The Kissing Booth

May 13, 2013
British teen author Reekles's debut novel began life (and gained popularity) on the self-publishing Web site Wattpad, before being acquired for U.S. publication in a three-book deal that includes a planned sequel. The story revolves around 16-year-old Rochelle "Elle" Evans's conflicted relationship with Noah Flynn, the (self-described) "bad boy" older brother of her longtime best friend, Lee. In just one week, Elle goes from having her first kiss to losing her virginity to Noah (off camera), then keeps their affair secret from everyone, including Lee. Readers may be drawn in by the forbidden romance, but Elle comes across every bit as vulnerable and naïve as Noah likes to tell her she is. Despite an eventual and unrealistic transformation on Noah's part, their power-imbalanced relationship is more upsetting than alluring: Noah has warned guys to stay away from Elle for years to "protect" her, chastises her for dressing too provocatively, and regularly uses his charms to manipulate or distract her. A lightly developed supporting cast and a slow pace further undermine an effort that doesn't live up to its potential. Ages 14âup.

May 15, 2013
Sixteen and never-been-kissed Elle is unprepared for the fallout from her brief stint working in a kissing booth. When Noah turns up as her first and only customer at the carnival booth, their kiss is more than either could have predicted. Unfortunately, as her best friend Lee's older brother, Noah is off-limits. Elle's resolve to honor this quickly crumbles when Noah confesses his feelings for her. Determined not to hurt her friendship with Lee, Elle demands that their romance stay a secret. Naturally, their clandestine activity is soon discovered, resulting in hurt feelings all around. Furthermore, jealous, narcissistic and with a tendency toward violence, Noah is far from the perfect boyfriend that Elle envisioned. Cardboard characters, a predictable plot and painful dialogue are only a few of the problems plaguing this too-familiar story. While Elle and Noah's romance is sufficiently steamy, readers will grow tired of the couple's incessant bickering. Elle's girl-next-door persona is endearing, but her continuing naivete about Noah's true nature in the face of mounting evidence is implausible. The overlarge cast of secondary characters doing their best to populate a featureless setting is confusing. Initially presented on Wattpad and picked up with much hoopla by Random House, this unfortunate debut from a young author is in desperate need of a firmer editorial hand. Lacking in everything but length. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Elle and Lee have the perfect coed relationship: a best friend to shop with, stand up for you when others put you down, finish your sentences, and never ever-even for the slightest second-consider crossing the line between friendship and romance. Then Elle falls for Lee's older brother, and their friendship is put to the ultimate test. Kissing Booth is both predictable and deeply implausible. These kids have drunken parties, sleepovers at one another's houses without calling home, and sex within days of starting a relationship, and seem to wear the least amount of clothing possible at all times. Teens are likely to be turned off by this book as it paints them as irresponsible, unintelligent, and emotionally stunted on nearly every page. Simply put, today's young adults deserve a little more credit. The pacing of the novel leaves a lot to be desired, as there are several instances in which a plotline absorbs 30 to 40 pages of rising action only to fizzle in two to three anticlimactic pages. The poor writing and flawed characters can be forgiven, but the glorification of a controlling boyfriend as the ideal male is both insulting to women and a dangerous message to be sending girls.-Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2013
Grades 9-12 Elle, the classic girl next door, actually lives a 10-minute walk away from her best friend Lee's house. Together they plan a student councilsponsored kissing booth for the upcoming school fair. There's nothing romantic about her relationship with Lee, and it's just as well, because his older brother, Noah, is hot stuff. Everyone knows it, and try as Elle might to get Noah to participate in the booth, he refuses. Little does she know, he won't do it because the only kisses he wants to receive are from her. Seventeen-year-old debut author Reekles makes quick work of getting her couple together, and the rest is all blistering smooches and sneaking around. Some aspects of this romance are problematic. The heroine is fully aware of the hero's hotheaded nature, and regards his possessive-to-the-point-of-violent behavior (though never toward her, we are repeatedly assured) as a sexy quirk of his personality. However, this work is nothing if not a frilly flight of fancy, coated with the finest in cavity-inducing sugar. Pucker up. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Teenage author? Discovered among the self-published ranks? It's the kind of story the media drools over, which means sky-high awareness and a full-court press.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)