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Seven Little Kisses
“Don’t you know boys only pick on you when they like you?”
She said it in English. She said it with confidence. She said it so that I wouldn’t forget it.
Peruvian American Samaya Ximena has spent the last twenty-five years searching for love, friendship, and purpose within the confines of her coastal town. After immigrating to the United States with her mother, Rebeca Ximena, Samaya learns she must quickly come to terms with a new home, a new language, and the fact that her abusive father is no longer in their lives, opening her mother to explore the dating scene.
At first, the idea of a boy infiltrating their sisterhood sickens Samaya until she meets Isaac Haas, and one turbulent play date turns into bloodshed on the playground and a kiss that haunts her throughout every romantic pursuit. No matter who she kisses, Samaya cannot shake the memory of the owl-eyed boy and the scar he gifted her to remember him by.
As the years progress, Samaya finds herself running headfirst into a world of boys, parties, and drugs alongside her best friend, Lila Park. The girls form an unbreakable bond, leaning on each other as they explore love, dating, and the chaotic mess of being a teenage girl. That is until one drunken night out at a frat house forever changes Samaya's life, and an owl-eyed boy kneels at her feet as if the last 14 years without each other never happened.
She said it in English. She said it with confidence. She said it so that I wouldn’t forget it.
Peruvian American Samaya Ximena has spent the last twenty-five years searching for love, friendship, and purpose within the confines of her coastal town. After immigrating to the United States with her mother, Rebeca Ximena, Samaya learns she must quickly come to terms with a new home, a new language, and the fact that her abusive father is no longer in their lives, opening her mother to explore the dating scene.
At first, the idea of a boy infiltrating their sisterhood sickens Samaya until she meets Isaac Haas, and one turbulent play date turns into bloodshed on the playground and a kiss that haunts her throughout every romantic pursuit. No matter who she kisses, Samaya cannot shake the memory of the owl-eyed boy and the scar he gifted her to remember him by.
As the years progress, Samaya finds herself running headfirst into a world of boys, parties, and drugs alongside her best friend, Lila Park. The girls form an unbreakable bond, leaning on each other as they explore love, dating, and the chaotic mess of being a teenage girl. That is until one drunken night out at a frat house forever changes Samaya's life, and an owl-eyed boy kneels at her feet as if the last 14 years without each other never happened.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2024
9 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Ferrand
1 book65 followersSamantha Ferrand is a Peruvian-American writer and director with an act for developing tender narratives concerning immigration, female empowerment, and romance.
Samantha obtained her MFA in Directing from Chapman University, where she created her graduate thesis film, LA CASITA DE LA MARIPOSA, a magical realism exploration of her mother's experience of immigrating to America and leaving her abusive husband. The film won several awards in Directing, Cinematography, Production Design, and Performance and played in festivals worldwide, including the Vienna International Film Festival and Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival.
Samantha created a name for herself in the world of literature via her TikTok alter ego LiteraryLibra and had the pleasure of sitting on panels for Barnes & Nobles, interviewing esteemed New York Times best-selling authors such as Holly Black & VE Schwab, and is now working alongside TASCHEN promoting their stunning art books to the world at large.
Her debut novel, Seven Little Kisses, hits shelves in July 2024 and will be featured at Galaxy Con in Austin, Texas.
Samantha obtained her MFA in Directing from Chapman University, where she created her graduate thesis film, LA CASITA DE LA MARIPOSA, a magical realism exploration of her mother's experience of immigrating to America and leaving her abusive husband. The film won several awards in Directing, Cinematography, Production Design, and Performance and played in festivals worldwide, including the Vienna International Film Festival and Hollywood IWAA International Film Festival.
Samantha created a name for herself in the world of literature via her TikTok alter ego LiteraryLibra and had the pleasure of sitting on panels for Barnes & Nobles, interviewing esteemed New York Times best-selling authors such as Holly Black & VE Schwab, and is now working alongside TASCHEN promoting their stunning art books to the world at large.
Her debut novel, Seven Little Kisses, hits shelves in July 2024 and will be featured at Galaxy Con in Austin, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 27, 2024
I had the greatest privilege of reading an arc of this book—many months ago—and I am still thinking about it.
This coming of age, right person-wrong time, romance book is a stunning debut by the fantastic Samantha Ferrand, who does not hold back or pull her punches in her writing. Beautiful prose bolstered by a heart achingly good story, SLK is a read that had me reliving my girlhood, my adolescence and young adult life in visceral ways.
Yes, this is a romantic, kicking your feet and squealing book.
Yes, this is a tragic, life gets in the way, grab a pillow and cry your eyes out book.
But it also so much more.
It is the journey of a woman.
It is the unbreakable bonds of family.
It is a love affair of friendship, and how as girls, we sometimes are each others soul mates.
It is religion, it is abandonment, it is trauma, it is love, it is healing, it is bliss.
I’m so excited for the world to read and treasure this as much as I do.
And watch out! Bc Samantha Ferrand is HERE to stay!!!
This coming of age, right person-wrong time, romance book is a stunning debut by the fantastic Samantha Ferrand, who does not hold back or pull her punches in her writing. Beautiful prose bolstered by a heart achingly good story, SLK is a read that had me reliving my girlhood, my adolescence and young adult life in visceral ways.
Yes, this is a romantic, kicking your feet and squealing book.
Yes, this is a tragic, life gets in the way, grab a pillow and cry your eyes out book.
But it also so much more.
It is the journey of a woman.
It is the unbreakable bonds of family.
It is a love affair of friendship, and how as girls, we sometimes are each others soul mates.
It is religion, it is abandonment, it is trauma, it is love, it is healing, it is bliss.
I’m so excited for the world to read and treasure this as much as I do.
And watch out! Bc Samantha Ferrand is HERE to stay!!!
August 21, 2024
All the happenstance of “When Harry Met Sally” mixed with the heartbreaking ending of “Casablanca”.
This is ONE HELL of a debut novel. Seven Little kisses is real, raw, and at times even emotional.
If you’re looking for a silly lil rom-com to give you butterflies consider this your sign to turn around. If you’re looking for a story that feels familiar, visceral, and beautifully tragic then welcome to Seven Little Kisses.
This is ONE HELL of a debut novel. Seven Little kisses is real, raw, and at times even emotional.
If you’re looking for a silly lil rom-com to give you butterflies consider this your sign to turn around. If you’re looking for a story that feels familiar, visceral, and beautifully tragic then welcome to Seven Little Kisses.
September 1, 2024
I don’t really read this genre but enjoyed this book!!! Super relatable and love the Latina representation ! Shoutout to Latina moms 🥹 I hope this gets turned into a movie
October 7, 2025
This is not my typical book I would normally go for, however, I was enthralled.
Seven Little Kisses wrecked me in the best possible way. It’s one of those books that makes you feel everything.. love, heartbreak, healing, all of it. It’s a reminder that you can love someone with your whole heart and still walk away if that’s what’s best for you.
Samaya’s story follows her through twenty plus years of growing up, falling in love, getting lost, and slowly finding herself again. It’s emotional and raw but also so real. Every chapter felt like a memory I’d lived through! The kind of writing that hugs you and breaks you at the same time.
What I loved most is that it’s not just a romance!!
It’s about friendship, family, survival, and choosing yourself. It’s about learning that self-love doesn’t mean you stop loving others, it just means you finally include you.
My favorite quote was:
“It was weird, but it was the kind of weird thing I’d been dreaming of finding all my life.”
By the end, Samaya isn’t just a character, she’s every woman who’s ever given too much, hurt deeply, and come out stronger for it. Seven Little Kisses is soft, powerful, and will stay with me for a long time.
Seven Little Kisses wrecked me in the best possible way. It’s one of those books that makes you feel everything.. love, heartbreak, healing, all of it. It’s a reminder that you can love someone with your whole heart and still walk away if that’s what’s best for you.
Samaya’s story follows her through twenty plus years of growing up, falling in love, getting lost, and slowly finding herself again. It’s emotional and raw but also so real. Every chapter felt like a memory I’d lived through! The kind of writing that hugs you and breaks you at the same time.
What I loved most is that it’s not just a romance!!
It’s about friendship, family, survival, and choosing yourself. It’s about learning that self-love doesn’t mean you stop loving others, it just means you finally include you.
My favorite quote was:
“It was weird, but it was the kind of weird thing I’d been dreaming of finding all my life.”
By the end, Samaya isn’t just a character, she’s every woman who’s ever given too much, hurt deeply, and come out stronger for it. Seven Little Kisses is soft, powerful, and will stay with me for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
“Conversation is easy. But it is difficult to find someone you can be quiet with.”
This is such a sweet debut, that feels rooted in reality and tackles some darker topics well. It’s a really quick read, but it packs a punch.
The story focuses on Samaya and seven kisses she’s had in her life, ranging from childhood through adulthood. She faces some really difficult moments as she moves through high school and college, and keeps a lot of it hidden away. But Isaac, the boy who kissed her when she was a kid is always on her mind.
I really loved the way Samaya finds Isaac again, but also how relatable she is as a protagonist. She struggles with making friends, the pressure of trying drugs, and partying. After a traumatic event in college, the way her character changes is so palpable, and it propels the narrative through to the end.
The ending is perfect. It’s as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, but it feels real. It makes sense in the realm of the story and it gives both Samaya and Isaac a proper ending.
This is such a sweet debut, that feels rooted in reality and tackles some darker topics well. It’s a really quick read, but it packs a punch.
The story focuses on Samaya and seven kisses she’s had in her life, ranging from childhood through adulthood. She faces some really difficult moments as she moves through high school and college, and keeps a lot of it hidden away. But Isaac, the boy who kissed her when she was a kid is always on her mind.
I really loved the way Samaya finds Isaac again, but also how relatable she is as a protagonist. She struggles with making friends, the pressure of trying drugs, and partying. After a traumatic event in college, the way her character changes is so palpable, and it propels the narrative through to the end.
The ending is perfect. It’s as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, but it feels real. It makes sense in the realm of the story and it gives both Samaya and Isaac a proper ending.
September 20, 2024
Seven Little Kisses is a beautiful reminder that two things can exist at once: we can love someone and still choose the path that is ultimately best for us. Done with deep respect and sensitivity, Ferrand takes our hand and walks us through twenty-plus years of a young woman’s journey, masterfully weaving together a deeply moving and empowering coming-of-age story about self-discovery, love, profound loss, survival, and healing.
The book’s focus on family and friendship gripped my heart, my favorite quote being:
"It was weird, but it was the kind of weird thing I'd been dreaming of finding all my life."
This quote celebrates the bond shared between two friends and perfectly encapsulates Samaya’s journey of wishing to be seen by those around her and her powerful growth into a young woman who sees and chooses herself in her entirety.
The book’s focus on family and friendship gripped my heart, my favorite quote being:
"It was weird, but it was the kind of weird thing I'd been dreaming of finding all my life."
This quote celebrates the bond shared between two friends and perfectly encapsulates Samaya’s journey of wishing to be seen by those around her and her powerful growth into a young woman who sees and chooses herself in her entirety.
July 5, 2025
Immigrant experience condensed and amplified in the most realistic way
The painful college experiences
Sex and the city
Ride or die childhood friends
The axe body spray of it all
I stopped reading Iron Flame because I couldn’t put this book down
The tightrope of childhood and adolescence
Experience and inexperience
Wrong and right
Being ritchous or being damned
Fantastic banter
Painful childhoods, tormented relationships, boy crazy besties and hopeful futures
It was so emotional, so hopeful, so angsty so good
The ending!!!!! I died….i just can’t….it was so good!!!! I need more!!!
Think Love, Rosie, one day and The Bridges of Madison County
The painful college experiences
Sex and the city
Ride or die childhood friends
The axe body spray of it all
I stopped reading Iron Flame because I couldn’t put this book down
The tightrope of childhood and adolescence
Experience and inexperience
Wrong and right
Being ritchous or being damned
Fantastic banter
Painful childhoods, tormented relationships, boy crazy besties and hopeful futures
It was so emotional, so hopeful, so angsty so good
The ending!!!!! I died….i just can’t….it was so good!!!! I need more!!!
Think Love, Rosie, one day and The Bridges of Madison County
August 6, 2024
It has been far too long since I have read something that was so beautifully written. The amount of time I highlighted bits and pieces from this book is high. If I had to describe this book it would be nostalgia and girlhood. Go read this book!
I’ve been following Samantha via booktok on this journey since 2020 and feel so proud of this accomplishment for someone that I haven’t even met. Congratulations!
I’ve been following Samantha via booktok on this journey since 2020 and feel so proud of this accomplishment for someone that I haven’t even met. Congratulations!
August 20, 2024
An absolutely beautiful novel by Samantha Ferrand! Seven Little Kisses breathes nostalgia in the feelings of growing up and the heartbreaking dynamics of so many different impactful relationships as a young adult. Every encounter of this storyline rings with a truth of reality that is not often felt in fiction.
January 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ this was a very sweet book. Really enjoyed the characters growth through girlhood and her relationships with her mom and best friend. The thread of 7 kisses to tell the story works well. There was a mention of someday turning this into a screenplay in the author’s acknowledgements and I agree it would be great for that!
August 8, 2024
watching Samaya grow and become a confident woman makes me smile ear to ear. did i cry? absolutely. such a beautiful story written by a beautiful lady i have the pleasure of calling a dear friend. a must read
September 10, 2024
My one request is that this book be longer. This was an incredible debut, I got lost in the story telling and felt every heart break and celebration. I will be thinking about Samaya and Isaac for the rest of time 😭
September 19, 2024
a coming of age story everyone needs to read
What a wild ride. This book tugs at your heart strings every step of the way. Samaya’s story is definitely one worth following every step of the way. A well-written page turner written by a simply astounding human being.
What a wild ride. This book tugs at your heart strings every step of the way. Samaya’s story is definitely one worth following every step of the way. A well-written page turner written by a simply astounding human being.
December 26, 2024
beautiful
December 17, 2025
This book felt like therapy
January 14, 2026
Beautiful story about a girl becoming a women and ‘coming into her own’. 5 stars. Girl power!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews