What do you do when you’re the reigning kissing booth champion but the only person you want to kiss is your best friend’s brother?
Let me make this clear right here, right now: I, Halley Dawson, do not care that Preston Wright is kissing other women.Not a lick. Not at all. Nuh-uh-freakin’-uh.I do care that he’s doing it six feet away from me behind a gaudy velvet curtain–making him my … behind a gaudy velvet curtain–making him my competition in this year’s kissing contest.
Why do I care, you ask? Because I’ve had an unfortunate crush on the insufferable idiot since I was sixteen years old, but I also know it’s never going to happen.
He’s the Creek Falls bachelor to die for, and I’m the Creek Falls racoon lady who puts peanut butter sandwiches out for them every night.
I’m not going to let him break my four-year-long reign–no matter how many times he breaks the rules and slides the curtain across to do the one thing he’s not allowed to:
Kiss me.
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Emma Hart is THE queen of rom-com. She has provided yet another narrative radiating a fun, energetic vibe full of sarcasm and witty humor. The friendship dynamic that she has developed between Halley and her two friends will have you laughing out loud. Love the slow build chemistry and the quick, easy read that is this story. 4 stars.
Overall Rating:
Do you ever get excited to read a book just from the cover? I’ll be honest. That isn’t my usual way of choosing books. If I’d have to rank it, author, blurb, and cover would be my criteria in choosing a book. Part of this is because covers can be deceiving. Well, the moment I saw the covers for Emma Hart’s newest trio of books, I knew I had to read them. They are MY style. Add in interesting story blurbs, and this girl blogger was sold.
Kiss Me Not is a best friend’s brother, somewhat forbidden story. But here’s the thing. The best friend, Reagan, is completely “on board” with the match. Halley, the best friend, and Preston, the brother, have harbored “secret” crushes on each other for some time. However, Halley and Preston never act on their attraction. Instead, they act with some disdain towards each other.
Halley is the reigning kissing booth champion of the local fair. She needs a challenger. Preston steps up to challenge Halley’s reign. Sparks fly between these two. Halley struggles with hearing Preston kissing the other women, and Preston struggles with his attraction to Halley. The rest of the story follows Preston and Halley in their spiral towards each other and a relationship.
There is so much quirky goodness in this story. For one, Halley marches to the beat of her own drum. For one, she loves books and prefers reading at home to spending time out. Secondly, she kind of has pet raccoons. Granted, they don’t live with her, but she feeds them daily, talks to them about her problems, and generally cares for them. And three, many of the ancillary characters are zany especially Halley’s grandmother and Preston’s aunt.
Kiss Me Not is the epitome of a summer read. It’s light-hearted. There is very little angst if any. It’s a rom-com. You fly through reading it because the story is cute. And the characters generally make you chuckle at their antics. It’s a good solid fun romance.
Now, here’s my issue with it. Halley and Preston’s struggle against each other seems ridiculous at times. I’ve read several books in the “best friend’s brother” trope, and they are heart-wrenching for the hero and heroine. This struggle seems a bit manufactured. Preston and Halley clearly like each other, but they fight it for too much of the story. Yes, it’s fun to read. Yes, you cheer them together, but I kept wondering why they couldn’t be together. They tell us that it would potentially endanger Halley’s friendship with Reagan, but that didn’t necessarily ring true. I think their struggle could have been resolved sooner, and they could have jumped into bed more quickly. Physically, these two do a lot of kissing but don’t couple until the end. I don’t have a problem with it, but I think it could have been steamier and less fighting.
All of this being said, I enjoyed this book. I read it in one day (as you should with a fun summer read), and I fell in love with this little town and its people. I am absolutely looking forward to Reagan and Ava’s stories. If you love to laugh, and you love quirky, interesting characters, then you’ll want to read Emma Hart’s Kiss Me Not. It’s the perfect little summer read.
Every time I enter one of Emma Hart’s RomComs, I know I’m about to be inundated with sass, snark, banter, one-liners, and a whole lot of sexual tension, and as Halley Dawson, the heroine in Kiss Me Not, says, “life would be boring without sarcasm.” And I absolutely agree with Halley’s assessment; in fact, I use it daily, and it definitely makes things interesting to say the least.
It’s quite a unique situation that Hart places her main characters in…I don’t know that I’ve read a story that uses a kissing booth competition as the setting/main point of conflict, so its uniqueness definitely intrigued me and then when I figured out exactly what/who Halley was up against when her long-time crush, Preston Wright, who also is Halley’s best friend’s brother, was pitted against her as they raised money for charity, I couldn’t wait to see just how much these two would get under each other’s skin and how long they would hold out until they finally acted on their mutual feelings for one another.
I definitely enjoyed watching the back and forth that took place between Halley and Preston, but what I adored was the hardcore friendship between Halley, Reagan, and Ava. They gave one another so much shit, telling it like it is and laying it out in a way that for sure would piss them off but they all rolled with the punches so to speak. Their sisterhood is exactly how things should be between women, so I loved how Hart wrote the scenes with all three of them together, whether it was in person or through text messages.
Even though Halley didn’t see herself as perfect, the fact that Preston loved everything about her, even her affinity to befriend trash pandas, illustrates just how well he truly sees her, proving that as much as these two fight their attraction and their feelings, they’re actually perfect together.
Such a great start to a highly entertaining series, and I am beyond excited for Reagan’s story next!
4 Poison Apples
This book had me from the first sentence! In their small town, Halley is the mayor’s daughter and resident quirky girl and wears that badge with pride. As the reigning champion of the annual Kissing Booth, she’s excited to see who she will crush in this year’s festival, but what she doesn’t know is that it’s going to be her mortal enemy. She has had a crush on Preston, her best friend’s brother, for years and she can’t handle the fact that he’s her competition not to mention having to see him kiss all the girls in town. Preston is the town’s resident most eligible bachelor, a title he hates. With most of the town’s single females are out for his blood, he’s coming to terms that he has a crush on the resident quirky girl – Halley. While Halley and her friends pride themselves on placing bets between each other, Preston decides to shoot his shot through her language – a bet. Throughout the book, we see this pair dance around their feelings for each other, and Preston battle with how exactly to win Halley over when they don’t speak the same “language.” I loved the dynamic between these two and especially Halley’s character. Her level of quirk yet fantastic person really made her personable to the reader and had me rooting for the potential of a relationship with Preston. In true Emma fashion, we also get some additional hilariously quirky characters in the form of Preston’s great-aunt and Halley’s grandmother and it adds to the all-around love of this book. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, especially with the teaser we got at the end of this book! Per usual, another great hit from Emma!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Very cute and funny 5 star read by Emma, I loved these characters and I’m looking forward to the next book! Grab this today!
Meet Halley, mayors daughter, and her mom is a marriage repeat offender! She’s the kissing booth champ for the past 4 years, and its that time of year again for the town fair, she’s wondering who her competition will be this year. When she’s setting up the tent, in walks her best friends brother Preston, this can’t be happening, she’s crushed on him forever, and as he announces he’s her competition this year, she wants to die!
Follow along as they navigate working side by side to raise money for a good cause, and listen in as the other kisses other people. You will laugh at this one! Great story!
This book was something else – from the kissing booth to loving wild animals it was such a pleasure to read.
To be honest at the beginning I was quite connecting with MC’s but then the raccoons appeared and all was good in the world. I really liked Preston and Halley. Even when they were at each other’s throats it was still fun to see them going at it. I loved when she explained to him the way relationship between man and a woman work (We’re ALWAYS right ) and how he did his growling when he misstepped with her.
All in all this was another funny, sarcastic, LOL kinda book and I can’t wait to see how will Reagan her love interest next.
Well, that was just the best fun I’ve had in quite a while! Filled with fabulous banter, great characters and a brilliant set-up of a kissing booth to play out the romance, I haven’t stopped reading this book since I opened it. Halley and Preston certainly have some great lines, and a red-hot, unadmitted attraction, but I just cracked up reading the conversations between Halley, Reagan and Ava. They are superb together, and brilliantly funny. This book is one of those reads that leaves you in a better place than when you started it. An definite 5 star read all the way, and with the wonderful promise of more. That last chapter! One of the funniest lead-ins to the next stand alone that I have ever come across.
Kiss me not is such a great rom com. This author know how to write a story that will keep you entertained and laughing throughout the story. This book is centered around Preston and Halley. They have such great chemistry and it is evident from the moment they start having any sort of conversation. Throw in a competition and kissing booth there is a recipe for laughs and falling in love. Definitely give this one a 5 star read. You will also call in love with the secondary characters in this story.
Halley and Preston are so busy hating each other to hide the fact that they each have a crush on the other one that they almost miss the best relationship life has for them. As Halley prepares the kissing booth for the annual town fair, she doesn’t know who her competition will be. She is the reigning champ, kissing the most people and raising the most money for charity. When she finds out that Preston, her best friend Reagan’s brother, has volunteered, well, her world tilts. How will she listen to him kissing all those women every day when she wants to be the one kissing him. Now, Halley and her friends have this amazing friendship and their quick wit and brutal honesty is refreshing and fun. But deep down, Halley’s confidence is damaged, she puts on this strong front for everyone as she helps anyone in need, even the raccoons that life behind her house (so much fun). Preston sees Halley as this perfect person who would never be interested in him but as the kissing booth brings them in close contact, he starts to realize that there is so much more to her. Now, can he convince Halley to give him a chance? Or will they miss out on love? I laughed out loud while I devoured this fun, sexy, quirky romance. Who knew raccoons could capture my heart? I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This was my first experience reading Emma Hart’s writing. It was cute and sweet. I wasn’t sure what to expect but based on the blurb it seemed like this book could be quite humorous and hot!
Something was just off for this book. I enjoyed the story line and the characters but everything about this book felt like I was reading a YA novel, not a book about mid-20 something established adults. The read was extremely safe romance wise but the foul language seemed forced in the conversations. The sarcasm and banter between the friends was also over the top unrealistic. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make the characters young and relevant.
The whole raccoon situation was not only unique but quite comical. Probably my favorite part of the book. It showed Halley’s true character and the level of compassion and kindness she had for others. Preston was just meh. Nothing about him drew me to his character. He didn’t have much of a personality and seemed to only be the eye of a women’s affection because of his looks. I needed more depth, more history. The fact that he was a talented florist appealed to me but nothing about him below the superficial level was ever revealed about his character.
I liked the book, don’t get me wrong. It just wasn’t what I was expecting from a rom-com and left me underwhelmed. It was over the top quirky which at times was super fun and hilarious but after a while, became repetitive and irrelevant. I gave this read 3 solid stars. It had it’s moments but didn’t wow me.
>>>I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book which was provided to me by the author or their PR company. <<<
This sarcastic romcom turned into a super sweet story. Halley is a librarian that’s a total introvert. She has a very small friend circle which includes Ava and Reagan. And Halley has forever had a crush on Reagan’s older brother, Preston. This wouldn’t be a problem except, to her surprise, Preston is running the Kissing Booth with her at the fair this year. Unbeknownst to Halley, Preston thinks Halley is the most beautiful and perfect woman. This is a total recipe for mischief! I highly recommend you read this book to find out what happens between “raccoon-loving” Halley and “flower-arranging” Preston. Hint: It gets steamy!
Kiss Me Not was funny, sweet, steamy, and enjoyable. 4 stars!
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
3.5 stars
Super cute and fun. This is a complete lighthearted, summer read with just a little bit of steam to keep you on your toes. (Review by Terri “Jane”)
**Warning: this book will inspire weird dreams about raccoons!**
This series is going to be one of my new favorite ones by Emma! It was full of her snark & sarcasm! I loved how wonderfully weird both Halley & Preston were. Ohmigosh…that scene with Boris & the stuffed animal had me in tears I was laughing so hard!
Emma knocked it out of the park with this one! And that epilogue has me dying for Reagan’s book!!!
What a sweet and funny book, Kiss Me Not was a book that YOU NEED TO READ!
Halley was the town’s sweetheart; she was someone who was loved by everyone. The last thing she expected was to fall for the town’s bachelor, Preston. Preston and Halley were amazing, but for me Halley was the star of this story. She was someone who did what she felt was right; she had the sass, and the sarcasm. This book was a fast, but amazing. I laughed, swooned, and loved everything. Emma Hart has a way with humor books; she gives us these amazing characters that win your heart over so fast.
If you’re looking for a sweet, funny, and amazing book…. This one is for you.
Emma has done it again! I love anything she writes!! Halley and Preston are amazing! The outstanding characters make this story even better. This romcom is the perfect mix of fun, sass, and sexiness. I can’t wait for more!
Looking for a quick, cute, fun and swoon worthy read? Check out Kiss Me Not! Trust me, you are going to love this story of a kissing booth, magnetic chemistry, multiple bets, snarky comebacks and laugh out loud moments.
Halley Dawson is the reigning kissing booth champion, but this year she may have just met her match in Preston Wright. He is determined to steal her crown by beating her at her own game. Not to mention, he’s raising money for a good cause all at the same time. The only problem? Preston is Halley’s best friend’s brother that she has had a crush on for years. And it’s no fun listening to him kissing other girls, but she soon discovers that he would much rather be kissing her.
Kiss Me Not is a wonderfully written and highly entertaining rom-com. I always adore Emma Hart’s books. Regardless of what genre they are, she always delivers exactly what her readers want. Her heroes are always strong and caring with hearts of gold, and her heroines are the perfect mix of sassy and sweet. This is exactly what we got with Kiss Me Not. It is a fun and sweet novel, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.
Kiss Me Not was perfect Emma Hart. Sweet, cute, funny (but not too over the top with the snark) and easy to sink into.
The quick synopsis here is that Halley is our reigning “Kissing Booth” queen (for charity – get your minds out of the gutter) and Preston is her best friend’s brother and here to knock her off her throne.
Hilarious and witty banter, scheming best friends, surprisingly adorable trash pandas and a sweet romance all ensue.
Really enjoyed meeting the best friends and looking forward to the rest of the series!
***4.5 ‘Betty’ Stars***
This was a fun, quick read that had me chuckling even when I was rolling my eyes and not only rooting for Halley and Preston to get their acts together, but also looking forward to spending a lot more time with all of the inhabitants of Creek Falls.
I loved Halley. She’s sweet, sassy and has a golden and genuine heart. She’s also a bit competitive and snarky, but it only adds to her charm. Preston is a good guy, but one who is a little wary of letting people get close to him. He’s charming, sweet and once he sets his sights on something ~ or someone ~ he does everything he can to get it.
Halley and Preston’s journey was a fun one. There weren’t all that many bumps in their road caused by outside interlopers, but they did have a lot of preconceived notions to get past ~ not only about each other, but themselves ~ which caused a lot of eye rolling on my part, but also a lot of laughter, But once they did, it was obvious that they had that something that could become amazing.
This was a fun, low on drama character driven romance and a great introduction to the town of Creek Falls and its inhabitants. Betty and Boris were my favs *wink* But I loved Regan and Ava, talk about my kind of BFF’s, and I cannot wait to get my hands on their books and watch these two fall!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Emma Hart has been teasing us with her all new, sweet romantic comedy for weeks now and I for one have been dying to get my hands on it. Not only is the cover super cute with an eye catching design, but the synopsis makes me just want to grab my copy of Kiss Me Not and totally devour it….And that it is exactly what I did.
Kiss Me Not is the kind of story that just pulls you in from the very first page. The plot is fun and unique. The characters are quirky, yet real and just make you want to know more about them. I loved the chemistry between Preston and Halley. You could feel the sparks between the two of them, the moment they entered a room together. Halley was super fiesty and wasn’t afraid to tell Preston like it was and Preston was the guy that ever girl wanted, yet he only had sights on Halley. I thought it was super cute how into one another these two characters were, yet neither one of them was prepared to take the leap and tell the other. Add in a kissing booth for a good cause and the tension and sparks between these two are destined to boil over.
Kiss Me Not is a super cute, light romantic comedy that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face and a belly full of laughs. Filled with Emma Hart’s signature humor and wit, Kiss Me Not also delivers on the swoon and steam. Preston and Halley’s story checked off all of my boxes and left me begging for more. I enjoyed every single moment of this story from beginning to end and I’m not ashamed to say that I devoured this story in just a few short hours. I just couldn’t get enough and never wanted to put it down.
Kiss Me Not was totally worth the wait and I for one can’t wait to see what author Emma Hart brings to the table next!
Emma Hart once again, won my heart with her unique brand of humor, a completely original story and two characters that you can’t help but love.
The kissing booth champion for four years running, Halley is not about to give up her crown. The town counts on the money the booth brings and she will not let them down. Halley is funny, sweet, caring and could totally see myself as her friend.
Preston, this years competition, is also Halley’s best friend’s brother and the man she has secretly crushed on for years. The push and pull between these two had me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t put their story down!
Kiss Me Not is a fun sweet rom-com that will keep you glued to the pages from the start. I can’t wait to see what Hart brings us next!