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Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
17 posts | 11 read | 7 to read
Dear (never-been-quite-over-you) Crush, It's been a few years since we were together, but I can't stop thinking about the time we almost... Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. Why stress about it? None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right? Enter Derick Haverford, Wren's #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater's new social media intern. Everyone claims he's coasting on cinematic good looks and his father's connections, but Wren has always known there's much more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn't feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren's world. Whatever. Wren's no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer...and maybe, finally, Wren's dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach. A feel-good summer LGBTQIA+ New Adult RomCom, perfect for fans of Red White & Royal Blue, Boyfriend Material, and What If It's Us.
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kera_11
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Wren just graduated with a film studies degree and is going to manage the drive in theater he worked at all through childhood. Enter childhood bestie/secret crush Derick, who is the social media manager for the same theater. Wren has never had a first kiss and at one point wanted it to be Derick. Wren is very immature but funny, and I think discusses being part of the ace spectrum in some way, pretty well. Quick read, cute, no major issues with it

1 like2 stack adds
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juleskr02
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky

“Love is the all-mighty inspiration…”

- Alice, Chapter 30, Page 270

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juleskr02
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky

“With only the stars as my witness, I kiss him again, deeper, and to my surprise, it doesn‘t feel like scratching an act off a list or completing a quest: it feels like coming home.”

- Wren, Chapter 21, Page 207

🥹🥹🥹!!!! 🥰🥰🥰!!!!!!!!! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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juleskr02
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky

“Chosen family or found family? I‘m not sure, maybe both, but either way I‘m happy to have them always.”

- Chapter 18

my favorite part of this book is indeed the friendships. mainly between the 3 bee gees, but also the whole friends-to-lovers plot as well as the friendships made between wren and alice, a retired and hermit movie director from the 70s. it‘s all so wonderful to see the vast range of support systems, all full of so much love!

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juleskr02
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky

“What if the world were a place where being queer didn‘t necessitate a crisis of conscience, as he put it, but rather was just accepted as part of the norm?”

- Wren, Chapter 11, Page 105

review
Mariasimon
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Pickpick

This story follows Wren, a recent film studies graduate, manager of a failing movie drive in, and has never been kissed. Enter previous love interest, Derick, new social media manager for aforementioned drive in. Cute gay rom com, some topics (family acceptance namely) was not handled the best IMO, but had many cute moments and an exciting ending.

kera_11 This has been on my maybe list for so long, was it worth a read? 2y
Mariasimon @kera_11 I thought it was overall a cute, fun book. I would recommend borrowing it from the library instead of buying it. At times it was a little immature and the main character (Wren) (I felt) had a hard time understanding his crushes (Deriks) problems with his family and/ or coming out. But it wasn‘t a major plot line so that was good. It does discuss the ACE spectrum in a good way and found family 2y
kera_11 Okay interesting, thanks! 2y
3 likes3 comments
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peanutnine
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Pickpick

This book was so much more than I expected! I thought it would be a silly love story about a boy who's never been kissed and his longtime crush, forced to work together again. It kinda was. But it really was an examination of queer identity, finding your place in your family (biological and found), figuring out your passion and fighting for it. There was decent communication between the characters and a lovely backdrop of a retro drive-in.

31 likes1 stack add1 comment
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peanutnine
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Sunday morning with my reading buddies. You know they're comfy when Ben melts into the blanket and Cam cinnamon-rolls up 😻
#catsoflitsy

Just_reading I love your reading buddies! 🥰🥰🥰 2y
peanutnine @Just_reading thanks! They're the best 🥰 2y
53 likes2 comments
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peanutnine
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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I've decided to jump in on the #roll100 challenge! I made three separate lists for each roll - one with physical books, one with ebooks, and one with audiobooks (yes, my TBR is that long 😅) Here are my books for August! I'm excited! Thanks for creating this fun challenge @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper Oh wow that's a lot of books! 2y
peanutnine @PuddleJumper I'll probably never get to them all but I have fun trying ☺️ 2y
33 likes2 comments
review
Julsmarshall
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Bailedbailed

I tried this both on #audio and in book form, and just not feeling it. Got it as part of a subscription service and New Adult is just a hard genre for me to get into. For the right person, this could be a pick, just not for me.

Nutmegnc I didn‘t love it. Very tedious. 2y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Clwojick
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Yay!!!! First time clearing my #BookSpinBingo board this year! @TheAromaofBooks

#bulletjournal

Ruthiella Well done! 👏👏👏 2y
PageShifter Nice ☺️ 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! Fabulous progress!!! I'm so delighted with the simplicity of your layout every time I see it. 2y
See All 6 Comments
Julsmarshall Woohoo! 2y
TheSpineView Wow! Great Job! 2y
72 likes6 comments
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Nutmegnc
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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#bookspinbingo Pride Month Edition 🌈🌈🌈 18, 19, 20 are wild cards for books I find throughout the month!! @TheAromaofBooks

Nutmegnc @BkClubCare found out a new trick with PicCollage. Sending you the video. 2y
BkClubCare You do realize that I spent all day doing bookish things and I have to go to work tomorrow and I am NOT doing anymore computer work the rest of the day. Dropping m phone and reading physical book (or watching TV) for next 20 hrs or so. 🤪😂🥰) 2y
Nutmegnc @BkClubCare Timing is my middle name! Enjoy!! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
37 likes4 comments
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peanutnine
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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The only reason I've kept my goodreads account was so I could enter giveaways. But I've never actually won any before! 🤯 Super excited right now

BookwormAHN Congratulations 🎉 3y
Aims42 Congrats!!! 3y
39 likes3 comments
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rachelsbrittain
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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A sweet romance i think will appeal to fans of The Charm Offensive about a 22-year old movie buff with a film degree who's never been kissed. I loved the dawning realization and acceptance of his demi-sexuality and how he and Derrick figure out their relationship dynamics. Also the drive in and exhumation of a lost, local horror flick! Great, fun read.

rachelsbrittain The drive-in stuff was also sadly relatable since I recently learned a local drive-in is apparently being re-zoned and demolished with is a real shame. And we don't have a Wren and Derick who barged in to save the day with that one. 3y
29 likes1 comment
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rachelsbrittain
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Loving this book so far 😍

43 likes1 stack add
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kissmehardy
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Pickpick

This was so cute! Wren and Derick's journey felt realistic and well-developed, but also romcom-perfect. And I loved Wren's discovery of his demisexuality! #romcom #contemporaryromance #whiteknightoftightshirts

8 likes1 stack add
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Sara_Planz
Never Been Kissed | Timothy Janovsky
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Pickpick

Finding yourself, queer identity, and falling in love are all themes in this book. Love the setting and the side plot of the drive-in along with the wonderfully fleshed out Alice. It gave me a bit of “To All the Boys I Loved Before” feels with the accidentally sent emails, however it was an enjoyable rom com mixed with the trials and tribulations of expectations after you graduate from college, the “what now” we all face.