A girl with a plan. A guy with a past. And a summer that could change everything.Sixteen-year-old Frankie Hargreaves has her summer all figured out. Work at her aunt’s retro food truck, and have her first kiss with the cute guy from the surf shop. It’s foolproof. Until her aunt hires local bad boy, Jackson Lang to help out. Sure he’s cute. Okay, really cute. But Frankie knows what guys like him … cute. But Frankie knows what guys like him are like. All she needs to do is ignore him and stick to the plan. How hard can it be?
Jackson’s always lived in the shadow of his father’s criminal past, and is used to the world judging him. Which is just fine. He’s happy to keep to himself and look out for his mom and kid sister. That way he can’t be disappointed. Problem is the longer he works with the gorgeous Frankie, the more he starts to think perhaps there’s a chance for him to have a different life.
Jackson isn’t the only one falling hard, but after two dates things get complicated and Frankie soon discovers her first perfect kiss might just lead to her first painful heartbreak.
Book 1 – How to Kiss a Bad Boy – Frankie and Jackson
Book 1.5 – How to Kiss Your Enemy – Via and Hudson (novella)
Book 2 – How to Kiss Your Crush – Norah and Zac
Buy How to Kiss a Bad Boy today and join Frankie on her summer of love and heartache
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Cute YA romance with some funny moments and some drama. I really liked Frankie and Jackson and their families, especially Jackson’s sister Chelsea.
Bonus points for the short cross-overs with Via’s story (How to Kiss Your Enemy).
Frankie has a goal for this summer. Help her aunt working in her truck food and getting her first kiss from the quarterback of her high school. But when Jackson, bad boy with his father in prison, start working with her in the food truck Frankie start to realise that there isn’t more to Jackson that everyone thinks. Can bad boy turn out her first and perfect kiss?
Enjoyable, G-rated, YA, romantic dramedy
Frankie Hargreaves is a 16-year-old orphan who has been living with her Aunt Lo in Cricket Bay, a fictional, small, Southern California beach town, for the past eight years since her mother died. Frankie has never been kissed, but she has carefully selected the perfect guy for this crucial rite of passage: a clean-cut, attractive boy named Aaron Tremain who works at a surf shop very near Frankie’s summer job, down by the beach.
For the past few summers, Aunt Lo has put Frankie in charge of running Lo’s food truck, which is whimsically themed as a 1950’s teashop. Lo owns a successful, year-round, local baking business, and the aim of her food truck is to wring additional, much-needed income out of the summer tourist crowd. A teenage assistant, named Kenneth, whom Lo hired last year to work with Frankie on the food truck, proved to be a useless loafer who left all the work to Frankie and was rude to the customers. Frankie dreads having to deal with him again this year, but she almost wishes she had lazy Kenneth back again when she discovers to her dismay that Lo has hired 17-year-old Jackson Lang as his replacement. What could her softhearted aunt be thinking hiring someone with such a bad reputation?
Jackson has been unfairly judged all his life for the crimes of his father, who died in prison a few years ago after committing murder while acting as the enforcer for a local motorcycle gang. For that reason, until Lo took a chance on him, Jackson has had a hard time finding a job. He is desperate to earn money in order to help his struggling, single mother support him and his little sister. Unfortunately, it turns out that sweet-natured Lo will not be his direct supervisor but, instead, her niece, Frankie. If the look of disgust on Frankie’s beautiful face when Jackson shows up for his first day of work is anything to go by, his chances of holding onto his new job are slim to none.
Frankie has no desire to work with Jackson in the very close quarters of the food truck—no matter how handsome he is, or how hard-working and charming to the customers he turns out to be. Worse, it is downright frustrating how much he puts Aaron in the shade by comparison. With every day that passes in Jackson’s company, her desire to kiss Aaron weakens, and her longing to kiss this too-good-to-be-true bad boy grows.
This G-rated, young-adult romance has both comedic and poignant moments, making it what I would call a “dramedy.” The setup of the romance is original and compelling, and a California beach town is an unusual and quite enjoyable setting. It is lovely to read a YA novel whose events occur somewhere besides a generic high school.
Frankie is a cute and quirky heroine, and Jackson is an especially sympathetic hero who is truly heroic. He is responsible, loving and loyal to his family.
It is also a pleasure reading about teenagers with positive family members, including Frankie’s kind and caring aunt, and Jackson’s adorable little sister and his affectionate, supportive mother.
This G-rated romance avoids foul language, drugs, drinking, wild parties and underage sex and, as such, it is suitable for all ages.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Setting: 4 stars
Romance plot: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
Note: I received an ARC of this novel from the author.
This is the second book in the “How to Kiss…”. The first book was “How to Kiss Your Enemy”. I enjoyed the first book, but I enjoyed this book so much more. It was sweet and endearing. Frankie is working for her aunt running a food truck. I loved how strong-willed, independent, and forever optimistic Frankie was. She is a hard worker and fiercely loyal. She lets insults roll off her back. Jackson is also helping with the food truck for the summer. When you look at him, he screams bad boy. Jackson is constantly seen in the shadow of his father’s past transgressions. Don’t judge a book by its cover is the perfect way to describe the way this book unfolds. Both characters are so lovable and easily irresistible. You will cheer them on. In the end, you will be bubbling with happiness. If you’re looking for a clean, sweet read that can be read at any age, I would highly recommend this book!
I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Oh my … I just loved this heartwarming story. This author writes such complex and real characters and as you gradually get to know them, you fall absolutely in love. The story is so well written: it has humor as well as sadness, teen angst, and a wonderful cast of supportive characters that add depth to this already rich story.
I received an ARC of this book and finished it several weeks ago. It has stayed with me and without doubt, will forever stay with me. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Highly recommend.