If I were on fire, sheād break out the marshmallows.
Itās not that we donāt like each other, more like hate with the fury of a thousand suns. But it wasnāt always that way.
I still remember how her lips tasted. How they felt pressed against mine. How I wanted more.
How I still crave her. Our disastrous night together ended with her storming out, me wondering if Iād ever be able to show my face on campus again and us as bitter enemies.
When a campus competition is announced to find the most in love couple, sheās the last person I thought Iād turn to for help. But the prize could change both our lives. An internship for her and a chance to finally connect with my father. Itās too hard to resist. Just like her heated glares and tempting curves.
To win, weāve got to prove to everyone weāre a couple. Head over heels, canāt keep our hands off each other in love. Fake the hell out of it for our chance at glory.
Maybe weāre a little too good at selling it to the whole campus because the lines havenāt just been blurred, they’ve gone up in flames.
Can I convince her I want us to be together for real and keep the prize? Or will I lose them both?
Title: | The Kiss List |
Author: | Maya Hughes |
Series: | St Francis U / STFU (Book 2) |
Pages: | 383 |
Genre(s): | Contemporary New Adult |
Trope(s): | Sports Romance (American Football) Enemies to Lovers Fake Relationship |
Point of View: | First person, past tense, dual viewpoints (H & h) |
Location: | Philadelphia, US |
HEA: | āļø |
Release Date: | 3rd March, 2022 |
Enemies to lovers was never so delicious
This is only the second book in the STFU series and yet I feel itās the book weāve all been waiting for. We first met Cole and Kennedy in the first book in the series, Kiss and Tell, and the Hate. Was. Palpable. I was there for it in that book and was here for it in this book, too. But donāt worry if youāre new to the series and this is your first book – it stands completely alone and everything you need to know is explained in this book.
We start off with the kind of enemies to lovers story that other books wish they were. Cole and Kennedy hate each other but we can immediately tell that thereās an undercurrent and the āwhyā is never quite clear. While theyāre still at odds with each other, thereās that delicious anticipation that makes the book come alive. I was almost vibrating in excitement while reading.
Then thereās a major shift in their relationship with the bargain and the start of their āfake relationshipā that feels anything but fake from the get go. It felt like we, as readers, could see everything clearly where Cole and Kennedy were too caught up in things to realise.
Kennedy is the kind of girl that you canāt help but love. Sheās feisty, sassy and has worked hard to be comfortable with her curves. She still has her hang-ups – especially when it comes to Cole and their history – but she was eminently likeable and easy to root for. Aside from with Cole, I loved her relationship with her sister and her all-round planner, in-charge, thrifty nature.
Cole may have his moments but ohmigosh he is the secret cinnamon roll hero of your dreams. I adored that man boy! It is clear that he adores Kennedy and really wants to be his best self for her. Heās also a little broken which, if you know me, youāll know is my absolute cat-nip for heroes. Iām a sucker for an emotionally damaged man. Sigh. But honestly, itās pretty upsetting to see Cole and to get to understand why he feels the way he does and why he acts the way he does. Heās not worried about getting emotional, though, which is definitely another plus in his column for me.
As a couple, I loved Cole and Kennedy. Sometimes I find that enemies to lovers stories lose a spark when the couple in question get together and although Kennedy and Cole definitely behave differently once they strike their bargain, you can still feel that electricity between them that you get when theyāre fighting. As always with Maya Hughesā books, thereās a good amount of heat and sex, but it felt appropriate for our couple, especially once you understand their history together. I liked it. I felt it. So I was happy.
We get to know the other guys from the STFU football team in this book, too, and I can see myself falling just as much in love with them as I did with the Fulton U guys and the Rittenhouse Prep guys. Thereās also more to hear from the odious Coach Mickelson and while there were revelations that I guessed in book 1, he was still able to fall in my estimations. Horrid man.
I really enjoyed Kiss and Tell but I adored this book even more and would say itās one of the top books Iāve read this year. If I wasnāt already, this book has got me hook, line and sinker into the world of St Francis University, the football team and their friends. I canāt wait to read the next book in the series (which is where the STFU and FU worlds collide! Squee!) and if youāre not already a fan of Maya Hughes, I promise you will be after reading this book. 5 very worthy stars.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review *
Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! š Iām a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.
Iām the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I canāt breathe and traveling with my family.
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