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Ein zarter Hauch von Glück
Wenn ich mich im Dunkeln verliere, führst du mich zurück
Im Sommer nach ihrem sechzehnten Geburtstag bringt der Kuss eines Holloway-Mädchens dem geküssten Jungen oder Mädchen Glück.
Schon lange freut sich Remy auf ihre Kusszeit, doch statt Glück bringt sie dem Jungen, den sie küsst, Unglück. Überzeugt, dass ein Fluch auf ihr liegt, beschließt Remy, von nun an ihre Lippen bei sich zu behalten. Wäre da nicht der attraktive Nachbarsjunge, der neu in der Stadt ist und es ihr schwer macht, an ihrem Beschluss festzuhalten. Vor allem scheint er sie wirklich kennenlernen zu wollen und nicht nur für das Holloway-Glück auszunutzen. Aber bevor sie überhaupt daran denken kann, ihn zu küssen, muss sie den Fluch lösen und ihr Glück wiederfinden.
Im Sommer nach ihrem sechzehnten Geburtstag bringt der Kuss eines Holloway-Mädchens dem geküssten Jungen oder Mädchen Glück.
Schon lange freut sich Remy auf ihre Kusszeit, doch statt Glück bringt sie dem Jungen, den sie küsst, Unglück. Überzeugt, dass ein Fluch auf ihr liegt, beschließt Remy, von nun an ihre Lippen bei sich zu behalten. Wäre da nicht der attraktive Nachbarsjunge, der neu in der Stadt ist und es ihr schwer macht, an ihrem Beschluss festzuhalten. Vor allem scheint er sie wirklich kennenlernen zu wollen und nicht nur für das Holloway-Glück auszunutzen. Aber bevor sie überhaupt daran denken kann, ihn zu küssen, muss sie den Fluch lösen und ihr Glück wiederfinden.
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2022
30 people are currently reading
4669 people want to read
About the author
Susan Bishop Crispell
7 books340 followersSusan Bishop Crispell earned a BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Born and raised in the mountains of Tennessee, she now lives twenty minutes from the beach in North Carolina with her husband and their Scottish-named cats. She is the author of women's fiction novels The Secret Ingredient of Wishes (2016) and Dreaming in Chocolate (2018), and young adult novels The Holloway Girls (2022), and The Broken Hearts Club (2023). As you might expect, she is always on the lookout for hints of magic in the real world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
June 13, 2022
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
The Holloway Girls focuses on Remy, the current youngest Holloway Girl who is about to turn 16. And that means inheriting the kissing magic that brings others good luck. But when her kiss brings bad luck to the first receiver she doesn't know what to do.
Yeah. I had higher expectations from that cover and idea. It was fine to read for the moment but once you start to think about it, it is getting a whole lot of nope from me.
The first thing would be the instant slut shaming that Remy has towards her sister Maggie whose kissing season is just ending. Because she kissed so many guys during her season but she wants her recipiant to mean someting. Gag. On the other hand everyone around her is prude shaming her and shoving her into any available guy. Even her father at one point. If she wants to spend this kissing season kissing no one how about accepting that? And this is just about kissing mind you.
There are also holes in the magic for me. Why is the magic going to 16 year old girls? What about the guys in the family (who aren't even mentioned might I add)? Why write down the rules like no kissing someone who is in love with someone else but not give a solution for when it does happen. Because you cannot always know this up front. Sometimes people don't even realize it themselves. Why isn't it the first idea to disconnect Remy from the magic of the book to cancel the curse? Why does her family believe in luck from a kiss but not in a curse when not following the rules?
Lets not forget the whole victim blaming of Remy by the whole town for Isaac's bad luck when he knew exactly what he was doing by kissing her. How do all those teens not have a mind of their own? Why does the whole town know anyway?
As you can see I could not actually make sense of a lot of things in this book and the more I think about it the more I dislike it.
The Holloway Girls focuses on Remy, the current youngest Holloway Girl who is about to turn 16. And that means inheriting the kissing magic that brings others good luck. But when her kiss brings bad luck to the first receiver she doesn't know what to do.
Yeah. I had higher expectations from that cover and idea. It was fine to read for the moment but once you start to think about it, it is getting a whole lot of nope from me.
The first thing would be the instant slut shaming that Remy has towards her sister Maggie whose kissing season is just ending. Because she kissed so many guys during her season but she wants her recipiant to mean someting. Gag. On the other hand everyone around her is prude shaming her and shoving her into any available guy. Even her father at one point. If she wants to spend this kissing season kissing no one how about accepting that? And this is just about kissing mind you.
There are also holes in the magic for me. Why is the magic going to 16 year old girls? What about the guys in the family (who aren't even mentioned might I add)? Why write down the rules like no kissing someone who is in love with someone else but not give a solution for when it does happen. Because you cannot always know this up front. Sometimes people don't even realize it themselves. Why isn't it the first idea to disconnect Remy from the magic of the book to cancel the curse? Why does her family believe in luck from a kiss but not in a curse when not following the rules?
Lets not forget the whole victim blaming of Remy by the whole town for Isaac's bad luck when he knew exactly what he was doing by kissing her. How do all those teens not have a mind of their own? Why does the whole town know anyway?
As you can see I could not actually make sense of a lot of things in this book and the more I think about it the more I dislike it.
June 16, 2023
2⭐️
I can say I had way higher expectations of this one from both the cover that drew me in and then the description that made me buy it.... 🥴
The idea of kissing magic that brought good luck intrigued me along with the promise of a curse and possible YA romance element. But there was just so much done wrong in this one... 👎🏼
First off, the MC Remy is SOO unbelievably unlikable. We get it - you kissed your crush and cursed him because he loved someone else - but let's be real here, we could have spotted that he was still in love with her a mile away, you knew the rules. Both Remy and Issac decided to break these rules - both deserved what they got, sorry not sorry 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Then comes the slut shaming that Remy gave her sister Maggie because she kissed so many guys, plus the way she basically made Maggie break up with her friend. Plus the way everyone (EVEN HER PARENTS) acted like Remy needed to go around kissing all the boys was ridiculous and WEIRD.🥴🥴🥴
Don't even get me started on Tobin coming into the picture with his goth attitude, lip rings, and acoustic guitar playing around the fire - GAG🤢. How does Remy go from crushing on the popular kid to suddenly having a thing for loners with lip rings??! Not saying people can't have more than one type but it was just weird to me.
I was just annoyed most of the time with this one. There were HUGE magical plot holes and some very cringy scenes that had me ready to quit this one multiple times - but maybe someone else will like it better than I did. But for me this one was a big thumbs down👎🏼👎🏼
I can say I had way higher expectations of this one from both the cover that drew me in and then the description that made me buy it.... 🥴
The idea of kissing magic that brought good luck intrigued me along with the promise of a curse and possible YA romance element. But there was just so much done wrong in this one... 👎🏼
First off, the MC Remy is SOO unbelievably unlikable. We get it - you kissed your crush and cursed him because he loved someone else - but let's be real here, we could have spotted that he was still in love with her a mile away, you knew the rules. Both Remy and Issac decided to break these rules - both deserved what they got, sorry not sorry 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Then comes the slut shaming that Remy gave her sister Maggie because she kissed so many guys, plus the way she basically made Maggie break up with her friend. Plus the way everyone (EVEN HER PARENTS) acted like Remy needed to go around kissing all the boys was ridiculous and WEIRD.🥴🥴🥴
Don't even get me started on Tobin coming into the picture with his goth attitude, lip rings, and acoustic guitar playing around the fire - GAG🤢. How does Remy go from crushing on the popular kid to suddenly having a thing for loners with lip rings??! Not saying people can't have more than one type but it was just weird to me.
I was just annoyed most of the time with this one. There were HUGE magical plot holes and some very cringy scenes that had me ready to quit this one multiple times - but maybe someone else will like it better than I did. But for me this one was a big thumbs down👎🏼👎🏼
Want to read
March 22, 2024Why is she named after the rat from Ratatouille....?
November 22, 2021
Thank to you Edelweiss+ for allowing me to read an eARC copy in return for an honest review.
During their year-long season, the Holloway girls gift good luck to anyone they kiss. Maggie has just ended her season and now it's Remy's turn. When Remy's first kiss leads a series of disasters for the boy she was crushing on, she begins to question everything about the kissing season and what it means to be a Holloway girl.
Despite the disasters awaiting the unfortunate Isaac, and Remy's guilt over his bad luck, this is still a sweet, upbeat story. How the Holloway magic works, or why those in their home town know about it and aren't freaked out, is never explained, but it doesn't need to be. This is more a story of Remy finding herself and creating her own identity, separate from her sister and her family's legacy. I love how the characters grow as the book progresses, each forging a new and better version of themselves.
This was a quick, satisfying read. It isn't really about the magic--it's about being true to yourself and allowing yourself to become the person you were meant to be.
During their year-long season, the Holloway girls gift good luck to anyone they kiss. Maggie has just ended her season and now it's Remy's turn. When Remy's first kiss leads a series of disasters for the boy she was crushing on, she begins to question everything about the kissing season and what it means to be a Holloway girl.
Despite the disasters awaiting the unfortunate Isaac, and Remy's guilt over his bad luck, this is still a sweet, upbeat story. How the Holloway magic works, or why those in their home town know about it and aren't freaked out, is never explained, but it doesn't need to be. This is more a story of Remy finding herself and creating her own identity, separate from her sister and her family's legacy. I love how the characters grow as the book progresses, each forging a new and better version of themselves.
This was a quick, satisfying read. It isn't really about the magic--it's about being true to yourself and allowing yourself to become the person you were meant to be.
June 2, 2022
1.5 Stars
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
It's a no from me. A hard no. This book looks like fluff. It acts like fluff. There's nothing WRONG with fluff, and it definitely has that Hallmark charm to it. However, what I just couldn't get over was the attitude toward sexuality that undergirded this book. It somehow manages to both slut shame and prude shame--with a whole layer of pushy non-consent that even Remy's dad participates in--and I just can't forgive that. It was uncomfortable and gross to read, most especially because these attitudes were never examined, just left to stand--or even encouraged as correct.
Hard, hard no. Don't let its cute exterior fool you. My full review will be available June 3, 2022 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
It's a no from me. A hard no. This book looks like fluff. It acts like fluff. There's nothing WRONG with fluff, and it definitely has that Hallmark charm to it. However, what I just couldn't get over was the attitude toward sexuality that undergirded this book. It somehow manages to both slut shame and prude shame--with a whole layer of pushy non-consent that even Remy's dad participates in--and I just can't forgive that. It was uncomfortable and gross to read, most especially because these attitudes were never examined, just left to stand--or even encouraged as correct.
Hard, hard no. Don't let its cute exterior fool you. My full review will be available June 3, 2022 at Gateway Reviews.
June 20, 2022
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
TW: near death experiences, injuries, mentioned drug abuse, slight homophobia
It's always been the tradition of the girls of the Holloway family when they turn 16 to enter the kissing season. During this time, any person that the Holloway girl kisses gets good luck. However, that isn't the case with Remy, whose first kiss was a boy that ended up with extremely bad luck. Vowing not to kiss a boy again, Remy is set on trying to find a way to break the curse she's found herself in, and that may involve delving into her family's history, and also trying to not be friends with the new boy next door.
The plot itself is decent in execution. I really liked the idea of magic gone wrong and reversing of spells. I'm always a sucker for a well-designed magic system, but this one felt extremely lacking. All of the magic is contained within this book, yet it exudes into the world around the Holloway family and makes people more attracted to whoever's kissing season it is. It also manifests in the kisses themselves, which I find interesting.
But... that's it. There's no real reason for how the magic showed up in the first place. There's no practice of magic within the Holloway lineage. It's just the book. To me, it was extremely disappointing, given that the cover and the synopsis felt like it was leading to more of a magical influence. Plus, everyone in the town just always knows about this magic and its presence in the town is really weird to me. Wouldn't people want to keep it hidden? At least that's from what I assume from a bunch of other stories where magic is hidden. It felt off to me and I wished there was a lot more.
Speaking of magic, the whole purpose Remy has is to literally break this curse. I really love how it allows Remy to learn more about her family's complicated history, since there's a lot that's been hidden from her. However, that resolution to breaking the curse I think might be one of the worst endings I've ever read. Like yes, I know it was foreshadowed and it was done well. But it was such an easy fix that it felt like a cop-out to something that read off as much more complicated to solve, since people were actually getting hurt to the point of near death. I almost threw my kindle across the room when I found out what the answer was.
Remy is by far one of the most infuriating characters I've ever read about. She is beyond stubborn and selfish. While she does care for others, she just chooses to shut herself off completely, even to the point where she knows that damage is done, and in internal dialogue even says that it's done, so why not dig the hole even deeper? Who the hell has that mindset? On top of that, she has SEVERAL of the same conversations with people that reinforce to her that what happened was not her fault, but she absolutely does not listen, leading to the impact of the magic on Remy just being lessened to the point of a reader not being impacted emotionally by what's being said/done. This came into play a LOT when it came to the romance, so that was even dulled down for me because of it. I never really saw the chemistry.
Furthermore, there was one scene where she's hanging out with her sister, and the two new kids next door, who are twins. Mind you, Remy's sister Maggie is probably queer, and one of the new kids, Juliet, is absolutely queer. They are having a conversation about trying to have a friendship, even though Juliet and Maggie are kind of flirting. Remy flat out says in response to this something along the lines of "I'll be friends with you as long as you don't kiss me." That's so homophobic it hurts, since it's something that a LOT of queer people here from their peers when they first come out. Maggie calls her out on it and says it's not cool, but it doesn't really lead to a conversation of why it's harmful or how to move on from it. Hell, Remy doesn't even see it as homophobic and never apologizes for it! This moment twisted my entire perception on the book into being one that encouraged inclusivity to one that was just as harmful as it was good.
There were also some weird technical writing choices that were made, like the addition of multiple words when one could have sufficed. Example from the text (I had an ARC of this story, so wording might not be finalized in the final publication): "... but it didn't magically make the secrets/distrust/hurt between us disappear." This took place several places within the story and honestly it felt like the author was extremely indecisive in writing this. That makes me question as a reader how much they trust their own writing, which usually isn't a good thing.
The Holloway Girls is a quaint romance with a lot of rough characterization and stylistic choices that makes what seems to be a smooth read into a bumpy one.
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley and Penguin Teen. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
TW: near death experiences, injuries, mentioned drug abuse, slight homophobia
It's always been the tradition of the girls of the Holloway family when they turn 16 to enter the kissing season. During this time, any person that the Holloway girl kisses gets good luck. However, that isn't the case with Remy, whose first kiss was a boy that ended up with extremely bad luck. Vowing not to kiss a boy again, Remy is set on trying to find a way to break the curse she's found herself in, and that may involve delving into her family's history, and also trying to not be friends with the new boy next door.
The plot itself is decent in execution. I really liked the idea of magic gone wrong and reversing of spells. I'm always a sucker for a well-designed magic system, but this one felt extremely lacking. All of the magic is contained within this book, yet it exudes into the world around the Holloway family and makes people more attracted to whoever's kissing season it is. It also manifests in the kisses themselves, which I find interesting.
But... that's it. There's no real reason for how the magic showed up in the first place. There's no practice of magic within the Holloway lineage. It's just the book. To me, it was extremely disappointing, given that the cover and the synopsis felt like it was leading to more of a magical influence. Plus, everyone in the town just always knows about this magic and its presence in the town is really weird to me. Wouldn't people want to keep it hidden? At least that's from what I assume from a bunch of other stories where magic is hidden. It felt off to me and I wished there was a lot more.
Speaking of magic, the whole purpose Remy has is to literally break this curse. I really love how it allows Remy to learn more about her family's complicated history, since there's a lot that's been hidden from her. However, that resolution to breaking the curse I think might be one of the worst endings I've ever read. Like yes, I know it was foreshadowed and it was done well. But it was such an easy fix that it felt like a cop-out to something that read off as much more complicated to solve, since people were actually getting hurt to the point of near death. I almost threw my kindle across the room when I found out what the answer was.
Remy is by far one of the most infuriating characters I've ever read about. She is beyond stubborn and selfish. While she does care for others, she just chooses to shut herself off completely, even to the point where she knows that damage is done, and in internal dialogue even says that it's done, so why not dig the hole even deeper? Who the hell has that mindset? On top of that, she has SEVERAL of the same conversations with people that reinforce to her that what happened was not her fault, but she absolutely does not listen, leading to the impact of the magic on Remy just being lessened to the point of a reader not being impacted emotionally by what's being said/done. This came into play a LOT when it came to the romance, so that was even dulled down for me because of it. I never really saw the chemistry.
Furthermore, there was one scene where she's hanging out with her sister, and the two new kids next door, who are twins. Mind you, Remy's sister Maggie is probably queer, and one of the new kids, Juliet, is absolutely queer. They are having a conversation about trying to have a friendship, even though Juliet and Maggie are kind of flirting. Remy flat out says in response to this something along the lines of "I'll be friends with you as long as you don't kiss me." That's so homophobic it hurts, since it's something that a LOT of queer people here from their peers when they first come out. Maggie calls her out on it and says it's not cool, but it doesn't really lead to a conversation of why it's harmful or how to move on from it. Hell, Remy doesn't even see it as homophobic and never apologizes for it! This moment twisted my entire perception on the book into being one that encouraged inclusivity to one that was just as harmful as it was good.
There were also some weird technical writing choices that were made, like the addition of multiple words when one could have sufficed. Example from the text (I had an ARC of this story, so wording might not be finalized in the final publication): "... but it didn't magically make the secrets/distrust/hurt between us disappear." This took place several places within the story and honestly it felt like the author was extremely indecisive in writing this. That makes me question as a reader how much they trust their own writing, which usually isn't a good thing.
The Holloway Girls is a quaint romance with a lot of rough characterization and stylistic choices that makes what seems to be a smooth read into a bumpy one.
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley and Penguin Teen. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 19, 2022
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Remy Holloway has always known that she would have a kissing season, the year of her 16th birthday. Ever Holloway girl before her has had one, and a kiss during the season would bring luck to anyone she kisses. All Remy wanted though, on the night of her season's beginning, is for her crush to see her, and want to be with her. But rules were broken, and when Isaac is injured, and seems to be cursed, the whole town want nothing to do with her - except from the new neighbours, Juliet and Tobin. Will Remy be able to come to terms with what has happened during her season, and discover the true history of her family?
This book was not what I was expecting - in both a good, and a bad way. I was expecting there to be more family and magic, rather than a CW style teen drama, but there were parts I enjoyed nonetheless. Remy was an alright main character, someone who could be a little annoying at times, but she's a teenage girl, dealing with a lot, so she's allowed to be a little messy. She changes in character quite a bit, going from a little too boy obsessed - or Isaac obsessed - at the beginning, to someone slightly more comfortable in herself towards the end. I liked the dynamic between her and Tobin, especially how they became friends first, without forcing a relationship too quickly, and both of them came to terms with issues they had. One person I didn't really like, and I was surprised by it, from the synopsis, was Remy's sister, Maggie. She's just finished her kissing season, and was very pushy, and too much for Remy, or my liking. She wouldn't listen to her sister, though claimed to be helping her, and really got on my wick the longer I read. All in all, this was an alright book, but nothing I'd shout home about.
Remy Holloway has always known that she would have a kissing season, the year of her 16th birthday. Ever Holloway girl before her has had one, and a kiss during the season would bring luck to anyone she kisses. All Remy wanted though, on the night of her season's beginning, is for her crush to see her, and want to be with her. But rules were broken, and when Isaac is injured, and seems to be cursed, the whole town want nothing to do with her - except from the new neighbours, Juliet and Tobin. Will Remy be able to come to terms with what has happened during her season, and discover the true history of her family?
This book was not what I was expecting - in both a good, and a bad way. I was expecting there to be more family and magic, rather than a CW style teen drama, but there were parts I enjoyed nonetheless. Remy was an alright main character, someone who could be a little annoying at times, but she's a teenage girl, dealing with a lot, so she's allowed to be a little messy. She changes in character quite a bit, going from a little too boy obsessed - or Isaac obsessed - at the beginning, to someone slightly more comfortable in herself towards the end. I liked the dynamic between her and Tobin, especially how they became friends first, without forcing a relationship too quickly, and both of them came to terms with issues they had. One person I didn't really like, and I was surprised by it, from the synopsis, was Remy's sister, Maggie. She's just finished her kissing season, and was very pushy, and too much for Remy, or my liking. She wouldn't listen to her sister, though claimed to be helping her, and really got on my wick the longer I read. All in all, this was an alright book, but nothing I'd shout home about.
June 12, 2022
Being a Holloway Girl means your kiss is literally magic. One kiss and good luck knocks on your door. Each Holloway girl gets one kissing season. But there are rules to follow. Break one of those rules and who knows what peril will befall you?
Remy’s older sister, Maggie, had her kissing season and now it’s Remy’s turn. She hopes and dreams of an amazing, successful season. Alas, her luck runs out with her choice for her first kiss, which starts a mess that spirals her life down the drain.
The story started out well, though I can’t imagine kissing anyone just to bestow luck. I did like Remy’s outlook on that, on being more selective than Maggie, on choices that actually meant something. I loved all the baked goods and the new characters were quite charming. I loved the intensity and pull between Remy and the new boy.
That said, the book dragged a bit at times, and the ending was kind of anticlimactic for me. I wanted the people who’d wronged Remy and her family to actually get their comeuppance and wished Remy had a stronger character. But all in all, it was a nice story.
I was going to review the book a day before the release date but decided to wait a few days because of my 3-star review. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Stay tuned.
∼Lyn
Posted on Nomadic Worlds
July 2, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley.
I liked this one more than I thought I would! When I first started it, it felt like it was setting up really well and there was a lot of potential. And then it almost seemed to stop and there wasn’t really anything happening. Despite nothing big happening, I really did end up liking it.
Remy was a really interesting character. She was so stubborn at times that I wanted to scream, but I could understand her stubbornness especially in regards to the kissing season. Remy dealt with fear, guilt and anger for a lot of the book as she struggled to come to terms with Isaac’s bad luck after she kissed him. I really felt for Remy, and I loved the moments when she was with Tobin and was able to just be herself again. The constant back and forth of Remy getting close and then panicking and pulling away got a bit repetitive after a while.
I liked Tobin a lot. He was a good character to balance against Remy, and he was a steady and comforting kind of character. Juliet and Maggie were also good characters. I liked that the book focused not just on regular love, but also familial love. Maggie was trying to be there for Remy, and they had to adjust their relationship. Remy’s parents were also super supportive and I really liked seeing that.
I thought this one was a fun read. There were some issues with the pacing at times, but overall I enjoyed the characters and the story.
I liked this one more than I thought I would! When I first started it, it felt like it was setting up really well and there was a lot of potential. And then it almost seemed to stop and there wasn’t really anything happening. Despite nothing big happening, I really did end up liking it.
Remy was a really interesting character. She was so stubborn at times that I wanted to scream, but I could understand her stubbornness especially in regards to the kissing season. Remy dealt with fear, guilt and anger for a lot of the book as she struggled to come to terms with Isaac’s bad luck after she kissed him. I really felt for Remy, and I loved the moments when she was with Tobin and was able to just be herself again. The constant back and forth of Remy getting close and then panicking and pulling away got a bit repetitive after a while.
I liked Tobin a lot. He was a good character to balance against Remy, and he was a steady and comforting kind of character. Juliet and Maggie were also good characters. I liked that the book focused not just on regular love, but also familial love. Maggie was trying to be there for Remy, and they had to adjust their relationship. Remy’s parents were also super supportive and I really liked seeing that.
I thought this one was a fun read. There were some issues with the pacing at times, but overall I enjoyed the characters and the story.
October 11, 2024
very lighthearted. i didn’t love it but it was fun to read about something like the kissing season. was slow at the first half and really fast at the second half. the whole fix to the curse and conclusion was so abrupt i was lost for a moment because it went from one point to the other and i was still wondering how it was so easy after going through all that.
i got a little annoyed at remy because she just kept blaming herself. like yes it’s both yall fault for not following the rules but do you really have to repeat it for the whole book? i get it. it’s your fault!
the plot takes a backseat which i don’t mind but since the story focused on the family dynamics more than the romance, the romance between the characters was hard to believe. the most unbelievable thing is the newcomers not batting an eye when they find out the girls have magic. like you’re telling me these people just accepted magic exists in the world without asking questions about anything?? not even a little of curiosity??? and the conflict between the sisters was annoying too. i don’t think it’s bad enough to make two sisters as close as them not talk for months. unless they’re petty like that
i got a little annoyed at remy because she just kept blaming herself. like yes it’s both yall fault for not following the rules but do you really have to repeat it for the whole book? i get it. it’s your fault!
the plot takes a backseat which i don’t mind but since the story focused on the family dynamics more than the romance, the romance between the characters was hard to believe. the most unbelievable thing is the newcomers not batting an eye when they find out the girls have magic. like you’re telling me these people just accepted magic exists in the world without asking questions about anything?? not even a little of curiosity??? and the conflict between the sisters was annoying too. i don’t think it’s bad enough to make two sisters as close as them not talk for months. unless they’re petty like that
May 29, 2022
There is so much to love about this book, the plot is really unique and interesting and it lends to some good circumstances and plot potential. The thought of a kiss causing good or bad luck opens up a lot of insecure feelings for Remy.
I did find that the middle simmered out to a slower pace whilst we deal with Remys feelings and development as a character, I feel her though process fits the YA genre its written for well but as an adult reading this, I did find her little repetitive and wanted her to snap out of her self loathing and sulking. Remy is a character who feels deeply but this effects a lot of the relationships around her and she pushes people away and doesn't talk openly to people to help solve her problems, which stunts the development of her own and others characters at times.
I really enjoyed that setting, the town, the trailer and the falls were all described and used well in the story, giving a good feel for the world and town Remy lives in.
The dynamic between Remy and the other school friends is an interesting one as Remy finds out about herself she also battles with popularity and sorting the genuine friends from those who only want to use her for a lucky kiss.
A really lovely YA Book, would highly recommend for readers between 12 and 16 who are on the look out for a book boyfriend...
I did find that the middle simmered out to a slower pace whilst we deal with Remys feelings and development as a character, I feel her though process fits the YA genre its written for well but as an adult reading this, I did find her little repetitive and wanted her to snap out of her self loathing and sulking. Remy is a character who feels deeply but this effects a lot of the relationships around her and she pushes people away and doesn't talk openly to people to help solve her problems, which stunts the development of her own and others characters at times.
I really enjoyed that setting, the town, the trailer and the falls were all described and used well in the story, giving a good feel for the world and town Remy lives in.
The dynamic between Remy and the other school friends is an interesting one as Remy finds out about herself she also battles with popularity and sorting the genuine friends from those who only want to use her for a lucky kiss.
A really lovely YA Book, would highly recommend for readers between 12 and 16 who are on the look out for a book boyfriend...
January 15, 2025
This book was entertaining, but I didn't love it. I really liked this whole idea of a kissing season in a magical family where they bestow luck on who they kiss. It was fun seeing a darker side of bad luck with the main character. I just didn't connect to the characters since I'm older than them, but that is a personal issue. It just wasn't a favorite of mine, but if I read this back when I was 16 I probably would've loved this book.
February 22, 2022
I received a digital ARC of “The Holloway Girls” through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
“The Holloway Girls” is a fun, lighthearted read about a family who’s girls have magic in their kisses when they turn 16. During their kissing season, anyone the girls kiss will receive good luck. When it’s time for Remy Holloway’s kissing season, she expects the same will happen to the first boy she kisses. Instead, the boy receives bad luck and Remy’s kiss is considered “cursed.”
Over the course of the book, Remy works to find a way to undo his bad luck and the restore her family’s legacy. She also finds herself along the way, distinguishing herself beyond her relationships with her sister and friends while also developing new friendships with a new boy in town who makes it difficult for Remy to keep her promise to not curse anyone else with an unlucky kiss.
I really loved that “The Holloway Girls,” although rooted on the fantastical premise of Holloway girls’s kiss bestowing good luck, is so relatable. When Remy’s first kiss of her kissing season goes awry, her friends and all the other teens in her world turn on her. They pull cruel pranks on her, say awful things to her and about her, and make Remy’s life miserable for several months.
It’s been a few years since I was Remy’s age, but I still remember how fickle loyalty and friendship was at that age. Crispell was able to perfectly capture this and transport me back to high school. It added a unique sense of realism to the story, making it perfectly believable that a small town in North Carolina had a family with luck-bestowing magic kisses, because all the characters felt real.
In addition to the realistic portrayal of bullies, Crispell did a great job of capturing what teenagers are like. Since the book is written from Remy’s perspective, we see into her thoughts and can see how dramatic she is over giving a boy bad luck through her kiss. She internalizes a lot of angst and constantly pushes away those she’s closest to because she doesn’t feel that they understand the situation. That’s exactly how teenagers act! It added another layer of realism to the story, which made it a fun read.
“The Holloway Girls” is a fun, lighthearted read about a family who’s girls have magic in their kisses when they turn 16. During their kissing season, anyone the girls kiss will receive good luck. When it’s time for Remy Holloway’s kissing season, she expects the same will happen to the first boy she kisses. Instead, the boy receives bad luck and Remy’s kiss is considered “cursed.”
Over the course of the book, Remy works to find a way to undo his bad luck and the restore her family’s legacy. She also finds herself along the way, distinguishing herself beyond her relationships with her sister and friends while also developing new friendships with a new boy in town who makes it difficult for Remy to keep her promise to not curse anyone else with an unlucky kiss.
I really loved that “The Holloway Girls,” although rooted on the fantastical premise of Holloway girls’s kiss bestowing good luck, is so relatable. When Remy’s first kiss of her kissing season goes awry, her friends and all the other teens in her world turn on her. They pull cruel pranks on her, say awful things to her and about her, and make Remy’s life miserable for several months.
It’s been a few years since I was Remy’s age, but I still remember how fickle loyalty and friendship was at that age. Crispell was able to perfectly capture this and transport me back to high school. It added a unique sense of realism to the story, making it perfectly believable that a small town in North Carolina had a family with luck-bestowing magic kisses, because all the characters felt real.
In addition to the realistic portrayal of bullies, Crispell did a great job of capturing what teenagers are like. Since the book is written from Remy’s perspective, we see into her thoughts and can see how dramatic she is over giving a boy bad luck through her kiss. She internalizes a lot of angst and constantly pushes away those she’s closest to because she doesn’t feel that they understand the situation. That’s exactly how teenagers act! It added another layer of realism to the story, which made it a fun read.
June 10, 2022
When your kiss is good luck, the wrong kiss could change everything...
I enjoyed this book. Magic, baking, and a summer of fun compiled into a short and easy read that made me forget I was actually reading and not a part of the magic. Remy, like her sister Maggie and every Holloway girl that came before her, has the power to bestow good luck on anyone. As long as they kiss before her season is over. Remy has grown up on the stories of her family, and the stories of luck that came with them. She’s determined to use her season to win over her crush, and that’s when things go wrong.
While the synopsis promises a story of bad luck and potential doom, I found that the story almost glossed over that portion. Sure, Remy does end up gravely injuring her crush, but after he’s taken to the hospital and his friends don’t let her in, she doesn’t really do anything about it. It’s almost as if she forgets he exists and continues on with her summer. I found that it focused more on the bad things that happen to her because her crush’s friends think that she cursed him, and Remy’s talent for baking, which was written nowhere in the synopsis.
Then there’s a new love interest, who moves in next door and seems to fall in love at first sight. I did enjoy the banter and adventures that occurred once this happened, but Remy was such a Debby Downer that it felt more like telling vs showing, as if there was supposed to be some more edits. Also there were some weird parts that had sentences like “... she felt hopeless/afraid/scared.” which I found sort of broke up the writing in a very choppy way, and it didn’t feel like it was edited.
That being said, this is a wonderful quick summer read that involves everything a good summer romance needs. Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBooks Fire and the author for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book. Magic, baking, and a summer of fun compiled into a short and easy read that made me forget I was actually reading and not a part of the magic. Remy, like her sister Maggie and every Holloway girl that came before her, has the power to bestow good luck on anyone. As long as they kiss before her season is over. Remy has grown up on the stories of her family, and the stories of luck that came with them. She’s determined to use her season to win over her crush, and that’s when things go wrong.
While the synopsis promises a story of bad luck and potential doom, I found that the story almost glossed over that portion. Sure, Remy does end up gravely injuring her crush, but after he’s taken to the hospital and his friends don’t let her in, she doesn’t really do anything about it. It’s almost as if she forgets he exists and continues on with her summer. I found that it focused more on the bad things that happen to her because her crush’s friends think that she cursed him, and Remy’s talent for baking, which was written nowhere in the synopsis.
Then there’s a new love interest, who moves in next door and seems to fall in love at first sight. I did enjoy the banter and adventures that occurred once this happened, but Remy was such a Debby Downer that it felt more like telling vs showing, as if there was supposed to be some more edits. Also there were some weird parts that had sentences like “... she felt hopeless/afraid/scared.” which I found sort of broke up the writing in a very choppy way, and it didn’t feel like it was edited.
That being said, this is a wonderful quick summer read that involves everything a good summer romance needs. Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBooks Fire and the author for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2022
thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for accepting this advanced copy from me in exchange for an honest review.
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During kissing season, a kiss from Remy or her big sister Maggie will bring the boy or girl good luck. Or so it has been for all the Holloway girls before.But this year, Remy's first season, she doesn't follow the rules, dooming the boy she kisses to bad luck that nearly kills him and after that Remy's season becomes cursed and she vows never to kiss anyone again. unless someone else comes along to prove her wrong.
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Rate 3.5⭐
is an enjoyable and entertaining read, the beginning of the story gives you a hint that certain things are going to happen, but I must say that I wanted it to focus a little more on the Holloway sisters magic thing and the whole good luck kissing season thing; but I must say that it veered into being a young adult romance book with magical touches with a very different beginning.
but i must make it clear that there were things that i didn't think were right and that detracted points from the story. first of all you know that i don't like the cliché of instalove and this appears in the story and is used to justify the actions of the prota; and i say, ok she is a girl, she makes mistakes, but this girl makes them one after another that you say this is done intentionally haha.
Besides, the main problem as the story puts it has a very sad solution and it's just to clear the conscience of the main character.
The truth is that the story had a lot of potential if it had been taken in a different way.
I don't detract from the fact that it was entertaining and a light read.
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During kissing season, a kiss from Remy or her big sister Maggie will bring the boy or girl good luck. Or so it has been for all the Holloway girls before.But this year, Remy's first season, she doesn't follow the rules, dooming the boy she kisses to bad luck that nearly kills him and after that Remy's season becomes cursed and she vows never to kiss anyone again. unless someone else comes along to prove her wrong.
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Rate 3.5⭐
is an enjoyable and entertaining read, the beginning of the story gives you a hint that certain things are going to happen, but I must say that I wanted it to focus a little more on the Holloway sisters magic thing and the whole good luck kissing season thing; but I must say that it veered into being a young adult romance book with magical touches with a very different beginning.
but i must make it clear that there were things that i didn't think were right and that detracted points from the story. first of all you know that i don't like the cliché of instalove and this appears in the story and is used to justify the actions of the prota; and i say, ok she is a girl, she makes mistakes, but this girl makes them one after another that you say this is done intentionally haha.
Besides, the main problem as the story puts it has a very sad solution and it's just to clear the conscience of the main character.
The truth is that the story had a lot of potential if it had been taken in a different way.
I don't detract from the fact that it was entertaining and a light read.
June 2, 2022
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In the Holloway family, when girls turn 16, they acquire a sort "kissing magic". During their year-long season, the Holloway girls gift good luck to anyone they kiss. There are only two rules: You must not have given your heart away to anyone else, or the luck will be bad luck instead. You can't take a kiss, either - it has to be freely given. There is a book that has been passed down through the generations to record the names of those who each girl has kissed. On the first night of Remy's season, Remy knows exactly who she wants to kiss. But when they kiss, and it turns out that his heart was still with his former girlfriend, he begins to have bad luck, and everyone including Remy is convinced she is cursed. Now a new boy has moved next door, and he is making it really hard for her to keep her promise to herself not to kiss anyone. Especially because he seems to really want to get to know her, and isn't just using her for the Holloway luck. But before she can even think about kissing someone else, she'll have to find a way to fix the curse, or else her family's legacy will be tainted forever.
This was such a fun book. I read a previous book from this author - "The Secret Ingredient of Wishes" and loved it, so even though this was classified as a Teen/YA book, I wanted to check it out. This book was just as fun and magical. It had a fresh storyline, likeable characters, and you really wanted to root for Remy. I highly recommend this!
In the Holloway family, when girls turn 16, they acquire a sort "kissing magic". During their year-long season, the Holloway girls gift good luck to anyone they kiss. There are only two rules: You must not have given your heart away to anyone else, or the luck will be bad luck instead. You can't take a kiss, either - it has to be freely given. There is a book that has been passed down through the generations to record the names of those who each girl has kissed. On the first night of Remy's season, Remy knows exactly who she wants to kiss. But when they kiss, and it turns out that his heart was still with his former girlfriend, he begins to have bad luck, and everyone including Remy is convinced she is cursed. Now a new boy has moved next door, and he is making it really hard for her to keep her promise to herself not to kiss anyone. Especially because he seems to really want to get to know her, and isn't just using her for the Holloway luck. But before she can even think about kissing someone else, she'll have to find a way to fix the curse, or else her family's legacy will be tainted forever.
This was such a fun book. I read a previous book from this author - "The Secret Ingredient of Wishes" and loved it, so even though this was classified as a Teen/YA book, I wanted to check it out. This book was just as fun and magical. It had a fresh storyline, likeable characters, and you really wanted to root for Remy. I highly recommend this!
April 3, 2022
A very good premise about magic and good luck gone astray. The Holloway girls have inherited luck bringing kisses, and it's kissing season, whenever one of the girls turns sixteen. Remy and Maggie are sisters and when Maggie's seasons ends, Remy begins. Remy has a crush on a certain boy, who seems eager to kiss her too, only she turns a blind eye to his infatuation with another girl and thus breaks a cardinal rule when she finally kisses him. Riddled with guilt, heartbroken, and practically harassed by the boy's friends, Remy spends a miserable year, shunning everyone and trying to break the curse. She swears off kissing until the situation is resolved, but encounters a temptation when a cute boy moves into the neighboring house.
While I'm a bit uneasy with the idea of a sixteen year old spreading kisses for luck to whomever, the story turned out rather chaste with very few kisses involved. Remy's comforts are baking and music, and there is a very cute playlist at the end of the book. The focus is on Remy's internal struggles, both with her sense of guilt, although the other party was even more to blame, since he was leading her on, and with status as a social pariah because of the incident. There is more family dynamics, especially between the sisters, than romance, so adjust your expectations in advance. All in all, a pretty solid read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I'm a bit uneasy with the idea of a sixteen year old spreading kisses for luck to whomever, the story turned out rather chaste with very few kisses involved. Remy's comforts are baking and music, and there is a very cute playlist at the end of the book. The focus is on Remy's internal struggles, both with her sense of guilt, although the other party was even more to blame, since he was leading her on, and with status as a social pariah because of the incident. There is more family dynamics, especially between the sisters, than romance, so adjust your expectations in advance. All in all, a pretty solid read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2022
The Holloway Girls follows an intriguing YA premise of a family of women with the ability to bestow good luck with a kiss. Older sister Maggie enjoyed a glorious year, smooching numerous people during her “season.” But when the teen magic passes to Remy she immediately disobeys the inherent rules, injuring and cursing her crush. This well-crafted YA novel focuses on the fallout from that decision and her determination to avoid finding love to protect others – or at least until she can reverse the curse.
The sisters and their enticing new neighbors are vividly drawn, and readers see into the depths of Remy’s emotions as she bakes out her angst and tries to hide from a world that’s suddenly turned dark and unpredictable. For YA – and adult - readers who prefer complex, emotional journeys with magical overtones, this book casts a lovely spell.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an ARC copy.
The sisters and their enticing new neighbors are vividly drawn, and readers see into the depths of Remy’s emotions as she bakes out her angst and tries to hide from a world that’s suddenly turned dark and unpredictable. For YA – and adult - readers who prefer complex, emotional journeys with magical overtones, this book casts a lovely spell.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an ARC copy.
February 3, 2022
Thank you, Net Galley for this wonderful ARC.
Imagine getting good luck because you were kissed by a Holloway girl. But there are rules to be followed. The book is about Remy and her kissing season which did not turn out the way she was expecting. Not a witchy story and the focus was on Remy's struggle. Her feelings and dealings, sense of responsibility, stubbornness, and determination will make you both root for her and be miffed at the same time.
I found the blurb a bit confusing. I thought it was about the sisters, the magic angle was not explained. It is a teenage romance book and a bit of a slow start. But, everything comes to those who wait as the story becomes interesting towards the end.
Imagine getting good luck because you were kissed by a Holloway girl. But there are rules to be followed. The book is about Remy and her kissing season which did not turn out the way she was expecting. Not a witchy story and the focus was on Remy's struggle. Her feelings and dealings, sense of responsibility, stubbornness, and determination will make you both root for her and be miffed at the same time.
I found the blurb a bit confusing. I thought it was about the sisters, the magic angle was not explained. It is a teenage romance book and a bit of a slow start. But, everything comes to those who wait as the story becomes interesting towards the end.
May 26, 2022
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an HONEST review
This is a lighthearted story about Remy and her family's ability to offer good fortune to anybody they kiss during their kissing season. Remy's kissing season, however, began badly when she cursed her crush, Isaac. She then swore she'd never kiss anybody else, but Tobin, the new boy, is making it tough for her.
I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time reading this book since I didn't always like the main character. She can be obnoxious and dramatic, which is fair given that she is a teen with issues. The plot is intriguing in and of itself because it is set in a realistic setting with mystical aspects. It reminds me of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The book had a lot of draggy parts that I had to push through in order to finish it. The dinner scene between the Holloways and their new neighbors is my favorite part. It was both chaotic and funny.
more in mindlessnesschatter.blogpost.com
This is a lighthearted story about Remy and her family's ability to offer good fortune to anybody they kiss during their kissing season. Remy's kissing season, however, began badly when she cursed her crush, Isaac. She then swore she'd never kiss anybody else, but Tobin, the new boy, is making it tough for her.
I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time reading this book since I didn't always like the main character. She can be obnoxious and dramatic, which is fair given that she is a teen with issues. The plot is intriguing in and of itself because it is set in a realistic setting with mystical aspects. It reminds me of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The book had a lot of draggy parts that I had to push through in order to finish it. The dinner scene between the Holloways and their new neighbors is my favorite part. It was both chaotic and funny.
more in mindlessnesschatter.blogpost.com
June 4, 2022
This was a really cute, fluffy read that I would give 3.5+🌟’s if I could, but since I can’t I rounded up. It’s a fast, easy, well-written read. More of a teen romance with a small hint of Magic than the other way around but it was enjoyable all the same and I would definitely recommend this to others.
August 9, 2025
4 stars
Weird book, but I actually liked the pacing.
The FMC was honestly pretty unlikable—snobby and kind of a bitch to her sister.
There were a lot of things in this story that I didn’t agree with, and the concept itself was definitely strange.
But whatever—it still worked well enough for me to enjoy it overall.
Weird book, but I actually liked the pacing.
The FMC was honestly pretty unlikable—snobby and kind of a bitch to her sister.
There were a lot of things in this story that I didn’t agree with, and the concept itself was definitely strange.
But whatever—it still worked well enough for me to enjoy it overall.
August 16, 2022
great book 10/10
September 8, 2023
3.25 stars
August 5, 2024
This was really dang cute!
December 13, 2021
*I got a free copy through Netgalley, this in no way affected this review*
Look, I enjoyed this book, but I have a feeling there was so much more potential and the synopsis made me believe I would be reading a different kind of book.
It’s very character driven which puts the plot to the back a bit, which means it was a very easy book to follow but it didn’t really grab me so that I couldn’t put it down.
Remy was a fairly nice main character, though a bit whiny from time to time.
So a good read, but not extraordinary
Look, I enjoyed this book, but I have a feeling there was so much more potential and the synopsis made me believe I would be reading a different kind of book.
It’s very character driven which puts the plot to the back a bit, which means it was a very easy book to follow but it didn’t really grab me so that I couldn’t put it down.
Remy was a fairly nice main character, though a bit whiny from time to time.
So a good read, but not extraordinary
October 21, 2023
I liked it. It was a fun summer read.
April 4, 2023
The Holloway Girls is a very quick YA read about the Holloway family, who have the gift of spreading good luck as long as you kiss them during their kissing season.
This book started quickly; the pacing was terrific, and I was engaged. The only problem was I envisioned the story taking a different route than what you get. I need to learn to avoid doing that because I ended up disappointed with how the book turned out.
It was very YA, which is okay, but it wasn't what I was really in the mood to read. I also hoped for more magic, considering that was what the story was about. It has very, very little. I would have liked it more if it had amped up the magic and given us a broader background story of how that family got their magic.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book; I just wanted more.
This book started quickly; the pacing was terrific, and I was engaged. The only problem was I envisioned the story taking a different route than what you get. I need to learn to avoid doing that because I ended up disappointed with how the book turned out.
It was very YA, which is okay, but it wasn't what I was really in the mood to read. I also hoped for more magic, considering that was what the story was about. It has very, very little. I would have liked it more if it had amped up the magic and given us a broader background story of how that family got their magic.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book; I just wanted more.
November 3, 2021
If I were a YA character, I would be Remy. This book was fun, unique, quirky, and all around a great read. The characters were relatable, the conflict oddly realistic for a book about magic kisses, and had great music references. I loved the way the characters grew and matured as the book went on, how the relationships changed, were fractured and repaired, realistically. The pacing was good, the writing easy to read, and the story just all around fun. Highly recommend.
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