This was... okay. There really wasn't anything wrong with it, but I was never able to get fully invested in the story at all. I didn't vibe with either of our love interests and ended up not really caring for their romance. There were some cute moments and I can definitely see the audience for this story, but that audience was not me.

I really enjoyed this! I have it on display at the library. (I am the teen librarian at my branch.) It definitely was steamy, so I would give this as a recommendation for older teens. Overall, I loved it!

It is the teenage version of porn-without-a-plot, with a mild sex scene and the female lead transforming from a badass who looks out for herself, into a clingy girlfriend who runs to a boy the minute she faces an obstacle.

This was a quick YA read for older teens.  It was entertaining and fast-paced.  I liked the friendship in this and the way it dealt with some heavier topics.

It's not often that the protagonist of a YA book is the one who grew up with a terrible reputation, but it was nice to see how the protagonist was more than her tattered reputation at school made her seem to be. An unsatisfying conclusion regarding her ongoing safety (and lack thereof) at home, but otherwise a pleasant read with several cute and/or funny moments.

I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of this book! The story challenged typical high school beliefs and defied stereotypes. The main character was not someone who I have a lot in common with, yet I was rooting very hard for her to succeed. I really liked how the author was able to incorporate multiple storylines from four different points of view. However, the ending felt incredibly rushed and I have questions that were not answered. The future of both main characters is up in the air at the end and it left me feeling dissatisfied. With another 4-5 chapters, I think this book could have been a 5 star read.

his was a cute enemies to lovers. For being geared towards younger readers, it was a bit more sexually graphic than I anticipated.  I felt the stereotypes in this book were very concrete and the characters kept reiterating to the point it became obnoxious. ⁣
The story is told from four different perspectives. Each one seemed fully developed (they didn’t all sound the same). Hayden was confident and stood up for herself. Nolan was obnoxious and couldn’t make up his mind about anything. Emmaline was my favorite - studious and sweet. Beau didn’t really leave much of an impression.⁣
I wish the ending had been wrapped up a bit more. Hayden has a horrible relationship with her mom and some of the things that happened towards the end were never resolved, which really bugged me. ⁣
Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read, if not a bit disappointing.⁣

2.5 Rating: Hayden Vargas has a reputation for being experienced and she doesn't care.  Hayden's goal in life is to work hard and save up enough money and leave her hometown.  Hayden's goal seems more attainable when Emmeline Martin offers to pay Hayden to teach her how to seduce a boy.  Hayden reluctantly accepts the offer which upsets Emmeline's popular brother, Nolan.  However, as Nolan and Hayden spend time together they begin to develop a relationship that may be more than just friendship.  

When I originally read the description for this book I thought it sounded like a fun beach read but it didn't really work.  The narrative of the book felt very flat and Hayden and Nolan never really felt real to me and I found it very difficult to care about them or their relationship.  The best part of the book was Emmeline and her possible relationship with her brother's best friend, Beau, but their storyline was delegated to the background and felt almost like an afterthought.  This book had potential but it never lived up to it.

Though I've read several of Sophie Jordan's adult romances, this is my first experience with her YA. I went into this expecting something more along the lines of a rom-com but it's quite serious, dealing with heavy subjects from slut-shaming to addiction, some more successfully than others. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but the ending was super abrupt and too neat - so many things happen to Hayden towards the end of the book and then just never get addressed. I wish her story, especially, had been more fleshed out.

KIssing Lessons is a standalone young adult contemporary romance by Sophie Jordan. This book had my interest based on the author and book description. It seemed to have all the rom-com feels that I am a huge fan of: A character giving seduction lessons to a friend and then falling in love with that persons brother. Total rom-com material. Right? Nooo. This book had a more serious vibe that I had liked or expected and I was disappointed besides having characters that I could not cheer for. (cheating is always a no for me)

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!

Overall, I liked the book. The characters were well-developed and plot was decent. There were a few things in the end that the lead characters reacted in a way that was not consistent with their personalities.

Okay so this book was decent. It was a pretty basic rom-com ya book. There wasn't much else to it. The plot was predictable, the characters all fit their respective roles and it ended up all working out. Honestly, I thought it was okay and an easy read.

**3.5 Stars**

Kissing Lessons was a quick read with two love stories in one. Told from the main view of our heroine, Hayden, Jordan explored the perspective of a young woman tarnished by rumor and circumstance and slowly revealed to readers that she, of course, was worth so much more than a label. I enjoyed the way she was crafted, the touchiness of the subject matter—rightfully so—and how it wasn't easy for any of the characters to navigate. The key social themes were nicely done, deftly using the real world to explore how misconception and judgment can tarnish and affect anyone, but most especially a young woman. The push-pull between her and Nolan showcased his (and most people's) ignorance, but also his willingness to grow and learn and care. And the added side love story was a good bonus—especially for those who love that specific trope, as I do.

I would've loved if we had had more depth and time spent delving into Hayden and her story more deeply, most especially because it is a crucial side to tell. The ending was especially rushed and pretty flippant in how things were resolved, and that's where I think more time could've been spent because deep emotional scars can't be disregarded that easily. It was a quick read with good characters, I just wanted more time fleshing them out than we got.

An entertaining read for those who like a little high school with their contemporary. Told from four POVs - you essentially have eyes on two different relationships developing that comes with more drama than anything and the side stories throughout add a little more meat to the pot. Kissing and romance obvious, but there is also an emotional undertone that you can't help getting sucked into as well. Kissing Jordan is a half serious/half cute standalone that is sure to check the boxes of a lot of readers!

Hayden is desperate to leave her small town and her toxic mother. High school is a terrible place for her because she is known as the school slut. She doesn't want to interact with her classmates, but after attending a party, she catches the notice of the Martin siblings. Nolan feels drawn to Hayden, but he has a girlfriend and Hayden is super prickly. Emmaline, Nolan's younger sister, asks Hayden for lessons on seducing boys. While Hayden isn't experienced, she needs the money that Emmaline is offering. Hayden and Nolan continue to butt heads and find themselves drawn to each other as his protective older brother streak appears. 

I was not a fan of the couples. I think that the plot arc of Emmaline was unbelievable and her voice seemed much younger than a junior in school.

This was kind of an abrupt book. It was very short and ended suddenly. Nothing was really wrapped up. I am unsure how this got past an editor. Which was a shame because I really liked these characters and would have liked to see this more fleshed out.

There are a lot of things to like about this book, and it’s easy to recommend it. That said, I didn’t find that I was actually all that invested in anyone’s relationships or would-be relationships succeeding, or even in finding out how things ended, but maybe this book wasn’t supposed to be about getting the guy or the girl. Maybe it was supposed to be about pursuing happiness, and learning how to be happy independent of a relationship (or make-out buddy). If that’s so (and I’m choosing to read it that way), then the relationships are almost beside the point, and the book is a success all around. So I’m going to write this review as if the point is not to find a partner, but to become strong in one’s self.

There are spoilers ahead. I apologize. So let’s get my main complaint out of the way first.

Beau calls Emmaline “Pigeon.” Ew. I can’t help thinking of Lady and the Tramp or Beautiful Disaster. Neither is a great association for a YA novel that’s supposed to be sex-positive and support feminine empowerment. Also, Beau does that thing where he lists all the things he’s noticed about the girl he likes, I guess to shorthand that he knows her well and cares about her and all, but it just seems so creepy, particularly since it would probably make her self-conscious about doing any of those things ever again, now that attention’s been brought to it. At least he’s good about checking for consent, and not just once, but each time things escalate within an encounter.

Okay, now that that's done...

I appreciate the positive message about post-high school plans that don’t involve college. Not only does Hayden not plan to attend college, but she’s actively working toward setting herself up to be a tattoo artist after graduation by taking all the design courses she can, creating a portfolio, and reaching out to tattoo artists she respects about apprenticing with them. This is a great example of a young person planning for their future without treating college as the end-all, be-all of life after high school. Also, it’s nice that the allusion to 80s teen movies was Can’t Buy Me Love instead of yet another John Hughes film. And that they don’t shit on rom-coms just because the MC is a fan of zombie films (because she’s so atypical).

There’s a line Nolan says when he’s fighting with Hayden, “would you stop calling yourself names and then laying them at my feet like I’ve said them?” I really like that. Rom-coms spend a lot of time with people putting words in each other’s mouths and even when they’re called on it they stalk off in a huff, usually, before the person being assigned opinions really has a chance to do more than point out that they didn’t say that thing, or maybe even think it. I like that Nolan has called Hayden out for doing that, even though she completely ignores that he’s correct and attacks from another avenue. That said, I’m proud of Hayden for this other thing: even though she’s mad and deliberately using her sexuality to make Nolan uncomfortable, Hayden still asks if it’s okay to kiss him.

Speaking of Nolan and kissing, I’m glad Nolan had the gumption to break up with his girlfriend rather than string her along until he was sure Hayden’s a sure thing. And for anyone who says his girlfriend is unreasonable in the way she behaves, those folks need to check themselves. She got blindsided, to say nothing of the fact that she was, in fact, cheated on, even if Nolan handled it pretty well. She has a right to be hurt and angry, just as Nolan has a right not to be as in love with her as she was with him.

One last thing on the subject of kissing (consider the title of the book!), two of Emmaline’s friends who practice kissing each other at Hayden’s behest find that they enjoy kissing each other and choose to explore that and no one gives them any crap for it. That’s awesome.

Like I said at the beginning, there are a lot of good things about this book and it’s easy to recommend, but I can’t see myself purchasing it for myself or as a gift. Even with the mental adjustment that the point of the book isn’t to end up in a relationship, I never really cared how the book ended (mostly happily, by the way), and I don’t really know why.

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.

I'm sad to say this really didn't work for me. At first, I felt very thrown in to very teenage drama, and then I thought, it's OK, it's just really a book for teens without a lot of crossover appeal for adults, and that's perfectly fine. But then as I kept reading, keeping in mind the teens I've worked with, that I wouldn't know who to recommend this to. This book is so conspicuously absent of what I see teens talking about all the time. They are so interested in their identities as they relate to gender, sexuality, relationships, and this book was so cis and so straight and just so normie that I felt like I was in a time warp. Even the conceit of "kissing lessons" seems like it's aiming to be titillating and voyeuristic rather than exploratory? Girls kiss girls in this book and there isn't one mention that any of them might not be straight? I just don't get it.

Apart from that, I had some other big issues with the book. Hayden's relationship with her alcoholic mother didn't ring true for me at all as the child of an alcoholic. Not to say children of alcoholics behave in a monolithic way, just something that made it harder for me to relate personally.

Lastly, this book is ostensibly set in Texas, and is again weirdly conspicuously vague when it comes to race. Texas is a diverse place! I'm white so I think the best thing I can do is just raise questions and not claim to have answers. It gave me pause that Hayden has the last name Vargas, which indicates that she might be Latinx. If there was any mention of that being the truth, I missed it. What is impossible to miss is that she has an addicted, neglectful mother, struggles with poverty and hunger, is abused, has an absent father. Some of these things play into stereotypes, I think, and without clear writing about race, it's just creating questions of why it's written the way it is.

The last last thing I will say is that I really enjoy Sophie Jordan's historical romances, so I reiterate that I'm really surprised and saddened me that this book didn't work for me.