The Kiss Lottery

by Ilsa Madden-Mills

From bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes a steamy novella about first love and second chances where a city girl returns home for a Valentine’s Day tradition…and the boy who broke her heart.

Roses are red, violets are blue—someone in Rose has feelings for you…

Yeah, bad ones. Everly Davis didn’t leave her tight-knit hometown on the best terms. It’s been ten years, but you don’t forget heartbreak like that. Then again, the anonymous invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, gives Everly content for her podcast. And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.

Beckett Whitfield has never left Rose—and he’s never forgotten Everly. He even named the villain in his latest bestseller after her. Turns out she’s not happy about that. Nothing about their reunion is particularly happy, and after the way they left things, what did he expect?

When the Kiss Lottery pairs them together, Everly and Beckett will have to confront old feelings that never went away and the secrets they never shared. But finally telling each other everything might be exactly what they’ve needed all along.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Second Chance, Friends To Lovers, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

#1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances.

A former high school English teacher and librarian, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online. ☺


★ Sign up for her newsletter and receive insider info about new releases and exclusive giveaways

★ You can stalk her/sign up on the contact page: ilsamaddenmills.com

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★ Instagram @Ilsamaddenmills


New Book News:

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Not My Match drops January 19/21 (pre-order on Amazon)

Reviews

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars! 🌟—Thanks to Ilsa Madden-Mills & Love Notes PR for the eARC!

Okay, but Beckett saying he never hated her when he literally made her the villain in his book?? Boy, if you write me as a murderer, best believe I'm never speaking to you again.

This was cute, small-town, Valentine’s Day, childhood friends-to-enemies-to-lovers chaos with a Kiss Lottery twist. Everly is back in Rose, Tennessee, for her podcast, and Beckett—aka the ex-bestie who sent her running—is very much not thrilled to see her. Except... he kinda is. But he’s also still mad. And apparently, the way to handle unresolved feelings is to make your former BFF the actual antagonist in your bestseller. Normal.

The chemistry? Adorable. The banter? Had me grinning. The kiss lottery setup? Very Hallmark meets rom-com shenanigans. I loved Everly’s sass and the way Beckett tried (and failed) to stay grumpy. Plus, the small-town vibes were on point—quirky side characters, gossip, and a kitten?? 🐱💘

But Beckett... ugh. I needed more groveling, more accountability. He was so stubborn, and the whole “I never hated you” thing?? Sir, explain the villain arc then. I liked their second chance, but Everly deserved an actual apology, not just longing stares and a swoony moment at the end.

Short, fun, and full of heart! If you love small-town romance with a sprinkle of pettiness and forced proximity, this one’s for you. 💋

[mimi (depression slump) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could never be that chill with the people who shut me off the moment I needed them more, but you do you, girl.

↠ 2.5 stars

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed this longer

There were too many things in this that needed more in order for me to feel satisfied 😬.

Everly Davis (17-27) returns to her hometown after ten years, now a successful podcaster. She received a mysterious invitation to the town’s annual “Kiss Lottery” event. Curious as to who or why this was sent, she decides to go 👀.

She reunites with Beckett Whitfield (17-27), her childhood best friend and former crush 😅. Their friendship ended abruptly due to a high school incident that caused her to leave all these years 😅 and also gave her a bad name 🫣. You see, she was dating one of their close friends but was secretly wanting Beckett 😬. Her diary was discovered and everyone found out- which caused a huge fight that ultimately led to the loss of the state championship basketball game 🫠 and made Everly enemy #1 😅.

Tensions rise when Everly discovers that Beckett, now a bestselling author, has modeled the villain in his latest novel after her.

But there are other truths that have to get revealed, and a lot of growing up that needs to be had 🤷‍♀️.

What I liked:
—the tension

—the times I smiled or giggled

—the one long 🔥 we get (slow burn. 80%)

—the side characters

—how much they want each other

—the revelations 😅

—the tattoo ❤️

—their pasts and stories ❤️

What I didn’t like:
—ten years of pining? How? Meh. I don’t consider it pining when they could’ve been together 😑 lol

—too many things and not enough development 😒. This needed to be another 50 pages longer at least. It’s almost like the ticking of boxes were done but they weren’t done great

—more 🔥 lol this says it’s steamy but come on 😅. Also. The one scene we get never mentions protection yet in the next chapter protection is mentioned 🤔. I’m wondering if IMM forgot to mention it or forget if she had them use it. Cause they didn’t 🤷‍♀️

Overall. This was cute.

⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating*/sharing
-parents cheated
-parents deaths recounted
-owd: the queen bee from high school wants the H. He shuts up down
-mild omd: the bf the h used to date (and used to be the H’s best friend) makes an appearance and the past is brought up but it’s not a big deal
-HEA

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a cute story. A second chance romance that was a quick listen. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Savannah Peachwood & Sebastian York
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 4h 15m

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Grey's Promotions)

Everly Davis left her small hometown ten years ago. She moved to New York and swore she’d never return to Rose, Tennessee, but here she is back where it all started when she receives a mysterious valentine inviting her to attend the towns Kiss Lottery. The Kiss Lottery is a huge tradition in Rose. She’s newly single, and could use a distraction, so this anonymous valentine intrigues her. She wants to find out who sent it, but figures she could also use the trip to do research for her travel podcast.

When she crosses paths with the boy who broke her heart, old feelings resurface. One look at Beckett Whitfield, and she feels sixteen again. He’s the ghost from her past she was least looking forward to confronting. She’s furious at him for making her the villain in his latest book, and would love to annoy him and get a reaction out of him. She always was good at stirring up trouble, and felt like the town despised her. She had a rocky history in Rose, and had never found a place where she fit in. Seeing Beckett again reminded her she missed her best friend. They were close since they were kids, and then things fell apart in high school when she made a mistake, and he never spoke to her again. Everything gets complicated when she gets paired up with Beckett at the Kiss Lottery. She thought he’d forgotten all about her, but could they still find their way back to one another?

The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a short, sweet standalone Valentine themed novella about first loves and second chances. It’s a small town, frenemies to lovers romance full of secrets, unbreakable connections, amazing chemistry and fabulous banter. I really enjoyed this story! <333



***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Lottery-I...

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everly returns to her hometown, where she hasn’t been for ten years, after receiving an anonymous invitation to the annual Kiss lottery. Soon, she meets Beckett, her teenage crush, but they stopped talking after a certain incident. It turns out that Beckett hadn’t forgotten her all these years and even named the villain in his latest book after her.

This is a sweet Valentine’s novella. I liked Beckett and the fact that he took the first step to reconnect with Everly, but why did he get that awful tattoo?
I was also moved by the storyline about the accident, but the part with the diary seemed strange to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Gayane♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re in the mood for a quick Valentine’s Day book with all the vibes, pick this book up. ❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷


If you want to see my edits to this book, follow me @gayanesbookgram 🫶🏻

[joni ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 3.5/5 ⭐️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✧.➛ love doesn't always make sense, but it can
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ endure time, distance, even mistakes.

arc review 💌
release date: feb 11


꒰ 💘꒱ 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 - this book follows everly as she returns to her small town (rose) after receiving an invitation to the kiss lottery that happens every year for valentine's day. she left her hometown on bad terms and expected everyone to resent her for it. the town is full of heartbreak and humiliation. beckett, everly's first love and childhood best friend has never left rose and stayed their his whole life. he's an author and their first reunion is anything but pleasant.

⁀➴ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
💋 first love
🧸 second chance
💋 best friends- to strangers - to lovers
🧸 small town
💋 forced proximity
🧸 secrets



꒰ 🌹 ꒱ 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
this was an short and fun valentine's day novella. perfect read for febuary with some spice. i loved how long it took for the characters to actually get together, it was perfect- not too slow or too fast. like for a novella it was a good pace and i liked the character arcs. there was good development and years of yearning.

────୨ৎ────

*slight spoilers*

꒰ 🎧꒱ 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 - i liked her perspective and she had reasons to be wary of beckett and everyone in the town. i loved how she had a podcast and everyone was so welcoming to have her back. them judging the cookie/bake competition was so cute and like the banter - yes please. don't have a ton to say since it was pretty short and i dont remember much about her specifically.....

꒰ 📚꒱ 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐭 - this man has been in love with her for YEARS like forever. i feel so bad for him especially with her mom and his dad like ughhhh 💔 like he's so sweet and all the gifts omg? this guy is down bad and obsessed. his accident and her in hospital??? guys they are actually meant to be. im a huge sucker for second chance and this delivered.

────୨ৎ────

꒰ 💟 ꒱ 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬

➵ he is the song that plays when the world falls away, when everything else is noise and he's the only thing that makes sense.

➵ i've spend ten years yearning for you, thinking of you, dreaming of you

➵ belonging doesn't have to be a place; it can be about someone who makes you feel like you're home, no matter where you are. and beckett- he's the person for me

➵ not once in the past ten years have i stopped loving him. i've carried him with me through every corner of the world, every adventure, every romance.


thank you to love notes pr and the author for an e-arc

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, small-town, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story that had me hooked from the start! Everly and Beckett had so much history, and I loved how their past was sprinkled throughout the book and it kept things moving at a perfect pace.

Their connection was undeniable from the start, and their reunion was a little hostile but oh-so-electric. I appreciated that they actually talked through their issues, though I wouldn’t have minded if Beckett had grovelled a bit more. But hey, Everly’s not the type to make him beg (even if I kinda wished she would).

The friend group had me cracking up, the romance had me swooning, and while some parts were predictable, I didn’t mind one bit. It was fast-paced and sweet.

Read this if you like:
❤️‍🔥 Return to Hometown
❤️‍🔥 Small Town
❤️‍🔥 Second Chance
❤️‍🔥 Friends to Lovers

[Kelsey H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Love Notes PR and Author Ilsa Madden-Mills for the opportunity to read this ARC! 💕

Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟
Spice: 🌶🌶

Things I liked: I love second chance romances, and it's so sweet that they were childhood friends and were in love with each other for so long. I also thought the little sub-plot with Lily and Quincy was cute.


Things I didn't like: I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the main characters. And even though it's 10 years later, some character interactions and dialogue felt like highschool level drama.

The tattoo. I think it could've been a better moment if he had picked something else, but the actual tattoo itself felt too corny.

There was too much squeezed into this short book. You have the lottery, the Lily and Quincy sub-plot, the affair sub-plot, the MMC/FMC friendship as kids and fallout in highschool, Beckett's pining and subsequent accident. This might have been better as a full novel rather than a novella.


Final thoughts: Not bad for a quick Valentine's Day read, but there were things that could've made it better.

[Travelogged Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember his laughter. His dimples when he smiled at me. His arm around my shoulders. He was my anchor. My tether. Until he wasn’t.

This was a fast paced and light hearted, second chance romance! The chemistry between Beckett & Everly was undeniable. I liked how they talked openly about their past mistakes and regrets. The slow burn was also satisfying and I was rooting for both of them to end up together because it was obvious that they were a perfect match. I felt like the plot was predictable but the romance and their childhood connection was sweet so it didn't ruin anything. Still, there were a few parts that could've been better. But overall, this was an enjoyable read for me and I can't wait to see what's coming next by the author!

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember every moment with him. Each one is written on my heart.

Super sweet best friends—frenemies—to lovers romance novella. This is Valentine’s Day themed where the heroine returns to her small town to record a podcast about the towns holiday traditions. Rose, Tennessee has its own unique way to celebrate, they hold a kiss lottery with people who sign up and pair up couples to go on a date and then see where it goes by. No pressure. Just to see if magic happens. Everly hadn’t been to her hometown in years and the man who chased her out seems unhappy to see her once she’s back. Seems being the operative. I enjoyed this read because it was just easier than expected. When someone runs from their small town you expect a less than stellar welcome home, but Everly is loved and Beckett made sure their reunion was more than just apologies and confessions. If you’re looking for a sweet semi-second chance romance, then I highly recommend this read.

AVAILABLE 2/11
**ARC

[Leticia&#x1f33b; · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

The Kiss Lottery is a dual POV, second chance rom-com, set in the small town of Rose, TN about Everly and Beckett who were childhood friends; however, due to an incident that occurred during high school, they grew apart and Everly eventually left Rose to pursue a career in NY. Everly, now a podcaster, receives a mysterious invitation to return to Rose for the annual tradition, Kiss Lottery. While in Rose, we see Everly connect to her childhood friends and her "former friend" Beckett, who is now a bestseller author.

The Kiss Lottery is the first book I read from Author Ilsa Madden-Mills, and I loved everything about it. Although it is advertised as a novella, the author did an excellent job in giving us a story with great plot and characters. I loved how I was able to picture everything in mind as I was reading about the town and residents in Rose, TN. The relationships that Everly and Beckett had with the other characters was amazing. Would love to see this be part of a series to read about the other characters.

Thank you Montlake for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[(betts) ⚜]

DNF 58% — chapter [12/21]

//

ngl it was pretty disappointing.

I have nothing to say about the writing style, it was very well written and all that, my beef is about the story and the characters.
LOL they basically were everything I would stay away from.

A cute childhood friendship between Beckett and Everly ends in the worst possible way when he first, discovers his father is having an affair with her mother, he pulls back and Everly in her teenage years, grows more and more attached with his best friend, Carson. The three of them have this kind of friendship that on one side is cute and funny and they have a great time, on the other side is excruciating seeing Beckett completely in pain seeing his bff and his childhood crush in love and he is thorn with guilt because of it, scared shitless to do or say anything that could TURN himself a cheater like his father.
As you can imagine Carson finds out about Beckett/Everly more-than-friendship and they split, he make Beckett choose between him and her and he chooses him.

Fuck him, fuck Everly and fuck everyone in that stupid town called "Rose", what the hell is even that name???

I've reached a point where I'm reading and insulting them for their behaviour, bunch of 30y/o acting still like teenagers.

If you wanna hold a grudge at least act like it and don't change your mind 5 second later.

[Readaholic Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kiss Lottery was a cute Valentine's themed novella. I love Ilsa Madden-Mills romances that are on the angsty side and this one was definitely more on the cute-sy side. It was straight forward and to the point, but I didn't get the character development that I wanted. Because it was a novella, I wasn't getting the chemistry between Everly and Beckett even though this was a second chance romance. Overall, it was a cute Valentine's day themed novella - a solid 3 stars.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every + Beckett

After ten years in New York, Everly is finally back in her Tennessee hometown of Rose. She wants to do a podcast about the annual Valentine's Day Kiss Lottery.
The love of her life: Beckett...
He's still here. Still as hot as ever. Still in love with her?
Well, they're both signed up for the Kiss Lottery...

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ...

══════════════════




ADORABLE

Such a cute little Valentine's Day Novella!
I loved Every and Beckett. And the aunt, the friends, the town.
Cute, funny second chance-ish small town love story. With lots of funny and sparky and adorable moments. Some secrets, some sadness and an old town mystery. Just a really adorable love story! And not even all that short for a novella. Go read it!

Tiny complaint. The cover guy is not Beckett. He would never stand around like that all weird and model-ish. He's a cute hot writer nerd!

THE KISS LOTTERY was such a funny + sweet + adorable second chance small town Valentine's Day love story novella! I loved it! Run to your nearest book store for your own Beckett - this one is MINE!

If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!


💜 💜

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 ⭐️'s

The premise is that Everyly gets an invitation to go back to her hometown for the Kiss Lottery. She's intrigued with who could've sent the invitation to her because she left after a bit of a controversy.

She runs into her ex best friend, Beckett, and a lot of feelings come out on both sides. Luckily, her current best friend, Tabby, is there for some much needed laughs.

There's some mystery that never quite gets played through but I enjoyed how it worked out. The characters were interesting and the couple was really cute. It just needed to be longer.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a swoony, second chance, small town, dual POV romance that takes place over Valentines. It had lots of heart, a kitten, a secret admirer, backstories from side characters that really added emotional depth to the story. Good on audio narrated by two favs, Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York! The kiss lottery is a perfect, quick, feel-good read to grab for the holiday! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everly and Beckett get a well-deserved second chance amidst serious secrets and light-hearted fun.

Based on events later in the book, I didn't really understand Beckett's initial animosity towards Everly. That threw me off somewhat, and I kept waiting for that bitterness to pop up again, but it never did. If anyone had reason to feel bitter, it would be Everly.

Other than that, I enjoyed the banter between Beckett and Everly and their chemistry. Oh, and Everly's confusion about what was happening. Well, it's fair to say I was also a bit confused at the start. The gifts and the "roses are red…" notes had me smiling.

This novella packed in Everly's humiliation in high school, Beckett's secret, and their reunion without it feeling rushed or incomplete. And let's not forget the ghost story. I can highly recommend this if you like a steamy second-chance romance.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also on Hooked By That Book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and this couple. Everly receives an invitation to a Valentine’s Day event in her hometown which she left with no real intention to return. Pretty quickly, she runs into her childhood best friend and crush, Beckett, who she wrongly thinks hates her even though she still has unrequited feelings for him. Their love for each other develops and grows alongside the events of The Kiss Lottery. I was sad to leave this book, this couple, their friends and this town because I enjoyed reading about them so much. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work. Thank you to Ilsa Madden-Mills and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this arc early!

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ The Kiss Lottery: how to get some after a decade of... pinning?*

Okay, let’s talk about The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills. I wanted to love this one—small-town romance, second-chance vibes, a quirky Kiss Lottery twist—it sounded like a fun read. But sadly, it fell flat for me in almost every way.

First, the writing. It felt underdeveloped, like a draft that needed a few more rounds of editing. The dialogue was often clunky, and the pacing dragged in places, making it hard to stay engaged. The small-town setting had potential, but it ended up feeling generic and forgettable, lacking the charm I was hoping for.

Now, the romance. The tension between the main characters was practically non-existent. What was supposed to be a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic felt more like two people stuck in a loop of petty arguments and miscommunication. And the grand romantic gestures? Let’s just say they missed the mark for me, coming off as more cringe than swoon-worthy.

The Kiss Lottery itself was a cute idea, but it wasn’t enough to carry the story. The lack of meaningful character development made it hard to root for the couple, and the closed-door romance didn’t help. For a book that needed some spark, it felt like the emotional and physical chemistry was left on the cutting room floor.

Overall, this one was a miss for me. If you’re into low-stakes, fluffy romances with minimal drama, you might enjoy it. But if you’re looking for depth, tension, or a fresh take on the genre, this probably isn’t it.

🌶🌶 - There's one single open-door scene, and although it was good and did help the overall lack of tension between both MCs... I just can't give this more than a 2.5 - SNS!

This was an ARC review! So thank you so much Net Galley from allowing me to read it early!!*

[Megan Coggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little quirky Valentine’s Day novella!
💌💘

A kiss lottery… in Rose, TN…
Second chance
Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Grumpy/sunshine vibes
Return to hometown

He’s a writer… she’s the villain in his book
She’s a podcaster

Quirky side characters
Rom-com ish vibes 🤣🤣🤣
Banter

The pacing of this was perfect. Not overly spicy.
I thought this was cute.
I had a good time.
For how short it was there was a lot packed in.

Arc review ✨
4.25 ⭐️

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

In a world where adults are stuck on high school drama, Everly receives a mysterious invitation to the kiss lottery in her hometown, Rose. She returns to Rose and is entangled in her high school drama only it’s ten years later and everyone’s now adults. I was severely off put by the way the characters acted, they were nearly thirty and still hung up on things that happened in high school.

However, I do understand that it’s a small town and that part of the trope entails that everyone knows everything about everyone. Gossip sticks and that’s very much evident in this novella.

Unfortunately, I didn’t feel a connection to the romance or the characters.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was a novella, but that’s okay, because I totally adored it! It was short and sweet, but steamy! I loved Everly and Beckett’s story. Both had their reasons for the things that came between them. Some misunderstandings, some not wanting to tell because of nerves, and some trying to make sure the other still got to live out their dreams. The idea behind the town’s Kiss Lottery was cute, and I like how it worked.

There was a lot of cute banter and fun characters that were friends, family, and townspeople. The poems were fun, the gifts were fun, especially the kitten Everly named Murder. There was a little side story of a ghost that needed some closure, and the way it connected back to the characters was just so perfect! Since this is a novella, and I enjoyed all these characters so much, I would love if the author would write a whole series based around them and the town, and the Kiss Lottery too!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[BettyLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Having barely visited her small hometown in 10 years, Everly feels untethered and like she doesn’t really belong there, or anywhere anymore. But then two things drive her back: (1) she discovers that Beckett, her childhood/high school best friend (who she once hoped might be more, until an incident tore them apart), wrote her into his latest book as the villain, and (2) she receives a formal invitation to the town’s annual ‘kiss lottery’, a Valentine’s Day festival pairing up willing singles. She thinks it would be perfect to cover for her podcast, while also trying to uncover the anonymous sender.
Add in a bevy of old friends, a queen bee, a little bit of sleuthing and unexpected history, and this is one jam-packed (bordering on crammed) novella!
This second-chance romance is told in dual-POV, which works especially well when granting insight to how and why the MCs’ former strong bond deteriorated.
While the brevity meant we didn’t get to know the MCs as well as I’d have liked, and at times it felt like the story was trying to tick too many boxes, it was well written, with good banter, fun, and some moving, raw emotional moments, oh and a little bit of spice. I enjoyed it and found the characters interesting and relatable - such that I’d have liked to have met them in a full length book.
My thanks to Grey’s Promotions and the author for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

[Anna (annareadit)]

DNF 25%

This was a damned strange novella. The main character breaks up with her boyfriend, receives a valentine inviting her to the Kiss Lottery, and the first thing that comes to her mind is to return to the town she ran away from to find out who sent it. And there, she ends up in the “club of offended people”: an ex-friend who didn’t take her side and now holds a grudge, half the town mocking her...

There are vibes similar to the K-drama Motel California.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this was so good except it needed to be longer as I was so invested in this story. This is a quick and easy read so perfect for an afternoon reading session. The Kiss Lottery features Everly and Beckett two best friends growing up until a falling out and many years later Everly returns home for the towns yearly Kiss Lottery. This is a dual POV, second chance small town romance and Everly and Beckett were so perfect for each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this and honestly everything Ilsa writes is so good! I received a complementary copy from the author.

[Ayanna S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc Review ✨

Rating: 3.4 stars ✨

I liked this one , it was cute and funny , I laughed allooooot , certain parts were just so random though but I enjoyed it. 🤭✨

Tropes: Friends to lovers
Betrayal
Small town
Second chance at getting to right

[er · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Montlake and Ilsa Madden-Mills for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a short and sweet Valentine's day novella, about two childhood best friends that reconnect after 10 years without seeing or talking to each other. Since it's quite short this felt very surface level, and I think the multiple storylines didn't help and maybe having less would've helped exploring them better. It's still enjoyable, but not too memorable in my opinion.

[Jessica Alcazar]

I’ve got 99 books to rec but this ain’t one.

Who wrote this?