fun romance and I look forward to the next chapter of the Librarians in Love series.

When I went to write this review, I went back to my review of Next Best Fling to see what I had to say. The first thing I noted was that it was shocking to me that it was a debut novel because the quality of the writing felt like that which would be produced by a seasoned writer. The same can be said with Kiss Me, Maybe. As a follow-up book, the quality was exceptional. The books felt related enough to see characters again, but also this book could stand entirely on its own with no issues. The characters were fully realized and fully independent of each other and within this book.

The ace representation in this book is exceptionally done. Not only is there representation, but also education on ace and many of its micro labels. The amount of teaching that is provided to the reader is tremendous, but what truly stands out is how well it is sewn into the fabric of the romance and character development. I never felt like I was being talked down to for not knowing the definitions and differences between the micro labels, I felt like I was being brought along with Angela on her journey of self-exploration.

The smaller discussions on social media - the feelings of obligation from creators to consumers, and how quickly the fan base can turn - were also very well done. How the monetization of art and creativity can turn self-expression into a chore and all the sparkle is lost. How comment sections can turn ugly in a second if strangers on the internet don't feel like they are being personally catered to.

There were times when I thought "is this a lit fic or a romance" but this is truly a romance through and through. Romances don't happen in a vacuum. There are friends and families, jobs and hobbies, online and offline, schedules and commitments. This never leaves the reader asking "okay what happens when they all go back to their real lives though".

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gabriella Gamez delivers a sweet sapphic romance in Kiss Me, Maybe, balancing humor, heart, and self-discovery in the best way possible. Angela Gutierrez is a charming, relatable protagonist—an ace, late bloomer librarian who suddenly goes viral and decides to use her newfound platform to finally get her first kiss. The scavenger hunt concept? Genius. The tension? Off the charts.

But what truly makes this book shine is Krystal Ramirez, the bartender and longtime crush who keeps inserting herself into Angela’s journey, all while claiming love isn’t in the cards for her. Their chemistry is undeniable, and every interaction crackles with longing, humor, and deep emotional stakes.

Gamez does an incredible job portraying Angela’s ace identity with nuance, and the way the book explores self-worth, love, and vulnerability is both refreshing and deeply moving. Krystal’s arc is equally compelling, as she grapples with her fears and what it means to truly open her heart.

If you love slow burn romance with tension, mutual pining, and characters who make you feel every moment, Kiss Me, Maybe is a must read. It’s fun, flirty, and packed with heart—perfect for fans of sapphic rom coms and found family vibes. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever for the eARC of this book.

4.5 ⭐️
Angela’s story was inspiring and so full of hope. This story was so freaking beautiful. My first sapphic romance and I loved that it was Angela’s story.

Gabriella Gamez hooked me with The Next Best Fling and Kiss Me, Maybe was just perfect.

I learned a lot reading this story, and felt all of the emotions as Angela discovers parts of herself and her love for others.

The story flowed so well, it was witty, spicy, and just a good read.

Kiss Me, Maybe, by Gabriella Gamez is a sapphic romance with a heavy dose of spice. Whew...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Wish I had a tiny gf who called me angel and let me dom her 😢

I think a TikTok scavenger hunt to lose the MC's so-called "K-card" would have slapped as a YA book. If you're thinking that that premise is too juvenile for a 27 year old character, don't worry... there really is no scavenger hunt. It's only there for a hot second at the very end of the book, which I'm personally a little disappointed about. I wanted a plot where the love interest battles sapphic aces for Angela's hand! or Angela's lips ig idk

This was surprisingly smutty for an ace romance. There were three spicy scenes, including one at the very end after the romantic resolution. But the anticipation of The Kiss was well done.

I really liked how Angela enjoyed historical fiction because the female characters are usually virgins, whereas virginal female characters in contemporary fiction are considered unbelievable or unfeminist now. I also feel like asexuality is sort of seen as less feminist, that feminism goes hand in hand with sex positivity and to be uncomfortable with that is internalized misogyny, but it's hard to articulate that to allosexuals.

Since I'm acespec, I like reading books with ace characters, but I unfortunately rarely enjoy that aspect of the story. Not because the characters' experiences are different than mine (sexual identities are not monoliths obviously), but because the characters so often devolve into longwinded explanations of what asexuality is and how they personally identify with it and the various sublabels. (Looking at you, Loveless! That was the case here as well.) It feels like reading a textbook or guide for questioning teens. Maybe the explanation is an intentional primer for baby aces that are trying to put a label to what they're feeling, or even for straight readers who have never heard of sexualities outside of gay or lesbian, but for a reader that's educated and secure in their sexuality, it was a bit much. At least there wasn't a gay guru character, but maybe that's because Angela WAS the guru? which made her sound a bit pedantic at times.

A lot of the conversations in the book between Angela and her friends or family or love interest sounded like therapy sessions for her. Her cousins didn't support her, her parents left and she's lonely, she's being bullied on TikTok and Reddit. That last point was a little weird. I doubt anyone would make trending videos and reddit threads about an ace influencer's dating history, and have a cousin jump into the online shit piling too (like WHO CARES if your cousin lied to you about their first kiss???), but then again maybe they would? Social media is a strange place.

Krystal also wasn't my favorite. I get that she had baggage to work through, but IMO she lead Angela on at times (and she was definitely the villain in her last relationship, I have NO sympathy for the situation she put herself in). For as much as Angela was labeled a tease, thar title should definitely go to Krystal. I did however appreciate that Krystal was femme whereas Angelica was more butch. Most sapphic romances these days have a femme MC with a butch love interest or a two lipsticks duo. More butch MCs please!

I identified with Angela so much in concept and wanted to give this book part of my soul, but it didn't quite live up to my ace dream. Maybe part of that's on me.

Love love love this one! The flirting, the spice, the tension, and the scavenger hunt it was all I needed and more. Getting to see previous characters was the cherry on top.

This was such a cute, insightful story! I feel like I learned a TON about the ace spec through Angela’s story! I loved Marcela and Theo’s story in the first book in this series so I was very excited for this book and it did not disappoint. Krystal and Angela working through things and figuring themselves out was so well done. Gabriella does such a great job of handling sensitive topics and including awesome representation with grace. LOVE.

Arc provided by Netgalley and a thank you to forever publishing! This book is both delightful and frustrating for me. To start, I loved getting to read about a character who was still figuring out the exact label of her sexuality. I think too often queer romance novels are either about the discovery of queerness or someone who has felt solid in the label for a while. It was very refreshing to watch her find herself. I also enjoyed the relationships outside of the romance, it really adds to making this feel lived in and like every character has rich lives.

Unfortunately, there were aspects that I found to be lacking. This book with its use of TikTok and scavenger hunts, and family drama, and romance, and friendship, and work, and art had far too much going on that the build up of the actual relationship felt cramped. Cutting out some of this would have allowed the main couple to really shine, which should be the point of a romance novel. I also found the idea of a scavenger hunt to be a bit juvenile and made her lack of experience in romance feel younger than her age.

Overall its a cute story that needed some editing when it came to how many storylines were started. But if there is one thing I appreciate is a book cared about intersectionality and took time for all of Angela’s identities.

I should've known this book wasn't going to be for me based on the premise, but I'm so starved for explicit lesbian representation in books that I gave it a shot anyway.

I'll start on a positive note and say that I appreciated the amount of representation in this book. Angela, our MC, is a Mexican-American ace-spec lesbian who only recently discovered her queer identity and came out at the age of 27. She's something of a late bloomer, having never really dated anyone or had her first kiss. While devising a plan to dip into the dating pool by way of a scavenger hunt wherein the winner gets to be her first kiss, she becomes closer with her longtime bartender crush, Krystal, a Mexican-American bisexual woman working at a bar Angela frequents with her best friend, Marcela. While I appreciated the ace-spec representation, I did find the way information about asexuality and various asexual identities was included to be a bit clunky at times. And, personally, I wish there would have been more focus on Angela's lesbian identity as well rather than that feeling very secondary to and somewhat unexplored in comparison with her asexuality. Every time an author who isn't a lesbian themselves writes a lesbian character, it seems like they fail to really recognize and portray just how expansive that identity is and how it impacts so many facets of a person's life.

All of that aside, I couldn't get into the scavenger hunt aspect of this book. It felt very silly and juvenile for a 27-year-old MC to be organizing a scavenger hunt via TikTok in an attempt to have her first kiss. Had that been the plot of a YA romance with a teenage MC, it would've seemed more believable to me.

Overall, I thought this book was fine. Would I recommend it? Maybe. I tend to be really particular about what I enjoy when it comes to sapphic romance, and I don't think the average sapphic romance reader holds books to the same standards I do. Other people will probably enjoy this more than I did. It's not a bad book, just not what I'm looking for. I'm notoriously picky. That's not the author's fault.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.