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dermkat 's review for:

Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez

I have been looking forward to this book ever since it was teased in the first one because as much as I loved the first one (and I did), I knew after hearing just a bit of Angela's story that it would mean a lot to me. She's been figuring out her identity the last few years and knows she's somewhere on the ace spectrum, and she's lonely. She is in her late twenties, never been kissed, never really dated or done anything, and she wants all of that; sex, maybe or maybe not, she isn't sure yet. She's gone viral on tiktok and decides to do a scavenger hunt where the winner will be her first kiss, and the girl she's crushed on forever decides to help her plan it. Krystal is the bartender at Angela's regular hangout spot, and they've been flirty the last five years but as they get to know each other more she learns that Krystal won't ever want a relationship. The closer they get, the more Angela learns about herself and her sexual desires (she very rarely experiences sexual attraction but is sex favorable and open to the idea), the more she wants to kiss Krystal. But she has her followers and herself to think of since she wants to find love and the woman she finds herself falling for doesn't believe in love. 
I really loved this book. It has such a great exploration of different identities and microlabels ace-spec people can have, and I think it does so well acknowledging comphet and how people can go a long time explaining things away because of how they're "supposed to be" before realizing they are queer, ace included. 
I am so glad I got to read an arc of this book (out may 6/25) so that I could share this review in time for release day. So thank you to @forever for the arc, @lenikaufmann for quite possibly the most gorgeous cover, and @gabriellagamez for this beautiful story. Also, I'm excited for what I hope will be the next one based on what was teased at the end!
•fat rep (plus-size love interest)
•BIPOC rep (main character and love interest are Latina, as well as other prominent side characters)
•queer rep (ace-spec, lesbian, bisexual)