🏳️‍🌈Rep: Greysexual Lesbian Mexican American MC, Curvy Bisexual Mexican-American LI, other LGBTQ+ and POC SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Influencer Culture, First Kiss, Sexuality Exploration, Messy Queer People, Found Family, Friends to Lovers, Bartender & Librarian, Friendships & Family

Kiss Me, Maybe delves into conversations on ace spec identity with openness and curiosity, reminding readers that there are many ways to be ace. Angela, after years of trying to cram herself into boxes other people wanted her to fit in, has come out as an asexual lesbian. Her journey of self discovery is one of the most beautiful parts of this story. Angela doesn’t have it all figured out. She knows she is not sex averse, but she struggles to find the micro label that best describes her specific kind of sexual identity, especially because there are only two women who have made her feel any kind of sexual attraction (and one is a famous actress). The other is her long time crush - the curvy, bisexual bartender at her favorite bar, Krystal, who is going through a process of her own in learning how to not force herself into boxes others created for her. 

The chemistry between Angela and Krystal is obvious from their first on-page interaction, but they seem to spend more time running from it than embracing it. Even though it’s sizzling every time they decide to explore it. Most of their interactions revolve around this scavenger idea Angela cooked up as a way to use her newly (and accidentally) acquired influencer status to maybe get her first kiss, when it is clear as day that the only person Angela really wants to kiss is Krystal. 

This book is unapologetically messy. Both Angela and Krystal have so many things they are working through from their pasts that have prevented them from being able to embrace their fullest and truest selves and feel worthy of love and affection. And while it is incredibly frustrating at times during the story when they keep fighting it and pushing each other away…I get it. Because I’ve been that messy queer person, too burdened by my past to see what’s right in front of me and believe I’m worthy of it. (I still am some days!)

I will say that, while this is an adult book with very (sexy!) adult content, it reads a lot more like a YA book. But part of me also wonders if that was intentional because throughout most of the book, both Angela and Krystal are very much defined by these younger versions of themselves and seem trapped by their pasts.

There is so much to unpack with this book and Gabrielle delved into A LOT in this story - sexual identity exploration, the toxic side of influencer culture, family relationship dynamics, asexuality and micro labels, trauma and healing, breaking out of the boxes others put you in, forgiveness, friendship.This story is about discovering who you are as a person and claiming that, no matter what other people might say or do to try to belittle you, erase you, or redefine you on their terms. And then finding the people who embrace the person you know yourself to be, messy parts and all, who you want beside you on this wild journey we call life.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and Forever.