What do you think?
Rate this book
Kissing Lessons
A steamy contemporary YA romance by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan about a girl with a bad reputation giving lessons on how to attract guys for some extra cash—only to fall for her client’s golden-boy brother. For fans of Kami Garcia, Katie McGarry, and Netflix’s Sex Education.
Wild, beautiful, and (as rumor has it) experienced, Hayden Vargas doesn’t have time for love or relationships. She’s learned the hard way that the only person you can count on is yourself, and she’s hell-bent on earning enough money to leave her small, judgy Texas town as fast as possible. So when nerdy Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden for lessons in seduction, the money is so easy, there must be a catch. Enter the catch: Emmaline’s older brother, popular, all-around nice guy™ Nolan Martin, who doesn’t want his sister’s reputation tarnished by the school’s resident bad girl.
But Hayden should know that looks can be deceiving. Nolan may seem like a golden boy, but like Hayden, he has a few secrets of his own. And the more he meddles in her lessons with Emmaline, the more these polar opposites clash—and the more sparks fly. Turns out Nolan may have some lessons to teach Hayden, but only if she’s willing to learn.
Wild, beautiful, and (as rumor has it) experienced, Hayden Vargas doesn’t have time for love or relationships. She’s learned the hard way that the only person you can count on is yourself, and she’s hell-bent on earning enough money to leave her small, judgy Texas town as fast as possible. So when nerdy Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden for lessons in seduction, the money is so easy, there must be a catch. Enter the catch: Emmaline’s older brother, popular, all-around nice guy™ Nolan Martin, who doesn’t want his sister’s reputation tarnished by the school’s resident bad girl.
But Hayden should know that looks can be deceiving. Nolan may seem like a golden boy, but like Hayden, he has a few secrets of his own. And the more he meddles in her lessons with Emmaline, the more these polar opposites clash—and the more sparks fly. Turns out Nolan may have some lessons to teach Hayden, but only if she’s willing to learn.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2020
About the author
Sophie Jordan
73 books9,119 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
June 17, 2020
*4.5 stars*
"She was someone to be used. Bought. Someone Nolan couldn't own up to being friends with. A dirty secret."
A very steamy/explicit YA contemporary about teens exploring their sexuality and the slut shaming of high school.
SUMMARY
Hayden Vargas has a reputation. From an early age, Hayden learned to fend for herself and pay the bills her alcoholic mother forgets. She is counting down the days to graduation where she can flee her slut-shaming high school and start a new life states away. When sweet, naive Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden more than she makes working in a week for lessons in "being confident and sexy" to attract boys, she agrees. What's the harm in a little sexual education?
Nolan Martin is the Prom King with the Prom Queen girlfriend, the picture perfect high school couple. But after losing his father a few years back, Nolan has taken on the protective role of guarding his two younger sisters. When Emmaline starts hanging out with the infamous Hayden Vargas, Nolan worries that his sister will become ruined by Hayden's promiscuous reputation. When Nolan starts interfering with Hayden's lessons, unexpected sparks fly, and he begins to question why he was judging Hayden in the first place.
REVIEW
I really loved this book. I saw so much of myself in Hayden and the struggles she went through - albeit the slut shaming I experienced was in college versus high school. I think that she had a very raw and real response to the situations she was in and the wall she created around herself was not unlike the one I put around myself. I also really admired Hayden's self-assurance and take-no-shit attitude. While she hated the false rumours of her sexual exploits, she didn't give a flying f* about the ones that were true. She embraced her sexual prowess and it made me smile.
There is a lot of girl hate in this book. I normally despise girl-hate in books, but because this one was so reminiscent of my own experiences, I don't want to write it off. Girl hate happens, it is real. I found myself slut shamed to my face more often from other women than from men, which is what happens in this book. Sure, some people will read this and hate that the purpose of Nolan's GF is to slut-shame Hayden, but sometimes that is reality. People are judgmental of women who are sexually free, and we cannot be mad when that is shown in a book.
Once again I will state that this is very steamy for a young adult novel and I freaking love that. Too many young adult novels shy away from including explicit scenes, but teens in high school have intercourse and oral sex. Writing about it shouldn't be taboo. I commend Sophie Jordan for including those scenes in this novel.
I was surprised that this novel had four different POVs. I thought we would only follow Hayden and Nolan, but we also got Emmaline (Nolan's younger sister and Hayden's Protegee) and Beau (Nolan's BFF and Emmaline's crush).
Nolan is very overprotective of his two younger sisters, to the extent that it is driving Emmaline away. In the beginning Nolan is disapproves of the friendship between Emmaline and Hayden because he views his sister as pure and believes that Hayden will have a bad influence. This judgement of someone based off rumours is not uncommon and I wasn't surprised at Nolan's view. I was thankful that his negative judgement of Hayden didn't last for more than a third of the novel, otherwise it would've been annoying. That being said, while Nolan was coming to terms with his acceptance of Hayden, he was still a bit of a d*ck and I wish he had a little more development in that department.
Emmaline was a total gem to follow. I loved that she was naive but also had a fiery personality. She truly admired Hayden for the confidence she exuded, and while their friendship started out as an exchange, it turned into something real. I loved that Emmaline became protective of Hayden, even if sometimes she messed up (she's a sophomore, of course she is going to make immature mistakes.)
Beau's POV is the reason why this book got a 4.5 and not a 5 star. I didn't really get it... His POV didn't add much to the novel other than showing the very quick development of his attraction to Emmaline. Given that we had his POV, I wish we got more depth into his attraction to Emmaline so it didn't feel slightly weird.
I want to quickly state that Hayden's mother has alcohol and drug problems, so do be aware if this is triggering for you.
Overall, I did adore this book and could see myself rereading it. If you loved the movie Easy A and the TV series Sex Education, you will have a raving time with this book.
TW: cheating, slut-shaming
"She was someone to be used. Bought. Someone Nolan couldn't own up to being friends with. A dirty secret."
A very steamy/explicit YA contemporary about teens exploring their sexuality and the slut shaming of high school.
SUMMARY
Hayden Vargas has a reputation. From an early age, Hayden learned to fend for herself and pay the bills her alcoholic mother forgets. She is counting down the days to graduation where she can flee her slut-shaming high school and start a new life states away. When sweet, naive Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden more than she makes working in a week for lessons in "being confident and sexy" to attract boys, she agrees. What's the harm in a little sexual education?
Nolan Martin is the Prom King with the Prom Queen girlfriend, the picture perfect high school couple. But after losing his father a few years back, Nolan has taken on the protective role of guarding his two younger sisters. When Emmaline starts hanging out with the infamous Hayden Vargas, Nolan worries that his sister will become ruined by Hayden's promiscuous reputation. When Nolan starts interfering with Hayden's lessons, unexpected sparks fly, and he begins to question why he was judging Hayden in the first place.
REVIEW
I really loved this book. I saw so much of myself in Hayden and the struggles she went through - albeit the slut shaming I experienced was in college versus high school. I think that she had a very raw and real response to the situations she was in and the wall she created around herself was not unlike the one I put around myself. I also really admired Hayden's self-assurance and take-no-shit attitude. While she hated the false rumours of her sexual exploits, she didn't give a flying f* about the ones that were true. She embraced her sexual prowess and it made me smile.
There is a lot of girl hate in this book. I normally despise girl-hate in books, but because this one was so reminiscent of my own experiences, I don't want to write it off. Girl hate happens, it is real. I found myself slut shamed to my face more often from other women than from men, which is what happens in this book. Sure, some people will read this and hate that the purpose of Nolan's GF is to slut-shame Hayden, but sometimes that is reality. People are judgmental of women who are sexually free, and we cannot be mad when that is shown in a book.
Once again I will state that this is very steamy for a young adult novel and I freaking love that. Too many young adult novels shy away from including explicit scenes, but teens in high school have intercourse and oral sex. Writing about it shouldn't be taboo. I commend Sophie Jordan for including those scenes in this novel.
I was surprised that this novel had four different POVs. I thought we would only follow Hayden and Nolan, but we also got Emmaline (Nolan's younger sister and Hayden's Protegee) and Beau (Nolan's BFF and Emmaline's crush).
Nolan is very overprotective of his two younger sisters, to the extent that it is driving Emmaline away. In the beginning Nolan is disapproves of the friendship between Emmaline and Hayden because he views his sister as pure and believes that Hayden will have a bad influence. This judgement of someone based off rumours is not uncommon and I wasn't surprised at Nolan's view. I was thankful that his negative judgement of Hayden didn't last for more than a third of the novel, otherwise it would've been annoying. That being said, while Nolan was coming to terms with his acceptance of Hayden, he was still a bit of a d*ck and I wish he had a little more development in that department.
Emmaline was a total gem to follow. I loved that she was naive but also had a fiery personality. She truly admired Hayden for the confidence she exuded, and while their friendship started out as an exchange, it turned into something real. I loved that Emmaline became protective of Hayden, even if sometimes she messed up (she's a sophomore, of course she is going to make immature mistakes.)
Beau's POV is the reason why this book got a 4.5 and not a 5 star. I didn't really get it... His POV didn't add much to the novel other than showing the very quick development of his attraction to Emmaline. Given that we had his POV, I wish we got more depth into his attraction to Emmaline so it didn't feel slightly weird.
I want to quickly state that Hayden's mother has alcohol and drug problems, so do be aware if this is triggering for you.
Overall, I did adore this book and could see myself rereading it. If you loved the movie Easy A and the TV series Sex Education, you will have a raving time with this book.
TW: cheating, slut-shaming
June 1, 2020
an ARC was provided to me by the publisher through edelweiss in exchange of an honest review. this doesn’t affect my opinion in any way. all quotations are also from the ARC, and may be subject to change.
Kissing Lessons, a "steamy YA romance" about a girl giving another girl seduction lessons and then crushing on the girl’s brother, looked promising. i wanted to see what this story would bring to the world. it’s safe to say i was deeply disappointed.
let’s start with what i actually liked about this book. the writing is not bad. in fact, it’s really good. upon a quick scan of the author’s profile on goodreads, it came to my knowledge that this is not her first novel. she has written many adult historical romance books and also a YA series that was pretty popular a long time ago. but anyway, the writing was good. simple, clear and straight to the point.
with that aside, let’s get into what the fuck happened in this book, cause i literally can’t make this shit up.
i’m getting into the dirty details, and there are some minor spoilers, so if you don’t wanna know anything about this book and wanna get into it, you can stop here.
in Kissing Lessons, we meet Hayden, a confident teenage girl known for her reputation as a slut. her confidence strong against all the stuff she has to go through, Emmaline (another teenager) is impressed with her; therefore she asks her for lessons of seduction in order to be more like her, and maybe seduce Beau. and Nolan, Emmaline’s over-protective big brother and Beau’s best friend, is not okay with that. why, you might ask? because of her reputation.
Nolan spends a significant part of the book refusing that Emmaline hangs out with Hayden, fearing his sister will become like Hayden (i’ll let that one sink in). but then when someone else judges Hayden around him, he starts defending her. here’s one of the (many) things he says:
i hate to break it to you, but you ARE a hypocrite.
as the story goes, and he gets to know Hayden, Nolan gets rid of his prejudice. but why is it that he had to get to know her in order to see her other than a bad influence? couldn’t he be a civil human being and not judge the fuck out of her from the beginning? and while i liked Hayden for standing up for herself and calling him out every time, she doesn’t have to constantly do so. she’s not here to educate him.
my next point is about the cheating in this book. for maybe half of the book (i’m not sure though), Nolan has a girlfriend who he’s not happy with. it isn’t until he kisses Hayden that he realises that maybe, maybe he should break up with her. so he does, without telling her that he kissed another girl.
really no words.
speaking of Nolan’s girlfriend, her sole purpose throughout this book, though we don’t see her a lot, is to slut-shame Hayden, which is...messed up. and while Nolan calls her out multiple times (eye roll here), she doesn’t get developed. no redemption, none. the moment she walks out of Nolan’s life, we never see her again.
another aspect i wish was developed was Hayden’s rocky relationship with her mom. that part was talked about, but never discussed. no solution is found to the mother’s clearly toxic behaviour, and i think we only meet the mom once or twice.
but what shocked me the most out of all of this was something that i really have no words to describe. this story is pitched as steamy YA romance. so i expected some steamy scenes. what i didn’t expect, however, was mouths on nipples and an actual fingering scene described on page. in a YA novel. i just-- yeah.
so yeah. that’s probably all i have. i really can’t describe how disappointed i am in this book. i would not recommend it, but if you want to read it, beware of all of this.
now i can move on with my life.
Kissing Lessons, a "steamy YA romance" about a girl giving another girl seduction lessons and then crushing on the girl’s brother, looked promising. i wanted to see what this story would bring to the world. it’s safe to say i was deeply disappointed.
let’s start with what i actually liked about this book. the writing is not bad. in fact, it’s really good. upon a quick scan of the author’s profile on goodreads, it came to my knowledge that this is not her first novel. she has written many adult historical romance books and also a YA series that was pretty popular a long time ago. but anyway, the writing was good. simple, clear and straight to the point.
with that aside, let’s get into what the fuck happened in this book, cause i literally can’t make this shit up.
i’m getting into the dirty details, and there are some minor spoilers, so if you don’t wanna know anything about this book and wanna get into it, you can stop here.
in Kissing Lessons, we meet Hayden, a confident teenage girl known for her reputation as a slut. her confidence strong against all the stuff she has to go through, Emmaline (another teenager) is impressed with her; therefore she asks her for lessons of seduction in order to be more like her, and maybe seduce Beau. and Nolan, Emmaline’s over-protective big brother and Beau’s best friend, is not okay with that. why, you might ask? because of her reputation.
Nolan spends a significant part of the book refusing that Emmaline hangs out with Hayden, fearing his sister will become like Hayden (i’ll let that one sink in). but then when someone else judges Hayden around him, he starts defending her. here’s one of the (many) things he says:
"He didn’t like the judgement and he didn’t like Hayden being vilified, but he didn’t love the idea of his sister hanging out with Hayden either. Call him a hypocrite."
i hate to break it to you, but you ARE a hypocrite.
as the story goes, and he gets to know Hayden, Nolan gets rid of his prejudice. but why is it that he had to get to know her in order to see her other than a bad influence? couldn’t he be a civil human being and not judge the fuck out of her from the beginning? and while i liked Hayden for standing up for herself and calling him out every time, she doesn’t have to constantly do so. she’s not here to educate him.
my next point is about the cheating in this book. for maybe half of the book (i’m not sure though), Nolan has a girlfriend who he’s not happy with. it isn’t until he kisses Hayden that he realises that maybe, maybe he should break up with her. so he does, without telling her that he kissed another girl.
really no words.
speaking of Nolan’s girlfriend, her sole purpose throughout this book, though we don’t see her a lot, is to slut-shame Hayden, which is...messed up. and while Nolan calls her out multiple times (eye roll here), she doesn’t get developed. no redemption, none. the moment she walks out of Nolan’s life, we never see her again.
another aspect i wish was developed was Hayden’s rocky relationship with her mom. that part was talked about, but never discussed. no solution is found to the mother’s clearly toxic behaviour, and i think we only meet the mom once or twice.
but what shocked me the most out of all of this was something that i really have no words to describe. this story is pitched as steamy YA romance. so i expected some steamy scenes. what i didn’t expect, however, was mouths on nipples and an actual fingering scene described on page. in a YA novel. i just-- yeah.
so yeah. that’s probably all i have. i really can’t describe how disappointed i am in this book. i would not recommend it, but if you want to read it, beware of all of this.
now i can move on with my life.
June 1, 2026
This book makes my entire week, especially after a slew of horrific one- and two-star reads in this month alone.
I went into Kissing Lessons expecting a fluffy, contemporary YA Romance, a three-star read at best, but what I ended up with was an extremely layered, multifaceted, and human coming-of-age story about a girl who learns how to let herself be loved. No amount of words can do this book justice because, like I said, there are so many layers in one novel, and I can't just sit here and talk about each one. Kissing Lessons is a book you must experience for yourself to see what I mean, so ignore the reviews (including mine!) and use your own judgment.
What this book really is, is YA Contemporary Fiction, with romantic undercurrents. It has romance, but I wouldn't categorize this as a Romance-genre novel.
1. First thing first, I love the FMC--Hayden: She's so strong because she has no choice but to be strong. Her situation forces her to be.
Kissing Lessons never treats Hayden's resilience as inspirational. Instead, her resilience is very clearly shown as what it really is: the reality of a girl who has to carry burdens that no teenager should ever have to carry.
2. Nobody is flattened into a role or archetype.
This is one of this novel's greatest strengths: its author's refusal to reduce characters to simple archetypes for the sake of moving the plot along, and she sticks to her guns until the very end.
Hayden is misunderstood, but she also misjudges others.
Nolan is kind, but he makes mistakes.
Priscilla is heartbroken, but never lowers herself into "mean girl" status.
3. The way this novel addresses classism and wealth disparity without launching into a monologue, an exposition, or a lecture. It doesn't tell you any of that; it lets you see it through the characters' lived realities.
4. The romance DELIVERS. The author avoids having the MMC "saving" the FMC from anything. Instead, what we have is a boy who never gives up on a girl, the first person in her life to ever do that for her, and it takes self-reflecting on her part to realize that.
There are multiple scenes where she pushes him away, even though she clearly does love him, due to her defense mechanism. And when he does pull back, the only time he does so, Nolan makes it very clear that he's only doing what she asks, but he never abandons her.
This isn't a romance that's built around a savior who fixes her life, or a partner who never missteps. Instead, it's about someone who keeps showing up, respects her boundaries even when she hurts him, and consistently gives her evidence that he's not going to throw her away just because she's "difficult" or guarded.
And yet at the same time, Nolan isn't written as the idealized, perfect love interest who does no wrong. He makes mistakes, plenty, but it's clear to sympathetic readers that the mistakes are due to inexperience.
5. The coming-of-age novel doesn't just touch on first love, but first heartbreak, too.
Priscilla is Nolan's first love. Even though he is the one initiating the breakup (this is not a spoiler), it's painfully difficult for him because he's going from spending time with her daily, to having an empty space where she once occupied. Even when he does end up with a new partner (much later), it doesn't erase the past, and part of Nolan's arc is learning to live with the discomfort.
He learns that in order to have one future, he has to experience the loss of another. When his relationship with Priscilla ends, he has to let go of the version of his future he once expected to have, even if he doesn't want it anymore.
6. And then, there's the emotional honesty, which is what I think annoyed a lot of the readers who gave it negative reviews. A lot of readers may have expected a fluffy, feel-good Romcom, in which everyone changes for the better, hugs each other and cries it out, and the cutesy-playful cover (along with the summary) doesn't help. However, like I said, this is more than a romance.
There's so much emotional truth behind this story. Not everyone changes for the better. In life, there are people like Hayden's mom, who will fail their families over and over again, in every way imaginable. Having an unrepentant adult character like her actually helps readers in similar situations feel acknowledged. If she suddenly turns into the perfect mom and admits her wrongdoings, it can feel alienating. There are a lot of parents with an IDGAF attitude, and that's the truth.
By the final pages, I wasn't just rooting for Hayden and Nolan, you know? I was so happy for them. The true ending isn't about the girl and the boy having each other (even though they do), but is about a girl learning that although she cannot find a family in her mother, it doesn't mean that she has to close herself off to finding a family in others.
In the end, Hayden has a found-family with the most unlikely people.
I enjoyed this book so much, I promptly ordered my own hardcover copy as soon as I finished reading my library loan.
NOW, WITH EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS, WHICH I WILL PLACE BEHIND THE SPOILER TAGS
THEMES EXPLORED:
Self-discovery.
Isolation.
Alienation.
Loneliness.
The conflicts between people and the environment in which they live.
The pursuit of happiness.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Upper-YA. 16+. Allow this book to be what it is. Don't give it to a 12-year-old and then get mad by what's inside; that'd be the fault of the adult in question, not the book.
I went into Kissing Lessons expecting a fluffy, contemporary YA Romance, a three-star read at best, but what I ended up with was an extremely layered, multifaceted, and human coming-of-age story about a girl who learns how to let herself be loved. No amount of words can do this book justice because, like I said, there are so many layers in one novel, and I can't just sit here and talk about each one. Kissing Lessons is a book you must experience for yourself to see what I mean, so ignore the reviews (including mine!) and use your own judgment.
What this book really is, is YA Contemporary Fiction, with romantic undercurrents. It has romance, but I wouldn't categorize this as a Romance-genre novel.
1. First thing first, I love the FMC--Hayden: She's so strong because she has no choice but to be strong. Her situation forces her to be.
Kissing Lessons never treats Hayden's resilience as inspirational. Instead, her resilience is very clearly shown as what it really is: the reality of a girl who has to carry burdens that no teenager should ever have to carry.
2. Nobody is flattened into a role or archetype.
This is one of this novel's greatest strengths: its author's refusal to reduce characters to simple archetypes for the sake of moving the plot along, and she sticks to her guns until the very end.
Hayden is misunderstood, but she also misjudges others.
Nolan is kind, but he makes mistakes.
Priscilla is heartbroken, but never lowers herself into "mean girl" status.
3. The way this novel addresses classism and wealth disparity without launching into a monologue, an exposition, or a lecture. It doesn't tell you any of that; it lets you see it through the characters' lived realities.
4. The romance DELIVERS. The author avoids having the MMC "saving" the FMC from anything. Instead, what we have is a boy who never gives up on a girl, the first person in her life to ever do that for her, and it takes self-reflecting on her part to realize that.
There are multiple scenes where she pushes him away, even though she clearly does love him, due to her defense mechanism. And when he does pull back, the only time he does so, Nolan makes it very clear that he's only doing what she asks, but he never abandons her.
This isn't a romance that's built around a savior who fixes her life, or a partner who never missteps. Instead, it's about someone who keeps showing up, respects her boundaries even when she hurts him, and consistently gives her evidence that he's not going to throw her away just because she's "difficult" or guarded.
And yet at the same time, Nolan isn't written as the idealized, perfect love interest who does no wrong. He makes mistakes, plenty, but it's clear to sympathetic readers that the mistakes are due to inexperience.
5. The coming-of-age novel doesn't just touch on first love, but first heartbreak, too.
Priscilla is Nolan's first love. Even though he is the one initiating the breakup (this is not a spoiler), it's painfully difficult for him because he's going from spending time with her daily, to having an empty space where she once occupied. Even when he does end up with a new partner (much later), it doesn't erase the past, and part of Nolan's arc is learning to live with the discomfort.
He learns that in order to have one future, he has to experience the loss of another. When his relationship with Priscilla ends, he has to let go of the version of his future he once expected to have, even if he doesn't want it anymore.
6. And then, there's the emotional honesty, which is what I think annoyed a lot of the readers who gave it negative reviews. A lot of readers may have expected a fluffy, feel-good Romcom, in which everyone changes for the better, hugs each other and cries it out, and the cutesy-playful cover (along with the summary) doesn't help. However, like I said, this is more than a romance.
There's so much emotional truth behind this story. Not everyone changes for the better. In life, there are people like Hayden's mom, who will fail their families over and over again, in every way imaginable. Having an unrepentant adult character like her actually helps readers in similar situations feel acknowledged. If she suddenly turns into the perfect mom and admits her wrongdoings, it can feel alienating. There are a lot of parents with an IDGAF attitude, and that's the truth.
By the final pages, I wasn't just rooting for Hayden and Nolan, you know? I was so happy for them. The true ending isn't about the girl and the boy having each other (even though they do), but is about a girl learning that although she cannot find a family in her mother, it doesn't mean that she has to close herself off to finding a family in others.
In the end, Hayden has a found-family with the most unlikely people.
I enjoyed this book so much, I promptly ordered my own hardcover copy as soon as I finished reading my library loan.
NOW, WITH EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS, WHICH I WILL PLACE BEHIND THE SPOILER TAGS
THEMES EXPLORED:
Self-discovery.
Isolation.
Alienation.
Loneliness.
The conflicts between people and the environment in which they live.
The pursuit of happiness.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Upper-YA. 16+. Allow this book to be what it is. Don't give it to a 12-year-old and then get mad by what's inside; that'd be the fault of the adult in question, not the book.
December 3, 2020
"Happily ever after with another person is a lie. Contentment and happiness comes from yourself. Not other people."
It’s always an exciting moment to read a book by an author that you’ve never read before. It’s honestly exhilarating. I geared myself up to read a book that was going to be a sassy contemporary with lots of funny scenes but no. Nope, not what we get at all. And I can honestly say that I’ll never read anything by this author again.
This book disgusted me. It made me feel bad for being who I am instead of encouraging people to embrace who they are. Why all the hate? Why all the shaming? Why has a male character gone after a female character after he thinks horrible things about her? It’s gross.
Characters were shallow and sexist at that. Thanks, but no thanks. I want to be supported and not shamed. This whole entire book is cringey and I would never recommend this even to my worst enemy. I wish I could wipe reading this from my memory.
Kissing Lessons was a horrible and ugly read. Please don't be fooled by the bright and fun cover because this book was nothing of the sort. There are so many amazing contemporary books out in the world. Just overlook this one like it doesn't exist and you'll have a very happy reading experience.
It’s always an exciting moment to read a book by an author that you’ve never read before. It’s honestly exhilarating. I geared myself up to read a book that was going to be a sassy contemporary with lots of funny scenes but no. Nope, not what we get at all. And I can honestly say that I’ll never read anything by this author again.
This book disgusted me. It made me feel bad for being who I am instead of encouraging people to embrace who they are. Why all the hate? Why all the shaming? Why has a male character gone after a female character after he thinks horrible things about her? It’s gross.
Characters were shallow and sexist at that. Thanks, but no thanks. I want to be supported and not shamed. This whole entire book is cringey and I would never recommend this even to my worst enemy. I wish I could wipe reading this from my memory.
Kissing Lessons was a horrible and ugly read. Please don't be fooled by the bright and fun cover because this book was nothing of the sort. There are so many amazing contemporary books out in the world. Just overlook this one like it doesn't exist and you'll have a very happy reading experience.
January 11, 2020
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hayden Vargas agrees to teach seduction lessons to some underclassman in this surprisingly serious young adult romance.
I’m disappointed – I expected more rom-com in this title. The cover and synopsis make it seem like a fun and flirty romance, not a drama. It’s also told from four narrators. The narrative felt disjointed and slow as it moved from one character to the next. Scenes are told from multiple perspectives, bogging it down in too many details to make an impactful story.
The characters and romances could have saved the story for me. Alas, I found all of them tedious and boring. Hayden, in particular, didn’t get nearly enough character-development. I couldn’t tell you her sexual experience beyond kissing Beau in the 8th Grade. Perhaps she is experienced, perhaps not, but it should have been more apparent to the reader if not the other main characters. The entire premise is built on her supposed sexuality, it seems off for the book not to go into those details.
tl;dr Too little rom-com and one-dimensional characters kept me from enjoying this fun premise.
Hayden Vargas agrees to teach seduction lessons to some underclassman in this surprisingly serious young adult romance.
I’m disappointed – I expected more rom-com in this title. The cover and synopsis make it seem like a fun and flirty romance, not a drama. It’s also told from four narrators. The narrative felt disjointed and slow as it moved from one character to the next. Scenes are told from multiple perspectives, bogging it down in too many details to make an impactful story.
The characters and romances could have saved the story for me. Alas, I found all of them tedious and boring. Hayden, in particular, didn’t get nearly enough character-development. I couldn’t tell you her sexual experience beyond kissing Beau in the 8th Grade. Perhaps she is experienced, perhaps not, but it should have been more apparent to the reader if not the other main characters. The entire premise is built on her supposed sexuality, it seems off for the book not to go into those details.
tl;dr Too little rom-com and one-dimensional characters kept me from enjoying this fun premise.
March 7, 2020
This was actually pretty good—but that happy ending was 100% rushed and dissatisfying.
Read
June 12, 2020I got one chapter in and had to stop. Think every high school cliche in the book (ha), and it's in here. I can't.
May 11, 2020
Review originally posted on My Bookish Escapades.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
So... this was a total mind eff. In a good way. I think. No. Yes. Maybe? Uhm yeah, I'm sure.
I have very mixed feelings about this as you can tell. Imagine a more watered down version of Gossip Girl. But crazier. If that even makes sense? (I don't think it does?) Well, that's exactly how I feel. Don't get me wrong, this was good in a I couldn't stop reading so I read it in one sitting kind of way. But at the same time, there was so much draaama. This would have been half as long if they all just had a sit down, talked like reasonable, civilized people and hashed it all out. Seriously. Okay, it's starting to sound like I don't like this at all. Which isn't true. Again, I read it in one sitting. I love Hayden. She was confident and bold and fierce and smart. And the chemistry with Nolan? Hot. I love Emmaline too. She's like this more naive, innocent version of Hayden but just as brave and just as bold if she lets herself. Beau was okay, I guess. I couldn't form much of an opinion on him since he was barely there. Also, the way things turned out after that kiss? If it went any other way, I would have DNF-ed this for sure. (You'd know what I'm talking about when you read this one.)
The more I think about it now... I guess I liked this way more than I didn't?
“Now you can go to parties and flirt with any girl you want and not have to worry about any of that. In fact, you could be doing that right now.”
“I don’t want to be at a party flirting with other girls.”
“Oh?” She arched one dark eyebrow and pointed at the center of her chest. “You only want to be here flirting with me?”
I received an e-arc via Edelweiss+ to read and review.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
So... this was a total mind eff. In a good way. I think. No. Yes. Maybe? Uhm yeah, I'm sure.
I have very mixed feelings about this as you can tell. Imagine a more watered down version of Gossip Girl. But crazier. If that even makes sense? (I don't think it does?) Well, that's exactly how I feel. Don't get me wrong, this was good in a I couldn't stop reading so I read it in one sitting kind of way. But at the same time, there was so much draaama. This would have been half as long if they all just had a sit down, talked like reasonable, civilized people and hashed it all out. Seriously. Okay, it's starting to sound like I don't like this at all. Which isn't true. Again, I read it in one sitting. I love Hayden. She was confident and bold and fierce and smart. And the chemistry with Nolan? Hot. I love Emmaline too. She's like this more naive, innocent version of Hayden but just as brave and just as bold if she lets herself. Beau was okay, I guess. I couldn't form much of an opinion on him since he was barely there. Also, the way things turned out after that kiss? If it went any other way, I would have DNF-ed this for sure. (You'd know what I'm talking about when you read this one.)
The more I think about it now... I guess I liked this way more than I didn't?
“Now you can go to parties and flirt with any girl you want and not have to worry about any of that. In fact, you could be doing that right now.”
“I don’t want to be at a party flirting with other girls.”
“Oh?” She arched one dark eyebrow and pointed at the center of her chest. “You only want to be here flirting with me?”
I received an e-arc via Edelweiss+ to read and review.
June 8, 2020
My Thoughts:
Kissing Lessons was a story that I was really looking forward to reading! I have enjoyed Sophie Jordan's stories in the past, and this one was a pleasure to read. While I expected a light and fun read, this story dealt with some heavier topics.
Hayden Vargas has learned that the only person she can depend on is herself. Her father is a deadbeat, and her mother has an alcohol and drug problem, and goes from guy to guy. She never has food in the house and is always partying. Hayden works full time on top of going to school to pay for her car, food, and all of her essentials. She lives in a run down neighborhood, doesn't feel secure in her own home with her mother's addict boyfriends, and has installed extra locks on her bedroom door to keep herself and her belongings safe. Hayden knows she will never be able to attend college, but is saving up so she can move in to her own place after she graduates from high school.
Nolan Martin is a popular athlete, and lives in a nice home. However, he has a lot on his shoulders, as he takes it upon himself to look after his mother, and two younger sister's; now that his father has passed away. He has been in a long-term serious relationship with head cheerleader, Priscilla. However, he is bored, and feels like he has lost his individuality by being with her.
Emmaline, Nolan's younger sister, hires Hayden to teach her how to be sexy, seductive, and have more "game." She has had feelings for Beau, (a player,) and Nolan's best friend for many years, but is sure he views her as a little sister. Emmaline is a junior in high school, but has never been kissed or had a boyfriend. She feels like her older brother is too controlling and she wants to have a social life.
As Hayden comes into Emmaline and Nolan's life, she is at first met with resistance from Nolan, because she has a sleazy reputation, (which is unjustified.) However, little by little Hayden becomes close friends with Emmaline, and Emmaline's good friends, Sanjana, Lia, and Monica. She begins to realize just how lonely she was, and how good it feels to have people in her corner, who care about and support her. The attraction between Hayden and Nolan is palpable, and even though she has never wanted a relationship, she finds herself falling hard for him. Nolan loves that Hayden challenges him, and makes him question himself.
I loved the that we get two love stories in Kissing Lessons, and was cheering for Hayden and Nolan, as well as Emmaline and Beau to get their happily ever afters! The thread of friendship between the girls was one of my favorite aspects of the story. I wanted Hayden to feel cared for, and she was such a strong and independent character, that was afraid to let herself be vulnerable. Nolan was sweet, caring, and responsible, but he needed to learn that perceptions and assumptions can oftentimes be incorrect.
I found myself entertained as I read this enjoyable story! It was fast-paced, and such a quick and effortless read! I was satisfied with the romance and my much anticipated happily ever afters!
3.5 Stars!
Kissing Lessons was a story that I was really looking forward to reading! I have enjoyed Sophie Jordan's stories in the past, and this one was a pleasure to read. While I expected a light and fun read, this story dealt with some heavier topics.
Hayden Vargas has learned that the only person she can depend on is herself. Her father is a deadbeat, and her mother has an alcohol and drug problem, and goes from guy to guy. She never has food in the house and is always partying. Hayden works full time on top of going to school to pay for her car, food, and all of her essentials. She lives in a run down neighborhood, doesn't feel secure in her own home with her mother's addict boyfriends, and has installed extra locks on her bedroom door to keep herself and her belongings safe. Hayden knows she will never be able to attend college, but is saving up so she can move in to her own place after she graduates from high school.
Nolan Martin is a popular athlete, and lives in a nice home. However, he has a lot on his shoulders, as he takes it upon himself to look after his mother, and two younger sister's; now that his father has passed away. He has been in a long-term serious relationship with head cheerleader, Priscilla. However, he is bored, and feels like he has lost his individuality by being with her.
Emmaline, Nolan's younger sister, hires Hayden to teach her how to be sexy, seductive, and have more "game." She has had feelings for Beau, (a player,) and Nolan's best friend for many years, but is sure he views her as a little sister. Emmaline is a junior in high school, but has never been kissed or had a boyfriend. She feels like her older brother is too controlling and she wants to have a social life.
As Hayden comes into Emmaline and Nolan's life, she is at first met with resistance from Nolan, because she has a sleazy reputation, (which is unjustified.) However, little by little Hayden becomes close friends with Emmaline, and Emmaline's good friends, Sanjana, Lia, and Monica. She begins to realize just how lonely she was, and how good it feels to have people in her corner, who care about and support her. The attraction between Hayden and Nolan is palpable, and even though she has never wanted a relationship, she finds herself falling hard for him. Nolan loves that Hayden challenges him, and makes him question himself.
I loved the that we get two love stories in Kissing Lessons, and was cheering for Hayden and Nolan, as well as Emmaline and Beau to get their happily ever afters! The thread of friendship between the girls was one of my favorite aspects of the story. I wanted Hayden to feel cared for, and she was such a strong and independent character, that was afraid to let herself be vulnerable. Nolan was sweet, caring, and responsible, but he needed to learn that perceptions and assumptions can oftentimes be incorrect.
I found myself entertained as I read this enjoyable story! It was fast-paced, and such a quick and effortless read! I was satisfied with the romance and my much anticipated happily ever afters!
3.5 Stars!
June 4, 2020
Told through the POVs of four narrators, Kissing Lessons is part romance and part coming of age story. First we have Hayden, a teenager with a bad girl reputation and a no-nonsense persona. Her home life is less than ideal, leaving her to fend for herself and forcing her to act mature beyond her years. It’s her reputation that gives good girl, Emmaline, the idea to hire Hayden for lessons on seducing her crush. I should mention that her crush is Beau, her older brother Nolan’s best friend. I should also mention that Nolan doesn’t approve of them spending time together. But when Nolan gets to know Hayden, he realizes that his judgment of her character may have been misguided. ⠀
⠀
Rife with both teenage angst and adult issues, Kissing Lessons is a blend of starry-eyed hopefulness and jaded realism. With Beau and Emmaline’s storyline, we get the swoon-worthy, butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings of a first crush. As Nolan’s sister, Emmaline is off limits, but you can’t help but root for the playboy to fall for the nerdy girl. In contrast, Hayden and Nolan have a more intense emotional connection, bonding over their similarities even as their stark differences threaten to rip them apart. The real world is a constant test to their budding romance and they both have to decide whether or not to fight for what they want. ⠀
⠀
Overall, Kissing Lessons is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read. The narrative doesn’t shy away from tough topics, which is refreshing, if sometimes uncomfortable. I think that’s the point, though. The story is raw and real, and kept me riveted until the very end.
⠀
Huge thanks to the publisher for my review copy. ⠀
⠀
Rife with both teenage angst and adult issues, Kissing Lessons is a blend of starry-eyed hopefulness and jaded realism. With Beau and Emmaline’s storyline, we get the swoon-worthy, butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings of a first crush. As Nolan’s sister, Emmaline is off limits, but you can’t help but root for the playboy to fall for the nerdy girl. In contrast, Hayden and Nolan have a more intense emotional connection, bonding over their similarities even as their stark differences threaten to rip them apart. The real world is a constant test to their budding romance and they both have to decide whether or not to fight for what they want. ⠀
⠀
Overall, Kissing Lessons is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read. The narrative doesn’t shy away from tough topics, which is refreshing, if sometimes uncomfortable. I think that’s the point, though. The story is raw and real, and kept me riveted until the very end.
⠀
Huge thanks to the publisher for my review copy. ⠀
February 2, 2020
Love! Loooooovvvvveeeeee! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
February 16, 2022
so she lost all of her money and everything valuable she owned but it’s ok because she got the guy?????????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
A cute, easy, high school read.
I probably would have liked this more back when I was in high school or if the author one up’d it to college years.
Overall, it was quirky and cute. Hayden and Beau were the most realistic characters. Nolan and Emmaline were rather annoying and one dimensional. It didn’t need to be written in 4 perspectives, we barely dug into Beau.
Many of the situations had me eye rolling and I didn’t care for the sex scenes with kids so young. It’s YA, I don’t think they should take it to that level.
Was it just me or did perspective change randomly from second person to first person? I feel that when the parents were talked about, the author would change into first perspective of the character focused in that chapter but in no other part did she do this.
I just needed something light after the last book I read and this was it. Nothing too over the top or too in depth, just skimming the top, nice and fluffy.
I probably would have liked this more back when I was in high school or if the author one up’d it to college years.
Overall, it was quirky and cute. Hayden and Beau were the most realistic characters. Nolan and Emmaline were rather annoying and one dimensional. It didn’t need to be written in 4 perspectives, we barely dug into Beau.
Many of the situations had me eye rolling and I didn’t care for the sex scenes with kids so young. It’s YA, I don’t think they should take it to that level.
Was it just me or did perspective change randomly from second person to first person? I feel that when the parents were talked about, the author would change into first perspective of the character focused in that chapter but in no other part did she do this.
I just needed something light after the last book I read and this was it. Nothing too over the top or too in depth, just skimming the top, nice and fluffy.
February 11, 2021
This was a really fun and quick read.
I read it in one sitting. It was really gripping and enjoyable.
I loved the multiple POV's and the writing was amazing. Especially the humour, it really made me laugh.
I related a lot to Hayden and her bluntness. She was such a fun and string female protagonist. I adored her banter with everyone, especially Nolan and her would be friendship with Emmaline.
My only gripes with the book was that I expected a bit more sexual content, it was very PG for a book about a girl with a bad reputation, so that was a little disappointing. And also I felt the story was paced super well, right until the end where we didnt really get much of an ending. It happened about 2 pages from the end and that was that. I expected more of a discussion and declaration but it kind of missed the mark there.
Otherwise this is a super sweet YA romance. Definitely recommend.
I read it in one sitting. It was really gripping and enjoyable.
I loved the multiple POV's and the writing was amazing. Especially the humour, it really made me laugh.
I related a lot to Hayden and her bluntness. She was such a fun and string female protagonist. I adored her banter with everyone, especially Nolan and her would be friendship with Emmaline.
My only gripes with the book was that I expected a bit more sexual content, it was very PG for a book about a girl with a bad reputation, so that was a little disappointing. And also I felt the story was paced super well, right until the end where we didnt really get much of an ending. It happened about 2 pages from the end and that was that. I expected more of a discussion and declaration but it kind of missed the mark there.
Otherwise this is a super sweet YA romance. Definitely recommend.
July 4, 2024
Wow! The reviews for this book are harsh. I’m glad I didn’t read the reviews beforehand.
Yes, many triggering things happen in this book but let’s be real, things like slut shaming, innuendos and hypocrisy do happen in real life and while we wish it didn’t, it does.
I picked up the book because I knew they’d be romance between 2 unlikely people and that is trope I enjoy. Yes, it wasn’t a typical romance story with numerous emotional and messed up things happening but I still very much enjoyed it. Loved the different POV’s and I felt the emotion of the characters.
Yes, many triggering things happen in this book but let’s be real, things like slut shaming, innuendos and hypocrisy do happen in real life and while we wish it didn’t, it does.
I picked up the book because I knew they’d be romance between 2 unlikely people and that is trope I enjoy. Yes, it wasn’t a typical romance story with numerous emotional and messed up things happening but I still very much enjoyed it. Loved the different POV’s and I felt the emotion of the characters.
April 13, 2020
The characters have nothing beyond their shallow personalities. It didn't make me giggle, it didn't have a character I could cheer for, it was not my favorite.
July 21, 2020
exactly like the kissing booth movie on netflix. and by that I mean it was sexist and bad
April 24, 2020
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Nolan's life had been going smoothly, and largely, drama free. He was doing a good job being the man of the house following his father's death. All was going well with his best friend, girlfriend, and sister, until his sister embarked on a friendship with Hayden. Her presence in their world upset the balance, but it seemed their presence in her world was also turning things upside down, and maybe they were changing each other's lives for the better.
I rather enjoyed this book. I felt like I learned enough about Hayden to understand why she did the things she did. I liked that these people came into her life, and gave her a sense of security she was only able to find with a pad-lock and deadbolt. Overall, this book was entertaining, but there were quite a few loose ends, which left me wanting. The ending was nice, the sunshine and rainbows type stuff I adore, but so abrupt. There was a pretty awful event that occurred right near the end of the book, that seemed to major to leave unresolved. It didn't destroy my overall enjoyment of the book, but it's something that kept me from rating it higher.
That said, I was a fan of the romances and the characters.
Hayden was known as the bad girl, the promiscuous girl, but this reputation seemed to be based on few facts. All the rumors didn't make any difference to Hayden, because she was in the habit of avoiding attachments. Abandoned by her father, and also, more or less by her mother, she had learned to rely on no one other than herself. She was fine with this until Emma, Nolan, and the rest of them invaded her life. They made her rethink her stance on friendships and relationships. They gave her that taste of having someone there, by your side, and she wanted more.
Nolan was just going with the flow. He was staying in unsatisfying relationships, and playing the role of the overprotective brother. He never imagined he would meet someone, who would challenge him to take a hard look at himself, but he liked it, or at least parts of it.
I found myself wanting these two to connect immediately. There was undeniable chemistry, but also something else that simmered below the surface, and made me root for their union. I think it was the movie watching scene, which solidified this ship for me. It was a fun scene, but also showed them engaging in a non-sexual way.
Overall: An enjoyable story about taking the time to look beyond the labels and letting people in.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Nolan's life had been going smoothly, and largely, drama free. He was doing a good job being the man of the house following his father's death. All was going well with his best friend, girlfriend, and sister, until his sister embarked on a friendship with Hayden. Her presence in their world upset the balance, but it seemed their presence in her world was also turning things upside down, and maybe they were changing each other's lives for the better.
I rather enjoyed this book. I felt like I learned enough about Hayden to understand why she did the things she did. I liked that these people came into her life, and gave her a sense of security she was only able to find with a pad-lock and deadbolt. Overall, this book was entertaining, but there were quite a few loose ends, which left me wanting. The ending was nice, the sunshine and rainbows type stuff I adore, but so abrupt. There was a pretty awful event that occurred right near the end of the book, that seemed to major to leave unresolved. It didn't destroy my overall enjoyment of the book, but it's something that kept me from rating it higher.
That said, I was a fan of the romances and the characters.
Hayden was known as the bad girl, the promiscuous girl, but this reputation seemed to be based on few facts. All the rumors didn't make any difference to Hayden, because she was in the habit of avoiding attachments. Abandoned by her father, and also, more or less by her mother, she had learned to rely on no one other than herself. She was fine with this until Emma, Nolan, and the rest of them invaded her life. They made her rethink her stance on friendships and relationships. They gave her that taste of having someone there, by your side, and she wanted more.
Nolan was just going with the flow. He was staying in unsatisfying relationships, and playing the role of the overprotective brother. He never imagined he would meet someone, who would challenge him to take a hard look at himself, but he liked it, or at least parts of it.
I found myself wanting these two to connect immediately. There was undeniable chemistry, but also something else that simmered below the surface, and made me root for their union. I think it was the movie watching scene, which solidified this ship for me. It was a fun scene, but also showed them engaging in a non-sexual way.
Overall: An enjoyable story about taking the time to look beyond the labels and letting people in.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 24, 2026
Kissing Lessons
I can’t hardly believe it’s been like two centuries since I last read a book by Sophie Jordan. And I am pleased to admit we both have really grown into our better selves so far.
Kissing Lessons was so much fun. I mean, you can’t expect any less from a book that literally has the word kissing in the title. But it was better than just another summer read.
The story is about this girl Hayden, who everyone knows has a “bad reputation”, so naturally school-nerd Emmaline hires her to teach her how to seduce her brother Nolan’s best friend, Beau, who has been her long time crush.
As you can imagine this leads us to a couple of cringe-worthy moments of adolescence, but also lots of sweet interactions between two misunderstood girls.
I loved a lot about this book, but the thing I liked the most was the two main girls rapidly growing friendship. I loved how neither of them took the rumors for granted and instead made their own opinions about the other. They were good friends and it cemented the need we have for more girls building each other up in Young Adult Lit.
I thought the author did an amazing job developing Hayden. All her monologues reveled exactly who she was, and no one was surer of that than her. She was so tough and independent, yet her vulnerability was easy to spot too. After all she was just a kid living in the worst possible conditions, trying to convince herself she had accepted her fate. I loved her and wanted to hug her most of the book.
The guys were pretty fantastic too. Nolan was such a sweetheart—he was the only man in his household and had learned how to express his emotions without being ashamed of them. And Beau was the least developed character of the four main ones and still he was great, I could perfectly tell him apart of the rest and got to know why Emmaline felt so intensely about him.
Spoiler ahead—-> Maybe the only detail I can point out is the cheating. Which some people might not even consider cheating, but there was a kiss while one of the characters was in a relationship and that always feels wrong to me. But it was so very well acknowledged and not swept under the rug—I appreciated that. <—-end of spoiler.
Overall another great book that made me feel giddy and excited throughout. In a world of uncertainty, today after reading this book I can testify in favor of the fact that first love is still as delightfully glorious to read about as it is to experience.
I can’t hardly believe it’s been like two centuries since I last read a book by Sophie Jordan. And I am pleased to admit we both have really grown into our better selves so far.
Kissing Lessons was so much fun. I mean, you can’t expect any less from a book that literally has the word kissing in the title. But it was better than just another summer read.
The story is about this girl Hayden, who everyone knows has a “bad reputation”, so naturally school-nerd Emmaline hires her to teach her how to seduce her brother Nolan’s best friend, Beau, who has been her long time crush.
As you can imagine this leads us to a couple of cringe-worthy moments of adolescence, but also lots of sweet interactions between two misunderstood girls.
I loved a lot about this book, but the thing I liked the most was the two main girls rapidly growing friendship. I loved how neither of them took the rumors for granted and instead made their own opinions about the other. They were good friends and it cemented the need we have for more girls building each other up in Young Adult Lit.
I thought the author did an amazing job developing Hayden. All her monologues reveled exactly who she was, and no one was surer of that than her. She was so tough and independent, yet her vulnerability was easy to spot too. After all she was just a kid living in the worst possible conditions, trying to convince herself she had accepted her fate. I loved her and wanted to hug her most of the book.
The guys were pretty fantastic too. Nolan was such a sweetheart—he was the only man in his household and had learned how to express his emotions without being ashamed of them. And Beau was the least developed character of the four main ones and still he was great, I could perfectly tell him apart of the rest and got to know why Emmaline felt so intensely about him.
Spoiler ahead—-> Maybe the only detail I can point out is the cheating. Which some people might not even consider cheating, but there was a kiss while one of the characters was in a relationship and that always feels wrong to me. But it was so very well acknowledged and not swept under the rug—I appreciated that. <—-end of spoiler.
Overall another great book that made me feel giddy and excited throughout. In a world of uncertainty, today after reading this book I can testify in favor of the fact that first love is still as delightfully glorious to read about as it is to experience.
May 3, 2020
Hayden is the most notorious girl in school, even when she really hasn't done anything to deserve that distinction. Her home life is crap and her looks are too good, so she has to face each day as if she's taking on the entire world. Boys claim that they've known her. Girls slut shame her. And Hayden just tries to get through to graduation so that she can leave town and never see her mother or their tiny town again.
Unfortunately, leaving town means getting money and with Hayden basically having to pay for everything on her own, saving is hard. When Emmaline approaches her with cash in exchange for lessons on how to be so confident with guys, Hayden can't afford to say no... even when Emmaline's older brother and hot jock, Nolan, tries to push her away.
Hayden gets in deeper than she ever thought when she starts to fall for Nolan and the possibility that maybe not everyone in the world is out for themselves.
Final thoughts: I liked parts of this book and Hayden started out strong, but like Sandy at the end of Grease, she changes herself in strange ways that don't fit in with how her character behaved throughout the rest of the book. Things feel unfinished and rushed by the end. There are so many areas that were never discussed and others that were just obviously placed for the moment of the plot and then forgotten. I didn't feel the ending was organic to the rest of the story and I definitely didn't feel like things were resolved well.
Rating: 2/5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Unfortunately, leaving town means getting money and with Hayden basically having to pay for everything on her own, saving is hard. When Emmaline approaches her with cash in exchange for lessons on how to be so confident with guys, Hayden can't afford to say no... even when Emmaline's older brother and hot jock, Nolan, tries to push her away.
Hayden gets in deeper than she ever thought when she starts to fall for Nolan and the possibility that maybe not everyone in the world is out for themselves.
Final thoughts: I liked parts of this book and Hayden started out strong, but like Sandy at the end of Grease, she changes herself in strange ways that don't fit in with how her character behaved throughout the rest of the book. Things feel unfinished and rushed by the end. There are so many areas that were never discussed and others that were just obviously placed for the moment of the plot and then forgotten. I didn't feel the ending was organic to the rest of the story and I definitely didn't feel like things were resolved well.
Rating: 2/5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
December 30, 2021
I think the best lesson of all right now, for me, is to actually enjoy the whole of a book instead of screaming like fangirl in my review :) Sorry, but it's seagull apocalypse time
*edited review*
Was this book addicting? Yes. Was it the TEA? Not really. I don't think I liked the ending and clearly it wasn't memorable because I don't remember it 🤷♀️
I liked this book despite how many people have described it as gross and disturbing. This book was steamy in most of the right ways, and while it does have problems like cheating and things that can be viewed as "shaming" to others, Kissing Lessons was still a great read for me. If it hadn't been, I would have been ticked off for spending 17 dollars on it
-Becc da Romance Queen <3
Read this book at your own opiniated self's risk!
*edited review*
Was this book addicting? Yes. Was it the TEA? Not really. I don't think I liked the ending and clearly it wasn't memorable because I don't remember it 🤷♀️
I liked this book despite how many people have described it as gross and disturbing. This book was steamy in most of the right ways, and while it does have problems like cheating and things that can be viewed as "shaming" to others, Kissing Lessons was still a great read for me. If it hadn't been, I would have been ticked off for spending 17 dollars on it
-Becc da Romance Queen <3
Read this book at your own opiniated self's risk!
November 15, 2020
I was in the mood for a light ya book and recently discovered this. Cute story. A little too light and predictable imho but i guess it was edited this way for the appropriate reading age. Ending was too abrupt with several unresolved issues.
June 15, 2021
This was a little too dramatic in spots, especially the drama with Hayden and her mother. Nolan (love the name!) was a good big brother. I didn’t think Beau’s perspective added much to the plot. This was a short, quick read that I overall enjoyed.
May 21, 2020
Kissing Lessons is a standalone young adult contemporary romance by Sophie Jordan. This book was pure fun. I loved so many things about the story- the characters were all so different, and the romances were great. Yes, I said romances. There were multiple couple in Kissing Lessons, which took me by surprise. If you are a fan of steamy young adult contemporary romances, then Kissing Lessons is the summer read you need in your life. A few potential trigger warnings: There is quite a bit of "slut-shaming" and some cheating in the book. If those are things you would rather not read about, then you may want to pass on Kissing Lessons. However; I didn't find the cheating to be overly offensive, and the characters and story were great and more than made up for anything of a potentially offensive nature. It didn't bother me.
In Kissing Lessons we meet our main character, Hayden. Hayden has quite the reputation around her school. But what is so great about Hayden is that she really can mute all the rumors surrounding her, which is no small feat for anyone but really for a high school student. I loved that she was self-assured and comfortable with who she is. (and she is also not all the things the rumors paint her to be, btw) Our story starts out at a high school party where we get to meet our main characters. Our story is told in multiple perspective. We have chapters from Hayden, Emmaline, her brother Nolan and his best friend Beau. Emmaline appreciates how confident Hayden is and she wants to hire her to give her lessons in confidence and in getting a boyfriend. Hayden is strapped for money, so after some persuading from Emmaline she finally agrees. And that is where the story starts to get good.
I loved Emmaline's group of friends, and that they immediately took Hayden in. They all seemed genuine and I liked watching Emmaline and Hayden's friendship almost as much as I enjoyed Hayden and Nolan's romance. That being said, Nolan and Hayden's romance was by far my favorite aspect of the story. I loved how easy they got along, and I loved that they connected on so many different levels. It was hardly only about the physical with them, and that part did not happen right away to boot! There was also a romance for Emmaline, but as much as I loved her, I have to say I wasn't nearly as invested in her romance for some reason. I think it was because I wanted to get back to Hayden and Nolan's plotlines. I would love to see another book with them in it as characters because I loved the two of them.
Bottom line- If you like upper young adult or new adult romances told in multiple point of view narration, then Kissing Lessons is going to be a wonderful summer read for you. I loved this fun romance. I am keeping my fingers crossed for another book in this world with these characters.
In Kissing Lessons we meet our main character, Hayden. Hayden has quite the reputation around her school. But what is so great about Hayden is that she really can mute all the rumors surrounding her, which is no small feat for anyone but really for a high school student. I loved that she was self-assured and comfortable with who she is. (and she is also not all the things the rumors paint her to be, btw) Our story starts out at a high school party where we get to meet our main characters. Our story is told in multiple perspective. We have chapters from Hayden, Emmaline, her brother Nolan and his best friend Beau. Emmaline appreciates how confident Hayden is and she wants to hire her to give her lessons in confidence and in getting a boyfriend. Hayden is strapped for money, so after some persuading from Emmaline she finally agrees. And that is where the story starts to get good.
I loved Emmaline's group of friends, and that they immediately took Hayden in. They all seemed genuine and I liked watching Emmaline and Hayden's friendship almost as much as I enjoyed Hayden and Nolan's romance. That being said, Nolan and Hayden's romance was by far my favorite aspect of the story. I loved how easy they got along, and I loved that they connected on so many different levels. It was hardly only about the physical with them, and that part did not happen right away to boot! There was also a romance for Emmaline, but as much as I loved her, I have to say I wasn't nearly as invested in her romance for some reason. I think it was because I wanted to get back to Hayden and Nolan's plotlines. I would love to see another book with them in it as characters because I loved the two of them.
Bottom line- If you like upper young adult or new adult romances told in multiple point of view narration, then Kissing Lessons is going to be a wonderful summer read for you. I loved this fun romance. I am keeping my fingers crossed for another book in this world with these characters.
September 8, 2020
4 stars
TW: Sexual scenes, bad parenting, drug, intimidation, robbery and alcohol abuse
This book was so much better than I was expecting!! I have been feeling too old for YA romance books recently but this one didn't feel young. It wasn't silly or over the top, it was filled with real problems and well thought out characters that you feel a real connect to. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I wish it was the start of a series from the points of views of different side characters as they were all interesting and had an impact.
The storyline was quite basic but filled with lots of detail and interesting characters so it didn't feel boring at all. It is split into four points of view which seems alot but it worked really well and the story flowed seamlessly.
Hayden and Emmaline are our lead females and Nolan and Beau are the lead males.
Hayden is the "bad girl" with the bad reputation who is completely misunderstood. Emmaline is the "good girl" who feels her life is controlled by others when she wants to do more normal things like go to parties and kiss boys. Nolan is Emmaline's brother, he is rather controlling as he has taken the place of their father who died. Nolan is an interesting character and I liked seeing him change from how he thinks his life should go to how he wants his life to go. Beau is Nolan's best friend and doesn't play that big of a role until the end....no spoilers!
I really enjoyed this story and the writing was fantastic. You really got a feel for each character in their POV chapters. There was also no stupid "talk like a young person" aspects which alot of YA has.
I sadly had to knock a star off because this book is NOT suitable for age 14+ like it is stated. There are some semi explicit sex scenes so 16+ should be the rating. I also thought the ending was a little too abrupt and wished we had had at least a few more chapters at the end.
If you are over 16 and enjoy YA contemporary romance then definitely give this book a read!
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Sexual scenes, bad parenting, drug, intimidation, robbery and alcohol abuse
This book was so much better than I was expecting!! I have been feeling too old for YA romance books recently but this one didn't feel young. It wasn't silly or over the top, it was filled with real problems and well thought out characters that you feel a real connect to. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I wish it was the start of a series from the points of views of different side characters as they were all interesting and had an impact.
The storyline was quite basic but filled with lots of detail and interesting characters so it didn't feel boring at all. It is split into four points of view which seems alot but it worked really well and the story flowed seamlessly.
Hayden and Emmaline are our lead females and Nolan and Beau are the lead males.
Hayden is the "bad girl" with the bad reputation who is completely misunderstood. Emmaline is the "good girl" who feels her life is controlled by others when she wants to do more normal things like go to parties and kiss boys. Nolan is Emmaline's brother, he is rather controlling as he has taken the place of their father who died. Nolan is an interesting character and I liked seeing him change from how he thinks his life should go to how he wants his life to go. Beau is Nolan's best friend and doesn't play that big of a role until the end....no spoilers!
I really enjoyed this story and the writing was fantastic. You really got a feel for each character in their POV chapters. There was also no stupid "talk like a young person" aspects which alot of YA has.
I sadly had to knock a star off because this book is NOT suitable for age 14+ like it is stated. There are some semi explicit sex scenes so 16+ should be the rating. I also thought the ending was a little too abrupt and wished we had had at least a few more chapters at the end.
If you are over 16 and enjoy YA contemporary romance then definitely give this book a read!
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2020
'Kissing Lessons' by Sophie Jordan is a well-written, entertaining story about a variety of main characters, including Hayden Vargas, Nolan Martin, Emmaline Martin, and Beau Sanders. While Hayden is known to be the “bad girl” at school, Emmaline is much more on the opposite end of the spectrum, always thought to be the one to play it safe, especially with big brother Nolan around to make sure she doesn't ever take things too far. When Emmaline hires Hayden to teach her how to attract boys' attention and essentially make her over so she can be more like Hayden, Nolan has a problem with this. When he finds out, he and his best friend, Beau Sanders, don't know how to react other than to think that this is a bad idea all around. But Emmaline remains steadfast. She will not be deterred and continues to enlist Hayden's help.
Hayden, meanwhile, finds herself attracted to Nolan, and even though Nolan finds that they seem to have a connection that he isn't finding with his current girlfriend, Priscilla, he is not ready to act on anything. Despite trying not to, he thinks of Hayden in much the same way that others do – as the bad girl who it isn't a good idea to be associated with. However, when he learns more about her, he finds that there is more to her than meets the eye, and it causes him to question how he sees her. In the meantime, Emmaline works to make herself more in Hayden's image, not knowing that there is someone waiting in the wings who thinks about her the same way she thinks about him.
The chemistry between the various characters in the book is often electric, making it extremely hard to put the book down. The way that the “kissing lessons” are presented as the title of each chapter make the reading all that much more engaging and imaginative. It is definitely worth picking this book up and finding out what other books Sophie Jordan has written!
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Welcome to Chanu-Con!,' a Children's Picture Book, and Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
Hayden, meanwhile, finds herself attracted to Nolan, and even though Nolan finds that they seem to have a connection that he isn't finding with his current girlfriend, Priscilla, he is not ready to act on anything. Despite trying not to, he thinks of Hayden in much the same way that others do – as the bad girl who it isn't a good idea to be associated with. However, when he learns more about her, he finds that there is more to her than meets the eye, and it causes him to question how he sees her. In the meantime, Emmaline works to make herself more in Hayden's image, not knowing that there is someone waiting in the wings who thinks about her the same way she thinks about him.
The chemistry between the various characters in the book is often electric, making it extremely hard to put the book down. The way that the “kissing lessons” are presented as the title of each chapter make the reading all that much more engaging and imaginative. It is definitely worth picking this book up and finding out what other books Sophie Jordan has written!
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Welcome to Chanu-Con!,' a Children's Picture Book, and Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
February 11, 2021
3.5 stars
Towards the beginning of this book I thought for sure I wouldn't like this book. I figured it would be a 2 star read for me. Mostly because of the stilted and mediocre prose. However, by the end of this book I had really grown to care for Nolan, Hayden, Beau, and Emmeline.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sex positive YA contemporary romance books. Just bare in mind that the writing isn't exactly the greatest. The characters are truly what makes this book enjoyable.
Towards the beginning of this book I thought for sure I wouldn't like this book. I figured it would be a 2 star read for me. Mostly because of the stilted and mediocre prose. However, by the end of this book I had really grown to care for Nolan, Hayden, Beau, and Emmeline.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sex positive YA contemporary romance books. Just bare in mind that the writing isn't exactly the greatest. The characters are truly what makes this book enjoyable.
August 8, 2021
I enjoyed a lot about this book. The connection between Hayden and Nolan is obvious and I like that Hayden challenged beliefs about her. This wasn’t at all what I expected by the title but I liked that it was different. I didn’t like the multiple povs bc I think Emmeline and Beau get shortchanged. I also found the last quarter to be totally out of whack. Everything happens too fast and there’s not a lot of resolution. I felt like it needed another few chapters to get it all tied up.
April 26, 2022
I love this book. I am officially in love with Nolan Martin. This is the type of read that will stick with me forever, I was especially grateful to have it on such a bad day. It made everything better. Reading it on the bus and at school, I did have to put it down, but I never left it out of my hands for long. I listened to ‘that way’ by Tate McRae and it went perfectly with this books vibe. I will da girl over this book always.
November 4, 2020
Yawn. Absolute yawn.
Not recommended
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
Not recommended
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews