Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me

Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

This review is based on the Audiobook version of Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me. Written by Anna Martin and Narrated by Jesse Cota. It is a beautiful story spanning a lifetime of events, the kissing kind, of two best friends. The story has an interesting writing style. It is from the POV of one character recalling different times during his life that he was kissed by his best friend. The narrator did a good job conveying the story, but I found the telling to be a little monotone with little emotion. This could be because the story is basically the character, Evan, recalling the events that lead to the end of this story. The plot of this book is the retelling of events that happened between Evan King, a gay man, and his straight best friend, Scott Sparrow. Friends since they were six-years-old, these two men shared kisses that eventually put a strain on their friendship and causing a long separation. The wedding of Scott’s younger sister brings them back together, only to be separated again. These two characters have real chemistry together. Because of a misunderstanding, Evan and Scott chose paths that lead them away from each other. The pacing is good, but the reader should pay attention to the time of each kiss. The story does not follow in chronological order. This story does pull off a really good tense happy ever after bringing the main characters full circle. Very strong character development at least from Evan, but from Evan’s recollection we understand the character of Scott as well. This was a very good story, but I think I would have preferred reading it.

PLOT: 4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 5 Stars
PACING: 4 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5 Stars
NARRATION: 3 Stars

Review Copy of Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me provided by the Dreamspinner Press I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club

Just based on the blurb and some reviews of the writing style, I was a little nervous going into this audiobook. Happily, everything I was hesitant about worked. I’ve had this author chilling on my to-be-read list for a few months, but other releases keep bumping it down on the list. After listening to Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me, I’ll be making room at the top of my list sooner rather than later.

First things first, here we have proof what the right narrator can do for a good book. I really liked the voice, inflection, and pace with which Jesse Cota read. I liked it so much that I rushed to see what other books he had narrated and let out a disgruntled harrumph when I found this was his only audiobook. He had distinct voices for each character that weren’t overacted or distracting, but allowed me to easily distinguish whether Scott or Evan were talking. Best of all, the personality and tone he used matched the book’s causal pace. Just as the romance between Evan and Scott is slow to take hold, the way Mr. Cota read reflected that take-your-time quality. It made for a relaxing listen, yet I completely sunk into the story and found myself listening at every available opportunity. The story itself is very good, but this narrator undeniably enhanced my enjoyment.

The plot is constructed around 6 kisses between childhood best friends Evan and Scott. It’s narrated in third person but exclusively Evan’s point-of-view. Miss Martin employed a nonlinear timeline, and while that normally would throw me off, this was a circumstance where the author’s choice magnified the effect of the story. It was almost like the reader gets a glimpse of what is to come, but then is taken back to understand how all the emotions and eventual conflicts built between the two friends. Then we bump back into the present day and the resolution of their story. The time jumps were all clearly notated at the start of each chapter and I had no trouble following along.

Evan and Scott were both likable and well-developed. I liked that they had such different personalities, but always endeavored to understand and support one another. It felt like a natural bond even when there was tension, and the timeline jumps only served to underline this fact while giving the characters time to grow and mature as individuals. As is common with the slow burning, childhood friends to lovers romances, I found myself frustrated with each or both of them at times when they were especially clueless or showed their inexperience/age. However, I remained sympathetic with their conflicted reactions and emotions and thought they were well explained and developed throughout the novel. I really liked that the author took the time to explain Scott’s side. It gave me a full view of their story and added depth to the relationship. I honestly hadn’t even realized how much I’d connected with the story and characters until major plot points arose and my stomach would twist in response to the struggles they faced.

Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me really was a beautiful and compelling love story that included quite a bit of self-discovery. I loved the gentle, persistent rhythm present in all the different aspects of the book and will certainly be listening to the audiobook again. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers or slow burns, I highly recommend this title. If you are a fan of audiobooks, I highly recommend listening to this one. In my opinion, it’s a perfect fit between story and narrator.

*Reviewed audiobook for Alpha Book Club*

3.5 stars
First, can we PLEASE talk about the awesomeness that is this cover? And this title – Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me? I mean, come on, based on those two things alone this book is sure to grab your attention. (An aside … the cover/title are every bit as adorable as Anna Martin is in person! I was lucky enough to meet/see her in Las Vegas for RT and she’s all kinds of fabulous!) Mix an eye-catching cover, an attention grabbing title with lifelong best friends to lovers and whoa … I am SO all over that! I started smiling while reading Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me on the first page and didn’t really stop until the end, with maybe a few time-outs for a sniffle or two.
Let me start by saying I was absolutely enchanted with the way Anna Martin tells this story! It’s non-linear meaning it jumps around from date to date highlighting each of the five kisses Evan King and Scott Sparrow share. While some might find this a bit jarring, I had no trouble following along and staying connected to the story and the characters. And let’s talk about them, shall we? First, Evan. Artistic and slightly geeky, he really melted my heart. I loved his sensitive side, I loved his close relationship with his mom, and I REALLY enjoyed his soul-deep friendship with Scott (even when he felt like he had to hide how deep those feelings ran). The connection between Evan and Scott was never in question, even during their time apart. Scott was a bit different for me. While I positively adored him in the beginning with his devilish smile and cocky but still sweet attitude, toward the middle and the end, my feelings were a bit up and down. That’s not to say that I wasn’t satisfied when Evan and Scott FINALLY became the lovers they were meant to be, because I was, thoroughly, but he was a tad all over the place in his words and actions and this took a bit of his shine away.
From a romance stand point, I’m fairly certain that Evan and Scott will make you swoon all over the place. Evan’s love for Scott never wavered, even during their separation. The feels are strong in Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me. From Evan’s relationship with Scott’s sister, Lacey, to his super close bond with his mom, to his steadfast understanding of himself and who he wishes to be, Evan, for me, was just divine. Scott has his moments, especially in the beginning, when he’s this bright, shining beacon for Evan and then when they’re older and he puts his heart on the line and shows how much (and for how long) he’s loved and wanted Evan.
There were a few issues I had with the book. Inconsistencies, especially where Scott’s actions and attitudes are concerned. Also, I think a pretty big hole where the supposed big blow-out with Scott was to have occurred but is never really mentioned or explained. Scott’s attitude toward being bisexual was definitely on the contradicting side for me. And all the sex in the last 20% of the book … definitely not necessary as far as I’m concerned and to me, turned a sweet love story a bit on the smutty side and that’s disappointing to say the least. I also have to say, I got a lot more of the romantic, swoony feelings from Evan than I ever felt from Scott. I definitely didn’t connect with his character as much as Evan’s.
Aside from those few issues, Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me was sweet and lovely and left me feeling warm and happy. Read it, people, you won’t be sorry!
Reviewed by Erin for Diverse Reader