Kissing Max Holden Review

Synopsis of Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman

“Kissing Max Holden was a terrible idea…

After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn’t himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn’t know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn’t let him kiss her. But she can’t resist, and when they’re caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it’ll never happen again.

Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.

With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves, and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?”

Review:

4 Stars

Kissing Max Holden is the perfect book to read anytime of the year. It was fast paced, and it was very entertaining watching Max and Jill find the friendship they once had and watch it grow into something more. There is romance and relationships that are fixed and even broken. After reading this book you will left wanting more.

One of best things that happen in this book is the major improvement in Jill and Meredith’s relationship. I understand that not all relationships between stepchildren and stepparents are the best, but towards the end of the book Jill really needed an adult figure in her life after the thing that went down with her father.

Speaking of Jill’s father. I was rather proud of myself when I figured out what was happening before it was told because most of the time I miss the signs for these things. With that being said, I did get the person it was happening with wrong.

In this book there are several common YA tropes *there are some spoilers, proceed with caution*. Also let it be known that I do love a good trope, so by no means am I hating on these things.

1. The “Bad Boy” – not that it’s a bad one because let’s be honest, we all love the stories with the bad boy who’s misunderstood. TBH it’s one of the reasons I picked the book.

2. Love interest was once BFFs with the main character – when Max and Jill were children they use to do everything together until life happened and they just weren’t as close. However, they do have the same friends but the two were never as close. It’s sad to see friendships grow apart, but it’s life and we can’t control these things no matter how hard we try.

3. The main character isn’t fond of the stepparent – Jill has a stepmother, Meredith, and the relationship between the two isn’t the best. But, after Meredith goes into labor Jill is there with Meredith and they end up creating a better relationship.

4. The “Good Girl” rebelling – after Jill found out that her college savings account was gone, she starts to withdraw from her family and does the forbidden (according to her dad) and spends even more time with Max

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great YA contemporary with some real-life events happening. Going into this book I was just expecting a romance story about two high schoolers, but this book is so much more. In many ways it’s about going up from a young adult to adult, which some books don’t show in the main or supporting characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great YA contemporary with some real-life events happening. Going into this book I was just expecting a romance story about two high schoolers, but this book is so much more. In many ways it’s about going up from a young adult to adult, which some books don’t show in the main or supporting characters.

Happy reading until next time,