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Fiction. Romance. Humor (Fiction.) LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML: Dear (never-been-quite-over-you) Crush, It's been a few years since we were together, but I can't stop thinking about the time we almost... Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. Why stress about it? None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right? Enter Derick Haverford, Wren's #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater's new social media intern. Everyone claims he's coasting on cinematic good looks and his father's connections, but Wren has always known there's much more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn't feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren's world. Whatever. Wren's no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer...and maybe, finally, Wren's dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach. A feel-good summer LGBTQIA+ New Adult RomCom, perfect for fans of Red White & Royal Blue, Boyfriend Material, and What If It's Us..… (more)
User reviews
Wren Roland is bemoaning the fact that he has never been kissed, but he doesn't want to settle. He thinks it should be romantic and
When Derick Haverford, his main crush, responds that he doesn't like him in that way, Wren is crushed.
Then, it is summer after college graduation, and Wren is working at the local drive-in as manager. Derick comes to work there as an intern. However, Derick hasn't told his family, including his father who won't be happy, and Derick thinks they should just be friends. Derick and Wren work together over the summer on the Alice project, an elderly women who needs help. Working together brings them closer.
This book was just not my cup of tea.
Thanks to NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC, all opinions are my own.
Wren is in his early 20s and is still waiting on his first kiss. He wants that kiss to be special and has had a few close encounters. In a weak moment, he sends out the emails that he kept in his drafts to the few people that came close to having a moment with him. Derick receives one of these emails and they end up reconnecting as a result.
My favorite parts of the book dealt with Wren’s special project of premiering a movie at the local drive-in that he works at as manager. The only obstacle is the movie’s creator, Alice. I really enjoyed Alice’s character and thought that the friendship she formed with Wren was very well done. I also thought that the way that Wren figured out so many things about himself in this book, including some important things about his sexuality.
I think that this is the first time that I have listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narration and I thought that he did a great job with this book. I liked the voices that he used for the characters and thought that he had a very pleasant voice. I would definitely listen to this narrator’s work again in the future.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that the story was well done even though I didn’t completely feel the chemistry between the characters. I hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca and borrowed a copy of the audiobook.
The title drew me in, but the story made me stay. "Never Been Kissed" is a thoroughly sweet romance that anyone who has struggled in finding a relationship or even getting a date can relate to. Janovsky's portrayal of young