A review by women_using_words
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s easy to see why Alison Cochrun is quickly making a name for herself as a captivating romance writer. Her first novel The Charm Offensive was a runaway hit amongst readers and critics alike, even earning an editor’s best pick for romance from Amazon. I’m sure Kiss Her Once for Me will have much the same appeal. Early reviews are labeling it “dizzyingly adorable” and “whip-smart,” which I wholeheartedly agree. This fake-engagement rom-com might just be one of the most creatively crafted, holiday-themed novels I’ve read to date. It’s clear Cochrun has a real knack for storytelling and should be on every lgbtq romance reader’s watch list.

Cochrun sets this novel up nicely. Readers are quickly sucked into Ellie Oliver’s financial crisis and dating woes. Cochrun’s inspiration for this story was born from her love of While You Were Sleeping, but she admits that once the writing of this novel got underway, a lesbian Bill Pullman was not meant to be. She says it became clear fairly early in the drafting process that fear was at the core of Ellie’s story and it pushed her to craft a narrative themed in that. Readers will be thankful she let the composition unfold organically because Kiss Her Once for Me is something that’s fresh, original and highly entertaining.

Fear, as mentioned earlier, is threaded neatly and purposefully in the fabric of this heartwarming story. It’s designed to drive the characters and in turn the story. Cochrun does a masterful job of applying it in this story, creating something that evokes relatable emotion and connectivity. Readers understand Ellie and Jack and they relate to them. They understand the urge to protect the heart, even when it skips a beat under the lure of desire. Ellie and Jack’s fear of love is beautifully scripted; it pushes internal conflicts and vulnerabilities excruciatingly well. And when love does happen, readers stand up and cheer for it, making this rom-com swoon worthy.

Final remarks…

I enjoyed so many things about this book. The character development is fantastic; Ellie and Jack just jump off the page. The secondary characters are immensely entertaining and wonderfully drawn; they could have a sit-com of their own! Best of all is the will they/won’t they moment; it’s more heart-tugging than Sandra Bullock’s confession/wedding scene in While You Were Sleeping—and that’s saying something! Ellie’s declaration squeezes the heart in all the ways a good romance should. 

Strengths…

  • Creatively designed 
  • Engaging storyline
  • Fantastic characters 
  • Heartwarming 
  • Entertaining 
  • Well-worth the read
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