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Posted 20 hours ago

Six Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did)

£9.9£99Clearance
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About this deal

That’s not to say there aren’t good aspects to this book — it’s a Tess Sharpe book and I always at least enjoy her works.

this is my second tess sharpe book after first reading the girls i've been and i will definitely be picking up more from her! I received an ARC from Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I also don't love big sections of text messages in novels unless they feel like they NEED to be included, and the side plot felt like a bit of unnecessary filler at times. The writing is moving, vibrant, and quite blunt, and I adored the mix of dual POVs and dual timelines.What made this one a bit harder to get through, unfortunately, was in some ways, the premise itself. She is known for writing emotionally raw stories with romantic backdrops that tackle mature themes and are representative of the LBGTQ+ community. Overall, this is a beautiful story of two girls trying to find their way in the world--and to find love.

I think that Tess Sharpe did a good job at distinguishing their voices so I was never confused about which girl’s POV I was reading from.

But the majority of the plot is dealing with a sick parent, both their moms undergoing major surgery, stress about being able to pay the bills, the death of a father, an emotionally absent mother, and recovering from a traumatic injury. While the part of me that is a sucker for adorable and predictable romances was fulfilled, I also got a surprising emotional gut punch from the realistic and heartbreaking depiction of unconventional families.

Penny’s mother, Lottie, is a parent who has shut down, so wrapped in her own grief that she can’t even see her child’s pain. I am a huge fan of seeing flashbacks in books – I feel they just add something extra to the storyline. Times We Almost Kissed will resonate with all the kids dealt a raw deal in life, but will also inspire empathy and awareness for those unfamiliar with such circumstances. The message is clear: If a mere child can step up and be an adult when their family needs it, there is no excuse, even grief, that gives a parent a right to check out on their duties.I do not read my goodreads mail, but if you'd like to contact me the best way to reach me is tess(at)tess-sharpe. But also warmth in my chest afterward, for those two girls who cared for each other, even though they didn’t realize it themselves and almost kissed so many times. It's a gorgeous yet oft-heartbreaking examination of grief, trauma, mental health, healthcare, friendship, parenting, and more. Manages to be surprisingly poignant and deep on certain topics while still being super engaging and fun to read - and also full of the tropiest tropes possible.

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