6 Times We Almost Kissed (and One Time We Did)

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Also, be careful when reading about how Penny’s father died. It’s very tough to read, but it helps us understand Penny’s fears and her connection to Tate. First of all, the audiobook is narrated by the author and my previous experiences of authors narrating their own books weren’t great but this one was excellent. I loved all the characters, how their inner complexities are unveiled progressively, how relatable they all feel. At seventeen, both MCs have already gone through a lot of drama yet are so sweet and full of life and plans for the future. The moms are very different but their ride-or-die friendship makes a lot of sense. Penny’s mom is hardened by the pain weighing her down and it makes her hard to love but it also makes her relatable, and I love the way the author wrote her relationships with both her daughter and her mother-in-law. The grandmother is awesome, but again, not in a too-good-to-be-true way. Same for the MCs’ best friends. This book is powerful. It is moving, it made me cry in so many spots. It mad Six Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) (hereafter, Six Times, because I’m not typing that out all over again) is a fun enough read, I suppose. Framed in the style of a x+1 fanfic, it leans into that vibe, particularly with the writing style. As such, and perhaps expectedly, I found myself getting frustrated.

I went into this book not knowing a whole lot, but being extremely excited for it. As a long-time fangirl – I appreciate the way the title is done. I added this book to my wish list the second I possibly could, and now that I have read it, I will be hyping this up as much as I can. I really wish I could share some quotes on this review because there are a ton of really thought-provoking ones. I could have highlighted the entire book, that's how well it was written. These girls were wonderfully messy, so great to read about and are very much now resting in a corner of my heart forevermore. I’ll be watching out for other novels by Tess Sharpe, and I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves emotional and well-written contemporary YA! The way that the trauma, and after-trauma, has been depicted in this book is so wonderfully done. My heart aches for both our main characters throughout so many parts of this book.Tate was there when Penny’s mom came to live with them and she knows just how bad it was. She knows how badly Penny’s mom still treats Penny. And she’s not afraid to call it out to Penny if for no other reason than to let Penny know that what going on isn’t okay. Since their moms are best friends, Tate has always been in Penny’s life but it’s only rather recently that Penny’s feelings for the other girl seem to have shifted from driving her crazy to wanting to kiss her. Both families have had more than their share of pain and grief and the moms have always been there for each other. So it’s not surprising that Penny’s mom would be willing to give part of her liver to Tate’s but the decision carries with it all sorts of contradictory feelings and life-changing arrangements for the two teenagers. Try being seventeen, grieving for the loss of your dad and the distance that put between your mom and you, processing almost kissing someone several times, all while having to live in the same house, across the hall, from the girl you’re obsessed with. It's just this confusing thing that keeps happening. You know, from time to time. For basically their entire teenaged existence.

Possibly the most powerful, original female character we've had in decades." —New York Journal of Books The two girls we get to know are Tate and Penny. They have never been friends but with them sharing living quarters, they decide to make a pact. They will get along. They won’t fight. And they’ll keep each other’s secrets to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. For the moms. Tess Sharpe’s newest book is 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did), a story of two queer girls who find themselves under the same roof when their moms (who are best friends) decide they all should move in together. Why? Because one mom is giving her liver to the other. But beyond all of that, the two girls are also dealing with their very real feelings for each other. Feelings they will never admit to one another. Well…until they do.This book was so refreshing. It's brave, bold, and honest. I loved the characters and the story was heartwarming and touching. Penny and Tate are both very full characters with rich histories and complicated relationships with each other, with their mothers, and with their circumstances. I loved watching them grow closer as they got to know each other better! Many thanks to NetGalley, Little and Brown Books for Young Readers, and Tess Sharpe for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 1.24!!** Times We Almost Kissed screams character. Dual POV and hopping a bit between timelines, Sharper creates immediately tension. Not only are we expecting the fireworks and chemistry, but we’re also expecting an explanation. A reason why they didn’t kiss. And what they’re still doing. It was impossible to stop reading because throughout, I kept wondering, is this the time? An arrestingly incisive narrative . . . fiercely captivating and impressively characterized, this tightly plotted thriller is engrossing from start to finish." —Booklist, starred review

I love a book that is character-driven and emotional and this was everything I could have wanted and more. Tate and Penny could not be more perfect together. As reluctant allies at first, then as friends, and then as something more. Their strengths and flaws complement each other brilliantly.

Sharpe’s prose throughout the novel is thoughtful and evocative. She writes alternating chapters from Penny and Tate’s point of views, and their voices are clearly differentiated. Tate’s distracted mind often inserts parenthetical asides. Penny’s voice oozes with her practicality and tendency to organize. Simple metaphors and similes are incredibly effective at revealing the girls’ emotions, especially about each other. Tate tells us: “I’m sitting here, hanging on her words like she’s a cliff I’ve slipped from.” Penny thinks, after Tate says “Penny”: My heart goes out to Penny and her bullet journal (the bujo is its own character for real). She is such a strong girl, and she went through so much in such a short time.

Penny, in particular, had my heart. Her storyline with her mom was a favorite for me. Because of the death of her father, her relationship with her mother has become fractured. I loved how Penny learns to stand up for herself and demand what she needs so that she can heal. TIMES WE ALMOST KISSED is a story about challenging family, falling in love, and finding your own path. Penny and Tate have a complicated relationship - they are not really friends, but since their mothers are best friends, as in give-your-organ-to-the-other friends, they have lived in each other's orbits, being there for a lot of things the other would rather forget. Penny's mother is giving Tate's mother some of her liver, a transplant desperately needed. However, the recovery time for both of them means funds will be tight, so they are moving in together. Oh, and before, I forget, because it bears mentioning. I also loved their friends, both grade A cinnamon rolls, so much. I love me a friend group. This one wasn't quite an ensemble but they left their mark nonetheless. But when Tate's mother needs a liver transplant, Penny's mom is all too ready to step in as a living donor. The second part of this plan, however, requires the two to move in together...which means Penny and Tate will now be living under one roof. Penny and Tate scramble to put together a pact based on their complicated history...and to try to prevent one more of 'those' moments...where they SOMEHOW almost kiss. Has fate shoved these two together, against their will and against all odds? Or will yet another tragedy drive these two apart...forever?What left me wanting more: I struggled a bit with the relationship and understanding why they were so resistant to it. This was not fully explained to the reader, particularly in the later parts of the book as it builds to something that did not fully make sense. It was then tough to follow the outcomes from that and really get what was happening next and why. I am leaving this vague to avoid spoilers, but considering the book is described around their relationship, I wanted it to have a powerful and understandable path/ending. Perhaps, if you read it without expectations around the kisses or almost-kisses, it makes a bit more sense. They've never talked about it. They've always ignored it in the aftermath. But now they're living across the hall from each other. It’s just this confusing thing that keeps happening. You know, from time to time. For basically their entire teenaged existence.