The Kissed Anthology was an absolutely adorable read, full of stories about first love and first kisses. There are also a ton of LGBTQ+ stories in here! I decided to review each story individually since it’s always hard to rate an anthology just as the sum of its parts. Just Like the Movies by Christine Rees: This was my favorite short story in the anthology! From the 10 Things I Hate About You references to the interesting characters to the romance, I loved this one. It Started With a Kiss by Kacie Jie: If you like forbidden love with a major Romeo and Juliet vibe, this is the story for you. I couldn’t really feel the connection between the two main characters but the story was still enjoyable. After Tomorrow by Roxas James: This one is an absolutely adorable coming out story. The relationship between the two main characters was adorable and I loved that the author made them so much more than the stereotypical jock and nerd. Of note, this one has a bit of sexual content and may not be appropriate for younger readers. It’s in His Kiss by Peri Elizabeth Scott: This one examines the toxicity of high school rumors and the damage they can do. This one was probably my second favorite. I liked both the leads, totally felt their connection, and thought that the issues were handled pretty well. Pixie Cuts and Purple Dye by M. Wiklund: The entire time I was reading this one, I just wanted to yell at the two main characters to communicate with each other. While I got a bit frustrated with the mixed signals and miscommunications, it was also pretty realistic to relationships. If you like friends to more, this one is for you! No Romeo by Sasha Hibbs: No Romeo was a fun take on mistaken identity. I thought that this one was totally cute and love the dual viewpoint. It was fun to see the story develop on both sides and I was totally rooting for the romance. Dare by Lisa Borne Graves: This one was absolutely adorable. When the main character finally fesses up about her feelings to her big brother’s friend on a dare, she receives the surprise of her life to find that her feelings are reciprocated. Now if only she could fix their miscommunication, get rid of the other guy who is harassing her, and somehow break the news to her overly protective older brother... Run to You by Kate Larkindale: This was one of the longer ones in the anthology and I liked that Larkindale took the time to develop her characters and their relationship. This one was also a fascinating look into the world of competitive racing and what it takes to join the Olympic team. Overall, if you’re looking for a cute, adorable YA contemporary anthology, consider checking this one out. *Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

Each story is romantic, delightful and full of teenage angst. The storylines are strong with beautiful characters that make you swoon, and I even found myself reminiscing over my first kiss. Find yourself returning to those teenage hormones and awkward first kisses in this well-rounded anthology. {I requested a review copy from the publisher for reviewing purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions contained herein are unbiased and my own.}

I received a copy of this book from Evernight Teen in exchange for an honest review* I should probably start this review by saying that I am not a reader of romance. It's just not my cup of tea, as I often find fictional relationships can be forced or inauthentic. But I was pleasantly surprised to be proved wrong by the stories in this brilliant, diverse collection. Each story is unique and riveting - no two are the same, and yet they fit well together. An expertly crafted anthology. I did notice a few clichés here and there, they had been reworked in away that made them feel fresh rather than tired or overdone. If you are looking for your next read, I recommend you delve into the multi-faceted exploration of love that is 'Kissed'. It may have changed my mind about romance!

Obviously I'm a little biased because one of the stories in this anthology is mine, but I enjoyed this book of short fiction. Like any anthology, the stories differ in quality and style, but because they are all teenage romances, there are enough similiarities for them to fit well together.