Kiss Her Once for Me

A Novel

English language

Published Sept. 16, 2022 by Atria Books.

ISBN:
9781982191146

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (1 review)

The author of the “swoon-worthy debut” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Charm Offensive returns with a festive romantic comedy about a woman who fakes an engagement with her landlord…only to fall for his sister.

One year ago, recent Portland transplant Ellie Oliver had her dream job in animation and a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money.

Finding work at a local coffee shop, she’s just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop’s landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes and isolation. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep …

2 editions

Almost perfect

4 stars

4¾⭐️/5

This book hits the exact right spot on so many levels. It's funny, beautifully written and narrated (Natalie Naudus does a fantastic job), and never gets bogged down. I also appreciated the various reps: Korean-American FMC, #ADHD, #anxiety disorders, #demisexual FMC, #nonbinary side character, #bisexual MCs and side characters, conversations about #polyamory, and probably more that I'm not remembering.

This one was soooo close to being a 5⭐️ for me. FWIW, that last ¼ star is really a personal preference—if you enjoy really angsty 3rd-act break-ups, this book may be perfect for you.

Tags: #BIPOC #CommitmentIssues #DemisexualMC #FakeRelationship #FearfulSecurePair #FirstPersonPOV #ForcedProximity #Misunderstandings #NeuroDiverse #PanicAttacks #SinglePOV #StrandedTogether #Trauma