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Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous: A Novel
Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Reads of 2024
Hollywood glamor meets “‘Tis the Damn Season” in this irresistibly buzzy sapphic romance, perfect for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Casey McQuiston.
Katie Price is known in every living room in America. A small-town Wisconsin girl who became an A-list star, she rarely makes it home, but this year is different . . . Little does she know it will lead her straight into the piercing blue-eyed gaze of Wil Greene.
A lot has happened in the decade since those cold Wisconsin nights when Wil and Katie drove around in Wil’s Bronco senior year. Since then, Wil's law career hasn’t taken off. Her father passed away. And what started as a personal challenge—kissing a new person twice a week, every week—has made her a growing sensation, but her life is still stuck in phase one. Through the years, the two have never left each other's thoughts and desires, but now suddenly, they are back in each other’s lives. Their reconnection is instantaneous, and the passion is palpable...but can it stand the test of time?
Witty, emotional, and steamy, Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is an unforgettable romantic read for everyone who almost kissed their best friend. And then finally did.
“Sweetly tender and arrestingly sexy.” —Kate Clayborn, author of Georgie, All Along
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
Hollywood glamor meets “‘Tis the Damn Season” in this irresistibly buzzy sapphic romance, perfect for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Casey McQuiston.
Katie Price is known in every living room in America. A small-town Wisconsin girl who became an A-list star, she rarely makes it home, but this year is different . . . Little does she know it will lead her straight into the piercing blue-eyed gaze of Wil Greene.
A lot has happened in the decade since those cold Wisconsin nights when Wil and Katie drove around in Wil’s Bronco senior year. Since then, Wil's law career hasn’t taken off. Her father passed away. And what started as a personal challenge—kissing a new person twice a week, every week—has made her a growing sensation, but her life is still stuck in phase one. Through the years, the two have never left each other's thoughts and desires, but now suddenly, they are back in each other’s lives. Their reconnection is instantaneous, and the passion is palpable...but can it stand the test of time?
Witty, emotional, and steamy, Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is an unforgettable romantic read for everyone who almost kissed their best friend. And then finally did.
“Sweetly tender and arrestingly sexy.” —Kate Clayborn, author of Georgie, All Along
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
Audible Audio
First published June 11, 2024
175 people are currently reading
28020 people want to read
About the author
Mae Marvel
5 books202 followersMae Marvel is the alias of cowriters Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare, bestselling authors of over a dozen acclaimed romance novels between them. Mae lives with two teenagers, two dogs, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a plethora of snails and fish in a witchy century house in Wisconsin whose extravagant perennial garden gives them something to look forward to in the depths of winter. In addition to romance, they also write mystery novels and cannot promise not to branch into new novelistic territories at a moment’s notice. They can be found online at maemarvel.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 593 reviews
March 4, 2025
**3.5-stars**
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a sex positive Sapphic Romance story. While it had some slight pacing issues for me, I'm glad I read it. I def had fun with the characters.
This story follows A-list celebrity actress, Katie Price, who returns home to Wisconsin for the holidays and ends up reconnecting with her long-lost best friend, Wil Greene, a budding internet star known for kissing strangers.
It may have been a decade since Katie and Wil last connected, but once they do, it's like they never left each other sides. The mutual attraction is undeniable.
Each of the women are going through some personal struggles, and we do get keyed into those things. So, while there's a lot of cutesy romance moments, there's also some substance and relatable life issues.
I really enjoyed the start of this, meeting Katie and Wil, as well as learning their thoughts and feelings on one another. I was immediately struck by the amount of chemistry the authors were able to create between these two women.
There's something so sexy about mutual attraction that hasn't culminated yet. The pining for one another, as they get reacquainted. I feel like the authors really nailed that feeling. I felt it in my stomach, the butterflies.
I also really enjoyed the last 20%, including the overall conclusion. Sadly, the middle bit did drag for me. Some of it, the thoughts of the MCs, in particular with regards to one another, started to feel repetitive and I wanted more consistent forward motion with the plot.
It made the story feel longer than it actually is. The middle of the story just failed to capture my attention and keep it, unlike the beginning and the end. I enjoyed Katie's perspective a little more than Wil's, so that also added to my sense of unevenness with the book.
With this being said, overall, I feel like this is a fun, oft-steamy, female-female romance that a lot of Readers are going to enjoy. There are many different aspects of this to connect to, and for the right Reader, at the right time, I can see this becoming a new favorite Romance story for them.
I appreciated how open Marvel made these characters. They talked through everything. Their past, their wants, their fears; they even had close relationships with their Moms. That was a treat to see.
At the end of the day, while this didn't necessarily knock my socks off, I'm excited to see where these authors go from here. I will def check out whatever they write next.
Thank you to the publisher, Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. I hope Katie and Wil live happily ever after!
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a sex positive Sapphic Romance story. While it had some slight pacing issues for me, I'm glad I read it. I def had fun with the characters.
This story follows A-list celebrity actress, Katie Price, who returns home to Wisconsin for the holidays and ends up reconnecting with her long-lost best friend, Wil Greene, a budding internet star known for kissing strangers.
It may have been a decade since Katie and Wil last connected, but once they do, it's like they never left each other sides. The mutual attraction is undeniable.
Each of the women are going through some personal struggles, and we do get keyed into those things. So, while there's a lot of cutesy romance moments, there's also some substance and relatable life issues.
I really enjoyed the start of this, meeting Katie and Wil, as well as learning their thoughts and feelings on one another. I was immediately struck by the amount of chemistry the authors were able to create between these two women.
There's something so sexy about mutual attraction that hasn't culminated yet. The pining for one another, as they get reacquainted. I feel like the authors really nailed that feeling. I felt it in my stomach, the butterflies.
I also really enjoyed the last 20%, including the overall conclusion. Sadly, the middle bit did drag for me. Some of it, the thoughts of the MCs, in particular with regards to one another, started to feel repetitive and I wanted more consistent forward motion with the plot.
It made the story feel longer than it actually is. The middle of the story just failed to capture my attention and keep it, unlike the beginning and the end. I enjoyed Katie's perspective a little more than Wil's, so that also added to my sense of unevenness with the book.
With this being said, overall, I feel like this is a fun, oft-steamy, female-female romance that a lot of Readers are going to enjoy. There are many different aspects of this to connect to, and for the right Reader, at the right time, I can see this becoming a new favorite Romance story for them.
I appreciated how open Marvel made these characters. They talked through everything. Their past, their wants, their fears; they even had close relationships with their Moms. That was a treat to see.
At the end of the day, while this didn't necessarily knock my socks off, I'm excited to see where these authors go from here. I will def check out whatever they write next.
Thank you to the publisher, Griffin and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. I hope Katie and Wil live happily ever after!
October 27, 2025
**'Storytelling is like having a conversation with readers, so be authentic because reality cannot be copyrighted..'
2.5 stars!
Okay story -- just don't know and never felt that they (Wil & Katie) had any chemistry plus the writing was off-kilter/meh...
2.5 stars!
Okay story -- just don't know and never felt that they (Wil & Katie) had any chemistry plus the writing was off-kilter/meh...
December 22, 2024
I almost gave up on this book 3 times because nobody talks like a real human being. Held to the end because of the premise and because I really, really wanted a lesbian novel about a famous actress and her teenage crush reuniting — and on that front this book delivered! However, it wasn't for me.
The good: cute premise. Some hot kissing scenes. Inclusive. Feel good.
The bad: absolutely nobody talks like a real human being. There's no meaningful conflict, and the story twists itself in knots to explain why the main characters couldn't have reunited sooner, but the more it does that the more it draws attention to how absolutely weird it is that there's 0 resenment on Wil's part for having been ghosted by her Former Best Friend Who Made It Big In Hollywood, to the point where Katie — the actress — skipped Wil's dad's funeral a decade prior, and for some reason, Wil is the one to apologise that she disappeared? The diversity is paper thin — it feels like the authors wanted to make up for the fact that the main characters are two young white conventionally attractive women, so every background character is presented with a 3 paragraphs infodump on their diversity creed and everyone speaks like they just attended a diversity seminar and digresses into As You Know explainers about Systemic Issues In Society and Predatory Behaviours In Relationships. I was rolling my eyes and skipping ahead a lot. At one point, I was gritting my teeth about how universally beloved and adored each of the main characters are within their respective spheres and how everyone in their lives was just waiting to roll out a red carpet so they can go out and pursue their dreams. Yawn. This novel about two women stuck in a rut of their own making would maybe hit a bit harder if they actually had any issues to overcome caused by their behaviour. Instead, everyone is just waiting for Katie to start her industry-changing production company. A gaggle of lawyers is telling Wil how awesome her CV is and how she could go anywhere tomorrow. It gets very tiring.
2.5 stars rounded down. IDK. I like my wish-fulfilment novels about the gorgeous and uber-privileged to be a little less self-aware so I can maintain my suspension of disbelief; I don't need an Oscar-winning actress to give five different speeches on privilege on her private plane.
Anyway; someone else is going to enjoy this book very much, I'm sure.
The good: cute premise. Some hot kissing scenes. Inclusive. Feel good.
The bad: absolutely nobody talks like a real human being. There's no meaningful conflict, and the story twists itself in knots to explain why the main characters couldn't have reunited sooner, but the more it does that the more it draws attention to how absolutely weird it is that there's 0 resenment on Wil's part for having been ghosted by her Former Best Friend Who Made It Big In Hollywood, to the point where Katie — the actress — skipped Wil's dad's funeral a decade prior, and for some reason, Wil is the one to apologise that she disappeared? The diversity is paper thin — it feels like the authors wanted to make up for the fact that the main characters are two young white conventionally attractive women, so every background character is presented with a 3 paragraphs infodump on their diversity creed and everyone speaks like they just attended a diversity seminar and digresses into As You Know explainers about Systemic Issues In Society and Predatory Behaviours In Relationships. I was rolling my eyes and skipping ahead a lot. At one point, I was gritting my teeth about how universally beloved and adored each of the main characters are within their respective spheres and how everyone in their lives was just waiting to roll out a red carpet so they can go out and pursue their dreams. Yawn. This novel about two women stuck in a rut of their own making would maybe hit a bit harder if they actually had any issues to overcome caused by their behaviour. Instead, everyone is just waiting for Katie to start her industry-changing production company. A gaggle of lawyers is telling Wil how awesome her CV is and how she could go anywhere tomorrow. It gets very tiring.
2.5 stars rounded down. IDK. I like my wish-fulfilment novels about the gorgeous and uber-privileged to be a little less self-aware so I can maintain my suspension of disbelief; I don't need an Oscar-winning actress to give five different speeches on privilege on her private plane.
Anyway; someone else is going to enjoy this book very much, I'm sure.
June 9, 2024
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel
Contemporary sapphic romance. Diverse. Dual POV. Second chance troupe.
Wilifred Greene and Katie Price were best friends during their school years. But Katie left for Hollywood at eighteen and the two haven’t seen each other in person for thirteen years. Katie is coming home for the year-end holidays. While they haven’t talked to each other in person, they have kept behind the scenes. Both have millions of followers. Katie as a famous actress, and Wil as a famous TikTok influencer with a goal of kissing two new people every week. Maybe now they are both home in Green Bay, Wisconsin they can actually talk about their feelings for each other.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook which was narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. The performance was engaging with two distinct voices for the two main characters though it did seem a bit slow to me. I increased the speed a point or two from my usual. The banter in the narration was fun and the sex was steamy. There is a lot of the characters questioning themselves and their relationships so there isn’t a lot of “jolly” in the audiobook other than a few select passages. Certainly the ending and family holiday time was more upbeat. I did love the mid west setting of the women and their families.
The narration gives you action and distinctive voices but the print or ebook version gives a little better definition between the two POV’s. There is also a lot of background and more subtle feelings giving the audio a bit of an edge for the more visual or action oriented reader.
I can easily recommend either format for reading this book. Or do both together which is my preferred method if I have the time.
Overall a touching and happy romance. It was great that the mothers knew about their feelings when they were teens and didn’t interfere. I loved the cat buttons so Katie and Sue and the rest of the cats could talk to each other. 50 language buttons. I had no idea it was a thing. Sure, I’ve seen the dog and bank commercials but thought it was just a gimmick.
A heart happy romance.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.
Contemporary sapphic romance. Diverse. Dual POV. Second chance troupe.
Wilifred Greene and Katie Price were best friends during their school years. But Katie left for Hollywood at eighteen and the two haven’t seen each other in person for thirteen years. Katie is coming home for the year-end holidays. While they haven’t talked to each other in person, they have kept behind the scenes. Both have millions of followers. Katie as a famous actress, and Wil as a famous TikTok influencer with a goal of kissing two new people every week. Maybe now they are both home in Green Bay, Wisconsin they can actually talk about their feelings for each other.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook which was narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. The performance was engaging with two distinct voices for the two main characters though it did seem a bit slow to me. I increased the speed a point or two from my usual. The banter in the narration was fun and the sex was steamy. There is a lot of the characters questioning themselves and their relationships so there isn’t a lot of “jolly” in the audiobook other than a few select passages. Certainly the ending and family holiday time was more upbeat. I did love the mid west setting of the women and their families.
The narration gives you action and distinctive voices but the print or ebook version gives a little better definition between the two POV’s. There is also a lot of background and more subtle feelings giving the audio a bit of an edge for the more visual or action oriented reader.
I can easily recommend either format for reading this book. Or do both together which is my preferred method if I have the time.
Overall a touching and happy romance. It was great that the mothers knew about their feelings when they were teens and didn’t interfere. I loved the cat buttons so Katie and Sue and the rest of the cats could talk to each other. 50 language buttons. I had no idea it was a thing. Sure, I’ve seen the dog and bank commercials but thought it was just a gimmick.
A heart happy romance.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.
September 25, 2024
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this romance. Just about everything worked for me. It was slow burn and had a lot of open communication. This may be the first time I ever say this about a romance book but there was almost too much communication? Katie and Wil spend so much time talking and processing and I just loved it.
The main reason that I’m not giving this the full five stars is because there was one thing that was a big deal for me. Wil takes the blame and apologizes a few times about their past when I felt she had no business doing it. Katie leaves town and doesn’t speak to Wil directly again for a dozen years. I know there were extenuating circumstances for some of the time but after a certain point there was absolutely no reason Katie couldn’t have reached out.
I also that their feelings came back a little too quickly but honestly, I didn’t even care. Literally everything else was that good for me or so minor that I didn’t let it bother me.
I highly recommend this!
I absolutely adored this romance. Just about everything worked for me. It was slow burn and had a lot of open communication. This may be the first time I ever say this about a romance book but there was almost too much communication? Katie and Wil spend so much time talking and processing and I just loved it.
The main reason that I’m not giving this the full five stars is because there was one thing that was a big deal for me. Wil takes the blame and apologizes a few times about their past when I felt she had no business doing it. Katie leaves town and doesn’t speak to Wil directly again for a dozen years. I know there were extenuating circumstances for some of the time but after a certain point there was absolutely no reason Katie couldn’t have reached out.
I also that their feelings came back a little too quickly but honestly, I didn’t even care. Literally everything else was that good for me or so minor that I didn’t let it bother me.
I highly recommend this!
May 31, 2024
thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced ebook copy and advanced audiobook copy of this cute queer celebrity romance.
the pub date on this one is June 11th, 2024.
--
i've been swinging and missing within the romance genre lately, so this book was a pretty refreshing departure from low star ratings and the DNFs i've been experiencing.
here's the story of katie price, award-winning celebrity, actress, and filmmaker, but most importantly, childhood best friend of one very stuck wil price, grieving the loss of her father and not quite able to ignite her motivation to finish up law school. instead, she's reached her own level of fame - she's kissing strangers on the internet in sixty second clips she posts to tiktok in a project about connection and intimacy.
and connect is what katie and wil begin to do again. they've lost touch over the years for multiple reasons, some of them sabotage from katie's inner circle. via continued harassment via an older ex that's furiously clutching at katie's coattails to stay relevant in the media, katie's grown frustrated with her life, with the continued gossip circling around her and her private life, with her ex-boyfriend's lies threatening her chances at career growth.
i found this a pretty refreshing read. some parts of this book were a lil weird (did busy phillips consent to all that? lol) but one of my pet peeves with romance is when two people don't communicate and talk out their issues with adults. i can't really say that happened a lot here. sometimes i felt like katie should have spoken up, but a lot of her issues with communication lived with her trauma which i felt like the book did a good job of gently walking us through. even with sex - yes, i know - there was a scene where they asked each other if they were okay with penetration. especially with trauma in the mix, the existence of stone tops and touch-me-nots within the lesbian community, it was refreshing to see this written on page.
where i think this book struggled was with pace/length. this book was a lot longer than i think was strictly necessary, especially for a romance. i did zone out a little in places. also, maybe this is just me being single, but i'm not sure i understood the purpose of wil's kissing project other than to create chemistry between wil and katie. but even with that, i didn't mind. this was super cute and a recommendation from me.
the pub date on this one is June 11th, 2024.
--
i've been swinging and missing within the romance genre lately, so this book was a pretty refreshing departure from low star ratings and the DNFs i've been experiencing.
here's the story of katie price, award-winning celebrity, actress, and filmmaker, but most importantly, childhood best friend of one very stuck wil price, grieving the loss of her father and not quite able to ignite her motivation to finish up law school. instead, she's reached her own level of fame - she's kissing strangers on the internet in sixty second clips she posts to tiktok in a project about connection and intimacy.
and connect is what katie and wil begin to do again. they've lost touch over the years for multiple reasons, some of them sabotage from katie's inner circle. via continued harassment via an older ex that's furiously clutching at katie's coattails to stay relevant in the media, katie's grown frustrated with her life, with the continued gossip circling around her and her private life, with her ex-boyfriend's lies threatening her chances at career growth.
i found this a pretty refreshing read. some parts of this book were a lil weird (did busy phillips consent to all that? lol) but one of my pet peeves with romance is when two people don't communicate and talk out their issues with adults. i can't really say that happened a lot here. sometimes i felt like katie should have spoken up, but a lot of her issues with communication lived with her trauma which i felt like the book did a good job of gently walking us through. even with sex - yes, i know - there was a scene where they asked each other if they were okay with penetration. especially with trauma in the mix, the existence of stone tops and touch-me-nots within the lesbian community, it was refreshing to see this written on page.
where i think this book struggled was with pace/length. this book was a lot longer than i think was strictly necessary, especially for a romance. i did zone out a little in places. also, maybe this is just me being single, but i'm not sure i understood the purpose of wil's kissing project other than to create chemistry between wil and katie. but even with that, i didn't mind. this was super cute and a recommendation from me.
November 4, 2023
A very special thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!!
Oh, this book had NO business gripping my heart like it did!! I was so not prepared!! For once, I felt like the description provided for this book gave very little away. Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is so, so much more than what meets the eye (or synopsis). It's more than just a bet, or a famous actress coming home to Green Bay for the holidays and reconnecting with a childhood friend. It's a heartwarming story of love–two people finding what they need in another person, and communicating their feelings in healthy ways.
I thought so much of this story was original, and was taken in directions that were wholly opposite of your typical, tropey romance. Wil is an effortlessly cool, internet famous TikTok star who's channel is just her kissing a new person from Green Bay twice a week. V interesting idea, but I love how it's more than just kissing–it's diving deep into who the person is that Wil is kissing. And Katie is on the verge of starting her own production company as an already successful actress, but comes with a lot of traumatic baggage. Both women are strong, powerful in their own ways, and aren't afraid to articulate their needs! We love to see it!! I also really loved that this story didn't follow the typical trope of what happens when one partner is uber famous, and a "regular" person is brought into their world (they usually can't handle it, and that "regular" person ends up being the one to blame? Never understood that!).
My only downside is that the story felt a bit long, which is odd since it's only 368 pages. But regardless, the representation was done so so well. And also love setting such a progressive story in a conservative-leaning area–what a juxtaposition!!
There's a line in the author's note that I loved, which I'll share with ya'll:
Oh, this book had NO business gripping my heart like it did!! I was so not prepared!! For once, I felt like the description provided for this book gave very little away. Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is so, so much more than what meets the eye (or synopsis). It's more than just a bet, or a famous actress coming home to Green Bay for the holidays and reconnecting with a childhood friend. It's a heartwarming story of love–two people finding what they need in another person, and communicating their feelings in healthy ways.
I thought so much of this story was original, and was taken in directions that were wholly opposite of your typical, tropey romance. Wil is an effortlessly cool, internet famous TikTok star who's channel is just her kissing a new person from Green Bay twice a week. V interesting idea, but I love how it's more than just kissing–it's diving deep into who the person is that Wil is kissing. And Katie is on the verge of starting her own production company as an already successful actress, but comes with a lot of traumatic baggage. Both women are strong, powerful in their own ways, and aren't afraid to articulate their needs! We love to see it!! I also really loved that this story didn't follow the typical trope of what happens when one partner is uber famous, and a "regular" person is brought into their world (they usually can't handle it, and that "regular" person ends up being the one to blame? Never understood that!).
My only downside is that the story felt a bit long, which is odd since it's only 368 pages. But regardless, the representation was done so so well. And also love setting such a progressive story in a conservative-leaning area–what a juxtaposition!!
There's a line in the author's note that I loved, which I'll share with ya'll:
"Keep working, protect and take care of others, make community and connections, include, learn, choose love, [and] put down attitudes and bias that don't serve."👏
July 2, 2024
4.5 stars
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous feels like a future classic queer novel! The story follows two ex-best friends as they reunite and come to terms with new and old revelations. The romance feels so true to life. It's the classic gay love story of realizing your friendship with someone was more than that a minute too late. Except these characters get their second chance, and make the most of it. Additionally, this novel balances a really endearing and tension-filled romance with bittersweet, grounded themes quite well. While this novel can be sad at times, the characters and themes are always growing in a very authentic and moving way. Overall, I'm so glad I picked this up. I've read a lot of rom-coms lately, and I think I needed something with a little more depth like this. I highly recommend this novel, especially to LGBTQ+ readers who will find inevitably find something in it to relate to. (And on a more lighthearted note, I loved the gay cat mom rep, lol)
Thank you to the publisher and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs in exchange for an honest review!
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous feels like a future classic queer novel! The story follows two ex-best friends as they reunite and come to terms with new and old revelations. The romance feels so true to life. It's the classic gay love story of realizing your friendship with someone was more than that a minute too late. Except these characters get their second chance, and make the most of it. Additionally, this novel balances a really endearing and tension-filled romance with bittersweet, grounded themes quite well. While this novel can be sad at times, the characters and themes are always growing in a very authentic and moving way. Overall, I'm so glad I picked this up. I've read a lot of rom-coms lately, and I think I needed something with a little more depth like this. I highly recommend this novel, especially to LGBTQ+ readers who will find inevitably find something in it to relate to. (And on a more lighthearted note, I loved the gay cat mom rep, lol)
Thank you to the publisher and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs in exchange for an honest review!
November 27, 2024
It's been a string of underwhelming books for me, which may be why Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous felt like such a gift to me. I loved this!
Katie and Wil have known each other their whole lives since they're born the same year and their moms are best friends. They weren't always friends, despite always being around each other--not until their senior year of high school anyway. But that year is vital for them both. In ways neither has really fully processed until 13 years have passed in which they haven't even spoken. Not since Katie left for Chicago the summer after their graduation and not since Katie became a famous and award-winning actress (and now director). Not even when Wil's dad died in the middle of Wil's 4th year of university, despite the fact that their moms remain the best of friends. And definitely not since Wil's TikTok channel was created or took off in popularity.
And, then, 13 years later they see each other across the room--they don't even speak--but Wil knows, and Wil knows that Katie knows, that it means something. What that is is yet to be determined, but when Wil finds herself invited to Katie's mom's holiday party and she, once again, sees Katie across a crowded room, she doesn't waste the chance to talk to her again. And suddenly it's like they're back to their senior year of high school again, only this time they're ready to deal with what that means and with what happened after they graduated and why they didn't speak to each other until now.
I loved most everything about this novel. The romance just works--and works in ways that subvert expectations. When things happen, as a reader I'm trained to expect certain outcomes as a result, and Mae Marvel (these authors) constantly surprised me. Katie and Wil communicate and don't jump to conclusions. They're honest with each other and challenge each other and aren't afraid to call each other out. It was so refreshing. It was also super sexy.
The back of the book compares Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous to "'Tis the Damn Season," which happens to be one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs and actually encapsulates this novel so well--this idea that: We're older now and I'm home for a bit and I still remember you; I still remember us. And Let's catch up and see if it's the same as it was back then because I think about you all the time and miss you. There's a coziness to this book, which is aided by the fact that it's set in Green Bay, Wisconsin around Christmas. It felt like sitting next to a fire in your favourite sweatpants and flannel and wool socks with a cup of hot chocolate. That's what the experience felt like to me: nostalgic and warm.
It's not a perfect book for me. The whole thing with Katie's cats didn't work for me, and I'm not sure why Busy Phillips is featured so heavily. But this is easily one of my favourite books this year and one I will probably read again during the Christmas/cozy season.
4.5 stars.
November re-read update:
See, I said I’d read this again during cozy season and I did, only listening to the audiobook this time. I am happy to report that I still loved this and that Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration is basically perfect.
Katie and Wil have known each other their whole lives since they're born the same year and their moms are best friends. They weren't always friends, despite always being around each other--not until their senior year of high school anyway. But that year is vital for them both. In ways neither has really fully processed until 13 years have passed in which they haven't even spoken. Not since Katie left for Chicago the summer after their graduation and not since Katie became a famous and award-winning actress (and now director). Not even when Wil's dad died in the middle of Wil's 4th year of university, despite the fact that their moms remain the best of friends. And definitely not since Wil's TikTok channel was created or took off in popularity.
And, then, 13 years later they see each other across the room--they don't even speak--but Wil knows, and Wil knows that Katie knows, that it means something. What that is is yet to be determined, but when Wil finds herself invited to Katie's mom's holiday party and she, once again, sees Katie across a crowded room, she doesn't waste the chance to talk to her again. And suddenly it's like they're back to their senior year of high school again, only this time they're ready to deal with what that means and with what happened after they graduated and why they didn't speak to each other until now.
I loved most everything about this novel. The romance just works--and works in ways that subvert expectations. When things happen, as a reader I'm trained to expect certain outcomes as a result, and Mae Marvel (these authors) constantly surprised me. Katie and Wil communicate and don't jump to conclusions. They're honest with each other and challenge each other and aren't afraid to call each other out. It was so refreshing. It was also super sexy.
The back of the book compares Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous to "'Tis the Damn Season," which happens to be one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs and actually encapsulates this novel so well--this idea that: We're older now and I'm home for a bit and I still remember you; I still remember us. And Let's catch up and see if it's the same as it was back then because I think about you all the time and miss you. There's a coziness to this book, which is aided by the fact that it's set in Green Bay, Wisconsin around Christmas. It felt like sitting next to a fire in your favourite sweatpants and flannel and wool socks with a cup of hot chocolate. That's what the experience felt like to me: nostalgic and warm.
It's not a perfect book for me. The whole thing with Katie's cats didn't work for me, and I'm not sure why Busy Phillips is featured so heavily. But this is easily one of my favourite books this year and one I will probably read again during the Christmas/cozy season.
4.5 stars.
November re-read update:
See, I said I’d read this again during cozy season and I did, only listening to the audiobook this time. I am happy to report that I still loved this and that Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s narration is basically perfect.
January 7, 2025
This is a lovely contemporary sapphic romance with a not so great cover, so just ignore that! I loved how this played with the celebrity/regular person and second chance romance tropes, which it sort of fits into but kind of doesn't, making it complicated and interesting. There is also a lot of career stuff going on for both women, great and complex secondary characters (their moms are BFFs!), and realistic hot femme/femme sex scenes!
After not seeing each other for 13 years after high school, two former best friends who were in love with each other in grade 12 but didn't quite realize it at the time reconnect over the holidays. It's like no time has passed, in that they fall back into easy conversation and intimacy, but also a lot has happened: Katie is now an A-List Hollywood actress, on the precipice of a big career change to become a director, with her emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend (also a famous actor) still haunting her and talking about her to the press whenever he can get the chance.
Wil has been stalled in her plans to become a lawyer after her dad passed away from Huntington's disease (which she only tested for recently to discover she hasn't inherited), but has become internet famous herself for a TikTok project where she kisses two new people every week on camera.
So, you see, Katie is technically the celebrity, but Wil is also kinda famous, and Wil knew and loved the pre-Hollywood version of Katie. But since their romance never actually took off when they were young -- only a few almost kisses -- does their burgeoning relationship count as a second chance?
I think it's really hard to communicate that a character is charismatic in fiction, but Mae Marvel does a great job with Wil (that she's the one with lots of charisma is also an interesting choice given she's not the actress).
There is some cliché writing here, but I think the audiobook performance by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw really elevates anything that might otherwise read that way. Fantastic job!
After not seeing each other for 13 years after high school, two former best friends who were in love with each other in grade 12 but didn't quite realize it at the time reconnect over the holidays. It's like no time has passed, in that they fall back into easy conversation and intimacy, but also a lot has happened: Katie is now an A-List Hollywood actress, on the precipice of a big career change to become a director, with her emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend (also a famous actor) still haunting her and talking about her to the press whenever he can get the chance.
Wil has been stalled in her plans to become a lawyer after her dad passed away from Huntington's disease (which she only tested for recently to discover she hasn't inherited), but has become internet famous herself for a TikTok project where she kisses two new people every week on camera.
So, you see, Katie is technically the celebrity, but Wil is also kinda famous, and Wil knew and loved the pre-Hollywood version of Katie. But since their romance never actually took off when they were young -- only a few almost kisses -- does their burgeoning relationship count as a second chance?
I think it's really hard to communicate that a character is charismatic in fiction, but Mae Marvel does a great job with Wil (that she's the one with lots of charisma is also an interesting choice given she's not the actress).
There is some cliché writing here, but I think the audiobook performance by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw really elevates anything that might otherwise read that way. Fantastic job!
June 4, 2024
Since graduating from high school, Katie has moved up in the world—made a name for herself as an actress, earned more money than she'll ever need, and more recently started to make a name for herself as a director too. Meanwhile, Wil has been quietly humming along in Wisconsin, having put her dreams on hold and never picked them up again. She's TikTok famous, making out with new people regularly on the Internet, but her plans (law school, for example, or living somewhere other than Wisconsin) haven't materialised, and she's not in a rush to change that.
But Katie's dreams—so tangible, and so close—are being consistently undermined by her ex, the truth about whom she's kept secret for years. And Wil's dreams aren't gone, but she's buried them deep. And when Katie comes home for the holidays and stays awhile, suddenly they're each in a position to help the other...
This was a lot of fun to read. The book is navigating and balancing a whole host of different things: Katie's career, Wil's double life as a TikTok sensation, #MeToo (though not in so many words), being a woman in Hollywood, grief, and on it goes. (Also: very, very vocal and—more to the point—eloquent cats. I am not convinced.) Their relationship, as it develops, is not without its difficulties, but I always appreciate it when those difficulties are more external than internal—that is, in this case, there's very little 'if we'd just had an honest conversation the book would be over already' and a great deal more 'even if our relationship is straightforward privately, it will be complicated publicly'. Both of them roll with it, which is also very satisfying.
A couple of quibbles: first, at times it felt like Wil was only becoming fully formed as the book went on—she gets more butch, I think, and while it's possible that I just missed the clues, it felt like something that was only solidifying for the author as time went on. Second, while the supporting cast is generally fab, I wouldn't have minded seeing some more complexity from them—they tend to be either diverse, liberal, smart, compassionate Wunderkinder or (admittedly and fortunately rarely) Just Generally Bad. And not to complain about having diverse/liberal/smart/compassionate Wunderkinder around...but I suppose it stays a bit surface. Finally: Katie Price is an odd choice of name for a character who is an actress when there is already a real-life person by the same name who has worked very hard to be in the public eye.
Altogether lively and on point, though. 3.5 stars and would read more.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
But Katie's dreams—so tangible, and so close—are being consistently undermined by her ex, the truth about whom she's kept secret for years. And Wil's dreams aren't gone, but she's buried them deep. And when Katie comes home for the holidays and stays awhile, suddenly they're each in a position to help the other...
This was a lot of fun to read. The book is navigating and balancing a whole host of different things: Katie's career, Wil's double life as a TikTok sensation, #MeToo (though not in so many words), being a woman in Hollywood, grief, and on it goes. (Also: very, very vocal and—more to the point—eloquent cats. I am not convinced.) Their relationship, as it develops, is not without its difficulties, but I always appreciate it when those difficulties are more external than internal—that is, in this case, there's very little 'if we'd just had an honest conversation the book would be over already' and a great deal more 'even if our relationship is straightforward privately, it will be complicated publicly'. Both of them roll with it, which is also very satisfying.
A couple of quibbles: first, at times it felt like Wil was only becoming fully formed as the book went on—she gets more butch, I think, and while it's possible that I just missed the clues, it felt like something that was only solidifying for the author as time went on. Second, while the supporting cast is generally fab, I wouldn't have minded seeing some more complexity from them—they tend to be either diverse, liberal, smart, compassionate Wunderkinder or (admittedly and fortunately rarely) Just Generally Bad. And not to complain about having diverse/liberal/smart/compassionate Wunderkinder around...but I suppose it stays a bit surface. Finally: Katie Price is an odd choice of name for a character who is an actress when there is already a real-life person by the same name who has worked very hard to be in the public eye.
Altogether lively and on point, though. 3.5 stars and would read more.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
July 18, 2024
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this eARC!
I loved this book! I loved this book so incredibly much!
It probably won't be for everyone. I mean, a romance about people communicating their needs in a healthy, productive manner? Who could imagine that. lol
This book was really unexpected. I love how many tropes this story didn't have. Don't get me wrong, tropes are tropes for a reason, they can be very loved, but they aren't going anywhere. And it's refreshing to to have something different, even in the framing of a second chance/friends-to-lovers type story.
Our two leads were wonderful. Tarnished, perhaps, but recognizing areas they sought comfort, and willing to grow. I don't want to spoil too much this early before release, so I'll just said everyone was wonderful, apart from the ones who weren't and were meant to be like that.
Any issues I have are minor. It seems to end a couple times, or maybe it's more accurate to say there are a couple points that could feel like endings. But from my perspective, that's just giving me more of characters I already love, which isn't a bad thing imo. Annnd...that's honestly all I can think to say against it.
5 happy stars.
I loved this book! I loved this book so incredibly much!
It probably won't be for everyone. I mean, a romance about people communicating their needs in a healthy, productive manner? Who could imagine that. lol
This book was really unexpected. I love how many tropes this story didn't have. Don't get me wrong, tropes are tropes for a reason, they can be very loved, but they aren't going anywhere. And it's refreshing to to have something different, even in the framing of a second chance/friends-to-lovers type story.
Our two leads were wonderful. Tarnished, perhaps, but recognizing areas they sought comfort, and willing to grow. I don't want to spoil too much this early before release, so I'll just said everyone was wonderful, apart from the ones who weren't and were meant to be like that.
Any issues I have are minor. It seems to end a couple times, or maybe it's more accurate to say there are a couple points that could feel like endings. But from my perspective, that's just giving me more of characters I already love, which isn't a bad thing imo. Annnd...that's honestly all I can think to say against it.
5 happy stars.
May 5, 2024
Katie Price and Wil Greene spent a magical summer together their senior year of high school before they were pulled away from each other by realities they couldn't escape. Ten years later and their worlds are very different but when movie star Katie Price sees Wil Greene again in person it's like nothing has changed.
I am a sucker for the celeb trope and this one was very well done, 4.5 stars. I liked the idea of a movie star being the one that got away. They both are in their own way a little stilted in their lives until they come back together. The characters themselves are well written and keep you engaged in the story. The love story seemed a bit quick but it being a second chance love story it also felt right for these two. These two have great chemistry from the start and it moved along the plot very well. The authors chose not to do any real flashbacks which I found unusual for a second chance romance like this but I think it was the right choice as I feel they often drag the plot too much into the past. The cast of side characters are fun and all very much care for the two MCs. The characters and their story will stick with me and I even see myself doing a re-read of this one. Overall this was a fun book and I'd absolutely pick up the next release from Mae Marvel.
I am a sucker for the celeb trope and this one was very well done, 4.5 stars. I liked the idea of a movie star being the one that got away. They both are in their own way a little stilted in their lives until they come back together. The characters themselves are well written and keep you engaged in the story. The love story seemed a bit quick but it being a second chance love story it also felt right for these two. These two have great chemistry from the start and it moved along the plot very well. The authors chose not to do any real flashbacks which I found unusual for a second chance romance like this but I think it was the right choice as I feel they often drag the plot too much into the past. The cast of side characters are fun and all very much care for the two MCs. The characters and their story will stick with me and I even see myself doing a re-read of this one. Overall this was a fun book and I'd absolutely pick up the next release from Mae Marvel.
January 18, 2025
4.5⭐️ I had a hard time reading this book in the beginning, the writing style was confusing to me. It was told from both MCs POV in first person and seemed comical and YA at the start.
Also the title as displayed in the heading of my copy as " Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous", I kept reading this as if each person who got kissed became famous because they were kissed, 'by Wil', even though I didn't know that was part of the story in the very beginning. Later I realized it meant "Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous", meant everyone whom Will had kissed after Katie got famous.
I loved the scenes in Wil's Bronco driving around Green Bay. I liked how they both wanted each other but kept testing each other to verify their feelings. I liked the introspective thoughts.
I liked that super cool Wil was all about monogamy and that she knew how deep her feelings were for Katie and that once she kissed her there would be no more Tik Tok posts.
Katie's ex was a total ass and child abuser and should have been called out by the press for his actions. I'm hoping that as an epilogue Wil goes after him once she gets her law degree.
Wil was my favorite character, I liked her thought process on how she tested her self to find out what she wanted in life. I liked her problem solving skills, ingenuity and curiosity. She was my favorite character. I don't think Katie's character was as developed or maybe she was less mature in her development. All the scenes describing her feelings about her abuse by Ben were well written. I blame her mom, Diane, for keeping the abuse secret from Wil, who could have helped Katie emotionally recover. The author's did a fantastic job in expressing the deep love both Wil and Katie had for each other, it made the story five stars for me.
This book got too long in the last quarter of the book and I thought some scenes and conversations were repetitive so I deducted a 1/2 star for that. Other reviews commented on the cats, and I don't think they added to the story but it was kinda fun how smart they were, and the tricks Katie taught them.
Also the title as displayed in the heading of my copy as " Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous", I kept reading this as if each person who got kissed became famous because they were kissed, 'by Wil', even though I didn't know that was part of the story in the very beginning. Later I realized it meant "Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous", meant everyone whom Will had kissed after Katie got famous.
I loved the scenes in Wil's Bronco driving around Green Bay. I liked how they both wanted each other but kept testing each other to verify their feelings. I liked the introspective thoughts.
I liked that super cool Wil was all about monogamy and that she knew how deep her feelings were for Katie and that once she kissed her there would be no more Tik Tok posts.
Katie's ex was a total ass and child abuser and should have been called out by the press for his actions. I'm hoping that as an epilogue Wil goes after him once she gets her law degree.
Wil was my favorite character, I liked her thought process on how she tested her self to find out what she wanted in life. I liked her problem solving skills, ingenuity and curiosity. She was my favorite character. I don't think Katie's character was as developed or maybe she was less mature in her development. All the scenes describing her feelings about her abuse by Ben were well written. I blame her mom, Diane, for keeping the abuse secret from Wil, who could have helped Katie emotionally recover. The author's did a fantastic job in expressing the deep love both Wil and Katie had for each other, it made the story five stars for me.
This book got too long in the last quarter of the book and I thought some scenes and conversations were repetitive so I deducted a 1/2 star for that. Other reviews commented on the cats, and I don't think they added to the story but it was kinda fun how smart they were, and the tricks Katie taught them.
Read
January 24, 2024Hello! As the authors of this book, we are *super* excited to share Wil and Katie's story with you. EVERYONE I KISSED is a romance about two women who knew each other as girls and loved each other when their lives were on the cusp of overwhelming change. Twelve years later, they are finding each other again during a magical holiday in their hometown. The book has plenty of humor, big feelings, and spice, but there are some elements of the content that might make it a difficult read for some:
* cursing
* death of a parent (terminal illness [Huntington's], backstory, not described)
* emotional abuse (backstory, discussed but not described)
* sexual content (moderate)
If none of that is a barrier for you, we hope you'll consider reading! This is a romance that's ultimately about how telling our story, remembering who we are, and finding the right person who loves and roots for us can sometimes be the missing piece to help us go after our biggest dreams.
We hope you love reading it as much as we loved writing it.
xoxo,
Mae Marvel
* cursing
* death of a parent (terminal illness [Huntington's], backstory, not described)
* emotional abuse (backstory, discussed but not described)
* sexual content (moderate)
If none of that is a barrier for you, we hope you'll consider reading! This is a romance that's ultimately about how telling our story, remembering who we are, and finding the right person who loves and roots for us can sometimes be the missing piece to help us go after our biggest dreams.
We hope you love reading it as much as we loved writing it.
xoxo,
Mae Marvel
August 12, 2024
Yes I finished this in one day, fuck off.
I'm not saying this lightly when I say, this is the gold standard to which the cute, fluffy sapphic romance genre should be held to.
You've got:
- two well-developed FMC character arcs
- multiple side characters who are all independent and have fleshed-out motives
- no lesbophobia
- real problems that aren't just "fucking talk to her already"
- genuine chemistry between the FMCs
- both FMCs are likeable
- it's obvious why the FMCs like each other beyond looks
- the hottest fucking slow burn I've ever read.
Gotdamn, I am now going to have to follow this duo and preorder everything they release. Thank you from the bottom of my dykey heart for raising the bar.
I'm not saying this lightly when I say, this is the gold standard to which the cute, fluffy sapphic romance genre should be held to.
You've got:
- two well-developed FMC character arcs
- multiple side characters who are all independent and have fleshed-out motives
- no lesbophobia
- real problems that aren't just "fucking talk to her already"
- genuine chemistry between the FMCs
- both FMCs are likeable
- it's obvious why the FMCs like each other beyond looks
- the hottest fucking slow burn I've ever read.
Gotdamn, I am now going to have to follow this duo and preorder everything they release. Thank you from the bottom of my dykey heart for raising the bar.
May 4, 2025
I absolutely loved this audiobook! The story, the characters, how incredibly romantic it was, the chemistry… 🔥🔥
Wil Greene is one of my new favorite sapphic characters. She’s so unique, insightful, beautiful and kind. And sexy. Did I mention sexy?
The narration my Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was excellent! She’s a new narrator for me and I really hope I can find more sapphic titles she’s done. She’s got a wonderful voice and performs the work beautifully!
Wil Greene is one of my new favorite sapphic characters. She’s so unique, insightful, beautiful and kind. And sexy. Did I mention sexy?
The narration my Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was excellent! She’s a new narrator for me and I really hope I can find more sapphic titles she’s done. She’s got a wonderful voice and performs the work beautifully!
December 26, 2023
i started this book on the specialest day and finished it on the specialest christmas.
the dedication wrecked me before i even started the first word of the actual book.
the dedication wrecked me before i even started the first word of the actual book.
June 2, 2024
A contemporary romance masterpiece. Exquisitely mortifying, in that “ordeal of being known” kind of way.
I’ll leave you this as incentive: “Katie knew exactly, exactly why in scripts, in these moments, one of the lovers would growl. She could feel that growl right at the base of her throat, where her clitoris had tossed it angrily.” And if that quote doesn’t hook you - that’s your problem!! Get hornier!!
I’ll leave you this as incentive: “Katie knew exactly, exactly why in scripts, in these moments, one of the lovers would growl. She could feel that growl right at the base of her throat, where her clitoris had tossed it angrily.” And if that quote doesn’t hook you - that’s your problem!! Get hornier!!
January 25, 2025
“I didn’t prepare for you,” Wil said, her voice still low, unguarded enough that Katie knew she was confused, at least a little hurt , but here. Right here.
4.5 stars. I can see so many scenarios where this book wouldn't have worked for me, and I can see many reasons why other people wouldn't like this as much as I did. But I adored this romance, SO SO MUCH. It's not structured the way I would expect it to be, the way that most other romances are, and that threw me for a little bit, but then I ended up really enjoying, and then outright loving it. And it just always makes me happy when I take a chance on something that I'm not sure I'll like, and then it ends up being a complete win. This is a sapphic, second chance (not my favourite trope) celebrity romance (a trope I actively avoid) about childhood best friends who meet again after 13 years apart. Katie has gone on to be a world famous actress, a household name, the kind of celebrity that can't leave her house without being papped. Wil, on the other hand, has remained in their hometown, has a job that she really likes, and has recently started a TikTok channel that's doing really well. Their mothers are best friends, but for various reasons, they haven't seen or spoken to each other since they parted. And now that they've reunited... oh, it's just magical.
It's the type of romance where like... as soon as they're on page together, I was in love with them. The chemistry and connection and communication were SO well written, and the authors didn't need to bombard me with a hundred flashback scenes to convince me that they had a really strong relationship already. They were never actually together as teens, but the tension was there, and the way it's talked about and expressed in the present timeline... I don't know. I just loved it. There was never a part of this book where I wasn't convinced that these characters weren't already in love with each other. As soon as they're back in each other's orbit, they just click together. And it makes sense to me, how it happens. They were kept apart by fame, and a bad relationship, and an overprotective mother, and after a while, neither of them knew if the other wanted to reconnect. It felt realistic, that they would lose touch like that. But I was still never, ever in doubt about the romance. Wil and Katie are so sweet with each other, so GONE for each other, and I was enthralled.
“Please don’t waste it. Please. Be a lawyer. Be Katie’s. Be something you really, really are, but don’t be afraid you’ll lose it all if you try. You’ll at least have had it, even if it was only for a little while.”
I feel like I just talked myself in circles and didn't really say much... lol. Here's some bullet points of things I loved.
What I loved most about this book, really, is what I think other people might not like. Mild spoilers, but like, there's no big third act breakup. There is almost no third act conflict at all; their internal conflict is dealt with in tiny stages all throughout the book, as they relearn what it's like to be around each other, and as they see their interactions as teens through a different light, and realise they always had feelings for each other. But there's no one big CONFLICT, and when there was, it was mostly external. And I loved that. This is what this book needed. I can think of a couple books that I really liked, but which weren't perfect for me because the author shoehorned in a third act breakup when on wasn't needed. And that was the beauty of this book. A third act breakup or any kind of big blow-up would have made no sense for these characters and their journey, and the authors realised that. And it's something I wish more authors were cognisant of! I feel like too many authors try to stick to "typical" romance arcs, and always try to fit in a third act breakup. Which is sometimes necessary, but not always! It depends on the characters and their story!
Haha, idk, I didn't mean to talk about that for so long. But I was loving this SO much, and I got so worried during the third act that it would go in certain directions that I wouldn't enjoy. But I was worried for nothing. There were certain points where I felt like another author might have tried to insert a breakup for drama (the paparazzi scene, for example) but the characters eventually worked through it sensibly. I mean, there WERE things they had to talk about and go through at the end of the book; it wasn't complete smooth sailing. I just really liked the way the authors handled it.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and I fell completely in love with it. She narrated with so much emotion, and I felt like I really was able to immerse myself and fall into these characters. I really loved her voice, and she had perfect timing with the humour and the banter, and she wrung so much emotion out of each scene. I just loved this, and I'm pretty sure the high rating is at least a little bit because of the audio. Very excited to have a new favourite romance already this year, and I can't wait for this author duo's new romance later this year!
I love you. That was what Katie really wanted to say. The part of me that loves you has always loved you. I feel like it just keeps getting bigger, and pretty soon it will be all of me, all of me will love you for always, and I want you here with me for the rest of my life.
July 19, 2024
CW: past intimate partner violence
A highly anticipated contemporary romance from the authors behind the pen name: Ruthie Knox and Mary Ann Rivers. If you haven’t read Big Boy (Knox) or Story Guy (Rivers) yet, please go do so immediately. They are perfect novellas. They’re also pretty angsty so I was hoping EIKSYGF would be the same. Unfortunately for me, it’s not, nor does it have the interiority I associate with these authors. But fortunately, it proved to be quite enjoyable despite that.
Katie and Wil haven’t seen each other in the 13 years since they graduated high school. Katie is now a famous actress in LA, while Wil is an insurance adjuster and TikTok star in their hometown of Green Bay, WI. When Katie comes back home for the holidays, they reconnect and things get interesting. They’re both working through some things but the time together gives them the chance to look at their history together in a brand new light and then fight for a second chance. Or really, a first chance since they never got to really start anything their senior year. I really enjoyed watching them make their way back to one another and figure out how to bridge the gap between LA and Green Bay.
While Katie and Wil have palpable chemistry, this heavily focuses on the emotional abuse Katie experienced with her ex who is a famous actor who groomed her when she was 18. She’s never spoken out about what happened, even though he continues to harass her and make it sound to tabloids like they still have a connection. While I thought the abuse was handled well overall, I couldn’t understand why Katie wouldn’t just deal with Ben, especially since his efforts could potentially sabotage her career. If this is supposed to be set in a post MeToo-era—and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t—then I needed to know why she continued to stay silent at her level of fame. Obviously MeToo hasn’t fixed everything and abusers still aren’t held to account the way they need to be but I wanted that to be laid out on the page and see what she was doing to process and heal from the abuse 9/10 years later.
I was also concerned Katie’s closest (only??) friends are her agent and publicist. That’s a red flag in my book. If you’re paying them, then there’s a power imbalance. Since her mom was also overbearing and tried to impede her connection with Wil, I really needed Katie to have some true blue people in her corner. Similarly, I wanted to see more of Wil’s local community. She’s stayed in Green Bay all these years so who are her people? What about her connection to the local queer community? Hell, I would have even accepted some conversations with other TikTokers she’s connected to since her account blew up.
Something unexpected that I loved: there is a lot of great cat content! At first, I didn’t know what to make of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication board Katie uses with her cats but I came to enjoy seeing their little personalities through the communication buttons they pushed. Wil’s cat Almond Butter is an elder and I appreciated how this acknowledged the difficulty of a beloved pet aging. But not to worry: Almond Butter is doing just fine by the book’s end.
While I would have preferred angst and stronger emotional arcs, I liked the Hollywood behind-the-scenes and the ins and outs of being a TikTok star. Wil’s kissing videos are used to great effect. The ending was perfect.
Characters: Katie is a 31 year old white actress. She has three cats: Sue, Phil, and Trois. Wil is a 31 year old (pansexual?) white insurance adjuster and TikTok star. She has a 16 year old cat named Almond Butter. This is set in Green Bay, WI and Los Angeles.
Content notes: past grooming (she was 18 and ex was her acting teacher who was 12 years older), past emotional abuse, harassment by ex-boyfriend (in the press, tracks down her number no matter how many times she changes it or blocks him), past death of Wil’s dad (Huntington’s; she does not have the mutation), stalking by paparazzi, past misogynist and bullying teacher who ignored classmate’s IEP, speculation past teacher is cheating on his wife , past STI from ex-boyfriend who cheated, misgendering of someone who isn’t present (corrected), past death of actress during movie stunt, on page sex, mutual masturbation, alcohol (secondary character), gendered pejoratives
A highly anticipated contemporary romance from the authors behind the pen name: Ruthie Knox and Mary Ann Rivers. If you haven’t read Big Boy (Knox) or Story Guy (Rivers) yet, please go do so immediately. They are perfect novellas. They’re also pretty angsty so I was hoping EIKSYGF would be the same. Unfortunately for me, it’s not, nor does it have the interiority I associate with these authors. But fortunately, it proved to be quite enjoyable despite that.
Katie and Wil haven’t seen each other in the 13 years since they graduated high school. Katie is now a famous actress in LA, while Wil is an insurance adjuster and TikTok star in their hometown of Green Bay, WI. When Katie comes back home for the holidays, they reconnect and things get interesting. They’re both working through some things but the time together gives them the chance to look at their history together in a brand new light and then fight for a second chance. Or really, a first chance since they never got to really start anything their senior year. I really enjoyed watching them make their way back to one another and figure out how to bridge the gap between LA and Green Bay.
While Katie and Wil have palpable chemistry, this heavily focuses on the emotional abuse Katie experienced with her ex who is a famous actor who groomed her when she was 18. She’s never spoken out about what happened, even though he continues to harass her and make it sound to tabloids like they still have a connection. While I thought the abuse was handled well overall, I couldn’t understand why Katie wouldn’t just deal with Ben, especially since his efforts could potentially sabotage her career. If this is supposed to be set in a post MeToo-era—and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t—then I needed to know why she continued to stay silent at her level of fame. Obviously MeToo hasn’t fixed everything and abusers still aren’t held to account the way they need to be but I wanted that to be laid out on the page and see what she was doing to process and heal from the abuse 9/10 years later.
I was also concerned Katie’s closest (only??) friends are her agent and publicist. That’s a red flag in my book. If you’re paying them, then there’s a power imbalance. Since her mom was also overbearing and tried to impede her connection with Wil, I really needed Katie to have some true blue people in her corner. Similarly, I wanted to see more of Wil’s local community. She’s stayed in Green Bay all these years so who are her people? What about her connection to the local queer community? Hell, I would have even accepted some conversations with other TikTokers she’s connected to since her account blew up.
Something unexpected that I loved: there is a lot of great cat content! At first, I didn’t know what to make of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication board Katie uses with her cats but I came to enjoy seeing their little personalities through the communication buttons they pushed. Wil’s cat Almond Butter is an elder and I appreciated how this acknowledged the difficulty of a beloved pet aging. But not to worry: Almond Butter is doing just fine by the book’s end.
While I would have preferred angst and stronger emotional arcs, I liked the Hollywood behind-the-scenes and the ins and outs of being a TikTok star. Wil’s kissing videos are used to great effect. The ending was perfect.
Characters: Katie is a 31 year old white actress. She has three cats: Sue, Phil, and Trois. Wil is a 31 year old (pansexual?) white insurance adjuster and TikTok star. She has a 16 year old cat named Almond Butter. This is set in Green Bay, WI and Los Angeles.
Content notes: past grooming (she was 18 and ex was her acting teacher who was 12 years older), past emotional abuse, harassment by ex-boyfriend (in the press, tracks down her number no matter how many times she changes it or blocks him), past death of Wil’s dad (Huntington’s; she does not have the mutation), stalking by paparazzi, past misogynist and bullying teacher who ignored classmate’s IEP, speculation past teacher is cheating on his wife , past STI from ex-boyfriend who cheated, misgendering of someone who isn’t present (corrected), past death of actress during movie stunt, on page sex, mutual masturbation, alcohol (secondary character), gendered pejoratives
June 4, 2024
Solid 3.5 stars! Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a new sapphic romance release about childhood best friends who have both gotten famous and are now back together again and I had such a good time with this one!
Katie and Wil grew up in their small town in Wisconsin and were childhood friends, their moms are even best friends. After high school they went their separate ways, Katie went on and became an A-list star and Wil stayed back. While Wil’s plans of becoming a lawyer didn’t pan out, she has become an online sensation when she started challenging herself to kiss 2 new people each week and film and post it on social media. Through the years, Wil and Katie have both thought about one another often and now they’re back in the same place spending time together and figuring out all their feelings!
While I mostly enjoyed this one, I do think it was too long and kinda would lag in some parts. The cats were both interesting but also felt like a lot of time was spent around describing their lives. 😅 I also wasn’t that sure why Wil was even doing the kissing thing besides it like being interesting/working for the plot. 😅 There are some heavier/emotional conversations around one of the character’s family health and a toxic relationship with an ex.
I received an audio ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.
CW: death of a parent, emotional abuse, terminal illness, toxic relationship
Katie and Wil grew up in their small town in Wisconsin and were childhood friends, their moms are even best friends. After high school they went their separate ways, Katie went on and became an A-list star and Wil stayed back. While Wil’s plans of becoming a lawyer didn’t pan out, she has become an online sensation when she started challenging herself to kiss 2 new people each week and film and post it on social media. Through the years, Wil and Katie have both thought about one another often and now they’re back in the same place spending time together and figuring out all their feelings!
While I mostly enjoyed this one, I do think it was too long and kinda would lag in some parts. The cats were both interesting but also felt like a lot of time was spent around describing their lives. 😅 I also wasn’t that sure why Wil was even doing the kissing thing besides it like being interesting/working for the plot. 😅 There are some heavier/emotional conversations around one of the character’s family health and a toxic relationship with an ex.
I received an audio ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.
CW: death of a parent, emotional abuse, terminal illness, toxic relationship
August 30, 2023
This one didn’t work for me. I probably wouldn’t have finished it if I hadn’t generously been given an ARC. It leaned into the hyper-reality of a world where people communicate clearly and properly which reads as inhuman to me, but seems to be a trend in fiction. I appreciate how seriously the authors took abuse and recovery. I liked both of the main characters well enough, they both did feel like fleshed-out people, but their chemistry didn’t land. A lot of their conversations didn’t make sense to me and it’s probably because I am missing an internet degree that would help me out. It felt like it could have been a lot shorter and I wish some of the conversations felt more natural instead of one-dimensional easy statements about capitalism and gender that felt out of place and only there to make it clear that they were Good People. It falls into how there was no real grey area to anything. There were good people and bad people. There was no real tension because of how obvious everything was. There were positives that I think will make it enjoyable for other people. The writing was solid, I liked their setup of the bet but wish the tension of how they felt was held onto longer, and I appreciated how detailed the created world was. However, it unfortunately didn’t work for me.
November 11, 2024
Wow! This book really worked for me and I barely know how to explain it!
First of all, the UST in this book was off the charts and it's possible that the sexiest thing about this book is the amazing and vulnerable communication both main characters are capable of.
Honestly I don't even know how the authors achieved the strong sense of stakes because even in reflection, it's hard for me to articulate it but I can tell you I felt them. The obstacles felt real and meaningful, which made the story so compelling.
And the way these two see each other, ask each other questions - seeking to understand. Super hot. Also loved the wonderful parental units and other secondary characters.
There was a tiny pacing blip for me around the 70% mark and I worried it would not end as strong as it started but it totally recovered and I think this might make it into my top books of the year.
Oh and I listened to the audio and it was really well done. I'll be seeking out other books by the authors and the narrator!
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, the UST in this book was off the charts and it's possible that the sexiest thing about this book is the amazing and vulnerable communication both main characters are capable of.
Honestly I don't even know how the authors achieved the strong sense of stakes because even in reflection, it's hard for me to articulate it but I can tell you I felt them. The obstacles felt real and meaningful, which made the story so compelling.
And the way these two see each other, ask each other questions - seeking to understand. Super hot. Also loved the wonderful parental units and other secondary characters.
There was a tiny pacing blip for me around the 70% mark and I worried it would not end as strong as it started but it totally recovered and I think this might make it into my top books of the year.
Oh and I listened to the audio and it was really well done. I'll be seeking out other books by the authors and the narrator!
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2024
Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous was…fine? Great title, totally dreamy premise––it’s a sapphic, famous/non-famous, best friends-to-lovers romance. The prose is solid & I was really drawn to the BFFs-with-homoerotic-tension dynamic. It’s flirty, it’s fun, it’s uh, plausibly deniable! 😳
But the book didn’t work for me. It loses a lot of momentum early on, and I was mostly just bored. I wasn’t invested in Katie’s industry stuff, though I did really like the subplot with her ex, an abusive predator à la [insert any Hollywood creep who dates super young women]. There’s also a section near the end that’s essentially Busy Phillips fanfiction. It’s…strange. I struggled to get through it.
I often finish books that aren’t working for me. I tend to hold out hope. My sense is that it’s unfair (?) or like, wrong (?) to critically engage with a novel without reading the whole thing. Obviously there are exceptions to this (see: Colleen Hoover) but it feels important to fully understand what a writer is trying to do & how their text is falling short of that before weighing in. Then again! I am aware that I have a single, precious life & maaaaaybe that life is too short to spend time with books that I’m not vibing with. Anyone else feel this way?
But the book didn’t work for me. It loses a lot of momentum early on, and I was mostly just bored. I wasn’t invested in Katie’s industry stuff, though I did really like the subplot with her ex, an abusive predator à la [insert any Hollywood creep who dates super young women]. There’s also a section near the end that’s essentially Busy Phillips fanfiction. It’s…strange. I struggled to get through it.
I often finish books that aren’t working for me. I tend to hold out hope. My sense is that it’s unfair (?) or like, wrong (?) to critically engage with a novel without reading the whole thing. Obviously there are exceptions to this (see: Colleen Hoover) but it feels important to fully understand what a writer is trying to do & how their text is falling short of that before weighing in. Then again! I am aware that I have a single, precious life & maaaaaybe that life is too short to spend time with books that I’m not vibing with. Anyone else feel this way?
November 22, 2023
3.5. The cover and blurb sparked my interest for this book as I hadn’t heard of the author, later learning it was actually authors. I liked the storyline and thought the chemistry between the MCs was there, but felt as though there was something lacking that made this one a bit harder to keep my focus. The characters jumped a lot during conversations and it was sometimes hard to keep up with. Overall, I enjoyed the story though.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2024
idea was 5⭐️ but the execution was sadly a 2⭐️ for me
i had such a hard time getting through this book and not because it was boring but just because the whole time O was reading I felt like I was missing something. Thirteen years go by and Katie and Wil seem to solve everything in 1 conversation. this just felt hard to believe. There were no high stakes or any moments where I doubted their happy ending. And I LOVE happy endings, but I love the journey to get there more, and this one didn't do it for me.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC
i had such a hard time getting through this book and not because it was boring but just because the whole time O was reading I felt like I was missing something. Thirteen years go by and Katie and Wil seem to solve everything in 1 conversation. this just felt hard to believe. There were no high stakes or any moments where I doubted their happy ending. And I LOVE happy endings, but I love the journey to get there more, and this one didn't do it for me.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC
October 1, 2025
okay. this one is a 3.5, but i'm rounding up instead of my usual round down bc i adore this narrator, and she was impeccable, here. i ALLLLLLMOST loved this as much as the other books that i've read so far by this author, but the tiktok thing.... i just couldn't get over it. this is def a me thing, but it made me weirdly uncomfortable and i found it a little odd at the idea that a tiktok where someone simply makes out with random people online was this viral, and that people in both the hollywood/entertainment industry AND the lawyer/judicial industry were all consistently like... yayyy i love your tiktok do you need an agent? you go girl etc and not like, um, babe, this is sort of a scandal and not something that makes us eager to hire you? particcularly with the lawyers. that is me being VERY judgy, i'm 100% aware. but it baffled me and kept taking me out of the story a bit.
(also i'm soRRY the whole, "i'm talking to my cats with this weird machine and they can talk back" thing.... we need to stop caring abt animals and have less pets, i fear. this is wild).
UNDER ALL THAT, i really liked both katie and will as characters. i enjoyed thier dynamic. i think the wives that comprise the author of mae marvel are fantastic writers and i've enjoyed every book of theirs so far. there were just a couple of things in this one that weren't entierly for me, and that's FINE. i still had a very good time. it was a very lovely romance and i absolutely rec it.
(also i'm soRRY the whole, "i'm talking to my cats with this weird machine and they can talk back" thing.... we need to stop caring abt animals and have less pets, i fear. this is wild).
UNDER ALL THAT, i really liked both katie and will as characters. i enjoyed thier dynamic. i think the wives that comprise the author of mae marvel are fantastic writers and i've enjoyed every book of theirs so far. there were just a couple of things in this one that weren't entierly for me, and that's FINE. i still had a very good time. it was a very lovely romance and i absolutely rec it.
May 27, 2024
Katie and Wil are so stinking adorable! These two navigated their relationship amazingly, especially after not being near each other for years. Don’t we all wish that we could pick up where we left off with an old friend, and an old friend you were in love with?
December 18, 2024
A lesson in chemistry. I had to take actual break because this book overwhelmed my nervous system
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