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How NOT to Kiss a Prince
When Em's best friend Carla is cursed to become a hag for all eternity, Em helps her hunt for the perfect prince to kiss her and break the spell. But soon the girls will move to different colleges and Em is running out of chances to tell Carla how she really feels. Something is getting broken at the fairytale ball - Carla's curse or Em's heart.
Brimming with charm, cheekiness and heart, How NOT to Kiss a Prince is a sapphic romantic comedy that flips fairytale tropes on their head. Set in a world where curses are as real as crushes, this vibrant YA debut explores friendship, identity, magic, and the messy beauty of first love.
Brimming with charm, cheekiness and heart, How NOT to Kiss a Prince is a sapphic romantic comedy that flips fairytale tropes on their head. Set in a world where curses are as real as crushes, this vibrant YA debut explores friendship, identity, magic, and the messy beauty of first love.
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 6, 2025
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56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 7, 2025
I have mixed feelings!
This is like, sort of a combination of a bunch of classic fairytales.
Mostly Beauty and the Beast vibes, but I also felt some Cinderella and The Princess and the Frog vibes too I think.
So, we have fairytale retellings, but make it queer and taking placing in a secondary school.
The first thing that struck me, was that these characters feel young. Very young.
This is YA- so i expected that to an extent. But, these are meant to be year 11 students, which I think would make them around 16? They are old enough to be talking about going to college soon.
This was giving very middle school though. They could honestly be 12.
This isn’t a bad thing! but it made it a little bit more difficult for me to enjoy it (I am an adult though. So I understand i’m not really the target audience for it anyway) But i do think that even as a teenager- I would have felt that these characters could have been a bit more mature.
I felt for Em. The homophobia she experienced, from slurs to being told she “shouldn’t be allowed in the girls locker room”. Made me pretty sad. I think i have gotten so used to reading books where characters have such good and loving support systems, and live in a pretty accepting society- that it catches me off guard when that isn’t the case.
But I think it is important for experiences like this to be represented in books, to remind us that things aren’t always sunshine and people are still struggling.
As for Em and Clara, I think they were a cute match.
The classic best friends to lovers situation. Which I always enjoy.
In the end, I feel okay about it.
I like the fun fairytale theme, and I like that it was able to be lighthearted, while also bringing in some deeper and more emotional elements.
This is a case of a YA story that I think I have simply aged out of.
But, if you’re a young reader- I would say go for it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Hashtag Press | Hashtag BLAK, and author B Wheeler for providing me with the eARC of “How NOT to Kiss a Prince”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: November 06, 2025
This is like, sort of a combination of a bunch of classic fairytales.
Mostly Beauty and the Beast vibes, but I also felt some Cinderella and The Princess and the Frog vibes too I think.
So, we have fairytale retellings, but make it queer and taking placing in a secondary school.
The first thing that struck me, was that these characters feel young. Very young.
This is YA- so i expected that to an extent. But, these are meant to be year 11 students, which I think would make them around 16? They are old enough to be talking about going to college soon.
This was giving very middle school though. They could honestly be 12.
This isn’t a bad thing! but it made it a little bit more difficult for me to enjoy it (I am an adult though. So I understand i’m not really the target audience for it anyway) But i do think that even as a teenager- I would have felt that these characters could have been a bit more mature.
I felt for Em. The homophobia she experienced, from slurs to being told she “shouldn’t be allowed in the girls locker room”. Made me pretty sad. I think i have gotten so used to reading books where characters have such good and loving support systems, and live in a pretty accepting society- that it catches me off guard when that isn’t the case.
But I think it is important for experiences like this to be represented in books, to remind us that things aren’t always sunshine and people are still struggling.
As for Em and Clara, I think they were a cute match.
The classic best friends to lovers situation. Which I always enjoy.
In the end, I feel okay about it.
I like the fun fairytale theme, and I like that it was able to be lighthearted, while also bringing in some deeper and more emotional elements.
This is a case of a YA story that I think I have simply aged out of.
But, if you’re a young reader- I would say go for it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Hashtag Press | Hashtag BLAK, and author B Wheeler for providing me with the eARC of “How NOT to Kiss a Prince”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: November 06, 2025
November 4, 2025
Oh, wow. What a fun story peppered with fairy tale elements! I adored this sapphic tale of friendship, romance, and oh, you know…a curse! I loved how B. Wheeler threw in a bunch of fairy tale references instead of only focusing on one for a retelling. And I’m OBSESSED with the title. Can’t wait to see what B. has in store for us in the future.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
November 4, 2025
Shy, awkward Em couldn’t be more different from her best friend, Carla—the most popular girl in their graduating class. But a deep bond of friendship unites the two. There’s only one problem: Em secretly has a crush on Carla. In all their conversations, it’s the one topic she’s never broached, since Carla only likes guys (at least she thinks).
Oh, wait—there’s a second problem, too. Carla puts on a cursed necklace, which is transforming her into a hag!
The only way to break the curse is for Carla to receive a prince’s kiss before the end of the school’s upcoming dance. And Em vows to help her find that prince and lift the curse, even if it means her own heart breaks.
That’s the dilemma at the heart of HOW NOT TO KISS A PRINCE—and also its strength. Loyal Em never gives up on trying to help her best friend. Carla, the popular and pretty star, never treats Em as less than her best friend.
Author B Wheeler makes us care about both of these girls so much. We want them both to get that Happily Ever After ending! But how can that happen? Guess you’ll just have to read and find out….
I’ll also mention HOW NOT TO KISS A PRINCE features a fun and diverse supporting cast of students, each of which brings something to the book. If a sweet, heartfelt YA sapphic romance with a touch of magic sounds good to you, then this novel is one you should check out!
Oh, wait—there’s a second problem, too. Carla puts on a cursed necklace, which is transforming her into a hag!
The only way to break the curse is for Carla to receive a prince’s kiss before the end of the school’s upcoming dance. And Em vows to help her find that prince and lift the curse, even if it means her own heart breaks.
That’s the dilemma at the heart of HOW NOT TO KISS A PRINCE—and also its strength. Loyal Em never gives up on trying to help her best friend. Carla, the popular and pretty star, never treats Em as less than her best friend.
Author B Wheeler makes us care about both of these girls so much. We want them both to get that Happily Ever After ending! But how can that happen? Guess you’ll just have to read and find out….
I’ll also mention HOW NOT TO KISS A PRINCE features a fun and diverse supporting cast of students, each of which brings something to the book. If a sweet, heartfelt YA sapphic romance with a touch of magic sounds good to you, then this novel is one you should check out!
November 13, 2025
This was adorable. Messy magic, supposedly unrequited love, a curse, a search for a prince and a happy ending! It felt realistic, despite being a little cheesy, it was fun and easy to read, with the perfect balance of sweetness, chaos, humour and angst. A low stakes but tension-filled tale, a cursed necklace threatens to turn the MC's best friend into a hag for life, the only way to break it is a kiss from a prince. Luckily her friend has been named princess for their school leavers dance, but her prince has had to step down and she is tasked with finding the replacement. The MC agrees to help despite being out of her comfort zone, not even wanting to go to the dance in the first place, and ropes her friends in as well, but finding a prince for the girl you have loved for years is a hard task. There is tension, there is fear, there are moments of anger and hurt, moments of comfort and reassurance, moments of shock and worry, of sweetness and love. School is finishing but they have a life ahead of them and honesty is a good start.
I loved that it wasn't just about the main couple, though I did love them in their juxtapositions and their constant support of one another. Their friends had their moments as well, finding partners or embracing skills, finding confidence and pride in work they weren't initially on board with. I would read a whole series about this gang! Loved the ending, sweet and happy and honest.
A fun, sweet read!
I loved that it wasn't just about the main couple, though I did love them in their juxtapositions and their constant support of one another. Their friends had their moments as well, finding partners or embracing skills, finding confidence and pride in work they weren't initially on board with. I would read a whole series about this gang! Loved the ending, sweet and happy and honest.
A fun, sweet read!
December 7, 2025
📚How NOT to Kiss A Prince
✍🏻B Wheeler
Blurb:
When Em's best friend Carla is cursed to become a hag for all eternity, Em helps her hunt for the perfect prince to kiss her and break the spell. But soon the girls will move to different colleges and Em is running out of chances to tell Carla how she really feels. Something is getting broken at the fairytale ball - Carla's curse or Em's heart.
Brimming with charm, cheekiness and heart, How NOT to Kiss a Prince is a sapphic romantic comedy that flips fairytale tropes on their head. Set in a world where curses are as real as crushes, this vibrant YA debut explores friendship, identity, magic, and the messy beauty of first love.
My Thoughts:
This book was cute! a quick lighthearted read, I feel like it could really be enjoyed by younger people struggling with their identity and figuring themselves out. I liked the fairytale feel and themes, and bringing a small magical element to the everyday world. The cast of characters was very diverse and I really enjoyed them.
Thanks NetGalley, Hashtag Press and Author B Wheeler for the advanced copy of "How NOT To Kiss A Prince" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#HashtagPress
#HowNOTToKIssAPrince
#BWheeler
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻B Wheeler
Blurb:
When Em's best friend Carla is cursed to become a hag for all eternity, Em helps her hunt for the perfect prince to kiss her and break the spell. But soon the girls will move to different colleges and Em is running out of chances to tell Carla how she really feels. Something is getting broken at the fairytale ball - Carla's curse or Em's heart.
Brimming with charm, cheekiness and heart, How NOT to Kiss a Prince is a sapphic romantic comedy that flips fairytale tropes on their head. Set in a world where curses are as real as crushes, this vibrant YA debut explores friendship, identity, magic, and the messy beauty of first love.
My Thoughts:
This book was cute! a quick lighthearted read, I feel like it could really be enjoyed by younger people struggling with their identity and figuring themselves out. I liked the fairytale feel and themes, and bringing a small magical element to the everyday world. The cast of characters was very diverse and I really enjoyed them.
Thanks NetGalley, Hashtag Press and Author B Wheeler for the advanced copy of "How NOT To Kiss A Prince" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#HashtagPress
#HowNOTToKIssAPrince
#BWheeler
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 26, 2025
How NOT to kiss a Prince is a fun, sapphic YA read. There's a wonderful twist on the fairy tale retelling and I adored the little sprinklings from various tales throughout the novel. Em is hopelessly in love with her best friend, the beautiful Carla. They're spending the last few weeks of high school organising the year 11 ball when Carla is cursed and in desperate need of a fairytale prince to kiss!
Em, the MC is a wonderful character. I really liked her dark sarcasm and wit. I particularly liked her friend group. They were so supportive and cute together and I found this a really refreshing read. I read it in a weekend and found myself hooked from the start. Em's challenges felt real and my heart went out to her so many times when reading.
A really fun, short read teens can devour. Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publishers and author for providing an arc in return for an honest
Em, the MC is a wonderful character. I really liked her dark sarcasm and wit. I particularly liked her friend group. They were so supportive and cute together and I found this a really refreshing read. I read it in a weekend and found myself hooked from the start. Em's challenges felt real and my heart went out to her so many times when reading.
A really fun, short read teens can devour. Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publishers and author for providing an arc in return for an honest
October 16, 2025
This is a cute sapphic high school romance with fairy tale elements!
I enjoyed the mix of fairy tale elements in this story! It was a good plot element and something different to read, with no complex magic system or anything. I enjoy a good fantasy but enjoyed this as a nice change of pace.
I also enjoyed the pacing of this! It was a good pace and the story had a good momentum.
I did find the characters a bit young feeling like more middle school than high school age with their behaviour and comments. This isn’t a bad thing and I’m not necessarily the target audience as an adult.
I enjoyed the cast of characters, the friend group was great!
Overall a cute and quick read and would be perfect for YA readers!
Thank you for NetGalley and Hashtag Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the mix of fairy tale elements in this story! It was a good plot element and something different to read, with no complex magic system or anything. I enjoy a good fantasy but enjoyed this as a nice change of pace.
I also enjoyed the pacing of this! It was a good pace and the story had a good momentum.
I did find the characters a bit young feeling like more middle school than high school age with their behaviour and comments. This isn’t a bad thing and I’m not necessarily the target audience as an adult.
I enjoyed the cast of characters, the friend group was great!
Overall a cute and quick read and would be perfect for YA readers!
Thank you for NetGalley and Hashtag Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
4/5 ⭐️A fun fantasy/fairytale sapphic YA novel. I enjoyed this book quite a bit, it was funny and well paced as well as entertaining. The characters, especially Em, were witty and sarcastic and overall very likable. I liked the fantasy elements without being too confusing or complicated (like certain fantasy books I shall not name). Overall, I was kept hooked and sped through the book. Definitely an enjoyable and quick read that I’m sure you’ll enjoy! THANK YOU NET GALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THE ARC.
October 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was cute! a quick lighthearted read, I feel like it could really be enjoyed by younger people struggling with their identity and figuring themselves out. I liked the fairytale feel and themes, and bringing a small magical element to the everyday world. The cast of characters was very diverse and I really enjoyed them.
This book was cute! a quick lighthearted read, I feel like it could really be enjoyed by younger people struggling with their identity and figuring themselves out. I liked the fairytale feel and themes, and bringing a small magical element to the everyday world. The cast of characters was very diverse and I really enjoyed them.
October 31, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book did not quite live up to its promise for me. It felt too young for the target audience and got pretty repetitive. The characters had a lot of potential but ended up feeling a little too much like caricatures(especially the “I’m Not Like Other Girls” vibe of the main character/narrator, Em) for me to enjoy.
Unfortunately, this book did not quite live up to its promise for me. It felt too young for the target audience and got pretty repetitive. The characters had a lot of potential but ended up feeling a little too much like caricatures(especially the “I’m Not Like Other Girls” vibe of the main character/narrator, Em) for me to enjoy.
December 12, 2025
How Not to Kiss a Prince is a really fun, sweet twist on the classic fairytale story. Em and Carla’s friendship - and the feelings Em is trying so hard to hide - give the book a lot of heart, while the whole “find a prince to break the curse” plot adds a playful, magical vibe. I loved the mix of humor, awkward crush moments, and genuine emotion. It’s a light, charming sapphic rom-com that still manages to say something real about growing up and figuring yourself out. A really cute YA read.
December 17, 2025
This was such a fun and lovely story! Perfect for fans of heartstopper and fairytales.So much quirky references and a whole mix of retellings within one story. The main characters were beautifully developed as well and the plot was cute and easy to follow.I read it very quickly and it was just the light read i kind of really needed at the minute especially coming into winter xmas season Cannot wait to see what is next for the author! I very much enjoyed this one and have recommended
December 13, 2025
💜 Blurb -
When Em's best friend Carla is cursed to become a hag for all eternity, Em helps her hunt for the perfect prince to kiss her and break the spell. But soon the girls will move to different colleges and Em is running out of chances to tell Carla how she really feels. Something is getting broken at the fairytale ball - Carla's curse or Em's heart.
Brimming with charm, cheekiness and heart, How NOT to Kiss a Prince is a sapphic romantic comedy that flips fairytale tropes on their head. Set in a world where curses are as real as crushes, this vibrant YA debut explores friendship, identity, magic, and the messy beauty of first love.
❤️ Review -
For a debut novel, this book was well written. From the very first page the author's writing had me hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. Even though the book is aimed at YA readers, I feel that it can be read by adults too. I loved the story and following the characters through the story. I loved all the characters, especially Em and Carla and I loved their friendship. I loved the innocence with it being a clean YA romance novel and that it had a fairy-tale element, which made it an entertaining read. I also loved that it had LGBtQ representation (which we need more of). Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Literally PR, the author B Wheeler and the publisher Hashtag Blak for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When Em's best friend Carla is cursed to become a hag for all eternity, Em helps her hunt for the perfect prince to kiss her and break the spell. But soon the girls will move to different colleges and Em is running out of chances to tell Carla how she really feels. Something is getting broken at the fairytale ball - Carla's curse or Em's heart.
Brimming with charm, cheekiness and heart, How NOT to Kiss a Prince is a sapphic romantic comedy that flips fairytale tropes on their head. Set in a world where curses are as real as crushes, this vibrant YA debut explores friendship, identity, magic, and the messy beauty of first love.
❤️ Review -
For a debut novel, this book was well written. From the very first page the author's writing had me hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. Even though the book is aimed at YA readers, I feel that it can be read by adults too. I loved the story and following the characters through the story. I loved all the characters, especially Em and Carla and I loved their friendship. I loved the innocence with it being a clean YA romance novel and that it had a fairy-tale element, which made it an entertaining read. I also loved that it had LGBtQ representation (which we need more of). Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Literally PR, the author B Wheeler and the publisher Hashtag Blak for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2025
How NOT To Kiss A Prince is a brilliant, fairytale-themed teen, first love romance story set in a school around the GCSEs (Y11) and stars two fab leading ladies: Em and Carla. I won't plot spoil but there is a lot of will they won't they moments, cute friendship scenes a la Heartstopper, and I LOVE the end of school prom theme. This is a cute story with fab representation that is real, honest and authentic. The sprinkling of fairytale references work really well and while it's very much set in the 'real world' the fantasy/magic elements are great fun. Overall, a book I'd strongly recommend to fans of younger YA - think teenagers around 14+. Can't believe this is a debut. Really strong addition to the LGBTQIA+ space in this genre for this demographic. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
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