Book Title: Scarlett and the Kiss Thief Review
By: Ivy Smoak
I’ve never been kissed.
Because I saved my first kiss for my best friend, Axel Stevens. And he gave his away to someone else like it meant nothing.
I was hoping that reinventing myself over the summer would make him finally see me. But I’m just as invisible as ever. Doomed to never being kissed.
I signed up for an ARC of Scarlett and the Kiss Thief by Ivy Smoak for one very scientific reason: the title intrigued me.
That’s it. No expectations. No idea what I was getting into.
What I got was a hilarious, chaotic YA/NA rom-com filled with friendship, first kisses, love triangle drama, mystery texts, and a cliffhanger that has me demanding answers.
What Is Scarlett and the Kiss Thief About?
Scarlett is a high school senior who has been in love with her best friend Axel for as long as she can remember. Determined to make her final year of high school count, she teams up with her cousin Sophie to launch “Operation Too Hot To Handle”—a carefully crafted plan designed to make Axel finally notice her and fall in love with her.
Simple, right?
Not even close.
As Scarlett focuses on winning Axel’s heart and saving her first kiss for him, another childhood friend starts stepping out of the shadows. Jacob has quietly liked Scarlett for years but never acted on it because he knew where her heart was.
Then everything changes when a mysterious stranger steals Scarlett’s first kiss in a dark room.
Soon, the mystery kisser starts texting her and promises to steal all of her firsts. Scarlett dubs him the “Kiss Thief,” and suddenly her mission shifts from winning Axel over to figuring out who this mysterious boy really is.
My Thoughts
This book was an absolute riot.
I laughed constantly while reading. The story moves quickly, the banter is fun, and the mystery surrounding the Kiss Thief kept me turning pages long after I planned to stop reading.
The romance is messy in the best possible way. Scarlett finds herself caught between the future she’s always imagined with Axel and the possibilities opening up with Jacob. Meanwhile, the identity of the Kiss Thief hangs over everything, creating a fun layer of suspense that had me second-guessing everyone.
And yes, I spent a significant portion of this book trying to figure out who the Kiss Thief was.
Jacob? Axel? Someone else entirely?
I needed answers.
Team Jacob Forever
If there’s one thing this book made clear, it’s that I am firmly #TeamJacob.
Jacob brought a different dynamic to the story and made the romantic tension so much more interesting. Every time he appeared on the page, I found myself rooting for him a little harder.
Sorry, Axel.
Sophie Is the Real Star
Can we talk about Sophie for a second?
Because while everyone else was busy creating romantic chaos, Sophie was out here stealing every scene she appeared in.
She’s funny, loyal, dramatic in the best way, and never takes herself too seriously. Every book needs a Sophie. Every friend group needs a Sophie. Honestly, we should all be so lucky to have a Sophie in our lives.
Why It Wasn’t a Five-Star Read
I had a great time with this book, but there was one thing that kept it from being a five-star read for me.
Toward the end, several additional characters started appearing, and I found myself getting a little lost. It felt like they arrived out of nowhere, and I struggled to remember who everyone was and how they fit into the story.
It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did pull me out of the story briefly during some important moments.
Final Thoughts
Scarlett and the Kiss Thief is a fun, addictive YA/NA romance that combines first-love nostalgia, friendship, mystery, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
If you enjoy:
- YA/NA romantic comedies
- Childhood friends-to-lovers vibes
- Love triangles
- Mystery identities
- First kiss stories
- Loyal and hilarious side characters
- Cliffhangers that make you immediately need the next book
then this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
I came into this book with zero expectations and left needing to know who the freaking Kiss Thief is.
And honestly, that’s exactly the kind of reading experience I love.