Att kyssa eller inte kyssa Jake Matthews

by Luisa Plaja

Annorlunda och rolig ungdomsroman i samma anda som filmen "Sliding Doors".

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Childrens, Contemporary

306 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 6, 2008

About the author

Author of teen comedy romance novels including Split by a Kiss, Extreme Kissing, Swapped by a Kiss and Kiss Date Love Hate, published by Random House. Latest novel is Diary of a Mall Girl, published by Curious Fox.

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a teen book written by the girl I used to sit next to in Latin!!! Discovered totally by chance when I found her on Facebook the other day. She's sending a signed copy for Elisheva but I'm going to read it too!

It arrived yesterday and I read it yesterday!!! It was fantastic. Chick-lit for teens. What a concept! It's cleverly written, witty, and totally absorbing. I am in awe of Luisa for writing such a great book, and for so getting inside the lives and minds of teenagers. And to think that we sat in the same classroom for 5 years...

[Keris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Split by a Kiss is wonderful. It's the story of Jo who moves to America with her mum and soon finds herself kissing the school hunk during a session of Seven Minutes in Heaven. When Jo has mixed feelings about Jake's attentions - on the one hand he's hot and he seems to like her, on the other he's groping her and he barely knows her - she splits into two: Josie the Cool and Jo the Nerd.

To read the rest of this review (and more!), please visit Trashionista

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo Reilly has never really been a popular kid. In fact, it seems Jo errs on the side of nerdy and it's only when she moves to the USA that her popularity seems to sky-rocket. Everyone at her new school, The Mill, love her British accent and all of the cool kids want her in their gang. Better yet, the hottest guy at The Mill, Jake Matthews, picks Jo as his seven-minutes-in-heaven partner. However the kiss doesn't go exactly as Jo hoped it would and she faces a decision: tell Jake where to go and risk losing all of her fab new friends or carry on kissing him in her bid to be popular? At that moment, though, Jo splits in two. She's Jo the Nerd - picked on by the cool kids and she's also Josie The Cool - totally popular and dating the hottest boy in school. Will Jo ever be able to reunite her two halves or will she be stuck as two people forever?

As I keep mentioning, I'm a new convert to the fantastic Young Adult genre and Luisa Plaja's books are ones that pop up regularly on both my Amazon wishlist and on websites I visit daily. I was planning on buying both of Luisa's books and I actually asked her if either of her books were the prequel to her third book which is out in April. She told me Split By A Kiss was indeed a prequel and offered to sent me it to read. It arrived last week and I eagerly started it.

Split By A Kiss is an incredibly interesting book. I have never actually read a plot like it - it's kind of like Freaky Friday but it's not. Some may brand the plot completely unrealistic but I actually really loved it. At first I was a bit worried about how the 'split' would occur - would Josie/Jo be aware of the fact she had split into two personalities? The answer is no, Josie/Jo isn't aware of the split. It's written as if it's some sort of dream - how Josie/Jo's life would pan out depending on what decision she reached about kissing Jake Matthews, yet at the same time it was totally real. I may be making it sound more confusing that it actually is so I apologise for that.

The real plot of the story though isn't the split, but the choices you make in school and how it may (or may not) affect you. The real question was whether Josie wanted to be cool and popular and dating the hottest boy in school or if she preferred being Jo the nerd, being ignored by the popular girls and having to be friends with the other misfits (if you will). The answer, unsurprisingly, is Josie/Jo just needed to figure out how to be herself. That's the moral of Split By A Kiss: It isn't about being one or the other, it's just about being who you are comfortable with being. It may sound simple enough but as the book proves, finding your true self seems to be a hard thing to accomplish.

Split By A Kiss is an incredibly easy book to read and I found myself ploughing through it. The books target audience is probably early teenagers but I found myself loving it even though I'm at the end of my teenage years. It's always interesting to hear different takes on high school life in America - and also, what it's like for a Brit living in America - and I think Luisa tackled it well. After all, whenever you see American high schools in films they always have their cliques and freaks and hot guys and whatnot. I liked the sound of The Mill and Luisa has created a good cast of characters, some more shallow than others I must say.

I absolutely loved Josie/Jo. She has a very distinct voice (or voices?) that will talk to many teenagers out there. I found her immensely likeable even when she was both Josie and Jo. It was easy to see why she was so confused about which path was the right one to go on. Her two different paths were vastly different but inside, I could still see the same Jo running through each. I actually really loved Josie/Jo's mum. She proved that, actually, you can still be a bit geeky and still be everything you want to be. I really liked her and I liked that she was quirky and not particularly bothered about it. I can't say I particularly liked any of Josie's so-called friends. Kristy, Chelsea, Chris and Ana were all stereo-typical popular girls and I just couldn't warm to any of them. Tori, however, was a different story and I really warmed to her. Whereas Kristy, Chelsea and co. were paper-thin, Tori had more personality and sparkle about her. I know Jake Matthews was supposed to be, like, the hottest guy in the world but I just couldn't see it. Slapping someone's bum? Seriously. He sounds more like a lech than a hot teenage boy! As for Jo's friends, I liked them but also found them slightly weird. It all becomes clear why Rachel seems to hostile later on in the book but up until it's explained, it does seem strange. I liked David most of the time, too. My favourite male characters though was Albie, Tori's brother. Never once was he off with Josie/Jo and he was always there to help out.

I don't know if you can tell but I really loved Split By A Kiss. It was a fresh and fantastic read and I think the plot is so unique that you must pick this up and see for yourself. Luisa Plaja has created some loveable characters and it makes me so incredibly happy that they're coming back for a second time in April in Swapped By A Kiss. I for one cannot wait.

[Cliona · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I don't normally talk about covers in my reviews, because I don't think covers are a books most important quality. You know the old saying - don't judge a book by it's cover! But is this one of the awesomest covers I have ever seen! Isn't it? The cover is actually what made me want to read the book in the first place! I was looking at some blogs and I saw it and I said to myself 'Wow. I want to read that.' And I did, and now I'm happy! Very happy, actually!


Jo is the main character in the book, but then in a way there's kind of two main characters, because she's sort of two different people. This is hard to explain! That's one of the reasons I love this book, that Jo gets to experience both ends of the social food chain - at the same time. It's like, you know when you have two choices, and say you pick Choice 1 and then you wonder what might have happened if you had picked Choice 2? Well, it's not like that for Jo. She might have some problems in her life, but at least she's not faced with that one!


My favourite character is Tori, Josie the Cool's best friend. She might be in with the cool crowd, but she still is nice, really. I really hated Kristy, the mean, catty girl in the group. Well, I suppose they were all mean (except Tori) but she was the worst. Apart from the cool crowd, I pretty much liked all the characters.


The book is hilarious and really entertaining. I actually found no faults at all with this book - really! And I normally find at least one fault with a book, so it just shows you how brilliant this book is! 5/5, definitely. It's super and everybody should read it. It's chick-lit and with the supernatural element to it, so there's something for everyone. I'm so glad there's a sequel, Swapped by a Kiss, and I will be reading it as soon as possible.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her mother gets a job in the USA, Jo goes with her. It’s America, of course she’s going! But what she doesn’t expect is to become two different people. During a game of seven minutes in heaven, Jo is picked by the hottest guy in school, and something weird happens while they’re in the closet; Jo is at a fork in the road and can take two paths – so she splits, and takes both. Josie the Cool, friends with the it girls and girlfriend of Jake Matthews, and Jo the Nerd, social outcast and friends with the “freaks” live very separate lives, but will they manage to become one person again?

W-o-w! Well, if I loved Luisa’s other book, Extreme Kissing, then I adored Split by a Kiss! I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book, or how annoyed with myself I am that I read the whole book so quickly! It was too good!

Compared to Extreme Kissing, I would say Split by a Kiss is a more grown up book, with more references to sex, but also in the issues covered; friendship, loyalty, and most importantly, being true to yourself. I enjoyed this book for several reasons, but one of the main ones was that I related to Jo so much – not in what she does, or experiences, but in how she feels, and what she likes. I was Jo the Nerd at school, I knew exactly how she felt like a loner, and more, like not wearing make-up much, and not wearing designer clothes (on principle mostly, they cost far too much!). But unlike this Jo, I never tried to fit in. Jo does try, and she tries real hard, and as upsetting as it is to read, she learns invaluable lessons along the way.

What was great about this book, also, was how believable Luisa’s writing was, because it was spot on. I have this preconceived idea that American authors write “American” books, and British authors write “British” books, but aren’t able to do the other. Luisa corrected my thought. The teenagers in this book are just as American as they are in books by American authors. There’s no over use of cheesy, stereotypical American phrases, or any stereotypes, but Jo sticks out for being British. I suppose it helps that Luisa has actually lived in America.

This book would make a great film; think Mean Girls or perhaps Never Been Kissed, but with a British girl. I’ve never seen it, but I’ve always been told I would like Sliding Doors, and from what I’ve heard of it, Split by a Kiss is like that two – but at school.

I love how Jo talks about the differences between America and the UK, from language right down to plug sockets. It was cute. I also loved the fact that a band was involved; put a band or a musician in a book, and I am going to love it – guys with musical talent? I’m sold.

What I loved most though, was what Jo learnt about herself; who she is, what she wants, and forgetting about everyone else. Both paths Jo takes have their fair amount of problems, and the ending of the book, how the story was resolved, was just awesome!

There’s one thing about the book I’m not so keen on though; the cover. It’s cute, it’s girly, it implies a fluffy, cute story for the younger end of the YA range. In my opinion, I think it’s a cover that would be overlooked by older teenagers, which would be a terrible mistake. There is so much more to this book, and so much any reader could get out of it, and I think the cover overlooks all this.

However, Split by a Kiss is a truly amazing book, and I am so glad there is going to be a sequel! I can’t wait to find out what happens with Jo next!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it’s a bit lighter in tone than books I usually read, I really enjoyed Split by a Kiss – I loved the whole concept of a person splitting in two, though what really happened was two different realities were created. In one, Jo slaps Jake in the face and tells him to be more respectful. Had I been at the party, I’d’ve given Jo a high-five (Jake is really, truly awful) but Jo’s actions aren’t taken well by the other partygoers. It’s revealed the boyfriend Jo accidentally made-up isn’t real, and she’s suddenly excluded from the popular group, becoming Jo the Nerd (which really is Jo as herself).

In the other reality, she starts going out with Jake, and remains a part of the cool group of girls, even though she kind of compromises herself to do so. All through the novel, we go between Jo the Nerd and Josie the Cool… but in both realities Jo makes a lot of mistakes and everything goes really terribly.

I loved all of the differences Jo notes between the UK and the US, and there were so many really touching, funny scenes. Though through a lot of the novel it seems very lightweight (and quite hilarious) there’s a really nice heart to the story, and Josie is a very relatable – albeit misguided, and boy-crazy to say the least – character. The transitions between her two realities – and how they crash back together – was completely seamless, and never confusing.

One thing which disappointed me was that in the end Jo does end up with someone, when I think, honestly, she’d be far better off on her own, and I think it would be far braver of her to be independent (not that she’s necessarily dependent on the person she winds up with, but hopefully you understand where I’m coming from). That said, that’s only how I would’ve preferred the book to finish. I think other readers probably would’ve been disappointed if she didn’t win a boyfriend in the end.

Fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Louise Rennison and Meg Cabot’s novels I think will really enjoy Split by a Kiss. I think it’d be suitable for girls 12 and older, and certainly worth a read. Split by a Kiss is a super-enjoyable, hilariously funny novel.

[Iffath]

Split by a Kiss, is the story of Josephine Reilly, who has to move to Boston, USA, with her mum, who receives a better offer for a job there. It’s complicated, you know, leaving her best friend, her dad, Lauren ‘Lolly’, the daughter of her stepmother, especially moving to America from Boringtown, England! How diverse can the two countries be?!!

But soon, Jo finds herself in a ‘closet’ playing Seven Minutes in Heaven with Jake Mathews. THE coolest boy in her. New. American. High school. Yes. And HE picked HER. However, sometime while in the closet, Jo begins to have mixed feelings, and she can’t decide whether she likes this, or not. But then something happens. She splits. Into two: Josie the cool, and Jo the Nerd.

After this, the rest of the book switches between the two characters’ lives; giving us a look at both experiences, and what would happen if she was Josie, or Jo. This was written in a really clever and tricky way, and still managed to flow nicely. And through each eyes you follow something that only the other would do, releasing the fact that she isn’t the clichéd girl we thought, but that both directions can come together and show us exactly how each path doesn’t always have a ‘wight’ way to go. This has a truly moving message, in a really subtle way, and shows, even to the ‘cool girls’ that being ourselves can sometimes be the best way.

I haven’t given much away about the other characters, because I really think that girls everywhere should read this, and learn this valuable point. But, I will say that they include French men with moustaches, gorgeous boots with the most beautiful illustrations on, and *of course* the obvious ‘it’ girls. Eurgh. I hate them so much.
I also really liked the change in the vocabulary; for some reason, it really made me laugh. I think it was because when I read the words, I imagined someone saying them in an American accent. Haha :P

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always said to my parents that when I turned 18 years old I would move to the USA. I don’t know what I would do there, but to go to another country and just live there was always my biggest dream. I turned 18 and guess what, I stayed in the little cold country where I am still living today. But what if I made the decision to pack my belongings and go.

When Jo has to make a decision she splits in two persons. I thought that this would get confusing, but each chapter has a different letter type and a picture that belongs to Jo or Josie. In each chapter the character has to make a decision and they both do it differently, so the outcomes are never the same. With this, you want to read faster so you can find out what happens next.

Also what I liked about the chapters are that they are short. You could easily read one chapter and get out of the train and then in the subway read the next one. No need to hurry and read the whole chapter so fast you don’t really know what happened.

I liked all of the characters. You got all the cliché characters that come along when you are popular and the not so cliché characters when you are a nerd.
Jo is a fun and sweet character and I really liked her voice in this story.

Split by a Kiss is cute story about a girl who learns who she is and what she wants trough two different personalities. I look forward to read Swapped by a Kiss, it has the same cuteness factor with the cover going on. If you like fun, easy light books this one is right for you.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

kate is een niet zo heel erg populair meisje die dan verhuist naar Amerika en dan hoort ze opeens bij de poppjes (populaire kinderen) zelfs heeft ze met de populairste jongen van de school. alleen dan splitst haar leven in 2en nerdy kate en coole katie. uiteindelijk komen ze wel weer bij elkaar. maar het is best ingeweikkeld om te lezen soms xD

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really really good its about this english girl who moves to america. She gets the most popular guy in the school while playing a game of 7 seconds in heaven she gets kissed by him and thats when she gets split into two people. Awesome Book !!!

[shayaps🗣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually would’ve liked to give it 3.5 stars but 4 stars felt too much so I’ve left it at 3. I really did enjoy this classic cringe coming of age uk vs American story,josie/Jo is finding herself through split personalities after her move to the USA and it is just a feel good easy read,I would 100% watch this if it was a movie it was right up my alley. The reason I have awarded it 3 stars is because I got quite confused at the switches (there’s lips for popular josie & glasses for nerdy Jo) I just didn’t understand how she was able to be both at the same time? Like whilst I enjoyed the end result I think it’s quite confusing considering there was one of her at the beginning and then it randomly split into two opposites and yet we were meant to be able to carry on the with the story in two different perspectives which I found difficult bc then it never solidified which person she actually was?idk if I made sense lol. Like at one part there’s a dance and both nerdy and popular Josie/Jo attend it but with two completely different pipelines & different before parts so I WAS RLY CONFUSED. Other than that if it was a a movie I’d defo be able to visualise it more and would probably love it

[E.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I picked this up at a library sale & figured I'd read it as part of my goal of reading more recent children's/YAL works. I expected to not really like it - the whole girly-join in with the popular kids-worry about fashion-kissing game thing not sounding too interesting. But in the end I did actually enjoy the read. Firstly the way it is written (two mutually exclusive storylines following the 'split' in the main character) made me curious how certain events would be experienced by the 'other Jo'. Secondly the book tackled more serious issues than I'd thought, like consent in moving from dating to first sexual encounters. I can imagine this would be an appealing and useful read for the target audience. Several recurring characters remain rather flat but the main character is farily nicely drawn.

[Liselot · Rating 3 out of 5]

One very last book to round up 2018! Again, an old book I found while organising our library shelves after moving houses. This was one of my favourite books in middle school, and it was very enjoyable to read it again! I didn't quite realise back then how absurd and boy-crazy it is, but it's very funny and it has a wonderful message!

[Sofia Walia · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite saucy for a little 12yrold to read but pretty good

[Sizeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book

[Aly (Fantasy4eva) · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the Moment Jo kisses Jake Matthew everything changes, she splits into two, the Nerd and the cool girl with the popular friends. What I was most curious about as I'm sure a lot of you were is.. which part of her will she pick and will the real Jo finally come together? I'll leave it down to you to decide. Jo at the beginning is just your average but very genuine teen, she's on the shy side especially when it comes to boys and doesn't surround herself with to many friends except from her best friend Hailey. Its when her mother decides to move to America do thing shift. Shes all of a sudden part of the in crowd and has the hottest boy in school on her arm. Through the IT crowd she meets the snobby girls Kristy , Chelsea, and Tori *who actually seems nice*

Then there's the so called freaks / outcasts, David, Rachel and Kendis. Kendis is gorgeous as in supermodel worthy, Rachel is extremely rude, moody and covered in black constantly then there is David. The boy with dimples and a bright smile who is actually kind of cute, shes horrified to realise that she is in fact starting to like David. That can't be good, because she has to stay a part of the IT crowd and the only way to maintain that is to keep Jake around.

Things start to worsen when she starts to lie to herself and her so called friends when she manages to create a fake boyfriend "William" When it comes to Kristy and Chelsea its pretty obvious they don't like Jo at all especially since Chelsea has her eye on Jake. I really liked Tori I had a feeling from the beginning that she wasn't one of the girls, but actually enjoyed Jo' company.

Split By A Kiss is a humorous read as in Laugh out loud hilarious!! I giggled countless times, and failed to suppress a grin when something horribly embarrassing happened to Jo. It's a light - fun read with a little lesson here and there for good measure. I would have liked to have known more about Kendis and Rachel as well as David, but I have the sequel right next to me which I'm guessing will tell their story.

"Would Josie like to take some tea? My nephew in London says It's true that the British drink lots of Tea all the time.

Hahahaa!!! I laughed like crazy like oh god seriously!

Jake I must add is a total sleaze, and I couldn't stand him! There was not one single redeeming quality about him and I could tell he was bad news right away. I felt sorry for Jo, she didn't feel part of the It crowd and even though The Nerdy half of Jo started to get to know David, Kendis, and Rachel that to didn't end so well either.

Rachel was very hot and cold with her of course you find out at the end of the novel why. The ending! god I was so angry particularly at both David and Chelsea and really annoyed to, the situation could have been dealt better if they only would have explained beforehand. Yet not all is lost, I found myself with a beaming smile and a slight flutter at the end, it made sense and it was what I had been hoping for all along. I'm glad it ended the way it did because Jo deserved to be happy.

Split By A Kiss is a light -charming read that kept me awake throughout the night, immersed and in a fit of giggles. It takes you back to your high school days and the issues and problems we faced when we were Jo's age. A warm read that you will take away smiling with fondness. There is a lesson though, "Be proud of who you are" is what I discovered after reading it.

"Oh my! you're British! oh my! Splendid! Do you say "splendid"? you really must. It's a marvellous word. Do you say "Marvellous"? Oh my, Tori, why didn't you tell me you have a British friend? This is marvellous, splendid, ahhh, spiffing? Spiffing news"

Bahahha! I actually nearly fell of my bed that's how hysterical I found Tori's dad. I wasn't sure if I should be horrified about the kind of words he assumed we used or to be amused, nevertheless I was a flushed mess by the end of it.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was at first not very convinced by the cover which looked waaay too girly for comfort. And I thought - silly me - that it would be a book about high school relationships and cheerleaders being mean and jocks being jocks and all that. But this book is so much more than that. The plot contains the very essence of what goes down in schools such as the importance of peer pressure, and issues of rape or homosexuality etc.

I really enjoyed the characters and how they are described. I prefer Jo the Nerd and how she doesn't let herself touched by a random guy. You go, girl ! Whereas Josie seems way too concerned by popularity to care for her real friends anymore.
I think the character of Tori, Josie's/Jo's friend when she's with the It girls, is very sweet and it shows that you shouldn't judge someone from their look or for who they hang out with.
I love how her father is so fascinated with the Queen. I find, in general, that the adult characters are very truthful and full of those little habits that make them funny and adorable (and utterly annoying if they're your parents). Geeky moms rule! As for Rachel, the goth rebel friend of Jo, she is a very interesting character, I like how she defends the woman cause by insulting jocks in the bathroom. I don't know if it is, but it looks like a reference to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Melinda warns the other girls of a certain guy getting too friendly by writing it in the girls bathroom). I definitely can't wait to read Swapped by a Kiss to learn more about her !


There are two sides to peer pressure which are very well described in the book. The first one is the influence Chelsea and co. have on Josie and other girls in their high school. These chicks, who are a complete minority by the way and very stupid also, autoproclaim themselves cool and force everyone into their vision of what is acceptable and what is not. Earth would be quite the boring hot spot if they had their way, but when you look at women magazines and websites nowadays, you realise that they still exist, you just learn not to pay attention to it anymore.

The second one is the pressure from the boys to have sex. This is, for me, very well described in the book. Maybe it's just an American thing: the "first base", "second base" etc. but I find it hilarious as in ridiculous the way everything is broken down in steps, like in a self-help book. Through the story of Kendis, we learn that when a girl isn't ready and chooses to say how she was forced by the boy, her friends treat her like a pariah and no one believes her. Again, it reminds me of the Laurie Halse Anderson book Speak which you should read if you haven't, and how difficult it was for Melinda to say what happened to her. I like how Luisa Plaja cleverly hints at those subject without making the book entirely serious.

The story is told alternatively from Josie the Cool to Jo the Nerd, and I like how, from that one different choice she made in the closet, they are different on the outside, but still the same person inside. It is very well written.



This is such a beautiful book, I laughed for half of it and cried for the other half, and I learned plenty (like on how to differentiate British from American). I would advise it to any girl, even if you don't read Chick Lit, because you'll see that most of what is written will hit home.

[Sammee (I Want to Read That) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I really, really loved this! I didn’t want to put it down – I loved the story and the characters were brilliant, especially our main character Jo/Josie. I found her funny and sweet and really enjoyed spending time with her. The other characters were great too. I really loved Tori and her brother Albie, as well as David and Rachel.

The premise was excellent. I was a bit nervous about how it would work and whether it would be confusing but it wasn’t at all. I instantly knew if it was Josie or Jo, not just because of the font change and picture but also because Jo and Josie’s ‘voice’ was different enough to keep them separate but still believable as the same character. I enjoyed both scenarios (although I would have been Jo the Nerd and slapped him one!) and I loved how the different paths were really dissimilar to begin with but as time went on started to have more and more similarities. I really liked the parallels in the stories – how some choices were the same but with different people and I loved how things seemed ‘fated’. I adored the ending – I was definitely rooting for that one!

I also loved that the story was set in the US. It really reminded me of my school exchange trip when I was 14. I completely identified with the differences in sayings – how often did I get a packet of crisps when I had been dying for chips!. And there’s nothing quiet as mortifying as realising I really should have asked for an eraser and not a rubber if the stunned silence was anything to go by... I would have so loved to have had the opportunity to live there for a year like Jo – so it was great to live it vicariously through her.

Also, any book that has references to Buffy will get my vote – although I would have to agree with Ablie and say I loved season 2 the best:)

Overall - aaah-some!

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty much everything you'd expect it to be-- a funny, engagingly witty read about a girl who is warped into some sort of Freaky Friday situation. I liked the format of the book- the two narratives "Josie the Cool" and "Jo the Nerd"- was original, and I really enjoyed that. Plaja switched back and forth between both voices/stories smoothly, and I was waiting for a moment where something wouldn't quite fit, but- alack, I could find none. While the magical concept of splitting into two selves, who are at different places at the same time, is impossible, the issues and themes that are addressed are very much relatable to many teenage girls (and boys).

Also, relative to its context and form, the writing fits in very nicely. I found myself thrown with so many emotions- this book made me laugh, smile, tear up and just plain angry- in a good way, of course. That is a sign of a great writer. More on the format of the novel, the short chapters/parts make for easy reading. You can read it on a train, over a short 10 minute period before going to sleep, in the bathroom (although I'm personally not a fan of taking books into the bathroom-- wet books are not good!). For me, this is an important thing for a YA novel, as I don't want to be halfway through a chapter, get bored, and then forget what I'm up to, sigh, and start the chapter over again.

Luisa Plaja writes with an honest voice that rings so true to what is addressed. I would recommend this book to be read by all ages, though it should be noted that there are several sexual references, but nothing too descriptive. Probably a PG-13 rating, though the standards seem to be changing, and for all I know a ten-year old might be comfortable reading this, I would have no idea.

[Arianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start this review by talking about how much this book surprised me. Not so much the plot (like in Kiss Date Love Hate, there's a simple storyline set up with little fuss and no wasted time before more important things - such as playing Seven Minutes in Heaven with the hottest boy in school - take over) but by how invested I became with Josephine as a character.

I was expecting a light-hearted, easy read and that's exactly what I got. There was no extraneous explanation or needless rambling, just a whole lot of fun. I suspended my disbelief, let the lack of developed subplots slide, and just enjoyed the rampant chaos of Jo's twin lives. I had worried that I'd find it hard to keep up with the parallel narratives but they are fantastically easy to keep track of - unlike the many supporting characters who made so much trouble for Jo throughout the book! Some were little more than cardboard cut-outs, but I had no trouble forgiving those stereotypes when faced with the ones who were given more attention. Albie, Tori, David, and Jo's mother definitely made up for the eye-roll worthy Jake Matthews and Rachel Glassman!

The book is filled with genuine 'legal alien' experiences, and although some of them are a little obvious, many are the most realistic and visual parts of the book. I did find myself wishing the Boston setting could be explored more, though. Halfway through reading I realized it was just about the most romantic setting ever, but it was totally underutilised. There were some really cute scenes in Jo's little suburb of Milltown, but I wanted more!

A quick, laugh-out-loud read - not exactly taxing on the brain, but that's what I loved about it :) Well worth a look.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plaja, Luisa. 2008. Split by A Kiss.

I am in a cupboard, and I'm snogging the coolest and most gorgeous boy in the whole school. And it's a big school. And really, we're kissing, not snogging. In a closet, not a cupboard. They don't really have snogging or cupboards here--they would laugh and tell me those are dodgy British phases. Except they wouldn't say 'dodgy'. That's just as dodgily British.

Split By A Kiss is both uniquely original and stereotypically typical. I'll probably spend the rest of the review explaining how that's even possible. Split By A Kiss has a very original structure--if they've been others of its kind, I've missed them. Our narrator, Jo (or Josie), 'splits' in two after playing a kissing game with popular guy, Jake Matthews. One personality, Jo, reacts to his wanting to do more than kiss with a slap--and a long list of insults. The second personality, Josie, reacts to his touch just as reluctantly--she does call a halt to things--but she keeps her 'cool' and keeps his interest. The book tells two very different stories. They're told in different fonts. Jo's story is typical--it's been done before; Josie's story is typical as well. Nothing in these individual stories is all that unique. But yet despite the fact that in a way it's all been done before, there is a certain satisfaction that comes from reading these stories. Though they are predictable--you can guess almost from the very beginning just how these two personalities will unite as one again--it's fun too. I liked the stories. I liked the boy that she's meant to be with. I like how it all comes together.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPLIT BY A KISS means to be a fun, escapist sort of read, and it never tries to be more than that. Which is good, because it IS incredible fun. The two sides of Jo have believable and enjoyable storylines, and it’s always great when conversations or events from Jo’s two different “lives” parallel one another, when she has similar conversations at the same time with the same people in both of her lives. Jo is likable as either a cool girl or a nerd: she has a down-to-earth personality that shines through in any situation…except when she’s being annoyingly naïve for things that readers can clearly understand.

In fact, my one major complaint with this novel—the one that breaks it for me—is its utter predictability. Most of the supporting characters are rather one-dimensional, making it easy for readers to see who her true friends are and which romantic interest she is going to end up with. Therefore, it is frustrating to read more than 200 pages of Jo not seeing what exactly she should do when the reader clearly knows the outcome from the very beginning.

If you’re looking for a brain-numbingly fun book in between more serious reads, consider SPLIT BY A KISS. Chock full of across-the-pond banter, Luisa Plaja’s novels will be sure to find their audience anywhere in the world.

[Kip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was seriously funny. I don't often laugh out loud even when reading humorous books, but this one had me going from page one.

The premise of the book - that the main character's life goes down two different paths depending on how she reacts to a kiss with the hottest boy in school - is fresh and unique. The main character, Jo, is highly likable, and the relationships she develops seem very real.

While the story is meant for British teens, I found that as an American, I learned a lot about life as a British teen just from Jo's point of view, and I was just as amused by some of the words and cultural differences that she points out as she goes through life in an American high school.

Yes, there were some "stereotypical" elements of the story - like the band of mean girls running the school - but they didn't come across as stereotypical at all because of the way the humor kept it interesting as well as funny. I would definitely recommend reading it!

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick fun read that I really enjoyed. Luisa Plaja's writing has an ease and a flow about it that carries you through the story effortlessly.

The reference to Tanya Lee Stone's book A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl made me giggle because I love seeing references that I actually get and can say "I've read that!" to. I really didn't expect Jo the Nerd and Josie the Cool to have their own chapters and their stories to run parallel to each other so that was a surprise. I thought that it was really clever.

See my interview with Luisa here:
http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was that good, I didn't put it down, I spend near enough the whole of my day laying in bed reading this book. It was very different to other books that I have read in the past, but different is always good. I love the way it ended, and for once I thought about what was going to happen at the end.. and I got it right, yayyy! But yeah, it's a really good book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a girlyish love book, and is a teenager. But saying that anyone could read it and like it, but teenagers would probably prefer to read a book like this. :P

[Olivia Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decide to read this book because i saw it at the libaray and it looked good. The category this book fills on the bingo board is "A book with themes related to those we've studied in class in term two" because it relates to the theme identity. My favourite quote from this book is “If I was in a cartoon right now, the caption would read: "Gulp!” Something new I learnt from this book is every action has a reaction. A character that interests me is the main character because she basically lives two lives until they join up again.

[Kate Pinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often I write about the format of the book. But I shall this time. The book is split in to two paths. This is the part where one girl splits, she either takes the nerd way out or she takes the cool route. But which path will bring her happiness? I loved the premise of this book and the writing was superb. Here are all of my thoughts:
http://anotherbookblogwhore.blogspot....

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

When English girl, Jo, moves to the USA she realizes she has a choice, be herself or be cool even if that means she has to take on a new personality. Plaja shows us the two options by writing both sides of the story. The idea was great, you always wonder how one decision could completely change your life. With Jo you see how true that really is. In the end I preferred Plaja's other book, Diary of a Mall Girl over this.

[Colin]

Absolutely terrible. The minutes of my life that I will never get back as a result of this book are both too many and too precious. This book was like Mean Girls for Morons. Usually books are better at creating imagery (in my opinion) than anything the movies can ever come up with - but not this one. If you don't mind losing a few thousand brain cells - pick it up and give it a read.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josphine and her mum moves house and Josphine become friends with a cool group of girls. The were really popular so Josphine became popular too. The most popular boy in the school Jake Matthews started to get attracted to Josphine. Josphine had a good friend Tori and she has a older brother Aldie. At the end Josphine and Aldie has fallen for each other.