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Kiss It

by Erin Downing (Goodreads Author)

3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 · rating details · 288 ratings · 58 reviews

A girl’s gotta do who a girl’s gotta do. Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz’s life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps—but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you’ve got true lu...more

Paperback, 273 pages

Published June 15th 2010 by Simon Pulse (first published May 24th 2010)

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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

2010 YA Contemporaries

64th out of 99 books — 91 voters

YA Novels of 2010

377th out of 611 books — 2,644 voters

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Jul 25, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books, favorites

Loved this book, so fun and so much more than what the summary implies. Chaz was a fantastic character, I wish I would have had the confidence and intelligence that she has in high school. And although she might seem a little flaky on the outside, she has hidden depths that you don't discover until later on in the story.

Despite the fluffy exterior of this novel, Downing tackles some serious issues and she does it tactfully and full of grace. If you can make it past Chaz's tell it how it is attit...more

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Jun 22, 2010 Kelsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-copies-review, signed

Erin Downing was nice enough to send me a copy of Kiss It to review, and I’m really glad I picked it up so soon after receiving it. I’d been reading some negative reviews and was a little wary, but Kiss It turned out to be a really great read.

Chaz was an outgoing, witty main character and her personality and spirit added a lot to Kiss It. She never held back with what she wanted to say and always spoke her mind. Chaz was an original and unique character and was still trying to find herself. Kiss...more Erin Downing was nice enough to send me a copy of Kiss It to review, and I’m really glad I picked it up so soon after receiving it. I’d been reading some negative reviews and was a little wary, but Kiss It turned out to be a really great read.

Chaz was an outgoing, witty main character and her personality and spirit added a lot to Kiss It. She never held back with what she wanted to say and always spoke her mind. Chaz was an original and unique character and was still trying to find herself. Kiss It was not just the light hearted read it first appeared. Cancer, teen pregnancy, sex, and more were all tackled throughout the novel. Chaz had to deal with a lot of emotional experiences and understand that she couldn’t always put herself first. Her best friend Sadie was sweet and seemed the complete opposite of Chaz, yet they went together really well. Without Chaz, I don’t know how Sadie would have dealt with what happened to her.

Some things were a bit predictable, but the plot was overall interesting and it was a quick enough read that I finished it in a day. Erin Downing has a nice writing style and really got inside Chaz’s character- she was very well developed within the first few chapters. Chaz’s parents were also good characters who played big roles. I was surprised how emotional Chaz’s family issues made me. The fellow workers at the restaurant Chaz waitressed were interesting, too. There were a wide variety of characters that had enough individuality to make them really stand out.

At first, Chaz just thought of sex as just a bridge she needed to cross, something quick and unimportant. She never thought of loving someone. When Sebastian came along I realized he was a good guy for Chaz. Although their relationship started a bit swiftly and awkwardly, it soon developed into something more. Both Sebastian and Chaz were dealing with a lot, and they each helped the other overcome the hurtles life was throwing at them.

Kiss It did deal with some mature themes and didn’t always have the best morals, but by the end most of the characters had learned their lessons. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 13 though.

This was an overall well done, if a bit quirky, novel, and Downing introduced a wide variety of topics that certain teenagers could relate to. While I never felt a connection with Chaz and felt there were a few downsides to Kiss It, I overall enjoyed it and will definitely be picking up Erin Downing’s past and future releases.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars(less)

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Jun 23, 2010 Shanyn (Chick Loves Lit) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually think the summary provided for this book doesn't do it much justice. I also think that the beginning of this book may scare some people off - it nearly did for me. We begin with a good amount of cursing and sex talk, which led me to believe the rest of the book would be fairly juvenile and not a good representation of emotion and sex for the teenage age group.

Though I was apprehensive, I kept reading because I wasn't bored or anything - I just was not expecting much more than constant...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Adele rated it 3 of 5 stars

Kiss It was a bit of a surprise - you start reading expecting the normal contemporary YA romance path and get something racier. Chastity is an intelligent senior who's unsure of her future direction but is definite in her need to establish a sex life for herself. She's stuck in her wintery hometown where nothing is ever surprising while a stream of issues keep raising their heads. All Chaz wants is a good lay and that proves to be more challenging than one would expect.

Subject matter-wise this n...more Kiss It was a bit of a surprise - you start reading expecting the normal contemporary YA romance path and get something racier. Chastity is an intelligent senior who's unsure of her future direction but is definite in her need to establish a sex life for herself. She's stuck in her wintery hometown where nothing is ever surprising while a stream of issues keep raising their heads. All Chaz wants is a good lay and that proves to be more challenging than one would expect.

Subject matter-wise this novel will be a problematic read for those that object to teen sex and swearing but it does have a heart to accompany its pounding libido. It offers a different perspective to the many (sometimes didactic) wait until love or marriage position we often see. However this position is represented in the protagonist's best friend. They have completely different stances in their life choices but support one another irregardless. Like most teens its a lot of talk and only a little action but that is still more than what would be found in most YA. Despite some sexual content, at its centre this book is more conventional that one would judge on face value. Instead of pushing the idea of abstinence, it subtlety addresses choice, birth control and self-worth.

The central story of Chaz's need for some action works well to highlight her emotional growth as she peruses her boy options. It is quite entertaining (and a little disturbing) to see her rationalise her actions, her treatment of Hunter and her feelings for Sebastian. At times Downing presents her protagonist as playing the guy - picking and choosing what she wants from those that are interested by her. This storyline flows well in terms of introducing a host of characters (some of which could have been sketched in further) and keeping the protagonist on their toes. However, the two minor stories - both of which I won't spoil - are intriguing. One is telegraphed strongly from the beginning, the other comes out of nowhere and doesn't hit its momentum as hard as it might. That being said, Downing tackles far more in terms of issues than you initially realise.

There's humour, pathos and a lot of sex talk- the latter might scare those who don't wish to acknowledge that female teens have urges and aren't always at the sexual whim of teen males. I found it quite illuminating and empowering to follow Chaz' self discovery and drew a deep breath of Downing's blast of fresh air.

Kiss It is following the lead of Judy Blume's Forever presenting a story where a girl makes informed decisions about her sex life in a responsible manner. Forever was written 34 years ago and its content is still considered to be risque, Kiss It will be in the same boat but what a glorious boat to be in. Kiss It is not a brand new, extraordinary take on contemporary YA but it does provide a fresh perspective with a candid look at sex, friendship and blizzard boredom. I find that brave and it's definitely a perspective we should be supporting and encouraging.(less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Katy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm giving this book a 1 (didn't like) for the first 2/3 of the book and a 3 (liked) for the last part. In all honesty, it's been a while since I've read Downing's other books, but I remember liking them enough because they were enjoyable cute reads. This book just didn't do it for me. First of all, I thought it was going to be a quick cute romantic comedy like her other books, and it wasn't exactly that. It was a little more serious than I was expecting .

Also, the summary was misleading . It ha...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Sami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chastity, known better as Chaz, is looking for lust. Not love, not even like. She wants to have sex, but knows that the prospects in her small town of Milton, Minnesota isn't much. She makes due having already tasted carnal pleasure--if you can really call it that since it only lasted for less then a minute--by looking for her next fix. Trouble is that she has no idea where it will come from since all the teenage boys in her town are not what she would see as long term, no strings attached, fuck...more Chastity, known better as Chaz, is looking for lust. Not love, not even like. She wants to have sex, but knows that the prospects in her small town of Milton, Minnesota isn't much. She makes due having already tasted carnal pleasure--if you can really call it that since it only lasted for less then a minute--by looking for her next fix. Trouble is that she has no idea where it will come from since all the teenage boys in her town are not what she would see as long term, no strings attached, fuck buddies.

Then a new guy walks into her life. Sebastian is in Milton to visit his father on a court mandated Christmas break. Immediately Chaz sees the potential in him. He's cute, not from Milton, and in a mere vacation he will be gone from her life quickly. Chaz pursues Sebastian, and most of the time she's confused with what he really wants from her. (Twisty Note: This doesn't really get easier with age, ladies.) Between Chaz wanting Sebastian, her best friend feeling major guilt over her own sexual relationship with her long-term boyfriend, and one other very sad, very life changing event this book really touches on a whole lot more then just sex.

Lets face it, if Candace Bushnell wrote a book on Samantha Jones as a teenager this would of probably hit pretty close to home. (And I might actually read it. In all honestly Sex and the City the book is nowhere near as fabulous as Sex and the City the series and movies. Also, I'm just so not a fan of hers, and any book I've read by her.) Chaz is so single-minded and focused on sex that Samantha Jones is what popped into my mind almost instantly. Despite what people might think that teenagers can handle this book was hilarious, honest, and I loved that the main character was ironically named Chastity. This book I would offer to lovers of comedy, and slice-of-life books. I could totally see me loving this book as a teenager, and many of my friends from then fitting so well into Chaz's sense of self.

On top of that abortion, teen pregnancy, safe sex, cancer, and so many more topics that are touched on in this book I loved it, and it's definitely being added to the highly recommended list.(less)

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Oct 14, 2010 Kari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-review-from-publisher-author, books-i-own, read-teen

Promiscuous while still emotional and in depth, Kiss It is a hilarious journey of one girl to lose her virginity. Born and raised in a very small town with few options, Chastity battles against her hormones while still wanting to at least have her first be something other than simply giving it up. The small town setting comes through strongly, as does Chastity’s mentality and personality that is partly spurred from it.

Chastity is an entertaining, rich character and very focused on all things sex...more
Promiscuous while still emotional and in depth, Kiss It is a hilarious journey of one girl to lose her virginity. Born and raised in a very small town with few options, Chastity battles against her hormones while still wanting to at least have her first be something other than simply giving it up. The small town setting comes through strongly, as does Chastity’s mentality and personality that is partly spurred from it.

Chastity is an entertaining, rich character and very focused on all things sex. From fantasies at random times to a strong determination to find the right boy- given her options- to lose it with, she spends much of her time thinking about sex. While it’s true not all teenagers are completely focused on sex, some are and Chastity falls in the latter category. The fact that her best friend, who has been in a steady relationship for two years, is now sexually active only fuels her drive, and the differences between the two add a fantastic element to the story. Despite the sex preoccupation, Chastity is still a girl with dreams and a mature mindset, wanting to get out of her town and considers things as much as she can given her age. Despite her disagreements with them, her love for her parents- especially her father- comes across strongly and helps build her overall personality.

Despite her interactions with the people in her town, the majority of the plot is driven by Chaz herself, particularly after Sebastian shows up. Spending his Christmas vacation with his father, Sebastian seems to instantly be exactly what Chaz is looking for in the person to take her virginity. Despite how platonic Chaz imagines things to be, there is a certain spark between the two from the start even with Sebastian’s resistance. Her determination to get him- and his determination to spare her from his own sordid past- launch an interesting tension between the two. Sebastian is a bold, mysterious character and he provides intrigue for both Chaz and the reader.

The plot moves at a pretty steady pace with several other elements, arcs and twists thrown in. Downing does a noteworthy job tying several different events together and creating a strong story line with it. While some of the twists were predictable, others were not and this all happened in the midst of Chaz finding other ways, besides Sebastian, to get rid of her virginity. Her plight is both amusing and understandable and the way things play out are logical and engaging. While there is a lot of talk of sex and sex related acts, it isn’t brash or needlessly included.

As the other plot twists and story arcs progress, Chaz must learn to see a bigger picture and extend her world. There is a wide cast of characters, many of them comical and playing into the story line perfectly. The final ending is very understandable for the story and leaves the reader in a good place, tying most things up while still leaving a few lingering questions to ensure the reader doesn’t close the book and simply forget the story.

The writing is witty and brings Chaz’s personality out, also keeping the plot going. Many of the characters- not only Chaz- develop throughout and tie together in surprising ways. Downing inserts a surprising level of depth not immediately expected based on the premise, making this book even more memorable over all. Bold and well developed characters, an overall satisfying ending, a hilarious premise, in depth plot and deeper events and final implications combine to make Kiss It a great summer read.

(less)

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Jul 05, 2010 Literary Cravings rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a very hot, very enjoyable read for me!! I really didn’t know what to expect with this story but was pleasantly wowed by Downing’s writing. I’m quickly introduced to Chastity Bryan a.k.a Chaz and instantly I know she’s a no holds bar type of girl wanting desperately to leave her home town and experience life. She says what she means and goes after what she wants. More so who she wants and it’s the new kid in town named Sebastian. I really enjoyed Chaz’s daring in your face personality....more

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Jun 13, 2010 Alea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-review

Main character Chastity (what a name!) lives in a very small town that she realizes is not where she wants to live out her life, but while she’s waiting it out in high school there she wants to get some experience, in the sexuality department. The pickings are slim in her mind but she tests out the waters, never really finding the right person to go through this education with, until Sebastian comes into town. In Sebastian she sees something different and knows she wants to get to know him bette...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Steph Su rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: united-states-of-wonderbreadland

I wanted to like this book more than I did. Unfortunately, I was about halfway through when I realized I couldn't care less what becomes of the characters. Chastity's hang-ups about sex and small-town life quickly grated on my nerves, not because her concerns might cause people's jaws to drop and incite them to cover the eyes of the person nearest them (puh-lease. I read a decent amount of smut myself), but because I couldn't find myself sympathizing with Chaz at all. The way she treats the peop...more

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Nov 07, 2010 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, washyarg

The phrase on the back of the book – “a girl’s gotta do who a girl’s gotta do” – is a pretty good indication of what this book is about. Chastity Bryan tells her own story of how she sort of lost her virginity and how she’s planning on having real sex as soon as possible. Chaz set out to have sex last December and chose the most convenient boy around, Hunter, whom she has know her whole life. The experience was over in a few brief seconds, and now Hunter is just a hovering pest hoping for a rep...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Jenny / Wondrous Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

I enjoyed Kiss It, mostly for its bluntness and hilarious dialogue. I laughed my way through the first half of the book, before things got a little more serious, and reveled in Chaz's no-nonsense attitude to boys and sex. She was a girl who wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted, and I liked that. That's the kind of personality trait I wish I possessed more of (confidence, not chasing boys) but alas, I don't.

Chaz started off as a bit of an enigma. I got that she didn't think sex was a huge de...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-realistic-ya, own-it, 2010

When I saw Kristi at The Story Siren's review of this, I knew I had to have it! Lucky for me, there happened to be a copy available on Goodreads swap so I ordered it.

I read it a couple of days after I got it despite the fact that I have stacks of books to read all over the place, and I'm glad I did! There were a lot of layers to this book, and I enjoyed every single one of them.

The first few chapters were absolutely hilarious. In fact, I read the prologue and first chapter three or four times b...more

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Oct 10, 2010 AnnaBnana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 21, 2010 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't click with me. I bought this book thinking it would be a light and funny read, which was not what I got at all. I felt really depressed throughout the whole story and there really weren't that many happy moments in this book, besides the few times Sebastian showed up. Chaz doesn't really know what she wants, other than the fact that she wants out of Milton. She lies to her parents and her supposed best friend. She messes around with too many...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Michelle. Tsunami. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gotta-love-those-guys, loved, want-to-own

I dunno why but I really liked this book. Maybe it was the chracters, or the setting, or the plot. Or maybe because the whole book revolves around sex?
Anyway, the book was really entertaining and I wish I could read it for a first time again. The introduction of the book was really straigh-forward and gets the message across.
"This book is about sex. If you are faint-hearted, close this book now. If not, enjoy! :D"
I love Sebastian. He seems hot. And kinda awesome.
One thing I really want to say is...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Angela (Reading Angels) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is definitely open about sex, it's not exactly raunchy, but it's not far off. A coming of age story about a girl named Chastity, she is very open about wanting to have sex, but is still picky about who she wants to have it with. This is the problem, since in her small town, the pickings are very slim. That all changes when the handsome stranger, Sebastian, comes into the restaurant that Chastity works at. Chaz is determined to win over Sebastian, but he's quite the enigma. One minute h...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really liked Kiss It. The main character was different, in a good way. She wasn't that sappy teen protagonist that gets old. She's not a cheerleader, former cheerleader, or cheerleader wannabee... she tells you like it is (the reader gets all her secrets, even if her friends and family don't). I wish I had been a little more like her in high school. Instead, I was her best friend Sadie- eager to please and maintain that picture-perfect life, but really setting herself up for some emotional bag...more

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Oct 01, 2010 Penny rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book reminded me a lot of Judy Blume's Forever. I'm sure I'm not the only one making that comparison. However, I think I liked it more than Forever, and I loved that book when I read it. Why did I like Kiss It more, because Sebastian (love the name) wasn't a douchebag. I also really liked Chaz. She's your average teenager, slightly self-obsessed and sex-obsessed but she's willing to make mistakes and correct them. When my daughter is old enough to read book about teens having sex (when she'...more

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Nov 02, 2010 Delphine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chastity Bryan a.k.a Chaz is the kind of girl who craved for sex, and she wasn't that keen to hide it either. She's had her first time with Hunter Johnson, who had been anything but satisfying. Because of that, she wanted to try more. As for her academics, she isn't sure what she sees her future as. For now, she hasn't decided on anything. Yet.

Then the sexy hot new guy called Sebastian enters her life. Chastity feels like he will be the one for her, to satisfy her desires. But Sebastian was hot...more Chastity Bryan a.k.a Chaz is the kind of girl who craved for sex, and she wasn't that keen to hide it either. She's had her first time with Hunter Johnson, who had been anything but satisfying. Because of that, she wanted to try more. As for her academics, she isn't sure what she sees her future as. For now, she hasn't decided on anything. Yet.

Then the sexy hot new guy called Sebastian enters her life. Chastity feels like he will be the one for her, to satisfy her desires. But Sebastian was hot and cold at the same time, leaving Chastity confused. She hinted him about her intentions, and he kinda made it clear that he wasn't THAT interested at all. So she backed off. Or so we thought she could.

Then an incident leaves her vulnerable, her father had cotracted cancer, but she seemed to be the last to be informed about it. After a while, she spills it all to Sebastian, who listens to her. Not to her best friend, Sadie, cause she had problems of her own too. However, the next time she saw Sebastian, he acted distant.

Sadie's predicament was a rest from the events of Chastity and Sebastian. It involved a baby Sadie was carrying, and her boyfriend Trav. But soon afterwards, the story swerved back to the main two again.

Chastity was confused once again, wondering if she had imagined the connection they had previously. She felt the hurt when she understood what was going on finally. He had warned her; she just didn't make the most of it. She felt vulnerable - it meant everything to her to confide in him, but it had obviously meant nothing to him.

When Sebastian wanted to explain his behaviour, she refused to listen. Part of her wanted to forgive him, wanted to know that he cared. But the hurt had been done. Any further explanation would not help much.

Then he came clean. He told her about his past deeds, how he broke hearts, one after another. It was like a game to him. He loved the power he had over the girls; he loved how they loved him. Chastity told him it hadn't been love. And finally realized why he was so afraid. He was scared of her, because he had fallen for her, deep.

The story ends with her mother still not opening up to Chastity, her dad still with cancer. Whether Sadie and Trav were still together, it wasnt said. Sebastian left for North Carolina, and she was still where she started off at. But she learnt something. Behind the sex-crazy person, she was actually capable of love. And that was all that mattered.

I didn't mind reading this book, especially after I skimmed through the book and read the summary of it. It might be like any other romance novels, but this certainly had depth. I would recommend it, to people who love the romance genre like me (: (less)

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Mar 28, 2012 Maria Garcia is currently reading it

So far Im on page 119 and Chasity is a pretty crazy girl, she isnt looking for love she is looking to have fun, but not after this guy she has met since she has been falling for this guy sebastian and her friends, wont stop asking her what him and her have goin on.She always responds with "nothing were jut friends." since she doesnt want them to think she's falling in love. She works as a waitress at a bar/Diner and thats where she met him, and literally fell in love at first sight, espeially si...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realist-fic, participation-ribbon

Defiantly a different kind of story. From the description of tho book I was imagining Chaz as a manipulative little slut. Which, let's face it she kind of is. But she has her reasonings. Her character works the sulty-ness of her behavior and warps it with how relatable she is and her situations and makes her not seem like that mean girl hoe at your school you totally judges her as in the beginning. Chaz explains it pretty well herself when she admits she is kinda similar to those girls, but the...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Alexa Yupangco rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Alexa by: Kristi (The Story Siren)

(Review was originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

This book was definitely not what I was expecting it to be - and I believe that to be a good thing. Instead of just being your normal YA romance fluff, I thought that the author did a brilliant job making the story realistic and relatable, all while tackling some major issues.

One of the main reasons I enjoyed reading the book was because of the main character, Chaz. I thought she was wickedly funny, incredibly sarcastic, pretty darn smart and ju...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, read-2011

Kiss It is one of the funniest books I've read in a while. Chaz was hilarious and her story addicting. I simply couldn't put this one down. It's funny, well written, and the characters well developed. Basically, it's more than what the summary leads you to believe.
Okay, so, I have to rant about how much the summary bothered me. It was mostly just the one sentence "Sebastian has no idea what he’s in for—but maybe neither does Chaz…." that ruined it for me, but it also made Chaz seem kind of... S...more
Kiss It is one of the funniest books I've read in a while. Chaz was hilarious and her story addicting. I simply couldn't put this one down. It's funny, well written, and the characters well developed. Basically, it's more than what the summary leads you to believe.
Okay, so, I have to rant about how much the summary bothered me. It was mostly just the one sentence "Sebastian has no idea what he’s in for—but maybe neither does Chaz…." that ruined it for me, but it also made Chaz seem kind of... Slutty. Not like really, really slutty, but enough that I noticed it when I read it. She's not really like that, and the writing isn't that bad. But this is only the summary, so let's get on with the book.
The story begins with Chaz and Sadie, her best friend, watching a show about bunnies "getting it on." So you know from the start this isn't a book for younger teens. However, most of the innuendos do go away after the first few chapters. Some scenes are still pretty detailed, but they are the scenes that were necessary to the story line. It just wouldn't have been the same without them.
Chasity, or Chaz, is entertaining (laugh out loud hilarious) and "drawn to all things sexual." She's funny and sarcastic, but is still smart and strong. I really love her thoughts about the bedroom scene where she checks her email... if you've already read it you know what I'm talking about. It was hilarious! I liked all of the characters in their own way, except for Sebastian. I know what you must be thinking: Why? And, honestly, I'm not quite sure. I had a (hot) image of him in my mind, but everything else was just kind of blah. And the reason why he is acting so weird to Chaz? It just didn't seem like that big of a deal.
I think part of the reason a lot of people decided not to read Kiss It is because Chaz seemed like one of those girls who gives it away like it's nothing; but once you're past the first few chapters in you know this is not the case. I don't want to give anything away; I'll let you find it all out for yourself, but Chaz has a kind heart and is very helpful, especially when Sadie needs her.(less)

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Aug 24, 2010 Courtney rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Erin Downing writes, she writes realistic situations. The first book I read from her was Drive Me Crazy ( A Romantic Comedies Novel) and I absolutely loved it! When I heard she had another masterpiece on the way, I knew I had to get my hands on it!

Kiss It was great! A lot different than what I expected, but in the best possible way.
The first chapter can tell a lot about a book, but then other times, it says nothing. BUt it will give insight on if you will like it or not. Read the first chap...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Sara Grochowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Sometimes the greatest books come in the most unsuspecting little packages...

Yes, yes, yes! I seriously couldn't put KISS IT down, even though it would have been in my best interest because I have plenty of homework and whatnot to accomplish. Chastity Bryan is a breath of fresh air.

Chastity, or Chaz, is almost obsessed with the idea of sex and sexuality. To her, sex and love don't always occur in tandem, in fact, she prefers it that way. She's the type of girl that says when and she wants it now...more Sometimes the greatest books come in the most unsuspecting little packages...

Yes, yes, yes! I seriously couldn't put KISS IT down, even though it would have been in my best interest because I have plenty of homework and whatnot to accomplish. Chastity Bryan is a breath of fresh air.

Chastity, or Chaz, is almost obsessed with the idea of sex and sexuality. To her, sex and love don't always occur in tandem, in fact, she prefers it that way. She's the type of girl that says when and she wants it now, especially when a new, hot boy moves to town and tempts her in all kinds of ways.

Okay, but wait! I know some of you out there are thinking this might just be a bit too much for me... This Chaz girl is more sexual than I like my main characters. I like them sweet and innocent and ignorant with their sexuality. Well, I admit, this might not be the book for you, BUT, if you can handle this side of Chaz, I can promise you that there is much more to her character. And, yes, there's teen sex in this book, but there's a point to it and I believe it's well done. This book sends a message to readers that's definitely worth hearing.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the fact that Chaz isn't perceived as loose or lacking morality. She keeps her sexual endeavors well under wraps... and Chaz is a lot more talk than actual action. She's smart, funny, sarcastic, and strong - that's what I appreciate in a main character, regardless of how raunchy some of her comments may be. But, even if her classmates knew of her preoccupation with sex and judged her for it, I had the distinct feeling that Downing wouldn't be encouraging the reader to do the same. Even though Chaz has a few things backwards and doesn't always make the wisest decisions, she's real and she sticks to her guns. Sexuality and a healthy dose of curiosity are normal and they shouldn't be condemned.

Erin Downing's KISS IT is a quick read, due to the fact that it's less than 300 pages and it's difficult to put down. I've got my fingers crossed that she's got more novels like this up her sleeve! Her previous two novels are part of the Simon Pulse romantic comedies, which are wonderful, but this novel puts Downing on a whole different level.(less)

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Jul 08, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, read-in-2011

This is a book that looks cute from the exterior but packs a punch inside. Chaz is fascinated by sex. We learn that early on in this book and it helps introduce us to a very strong-willed, stubborn character and you can't help but love. Chasity "Chaz" is pretty open with her outlook on sexual relationships. Her and her best friend Sadie argue about this often. While Sadie wants the perfect relationship with flowers and sweet kisses, Chaz wants none of that. She believes that sex is just somethin...more This is a book that looks cute from the exterior but packs a punch inside. Chaz is fascinated by sex. We learn that early on in this book and it helps introduce us to a very strong-willed, stubborn character and you can't help but love. Chasity "Chaz" is pretty open with her outlook on sexual relationships. Her and her best friend Sadie argue about this often. While Sadie wants the perfect relationship with flowers and sweet kisses, Chaz wants none of that. She believes that sex is just something to get over with. She puts no emotional attachment to it and it makes for some hilarious conversations between her and her best friend.

Chaz seems to think she has it all figured out until Sebastian shows up. He's sexy and not from her tiny town so he seemed like the perfect guy to get to know. One thing I have to mention is that Chaz lives in my town. Maybe not literally, but I swear everything she said seemed to relate to my old home-town had it me saying "mine was like that too!". Small-towners are all the same I guess, but it was so funny to see many of funny quirks of a small town in this book. The setting was perfect!

Chaz and Sebastian are both far from perfect, however. He wasn't the knight in shining armor coming to save Chaz from her altered view of sex. He didn't instantly sweep her off her feet and have her swooning every time he entered a room. Okay, maybe she noticed but she was still as stubborn as ever. Sebastian has a past full of dysfunctional relationships and this made them the perfect companions for each other.

Kiss It also brings in the complex relationship a teenage girl has with her parents. Chaz seemed to be in a completely different world than her parents; which I think is typical for most teenagers. I'm glad Erin Downing took chances with this story. We have to assume that teenagers know about these difficult topics and rarely do I see a book with the guts to point it out. Bravo, Erin!

Kiss It is not a story of first love, parental chaos, or teenage angst. It's about a young girls perception of relationships in all different forms. A very nice coming-of-age tale with a realistic character who will have you laughing out loud. But it was easy to see the personality below the hard exterior and I enjoy every aspect of this story.
(less)

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Aug 16, 2010 Jacqueline rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, for-review, read-in-2010, signed

I've been putting off this review for since the week before Kiss It was released. The reason for that? I was (and still am to a degree) uncertain about just what my feelings were toward this novel. With Kiss It, Erin Downing has told a very frank tale of teenage sexuality and the inevitable pressures and realities inherent to the subject that could potentially be very polarizing.

The protagonist, Chaz, narrates her quest to finally have sex. Her reasons for the urgency behind her goal seem stereo...more I've been putting off this review for since the week before Kiss It was released. The reason for that? I was (and still am to a degree) uncertain about just what my feelings were toward this novel. With Kiss It, Erin Downing has told a very frank tale of teenage sexuality and the inevitable pressures and realities inherent to the subject that could potentially be very polarizing.

The protagonist, Chaz, narrates her quest to finally have sex. Her reasons for the urgency behind her goal seem stereotypical at first - she's a bundle of teenage hormones and horniness. However, despite being somewhat emotionally closed-off and having an aversion to romantic attachment, it becomes apparent through her loneliness amongst her friends and family that what she needs is a true connection with someone. Still, she's aggressive, blunt and, at times, given to using a certain male character to reach her goal. She feels guilt at the appropriate times, but her abrasive personality and the fact that she uses someone multiple times makes her a hard character to like. That said, I may not have liked Chaz much but at least she was real - a quality that I admire in people both actual and fiction. Her authenticity and awareness of her developing sexuality is something that I could relate to and, therefore, use to connect with her. As long as I can understand a character, I don't need to love them.

Another thing that makes Chaz more palatable and her story a bit less polarizing is the romance that takes place between her and Sebastien, a fellow high-school senior who is visiting his Dad in Chaz's town. The tension zinging between the two of them is present from the start and never lets up. That doesn't preclude there relationship from getting of to an awkward start, however. In Sebastien, Chaz finds a kindred spirit and an begins to open up to both him and the reader. As we gain insight into our protagonist, we also learn more about the mysterious and sexy boy that she's falling for. His story is pretty intriguing and unique, although I didn't quite buy how extreme it was made out to be.

While not surprising, it is interesting to watch Chaz's views of love and sex change during the course of the story. Her relationship with Sebastien progresses quickly but remains believable given the circumstances of the novel and their ages. If you choose to pick this one up, don't go into it thinking that it's just a romance. Not only is it more than that, but you'll inevitably be disappointed with the less-than-fairy-tale ending.

Though my regard toward Chaz remains somewhat conflicted, I do feel that it's important to have YA novels like this one - so open about the topic of sex while not being preachy or neglecting to touch upon various viewpoints.(less)

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Jun 12, 2010 Carla rated it 2 of 5 stars

Imagine living in a town where having sexual thoughts and fantasies is quite taboo, then imagine you sometimes have crazy sexual fantasies and want nothing more than to leave town so your sexual experiences can well, be experienced. Once your done with that, your kind of inside Chaz's head. She thinks about sex a lot, like more than teenage boys possibly do. And this was my problem with the book. I am in no way a prude, I know teenagers have sex, I know they think about it quite a lot and I am q...more Imagine living in a town where having sexual thoughts and fantasies is quite taboo, then imagine you sometimes have crazy sexual fantasies and want nothing more than to leave town so your sexual experiences can well, be experienced. Once your done with that, your kind of inside Chaz's head. She thinks about sex a lot, like more than teenage boys possibly do. And this was my problem with the book. I am in no way a prude, I know teenagers have sex, I know they think about it quite a lot and I am quite positive they like to experiment. I think the way Chaz was portrayed as a character was quite skanky, i'm game for someone wanting to have sex, but really, I think it was took a little too far.

I'm under the impression that Chastity is supposed to be quite ironic in a funny way, because i'm sure this girl didn't knowing the meaning of chasitity and if she did, then thoughts of sex overtook it. I kind of felt a little uncomfortable with the amount this girl focused her time on sex, and not sex with someone she likes or could possibly love, no just plain sex with anyone. Now, being promiscuous is fine and dandy, I have no qualms with people who chose to do this with their bodies, it's just not for me.

I found the characters to be quite one dimensional and never connected to any of them really. I had to read the synopsis again to remember what the new guy was called, and I have no memory of Chaz's best friend, even though she was one of the characters I ultimately liked the most. I felt the whole sex crazy thing was quite forced and never really real enough to get onboard with. Chaz ended up seeming like a really shallow single minded person who may well have learned that lust doesn't equal love, but still really grated on me.

This book really wasn't for me. There were a few things added to the mix that added a bit more of a backbone to the story, but these were kind of skimmed over and overshadowed by the singlemindedness of our protagonist. If you don't like your books peppered with teenage sex then I don't think you'll like this either. If you care for that kind of thing and think it needs a chance to be portrayed in the young adult market, then this is the book for you. (less)

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Nov 25, 2011 Bianca rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a book that has morally driven and goody goody characters, this book is not for you; however, if you want a book that deals with real teenage situations, this is for you!

Chastity Bryan is one of the most real female characters in YA that I've read in awhile. She is a witty and not afraid of going after what she wants. She has a different view on sex than other girls, like her best friend Sadie, have on it. Chaz isn't one of those people who believe in waiting for marriage...more

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About Erin Downing

I read and write books for kids, tweens, and young adults. My new novel for teens--NONE OF THE REGULAR RULES--was published as an e-book exclusive on November 20, 2012!

My next tween novel, BEST FRIENDS (UNTIL SOMEONE BETTER COMES ALONG), will be published by Simon & Schuster/Aladdin in April 2014.

THE QUIRKS, a series for younger readers, will be published by Bloomsbury Children's Books on June...more

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