Despite the event that starts it all, Kissing Comfort is the lightest story Jo Goodman has written in a long while. And boy, what a refreshing change of pace.
I enjoy every minute reading this book. The whole casts are extremely likable (except for one or two obligated villains, of course). The banters are delicious. Between the protagonists, that's a given. But, the gives and takes between Newt and Tuck, the Heroine's surrogates, are no less entertaining. The pacing which I found inconsistent in the past Jo Goodman's books is improved as I have no problem keeping my interest until the end; eventhough the matter of romance is already settled just about half way through the book.
There are one major point that bothers me a little. There are two main mysteries in the story -- the massacre which left the heroine a sole survivor twenty years prior and the reason behind the sham engagement. What kind of chance do you think that the culprit would happen to be one and the same? So I have to say the tie up is a little too neat, too convenient.
Also the title might need improvement. If I may, I'll suggest something like While You Were Recuperating or While You Were Doping or such. Because really, reading the first half reminds me of the movie While You Were Sleeping. I don't know if this information recommends the book for you, but it would have sold it for me because I love that movie to bits.
All my grumbling aside, Kissing Comfort is still one of the loveliest read I've had this year and Jo Goodman is in top form here.
5/5
Read it yourself.
