Book Review
Title: Never Have I Ever Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend
Author: Juliet Bardsley
Genre: YA/Contemporary/Romance
Rating: ****
Review: I didn’t know anything about the novel before I started it, but the synopsis grabbed my attention and I have been reading more contemporary fiction especially YA contemporary romance than I ever have in my life. We are introduced to Mackenzie (Kenzie) Fair who has a huge crush on her brother’s best friend Gavin Mitchell hence the title and I was immediately sold as no sibling wants to mess with the brother or sister’s friendship dynamic by involving romance. The opening to Never Have I Ever Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend was great we learn that Kenzie has a huge crush on Gavin but can’t tell him how she feels because of his connection to her brother but when Gavin is threatened with being cut for the team because of his grades, the school decides that Kenzie is the best person to tutor him and I am sure some hi-jinks are going to ensue.
Most of the first part is just introducing us to characters and their goals but we learn that Gavin has days to get a passing grade in British Literature or he can kiss his sporting career and scholarship goodbye. Turning to Kenzie for help we can clearly see the pair have feelings for each other, but both are worried about her brother’s opinion and how he would react if they ever got together. Gavin, for the most part, is just your average teenage boy although he doesn’t seem anywhere near as reckless or outgoing as Kenzie’s brother while Kenzie is your typical bookworm/nerd, much like myself when I was in school.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, the pair are getting closer and almost kiss, but Gavin pulls away because of what Cory would think and it really hurts Kenzie, but she still comes to the party he invited her to. Kenzie goes to see Veda, but she lets slip that Kenzie has a crush on Gavin and he knows he has to talk to her first and this is when they share their first kiss. It is plain to see the pair are mad for each other, but the key is Cory. If Cory can show he is ok with the relationship, then everything will be ok, but I have a feeling nothing is going to go that smoothly for the pair.
Things get complicated when Michael, a boy who likes Kenzie, but she doesn’t like him, take a photo of their kiss and is threatening to send it to the whole team so that he can take Gavin’s place, Gavin wants to give in to his demands, but Kenzie has other ideas. She tells Gavin to let Michael send the picture, ace his test and play in the finals and after the season is over, they will tell Cory that they are dating, and they will have their happily ever after but being apart for 2 months is going to be very hard for the pair.
The ending of Never Have I Ever Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend was beautiful, I am glad the character ended up where they did and the journey, they took to get there was an enjoyable emotional rollercoaster. Highly recommended if you are looking for a short, fluffy contemporary romance.
Buy it here:
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
I received this review copy from Booksprout.
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