This novella was a fun read but it felt rushed, like it should have been a full length novel. At the length it is now the plot developed so quickly from hate to love that the abrupt transition didn't feel believable. This made that characters feel one dimensional, especially the female antagonist who was the stereotypical mean girl villain. The initial intrigue, where the main character leaves her diary behind to be discovered rather than confronting her boyfriend and friend with the same facts that came out in the diary, was a a hard motive to understand. There's a few plot twists, but we're just told about them through memories and conversation. I would definitely read a full length version of this story, where the characters and plot unfold at a less frenetic pace.

A decade after leaving her hometown of Rose, Tennessee, Everly is lured back by an anonymous invitation to attend the town's Kiss Lottery. This sounds like an intriguing premise for her podcast, but she didn’t expect to be paired up with her old flame, Beckett. Sparks fly in this Valentine's novella, which offers a sweet second chance romance, dual POVs, quirky smalltown characters, and a touch of spice – all adding up to a fun and engaging short read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

It was a cute concept and an easy read! I enjoyed the premise of the book and really related to trying to go back to a small town who remembers everything.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

So much emotion in a small-ish package…

Everly and Beckett’s story could hardly be contained in this sweet second chance romance. They had been friends forever when they were kids, tackling all the good and the bad, together. When a falling out happened, Ever didn’t look back and swore she never would return to her hometown…

Well, here she was and all the secrets were going to be revealed as the Valentine’s Kiss Lottery played out for another year. I really enjoyed these characters as they gravitated back to each other, one revelation and feelings-baring conversation at a time…

There was a lot packed into this novella making it one to enjoy quickly before the satisfying HEA…

I liked this story! When I realized this was about reuniting old high school romance, not gonna lie, I groaned. That high school is stuff is one of my least enjoyable tropes. However, it worked here. Color me surprised.

I think that having that link to the past made the novella richer and the romance more understandable. I’ve never read this author before, but I’m going to search up something else from her catalog and try it. I’m impressed by what she put together in this story.

this was such a quick and easy valentines day novella and i ate it up! Everly and Beckett were so sweet and I love that they got their second chance after everything is talked about and the truth is finally discovered. these two were absolutely meant to be and it may have taken some time but im so glad these two got the HEA they deserved!

I’ve enjoyed other books by this author, but this novella wasn’t for me. It felt disjointed, more like a bunch of half formed ideas thrown together than anything coherent.

I don’t recommend this, but I do plan to read other work by this author in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

A fun quick read! This second chance, exes best friend, was low angst and sweet. The side characters really shined as well.

One thing I enjoy with this author is that her books are short and sweet with some steamy sprinkled in - and this was not an exception. This book is told in Everly and Beckett's alternating POV. They were best friends growing up, and then high school happened. Then, life kept them apart for ten years until Everly ended up back in their small town. I really liked the characters and the build-up for most of the book. I did feel the ending was rushed and there was never really any closure with Lily given the bigger part that involved her.

Overall, it was a good read with likable characters and a lot of sweet and swoony points. Things did get steamy for a bit and there was a scene that got me a bit choked up - not like that, emotionally. I would have just liked for a few things to have been expanded on instead of rushed through.

A fun valentine read! Everly and Beckett were a great read! Loved their connection and past! And loved watching them grow together. Their conversation were real. And it gave the love vibe!

I just love Ilsa Madden-Mills writing style and how fun and swoon-worthy her romances are. I should definitely read more by this author, I just never really get the chance to. Having been super happy when I got approved for this digital ARC of "The Kiss Lottery" and guess who read it way too late to the game - me! It's well past Valetine's day. It's actually the first day of March right now and only now did I finally get to read "The Kiss Lottery". Short, cute with a bit of a mystery plot that didn't even get resolved (did it?), I had a good time reading this book. Definitely something to get you out of a reading slump or just something to squeeze in between while preparing yourself for the next huge book on your TBR. I liked the characters' chemistry, the bit of peaks of drama we got here and there, the flashbacks and the friendship elements as well. I could definitely see this being transformed into a longer novel and while we're at it, being some kind of Hallmark movie as well. I couldn't help but picture this scenes bit by bit in my head, imagining this was a movie. Due to the fact that the mystery element to it kind of lacked for me and I really wish this had been longer, more yearning etc. it's not in my top books by this author, but I still had a fabulous time with it while I read it.

This is a fun novella that has wonderful characters with the small town vibes! I love Ilsa's writing and she did such a great job packing so much into a novella! You don't miss out on anything in this second chance romance.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I loved Everly and Beckett so much. I immediately loved them and this story so much.

Beckett’s grand gesture apology to her was everything. Like swoony as hell.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦/𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗦
🐈Second Chance Romance
💋Small Town Romance
🐈Miscommunication
💋Dual Narrator
🐈Valentine’s Day Theme
💋Infidelity
🐈Loss of a parent

Do I recommend…absolutely. It was a fun read. Honestly she probably could’ve done a full length novel with these characters. They were all lovely except for that one 🐝, Abigail.

Thank you Montlake/@amazonpublishing for the #gifted ARC of THE KISS LOTTERY by Ilsa Madden Mills via NetGalley.

Everly received an invitation to return to her hometown, and participate in its Kiss Lottery. She's not sure who the invitation is from. Maybe the boy she had a crush on? The ex-boyfriend? She won't know unless she returns to her hometown and participates.

I've enjoyed many of Madden Mill's previous novels, but this one didn't quite deliver. It was as if Madden Mills forgot she was writing a novella, as the majority of the book was well developed, and had some fun plots, story lines that you could see developing. Then suddenly, a third party mentions something to Everly about the male protagonist, and the book wraps up. Even the potential secondary romance.

I would have liked to see what could have happened if it was a full length novel.

I think it is worth borrowing a physical copy from the library, or borrowing the novella from Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe.

Overall Rating 4⭐️
Steam 3🌶️

💌 A quirky, small-town Valentine’s Day tradition.
🔥 Sparks flying between two “exes” – second chance romance!
🎙️ Narration by Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York.

This book is such a fun, sweet, and quick read. I did an immersive read with the e-book and audiobook. The narrators are perfect for this book.

The story opens where we find our FMC, Everly Davis, returning to her hometown, Rose, TN, because she received an invitation to the town’s Kiss Lottery. Unfortunately, while back in town, she runs into her “ex” Beckett Whitfield and she is already throwing daggers.

Long ago, Beckett was the love of her life but when he told her he never wanted to see her again, she left town and never looked back. The hurt in her heart was further deepened when Beckett wrote a character very similar to Everly, as a villain/murder in his next book.

Little does Everly know, Beckett still carries a torch for her and has for a really long time. He just doesn’t know how to tell her, show her, make her understand how strong his love really is.
While this story is very short, we learn a lot about both characters and the sub plots that tangle everyone in this story together. There are some very sweet characters and there are some very hilarious characters that every small town needs. Also, there is a rescue kitten that Everly adopts and she decides to name it Murder – how perfect!!

The spice in this novella is just chef kiss perfect and just the right amount of heat that is needed! I hope that Ilsa Madden-Mills expands upon this entire group from Rose, TN.

I was provided this e-ARC by NetGalley and the author – thank you!

#NetGalley
#TheKissLottery

This is a really speedy read but it is packed-full of romance and fun! I loved Beckett and Everly - and the fact that this is a slow burn / friends to lovers story makes it even more perfect.

Everly and Beckett, lifelong best friends harboring secret crushes on each other, find their paths diverging as life takes them in different directions. Years later, Everly returns to her hometown to take part in the beloved small-town tradition of the Kiss Lottery. Ilsa Madden-Mills crafts a delightful and heartwarming tale that’s perfect for readers seeking a quick, fun read with a feel-good happy ending.

Madden brings the funny without ever losing sight of the heart. The Kiss Lottery is the sweetest blend of temptation and emotion. From sensory overload to heartbreaking romance, Beckett and Everly bring big city personality to small town romance.

“Love doesn’t always make sense, but it can endure time, distance, even mistakes.”

The annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, is about to kick off, and podcaster Everly receives an anonymous invitation—though she’s attending under the guise of covering it for an episode.

Of course, she immediately bumps into her former best friend, Beckett—a bestselling author who, funnily enough, once made her the villain in one of his books. Ha! It’s been ten years since they last spoke, ever since they tried (and failed) to cross the line between friendship and something more.

This romcom was such a delight! Beckett and Everly’s “I hate you” ping-pong match had me grinning, and their close proximity only heightened the undeniable chemistry. With so much history between them, it was only a matter of time before they pieced their broken puzzle back together.

A sweet second-chance romance with just the right amount of spice!

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.