I have mixed feelings about this book. It was okay, in my opinion. I would have enjoyed it more if a few things were different.
One, the language. I just didn't always appreciate the way the characters spoke. The cursing was a fair constant, and Jesus was a go-to word. Also, one of the people stranded was supposed to be this super religious, uptight, sort of Jesus freak if you will. It depicted Christians in a bad light, and yeah, some of us are like that. I guess I just hate how the characters, at least, seemed to sum this is up as all Christians and write off anything to do with God.
All the celebrities are pretty much your over privileged, selfish, stereotypical expectation. Don't expect much more from them.
And the romance? Come on. No, no, no.
Still, I was invested in the book. I wanted to know how they got along on the island. I wanted to watch a relationship unfold, or a love triangle, or something. There were plot twists aplenty. Sloane Tanen did do a good job of stringing people along with the prospect of the main character ending up with one of the guys. While there wasn't much depth to the celebrities, it was nice when the group started bonding and actually acknowledge our main character was alive.
Overall, this book was pretty enjoyable. It wasn't my favorite, but Sloane concocted a pretty good story line. You'll probably love it if you're into reality TV shows, because I expected them to stumble on some cameras at any minute. ( )

Very funny! ( )

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: I liked the concept of this book, celebrities in a Survivor-like situation, due to a plane crash. And I actually really enjoyed that each of the celebrities was a cliched stereotype easily compared to different real life celebrities.

What disappointed me: Francesca was utterly unlikeable. She was naive, boy-crazy and inconsistent in both thought and action. It was completely unbelievable that she would win this contest with an essay that contained lies that would have been checked up on. The entire situation surrounding the eventual rescue of the crash survivors was ludicrous and took away from the realism the character's growth created.

Recommended: Not especially. There are better books with similar themes and circumstances. Skip this and read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. ( )

If you’ve been looking for the perfect, adorable, funny, smart YA beach read, I’ve found it for you. You can thank me later. In the mean time, I hope you’ll go take a peek at Sloane Tanen‘s YA debut, ARE YOU GOING TO KISS ME NOW?. It’s fun, fast-paced, and rife with wit, and I just know you’ll love it!

ARE YOU GOING TO KISS ME NOW? is the story of 17-year-old Francesca, who, after finding out her Dad is not only shacking up with his new, younger, yoga-loving girlfriend, but that he’s gotten her pregnant. In a particularly weak moment, she writes an essay for a Seventeen magazine contest, in which she discusses the horrors of losing her dad. As in, having a dead dad. As in, Francesca has just written something completely crazy and narcissistic and evil, but, whatever, it’s not like her essay is ever going to be read by anyone. Of course, when she gets the call that she’s actually won the essay contest, and will soon be flown to Madagascar to work with some celebrities to promote literacy, it’s kind of a mixed bag. Francesca sort of wants to just tell the truth to Seventeen. Sure, she’ll be giving up the college scholarship part of the prize — a part she kind of needs — but she’ll also be giving up being published in the magazine. Because, you know, Francesca would rather not have the world — or her dad — find out that she lied in the most karmically horrible way to win a contest. Really, it was just a literary purge. Then again, Francesca can’t resist the chance to hang out with celebrities. She doesn’t even know who’s going to be on the trip, but here’s the thing: Francesca has a secret addiction.

She’s not addicted to drugs or shopping or anything like that. She’s addicted to tabloids. PerezHilton.com. Celebrity gossip of any kind. She knows who’s pregnant and who’s breaking up and who’s had botched surgery. And she’d give anything to be up close and personal with celebs, and to write an article about them for Seventeen (another part of the prize — she’ll be recording everything from the trip for the magazine). So Francesca keeps her mouth shut. And before she knows it, she’s off to hang with the people she thought she’d only ever read about in the grocery store checkout.

Of course, meeting the rich and famous never goes the way you think it will. And in Francesca’s case, it probably couldn’t go worse. In a misshap, seasoned actor/liscenced pilot Joe Baronstein lands on the wrong island, overshoots the runway, and crashes their plane in the middle of nowhere. Now she’s stuck on a deserted island with Cisco Parker (Hollywood’s up-and-coming do-gooder and celebrated action hero), Milan Amberson (everyone’s favorite tabloid trainwreck), Eve Larkin (starlet-turned-maybe-arsonist desperately trying to stay out of US Weekly), Chaz Richards (snarky celebrity blogger), and Joe’s estranged son, Jonah Baron (Christian rocker and teen idol). Survival seems impossible with this motley crew, and while every second on the island seems one second closer to Francesca’s ultimate demise, she’s busy snarkily texting the deets to her BFF Jordan (well, pretending to, anyway…it’s not like she has service) in hopes that if she ever gets out of there she’ll have material for her article. And, uh, also just to maintain some semblance of sanity.

With epic sass and brilliant voice, ARE YOU GOING TO KISS ME NOW? is a sure hit for romcom fans. It’s like LORD OF THE FLIES meets GEORGIA NICOLSON meets US Weekly. How could this not be a fun read? ( )

Are You Going To Kiss Me Now? is an enjoyable, lighthearted read.

Sixteen year old Francesca Manning wins an essay contest for Seventeen magazine (never mind the non-fiction piece she wrote is fraudulent.) Her prize is the opportunity of a lifetime--traveling to Africa on a humanitarian mission with five celebrities. Sounds exciting, eh? Not so fast. These celebrities are over-the-top, self-absorbed, pampered, complaining beasts.

Francesca finds out soon enough, the ‘prize’ is more like a punishment when a mishap leaves them marooned on an island - in the middle of 'who-knows-where'. The display of non-existent survival skills, and Francesca’s interactions with the fumbling, ego-inflated celebrities are downright hilarious. Insecurities, mistakes, sensitivities, and secrets are revealed.

I recommend this book to anyone needing a light read and several laughs. Although the recommendation on the back of the book is for 12+, be forewarned there are curse words and sexual situations and terms throughout.

I give this story five stars. It gave me lots of smiles and giggles—just what I needed. ( )