HNS Book Review: How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You by Tara Eglington

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Title: How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You (Aurora Skye #1)
Author:  Tara Eglington
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Year:  2016
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: Netgalley
Amazon l B & N  l Book Depository l Goodreads

Synopsis:

That’s Aurora Skye’s big secret. And the way she wants it to stay. She’s not going to give away her first kiss to just anyone. Busy dodging suitors and matchmaking for her best friends, Aurora (not so) patiently awaits her prince.

But everything changes when Aurora is coerced into a lead role in the school production of Much Ado about Nothing. Which means she’ll have to lock lips with her co-star Hayden Paris—the smart and funny boy next door who also happens to be the bane of her existence, always around to see her at her worst.

Now Aurora is more determined than ever to have her first kiss with the one who’s truly worthy of it. But first she’ll have to figure out just who that person is.

Romantic and funny, Tara Eglington’s How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You is a feel-good tale of finding love where you least expect it.

Reviewer’s Thoughts: 

The title for How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You is exactly what the book entails.

Sweet sixteen and never been kissed . . .

The story follows Aurora Skye who has never been kissed and she likes it to stay that way until she finds the rightful Prince. She’s been dodging the attempts of her various suitors. Suddenly, she was cast as Beatrice in the school play’s production of Much Ado about Nothing. She’s set to play Beatrice while her number one nemesis Hayden Paris will play her love interest.

The tragedy: they have to act a kissing scene.

All hell will break loose to stop this kiss from happening.

This novel is the perfect read to unwind. I spent the whole part of the novel laughing. I love the ironic humor that supplemented the pacing of the story. Of course, the large knit of friends are engaging as well. They are one of my favorite aspects.

It’s nice seeing a bunch of female characters. Though, tragically, they wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test since the primary topic of their conversations involved around boys. Another thing that left me dismayed are the all-white-and-straight cast. I admit that’s the reason I couldn’t rate it greater than four stars.

What woman beats her heart and tears her hair out when she’s in love?

She might if it’s unrequited love. It tears you apart.

The pairing in this book delivered all of my favorite tropes from childhood friends-enemy-rivals-to-lovers. Tara Eglington is a master of witty repartee. The love interest isn’t an asshole. Everything about it is handled well, though some parts were a tad bit predictable. You will dig them.

Overall, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. I love, love fluffy and funny reads. We need more of that in YA.

Review also posted at Goodreads.