Kissed By Her

Mainely Books Club

by Chelsea M. Cameron

I was so looking forward to this summer. My job as a nanny for eleven-year-old twins means never a dull moment, and I’m excited about hanging out with my best friend, Joy, and reading all the books we can get our hands on next to my employer’s fabulous pool.
Then my boss goes and hires a new assistant who is clearly gunning to be his second wife. Honor Conroy could not be more obvious in her motives and I can’t understand how he doesn’t see it.
She keeps getting under my skin, and even the twins are pulling pranks to try and get her out of their lives. I deny any involvement when their father finds out about their hijinks.
Then Honor decides to invade my book club—my sanctuary. I’ve had it, so I decide to confront her and, somehow, in the heat of the moment, her lips end up on mine in the fiercest kiss I’ve ever had in my life.
Turns out the gold-digger I imagined isn’t the real Honor, and my heart may never recover from finding out who she really is under that ice-queen facade.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2022

About the author

Chelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today/Internationally Best Selling author from Maine who now lives and works in Boston. She's a red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, former cheerleader, and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, eating brunch in bed, tweeting, and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me this is a bit of a hard book to rate.

We are in the fiets person POV of Layne and she’s lovely, a bit too cheerful maybe but it’s ok. She’s been a nanny for her entire adult life, working for the same family, even living in their guest house. Some would argue she isn’t much of a grown up. I’d say she lives day by day and maybe could do with some more planning for herself and not just fixing other people’s problems. And then there is Honor. She’s believed to be after Layne’s boss, to marry him for his money. Apparently this is true and she readily admits it. This is just such a weird part of the story and you never really get to figure it out fully because you’re in Layne’s headspace. And while it is mentioned and discussed it just left me wondering and questioning a lot of things.
On top of it is the matter that this is marketed as having Parent Trap elements, you know the movie. And I guess I could see that, also I don’t care about it. It’s not the biggest deal, even though it’s a substantial subplot of this story.

There is so much that is fine and funny and ok about this book, but also so much that is just plain weird. I enjoyed it, but I have questions and issues. Maybe some of them will be answered and addressed in the second book. Only time will tell.

[chaos]

I had high hopes for this based on the marketing as “inspired by The Parent Trap” but, though the elements of the film were definitely there, these original characters didn’t have much depth or grow at all as the story progressed. I didn’t feel invested in Layne having a happy ending or feel any connection to her.

It might’ve helped for the readers to understand more of the adversary relationship between Layne and Honor before being dropped into their little family feud. Maybe Honor could have been jealous of the affection Mark showed toward Layne or something—anything to show readers why there was so much hostility and animosity already from the beginning. The author told us why, but I would have preferred to see it develop, and it might’ve built their attraction on a more approachable timeline too.

For nostalgic sapphic readers who typically enjoy instant love from lust books, this one is worth a read.

[Lady Olenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Kissed by Her by Chelsea Cameron is a contemporary, enemies to lovers, Parent Trap-esque novel.

The pacing was a bit off for me especially the first half of the story. It felt like the story was dragging on because the author included the everyday, play by play events of the nanny character, Layne.

The supposed villain in the story, Honor, was too shrouded in mystery that her personality didn’t shine enough to make me like her as a character, a person and Layne’s love interest.

In general it was an average read for a contemporary romance novel.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. The transition from Layne and Honor antagonizing each other and being ‘enemies’ to them liking/loving each other was a bit jarring. It just sort of happens and I didn’t buy it. They had a spark between them and I found that they were both more interesting characters before they got together and I liked their banter. Once they started to like each other their characters became stagnant. There was some emotional things thrown in for Honor’s character later on but it came off as very forced. Both characters are inconsistent and lack depth is really what I’m trying to get at here.

The writing was good and it’s a quick read. I liked some of the side characters like Layne’s friends and Honor’s younger sister. This was entertaining enough and it is a quick read. It’s low angst and cute but the main characters and their romance left a lot to be desired.

[OceaneZw · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 4.25 stars

This book was cute.

I got a few recommendations to start this series, and although I was not sure at first if I would like it, I did. It's definitely an easy read, which made it very enjoyable. Layne and Honor go well together, and all the supporting characters are very lovely.

The pace of the book threw me off a bit, though. I felt like some things that happened did not quite make sense based on the situation. It took them a long time to actually talk to each other, and then suddenly there was a huge difference in that area. It confused me a bit, but it did not stop me from fully enjoying the book.

Overall, if you are looking for a sweet romance with one of the MC's being complex and a cute family, then this series might be a good choice.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute but definitely riding the happily ever after train, which in itself is not a bad thing but does mess with my suspension of disbelief. Layne is a really relatable main character and I liked how her and Honor got together over time. The cast of characters overall are really sweet, and I liked the subplot with Mark and Sadie. I definitely thought the twins were conspiring to make Layne and Honor happen but it turns out that was not the case?

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in the series, very promising opener. Enjoyed it, but would love to know more about Holly's background. Perhaps in later books? Recommended and will read book 2….

[Lesbereading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The cover drew me to this book and then the blurb sounded like one I’d like to read so I picked it up. While the story was different, it definitely lacked something. I feel like had their been more background and character building I would’ve enjoyed it more.

[Emmaline Savidge · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but man was it a slog to get through. I think that the premise of a parent trap inspired romance is really fun but this book did not hit. The writing was just not up to par for me and I would love to see this concept in different hands. I think the real failing of this book was the utter lack of conflict. I didn’t understand why Honor fell for Layne and there wasn’t enough substance or spice to their relationship to make me care about them.

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It’s like I flipped a switch and opened a whole new world when I let myself think of it with you.”

3.5 stars. A super cute, simple, hate-to-love f/f romance. I devoured it! Definitely not my favourite from this author, and for a while there I did think I'd be rating it lower. But the romance swept me away in the end. Layne is a live-in nanny for pre-teen twin girls, and has been since they were babies. Her employers are a wealthy divorced couple who still get along and co-parent well. Layne loves her job, but her one problem is Honor: her boss's new personal assistant. Layne is convinced that she's a conniving gold-digger intent on seducing Mark and marrying him for money. Then Honor joins the same queer book club that Layne attends, and their hostile relationship takes a turn.

This one had a pretty slow start for me. The animosity between Layne and Honor was just a little exaggerated, and I just generally wasn't having a fun time. There was also a bit of a pranking element to his, with the twins pulling a few jokes on Honor because they don't like her. I know it was supposed to be funny and cute, but IDK man, maybe I'm just a killjoy. I thought it was annoying. I like that we spent a good amount of time with Layne and her friends, establishing the friend group that's presumably gonna make up this entire series. But it took too long for Honor and Layne to start meaningfully spending time with each other and getting to know each other. When we finally started peeling back Honor's layers, I thought that her backstory was... idk. I felt for her, but it also seemed  a little farfetched that she would just lay it all out for Layne. "My mother indoctrinated me to be a gold-digging opportunist" is fine as a backstory, but if she's self-aware enough to talk about it like that, wouldn't she have been self-aware enough to like... not do it...? IDK.

The book did win me over eventually, though! It's really slow burn, which I loved, and while there was a lot of bickering and mini-misunderstandings between the protagonists, this was pretty low angst, all in all. The friend group and surrounding cast were all fun. I didn't quite feel the chemistry between Layne and Honor at first, but midway through the book, that changed, and I started loving them. There's a little detail later on that I loved, about Honor having a boob job and being a little self conscious about it, and how Layne treats it as a non-issue, doesn't get judgey about it, and proceeds to worship her. I feel like I don't see enough non-judgemental treatment of plastic surgery in books. At the very least, I want to see it treated as a total non-issue. Those last several chapters were soooo cute and sexy, and did a lot to bump up my rating. Oh, and I really loved all the references to different sapphic romances at the book club. Some of them I picked up on; some of them I learned from the author's reading list at the end. Either way, I thought it was cute, and a good way to hype up other sapphic romances.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Rachael Windsor, and I liked it! While it didn't blow me away in terms of the acting/narration, I did enjoy her voice. I didn't like this as much as I like the author's newer series (which is probably to be expected, since this was written a few years before) but I still had a good time with it, and I definitely want to read more soon.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

[Sky. · Rating 2 out of 5]

BORING

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layne is the nanny for 2 now 12yr old twin girls, Zoey and Riley. Their parents Mark and Sadie are divorced but amicably. The girls split their time between them. Mark works from home, and Honor is his assistant. Layne thinks that Honor is trying to seduce Mark. So do the girls and they start playing pranks on Honor.
Layne has friends and they all belong to a book club. All is well with the world until Honor shows up. Now, Honor is gorgeous and Layne notices, but Honor notices Layne's beauty. At her 2nd book club, she kisses Layne and well, things go on from there. Slowly. But once they heat up, it sizzles! 5 stars!

[Aunt Missa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 3 and 3.49 stars. Cute and easy, low angst read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this concept a lot. Spending half the book assuming Honor was into Layne and just didn't know how to tell her, or was in denial, had me dying to know how it would come out. The only thing I wasn't so sure about was if she was actually into Mark or not. Was she really a gold digger, or was that a front?

The truth was satisfying to me. I wasn't left feeling like it was contrived or silly, and the way Honor evolved from their first kiss onward was natural. Layne was a little less so. She wasn't confident around Honor at all, not liking her and assuming Honor didn't like her either, even looked down on her. On top of the insecurities about her job future, she just seemed kind of unsure of herself. But when she and Honor started seeing each other and putting their feelings out there, she became so confident so fast. It wasn't bad, just startling.

The twins were well-written. I don't know if the author has experience with kids, but they were pretty age-appropriate. I was a nanny for almost 10 years, and I have seen it all! The best part was how they thought they were the sole reason their parents were getting back together, and so they went to tell all their friends with divorced parents how to do the same thing. Like all kids AND their parents want that.... LMAO!

I am looking forward to following the other characters to see how their future relationships play out.

[Regis L · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re like me and wish The Parent Trap was actually sapphic, then Kissed By Her is the perfect book for you.

Kissed By Her is part of the Mainely Books Club series, an addition to Chelsea’s Castleton Hearts series (all of those are great, go check them out). The premise of Kissed By Her is basically what if Chessy and Meredith (from The Parent Trap) fell in love and it did not disappoint.

Layne is a nanny for eleven-year-old twins and is convinced that Honor is a gold-digger who is out to marry her boss. Layne and Honor have great chemistry, though Layne was a bit annoying when it came to her distrust of Honor. Didn’t she learn from the great Selena Gomez that everything is not what it seems? I loved Honor and wish we got dual POVs between her and Layne. I would’ve loved to see what was going on in her head at the beginning of the book.

As Layne and Honor grow closer, Layne learns she has misjudged Honor as she starts to get to know the real Honor. Layne and Honor are very sweet together and you’re rooting for them to get their HEA. If you’re looking for a low angst story with amazing side characters, then I highly recommend Kissed By Her! And I’m looking forward to the second book in the series!

Rating: 5/5 stars.

[Sagacious Sapphic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Parent Trap | Ice Queen

Ratings (out of 5 stars)
⭐️ ⭐️ Story
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Main Characters
⭐️ ⭐️ Supporting Characters
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Enjoyability
🔥 🔥 🔥 Sex

What would have happened if Chessy and Meredith got together but their names were Layne and Honor?
The first half of this book moves really slowly; the MCs don't interact much. When they do interact it's dull and there isn't really any spark until one of them just randomly and publicly kisses the other. I feel like the twins were in too many scenes and it took away from building the chemistry between the main characters. I enjoyed the story well enough once the MCs were interacting more. The sex scenes were written better than the rest of the story. The story has potential but not enough substance.

[Lyn Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

All main characters were really likeable (apart from a couple off stage that you wouldn’t like to do more than pass in the night…at a distance) and the story was lovely and flowed along. I liked the ‘normality’ of Layne’s interactions with everyone, her boss and his family, her friends, and with the woman she loved to hate. And of course the feel good ending.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow-on to the Castleton Hearts series is a fun tale with a little angst, no melodrama, and a good supporting cast. The dinner scene with the twins after their return from summer camp is terrific and well worth the price of admission.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

It’s wonderful to see how love can find its way when you least expect it. I love the character development on this book in how it breaks down walls and grows into trust and faith.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

totally adorable!

This was an adorable book! The twins were so cute! It reminds me of the Parent Trap movie! Layne and Honor were the cutest couple ever! Overall, a well done book!

[Walter Underwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows Layne's not very exciting life of taking care of the twins, going to a bookstore, and complaining with her friends. There is also eating, lots of eating, cheeseburgers, pizza, fried chicken, lasagna, pasta, ice cream, and so on. I was wondering if this was some sort of hint about Layne's size, but there isn't anything subtle about this book. There are also a LOT of brownies, but at least they are integral to the plot.

Not sure there is a romance in here, more of an ambush kiss, followed by a realization, followed by some instalust.

The author would have done better to let go of The Parent Trap and try to write about some real people. And a real place, maybe someplace that has weather, like heat and/or rain. Or maybe read some YA novels and learn about dialog and action instead of incessant narration.

But the center of this novel is Layne talking about her life and neither Layne nor her life are that interesting.

[Chlo Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good story! I only just got kindle unlimited and this is the first book I read on it. I loved the characters and the storyline (especially the twins and Layne’s characters) I’m so excited to read more of this series

[Maddy Newquist]

what is a rival but a crush you’re mad about having!!!!!

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(rounded down from 4.25)

This was enjoyable, light and sweet. Claims to be a sapphic Parent Trap with the Chessy and Merideth characters are correct and it's quite fun!

[& · Rating 3 out of 5]

cuties, i love honor she's my pookie

[Tuna Diaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I was not the intended audience for the book. I saw it on kindle and thought I would read. Maybe I simply dont vibe with this particular type of romance but it all felt flat for me.

I know people throw around the descriptor it feels "fanfic-y" a lot and I feel it applies here but in a specific that isn't looking down on fanfiction as a whole. I know the hook from the author was that this is "what if Chessy and Meredith from the Parent Trap hooked up" and it very much IS That (so if you're looking for that--well. It delivered). However, unlike fanfiction where you already know and care about the characters and just want to Get to It this just makes the characters bland.

When I was reading I thought a more interesting dynamic/back and forth would have been the banter between CC Babcock and Fran Fine--to my surprise that's referenced here. It just lacks the bite or charm of that dynamic.

(This is 100% a Me Thing. And I get people read Romance for the escapism! But a commentary on class was there more to add some sympathetic traits to the characters rather than say something thoughtful. I can't fully buy into this fantasy where the wealthy are lovable. Again a very Me thing--I cannot turn off my socialist-anarchist chip)

For a main character who is 30 her voice and behavior are extremely juvenile. And I understand that was meant to be a FOIL to Honor's character but it just comes out as obnoxious. It felt that her personality could be boiled down to brownies and saying she reads books but that had very little impact (beyond the obvious plot point). The main character lacks depth as did the relationship. I feel they barely interacted, we're TOLD they've known each other for a time and their banter is supposed to be established but I just don't care about them as characters. Fanfiction without the context and sturdiness of a well built foundation.

And character flaws? They turn into Not Flaws. Not exactly virtues but the character growth-- if you can call it that-- is like warm Pepsi on a hot day. Sure it's a drink, sure it's caffeine. But...did it do it? Calling a character "mean" when the POV character barely interacts with them? A Choice. Worth pointing out that most of the time Honor is simply reacting. Honor is a very passive character. The vulnerability she eventually shows doesn't feel earned to me as the reader.

Also...why keep the Parent Trap plot when the focus is on the Nanny and business partner?


Again. I dont think I was the audience but I enjoyed it less than I thought I would.

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

No surprise Chelsea has done it again! What a Fantastic book! Layne and Honor's story is beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn't put it down. I love how their first kiss is so spontaneous and out of the blue that it catches you off guard. It's a funny and wonderful read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series the chemistry between Layne and Honor is obvious and its clear that they have a spark that is just waiting to combust.

I can't recommend this book and Chelsea's Castleton Hearts series enough! If you haven't read either before, please go and download it now the first in the Castleton Hearts series is "Just One Night" and it is brilliant.

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kissed By Her (Mainely Books Club Book 1) by Chelsea M. Cameron

⭐️ 10/5 stars ⭐️
🌶️🌶️2 /5 spice

Enemies to lovers trope

If you liked the Parent trap you’ll love this. It’s hilarious and best of all it’s a sapphic version. 😍

This book was just the perfect sapphic romance that I needed. Layne is a nanny for 11 year old twin girls and has been since they were born for Mark and Sadie. The twins want to try and get their parents back together but here comes trouble.Mark gets a new assistant Honor .. she is confident, mean and beautiful. Layne is highly suspicious of her that she is a calculating woman just after his money and trying to be his second wife. Layne eventually accuses Honor of if, and in that moment Honor leaves her with a kiss and questioning everything.


I LOVED THIS BOOK. I couldn’t put it down and I already downloaded the second in the series. This had me questioning a lot, laughing and blushing. You could tell Layne and Honor had chemistry from the beginning and left me wanting more.

I’m now a fan of Chelsea Cameron’s and can’t wait to read more of her novels in the future.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I read a previous book by this author and wasn't a big fan. Not because the writing wasn't amazing, because it was! Seriously, super talented writer! However, the first book I read by them I just wasn't a fan of the characters and DNF'd the book about halfway through so I was worried I'd not be able to get into this book. It intrigued me enough to give it a go though and honestly I am so glad that I did!

The story was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! The writing is superb, and the characters were great. The only issue I had was it ended because I wanted more. I am so glad that I gave this author another chance and I'm going to IMMEDIATELY go back and read more of their previous work.

Lesson learned, even though I wasn't a fan of one book by them doesn't mean the rest of the books aren't going to be amazing.