The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Everly Davis received and unexpected invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, and she's taking the chance returning to her hometown after ten years. To say her exit was memorable would be an understatement. But now she's coming back with a successful podcast to focus on. Too bad her past is eaiting to swallow her in the memories and uncover some truths And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.

Beckett Whitfield has harbored secrets. He still hasn't forgotten Everly and his attempts to exercise her from his thoughts have failed. Now he'll take whatever steps he can to undo the harsh words said when they were teens and the even bigger hurts he tried to protect her from. Sometimes all you need is a little push to find your second chance.

Beckett and Everly shared an unbreakable bond during their high school years, a friendship that hinted at a deeper connection just waiting to be explored. But just as their feelings began to blossom, a storm of secrets swept in, tearing them apart for an agonizing decade.
Now, Everly finds herself back in the charming town of Rose, mysteriously drawn by a Valentine's Day invitation from an anonymous admirer. As she clutches the elegantly handwritten note, her heart races with the hope that it’s from Beckett. Yet, the weight of their unresolved past hangs heavily over her, casting dark shadows on their long-awaited reunion and threatening to unravel the fragile thread of their rekindled relationship.
I enjoyed this story, though I hated what Beckett said and did to drive Everly away when they were teens. I'm not sure I could have let it go.

Everly Davie has decided to come back to her home town after ten years, she had left on not good terms. She came back because of an invitation and she continues to receive them while she is back. She talks about it on her popular podcast. She also runs into Beckett Whitfield who they left on not-so-good terms, though Beckett wrote his Villan character with the name of Everly, and she now wonders why which only adds to the story. Many different characters and an excellent story that is very much worth the read.

I had high hopes for this story, but it ultimately left me conflicted. On one hand, I found it engaging and enjoyed the premise; on the other, I couldn’t get behind Beckett, the love interest, and the rushed pacing took away from the overall experience.
The story starts strong—Everly receives a mysterious letter inviting her to the Kiss Lottery, which lures her back to her hometown despite vowing never to return after a drama-filled senior year. Once there, she begins receiving anonymous gifts from a secret admirer. Is it her ex or her old best friend?
While the setup was intriguing and kept me hooked, the novella format made it hard to fully explore the characters and their relationships. What started as animosity quickly turned into longing and pining, but the transition felt underdeveloped. I also struggled with Beckett as a love interest, which made it harder to root for the romance. I wish the story had been longer to allow for deeper character growth and a more fleshed-out mystery. As it stands, it was a quick, engaging read but ultimately felt like a missed opportunity.

I enjoy reading books by Ilsa Madden-Mills and The Kiss Lottery is another great offering by this author. The Kiss Lottery is a really sweet, second chance romance and you will like both Everly and Beckett (and their group of friends). This book, in my opinion, was very low on the angst factor. and laugh out loud funny a couple of times. Thank you NetGalley and Ilsa Madden-Mills for an advanced copy.

3.5⭐️

Honestly this was a cute little valentines novella, and I loved the backstory, but I struggled with the structure, the chapters and the actions didn’t feel seamless in terms of timelines, it kinda felt like I was bouncing back and forth between emotions, conversations, and everything else that I wasn’t able to fully enjoy this book. However, I did like it, loved the little of the kiss lottery and how it played out, but the rest, specifically Beckett and Everly’s feelings and actions just didn’t feel like planned out as well.

This is also a novella and I rarely write long reviews for those so I’ll stop there.

I love how Everly and Beckett got their second chance!

Podcaster Everly Jean Davis hadn’t been back home to Rose, Tennessee since she left ten years ago. Ever was back to cover the Valentine’s Day Kiss Lottery after she received an invitation to attend. Now she was wondering who sent the initiation and why because she had left on bad terms from her high school ex Carson and former best friend Beckett Whitfield whose used her as the inspiration the villain in his latest book.

Beckett never forgot Everly but being matched with her in the Kiss Lottery was going to either solve their issues or it was going to make them mortal enemies forever.

I love the anonymous invitations to Everly that pique her interest to return to Rose even though she needed to work through all of their problems with Beckett to get a second chance!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This romance kind of seems to be a cutesy Hallmark movie, and kind of a young adult drama. I liked that they were friends when they were younger, but there wasn't enough time in the novella to really bring on the emotion for me. I think this story would have made me feel a bit more if it was a full length novel and there was time to fill out the storyline and more character development. The audiobook is well done and I enjoyed the narrators.

This was such a sweet little Novella. Beckett and Everly are so clearly meant for one another. I love the secret little Valentines note that she gets and gifts and her reconnecting with her hometown. Beckett comes off as silent and broody, but he might be the biggest teddy bear ever (yes, this is a pun and It is totally intended.) if you were looking for a sweet Valentine’s Day, Novella, this is definitely it.

This novel is an ideal choice for readers who delight in heartwarming small-town romances, where the familiarity of close-knit communities and shared histories sets the stage for stories of rekindled love and second chances. It will also deeply resonate with those who enjoy the slow burn and delicious tension of friends-to-lovers tropes, as the narrative skillfully explores the complexities and nuances of transforming a deep-rooted friendship into a passionate romance.

The story unfolds in a charming small town, where the protagonist finds themselves drawn back into the orbit of a former friend, igniting a spark that had perhaps always been dormant. As unresolved feelings resurface and hidden desires come to light, the characters must navigate the delicate balance between their past and their potential future, all while surrounded by the watchful eyes and well-intentioned meddling of their fellow townsfolk.

With its evocative setting, relatable characters, and emotionally resonant plot, this book is sure to capture the hearts of readers who believe in the enduring power of love and the possibility of second chances, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Everly gets a mysterious invitation for The Kiss Lottery in Rose. Her hometown. The town she left after a huge fiasco where her diary was involved.
Now, years later, she's ready to go back and find out who's the mysterious one... but she also has to see him again. Beckett.

Oh my. The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills is just the perfect story for the upcoming Valentine's Day for sure.

I really enjoyed the story of Everly and Beckett! Both were friends in the past, and then things happened that changed their relationship. Now that she's back in Rose, things could change. 😉
With her hilarious friends, Everly tries to find out who sent her the invitation for the Kiss Lottery and also all the other gifts.
But besides all that, she also has to deal with HIM. The guy from her past. 🙌
Oh my, and Beckett? This cute guy with a heart of gold. Of course, he has to deal with the fact that Everly is back in town, after all this time!
I really liked them a lot and was such a fun journey with them!
I don't wanna spoil you! Just read the book!

The Kiss Lottery is such a heartwarming, funny, and emotional novella and the perfect lovestory if you wanna laugh and swoon a lot!

Thanks a lot to Ilsa Madden-Mills and Montlake for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

I am a huge fan of mixed-genre books, so the touches of mystery and adventure tied with the romance were fantastic. What first caught my attention about this book was the description of the mystery portion of the invitation to attend the Kiss Lottery in her hometown. It was a lighthearted feelgood story and was a great afternoon read!

Overall, The Kiss Lottery is a delightful mix of romance, mystery, and small-town adventure. If you’re someone who loves a good blend of genres, this book is a perfect pick. The tender moments, the thrilling mystery, and the well-rounded characters all come together for a rewarding reading experience. I wish the book was longer so I could stay immersed in the story longer!

Thank you to Ilsa Madden-Mills and NetGallery for the eARC!

Everly y Beckett fueron mejores amigos hasta que ella reveló algo que los dejó a ambos en una situación comprometedora. En lugar de apoyarla, él se alejó de ella, y ella pasó a ser vista como una paria social. Eventualmente, se fue del pueblo y permaneció alejada durante 10 años, hasta que recibió una invitación para ir a la cabina de besos, a la que decidió asistir por curiosidad.



Me gustó la novela y creo que podría haberse desarrollado en un libro completo. Me pareció muy injusto que ella fuera quien recibiera todo el odio, y que Beckett la dejara sola, aunque entiendo por qué lo hizo; con semejante secreto, no era fácil seguir cerca de ella y en el presente la defendía si alguien le decía algo sobre el pasado.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Ilsa’s books! I’ve been reading her books since 2016 and she is one of the first authors I read when I was getting into romance! Adding this to my new list of favorites! Her books are so fun and this was the perfect read for February!!

A pleasant and light read perfect for this month of love and friendship. I don't read a lot of second chance romances, but this one was definitely fun and enjoyable to read.

If you like The kissing booth vibes this book is for you.

It's been awhile since I've read Ilsa Madden-Mills and I forgot how flowing her writing is. I read this in one sitting (literally lol) and enjoyed the story quite a bit. Everly and Bennett are long time childhood friends who had a bit of a falling out. Fast forward 10 years and now all the chickens must come home to roost. It's time to put all the cards on the table and let the truth fall where it might. I love the small town idea of the Kiss Lottery and there were some great supporting characters. I wouldn't mind reading other stories in this world. I do think that one should have made the other work harder though because it all seemed too easy. (And what did Everly say to Abigail anyway lol).

This was really cute, especially at first - I was really into it and then it somehow lost me along the way. Being a novella, I felt like it should hold my attention all the way through!

Everly and Beckett had an adorable story, being childhood friends & experiencing many firsts together - first kiss, learning to drive, and more.

Beckett is holding on a to secret that had him pushing Everly away as teens, and resisting getting together in the present.

I really enjoyed it for a while, but then it just got TOO cheesy for me 😅 some bits just went too far for me, trying to be romantic but they missed the mark

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Honestly the audio bumped up my rating, it probably would have been a 3-3.5 for the story, but Savannah Peachwood + Sebastian York are just so fantastic it got me to a 4.

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: open door, one scene

read if you love:
💜 Valentine novella
⏳ second chance (ish)
🏡 childhood best friends/first loves + neighbors
🧑🏻‍💻 thriller writer mmc
🎙 travel podcaster
🌳 return to (small) hometown
💞 dual 1st person pov

Thank you to Montlake, Brilliance Publishing, & NetGalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

This novella was so cute! Perfect in time for Valentine's Day! Everly is returning to her hometown of Rose, Tennessee because she has received an invitation to the kiss lottery. It's been ten long years when she ran away from her best friend and the worst heartbreak imaginable. Beckett has been pining for his best friend, Everly, since forever but things didn't end so well ten years ago. Now Everly's back and entering in the Kiss Lottery. As fate would have it, they end up getting paired up. They have to face old feelings and finally say those things they've been holding back since high school.

This was a really quick read. It has the perfect small town meddling feel. There's not a lot of time to develop the characters because of it's a novella but I didn't feel like I was just thrown into it either. I love an Ilsa Madden-Mills book mainly because of the way she writes her heroes. They always have great banter and chemistry.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ilsa Madden-Mills, and Montlake for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #ilsamaddenmills #thekisslottery #montlake

A cute story about Everly, who moved away to escape small town life, returns to her hometown upon invitation to the "Kiss Lottery". Using her podcast as an excuse to figure out who sent her the invite, she reconnects with her childhood best friend Beckett and they end up reconnecting in all the best ways. Adorable from start to finish.

I could never be that chill with the people who shut me off the moment I needed them more, but you do you, girl.


Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.