Kisses and Castles

Summer Expectations #1

by Kenzie Brayne

One English Summer. Two American Hearts.

My parents are sending me to England while they work on their relationship, and I can’t wait to dive into a distracting adventure. Staying with a distant relative, my nine-week trip is the perfect opportunity to reinvent myself and start living.

As the ‘new Ava’, I’ll explore the sights, take photos for the Junior Lens contest, and hopefully find a charming British boy for a summer romance.

Except when I arrive in the UK, my relative never shows.

Stranded, my only lifeline is Colton, a classmate who was on the same flight. We barely know each other, but when Colton offers me a place to stay, his relaxed smile reassures me everything will be okay.

It just might not be what I planned.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2024

About the author

A lifelong fan of storytelling, Kenzie originally studied film before turning her attention to the written word. She loves to read and write romance with kind heroes, crushes, awkward moments, temptation, and heart-pounding new experiences.

Reviews

[bryleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

okay ik the cover and the title are a little childish or silly, but honestly this book was so good. i was pleasantly surprised! colton was relaxed snd kind and easygoing and i really liked him. ava was sweet too, just like your average fmc! ending was a little unrealistic but still cute. it’s on kindle unlimited and is super fast paced and adorable!

[Mckenzee Pyeatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava was in the airport alone traveling to her cousins in England when her classmate Colton was there with his dad for a summer travel his dad made him give his number to her and that’s where it all started. Her flight was supposed to go to London to see her family member who just so happened to not be in town! So she went with Colton and his step family to their part of town for 3 weeks until her family got back and got to know his family and all their friends. They even got to walk about together and get to know each other more. Her main goal being to find “a summer romance” she found one but not the one she expected the entire time he went to her school and knew her since forever. They had a few problems to overcome with his step mom and dad but they over came them and it was a happy ending ❤️❤️ and she got her summer romance and more!!

[ash ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
wasn’t bad , i was just bored throughout most of it

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I was lucky to read Kisses And Castles as part of an ARC ***

I very much enjoyed this cute story. It sounds a lot like the perfect romances I would play in my head before I went to bed as a teenager, dreaming about my crush.
There’s no big drama and I guess, when you’re used to the usual romance stories, you’d be wondering when something will go absolutely wrong. So be ready for a no drama story. Something quick, easy and very pleasant to read.
I also very much enjoyed the author’s writing and the wit the characters have. The understanding and trust of the parents regarding their teenage children is what everyone would want for themselves. And the teenagers are such sweethearts your hearts will melt.
I’m always concerned by dual point of view stories but, since the 2 main characters are always together, it’s really easy to read and actually helps understand both sides of the story. And as a bonus the short chapters make it easy to stop and restart your reading without having to stop half way through a chapter!
Now it’s a bit too fairy tale compared to what I usually read, nonetheless it’s nice to read something super cute once every now and then.
I would recommend this book for an afternoon pick me up in place of a chick flick.

[books_by_bugs · Rating 4 out of 5]

✮⋆˙𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 ✮⋆˙ ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
✮⋆˙ 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 ✮⋆˙
It was fast paced and enjoyable. The chapter lengths were long enough that they weren't to slow, and weren't to fast. This is defintely a great read for you if you wanted something fast paced and easy to read. I loved the fact that it was set in an abroad place, which was refreshing for me! (The last three books I've read were from Canada, that is literally abroad)
✮⋆˙𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 ✮⋆˙
Okay, so like I think this would have been a higher rating if I hadn't have been reading romcoms for my past 4 books. the characters were a little harder to relate to then the last few books I've read, but thats a personal problem because I was on a high expectations romcom streak, Ifykwim. Also, why was there almost smut? It's a YA book.. I personally really liked Lily and Spencer! I personally would love a book with Lily, as well as Spencer. They were so fun.
✮⋆˙𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 ✮⋆˙
Despite the mc's not being the most relatable, I enjoyed the romance of Ava and Colton. I enjoyed how their friendship slowly turned into a relationship over the book. AND ITS MULTI POV. WHO DOESNT LOVE A BOOK WHERE THE MMC LOVES HIS GIRRRRRL?

[Laurel Tonti · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute!!! i really enjoyed this book and the end was perfect

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed kisses and castles, I wish this was out when I was 14/15 it's a lovely read. The story flows well with wonderful aspects of the UK included. I thoroughly enjoyed the connection that is grown between the two main characters as well as the friendship between others. It's got very few mature themes but this ties in wonderfully for the younger audience. Perfect Teenage Read.

[Ana Arellano · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute YA summer romance set in England. It was the type of book fifteen year old me would've passed out for during my anglophile phase. Very cute and I would definitely recommend.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish! I liked all of the characters and couldn’t put the book down. Definitely a must read!

[Nikki Culver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was gifted an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review of it.

This book is like a warm hug on a rainy day, taking you on a journey that's equal parts heartwarming and whimsical. It is very PG-13 with mentions of sex, but no explicit content, making it quite a bit more tame than the books I usually read.

What really steals the show in "Kisses and Castles" is the theme of teenage crushes and the joy they bring. Brayne captures those feelings of fluttery excitement and innocent infatuation so beautifully, it's like being transported back to your own teenage years. It's a reminder of the simple joys of youth and the magic of those first crushes that make your heart skip a beat.

If you're looking for a book that will make you smile, swoon, and maybe even daydream about your own teenage crushes, "Kisses and Castles" is the perfect pick. It's like a summer romance in literary form, and trust me, you won't want it to end. Grab a copy, cozy up with a cup of tea, and get ready to be swept off your feet!

https://amzn.to/3VN0tt7

*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my link, at no cost to you.*

[Cassidy Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kisses & Castles is such a cute summertime teenage romance! It’s got that feeling of having your first crush and Kenzie does such a great job of fully encapsulating that & making you as the reader feel the excitement but also, for lack of a better word, anxiety that comes along with those young teenage emotions.

I loved the setting being Europe instead of the standard American high school (not that I don’t LOVE those, I mean quarterback/nerdy girl romances are at least in the top 5 for me) but I loved the glimpse into the contrast between the Americans & their English counterparts (Lily & Spencer).

Overall this was a fun read with ups and downs but ultimately has that cute happy ending we all want in a high school romance!

I’m so happy I was selected to receive an ARC!! Talk about a dream come true! I can’t wait to see what Kenzie comes out with next! (Hopefully more about those Londonites😉)

[Cam S · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Kisses and Castles” is such a cute, lighthearted, and enjoyable summer romance that brought such a delightful smile to my face.
Ava & Colton are such a perfect couple to be brought together & I found it so fun to see their story unravel and begin!

I think the premise was great, and something a little different, with it taking place in England but both main characters being American, which I think is an interesting thing to explore and I found it turned out really nicely.

I also enjoyed the side characters that were included & think that delving deeper into their stories would also be really exciting in the future!

Overall, so cute, fluffy, and something that is perfect for a YA audience but can still be enjoyed by older audiences as well!

Great read! 🥰

[~°☆Michaiah☆°~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so I give this like a 3.5
The Book was good and super sweet for the first half, but about 75-80% through, I started to get irritated with Ava. And don't get me wrong, I love her. She's funny and sweet, but her reliance and constant nit-picking on how Colton was the only one to fix everything irritated me. If she didn't think their "fate was inevitable"( to break up), the both of them could have figured the long distance thing out. I just feel like Colton was placed with a lot of responsibility and burdens for fixing everything when Ava should have been ok to try as well. The End was sweet but definetly confirmed my dislike for Ava's actions. Anyway, still a cute book it just made me a little irritated towards the end

[Claira 99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kisses & Castles is such a cute
summertime teenage romance! It's got that feeling of having your first crush and Kenzie does such a great job of fully encapsulating that & making you as the reader feel the excitement but also, for lack of a better word, anxiety that comes along with those young teenage emotions.
I loved the setting being Europe instead of the standard American high school (not that I don't LOVE those, I mean quarterback/nerdy girl romances are at least in the top 5 for me) but I loved the glimpse into the contrast between the Americans & their English counterparts (Lily & Spencer).
Overall this was a fun read with ups and downs but ultimately has that cute happy ending we all want in a high school

[Claire🎀✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ I feel like this was so original (I get that most romance plots are gunna be the same) but this one just felt rly plain and rly…boring? Oh my goodness guess what!? They run into each other on the way to Italy and she stays with them the whole summer and they’ve never realized they see each other at school so I guess they need to fall in love. Normally I love a good romance book, but this one just wasn’t the best. And people have thoughts that need to STAY in their head but these people didn’t keep them in their head and I’m like cringing. 😣 I don’t hate this book it was just not great….i feel like this book had potential…but umm not any more.
Sry for the sarcasm I just can’t with this book 😖

[Orlaith Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it.

It started a bit slow but Kisses and Castles won me over with its meet cute and sweet way of showcasing a growing relationship between teenagers.

The characters warmed my heart especially Colton and Ava. They were all the things you hoped for in a super sweet cute couple and more. Colton was such a great character and had such great development - I loved every moment of reading his POV.

This has been the first YA romance that I've read in a long time and I loved every moment of it. I take my hat off to Kenzie for such a great read and hope to see and read more of her works.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kisses and Castles" by Kenzie Brayne is like a sweet summer breeze on your Kindle. Set in England, this YA romance follows Ava, who's ready to shake things up during her stay abroad. But when her plans go sideways and her relative ghosts her, she's left stranded. Enter Colton, her unexpected knight in shining armor. With dual POVs and plenty of summer vibes, this book serves up backyard camping, water fights, and maybe even a little soccer. You'll swoon over the chemistry between Ava and Colton and root for their feel-good ending. "Kisses and Castles" kicks off the Summer Expectations series with a bang!

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, summery, over the pond, ya romance! I really enjoyed this. The only reason I gave it a four star instead of five is because there was so much build up and the ending fell a little flat for me. I’m assuming it was to lead into the next book. I love books that are set in England though. I think Colton is the kind of boy every mother/father would want. He was a true gentleman throughout the whole book!


I hope there is book for Lilly, Brooke, Spencer!


CW: a lot of sizzling kisses, no explicit detail. Pg-13 book

[Joey Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because I loved the idea of a summer romance, especially one set in the UK. I adored Ava and Colton and the way their story slowly opened up on the page. You couldn’t help but cheer them on, and the twists and turns of the story just made it all the more sweet, cute and amazing. I ended up reading it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down, desperate to know how they ended up together. Adorable and relatable characters and just a perfectly sweet summer romance with all the bits and pieces you could want. Very much recommended!

[Maria Hutchins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya readers I think you will like this one. You have to meet Ava, Colton, and the rest of the characters.
I enjoyed the story. And as stories often do, it took me to a place and time I could imagine myself in. A time where (you) as a teenager, travel abroad, all alone, with all sorts of ideas in your head as to what you will do.... and then nothing goes as planned.
Kenzie Brayne, thank you for this one. I enjoyed this book cover to cover.

[MileHighSunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story of While this book is written

While this book is written for the young adult, it’s a great read for those of us who are older.


The characters were really well written and the story had a natural flow.

We’ll always remember our first love.

[Kimberlee McClure · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was cute, lighthearted, and easy to read. If you like YA romances, I would recommend this. 

[allyreadsss · Rating 3 out of 5]

rating: 3.4✨

no drama, just a quick read with all the summer vibes

[Ava Gideon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Dakota Windspirit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book so much 😍

[A.J. Barlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wash a bit vulgar at times, but I liked colton 🤷🏼‍♀️ Ava was okay

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 cute read!

[whimsical reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a bit long or slow at times. No smut but not innocent clean. Many sexual innuendos and one time in bed that could have gone further.

[Reader-pops (Taylor’s version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

-3.61 stars ⭐️

[Zoie Grose · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Kisses and Castles” is a captivating read that skillfully blends romance, adventure, and historical charm. Its engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and emotional depth make it deserving of a solid 4-star rating on Goodreads. While minor flaws in pacing and occasional clichés prevent it from achieving a perfect score, the book remains a highly enjoyable and memorable experience for readers seeking a romantic escape.