Review: Kissing in America by Margo Rabb

            Date Read – March 27^th, 2015

            Publication Date – May 26^th, 2015 – HarperCollins       

          

Sixteen year old Eva is still reeling from her father’s sudden death. In her grief, she finds solace in romance novels, hoping that just like the characters in those novels she can find her own true love. Eva gets that chance when she meets Will, who knows all too well what grief feels like. Eva and Will begin a romance that seems to flow within the same direction as of the heroes and heroines of her collection of novels, even sharing a kiss. Of course there is a sudden twist in Eva’s story when Will leaves without warning to California. Together with her best friend Annie, they set out on a road trip to see Will again. Along the way, Eva will discover the many faces of love, coming to terms with her loses, and gaining many things in

            Kissing in America is very similar to Margo’s previous novel Cures for Heartbreak (I highly recommended it) which is also about a young girl who loses her mother. Mia and Sasha (The Cancer Guy) are one of my favorite YA couples. The details of the locations are well written, but at times the story slugged, as if the bus the girls were traveling had engine trouble. However the story picked up soon after. I understand grief and I found myself crying for Eva, an endearing heroine that readers will fall in love with.

            The cliché of it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey rings true for Kissing in America. A heartbreaking, hilarious and ultimately joyful novel that will resonate with lots of girls. It is a multifaceted story of the different kinds of love and will serve as comfort for those who grieve for the people they've lost.

  For more about Margo and her novels visit her website.


While reading Kissing in America, I couldn’t help but think about the song True Love by Coldplay. A haunting song of finding ones true love.