To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before gets an achingly sweet queer twist in Never Been Kissed. Wren Roland has never been kissed but he wants his epic film-worthy smooch more than anything. Nostalgic—and slightly drunk—on the eve of his birthday, Wren decides to send out emails to all the boys he loved before he came out. When morning comes around and responses flutter in, Wren can’t help but panic. Especially when one of the responses is from none other than Derick Haverford, Wren’s #1 pre-coming-out-crush, who just happens to also be hired as the drive-in theatre’s new social media intern, where Wren has worked countless summers at. As circumstances bring them together and their hazy summer becomes consumed by a special project that might just save the struggling drive-in, Wren might get that perfect movie kiss after all.
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…I can’t be the only one who’s got that song stuck in their head after reading Never Been Kissed, right? I am? Fine, moving on.
Never Been Kissed has all the elements that are sure to make it a raging success with fans of The Charm Offensive and Red, White and Royal Blue: a relatable, genuinely sweet protagonist you can’t help but want to wrap up in a blanket and protect from the world, a group of friends willing to go to the ends of the world with you, a common cause you’d want to take up yourself, a special project that makes you rethink your entire life goals and a romance that will melt your heart faster than ice cream in the hot summer sun.
While I admit that I had a bit of trouble getting into the book in the first few chapters of exposition work, once the story got going, I was immersed in Wren‘s world. And much of that can be attributed to Janovsky’s writing style. There’s a cinematic feel to the way the author writes about Wren’s summer that I couldn’t help but be drawn to.
The cast of characters ranges from goofy friends to crotchety (but extremely lovable) celebrities and supportive employers—everyone has their purpose in their story, yes, but they’re also fleshed out enough that you’re probably going to want to snatch up Wren’s group of friends as your own backup in a fight. And of course, we have Wren and Derick who end up getting their second chance at love in the sweetest way. Again, it’s hard to not spoil anything but let me just say that both Derick and Wren go through personal struggles throughout the story but the way these struggles not only…complement each other but bring out the best (and, granted, worst) in both of them was like watching a tennis match where you don’t know who you’re rooting for —that is, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the pages. Watching Wren and Derick deal with their own emotional baggage but then coming together and rallying for each other was downright charming. There are ups and downs, secrets and misunderstandings but in the end, these two make for an utterly entrancing summer rom-com couple.
To no one’s surprise, my favourite part of Never Been Kissed was the journey Wren goes on in terms of his sexuality. As someone on the ace spectrum, I can’t put into words how validating it feels to encounter an adult romance novel following a character who is very much a hopeless romantic—and on the ace spectrum. Wren questions where he lands on the spectrum himself, initially struggling with reconciling being demisexual with his overall obsession with romance (both in movies and in real life) and while I can only speak from my own experience, I can say that having a character like Wren felt like finding a friend in an unexpected place. Without taking too much away from the story, I just think that it was beautiful to see someone who’s so secure in parts of their identity—Wren is very confident that he is gay—questioning other parts of it. And I think readers will be drawn to the raw honesty and vulnerability that Wren projects.
For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I can’t really talk about the overarching project that Wren and Derick pursue to save the drive-in movie theatre but that storyline is so epic. We get to see people rallying together to save one of the most nostalgic and loved institutions in their city and as plot twists and unexpected turns drive the story (and Wren and Derick’s relationship), you can’t help but pray that the drive-in will be saved and that the ones who work their butts off to make it happen get their happily ever after as well.
Honestly, there are so many things I could mention—the relatability of following Wren who’s frightened of what the future holds after graduating university, the passion for films that drive the narrative, the insightful discussion on gatekeeping queer actors in film history, the way Derick tries to make others see that there’s more to him than meets the eye, the impact a place like a movie drive-in can have on a community—but really, the only thing you have to know is that this book will make you feel all the feels and that alone is enough reason to make Never Been Kissed the romcom you won’t pass up this summer.
A tender portrayal of questioning your queer identity and fighting for your safe place, Never Been Kissed is a charming, cinematic second-chance summer rom-com, perfect for anyone who’s feeling nostalgic for those late summer nights at the local drive-in theatre.
Never Been Kissed is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 3rd 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
