The ABC's of Kissing Boys

This book was like eating chocolate (or something sugary and yummy). I felt kind of bad reading it, because it's so silly, but I loved everything about it. From the ridiculous plot to the predictable romance to the surprisingly strong main character. This was recommended to me after I realized I'd forgotten to bring another book from home and it took me just about an hour to read it. It's super quick, hilarious (I was laughing out loud) and so cute and sweet that I must have gotten at least 12 cavities while reading it. This is light, fluffy, and truly adorable. A+

The ABC's of Kissing Boys is a cute book worth of multiple squeals! It's a great mixture of flirting, romance, and learning who you really are.

Parker's "faux-mance" with the younger Tristian stars innocently enough. He knows how to kiss and she needs his skills to pull off a stunt to get back onto the varsity soccer team. Soon enough the line between business and actual romance starts to blur and Parker finds out that maybe she's enjoying her time with Tristian a bit more than she had expected. And holy crap it's too cute for words! Their back and forth banter and warring fathers is great. It's never boring and always entertaining!

Parker's pack of three friends headed by Chrissandra decide to cut her loose so she can bond with her new show more team or so they say. But really they don't think she is good enough for them anymore, at first Parker goes along with their taunts and jokes but soon enough realizes they aren't real friends and ends up reconnecting with a friend from her past. I was so glad that Parker didn't allow these so-called friends of hers to get the best of her and ended up finding a real friend. It's actually something I could relate to and I'm glad that she ended up making the same decision as me (we are both for the better!)

This is a very enjoyable book that is fun and romantic but also deals with some of the issues kids face in school. This book will surely put you in a great mood! show less

You know why I love reading Ferraro’s novels..? Because when I’m finished I always feel all warm and gooey inside! While I thought this novel was just too cute and fun it also has some depth. Parker not only loses her spot on the soccer field, but also personally, her spot among her “friends.” Ferraro expertly captures the essence of an ostracized teen! And I’m glad that Parker was able to experience what true friendship meant, even though it wasn’t from the people she wished it had been. What you want is always necessarily what you need, right?The whole kissing aspect was hilarious and yet ingenious! I find myself wondering where this summer camp was when I was a teen! I don’t think I’m an expert kisser or anything, but show more I thought I knew a thing or two, until this novel opened my eyes to the wild world of kissing. I didn’t even know what half of these kisses were. Caterpillar kiss, steam kiss... I mean who came up with this stuff! They are no ordinary kisses! I’ll tell you that much.If your looking for a fun, fast, feel good novel... just think Ferraro! show less

This book was surprisingly good. I read it for the Peel Fiction Review Committee, but didn't expect much. The title really turned me off because I though it was just going to be about someone who wanted to learn all about kissing. Which is a bit about what it was about, except the motivation behind WHY the character needs to learn how to kiss was what made the book interesting. The main character, Parker, does not make the varsity soccer team, even thought she really strongly believes she should have made it. All of her JV teammates make it, but she has to stay back and play on the JV team. There is a big sports fair coming up, and the varsity team is running a kissing booth. The coach who raises the most money at their booth gets a show more choice parking spot for the rest of the year. Parker has this great plan; her brother's friend Luke, a college hottie, is going to show up with a TON of money, and insist that he wants to kiss Parker. The coach is going to put Parker on the varsity team for a few moments, and later, Parker is going to use that to convince her that she should be there all the time. However... Luke tells her the kiss has to look convincing, so she starts looking around to try to find someone who can help her practice. She settles on a freshman who lives beside her, named Tristan. She doesn't anticipate that she will actually develop feelings for him. Meanwhile, there are some great lessons learned about old friends who are ditched when better friends come along, and who is really a friend, etc. I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. show less

Both Cute And Sad

The ABC’s of Kissing Boys
By Tina Ferraro
Pub. Date: January 2009
4 out of 5 stars
PG- Graphic Kissing or you could call it “some serious spit swapping”
Recommended

Parker is crushed when she is forced to stay in JV soccer. As a Junior, there is nothing more embarrassing. Well, maybe being dumped by your popular friends and treated like dirt is worse. With the help of her brother, she hatches the slyest, most public plan to gain a spot on Varsity and get her old life back. It all hinges on one simple thing, a kiss. Only problem… Parker doesn’t have the kissing knowledge needed. Starbursts and cherries bring her and the Freshman Murphy kid from next door together. Her new kissing instructor grows closer to her, and show more deep down she sadly knows it could never work. But she can’t help but grow fonder and fonder of his calm voice and enchanting blue eyes. His lessons were suppose to be her ticket back to the good life, but will they rather be her downfall?

The ABC’s of Kissing Boys was both cute and sad. The plot is deceivingly straightforward. Underneath it though are intricate high school politics that depend on variable emotions.

The story’s plausibility made it amazingly real. The emotional roller coasters, gossip speed, hidden politics, sly insults, repentance and forgiveness, the putting off of decision making, and the ongoing internal struggle to do what is right were all present and credible in the different characters. I felt like I should know them from somewhere. This realness effectively had me going through the same emotions as Parker and I grew very attached to her.

The kissing scenes between Parker and Tristan were very intimate and silly though it was, I always blushed and did a quick sweep of the room. Their vulnerability and closeness gave me a slightly guilty feeling for “seeing” it, but I never felt dirty while reading.

The ABC’s of Kissing Boys would be a great filler for in between books or great for car travel. This book will delight both tweens and teens.

Date Reviewed: April 19th, 2009

For more book reviews and book information check out my blog at www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com show less

During finals, I needed a fast, light, cute read to take my mind of them. And this book sure did help.

What I like about Tina Ferraro is that she writes these funny, fast, light stories with realistic characters that have real problems.

I liked how every chapter had a type of kiss—alphabetically—as the title of each chapter. It was really interesting; it had some kisses that I’ve never heard of, makes me want to try out some of them. ;)

The ABC’s of Kissing Boys wasn’t just a cutesy novel, it was also about finding who your true friends are, discovering yourself, and learning to give others a chance. That is why I immensely enjoyed it.

Parker was a relatable character. I know how it’s like to have your friends nearby yet so far show more away, like Parker does. Her determination to get on the varsity team was well added and made her more engaging.

The rest of the characters were really good, though I did feel that some of them should have been better developed.

I liked the whole forbidden love thing, seeing as how Parker is a junior and Tristan being a freshman. That can be looked down on (it’s like that in my school) so I understood that. I did feel that the love part happened a bit too fast though.

The book did give off a little bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe, seeing as how Parker’s dad and Tristan’s dad didn’t like each other and the small feud that they had that didn’t allow Parker and Tristan to socialize much. So that’s why I got the whole Romeo and Juliet vibe. I didn’t guess who started the feud until the culprit was almost revealed; it was a bit surprising though.

Overall, ABC’s was a fast-paced, cutesy, engaging book with a great main character and a wonderful plot line. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a romance book with humor, cutesiness and great characters.

Carol
www.bookluver-carol.blogspot.com show less

I really really really liked the cover - utterly and undeniably quite luscious! I will admit that I did not expect much from this book except light and fluffy, and in that regards, it did not disappoint.

I had been looking forward to the actual ABCs that open up each chapter. For some reason, I had expected each letter to describe some new form of kissing. While some of them did - is it just me who is a little freaked out by the Butterfly Kiss?! - others stood for reactions and advice when it comes to kissing. Call me a little weird, but I was hoping to learn some new kissing moves? :D

Overall, a pretty light high school romp. No major life-changing stories here. Definitely some kissing, but not enough for me apparently!