A Stiff Kiss

Jun 10, 2013 Alyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

***Review posted at The Eater of Books! blog***

A Stiff Kiss by Avery Olive
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Publication Date: February 12, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Won a copy from the author

(old review - originally posted on September 26, 2012)

This book really stuck with me after I finished it. I won an e-copy and print copy of this book from Ms. Olive, and read it through in one sitting. Ms. Olive floored me with her interesting and strange story of life and death.

Summary (from Goodreads):

Who kn...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Katrina Tinnon marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read, and not too heavy.

Xylia is morbid, and looks the part. She's pale, her clothes are mostly black, and she likes hanging out in odd places. Landon is the complete opposite. He's preppy and outgoing. These two characters seem bratty and shallow when you first meet them, but when the layers are pulled back there is much more to them. Xylia can't seem to get over her mother's death and blames herself. Landon doesn't know who he is without soccer. While...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2013

I thought this was a good book. It definitely was not what I was expecting when I started reading it. The book was a bit different then most books I have read. It was about life, death and afterlife and was written in a way that the POV from each character was easy to relate too.
Xylia is a Senior in high school, she knows about death, her dad is a doctor. She works at the hospital reading and visiting and playing cards or games with the seniors that are on the geriatrics floor. Everyone thinks...more

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May 21, 2012 Pamela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rating 4.5

Xylia Morana has had a crush on Landon Phoenix for awhile now, but he doesn't really even know who she is. During a championship soccer game with which Landon was playing in, in the hopes of attracting the attention of scouts, Landon collapses. Dr. Morana, Xylia's father, is called to the field, and he asks Xylia to help him administer CPR. Despite all their efforts, Landon is pronounced dead on the way to the hospital. Having wished that she'd spoken to Landon when he was alive, Xylia...more Rating 4.5

Xylia Morana has had a crush on Landon Phoenix for awhile now, but he doesn't really even know who she is. During a championship soccer game with which Landon was playing in, in the hopes of attracting the attention of scouts, Landon collapses. Dr. Morana, Xylia's father, is called to the field, and he asks Xylia to help him administer CPR. Despite all their efforts, Landon is pronounced dead on the way to the hospital. Having wished that she'd spoken to Landon when he was alive, Xylia decides to visit him in the morgue so that she can say goodbye. When she places a single kiss on his lips, he awakens ... some 2 1/2 hours after he died.

Dr. Morana tells Xylia not to speak about what happened because it could look bad for the hospital as well as himself. And Landon has been having dreams, since reawakening, of a girl with black hair and green eyes that are haunting him, and he doesn't realize that it's Xylia at first even though he now feels drawn to her. He knows that she knows something about what happened to him, but she's not talking.

This book was very different from the romances that I'm used to reading. You might think that since Xylia secretly had a crush on Landon and was, in a way, given a second chance to make her feelings for him known, she'd take it, but she doesn't. She tries so very hard to push him away even if that means being rude to him. So it takes a great deal of work on both their parts to finally let their feelings be known.

I found myself glued to the book, worrying whether or not they will ever be allowed to be together since there are those who are still after Landon's life to help put the world back in balance. Not to mention, Xylia herself keeps pushing Landon away when all she really wanted to do was pull him close.

I couldn't help finding myself irritated by the way that Xylia kept defying her father. He's all she has left, since the death of her mother when she was twelve, and she's all he has left. He worries about her. I understand that she had her reasons and that it could just be considered teenage rebellion, but I felt bad for Dr. Morana. They have such a close relationship, and Xylia hates to hurt her father, but that's exactly what she does to him by defying him. Despite that I thought the story was great! I love when a book can make me feel even if that means it makes me laugh, cry, worry, or even become irritated with a character. A Stiff Kiss did that. I can definitely see myself reading this book again, and I'm certainly curious as to what other stories Avery Olive comes up with in the future!

** I received a copy of A Stiff Kiss for review as part of the Knights of the Round Table group on Goodreads.**(less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well I personally think that the summary gives a little too much away about the story, it really does sum up the book perfectly.
One thing that appealed to me while reading the story is how morbid Xylia is when it comes to death. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing gross in the story, she's just borderline obsessive about death. This extends to the fact that the loss of her mother hasn't fully set in yet. I know that a loss of a loved one never really, truly is something that you ever get ov...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Mindy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dream-reader-dreamer2229-blo

I loved the play on the breathe of life idea. And no, I’m not clarifying that any further. You will have to read the book to figure it out. And I highly recommend reading this book. It is a sweet love story with a fun twist. I love the odd girl getting the popular guy and him totally getting her… even when he doesn’t. Again, read the book to understand. I mean how many guys do you know who would willingly sleep in an open grave for a girl?

And I agree with Avery, awesome cover. Great job on tha...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Stephanier76 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: english, other-creatures, young-adult

http://freak-ya-tastic.blogspot.fr/20...

This novel is a stand alone book I received from the author. So, thank you Avery Olive.

When I read the blurb, I knew this book was for me. Don't ask me why, but I love YA books with a plot more or less centered on death. Humor or drama doesn't matter, but I like to read about young characters dealing with this thing that is common with everyone but we all see things differently.

So, don't think this book is overly dramatic, sad or creepy. No. It's about mys...more http://freak-ya-tastic.blogspot.fr/20...

This novel is a stand alone book I received from the author. So, thank you Avery Olive.

When I read the blurb, I knew this book was for me. Don't ask me why, but I love YA books with a plot more or less centered on death. Humor or drama doesn't matter, but I like to read about young characters dealing with this thing that is common with everyone but we all see things differently.

So, don't think this book is overly dramatic, sad or creepy. No. It's about mysteries because I was always wondering what really happened to Landon, it's about a growing love and about grief. But, you'll have your share of smile and even maybe you'll laugh.

Nevertheless, the main characters moved me, both for different reasons that somehow is not all about their new love interest in each other. They're cute, and Xylia is easily do understand even if her behavior is nothing you're accustomed to. I love her story told in a sweet and broken voice that sounds believeable.

Also, even if the very beginning made me a little worry for the story - I wasn't sure to like it - I fell for this story quite fast. The mysteries are well kept but are not streching either. These mysteries helped the characters to discover each other and us, the readers, to understand them and feel some empathy. The simple voice of this story, and yet so perfect for Landon and Xylia, conveys perfectly this story not only distracting but also moving and interesting.

But, I would have loved to see the resolution of the mysteries a little more... Not detailed because it's all the point to keep some things in the dark, but maybe less expeditive.

In another hand, I loved these last chapters. I mean, when I read this precise chapter, I swear my heart pounds louder for a few seconds. You can imagine how I dwelved in the story and how I felt for the characters.

So, I recommend this book if you want a different young-adult novel, with a story told from alternate point of view, with believeable characters, if you want to read a cute story with feelings that are not only about romance and if you're willing to take a risk. This book deserves to be read.
Oh, and I love the cover. Really accurate! (less)

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May 18, 2012 Proserpine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An incredible and refreshing story! I couldn't take my eyes of this book and I was pleasantly surprised by his subject: death. The subject can seem unusual, but the author has managed to write down a story about love that comes from the world largest and inevitable fatality.

First, who ever thought about kissing a dead person? Even I, who work in a funeral home, has never thought of that! Why this question? Because, A Stiff Kiss is, of course, based on the last kiss a girl could give to a death g...more
An incredible and refreshing story! I couldn't take my eyes of this book and I was pleasantly surprised by his subject: death. The subject can seem unusual, but the author has managed to write down a story about love that comes from the world largest and inevitable fatality.

First, who ever thought about kissing a dead person? Even I, who work in a funeral home, has never thought of that! Why this question? Because, A Stiff Kiss is, of course, based on the last kiss a girl could give to a death guy. Indeed, Xylia decide to visit Landon (her secret crush), in the morgue. Landon, having recently died in her arms on the soccer field a few hours before, was transported into the hospital's morgue. Xylia can't help but give him one last kiss and suddenly, Landon opens his eyes: he's alive!

Just the summary gives me chills down my spine! I was immediately attracted to this book and I haven't been disappointed with it's content! Author: Olive Avery, could easily fall into a ''Cliché'' book, but it's very down to earth with a hint of supernatural! Just enough to caught up my curiousity!

Xylia is a rather quiet girl who's engage in bizarre activities: she prefers to spend her days at strangers funerals and visit old or soon to die people. She doesn't seem to have close friends excepting the people she's visiting. I give my weirdo kinda girl for Xylia (what a beautiful name BTW). She has a very difficult past and that seems to weigh much heavier on her shoulders. I have to admit that I had a few tears for what she've been through! So I give my mermaid tears for this one! Xylia has a natural beauty and that might sounds weird but she's full of liveliness.

Landon is the popular guy in school, he is a soccer player, he is sexy and every girl would love to be his girlfriend! The author does not put emphasis on the past or the history of Landon. We learn some interesting facts while reading the book, but nothing too personal. On the surface, he seems to be the perfect guy, with the perfect life, but the reader will find a deeper character. I give Landon my cotton candy guy!

I liked the interactions between Xylia and his father, it seems very present in his life and very concerned about the health of his daughter, excepting the last paragraphs (which surprised me greatly).

This story puts some perspective on death, a topic rather taboo. I liked the fact that when I put the book down, I thought back to my beliefs. When a book stick up into your mind and you think about it later: reflecting on a subject rather difficult, as death, is that the author has managed to make his story more than entertaining, it becomes important. I have sometimes been taken over by the actions of the characters and the adventures they have experienced! Fabulous! Reading this book was entertaining from the beginning to the very end!

I would recommend this book to any YA lovers! I find the story quite interesting and the romance is beautiful!(less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Katie O'sullivan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

This book surprised me in so many ways! I admit, I put off reading it because the title and cover just didn’t grab me. I’m not sure what I was expecting – maybe a zombie relationship kind of thing? But it’s not – it’s more of a modern fairy tale. And I loved every minute of it.

The chapters are narrated in first person, and alternate between the two main characters. When we first meet Xylia Morana, she seems like your typical goth teen, dressed in black with an attitude to match. As the book grac...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Mary Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

How morbid can you get when it comes to the dead? Xylia apparently loves to watch funerals, sleep in grave sites and sneak at morgues. Xylia is not your typical teenager. She rather wants to be in black, yet she's not emo. She is fascinated with anything dead related but she's not any different from your typical teenager. She gets good grades, hangs out with friends and functions properly asides the dead aspect though.

First I thought A Stiff Kiss was going to be another boring read yet from the...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Dan Wright rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WARNING! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Since the death of her mother, Xylia has had an almost unhealthy obsession with death - visiting graveyards and supposedly haunted places. Her father is worried for her and tries everything to quell her obsession, but to no affect.

Landon is the school jock and rising football star (yes, I know he's a soccer player - but I'm British and we call it football, dammit! Ok, rant over, lol), and Xylia is head over heels in love with him - despite the fact he's alr...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Louann Carroll rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't sure if I'd like A STIFF KISS. I wasn't sure how I'd like thinking about someone kissing a dead person good-bye, but in fact, I loved the story and enjoyed reading the novel. Though I have to admit, I'm still thinking about that kiss.

After her mother's death on Christmas day, Xylia becomes fascinated by death. (Olive describes Xylia's reactions extremely well.) Not that her father approves, but what are you going to do with a teenager whose compulsion outweighs her common sense?

So, she...more

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May 30, 2012 Delphina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This book is absolutely amazing!I am not sure what I thought when I read the synopsis. I think I was figuring it would be one of those new "zombies are not so gross" kinds of novels. I was not expecting a fun YA novel that at the same time was very deep. I can see a YA audience being drawn to this book and I found myself at almost *coughs* 40, completely mesmerized by the story.

Here are some of the things I loved about this book:

*While the story was fun, it was also very deep. I loved watching...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Daphne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: must-read, r2r

A Stiff Kiss - Loved it! Everyone should be reading it! Once I read that Xylia was kissing a dead boy and he came back to life I was in like flynn...but this sweet and sad girl made this book even more intriguing.

I was drawn into the story visualizing the scenes which Avery described perfectly and the emotion Xylia was feeling. Xylia is relatable she can't get over her mothers death; closure is a battle and so she lives among the dead. Attending strangers funerals and visiting morgue.

After some...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Book Whales rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted @ Book Whales

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?

I was fortunate enough to be given a copy directly from the author. I admit! I was hesitant to read it at first. The blurb is so unique; a protagonist stole a kiss from a corpse? Well, I read the first few chapters and was impressed. It was a fun and light read.

The story is about Xylia, a broken girl who struggles to cope to her mother’s death. Landon, the school’s star athlete and her crush fell during a game. He...more Originally posted @ Book Whales

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?

I was fortunate enough to be given a copy directly from the author. I admit! I was hesitant to read it at first. The blurb is so unique; a protagonist stole a kiss from a corpse? Well, I read the first few chapters and was impressed. It was a fun and light read.

The story is about Xylia, a broken girl who struggles to cope to her mother’s death. Landon, the school’s star athlete and her crush fell during a game. He was dead! Then Xylia went to the morgue to say her last goodbye. How can a kiss bring back the dead? Those voices, where did it come from? You have to pick this book to find out.

The world building was okay. It was realistic. The scenes and story line was written flawlessly. For me, this book is a bit contemporary. It started slow at first. Then it builds halfway. I was expecting full action but it was more of a mystery, paranormal with full romance. It was alright with me. Just that, I’ am more of an action type of girl. Though, I hope there was more action to give this book some spice.

As for the writing style, it was good. I like how it was written in different POVs. You get to see what each character is thinking. I wasn’t confused in reading this book. I get what the author is telling the readers. Again, it was written smoothly. I was impressed on how the author keeps us behind the curtains. I was anxious to know what will happen next. It was a page turner. My curiosity got me going. I wanted some answers, which I got at the end part.

Then the characters, they were relatable. I love how believable, Xylia is. I felt her emotions towards her mother’s death. She thinks deeply and sees things in a different way. She is strong yet vulnerable. Landon was okay for me, he was less realistic than Xylia. This is because of the love angle. It was so fast! Like “BAM” I love you already. Their relationship blossoms so fast, it was not believable.

Over all, this book is a good read. I recommend this book to mystery and paranormal lovers. I look forward to see what will happen next.

Rating: 3.5 Whales

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Oct 13, 2012 Leigh (Little Book Star) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 012, q-t, book-tour, ya, paranormal, a-d

ORIGINAL POST AT: Little Book Star
Rate: 4.5/5

Wow, this book, just wow. A very enjoyable and fast read! Usually we see a prince charming bringing back a princess alive by a *wait for it* kiss, like Disney’s Sleeping Beauty let’s say. BUT in A Stiff Kiss, it’s the exact opposite and it’s modern. The “princess” is actually the one who wakes up the “prince charming”. I’ve never read a book with this kind of concept so it was really interesting and I actually stayed up till 2 in the morning because I...more ORIGINAL POST AT: Little Book Star
Rate: 4.5/5

Wow, this book, just wow. A very enjoyable and fast read! Usually we see a prince charming bringing back a princess alive by a *wait for it* kiss, like Disney’s Sleeping Beauty let’s say. BUT in A Stiff Kiss, it’s the exact opposite and it’s modern. The “princess” is actually the one who wakes up the “prince charming”. I’ve never read a book with this kind of concept so it was really interesting and I actually stayed up till 2 in the morning because I was just addicted to this book! GAAH! Haha. When I read the synopsis, I was like “Oh I’m definitely signing up for this tour.” It’s just so interesting to read about a main character who’s fascinated with the dead. I mean, it’s so unique!

I enjoyed the characters! They both have something mysterious about their character and throughout the story, they try to help each other with their problems that they’ve kept inside for a long time. The story mainly revolves around Xylia Morana and her crush Landon Phoenix (btw make sure to read my interview with Avery Olive to know WHY she chose those names)! Our main protagonist here is not your typical ya heroine. She’s independent, not those girly girl types, and loves to wear a lot of black. She also shares a special relationship with her dad. They’re like best friends and we don’t usually see that kind of father-daughter relationship with other ya books. For Landon, we actually get to see the real him while he’s with Xylia, but I like how we get to know him at the end of the book if he’d never known her. Cool right?

The idea of the ending reminded me of this movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in some way. More action took place and you can’t put your nose away from the book! Trust, understanding, and letting go is what I got from reading A Stiff Kiss. I’m pretty sure everyone will like this book especially because it’s a new and original concept. There was just a teeny tiny minor issue which is some of the words were misspelled and I still don’t get the reason why Landon went away with Xylia. I feel like that wasn’t the type of his character. Overall I recommend this!(less)

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Jan 27, 2013 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Xylia found her mother dead on Christmas Day. In the years since, she has been obsessed by death. Her father, a doctor, finds her habit of attending the funerals of strangers unhealthy. With a planned road trip held hostage on a condition of good behavior, Xylia puts on a goofy outfit in her school’s colors–the only clothes she owns that aren’t black–and she gets into her dad’s car to attend the last soccer game of the year. Xylia’s relationship with her father has become distant over the years...more Xylia found her mother dead on Christmas Day. In the years since, she has been obsessed by death. Her father, a doctor, finds her habit of attending the funerals of strangers unhealthy. With a planned road trip held hostage on a condition of good behavior, Xylia puts on a goofy outfit in her school’s colors–the only clothes she owns that aren’t black–and she gets into her dad’s car to attend the last soccer game of the year. Xylia’s relationship with her father has become distant over the years since her mother’s death and soccer games are the one activity that they still do together. The ride is tense, though, in the wake of their argument.

During the soccer game, the team’s star, Landon Phoenix, has only one thing on his mind. Giving the talent scouts in the stands the best performance of his life. A scholarship is his only way out of the small town his family is struggling in. In fact, his focus is acute that the signs of his body failing him escape him completely. He throws a soccer ball back onto the field to begin the next play. It falls to the ground mere feet from him, confusing him. The last thing he sees is shock on his cousin Daniel’s face before his lights go out. He dies minutes later in the back of the ambulance while Xylia and her father try to revive him.

A few hours later, Xylia kisses Landon goodbye. And he sits up.

A STIFF KISS is a complex story told simply, following a formula that is reminiscent of the movie "Big". A child dissatisfied with her present situation does something desperate which results in something bizarre. Like Josh Baskin, Xylia is at first horrified by the outcome of her actions, but later takes advantage of it, even as it becomes clear that there is a price to be paid for the new reality she enjoys.

But being a dual POV novel, Xylia's decisions are not the only ones with consequences. Landon has an on-again/off-again girlfriend who won't take a hint, a college plan that depends solely on soccer, and an exhaustion related death and resurrection in his medical history (which makes him pretty much un-recruitable for college sports). Has he been given a second chance? Or is he living on borrowed time?

Avery Olive incorporated the best and worst of teenagers into A STIFF KISS. In Xylia, we see strong individuality paired with deep insecurity. Landon gives us passion, and drive fueled by desperation. In the students around them, we see scorn, fear, love, and pain, all in fleeting moments that pass away as quick as they come for teenagers, who take the wrong things too seriously or not seriously enough.

As a fan of YA paranormal AND John Hughes movies, I very much enjoyed A STIFF KISS. Put the resurrection bit aside and what remains is a story about a pair of kids whose broken pieces fit each other, and that's something I think most people would relate to and find endearing.(less)

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Mar 11, 2012 Mindy Macheske rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Avery Olive contacted and asked me if I would be interested in hosting a day of her blog tour and since it was my first opportunity to do so, I couldn’t say no. And I am so glad she did, for if she didn’t I probably would have missed this book completely and that would have been a shame!

Avery blew me away with A Stiff Kiss as I discovered it was chillingly morbid, gravely disturbing, and impulsively rebellious. This gripping novel had an amazing cast of exceptionally bizarre and immersing chara...more Avery Olive contacted and asked me if I would be interested in hosting a day of her blog tour and since it was my first opportunity to do so, I couldn’t say no. And I am so glad she did, for if she didn’t I probably would have missed this book completely and that would have been a shame!

Avery blew me away with A Stiff Kiss as I discovered it was chillingly morbid, gravely disturbing, and impulsively rebellious. This gripping novel had an amazing cast of exceptionally bizarre and immersing characters that will keep you entertained throughout the entire story and still keep you begging for more!

The setting Olive created was very dreary, realistic, and modern. It wasn’t much different then what you would see today but with a plot twist she turned it into a world with a second chance at life, full of choices and reliving a certain moment could change everything!

The characters in this odd but compelling tale really made the story what it was. Xylia was truly one of a kind; obsessed with death almost seems an understatement describing her. With losing her mother at a very young age and her being the one to find her that way, it definitely scarred her. As she has had years to deal with her traumatic loss, she takes the long road to overcoming her grief. In that process she becomes very curious about the process of dying and death in general. I found Xylia to be morbid, peculiar, and grotesque; but still she was still vigorous, caring, and stubborn. She was a really rare character that I believe people can relate to. Then there’s the boy that she brings back to life, Landon. Landon was the typical jock, who might not have ever noticed Xylia until her magical kiss bought him back from the dead. He turned out to be this astonishingly thoughtful, sensitive, and considerate boy that helped Xylia in more ways than she realized that she needed.

I felt that this strange and engaging novel earned itself five stars, as it held an intriguing look at death and the afterlife that I think many people could relate to. To all readers out there this one was very imaginative and a very quick read, it will really make you ask yourself if you relive a moment of your life how would you use your second chance?
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May 05, 2012 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Upon reading the book description for A Stiff Kiss, I was intrigued by such a unique and definitely eerie premise. I can’t really say that I’ve even read anything remotely close to A Stiff Kiss. It was difficult for me to predict how this would play out which made for a really addictive read because I had to find out what happened next!

The cover is amazing in giving us a visual taste of what Xylia looks like, and some of the night time death related activities that she loves to partake in. I lov...more Upon reading the book description for A Stiff Kiss, I was intrigued by such a unique and definitely eerie premise. I can’t really say that I’ve even read anything remotely close to A Stiff Kiss. It was difficult for me to predict how this would play out which made for a really addictive read because I had to find out what happened next!

The cover is amazing in giving us a visual taste of what Xylia looks like, and some of the night time death related activities that she loves to partake in. I love how the character on the cover is positioned, she looks so relaxed and at peace in the cemetery next to the fresh grave.

The opening paragraph was pretty much the hook, line and sinker for me. We find out that Xylia found her mother dead on Christmas Day of all days and at a young age. Olive leaves it there, and this becomes the basis of the story as we follow Xylia we’re slowly exposed to what happened.

Immediately, I was throwing out ideas about how she might have died, I mean any kind of death witnessed at a young age can be traumatic. I was really banking on something along the lines of heart attack, but boy when Olive finally reveals what happened it was both tragic and shocking. This major event sets the stage for her morbid fascination with the dead which is the source of a lot of teenage angst between her and her father.

The dynamic between her and her father easily showed a relationship that was both full of love and difficulties. She and her father have some really great banter and he puts a lot of effort into his parenting. I definitely commend him for his valiant effort, but Xylia is a classic dark emo teenager, she’s rebellious, dresses in nothing but black and feels that “no one understands her”. I think most teenagers refuse to listen to their parent’s words of wisdom at this point in their lives anyways. Xylia’s character kept me constantly interested, I wanted to find out more about her fascination with death and the reasoning behind it, but I was a bit turned off with her almost stalker like physical attraction to soccer player extraordinaire Landon.

The story is told from alternating points of view between Landon and Xylia, which is especially enjoyable at the death scene because it was a great way to portray how they were straddling the lines of life and death and the different perspectives associated with each side. For example when Xylia watched the life seep out of Landon and Landon’s glimpse into the afterlife.

Landon’s character is the usual career jock that bases his whole life on sports and the popularity and hot perky girlfriend that comes with it, and we all know how well this always turns out. So when he has his death experience and his life is turned upside down, he becomes fascinated with the person who brought him back to life. It’s understandable, I think I’d want some kind of closure after coming back from the dead!

They end up going on a cross country trip together that they both really needed in order to reevaluate and recenter their lives. These two really came from two different social backgrounds and Landon I don’t think would even normally consider someone like Xylia in normal circumstances as a potential love interest. Because of this I wasn’t really sure about how successful their relationship would be. But it really surprised me how easily these two seemed to fit together and help each other figure things out, they really just felt “right”.

The paranormal element focused primarily on what seemed like “reaper” entities, it was kept very vague and mostly served as an ominous force that pushes and pulls at Landon and Xylia. It was really effective as the stressor, but I felt like I was left a bit wanting for a more detailed explanation.

Olive's writing is fluid and easy to follow, which is another reason I loved reading this book. The way she wrote out the kiss scene still gives me the creeps no matter how much she reassures the reader later that it was indeed THAT weird. The ending just totally blew my mind though, I felt like I entered the twilight zone and I found myself flipping back and forth a few pages just to make sure my eBook copy wasn't glitched or something. I loved that I had no idea how it was going to end, there was so much tension mounting and I found myself rooting for some kind of happiness for these two characters — which you’ll have to read and find out for yourself. (less)

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Mar 26, 2012 Agnes Jayne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I must admit - when I read the blurb for this book, my eyebrows shot into my head. To say the least, this book does not contain your typical subject matter. Once I started reading, however, I was immediately sucked into the book. Xylia is a rather strange young woman who becomes obsessed with all things death after the passing of her mother. When her secret crush dies unexpectedly, Xylia meets him for a final goodbye. Chaos ensues.

This story is delightfully refreshing, strange, and wonderfully c...more

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May 16, 2012 Cindy Young-Turner rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't read a lot of YA books these days, but I enjoyed A Stiff Kiss. Characters are what make or break a book for me, and I loved the ones Ms. Olive has created. Even the secondary characters were interesting, but Xylia and Landon were great, complicated characters who don't conform to stereotypes. The reader is immediately drawn into their world and their problems and they take you on an interesting and sometimes morbid ride. How do you tell someone your kiss brought them back to life? It's a...more

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May 12, 2012 Lylaa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: triple-zero, paranormal-supernatural-romance

“You know, you’re kinda cute,” Xylia says, nudging my foot with hers.
“Oh? Am I cute because I was freaked out by the waitress? Or am I cute because I can’t order toast?”
“Both.” She nods with a hint of finality.
A grin creeps on my face, spreading from ear to ear. Xylia thinks I’m cute

Book given to me by Author :)

First I was like:
Morgue. Cemetery. Funeral.
Aw yeah, heaps borrrrring.
Please, I'm dying slowly.
Soccer? Soccer.
Laaaandoooon ;)
Oh no, he died.
Xylia you bum, get up.

Then I was like:
Um fre...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Clare rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Writing: 4 wings

I would use the world “light” to describe Olive’s writing style. It’s easy to read, and you can get caught up in the prose. I was able to read this in about two days, and I only cut up my reading time because I had to work.

There is a dark side to light writing, however. Too light means that the darker parts of the novel–like Xylia needing closure on a certain event that I will not spoil–don’t get explored in a satisfying way. That’s not to say that her character wasn’t fully expl...more Writing: 4 wings

I would use the world “light” to describe Olive’s writing style. It’s easy to read, and you can get caught up in the prose. I was able to read this in about two days, and I only cut up my reading time because I had to work.

There is a dark side to light writing, however. Too light means that the darker parts of the novel–like Xylia needing closure on a certain event that I will not spoil–don’t get explored in a satisfying way. That’s not to say that her character wasn’t fully explored–it was, see below–but I felt more like an observer in this rather than actually empathizing with her sorrow.

I did enjoy the carefree, sarcastic wit in other areas of the narrative, like the character descriptions: they really painted a picture for me.

Plot: 3.5 wings

From reading the plot description, I thought it would be more of a cat-and-mouse situation: the big bad death eaters chasing Xylia and Landon all over town, trying to kill one or the other or both. Because of this expectation, during the read, I didn’t feel like there was any real danger in this story. There is a subplot about the unbalancing of the universe going on, but it is only hinted at and really only surfaces toward the end. The tension in the novel comes from the characters’ internal demons, and how they console one another and face reality. I did, however, enjoy the climax/twist at the end. Even though it wasn’t what I expected, the story did flow and there weren’t any jarring “why is this happening?” moments. Overall, I think I was expecting more of a punch and instead got a little nudge.

Characters 4 wings

The names were convenient to say the least (Morana=death, and Phoenix=rebirth), but Xylia’s character in particular was quite strong. She had a unique internal dilemna that was slowly revealed through the story. In a way, it was like unwrapping an old butterscotch candy. The plastic sticks to the gooey butterscotch because it’s old and potentially flattened, and doesn’t look particularly appealing. But inside, she there is something delicious and sweet that has not been marred by time. To equate this to the story: on the outside, Xylia dressing in goth attire and attending funerals for fun and sleeping in cemeteries sounds weird and a little cheesy in a way, but once you discover the reason for this, it puts it in perspective.

Sometimes the POV switching was a little confusing–especially when it switched in the middle of the scene, from Xylia to Landon. But I did appreciate the multiple POVs because it created more depth for both characters. Plus, it’s always fun to know things the characters don’t!

Overall: 4 wings

A quick, entertaining read. Recommended if you have an free afternoon with no commitments!(less)

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Aug 18, 2012 Mar *How I see it reviews* rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: to-review, contemporary-set, arc-or-galley, 2012-reads, ya, fantasy, read-in-english

Originally posted on my blog, How I see it reviews

A Stiff Kiss was so much better than I expected it to be! The book looked not extremely interesting to me at first, but once I opened it and started reading I just fell in love with the whole concept, the characters and the oh-so-addictive story.

Xylia is a goth girl, always dressed in black. She loves to hang out on graveyards, is always close to death. But she also has her girly side. She is in love with Landon, the most popular boy in school....more Originally posted on my blog, How I see it reviews

A Stiff Kiss was so much better than I expected it to be! The book looked not extremely interesting to me at first, but once I opened it and started reading I just fell in love with the whole concept, the characters and the oh-so-addictive story.

Xylia is a goth girl, always dressed in black. She loves to hang out on graveyards, is always close to death. But she also has her girly side. She is in love with Landon, the most popular boy in school. Whe he dies while playing a soccer game, she kind of loses it. As close as she always is to the dead, she is to his dead body. She goes to the morgue and kisses Landon's dead body on the lips. And that's when the ultimate drama sets in. Landon wakes up from death, and the balance between Life and Death is messed up.

It might sound like a cliché that Xylia -the outcast- is in love with Landon -the hottest guy in her school- but their story is anything but cliché. Landon does partly remember what happened, and he knows that he owes his 'second life' to Xylia, but doesn't understand it, neither does anyone. It is a whole mystery; how is it possible to wake up from death.

As the story develops, my emotions took over. It was just so cute and cruel at the same time. Just as Landon and Xylia started to really get to know each other, they found out one of them was going to be taken by the Underworld, that demanded a body to maintain the balance between Life and Death. The story was so bittersweet it made me cry at multiple points, and that is quite unique, as I usually don't cry a lot while reading.

This book's writing style fitted the story perfectly. It is so much better to read romantic parts from 2 points of view, it gives you way moer insight into everything, and makes you feel as is you are standing right there in the middle of the story, next to Landon and Xylia.

Concluding, A Stiff Kiss is a YA novel that should get way more attention, as I believe every lover of PNR will love this novel. The characters were amazing, the story was super interesting and my emotions took over multiple times while reading. I give this novel 4.5 stars!(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Xylia Morana is a unique girl, to say the least. Since her mother died, she has been fascinated by all aspects of death. She wonders the cemeteries, tries to sneak into morgues, works around those who are close to death. When her high school crush suddenly dies, Xylia decides to pay him one last visit in the morgue. But when she kisses him goodbye, she brings him to life, upsetting the balance between life and death.

So...I just didn't love A STIFF KISS. I thought the premise was cool, it reminde...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Mandy Sickle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, favorites, ghosts, love-it, owned-books, paranormal, paranormal-romance, romance, reading-diaries-reviews, read2review, 2012, young-adult, young-adult-paranormal

I received A Stiff Kiss in return for an honest review as part of the Book Tour on Bewitching Book Tours. Xylia isn't your typical high school girl, instead of being worried about boys, clothes, parties she fascinated with death. She was the one to find her mother after she had passed away and hasn't really gotten over her death. She likes to check out haunted houses, visit cemeteries and even drop in on random funerals. Xylia works at the hospital thanks to her dad's help where she spends her t...more I received A Stiff Kiss in return for an honest review as part of the Book Tour on Bewitching Book Tours. Xylia isn't your typical high school girl, instead of being worried about boys, clothes, parties she fascinated with death. She was the one to find her mother after she had passed away and hasn't really gotten over her death. She likes to check out haunted houses, visit cemeteries and even drop in on random funerals. Xylia works at the hospital thanks to her dad's help where she spends her time with the elderly and dying patients. She does have a crush though on the star soccer player Landon Phoenix, and attends every game with her dad where she gets to watch him without being questioned.

The final game of the season with his last chance to be scouted Landon just drops down on the field. Xylia's father who is a doctor attempts with her help to save his life but it doesn't help and he passes away. Xylia sneaks down to the morgue to say goodbye to Landon her long time crush and decides to place a kiss on his cold lips. She never expected his heart to start beating again; she rushes to her father who can't believe that he's alive but follows her to the morgue where they find him breathing. His death was still a mystery and finding him alive is even more of a mystery.

At her fathers request the fact that Xylia found Landon is kept a secret for fear of hurting her or her fathers job. Since after all she wasn't supposed to be in the morgue and this wasn't her first time there either. Landon has a second chance at life all he remembers is green eyes and black hair but upon seeing Xylia at school he knows she has the answers to his questions and sets out to find the truth. Together the pair learns more about themselves as well as each other.

WOW, this book blew me away. Way better then I could ever have imagined. I started it late last night and would have stayed up all night if I didn't have to get up early. I love Xylia I had no problem relating to her as a character, she's unique and I found that all the more interesting. Her obsession with the dying, death, cemeteries, ghosts, and more just make her more fascinating as a character. I always love a story where two people come together from different walks of life to find love. I found the characters well written, I felt like I was there with them on their journey. It's a awesome story filled with all kinds of emotions, and of course a happy ever after that left me in tears of joy. I look forward to reading more books by Avery Olive because this one was so special to me. I just really loved A Stiff Kiss it was one of the best books I've read this year. (less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Shannon Eckrich rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I choose a book, the book must capture my interest within the first few paragraphs or I'll toss it aside. Seriously, I'm not kidding. And A Stiff Kiss did more than capture my attention within the first few paragraphs, it grabbed me from the first sentence.

"When I was twelve, I found my mother dead on Christmas Day."

I mean, how can you not continue to read a novel with a first line like that? It's awesome, brilliant, and it leaves you with so many unanswered questions.

Ms. Olive did such a w...more When I choose a book, the book must capture my interest within the first few paragraphs or I'll toss it aside. Seriously, I'm not kidding. And A Stiff Kiss did more than capture my attention within the first few paragraphs, it grabbed me from the first sentence.

"When I was twelve, I found my mother dead on Christmas Day."

I mean, how can you not continue to read a novel with a first line like that? It's awesome, brilliant, and it leaves you with so many unanswered questions.

Ms. Olive did such a wonderful job creating such a terrific cast of characters set in a very believable world.

Xylia Morana has been obsessed with death ever since she found her mother dead on Christmas Day. While other kids her age engage in sports, party way too much, and flock to the mall every weekend, Xylia spends her spare time in the morgue, at cemeteries, and attending funerals for people she never knew. Although I don't spend my time in any of these places, I had a very strong connection to Xylia. I could feel her pain and imagine the emotions she must be going through. Not only did she lose her mother, but she was the first to discover her dead body. And at twelve years old, that's really devastating for a child, which is why she chooses to close herself off to the world. That is until she kisses the corpse of the guy she has always had the hots for.

Landon Phoenix is popular, the star of the soccer team, and way out of Xylia's league. But when he collapses on the soccer field, pronounced dead, and taken to the hospital morgue, Xylia decides to give him one last kiss goodbye. A kiss that will breathe life back into Landon.

When Landon wakes up, he is drawn to Xylia, even though she attempts to avoid him in every possible way. But when she decides to take the road trip she's been wanting to go on, she finds herself traveling with Landon. And not by choice. During their trip, Landon and Xylia connect and, not only do they begin to open up to one another, but they end up falling in love. But Landon has a problem. He cheated death, and now death wants him back or someone to take his place. That someone is Xylia.

If you're looking for an awesome read, A Stiff Kiss is a must! (less)

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Mar 28, 2012 Avery rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I must admit that going into this book I just expected it to be a fluffy read- a book with a lot of entertainment value, but also a book with little substance (a stereotypical rom-com with a paranormal element). After having finished this book all I can do is shake my head at my earlier stupidity, this book was anything but, yes, it was a paranormal rom-com of sorts, but it was so much more, a story of forgiveness, a story of growth, a story of acceptance and the likes of- it exceeded my expecta...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Tara Fuller rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A modern day sleeping beauty tale with a morbid twist. This is a book you need to read!

Let me start by saying that A STIFF KISS is the most unique and refreshing thing I’ve read this year. At times the emotion was so deep and the relationships were so real it almost read contemporary, but then you have this paranormal twist as the backdrop for the story that’s completely original. And I loved every single page of it!
The story starts with Xylia, a girl so completely broken by her mother's death...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book went completely beyond my expectations. A story about forgiveness, self discovery and of course love, had me completely absorbed that i read this in one sitting. The plot contained some brilliantly written lines that, struck a chord in me and that i know i will remember those wise words. I regret not being able to savor the book for longer.

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A Stiff Kiss Scavenger Hunt Giveaway	1	1	Jul 04, 2012 01:15pm
A Stiff Kiss Blog Tour March 18-31!	1	1	Mar 15, 2012 11:21am

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