Someone to Kiss

by Jamie Anderson

[The Romantic Comedy Book Club]

Have you ever stumbled upon someone’s journal and gotten a peek into their secret thoughts, unfiltered perspective, and the true rawness of how life is viewed from their own eyes? That is exactly how it felt to read Someone to Kiss by Jamie Anderson.

From the very first page, you feel as if you are reading over Kate’s shoulders while she documents the events of her life. From her New Year's Eve rock bottom that leads to a declaration of change by "getting back out there" after a 10 year hiatus, we have a front row seat of what seems like a promising disaster waiting to unfold. Anderson doesn’t hold back as the laughs start right out the gate. Kate’s sarcastic remarks, dry humor, and anthropomorphic cat Mittens will keep a smile on your face. If you ever considered the world of online dating (or have already dabbled), this book is for you!

What I liked about the book: This is NOT your typical romantic comedy. It isn’t full of cute moments, lightheartedness, and Hallmark clichés. Anderson gets real (and a little dark) with Kate, Julie, and Ben’s story. Life is not easy and nothing is as it appears. Sure, we start with the first few chapters of upbeat humor and laughs but we quickly pump the breaks when we get a behind the scenes (and honestly very unexpected) view of what’s happening with Julie. I loved how Anderson did this because, like we constantly see in today’s society, what someone presents to us may simply be a mask hiding how they really feel. From Kate’s perspective, there was absolutely no way to know what Julie was experiencing so to get that brief check-in with Julie and also with Ben, allowed a wide view of the entire story - of what Kate thought was happening and what was actually taking place. When all of their stories can crashing together and Kate was let in on what the readers knew all along, it was an insanely powerful moment.

I LOVED how Anderson tackled difficult to discuss struggles (mental health, emotional/psychological abuse, depression, anxiety, victim's perspective, and life changing traumatic situations) and didn’t sugar coat them for the reader. She showcased how they impacted the person, those around them, and the strength of a support system (as well as the resistance to allow yourself to seek support, especially if you don't believe you deserve to heal). Her message throughout the book was putting your mental health first. She paired this important theme with the true to heart aphorisms: you shouldn't lose/sacrifice yourself for the sake of others and you can't truly and fully love someone else until you love (and accept) yourself.

What I am indifferent about but feel I should mention: Keeping up with dates was a little bit cumbersome with the book. When Ben decided to take his leave and time moved forward, I had to go back through the book to see when he finally said enough was enough to truly feel the impact of his absence.

What I appreciated about the book: I honestly appreciated how Anderson didn't just allude to Kate's dating past. The way Kate hinted at it and then to actually go back 10 and 15 years to see what happened first hand was like night and day! I remember reading her first relationship and just saying "Wow!" because it in no way matched how she casually remembered/described it.

What I didn’t like about the book: I thought Ben was a little too accepting of Kate being with Jesse one minute and him the next. I understand he had been in love with her for thirty years but to just gloss over the fact that she had called him that morning to tell him she had found someone and then was kissing him later the same day was a little off-putting.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started Someone to Kiss but I am still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster it took me on. Yes, you will laugh but you will also gasp, tear up, get angry, (like wanting to cause bodily harm type of anger), feel your heart strings be pulled, and just about every feeling in between.