Emotional Read!
I loved the new YA romance 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe. I have had it on my radar since I read and loved Sharpe’s last novel the YA sapphic thriller The Girls I’ve Been. Her previous book dealt with very serious issues, but was also full of heart and had such fierce female characters. After reading both of these novels, I have come to the realization that Tess Sharpe is excellent at evoking strong emotional reactions from the reader.
6 Times We Almost Kissed is not a light and fluffy rom-com. The main characters, Tate and Penny are 17-year-old girls who have already experienced a lot of tragedy in their lives. Tate’s mom has had chronic and serious illnesses her entire life and her dad left them when she was young because he couldn’t deal with her medical issues. Tate has assumed the role of her mother’s primary caregiver. Penny, the other main protagonist’s life also changed when her dad died suddenly.
The two young women have been quietly pining for each other for years when their moms decide to move everyone in together in order to combine their household expenses to better their financial situations. The chapters alternate between the past and the present to fill in the gaps.
The story is marketed as a sapphic YA romance, but it’s more than that. It’s a deep dive into the aftermath of the death of a parent, trauma, mental health, medical care, and financial insecurities due to overwhelming medical bills.
Tess Sharpe is the type of writer who paints a scene so vividly that she immediately draws you in and makes you feel the emotional impact. The author also has a talent for taking the edge off the saddest parts of the story by following those chapters with some joy – either an act of kindness or just a feel-good or funny scene. The characters are well-developed and it’s beautifully written.
If you are looking for an engaging story that packs an emotional wallop then I recommend 6 Times We Almost Kissed by Tess Sharpe.
